Results 21,141-21,160 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (29 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: Social structures in Ireland are changing rapidly and the structures of our social support need to change to accommodate this. Addressing the demographic challenges of more people living longer and the impact on the cost of pensions lies behind the current pension reform measures. It is a fundamental principle of our social insurance system that those qualifying for benefits must satisfy a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (29 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: Those who leave the workplace for homemaking/caring purposes can, if eligible, avail of the homemakers scheme which helps to provide a higher rate of pension for those who meet the qualifying conditions. The Homemaker scheme comprises a period of disregard when calculating eligibility for a State pension so time taken out of the work, for those who qualify for the scheme, can be disregarded...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Overpayments (29 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: Ensuring that the right person is paid the right amount of money at the right time is an integral part of the day-to-day work of the Department of Social Protection. The Department has comprehensive control strategies in place across its various scheme areas which are designed to control fraud and abuse and to minimise overpayments. Where overpayments do occur, it is the Department’s...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Scheme Numbers (29 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: The following are the numbers for Co. Kildare as at 31 December 2012. County CE Tús RSS BTW BTEA STEA Total Places Places Places Places Places Places Places Kildare 562 173 23 399 765 48 1,970 Key: CE – Community Employment RSS – Rural Social Scheme BTW – Back to Work Allowance BTEA – Back to Education Allowance STEA...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Application Forms (29 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: The Department has a continuous programme of process improvement initiatives underway aimed at streamlining the processing of claims, supported by modern technology. The simplification and reduction of application forms complements the introduction of more streamlined processes. The key principles underpinning the design of the Department’s application forms are the use of clear and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Offices (24 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection is committed to ensuring that its services are provided in the most efficient and cost effective manner possible. Where changes in services are planned, all customers from these areas will be notified accordingly.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Offices (24 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: In light of the moratorium on recruitment across the civil and public service, staffing needs for all areas within my Department are continuously reviewed. This is to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources with a view to providing an effective and efficient service to those who rely on all schemes operated by the Department. In this regard my Department is reviewing...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Offices (24 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: To ensure that the best use is made of all available resources, with a view to providing an effective and efficient service to those who rely on all schemes operated by the Department of Social Protection, staffing needs for all areas are kept under review. In this regard my Department is reviewing staffing needs in a number of Community Welfare Service clinics across the country. No...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Offices (24 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: Statistics are not currently compiled for the number of persons who use the Community Welfare Office in Cashel Road Health Centre. However the most recent claim statistics available to my Department indicate that on average, 11 claims for Supplementary Welfare Allowance are made per day at the office. As the clinic is open to the public for 4 days per week, this equates to approximately 44...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (24 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 8th 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (24 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 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. When received, the appeal in question will be referred in to an Appeals...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Applications (24 Jan 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 24 May 2011. The medical evidence provided by the claimant in support of her claim was examined by a medical assessor who was of the opinion that...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (24 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 9th 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (24 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: The person concerned applied for disability allowance on 13 July 2011. Medical evidence supplied with his claim was referred to one of the department’s medical assessors who was of the opinion, based on the information supplied, that he was not medically suitable for disability allowance. The deciding officer accepted this opinion and refused the claim and the person was notified in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (24 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: In order to qualify for a State pension (transition), an applicant must: - have entered insurable employment before reaching age 55 - have at least 520 paid contribution weeks since entry into insurance - satisfy the ‘yearly average’ test:(for a maximum rate pension) have a yearly average of 48 paid and/or credited contributions from 1979 to the end of the last...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (24 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: There is no record of a rent supplement application registered with the Department for the person concerned. If the person concerned wishes to apply for a rent supplement, he should complete an application form and return it to the Kildare Rents Unit, PO Box 11758, Dublin 24.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (24 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 1st 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 21st...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (24 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 30th November 2012, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (24 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 26th June 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 30th ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (24 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: In 2013, just under 80,000 people will receive one-parent family payment (OFP) from my Department each week at a cost of just over €979 million. In addition over €1.9 billion will be spent on child benefit payments in respect of just under 1.17 million children. The Comprehensive Expenditure Review, 2012 to 2014, published in December, 2011, provided for a reduction of a...