Results 13,361-13,380 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (11 Jan 2012)

Joan Burton: There is no record of a carer's allowance application ever having been received in respect of the above named. On 9 January 2012, a claim form and return envelope issued to him at the address supplied. On its completion and return to carer's allowance section, his application will be processed.

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (11 Jan 2012)

Joan Burton: Following changes to Community Employment schemes announced in Budget 2012, the Government is fully committed to the protection and development of community and social employment initiatives. A financial review of CE schemes will commence immediately. No Community Employment scheme will close pending the outcome of this financial review. The purpose of the review will be to establish the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (11 Jan 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was examined by a Medical Assessor of the Social Welfare Services who was of the opinion that she was capable of work. She appealed this decision and in that context she was examined by another Medical Assessor who also expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. In the light of this, it...

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (11 Jan 2012)

Joan Burton: The three statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department are the Social Welfare Tribunal, the Citizens Information Board and the Pensions Board. In addition, the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman comes under the remit of the Department but it does not have a board. Social Welfare Tribunal The Social Welfare Tribunal consists of a Chairperson and four ordinary members. Unlike...

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (12 Jan 2012)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 155 together. Responsibility for the processing of claims under the Redundancy Payments Scheme transferred from the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Innovation to the Department of Social Protection in January 2011. The purpose of the Redundancy Payments Scheme is to compensate workers under the Redundancy Payments Acts 1967 to 2007 for the loss of...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (12 Jan 2012)

Joan Burton: Persons with a disability, who meet the entry criteria, are able to participate in the full range of programmes and services available from my Department and the Department of Education and Skills. Persons with a disability may call into one of my Department's Employment Service Office or Local Employment Service Office to meet with an Employment Services Officer or Mediator who will provide...

Written Answers — Jobs Initiative: Jobs Initiative (12 Jan 2012)

Joan Burton: The National Internship Scheme provides internship opportunities of either 6 or 9 months for unemployed individuals on the Live Register, in organisations in the private, public and community voluntary sectors. The scheme is limited to individuals who are currently on the Live Register and have been in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance/Benefit or are signing on for credits for at least 3 of...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (12 Jan 2012)

Joan Burton: The statistics requested are in the tabular statement hereunder. The number of disability allowance applications that were successful at the first instance is not available. Disability Allowance Applications/Appeals 2007 - 2011 Number received Number Awarded No. of Appeals Received No. of Appeals Allowed No of Appeals Partially Allowed 2007 19,989 11,684 2,938 536 35 2008 21,358...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (12 Jan 2012)

Joan Burton: The Department has been accepting new claims for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) since 1 April 2009. Statistics relating to the allowance for the period prior to April 2009 are a matter for the HSE, the previous administrators of the scheme. The number of applicants for DCA that were received, awarded and refused in each year from April 2009 to date is set out in table 1 below while...

Written Answers — National Internship Scheme: National Internship Scheme (12 Jan 2012)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection has invited tenders for consultancy for an evaluation of the JobBridge, National Internship Scheme for the Department. The Department has received a significant number of tender responses and is currently in the process of reviewing and scoring these tender responses. It is envisaged that a successful vendor will be selected in the coming weeks. Remit of...

Written Answers — National Internship Scheme: National Internship Scheme (12 Jan 2012)

Joan Burton: JobBridge, the National Internship Scheme, came into operation on 1 July 2011. As of Wednesday, 11 January, a total of 3,916 internships have commenced. The first internships did not commence until mid July. As JobBridge internships are for either 6 or 9 months it is too early to report on the number of interns who have completed their internship. It is also too early to determine the...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (12 Jan 2012)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 144 together. The Department of Social Protection operates a range of employment support measures designed to encourage and support social welfare recipients of working age to reduce their dependency on welfare payments. Individuals that are in receipt of a social welfare payment other than a jobseekers payment can avail of the back to education...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (12 Jan 2012)

Joan Burton: The metrics used in my Department in relation to claim processing are Awarded, Disallowed or Withdrawn. An unemployed person may submit several claims for payment under the Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker's Allowance schemes over a period, for example if they move in and out of employment and having regard to the level of social insurance cover they have at the time they become unemployed....

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (12 Jan 2012)

Joan Burton: Recognising that the State pension (contributory) is a very valuable benefit, it is important to ensure that those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund (SIF) over their working lives. Aligning the rate of pension with the contributions made ensures that those who contribute more during a working life benefit more in retirement than those with lesser...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (12 Jan 2012)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for carer's allowance from the above named person. In the interests of fairness and equity and unless there are exceptional circumstances, applications are dealt with in order of date of receipt in the department. On completion of the necessary investigations relating to all aspects of his claim a decision will be made and the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (12 Jan 2012)

Joan Burton: Carers play a particularly important role in society which the Government acknowledges through a range of supports, including carer's allowance, half-rate carer's allowance, carer's benefit, the respite care grant, free travel and household benefits. The means test for carer's allowance is one of the most generous means tests in the social welfare system, most notably with regard to spouse's...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (12 Jan 2012)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer having fully considered all the available evidence disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of the Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by the Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new facts....

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (12 Jan 2012)

Joan Burton: Two redundancy rebate claims in respect of the company concerned were received on 30 May 2011. Redundancy rebate claims received at the start of May 2011 are currently being processed.

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (12 Jan 2012)

Joan Burton: There were initial issues with the online application facility since it went live on 3 October 2011, but most of these have been resolved. Any remaining issues are being addressed. We are conscious, however, that the application can be improved and the Department is developing plans to do this over the next few weeks.

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (12 Jan 2012)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 153 together. Tús, the community work placement initiative introduced during 2011, will provide up to 5,000 short-term, quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year when fully operational. This initiative is being delivered through the network of local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta and, at the end...