Results 11,201-11,220 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (20 Jul 2011)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 192 together. The staffing needs of my Department are kept under constant review to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources. In the context of the Employment Control Framework targets, as determined by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, my Department will continue to source available staff by way of transfer and...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (20 Jul 2011)

Joan Burton: Creating jobs and tackling poverty are two of the key challenges that we face. It is essential that our tax and social protection systems play their part in addressing these issues and ensure that work is worthwhile. To this end, I recently set up an Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare. The first meeting of the Group took place on 30 June and I understand that the Group is considering...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (20 Jul 2011)

Joan Burton: While the primary responsibility for job creation rests with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and agencies under its remit, the Department of Social Protection has a role in supporting people from welfare to work and operates a range of employment support measures designed to encourage and support social welfare recipients of working age to reduce their dependency on welfare...

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (20 Jul 2011)

Joan Burton: The appropriations-in-aid (A-in-A) from the Social Insurance Fund to the votes of various departments and agencies in 2011 are outlined in the table below. Service provider Service provided 2011 Estimate€ m Department of Social Protection Administration of Social Insurance Fund schemes 177.28 Revenue Commissioners Collection of PRSI contributions 37.437 Department of Finance...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (20 Jul 2011)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34, 43, 44, 46 and 48 together. I have no plans to reconsider the changes to the fuel allowance and household benefits package which were announced last week. From September 2011 the fuel allowance is to be standardised at €20 per week, the rate currently received by the majority of customers, with no additional allowance for living in a smokeless area....

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (20 Jul 2011)

Joan Burton: From 1 January 2011 policy and funding responsibility for FÁS functions in relation to employment and community services was transferred to my Department in accordance with the provisions of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2010. This is a transitional arrangement. The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2010 provides for the transfer of all employment and community services,...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Jul 2011)

Joan Burton: As the Deputy is aware, the administrative arrangements for the 2011 back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme are different from those that applied in previous years. In previous years these applications were manually processed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) on behalf of the Department. For this year the majority of back to school clothing and footwear allowance...

Written Answers — Customer Service Standards: Customer Service Standards (20 Jul 2011)

Joan Burton: The Department's customer service standards are set out in its Customer Charter. Through regular consultation with customers and stakeholders, the commitments in the charter are measured to determine the extent to which these standards are achieved and these achievements are published every year in the Department's Annual Report. The Department's Customer Action Plan 2009-2011 builds on...

Written Answers — Wage-Setting Mechanisms: Wage-Setting Mechanisms (20 Jul 2011)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 51 together. The need for reform of the Joint Labour Committee system was clearly signalled in the Programme for Government. Following the commissioning of an Independent Review of Employment Regulation Orders (EROs) and Registered Employment Agreement (REAs) Wage Setting Mechanisms, my colleague, Richard Bruton, T.D., Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (20 Jul 2011)

Joan Burton: The Jobs Initiative recently announced by the Government contains additional labour market activation measures that aim to provide unemployed people with enhanced opportunities to maintain and develop their skills and competencies while also offering the possibility of securing valuable work experience. These measures will assist those seeking employment to maintain their links with the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (20 Jul 2011)

Joan Burton: The legislative basis which provides for the introduction of the Partial Capacity scheme is contained in the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2010, which was enacted by the Oireachtas in December 2010. A programme of work is currently underway to cater for the new scheme. This includes the preparation of Regulations, as required by legislation, which will set out the rates of...

Written Answers — Personal Public Service Numbers: Personal Public Service Numbers (20 Jul 2011)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection is responsible for maintaining the national database of Personal Public Service (PPS) numbers which are stored on the Department's Central Records System (CRS). ere are currently 7.4 million customer records on CRS each of which is identified by a unique PPS number. The PPS number in its current format was originally a tax reference number. With the...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (20 Jul 2011)

Joan Burton: The Data Protection Commissioner is fully aware of the Department's investment in technology and how it is prioritising the security of customer information in its latest generation ICT systems. He has this knowledge from his audit of the Department in 2008 and subsequent ongoing progress reports and meetings with my officials. The Department continues to work closely with the Data Protection...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Jul 2011)

Joan Burton: The number of applications received for each of the main disability schemes in 2010 is set out in the table below. All applications for disability allowance, invalidity pension and domiciliary care allowance are desk assessed by the department's medical assessors who examine all the relevant medical reports and evidence submitted by the applicant. The practise of referring disability...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (20 Jul 2011)

Joan Burton: The National Internship Scheme JobBridge is a key part of the Government's Jobs Initiative. It will provide up to 5,000 unemployed people with an internship opportunity ranging from 6 to 9 months in an organisation in the private, public or community and voluntary sectors. During this time participants will receive an allowance, which will consist of a €50 per week top up on their existing...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (20 Jul 2011)

Joan Burton: There are no separate figures available for the Dublin north-west region. To date (1 June 2009 to 18 July 2011) there have been 310 starts on the work placement programme in the Dublin north region (Balbriggan, Baldoyle, Blanchardstown, Coolock, Finglas, Swords). These posts have been provided by 213 providers. There are currently 127 participants on the programme in the Dublin north region.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Jul 2011)

Joan Burton: I have no plans to reconsider the changes to the fuel allowance and household benefits package which were announced last week. From September 2011 the fuel allowance is to be standardised at €20 per week, the rate currently received by the majority of customers, with no additional allowance for living in a smokeless area. The cost of the telephone allowance will be reduced following...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (20 Jul 2011)

Joan Burton: Qualified adult dependants, aged 25 and over, of eligible persons may avail of the spousal swap option. This involves the person exchanging his/her FÁS place with his/her dependant with the dependant inheriting the entitlements of the eligible person. Essentially, a person who is offered a position on a relevant FÁS scheme can choose not to avail of it and offer the opportunity instead to...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (20 Jul 2011)

Joan Burton: I understand that the Deputy's office has confirmed to my office that this question relates solely to the operation of the central Rents Unit in Dublin. The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes rent supplement, is currently administered on behalf of the Department by the Community Welfare Services division of the Health Service Executive. Late last year agreement was...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Jul 2011)

Joan Burton: The administrative arrangements for the 2011 back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme differ from those that applied in previous years. For this year, the majority of back to school clothing and footwear allowance entitlements were fully automated with no application form required from customers. For some people on the basis of the information available it was not possible to...