Results 28,001-28,020 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times (10 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: All scheme areas will have claims pending decision ‘on hand’ at any point in time, with the number of pending claims being dependent on the number of pending claims on hand at the start of a period, and the number of claims received versus the number of claims cleared during the period. The number of claims cleared in turn is largely dependent on the nature of the claims...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (10 Dec 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 to a State pension...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (10 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Christmas bonus was paid last week to over 1.2 million long-term social welfare recipients at a cost of €65 million. The Bonus was introduced in 1980 and paid annually (at varying rates) until it was abolished in 2009. I was pleased to be in the position to partially restore the bonus this year. A 25% bonus (subject to a minimum payment of €20) was paid to the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (10 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Christmas Bonus was paid last week to over 1.2 million recipients at a cost of €65 million. The Bonus was originally introduced in 1980 for certain recipients and extended to long-term jobseekers in 1985. The bonus was paid annually until it was abolished in 2009. I was pleased to be in a position to partially restore the bonus this year. A 25% bonus (subject to a minimum...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit Eligibility (10 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: Social Welfare legislation provides that all claimants for jobseeker’s benefit who are employed on a part-time basis must suffer a substantial loss of employment. A substantial loss is sustained if a person’s normal level of employment is reduced by at least one day with a consequent loss of earnings. The person concerned exhausted his entitlement to jobseeker’s benefit...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance (10 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Scope Section of my Department makes decisions on the insurability of employment on an ongoing basis, including the insurability of family members. If the Deputy can supply my Department with the details of the specific case to which he is referring, I will be happy to have the matter looked into.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (11 Dec 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (11 Dec 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: Invalidity Pension Appeals (11 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 20 October 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: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (11 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned participated in a TÚS programme for the period 4 November 2013 to 1 November 2014 and was paid on that programme up to 1 November 2014. He applied for Jobseeker's Allowance from 3 of November 2014 and payment of €62.70 jobseekers allowance issued on 6 November 2014 for week ending 4 November 2014. The appropriate number of days for which Jobseeker's Allowance...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Eligibility (11 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: No application for disability allowance has been made to date by the person concerned. An application form for disability allowance issued today to the person concerned. He should complete the application form and return it in the envelope provided. Upon the receipt of his application, his entitlement to a disability allowance payment will be examined.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Interest Supplement Applications (11 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: According to the records of this Department the person concerned did not make an application for a mortgage supplement. In August 2014 the person concerned applied for and was refused rent supplement as she was deemed not to meet the eligibility criteria for this support. Should the circumstances of the person concerned have changed, it is open to her to submit a fresh application rent...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (11 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: While the client concerned returned some of the documentation requested by the Department on 21 November 2014, a request for remaining outstanding documentation was issued by the Department on 3rd December 2014 and again on 10 December 2014, and has not been received to date. On receipt of this information the client's entitlement to Rent Supplement can be assessed.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (11 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: Rent Supplement, including arrears, will issue to the client concerned on 23rd December 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (11 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The client's concerned are in receipt of their full entitlement to Rent Supplement based on their monthly rent, weekly income and family composition.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (16 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the disability allowance appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 20thNovember 2014, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The current average processing time taken to process disability allowance appeals decided by...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (16 Dec 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 20thNovember 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: Money Advice and Budgeting Service (16 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), under the aegis of the Citizens Information Board (CIB), assists people who are over-indebted and need help and advice in coping with debt problems, in particular those on low incomes and people living on social welfare payments. In 2014 funding of some €18.6 million has been provided to MABS. Information on the waiting times in each MABS...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Investigations (16 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned made a claim for jobseeker’s benefit on 12thAugust 2013. As part of the approval process the matter of his PRSI contribution record has been referred to a Social Welfare Inspector for investigation. It is envisaged that this investigation will be progressed imminently, and as soon as it is, the person concerned will be contacted.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Meetings (16 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 132 together. The Management Board of my Department currently meets on a fortnightly basis. In addition to these meetings there is a formal weekly meeting scheduled between myself and the Secretary General. Both the Minister of State and I meet regularly with the senior management of the Department in relation to its business and related...