Results 12,641-12,660 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (9 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: I am aware of the funding difficulties facing many defined benefit pension scheme in recent years. The Pensions Act sets out the funding level which the trustees of a defined benefit pension scheme are required to maintain. This requirement is often referred to as the funding standard. This standard provides a benchmark against which the “health “of a scheme can be tested....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Payments (9 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The family income supplement (FIS) is an in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. FIS is designed to prevent child and family poverty and to offer a financial incentive to take-up employment as compared to social welfare payments. Expenditure on FIS for 2014 is estimated to be of the order of €280 million and it is currently paid to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (9 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 11 November 2014. 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 appeal in question will be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (9 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 27th June 2014. This application was referred to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors who did not consider that the child met the medical criteria for the allowance. A letter issued on the 18th September 2014 outlining the decision of the deciding officer to refuse the allowance. ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (9 Dec 2014)

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 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 against...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (9 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 11 November 2014. 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: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (9 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department operates a range of means tested social assistance payments. The means test takes account of the income and assets of the person (and spouse/partner, if applicable) applying for the relevant scheme. Income and assets include income from employment, self-employment, occupational pensions, maintenance payments as well as property owned (other than the family home and capital such...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Interest Relief Eligibility (9 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The original purpose of the mortgage interest supplement (MIS) scheme was to provide short-term support to eligible people who are unable to meet their mortgage interest repayments in respect of a house which is their sole place of residence. The supplement assists with the interest portion of the mortgage repayments only. MIS is normally calculated to ensure that a person, after the payment...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payments (9 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: A claim for assistance with funeral expenses under the social welfare allowance scheme is treated as a claim for an exceptional needs payment. The Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005, Section 201 provides the legal basis for exceptional needs payments. Entitlement to an exceptional needs payment for funeral expenses is discretionary. The primary consideration in determining that a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Eligibility (9 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested payment to eligible people who are looking after a person who needs support because of age, disability or illness, including mental illness. Every decision made on eligibility or continued eligibility is dealt with on a case by case basis based upon the individual circumstances of each applicant or recipient which are relevant to the various...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Applications (9 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned submitted an application for an exceptional needs payment. The claim was refused as the persons total income is €221.35 per week in excess of the basic SWA rate for the family composition. The person concerned has been notified of this decision in writing and advised of her right to an independent review of this decision.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Interest Relief Application (9 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The claim for mortgage interest supplement in respect of the person concerned was disallowed on 23 December 2011. This decision was upheld by the social welfare appeals office in an appeal decision issued on 27 July, 2012. The grounds for disallowance were: a) The excess income of the person concerned over the supplementary welfare allowance rate plus the statutory household contribution...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Gender Recognition (9 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Revised General Scheme of the Gender Recognition Bill, published in June of this year, was the culmination of an extensive consultation process – including consideration by the Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection of the earlier version of the General Scheme of the Bill, published in 2013. The provisions contained in the Revised General Scheme in relation to 16/17...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: An Fhoireann Rannach (9 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: Tá breis agus 300 comhalta foirne ag an Roinn Coimirce Sóisialaí a luaigh, mar chuid de shuirbhé ar an bhfoireann ar tugadh faoi go déanach in 2012, go bhfuil siad toilteanach agus go bhfuil sé ar chumas acu, faoi láthair, tabhairt faoina gcuid oibre trí Ghaeilge. Is ionann seo agus 4.5% den líon foirne atá i mbun feidhme faoi láthair. ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (9 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 166 together. The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 3 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...

Estimates for Public Services 2014: Leave to Introduce (4 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: I move:That leave be given by the Dáil to introduce the following Supplementary Estimate for the service of the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2014:Vote 39 — Health Service Executive (Supplementary Estimate).

Estimates for Public Services 2014: Vote 39 - Health Service Executive (4 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: I move:That, subject to leave being given to introduce the following Supplementary Estimate for the service of the year ending on 31st December, 2014, the Supplementary Estimate be referred to the Select sub-Committee on Health, pursuant to Standing Orders 82A(3)(c) and (6)(a) and 159(3), which shall report back to the Dáil by no later than 11th December:-Vote 39 — Health Service...

Order of Business (4 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: I recognise that it is difficult for people to accommodate the changes that have been taking place, but it will provide for the provision of safe and clean drinking water, the conservation of water and the provision of water for industry, as well as dealing with the raw sewage being dumped in 42 rivers and harbours.

Order of Business (4 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Bill will be seen to be in the interests of the people, notwithstanding the fact that they have a democratic right to protest against it. This is good for people's health, employment and the development of the economy. Members can have as much time as they wish. At such short notice, I cannot arrange a sitting on Saturday and Sunday, but if more time is needed, it will be available....

Order of Business (4 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: This is the Second Stage debate on the Water Services Bill and 17 hours have been provided for that. Yesterday, by way of example, the Social Welfare Bill to effect the budget changes such as increasing child benefit and the other changes that are providing additionality took place. I see some of the people who were here yesterday but at no stage were there more than five to eight people in...