Results 28,361-28,380 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: Over the last number of years, the Department has developed a new integrated income support, employment and support service called ‘Intreo’, and has been transforming its nationwide network of Local Offices into ‘Intreo Centres’. The Intreo Centre is a one-stop shop for all income and employment support services where customers can access job-seeking advice,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: The staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continuously reviewed within the context of the Department’s pay budget, taking account of workloads, management priorities and the competing demands arising. This is to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources and that an efficient service can be provided to those who rely on the schemes operated by the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Interest Supplement Scheme (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: Budget 2014 provided for the closure of the mortgage interest supplement scheme to new applicants with effect from 01/01/2014, and for the winding down of the scheme for existing recipients over a four year period. According to the records of this Department the person concerned did not submit an application for a mortgage interest supplement prior to the closure of the scheme and therefore...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: As detailed to the Deputy in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 63 of 27th November 2014, an up to date Rent Supplement application form and lease agreement confirming any increase in rent was requested by the Department on 19 November 2014. This documentation remains outstanding. On receipt of same the client's rate of Rent Supplement entitlement can be assessed.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Non-Contributory) Applications (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: The person concerned did not apply for a disability allowance. Rather, in 2013 he applied for and was disallowed a State pension (non-contributory) on the grounds that he was deemed not to be habitually resident in the State. He was advised of this in writing in December 2013 and of his right to appeal or tender any additional information to the Deciding Officer as he may feel is relevant....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: The Department has not been informed of any change of circumstance for this client. The client's entitlement to Rent Supplement can be assessed if an up to date Rent Supplement application form and lease agreement is forwarded.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (27 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: The widows pension was introduced on 1st January 1936; it was extended to widowers on 28th October 1994, and extended to surviving civil partners from 1st January 2011. Once in payment, the pension remains payable while the person remains widowed or a surviving civil partner, (i.e. it is withdrawn if they re-marry), and is increased to the level of the State pension contributory at age 66. ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (27 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: Self-employed persons are liable for PRSI at the Class S rate of 4% which entitles them to access long-term benefits such as State pension (contributory) and widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's pension (contributory) as well as maternity benefit, adoptive benefit and guardians payment (contributory). Self-employed workers may also access social welfare supports by...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Ministerial Meetings (27 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: I met the deputy last week. The deputy has agreed to submit a report prepared by the group.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (27 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance was received on 11 November 2014 from the person concerned. The application was not allowed as the child was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for the allowance. A letter issued on 23 January 2015 advising of the decision. In the case of the application which was refused on medical grounds the applicant may submit...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (27 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: The person concerned submitted an application for disability allowance (DA) on 17/12/14. Entitlement to DA is based on satisfying medical, means and residency conditions. A decision will be made on the application as soon as possible and the person will be notified directly of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement (27 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: The family income supplement (FIS) is an in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. FIS is designed to prevent child and family poverty and to offer a financial incentive to take-up employment as compared to social welfare payments. Expenditure on FIS for 2014 is estimated to be of the order of €281 million and it is currently paid...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (27 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: The current supplementary pension system which comprises a multiple of pension savings vehicles has evolved over time has become extremely complex and difficult to understand without investment of considerable time and effort of the engagement of professional advisors. The present system needs to be simplified so that it is more understandable to members, potential members and to the general...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (27 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: As detailed to the Deputy in reply to Parliamentary Question No 47 of 15 January 2015, the client concerned is in receipt of their full entitlement to Rent Supplement based on their monthly rent, weekly income and family composition. The Department has not made contact with this client regarding their on-going entitlement to Rent Supplement.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (27 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: Following a medical review, the carer’s allowance (CA) payment of the person in question was stopped on 27 November 2014 as it was decided the care recipient no longer satisfied the medical criteria for CA. The person concerned submitted additional medical evidence in support of their appeal. This additional evidence has now been reviewed by a deciding officer who has revised the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Public Services Card Provision (27 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: The Public Services Card (PSC) has been introduced to enable individuals gain access to public services more efficiently and with a minimum of duplication of effort, while at the same time preserving their privacy to the maximum extent possible. The PSC is designed to replace other cards within the public sector such as the Free Travel Pass and the Social Services Card (SSC) of this...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (27 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 20 January 2015, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (27 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 11 December 2014. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 12...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Review (27 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance was received on the 2nd October 2014 from the person concerned. The application was not allowed as the child was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for the allowance. A letter issued on the 7th January 2015 advising of the decision. In the case of the application which was refused on medical grounds the applicant may submit...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Applications (27 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: The person concerned submitted an application for One Parent Family Payment on the 30th of October 2014. The One Parent Family Payment scheme is subject to a means test and in order to carry out a means test a customer must be available for interview or contactable at a given address. The person concerned was recently invited for interview with a Social Welfare Inspector but failed to...