Results 28,721-28,740 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The person concerned made an application to illness benefit which was awarded with effect from 14 January 2015. Consequently her jobseeker’s allowance claim was closed on 13 January 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mental Health Awareness (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection currently operates out of approximately 400 individual buildings across the country, however only two of these buildings, Headquarter Buildings in Dublin (Aras Mhic Dhiarmada) and Sligo (Pensions Service Office, Cranmore), have flagpoles. To date, these flagpoles have only been used for the flying of the National Flag at appropriate times as instructed by...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 30th January 2015. This application has been forwarded to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors for their medical opinion. Following receipt of this opinion, a decision will be made by a Deciding Officer and notified to the person concerned. It can currently take 10 weeks to process an...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: Self-employed persons who earn €5,000 or more in a contribution year are liable for PRSI at the class S rate of 4%, subject to a minimum payment of €500, and are entitled to access long-term social insurance benefits such as State pension (contributory) and widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's pension (contributory) as well as guardians payment (contributory),...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Fraud Data (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The vast majority of people on social welfare are claiming the correct entitlement due to them. However, a small minority is not and a range of measures are employed by the Department to ensure that social welfare fraud and abuse is minimised and that its control activity is appropriately focused. Since 2011 there has been a number of significant measures undertaken which have enhanced...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Eligibility (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: Child benefit is a monthly payment to assist with the costs associated with raising children. It is paid to more than 600,000 families in respect of almost 1.2 million children, with an estimated expenditure of around €1.9 billion in 2014. It is paid in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years in line with the statutory school attendance age. It is important to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Administration (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: Child benefit is a monthly payment paid to all families to assist with the costs associated with raising children. In 2014, it was paid to almost 1.2 million children in more than 600,000 families, with a total estimated expenditure of around €1.9 billion. In 2014, child benefit was paid to an average 7,577 non-resident children in 4,728 families, at an estimated cost of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Work Allowance (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: As announced in Budget 2015, the Back to Work Family Dividend (BTWFD) scheme aims to help families to move from social welfare into employment. It will give financial support to people with children who were getting jobseeker and one-parent family payments and who take up employment, increase their hours of employment or become self-employed. The BTWFD provides support for up to two...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (12 Feb 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 26 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: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The client concerned provided documentation confirming his wife is currently in full-time employment and therefore does not qualify for Rent Supplement. The client has been advised to provide up to date payslips should their circumstances change.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was claiming jobseeker’s allowance at the Social Welfare Local Office in Clondalkin from 30thSeptember 2011 until 22ndJuly 2014. Her claim was closed as a result of her not providing information which had been requested by the office with regard to her means. The person concerned then commenced a full-time college course of her own accord in September 2014....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The client concerned has been requested to provide the Department with documentation outlining any change in their circumstances. On receipt of same the client's rate of Rent Supplement entitlement can be assessed.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Payments (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The person in question is currently receiving carer’s allowance (CA) for the care of her daughter. The weekly CA payment she receives is €218.90 per week. This payment consists of a personal rate of €204.00 and €14.90 (half-rate) increase for qualified child (IQC) for the child dependent who is in full time education. The person concerned is also in receipt of a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Tax and Social Welfare Codes (17 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 to 175, inclusive, together. Prior to the enactment of the Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013 the practice in my Department had been that company directors holding 50% or more of the shareholding of a company were not normally regarded as being in a master/servant relationship and therefore were deemed to have a contract for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme (17 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: Travel operators must comply with a number of terms and conditions when entering the free travel scheme. In this regard they must – - conduct surveys of free travel customers to the Department's specification; - provide copies of their motor insurance policies indemnifying the Department and providing for public liability; and - provide copies of the public service vehicle licences...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (17 Feb 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 3rdFebruary 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 Department...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (17 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The Department receives reports of possible fraud from members of the public in relation to the operation of its schemes and provides both a dedicated phone number and a facility on the Department's website for this purpose. All anonymous or confidential reports are examined and, where relevant, are referred to the Departments sections and/or to Inspectors for potential follow-up action....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (17 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: A review of this decision was requested on the 29th January 2015 and additional information on this child's care needs has been supplied. The application together with the new information supplied will now be re-examined by a deciding officer and a revised decision made, if warranted. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome of this review as soon as it is completed.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Expenditure (17 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The fuel allowance is a payment of €20 per week to low income households to assist them with their energy costs. The allowance is paid for 26 weeks from October to April, at cost of approximately €195 million in 2015. Increasing the fuel allowance by 25% would cost approximately €49 million in a full year.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Overpayments (17 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: When a revised decision on a social welfare entitlement is made, the claimant is notified and given the opportunity to appeal the decision within 21 days. In deciding whether or not the decision should have retrospective effect, deciding officers are required to have regard to the facts relevant to the decision on entitlement. An overpayment is a consequence of a revised decision and is,...