Results 17,141-17,160 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: Under social welfare legislation, certain payments received by way of pension are excluded from income on which PRSI is charged. As payments received under the Early Retirement Scheme are regarded as payments received by way of pension, they are not subject to PRSI. The operation of the Early Retirement Scheme is a matter for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Review (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: The review of the operation of the domiciliary care allowance scheme, announced to the house in May 2012, has commenced and is progressing according to plan. The membership of the group under the chair, Ms. Sylda Langford, is comprised of representatives from the Department of Social Protection, other relevant Departments/public bodies, an expert with relevant experience in the area and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (18 Sep 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 was of the opinion that the person...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: It appears from the information collected to date that the person concerned does not meet the qualifying criteria set out in the statutory regulations in relation to Rent Supplement. Some further additional information is being sought at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal, by the person concerned, was registered in that office on 13 July 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 will make...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Payments (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: Child benefit is payable in respect of children who are ordinarily resident in the State. In the case of the person concerned payment of child benefit was suspended from September 2012 as a result of a report from the Garda National Immigration Bureau stating that the family was out of the State. In order to establish the on going entitlement to child benefit, documentary evidence is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Applications (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: The records of the Department show that no current application for a one parent family payment has been submitted by the person concerned.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit Appeals (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 7th August 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 the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: My Department does not rely solely on printed material to communicate information about social welfare schemes or changes to schemes. All relevant information is published on the Department’s website www.welfare.ie and updated regularly. During 2012 specific information campaigns were undertaken to inform customers of changes to State pension (contributory), State pension...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: On 6 April 2012, the minimum social insurance contributions required to qualify for a State pension (contributory/transition) increased from 260 contributions to 520 contributions. This change had been provided for in legislation since 1997 and has featured in all of my Department’s relevant communications, information leaflets, booklets and on the Department’s website since...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: A number of minimum paid contributions are required to qualify for a State pension (contributory). The change introducing an increase in the minimum number of paid contributions was provided for in legislation in 1997. The first part of this measure, which increased the minimum qualifying contributions for State pension contributory from 156 to 260, was implemented by a previous government...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: Because the State pension is a very valuable benefit it is important to ensure that those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund over their working lives. The sustainability of pensions into the future is important given the changing demographics, the increased numbers of those over 65 and increased longevity and reduced dependency ratio. That is why...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: The sustainability of pensions into the future is important given the changing demographics, the increased numbers of those over 65 and increased longevity and reduced dependency ratio. Because the State pension is a very valuable benefit it is important to ensure that those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund over their working lives. That is why there...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Interest Supplement Expenditure (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: The Estimates of Expenditure for 2013 for the Department of Social Protection, including the estimate for the mortgage interest supplement scheme, are currently under preparation and will be published at Budget time next December.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Appeals (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is in receipt of rent supplement of €283.00 per month which is currently under review. The person concerned has been requested to provide information in order to facilitate the review.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (18 Sep 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. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officers decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is in receipt of Rent Supplement from April 2010. During a recent entitlement review details of earnings from part time employment came to light. This income will not disqualify the person concerned from Rent Supplement but will lead to a change in entitlement. This review is still on going as other information requested is still outstanding.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question. The medical assessment has been completed and the application is awaiting examination by a deciding officer for a means assessment and a full decision. The application will be processed as quickly as possible and when a decision is made the person concerned will be notified...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Fraud Cost (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: My Department has a target of reviewing 985,000 individual welfare claims and achieving €645m in control savings in 2012, an increase of €105m on the 2011 target. At the end of July, over €400m in control savings were reported and over 650,000 reviews had been carried out. I fully expect that my Department will achieve the 2012 control targets. It is important to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Sick Pay Scheme Reform (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: There are a number of compelling reasons why the Government is considering the introduction of a scheme of statutory sick pay at this time – firstly, as a measure to help in addressing the growing deficit in the social Insurance Fund; secondly, as a measure to limit progression from short-term illness to long-term illness or disability; and thirdly, to bring Ireland into line with...