Results 12,741-12,760 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (2 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: In order to qualify for a Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) to pursue a third level course a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment for a period of nine months. A waiting period is considered essential given that the BTEA confers entitlement to income support for an indefinite period and this waiting period is considered necessary in the context of targeting scarce resources....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (2 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received applications for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on the 1st August 2014 and 3rd September 2014 for the care recipients in question. The applications were sent to a social welfare investigative officer for assessment of means. The investigative officer has completed and submitted the report and the applications are with a deciding...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Review (2 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The domiciliary care allowance scheme has been the subject of two reports which were commissioned by me during 2012. Both of these were published in April 2013 and are available for download on . The detail on the reports is as follows: 1 The second report of the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare on the review of Budget 2012 proposals regarding Disability Allowance and Domiciliary...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Records (2 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: Signing dockets completed by part-time workers are currently retained by my Department for up to seven years. This policy is under review as a consequence of the introduction of new scanning technology arrangements which allow for the capture and storage of scanned images which lessens the requirement to retain paper-based documentation over longer periods of time.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals (2 Dec 2014)

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 respect of both the Jobseeker's Allowance appeal and Supplementary Welfare Allowance appeal on 11thDecember 2014. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Payments (2 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: Except in certain exceptional circumstances, disability allowance is not payable for any period in respect of which the claimant is resident outside of the State. In all circumstances, disability allowance recipients must inform the Department that they are intending to leave the State. For control reasons, the Department has decided that the appropriate payment method for the person...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Eligibility (2 Dec 2014)

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. Applicants who are under age 66, including those with learning disabilities, must be in receipt of a qualifying payment in order to qualify for the scheme. The...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Applications (2 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: As outlined to the Deputy in reply to question, 36403-14, on 25th September 2014 and question 43633-14, on 13th November 2014, there is no record of an application for a one-parent family payment in respect of the person concerned. If she wishes to make a one-parent family payment application, she should contact her local Intreo (Social Welfare) office.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Ministerial Travel (2 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: At this stage my only confirmed trip abroad is to attend the meeting of employment and social affairs ministers (EPSCO) scheduled for the 11thDecember 2014 in Brussels. I would hope to be able to attend EPSCO meetings scheduled for 2015 but this will depend on other business commitments at the time of the meetings and the items scheduled for discussion. There are no official trips scheduled...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (2 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 1stOctober 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 Department...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (2 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 27thNovember 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: Appointments to State Boards (2 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council, the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a Board) and the Social Welfare Tribunal. There were no appointments made in 2014 to the Pensions Council or the Social Welfare Tribunal. Citizens Information Board I have made two...

Order of Business (27 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: It is an amendment that is being worked on by the lawyers and by the Attorney General's office. I set out in yesterday's note what it is about.

Order of Business (27 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The Deputy heard me read the detailed note. It pertains to pension schemes where there has been a double insolvency. I read that out to the committee yesterday but it is being worked on at present by the Attorney General's office and the drafters.

Order of Business (27 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: Yes.

Order of Business (27 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: Yes.

Estimates for Public Services 2014 (27 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: I move the following Supplementary Estimates: Vote 20 — Garda Síochána (Supplementary)That a supplementary sum not exceeding €75,240,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December 2014, for the salaries and expenses of the Garda Síochána, including pensions, etc.; for the payment...

Order of Business (27 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: 2 o’clock In the context of the employment figures, we now have 1.93 million people at work, which is the best figure since 2009. That is welcome news for everyone. The fact is that 94% of the extra employment that has been created is full-time employment, so it is not affected by the zero-hour situation. Regarding the legislation to which the Deputy referred, work is ongoing...

Order of Business (27 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: I anticipate that the gender recognition Bill will be published by the end of the year. There is no date for the national paediatric Bill as yet, but a lot of work is ongoing in that regard.

Order of Business (27 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: On the specific issue of the Health (Amendment) Act, there is no date as yet.