Results 29,341-29,360 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pensions Ombudsman Adjudications (2 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: The Pensions Ombudsman has power to make determinations which are legally binding on parties to a complaint or dispute, subject to appeal to the High Court. However, a relatively small percentage of disputes are resolved in this way as the bulk are normally dealt with through mediation between the parties and the giving of general information and/or advice in the form of a report. ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Deserted Wife's Benefit Eligibility (2 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 24thMarch 2015. 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: Money Advice and Budgeting Service (2 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: The legislative provisions governing Board membership of the CIB are contained in the Comhairle Act 2000, the Citizens Information Act 2007, and the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011. In September 2014, the Government agreed new arrangements for filling State Board vacancies and new Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards were issued in November 2014. Vacancies on the Board of CIB are...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (2 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that at a previous oral hearing of the appeal of the person concerned it was agreed the case would be further investigated by a Social Welfare Inspector. Following a further interview by the Social Welfare Inspector in August 2014 it was agreed that the person concerned would supply details of farm expenses for 2013 and Single Farm Payment...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Correspondence (2 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: The letters recently issued by the Department to 2,800 recipients of State Pension Contributory and Non Contributory were part of a very small trial to determine the best means of communicating with people about their payment options. Customers were asked whether they would like to consider receiving their payment directly into an account in a bank, building society, certain credit union...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Offices (2 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: As part of the plan for the roll-out of Intreo Centres, the Lucan/Adamstown and Clondalkin areas have been designated by the Department for the provision of Intreo services. The Office of Public Works has been exploring options in both Lucan and Adamstown for an Intreo Centre, but given the limited choice of suitably sized and located offices, complex property and development issues, and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (2 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the contribution conditions. This department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on 13 January 2015. On 1 April 2015 his claim for IP was refused by a deciding officer (DO) on the grounds that he does not satisfy the medical conditions for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Applications (2 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: A review was carried out by a reviewing officer of the exceptional needs payment application of the person concerned and he has been advised of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Applications (2 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: There are a number of qualifying factors that decide eligibility for the back to education allowance scheme. Applicants must be a certain age; be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for a specific period of time; be, in general, starting the first year of a full-time course which will lead to a recognised qualification in a recognised college; be progressing in the level of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (2 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: As detailed to the Deputy in reply to Parliamentary Question No 88 of 5th February 2015, the client concerned was not entitled to Rent Supplement as both he and his wife are in full time employment. As also outlined in that response, if there has been a change in the client's circumstances, they should provide documentary evidence to the Department confirming same so that their entitlement...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (2 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: The client concerned has been requested to provide the Department with an up to date Rent Supplement application form and lease agreement confirming any increase in monthly rent. Current payslips have also been requested , the case will be examined when the necessary information is received by the Department.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Funding (15 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: The Department has given the North Leitrim Men’s Group approval for the recruitment of a replacement supervisor. The advertisement and recruitment for this post is a matter for the Sponsor Group.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Birth Certificates Administration (15 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: Section 63 of the Civil Registration Act 2004 provides that a superintendent registrar may correct an error of fact in the register of births on application by a person having an interest in the matter. The person referred to should contact their local civil registration service office at Sister Joseph's Road, Killarney, Co. Kerry (Phone: 064 6632251) to arrange a meeting with a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (15 Apr 2015)

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: Social Welfare Rates (15 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: It is understood that the Deputy is referring the cost of an €8 per week increase in social welfare rates paid at a maximum personal weekly rate of €188. The €188 per week rate applies to the following schemes: - Jobseeker's Benefit & Allowance - Farm Assist & Pre-Retirement Allowance - Back to Education Allowance& Back to Work Allowance - One...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (15 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: The Department does not collect the information sought by the Deputy. Defined benefit pension schemes in Ireland are, in general, set up under trust. The trustees of such pension schemes have a fiduciary duty under Trust law to act in the best interest of all scheme members. In addition, the Pensions Act, 1990 provides for the regulation of occupational pension schemes and Personal...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Eligibility (15 Apr 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 in-work poverty for low paid workers with child dependants and to offer a financial incentive to take-up employment. There are in the region of 50,000 families in receipt of FIS, an increase of 70 per cent since 2011. The average FIS...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Unemployment Benefits (15 Apr 2015)

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 2015 Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseekers’ schemes of €3.01 billion. Long-term unemployment refers to people with continuous periods of unemployment...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Services Programme (15 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: This matter raised by the Deputy concerns the award of a contract under the community services programme (CSP) for the delivery of household repair, maintenance and small building works services to elderly and disabled persons in County Limerick. Contracts under the CSP are awarded on a renewable basis for a duration of up to three years, following a review process that examines a number...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Widow's Pension Eligibility (15 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: Under current Social Welfare legislation any person participating on a Community Employment Scheme is disqualified from receiving widower’s contributory pension. This came into effect from the 16thof January 2012. The person concerned applied for the widower’s contributory pension on the 17thof December 2014. As this person is currently participating on a Community Employment...