Results 20,861-20,880 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Waiting Times (5 Feb 2013)

Joan Burton: There are currently approximately 2,880 Invalidity Pension (IP) claims registered, actions and awaiting information to finalise a decision. This includes approximately 900 cases which are being investigated under EU regulations or bi-lateral agreements which are more complex and take longer to decide. A targeted plan was put in place to clear the backlog, which is steadily decreasing e.g....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Redundancy Payments Waiting Times (5 Feb 2013)

Joan Burton: There are approximately 3,100 redundancy payment applications on hand awaiting processing at present. These include both rebate and lump sums claims. Where lump sum claims have been correctly submitted on-line, the processing target of 6 to 8 weeks is currently being achieved. There are some cases, however, where a query arose and the Department is waiting for additional information from...

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

Joan Burton: As the Deputy will be aware, JobBridge, the National Internship Scheme, provides internship opportunities of either 6 or 9 months for unemployed individuals in organisations in the private, public and community voluntary sectors. It is targeted at individuals who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments (Jobseekers Allowance/Jobseekers Benefit/One Parent Family Payment/Disability...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (5 Feb 2013)

Joan Burton: Social welfare legislation provides that the yearly value of “property owned but not personally used or enjoyed” is assessable for means testing purposes. Such property includes houses and premises which are owned by a claimant, including property which they have inherited, and which the claimant may or may not be put to commercial use. However, it does not include property...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (5 Feb 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: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (5 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 25 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 14 December...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Appeals (5 Feb 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: Carer's Allowance Appeals (5 Feb 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 21 January 2012. The case was referred to an Appeals Officer for consideration and the Appeals Officer has referred this case back to the Department of Social Protection for clarification on certain issues. On receipt of their response, the case will be further considered...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals (5 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, disallowed the appeal of the person. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision on 1 November 2012. Jobseeker’s Allowance is a means-tested payment. The person concerned failed to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (5 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 6 December 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (5 Feb 2013)

Joan Burton: To be eligible for a state pension (contributory) from age 66, a person must: - have entered insurable employment before reaching age 56 - have at least 520 paid contribution weeks since entry into insurance, from employment or self-employment - have a yearly average of 48 paid/credited contributions from 1979 to the end of the last complete tax year prior to their 66th birthday, or -...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (5 Feb 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 not medically suitable for the allowance. An appeal was registered on 7 January 2013 and in accordance with the statutory procedures the relevant department papers and the comments of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Offices (5 Feb 2013)

Joan Burton: The Pathways to Work document states that the introduction of the new Intreo service is a multi-annual project. The first ten Intreo offices went live in 2012. The plans for 2013 are now being developed and the selection of offices will depend upon a range of factors including availability of suitable accommodation, I.T., etc. I will announce the names of the next phase of offices when the...

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

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned has not been received by that office. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (5 Feb 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 433 and 434 together. I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the current average time taken to process carer’s allowance appeals decided by summary decision is 33.2 weeks and 42.2 weeks for those requiring an oral hearing. The current average time taken to process jobseeker’s allowance appeals decided by summary decision is...

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

Joan Burton: The number and percentage of the invalidity pension appeals finalised in the past five years, including those which had a favourable outcome for the appellant is given in the Table. The appeals process has a statutory basis in both primary and secondary legislation. Appeals Officers are quasi-judicial officers and are required to be free and unrestricted in discharging their functions. The...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Funding (5 Feb 2013)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection operates a number of programmes and initiatives that provides both direct and indirect support to community, voluntary and sporting organisations to underpin the provision of a very broad range of services. The Department does not provide direct funding other than in specific circumstances related to the nature of the programme/initiative, such as is the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Parliamentary Questions (5 Feb 2013)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection received approximately 13,321 parliamentary questions in 2012. Of these, approximately 7,851 direct replies were issued and subsequently these PQs were withdrawn. 5,470 parliamentary questions were answered in full. There are no data available to quantify how many PQs were not answered within the timeframe.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Payments (5 Feb 2013)

Joan Burton: I should state at the outset that it is important that, as a Government, we are committed to protecting and supporting the most vulnerable sectors of Irish society – through income and employment supports and through the provision of quality services. However, the steady increase in the numbers availing of illness and disability related income supports is clearly a matter for concern,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Education Schemes (5 Feb 2013)

Joan Burton: To qualify for the Momentum scheme, a customer must - Be unemployed and on the Live Register for 12 months (312days) or longer, and - Be in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance/Benefit or credited contributions for 12 months or longer, and - Be actively seeking work. Periods spent on JobBridge, Back to Education Allowance, VTOS, full time FÁS/Fáilte Ireland Training courses,...