Results 32,661-32,680 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobPath Implementation (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: All decisions regarding a person’s welfare entitlements are made by deciding officers of the Department. The application of a sanction to a jobseeker’s payment is governed by the provisions of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended by the Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013. JobPath companies cannot make any decisions regarding a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payments (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The issue of maintenance payments is first and foremost a private matter for the persons concerned, and if they cannot resolve the problem, for the Courts through family law provisions. The liability to maintain family provisions, contained in social welfare legislation, are separate to family law legislation. In every case where a one-parent family payment is awarded, the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The client’s earnings for two days worked were €350.17, which is in excess of the prescribed weekly rate of Jobseeker's Allowance for a person in his family circumstances of €312.80. The client was therefore not entitled to his unemployment payment of €312.80 for that week and is overpaid by that amount.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: In 2011, the previous Government reduced most weekly rates of payment to people aged under 66 by €8 per week, a reduction of approximately 4%, at a time when the rate of inflation was 2.6%. This Government has protected core weekly rates of payment since coming into office. The best way of increasing a household’s income is through employment. In this regard, this Government...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The current system of establishing if a person is genuinely seeking work is well established and based on a number of steps that have to be taken by all customers in order to satisfy the Department that they are actively seeking work. These steps may include making oral, written or on-line applications for work, researching job vacancies, availing of reasonable training opportunities,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The jobseeker's benefit scheme provides income support for people who lose work and who have the required number of social insurance contributions. The 2015 Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure on jobseeker’s benefit of €407 million. Jobseeker’s benefit is not a means tested payment and as such the means of a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant are not...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: Recipients of the one-parent family payment (OFP) who were due to transition from that scheme on 2 July 2015, and who were participating in full time education were allowed to retain their OFP payment until completion of their course. If applicable, these individuals were able to also retain their Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) grant, subject to the normal conditions for the grant....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Eligibility (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: Carer's allowance (CA) is a social assistance payment, made to persons who satisfy a means test and who are providing full-time care and attention to people who have a disability such that they require that level of care. I confirm that the department received an application for CA from the person concerned on 16 October 2015. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Universal Retirement Savings Group (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: In line with the Statement of Government Priorities, in January of this year the Government decided to proceed with work to develop a roadmap and timeline for the introduction of a new, universal, supplementary workplace retirement saving system. This work is being progressed by a Universal Retirement Savings Group (URSG), which is comprised of Assistant Secretary level representatives from...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (17 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 including that adduced at the oral hearing, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned. 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: Work Placement Programmes (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: While the client was written to on 14 October 2015, inviting her to put her name forward to be interviewed in connection with a TÚS programme, she had previously been selected to take part in Jobpath. JobPath is one of the range of activation supports, including schemes such as CE and TÚS, catering for long-term unemployed jobseekers. In general, and JobPath is not an exception,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the Department received an application for Carer's allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 9 June 2015. It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the carer must be providing full-time care and attention. It is a further condition that the person being cared for must require full-time care and attention. The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Applications (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: Fuel Allowance is a payment under the National Fuel Scheme to help with the cost of heating a home during the winter months. It is paid to people who are dependent on long-term social welfare payments and who are unable to provide for their own heating needs. Only one Fuel Allowance is paid to a household. The person concerned is currently in receipt of illness benefit. Illness benefit is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (17 Nov 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 appellant will be informed when arrangements for the oral hearing have been made. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Eligibility (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The family income supplement (FIS) is an in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. FIS is designed to prevent child and family poverty and to offer a financial incentive to take-up employment as compared to social welfare payments. There are currently some 53,000 families with some 116,000 children in receipt of FIS. Expenditure on FIS is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: Self-employed persons who earn €5,000 or more in a contribution year are liable for PRSI at the class S rate of 4%, subject to a minimum payment of €500. These contributions entitle them to access social insurance benefits, including State pension (contributory), widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner’s pension (contributory), guardians payment...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Applications (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The jobseekers allowance claim of the person concerned has been disallowed by a deciding officer following a review of his entitlement. He has been advised of the reasons for the disallowance and that he can appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. He had also been advised that if he wishes he can apply for supplementary welfare allowance and have his entitlement to this...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Eligibility (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The person concerned has been awarded invalidity pension (IP) with effect from the 20 December 2012. Payment and arrears due from 20 December 2012 to 18 November 2015 (less any overlapping social welfare payment and/or outstanding overpayment) will issue to her nominated bank account on the 19 November 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered new evidence, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned. 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 and of the Department and is responsible...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (17 Nov 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 20 October 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...