Results 22,741-22,760 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code Issues (17 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: In assessing means for social assistance purposes, account is taken of any cash income the person may have, together with the value of capital and property excluding the family home, land farmed by the person or commercial premises used in the course of the business of the claimant. The yearly value of property and capital is assessed on a notional basis. In the case of property, the market...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (17 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: An application for disability allowance was received from the person concerned on the 13th June, 2012. This application was referred to one of the Departments’ medical assessors who found that the person concerned was not medically eligible for disability allowance. A letter issued on 13th September, 2012 refusing the allowance. The person was advised that if they wished to have the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (17 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: The Department is awaiting a response to a request for further information in support of the application for rent allowance from the person concerned. A decision on the application will be made as soon as the required information is received.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (17 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 11th July 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. A letter issued on the 15th May 2012 refusing the allowance. The person concerned...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Numbers (17 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: The National Internship Scheme, JobBridge, was launched on 1st July 2011. It provides internship opportunities of either 6 or 9 months for unemployed individuals at all skills levels. The aim of JobBridge is to assist individuals in breaking the cycle where they are unable to get a job without experience. It provides them with an opportunity to gain valuable experience, relevant knowledge...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Applications (17 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: The Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible. The average waiting time for new family income supplement (FIS) claims at the end of September was 18 weeks and for renewal applications was 19 weeks. At the end of September, there were...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Recruitment (17 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: The staffing needs for all offices within the Department are continuously reviewed, having regard to workloads, management priorities and the competing demands arising, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources with a view to providing an efficient service to those who rely on the schemes operated by the Department. The HR Division of my Department will continue to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Care Services (17 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 169 and 171 together. The inter-departmental group (IDG) on school-age childcare consists of representatives from the Department of Social Protection, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, (DCYA) – which is the lead Department in relation to child care policy and provision – and the Department of Education and Skills. The role of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (17 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 172 and 173 together. There is an important context to the proposed changes to State pension provision. Given the scale of the fiscal crisis and because spending on social protection accounts for nearly 40% of current Government expenditure, you will appreciate that savings have to be found in the social welfare system. As social structures in Ireland are...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Applications (17 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: An unemployed person may qualify for jobseeker’s benefit or jobseeker’s allowance. Jobseeker’s benefit is based on a person’s social insurance record and jobseeker’s allowance is based on weekly means. A fundamental qualifying condition for a jobseeker’s payment is that a person must be available for full-time work. Under EU Regulations, in certain...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Live Register Numbers (17 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: According to the most recent statistics available to my Department, which are based on addresses provided by people making a claim for an unemployment payment, there are currently approximately 392 persons who state that they reside in the East Wall area of Dublin and who are signing on the Live Register. Should additional information be required the organisation concerned should contact...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Consultancy Contracts (17 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: My Department engages a range of consultants (individuals or organisations) to provide intellectual or knowledge based services (expert analysis and advice). Total expenditure on the engagement of consultants by my Department for the years 2008 to the end of September 2012 is set out below and consultancies involved are detailed in the following tables. 2008 (Outturn) €1,919,600...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Legal Matters (17 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: It is not possible in the time available to provide a comprehensive answer to the various matters raised by the Deputy in respect of all of the periods in question. The information requested is currently being compiled within the Department and will be made available to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Consultancy Contracts (17 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: The Department will compile the information sought and will revert to the Deputy at the earliest possible opportunity.

Other Questions: Disability Allowance (16 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: The proof is that the numbers of people and the amount spent on disability benefits have continued to increase because there have been no changes in conditionality.

Other Questions: Disability Allowance (16 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: I am sure the Deputy will welcome the fact that the Government is spending more on disability allowance than was the case when he was in Government at the height of the economic boom.

Other Questions: Disability Allowance (16 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: With regard to Deputy Wallace's question about carers, in last year's budget I prioritised that carers would not receive a reduction in the payments made to them. I am happy that my colleagues in Government supported that approach. I am aware that people who have a disability are dependent on the quality of services they receive. When I met the 35 groups last Friday for four hours of...

Other Questions: Disability Allowance (16 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: The review will be published after it has gone to Government. As I said earlier - I do not know if the Deputy was here at the time - I have not received the review because it is not complete; that is my advice. When I get it, I will study it. I will then have to take it to my colleagues in Government. No decisions have been made about this year's budget but protecting the incomes of...

Other Questions: Disability Allowance (16 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: As the Deputy will be aware, there is a significant difficulty with people submitting incomplete applications at the first stage.

Other Questions: Disability Allowance (16 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: The problem is when the Deputy becomes more familiar with this area-----