Results 28,261-28,280 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Nov 2011)

Joan Burton: The position remains as advised in Question No.149 which I answered for the Deputy on 27th October 2011.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (8 Nov 2011)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 282 and 283 together. Carer's Allowance is a means-tested payment that may be paid to people living within the jurisdiction who are providing full time care and attention to a person in need of such care. There are a number of conditions that carers must satisfy before they can claim this payment. Section 180(2) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act...

Written Answers — Departmental Appointments: Departmental Appointments (8 Nov 2011)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 284 and 285 together. I have not appointed any former Government office holders to any position in this Department or agency under the aegis of this Department. There are no former Government office holders appointed by any other current or former Minister in positions in this Department or in any agency under aegis of the Department.

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (3 Nov 2011)

Joan Burton: Under the Redundancy Payments Scheme all eligible employees are entitled to a statutory redundancy lump sum payment on being made redundant. In this case no claim appears to have been submitted for the individual concerned.

Written Answers — Mortgage Interest Supplement: Mortgage Interest Supplement (3 Nov 2011)

Joan Burton: The community welfare service (CWS) and the community welfare officers providing it transferred formally to the Department of Social Protection (DSP) from 1 October 2011. The service and the staff are now part of the DSP. The timescale for determining applications for mortgage interest supplement (MIS) is dependent, among other things, on the availability of the required information, such as...

Written Answers — Child Poverty: Child Poverty (3 Nov 2011)

Joan Burton: As part of the deliberative process for Budget 2012, my Department will analyse, in so far as possible, the distributive and poverty impact, including the impact on children, of possible welfare changes prior to the finalisation of the Budget. My department undertook an analysis of the distributive and poverty impacts on families of the Budget 2011 tax and welfare package, in conjunction with...

Written Answers — Medical Reports: Medical Reports (3 Nov 2011)

Joan Burton: An application for invalidity pension, on behalf of the person concerned, has been assessed by three separate departmental medical assessors, including the Chief Medical Advisor. A medical report from only one consultant cardiologist is on file. This report states that the applicant is not capable of returning to his former employment. To qualify for invalidity pension a person must have...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (3 Nov 2011)

Joan Burton: At the outset, let me say that I am very conscious of the needs of people on Social Welfare and fully understand that a wide range of groups depend on the welfare budget for vital support. In the context of a very tough budgetary environment, I will do my utmost to protect the most vulnerable people in Irish society, including people with disabilities and older people in receipt of the free...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (3 Nov 2011)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the Department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the above named person. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. The average time taken to process a claim to completion, including assessment of the claimant's means, medical...

Written Answers — Job Initiative: Job Initiative (3 Nov 2011)

Joan Burton: When JobBridge was originally launched restrictions were put in place in relation to care related internships, including working with children. However, these restrictions were removed on 7 October and applications for care related internships have been accepted since this date. It should be noted that all applications for internships must meet the JobBridge eligibility criteria in order to...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (3 Nov 2011)

Joan Burton: The current conditions are designed to ensure that those qualifying for carer's benefit have had an adequate and sustained commitment to the social insurance system, thereby upholding the contributory principle that underpins the qualifying conditions for all social insurance payments. The social insurance system is based on two fundamental principles - the contributory principle whereby...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (3 Nov 2011)

Joan Burton: The Government is critically aware of the devastation suffered by people in many areas of the country as a result of the recent floods. My Department is playing a key part in the Government's response to these events. Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, my Department makes exceptional needs payments (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off, exceptional expenditure, which...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (3 Nov 2011)

Joan Burton: My Department will spend over €530 million in 2011 on the fuel scheme and the telephone, gas and electricity elements of the household benefits package which will benefit some 390,000 people on household benefits and 375,000 on the fuel allowance. In 2005 there were 325,000 people on household benefits and 265,000 on the fuel allowance at a cost of €280 million. The costs have almost...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (3 Nov 2011)

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 when the intake rose to 32,432. This has significantly...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (3 Nov 2011)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal, by the person concerned, was registered in that office on 25 August 2011. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Social Welfare Services on the grounds of appeal be sought. When received, the appeal in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer for...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (3 Nov 2011)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 95 together. Under the Payment of Wages Act, 1991 an employee is entitled to a clear statement of the gross amount of the wages payable to the employee and the nature and amount of any deductions from that pay. The Department's staff have access to this statement electronically via an online system which is available to them through the Department's...

Social Welfare Code: Motion (2 Nov 2011)

Joan Burton: I move amendment No. 2: To delete all words after "Dail Eireann" and substitute the following: " ----- recognises the severe impact on families, individuals and communities as a result of the closure of businesses and loss of employment arising from the economic collapse caused by the policies of the previous Government; -----recognises the vital role played by spending on social welfare in...

Social Welfare Code: Motion (2 Nov 2011)

Joan Burton: I will acknowledge that the current Fianna Fáil spokesperson on social protection supported my measure to re-introduce and re-instate the minimum wage. As we all know, overall Government spending in 2011 will be roughly €18 billion more than this year's overall Government income. The Government will get €42 billion from tax and PRSI this year. My Department alone is expected to spend...

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (2 Nov 2011)

Joan Burton: Under the Redundancy Payments Scheme all eligible employees are entitled to a statutory redundancy lump sum payment on being made redundant. In this case no claim appears to have been submitted for the individual concerned.

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (2 Nov 2011)

Joan Burton: A Redundancy Lump sum claim was received on 26 May, 2011. Redundancy Lump sum claims received during April 2011 are currently being processed.