Results 14,681-14,700 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Garda Vetting of Personnel: Garda Vetting of Personnel (21 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: Following advice from the Central Garda Vetting Unit in Thurles, it was agreed by senior management in the Department of Social Protection (DSP) that the restriction in the previous Garda Vetting Procedures for Community Employment and Job Initiative Programmes that require Garda Vetting for those applicants on programmes which deal with children and vulnerable adults which stated that:...

Written Answers — Disability Allowance: Disability Allowance (22 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 20 September 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 16...

Written Answers — Disability Allowance: Disability Allowance (22 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was refused Disability Allowance by the Deciding Officer following an assessment by a Medical Assessor of the Department who expressed the opinion that she was medically unsuitable for Disability Allowance. An appeal was opened and in the context of that appeal, her case was reviewed by a second Medical Assessor who also expressed the opinion that she was unsuitable for...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (22 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: Fibromyalgia is accepted as a certifiable medical condition. Eligibility to illness related benefit / allowance is determined by its severity and expected duration. The medical assessment is made in accordance with the Department's evidence based medical protocols and guidelines.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (22 Mar 2012)

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. 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. Following the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (22 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: The homemaker's scheme was introduced in 1994 to make qualification for State pension (contributory) (SPT) easier for those who take time out of the workforce for caring duties. The scheme allows up to 20 years spent caring for children under 12 years of age or incapacitated adults to be disregarded when a person's social insurance record is being averaged for pension purposes. The scheme...

Written Answers — Family Income Supplement: Family Income Supplement (22 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: The average time taken to award new Family Income Supplement (FIS) claims in 2009 was 8 weeks, in 2010 was 10 weeks and in 2011 was 17 weeks. The average time taken to award renewal FIS claims in 2009 was 8 weeks, in 2010 it was 10 weeks and in 2011 it was 18 weeks. The average time taken in January 2012 to award a new FIS claim was 19 weeks and to award a renewal FIS claim was 20 weeks. The...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (22 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: Figures in regard to the average length of time taken to process appeals, broken down by scheme, and by type of decision are given in the tables attached to this reply. In an effort to reduce the processing times, the Department appointed 12 additional Appeals Officers during 2010 and 2011. In addition, a further 10 Appeals Officers, formerly employed by the Community Welfare Services...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (22 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence, including that adduced at oral hearing, partially allowed the appeal of the person concerned. 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 — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (22 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 134 together. The matter in question has been referred to the Pension Service of the Department of Works and Pensions, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England. The Pension Services of the Department of Work and Pensions will contact the person concerned directly in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Rent Supplement Scheme: Rent Supplement Scheme (22 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: The purpose of rent supplement is to provide short-term income support to eligible tenants living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. Since 2005 rent supplement expenditure has increased from €369 million to a provisional outturn of €503 million in 2011....

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (22 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: There is no legislative basis for adding interest to statutory redundancy payments and no interest is paid.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: The provisions of the Prompt Payment legislation do not apply to the payment of social welfare benefits claims or claims for statutory redundancy.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (22 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The overall aim is to provide short term assistance, and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (27 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 22nd March 2012. 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. When received, the appeal in question will be referred in due course to an...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received on 11th November 2011. This application was referred to one of the Department's Medical Assessors who found that the child was not medically eligible for DCA. A letter issued on 7th February 2012 refusing the allowance. The person concerned subsequently requested a review of this decision and supplied additional medical...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 287 and 288 together. The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The overall aim is to provide short term assistance, and not to act...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (27 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned has not been received by that office. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Written Answers — Industrial Disputes: Industrial Disputes (27 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: Insolvency payment claims, in relation to employees of the company, were received online by the Department on 14 February 2012. The Department is processing January claims at present.

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (27 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: A redundancy lump sum claim in respect of the person concerned was awarded on 29 February 2012 and a cheque payment issued directly to the person concerned.