Results 26,501-26,520 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (15 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: Legislative changes were introduced to the one-parent family payment (OFP) scheme in the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2010. These came into effect on 27 April, 2011, and reduced the maximum age limit of the youngest child for receipt of the OFP to 14. Further changes to the maximum age limit of the youngest child for receipt of the OFP were announced in Budget 2012. For...

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

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 161 to 163, inclusive, together. The information requested by the Deputy is not routinely collated by my Department across all of its various schemes. Where possible I have included the information requested by the Deputy in full. The Department has not undertaken or commissioned research in relation to qualified adult payments. This is a matter that the...

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

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 to 167, inclusive, together. There were 90,267 recipients of One-parent Family Payments at the end of January 2012 with payments being made in respect of 149,196 qualified children. It is estimated that approximately 46% of the recipients are in paid employment. Information concerning the working patterns of recipients of One-Parent Family Payment is not...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (15 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: In November 2010, my Department published a "Report on the Desirability and Feasibility of introducing a Single Payment for People of Working Age". The report concluded that it was both desirable and feasible to move to a single payment over time. There is a commitment contained in the agreed EU/ECB/IMF Programme of Financial Support, that Ireland will present a comprehensive programme of...

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

Joan Burton: At the end of January 2012 there were 90,267 people in receipt of One-parent Family Payment. A breakdown of these recipients by age is set out in the following table. One-Parent Family Payment Age Recipients Under 25 11,701 25-29 17,443 30-34 17,931 35-39 15,946 40-44 13,297 45-49 8,672 50-54 3,803 55-59 1,209 60-64 249 65 & over 16 Total 90,267

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

Joan Burton: At the end of December 2011 there were 51,666 people in receipt of Carer's Allowance. A breakdown of these recipients by age is set out in the following table. Carer's Allowance Age Recipients Under 25 years 655 25 to 29 years 1,564 30 to 34 years 3,262 35 to 39 years 5,313 40 to 44 years 6,914 45 to 49 years 7,134 50 to 54 years 6,333 55 to 59 years 5,622 60 to 64 years 5,132...

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

Joan Burton: I am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the number of appeals for invalidity pensions on hand at the end of 2011 was 1,582 and the average length of time to process invalidity pension appeals which were finalised in 2011 was 36.4 weeks for those dealt with by way of a summary decision and 58.9 weeks for those that required an oral hearing. These processing times are...

Written Answers — EU Presidency: EU Presidency (15 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: Discussions on priorities for the EU Presidency, the functions which will take place under the auspices of my Department and the resources which will be required to support Presidency activities are ongoing at present. Work on the Presidency has so far been undertaken using existing staffing resources. Accordingly, expenditure to date has been quite small and is limited to about €750 on...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (15 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: The Department incurs expenditure on legal and compensation costs and fees from the Department of Social Protection Vote and the Social Insurance Fund. The elements of these payments relating solely to legal fees are not recorded separately. The following table sets out expenditure on legal and compensation costs/fees for the period from 2007 to 2011. Legal and compensation costs / fees...

Social Welfare Benefits (15 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: I agree with what the Deputy is saying. I hope the final outcome will represent a significant improvement. In many cases, the status and eligibility of the claim, and the way it is presented, mean it is highly likely that carer's allowance will be awarded. If we can move to a system whereby the claim is complete when the application is first made, it will be possible for much clearer and...

Social Welfare Benefits (15 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: I thank Deputy Kevin Humphreys for raising this important issue. Approximately 52,000 people are currently in receipt of carer's allowance. Approximately 22,000 of them receive the half-rate carer's allowance in addition to another primary social welfare payment. The rates of payment for carer's allowance were maintained in budget 2012. In addition, no changes were made to the means test...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (14 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: The Government has approved a number of changes to defined benefit (DB) pension provisions in order to enhance the security of members benefits and to increase equity in the provision of pension benefits between scheme members. It is proposed to reform and strengthen the Funding Standard by requiring DB pension schemes to hold a risk reserve as a protection against future volatility in...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (14 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance was received on 15th December 2011. 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 26th January 2012 advising of the decision. In the case of an application which is refused on medical grounds, the applicant may submit...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (14 Feb 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. There are a number of reasons why early withdrawals of pension savings are not permitted, or desirable, the principal one being...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (14 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 13th October 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 03rd...

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

Joan Burton: There are currently 311 persons employed by Community Employment Schemes located in the Clondalkin area, 49 in Palmerstown and 14 in Lucan. ** Please see individual programme details below (as at 3rd February 2012); Location Sponsor Current No Supervisor Asst. Super Drugs Task Force Health Childcare Other Clondalkin Bawnogue Youth and Family Support 28 2 1 25 Clondalkin Cabhair 19 1 10...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (14 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: Self-employed persons are liable for PRSI at the Class S rate of 4% which entitles them to access long-term benefits such as State pension (contributory) and widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's pension (contributory). Ordinary employees who have access to the full range of social insurance benefits pay Class A PRSI at the rate of 4%. In addition, their employers make a PRSI...

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (14 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: The Department has received a very high level of enquiries in relation to requests for refunds of the Health Contribution over the last few weeks and I am pleased to be able to take this opportunity to clarify the position in relation to this matter. Since the introduction of the health contribution the Department of Social Protection has refunded the contribution where it was found that the...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (14 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: JobBridge, the National Internship Scheme, came into operation on 1st July 2011. As of 7th February, a total of 4,588 internships have commenced. Of the 4,588 internships that have commenced, some 2,187 of these positions were advertised as requiring a third level qualification. The National Internship Scheme provides internship opportunities of either 6 or 9 months for unemployed...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (14 Feb 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 her case a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.