Results 19,961-19,980 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Unemployment Numbers (26 Feb 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 358 and 359 together. The Social Welfare Offices with the highest numbers of young people registered as unemployed are listed in the tabular statement: Number of persons under 25 on the Live Register by duration and the top 20 DSP Local Office by level of Youth Unemployment Live Register <1 year >1year Total Cork 1,857 991 2,848 Limerick 1,322...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pensions Reform (26 Feb 2013)

Joan Burton: Secure and adequate finances are one of the fundamental components of a happy and active retirement. The sustainability of the pension system is a particular concern because of the demographic challenges Ireland faces, the associated increases in pension (and other age related) costs, and the deterioration in the public finances. This means that, in the future, the task of financing...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (26 Feb 2013)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer having fully considered all the available evidence, including that adduced at oral hearing, allowed the appeal in this case. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer decision. 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 (26 Feb 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 05th February 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: Carer's Allowance Applications (26 Feb 2013)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s benefit from the person in question on the 13th March, 2012. A letter issued on the 31st May 2012 refusing the benefit on the grounds that the caree in question was not medically eligible for carer’s benefit and also that the level of care provided was not adequate for the provision of full-time care and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (26 Feb 2013)

Joan Burton: The increase in parental income was due to an increase in net earnings from employment of €66.79 per week and the inclusion of net rental income from property of €134.73 per week. The rental income was not disclosed by the person concerned when he made his jobseeker’s allowance claim.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Applications (26 Feb 2013)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the Department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the person concerned. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and he will be notified directly of the outcome. The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that a supplementary welfare allowance appeal by the person concerned was registered...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Eligibility (26 Feb 2013)

Joan Burton: Payment of any allowance under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) is governed by legislation. The relevant legislation is relation to the payment of SWA is Section 189 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 which states “Subject to this Act, every person in the State whose means are insufficient to meet his or her needs and the needs of any qualified adult or...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Unemployment Levels (26 Feb 2013)

Joan Burton: The following are figures in tabular form for the number of persons on the Live Register in Blanchardstown Social Welfare Local Office at the end of each of the last 6 years and the figures for 2013 to date. In line with the clarification provided to officials the figures relate to the end of the indicated month. Year Month Register 2007 December 3,436 2008 December 6,128 2009 December...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Applications (26 Feb 2013)

Joan Burton: The person concerned applied to have their family income supplement (FIS) payment renewed with effect from 18 October 2012. Following this re-application, the case of the person concerned was referred to a social welfare inspector to establish and confirm the position regarding family income. The inspector has been in touch with the person concerned and has arranged an interview to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Websites (26 Feb 2013)

Joan Burton: The Public Service Reform plan highlights information and communications technologies (ICT) as key enablers to delivering improved public services. The Department recognises that implementation of the ICT elements of the reform plan will ensure a strong focus on the customer and that better and more innovative use is made of technology to improve the customer experience. To this end, the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Applications (26 Feb 2013)

Joan Burton: The position remains the same as that detailed in my previous response to the Deputy’s Parliamentary Question No 4326/13 on 29th January 2013 regarding this matter. The review undertaken and the termination of this person’s claim was not connected with her need to care for the ill relative abroad: her payment was suspended in July because she failed to reply to the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Agencies (26 Feb 2013)

Joan Burton: It is proposed to take Question Nos. 371 and 372 together. The Agencies that operate under the aegis of the Department are the Pensions Board and the Citizens Information Board. The Office of the Pensions Ombudsman also falls under the remit of the Department. Since 2009, there have been no performance related bonuses to any staff in the organisations concerned. The only bonus paid in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (26 Feb 2013)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is no longer at the address that he originally applied for rent supplement from. The client must make an application for rent supplement before our Department can establish an entitlement. All information in relation to the access of his children must also accompany this application. If the person concerned wishes to apply for rent supplement he should complete an...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Applications (26 Feb 2013)

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 on 21September 2012. The medical evidence provided by the claimant in support of his claim for invalidity pension was examined by a medical assessor...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Eligibility (26 Feb 2013)

Joan Burton: Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off, exceptional and unforeseen expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. There is no automatic entitlement to a payment. ENPs are payable at the discretion of the officers administering...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (26 Feb 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal, by the person concerned, was registered in that office on 17th January 2013. 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...

Seanad: Report on Child and Family Income Support: Statements (26 Feb 2013)

Joan Burton: I thank the Cathaoirleach and Senators for the opportunity to meet them today to discuss this report. Last December, I promised when the report of the advisory group on tax and social welfare on child and family income supports was published that we would have a productive discussion on the issues involved. The report is a major contribution in a difficult policy area which has been...

Seanad: Report on Child and Family Income Support: Statements (26 Feb 2013)

Joan Burton: That is the reason I am fast on my feet.

Seanad: Report on Child and Family Income Support: Statements (26 Feb 2013)

Joan Burton: I did not mention that once.