Results 10,881-10,900 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (30 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: The Department has not, to date, received an application for Rent Supplement from the client concerned. The client should forward an application to the Mid-Leinster Rent Unit, PO Box 11758, Dublin 24. On receipt of same the client's entitlement to Rent Supplement can be assessed.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service (30 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: At the outset, I wish to reiterate the Government’s commitment to maintaining and strengthening the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) and its local delivery of services. The work which is underway exploring how to optimise resources and governance arrangements across the network of 93 local companies under the remit of the Citizens Information Board (CIB) has the aim of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Data (30 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: Information relating to a claimant’s address is not currently coded to the geographical location of the address. Accordingly data on the geographical location of persons in receipt of child benefit living is not collated or reported at present.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Data (30 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: Information relating to a claimant’s address is not currently coded to the geographical location of the address. Accordingly data on the geographical location of persons in receipt of child benefit is not complied or reported at present.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (30 Apr 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 14 April 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...

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (29 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: Deputy Gerry Adams first wanted us to tell the European Union to take a hike and to take its money with it. He used more colourful language. However, he does not have to worry about economics as he told us. In all of this, Sinn Féin neglects to mention what it is delivering in government in Northern Ireland at the moment where 20,000 public sector jobs have been cut for a start....

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (29 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: Nevertheless, Sinn Féin has the gall to lecture the Government while being the leaders of austerity in the North. For all its rhetoric, Sinn Féin conveniently forgets the North when it wants to. Before next year's Spring Economic Statement is delivered, the country will choose a new Government. The people of this country will have to decide who they want to stand up in this...

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (29 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: The spring economic statement contains a lot of important data and statistics, but they translate into one thing which is opportunity - the opportunity to secure the economic and social recovery, spread the benefits of growth and relentlessly raise living standards. They will ensure that everyone who wants a job gets a job, and that work pays a living wage so that families can get on rather...

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

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 22nd December 2014. Some additional information in relation to the person’s employment outside the home was required and was requested by the deciding officer. The application has been disallowed on two grounds, firstly that the care recipient is not so disabled as...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Recruitment (29 Apr 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. In this context, the Department is obliged to fill all critical posts in the first instance, by either...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (29 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: I am very aware of the issues arising and very negative consequences caused by the problems in the IASS scheme for all its members. However, you will appreciate that the funding difficulties in this scheme are primarily a matter for the Trustees, the companies participating in the scheme, the scheme members and the Pensions Authority. The Pensions Act provides a framework for the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (29 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2011 provides that State pension age will be increased gradually to 68 years. This began in January 2014 with the standardising of State pension age for all at 66 years and the cessation of State pension transition. The State pension age will increase to 67 years in 2021 and to 68 years in 2028. The State pension (transition) was introduced in 1970...

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

Joan Burton: An application for carer's allowance by the person in question was disallowed. The person in question was notified on the 14th of November 2015 of this decision, the reasons for it and of his/her right of review and appeal. The person concerned requested a review of this decision and following that review the application was awarded on 24th February 2015. The claim was awarded from 12th...

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

Joan Burton: The back to education allowance (BTEA) is an educational opportunities scheme for persons in receipt of certain social welfare payments, who wish to pursue an approved full-time second or third level day course of education in an approved college leading to a recognised qualification. To qualify for participation in the scheme an applicant (jobseeker recipient) must be in receipt of a...

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

Joan Burton: There are no defined guidelines surrounding the period of time that a disability allowance (DA) claim should take to be restored where a former DA recipient ceases employment. However the Department endeavours to make this process as timely as possible and the time taken can be dependent on a number of factors, not least the length the individual had been working and the quality of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (29 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: In relation to performance indicators for the EmployAbility service set out in my previous reply, at a national level, at end-December 2014, the service had a ratio of one job coach to 26 clients. Of the 3,000 clients availing of the service, some 42 per cent had been placed in employment and were being supported by job coaches. It should be noted that the percentage figure for participants...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Bereavement Grant (29 Apr 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 €22 million. This allowed the Department to protect other more fundamental social welfare payments such as the Widows Contributory Pension. There are a range of supports available for people following bereavement which provide more...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (28 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 23 February 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 were been received in the Social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (28 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: The person concerned has been awarded a disability allowance payment with effect from 12 November 2014. First payment will be on 13 May 2015 and any arrears due will follow shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service (28 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 43, 65 and 96 together. At the outset, I wish to assure the Deputies that the Government is totally committed to maintaining and strengthening MABS and its local delivery of services. While work is underway exploring how to optimise resources and governance arrangements to the greatest extent possible, I can also assure the Deputies that there will be no...