Results 17,501-17,520 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (2 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: The State plays a major role in the private rental market through the rent supplement scheme. As the Department currently funds approximately 30% of the private rented sector it is essential that State support for rents are kept under review and reflect current market conditions. There are approximately 90,000 persons in receipt of rent supplement for which the Government has provided...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (2 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: There are a number of means tested, social assistance scheme operated by my Department. For means test purposes, account is taken of the income, including any income from employment, and the assets of both the claimant and his or her spouse/partner. The manner in which income of various types is taken into account is designed to encourage people to take up work. Where a claimant or his or...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (2 Oct 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: Carer's Allowance Application Numbers (2 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: The Department is committed to delivering the best possible service to its customers. Currently the average time taken to award a carer’s allowance application is 28 weeks. I acknowledge that the time taken to process carer’s allowance claims at present is not satisfactory but I am satisfied that the Department is taking appropriate action to resolve the situation. ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Modernisation Projects Expenditure (2 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: The Department has been undertaking service delivery modernisation projects for over a decade and would not be able to meet increased demand with reduced resources without investing in this programme of work across all its services. In delivering services to its clients, the Department administers over 70 separate schemes and services which impact on the lives of almost every person in the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (2 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: A total of 2,359 appeals in relation to carers allowance/benefit were received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office in 2011, which were added to the 2,218 on hands on the 1st January of that year. A total of 3,369 were finalised during the year leaving a total of 1,208 awaiting a decision on 1st January 2012. I am advised that the reasons for an appeal, including medical, are not recorded...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (2 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: The number of pending carer’s allowance applications awaiting decision as of 31st December 2011 was 7,765.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Guardian's Payment Appeals (2 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 21st September 2012 and the case 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 Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Eligibility (2 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: The Habitual Residence Condition (HRC) helps protect Ireland's social welfare system, while at the same time ensuring that those whose cases are appropriate to the system have access to it when they need it. The determination of a person’s habitual residence is made in accordance with Section 246 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended. All applicants for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Rehiring (2 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: I understand the Deputy’s question relates to appointments made to the Boards of State Agencies. The statutory agencies that operate under the aegis of my Department with boards are the Pensions Board and the Citizens Information Board. The Chairperson of the Citizen Information Board is a retired civil servant.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Tax and Social Welfare Codes (3 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: It is difficult to estimate the amount of revenue that could be raised for the Exchequer from applying PRSI on rental income but the yield from such a measure could be of the order of €20 million.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Appeals (3 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 15 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 on 11 May 2012...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Appeals (3 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: The persons concerned are in shared accommodation and are in receipt of their maximum entitlement to rent supplement. Based on their joint income, their contribution towards rent supplement is €138.70 per month each in accordance with current regulations.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (3 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: This application for carer’s allowance was disallowed on medical grounds in April 2012. A review was requested and further medical evidence submitted which forwarded to the medical assessor for further consideration. On completion of all the necessary investigations in relation to this review, a decision will issue directly to the person in question.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (3 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question. The application will be processed as quickly as possible and when a decision is made the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (3 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: The person concerned made an application for rent supplement on 27 September 2012 and has been requested to provide further information in order to process his claim. A decision will be made on his application when the information has been provided.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Eligibility (3 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: Invalidity pension is paid to persons who meet certain contributory conditions and who are considered to be permanently incapable of work. There is no campaign against invalidity pension. Approximately 1,000 invalidity pension customers are selected for medical review each year in order to establish if they continue to satisfy the medical criteria for receipt of an invalidity pension....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code Issues (3 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: The €100 rate of jobseeker’s allowance was introduced for claimants aged under 20 in April 2009, and this rate was applied to claimants aged up to 21 from December 2009. The €100 rate does not apply to certain categories of claimant including: claimants with a qualified child; those transferring to Jobseeker's Allowance immediately after exhausting their entitlement to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (3 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: There are two main contributory State pension schemes – the State pension (transition) and the State pension (contributory). The State pension (transition) is paid to people aged 65 who have retired from work and who have the required number and class of social insurance contributions. State pension contributory (SPC) is paid at age 66 to those who meet the qualifying conditions. ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Applications (3 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 17 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 appeal in question will be referred in to an Appeals Officer...