Results 7,161-7,180 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Applications (13 Jan 2016)

Joan Burton: According to the most recent records of the Department, the number of applicants whose claim for state pension (contributory) was disallowed in each of the years 2011 to 2015 inclusive is set out in the table below. - 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 No of Applications 2551 2479 2816 3316 4423 It should be noted that the figures include applicants who subsequently qualified for state pension...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (13 Jan 2016)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 165 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Waiting Times (13 Jan 2016)

Joan Burton: A breakdown of the average time, where available, to award claims at the end of December in each of the years 2006 to 2014 and at the end of November 2015 is detailed in the tabular statement below. It should be noted that processing times vary by scheme reflecting the differing requirements to satisfy conditions such as income/means limits and medical eligibility. The processing times...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Application Numbers (13 Jan 2016)

Joan Burton: The number of Carer's Allowance (CA) recipients is shown in the table below. At end of Year Recipients % increase on previous year 2015 63,003 6% 2014 59,380 5% 2013 57,136 9% 2012 52,209 1% 2011 51,666 2% 2010 50,577 5% The number of persons in receipt of CA continues to increase and is reflected in the increased expenditure on the scheme; from €501 million in 2010 to an...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (13 Jan 2016)

Joan Burton: The information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the tabular statement below. Jobseeker’s Allowance Jobseeker’s Benefit Totals - Recipients Year on Year Variance Recipients Year on Year Variance Recipients Year on Year Variance 2010 261850 - 123457 - 385307 - 2011 283929 8.4% 96044 -22% 379973 -1.4% 2012 291640 2.7% 78459 -18% 370099 -2.6% 2013 295077 1.2% 55068...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (13 Jan 2016)

Joan Burton: Recipients of a long-term unemployment payment are people in receipt of a social welfare jobseeker’s payment continuously for a period exceeding one year. The information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the tabular statement below. Long-term recipients at the end of each year 2010 to 2015 Year Recipients Year on Year Variance 2010 177,067 - 2011 205,925 16.3% 2012...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (13 Jan 2016)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person concerned on the 30th June 2015. This application was not allowed as the child was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for the allowance. A letter issued on 13 October 2015 outlining the decision of the deciding officer to refuse the allowance. A review of this decision was requested on 26th...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (13 Jan 2016)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is completing a Masters of Law course at NUI and applied for a Back to Education Allowance. This application was refused on the basis that this course of study is not eligible for Back to Education Allowance under the current guidelines. The person concerned was advised that an application could be made to participate on this course under the Part Time Education Option...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Payments (13 Jan 2016)

Joan Burton: I can confirm that the department received notification on 4 January 2016 from the social welfare appeals office (SWAO) that a disability allowance appeal for the person concerned was successful. On 11 January 2016 the person concerned was requested to provide some additional information required in order to finalise their case. On receipt of this information the appeals officer’s...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Water Conservation Grant Eligibility (13 Jan 2016)

Joan Burton: The eligibility criteria for the Water Conservation Grant are set out in the Water Services Act 2014 (Water Conservation Grant) Regulations 2015. Under regulation 5(1) a person who registers with Irish Water, as required under section 5(2)(a) of the Water Services Act 2014, on or before 30 June 2015 shall be eligible to receive the grant in 2015 if they were normally resident at the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Eligibility (13 Jan 2016)

Joan Burton: The family income supplement (FIS) is an in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees with children on low earnings. 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 some 55,000 families with some 120,000 children in receipt of FIS. Expenditure on FIS is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (13 Jan 2016)

Joan Burton: The application for carer’s allowance in respect of the person concerned was awarded on 20 October 2015 and the first payment issued to the person’s bank nominated bank account on 29 October 2015. Arrears of allowance due were also issued to the bank on 29 October 2015. The person concerned was notified of this on 22 October 2015.

Order of Business (17 Dec 2015)

Joan Burton: I understand both Bills will be taken next year.

Order of Business (17 Dec 2015)

Joan Burton: Thank you.

Order of Business (17 Dec 2015)

Joan Burton: As recently as yesterday, the Taoiseach gave a commitment that there will be a full debate on the convention early in the new year session. Let us celebrate, however, the achievement of which the convention was a part, that is, the decision to have the marriage equality referendum. The people assented to it and that message went right around the world. As it is the season of goodwill,...

Order of Business (17 Dec 2015)

Joan Burton: We have discussed this issue in this House on many occasions. We promised that 1,000 voided apartments and houses, most of them in Dublin city and county, would be given to people by the end of this year. I am pleased to tell the House that the number of voided apartments and houses given to families is 3,500. In addition, local authorities, particularly in the Dublin region, including in...

Order of Business (17 Dec 2015)

Joan Burton: Deputy Joe Higgins, however, does not seem to be aware of this. Through the efforts of the community welfare service and the protocol with Threshold we have housed more than 5,500 families through renting and leasing arrangements.

Order of Business (17 Dec 2015)

Joan Burton: Through the housing assistance payment and the county councils that operate it, we have this year housed more than 5,500 families. Unfortunately, many of the Dublin local authorities are not operating it.

Order of Business (17 Dec 2015)

Joan Burton: We have a housing problem, but we are making serious inroads into it.

Order of Business (17 Dec 2015)

Joan Burton: There has been huge progress made. The Deputy has obviously not been party to any of the discussions on the Assisted Decision-Making Capacity Bill. Members of her party have been involved. Huge progress was made by agreement.