Results 14,281-14,300 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Appointments to State Boards (10 Jul 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 (which does not have a Board) and the Social Welfare Tribunal. Details of appointments to the Boards in 2014 are set out in the following table. Board Name of Person CIB Simonetta Ryan (Departmental representative) Eugene...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (10 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: The client concerned was awarded a rent supplement on the 23rdJune 2014, backdated to the 6thJune, as per the date on the Housing Needs Assessment provided by Carlow County Council. If further arrears are to be assessed by the Department, the client would be required to supply a letter from their County Council stating that a housing need existed prior to the 6thJune.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (10 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: The client concerned was awarded a rent supplement on the 23rdJune 2014, backdated to the 6thJune, as per the date on the Housing Needs Assessment provided by Carlow County Council. If further arrears are to be assessed by the Department, the client would be required to supply a letter from their County Council stating that a housing need existed prior to the 6thJune.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (10 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: In accordance with revised guidelines, the person concerned no longer has an entitlement to a one parent family payment. Accordingly the family income supplement payable to the person concerned has been increased to €378.00 per week with effect from 03 July 2014. This represents an overall weekly reduction in payment to the person concerned of €76.40.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Statutory Instruments (10 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: Four Statutory Instruments have been signed since 1 May 2014. Three of these Statutory Instruments have been made under regulatory powers contained in the Pensions Act 1990 dealing with the regulation of occupational pension schemes. The other Statutory Instrument commences sections 13 and 14 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2013, with effect from 1 August 2014. Section 13 of the...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: I do not propose to accept the amendment. The five factors are derived from the European Union legislation, Article 11 of Regulation 987/2009, the European Court of Justice jurisprudence, the Swaddling case, and the Knock case, among others, and they are listed in section 246(4) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005. Guidelines on habitual residence have been published by my...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (9 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: When determining the amount of jobseeker’s allowance payable, earnings from employment are assessable, including income derived from polling day duties, regardless of whether the earnings belong to the customer or to a qualified adult. In the case of income from this employment source, the earnings are assessed after a daily disregard of €20 is applied for a maximum of 3 days...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Eligibility (9 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 1 July 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 is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (9 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 12 May 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 referred...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (9 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 230 and 231 together. The information requested is not immediately available in my Department but is being compiled at present and my officials will write to the Deputy when it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Training (9 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: In line with the Learning and Development Framework for the Civil Service 2011-2014 and with its own Learning and Development Strategy 2013-2015, the Department promotes a culture where it provides staff and management with learning and development opportunities, including supports to attain third level qualifications. Third level programmes are primarily supported financially through the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (9 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 233 and 234 together. The information sought by the Deputy is outlined in the table. Training and Development (REV 2014) €1,128,000 Annual saving from a reduction of : 5% €56,400 7% €78,960 10% €112,800 12% €135,360 15% €169,200 17% €191,760 20% €225,600 Travel & Subsistence (REV...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (9 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 235 to 237, inclusive, and 254 and 255 together. It is not anticipated, at this stage, that there will be any carry forward of capital expenditure from 2014 into 2015. There was an under-spend of €23.6 million or 0.2% on the Department’s overall expenditure on schemes, services and administration at the end of June 2014. This performance is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobsPlus Scheme (9 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: 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 are longer term unemployed. The value of the monthly payments is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Eligibility (9 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 241 together. The fuel allowance is a payment of €20 to low income households to assist them with their energy costs. The allowance is paid for 26 weeks from October to April. The payment represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only one allowance is paid per household....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Expenditure (9 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: The fuel allowance is a payment of €20 to low income households to assist them with their energy costs. The allowance is paid for 26 weeks from October to April. The payment represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only one allowance is paid per household. The allowance is paid to approximately 400,000...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Eligibility (9 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: The free travel scheme is currently available to all people living in the State aged 66 years or over. People who are aged under 66 must be in receipt of a qualifying payment from the Department to qualify for a free travel pass. These payments include carer’s allowance, disability allowance and invalidity pension. Free travel for those under 66 is generally based on a means tested...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Administration (9 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 243, 251, 252, 257, 263 and 264 together. The estimated cost of restoring maternity benefit rates of payment to those which applied before Budget 2014 is €32 million in 2015 and a full year. The estimated cost of paying the maximum weekly rate of €188 to all recipients of jobseeker's allowance and basic supplementary welfare allowance aged under...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Job Initiatives (9 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 244, 253 and 260 together. Based on number of starters in 2014 to end of June, it is estimated that 11,844 individuals will start internships in 2014. The average weekly cost per participant was €233.67 in May, 2014. €82.3m has been budgeted for 2014 for the JobBridge scheme. The Department does not keep separate figures for the total cost of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payments (9 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 245 to 248, inclusive, together. The information that the Deputy has requested is currently not available in the Department. Given the complex nature of the request, the Department will provide the information directly to the Deputy in due course.