Results 16,401-16,420 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: It is not possible to predict the number of double insolvencies. However, I can say that the number of double insolvencies arising in the last ten years is believed to be less than ten. The Social Welfare and Pensions (No.2) Act provides for the issue of guidance in relation to the drawdown of State funding in the event of the wind up of an underfunded scheme, where the employer is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: To date Intreo Centres have been established at 44 locations. At some locations it has meant acquiring new premises and at others the refurbishment of one or more than one office in the town. The cost for physically fitting out the offices to provide for an integrated service consists of structural, mechanical, electrical and ancillary costs that include queuing systems, security, furniture...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: In line with commitments contained in the Programme for Government, I established an Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare, with the aim of harnessing expert opinion and experience to examine a number of specific issues. These include making cost-effective proposals for improving employment incentives and achieving better poverty outcomes, particularly child poverty outcomes. The...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 396, 398, 399 and 406 together. The Department has a duty to ensure that it pays the right person the right amount of money at the right time. It is important that all schemes operated by the Department, including widow(er)'s and surviving civil partner's contributory pension, are subject to review and continuing eligibility checks. This includes conducting...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: It would be unusual that a person had a two year gap in their PRSI record caused solely by waiting for a decision on an application for carer’s allowance, as the average time to award carers allowance is approximately 25 weeks (at end December 2013). Credited contributions (credits) are social insurance contributions which are awarded, under certain circumstances such as...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The aim of Community Employment (CE) remains as an active labour market programme with the emphasis on progression of persons on the Live Register as a priority into employment and/or further education and training. The core eligibility criterion for CE is that the person is in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for 1 year. At present, persons signing for credits who are...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: As per changes introduced in Budget 2014, the minimum contribution towards Rent and Mortgage Interest Supplement for couples was increased by €5 per week, from €35 to €40 for new and existing recipients. This equates to a reduction of €21.60 per calendar month to the client in question. These changes align Rent and Mortgage Interest Supplement contributions with...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: One of the continuous conditions for payment of jobseeker’s allowance is that a person must be available for and genuinely seeking employment, and this is periodically reviewed. The person concerned was in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance from July 2010 and attended his Social Welfare Local Office for a review interview in July 2013, at which he was asked to produce documentary...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Legislative Programme (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The General Scheme of the Gender Recognition Bill 2013 was published on 17 July 2013, following Cabinet approval. The Bill provides for the recognition of the acquired gender of transgender people aged 18 and over and who are not married or in a civil partnership. The legislation will also facilitate persons with intersex conditions. Once enacted, it will mean that a person who has been...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance was received on the 14th August 2013. The application was disallowed as the child was not considered to satisfy the medical qualification criteria for the allowance. A letter issued on the 6th November 2013 advising of the decision. A review of this decision has been requested and additional information on this child’s condition/care needs...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: A customer may engage in voluntary work within the State without affecting their jobseeker entitlements, provided they continue to satisfy the statutory conditions of being available for full-time employment and genuinely seeking work. The voluntary activity must be within the State and that requirement is not seen as discriminatory as it is applies to all customers regardless of their...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on the 13th January 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 papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (28 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 09th 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: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: In the event that the person concerned participates in a community employment (CE) scheme, his entitlement to jobseeker’s allowance will cease for the duration of the scheme as he would no longer be unemployed. On completion of his contract with the CE scheme he could qualify for jobseeker’s allowance again provided he satisfies all the relevant qualifying conditions for receipt...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The application for jobseeker’s allowance from the person concerned was disallowed on 17/12/2013 as his means exceeded the jobseeker’s allowance payment. There is no record of an appeal lodged and the claim was closed 21 days after the decision on 20/01/2014.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned has a current claim for jobseeker’s allowance and is a part-time casual worker who normally works 3 days per week. She was assessed with daily means from her employment of €73.00. The consequence of this is that when she works 3 days per week, the weekly means from her employment exceed the weekly maximum rate of jobseeker’s allowance payable, which...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Labour Activation Measures (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 415, 416, 418 to 420, inclusive, 422 and 423 together. JobPath is a new programme of employment activation aimed specifically at the long-term unemployed and those most distant from the labour market. The allocation of additional resources to the activation of long term unemployed people was the focus of an updated “Pathways to Work” policy...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: It is understood that the Deputy is enquiring about employment supports that can be accessed by jobseekers while they are on the JobPath programme. JobPath will deliver some of the Government’s employment services aimed specifically at the long-term unemployed and those most distant from the labour market. It will be delivered by private/third party contractors on a payment by results...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on the 10th December 2013. 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 papers have been received from the Department, the case in question...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Eligibility (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: There is no record of an application for an exceptional needs payment from the person concerned. However, an officer from the Department will call to the person concerned to assess eligibility for a payment.