Results 10,441-10,460 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (26 May 2015)

Joan Burton: I can confirm that an application for disability allowance (DA) from the person concerned was disallowed on 29 April 2015 on the grounds that she does not satisfy the medical conditions for DA. The person in question was advised of the decision, the reasons for it and of her rights to request a review or to appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. To date neither option has been exercised.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (26 May 2015)

Joan Burton: The information requested by the Deputy is not available. Information relating to disallowances of returning Irish emigrants is not captured during the claim decision making process. However, information pertaining to overall disallowances on the grounds of the habitual residency condition including those disallowances relating specifically to Irish nationals is contained in the attached...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit Payments (26 May 2015)

Joan Burton: The information requested by the Deputy is not available in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit (26 May 2015)

Joan Burton: Based on current recipient numbers the estimated full-year cost of increasing the duration of jobseeker’s benefit to 12 months for recipients with 260 or more contributions paid is €33 million, and to 9 months for recipients with less than 260 contributions paid is some €6 million. Combined this equates in a full year to approximately €39 million.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (26 May 2015)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 181 together. The purpose of the voluntary contribution scheme is to protect the pension entitlements of those who have already qualified for State pension, by maintaining the yearly average number of contributions which determines the rate at which the pension is paid. A person under pension age who ceases to be covered by compulsory social insurance...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals (26 May 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 11th May 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: Social Welfare Rates (26 May 2015)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 184, 185, 187 and 188 together. The cost of increasing the State Pension Contributory (SPC) by €5 per week is just over €92 million in a full year. This cost includes the cost of proportionate increases for qualified adults and proportionate increases for those on reduced rates of SPC. The cost of increasing the State Pension Non Contributory...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Rates (26 May 2015)

Joan Burton: The overall concern of Government in its Budgets has been to protect the primary social welfare rates. Expenditure on pensions at approx. €6.675 billion is the largest block of expenditure in the Department in the Estimate for 2015, representing approx. 34.4% of overall expenditure. Because of demographic changes, the Department’s spending on older people is increasing year on...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (26 May 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 3 March 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: Treatment Benefit Scheme Payments (26 May 2015)

Joan Burton: Records on the number of people who have received funding for hearing aids since the treatment benefit scheme commenced, over 40 years ago, are not available. However in 2014, 7,085 people received funding for hearing aids and a further 2,292 people have received funding in the current year to date.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Treatment Benefit Scheme Payments (26 May 2015)

Joan Burton: The statistics requested are not available, such information is not requested from applicants as it is not relevant to the scheme. Entitlement to the hearing aid grant is based on a requirement for a hearing aid and having paid the required PRSI contributions.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (26 May 2015)

Joan Burton: The Department provides a comprehensive range of income supports for people with disabilities. More recently-introduced income supports for people with disabilities provide support based on need rather than on the nature of the disability and I have no plans to change that approach by introducing any new schemes or allowances, based on specific disabilities. The blind person‘s...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (26 May 2015)

Joan Burton: The Department provides a comprehensive range of income supports for people with disabilities including blind pension. The blind person's pension (BPP) is a unique scheme in that it is the only social welfare payment which was introduced to cater for a specific disability. It was originally legislated for under the Blind Person‘s Act, 1920 and separate treatment of people who are...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Eligibility (26 May 2015)

Joan Burton: While it is not clear to what "national network" service the Deputy is referring, the position is that a person in receipt of invalidity pension can apply for partial capacity benefit (PCB), which allows a person with a disability, who has a reduced capacity to work, to take up employment (or become self-employed) and continue to receive a social welfare income support payment. To...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Enterprise Support Schemes (26 May 2015)

Joan Burton: The Department provides income support payments in the form of the back to work enterprise allowance (BTWEA) and the short term enterprise allowance (STEA) to those who satisfy specific qualifying criteria and are setting up a self-employed business. For BTWEA to be approved, the business venture must be developed with the support of – and be recommended by - one of the Local...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Data (26 May 2015)

Joan Burton: Case Officers employed by my Department, operating across 13 Divisions, deliver activation and case management services through the network of Departmental Intreo Centres. Case Officers generally work in teams dedicated to activating clients and supporting them in various ways in their efforts to regain employment. The team-based approach helps to maximise efficiency and effectiveness and to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Job Initiatives (26 May 2015)

Joan Burton: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of the number of persons currently availing of each job activation programme under my remit and the estimated expenditure is detailed in the table. Working Age Employment Support Recipients April 2015 and 2015 Expenditure Estimate Scheme ~Number of Recipients Expenditure €000 Community Employment Schemes (excluding Supervisors)...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit Applications (26 May 2015)

Joan Burton: The client, who holds an Immigration Stamp 1 until 5 June 2015 applied for Jobseeker’s Benefit on the 19th of March 2015 following dismissal from his employment a month earlier. His work permit enables him to remain in Ireland if he does not enter employment without his employer obtaining a permit and he may not remain later than the specified date. On making his application, the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Payments (26 May 2015)

Joan Burton: The appeal of the person concerned against a refusal of carer’s allowance (CA) has been allowed and the application was awarded on the 20th May 2015. The first payment of CA is due to issue to the post office on the 28th May 2015. The arrears of allowance due from the 31st July 2014 to 20th May 2015 have also issued. The person in question was notified of these details on the 20th...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (26 May 2015)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 4th March 2015. The application was awarded on 13th May 2015 and the first payment is due to issue to the post office on 4th June 2015. Any arrears of allowance due (less any overlapping social welfare payment and/or outstanding overpayment) will issue in due course. The...