Results 34,441-34,460 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (26 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: I can confirm that the department received an application for disability allowance (DA) from the above named person on 12 November 2015. This application for DA, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds and the person in question was notified in writing of this decision on 25 January 2016. The person in question requested a review of the decision by a deciding...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (26 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: I am very aware of the issues arising and very negative consequences caused by the problems in the Irish Airlines (General Employees) Superannuation Scheme (IASS) for all active, deferred and pensioner members and appreciate the difficulties presented to all stakeholders in addressing the significant deficit in this scheme. However, you will appreciate that the funding difficulties in this...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (26 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 11th April 2016. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (26 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: Following a successful appeal, the person concerned has been awarded disability allowance with effect from 19 August 2015. The first payment will be made by his chosen payment method on 27 April 2016. Arrears of payment due will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments or in respect of outstanding overpayments...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (26 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 21st April 2016. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (26 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is in receipt of disability allowance (DA) and is currently participating in a level five course under the vocational training opportunities scheme (VTOS). If he wishes to pursue another level five course in the 2016/17 academic year, he must notify the department and will remain on the DA scheme providing all the conditions for receipt of that scheme continue to be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Applications (26 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: Fuel allowance may be payable to certain applicants in receipt of long-term social welfare payments, who are unable to provide for their household heating needs. The allowance is subject to a means test and is paid only to those who live alone or with certain exempted persons. Full details of the qualifying criteria are available on the Department’s website at . An application for fuel...

Ireland's Stability Programme Update April 2016: Statements (27 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: The stability programme update, SPU, document tells a positive story of remarkable change and of challenge which has yet to be overcome. In April 2011, shortly after the Labour Party entered government, that year's SPU told a grim story. It spoke of a critical need to try to get the public finances into some kind of order, of ensuring the sustainability of the Government's debt position, of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (27 Apr 2016)

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 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 Social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Illness Benefit Appeals (27 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: Payment of Illness Benefit to the person concerned was disallowed by a Deciding Officer following an examination by a Medical Assessor of the Department who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. An appeal was opened and in the context of that appeal her case was reviewed by a second Medical Assessor who also expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. I am advised...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (27 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: The Jobseekers Allowance payment of the person concerned was suspended because, after four visits, it could not be verified by a Social Welfare Inspector that she was living at the given address. A Supplementary Welfare Allowance payment was made to her on 22nd April 2016, pending the outcome of the investigation. The Inspector will undertake to make contact with the client outside of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pensions Payments (27 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: My department facilitates customer choice in the payment method for the state pension. Customers may choose to be paid by either direct payment to their bank account or through the post office under the department’s contract for cash service with An Post. Customers may make their preference known at the time of application or subsequently. The department recognises that the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (27 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: The Government is committed to the maintenance of the Post Office network and to the development of a Standard Bank Account by An Post. Mindful of the current and ongoing discussions on Government formation any further development of policy will be a matter for the incoming Government. The current position is that the department has a cohort of jobseeker customers who are classified as...

EU Migration and Refugee Crisis: Statements (28 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: In an earlier stage of my life I worked in a region of Africa which was heavily affected by not just hundreds of thousands but millions of refugees. While I appreciate the sentiments of a lot of Members of this House, we need to be honest and realistic about what Ireland can and should do. I subsequently served for almost five years as Minister of State with responsibility for overseas...

EU Migration and Refugee Crisis: Statements (28 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: It is their first choice of country.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (28 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person concerned on the 22nd October 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 19th January 2016 outlining the decision of the deciding officer to refuse the allowance. An appeal of this decision was registered...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (28 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: It is a condition for receipt of a carer’s allowance (CA) that the persons being cared for must have a disability whose effect is that they require full-time care and attention. The assessment is based on the requirement for care arising from the disability(ies) and not on the diagnosis(es) of the person being cared for. The requirement for full-time care is further defined as...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Payments (28 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: The person in question is in receipt of the maximum rate of disability allowance for his circumstances. The person in question owes a debt to the department which he is currently repaying at the rate of €10.00 per week. If he wishes to vary the amount that is currently being repaid, he should contact the department setting out his weekly income and expenditure. On receipt of this...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (28 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: Jobseeker’s allowance is a means tested social protection scheme. In the case of a couple, account is taken of the means of both members of the couple and this reflects the fact that married couples, civil partners and cohabitants are financially interdependent on each other. The jobseeker’s allowance scheme features a range of disregards and tapering arrangements where one...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Waiting Times (28 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: The Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible. The average waiting time for new carer's allowance (CA) applications at the end of March was 19 weeks. At the end of March, there were 5,851 CA applications awaiting decision. The...