Results 16,801-16,820 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Placements (11 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: JobBridge, the National Internship Scheme, was launched on 1st July, 2011 as part of the Government's Jobs Initiative. JobBridge provides work experience placements for those on the Live Register for a 6 or 9 month period to assist in breaking the cycle where jobseekers are unable to get a job without experience, either as new entrants to the labour market after education or training or as...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Sick Leave (11 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: The number of sick days taken by staff of the Department over the last 3 years is as outlined in the table below. The detail requested is being provided in respect of the years 2010, 2011 and 2012 which is the last year for which a complete record is available. The Deputy should note that the functions and staff of the Community Welfare Service transferred into the Department from the HSE...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Live Register Numbers (11 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: A total of 390,577 live register claims were closed during the first 11 months of 2013. A detailed breakdown of this number by claim duration and closure reason is contained in the tabular statement. Live Register claim closures 1 January to 30 November 2013. Claim Duration Closure Reason <3mths 3-6 mths 6mths-1yr 1-2yrs 2-3yrs 3-5yrs >5yrs Grand Total Found Work 59,724...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (11 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2011 provides that state pension age will be increased gradually to 68 years. This will begin in 2014 with the abolition of the state pension (transition) thereby standardising state pension age for all at 66 years. The state pension age will be further increased to 67 years in 2021 and to 68 years in 2028. These changes apply to all fully insured...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Data (11 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: The information requested by the Deputy is not available. My staff have provided statistics on the number of claim disallowances and appeals lodged for the first ten months of 2013 in the attached table for the main Departmental schemes. I am however informed that appeals lodged are not solely in respect of disallowance of a claim for a social welfare payment but may arise on foot of a means...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (11 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: The person concerned made an application for a rent supplement on 10th October 2012. As the application was incomplete, a request for further information was sent to him on 18th October 2012 detailing 12 items that were required in order to assess the application. As of 21st January 2013, 8 of the required items had been submitted and a request was sent for the 4 remaining items; to date...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (11 Dec 2013)

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. However, on receipt of further information from the person concerned, the Appeals Officer has decided to re-open the appeal by way of an oral hearing. The person concerned will be notified of the date, time and venue for the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Respite Care Grant Appeals (11 Dec 2013)

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 hold an oral hearing in January 2014. The person concerned will be notified of the arrangements for the hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Data (11 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection (DSP) is consolidating and improving the provision of training and work experience for CE participants in particular for those who wish to pursue a career in childcare. For CE participants who work directly with children, a dedicated programme comprising formal learning and supervised work experience will become a mandatory part of participation. This...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (11 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: I understand that the Deputy is inquiring about the number of successful appeals on disability allowance awaiting processing in the Department. There are currently 260 successful disability allowance appeals awaiting attention all of which were recently received from the Social Welfare Appeals Office. The Department is currently working hard to eliminate backlogs of new disability...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: EU Directives (11 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: There is only one Directive related to the Department of Social Protection that falls into the category mentioned by the Deputy. The provisions of EU Directive 2010/41/EU (on the principle of equal treatment between men and women engaged in an activity in a self-employed capacity) require, amongst other things, the provision of social protection and maternity benefit to spouses and civil...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Legal Costs (11 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: No costs have been incurred in the Department as a result of Oireachtas members initiating legal challenges in the Courts in any of the past five years.

Death of Nelson Mandela: Statements (10 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: On behalf of the Labour Party, I wish to express my deep sadness on the death of Nelson Mandela, Madiba, a man who it can truly be said changed the world for the better. If I speak with great sadness, I also speak with the great conviction that the example Mandela set in fighting injustice, poverty and inequality will not be forgotten. In his long life, Nelson Mandela was many things - the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Civil Registration Legislation (10 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: The Registrar General is the person with statutory responsibility for the administration of civil registration in the State. Where, as in this case, a person has been divorced in another jurisdiction these divorces are required to be recognised under the law of the State before any of the parties to the divorces may marry in the State. I have made enquiries of the Registrar General and I...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 248 together. Free movement of workers and other citizens of the Union is a fundamental right granted by the EU Treaties and one which can bring benefits, economic and otherwise, to the individual and to the EU as a whole. Accordingly, it is something to be facilitated and encouraged. However, we must also ensure that the right of free movement is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (10 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Act 2012 made provision for social welfare inspectors to undertake power of enquiry at ports and airports. In line with the powers that are provided for in the legislation, social welfare inspectors have the authority to attend and make enquiry at any port or airport. These powers are designed to deal specifically with incidences of welfare tourism or non-residency. My...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (10 Dec 2013)

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. Following receipt of additional Medical Evidence including that supplied by the Deputy, the case was reviewed by the Appeals Officer who advised that a revision of his decision was not warranted. The Social Welfare Appeals...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Care Services Funding (10 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: The Community Services Programme operates under the aegis of my Department and provides grants in the form of a financial contribution to the costs of employment management and operative staff in supporting the delivery of services of benefit to communities where gaps in services exist or to ensure that existing community and public investment is utilised. A very broad range of services,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Appeals (10 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered on 3 September 2013. The appeal was referred to an Appeals Officer on 25 November 2013, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (10 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: Social welfare legislation provides that the yearly value of "property owned but not personally used or enjoyed" is assessable for means testing purposes. Such property includes houses and premises owned by a claimant which may or may not be put to commercial use. However, it does not include property such as the home or, for example, a premises used by the claimant in carrying out a...