Results 22,221-22,240 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Functions (13 Nov 2012)

Joan Burton: Significant resources and effort have been put into reducing backlogs and improving appeals processing times for appellants, including: The assignment of 15 additional Appeals Officers (AO). Retaining retired experienced AOs for 18 months ending December 2011. Improving business processes and implementing a new operating model in SWAO. Programme of process redesign and system modernisation...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Schemes (13 Nov 2012)

Joan Burton: There has been a significant increase in the number of new claims received in all these three schemes over the past 3-4 years. A major service delivery modernisation project has been undertaken to improve the efficiency of administration of the three scheme areas in question and to help to deal with the increased volumes. This involves the deployment of information technology solutions and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Fund (13 Nov 2012)

Joan Burton: I am most concerned about the deficit in the Social Insurance Fund (SIF) and one of my key goals is to reform the system of social protection and to put it on a sounder financial footing for the future. In the context of the SIF, Budget 2011 introduced a number of changes to the PRSI system and, in Budget 2012, my colleague the Minister for Finance announced a further widening of the PRSI...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Dental Services (13 Nov 2012)

Joan Burton: The dental benefit scheme was limited to a free annual examination in budget 2010, so from 1st January 2010 to date, one free annual examination is available to qualifying customers. Detail on the treatments covered under the dental benefit scheme (either partially or fully) in 2007, 2008, and 2009, are listed in the following table. Any decision on changes to the dental benefit scheme will...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (13 Nov 2012)

Joan Burton: I understand that the Deputy’s question relates to the issue of the payment of concurrent social insurance benefits to a person who is in receipt of a widow/er’s contributory pension. The social welfare system is designed to respond to a range of contingencies such as illness, unemployment, old age or widowhood. Within this wide-ranging system, a general principle is applied...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (13 Nov 2012)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 3rd February 2012. The application is with a deciding officer for a decision. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (13 Nov 2012)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 16th August 2011. This application was referred to one of the Department’s medical assessors who found that the caree in question was not medically eligible for carer’s allowance. The deciding officer accepted the opinion of the medical assessor and further...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (13 Nov 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal, by the person concerned, was registered in that office on 13 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. When received, the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Offices (13 Nov 2012)

Joan Burton: There are no plans to close the Department’s offices at Castle Buildings, Tara St, Tullamore, Co. Offaly. The offices at Castle Buildings are scheduled to become fully integrated INTREO offices in 2013 and plans are well advanced in this regard.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (13 Nov 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal, by the person concerned, was registered in that office on 2nd 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. When received, the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (13 Nov 2012)

Joan Burton: The maximum term for participants in the community employment scheme has been set by my Department at three years for those under 55 years of age. As the person concerned has completed three years on the scheme and is under 55 years of age, he has reached the maximum duration entitlement. It is not possible in the current economic climate to grant a further extension. During his term on...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (13 Nov 2012)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 31st May 2012. The application is with a deciding officer for a decision. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Nov 2012)

Joan Burton: Apart from a number of excluded categories, anyone in the State who satisfies a habitual residency condition and a means test, has applied for any other benefit or allowances s/he may be entitled to, has registered for employment, unless they have a physical or mental disability, and can prove unemployment may qualify for a weekly payment of Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA). In order...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals (13 Nov 2012)

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 18th...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (13 Nov 2012)

Joan Burton: The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The overall aim is to provide short term assistance, and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Appeals (13 Nov 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal, by the person concerned, was registered in that office on 1st 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 case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (13 Nov 2012)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received on the 11th May 2012. This application was referred to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors who found that the child was not medically eligible for DCA. A letter issued on 18th July 2012 refusing the allowance. The person concerned subsequently lodged an appeal against this decision. As part of the appeal...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance (13 Nov 2012)

Joan Burton: Where all the required information is provided at the time of the initial application, claims should be processed without delay and the rent supplement will normally be approved by months end. Delays may occur where requests for further information are necessary. In addition to Kildare the rent section processes claims from Wicklow and parts of Dublin 2, 4, 6 and 15. With the recent...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Welfare Services (13 Nov 2012)

Joan Burton: Following the integration of the former community welfare service into my Department efficiencies have been achieved which allow for a reconfiguration of how services within the area concerned are delivered. This area is serviced by the new Intreo office at Kings Inns St and developments there have reduced the extent to which supplementary welfare allowance has been paid in cases where...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Agencies (13 Nov 2012)

Joan Burton: The information requested is currently being compiled within the Department and will be made available to the Deputy as soon as possible.