Results 10,101-10,120 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (14 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing in this case. The person concerned will be informed when arrangements have been made. There was a 46% increase in the number of appeals received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office in 2009 when compared to 2008, which in itself...

Written Answers — EU Legislation: EU Legislation (14 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: The High Court has ruled that the State is in breach of its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights in its failure to provide for the legal recognition of the acquired gender of transgendered persons. The State does, however, provide for some level of recognition as in the provision of passports, driving licences and in many official dealings with transgendered persons,...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (14 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: The number of full-time equivalent posts filled in the Department at 1 January 1995, 1 January 2000, 1 January 2005 and 1 January 2010 is broken down, by grade, in the following table: Breakdown, by grade, of full-time equivalent posts filled in the Department of Social Protection Grade 1995 2000 2005 2010 Secretary General 1 1 1 1 Deputy Secretary 0 1 1 1 Assistant Secretary 5 5 6 3...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (14 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: As I said in response to Question No. 55 of 24 March last, and during the Adjournment debate of the same date, this case is being re-investigated for entitlement to jobseeker's allowance. A social welfare inspector will call to the person concerned next week. In the meantime, she is receiving supplementary welfare allowance at a rate of €278.40 per week and mortgage interest subsidy of...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (14 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: On 16 September 2010, the person concerned was refused carer's allowance on the grounds that the Department's medical assessor had expressed the opinion that the care recipient is not so disabled as to require full-time care and attention as prescribed in regulations. She was notified of this decision, the reason for it and of her right to appeal to the social welfare appeals office....

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (19 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 187 together. The Programme for Government states that a new National Employment and Entitlements Service will be established under the management of the Department of Social Protection. The objective is to integrate all employment and benefit support services in a single delivery unit which will provide a 'one stop shop' for people wishing to...

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (19 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: It is estimated that the reduction to the Social Insurance Fund, as a result of halving the rate of employer's Class A PRSI from 8.5% to 4.25% from 1 July 2011, would be in region of €75 million. The estimated 2012 full year reduction in Social Insurance Fund income caused by lowering the employer's Class A rate to 4.25% would be €174 million.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (19 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: The Health Service Executive has advised that before entitlement to rent supplement can be considered for this person she must have her housing need assessed by her local authority.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (19 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: I understand that the Deputy is referring to contribution conditions for the state pension (contributory). With effect from 1st January 2010, changes were introduced in the legislation and qualifying conditions governing the eligibility for state pension (contributory) of self-employed contributors. The relevant legislation is Section 110 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (19 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: The average Live Register underpinning the 2011 Budget is 405,000. The 2011 REV provides for Exchequer resources to support this average.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (19 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that it has not received an application for mortgage interest supplement from the person concerned. The HSE has forwarded a mortgage interest supplement application form to the person concerned at the address provided.

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (19 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: The Deputy will recall that he raised this matter earlier this month. The position regarding the support that is available to this company from the community services programme is being examined with a number of other requests. The Deputy will appreciate that decisions can only be made within the funds allocated to the programme and the merits of the case put forward by the company. The...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (19 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: The Deputy will be aware that the rural social scheme, Tús and the community employment programme are delivered locally either through local development companies or community based sponsor groups which have significant linkages to local authorities and State agencies. Primary responsibility for the provision of resources in the forms of materials or similar inputs is a matter for the...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (19 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 157, 158, 162, and 163 together. The Minister for Finance announced the introduction of a community work placement initiative for up to 5,000 persons in his Budget statement to Dáil Éireann on the 7th December 2010. Tús will provide short-term, quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. Tús will be delivered at local...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: Prior to the introduction of the Decentralisation Programme, the names of clerical officers and staff officers applying for a transfer to a particular location were recorded, in order of date of receipt, on the Department's central transfer list. The Central Applications Facility (CAF) was established to record expressions of interest from all grades in relation to locations which were...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (19 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: I understand that the Deputy is referring to the community services programme (CSP) which is funded by my Department. The CSP is designed to address locally identified gaps in the provision of services and to exploit the potential of community assets and resources to improve community well-being. CSP support is designed in such a manner that service providers are required to offer...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (19 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: Given the changing nature of the composition of the Live Register in recent years it is recognised that different approaches are required. For some, such as senior managers and executives who are in the unfortunate position of having lost their job, it can be important to provide the opportunity for individuals to keep in touch, avail of support and attend networking events or professional...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (19 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: Four staff, consisting of 1 personal assistant, 1 personal secretary, 1 executive officer and 1 clerical officer, are assigned to my constituency office to provide me with administrative and secretarial support. There are no other Ministers assigned to the Department.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (19 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: Disability allowance is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged over 16 and under 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year. To qualify, a claimant must satisfy a medical assessment, a means test and be habitually resident in the state. The current procedure for determining if applicants satisfy the medical condition is that...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (19 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 22 January 2011. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 29 March...