Results 16,501-16,520 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Rent Supplement Scheme: Rent Supplement Scheme (3 Jul 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 — Domiciliary Care Allowance: Domiciliary Care Allowance (3 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 18 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 17 January...

Written Answers — Carer's Allowance: Carer's Allowance (3 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for carer's allowance from the person in question. In the interests of fairness and equity, applications are dealt with by the Department as far as possible in the order in which they are received. On completion of the necessary work relating to all aspects of the case a decision will be made and the person concerned will be...

Written Answers — Domiciliary Care Allowance: Domiciliary Care Allowance (3 Jul 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 13th June 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...

Written Answers — Invalidity Pension: Invalidity Pension (3 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: Invalidity pension is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the contribution conditions. This department received a claim for invalidity pension for the person concerned. The medical evidence provided by the claimant in support of her claim was examined by a medical assessor who expressed the opinion that the person...

Written Answers — Domiciliary Care Allowance: Domiciliary Care Allowance (3 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer having fully considered all the available evidence, including that adduced at oral hearing, allowed the appeal of the person concerned who 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 responsible for...

Written Answers — Domiciliary Care Allowance: Domiciliary Care Allowance (3 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: On the basis of figures for the first half of 2012, the overall average times taken to process domiciliary care allowance appeals decided by summary decision was 29 weeks and 42 weeks for those requiring an oral hearing. These processing times are calculated from the registration date of the appeal to the date of its finalisation including, in cases requiring an oral hearing, the time...

Written Answers — School Meals Programme: School Meals Programme (3 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: The school meals programme operated by the Department provides funding towards the provision of food services for disadvantaged children through two schemes. The first is the statutory urban school meals scheme, operated by local authorities and part-financed by this Department. The second is the school meals local projects schemes through which funding is provided directly to participating...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (3 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: The company concerned had an internship placement for a 9 month period from 19th September 2011 to 15th June 2012. The company employs 10 full-time employees which allows them to facilitate one intern at any one time. It is a stipulation of the JobBridge programme that once an internship has surpassed 3 months in duration and the host organisation have reached their quota they cannot,...

Written Answers — Invalidity Pension: Invalidity Pension (3 Jul 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 on 19th July 2012. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department...

Written Answers — Jobseeker's Benefit: Jobseeker's Benefit (3 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: Budget 2012 provided for a change in payment week for jobseeker's benefit. Where a benefit recipient is working part-time or in casual employment their benefit entitlement will be calculated with reference to a 5 day, rather than a 6 day, week. In line with other Budget measures the effect of this measure will not impact on any person whose sole income is from social welfare. It will only...

Written Answers — Gender Recognition: Gender Recognition (3 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: In order to comply with the High Court judgement the Minister for Social Protection established the Gender Recognition Advisory Group (GRAG) in 2010 to advise the Government on the legislation required to give legal recognition to the acquired gender of transgender persons. The Report of the Group, which recommends a scheme for the legal recognition of transgender persons, was approved by...

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (4 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: Changes to PRSI rates and scope are a matter for consideration in a budgetary context. Question No. 129 withdrawn.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (4 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal, by the person concerned, was registered in that office on 25th 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. When received, the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (4 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: The agencies operating under the aegis of the Department are the Citizens Information Board and the Pensions Board. In addition, the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman comes under the remit of the Department. The staff of the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman are civil servants and, in this regard, they are required to comply with the policies on the management of sick leave as outlined in...

Written Answers — National Internship Scheme: National Internship Scheme (4 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: The National Internship Scheme (JobBridge) was launched in July 2011 and is open to organisations in the public, private and community and voluntary sectors. The Scheme provides internship opportunities of either 6 or 9 months for unemployed people of all skills levels. It aims to assist individuals in breaking the cycle where they are unable to get a job without experience by providing...

Written Answers — Disability Allowance: Disability Allowance (4 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 07th 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 and the...

Written Answers — Sick Pay Scheme: Sick Pay Scheme (4 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: The question of introducing a scheme of statutory sick pay, whereby employers would directly meet the costs of sick absence for an initial period of illness is being considered in the context of the need to reform the social welfare system to bring it into line with practices in other countries in this area; the need to address the deficit in the social insurance fund; the need to limit...

Written Answers — Rent Supplement Scheme: Rent Supplement Scheme (4 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: The person concerned has made an application for rent supplement and has been requested to provide further information in order to process her claim. The request for further information was sent on the 18th June 2012. A decision will be made on her application when the necessary information has been provided.

Written Answers — Prompt Payments: Prompt Payments (4 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection, in common with other Departments, submits a report on its payments performance each quarter to the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. These reports detail the value of payments made, and the number and percentage of payments made within 15 days, within 16-30 days and in excess of 30 days. These quarterly reports are published on the website...