Results 21,381-21,400 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

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 17 August 2012. The person concerned was refused carer’s allowance on the grounds that the care recipient is not so disabled as to require full time care and attention as prescribed in regulations. She was notified of this decision and the reason for it. The person...

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

Joan Burton: The Department reviewed the changes on Community Employment and other programmes following the passing of the Social Welfare Bill. As participants on CE are employees of schemes, CE sponsors are obliged to pay PRSI at the appropriate class (A8/A9). For the majority of CE participants who are earning €352 or less, there will be no change as the 0% Class A8 rate of PRSI applies....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance 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 24 August 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 12...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Eligibility (16 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: The Family Income Supplement (FIS) is designed to provide support for people with families who are on low earnings. This preserves the incentive for them to remain in employment in circumstances where they might only be marginally better off than if they were claiming other social welfare payments. FIS is calculated on the basis of 60% of the difference between the income limit for the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Bodies (16 Jan 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 545 and 551 together. I am providing a list of bodies that were both fully and partially funded in 2012 by my Department, as it is not possible to differentiate between those that were fully funded and those that were not. The list is extensive as there were over 1,000 bodies that benefited from funding under Community Employment (CE) schemes alone. In...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (16 Jan 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 6 November 2012 and in accordance with the statutory procedures the relevant department papers and the comments of the...

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 4 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 result...

Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (20 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: I thank all the Deputies who so warmly supported the Bill. Earlier I acknowledged the contribution of the Seanad on this Bill, specifically the work done by my colleague in the Seanad, Senator Ivana Bacik. I was glad to ask the Government to introduce the Bill in the Oireachtas to permit solemnisation of weddings by the Humanist Association of Ireland. I agree with Deputy Stagg that...

Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (20 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: None of us is that perfect.

Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (20 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I realise that we four Deputies are probably alone in the Dáil at this point but as Christmas is coming, it is an appropriate time to debate a Bill which proposes to extend the celebration of marriage. Although we may not have Christmas humanist weddings this year, subject to the enactment of the Bill, we may get Whitsun weddings...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Report Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: A Leas-Chathaoirleach-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Report Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: I was just trying to reply to some of the points raised. The second point I wish to make is that the advice of the Parliamentary Counsel and the legal advice - I will not repeat the reasons I gave yesterday - is that there is no requirement to extend the Title of the Bill. I understand, as Senator David Norris said, that the amendment is a vehicle to allow a wider discussion on the Bill....

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Report Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: Therefore-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Report Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: I was just saying the Title of the social welfare Bill to be brought forward in the spring will include the words "social welfare" and "pensions" because the Bill will address pension issues.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Report Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: Tá an Bille seo an-tábhachtach ar fad do gach éinne agus do gach réigiún sa tír, go mórmhór os rud é go mbeidh níos mó ná ¤20 billiún á chaitheamh ar choimirce sóisialta sa bhliain 2013. Tá áthas orm go mbeidh 10,000 suíomh breise ar fáil dóibh siúd atá ag iarraidh filleadh ar an gcóras oideachais nó an áit oibre. That is a considerable achievement in the Bill....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme (20 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: 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 and at present is limited to individuals who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments (Jobseekers Allowance/Jobseekers Benefit/One Parent Family Payment/Disability Allowance) or are...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Payments (20 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: Where an employee’s weekly earnings exceed €352 per week, he or she is liable to pay PRSI at 4% on all income over the weekly PRSI Free Allowance of €127. For civil and public sector employees paying modified rate contributions (Classes B, C and D), and who pay PRSI at 0.9%, the weekly PRSI-free allowance is €26. With effect from 1 January 2013, these weekly PRSI...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (20 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received on the 30th November 2012. This application has been forwarded to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors for their medical opinion. Upon receipt of this opinion, a decision will issue to the customer. It can take up to 8 weeks to process an application for DCA.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (20 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The person concerned applied for disability allowance on 8 November 2011. The application, based upon the evidence provided, was refused on the ground that the person in question was not medically suitable for disability allowance. The person was notified in writing of this decision on 14 March 2012. The person subsequently submitted further medical evidence for review. However, upon...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service (20 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The Money Advice & Budgeting Service (MABS), under the aegis of the Citizens Information Board, has an office in Tralee, which serves all of County Kerry. MABS outreach services are also currently provided in Killarney and Listowel. Plans to open a shared office for MABS, National Advocacy Service and the Citizens Information Services in Killarney town are at an advanced stage of...