Results 15,601-15,620 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (8 May 2012)
Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an oral hearing of the appeal of the person concerned took place on 23rd April 2012 and the Appeals Officer is now considering the appeal in the light of all the evidence submitted, including that adduced at the hearing. The person concerned will be notified of the Appeals Officer decision when the appeal has been determined. The Social...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (8 May 2012)
Joan Burton: Since the launch of the Strategic Management Initiative in February 1994, the provision of high quality customer service has been an essential element of the modern Public Service. Delivering Better Government published in May 1996, recommended the introduction of a Quality Service Initiative for the customers of the Civil Service and in 1997 the Quality Customer Service (QCS) Initiative was...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (8 May 2012)
Joan Burton: Taking account of the unusual circumstances of retained fire brigade personnel and general efforts to develop and standardise our jobseeker schemes, a departmental group was established in late 2011 to examine the position of these workers vis-Ã-vis jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker's allowance. While this examination has been largely completed, a number of issues arising from it are being...
- Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (8 May 2012)
Joan Burton: The number of places allocated to each of the Community Employment Schemes currently running in County Louth is set out in the table attached. It should be noted that the decrease in places in 2012 is as a result of the closure of one element of two different projects and is not related to budgetary restrictions. It is intended to use these places to initiate a new scheme in Drogheda which...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Offices: Social Welfare Offices (8 May 2012)
Joan Burton: The table below details the vacancies in the locations mentioned. Location Grade Duration of vacancy Mullingar Local Office 1 Higher Executive Officer1 Executive Officer (Inspector) 1st March 2012 to date1st March 2012 to date Athlone Local Office 1 Staff Officer September 2011 to date Longford Local Office 1 Higher Executive Officer (Inspector)1 Higher Executive Officer1 Staff Officer1...
- Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (8 May 2012)
Joan Burton: The Department has a major programme of business, organisational and technological change underway to enable it to modernise the services which it provides to customers. The Department engages consultants for work which comes within the definition of 'consultancy' set out in Department of Finance guidelines - where a person or organisation provides intellectual or knowledge based services...
- Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (8 May 2012)
Joan Burton: The Department spent a total of â¬23,407 including VAT on graphic design and marketing services since February 2011. All of these costs were incurred under one contract with a Dublin-based company, Creative Inc. I do not draw down any Ministerial Allowances. Questions Nos. 224 and 225 withdrawn.
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 May 2012)
Joan Burton: The information sought by the Deputy is as follows: Claims Received Claims Cleared Claims Awarded (1 June to 31 Dec) Claims Disallowed (1 June to 31 Dec) 2011 (total) 14,621 10,508 Not available Not available 1 Jan â 31 May 6,155 3,704 Not available Not available 1 June â 31 Dec 8,466 6,804 2,107 4,697 A breakdown of claims awarded and disallowed in 2011 is available only for those...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 May 2012)
Joan Burton: The Department is committed to delivering the best possible service to its customers. In the interests of fairness and equity applications are processed, as far as possible, in order of the date on which they were received in the Department. A major service delivery modernisation project is underway to address the large increase in the claim-load and to improve the efficiency of...
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 May 2012)
Joan Burton: Since 29 February 2012, one member of staff - the Chief Medical Adviser in my Department - has been retained on a temporary contract beyond retirement on a salary scale of â¬83,887.30 â â¬102,152 per annum. His salary is abated to take account of his pension rate of payment. The decision to re-employ the Chief Medical Adviser was taken due to his specific skills and experience, the...
- Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (8 May 2012)
Joan Burton: The person concerned was on a community employment (CE) scheme in Co. Kerry from 20th July 2009 to 16th July 2010 with eligibility for one year. As she is currently not in receipt of any payment from the Department, she is not eligible for further CE participation at this time.
- Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (8 May 2012)
Joan Burton: A financial review of Community Employment (CE) Schemes is underway. This review process allows for schemes to engage with local officials in the finalisation of their respective budgets and for my Department to bring forward improvements to the overall operation of Community Employment which will improve the budgetary situation for schemes. All sponsors and projects have been met with and...
- Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (8 May 2012)
Joan Burton: The National Internship Scheme was launched on 1st 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 (8 May 2012)
Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 18th January 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 have been received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office and...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 May 2012)
Joan Burton: As the person concerned has been in receipt of jobseeker's allowance for more than fifteen months she is considered to be long term unemployed. Payment will continue as long as the person concerned meets the conditions for entitlement to the allowance.
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (8 May 2012)
Joan Burton: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) is designed to provide immediate and flexible assistance to those in need who do not qualify for payment under other State schemes. There are currently approximately 33,700 customers in receipt of a basic weekly payment under the SWA scheme for which the Government has provided â¬160 million for 2012. Apart from the excluded categories, anyone...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 May 2012)
Joan Burton: Eligibility to invalidity pension is determined by the severity and expected duration of a medical condition. The Medical Assessors involved did not dispute the diagnosis of the treating physician, rather they expressed a medical opinion in accordance with the Department's evidence based medical protocols and guidelines.
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (8 May 2012)
Joan Burton: Following an appeal by the person concerned against a decision to disallow her application for one-parent family payment a review of her claim has been carried out and the case has now been referred to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). The SWAO will be in touch with the person concerned in due course.
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 May 2012)
Joan Burton: The person concerned is in receipt of the domiciliary care allowance and has raised a number of general questions in relation to the role and operation of the scheme. The following general information in relation to the scheme addresses the issues raised. Domiciliary care allowance (DCA) can be paid in respect of children under 16 years of age who have a disability so severe that it requires...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (8 May 2012)
Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 20th 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 have been received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office and...