Results 11,041-11,060 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Activation Projects (22 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: The Disability Activation Project is (DACT) is jointly funded (more than €7 million) by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Department, and a total of 14 projects (including WALK PEER) are being funded under this programme in the Border, Midlands & West region. The projects commenced at the end of 2012 and will end on 30 April 2015 (the ESF portion of the funding that was...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Treatment Benefit Scheme (21 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: The services available under the treatment benefit scheme were restricted in Budget 2010 due to the prevailing economic situation at that time and the urgent need to reduce public expenditure. Any future expansion of the schemes would have to be considered in light of available resources and competing priorities. The changes to the treatment benefit scheme in Budget 2010 still allow for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme (21 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: There are currently approximately 800,000 people in Ireland in receipt of free travel at an annual cost of €77 million per annum. The free travel scheme is available to all people aged over 66 living permanently in the State. Applicants who are under age 66 must be in receipt of a qualifying payment in order to qualify for the scheme. While the management and restructuring of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (21 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the Department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the above named person on 23 March 2015. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. The application will be processed as quickly as possible. The processing time for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (21 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 6thJanuary 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: Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals (21 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 24thMarch 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: Social Welfare Appeals Status (21 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 29thJanuary 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: Carer's Allowance Delays (21 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 25th February 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: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (21 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 237, 258, 277 and 279 together. The rent supplement scheme provides support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. There are currently approximately 70,000 rent supplement recipients, for which...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Work Family Dividend Scheme Implementation (21 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015, which provides for the Back to Work Family Dividend scheme was published on 16 February, 2015. The Bill has passed all stages in the Dáil and is currently being considered in the Seanad. It is expected to be enacted in May 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (21 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: The Department received an application from the person in question on 30 April 2014. The file was sent to a social welfare inspector (SWI) to carry out a means assessment. The SWI was unable to finalise their report as the person in question had not supplied all the necessary information as requested. The application was disallowed on 12 February 2015 as the deciding officer was unable to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (21 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person in question on the 24th June 2014. The person in question was refused CA as a deciding officer, having reviewed the evidence provided, found that full time care and attention as required for CA were not being provided by the person concerned. She was notified of this decision on the 25th...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (21 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: The appeal for the person concerned has been allowed and carer’s allowance has been awarded and is in payment. The person in question was notified of this decision on the 1st April 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (21 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: I am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that in the normal course, an appeal against the decision of a Deciding Officer must be made within 21 days of a decision being notified. While there is provision for late appeals to be accepted with the approval of the Chief Appeals Officer, it is not considered that this is an appropriate case for late acceptance of an appeal. The...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Payments (21 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: In order to determine the circumstances of the person concerned, his file was forwarded to his local Social Welfare Inspector who will arrange to meet with the claimant as soon as possible. A final decision on his entitlement to disability allowance will be given on receipt of the Social Welfare Inspectors report. The person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (21 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was notified on the 20th April 2015 that her application for domiciliary care allowance was successful and that the allowance has been awarded from the 1st December 2014. The first payment of the allowance, along with arrears due, will issue on 19th May 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (21 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the above named person on 6 March 2015. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. The processing time for individual disability allowance claims may vary in accordance with...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (21 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 247, 266 to 269, inclusive, together. The Government recognises the importance of increasing participation in employment for persons with a disability. To this end, the Department provides a wide range of income and work related supports for people with disabilities, which play an important role in supporting increased participation in the labour force by...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance (21 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: The Department does not currently profile recipients of disability allowance (DA). However, the Department is planning to ask those currently in receipt of DA to supply information relating to educational attainment levels, employment history etc. This exercise will get under way in the latter half of this year and the information obtained will better inform the planning and delivery of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (21 Apr 2015)

Joan Burton: I welcome the approach being proposed under the “Fit for Work” initiative. Early interventions and developing return to work practices in the case of people with musculoskeletal incapacities is consistent with the Department’s own policy approach to illness/disability income support which aims to reduce the number of people progressing to chronic disability and long-term...