Results 8,141-8,160 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Offices (4 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: As part of the plan for the roll-out of Intreo Centres, the Lucan/Adamstown and Clondalkin areas were originally designated by the Department for the provision of Intreo services in Dublin Mid-West.The Office of Public Works has been exploring options in both Lucan and Adamstown for an Intreo Centre over the past three years, but given the limited choice of suitably sized and located offices,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Administration (4 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: Farm assist is a means-tested income support scheme for farmers. To qualify for the payment, a customer must be a farmer, farming land in the State, aged between 18 and 66 and satisfy a means test. The means test for Farm Assist takes account of almost every form of income but assesses it in different ways and disregards various amounts. Different rules apply to income from farming and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (4 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: It is open to the person in question to contact their Local Employment Services in Achill where they can request a guidance interview with a Case Officer. The Case Officer will advise them on possible options available to them.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (4 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 5 June 2015. The person concerned was refused CA on the grounds that he was not providing full-time care and attention as required. The person concerned was notified on 2 November 2015 of this decision, the reason for it and of his right of review and appeal.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (4 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is currently working on a CE Scheme and was recruited under the Part Time Job Option. She will have completed 360 weeks (7 years) on CE at her current finish date and, unfortunately, it will not be possible to retain her beyond that date. An officer from my Department has met with her and explained the eligibility requirements. Her supervisor on the CE Scheme will also...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Data (4 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection is committed to providing a quality customer service in both Irish and English. The Department’s Language Scheme 2015 – 2018 took effect from the 16th March 2015 and will remain in force for a period of three years or until a new scheme has been confirmed by the Minister for Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht. This scheme, which sets out the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Eligibility (4 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The Family income supplement (FIS) is designed to provide support for employees on low earnings with families. The person concerned applied for FIS in April 2015 and was awarded a payment with effect from 16 April 2015. The Department subsequently became aware that the children of the person concerned were not residing full-time with the FIS claimant. A social welfare inspector (SWI)...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Appeals (4 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is currently in receipt of one parent family payment from this Department. On 24 September 2015 she made an application for rent supplement for her new planned tenancy away from her family home which was commencing on 1 October 2015. A request for further information in support of her application was issued by the Rents Unit on 8 October 2015. Following receipt of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Work Family Dividend Scheme Data (4 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The back to work family dividend (BTWFD) aims to help families to move from a weekly social welfare payment into employment. It gives financial support to people with children who were in receipt of a jobseeker or one-parent family payment and who take up employment, increase their hours of employment or become self-employed. There were 343 persons in receipt of the back to work family...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Funding (4 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: It is not possible to provide the information within the timeframe required. The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled by my officials and will be sent to the Deputy when it is finalised.

Northern Ireland: Statements (3 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: I wish to share time with my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock. I welcome the opportunity to speak on the situation in the North. I fully support the talks that are under way and hope they conclude successfully. I am encouraged by the updates from the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, and the Minister of State with responsibility for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Activation Projects (3 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The ICTU Training Options programme was one of 14 individual projects supported under the Disability Activation project in the Border, Midlands and West region. The Training Options programme was provided in 8 ICTU centres in Counties Donegal, Leitrim, Louth, Longford, Westmeath, Galway, Roscommon and Mayo and allowed participants to return to education in an informal setting with resources...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (3 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the persons concerned was registered in that office on 7 October 2015. 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: Household Benefits Scheme (3 Nov 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. The Department will spend approximately €227 million this year on the household benefits package for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Legislative Measures (3 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The Department has a legislative basis to issue maintenance assessments to a liable relative where there is a one-parent family payment (OFP) in payment. However, this arrangement does not currently extend to other social welfare schemes. As a result, once the OFP recipient’s youngest child reaches the age of 7 years, and their entitlement to the OFP payment ceases, the liability...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals (3 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The person concerned commenced claiming jobseeker’s allowance from this Department on 26 September 2011. Claims for jobseeker’s allowance are subject to periodic reviews in order to establish that there is a continuing entitlement to receive this payment. Following four such review interviews with the person concerned on 31 July 2015, 13 August 2015, 21 August 2015 and 28...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (3 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: I can confirm that the Department has received an application for disability allowance (DA) from the person concerned. In order to determine her circumstances, her file was forwarded to a local Social Welfare Inspector. The inspector has been in contact with the person concerned to arrange an interview. A decision on her entitlement to DA will be given on receipt of the Social Welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Budgets (3 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The 2015 Revised Estimates Volume provided for total current and capital expenditure by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) of €19,378 million in 2015. The Expenditure Report 2016 published by the Department of Public Expenditure on Budget Day forecasts an out-turn of €19,912 million in 2015. This forecast takes account of the costs associated with: - the announcement on...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Lansdowne Road Agreement (3 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: A provision of €698,000 has been included in my Department’s 2016 Pay Allocation to cover costs arising from the Lansdowne Road Agreement. Any other pressures on the staffing budget that may arise during 2016 will be met from within the Department’s 2016 Pay Allocation unless specific approval is received from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Eligibility (3 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: Child benefit is a monthly payment made to families with children in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children up to their 18th birthday who are in full-time education, or who have a physical or mental disability. Child benefit is paid to around 619,000 families in respect of some 1.19 million children, with an...