Results 6,121-6,140 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Data (26 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: My Department’s Employment Control Framework figure set by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has been reduced by almost 300 posts since 2012. It is in that context and on the basis of business needs that critical posts are filled. At any given time the most critical posts can change depending on business needs and on opportunities that arise to restructure or...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (26 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: The objective of Intreo is to provide an integrated, quality, customer-focused service whereby an unemployed jobseeker could avail of both income support and employment services at a single location. It involved the merger of not only the services formerly provided by three distinct agencies (DSP, FÁS and the Community Welfare Service) but also the staff of these agencies. In addition...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff (26 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: Officers of the Department of Social Protection who, for the purpose of their specific role, are required to be Deciding Officers are statutorily appointed by me pursuant to Section 299(1) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 2005 for the purpose of any provisions of this Act.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (26 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: I am very aware of the issues arising and very negative consequences caused by the problems in the Irish Airlines (General Employees) Superannuation Scheme (IASS) for all active, deferred and pensioner members and appreciate the difficulties presented to all stakeholders in addressing the significant deficit in this scheme. However, you will appreciate that the funding difficulties in this...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (26 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 21st April 2016. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (26 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: The information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the attached tabular statement. Recipients of Farm Assist and Rural Social Scheme by County at 31 March 2016 County Farm Assist Rural Social Scheme Carlow 63 17 Cavan 286 79 Clare 429 115 Cork 624 171 Donegal 1,309 222 Dublin 32 0 Galway 785 272 Kerry 572 269 Kildare 21 25 Kilkenny 95 18 Laois 97 21 Leitrim 343 95 Limerick...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme (26 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 to 37, inclusive, together. JobBridge was introduced in July 2011 as a rapid response to the sharp increase in unemployment resulting from the unprecedented collapse in the economy. Since then over 18,500 Host Organisations have provided internship opportunities to over 46,500 unemployed jobseekers. The aim of the scheme was to help unemployed people break...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Labour Activation Measures (26 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 39 together. As the Deputy is aware, Gateway is a County and City Council work scheme which aims to provide short-term quality and suitable work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than 24 months. Participants benefit by being involved in work. They improve their work readiness and are able to apply their existing skills and learn...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobPath Implementation (26 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 to 43, inclusive, together. JobPath is a new approach to employment activation to support long-term unemployed people and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. Jobseekers, who are selected for JobPath, are invited to attend an initial information session at which the jobseekers’ rights and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (26 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 45 together. The persons referred to are part of a group of former workers who left the service of Waterford Crystal in the early 1990s and received their full pension entitlements in relation to pre-1991 service under the schemes at that point. The payments made at that time were in full and final settlement of their entitlements under the schemes...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (26 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: I confirm that an application from the person concerned for disability allowance (DA) was received by the Department on 16 February 2016. The application has been referred to a Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) for a report on the person’s means and circumstances. Once the SWI has submitted his/her report to DA section, a decision will be made on the application and the person concerned...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Illness Benefit Appeals (26 Apr 2016)

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. I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an appeal by the person concerned was registered on 25 February 2016. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (26 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: The Department has not, received an application for Rent Supplement from the client concerned. The client should forward an application to be assessed for entitlement to Rent Supplement to the Mid-Leinster Rent Unit, PO Box 11758, Dublin 24.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (26 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 18 April 2016. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Overpayments (26 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 5 April 2016, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Overpayments (26 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: The legislation governing FIS indicates entitlement is based on average net weekly assessable earnings from employment plus any other income that the applicant may have, including other social welfare payments and maintenance. However, in order to qualify for FIS the applicant must be engaged in full-time remunerative employment as an employee for at least 38 hours per fortnight (19 hours...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (26 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeals from the people concerned were referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing in these cases on 25 April 2016. The people concerned have been notified of the arrangements for the hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (26 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (26 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. The department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on 6 January 2015. The person concerned was refused IP on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Illness Benefit Appeals (26 Apr 2016)

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. I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an appeal by the person concerned was registered on 2 March 2016. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the...