Results 6,161-6,180 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Appointments to State Boards (26 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: The legislative provisions governing Board membership of the Citizens Information Board (CIB) are contained in the Comhairle Act 2000, the Citizens Information Act 2007, and the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011. The Board of CIB has 7 members at present, including a Chairperson. There are eight (8) vacancies on the Board. In accordance with the Government’s agreed new...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (26 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: The State pension contributory is a very valuable benefit and is the bedrock of the Irish pension system. Therefore, it is important to ensure that those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund over their working lives. To ensure that the individual can maximise their entitlement to a State pension, all contributions paid or credited over their working...

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

Joan Burton: Disability allowance (DA) is a means-tested social assistance payment which is paid to persons aged 16 to 66 who are substantially restricted in undertaking suitable employment arising from a medical condition (subject to satisfying the relevant medical criteria). Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) is a means-tested social assistance paid to persons aged 18 to 66 who are unemployed, capable...

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

Joan Burton: The Department provides a comprehensive range of income supports to carers including carer’s benefit, carer’s allowance, domiciliary care allowance and the annual carer’s support grant. The total expenditure on carers in 2016 is estimated at €912 million. Carers also receive additional support in the form of free travel and household benefits (for those who...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Rates (26 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: The social security rights of people living and working in the EU are governed by EU Regulations which co-ordinate social security systems and are designed to ensure that people are not disadvantaged by moving within the EU to take up work. Accordingly, EU nationals who come to work in Ireland but whose families reside in another EU Member State may have an entitlement to family benefits...

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

Joan Burton: I can confirm that the department received an application for disability allowance (DA) from the above named person on 12 November 2015. This application for DA, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds and the person in question was notified in writing of this decision on 25 January 2016. The person in question requested a review of the decision by a deciding...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (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 11th 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: Disability Allowance Appeals (26 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: Following a successful appeal, the person concerned has been awarded disability allowance with effect from 19 August 2015. The first payment will be made by his chosen payment method on 27 April 2016. Arrears of payment due will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments or in respect of outstanding overpayments...

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 Benefits Eligibility (26 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is in receipt of disability allowance (DA) and is currently participating in a level five course under the vocational training opportunities scheme (VTOS). If he wishes to pursue another level five course in the 2016/17 academic year, he must notify the department and will remain on the DA scheme providing all the conditions for receipt of that scheme continue to be...

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

Joan Burton: Fuel allowance may be payable to certain applicants in receipt of long-term social welfare payments, who are unable to provide for their household heating needs. The allowance is subject to a means test and is paid only to those who live alone or with certain exempted persons. Full details of the qualifying criteria are available on the Department’s website at . An application for fuel...

EU-UK Relations: Statements (21 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: In recent years, with EU institutions appearing to be led more by the head than by the heart, many people have begun to question the wisdom of the European project. The fundamental importance of union has slipped out of view. There are people in this Chamber whose parents lived through not just one great war but two. When I was growing up, a dictator called Franco was still ruling with an...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (21 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for Carer’s Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 4 December 2015. It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have a disability whose effect is that they require full-time care and attention. This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (21 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: The State pension (contributory) is one of the State pension schemes, and its rate of payment is related to contributions made over years into the Social Insurance Fund. As such, those with a stronger attachment to the workforce, who have paid more into that fund, are more likely to be paid under that scheme. There are a number of criteria which must be satisfied in order to qualify for a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Appeals (21 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: The person in question applied for assistance under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme for repairs to reading glasses. Her application was refused by the Designated Officer on the grounds that the need in question is not provided for under the scheme. She appealed this decision to the SWA Review Officer. The original decision was upheld and written confirmation issued on 15...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Payments (21 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: Following a successful appeal, the person concerned was awarded carer’s allowance (CA) for a second care recipient from 14 May 2015. The person concerned was notified on 9 March 2016 of this decision. The first increased payment was made to the person on 3 March 2016. Any arrears of allowance due from 14 May 2015 to 2 March 2016 will issue shortly by cheque to the person in question.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (21 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: The person concerned has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from the 14 January 2016. Payment will issue to his nominated bank account on the 05 May 2016. Any arrears due from 14 January 2016 to 04 May 2016 (less any overlapping social welfare payment and/or outstanding overpayment) will issue in due course. The person in question was notified of this decision on the 19 April 2016.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance (21 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 9 together. A jobseeker’s payment is paid for days of unemployment where the person is not in receipt of holiday pay for those days and where they also satisfy the conditions of the scheme. School educational sector workers, who are employed on a temporary basis and who have previously been in contact with the Department, are issued with...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Administration (21 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: The Government is committed to the maintenance of the Post Office network and to the development of a Standard Bank Account by An Post. Mindful of the current and ongoing discussions on Government formation any further development of policy will be a matter for the incoming Government. The current position is that the department has a cohort of jobseeker customers who are classified as...