Results 11,441-11,460 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Review (24 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: A review of the decision to disallow an application for domiciliary care allowance in this case was requested on the 29th January 2015 and additional information on this child's care needs has been supplied. The application together with the new information supplied will now be re-examined by a deciding officer and a revised decision made, if warranted. The review process can currently take...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Applications (24 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that following an oral hearing of the case in question, the Appeals Officer has referred the case back to a Social Welfare Inspector for further investigation and clarification of certain issues. As soon as the matters in question have been clarified by the Inspector the Appeals Officer will complete his consideration of the appeal. The...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Expenditure (24 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: The costings data that the Deputy has requested is currently not available in my Department. Given the complex nature of the request, my Department will provide the information directly to the Deputy in due course.

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

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing in this case on 30thMarch 2015. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department...

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

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned together with the relevant Departmental papers were received by that office on 16thMarch 2015 and that the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance (24 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: The State pension (contributory) is a very valuable benefit and is the bedrock of the Irish pension system. Therefore, it is important to ensure that those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund over their working lives. This is particularly important given the challenge that increased longevity is posing for the future sustainability of the State pension....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (24 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned has been referred to an Appeals Officer 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 is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Bereavement Grant (24 Mar 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 State pension. I have no plans to reinstate the grant. There are a range of supports available for people following...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (24 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: According to the records of this Department, the person concerned is currently in receipt of the correct rate of jobseekers allowance of €100 per week for a person of her age and circumstances. It is open to the person concerned to contact her local community welfare service to explore the options available to her if she is experiencing hardship at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Appeals (24 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned together with the relevant Departmental papers were received by that office on 10thMarch 2015 and that the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (24 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 19thDecember 2014. 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 received in the Social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Activation Projects (24 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: The project to which the Deputy refers is one of 14 Disability Activation Projects (DACT), which commenced in 2012. Over 2,000 people have participated in the projects, which are being jointly funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Department. ESF funding will cease on 30 April 2015 and as the ESF portion of the funding was provided under the Human Capital Investment Operational...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Rates (24 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: Self-employed persons are liable for PRSI at the class S rate of 4% which entitles them to access long-term benefits such as State pension (contributory) and widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's pension (contributory) as well as guardians payment (contributory), maternity benefit and adoptive benefit. Ordinary employees who have access to the full range of social insurance...

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

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 223, 227, 230 and 247 together. I am very conscious of the important role of the post office around the country, not only in respect of social welfare payments but also in offering other financial services such as paying bills and carrying out a range of banking services. The Government has consistently stated its commitment to maintaining the post...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Freedom of Information Requests (24 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: Freedom of Information (FOI) confers three rights on members of the public: 1.A right to access all records unless they are exempt. 2.A right to have personal information amended where it is incomplete, incorrect or misleading. 3.A right to reasons for decisions regarding acts of public bodies affecting the person. The FOI Act empowers the Minister to delegate functions relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Maintenance Payments (24 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: The issue of maintenance payments is first and foremost a private matter for the person concerned, and if s/he cannot resolve the problem, for the courts through family law provisions. Under family law, it is possible to apply to the court for an Attachment of Earnings Order, which would mean that maintenance payments are deducted directly by that person’s employer. An Attachment...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Investigations (24 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: This matter is the subject of ongoing investigation in my Department. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on the likely outcome of these investigations at this stage.

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

Joan Burton: Child care policy, including the delivery, cost and the expansion of child care services, is the responsibility of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (D/CYA). The amount of payment that a recipient of the One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) receives depends on their average weekly earnings. For persons with average weekly earnings of €90 or less, the full rate of OFP may be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Benefit Eligibility (24 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: Carer's Allowance (CA) is a payment to people on low incomes who are looking after a person who needs support because of age, disability or illness (including mental illness). To be entitled to CA the applicant must be providing full-time care and attention to a person in need of care who does not normally live in an institution. These conditions apply whether the carer is or is not...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Applications (24 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer's decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of...