Results 25,921-25,940 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (21 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: A financial review of Community Employment schemes is ongoing following the announced changes in Budget 2012. All schemes have been communicated with and met by an officer of my Department. Returns from these meetings are now being examined on a regional basis in terms of the funding requirements and what savings can be achieved within the limits set down by the Department. These outcomes...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (21 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: Payment of pensions and lump sums to staff retiring from the Health Service Executive (HSE) is a matter for the HSE itself. The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme operated by the Department of Social Protection is the "safety net" within the overall social welfare system in that, subject to qualifying conditions, it provides assistance to any persons in the State whose means are...

Written Answers — Civil Registration: Civil Registration (21 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: I have made enquiries with the Registrar General and he has informed me that the position is as follows: The legal provisions concerning civil partnerships are contained in the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act, 2010. There is an impediment to a civil partnership if the parties are not of the same sex. In the civil partnership case referred to by the...

Written Answers — Carer's Allowance: Carer's Allowance (21 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: The family income supplement (FIS) payment provides income support for employees on low earnings with children. The payment is designed to preserve the financial incentive to take-up or remain in employment in circumstances where the employee might be marginally better off in employment than on social welfare payments. To qualify for payment of FIS, a person must be engaged in full-time...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting of Personnel: Garda Vetting of Personnel (21 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: Following advice from the Central Garda Vetting Unit in Thurles, it was agreed by senior management in the Department of Social Protection (DSP) that the restriction in the previous Garda Vetting Procedures for Community Employment and Job Initiative Programmes that require Garda Vetting for those applicants on programmes which deal with children and vulnerable adults which stated that:...

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (15 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: Insolvency payment claims for 27 former employees of the company were received on 16 August 2011. The Department is currently processing claims received at the beginning of July 2011, and these claims will be processed in due course. These payments will be made from the Social Insurance Fund.

Written Answers — Money Advice and Budgeting Service: Money Advice and Budgeting Service (15 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), under the aegis of the Citizens Information Board, assists people who are over-indebted and need help and advice in coping with debt problems. They provide an excellent service, in particular to those on low incomes and people living on social welfare payments. There are 53 independent MABS companies with voluntary boards of management...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (15 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was 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 — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (15 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: State pension (transition) (SPT) and State pension (contributory) (SPC) are social insurance payments made when a person reaches 65 and 66 years of age respectively. They are both based on the person's social insurance record (PRSI) from employment or self employment. To qualify a person needs to (a) enter insurable employment by age 55 for SPT and age 56 for SPC, (b) have paid 260 full rate...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (15 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: The Deputy will be aware that in the immediate aftermath of the severe flooding experienced in October 2011, the Government put in place a humanitarian aid scheme to assist households affected by that flooding. Since these floods, the Department has been providing individuals with emergency payments to offset their immediate needs such as the purchase of food, clothing, fuel and household...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (15 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: I am very conscious of the need to provide efficient and effective customer facing services at a local level for clients of the Department. However, as the Deputy will be aware, there is currently a moratorium on recruitment across the civil and public service. Where vacancies arise, I assure the Deputy that the Department is expending every effort to continue to source available staff to...

Written Answers — Fire Service: Fire Service (15 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: The information requested by the Deputy is not held by the Department. While occupation codes are in use they apply to employment groupings rather than specific jobs.

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (15 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: In order to qualify for an internship, an individual must be in receipt of a live jobseeker's claim and have been in receipt of jobseeker's allowance or jobseeker's benefit, or signing for credits, for a minimum of 78 days in the previous six months. Time spent on certain government sponsored training may also be taken into account when calculating eligibility. Providing they fulfil all...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (15 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 24 August 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 were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 1...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was refused mortgage interest supplement on 28 February 2012 as the first mortgage was not obtained to purchase, build or repair the main residence and the second mortgage was obtained for repairs to both residence and commercial property owned at that time. A breakdown of costs and receipts for same has not been provided.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was refused disability allowance on the ground that, based upon the medical assessor's opinion of the medical evidence supplied in support of the claim, the person is not medically suitable for disability allowance. The deciding officer accepted this opinion and the person was notified in writing of this decision on 9 September 2011. Further medical evidence was...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (15 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 03 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. When received, the appeal in question will be referred in due course to an...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (15 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is 54 years of age and is currently a participant on Community Employment. He is eligible to remain on the programme until 20 April 2012 at which time he will have completed 3 years and the maximum time he is entitled to under the current eligibility criteria. With effect from 3 April 2000, participation on CE is limited, in a person's lifetime to a total of 3 years...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (15 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is 52 years of age and is currently a participant on Community Employment. He is eligible to remain on the programme until 14 September 2012 at which time he will have completed 3 years and the maximum time he is entitled to under the current eligibility criteria. With effect from 3 April 2000 participation on CE is limited, in a person's lifetime to a total of 3 years...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (14 Mar 2012)

Joan Burton: I acknowledge the valuable contribution made by Community Employment Projects such as the Galway Centre for Independent Living in providing a service to both participants and the community. However due to the current economic circumstances, this Department has had to find significant savings in the Budget for 2012. The reduction only applies to the grant for materials and training and...