Results 17,321-17,340 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Numbers (25 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: Staff in my Department remain entitled to leave of absences for career breaks. The granting of a leave of absence for a career break is, in the first instance, the responsibility of local management who are required to assess the application having regard to the business demands of their area of responsibility.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (25 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. An invalidity pension for the person in question was refused by a deciding officer as a medical assessor having evaluated the medical evidence provided by the applicant, is of the opinion that she does not satisfy the medical...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Sick Pay Scheme Expenditure (25 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: The government is considering the introduction of a scheme of statutory sick pay at this time for a number of reasons – chiefly as a measure to help in addressing the growing deficit in the Social Insurance Fund (which stood at €1.5bn in 2011 and is expected to rise to €3.0bn in 2019 as outlined in the Actuarial Review of the fund which I launched last week), and as a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (25 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer having fully considered all the available evidence disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision on 20th September 2012. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Appeals (25 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 3rd August 2012 and will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The person concerned may qualify for Jobbridge and should contact Department of...

An Bille um an Aonú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Leanaí) 2012: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: I wish to share my time with Deputies John O'Mahony and Peter Fitzpatrick. The journalist Olivia O'Leary wrote a very moving column the other day describing how as a young reporter she had once written a series on adoption for The Irish Times. She rang a nun, an admirable woman, who was in charge of an orphanage for girls in Dublin. She told Ms O'Leary how sometimes in the middle of the...

An Bille um an Aonú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Leanaí) 2012: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: I wish to share my time with Deputies John O'Mahony and Peter Fitzpatrick. The journalist Olivia O'Leary wrote a very moving column the other day describing how as a young reporter she had once written a series on adoption for The Irish Times. She rang a nun, an admirable woman, who was in charge of an orphanage for girls in Dublin. She told Ms O'Leary how sometimes in the middle of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Unemployment (26 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: In response to the proposals made by President Barroso, action teams composed of national and Commission officials were set up in a number of Member states to re-orientate existing EU structural funding towards youth employment initiatives. As a direct result of the work of the action team for Ireland, €25 million of funding was re-allocated to the integrated Youthreach programme which...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (26 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: The homemaker's scheme makes qualification for State pension (contributory) easier for those who take time out of the workforce for caring duties. The scheme which was introduced in and took effect from 1994 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (26 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: According to the records of the Department of Social Protection the person concerned has not applied for back to education allowance and has not been in contact since terminating his jobseekers allowance claim in April 2011. The client should contact his Local DSP Office to clarify his entitlements, if any.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (26 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: The aim of CE remains as an active labour market programme with the emphasis on progression into employment and/or further education and training. The programme is managed within this context, with consideration to the availability of resources and the needs of participants and the community. The CE programme is one of a range of training and employment programmes available for unemployed...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Eligibility (26 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. One of the contribution conditions for invalidity pension is that the claimant must have 48 contributions paid or credited in the last complete contribution year before the date of claim. Class A, E or H contributions only are...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Applications (26 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: The person concerned submitted an application for diet supplement on 20th July, 2012. He was refused on the grounds that the diet relating to his medical condition was removed from the list of qualifying diets in 2007.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Applications (26 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: This application for carer’s allowance has been awarded at a rate of €102 per week. This payment will commence on 27th September 2012. The person in question will continue to receive their one parent family payment along with this half rate carer’s allowance. Arrears due from the date of application less any deductions necessary will also issue shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Treatment Benefit Scheme Applications (26 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is qualified for a hearing aid grant under the department’s treatment benefit scheme; however an application has yet to be received. She should contact her audiologist, who will complete the relevant application form.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Treatment Benefit Scheme Applications (26 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: The person concerned has not made an application under the treatment benefit scheme. However, she does not fulfil the qualifying conditions for the PRSI-based scheme operated by the Department and as a result is not entitled to a grant towards the cost of a hearing aid. The person concerned may have an entitlement under the medical card scheme operated by the HSE. Her local HSE office will...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (26 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal in respect of the person concerned was registered in that office on 9th 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. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (26 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance was received on the 25th October 2011. This application was referred to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors who found that the child was not medically eligible for the allowance. A letter issued on the 12th January 2012 advising of the decision. The person concerned has appealed the decision, as part of the appeal process the case...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Rates (26 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: The charging of PRSI is based on an employee’s earnings in any contribution week in which earnings derived from insurable employment exceed €38. The number of contribution weeks in any year is relevant for determining the individual’s future entitlement to social insurance benefits and in particular entitlement to short-term benefits. Any proposal to alter the basis for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code Review (26 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 to 102, inclusive, together. In general the current system of social insurance operates on a mandatory basis only and does not provide for voluntary participation on the part of contributors. 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...