Results 20,041-20,060 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (23 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: The earliest new application for disability allowance which is awaiting action by a deciding officer was received on the 23 July 2012. That application has, however, been medically assessed at this point. A recent analysis of the applications pending decision indicated that approximately 60% of them had been waiting for a decision for 12 weeks or fewer. The general practice is that claims...

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

Joan Burton: The backlog of carer’s allowance applications has been cleared and we are currently in the process of finalising cases that still need additional information. In respect of carer’s allowance, the earliest application which is awaiting deciding officer action was received on 23 January 2013. That application has been medically assessed. For carer’s benefit, the earliest...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (23 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 12 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. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 15 April...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (23 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: An application for Domiciliary Care Allowance was received from the person concerned on 19 February 2013. This application was referred to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors who found that the child was medically eligible for the allowance. The person concerned was notified on 19 April 2013 that her claim was awarded. The first payment including arrears will issue to her on 21...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Public Sector Pensions Levy (23 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: All matters relating to salaries and pensions of public servants, including the pension-related deduction from the remuneration of public servants, introduced via the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009, are a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

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

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for Carer’s Allowance from the person in question on 8 September 2011. The application was disallowed on the grounds that the care recipient is not so disabled as to require full time care and attention as prescribed in legislation, she was not providing full time care and attention as required and that there is no system of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Unemployment Levels (23 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: The latest figures for the Live Register relate to end March 2013. The number of persons on the Live Register on 29 March 2013 was 425,088. The overall number of persons on the register for more than one year was 187,896 or 44.2%. The number of persons on the Live Register by county is provided in the table below, along with the breakdown of those persons on the register for less than a year...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (23 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 19 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. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 16 April...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code Issues (23 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: There is no provision within the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) legislation to allow for payment to continue to persons outside the State. Recipients of SWA are advised to contact the officer dealing with their claim where there is a change in their circumstances which includes travel outside the State. I have no plans to change the conditions under which SWA is payable.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Remuneration (23 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: The table below shows the number of staff in the Department within each of the salary ranges as at week ending 16 March 2013. Current details for the bodies under the aegis of the Department are also provided. Salary Band Number of Staff in band Dept of Social Protection Citizens Information Board Pensions Board Pensions Ombudsman Over €200,000 0 0 0 0 €150,000...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Places (23 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: The 10,000 additional activation places announced in Budget 2013 are broken down as follows: - 2,000 additional Community Employment places (being drawn down on request by existing CE projects nationally, as detailed below) - 2,500 additional Tús places (focussed on high-demand areas using existing Local Development Companies) - 2,500 additional JobBridge places nationally - 3,000 on the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Eligibility (23 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: The Family Income Supplement (FIS) payment is designed to provide cash income for employees with families who are on low earnings. Once the level of FIS payment is determined, it continues to be payable at that rate for a period of 52 weeks, provided that the person remains in full-time employment. The rate of payment may be increased if an additional child is born in the course of the 52...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (23 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: The person concerned has been awarded €92.65 per calendar month in Rent Supplement. It takes into account the income of the person concerned and the income of family members living in the accommodation. If the family circumstances have changed recently the person concerned should submit up to date information and the entitlement will be reassessed.

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

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 15 April April 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 appeal in question will be referred in to an Appeals...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Guarantee (23 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: The EU Council Recommendation on a Youth Guarantee received political agreement at the EPSCO Council meeting on February 28th. Following some small changes required by the Council's Jurist/Linguists, it is anticipated that the final text will be formally adopted by the Council this month. The Recommendation is that Member States should ensure that all young people under the age of 25 years...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Job Initiatives (23 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: Tús - the community work placement initiative - came into operation in mid-2011 and to date some 7,824 people have completed or are currently serving in work placements provided by community organisations. Tús has been able to harness the skills and talents of participants and apply these to the benefit of the local community while they continue to receive a payment based on the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Eligibility (23 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: In relation to people with disabilities, my Department provides both income and employment supports. For those who do not qualify for a disability-related social insurance payment, the disability allowance scheme is in place. In order to maintain equity and fairness and ensure income supports are correctly targeted to those most in need of them, eligibility for disability allowance is based...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (23 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: The recently published OECD report on the Review of the Irish Pension System confirms that reforms are necessary if we are to continue to put pension provision on a sustainable footing given the changes in demographics, the deficit in the Social Insurance Fund, and the difficult fiscal situation. The standardisation of State pension age to 66 is one of the reform measures planned which aims...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Guarantee (23 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 398 and 399 together. 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. A rate of €144 applies to claimants aged 22-24. The measures encourage young jobseekers to improve their skills and remain active in the labour market in...

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

Joan Burton: There are currently (on 22/04/13) 1,015 invalidity pension claim applications awaiting assessment. Some backlogs have arisen for assessment of invalidity claims due to increased work load and to a shortage of Medical Assessors due to retirements. The Department is committed to ensuring that the claims are examined as expeditiously as possible. It is hoped that an additional four medical...