Results 19,341-19,360 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (22 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 15th June 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 19th ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (22 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received on the 14th July 2011. This application was referred to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors who found that the child was not medically eligible for DCA. A letter issued on the 10th October 2011 refusing the allowance. The person concerned subsequently lodged an appeal against this decision and she was informed by...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Applications (22 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is due an arrears payment in respect of fuel allowance. The payment will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Illness Benefit Eligibility (22 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: The illness benefit claim of the person concerned has been approved at the graduated weekly rate of €147.30 from 2 October 2012. Illness benefit rates are graduated according to the average weekly earnings in the relevant tax year. 2010 is the relevant tax year for claims decided in 2012. Payment of illness benefit will issue on 23 January 2013 once all appropriate medical...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (22 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 09th January 2013, 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: Social Welfare Appeals (22 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that as at 18th January, 2013 there were 20,364 appeals outstanding. There was a rapid and sustained increase in the number of appeals from 2009 to date which has placed extraordinary pressure on the SWAO. Significant resources and efforts have been put into reducing backlogs and improving processing times for appellants, including the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Funding (22 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: Vantastic, like all community and not-for-profit contact holders with the community services programme (CSP), acts independently of the Department of Social Protection and Pobal in the determination of the services it offers. Those elements of service supported by the CSP are required to be in line with the business plan agreed with the Department and Pobal for the contracting period which...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Application Numbers (22 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: As of the 21st January 2013, there are 2,591 persons listed under the lone parent category on Community Employment (CE). At the 31st December, 2011, there were 4,650 persons listed under the lone parent category. The overall number of places available under CE has been increased by 2,000 to 25,300 (including supervisors) in 2013 with a budget of circa €352m. The Department is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (22 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: It is not possible to answer the Deputy’s question in the time available. I will arrange for the answer to be supplied to her as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (22 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: State pension transition is paid to those who retire from work at age 65 and who meet the qualifying conditions for the scheme, until they reach 66 years and transfer to State pension contributory. In 2012, 22,430 claims were received for State pension transition with 12,559 claims awarded . It is not possible to predict with accuracy the number of persons in the population on social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (22 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: Social structures in Ireland are changing rapidly and social supports need to change to accommodate this. The decision to increase State pension age was taken in the context of changing demographics and the fact that people are living longer and healthier lives. The standardisation of State pension age to age 66 is one of the measures planned which aims to improve the sustainability of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (22 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: State pension transition (SPT) is paid for one year to those aged 65 who have retired from work and who meet the qualifying conditions of the scheme. It is not means-tested. In 2012, 22,430 State pension transition claims were received and 12,559 claims were awarded.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (22 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: As the Deputy will be aware, there are a number of pension reform measures underway and increasing State pension age is one of them. State pension transition is a payment currently paid to those who reach age 65, are retired from work and who meet the qualifying conditions of the scheme. Recipients of State pension transition transfer to State pension contributory at age 66. In 2014, State...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Qualified Adult Payments (22 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: A person who is in receipt of a social welfare payment may claim an increase in respect of a qualified spouse or partner (IQA). In relation to pensions, an increase for a qualified adult is normally paid where the qualified adult does not have enough contributions to claim a pension in their own right and it is usually paid on the basis of the contribution history of the primary pension...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit Applications (22 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: Jobseeker's benefit (JB) is a weekly payment to people out of work and covered by social insurance (PRSI). If a person does not qualify for JB they may qualify for means tested jobseeker's allowance. In 2012 my Department spent some €737m on the scheme and at the end of 2012 there were some 85,000 persons in receipt of a JB payment. Budget 2013 provided that the duration for which JB...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Treatment Benefit Scheme Eligibility (22 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: Eligibility to treatment benefit is based on a person’s PRSI record and the contributions paid in the governing contribution year (GCY) relevant to their age. In order to qualify, the person concerned (who reached age 66 in 2004) must have at least 260 reckonable PRSI (Class A/E/H/P) contributions paid since first starting work, and at least 39 such contributions paid or credited in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (22 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 17th January 2013, 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: Disability Allowance Appeals (22 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that date of award of payment was an issue under appeal in 72 disability allowance appeals decided by Appeals Officers during 2012, of which 33 were allowed, 8 partially allowed and 33 disallowed. Appeals Officers consider all evidence before them in coming to their decision and each appellant's appeal is decided on its own merits. ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (22 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned together with the relevant Departmental papers and the comments of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal was received in that office on 15th January 2013. 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,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (22 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person concerned on the 8th August 2012. 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 11th September 2012 advising of the decision. The person concerned subsequently lodged an appeal against...