Results 18,901-18,920 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Eligibility (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 111 together. In line with a commitment in the Programme for Government, I established an Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare last year, which has been asked to recommend cost-effective solutions as to how employment incentives can be improved and better poverty outcomes achieved, particularly child poverty outcomes. The Advisory Group...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Arrears (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The Mortgage Arrears Information and Advice Service was established to provide the necessary supports to assist people in mortgage distress. The approach differentiates between mortgage information and mortgage advice. The first two elements involve the enhancement of the website and the establishment of a Mortgage Arrears Information Helpline within the Citizens Information Board (CIB),...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The person concerned applied for disability allowance on 3 June 2011. The medical evidence supplied with her claim was referred to one of the department’s medical assessors who was of the opinion, based on the information supplied, that the person was not medically suitable for disability allowance. The deciding officer accepted this opinion and the claim was refused and the person...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Contracts (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: It is not possible to provide the information sought by the Deputy in the time available. The details requested are currently being compiled and a response will be issued directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Respite Care Services (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The Government had to make very difficult decisions in the course of Budget 2013. In order to protect core weekly payments which people receive such as pensions, disability and carer’s allowance we had to look very carefully at other additional payments such as the respite care grant. The respite care grant is paid to approximately 70,000 people each year, with some 5,000 people in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The legal status of an intern is provided for in legislation. An intern is a person who is availing of an internship under the National Internship Scheme. They are not an employee of their respective Host Organisation as stated in Section 16 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011.A person who is engaged by another person to carry out work or perform any duty or service pursuant to a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Payments (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The household benefits package (HHB) includes free electricity or gas allowance, telephone allowance and free TV licence. The package is available to all those aged 70 or over regardless of means and household composition and those in receipt of carer’s allowance who are living with the person they are caring for. Those between 66 and 70 must be in receipt of a qualifying payment...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 11th 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. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 6th...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Respite Care Services (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The respite care grant (RCG) is an annual payment made automatically to people in receipt of carer’s allowance, carer’s benefit, or domiciliary care allowance from my Department. Other people who are not in receipt of one of these payments, but who are providing full time care and attention can also apply for the grant via separate application. The RCG is paid automatically on...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Places (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The allocation of all these places will be in line with the overall Government strategy set out in Pathways to Work. The objective will be to ensure an equitable of places to where they are most needed taking account of the overall capacity of local sponsors to provide quality places to those on the live register. The allocation will also take account of the necessity to secure value for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Interest Supplement Appeals (12 Dec 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 28th August 2012. The legislation provides that where an Appeals Officer is of the opinion that a case is of such a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit Eligibility (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons (including those with a disability) with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis. CE helps long-term unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 2nd October 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Respite Care Services (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The respite care grant (RCG) is an annual payment made automatically to people in receipt of carer’s allowance, carer’s benefit, or domiciliary care allowance from my Department. Other people who are not in receipt of one of these payments, but who are providing full time care and attention can also apply for the grant via separate application. The RCG is paid automatically on...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer having fully considered all the available evidence allowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision on 11th December 2012. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 28th November 2012, 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 Minister for Social Protection and of the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Scheme Numbers (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The allocation of all these places will be in line with the overall Government strategy set out in Pathways to Work. The objective will be to ensure an equitable of places to where they are most needed taking account of the overall capacity of local sponsors to provide quality places to those on the live register. The allocation will also take account of the necessity to secure value for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Interest Supplement Appeals (12 Dec 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 28th August 2012. The legislation provides that where an Appeals Officer is of the opinion that a case is of such...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons (including those with a disability) with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis. CE helps long-term unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 2nd October 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...