Results 7,261-7,280 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (17 Dec 2015)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 107 together. Self –employed persons who earn €5,000 or more in a contribution year are liable for PRSI at the class S rate of 4%, subject to a minimum payment of €500. These contributions entitle them to access social insurance benefits, including State pension (contributory), widow/widower or surviving civil partner's...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (17 Dec 2015)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the above named person on 30 November 2015. The application will be processed as soon as possible. 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.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Data (17 Dec 2015)

Joan Burton: The free travel scheme provides free travel for those with eligibility on the main public and private transport services which includes road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann, Iarnród Éireann, Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators. Persons resident in Ireland who are over 66 and persons in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Labour Activation Measures (17 Dec 2015)

Joan Burton: The “PEX” Jobseeker profile model used by the Department predicts, with a high level of accuracy, the likelihood of those who are recently unemployed, exiting the Live Register (LR) to employment within 12 months. The model uses a set of characteristics, combined with coefficients reflecting their relative importance, to statistically calculate the probability of an unemployed...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals (17 Dec 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing in this case on 4thJanuary 2016. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Eligibility (17 Dec 2015)

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 in-work poverty for low paid workers with child dependants and to offer a financial incentive to take-up employment. There are over 54,000 families in receipt of FIS, an increase of over 70 per cent since 2011. The estimated spend...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (17 Dec 2015)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 91 together. The information requested by the Deputy (where available) is detailed in the following table. Recipients of a Social Welfare payment in Counties Westmeath and Longford at the end of November 2015 Type of Payment Westmeath Longford State Pension (Non-Contributory) 1,746 1,321 State Pension (Contributory) 5,825 2,721 State Pension...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (17 Dec 2015)

Joan Burton: Carer's Allowance (CA) is a social assistance payment 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 and who satisfy a means test. This application was refused on the grounds that the carer was not providing full-time care and attention as required, as the person in respect of whom the application was made...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Appointments to State Boards (17 Dec 2015)

Joan Burton: The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority (established in March 2014 and formerly known as the Pensions Board), the Pensions Council (established in February 2015), the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a board) and the Social Welfare Tribunal. Details relating to these boards, as...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Appointments to State Boards (17 Dec 2015)

Joan Burton: The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority (established in March 2014 and formerly known as the Pensions Board), the Pensions Council (established in February 2015), the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a board) and the Social Welfare Tribunal. I appointed Ms Ita Mangan as chairperson...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Commencement of Legislation (17 Dec 2015)

Joan Burton: A number of provisions of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended, have still to be commenced. In addition, some provisions of the Civil Registration Act 2004, as amended, and the Pensions Act 1990, as amended, have still to be commenced. Details of these provisions, and their current status, are set out in the following tables. Uncommenced Provisions of Enactments for which...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Eligibility (17 Dec 2015)

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 2015 Revised Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure of almost €89 million on the farm assist...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Eligibility (17 Dec 2015)

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 2015 Revised Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure of almost €89 million on the farm assist...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Water Conservation Grant Data (17 Dec 2015)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection is administering the Water Conservation Grant on behalf of the Department of Environment, Community, and Local Government. The regulations governing the Water Conservation Grant are set out in the Water Services Act 2014 (Water Conservation Grant) Regulations 2015. In order to be eligible to apply for the Water Conservation Grant, householders must first...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (17 Dec 2015)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the Department received an application for carer's allowance from the person concerned on 26 November 2015. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Household Benefits Scheme (17 Dec 2015)

Joan Burton: The household benefits package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. The package is generally available to people living in the State, aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or who satisfy a means test. It is a universal payment from the age of 70. The Department will spend approximately €227 million...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Living Wage (17 Dec 2015)

Joan Burton: My Department has undertaken no costing of the initiative outlined by the Deputy as the introduction of any such scheme would necessarily have to take place on a cross Governmental basis and costs determined centrally as part of the estimates budgetary process. On a purely indicative basis it is not anticipated that the introduction of such a scheme in my own Department would incur...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance (17 Dec 2015)

Joan Burton: As my Department does not hold data on the stage of development of particular companies employing workers, it is not possible provide a cost for a scheme to exempt or reduce employer PRSI costs, to reward growth or additional employments in early stage companies. The issue of supporting companies in the early stages of their development needs to be considered in the broader context of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Applications (16 Dec 2015)

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 19 October 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: Carer's Allowance Applications (16 Dec 2015)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for Carer's Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 23 June 2015. CA is a social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to people who have a disability such that they require that level of care and who satisfy a means test. The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined...