Results 30,441-30,460 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (19 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received on the 24th March 2011. This application has been forwarded to one of the Department's Medical Assessors for a medical opinion. Upon receipt of this opinion a decision will issue to the customer. Currently it takes approximately eight weeks to process an application for DCA.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: 2057Government policy dictates that a moratorium applies on the filling of any posts, with exceptions in very limited circumstances only. In view of the importance of the medical assessor post for the control function of the Department, the Department of Finance has approved the filling of medical assessor vacancies as an exception to the general moratorium principle. Arrangements are in...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (19 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: 1The child benefit scheme has, in recent years, experienced significant expansion in the volume of claims received, the rates of payment and the diversity of the customer base. The main reason for undertaking reviews is to ensure that customers are made aware of their obligations with regard to their continued entitlement to child benefit. The control policy for the child benefit scheme has...

Written Answers — Departmental Functions: Departmental Functions (19 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: 1From 1st September 2010 policy and funding responsibility for the community services programme and the rural social scheme transferred to the Department of Social Protection. The transfer of functions was provided for in the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2010.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (19 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: 1The issue of gender recognition is being dealt with by the Gender Recognition Advisory Group which was established by the previous Minister for Social Protection following a Government decision. The group is made up of representatives from various Departments and Offices of State, including the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs. The group has engaged in an extensive...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (14 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: The Minister for Finance announced the introduction of a community work placement initiative for up to 5,000 persons in his Budget statement to Dáil Éireann on the 7th December 2010. The initiative, known as Tús, was launched on the 21st December 2010 and work on developing the necessary implementation structures has been underway since then. The aim of Tús is to provide short-term,...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (14 Apr 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. The person concerned will be informed when arrangements have been made. There was a 46% increase in the number of appeals received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office in 2009 when compared to 2008, which in itself...

Written Answers — EU Legislation: EU Legislation (14 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: The High Court has ruled that the State is in breach of its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights in its failure to provide for the legal recognition of the acquired gender of transgendered persons. The State does, however, provide for some level of recognition as in the provision of passports, driving licences and in many official dealings with transgendered persons,...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (14 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: The number of full-time equivalent posts filled in the Department at 1 January 1995, 1 January 2000, 1 January 2005 and 1 January 2010 is broken down, by grade, in the following table: Breakdown, by grade, of full-time equivalent posts filled in the Department of Social Protection Grade 1995 2000 2005 2010 Secretary General 1 1 1 1 Deputy Secretary 0 1 1 1 Assistant Secretary 5 5 6 3...

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

Joan Burton: As I said in response to Question No. 55 of 24 March last, and during the Adjournment debate of the same date, this case is being re-investigated for entitlement to jobseeker's allowance. A social welfare inspector will call to the person concerned next week. In the meantime, she is receiving supplementary welfare allowance at a rate of €278.40 per week and mortgage interest subsidy of...

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

Joan Burton: On 16 September 2010, the person concerned was refused carer's allowance on the grounds that the Department's medical assessor had expressed the opinion that the care recipient is not so disabled as to require full-time care and attention as prescribed in regulations. She was notified of this decision, the reason for it and of her right to appeal to the social welfare appeals office....

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: The following table shows the number of recipients of farm assist by county at the end of 2010. The cost of the scheme was just under €111 million in 2010 and almost €28 million in the first quarter of 2011. Number of Recipients of Farm Assist by County, 2010 County Number of Recipients Carlow 102 Cavan 401 Clare 637 Cork 917 Donegal 1,389 Dublin 11 Galway 1,133 Kerry 742...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (13 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: From 1st January 2011 policy and funding responsibility for FÁS functions in relation to employment and community employment services was transferred to this Department in accordance with the provisions of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2010. The FÁS schemes involved include the community employment programme. FÁS remains responsible for the day to day operation of...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (13 Apr 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. The person concerned will be informed when arrangements have been made. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (13 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: Payment of illness benefit, to the person concerned, was disallowed by a Deciding Officer following an examination by a Medical Assessor of the Department who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. An appeal was registered on 15 March 2011 and the Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that, in accordance with statutory requirements, the Department was asked for the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: The person concerned applied for jobseeker's allowance on 12 February 2011. His file has been forwarded to a Social Welfare Inspector for examination. On completion of inquiries a decision will be made as soon as possible and he will be notified of the outcome.

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (13 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: The Minister for Finance announced the introduction of a community work placement initiative for up to 5,000 persons in his Budget statement to Dáil Éireann on the 7th December 2010. The initiative, known as Tús, was launched on the 21st December 2010 and work on developing the necessary implementation structures has been under way since then. The aim of Tús is to provide short-term,...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: Under the National Recovery Plan 2011-2014, funding for the TV licence scheme is frozen at 2010 levels of expenditure for the duration of the plan. This decision has no impact on those benefiting from the scheme who will continue to receive a free TV licence. The cost of the free TV licence scheme, administered under the household benefit package, was €59.2 million in 2010 and the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (13 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: A person is entitled to make an application for jobseeker's allowance in circumstances similar to those outlined in the Deputy's question. Jobseeker's allowance is a means-tested payment. If the person satisfies the means test and other criteria such as being available for and genuinely seeking work, she may qualify for payment. The Live Register includes applicants for credited...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (13 Apr 2011)

Joan Burton: I have been informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that no figures are readily available for the longest waiting times. The overall average waiting time for an appeal dealt with by way of a summary decision in 2010 was 27.4 weeks - it was 24 weeks in 2009 - while the average time to process an oral hearing was 45.6 weeks, or 35 weeks in 2009. These processing times are calculated...