Results 16,641-16,660 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Issues (15 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 20th November 2013. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 11th...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (15 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: Issues relating to employment law and the rights of employees are a matter for the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. However, in relation to social welfare payments, illness benefit is payable if the person satisfies the necessary qualifying social insurance contribution conditions and is medically certified as being incapable of work, irrespective of the person’s...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (15 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, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned. Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of an Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed in the light of additional evidence or new facts. I am advised that the person...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (15 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence has allowed 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: Social Welfare Appeals Issues (15 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is in receipt of a reduced rate of One Parent Family Payment. The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned together with the relevant Departmental papers were received by that office on 10th January 2014 and that the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Appeals (15 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that there is no record of any appeal by the person concerned having been received by that office. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pensions Legislation (15 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Act 2013 amends the Pensions Act to change the manner in which the resources of a pension scheme are distributed on the wind up of a scheme and to broaden the options available to the trustees of a scheme when considering a restructure of scheme benefits. These changes essentially provide for the sharing of the risk of scheme underfunding across all...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (15 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 8 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 Appeals (15 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was refused Jobseeker’s Allowance by a Deciding Officer of the Department on the grounds that her means were not disclosed. The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned together with the relevant Departmental papers were received by that office on 15 November 2013 and that the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (15 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance was received on the 30th October 2013. The application was not allowed as it was considered that the child does not meet the eligibility criteria for the allowance. A decision letter issued to the customer on the 6th January 2014 advising of this decision. In the case of an application which is refused on medical grounds the applicant may...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Issues (15 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence, disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision. However, following the submission of additional evidence the Appeals Officer agreed to review the case, and as a result of that review, the appeal was allowed. The person concerned has been notified of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The overall concern of the Government in recent budgets has been to protect the primary weekly social welfare rates. Maintaining the rate of the State pension and other core payments is critical in relation to protecting people from poverty. To allow us to protect these core payments, we have had to look very carefully at other additional payments. The cost of the telephone allowance scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (15 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: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The provision for expenditure on domiciliary care allowance in 2014 reflects the provisional outturn for expenditure on the scheme in 2013. I can confirm that there has been no reduction in the monthly amount payable on the allowance and also that the Department does not expect any reduction in the number of children benefiting from this payment over the coming year. Rather, it is projected...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to the provision for carer’s benefit in 2014 as distinct from 2015. The 2014 Revised Estimates Volume (REV) provides for expenditure on carer's benefit of €21.5 million this year. This is 12% lower than the 2013 REV estimate and is mainly due to an ongoing decrease in the number of recipients. However, the total provision for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (15 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: In assessing means for social assistance payments, account is taken of the income and the value of capital and property 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 testing purposes for social assistance payments. Such property includes...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (15 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance was received on the 10th October 2013. The application was not allowed as it was considered that the child does not meet the eligibility criteria for the allowance. A decision letter issued to the customer on the 8th January 2014 advising of this decision. In the case of an application which is refused on medical grounds the applicant may...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Issues (19 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: Employer PRSI is payable on earnings at the rate of 10.75% in respect of weekly earnings in excess of €356 and at 8.5% on weekly earnings of €356 or less. As part of the 2011 Jobs Initiative, the Minister for Finance announced the halving of the 8.5% rate of employer PRSI to 4.25%, as a means of helping job creation and improving labour cost competitiveness, particularly in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Interest Relief Appeals (19 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 17th 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 have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Data (19 Dec 2013)

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. The overall aim is to provide short term assistance, and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes...