Results 15,081-15,100 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Eligibility (8 May 2014)

Joan Burton: The application, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds and the person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 26 February 2014. In late March, medical evidence was received and has been referred to a medical assessor for an up to date opinion as to the person’s eligibility. Once this is received, the application will be reviewed by a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (8 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (8 May 2014)

Joan Burton: There has been no change in the position in this case since the Deputy’s last Parliamentary Question. This is due to the fact that the person concerned has not yet made contact with this Department to provide the information requested.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (8 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Legal Costs (8 May 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department incurs expenditure on costs associated with legal cases from Vote 37 Department of Social Protection and the Social Insurance Fund. The following table sets out legal costs paid by the Department for the period 2009 to 30 April 2014: Year Amount - € 2009 377,511 2010 598,647 2011 1,239,266 2012 453,262 2013 560,825 1/1/2014 – 30/4/2014 296,975 Total:...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Interest Supplement Payments (8 May 2014)

Joan Burton: The interest repayments for the person concerned have reduced from €1808.20 pm to €1773.33 pm, and therefore the amount of the mortgage interest supplement has also reduced. The calculation is based on circa 70% of the mortgage which is €1243.81 as the remaining mortgage finance drawn down was used for commercial purposes and is therefore outside the scope of the scheme....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Eligibility (8 May 2014)

Joan Burton: The application, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds and the person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 7 May 2014. The person was also advised that she could have the decision reviewed by a deciding officer and of her right to appeal the decision Social Welfare Appeals Office, within 21 days.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (7 May 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing in this case on 12 May 2014. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the 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: Social Welfare Benefits (7 May 2014)

Joan Burton: There is no provision in the 2014 estimates for the Department of Social Protection for the payment of a Christmas bonus. Any re-introduction of a bonus at Christmas would have to be considered in a future Budgetary context. In this regard, it is estimated that it would cost in the order of €261 million per annum to reintroduce the Bonus.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (7 May 2014)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 26th February 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 10 weeks to process an application for DCA.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Appeals (7 May 2014)

Joan Burton: The rent supplement of the person concerned has been reinstated pending a full review of this case. The outcome of this review will be communicated to the person concerned once complete.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (7 May 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was awarded jobseeker’s allowance on 31 January 2014. Based on the information provided, he was assessed with self-employment means of €6,580 per annum or €127 per week which equates to a weekly entitlement of €61. He did not appeal this decision. If the person concerned wishes to seek a review of his means, he should contact his local...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Data (7 May 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 129 and 130 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Offices (7 May 2014)

Joan Burton: My Department provides services from a network of external Branch Offices, which are independently owned and staffed. In accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005, there is an obligation on all employers, including Branch Managers, to have a Safety Statement & Risk Assessment completed for their offices and available for inspection. From time to time, there...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Expenditure (6 May 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 216, 242 and 243 together. The information sought by the Deputies is contained in the following table which shows expenditure for carer’s allowance, carer’s benefit, domiciliary care allowance and respite care grant for each year since 2007. Since 2007, expenditure on carers payments by the Department has increased by almost €376 million...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Registration of Births (6 May 2014)

Joan Burton: The loss of a child in any circumstances is an extremely tragic event and I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to those families who have lost a child through stillbirth. The voluntary registration of stillbirths is provided for in section 28 of the Civil Registration Act 2004. The definition of a “stillborn child” is contained in section 2(1) of that Act and provides that a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Household Benefits Scheme (6 May 2014)

Joan Burton: 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 month is also paid to 410,000 customers at an estimated...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Unemployment Data (6 May 2014)

Joan Burton: The total number of persons on the live register at the end of April 2013 was 388,559; of this total, 9,396 had health related occupations. The number of nurses is not separately identified within this total and consequently, the number of nurses on the live register is not available in my Department. A tabular statement detailing the number of registrants in health related occupations on...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Illness Benefit Eligibility (6 May 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was previously self-employed and paying PRSI contributions at class S. Class S contributions are not reckonable for illness benefit purposes. Only PRSI contributions paid at classes A, E, H and P count towards eligibility for illness benefit. A person who does not qualify for illness benefit may apply for disability allowance or supplementary welfare allowance, subject...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (6 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 9 December 2013. 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 in the Social...