Results 16,121-16,140 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Offices (13 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: A total of 44 Intreo offices have now been opened. The Department is working closely with the OPW on the rollout of the service (including the refurbishment and where necessary the acquisition of offices). It is expected that the remaining 16 offices, including Clondalkin will be delivering the full Intreo service by the end of 2014. The Department is also actively pursuing accommodation...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Issues (13 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 21st November 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Non-Contributory) Appeals (13 Feb 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 23rd January 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Application Numbers (13 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: In 2012 a total of 4,339 Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) applications were received by the Department. There were 4,680 applications fully processed in 2012, with 2,204 allowed by a deciding officer with a further 874 allowed and 29 partially allowed by the Appeals Office. In 2013 a total of 4,829 Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) applications were received by the Department. There were...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Administration (13 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: JobBridge is focused on providing unemployed people with high quality real workplace experience. JobBridge is a voluntary scheme where interns choose the internship best suited to their needs. Potential interns cover the spectrum of needs, qualifications and experiences. Therefore, it is necessary that JobBridge provides real opportunities with real potential employers across that spectrum...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (13 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: Participants in certain employment schemes, including community employment schemes (CE), receive a weekly payment which is equal to the social welfare payment appropriate to their family size, plus a top up of €20, subject to a minimum payment of €208 per week. This income is treated in the same manner as earnings from employment for PRSI purposes and accordingly is subject to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (13 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 03 February 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Services for People with Disabilities (13 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: People with disabilities are a priority for my department which will spend €19 billion on social protection measures in 2014. My department has maintained this level of financial support for people with disabilities against a background where very significant reductions in the department’s budget over successive years had to be imposed in order to comply with the national...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (13 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: Guidance notes issued by the Pensions Board must comply with and operate within the policies and principles set down in primary legislation. Guidance notes are kept under review and updated as required. Where it is considered necessary to extend the policy and principles then proposals would be brought forward to amend primary legislation. The judgement in the Element Six case, as with...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (13 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department is committed to ensuring that the correct payment issues to the appropriate person in a timely manner and in order to achieve this aim in relation to jobseeker payments it is necessary to administer two separate systems for those who are partially employed each week. In the majority of cases, where a person is engaged in casual or part-time work the days worked each week can...

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

Joan Burton: The rent supplement claim for the person concerned has now been approved and she has been sent notification of this decision. An arrears payment to cover the period from October to December 2013 inclusive has been issued to her, and her arrears payment for January will be included with her payment for February.

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

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of the Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by the Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payments (13 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: The current amount of one parent family payment in the case of the person concerned is €247.60 per week. The total amount of monies received by the person concerned in respect of one parent family payment during 2013 was €13376.70.

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

Joan Burton: Since the extension of full social insurance cover to part-time workers from April 1991, a range of measures were introduced to the short-term illness and jobseeker’s benefit schemes in order to ensure that disincentives to employment were not created. In the absence of these measures, a situation would exist whereby many workers on low incomes would have access to weekly social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Eligibility (13 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is the lead Department for severe weather emergencies and the Office of Public Works has responsibility for capital flood relief activities. However, the Department of Social Protection has an important role to play in assisting households in the immediate aftermath of emergency events such as the recent severe weather...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Appeals (13 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 14 January 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...

Recent Flooding: Statements (12 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: As we speak, communities across the country are being battered by storm conditions and Met Éireann has put in place a "status red" warning - the highest category of warning for some areas. I implore people to follow Met Éireann's advice and that of the authorities, and follow all the necessary steps to protect themselves and their families. I know the emergency services, local...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Flood Relief Schemes Expenditure (12 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: The humanitarian assistance scheme was approved by Government in November 2009. The scheme, which is means tested, is available to assist people whose homes are damaged by flooding and who are not in a position to meet costs for essential needs, household items and in some instances structural repair. Total expenditure on the humanitarian assistance scheme to the end of 2013 was...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Bodies (12 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Board, the Pensions Ombudsman and the Social Welfare Tribunal. I am responsible for answering Parliamentary Questions relating to the above statutory bodies.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Ministerial Appointments (12 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Board, the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a board) and the Social Welfare Tribunal. Citizens Information Board Under the Comhairle Act, 2000 and the Citizens Information Act, 2007, I have the authority to appoint members to the Citizens Information...