Results 18,421-18,440 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Interest Supplement Appeals (18 Sep 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 13th August. 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 appeal in question will be referred...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rural Social Scheme Administration (18 Sep 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 707 and 708 together. The Government, as part of the Budget package for 2013 announced a number of initiatives focused on providing work opportunities for those currently unemployed. A key element of this package was to add an additional 2,500 places to Tús – the community work placement initiative. The additional 2,500 Tús placements have...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Agencies Staff Recruitment (18 Sep 2013)

Joan Burton: The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Board, the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a board) and the Social Welfare Tribunal. The Citizen's Information Board and the Pensions Board advertise approved posts within their Employment Control Framework, which they are unable to fill through...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exchequer Savings (18 Sep 2013)

Joan Burton: There are no commercial semi-State organisations operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exchequer Savings (18 Sep 2013)

Joan Burton: The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Social Welfare Tribunal, the Citizens Information Board and the Pensions Board. In addition, the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman comes under the remit of the Department but it does not have a Board. Citizens Information Board The savings to the Exchequer if the salary of the Chief Executive Office...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exchequer Savings (18 Sep 2013)

Joan Burton: The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Board, the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a board) and the Social Welfare Tribunal. Citizens Information Board Details of potential annual savings on fees for members of the Citizens Information Board should a 25% reduction be applied are set out as...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 22nd May 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: Social Insurance Yield (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 303 to 306, inclusive, together. The following estimates are based on the latest data available to the Department. Full year costs/yields are shown. First year costs/yields are a function of the chosen implementation date of PRSI changes in 2014. The costings below are based on Class A Employer rates of the indicated rates and do not include the amount...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Yield (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 307 and 361 together. All workers pay PRSI on their earnings from employment. If an employee has earned income from self-employment, PRSI as a self-employed contributor is also payable on the profits from that self-employed activity as well as from any other unearned income the individual may have. Similarly a self-employed contributor (who is not an...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: I cannot comment on any particular scheme. The Pensions Board supervises the regulation of individual schemes in accordance with the Pensions Act.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: I am very aware of the challenges facing the trustees and the sponsoring employers of defined benefit pension schemes. The majority of defined benefit pension schemes are in deficit and face serious challenges in restoring their funding levels to enable the scheme deliver on the pension promise. It is acknowledged that the fundamental problem, facing pension schemes is that pensions are...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (18 Jul 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 26th June 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: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: Over 2,000 persons are employed as retained (part-time) fire-fighters, providing services which are vitally important to their communities. Typically, these workers provide services in rural and less densely populated areas but larger urban centres may also have a cohort of part-time workers. Retained fire-fighters who are otherwise unemployed are entitled to a jobseeker's payment in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Applications (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The person concerned has not yet made an application for an exceptional needs payment. The relevant forms were posted to her on 16th July 2013. She should complete the forms and return them to her local community welfare office for consideration.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Information and Communications Technology Issues (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection has relied heavily on the effective and extensive use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) over the years and continues to do so. The Department is currently engaged in major transformation programmes to meet Government objectives, for example in relation to activation and supporting the provision of integrated income support and activation...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Redeployment (18 Jul 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Drug Rehabilitation Clinics (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: In June 2013 there were 895 CE participants on drug rehabilitation places, this includes 158 support workers. (See Table 1 below) This is a significant improvement in the number of participants on CE drug rehabilitation places when compared to January 2012 when a total of 578 (including support workers) were recorded. Table 1: Ring-fenced Drug Rehabilitation, June 2013 - Referred...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the application for carer's allowance from the person in question was refused on 4th April 2013 on the ground that, based upon the evidence provided, the person being cared for was not in need of full-time care and attention. The person in question subsequently submitted additional evidence in support of the application and requested a review of the decision. The review...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Offices (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The full range of Intreo employment and support services for customers in the Ashbourne area are provided from the Department's Intreo Centre in Finglas, Dublin 11. Activation Group Engagement sessions are held locally in Ashbourne in order to further facilitate customers. In addition, Community Welfare Services for the area are administered from Ashbourne Health Centre. The Intreo...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Yield (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The table details the revenue raising PRSI measures introduced in Budget 2011 and subsequent Budgets and the yield as estimated at the time of the relevant Budget. PRSI measures which increase the yield to the Social Insurance Fund do not count towards the achievement of departmental expenditure ceilings. Table; PRSI Budget Measures, 2011 to 2013 - 2011 2012 2013 2014 - €m...