Results 10,501-10,520 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (1 Jun 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. There has been a very significant increase in the number of appeals received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office since 2007 when the intake was 14,070 to 2010 when the intake rose to 32,432. This has significantly...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (1 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The Department operates a range of schemes which can, subject to conditions, be paid to individuals as an extra allowance, or as a separate payment, in addition to their standard social welfare payment. The payments include living alone increase, allowances under the supplementary welfare allowance schemes, household benefits, fuel allowance, respite care grant and island allowance. In the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The person concerned does not have a current social welfare claim. If they wish to make a claim, the person should contact their local Social Welfare office where they can discuss their entitlements. Further details and information is available on the Department of Social Protection website www.welfare.ie .

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is currently in receipt of carer's allowance in respect of one caree. On 28 October 2010 she was refused carers allowance in respect of a second caree on the grounds that the Department's Medical Assessor 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...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The person concerned made an application for carer's allowance which was received on the 5th October 2010. On the 28th January 2011 the application was refused on the grounds that a medical assessor of this department expressed the opinion that the care recipient is not so disabled as to require full time care and attention as prescribed in social welfare legislation. The person concerned...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The person concerned applied for disability allowance on 23 August 2010. She was assessed with weekly means of €393.46 derived from her spouse's insurable employment. As this exceeded the statutory limit for payment of disability allowance for a family of her size, her claim was disallowed. A letter issued to her on 25 January 2011 advising her of this decision. If there has been any...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (2 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: Late last year agreement was reached between the Health Service Executive (HSE) and unions representing the Community Welfare Officers that the staff of the Community Welfare Service (CWS) would transfer to the Department of Social Protection with effect from 1 January 2011 on a secondment basis initially. The period of secondment is to last for 9 months until the end of September 2011....

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (2 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: Carer's allowance is a means tested income support payment for people who are providing full time care and attention to a person in need of such care. A person in receipt of carer's allowance can engage in employment, self-employment, training or education outside the home for up to 15 hours per week and still qualify for the payment. A qualifying condition for the payment of carer's...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (2 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that the person concerned should contact the Community Welfare Services and advise it of his preferred payment options.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (2 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 16 February 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 24 May...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (2 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence, disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision. Notification of the Appeals Officers decision was issued on 09 February 2011. Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of the Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (2 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: To qualify for jobseeker's allowance a person must be available for and actively seeking full-time work. The person concerned had been in receipt of jobseeker's allowance from 8 November 2010. During a review of his claim he indicated that he was not available for full-time work. His claim was disallowed with effect from 30 March 2011. An appeal has been lodged and he will be informed of...

Seanad: Community Employment Schemes (2 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: Thank you, a Chathaoirligh, for your remarks. It is very nice to be back in the Seanad today. I acknowledge Senator Pat O'Neill's interest in this area and thank him for raising the matter. It affords me an opportunity to inform the House of the roll-out of TÚS, a work placement initiative with the community and voluntary sectors. This will be an important initiative for persons who are...

Seanad: Community Employment Schemes (2 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Seanadóir maidir leis an cheist seo. I thank the Senator for raising this matter. Community employment has long been an important initiative for persons who are unemployed. As with a number of other interventions, community employment has evolved over a number of years, with eligibility broadened to provide working opportunities for a wide...

Seanad: Community Employment Schemes (2 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The Senator can take it as a given that all existing schemes will be kept under constant review. As stated, an unprecedented number of unemployed persons are looking for opportunities. Although the community employment scheme has its critics who say it is not sufficiently close to the labour market, many of us realise it offers very valuable experience to certain individuals in communities...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Order for Second Stage (7 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now." Question put and agreed to.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Second Stage (7 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." Reforming the social welfare system so that expenditure in social welfare is targeted to those who are most in need and to those who have contributed to the system is one of the key challenges facing this country. Maintaining citizens and taxpayers confidence in the fairness and effectiveness of the system is vital. Social welfare is a...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (7 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: Social Welfare legislation already provides the Health Service Executive with the authority to refuse payment of a rent supplement in the case of a person who has been required to deliver up possession of a dwelling provided by a housing authority or an approved body where the reasons for that requirement include anti-social behaviour or the interests of good estate management. In the case...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (7 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: As Minister for Social Protection I do not have a role in the administration of individual cases in regard to the operation of the Community Employment programme. The administration of individual cases under CE is a day-to-day matter for FÁS as part of its responsibility under the Labour Services Act, 1987, as amended by Part 3 of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2010. FÁS...

Written Answers — Free Travel Scheme: Free Travel Scheme (7 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The free travel scheme permits free travel on most CIE public transport services, Luas and a range of services offered by over 90 private operators in various parts of the country at an annual cost to the Exchequer of some €74 million in 2010. The Department received an application under the free travel scheme for the new route referred to by the Deputy in March 2011. The Department is not...