Results 11,801-11,820 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (17 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The Department receives reports of possible fraud from members of the public in relation to the operation of its schemes and provides both a dedicated phone number and a facility on the Department's website for this purpose. All anonymous or confidential reports are examined and, where relevant, are referred to the Departments sections and/or to Inspectors for potential follow-up action....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (17 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: A review of this decision 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 person concerned will be notified of the outcome of this review as soon as it is completed.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Expenditure (17 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The fuel allowance is a payment of €20 per week to low income households to assist them with their energy costs. The allowance is paid for 26 weeks from October to April, at cost of approximately €195 million in 2015. Increasing the fuel allowance by 25% would cost approximately €49 million in a full year.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Overpayments (17 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: When a revised decision on a social welfare entitlement is made, the claimant is notified and given the opportunity to appeal the decision within 21 days. In deciding whether or not the decision should have retrospective effect, deciding officers are required to have regard to the facts relevant to the decision on entitlement. An overpayment is a consequence of a revised decision and is,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Applications (17 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The person concerned has means assessed on his jobseekers allowance claim based on capital held in the bank. He was interviewed by a social welfare inspector last week and was requested to supply documentation in order to complete a means review. Once received, the review will be completed and he will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Offices (17 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The Lucan/Adamstown area has been designated by the Department for the provision of Intreo services. The Office of Public Works has been exploring options in both Lucan and Adamstown for an Intreo Centre, but given the limited choice of suitably sized and located offices, complex property and development issues, and third party interests, this process is taking longer than expected. The...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Benefit Appeals (17 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 30th October 2014. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (17 Feb 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 proposes to hold an oral hearing week beginning 23rdMarch 2015. The person concerned will be notified of the arrangements. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit Applications (17 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The jobseeker's benefit claim of the person concerned is currently closed as there has been no contact with the local office since November 2014. The person concerned should call to her local office as soon as possible with the relevant documentation in order to reapply for jobseeker's benefit. Once this process has been completed a decision will issue to the person concerned on any...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Guarantee (17 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: From 1 January 2014 to 12 January 2015, a total of 342 clients in County Louth completed a Personal Progression Plan who were under 25 on the date they completed their plan. As the completion of a Personal Progression Plan is a unique feature of the INTREO Activation and Case Management process, this figure does not include clients who availed of employment supports outside the INTREO...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (17 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 22nd January 2015. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 5th...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Eligibility (17 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was in receipt of domiciliary care allowance for one child until January 2014 when the entitlement ended as the family left the State. Having returned to reside in Ireland, they re-applied for the allowance in respect of this child on the 30th October 2014. The application was not allowed as the child was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (17 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 22ndSeptember 2014. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 11th...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Investigations (17 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: As detailed in my previous reply, a decision on the insurability of employment was sought on 4th December 2014 by a number of workers formerly employed on the site referred to by the Deputy. As part of the process of making a decision on the insurability of an employment, it is normal practice that a Social Welfare Inspector comprehensively interviews both the worker(s) and an appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Redundancy Payments (17 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The Redundancy Payments Act 1967, as amended, provides that an absence from work while on parental leave or force majeure leave within the meaning of the Parental Leave Act 1998 is an allowable absence. The European Union (Parental Leave) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 81/2013) increased the amount of parental leave available to each parent per child from 14 to 18 weeks, under the Parental Leave...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (17 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence has allowed the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned was notified of the decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Postcode System Expenditure (17 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection will be undertaking a phased introduction of postcodes across its systems and processes. The initial phase will be completed in 2015. To this end, the Project Governance Committee of the Department has approved the issue of a supplementary request for tender to a framework of approved bidders in order to implement the technical changes required to the...

Order of Business (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: I do not have a date for it but realise it is an issue on which the Minister is anxious to make progress.

Order of Business (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: On Deputy Troy's question and the health (transport support) Bill, the legislation has been included in the legislative programme of the Department of Health for 2015.

Order of Business (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: As I stated to Deputy Troy, work is ongoing on the policy but I do not have a date. On apprenticeships, Deputy Durkan may be aware that the apprenticeship council has been constituted under the chairmanship of the CEO of the ESB. Happily, the ESB, Irish Rail and, more recently, Eircom and other large companies have begun to advertise a significant number of new apprenticeships. These...