Results 23,561-23,580 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

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

Joan Burton: The records of the Department show that no current application for a one parent family payment has been submitted by the person concerned.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit Appeals (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 7th 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 have been received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office and the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: My Department does not rely solely on printed material to communicate information about social welfare schemes or changes to schemes. All relevant information is published on the Department’s website www.welfare.ie and updated regularly. During 2012 specific information campaigns were undertaken to inform customers of changes to State pension (contributory), State pension...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: On 6 April 2012, the minimum social insurance contributions required to qualify for a State pension (contributory/transition) increased from 260 contributions to 520 contributions. This change had been provided for in legislation since 1997 and has featured in all of my Department’s relevant communications, information leaflets, booklets and on the Department’s website since...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: A number of minimum paid contributions are required to qualify for a State pension (contributory). The change introducing an increase in the minimum number of paid contributions was provided for in legislation in 1997. The first part of this measure, which increased the minimum qualifying contributions for State pension contributory from 156 to 260, was implemented by a previous government...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: Because the State pension is a very valuable benefit it is important to ensure that those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund over their working lives. The sustainability of pensions into the future is important given the changing demographics, the increased numbers of those over 65 and increased longevity and reduced dependency ratio. That is why...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: The sustainability of pensions into the future is important given the changing demographics, the increased numbers of those over 65 and increased longevity and reduced dependency ratio. Because the State pension is a very valuable benefit it is important to ensure that those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund over their working lives. That is why there...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Interest Supplement Expenditure (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: The Estimates of Expenditure for 2013 for the Department of Social Protection, including the estimate for the mortgage interest supplement scheme, are currently under preparation and will be published at Budget time next December.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Appeals (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is in receipt of rent supplement of €283.00 per month which is currently under review. The person concerned has been requested to provide information in order to facilitate the review.

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

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence, disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officers decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is in receipt of Rent Supplement from April 2010. During a recent entitlement review details of earnings from part time employment came to light. This income will not disqualify the person concerned from Rent Supplement but will lead to a change in entitlement. This review is still on going as other information requested is still outstanding.

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

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question. The medical assessment has been completed and the application is awaiting examination by a deciding officer for a means assessment and a full decision. The application will be processed as quickly as possible and when a decision is made the person concerned will be notified...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Fraud Cost (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: My Department has a target of reviewing 985,000 individual welfare claims and achieving €645m in control savings in 2012, an increase of €105m on the 2011 target. At the end of July, over €400m in control savings were reported and over 650,000 reviews had been carried out. I fully expect that my Department will achieve the 2012 control targets. It is important to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Sick Pay Scheme Reform (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: There are a number of compelling reasons why the Government is considering the introduction of a scheme of statutory sick pay at this time – firstly, as a measure to help in addressing the growing deficit in the social Insurance Fund; secondly, as a measure to limit progression from short-term illness to long-term illness or disability; and thirdly, to bring Ireland into line with...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Payments (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: Child benefit is a universal payment that assists parents with the cost of raising children and it contributes towards alleviating child poverty. The estimated expenditure on child benefit for 2012 is around €2 billion in respect of some 1.15 million children. The Government is conscious that child benefit, as a universal payment, can be an important source of income for all...

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

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question. The medical assessment has been completed. The application is currently with a social welfare investigative officer for a means assessment. Once the investigative officer has completed and submitted the report a deciding officer will make a full decision. The application...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Scéimeanna Teanga (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: Dréachtaíodh an dara scéim Ghaeilge do mo Roinnse sa bhliain 2010. Níorbh fhéidir, áfach, teacht ar réiteach ar an dara dréachtscéim toisc nárbh fhéidir gealltanas a thabhairt go ndéanfaí seirbhís Ghaeilge a thairiscint i ngach áit a bhí ar áireamh sa chéad scéim, cé go bhfuil an Roinn tiomanta...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Appointments to State Boards (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: The three statutory bodies under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Social Welfare Tribunal and the Pensions Board. In addition, the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a board) comes under the remit of the Department. When filling vacancies on the boards of these bodies, every effort is made to comply with the target...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Illness Benefit Reform (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: The illness benefit system involves Medical Certifiers who are responsible for the certification of illness in relation to customers. Medical certifiers, who are in the main general practitioners or hospital doctors, enter into a contract with the Department that requires them to medically examine persons claiming illness or injury benefit and to certify as accurately as possible the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Schemes (18 Sep 2012)

Joan Burton: Penalty rates are a means of encouraging jobseekers to engage with activation measures, including the National Employment Action Plan (EAP). A penalty rate may be imposed where the customer fails, without good cause, to engage in activation, including within the EAP process. Since the application of penalties for jobseekers became operational at the end of May 2011, some 1,332 penalty rates...