Results 32,721-32,740 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: Where a proposal is made to reduce or restructure benefits, trustees must have undertaken a comprehensive review of the scheme with a view to its long-term stability and sustainability. Such a review includes asking the employer for contributions sufficient to ensure scheme funding and the employer must have declined to pay those contributions. Trustees must notify in writing the scheme...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: They are good jobs at high wage levels. The Deputy should take the time to read the reports.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: Yesterday was a landmark in Ireland's recovery for two reasons. First, the rate of unemployment fell below 9% for the first time since those dark and difficult days that Fianna Fáil led us to in December 2008. In all honesty, people would be very foolish to take Fianna Fáil at its word now. There is nothing about significant improvements in social welfare in Fianna Fáil's...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: -----but it was a disgrace. In January the minimum wage will increase by 50 cent per hour, the second increase during the Labour Party's participation in the Government. In addition, I and the Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Nash, have launched a campaign for a living wage, and that has been supported by a large number of both employers,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance (18 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: Currently the class A PRSI employer rate of 8.5% applies to weekly earnings between €38 and €356. Once weekly earnings exceed €356, the employer is liable to pay PRSI at 10.75%, on all earnings. From 1 January 2016 the threshold for charging the higher 10.75% rate of employer PRSI will increase from €356 to €376. This measure will cost €6.9 million...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (18 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: A review of the decision to refuse domiciliary care allowance in this case was requested on 10 September 2015 and additional information on this child's condition/care needs has been supplied. The application together with the new information supplied has been forwarded to a medical assessor for their professional opinion. Following receipt of this opinion the application will be re-examined...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Correspondence (18 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: I wish to advise the Deputy that this is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (18 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 17th September 2015. This application has been forwarded to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors for their medical opinion. Following receipt of this opinion, a decision will be made by a Deciding Officer and notified to the person concerned. It can currently take 12 weeks to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Offices (18 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The person referred to in the Deputy’s question contacted Portarlington Branch Office having finished a SOLAS course and was advised of the eligibility criteria that they must meet to satisfy the conditions of the JobBridge scheme. These include that the client must be on the Live Register and in receipt of one of the qualifying payments or signing for credits for at least 3 months....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (18 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 24 September 2015. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (18 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: Back to education allowance scheme (BTEA) is an educational opportunities scheme for persons in receipt of certain social welfare payments wishing to pursue second or third level courses of education subject to meeting the qualifying conditions. The person concerned made an application to participate in the BTEA scheme which was refused by illness benefit section on the grounds that they were...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Eligibility (18 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 Department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on 24 July 2015. The person concerned was refused IP on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (18 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: Invalidity Pension Applications (18 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 Department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on 11 September 2015. On 10 November 2015, after due consideration, a deciding officer disallowed the claim from the person...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (18 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The application for carer’s allowance in respect of the person concerned was awarded on 28 October 2015 and the first payment was issued to the person’s nominated bank account on 12 November 2015. Any arrears of allowance due (less any overlapping social welfare payment and/or any outstanding overpayment) will follow shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (18 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 30 July 2015. The application is currently with a social welfare inspector to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied. Once the investigative officer has completed and submitted...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (18 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The application for carer’s allowance in respect of the person concerned was awarded on 9 November 2015 and the first payment was issued to the person’s nominated bank account on 12 November 2015. The arrears of allowance due from 21 May 2015 to 11 November 2015 have also issued.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (18 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 19 August 2015 in respect of two care recipients. The application is currently with a social welfare inspector (SWI) to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for the receipt of CA are satisfied. Once the SWI has completed...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (18 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 6 November 2015. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance (18 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The estimated full year cost of a €20 increase in the weekly rate of Disability Allowance is €131.2 million, which includes the cost of a proportionate increase for qualified adults where applicable. On Budget Day, I announced a social welfare Budget package for 2016 with four key aims: - to deliver welfare improvements for pensioners aged 66 and over; - to strengthen supports...