Results 19,361-19,380 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

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

Joan Burton: I can confirm that following a review of the application for State pension (contributory) in the case of the person concerned a letter of award issued on 15 January 2013 detailing his weekly entitlements. A further communication has also issued confirming the amount of arrears of pension entitlement due for the period from 30 August 2012 to 17 January 2013.

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

Joan Burton: The purpose of the redundancy payments scheme is to compensate workers, under the Redundancy Payments Acts, for the loss of their jobs by reason of redundancy. Compensation is based on the worker’s length of reckonable service and reckonable weekly remuneration, subject to a ceiling of €600.00 per week. It is the responsibility of the employer to pay statutory redundancy...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Payments (22 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: Child benefit is a universal payment that assists parents with the cost of raising children and it contributes towards alleviating child poverty. Child benefit is paid to around 600,000 families in respect of some 1.15 million children. The Government is conscious that child benefit, as a universal payment, can be an important source of income for all families, especially during a time of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Appointments to State Boards (22 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: The statutory bodies under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Board, the Social Welfare Tribunal and the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman. Citizens Information Board (CIB) The CIB operates in accordance with the Revised Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. I have made three appointments to the CIB since coming...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (23 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 156 together. The Government, as part of the Budget package for 2013 announced a number of initiatives focused on providing work opportunities for those currently unemployed. The key elements of this package are to add an additional 2,500 places to JobBridge; 2,000 places on community employment; 2,500 to Tús – the community work...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals (23 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: A Deciding Officer contended that the person concerned had not shown that her means were less than the statutory limit as she had failed to give a true and accurate account of her circumstances. The decision was appealed to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. The person concerned stated her case at the hearing. The Deciding Officer’s decision was upheld on appeal.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Appeals (23 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is now in receipt of his maximum entitlement to rent supplement. His claim was previously suspended by the client’s local office due to information not provided in relation to a rent review. All information has now been supplied and the entitlement has been reinstated. An Exceptional Needs Payment has issued directly to the client's landlord for all outstanding...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Application Numbers (23 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: Table 1 INVALIDITY PENSION CLAIMS Year Received Awarded Disallowed Total decided 2009 7475 4580 2933 7513 2010 8774 3445* 3411* 7614 2011 14621 2107# 4697# 12829 2012 11510 6352 11423 17775 A breakdown of Invalidity claims awarded and disallowed is not available from December 2010-June 2011. A dual payments system was in operation from December 2010 until...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Appeals (23 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: The farm assist application, by the person concerned, was disallowed by a Deciding Officer of the Department on the grounds that his means are in excess of the statutory limit and is not engaged in husbandry. The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that, following receipt of the relevant Departmental papers including the comments of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Eligibility (23 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: Support for farmers on low incomes is available through the farm assist scheme. At the end of last year there were 11,785 recipients on the scheme at a cost of €115 million. This means-tested payment is similar to the jobseeker’s allowance scheme, on which it is based. The farm assist scheme was introduced in 1999 to replace ‘Smallholders Unemployment...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme (23 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: The Deputy will be aware that I have made Youth Unemployment a particular priority during Ireland’s EU Presidency. JobBridge is one of the key measures taken by the Department to address the problem of Youth Unemployment. The JobBridge Scheme has made significant progress since it came into operation on the 1st July 2011. 13,770 internships have commenced to date with 5,548...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (23 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 31st 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 case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare (23 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 155 together. Creating jobs and tackling poverty are two of the key challenges that Ireland now faces and it is essential that our tax and social protection systems play their part in addressing these issues. To this end, and in line with commitments contained in the Programme for Government, I established in June 2011 the Advisory Group on Tax and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (23 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing in this case on 30th January 2013. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (23 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing in this case. Every effort is being made to hear the case as quickly as possible and the appellant will be informed when arrangements have been made. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Crime Statistics (23 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: This is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Justice.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (23 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing in this case on the 4th February 2013. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (23 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (23 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 4th September 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 11th...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (23 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 13th November 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...