Results 14,521-14,540 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

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

Joan Burton: I was very pleased to sign a contract with An Post for over the counter cash payment services for welfare clients at the end of last year. This was, for the first time, signed on foot of a detailed specification of services and was openly and publicly advertised in a procurement competition for the delivery of these services. It was essential that the procurement competition was fully...

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

Joan Burton: Where a person states that they have found work, it is normal practice for a jobseeker claim to be closed. However, in cases where the customer informs the Department in advance that they are taking up a short period of temporary work or training (up to 8 weeks), arrangements are now in place to simplify the process of returning to the live register at the end of this period. There are a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance (19 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: An individual's classification for social insurance purposes is important as it affects the rate of Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) which they pay on their salary or income. This in turn affects the social insurance benefits to which they are entitled. Generally an individual is classified for PRSI purposes as an employee or as self-employed. Where an individual is classified as an...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Payments (19 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: Fuel allowance is paid for the heating season which generally runs from October to April. It is awarded from the first payday after the date of receipt of application. In this instance the application for person concerned was received on 22 July 2013. The 2013/2014 fuel allowance season commenced on 11 October 2013 and the fuel allowance payment was made to the person concerned from 11...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (19 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: Special arrangements have been put in place in the Dublin area to protect existing rent supplement customers from entering homelessness under the Interim Tenancy Sustainment Protocol (ITSP). The Rents Unit has been advised that this claimant's landlord is increasing the rent in August 2014. This family has been living in their current address since 2010 and under the terms of the ITSP we...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (19 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The application from the person concerned for disability allowance, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on habitual residency grounds and the claimant was notified in writing of this decision on 30 April 2013. The person subsequently appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). An oral appeal hearing was scheduled in this case and I am informed by the SWAO...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobsPlus Scheme (19 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is currently a participant on a Community Employment (CE) Scheme and is in receipt of €511.60 per week and the weekly PRSI deduction from this is €20.46. CE participants are the employees of schemes and are obliged to pay PRSI at the appropriate class (A8/A9). For the majority of CE participants who are earning €352.00 or less, there is no change as...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Administration (19 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: Disability allowance receives approximately 13,000 telephone calls a month. The average time taken to answer a call in 2014, up to the end of May, was 3 minutes 55 seconds. The Department endeavors to provide the most responsive phone service possible to its customers. A call management system is in place across all headquarter buildings, including disability allowance, which allows...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Payments (19 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The free travel scheme is currently available to all people living in the State aged 66 years or over, to carers and to customers under 66 who are in receipt of certain disability type payments. There are currently over 780,000 customers in receipt of free travel. The scheme permits customers to travel for free on most CIE public transport services, LUAS and a range of services offered by...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Home-makers Scheme (19 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The rate of State pension (contributory) a person qualifies for on reaching the age of 66 depends upon, among other conditions, the average number of contributions paid or credited each year, from the time they enter insurable employment. The homemaker's scheme was introduced in 1994 to make qualification for State pension (contributory) easier for those who take time out of the workforce...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payments (19 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: Until the early 1970s, the only category of lone parent families to receive support under the social welfare system, were widows through the contributory and non-contributory schemes introduced for them in 1935. Schemes for other types of lone parent families began to be introduced in 1970 when the first scheme for deserted wives was announced, followed by provision for unmarried mothers in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code Reform (19 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: Self-employed persons are liable for PRSI at the Class S rate of 4% which entitles them to access 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 PRSI at the rate of 4%. In addition, their employers make a PRSI...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code Reform (19 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 93 together. Self-employed persons are liable for PRSI at the class S rate of 4% which entitles them to access 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 PRSI at the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Legal Cases (19 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: As the Deputy is aware the matters relating to the Waterford Crystal Pension schemes are the subject of a hearing by the High Court. The case is scheduled for hearing by the High Court in the Autumn. The Deputy will therefore appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment on matters relating to this case at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pensions Reform (19 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: Reforms have been introduced in recent years to ensure the sustainability of pensions into the future. These decisions were taken in the context of changing demographics and the fact that people are living longer and healthier lives. For example, there are currently 5.3 people of working age for every pensioner and this ratio is expected to decrease to approximately 2.1 to 1 by 2060. The...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (19 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The maximum rent limit for an eligible family unit as outlined in the specified area is €850.00 per month.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Applications (19 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: Child benefit is paid up to and including the month of a child’s 16thbirthday and continues to the month of the 18thbirthday provided the child is in full-time education. In order for payment to continue after the age of 16, it is necessary for the school to certify that the child is in full-time education and will be until the age of 18. In the case of the person concerned, a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (19 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The rent supplement claim for the client concerned was reassessed on 10 June following a rent reduction. All arrears owed will issue to the client by cheque.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (19 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned has not been received by that office. A form has been forwarded to the person concerned requesting him to state the grounds for his appeal of the Department’s decision. On receipt of his reply the appeal will be opened and processed in the normal manner. The Social Welfare Appeals Office...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (19 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The Labour Court recommended in July 2008 (LCR19293) that an agreed pension scheme should be introduced for Community Employment (CE) scheme supervisors and assistant supervisors and that such a scheme should be adequately funded by FÁS, the agency responsible for CE at that time. Notwithstanding the position of this Department (which now has responsibility for CE) in rejecting that...