Results 14,221-14,240 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Death Certificates (15 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: I am very much aware that where a death occurs in tragic circumstances that the cause of death registered on the death certificate can cause distress to loved ones. In this regard, I will shortly introduce, by regulation, a short form death certificate that will omit the cause of death. Currently, under sections 41 and 42 of the Civil Registration Act 2004 a coroner or a medical practitioner...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Yield (15 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: I refer the Deputy to the reply to PQ 30232-14. I will revert directly to the Deputy with the figure as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Rights (15 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: The purpose of the insolvency payments scheme, which operates under the Protection of Employees (Employers’ Insolvency) Act, 1984, which, in turn, derives from EU Council Directive 987/80, is to protect certain outstanding pay-related entitlements due to employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer. These entitlements include wages, holiday pay, sick pay, payment in lieu...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Unemployment Data (15 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: In the first instance, the Government’s primary strategy to tackle unemployment in County Louth, as with the rest of the country, is to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting competitiveness and productivity. Economic recovery will underpin jobs growth. However, the Government also recognises the need for additional measures to address unemployment in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (15 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: The client is in receipt of their maximum entitlement to rent supplement based on location, family configuration and means .

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (15 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: I understand the Deputy is referring to entitlement to a jobseeker’s scheme by persons who have completed a Youthreach programme. Youthreach is a programme directed at unemployed young early school leavers aged 15-20. It offers participants the opportunity to identify and pursue viable options within adult life, and provides them with opportunities to acquire certification. The...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Work Placement Programmes (15 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 363 and 374 together. As the Deputies will be aware, Gateway is a work placement initiative for county and city councils. The initiative aims to improve the employability and maintain the work readiness of those who have been unemployed for 24 months or more. Similar to Tús, participants are selected by a random process conducted by the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (15 Jul 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 11 June 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 and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (15 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on 15 May 2014. This application has been forwarded to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors for their medical opinion. Upon receipt of this opinion, a decision will be made and notified to the person concerned. It can currently take up to 12 weeks to process an application for DCA.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Housing Data (15 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: It is not a requirement for persons for whom temporary emergency accommodation is arranged by the New Communities Unit to have a letter of housing need from their Local Authority; therefore this Department does not hold such information. Furthermore, this Department is not party to the details of those in such circumstances who may be registered or on a waiting list for social housing as such...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (15 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: The back to education (BTEA) programme is a second-chance education scheme for jobseekers, lone parents and people with disabilities who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments. Under the BTEA, income support is provided to allow jobseekers undertake a second-level or third-level course to improve their education and skills. In May 2014, I announced a number of enhancements to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Expenditure (15 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: The purpose of rent supplement is to provide short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation. There are approximately 76,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014. A new review of the maximum rent limits has commenced within the Department and will feed into the budgetary process. This review...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Eligibility (15 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. SWA is designed to provide immediate and flexible assistance for those in need who do not qualify for payment under other State schemes or who...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (15 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: I am very aware of the issues arising in Irish airlines superannuation scheme. However, you will appreciate that is it is not appropriate for me to comment on matters relating to an individual pension scheme as these are matters for the management of a company and the trustees of the relevant pension scheme. I can advise that the trustees of a pension scheme are required under trust law to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Yield (15 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: In Budget 2013 it was announced that from 1 January 2014, the exemption from PRSI applying to employed contributors and occupational pensioners aged under 66 years, whether that pension arises from that person’s own employment or the employment of his or her spouse or civil partner, whose only additional income is unearned income, will be abolished. This means that unearned income...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobsPlus Scheme (15 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 376 and 378 to 380, inclusive, together. JobsPlus provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers who recruit employees from those who are long-term on the Live Register. The incentive is payable, on a monthly basis, over a two year period if the employee is retained in full-time employment for two years. JobsPlus is biased in favour of those who...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (15 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: Back to education allowance (BTEA) is an education scheme for people in receipt of certain social welfare payments who wish to pursue a full-time second level or third level course of education. A person wishing to pursue BTEA will have to satisfy a number of conditions such as being a certain age, in receipt of a prescribed social welfare payment for a specified time period, commencing a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (15 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: Following a recent rent review, the clients rent supplement of €670.00 per month was found to be in excess of the maximum limit determined by legislation in July 2013. The maximum rent limit applicable is €610.00 per month. The client should endeavour to secure a rent reduction or locate alternative accommodation and forward a new application to the Mid Leinster Rents Unit, PO...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (15 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: The purpose of rent supplement is to provide short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation. There are approximately 76,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014. Under the legislative provisions governing rent supplement, the Department’s relationship is with the tenant; the tenant...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: An application for optical benefit has not been received to date from the person concerned. However according to the records held, the person referred to is not currently qualified for optical benefit, as he does not meet either of necessary PRSI conditions of having 260 Class A/E/H or P, PRSI contributions paid since first starting work, and 39 such contributions paid or credited in 2012,...