Results 31,581-31,600 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Eligibility (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was refused carers allowance on the grounds that the disability of the care recipient was not such there was a requirement for full-time care and attention as prescribed in regulations and that the carer was not providing full-time care and attention as required. The person in question was notified on 19 February 2014 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: In the answer to the Deputy’s previous question on this matter (Ref: 29971-15), it was stated that further notification was sent to the person concerned on 13thJuly 2015 reminding her that the outstanding documentation which had been requested needed to be submitted before her application could be processed. On 24thJuly 2015 the person concerned submitted documentation to the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: The person concerned applied to the Community Welfare Service (CWS) of the Department of Social Protection in March 2015 for Rent Supplement. This application was refused on the grounds that the property was not deemed fit for purpose and the claimant was not established as residing there. A letter outlining the decision issued to the claimant on 11th May 2015. The claimant was afforded the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (22 Sep 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 21stJuly 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: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: Family Income Supplement (FIS) is payable to families at work and on low pay who are working at least 19 hours a week or 38 hours per fortnight. The family rate payable for FIS takes into account all income including social welfare payments. Jobseeker’s allowance is a means-tested payment. A person must satisfy certain conditions including being available for and genuinely...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Data (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: Jobseeker’s allowance is a means tested payment and earnings are taken into account in determining means. A disregard of €20 a day (up to a maximum of €60) applies up to a maximum of 3 days and the balance is assessed at 60%. In determining the assessable income from insurable employment, the following deductions are allowed: superannuation, additional voluntary...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 274 and 275 together. The information requested by the Deputy, where available, is collated annually at the end of December each year for inclusion in the Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services report the 2014 version of which will be shortly presented to the Cabinet and published on my Department’s website. The number of persons in County...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pensions Ombudsman Adjudications (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: The legislative provisions pertaining to the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman (OPO) are contained in Part XI of the Pensions Act 1990, as amended. The functions of the Pensions Ombudsman, who is independent in the exercise of his functions, are set out in Section 131 of the Act. The Pensions Ombudsman has authority to adjudicate on certain disputes arising under occupational pension schemes...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals (22 Sep 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 Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Respite Care Grant Payments (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: The estimated cost of increasing the Respite Care Grant by €200, from €1,375 to €1,575, is €18.55 million in a full year. Any change in the rate of Respite Care Grant would have to be considered in a budgetary context.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: Carer's Allowance (CA) is a social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to people with disabilities who require full-time care and attention and whose income falls below certain limits. The means test that applies to applicants for CA, assesses any income belonging to the carer and their spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant, including any...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals (22 Sep 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 disallow 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 Offices (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 285 and 286 together. The proposed transfer of the Department of Social Protection’s Office from Ballybay, County Monaghan to Monaghan Town has not proceeded in the timeframe planned due to a complex property management issue. Staff will remain in Ballybay for the foreseeable future and until this situation is resolved. The issue of costs, as...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Applications (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: According to the records of this Departmental, the person concerned has not recently applied for a Jobseekers Allowance payment (JA). It is open to the person concerned to make an application for JA at her local Intreo Centre.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Functions (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection has an established Internal Audit Unit and an Audit Committee which operate under charters which were approved by the Department's Secretary General and Audit Committee. The Department's Audit Committee is part of its governance framework, tasked with providing independent advice to the Secretary General, as Accounting Officer, regarding the suitability...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015 - Vote 37: Minister for Social Protection (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: I thank the committee for the invitation to appear before it to discuss the mid-year position on the 2015 Estimates for the Department and to look ahead to budget 2016. Late last week, my officials provided briefing material for the use of the committee at this meeting. This includes detailed financial data for 2015, including the mid-year position. Briefing on mid-year progress on the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015 - Vote 37: Minister for Social Protection (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: I note the guidance is from the Auditor General of New Zealand. The secretariat asked what the breakdown of the output would be. The secretariat also said policy and legislation related targets, for example, the publication of legislation such as the Gender Recognition Bill, are not relevant to performance reporting. On that, the recent enactment of the Gender Recognition Act enables a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015 - Vote 37: Minister for Social Protection (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: It was five or six months.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015 - Vote 37: Minister for Social Protection (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: I think what Deputy Ryan has said summarises the heart of the issue and how it goes forward. I could give him a couple of examples. The OECD would be involved in this as well. I draw members' attention to the summary of the notes on Vote 37 - the output table, note No. 18. It is Department item No. 64. This goes back to Deputy Ó Snodaigh's point about processing times. When all...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015 - Vote 37: Minister for Social Protection (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: Not anymore; exactly. However, as the airport is located just outside his constituency, we share it. It is in an area with potential to achieve considerable employment growth. Therefore, the social and employment activation questions in each area are subtly different. If we are to develop a model, we must develop one that will be sensitive to these differences. I am not sure the New...