Results 12,861-12,880 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Places (26 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: I acknowledge the valuable contribution made by community employment (CE) projects. In 2012 a financial review of all CE projects was carried out. In addition, the Department undertook a separate review of the effectiveness of a range of employment supports which included CE. Due to the current economic circumstances, the Department has had to find significant savings in the Budget for 2012...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Eligibility (26 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: Child benefit is payable in respect of children who are ordinarily resident in the state. In the case of the person concerned payment was suspended in June 2014 as she failed to provide relevant information that was requested in March 2014 in relation to her residency. The Department received notification of her new address during October 2014 and child benefit has now been reinstated from...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payments (26 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: Departmental records show that the person concerned last claimed one parent family payment in April 2014 when she was living in Celbridge, Co Kildare. She did, however, move from that address and her subsequent addresses were unknown. She is currently in temporary accommodation and is in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance in respect of herself and her child from the Department while...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Meetings (26 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The Management Board (MB) of the Department comprises the Secretary General, Deputy Secretary, Assistant Secretaries, Chief Appeals Officer and the Chief Medical Adviser, all of whom are civil servants. Other officials from the Department also attend MB meetings to assist in the discussion of agenda items. Their attendance is only for the agenda item being considered. The Management Board...

- Human Rights Budgeting: Motion [Private Members] (25 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: As I stated, I certainly am happy to lend my support in government, which I have done from the outset, to having the social impact assessed by all Departments. Perhaps this could be done on a somewhat similar basis to that of the Department of Social Protection.

- Human Rights Budgeting: Motion [Private Members] (25 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: I cannot do everything, but I am happy to try.

- Human Rights Budgeting: Motion [Private Members] (25 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: I acknowledge the positive elements of the Private Members' motion before the House. I will discuss the elements of it that I do not think reflect what actually happened in the budget. This debate gives us an opportunity to discuss an important aspect of the making of budgets. The motion acknowledges the "positive signs of economic recovery" and "the social impact analysis and the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (25 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 15th September 2014. The application is with a deciding officer for a decision. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (25 Nov 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: Carer's Allowance Appeals (25 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 21stOctober 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: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (25 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The existence of the State pension (transition) is historical and relates to the qualifying age for State pension (contributory) which, up until the early 1970s, was 70 years of age. State pension transition (known then as the Retirement Pension) was introduced at that time to bridge the gap for employees who had to retire at 65. The qualifying age for State pension (contributory) was...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (25 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is currently employed on a Community Employment (CE) scheme. According to the records of this Department the person concerned has not made a recent application for a travel allowance. It is open to the person concerned to make such an application by contacting her local Community Welfare Service.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (25 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: On receipt of up to date payslips that have been requested by the Department, the client’s means from employment can be assessed to establish eligibility.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Investigations (25 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: My Department is committed to tackling all forms of shadow economy activity and, in this regard, Departmental inspectors carry out visits to a wide range of businesses, including building sites, as part of their on-going compliance operations. In many instances, such visits are undertaken jointly with other State agencies such as the Revenue Commissioners and the National Employment Rights...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Administration (25 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was recently awarded disability allowance (DA) with effect from 31st July 2013. His first payment issued on 1stOctober 2014 at the rate of €155.30 per week. Fuel allowance was awarded with effect from 8 October 2014, bringing the current weekly amount payable to €175.30. Any arrears due for the period 31stJuly 2013 to 30thSeptember 2014 (less any...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (25 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: If a person exhausts their entitlement to jobseeker’s benefit prior to their 65thbirthday, on reaching 65 years the customer qualifies for unlimited jobseeker’s benefit up to the date on which they reach pensionable age (66 years) provided they have not less than 156 paid contributions since entering employment, satisfy the relevant contribution conditions and the period of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Respite Care Grant Eligibility (25 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 160, 161 and 171 together. The Respite Care Grant (RCG) forms part of a range of illness, disability and carer supports provided by my Department to people with disabilities and those who care for them. The RCG is paid automatically to people in receipt of Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance or Prescribed...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Appeals (25 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 23rdOctober 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: Free Travel Scheme Eligibility (25 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: There are currently approximately 800,000 people 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 epilepsy and other long-term medical conditions, must be in receipt of a qualifying payment in order to qualify for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (25 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: As stated in the previous answer to the Deputy, the person concerned had previously been in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance from 20thMay 2011 until 15thJuly 2014. This claim was closed as the Department became aware that she was no longer at her stated address and her whereabouts at the time were unknown. Consequently, when the person concerned made a new claim for supplementary...