Results 10,001-10,020 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Application Forms (24 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49, 55 and 58 together. Successive Governments and this one most notably, have consistently stated their commitment to maintaining the post office network as set out in the programme for Government. The post office is seen as a key piece of financial and social infrastructure for both urban and rural areas. Part of the strength of the post office brand,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pensions Issues (24 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: Earlier this year, I introduced regulations and approved an amendment to guidance issued by the Pensions Authority to provide for the recognition by the trustees of a pensions scheme of groups representing the interests of pensioner and deferred members of pension schemes. These changes mean that all groups representing the interests of the various categories of pension schemes membership are...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (24 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The disability allowance (DA) payment is currently in the process of being reviewed and re-rated as a result of the spouse/partner of the person concerned having been awarded State pension contributory (SPC) in his own right. The person concerned was previously being paid an increase of DA in respect of her spouse/partner. DA will be payable to the person concerned at a reduced rate with...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (24 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 20thMay 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: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (24 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: Rent Supplement for the person concerned has now been awarded and payment for the month of June 2015 will issue to her bank account on 25thJune 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pre-Retirement Allowance (24 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: Since the 4th July 2007, Pre-Retirement Allowance was abolished for new customers. However, customers who were already in receipt of Pre-Retirement Allowance on that date continue to receive payment as long as they satisfied the conditions for payment. There are currently 5.3 people of working age for every pensioner and this ratio is expected to decrease to approximately 2.1 to 1 by...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Living Wage (24 Jun 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.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Eligibility (24 Jun 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. To qualify for IP a claimant, inter-alia,must have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last complete...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payments (24 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 66 together. The purpose of the reform of the one parent family payment is to maximise the opportunities for lone parents to enter into and increase employment. I welcome the considerable debate that has been generated by this reform, which commenced in 2012. My priority is to ensure that we, as a society, arrive at a situation where lone parents...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payments (24 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The reforms to the one-parent family payment saw approximately 10,000 customers transitioning from one-parent family payment to a range of alternative income support payments on 4 July, 2013, and on 3 July, 2014. The majority of these customers were women given that currently 98% of one-parent family payment recipients are women. It is not possible to give definitive figures on the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payments (24 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the following tabular statement. One-Parent Family Payment Claims Disallowed June 2014 to May 2015 June 2014 80 July 2014 114 August 2014 77 September 2014 86 October 2014 86 November 2014 83 December 2014 71 January 2015 89 February 2015 61 March 2015 58 April 2015 62 May 2015 71

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (24 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67, 74 and 77 together. The specific information requested by the Deputy is in tabular form as follows. Scheme areas continuously monitor and review procedures, practices and communication to ensure that clients are dealt with as quickly as possible. Processing times vary across schemes, depending on the differing qualification criteria. Schemes that require...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (24 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The Department operates a range of statutory means tested schemes. The means test takes account of the income a person or couple has in terms of cash, property (other than the home) and capital, in order to ensure that social welfare payments are paid to those most in need. For the purposes of most social assistance schemes, the first €20,000 of capital is disregarded for means...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times (24 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The average appeal processing time for 2014 and to date in 2015 broken down by all social welfare scheme types is outlined in the following tables. Appeal processing times peaked in 2011 when the average time for an oral hearing was 52.5 weeks and for a summary decision was 25.1 weeks. In 2012 the average processing time for an oral hearing dropped to 39.5 weeks and the time for a summary...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Unemployment Measures (24 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The Government's primary strategy to tackle youth unemployment is through policies to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting competitiveness and productivity. Economic recovery will underpin jobs growth and the availability of productive employment for young people. This strategy has been succeeding, with an increase of over 80,000 in employment over the last two...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Unemployment Data (24 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The key objective of activation policy and labour market initiatives is to offer assistance to those in need of support in securing work and achieving financial self-sufficiency. This policy objective prioritises scarce resources to those in receipt of qualifying welfare payments. Accordingly the employment services and schemes provided by the Department are focused, in the first instance, on...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (24 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: There are approximately 360,000 self-employed contributors including such as business owners, contractors, taxi drivers and farmers. These self-employed pay PRSI at the class S rate of 4%. This entitles them to access long-term benefits including State pension (contributory). A combined employer and employee PRSI rate of 14.75% is paid in respect of most employees, who can access the full...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Post Office Network (24 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The Deputy’s question of the 31stMarch last related to letters issued to customers as part of a small trial to determine the best means of communicating with people about their payment options. The position has not changed and the Department has no plans to issue further letters at this stage. The Deputy’s question of 16thJune related to changes to applications forms which were...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (24 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 15thJune 2015, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pensions Payments (23 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The cost of increasing the State Pension Contributory (SPC) and the State Pension Non Contributory (SPNC) by €5 per week is €102.2 million and €25.4 million respectively in a full year. The cost of increasing SPC and SPNC by €10 per week is €204.3 million and €50.8 million respectively in a full year. The cost of increasing all pension rates...