Results 15,381-15,400 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (15 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an oral hearing of the appeal of the person concerned took place on 07thApril 2014 and that the Appeals Officer is now considering the appeal in the light of all of the evidence submitted, including that adduced at the oral hearing. The person concerned will be notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision when the appeal has been...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (15 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 10thJanuary 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 in the Social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (15 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 11thApril 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: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (15 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The control strategy in operation on the child benefit scheme ensures that payment is only made in respect of children where there is an ongoing entitlement. The Department carried out a Fraud and Error survey on child benefit in 2012 which confirmed the Department’s view that the child benefit scheme is a low risk scheme in terms of fraud and error and that the existing control...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Application Numbers (15 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The number of DCA applications refused from 2010 to date is as follows: Domiciliary Care Allowance applications – 2010 to date - Applications fully processed in year Applications allowed incl. on review Allowed on appeal Disallowed Total and as % of all processed claims 2012 4,680 2,204 903 1,573 3,107 (66%) 2013 4,404 2,444 808 1,152 3,252 (73%) 2014 to end March) 1,032 636...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Care Qualifications (15 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection (DSP) is consolidating and improving the provision of training and work experience for CE participants in particular for those who wish to pursue a career in child care. For CE participants who work directly with children, a dedicated programme comprising formal learning and supervised work experience is now a mandatory part of participation. This formal...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Industrial Relations Issues (15 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The purpose of the insolvency payments scheme, which operates under the Protection of Employees (Employers’ Insolvency) Act, 1984, which, in turn, derives from EU Council Directive 987/80, is to protect certain outstanding pay-related entitlements due to employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer. These entitlements include wages, holiday pay, sick pay, payment in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Constitutional Convention Recommendations (15 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department and Government will consider this matter on foot of the Constitutional Convention's recent recommendations on "Economic, Social & Cultural Rights in the Constitution". The changes proposed to the Constitution could have implications for existing social welfare legislation which the Department would need to examine very carefully. The Government will also have to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Unemployment Levels (15 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The fact that Ireland’s long-term unemployment rate is significantly higher than the Nordic countries is mainly due to the scale and nature of the recession in Ireland. Our economy’s reliance on labour-intensive non-traded domestic sectors such as construction and retail and our exposure to the global financial crisis, inter alia, resulted in a relatively severe downturn in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (15 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 356 and 358 together. 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....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (15 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The treatment of subsidiary employment is governed by Article 44 of SI 142 of 2007. The relevant section is set out below. In addition I am including an extract from the jobseeker's benefit guidelines which are available to all staff and are also available on the Department's website . A reminder regarding the guidelines on subsidiary employment issued to managers on 7thApril 2014 for the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Arrears Information and Advice Service (15 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The Mortgage Arrears Information and Advice Service was established to provide a comprehensive and co-ordinated approach to assist people in mortgage arrears or pre-arrears in assessing their options. The service, which differentiates between mortgage information and mortgage advice, has three elements: - The website which was developed as the key online access portal for general mortgage...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Public Procurement Regulations (15 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The procurement of services is essential to support the Department in providing high quality service to the public in a cost effective and efficient manner and is governed by a comprehensive regulatory, legal and procedural framework. In accordance with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (D/PER) procedures, procurements of goods and services in excess of €25,000 ex. VAT and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Applications (15 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: A Social Welfare Inspector has scheduled an appointment for the person concerned on 22 April 2014 regarding a review of his farm assist claim. A decision will be made as soon as possible and he will be notified of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (15 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker’s allowance schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative full-time employment. The 2014 Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseekers’ schemes of €3.28 billion. It is a fundamental qualifying condition of both schemes that a person must be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rural Social Scheme Administration (15 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The rural social scheme (RSS) provides income support for farmers and those engaged in fishing who have an entitlement to specified social welfare payments. Participants are engaged for 19½ hours per week to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities. The scheme currently provides work opportunities for 2,600 participants and 130 supervisory staff. The funds allocated...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Payments (15 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: Invalidity Pension was awarded to the person concerned from 10thOctober 2013 and she will receive her first payment on 16thApril 2014. Arrears due from that date have also issued to the person concerned. In view of the particular circumstances of this case, a deciding officer has reviewed the case and has decided that it is in order to further backdate invalidity pension to the date the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Overpayments (15 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was assessed with an overpayment of €240.00 on her one parent family payment claim. This amount is currently being recouped at the weekly rate of €28.20 which the customer has agreed to repay. She was also assessed with an overpayment of €1795.00 on her rent supplement claim for the period 4 March 2013 to 24 August 2013. The Department has no...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (15 Apr 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 was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision on 10thApril 2014. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (15 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 10thMarch 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 in the Social Welfare...