Results 17,221-17,240 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Youth Employment: Motion [Private Members] (19 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: The central purpose of progressive politics is to ensure that people achieve their innate potential and reach the full extent of their capabilities. I entered politics in order to change society part by part and step by step so that ordinary men and women would have a greater chance to live a better life. Central to this effort is to ensure that we create a productive economy of work with...

Youth Employment: Motion [Private Members] (19 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: On a point of information, the wealth tax proposal was dropped.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobsPlus Scheme (19 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 294 and 298 together. JobsPlus is a new employer Incentive, from the Department of Social Protection which encourages and rewards employers who offer employment opportunities to the long term unemployed. The Incentive replaced the existing Employer Job PRSI exemption and the Revenue Job Assist schemes with effect from the 1st July 2013. JobsPlus takes the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobs Initiative (19 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: It is recognised that age is a factor impacting on a person’s likelihood of exiting the live register. During the period January-September 2013, persons aged 55-59 years accounted for 7%, and those aged 60-64 for 4%, of those leaving the Live Register to employment. Persons aged 55-60 years accounted for 6%, and those aged 60-64 for 5%, of those leaving the Live Register to take...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Yield (19 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: The Employer PRSI rate applying to weekly earnings of €356 or less was halved from 8.5% to 4.25% from July 2011 as part of the Jobs Initiative, to fulfil one of the commitments of the Programme for Government. This measure was implemented on a 2½ year time limited basis to apply from 1 July 2011 until 31 December 2013. The 4.25% employer PRSI rate will therefore revert to the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Eligibility (19 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: The current assessment arrangements for Carer’s Allowance are designed to ensure that individuals requiring full-time care are supported in their own home, and that appropriate income support is provided to carers. The current arrangements allow carers to engage in work, education or training for up to 15 hours per week. There is also a generous means test. In the case of a single...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Data (19 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 300, 303 to 305, inclusive, and 364 together. The JobBridge Scheme was launched on 1st July 2011. A total of 23,235 placements have commenced to-date. Please see Table 1 for a breakdown by county. The evaluation report conducted by Indecon Economic Consultants found that 61% of all participants progressed into paid employment within 5 months of completing...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (19 Nov 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. There are approximately 81,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €403 million...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (19 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an oral hearing of the appeal of the person concerned took place on 07th November 2013 and that the Appeals Officer is now considering the appeal in the light of all of the evidence submitted, including that adduced at the oral hearing. The person concerned will be notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision when the appeal has...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (19 Nov 2013)

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 by way of a summary decision. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Household Benefits Scheme (19 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: The household benefits package currently comprises the electricity or gas allowances, the telephone allowance and the free television licence. Following the recent Budget announcements, the telephone allowance will end from 1st January, 2014. The package is generally available to people living in the State who are over age 70, carers who live with the person for whom they care and those...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Guarantee (19 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: It is not yet possible to outline the level of funding allocated or the numbers expected to avail of education, training and work experience in the context of Ireland’s response to the EU Recommendation on a Youth Guarantee. The Department of Social Protection, working with the support of an interdepartmental group of senior officials is currently developing the implementation plan...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (19 Nov 2013)

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 October 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 will...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Issues (19 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 4th September 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 will be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Appeals (19 Nov 2013)

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 disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (19 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 18th October 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 for Social Protection and of the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (19 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 30th July 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 Welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Appeals (19 Nov 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 decided to hold an oral hearing in this case on 18th November 2013. The person concerned was 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (19 Nov 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 decided to hold an oral hearing in this case on 18th November 2013. The person concerned was 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (19 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 29th August 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...