Results 21,281-21,300 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (16 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that this is the same appeal referred to in the previous question. The appeal was submitted to the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 14th December 2012. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Appeals (16 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. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Applications (16 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: The one parent family payment claim of the person concerned has been awarded and is in payment.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (16 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: The rent supplement claim for the person concerned was reviewed on the 15th November 2012. The rent level has been reduced in line with the maximum rent limits introduced from the 1st January 2012. The person concerned is now in receipt of her maximum entitlement based on her household circumstances.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (16 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: Currently, there are approximately 88,000 persons in receipt of rent supplement, with €403 million provided by the Government for 2013. I am aware of the comments which were reported to the National Advisory Group for the National Advocacy Service. These comments related to a particular case which was dealt with locally. There are no specific exemptions to qualification for rent...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Payments (16 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: Support for farmers on low incomes is available through the farm assist scheme. This means-tested payment is similar to the jobseeker’s allowance scheme, on which it is based. The farm assist scheme was introduced in 1999 to replace ‘Smallholders Unemployment Assistance’ for low income farmers, without the requirement to be available for and genuinely seeking work. In...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (16 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 12 July 2012. The medical evidence provided by the claimant in support of his claim was examined by a medical assessor who was of the opinion,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (16 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: In recent years there has been a particular focus on the sustainability of the pension system because of the demographic challenges Ireland faces, the associated increases in pension (and other age related) costs, and the deterioration in the public finances. In general terms, the task of financing increased pension spending will fall to a diminishing share of the population as demographic...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Delays (16 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: While the time taken at present to process some carer’s allowance claims is not satisfactory, good inroads have been made over the last number of months by my Department to clear the current backlog and a plan is in place to process the remaining backlogged claims by the end of Q1 2013. I am happy that the actions they are taking will achieve this. Following the completion of a major...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (16 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was notified on the 4th July 2012 that her domiciliary care allowance appeal was successful. Payment of the allowance commenced on the 17th July 2012 and all arrears due also issued to her at that time.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (16 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 14th December 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 Department...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (16 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: I have not received any report from the OECD on this matter so I take it that the Deputy is referring to the Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance fund. The OECD, who I have commissioned to carry out a review of pensions policy in Ireland, has not yet submitted a report to me. Work on the OECD report is ongoing and I expect to receive the report in the near future. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (16 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 3rd November 2011. The person in question was awarded carer’s allowance for one caree on the 16th August 2012. This carer’s allowance claim is in payment. The carer’s allowance application for the second caree was disallowed on the 16th August on medical...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Illness Benefit Appeals (16 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: Payment of illness benefit, to the person concerned, was disallowed by a Deciding Officer following an examination by a Medical Assessor of the Department who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. An appeal was registered on 9th November 2012 and the Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that, in accordance with statutory requirements, the Department was asked for the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (16 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: The rent supplement claim has been awarded for the person concerned. She is now in receipt of her full entitlement to rent supplement based on her household circumstances.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Places (16 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: There are no plans to change the current CE eligibility criteria to facilitate those who have previously participated on CE schemes for the maximum duration to re-enter. As of the 4th January of this year there were 188,632 jobseekers on the Live Register who were over 1 year unemployed. These jobseekers are the primary target group for Community Employment. Any changes as advised would...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Work Placement Programme (16 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: Tús, the community work placement initiative introduced during 2011, was initially set up to provide up to 5,000 short-term, quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. To date 7,305 people have completed or are currently on work placements. This figure includes supervisory/team leader positions. As a relatively new initiative, Tús continues to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (16 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: There are currently no plans to lower the standard qualifying period in receipt of CE-eligible payments from the current 12 month duration, as Community Employment is primarily aimed at long-term unemployed persons, which is generally defined as one year or more on the Live Register. Persons who claim Jobseekers Benefit from 3rd April 2013 will only be able to claim for a maximum duration of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (16 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: Payment of invalidity pension, to the person concerned, was disallowed by a Deciding Officer following an assessment by a Medical Assessor of the Department who expressed the opinion that she was medically unsuitable. An appeal was registered on 20th December 2012 and the Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that, in accordance with the statutory procedures, the relevant department...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (16 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: If a jobseeker finds employment, s/he must inform their Social Welfare Local Office. A shortened application form and a streamlined claim decision process has been introduced for those returning to the live register having been in temporary employment, or having participated in short-term training. In cases where a jobseeker finds employment for up to eight weeks, the claim remains open...