Results 29,221-29,240 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (14 Sep 2011)

Joan Burton: The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that the appeal by the person concerned against the suspension of mortgage interest supplement is ongoing. On 9 July the HSE appeals office requested further documentation from the person concerned in order to process her appeal. The HSE will be able to make a decision on her appeal when the requested documentation has been received.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (14 Sep 2011)

Joan Burton: In the time frame available, I regret that my Department is not in a position to reply to this question. My Department will be in contact with the Deputy over the coming days and will reply in full to the question raised.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (14 Sep 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 Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (14 Sep 2011)

Joan Burton: The number of places on the Community Employment Programme (CE) are determined by government in line with budget allocation on an annual basis. Currently, the 23,300 place allocation is fully subscribed. The process for applying for a CE project entails a sponsoring group, representing Community, Voluntary or Public Sectors, coming together and making an application to the FÁS regional...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (14 Sep 2011)

Joan Burton: The person concerned has not submitted a claim for Disability Allowance. I believe the Deputy is referring to a claim for invalidity pension. The person concerned was awarded an invalidity pension from 24th January 2008. On 16th October 2009 she was called for and attended a medical examination and was assessed in-person by a medical assessor. It was decided that she no longer satisfied the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (14 Sep 2011)

Joan Burton: The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that the person concerned has been awarded rent supplement of €771 per month which is his full entitlement based on his personal circumstances. The HSE has further advised that payment for the period 1st August to 30th September has been approved and will issue on 29th September.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (14 Sep 2011)

Joan Burton: When he is certified fit for work the person concerned should re-apply for jobseeker's allowance so that his eligibility can be established.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (14 Sep 2011)

Joan Burton: The qualifying conditions for a State pension (contributory) require the applicant to · have entered into insurable employment before the age of 56 years · have at least 260 weeks full-rate contributions paid, from employment or self-employment, since entry into insurance · satisfy the yearly average condition The person concerned satisfies the above conditions. He has a yearly average...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (14 Sep 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 Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (14 Sep 2011)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 27th July 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 4th...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (14 Sep 2011)

Joan Burton: In the time frame available, I regret that my Department is not in a position to reply to this question. My Department will be in contact with the Deputy over the coming days and will reply in full to the question raised.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (14 Sep 2011)

Joan Burton: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to review the operation of the rent supplement scheme with a view to introducing a code of conduct for rent supplement eligibility similar to that which operates for local authority tenants. The purpose of this review is to ensure that tenants who are receiving long term support from the State under the rent supplement scheme are subject to...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (14 Sep 2011)

Joan Burton: The 2011 Revised Estimates for this Department provides for payments to medical certifiers for certificates issued in accordance with social welfare legislation and for legal fees. The amounts provided are €29.5 million and €0.4 million, respectively. A 25% reduction in these provisions would equate to €7.4 million and €0.1 million, respectively.

Seanad: Jobs Initiative (14 Sep 2011)

Joan Burton: I thank Senator van Turnhout for raising this important issue. Earlier today at 8 a.m. I was in Athlone launching a roadshow for internships. Many employers from the midlands were present. The Senator will be pleased to hear that we were discussing precisely the issues she has raised here. The JobBridge national internship scheme is the first time we in Ireland have tried a national...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (21 Jul 2011)

Joan Burton: There are currently approximately 24,250 people in receipt of a weekly family income supplement (FIS) payment, of which 2,600 are public servants. The number of civil servants who are receiving FIS is included in the figure for public servants. A separate breakdown for civil/public servants by department is not currently available, due to the way in which data is captured on the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (21 Jul 2011)

Joan Burton: The Pensions Act provides that where a person leaves employment, their accrued pension entitlement can be preserved in the pension scheme of their former employer or transferred to an overseas arrangement that provides for retirement benefits. Such a transfer can be made provided that the trustees of the scheme or the Personal Retirement Savings Account provider as appropriate, have satisfied...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (21 Jul 2011)

Joan Burton: The administrative arrangements for the 2011 back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme differ from those that applied in previous years. For this year, the majority of back to school clothing and footwear allowance entitlements were fully automated with no application form required from customers. Those customers who did not receive an automated payment are required to complete...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (21 Jul 2011)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 328 and 329 together. JobBridge, the national internship scheme was launched 3 weeks ago. To date, the JobBridge website is hosting over 1100 opportunities across a wide range of sectors. Some 110 interns have been selected by host organisations to commence an internship, of which 46 have been verified by my Department and, of these, 23 have commenced their...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (21 Jul 2011)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 331 and 332 together. The Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for the acquisition and maintenance of office accommodation for the Department of Social Protection. I understand that the information requested by the Deputy in relation to any buildings associated with the Department that are in upwardly only rent contracts, is being compiled by the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (21 Jul 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 over 630,000 people. Difficult decisions have had to be made in light of commitments made by the previous Government. Unfortunately, I am not in a position to reconsider the changes to the fuel allowance and household...