Results 15,461-15,480 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (8 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 provides that State pension age will be increased gradually to 68 years. State pension (transition) available at 65 was abolished in January 2014, thereby standardising State pension age for all at 66 years. State pension age will increase further to 67 in 2021, and to 68 in 2028. The State pension (transition) was introduced in 1970 when it was...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Parliamentary Questions Costs (8 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection (DSP) has always been committed to being as transparent and helpful as possible to all members of the Oireachtas. In this regard the Department has set up dedicated enquiry telephone lines and specific email addresses for each section in the Department specifically for the purpose of dealing with queries from members of the Oireachtas in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (8 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 28 February 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: Ministerial Correspondence (8 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The representation made by the Deputy was received in the Department on 6 February, 2014 and acknowledged. In the normal course, a reply would issue within two weeks of receipt. However, it was necessary to investigate the technical feasibility of his suggestion before making a reply. I understand that this investigation is now complete and that a reply will issue in the next few days.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Welfare Services (8 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: One of the primary aims in the transfer of the Community Welfare Service (CWS) from the Health Service Executive to the Department on 1 October 2011 was to provide a streamlined and consistent service to customers. As part of this process and to support the Department’s activation commitments under the Pathways to Work Programme and the development of Intreo services nationally, it has...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Administration (8 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: No attachment was received and the Deputy has not referred to any particular scheme in his question but I assume that he is referring to recent communication from Department officials to job seeking customers aged 62 years and older. Prior to Budget 2014 older jobseekers were required to comply with the Department’s activation measures when requested to so do, as is the case with...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Work Placement Programmes (8 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: Tús, the community work placement initiative introduced during 2011, was set up to provide short-term, work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. This initiative is being delivered through the network of local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta. Tús is designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work readiness thereby...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Labour Court Recommendations (8 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: This matter concerns a recommendation of the Labour Court in July 2008 that a 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 position in respect of this matter has been outlined on a number of occasions and has not changed since that outlined in the response to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Training (8 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The Pathways to Work strategy, launched in February 2012 and renewed in July 2013, has introduced a new, locally delivered, fully integrated public employment and benefits service, Intreo, involving the transformation of local social welfare offices and former employment services offices. Significant progress has been made with 44 Intreo centres now operating across the country. The...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Live Register Numbers (3 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the following tabular statement. Live Register by County February 2011 and February 2014 - Feb 2011 Feb 2014 Percentage Change Carlow 6,777 6,436 -5.0% Cavan 7,475 6,713 -10.2% Clare 10,814 9,242 -14.5% Cork 45,417 38,183 -15.9% Donegal 21,917 19,526 -10.9% Dublin 104,526 95,676 -8.5% Galway 23,604 20,399 -13.6% Kerry...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (3 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department is committed to supporting people with disabilities to participate more fully in society and become more self-sufficient by providing supports that address barriers they may encounter at work. To this end, the Department provides a comprehensive range of employment supports for people with disabilities. For example, the EmployAbility programme provides the services of a job...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: EU Funding (3 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The regulation to create and underpin the operations of the new EU Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived was adopted by the Council in early March and came into effect shortly thereafter. The Fund will support national schemes whereby food products and basic consumer goods are distributed to those identified as being the most deprived. Under this regulation, Member States will be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (3 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: I understand that your question is referring to the issue of the representation of pensioner and deferred member groups in any consideration by the trustees of a pension scheme to restructure scheme benefits. This matter is being considered in terms of engagement with trustees and in the broader industrial relations context. I have written to my colleague the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Services (3 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department currently accepts payment by way of debit or credit card for the provision of registration services provided by the General Register Office (GRO). The Department became responsible for GRO's functions which transferred from the Department of Health & Children on 1 January 2008. The acceptance of payment by way of debit or credit card is provided for under a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (3 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The client concerned no longer has an entitlement to rent supplement as their income is in excess of the set limits. Should the client's circumstances changes in future, the Department will reassess the client's entitlement accordingly.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Public Procurement Contracts Social Clause (3 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The National Development Finance Agency in association with the Office of Government Procurement (both of which operate under the aegis of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform), in response to suggestions by, among others, the Department of Social Protection, have incorporated social clauses mandating a minimum share of recruitment from the live register on a pilot basis in some...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Guarantee (3 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: Under the European Commission's call for proposals for preparatory actions under the 'Youth Guarantee', the Department of Social Protection has obtained EU funding to pilot a Youth Guarantee Scheme in Ballymun. The total cost of the project is EUR 302,279. This includes funding of EUR 250,000 from the European Commission. The allocation of this budget and the elements which will be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: EU Funding (3 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) programme is a financing instrument at EU level to promote a high level of quality and sustainable employment, guaranteeing adequate and decent social protection, combating social exclusion and poverty and improving working conditions. EaSI is managed directly by the European Commission. It brings together three EU programmes managed separately...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rural Social Scheme Data (3 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. Although there has been no change in the qualifying criteria for eligibility to participate on the RSS, all new entrants to the scheme from 17th September 2012 are paid the equivalent of their existing rate of social welfare payment...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (3 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: In order to be eligible to receive rent supplement an applicant must be registered for housing with and have a Housing Needs Assessment carried out by their Local Housing Authority. A review of his claim was recently undertaken during which it came to light that there was no evidence of this requirement. Subsequently on 30th January 2014 a letter was issued to the person concerned from his...