Results 16,261-16,280 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (4 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: Under the European Employment Service, EURES, the Department of Social Protection is obliged to inform jobseekers in Ireland of job opportunities in the wider European labour market which may be of interest to them. From time to time the Department assists non-EU/EEA countries with filling vacancies (normally Canada, Australia and the USA) if requested by the Government or Public Employment...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Appeals (4 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, 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 31 January 2014. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Applications (4 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: There is no record of an application from the person concerned for an increase for a qualified adult. An application form has been posted to the address of the person concerned and, if he wishes to apply, he should return the completed form to State Pension Contributory Section, Social Welfare Services, College Road, Sligo.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Fraud Data (4 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: My Department receives reports of possible fraud from members of the public in relation to the operation of its schemes and provides both a dedicated phone number and a facility on the Department’s website for this purpose. All anonymous or confidential reports are examined and, where relevant, are referred to the Departments’ sections and/or to Inspectors for follow-up action....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (4 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 23 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 Department and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (4 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, has decided to disallow 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: Information and Communications Technology Issues (4 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: My Department is currently carrying out some exploratory work in relation to the development of Apps to be deployed in the future. At present the only App which has been deployed by my Department in the past three years is as follows: App Developer Cost (excluding VAT) FÁS Jobseeker App Monsoon Consulting Ltd € 11,485 This app was originally developed by FÁS. My...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (4 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 348 to 351, inclusive, together. In assessing means for social assistance payments, account is taken of the income and the value of property, including capital, of the claimant and their spouse / partner. Social welfare legislation provides that the yearly value of property (including capital) owned but not personally used or enjoyed is assessable for means...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (4 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: The rent supplement entitlement of the person concerned was temporarily suspended because of the cessation of her primary payment (one parent family payment). As a supplementary welfare allowance has now been awarded, the rent supplement has been reinstated accordingly.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Overpayments (4 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: An overpayment of jobseeker’s allowance for the period 01 April 1988 to 20 November 1990 was determined in the case of the person concerned as it was deemed that he was not available for or genuinely seeking work during this period. The overpayment was recorded on 06 August 1991 and totalled €6365.60. During the period 29 November 1991 to 2 February 1993 ten cash refunds were...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (4 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is currently in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance at the rate of €100.00 per week. This is the maximum rate payable for a person of his circumstances. According to the records of this Department the person concerned has not recently submitted an application for a rent supplement. It is open to him to submit such an application to his local community welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Redundancy Payments (4 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: Statutory redundancy pay is calculated at 2 weeks’ pay per year of service plus a bonus week, subject to a pay cap of €600 per week. It is the responsibility of the employer to pay statutory redundancy to all eligible employees. I understand that approximately 320 people will be made redundant as a result of the closure of Mount Carmel hospital. It is likely that the vast...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Job Initiatives (4 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: Gateway was introduced by the Department of Social Protection to deliver on the policy objectives set out in Pathways to Work and is designed to bridge the gap between unemployment and re-entering the workforce. Responsibility for delivery of this initiative rests with individual county and city councils. Gateway has a target to provide for 3,000 placements focusing on those who have been...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Fraud Data (4 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department’s control work is measured in terms of control savings. Control savings are used as a performance indicator for year-on-year activities and are an estimate of the value of the various control activities across the schemes in payment. They refer to future expenditure that would have been incurred but for this control work. Without this control work the social welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (4 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 25 June 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 Welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Interest Supplement Payments (4 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: The original purpose of the mortgage interest supplement scheme was to provide short term support to eligible people who are unable to meet their mortgage interest repayments in respect of a house which is their sole place of residence. The supplement assists with the interest portion of the mortgage repayments only. There are currently approximately 10,000 people in receipt of mortgage...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Data (4 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: The annual cost per participant of the Community Employment (CE) scheme is based on social welfare rates with an additional payment of €20 per week. This amounted to €267m in 2013. In addition to the participant costs, a grant for Supervisors who manage the CE scheme amounted to €56.8m was drawn down in 2013. A total of €4.5m training costs was incurred for CE...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Applications (30 Jan 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 8th 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 Department...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Data (30 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that 129 appeals relating to Scope Section decisions on the insurability of employment are currently registered with that office. The average time taken to process Scope/ insurability of employment appeals in 2013 was 78.4 weeks for those requiring an oral hearing and 35.8 weeks for a summary decision. This compares to 83.3 weeks and 45.6...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (30 Jan 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 27th 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...