Results 13,021-13,040 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (13 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The clients concerned has not made an application; should they wish to do so they should forward it to be assessed for entitlement to the Mid-Leinster Rent Unit, PO Box 11758, Dublin 24. In general, persons engaged in full-time employment, in excess of 30 hours per week, are not eligible for Rent Supplement.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (13 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: I am very conscious of the funding difficulties encountered by many pension schemes in recent years. You will be aware that a range of legislative measures have been put in place over a number of years to assist both employers and trustees of pension schemes to respond to these difficulties and to achieve a sustainable pension provision for all scheme members and beneficiaries. Section 48...

Allegations Regarding Sexual Abuse by Members of the Provisional Republican Movement: Statements (12 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: Writing in a newspaper a couple of weeks ago, Maíria herself described the trauma she has experienced in recent weeks. Addressing Sinn Féin directly, she wrote the following, which I am sure Sinn Féin members have read: "And you, by denying my experiences, invalidate me as a human being, and by default, every other victim of abuse out there. And that’s a very dangerous...

Allegations Regarding Sexual Abuse by Members of the Provisional Republican Movement: Statements (12 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: Untruth.

Allegations Regarding Sexual Abuse by Members of the Provisional Republican Movement: Statements (12 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: I wish to share my time with the Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Ged Nash. I welcome the opportunity to speak on the allegations of sexual abuse by members of the provisional republican movement and the Maíria Cahill case. First, this is not simply a debate about events that took place in Belfast a number of years ago. It is not just...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (12 Nov 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 6 November 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: Budget Measures (12 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: Social impact assessment is an evidence-based methodology which uses a tax/welfare simulation model developed by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) to estimate the likely distributive effects of budgetary measures on income and social inequalities. The Department has previously published social impact assessments (using the ESRI Switch model) of the main welfare and tax...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (12 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: Article 17 of the IORPS Directive places an obligation on certain occupational pension schemes to hold additional reserves where they underwrite death or disability benefits, guarantee a given investment performance or a given level of benefits. Such schemes are commonly known as ‘regulatory own funds’(ROF). Part 4 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2011 provided for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (12 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: As part of the Budget 2015 measures, a 25% Christmas Bonus will be paid this December to recipients of a long-term social welfare payment and also to participants on the Community Employment, Job Initiative, Rural Social Scheme, Tús and Gateway programmes. Over 1.16 million people will benefit from this measure.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Eligibility (12 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: Invalidity Pension is a long-term payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the relevant contribution conditions. A person is regarded as being incapable of work if for the period of one year immediately before the date of application the person has been continuously incapable of work and a deciding officer or an appeals officer...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Data (12 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The Deputy will be aware that the staffing of my Department is limited by (i) the salary budget and (ii) the requirement to meet and maintain the Employment Control Framework figure established by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. In essence, any course of action which would increase staffing costs, including approval for an increase in hours of attendance for duty, must be...

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: Fingers crossed for the workers.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Eligibility (11 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: Mortgage Interest Supplement Eligibility (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The mortgage interest supplement of the person referred to was reviewed on 8 August 2014 and due to the failure of the client to return the required documentation within the two weeks allowed, the payment was suspended on 3 October 2014. The required documentation has now been received and the review completed. Payment has been approved and arrears due will issue on 25 November 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Proposed Legislation (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014 was introduced in the Seanad in July 2014 and it has passed all stages in that House. It is currently progressing through the Dáil where Committee Stage was completed on 5 November 2014 and Report Stage is scheduled for 18 November 2014. It is intended that the Bill will be enacted before the end of the year. The Bill provides that, other...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (11 Nov 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 5 November 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: Social Welfare Code (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker’s allowance schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative full-time employment. The 2014 Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseekers’ schemes of €3.28 billion. It is a fundamental qualifying condition of both schemes that a person must be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection receives reports of possible fraud from members of the public in relation to the operation of its schemes. A dedicated phone number and a facility on the Department’s website are available for this purpose. The following are the number of anonymous reports received in the Department’s Control Division in the period 2011 to 2014 (Jan-Oct): ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pensions Legislation (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013 provided for the establishment of a new body called the Pensions Council. The Pensions Council will be made up of a chairperson and not less than 8 and not more than 12 ordinary members. The ordinary members are to include: - the Pensions Regulator; - a representative of the Department of Social Protection; - a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection...