Results 24,421-24,440 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Domiciliary Care Allowance: Domiciliary Care Allowance (12 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person concerned on 5th January 2012. This application was referred to one of the Department's Medical Assessors who found that the child was not medically eligible for the allowance. A letter issued on 27th March 2012 advising the person concerned of the decision. She subsequently lodged an appeal against this decision...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (12 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the names and salaries of my Special Advisers is set out in the tabular statement below. TITLE NAME ANNUAL SALARY Press Advisor Kathleen Barrington €86,806 Special Advisor Edward Brophy €127,796 The applicable pay scale for Special Advisers is the Principal Officer (standard) scale: €80,051 to €92,672. As Edward Brophy was...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (12 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: Tús is a community work placement initiative which aims to provide up to 5,000 short-term work opportunities for those have been fully unemployed and in receipt of a jobseeker's payment for at least 12 months, and who are in receipt of jobseeker's allowance at the time of application. At the week ending the 1st June, 4,386 participants and 234 supervisors have been engaged in the provision...

Written Answers — Domiciliary Care Allowance: Domiciliary Care Allowance (12 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned has been referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing in this case. There has been a very significant increase in the number of appeals received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office since 2007 when the intake was 14,070 to 2010 and 2011 when the intake rose to 32,432 and 31,241...

Written Answers — An Teanga Gaeilge: An Teanga Gaeilge (12 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: Oibríonn mo Roinn an scéim de réir na dtreoirlínte reatha arna gcinneadh ag an Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe. Athrú bunúsach ar oibriú na scéime a bheadh i moladh an Choimisinéara Teanga dá dtagraíonn an Teachta, agus dá bhrí sin tá na moltaí curtha ar aghaidh ag mo Roinn chuig an Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe dá mbreithniú.

Written Answers — Mortgage Interest Supplement: Mortgage Interest Supplement (12 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is in receipt of mortgage interest supplement at a rate of €264.90 per month which is her full entitlement based on the information available to the Department.

Written Answers — Carer's Allowance: Carer's Allowance (12 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for carer's allowance from the person in question. On completion of the necessary investigations relating to all aspects of the case a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (12 Jun 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 31st May 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 — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (12 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer having fully considered all the available evidence disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer decision on 7th June 2012. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the...

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (12 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: I established an Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare in June 2011 to address a number of specific issues regarding the operation and interaction of the tax and social protection systems. The Group has been tasked with recommending cost-effective solutions as to how employment disincentives can be addressed and better poverty outcomes achieved, particularly child poverty outcomes. The...

Written Answers — Rent Supplement Scheme: Rent Supplement Scheme (12 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: According to the information available to the Department, the person concerned is not due arrears in respect of rent supplement. Any maintenance payments owed to this person are not a matter for this Department.

Written Answers — Carer's Allowance: Carer's Allowance (12 Jun 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 November 2011. 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 and the case has been referred to an...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (12 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: The Government is conscious of the significant structural and affordability problems with defined benefit (DB) pension provisions due to a range of factors such as underestimation of longevity, poor investment decisions and the market turmoil that occurred in 2008. While pension funds have recovered somewhat, significant underfunding challenges remain for many schemes. The requirements of the...

Written Answers — Money Advice and Budgeting Service: Money Advice and Budgeting Service (12 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) operates under the aegis of the Citizens Information Board. The Citizens Information Board is in the process of preparing the budget estimates for 2013 and has requested all MABS companies to submit their individual estimates before the end of June. In 2012 funding of some €18million has been provided to support the MABS and in December 2011,...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (12 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare and Pensions Bill, 2012, which was enacted on 1 May, 2012, introduces changes to the structure of the one-parent family payment (OFP) and to the age of the youngest child at which the payment ceases. These changes are being brought in over time. From 3 May, 2012, the age of the youngest child is being reduced on a phased basis to 7 years for new recipients from 2014 and...

Written Answers — Child Benefit: Child Benefit (12 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: The requirement to be habitually resident in Ireland was introduced as a qualifying condition for certain social assistance schemes and child benefit with effect from 1 May 2004. The effect of the condition is that a person whose habitual residence is elsewhere would not normally be entitled to social welfare assistance or child benefit payments on arrival in Ireland. There is no...

Written Answers — Domiciliary Care Allowance: Domiciliary Care Allowance (12 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 340 and 341 together. The domiciliary care allowance (DCA) scheme has been administered by the Department of Social Protection since April 2009 and I have recently announced that a review of the operation of the scheme is to be carried out over the coming months. This review will look at, amongst other things, the current application and assessment process...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (12 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: In the last four years the numbers in receipt of a jobseekers payment who are also working on a part-time or casual basis has increased by almost 200%. At the end of May 2012 there were some 87,578 people in this situation on the Live Register and some 40,687 of these were claiming jobseeker's benefit. In line with other Budget measures the effect of this measure will not impact on any...

Written Answers — Domiciliary Care Allowance: Domiciliary Care Allowance (12 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: Domiciliary care allowance (DCA) is a monthly payment to the parent or guardian of a child under the age of 16 with a disability so severe that the child requires care and attention and/or supervision substantially in excess of another child of the same age. Eligibility for DCA is not based primarily on the medical or psychological condition, but on the resulting lack of function of body or...

Written Answers — Disability Allowance: Disability Allowance (12 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer having fully considered all the available evidence, including that adduced at oral hearing, allowed the appeal of the person concerned who has been notified of the decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for...