Results 16,721-16,740 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobs Data (17 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: Jobseeker register data is mined at present in order to identify and inform suitable candidates of a range of opportunities. The data is mined with reference to a jobseeker’s previous occupation, job preferences, education background, preferences for existing training programmes, and any interest expressed in training which is not currently available. Recent examples of mining...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (17 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is qualified and entitled to a grant towards the cost of purchasing hearing aids. The grant covers half the cost, up to a maximum of €500 per device. Application forms are available at audiology clinics, so the person concerned will be able to get one in the clinic that he attends for his hearing test.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Applications (17 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is in receipt of a reduced jobseeker's allowance payment, which has been awarded having regard to his means. The person concerned was advised that if there was a change in his circumstances he could request a review of the application. According to the records of this Department there has been no recent request received to review the application.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals (17 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 6th November 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: Decentralisation Programme Expenditure (17 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: My Department delivers its front-line services to clients through a network of locally based offices which are dispersed across the country. In addition, 7 of the Department’s headquarter offices are located outside Dublin in Buncrana, Carrick-on-Shannon, Dundalk, Letterkenny, Longford, Sligo and Waterford. There are over 7,000 staff serving in my Department of which just over...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Appeals (17 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: The application for one parent family payment, by the person concerned, was disallowed by a Deciding Officer of the Department on the grounds that she has failed to demonstrate any appropriate efforts to get maintenance for herself and her children from her husband. The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned together with the relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Payments (17 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme is considered the "safety net" within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. The main purpose of the scheme is to provide immediate and flexible assistance for those in need who do not qualify for payment...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Work Placement Programmes (17 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: Gateway is a County and City Council work placement scheme designed to provide short-term working opportunities for unemployed people. The scheme is intended to assist the personal and social development of participants by providing short-term work opportunities with the objective of bridging the gap between unemployment and re-entering the workforce. Responsibility for delivery of this...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Interest Relief Application (17 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 15th October 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: Disability Allowance Appeals (17 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the appeal of the person concerned was referred back to the Appeals Officer for a review of his decision on 11th December 2013. The person concerned will be contacted when the review of his appeal has been finalised. 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 Applications (17 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: The person concerned made a claim for jobseeker’s allowance on 10th September 2013. At his interview on 19th September 2013 he was requested to provide documentary evidence in support of his application. As this was not forthcoming it was requested again on 9th October 2013. He neither responded nor contacted the Intreo Office, and as a result his claim was closed on 4th November...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Work Placement Programmes (17 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: Tús was introduced by the Department of Social Protection to deliver on the policy objectives set out in Pathways to Work and to bridge the gap between unemployment and re-entering the workforce. Participants on are required to work in their placement for an average of 19.5 hours per week which allows for participation in part-time work or education. Participants are encouraged to engage...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Records (17 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: The request from the Social Welfare Appeals Office for the file for the person concerned was originally sent to the incorrect location and was received by the appropriate Rents Unit on 23rd August 2013. Due to a reorganisation of the Rents Units in Dublin 15 which was taking place at that time, the request was not processed in the normal timeframe. A review has now been carried out in light...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Applications (17 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: The jobseeker’s allowance claim of the person concerned has been awarded, and the first payment will issue this week.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (17 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 327 and 329 together. The Department is engaged in a continuous service delivery modernisation (SDM) programme involving business, organisational and technological change. The SDM programme is allowing the Department to deliver its transformation agenda by providing: a high quality, proactive, personalised service to customers; services in a more...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Legal Costs (17 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: The Department incurs expenditure on legal and compensation costs/fees from Vote 37 Department of Social Protection and the Social Insurance Fund. The elements of these payments relating solely to legal fees are not recorded separately. The following table sets out expenditure on legal and compensation costs/fees paid by the Department for the period 1/1/2011 to 30/11/2013: Year Legal and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Remuneration (17 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: Since I took up office, there have been no exemptions granted in my Department or in the agencies that come under the remit of my Department, to the longstanding general principle of pay policy, that the payment of additional remuneration to public servants for undertaking additional duties is not permitted.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: I should have given the Deputy a more comprehensive answer on that. I discussed this at length with Deputy O'Dea. As the Deputy said, this is in regard to the industrial relations machinery. The Department of Social Protection does not have any power regarding the industrial relations machinery, but I told Deputy O'Dea that I would take it up with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: To be clear, I am very happy to introduce this legislation. It is reforming legislation. What I said is that I regret the difficulties pension funds have found themselves in over a protracted period going back to the late 1980s.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: I thank all the Deputies for what was a very detailed discussion. It is a very technical issue but it is of great importance to all the people who are part of pension funds - the pensioners, the active members and the deferred members. I hope the new options offered in this Bill will allow even more pension funds to restructure successfully and, ultimately, protect pensions for people.