Results 8,761-8,780 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Offices (29 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: Intreo is the new integrated income support, employment and support service which is now provided by the Department. Intreo, which was launched in 2012, is now in place in 53 offices located across the country and the service will be extended to a further number of Social Welfare Local Offices by the end of 2015. The Intreo centre is a one-stop shop for all income and employment support...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (29 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 13 March 2015. The person concerned was refused CA on the grounds that she is not habitually resident in the State. She was notified on 11 September 2015 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal. Your representations have been...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Data (29 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: The costs of increasing Child Benefit, as outlined above, are listed in the table below. Number of children in family Increase per month per family Annual Cost €m 1 €5.00 €15.01 2 €10.00 €27.88 3 €15.00 €19.32 4 €20.00 €7.38 5 €25.00 €2.04 6 €30.00 €0.61 7 €35.00 €0.20 8 or...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (29 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: Medical Assessors are fully qualified and experienced medical practitioners who provide an opinion for the guidance of the Department's Deciding Officers. Their assessments conform to the ethical conduct and behaviour guidelines of the Irish Medical Council. Medical Assessors are required to be medical practitioners who are on the general register of medical practitioners while holding an...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Applications (29 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: On 21stMay 2015, the client applied for assistance with the funeral expenses of her late husband. On 2ndJuly 2015, the client was requested to submit written confirmation of the loan she received to pay the bill. On 8thJuly 2015, the client advised that she did not wish to continue with her application. On the 26thAugust 2015, following representations from the Deputy, the client was...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Water Conservation Grant (29 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection is committed to the provision of information to all of its customers in clear and easy to access formats, which adhere to the guidelines outlined by the National Adult Literacy Agency. The Department fully recognises the barrier that literacy difficulties can cause for individuals trying to gain an understanding of and access to services and supports...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (29 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department was notified by the Social Welfare Appeals Office on the 10 September 2015 that the appeal for the person in question was successful. His case is currently with a deciding officer to implement the appeals officer’s decision and the person concerned will be notified in writing as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (29 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 15 July 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: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (29 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person concerned on the 2nd 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 the 25th September 2015 outlining the decision of the deciding officer to refuse the allowance. In the case of an application which is refused...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Bereavement Grant (29 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: The overall concern in recent Budgets has been to protect primary social welfare rates. Abolishing the bereavement grant provided an annual saving of approx. €22 million. This allowed the Department to protect other more fundamental social welfare payments such as the State pension. Accordingly, I have no plans to reinstate the bereavement grant as there are a range of supports...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Public Services Card Data (29 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: The Public Services Card (PSC) is designed to replace other cards within the public sector such as the social services card and free travel pass of this Department, and to make it easy for providers of public services to verify the identity of customer. A PSC is issued following a registration process which involves the capture of an individual’s photograph and signature and the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (29 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: The costs sought by the Deputy are included in the table below. Measure Cost – Full Year €m Increase the maximum rate of Jobseeker’s Allowance for those aged under 26 years to €188 per week. 148 Re-introduce the Telephone Allowance. 108 * Increase the rate of Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance by €50 per child. 15 Increase all weekly...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Water Conservation Grant (29 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection is administering the 2015 Water Conservation Grant on behalf of the Department Environment, Community and Local Government. Details of the 2016 Water Conservation Grant scheme, including relevant registration and application dates, will be set down in regulations to be made by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Respite Care Grant Applications (29 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: An application for Respite Care Grant from the person concerned was received in my Department on 2nd September 2015. A decision will be made on this application as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Work Allowance Eligibility (29 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: The payment method of the back to work enterprise allowance (BTWEA) claim of the person concerned has been reviewed. The weekly monies due to the person concerned will now be paid directly into his bank account. The person concerned will be contacted shortly to be informed of the outcome of this review.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Payments (29 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: A preliminary notice was received by the Department on 16thSeptember 2015 from the person concerned which stated that he was due to cease a community employment (CE) scheme. As part of normal procedures in relation to cessation of community employment schemes, he undertook to forward his P45 once the scheme ceased. This document is required in order to re-start his disability allowance...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Applications (29 Sep 2015)

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 disallow 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 Social...

Order of Business (24 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: I understand the legislation is expected before the House this term. Without getting into a debate on the detail of the Bill, people are entitled to drink at home. There are a couple of issues related to the Deputy's comments. There is public health education, but is the Deputy referring to minimum pricing of alcohol? I understand he is concerned about people drinking excessively.

Order of Business (24 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: It is an important point and, honestly, I do not have the answer. We all wish that anybody who drinks will do so responsibly, and that will form part of the debate. There should be public health education from school about the dangers of excessive drinking. There will also be some examination of pricing issues around drinking.

Order of Business (24 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: My understanding is that it will be brought before the House this year. What is under consideration in the Dublin area, and perhaps in other locations, is a centre where this could happen. I want to be clear that nobody is envisaging a very widespread number of centres. This is to address a very specific issue on the recommendation of experts, doctors and organisations dealing with people...