Results 10,821-10,840 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (22 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is employed on a temporary contract in the Community Welfare Service with the Health Service Executive, and is not comprehended by the protocols governing the transfer of the Community Welfare Service to my Department. Accordingly, they cannot be considered for a transfer.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (22 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection is not identified in the Good Friday Agreement as one of the six areas for North/South Cooperation and therefore no special unit has been set up within the Department.

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (23 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: In order to offer an internship opportunity under the national internship scheme, host organisations must be legal entities. This criterion is in place to prevent possible abuses of the scheme such as displacement and deadweight and to ensure that interns receive a quality internship. Members of the Oireachtas will, therefore, be ineligible to participate in the national internship scheme...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (23 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: There are no specific schemes in the Department that are targeted at those in the Arts nor are there any plans to introduce such a scheme. However there are a number of measures that are applicable, on a non-sectoral specific basis, to a range of unemployed, or underemployed workers, along with those who pursue self-employment but receive low income from same. Unemployed persons may qualify...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (23 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that the person concerned has appealed the decision to refuse supplementary welfare allowance to the HSE's designated Appeals Officer. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome in due course. Questions Nos. 99 and 100 withdrawn.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (23 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was in receipt of jobseeker's allowance until 10 May 2011. His claim was closed on 6 May 2011 as he submitted an application for Illness Benefit (IB) with effect from 21 April 2011. His IB claim is under consideration. In order to apply for Disability Allowance (DA) it is necessary to complete the relevant application form DA1. This should be certified by a GP and...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (23 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: Invalidity Pension is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the contribution conditions. Medical eligibility for invalidity pension is not based on a set of prescribed illnesses. Rather, it is assessed on a case by case basis by a medical assessor of the department, based upon a GP report and other relevant medical...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (23 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that the person concerned is in receipt of rent supplement of €135 per week which is the maximum amount payable appropriate to her circumstances after an overpayment deduction of €20 per week has been applied. The HSE further advised that the person concerned has appealed the overpayment deduction to the HSE Appeals Office but that no...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (23 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The national digital switchover strategy is a matter for the Department of Communications, Energy and National Resources. That Department is to deliver a substantial information campaign providing households with information on the digital switchover and on their options for going digital. I understand this information campaign will start in October. In conjunction with this, the...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (23 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: FÁS Employment Services provide a fully integrated range of services and supports to employers and jobseekers nationally. Responsibility for FÁS employment services has been transferred to my Department whilst my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, retains responsibility for policy in respect of training services. In order to avail of these services and identify any training...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (23 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 Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (23 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 9th June 2011. Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of the Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (23 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: Child benefit is a universal payment that assists parents in the cost associated with raising children and it contributes towards alleviating child poverty. It is paid monthly in respect of all children up to the age of 16 years and in respect of children over 16 years of age up to their 18th birthday who are in full time education or have a disability. There are no plans for extending the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (23 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The Health Service Executive (HSE) advised that the persons concerned inquired as to their possible entitlement for rent supplement in respect of their new address. The couple were informed that, based on their household income, they would qualify for a rent supplement of €0.80 (80 cent) per week. The HSE further advised that the persons concerned did not follow up this inquiry with a...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (23 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that a disability allowance appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 22 November 2010. 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...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Second Stage (23 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: Thank you, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, for your remarks. It gives me great pleasure to present the Bill to the Seanad. Ba mhaith liom anois cur síos a dhéanamh ar chuid de phríomh ghnéithe an Bhille. I would now like to outline some of the main provisions of the Bill. Getting people back to work is one of the key challenges facing the country. Fundamental to addressing this challenge is...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Second Stage (23 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Second Stage (23 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: Absolutely.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Second Stage (23 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: We will amend people's right to offset it.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Second Stage (23 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: Pull out the Fianna Fáil posters with the €300 per week. The Labour Party did not go down that road.