Results 13,241-13,260 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: While I am aware of the issues arising in relation to this scheme, you will appreciate that it is not appropriate for me to comment on developments relating to a particular pension scheme as these are a matter for the management of the company and the trustees of the pension scheme. The issue of representation is being considered in the context of access to the industrial relations...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Post Office Network (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department is a client of An Post for the delivery of cash services to welfare clients through the post office network. As part of contract governance of these client services, officials of the Department and representatives of An Post meet formally on a monthly basis to review service provision and address issues arising in respect of cash payment services. The contract also provides...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Poverty (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 239 together. The Social Inclusion Monitor, the official report on progress on poverty using national and EU indicators, reports that the rate of consistent poverty for children in 2012 was 9.9 per cent or 115,000 children. This compares with an average of 8.7 per cent for the years preceding the crisis (2005-2008) or 91,000 children. Using the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Carers Strategy Status (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The Government fully accepts the important role played by carers in society and to acknowledge this, in 2012 the Government published a National Carers’ Strategy - signalling its commitment to recognising and respecting carers as key care partners and to respond to their needs, across a number of policy areas. The Department of Social Protection has committed to a range of actions...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Unemployment Benefits (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The following table shows the provision for jobseeker’s allowance and jobseeker’s benefit in the 2015 Budget and the 2014 REV Estimate, as published on Budget Day 14thOctober 2014. Benefit/Assistance 2014 REV Estimate 2015 Budget Estimate Variance Variance €000 €000 €000 % Jobseeker’s Allowance 2,820,000 2,607,900 -212,100 -7.5%...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Non-Contributory) Numbers (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The number of recipients on State pension (non-contributory) has been falling marginally over the last few years as more people reaching pension age satisfy the insurance conditions to qualify for State pension (contributory) or widows’ / widowers’ / surviving civil partners (contributory). It is estimated that the average numbers claiming State pension (non-contributory) will...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Labour Activation Measures (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department’s activation measures continue to play a major role in consolidating Ireland’s economic recovery. Jobseekers continue in growing numbers to choose JobBridge internships as a means of increasing their skills and work experience and improving their chances of returning rapidly to employment. On 24th October, 2014, 34,636 jobseekers had commenced JobBridge...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The average appeal processing times for 2012, 2013 and 2014 broken down by all social welfare scheme types is outlined in the tables below. Appeal processing times peaked in 2011 when the average time for an oral hearing was 52.5 weeks and for a summary decision was 25.1 weeks. In 2012 the average processing time for an oral hearing dropped to 39.5 weeks and the time for a summary decision...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Data (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The figures requested by the Deputy, relating to the main health-related payments received and finalised during 2013 and to the end of September 2014, are provided in the table below. A total of 4,501 invalidity pension appeals were received during 2013. A total of 6,968 invalidity pension appeals were finalised during that year. 5,597 of the appeals which were finalised had a successful...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Non-Contributory) Numbers (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The number of recipients of State pension non-contributory (SPNC) is contained in the Department’s Annual Statistical Information Report which is published on the Department’s website on the following link:. Section B of the report contains statistical information in relation to pensions and Table B3 outlines the information requested by the Deputy from 2004 - ­2013. In...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Funding (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The report the Deputy is referring to is entitled Scoping of need in social justice sphereand published by Philanthropy Ireland. Its purpose is to provide Philanthropy Ireland and its members with insights on possible area of need that might inform their future funding programmes. It is based on desk research and interviews with 14 informants. The report highlights the reduction in social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Applications (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: Jobseekers allowance is a means-tested payment and is payable subject to a number of conditions. The rules in regard to means testing are contained in Part 2 of Schedule 3 of the SW Con Act 2005 as amended and in S.I. 142 of 2007, part 3, chapter 6, section 141 (1) onwards. In order to decide on a jobseekers means it may be necessary for a deciding officer to seek verification details of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (4 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 24 September 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: Public Services Card (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection has developed, in conjunction with a number of other Government Departments, a rules based standard for establishing and authenticating an individual’s identity for the purposes of access to public services. This programme of work, which is known as the Standard Authentication Framework Environment or SAFE for short, also provided for the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Bodies (4 Nov 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 Ombudsman and the Social Welfare Tribunal. No new statutory or other bodies have been established under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection since 2011.The Pensions Board was renamed the Pensions Authority on 7 March 2014.

Order of Business (23 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: I will contact the Minister to get the date of when he proposes to lay it before the House. On the wind energy guidelines, there is an amount of technical work which has to be done-----

Order of Business (23 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: -----partly in conjunction with the SEAI.

Order of Business (23 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: Deputy Troy asked a question and I am trying to give him the information.

Order of Business (23 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: Deputy Troy should relax.

Order of Business (23 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: I do not have a date for that. I will ask the Minister when it is proposed to bring it before the House.