Results 20,261-20,280 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (26 Mar 2013)

Joan Burton: The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The overall aim is to provide short term assistance, and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (26 Mar 2013)

Joan Burton: It is a fundamental principle of the social insurance system that those qualifying for benefits must satisfy a range of contribution and other conditions. The State contributory pension is a valuable benefit and the conditions are designed to ensure that those qualifying have had a sufficient and on-going attachment to the social insurance system. In the case of State contributory...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (26 Mar 2013)

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 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: Mortgage Interest Supplement Payments (26 Mar 2013)

Joan Burton: Mortgage interest supplement provides short-term income support to eligible people who are unable to meet their mortgage interest repayments in respect of a house which is their sole place of residence. There are approximately 14,000 mortgage interest supplement recipients for which the Government has provided €42 million for in 2013. Mortgage interest supplement is normally...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Eligibility (26 Mar 2013)

Joan Burton: The United Kingdom winter fuel payment is an annual tax-free payment made to eligible people to help towards their winter heating costs. It is a lump sum and in most cases is paid automatically, but some people need to claim. The total amount of winter fuel payment can vary from £100 - £300 sterling having regard to age and household composition. Most payments are made between mid-...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Eligibility (26 Mar 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 12th 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 19th ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (26 Mar 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 336 and 339 together. Tús is the community work placement initiative introduced during 2011. The allocation of additional resources in 2013 will provide for 7,500 placements nationally. The initiative is delivered by local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta. Eligibility for supervisory/team leader positions on Tús is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Interest Supplement Eligibility (26 Mar 2013)

Joan Burton: Mortgage interest supplement provides short-term income support to eligible people who are unable to meet their mortgage interest repayments in respect of a house which is their sole place of residence. There are approximately 14,000 mortgage interest supplement recipients for which the Government has provided €42 million for in 2013. To ensure that those who are in mortgage...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Placements (26 Mar 2013)

Joan Burton: The Deputy will be aware that JobBridge, the National Internship Scheme, was launched on 1st July 2011. It provides internship opportunities of either 6 or 9 months for unemployed individuals on the Live Register, in organisations in the private, public and community voluntary sectors. I wish to advise the Deputy that the deadline for applications for 9 month internships in the education...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Administration (26 Mar 2013)

Joan Burton: The public services card which will replace the existing free travel pass will be introduced by the end of this year. This card will incorporate an integrated ticketing chip for services which have been enabled with smart card reading devices. The introduction of this card will provide my Department with more accurate information on transport services where integrated ticketing is supported,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Education and Training Provision (26 Mar 2013)

Joan Burton: The Momentum initiative provides free education and training projects for up to 6,500 long-term unemployed job seekers. The initiative is administered by FÁS and funded by the Department of Education & Skills through the National Training Fund (NTF) and co-financed by the European Social Fund (ESF). In line with the commitments given in Pathways to Work, eligibility for the Momentum...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code Issues (26 Mar 2013)

Joan Burton: The main eligibility categories included under other children are family income supplement, guardian’s payment (contributory) and guardian’s payment (non-contributory). The payment of monies under these schemes is dependent on the recipients either being parents or guardian to a minimum of one child, furthermore under the terms of these schemes there is no qualified child...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Appeals (26 Mar 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 February 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. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 19 March...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Public Sector Remuneration (26 Mar 2013)

Joan Burton: 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. As the Pensions Board is self-funded, the capping of pay would not result in any savings to the Exchequer. Details in respect of the Citizens Information Board and the Office of the Pensions...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (21 Mar 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 15th March 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: Carer's Allowance Applications (21 Mar 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 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 25 February...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (21 Mar 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 18 December 2012. The application for invalidity pension was disallowed by a deciding officer on the ground that, based upon the medical evidence...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (21 Mar 2013)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is due an arrears payment of jobseeker’s benefit in the amount of €1,674.30. The arrears will be included with payment for week ended 27 March 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Eligibility (21 Mar 2013)

Joan Burton: To be eligible for carer’s allowance, the applicant has to be deemed habitually resident at the point in time when they make their application. The requirement to be habitually resident in Ireland was introduced as a qualifying condition for certain social assistance schemes and child benefit with effect from 1 May 2004. This qualifying condition is applied to all applicants,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (21 Mar 2013)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance on 23 February 2012 from the person in question in respect of two care recipients. The person concerned was refused carer’s allowance on the grounds that the care recipients are not so disabled as to require full time care and attention as prescribed in regulations; the carer is not providing full-time...