Results 31,081-31,100 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

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

Joan Burton: I wish to advise that all material required to give legal effect to the settlement reached in the Labour Relations Commission has been provided to the legal representatives of the members of Waterford Crystal pension schemes for their agreement and sign off. This material includes a Letter of Offer, Deed of Release and other support material. Before the letter of offer and associated...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Administration (15 Jul 2015)

Joan Burton: Child benefit is a payment to parents for the support of their children. It is paid to some 615,000 families in respect of 1.18 million children, with an expenditure of approximately €1.9 billion in 2014. In order to ensure that child benefit is only paid to eligible families, a policy of issuing continuing eligibility certificates to parents commenced in 2008 and is still in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (15 Jul 2015)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 19 May 2015. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. Carer's allowance cases take approximately 12 weeks to process.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Payments (15 Jul 2015)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 55 together. The farm assist scheme provides support for farmers on low incomes and is similar to jobseeker’s allowance. The 2015 Revised Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure this year on the farm assist scheme of €88.7 million. Recent changes have brought farm assist into closer alignment with the jobseeker’s...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Data (15 Jul 2015)

Joan Burton: The information requested by the Deputy is published annually by my Department in the “Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services” report. The reports for years 2012 and 2013 are available at www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Annual-Statistical-Information-Repor ts.aspx or through the Oireachtas library. The information relating to the number of persons in receipt of farm assist...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Data (15 Jul 2015)

Joan Burton: The farm assist scheme provides support for farmers on low incomes and is similar to jobseeker’s allowance. The 2015 Revised Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure this year on the farm assist scheme of €88.7 million. Recent changes have brought farm assist into closer alignment with the jobseeker’s allowance scheme’s treatment of self-employed...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (15 Jul 2015)

Joan Burton: The information requested by the Deputy is published annually by my Department in the “Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services” report. The reports for years 2012 and 2013 are available at www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Annual-Statistical-Information-Repor ts.aspx or through the Oireachtas library. The information relating to the number of persons in receipt of Disability...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: EU Funding (15 Jul 2015)

Joan Burton: My Department receives funding from the European Commission through several different funding streams including the European Globalisation Fund, the European Social Fund and the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD). These funds each operate on different timelines and have different rules and procedures. The paragraphs below set out the various schemes funded by the European...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Redeployment (15 Jul 2015)

Joan Burton: Decisions in relation to the deployment of temporary clerical staff are made on the basis of a number of factors. Initially, decisions centre around the nature of the work involved and the duration of the work. Other factors include the availability of existing resources to do the work, and the location where the work is to be undertaken. This Department has limited sanction from the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Jul 2015)

Joan Burton: There are a range of supports available for people following bereavement. These include a weekly-paid widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner’s (contributory and non-contributory) pension based on contributions or a means test, and a once-off widowed or surviving civil partner grant of €6,000 where there is a dependent child. A number of social welfare payments, including...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Eligibility (15 Jul 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. A total of 260 weeks PRSI paid and 48 weeks PRSI paid or credited in the last complete tax year before the relevant date are required to satisfy the PRSI conditions for IP. The reckonable...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Payments (15 Jul 2015)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was awarded invalidity pension with effect from the 14 May 2015. Payment issued to her nominated bank account on the 25 June 2015. Arrears due from 14 May 2015 to 24 June 2015 (less any overlapping social welfare payment and/or outstanding overpayment) will issue to her nominated bank account on the 16 July 2015. The person in question was notified of this decision on...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (15 Jul 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 22 June 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 and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Blind Person's Pension (15 Jul 2015)

Joan Burton: Blind pension is a social assistance payment which is paid to blind and visually impaired people. In 2015, over €14 million will be spent on these payments. The rate of the blind pension is the same as other social assistance payments, such as disability allowance, jobseeker’s allowance and one-parent family payment. Invalidity pension is a weekly payment to people who...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (15 Jul 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 22 June 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 and...

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

Joan Burton: Self-employed persons are liable for PRSI at the class S rate of 4% which entitles them to access long-term benefits such as State pension (contributory) and widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's pension (contributory) as well as guardians payment (contributory), maternity benefit and adoptive benefit. Ordinary employees who have access to the full range of social insurance...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (15 Jul 2015)

Joan Burton: This is an historic and happy day. I am delighted to have the opportunity to be here on this auspicious occasion as we bring the Gender Recognition Bill through the final legislative step prior to its enactment. Senators will agree that we have all learned a huge amount over the past few years about the lived experience of transgender people in our communities. We have gained this insight...

Leaders’ Questions (16 Jul 2015)

Joan Burton: It is not; it is twice that amount.

Leaders’ Questions (16 Jul 2015)

Joan Burton: I am aware that quite a number of Deputies and their families have an interest in post offices. I hope any Member who has a direct commercial interest in a post office will actually let us know.

Leaders’ Questions (16 Jul 2015)

Joan Burton: Is the Deputy also a postmaster?