Results 15,041-15,060 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Non-Contributory) Appeals (13 May 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 29April 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 have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (13 May 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 was notified of the Appeals Officer's decision in writing on 7 May 2014. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Benefit Eligibility (13 May 2014)

Joan Burton: The department received an application for carer’s benefit from the person in question on 6 December 2013. The person concerned was refused carer's benefit on the grounds that PRSI conditions and employment conditions were not satisfied as laid down in carer’s benefit legislation. She was notified of this decision on 31 January 2014. The decision was subsequently reviewed...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Payments (13 May 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 372 and 386 together. Some 410,000 customers have received the fuel allowance of €20 per week for 26 weeks from October to April, at an estimated cost of €208 million in 2014. The allowance is subject to a means test and is paid only to those who live alone or with certain exempted people. The electricity or gas allowance of €35 per...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Review (13 May 2014)

Joan Burton: The current free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by almost 90 private transport operators. There are currently over...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (13 May 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 1stMay 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 have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Communications (13 May 2014)

Joan Burton: In the past the Department did not routinely record telephone calls, with the exception of one sensitive area where callers are advised of the situation. The call recording functionality in question is provided by the Department’s contracted supplier. Calls recorded are stored in a secure environment for 90 days and only a limited number of staff in the area concerned have access...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (13 May 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 allow 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 Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Schemes (13 May 2014)

Joan Burton: The management and administration of Community Employment and Job Initiative Programmes is under on-going consideration by the Department. No decision has been made to date.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (13 May 2014)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 21st March 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 10 weeks to process an application for DCA.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Services Programme (13 May 2014)

Joan Burton: The community services programme (CSP) is designed to address gaps in service delivery and disadvantage and to ensure that community facilities are utilised. The programme is funded by the Department with day-to-day management of contracts undertaken by Pobal. Contract holders must deliver tangible services that are capable of generating non-public revenues from their operations by way of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Eligibility (13 May 2014)

Joan Burton: The deciding officer is awaiting a report from the social welfare investigator in order to determine the weekly means of the person concerned. The investigator has confirmed that the report will be forwarded as a matter of urgency. A decision on the person’s application will be given on receipt of the social welfare investigator’s report and the person will be notified directly...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (13 May 2014)

Joan Burton: The client concerned is advised to make application for rent supplement to the Meath/ Westmeath Rents Unit if he is wishing to move to the Slane area. The application should be forwarded to the following address; Meath/ Westmeath Rents Unit, Department of Social Protection, ORS Building, Marlinstown Business Park, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Offices (13 May 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection delivers services to customers in North Kildare via a Social Welfare Branch Office located in Maynooth. Branch Offices are run by Branch Managers who are contracted by the Department to deliver its services in locations where the Department does not have an Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Local Office. The Department is committed to the provision of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Benefit Applications (13 May 2014)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s benefit from the person in question on 24 February 2014. The person concerned has been awarded Carer’s Benefit. She was notified of this decision on 23 April 2014, with her first payment including arrears issuing on 1 May 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (13 May 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 16 April 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (13 May 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Appeals (13 May 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 29 April 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 have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (13 May 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that a disability allowance appeal from the person concerned was registered in that office on 9 April 2014. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (13 May 2014)

Joan Burton: The purpose of the rent supplement scheme 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 resources. The overall aim is to provide short term assistance, and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes...