Results 13,201-13,220 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (15 Dec 2011)

Joan Burton: In line with a commitment in the programme for Government, I established an advisory group on tax and social welfare in June of this year. Members of the group have expertise in economic and social policy as well as other relevant areas and include a mix of experience and expertise from within and outside the public sector. The group has been tasked with recommending cost-effective...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Dec 2011)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was refused carers allowance in August 2011 on the grounds that the care recipient is not so invalided or disabled as to require full time care and attention as laid down in legislation. The person in question requested a review of the decision and submitted additional medical evidence in support of her claim. A decision on the review will be made shortly and the person...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Dec 2011)

Joan Burton: The Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and decisions made on entitlement as quickly as possible. The average waiting time for new family income supplement (FIS) claims at the end of November is 17 weeks. The waiting time for renewal FIS claims is currently 8 - 9 weeks. At the end of November...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Dec 2011)

Joan Burton: As of November 25th 2011, there were 30,462 persons on the live register signing for Jobseeker Credits but not receiving a payment from my Department.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (15 Dec 2011)

Joan Burton: Individuals, including recipients of One Parent Family and Disability payments, who are employed on a Community Employment scheme and commenced that Community Employment placement before the 16 January 2012, will not be considered as a new applicant in the event that they are renewing their contract or receiving a Community Employment extension. They will therefore not be affected by the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (15 Dec 2011)

Joan Burton: There is no change to the payment of the One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) for existing customers on 1 January, 2012. Phasing arrangements for existing OFP customers are being considered. For new claimants, from April, 2012, the upper age limit of the youngest child will be 12 years. This is being reduced on a phased basis – to age 10 in 2013 and then to age 7 in 2014.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (15 Dec 2011)

Joan Burton: As a result of the decision to withdraw sections 8, 9 and 10 from the SW Bill 2011, the age limit for receipt of domiciliary care allowance (DCA) remains at 16 years. As the child referred to is over 16 years of age, DCA is no longer payable.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (15 Dec 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 (15 Dec 2011)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is in receipt of a mortgage interest supplement at the rate appropriate to their circumstances.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (15 Dec 2011)

Joan Burton: This domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was reviewed by one of the Department's Medical Assessors who found that the child was no longer medically eligible for the allowance. A letter issued on 12th October 2011 informing the person concerned of this decision and she subsequently lodged an appeal. The application will now be reviewed by another medical assessor and will be sent to the Social...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Dec 2011)

Joan Burton: The position is as outlined in reply to Question No. 36 of 8th of December 2011.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Dec 2011)

Joan Burton: The person concerned applied for mortgage interest supplement in September 2011. A decision will be made in this case on receipt of all the documentation requested.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Dec 2011)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the Department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the above named person. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. The average time taken to process a claim to completion, including assessment of the claimant's means, medical...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Dec 2011)

Joan Burton: In the twelve month period from 1 December 2010 to 30 November 2011 the Department processed 297,030 claims for illness benefit. 257,717 claims were approved for payment, 33,707 were disallowed and 5,606 were cancelled or withdrawn.

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (15 Dec 2011)

Joan Burton: Eligibility to access employment schemes such as Community Employment or JobBridge require participants to be in receipt of a social welfare payment for a prescribed period of time. This requirement exists as there is a significant cost to the State in the provision of these schemes. In addition, it is important from an activation perspective that the link is maintained between employment...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Joan Burton: In the context of a general discussion on the points raised by the two Senators, I agree the framing of the social welfare budget for 2012 has been exceptionally difficult. Ultimately, however, I had been left with a framework of cuts proposed by Fianna Fáil that ran between €622 million and well over €800 million. I do not suggest Fianna Fáil found implementing such measures to be...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Joan Burton: Due to house price inflation.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Joan Burton: It was four sheets of paper.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Joan Burton: I thank the Senator.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Joan Burton: Generally, they remain in employment and are working full time. These are not people on disability. They are people in work who are getting an additional pension while working.