Results 6,661-6,680 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (28 Jan 2016)

Joan Burton: The person concerned applied for state pension (contributory) prior to his 66thbirthday in June 2011. He was awarded a reduced rate (98% of maximum rate) pension, based on a yearly average of 28 contributions, assessed from the commencement of his insurable employment in 1961 to the end of the tax year immediately preceding his 66thbirthday. His claim has been rechecked. He is in receipt of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Consultancy Contracts Data (28 Jan 2016)

Joan Burton: The procurement of services is essential to support the Department in providing a high quality service to the public in a cost effective and efficient manner and is governed by a comprehensive regulatory, legal and procedural framework. The Department engages consultants (individuals or organisations) to provide intellectual or knowledge based services (e.g. expert analysis and advice)...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Public Inquiries (28 Jan 2016)

Joan Burton: Tribunals of inquiry are established by resolution of the Houses of Oireachtas to enquire into matters of urgent public importance. Commissions of investigation can investigate matters of significant public concern and are set up by Government order. Such commissions are currently provided for by the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004. This Department has not been responsible for any...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Ministerial Allowances (28 Jan 2016)

Joan Burton: All expenses claimed by Minister of State, Kevin Humphreys and I, including mileage during the current Dáil Éireann are outlined in tables A and B below. I have claimed no mileage since my appointment as Tánaiste on 4 July 2014, because I have been provided with a state car and Garda Driver, the cost for which is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (28 Jan 2016)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection’s media monitoring covers the Department’s entire range of schemes and services. Following a Request for Tenders by the Department for the provision of a media monitoring service a new contract was entered into in October 2012. The enhanced media monitoring service under this new contract includes daily notices of ‘situation...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals (28 Jan 2016)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 4thJanuary 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 Eligibility (28 Jan 2016)

Joan Burton: The person in question is in receipt of disability allowance (DA). An increase in his DA in respect of a child dependant over 18 years old ceased in May 2015 as the department had certification of college attendance up to that date which indicated that the course of study had completed. If the dependant is still in full-time education, the person in question should forward certification...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (28 Jan 2016)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 10 November 2015. The application is currently being examined and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (28 Jan 2016)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance. She advised her Local Office that she had commenced casual employment in November 2015. Her payment was then suspended pending the receipt of documentation from her employer. When the documentation was provided the payment of the person concerned was reinstated and any arrears owing paid.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Redundancy Payments (28 Jan 2016)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 to 62, inclusive, together. The purpose of the redundancy payments scheme is to compensate workers, under the Redundancy Payments Acts, for the loss of their jobs by reason of redundancy. Compensation is based on the worker’s length of reckonable service and reckonable weekly remuneration, subject to a ceiling of €600 per week. It is the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Retirements (27 Jan 2016)

Joan Burton: There have been no cases made against my Department or bodies reporting to my Department by civil servants who objected on age grounds to being retired when they reached age 65.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (27 Jan 2016)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 17 November 2015. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Redeployment (27 Jan 2016)

Joan Burton: In accordance with protocols agreed between the Civil, Public and Services Union (CPSU) and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the names of Clerical Officers applying for a transfer to an alternative location are entered on the relevant transfer list in the order in which they are received and the Department has no discretion to deviate from the order of the transfer lists. ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Illness Benefit Eligibility (27 Jan 2016)

Joan Burton: The illness benefit scheme is based on legislative and medical requirements. The operational guidelines in respect of the scheme are available in full on my Department’s website at www.welfare.ie. Appeals Officers are statutorily appointed by the Minister for Social Protection to act as independent administrative tribunals and are required to exercise their functions in a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme (27 Jan 2016)

Joan Burton: The farm assist scheme was introduced in 1999 to provide income support for low income farmers. It replaced the former smallholders’ unemployment assistance payment. In line with the then existing arrangements for unemployment assistance (including smallholders) and pre-retirement allowance, the income of farm assist recipients was exempt from class S PRSI for self-employed workers....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (27 Jan 2016)

Joan Burton: Any application for any social welfare payment is considered on its own merits taking the full circumstances of the case into account. There are different qualifying conditions for each social welfare scheme. These may include a means test, payment of a certain number of PRSI contributions, and/ or satisfying the Habitual Residence Test. In all cases, decisions on individual cases...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (27 Jan 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: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Jan 2016)

Joan Burton: Invalidity pension is one of a range of income supports available to those who are unable to work due to illness or incapacity. While recipients of Disability Allowance and Invalidity Pension did not benefit from a weekly rate increase in Budget 2016, I was pleased to provide for improvements that impact on recipients of Invalidity Pension. I provided for the 75% Christmas Bonus payment...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (27 Jan 2016)

Joan Burton: Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has a disability such that they require that level of care. The department informs me that it has not received an application for CA from the person concerned in respect of her brother. If the person in question wishes to make an application,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (27 Jan 2016)

Joan Burton: Carer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to a person who is providing full-time care and attention to a person who has a disability such that they require that level of care. CA was in payment to the person concerned from 3 September 2009 in respect of her son. The claim was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 7 May 2015 to confirm that all...