Results 29,221-29,240 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Legislative Process (26 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: The Government approved an expansion and reinforcement of the arrangements for pre-legislative scrutiny in September 2013. A number of new Standing Orders were adopted by the Dáil on 17 October 2013 in order to underpin these new arrangements and these Standing Orders came into effect on 5 November 2013. In order to clarify the operation of these new Standing Orders, an Agreed...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (26 Mar 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 25thFebruary 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: Carer's Allowance Appeals (26 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision on 30th January 2015. Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of an Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be revised in the light of new evidence or new facts...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff (26 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: I am not aware of any particular problems in relation to queuing at the Department's offices. Should the Deputy have specific instances in mind, I would be very happy to have them investigated. Intreo is the new integrated income support, employment and support service which is now provided by the Department. Intreo, which was launched in 2012, has delivered significant office...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (26 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was notified on the 25th March 2015 that her domiciliary care allowance application was successful and that the allowance has been awarded from 1st January 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (26 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer's allowance (CA) from the person in question on the 23rd December 2014. To be entitled to CA, where the care recipient is aged under 16 there must be a domiciliary care allowance (DCA) in payment in respect of that child. The CA application is with a deciding officer (DO) for decision, however, as the only alternative is to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (26 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: The client concerned has been requested to provide the Department with current payslips, a Rent Supplement application form and an up to date lease agreement confirming any increase in monthly rent. On receipt of this documentation the client's rate of Rent Supplement entitlement can be assessed.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Guardian's Payment Appeals (26 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: The person concerned applied for a guardian's payment (contributory) in respect of her two grandchildren. On 25 March 2015, it was decided by a deciding officer that the person concerned is not entitled to guardian's payment as, based on the evidence available, the children concerned do not satisfy the definition of orphans under social welfare legislation as they have not been abandoned by...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Semi-State Bodies Pensions (26 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: The Department does not collect the information sought by the Deputy. The trust deed of a pension scheme sets out the basis on which the trustees of a pension scheme are appointed or elected, and the law does not put any restriction on this. Section 62 of the Pensions Act already provides for a procedure whereby members representatives can be elected. However, the procedure must be invoked...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Properties (26 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: Due to the unsuitable nature and poor condition of the accommodation where staff are currently located in Ballybay, Co. Monaghan, my Department has requested that OPW identify an alternative premises. OPW would be best placed to provide the detailed technical specification requirements of accommodation to be occupied by Government Departments. However in terms of basic accommodation...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Contracts Data (26 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: No contracts or tenders have been awarded by my Department to the company referred to since 1 January, 2004.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Home-makers Scheme (31 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: Domiciliary care allowance is not a primary payment and as such credited contributions are not awarded in connection with this allowance. However, persons caring for children under 12 years or incapacitated children over 12 years of age can avail of the homemakers scheme for the purpose of maintaining entitlement to state pension (contributory). The homemakers scheme provides that...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Yield (31 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 194 together. Employer PRSI is payable on earnings at the rate of 10.75% in respect of weekly earnings in excess of €356 and at 8.5% on weekly earnings of €356 or less. As part of the 2011 Jobs Initiative, the Minister for Finance announced the halving of the 8.5% rate of employer PRSI to 4.25%, as a means of helping job creation...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Applications (31 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: Please refer to Question No. 206 of 24 February 2015. A review was carried out by a reviewing officer of the exceptional needs payment application of the persons concerned and they have been advised of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Citizen Information Services (31 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the statutory body responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice (including money and budgeting advice service) and advocacy services on a wide range of public and social services. The Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008 provided for the transfer of responsibility for the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) to the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Applications (31 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: Please refer to Question No. 206 of 24 February 2015. A review was carried out by a reviewing officer of the exceptional needs payment application of the person concerned and they have been advised of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payments (31 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: The purpose of the One Parent Family (OFP) scheme age change reforms is to reduce long-term welfare dependency and provide improved access for lone parents to the Department's range of education, training, and employment support programmes in order to assist them in securing or increasing employment in the future. The customer in question is currently in receipt of an OFP payment and a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Payments (31 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is currently in receipt of child benefit for her two children at the rate of €135.00 per child per month. Child benefit is paid up to and including the month of a child's 18th birthday provided the child is in full-time education. It is not payable after the month of the 18th birthday even if the child remains in full-time education. As one of her children...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Universal Retirement Savings Group (31 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: In line with the Statement of Government Priorities, the Government recently decided to proceed with work to develop a roadmap for the introduction of a new, universal, supplementary workplace retirement saving scheme. The Universal Retirement Savings Group (URSG) has been established to consider the constituent factors involved in constructing an efficient and effective universal retirement...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (31 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeals from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing in this case on 2 April 2015. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the...