Results 29,881-29,900 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

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

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to convene an oral hearing in this case. Every effort will be made to hear the case as quickly as possible and the person concerned will be informed when arrangements for the oral hearing have been made. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Vacancies on State Boards (12 May 2015)

Joan Burton: The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council, the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a Board) and the Social Welfare Tribunal. The Citizens Information Board There are currently nine vacancies on the Citizens Information Board including that of Chairperson. Eight...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Expenditure (12 May 2015)

Joan Burton: The estimated full year cost in 2016 of a €1 per week increase in the rates of payment for the schemes in question only is detailed in the table. It should be noted that these costs include the cost of proportionate increases for qualified adults. Scheme Full Year cost of €1 per week increase (proportionate increase in the Qualified Adult rate of payment) €m...

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

Joan Burton: The person concerned may have the necessary number of PRSI contributions to apply for Jobseeker's Benefit (JB). A decision on eligibility can be made by the Department once an application has been received. In cases where a person does not qualify for JB an application for Jobseeker's Allowance, which is a means tested payment, may be made.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Applications (12 May 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 pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. To qualify for IP a claimant must, inter-alia, have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last complete...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (12 May 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 pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. The department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on 26 February 2015. The person concerned was refused IP on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (12 May 2015)

Joan Burton: The resolution of funding difficulties in pension schemes and any implementation of agreed solutions are primarily a matter for the Trustees, the companies participating in the scheme and the scheme members. From a regulatory perspective the Trustees of pension schemes must comply with the provisions in the Pensions Act which, among other things, sets down certain requirements in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Insolvency Payments Scheme Eligibility (12 May 2015)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 258 and 260 together. My Department is continuing to review the position to establish what, if anything, can be done to progress payments to individuals in situations where employers cease trading without engaging in a formal winding-up process and who owe monies to their employees. My Department is consulting with a range of interested parties...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Insolvency Payments Scheme Eligibility (12 May 2015)

Joan Burton: The review of the Insolvency Payments Scheme to establish what, if anything, can be done to progress payments to individuals in situations where employers cease trading without engaging in a formal winding-up and who owe monies to employee(s) is continuing. It is the responsibility of the employer to pay statutory redundancy entitlements to all its eligible employees. Where an employer...

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

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned has been referred to an Appeals Officer 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 and is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (12 May 2015)

Joan Burton: It is provisionally estimated that the number of pensioner payments will increase by around 17,000 each year in the years 2016 to 2018, resulting in an additional cost over this period of the order of €600 million. These estimates will be revised on an ongoing basis as more up-to-date trend data becomes available. It is expected that the current demographic pressures will continue...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (13 May 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 7thMay 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 referred...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (13 May 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 13th April 2015.It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Eligibility (13 May 2015)

Joan Burton: All Social welfare contributory schemes, including the Widows/Widowers or Surviving Partners contributory pension are insurance based schemes. The pension is paid to the husband or wife of a deceased person and is available to those who satisfy the necessary PRSI contribution conditions, either on their own record or on that of the deceased spouse, provided the applicant is not cohabiting....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance (13 May 2015)

Joan Burton: The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) is designed to support jobseekers to undertake second chance education. A person wishing to pursue a course of study under BTEA must satisfy a number of conditions such as age and be in receipt of a qualifying payment for a specified period of time amongst others. Youthreach participants are eligible to apply for BTEA subject to establishing an...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Payments (13 May 2015)

Joan Burton: The fuel allowance is a payment of €20 per week for 26 weeks from October to April, to 415,000 low income households, at an estimated cost of €208 million in 2015. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Eligibility (13 May 2015)

Joan Burton: The one-parent family payment application of the person concerned was referred to a Social Welfare Inspector prior to decision by a deciding officer, in order to establish if the conditions of entitlement to one-parent family payment are fulfilled. The Inspector’s report is now complete and the file has been referred to the Deciding Officer for decision this week.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (13 May 2015)

Joan Burton: The person concerned made enquires at Bishop’s Square Intreo Centre regarding attending a Safe Pass Course. He was advised that under the operational guidelines for the Training Support Grant which funds Safe Pass Courses, in order to qualify, an applicant must have a job offer or the potential of a job offer. Until such time as the person concerned can provide evidence of a job offer...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (13 May 2015)

Joan Burton: The application from the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that her weekly means were deemed to be in excess of the statutory limit allowable in her case for disability allowance purposes. Notification of this decision issued on 15 April 2015. The person concerned was advised of the option to submit further evidence for review or lodge an appeal directly to the Social Welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Offices (13 May 2015)

Joan Burton: Twenty nine staff occupying two adjoining buildings on Main St. in Ballybay, Co. Monaghan were redeployed from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to the Department of Social Protection in July 2012. The staff are engaged in the processing of the Public Services Card. The current facilities are not considered appropriate for the existing business processes or to accommodate...