Results 12,241-12,260 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Leaders' Questions (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: The establishment of registration bodies for different groups of professional workers is one that all of the groups have by and large welcomed. This has been debated from time to time both in this Dáil and previous Dáileanna and Members have been positive towards it. I refer to the registration of teachers and professionals in the social work sector

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: The client concerned has been requested to provide the Department with a lease agreement, a housing need assessment, payslips that will verify resident children's current income from employment and details of any savings accrued through the sale of the family home.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Illness Benefit Applications (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: Payment of illness benefit, to the person concerned, was disallowed by a Deciding Officer following an examination by a Medical Assessor of the Department who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. An appeal was opened and in the context of that appeal the person concerned was examined by a second Medical Assessor who also expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payments (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: As of the end of December, 2014, there were 69,884 recipients of the one-parent family payment (OFP). Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure this year on the OFP scheme of approximately €607 million. The purpose of the phased OFP scheme age change reforms that were introduced in the Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2012, is to reduce long-term social welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Applications (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: The person referred to has changed address and on 20 January 2015, requested a transfer of her jobseekers allowance application from Maynooth Branch Office to Portarlington Branch Office. Her application will be processed as soon as possible, subject to completion of the necessary checks and receipt of all required documentation.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (22 Jan 2015)

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

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: Over the last number of years, the Department has developed a new integrated income support, employment and support service called ‘Intreo’, and has been transforming its nationwide network of Local Offices into ‘Intreo Centres’. The Intreo Centre is a one-stop shop for all income and employment support services where customers can access job-seeking advice,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: The staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continuously reviewed within the context of the Department’s pay budget, taking account of workloads, management priorities and the competing demands arising. This is to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources and that an efficient service can be provided to those who rely on the schemes operated by the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Interest Supplement Scheme (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: Budget 2014 provided for the closure of the mortgage interest supplement scheme to new applicants with effect from 01/01/2014, and for the winding down of the scheme for existing recipients over a four year period. According to the records of this Department the person concerned did not submit an application for a mortgage interest supplement prior to the closure of the scheme and therefore...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: As detailed to the Deputy in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 63 of 27th November 2014, an up to date Rent Supplement application form and lease agreement confirming any increase in rent was requested by the Department on 19 November 2014. This documentation remains outstanding. On receipt of same the client's rate of Rent Supplement entitlement can be assessed.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Non-Contributory) Applications (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: The person concerned did not apply for a disability allowance. Rather, in 2013 he applied for and was disallowed a State pension (non-contributory) on the grounds that he was deemed not to be habitually resident in the State. He was advised of this in writing in December 2013 and of his right to appeal or tender any additional information to the Deciding Officer as he may feel is relevant....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: The Department has not been informed of any change of circumstance for this client. The client's entitlement to Rent Supplement can be assessed if an up to date Rent Supplement application form and lease agreement is forwarded.

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Second Stage (21 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: I am delighted to have the opportunity to introduce this very important and ground-breaking legislation. The number of people directly affected by the Gender Recognition Bill will be relatively small. However, the legislation has deep significance for those who will, for the first time, have their preferred gender formally recognised by the State for all purposes. This significance also...

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

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 15th August 2014. The application is currently with a social welfare investigative officer for assessment of the level of care being provided, assessment of means and confirmation that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied. Once the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times (21 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: A breakdown of the number of claims pending and average time, where available, to award claims during 2014 is detailed in attached tabular statement. It should be noted that processing times vary by scheme reflecting the differing requirements to satisfy conditions such as income/means limits and medical eligibility. The processing times provided in the table also incorporate the impact of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (21 Jan 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 18 December 2014, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Appeals (21 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the average processing times are maintained for the overall scheme type, not for the issue(s) under appeal i.e. in this case rent supplement. The average appeal processing time for supplementary welfare allowance appeals during 2014 was 21 weeks, of which 9.3 weeks is attributable to appeals processing in the Social Welfare Appeals...

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

Joan Burton: There has been no change in the position since the replies to the Deputy’s previous questions Nos. 142 of 5 November 2014 and 164 of 25 November 2014 regarding this matter. The person concerned had previously been in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance from 20 May 2011 until 15 July 2014. This claim was closed as the Department became aware that she was no longer at her stated...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Live Register Data (21 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: Information relating to a claimant’s address is not currently coded to the geographical location of the address. As such it is not possible to accurately report persons on the live register living in a particular area at present.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (21 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: When introducing the OFP scheme age change reforms, a special provision was included for recipients who are claiming the domiciliary care allowance (DCA) payment for a disabled child aged under 16 years. In these circumstances, the OFP payment is extended beyond the maximum age limit of the scheme and paid until the child for whom the DCA is in payment reaches the age of 16 years. This...