Results 20,981-21,000 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Labour Market Issues (30 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 103 together. The Governments policy statement on Labour Market Activation is outlined in ‘Pathways to Work’ .The implementation of this policy aims to ensure that people who are unemployed will be given the opportunity to acquire suitable skills and/or qualifications to progress them on a pathway to work. 'Pathways to Work' commits...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (30 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal, by the person concerned, was registered in that office on 16th 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Applications (30 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: All relevant documentation submitted by the person concerned to the community welfare service has been passed to the local social welfare office for association with his jobseeker’s allowance application. It is expected that a decision on his jobseeker’s allowance application will be made within the next week or so.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (30 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 13th September 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 22nd...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Illness Benefit Eligibility (30 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was previously self-employed and paying PRSI contributions at class S. Class S contributions are not reckonable for illness benefit purposes. Only PRSI contributions paid at classes A, E, H and P count towards payment of Illness Benefit.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (30 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that in the case of appeals for state pension (transition), where it appears that the reason for the Deciding Officers decision may not have been fully understood, the letter of appeal is referred to state pensions requesting that the decision be clarified to the appellant. The person is advised that if s/he is still not satisfied following...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Applications (30 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: The jobseekers allowance application from the person concerned was awarded on the 24th January 2013. The first payment will be for collection at his nominated Post Office on 29th January 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Illness Benefit Appeals (30 Jan 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 concerned. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Places (30 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: Community Employment (CE) is the largest employment programme administered by the Department of Social Protection and forms an important pillar in the strategy of returning long-term unemployed people back to the open labour market. There are currently 23,300 places (including supervisory positions) available currently on CE which is increasing to 25,300 by year-end 2013 and the revised...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (30 Jan 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 17 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...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Pension Provisions (29 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: An analysis undertaken in the 2007 Green Paper on pensions, published by the previous Government, identified that to backdate the payment to 1953 when the current pensions system was introduced would cost €160 million. Even backdating the payment to 1973 would still involve substantial costs. I propose to keep this under review. However, I have to be honest with the Deputy. Every...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Employment Support Services (29 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: There are self-employed persons now on the live register who after a period of time may qualify. As the Deputy is aware, on ceasing self-employment they would not normally have an immediate entitlement to social insurance payments but, ultimately, many of them will make a claim. I will obtain the figures for the Deputy. In that context, the people concerned under normal conditions would be...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Employment Support Services (29 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: On my own behalf and that of members of the Labour Party, of all parties and none throughout the country, I express our sincere condolences to the wife and children of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe who must be experiencing tremendous grief and torment as a result of what happened to their beloved husband and father. It is important to note that, as a garda, he died protecting and serving...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Pension Provisions (29 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: The State pension is a very valuable benefit and the bedrock of the pension system. Therefore, it is important to ensure those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the social insurance fund over their working lives. The homemaker’s scheme makes qualification for the contributory State pension easier by disregarding time spent out of the workforce on caring duties. The...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Employment Support Services (29 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: As I stated, I am waiting for the local authorities to respond and establish pilot schemes. We expect that those schemes will influence the nature of the final schemes. When I started Tús, there was nobody on it at all. There was no specification other than that it would be for people who were unemployed for more than one year. I do not know whether the Deputy has had an opportunity...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Employment Support Services (29 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: This time last year, Deputy Collins was very concerned that there were not sufficient places available on community employment schemes. Now she seems worried by our provision of extra places.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Employment Support Services (29 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: The critical issue is that there are numbers of people who have been out of work for a very long time. A part-time job placement with a local authority is restricted to less than 20 hours. There is a fair level of interest in this scheme, particularly in rural areas because people are contributing to their local community. It is a very positive opportunity for individuals who, through no...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Employment Support Services (29 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: I have received a draft copy of the Indecon report. It confirms the initial figures that more than 50% of people who took a JobBridge internship in the private sector have proceeded on to further work and approximately 40% in the case of those in public sector internships. These are preliminary results but they are positive and are in line with the initial survey carried out by Indecon. ...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Employment Support Services (29 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 129, 158, 172, 386 and 387 together. I am happy to say spending has increased very significantly on employment support schemes, from €958 million in 2012 to an estimated €1.045 billion in 2013. As part of this increased expenditure, there will be 10,000 additional work placements. The Government, as part of the budget package for 2013,...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Employment Support Services (29 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: The terms and conditions relating to and the duration of these placements will be broadly similar to those which obtain to community employment schemes and Tús. Local authorities will organise a number of pilot schemes which will commence during February and inform the final design of the scheme. It is anticipated that the local arrangements to permit the pilot schemes to commence in...