Results 21,501-21,520 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 28th 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: National Internship Scheme (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: JobBridge, the National Internship Scheme was launched on 1s July 2011. It provides internship opportunities of either 6 or 9 months for unemployed individuals on the Live Register, in organisations in the private, public and community voluntary sectors The Scheme has made significant progress to-date. Over 13,000 interns have commenced placements on the scheme to-date including a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Payments (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The Employee’s PRSI free allowance of €127 per week (for those paying PRSI Class A, E and H) and €26 per week (for those paying PRSI Class B, C, and D) will be abolished with effect from 1 January 2013. The abolition of the allowance for all classes of contributors ensures equity of treatment of employees across all sectors of the economy. The abolition of the PRSI...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: Social welfare legislation provides that a person must satisfy the conditions of being available for and genuinely seeking work in order to be entitled to jobseeker’s benefit. Any person who fails to satisfy these conditions is not entitled to a jobseeker’s benefit payment. Part-time fire-fighters are entitled to a jobseeker’s benefit payment in respect of days that...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Ministerial Appointments (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The details sought by the Deputy in respect of the Special Advisers and Press Advisers appointed in my Department are show as follows: Name Position held Date appointed Annual salary Edward Brophy Special Adviser 29th July 2011 €127,796 Paul O’Brien Press Adviser 17th December 2012 €80,051

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 14th of September 2011. This application was refused on the ground that the carer in question was not medically eligible for carer’s allowance. A letter issued on the 4th of July 2012 refusing the allowance. The person concerned appealed this decision and the file has...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Appeals (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 17th 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 05th ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Applications (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The person concerned has been in receipt of one parent family payment since 15th January 2009. She was also in receipt of rent supplement in respect of her previous address from June 2010 until September 2012. She has since made another application for rent supplement on 10th October 2012 which is awaiting decision as she has yet to provide requested documentation. The person concerned...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Review (18 Dec 2012)

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. Farm assist 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 Budget...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 22nd May 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 06th ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: EU Council Meetings (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: During the period in question there were a total of ten meetings, including four informal meetings of the Council for Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) which is the relevant Council formation for the Department of Social Protection. It is the practice for the Employment and Social Affairs items to be taken on one day of this two day meeting, and Health and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Widow's Pension (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was received in that office on 02nd 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 29th ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 23rd of January 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, the reasons for it and of her...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Appeals (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 339, 340, 343, 347 and 348 together. The current average processing times for appeals in relation to Farm Assist, Domiciliary Care Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, Disability Allowance and Invalidity Pension are provided in the attached table. Appeals processing times are calculated from the registration date of the appeal to the date of its finalisation...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Applications (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The processing times of individual invalidity pension claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the qualifying criteria. In addition, factors outside the Department’s control can have an impact, for example, insufficient information received from claimants at time of application and delays in claimants furnishing the information requested. At present...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Job Initiatives (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: In Germany, the most common kind of vocational training is referred to as the dual system, which consists of practical vocational training given at work in a company or organisation, backed up by theoretical training and general education provided in vocational training schools which are generally attended one or two days a week. JobBridge, the National Internship Scheme, provides...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 11th 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 07...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Applications (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The average processing time for Farm Assist claims which were decided in November 2012 was 10 weeks. Farm Assist claims are often complex and require detailed investigation and verification of circumstances. Every effort is made to ensure that claims are processed as expeditiously as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Delays (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: I acknowledge that the time taken to process carer’s allowance claims at present is not satisfactory but I am satisfied that the Department is taking appropriate action to resolve the situation. Carer’s allowance section has recently completed a major service delivery modernisation project to improve the efficiency with which it processes applications from clients for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Application Numbers (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 351 and 361 together. 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...