Results 22,921-22,940 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (11 Oct 2012)

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 04 July 2012. The medical evidence provided by the claimant in support of her claim was examined by a medical assessor who was of the opinion that the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Defined Pension Benefit Scheme Issues (10 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: I am very aware of the serious funding challenge facing pension schemes. It is acknowledged that the fundamental problem is that pensions are significantly more expensive due to increasing life expectancy and lower than expected investment returns which are reflected in increased annuity rates. The Pensions Regulator suspended the Funding Standard four years ago, following the downturn in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (10 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: According to the records of the Department, the application was disallowed as the person concerned does not have sufficient paid social insurance contributions. This case has been referred to a Social Welfare Inspector to further investigate the employment record and, on receipt of this report, the case will be reviewed and the outcome communicated to the person without delay.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (10 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on 17 September 2012. The medical evidence that was received has been forwarded to the Department’s medical assessor for consideration and the application will be processed as quickly as possible. When a decision is made the person concerned will be notified directly...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Illness Benefit Appeals (10 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 18 January 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 6...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Work Allowance Payments (10 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was requested to contact County Kildare Leader Partnership for an assessment of the viability of his business venture. When the Partnership have provided the assessment a decision will be made on his application for the back to work allowance.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (10 Oct 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 April 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 25th July...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Applications (10 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: The jobseeker’s allowance application of the person concerned was closed as the deciding officer was not satisfied that she resided at the address provided on her application. If she wishes to re-open her application she should call to her local social welfare office with proof of residency.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement (10 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 August is 18 weeks and for renewal claims is 16 weeks. At the end of August, there were 7,137 new FIS...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (10 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: The Department is currently engaged in a procurement process from which it intends to appoint expert advisor(s) to assist with the design and delivery of employment service provision, on a contracted basis with external providers, as envisaged under the Pathways to Work strategy. Given the urgent need to address unemployment, the intention is to enhance employment services at local level and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (10 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: I can confirm that the application is with a deciding officer for a decision. It will be processed as quickly as possible and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Redundancy Payments (10 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: A redundancy lump sum application in relation to the person concerned has recently been awarded. Payment will shortly be issued to the person’s chosen bank account.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Redundancy Payments (10 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: An application for a redundancy lump sum payment in respect of the person concerned was received in the Department in August 2012. It is expected that the claim will be finalised in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (10 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 3rd April 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 13th...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Insolvency Payments Scheme Payments (10 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: On 27 June 2011 the High Court in the UK appointed joint administrators to the company to which the Deputy refers. Subsequently, in May 2012, liquidators were appointed. Another organisation, also UK based, has been appointed to act as an agent with respect to submitting claims under the insolvency payments scheme. To date, insolvency claims have been paid in respect of 83 former...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (10 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: The back to education allowance (BTEA) is a second chance education opportunities scheme designed to remove the barriers to participation in second and third level education by enabling those in receipt of certain social welfare payments to continue to receive a payment while pursuing an approved full-time education course that leads to a higher qualification than that already held. A person...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (10 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an oral hearing of the appeal of the person concerned took place on 23rd July 2012 and the Appeals Officer is now considering the appeal in the light of all the evidence submitted, including that adduced at the hearing. The person concerned will be notified of the Appeals Officer decision when the appeal has been determined. The Social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (10 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 10th 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 4th...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service Issues (10 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: South Galway Money Advice & Budgeting Service (MABS) is funded through the Citizens Information Board, to assist people living in Galway city and environs, including the area in question, who are over-indebted and need help and advice in coping with debt problems. The main office for South Galway MABS is located in Galway city and there are two sub-offices – one in Loughrea and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Waiting Times (10 Oct 2012)

Joan Burton: The Department is committed to ensuring that claims are processed as expeditiously as possible. Processing times vary across schemes, depending on the differing qualification criteria. As can be seen from the data in the table below, schemes that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case of illness-related schemes, can take longer to process....