Results 10,221-10,240 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pensions Payments (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: State Pensions account for the single largest block of welfare expenditure, and while expenditure on pensions is increasing because of demographic pressures, this is being successfully managed within the overall welfare budget, which continues to fall. This year, the Department of Social Protection will spend an estimated €6.675 billion on pensions – 34.4% of all welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: Officials from the Department have been engaging with the person concerned to resolve the situation that he and his family find themselves in. The focus of current efforts is on finding a solution that involves him and his family remaining at current residence. This involves negotiations with third parties but a satisfactory outcome is hoped for at this point.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Payments (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The person in question has been awarded a disability allowance payment with effect from 15 October 2014. First payment was on 11 March 2015 and any arrears due will follow shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Recruitment (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection, like all Government departments and agencies, is required to operate with an Employment Control Framework (ECF) figure and a commensurate administrative staffing budget, which is determined by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The Department is focusing on prioritising the filling of critical posts, in order to ensure that the best use...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (11 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 23rdApril 2015. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers have been received in the Social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The application for carer's allowance in respect of the person concerned was awarded on 24th March 2015 and the first payment was issued to the post office on 26th March 2015. Arrears of allowance due from 13th November 2014 to 18th March 2015 were issued by cheque on the 13th April 2015. The person in question was notified of this decision on the 24th of March 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The application, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds and the person in question was notified in writing of this decision on 14 May 2015. The department received a request from the person concerned on 9 June 2015 to open an appeal in this case. This request has been forwarded to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: Appeal processing times peaked in 2011 when the average processing time for an appeal of carer's allowance was 38.8 weeks. In 2012 the average processing time reduced to 33.8 weeks. Further improvements were achieved in 2013, when the average appeal processing time reduced to 28.5 weeks. As at the end of May 2015, the average time taken to process a carer's allowance appeal has reduced...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Guarantee (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: Under the European Commission's call for proposals for preparatory actions under the 'Youth Guarantee', the Department of Social Protection obtained EU funding to pilot a Youth Guarantee Scheme in Ballymun. This was a once-off call for pilot projects. The purpose of the Ballymun Youth Guarantee (BYG) pilot project was to test key elements to inform the national roll-out of the Youth...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The client concerned should provide the Department with an up to date lease agreement and Rent Supplement application form confirming any increase in monthly rent. On receipt of this documentation the client's rate of Rent Supplement entitlement can be assessed.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Eligibility (11 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 must, inter-alia, 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: Back to Work Allowance Eligibility (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The person concerned applied for Back to Work Enterprise Allowance Scheme (BTWEA) in order to commence business as a sub-contractor. The application was refused as persons engaged as sub-contractors are not eligible under the conditions of the BTWEA scheme. The application was subsequently reviewed and this decision was upheld. The person concerned was advised that he could apply for a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The Department has not been informed of any change in circumstance for the client concerned. The client is in receipt of his full entitlement to Rent Supplement based on monthly rent, weekly income and family composition. The client should advise the Department of any changes in their circumstances which might alter this entitlement.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The client concerned was found ineligible for Rent Supplement on 19/5/15 as her spouse is in full time employment. If there has been any change in the client's circumstances, they should provide documentary evidence to the Department confirming same, in order for their entitlement to Rent Supplement to be reassessed.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: There is no record in the Department of an application for rent supplement from the person concerned at this address and it is not possible to answer the question without relevant details being appropriately supplied and investigated. According to the Department's records, the person concerned is currently living at an address in Leixlip, Co Kildare and is currently receiving payments of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The client concerned should provide the Department with an up to date lease agreement and Rent Supplement application form confirming any increase in monthly rent. On receipt of this documentation the client's rate of Rent Supplement entitlement can be assessed.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The rent supplement claim for the person concerned is not suspended and she is currently receiving rent supplement payments from this Department. An exception under Article 38 has also been extended to facilitate payment in excess of the cap for her particular family size. All payments including any arrears due to the person concerned have been issued and are up to date.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The client concerned provided the documentation requested by the Department confirming an increase in her monthly rent on 21/5/15. Subsequently, the client's rate of Rent Supplement was reassessed and entitlement increased accordingly.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The jobseeker's allowance claim of the person concerned is currently suspended as bank statements requested by the Social Welfare Inspector on the 23rd and 24th March, 2015 have not yet been received. On receipt of this information a means assessment can be completed. The required documentation should be provided to the department by 19th June, 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Payments (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: Disability allowance arrears will issue by cheque to the person in question in the next few days.