Results 13,401-13,420 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Labour Activation Measures (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: The number of participants in the Department's various labour activation and training schemes at the end of September 2014 is set out in the table. The schemes not referenced in the table are the responsibility of the Department of Education and Skills. Scheme Description Number of Recipients Community Employment Programme 24,515 Rural Social Scheme 2,534 Tús - Community Work...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Data (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that it is not practical without undergoing significant costs in changing their systems to collate statistics on the number of appellants who request oral hearings.Social Welfare legislation provides that an Appeal Officer may determine an appeal without an oral hearing where s/he is of the opinion that it can be determined fairly on the basis...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Labour Activation Projects (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: JobPath is the Government’s new labour market activation service aimed specifically at the long-term unemployed and those most distant from the labour market, with the primary objective of assisting such persons to gain sustained employment. JobPath will augment and complement both the Department’s own employment services as well as the services contracted under existing...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Payments (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: There are approximately 73,500 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014. There have been no reductions in rent supplement, administered under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, as part of Budget 2015. I am acutely aware of the difficulties people are experiencing in maintaining affordable rented accommodation, including...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department continually monitors the operation of its welfare supports to ensure the provision of service which meets the changing needs of Irish society and the objectives set by the Government.To address the specific issues raised by the Deputy; the number of young people unemployed has fallen by 11,400 from 64,000 to 52,600 in the last year. Although youth unemployment has fallen, the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Appeals (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: The rent supplement has been reinstated and all arrears due will be paid. The person concerned will be contacted in this regard and a review of the rent supplement will be undertaken.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Civil Registration Legislation (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: I understand that this refers to the question of having a commissioner for oaths entered in the register of solemnisers provided for under section 53 of the Civil Registration Act 2004, as amended, in order that he/she may solemnise marriages. Section 54 of the Act provides that a member of a religious body, a member of a secular body or a Health Service Executive (HSE) registrar may be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: The Community Employment Programme is a labour market intervention designed to assist the long term unemployed return to the work force. The term for participants on Community Employment has been set at three years maximum for those under 55 years of age by the Department. The person concerned has been a participant on the Dublin 12 Centre for the Unemployed Community Employment (CE) scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned applied for domiciliary care allowance in respect of two children. The applications were not allowed as it was considered that the children did not meet the eligibility criteria for the allowance. A decision letter issued to the customer on the 19 September 2014 advising of the decision in each case. The person concerned subsequently lodged appeals against these...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Eligibility (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: Child benefit is a monthly payment to assist with the costs associated with raising children. It is paid to around 604,000 families in respect of some 1.15 million children, with an estimated expenditure of around €1.9 billion in 2014. It is paid in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years in line with the statutory school attendance age. The payment continues to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Guarantee (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: Implementation of the Youth Guarantee is a medium-term policy of the Irish Government. It is envisaged that the guarantee as it affects those aged under 18 years will be implemented within 2 years, i.e. by the end of 2015. The guarantee of an offer of training, education or work experience for those aged 18-24 years after a four month period should be implemented on a phased basis. The...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: Self-employed persons are liable for PRSI at the Class S rate of 4% which entitles them to access Maternity Benefit, Adoptive Benefit, Guardian’s Payment and long-term benefits such as State pension (contributory) and widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's pension (contributory). Ordinary employees who have access to the full range of social insurance benefits pay Class A...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Offices (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection (DSP) currently has 10 staff based in Government Buildings on Teeling Street, Tubbercurry. The DSP office in Teeling Street is not a public office. The staff based in the office are currently responsible for the nationwide administration of the Gateway Scheme, the Rural Social Scheme, Tús and the Community Services Programme. With 20% occupancy,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer having fully considered all of the available evidence, including that adduced at oral hearing, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned was advised of the Appeals Officers decision on 10thJuly 2013. Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of the Appeals Officer is final and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of the Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by the Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Appeals (21 Oct 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 disallow 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Illness Benefit Appeals (21 Oct 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 this case on 21stOctober 2014. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (21 Oct 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 this case on 22ndOctober 2014. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an oral hearing of the appeal of the person concerned took place on 02ndOctober 2014 and that the Appeals Officer is now considering the appeal in the light of all of the evidence submitted, including that adduced at the oral hearing. The person concerned will be notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision when the appeal has been...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an oral hearing of the appeal of the person concerned took place on 06thOctober 2014 and that the Appeals Officer is now considering the appeal in the light of all of the evidence submitted, including that adduced at the oral hearing. The person concerned will be notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision when the appeal has been...