Results 16,281-16,300 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

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

Joan Burton: The back to education allowance (BTEA) is a second chance education opportunities scheme that enables those in receipt of certain social welfare payments to continue to receive a payment while pursuing an approved full-time education course that leads to a higher qualification than that already held. The scheme operates on the basis of non-statutory rules and guidance. A person wishing to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Rights Issues (30 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: Employment rights are a matter for the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. Further information regarding individual terms and conditions of employment and advice is available from the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA).

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Contracts (30 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection does not have a contract with any taxi company nor does it engage in a public tender process for taxi services. Staff requiring taxi services can engage with a company of their choice and can subsequently claim from their travel and subsistence cost centre using vouched receipts where a taxi is used for work purposes. The Department of Social Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (30 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer's allowance from the person in question on the 21st January 2014. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (30 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence has disallowed the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against...

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

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on 19 September 2013. The application was awarded on 18 October 2013 and the first payment issued to the bank on 7 November 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Redeployment (30 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: All Departments are subject to an Employment Control Framework (ECF) as determined by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The only staff from my Department who have been made available for redeployment are those who could not be facilitated, due to ECF constraints, with a return to work following the expiry of their career breaks. I understand that the person in question...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Support Services Issues (30 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: My Department provides a range of income and employment supports for people with disabilities, including those with autism. In regard to employment supports for people with disabilities, the Department’s supported employment programme, which operates nationwide under the “EmployAbility” banner, provides the services of a jobcoach for those wishing to avail of employment...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Dismissals (30 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 96 together. The person concerned was employed in the Department from January 1990 until his dismissal from the Civil Service in February 2013. Following the termination of his employment, he was informed of his preserved pension entitlements on his reaching 60 years of age. In relation to the breakdown of overpayments, the person concerned was...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Public Transport Subsidies (30 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 to 99, inclusive, together. Compliance by Bus Éireann with the European Communities (Financial Transparency) Regulations 2004 (S.I. No. 693 of 2004) is a matter for the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. I understand O.J.E.U. of 15.9.2007 dealt with a complaint by The Irish Coach Tourism and Transport Council concerning alleged unlawful...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Partial Capacity Benefit Scheme Appeals (30 Jan 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 proposes to hold 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 have been made. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister...

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

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence including that adduced at the oral hearing, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Payments (30 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person concerned on the 13th August 2013. This application was referred to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors who considered that the child was not medically eligible for the allowance. A letter issued on the 12th September 2013 advising of the decision. The person concerned subsequently lodged an appeal...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (30 Jan 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: National Internship Scheme Data (30 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 105 together. I have included in this reply a table representing the number of internships finished in each year since JobBridge came into operation. The data provided in the Table below indicate that 52% of internships are completed early and 48% are completed in full. I am encouraged by the findings of the independent evaluation of the scheme,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Payments (30 Jan 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 23rd January 2014. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Interdepartmental Working Groups (30 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 108 together. The Interdepartmental Working and Retirement Group was established in August 2012 to consider cross departmental policy issues that may support longer working and thereby improve the sustainability and adequacy of pensions systems. The sustainability of the pension system is a particular concern because of the demographic challenges...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (30 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The purpose of rent supplement is to provide short-term support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation, whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The overall aim is to provide short-term assistance, and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes operated by...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Private Rented Accommodation Provision (30 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. It is not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes operated by the Exchequer. There are currently over...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (30 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 1st November 2013. The person concerned was refused carers allowance on the grounds that the care recipient is not so disabled as to require full time care and attention as prescribed in regulations. She was notified of this decision on 15th January 2014, the reasons for it...