Results 25,001-25,020 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (2 May 2012)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 to 75, inclusive, together. On 31 March 2012, there were 555 participants on Community Employment places in Dublin 1 and 167 participants on Community Employment places in Dublin 7; together this makes up 722 places. Of these 722 places, 130 were drug rehabilitation places. One hundred and four participants on CE occupied drug rehabilitation places in...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (2 May 2012)

Joan Burton: My Department is currently engaged in two reviews that impact on Community Employment. One of these reviews is a review of Departmental Labour Market Activation Measures generally and the other is a financial review of Community Employment that aims to secure savings in the expenditure on materials and training grants in 2012 compared to that in 2011. The financial review of Community...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (2 May 2012)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for carer's allowance from the person in question. She was advised that her application does not meet the medical criteria for receipt of carer's allowance based on the medical evidence submitted at time of application. However, additional medical evidence was subsequently received and forwarded to the medical assessor for further...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (2 May 2012)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is in receipt of an One Parent Family Payment and has not previously participated on a Community Employment Scheme (CE). She would therefore be eligible to participate on a CE Scheme. However, there is no record of the person concerned applying for such a scheme.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (2 May 2012)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was notified on 24th April 2012 that her appeal was successful and that her claim was awarded. The first payment will issue to her on 15th May 2012.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (2 May 2012)

Joan Burton: I confirm that an application from the person concerned for carer's allowance has been received. On completion of the necessary investigations a decision will be made and she will be notified directly of the outcome.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (2 May 2012)

Joan Burton: In assessing means for social assistance payments, account is taken of the income and the value of capital and property of the claimant and their spouse/partner. Social welfare legislation provides that the yearly value of "property owned but not personally used or enjoyed" is assessable for means testing purposes for social assistance payments. Such property includes houses and premises...

Seanad: Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 May 2012)

Joan Burton: I was just consulting with the registrar on Senator Mooney's question. Three bodies had their applications refused by the Registrar General. These applications were subsequently appealed to the previous Minister. One appeal was upheld, one rejected and one is still under appeal. I understand that the one that was upheld was that of Pagan Federation Ireland, which is represents people who...

Seanad: Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 May 2012)

Joan Burton: The regulations are set out in the legislation. Senator Mooney's party introduced that legislation. I believe the arrangements are coherent and workable, which is important. They also provide for an appropriate, if one likes, qualification which assists in ensuring that due solemnity and ceremony is attached to the solemnisation of marriage as opposed to a different model which might...

Seanad: Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 May 2012)

Joan Burton: I understand the Senator's perspective and Senator Bacik made an appropriate response. I am anxious that we proceed with this and I accept very much the spirit of the Senator's comments on the areas of civil partnership but this legislation deals with the particular issue of marriage.

Seanad: Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 May 2012)

Joan Burton: I congratulate Senator Bacik on introducing this important legislation and thank all parties in the Seanad for their work on it. In Ireland, we rightly value the institution of marriage. We recognise it in our legislation and acknowledge it socially. When two people make a public commitment to each other by way of marriage, it is a cause of great celebration. It is one of those occasions...

Seanad: Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 May 2012)

Joan Burton: They do.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (1 May 2012)

Joan Burton: Pensions are a long-term investment aimed at ensuring that people have an adequate income in retirement. Government policy supports this aspiration through generous tax reliefs and we are currently reforming the pension system to ensure its future sustainability. At the moment, people are generally only permitted to access their pension savings at the retirement age defined in their pension...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (1 May 2012)

Joan Burton: The FÁS Employment Service, which deals with the interview process referred to, has been transferred to the Department of Social Protection with effect from the beginning of this year. Under the current National Employment Action Plan (NEAP) system, all those who are unemployed and signing on are referred to the employment service when they reach three months singing on. These NEAP clients...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (1 May 2012)

Joan Burton: The total number of internship placements that have commenced to date is 6,648. Of these, 192 placements have commenced within the local authorities. 19 local authorities have participated in the Scheme. The largest take up is from Cork, Clare, Galway and North Tipperary County Councils who have commenced 38, 26, 21 and 21 interns respectively. The remaining 86 internship placements are...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (1 May 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 16 February 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 04th...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (1 May 2012)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was refused disability allowance following an assessment by a Medical Assessor who expressed the opinion that he was medically unsuitable for the allowance. He was also disallowed on the grounds that his weekly means exceeded the statutory limit allowable for disability allowance purposes. I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an appeal was registered...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (1 May 2012)

Joan Burton: The criteria for participating on the Community Employment (CE) programme are based on age and length of time in receipt of various social welfare payments. The core eligibility criterion for CE is that the person is in receipt of a qualifying Irish social welfare payment, as defined on the Department's public website. This requirement is based on Government policy and Departmental guidelines...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (1 May 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 16th February 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 appeal in question will be referred to an Appeals...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (1 May 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 29th February 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 appeal in question will be assigned to an Appeals...