Results 12,261-12,280 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

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

Joan Burton: The number of one-parent family payment (OFP) recipients stood at 69,884 in December, 2014. The cost of the OFP scheme is estimated to be approximately €607 million in 2015. The final phase of the OFP scheme age change reforms will be taking place on 2 July, 2015, when the maximum age limit of the youngest child at which an OFP recipient’s payment ceases will be reduced to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (21 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance was received on 3 October 2014 and additional information was received on the 9th December 2014 from the person concerned. The application was not allowed as the child was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for the allowance. A letter issued on the 16th January 2015 advising of the decision. In the case of the application...

Northern Ireland and the Stormont House Agreement: Statements (20 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: In fairness to the Sinn Féin Deputies, their party was the first to sign up to the Stormont House Agreement and I am welcoming that.

Northern Ireland and the Stormont House Agreement: Statements (20 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: I want to recognise that the agreement lays down a demanding financial template for all the parties and people in Northern Ireland. We have sought here again and again, the Labour Party and Government, to ensure that the people who are most vulnerable, particularly in regard to social welfare and their weekly payments, have been protected, and that has been a very difficult thing to do. I...

Northern Ireland and the Stormont House Agreement: Statements (20 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the agreement reached at Stormont House in Belfast before Christmas between the Irish and British Governments and the political parties in Northern Ireland. When I became Tánaiste last July and when the Taoiseach and I agreed the Government's statement of priorities for the next two years, we included securing and enhancing peace in the North as one...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pensions Ombudsman Complaints (20 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: The Pensions Ombudsman has power to make determinations which are legally binding on parties to a complaint or dispute, subject to appeal to the High Court. However, a relatively small percentage of disputes are resolved in this way as the bulk are normally dealt with through mediation between the parties and the giving of general information and/or advice in the form of a report. The table...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (20 Jan 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 in this case. Every effort will be made to hear the case as quickly as possible and the appellant will be informed when arrangements have been made. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Appeals (20 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence has disallowed the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (20 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: Given the scale of unemployment, the key objective of activation policy and labour market initiatives has been to offer assistance to those most in need of support in securing work and achieving financial self-sufficiency. Accordingly, the employment services and schemes provided by the Department – including some limited support for payment of fees on training courses – are...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (20 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: The person concerned applied for domiciliary care allowance in respect of her child on 6 October 2014. The application was disallowed as it was considered that the child did not meet the eligibility criteria for the allowance. A decision letter issued to the customer on 10 January 2015 advising of the decision. In the case of an application which is refused on medical grounds the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit Payments (20 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was in receipt of jobseeker’s benefit until 31 December 2014 when his entitlement to this payment expired. He submitted an application for jobseeker’s allowance which was approved with effect from 1 January 2015. As this allowance is a means-tested payment, earnings from the spouse of the person concerned are taken into account when calculating the amount...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (20 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: The Department is currently in communication with the family concerned and the customer concerned is in receipt of their full entitlement to Rent Supplement based on their monthly rent, weekly income and family composition. The customer’s Rent Supplement was reassessed in March 2014, which was not related to rental costs, but followed the award of a Jobseekers Allowance payment to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (20 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: The person concerned applied for domiciliary care allowance in respect of two children on 16 July 2014. The applications were not allowed as the children were not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for the allowance. A letter issued on 9 October 2014 advising of these decisions. In the case of an application which was refused on medical grounds the applicant may submit...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (20 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on 10 December 2014. 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: Ministerial Advisers Remuneration (20 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: The amount spent by the Department of Social Protection on special advisors for the years specified by the Deputy is outlined in the attached tabular statement. Costs include basic salary and employer’s liability with regard to pay related social insurance. TABULAR STATEMENT:SPECIAL ADVISORS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL PROTECTION 2007 TO 2014 YEAR TOTAL SALARY T&S ANNUAL...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Ministerial Transport (20 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: On taking office, this Government reformed the transport arrangement for Ministers which has radically reduced the cost of travel. The Government decided to confine the use of State cars from 1 May 2011 to the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence. As a result, the average cost of providing transport has been reduced by 65% - from an average cost of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (20 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: Departmental officials have discretionary powers under Article 38 of S.I. 412/2007 to award a supplement where it appears that the circumstances of the case so warrant and is of an exceptional nature. Such cases are examined on a case by case basis having regard to the situation presented. The person concerned was awarded rent supplement where the monthly rent is in excess of the prescribed...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payments (20 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Question Nos. 201, 206, and 208 together. As of the end of November, 2014, there were 70,304 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme (20 Jan 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 and this would include the majority of those who lived in residential institutions. Applicants who are under age 66 must be in receipt of a qualifying...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Payments (20 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: The fuel allowance is a payment of €20 to low income households to assist them with their energy costs. The allowance is paid for 26 weeks from October to April. The payment represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only one allowance is paid per household. The allowance is paid to approximately 415,000...