Results 32,581-32,600 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (12 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person concerned on the 19th June 2015. This application was not allowed as the child was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for the allowance. A letter issued on the 6th October 2015 outlining the decision of the deciding officer to refuse the allowance. A review of this decision will be undertaken and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (12 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: On Budget Day, I announced a social welfare Budget package for 2016 with four key aims: - To increase supports for pensioners aged 66 and over; - To strengthen supports for families with children; - To increase the momentum to date in helping jobseekers back to work; and - To provide targeted assistance for vulnerable groups. More than 676,500 pensioners and their dependents will benefit...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Eligibility (12 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: Some 50 persons have had their child benefit payments suspended during 2014 or 2015 for repeated failures to keep appointments to register for the public service card under the SAFE registration programme. Out of the total that were suspended, ten claims remain suspended from 2014 and four from dates in 2015. No claims were suspended during 2012 or 2013 for this purpose.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (12 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The hearing aid grant, provided as part of the Treatment Benefit scheme, is based on a person’s PRSI contribution record. To be currently qualified for treatment benefit, a customer must have at least 39 contributions paid at class A/E/H or P in 2013. According to available records, the person concerned paid class S PRSI in 2013 – this is a reduced rate contribution, which...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (12 Nov 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 partially 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Fraud Data (12 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: Excess payments by the Department through fraudulent claiming is measured by way of the number and amount of fraud overpayments raised. Overpayments generally arise as a result of revised decisions on entitlement made by deciding officers. These officers decide the effective date of a revised decision having regard to the new facts or new evidence and the circumstances of the case. An...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (12 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The EEC Equality Directive 79/9 and the subsequent Supreme Court case (Hyland v Minister for Social Welfare, 1989) led to the change in treatment of non-married cohabiting couples in the social welfare code. The Court ruled that it was unconstitutional for the total income a married couple received in social welfare benefits to be less than the couple would have received if they were...

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

Joan Burton: The application for carer’s allowance was stopped on 12 August 2015 on the grounds that care recipient was not in need of full-time care and attention. The carer was notified on 20 July 2015 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal. The person concerned has appealed this decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). All the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (12 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No 194 of 29 September 2015 in which the Deputy stated that rent had increased to €950. The client concerned has not, to date, provided the required documentation outlined in response to the previous Parliamentary Question.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (12 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is currently not a customer of the department. It is open to the person concerned to make an application for Jobseekers Allowance and if successful they may be eligible to apply for one of the many activation/education supports available.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Payments (12 Nov 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 person concerned is in receipt of IP at the maximum weekly personal rate. In addition, he has been awarded living alone allowance, fuel allowance and a travel pass. He has also been...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Pensions Reform (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 provided for increases in the State pension age. This process began in January 2014 with the abolition of entitlement to the State pension (transition) at 65 years of age, thereby standardising State pension age for all at 66 years. The changes introduced in 2011 were on foot of a Government commitment which arose out of the memorandum of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Pensions Reform (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: We have changed those regulations from the age of 62.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Pensions Reform (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: Several years ago, I introduced some fundamental reforms as to how people over 62 years of age right up to 66 were dealt with by the Department of Social Protection. First, once people reach the age of 62, if they so wish, they are placed on a yearly signing. In other words, they only need to sign on once a year. If they wish, they can transfer their payments to an electronic fund...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Pensions Reform (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: To be absolutely clear, we have a two-option process for persons aged 62 years and older. The option chosen is entirely at the person's discretion. If he or she wants to avail of an activation scheme and are currently involved in such a scheme, he or she would be expected to continue in that regard. If he or she does not wish to opt for an activation scheme, he or she does not have to so...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Pensions Reform (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: No; it is entirely optional. It is an option for them to say to a social welfare officer that they really want to continue working and would like to take part in a community employment scheme. It is also an option for them to say they do not wish to take part.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Pensions Reform (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: I am sorry-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Pensions Reform (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: Check it out locally.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: JobPath Implementation (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: I should first note that we have reached another milestone today in getting people back to work. There are now 1.983 million people at work and the unemployment rate has fallen below 9% to 8.9%. As a consequence of the very significant increase in the number of people at work, we now have more tax revenue and greater capacity to invest, as announced, in primary and secondary schools across...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: JobPath Implementation (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: It is important to note that jobseekers can be referred to relevant employment focused further education and training opportunities provided under the auspices of education and training boards, ETBs, and others while on JobPath. In such cases the engagement period with JobPath will be adjusted. In other words, in a situation where people might be undertaking FETAC level 4, 5 or 6 courses,...