Results 14,481-14,500 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Rates (24 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: Tús is a community work placement initiative, established in 2011, that provides short-term part-time working opportunities for unemployed people. The income received by participants in employment schemes such as Tús, Community Employment Scheme, Rural Social Scheme and Gateway is treated as income from employment for PRSI purposes and, in the same manner as other workers, is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (24 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: Over the past number of years, pension provision in all its forms in Ireland has experienced considerable challenges and changes. The sustainability of the wider system is a particular concern because of the demographic issues Ireland faces, the associated increases in pension (and other age related) costs, varying investment losses and the deterioration in the public finances since the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Proposed Legislation (24 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 260 and 261 together. The General Scheme of the Gender Recognition Bill was published on 17 July 2013, following Cabinet approval. The General Scheme of the Bill was then referred for pre-legislative scrutiny to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection. Officials from the Department, representative groups and legal and medical...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Data (24 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 262, 277 and 295 together. The Government has provided over €344 million for the rent supplement scheme in 2014, the purpose of which is to provide short-term income support to assist with reasonable accommodation costs of eligible people living in private rented accommodation who are unable to provide for their accommodation costs from their own...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (24 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The State pension is a very valuable asset and it is important, for sustainability reasons, that those who receive it have made a significant contribution towards it during a working life. In order to qualify for a State pension contributory, a person must satisfy a number of qualifying conditions which include; - commencing insurable employment at least 10 years before pension age; - a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Rates (24 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to maintain weekly rates of welfare payments. In line with this commitment, the weekly personal rate of blind pension, including increases for qualified adults and children, has been fully maintained since this Government came into office. Recipients of blind pension are automatically eligible for free travel, and a companion free travel...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (24 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: In order to receive a jobseeker’s payment a person must satisfy the conditions of the scheme i.e. that they are available for and genuinely seeking work. Claims are reviewed on a regular basis and those who fail to satisfy those conditions can have their claim disallowed. You will also be aware that the Department has committed resources to activating jobseekers on the live register....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (24 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department recognises the popularity and potential value of social media for communicating with customers and acknowledges that these tools can bring benefits. Whilst not a systematic part of the Department's on-going targeted control activities, staff will occasionally refer to social media sites as part of investigations, for example to follow up on reports from members of the public...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (24 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department receives reports of possible fraud from members of the public in relation to the operation of its schemes. All anonymous or confidential reports are examined and, where the information is relevant, they are referred to scheme areas or Inspectors for follow-up action. While it is important to note that a payment is not suspended or stopped on the basis of an anonymous report,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Eligibility (24 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The number of recipients of the One Parent family Payment (OFP) stood at 77,400 in April, 2014. The cost of the OFP scheme was €935 million in 2013 and is estimated to be €863 million in 2014. Both the OFP maximum personal rate for the parent (€188 per week) and the increase for each additional qualified child (€29.80) remain untouched since 2011. An OFP...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (24 Jun 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 26 May 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: Disability Allowance Payments (24 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The rate of illness benefit payable, to the person concerned, is determined by the average weekly earnings in the governing contribution year as provided for and defined in Section 41 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 2005 and Articles 26 and 27 of the Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) Regulations, 2007 (S.I. 142 of 2007). The Social Welfare Appeals Office...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (24 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the tabular statement. Year Disability Allowance Disability Allowance Invalidity Pension Invalidity Pension Illness Benefit Illness Benefit - Recipients Expenditure €000 Recipients Expenditure €000 Recipients Expenditure €000 1994 - - 40,226 217,335 41,869 210,029 1995 - 60,947 42,092 224,052 41,830 212,651...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pensions Reform (24 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The OECD Review of Pensions in Ireland, which was published last year, provides an international perspective on Ireland’s retirement-income provision. Whilst endorsing pension policy reforms undertaken to date, the report also makes a number of recommendations for future reform in the key parameters of Irish State, occupational and private pension schemes and outlines options for more...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (24 Jun 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 the oral hearing, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Momentum Programme (24 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The numbers of participants on Momentum at the end May 2014, aged 18-25 years and in receipt of a rate of payment up to and including €160 per week, and greater than €160 per week are set out in the table. - - Weekly Rate Weekly Rate - - <€160 >€160 Full time 195 132 63 Part time 76 38 38 Total 271 170 101

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Redeployment (24 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: A total of 771 FÁS staff, including the two individuals who are the subject of the Deputy’s question were transferred to my Department on 1 January 2012 on foot of a Government decision. In accordance with the terms of the Public Service Agreement 2010 to 2014 these staff were transferred in their substantive grade on no less favourable terms and conditions in relation to pay...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Offices (24 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: Following the grant of planning permission from Dublin City Council work is expected to commence on site in Bishops Square in July 2014 with a completion date anticipated in October 2014 and the full integrated service fully operational before the end of 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Administration (24 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The volume of social welfare payments cashed through Donaghmede PO, Dublin 13, for the years 2011, 2012 and 2013 are set out in the table. Period Volume of transactions 1 Jan to 31 Dec 2011 114,412 1 Jan to 31 Dec 2012 112,800 1 Jan to 31 Dec 2013 112,149

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is currently in receipt of a basic weekly payment under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme and has been asked by an Inspector of the Department to provide specific information in order to confirm his ongoing entitlement to this payment. The Department of Social Protection is committed to providing a professional, efficient and courteous service to all...