Results 20,501-20,520 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals (5 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 15 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 and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (5 Mar 2013)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 2nd of August 2011. An information request was made on 20th of February 2012 seeking Habitual Residence questionnaire to be filled in full, a P45 and a letter from employer confirming the person in question ceased work and date he ceased work. An Information request was made...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (5 Mar 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the disability allowance claim of the person concerned was disallowed following an assessment by a Medical Assessor who expressed the opinion that he was medically unsuitable for the allowance. An appeal was registered on 2 January 2013 and in accordance with the statutory procedures the relevant department papers and the comments of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Numbers (5 Mar 2013)

Joan Burton: In Waterford, there have been a total of 522 internships since the scheme came into operation. 206 of those internships are ongoing as at 28 February 2013 with 316 internships completed at this point in time. With regard to progression into employment, the interim evaluation of JobBridge conducted by Indecon International Economic Consultants (published on 5 October, 2012) found that 61% of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (5 Mar 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 will be 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: Youth Unemployment Measures (5 Mar 2013)

Joan Burton: Young people, typically, suffer disproportionately from job losses in recessions as they tend to have entered employment more recently, are more likely to hold temporary contracts and to be employed in cyclically sensitive industries than older workers. There were 68,000 young unemployed, on average, in 2012, made up of 18,500 aged 15-19 and 49,500 aged 20-24. Overall, the under-25 age group...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (5 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 25 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 and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff (5 Mar 2013)

Joan Burton: The staffing needs of all offices of the Department are regularly reviewed, having regard to workloads and the competing demands arising, taking account of the employment control framework (ECF) target, as determined by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.l A number of vacancies arose in Tralee local office due to staff retirements. The posts identified as critical have been...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Household Benefits (5 Mar 2013)

Joan Burton: The household benefits package comprises the electricity or gas allowances, the telephone allowance and the free television licence. The package is generally available to people living in the State, aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or who satisfy a means test. The package is also available to carers and people with disabilities under the age of 66...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (5 Mar 2013)

Joan Burton: The person concerned applied for rent supplement twice in 2012. Her first application in April was not approved as she did not furnish either an assessment of her housing need by Fingal County Council, or evidence of having lived in rented accommodation for six months in the year leading up to the date of application. These are required conditions in order to qualify for rent supplement....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Appointments to State Boards (5 Mar 2013)

Joan Burton: The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Board, the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a board) and the Social Welfare Tribunal. Citizens Information Board I have made three appointments to the Citizens Information Board since coming into office. Mr. Eugene Mc Erlean was appointed with effect...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (5 Mar 2013)

Joan Burton: Invalidity pension section has been involved in a business process improvement review and backlog elimination programme. This programme has led to a significant reduction in the number of invalidity pension claims awaiting decision, down from 7007 claims at end May 2012 to 2593 claims at end Feb 2013. In addition, new claims are now processed on receipt with a decision being made based on...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (5 Mar 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 294 and 306 together. Self-employed persons are liable for PRSI at the Class S rate of 4% which entitles them to access long-term benefits such as State pension (contributory) and widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's pension (contributory). Ordinary employees who have access to the full range of social insurance benefits pay Class A PRSI at the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Job Assist Scheme Eligibility (5 Mar 2013)

Joan Burton: In the first instance, the Government’s primary strategy to tackle unemployment is to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting competitiveness and productivity. Economic recovery will underpin jobs growth. In addition to promoting economic recovery, the Government recognises the need for interim measures to support the unemployed and keep jobseekers close...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Activation Projects (5 Mar 2013)

Joan Burton: The projects to which the deputy refers constitute the Disability Activation (DACT) project which is co-funded by my Department and the European Social Fund, at a cost of over €7 million to April 2015. The projects are in their initial stages of development at present and given that they will run until April, 2015, it is too early to report on their progress. However, I am confident...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pensions Reform (5 Mar 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 the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (5 Mar 2013)

Joan Burton: In 2006 age related pensions were replaced by State Pensions, with significant administrative alterations to several weekly payment types which had up to that point provided for people aged 65 and over. These changes, implemented in stages following the introduction of the State Pensions, have resulted in substantial migrations of recipients between scheme types, with accompanying changes in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (5 Mar 2013)

Joan Burton: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of the payments administered by my Department which are subject to a means test and/or medical qualification has been collated up to the end of January 2013 and is contained in the following tabular statement A. With respect to the information requested in relation to the number of appeals received and the appeals processing times I am...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Job Assist Scheme Eligibility (5 Mar 2013)

Joan Burton: Detail in respect of all schemes operated by my Department to support unemployed people back to work or to self-employment, training and education is set out in the recently published review of employment support schemes examines a range of programmes. This publication is available on the Department’s website on . This review is focused primarily on assessing the contribution certain...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Job Creation Issues (5 Mar 2013)

Joan Burton: As the Deputy will be aware, the ‘Pathways to Work’ policy commits to the provision of more regular and on-going engagement and greater targeting of activation places and job opportunities for those who are unemployed. It also aims to increase engagement and incentivise employers to provide more jobs for people who are unemployed. One of the most significant elements of the...