Results 27,501-27,520 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Eligibility (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: There are currently approximately 800,000 people in receipt of free travel at an annual cost of €77 million per annum. The free travel scheme is available to all people aged over 66 living permanently in the State. Applicants who are under age 66, including those with epilepsy and other long-term medical conditions, must be in receipt of a qualifying payment in order to qualify for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Interest Supplement Eligibility (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The mortgage interest supplement of the person referred to was reviewed on 8 August 2014 and due to the failure of the client to return the required documentation within the two weeks allowed, the payment was suspended on 3 October 2014. The required documentation has now been received and the review completed. Payment has been approved and arrears due will issue on 25 November 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Proposed Legislation (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014 was introduced in the Seanad in July 2014 and it has passed all stages in that House. It is currently progressing through the Dáil where Committee Stage was completed on 5 November 2014 and Report Stage is scheduled for 18 November 2014. It is intended that the Bill will be enacted before the end of the year. The Bill provides that, other...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 5 November 2014 who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker’s allowance schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative full-time employment. The 2014 Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseekers’ schemes of €3.28 billion. It is a fundamental qualifying condition of both schemes that a person must be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection receives reports of possible fraud from members of the public in relation to the operation of its schemes. A dedicated phone number and a facility on the Department’s website are available for this purpose. The following are the number of anonymous reports received in the Department’s Control Division in the period 2011 to 2014 (Jan-Oct): ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pensions Legislation (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013 provided for the establishment of a new body called the Pensions Council. The Pensions Council will be made up of a chairperson and not less than 8 and not more than 12 ordinary members. The ordinary members are to include: - the Pensions Regulator; - a representative of the Department of Social Protection; - a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Reports (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The above named person retired from the Civil Service in October 2001. HR Division has informed me that when this person threatened physical violence against officers of the Department, the incident was brought to the attention of An Garda Síochána at the time. However, no official report was filed.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 23rdOctober 2014. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: Section 48 of the Pensions Act sets out the order (wind up priority order) in which the assets of a defined benefits pension scheme are distributed in the event of the wind up of a scheme. The wind up priority order was amended by the Social Welfare and Pensions (No.2) Act in 2013. Prior to these changes pensioner benefits were given priority over the benefits of active and deferred scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Waiting Times (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The most recent figures available from end of September 2014 show that the average time taken to decide a new invalidity pension (IP) claim is 8 weeks. This excludes claims which are awarded following a review and/or appeal. It also excludes claims made under EU regulations or bi-lateral agreements which are more complex and take longer to decide. As at the end of October 2014 there were...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The figures requested by the Deputy relating to the number of appeals presently on hand for the specified health-related payments are provided in the table below. There has been a rapid and sustained increase in the number of appeals received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office since 2009 which has placed extraordinary pressure on the office. Up to 2009, the average number of appeals...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 5th November 2014. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Appeals (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was being deducted €117 means from his weekly Farm Assist payment since April 2013. At a recent Oral Appeals Hearing regarding these means, the existence of further financial information was revealed by the person concerned. As a result, a Social Welfare Inspector has reassessed the means and a Deciding Officer has issued the decision by post to the person concerned.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The State pension is a very valuable benefit and is the bedrock of the Irish pension system. Therefore, it is important to ensure that those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund over their working lives and the reform measures introduced to date go somewhat toward that goal. To ensure that the individual can maximise their entitlement, all contributions...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was notified on the 22ndOctober 2014 that her domiciliary care allowance application was successful and that the allowance has been awarded from 1st September 2014. The first payment of the allowance, along with arrears due, will issue on 18thNovember 2014. I can confirm that an application for carers allowance was received from the person in question on 19thAugust...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Offices (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: Twenty nine staff occupying two adjoining buildings on Main St. in Ballybay, Co. Monaghan were redeployed from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Social Protection in July 2012. The staff are engaged in the processing of the Public Services Card. The operations have recently been expanded to include 8 additional temporary staff. The current facilities in Ballybay are not...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: Following Budget 2014, social welfare legislation was amended to provide that the diet supplement scheme was closed to new entrants from 1stFebruary 2014. The person concerned had previously received this payment from December 2005 until July 2010 when he commenced a community employment scheme. As four years have elapsed since it was last paid, an application for a diet supplement received...

Allegations Regarding Sexual Abuse by Members of the Provisional Republican Movement: Statements (12 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: Untruth.