Results 15,201-15,220 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (30 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on the 13thMarch 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 have been received in the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (30 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person concerned on the 14th August 2013. The application was disallowed as the child was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for the allowance. A letter issued on the 6th November 2013 advising of the decision. The person concerned subsequently requested a review of that decision. The case was reviewed by...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (30 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 17thApril 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: Voluntary Work Option (30 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: While the Deputy has not referred to jobseekers specifically, I will respond to his question in the context of people who are in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment. I am deeply conscious of the long and valuable tradition of volunteering in this country and I am committed to ensuring that this continues to thrive. To facilitate the commitment to the voluntary community, the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Black Economy Issues (30 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: A key priority for Government is to ensure that fraudulent activity within the social welfare system is vigorously prevented and combatted. A key element of this is the active policing of the shadow/hidden economy sector where there is a prevalence of social welfare fraud and tax non-compliance. This is as much about ensuring a level playing field for compliant businesses and taxpayers as it...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (30 Apr 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 and who do not have accommodation available to them from another source. There are currently approximately 78,000 rent...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Welfare Services (30 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: While there is no record that the person concerned has contacted the community welfare service, a community welfare officer will endeavour to make contact with him on his mobile phone as a matter of urgency.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Issues (30 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: Further to my response to PQ 14496/14 on 27thMarch 2014, I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that there is no change to the information previously given in this case. The Social Welfare Appeals Office have no trace of any appeal from the person concerned and, despite an extensive search of its records, there is no evidence of any communication relating to an appeal having issued...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (30 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 27th 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 up to 10 weeks to process an application for DCA.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Live Register Data (30 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The total number of persons aged 62 and over currently on the live register is 16,776 at the end of March. A breakdown of this figure is detailed in the following tabular statement. Number of persons aged 62 and over on the live register at the end of March Age Jobseeker’s Allowance Jobseeker’s Benefit Credits Only Total 62 2,657 689 2,482 5,828 63 2,528 639 2,442 5,609 64...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (30 Apr 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (30 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: In order to qualify for a Jobseeker payment, a person must meet certain conditions, including the requirement to be available for, capable of and genuinely seeking full-time work. A range of sanctions, including disqualification, closure or disallowance of the jobseeker’s claim, may be imposed where a client fails to meet the stated conditions. A jobseeker’s claim may be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (30 Apr 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. Notwithstanding the position of this Department (which now has responsibility for CE) in rejecting that liability for these costs to be met from public...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (30 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: Post-graduate courses that lead to a higher diploma in any discipline or the professional diploma in education (PDE) are the only eligible post-graduate courses supported under the back to education allowance scheme (BTEA). The professional masters in education (PME) will replace the current PDE from September 2014. The Department is currently in discussions with the Departments of Education...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Investigations (30 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department has conducted an investigation to determine how the files left the Department’s possession. The four files to which the Deputy refers were inadvertently misplaced on the afternoon of Friday 11th April last when an officer of the Department was conducting out of office visits to clients concerning their social welfare entitlements. In an effort to retrieve the files...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Issues (30 Apr 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 the 25thApril 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 (30 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The State pension is a very valuable benefit and is the bedrock of the Irish pension system. Therefore, it is important to ensure that those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund over their working lives. This is particularly important given the challenges in relation to the future sustainability of the State pension, with increased numbers of older...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (30 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned has been in receipt of rent supplement in respect of her tenancy at the address she resided at until April 2014. As she has confirmed that she recently changed her address, this payment will now cease. However, the person concerned should submit a fresh application for rent supplement in respect of her current tenancy. On receipt of such an application her entitlement...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (30 Apr 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 convene an oral hearing in this case. Every effort will be made to hear the case as quickly as possible and the appellant will be informed when arrangements for the oral hearing have been made. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (30 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The full information requested is not available at present. The table below indicates the number of active scheme members in defined benefit (DB) and defined contribution (DC) pension schemes for the years 2011 and 2012. Deferred members have left the employment and are no longer contributors to the scheme. Table 1: Active scheme members by year and scheme type Year Defined Contribution...