Results 6,441-6,460 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Housing and Homelessness: Statements (22 Mar 2016)

Joan Burton: Unlike in the case of rent supplement, a person can work full-time and still qualify for the housing assistance payment.

Housing and Homelessness: Statements (22 Mar 2016)

Joan Burton: A person is then in a differential rent situation such that if he or she is taking up employment he or she can calculate if there is any additional rent to be paid. This is a vital distinction. I share Deputy Finan McGrath's view that notwithstanding the fact that we have made huge strides in reducing unemployment, we still have far too many people unemployed. One of the inhibitions with...

Housing and Homelessness: Statements (22 Mar 2016)

Joan Burton: Helping people to return to work is the surest way of helping individuals and families to build financial independence and a better and more prosperous future for their families over time. My Department has been working closely with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and the local authorities to support the ongoing transfer of people with long-term housing need...

European Council Meeting: Statements (22 Mar 2016)

Joan Burton: There is a strong sense of disbelief that, as we discuss very important and vital European issues, we do so in the context of another terrorist atrocity striking at the heart of Europe. This morning's events in Brussels seem to be, yet again, the cold-blooded murder of innocent people. The clear objective behind the attacks is to destroy that which we cherish most, namely, our freedom....

Business of Dáil (22 Mar 2016)

Joan Burton: I express the condolences of the Labour Party to the McGrotty family on the deaths of Seán and his two sons, Mark and Evan, and the boys' grandmother, Ruth Daniels, and her daughter, Jodie Lee. County Donegal is no stranger to very serious accidents in recent years involving the loss of life. It is sad that a pleasant spring day turned into such a tragedy for this family, the extended...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Administration (22 Mar 2016)

Joan Burton: The farm assist scheme provides support for farmers on low incomes and is similar to jobseeker’s allowance. Farm assist recipients retain the advantages of the jobseeker’s allowance scheme such as the retention of secondary benefits and access to activation programmes. The 2016 Revised Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure of almost €85 million on the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pensions Payments (22 Mar 2016)

Joan Burton: The overall concern of the Government in its Budgets has been to protect the primary social welfare rates. Expenditure on pensions at approximately €6.974 billion is the largest block of expenditure in the Department in the Estimate for 2016, representing approx. 35.5% of overall expenditure. Due to demographic changes, the Department’s spending on older people is increasing...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Eligibility (22 Mar 2016)

Joan Burton: The person concerned submitted an application for disability allowance on 11 January 2016. The application, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds and the person in question was notified in writing of this decision on 11 March 2016. The person was also notified of his right to a review of this decision or to appeal it to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (22 Mar 2016)

Joan Burton: Persons employed by the Health Service Executive in a permanent and pensionable capacity prior to 6 April 1995 are insured at the modified rate of contributions, PRSI class D. The person referred to by the Deputy has been paying class D contributions with the HSE since 1990. I have no information which suggests that she was paying the wrong class of PRSI. While class D contributors are...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (22 Mar 2016)

Joan Burton: A review of the decision to disallow Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) was requested on 29th June 2015 and the person concerned was notified on 25th November 2015 that following an examination of the file the original decision was upheld. Subsequently, the person concerned lodged an appeal along with additional medical information. The appeal was registered on the 11th January 2016. The...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Administration (22 Mar 2016)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 9 together. There are a range of occupations, including those in the hunt sports sector, that some people may find objectionable for one reason or another. Other examples include aspects of the meat or fishing industry, or those related to gambling, In these cases as long as the occupation is valid, the activity is not illegal and the internship...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (22 Mar 2016)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 to 12, inclusive, together. The Department of Social Protection (DSP) has a cadre of medical assessors in the Medical Review and Assessment Service (MRAS) which currently comprises a Chief Medical Officer (CMO), a Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO) and 25 Medical Assessors. The function involves the provision of impartial medical opinion for the guidance...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Eligibility (22 Mar 2016)

Joan Burton: The family income supplement (FIS) is an in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. FIS is designed to prevent child and family poverty and to offer a financial incentive to take-up employment as compared to social welfare payments.There are currently over 55,000 families with some 122,000 children in receipt of FIS. Expenditure on FIS is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Illness Benefit Eligibility (22 Mar 2016)

Joan Burton: Illness benefit, the social welfare payment in question, is funded by the Social Insurance Fund (SIF), through the payment of social insurance contributions by workers. The SIF is central to Ireland’s system of social protection and there is a fundamental requirement that it should be protected for current and future generations. The SIF operates on a “pay as you go”...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (22 Mar 2016)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 8 February 2016. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (22 Mar 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 partially allow 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (22 Mar 2016)

Joan Burton: The student support grant payable by the Department of Education and Skills and administered by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) represents the primary support for persons pursuing education in Ireland. The Department of Social Protection does not offer specific supports for students pursuing third level qualifications outside of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA). The BTEA...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (22 Mar 2016)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance (DA) from the above named person on 9 February 2016. 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 processing time for individual DA claims may vary in accordance with their...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (22 Mar 2016)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for Carer’s Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 14 October 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: State Pensions Payments (22 Mar 2016)

Joan Burton: At the outset, the Deputy should note that there is no general retirement age in the State and the age at which employees retire is a matter for the contract of employment between them and their employers. The Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2011 provides that State pension age will be increased gradually to 68 years. This began in January 2014 with the standardising of State pension...