Results 15,081-15,100 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Further Education and Training Programmes: Further Education and Training Programmes (24 Apr 2012)

Joan Burton: In 2012, at a time of reducing resources the Department of Education will fund over 450,000 education and training places across the range of provision in the higher education, further education and training sectors. The main providers of these places - Vocational Education Committees (VECs) and FÁS - have been notified of the requirement to prioritise places specifically for those on the...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (24 Apr 2012)

Joan Burton: The Government published the Action Plan for Jobs 2012 in February of this year. A progress report, relating to the first three months was published on 20 April 2012. This report outlined the Department has indicated a target of 2,000 people for approval under the Employer Job (PRSI) Incentive scheme in 2012.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Apr 2012)

Joan Burton: At the end of March 2012 there were 7,040 Invalidity Pension (IP) claims registered and awaiting decision. Approximately 280 new IP claims are received each week. The current average time to award is 32 weeks. However, it should be noted that this includes the time taken to decide EU & bilateral cases which have a significantly longer processing time. It is not possible at present to...

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (24 Apr 2012)

Joan Burton: A redundancy lump sum claim in respect of the person concerned has been awarded and cheque payment will issue in the coming days.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (24 Apr 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, has disallowed the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (24 Apr 2012)

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 and 2011 when the intake rose to 32,432 and 31,241...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (24 Apr 2012)

Joan Burton: The National Internship Scheme was launched on 1 July 2011. It provides internship opportunities of either 6 or 9 months for unemployed individuals on the Live Register, at all skills levels. The aim of JobBridge is to assist individuals in breaking the cycle where they are unable to get a job without experience. It provides them with an opportunity to gain valuable experience, relevant...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (24 Apr 2012)

Joan Burton: Self-employed persons are liable for PRSI at the Class S rate of 4% which entitles them to access long-term benefits such as State pension (contributory) and widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's pension (contributory). Ordinary employees who have access to the full range of social insurance benefits pay Class A PRSI at the rate of 4%. In addition, their employers make a PRSI...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (24 Apr 2012)

Joan Burton: The National Internship Scheme was launched on 1 July 2011. It provides internship opportunities of either 6 or 9 months for unemployed individuals on the Live Register, at all skills levels. The aim of JobBridge is to assist individuals in breaking the cycle where they are unable to get a job without experience. It provides them with an opportunity to gain valuable experience, relevant...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (24 Apr 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 29 October 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 24...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (24 Apr 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 3 February 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. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 21 March...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (24 Apr 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 10 January 2012. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Social Welfare Services on the grounds of appeal be sought. When received, the appeal in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer for...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Apr 2012)

Joan Burton: If a part-time employee is claiming a jobseeker's payment for a period which includes a bank holiday for which they are not entitled to a payment from their employer, then they will be entitled to jobseeker's benefit or allowance for that day. The determination of whether a person is entitled to payment from their employer in respect of a bank holiday is governed by the Organisation of...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 Apr 2012)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 426 and 441 together. Eight retired former public servants were recruited on short term contracts in the Department of Social Protection from June 2010. These officers were employed on a part time basis as Appeals Officers, and their contracts terminated at the end of December 2011. One of the Department's Medical Assessors was retained on a temporary...

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (24 Apr 2012)

Joan Burton: I currently have no plans to change the qualifying conditions for the wage subsidy scheme for people with disabilities. However, my Department Officials monitor the scheme on an on-going basis which may result in the qualifying conditions being reviewed at some future date.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (24 Apr 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 — Regulatory and Poverty Impact Assessments: Regulatory and Poverty Impact Assessments (24 Apr 2012)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection undertakes Regulatory Impact Analyses and Poverty Impact Assessments in accordance with the relevant guidelines. Regulatory Impact Analyses (RIA) are carried out in accordance with the latest guidelines published by the Department of the Taoiseach, and Poverty Impact Assessments (PIA) are carried out in accordance with the latest guidelines for such...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (24 Apr 2012)

Joan Burton: As there is a very tight timeframe between the finalisation of the measures to be included in the Budget 2012 package, in early December 2011, and the implementation date of many of these measures in early January 2012, there was an extremely short period of time available in which to draft the Social Welfare Bill 2011 and to have this Bill enacted by the Oireachtas before the Christmas...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (24 Apr 2012)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received on 24th May 2010. 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 8th July 2010 refusing the allowance. The person concerned subsequently lodged an appeal against this decision. He was informed by the Social Welfare...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (24 Apr 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 21 November 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 23...