Results 29,641-29,660 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (28 Apr 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 16 April 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: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (28 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 12th March 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 12 weeks to process...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (28 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: An increase for qualified adult may be payable to a state pension (contributory) recipient in respect of their spouse, civil-partner or cohabitant who is being wholly or mainly maintained by them, where that dependant’s personal means from any source(s) do not exceed a weekly means-test income limit. The spouse of the person concerned was awarded a personal rate state pension...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (28 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is qualified for dental benefit under the treatment benefit scheme. Application may be made using a D1 form available at the dental clinic of his choice.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Water Conservation Grant (28 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: The Department will require the development and implementation of requisite IT systems to deliver the water conservation grant application and payment facilities and various customer support and communications services. Every effort is being made to maximise efficiencies in this regard. Tenders were sought for IT development via an existing Framework agreement for the on-line application...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (28 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 3rd March 2015. The application was awarded on 24th April 2015 and the first payment is due to issue to the bank on 30th April 2015. The arrears of allowance due from 5th March 2015 to 29th April 2015 have issued to the bank. The person in question was notified of this...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Activation Projects (28 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: The objective of the Disability Activation Project (DACT) was to explore a variety of routes for people with disabilities to avail of progression, education and development opportunities within the world of work and to help inform future policy on activation/engagement measures for people with disabilities. A total of 14 projects were funded (jointly at more than €7 million by the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance (28 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: The social welfare system is primarily a contingency-based system, with entitlement based on a number of defined contingencies such as sickness, unemployment, old age or widowhood. There are two basic principles which underpin the Irish social insurance system. Firstly there is the contributory principle. Under this principle there is a direct link between the PRSI contributions that a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance (28 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: The ‘marriage bar’, a requirement that women leave paid employment on entering marriage, was a condition of employment within most sectors of the public service until 1973. A number of private sector employers operated similar restrictions at that time, generally in respect of ‘white collar’ positions, notably in the financial sector. The marriage bar was...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (28 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: In order to determine the circumstances of the person concerned, his file was forwarded to his local Social Welfare Inspector. S/he will arrange to meet with the person concerned as soon as possible. A final decision on his entitlement to disability allowance will be given on receipt of the Social Welfare Inspectors report. The person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (28 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 11th February 2015. The person concerned was refused carer’s allowance on the grounds that the care recipient is not so disabled as to require full time care and attention as prescribed in regulations. He was notified of this decision on the 26th March 2015, the reason...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (28 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: Section 121 of Pensions Act requires employers who are not operating a pension scheme or who are operating a scheme which limits eligibility for membership to provide access to a Personal Retirement Savings Account. Defined benefit pension schemes in Ireland are set up and maintained by employers on a voluntary basis. There has never been a statutory obligation on employers under Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Remuneration (28 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: The European Banking Association clearing system and the Target Settlement system are closed on Friday 1 May. This means that no payments with a value date for Friday 1 May can be made through that system to Euro area bank accounts. In view of this, staff salary payments due on Friday 1 May have been brought forward to Thursday 30 April.

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (29 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: The spring economic statement contains a lot of important data and statistics, but they translate into one thing which is opportunity - the opportunity to secure the economic and social recovery, spread the benefits of growth and relentlessly raise living standards. They will ensure that everyone who wants a job gets a job, and that work pays a living wage so that families can get on rather...

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (29 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: Deputy Gerry Adams first wanted us to tell the European Union to take a hike and to take its money with it. He used more colourful language. However, he does not have to worry about economics as he told us. In all of this, Sinn Féin neglects to mention what it is delivering in government in Northern Ireland at the moment where 20,000 public sector jobs have been cut for a start....

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (29 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: Nevertheless, Sinn Féin has the gall to lecture the Government while being the leaders of austerity in the North. For all its rhetoric, Sinn Féin conveniently forgets the North when it wants to. Before next year's Spring Economic Statement is delivered, the country will choose a new Government. The people of this country will have to decide who they want to stand up in this...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (29 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 22nd December 2014. Some additional information in relation to the person’s employment outside the home was required and was requested by the deciding officer. The application has been disallowed on two grounds, firstly that the care recipient is not so disabled as...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Recruitment (29 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection, like all Government departments and agencies, is required to operate with an Employment Control Framework (ECF) figure and a commensurate administrative staffing budget, which is determined by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. In this context, the Department is obliged to fill all critical posts in the first instance, by either...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (29 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: I am very aware of the issues arising and very negative consequences caused by the problems in the IASS scheme for all its members. However, you will appreciate that the funding difficulties in this scheme are primarily a matter for the Trustees, the companies participating in the scheme, the scheme members and the Pensions Authority. The Pensions Act provides a framework for the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (29 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2011 provides that State pension age will be increased gradually to 68 years. This began in January 2014 with the standardising of State pension age for all at 66 years and the cessation of State pension transition. The State pension age will increase to 67 years in 2021 and to 68 years in 2028. The State pension (transition) was introduced in 1970...