Results 30,281-30,300 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Grant Payments (9 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The 2015 grant of €100 will be paid beginning in September 2015 to households registered with Irish Water by 30th June 2015 in respect of their principal private residence. During August and September, this Department will be writing to customers who have registered to advise them of the application process. A public information website is available at and there will be further...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Treatment Benefit Scheme Administration (9 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The treatment benefit scheme provides for a free biennial eye examination to persons qualified under this PRSI based scheme. There is no assistance available for the purchase of spectacles under the treatment benefit scheme.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Appeals (9 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 11thMay 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: Household Benefits Scheme (9 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The Department pays an electricity or gas allowance as part of the household benefits package to 415,000 customers, at an estimated cost of €227 million in 2015. The electricity and gas allowance is currently €35 per month. There have been no reductions to this allowance in recent budgets. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (9 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The client concerned has been requested to provide 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 re-assessed.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payments (9 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The phased OFP scheme age change reforms were introduced in the Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2012. The purpose of these reforms is to reduce long-term social welfare dependency by providing lone parents with the necessary education, training and employment supports to develop their skills set and, ultimately, to secure employment and financial independence. The reforms have been...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Care Services Data (9 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The delivery and/or expansion of child care services is the responsibility of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (D/CYA). My Department in conjunction with the D/CYA introduced a range of child care measures in Budgets 2013 and 2014 to assist lone parents to enter, or to re-join, the workforce, namely the after-school child care scheme and the community employment childcare...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (9 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: In order to determine the circumstances of the person concerned, his file was forwarded to his local Social Welfare Inspector. In May, the Inspector was in contact to arrange an interview. His spouse stated that the person concerned was going into hospital and would not be in available for interview. The Inspector suggested that the interview be conducted when the person concerned is in a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Eligibility (9 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The person concerned should contact her nearest Intreo Office or Citizens Information Centre whereupon any other possible social welfare entitlements appropriate to her circumstances can be outlined to her.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Administration (9 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The current free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 90 private transport operators. Free travel is also available on...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Eligibility (9 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The current free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 90 private transport operators. Free travel is also available on...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (9 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 9th December 2014. The person concerned was refused carers 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 on the 14th of April 2015 of this decision, the reason for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Data (9 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: As outlined in the earlier response, there are currently 500 staff (whole time-equivalents) providing activation and case management support services across the Department's network of offices and Intreo centres. In general, they work in teams and are dedicated to working and supporting clients to help them regain employment. This number is supplemented by a further 160 mediators who are...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Work Allowance (9 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: This Department provides income support payments in the form of the back to work enterprise allowance (BTWEA) and the short term enterprise allowance (STEA) to those who satisfy specific qualifying criteria and are setting up a self-employed business. For BTWEA to be approved, the business venture must be developed with the support of and recommended by one of the Local Development Company...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (9 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The Department has not, to date, received a new application for Rent Supplement from the client concerned. The client should provide a completed Rent Supplement application to the Mid-Leinster Rent Unit, PO Box 11758, Dublin 24. On receipt of same their entitlement can be assessed.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Insolvency Payments Scheme Applications (9 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The 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. The Department is consulting with a range of interested parties including the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (9 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the above named person on 6 May 2015. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. The processing time for individual disability allowance claims may vary in accordance with...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Placements (9 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: A very small number of internships have been advertised in the social work sector since the scheme was introduced. To date, a total of 10 social worker internships have finished, with 8 of the interns progressing into employment immediately on completion. 1 is on-going and 1 is currently advertised. JobBridge is a totally voluntary scheme. It is a matter for host organisations to decide...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Applications (9 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: In general, the fuel allowance is payable to persons in receipt of long-term payments who satisfy the qualifying conditions. Illness benefit is classed as being a short-term payment and the fuel allowance is not payable with it. The person concerned has been in receipt of illness benefit since 20/03/14. As he is not in receipt of a payment that is classed as a long-term payment, he does...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (9 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The Department's policy on social welfare appeals and the progress of cases being considered for prosecution has not been changed. Where a case presented for prosecution has an appeal pending, the State Solicitor’s office is advised of the appeal. If the outcome of the appeal is not known before the first hearing, the State Solicitor is instructed by the Department to seek an...