Results 18,461-18,480 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability 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 09th July 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: Disability Allowance Appeals (18 Jul 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 allow 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: Homelessness Strategy (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: Job Initiatives (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 343 and 355 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 current position is that the extra 2,500...

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

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 344 to 350, inclusive, and 352 354, inclusive, together. An increase of €5 in the weekly personal rate of jobseeker's benefit with a proportionate increase for a qualified adult would cost an estimated €13.7 million in a full year. A reduction of €5 in the weekly personal rate of all social protection payments made to persons aged under...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The person concerned applied to her local Rents Unit for a rent supplement in February 2013. Before her application can be approved she is required to provide proof of ownership of the property from her landlord, as detailed on the application form. This documentation was requested by the Rents Unit on 3 separate occasions; 2 March, 9 April, and 31 May, but it has not yet been forthcoming.

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 registered in that office on 23 April 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 Welfare Benefits Eligibility (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The person concerned has been in receipt of a basic payment at the rate of €19.10 per week since 30 May 2013, the date she first stayed at her current address in the Eyre Powell Hostel in Newbridge, Co Kildare. She has been paid in full up to and including 24July 2013 at the rate appropriate to a person in direct provision.

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

Joan Burton: This application for carer's allowance was disallowed by a deciding officer on the 11 of May 2013 on the grounds that the carer is not providing full-time care and attention in accordance with the relevant legislation. The person in question has appealed this decision. A submission is being prepared by the Department and the file and all relevant papers will be forwarded to the Social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Eligibility (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: Officials of the Department have had detailed discussions with representatives of the Craft Council of Ireland and I am happy to advise that the Department is working closely with the Crafts Council of Ireland on extending participation on JobBridge on a pilot basis to the craft sector. The Craft Council of Ireland has 61 internship opportunities advertised on the JobBridge website since the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Appointments to State Boards (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The three 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. The ratio of the gender balance of these State Boards has not changed significantly over the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (17 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 6th September 2012. This application was referred to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors who found that the child was not medically eligible for the allowance. A letter issued on the 5th October 2012 refusing the allowance. The person concerned subsequently lodged an appeal...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (17 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 8th July 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: Services for People with Disabilities (17 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 138 together. The number of active participants being catered for through the supported employment programme provided under the EmployAbility Service at end 2011 was 2,903 and at end-2012 the equivalent number was 2,762. There has not been a formal review of the EmployAbility Service since it was transferred from FAS into the Department. The...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (17 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: A person interested in participating on a Community Employment Scheme should contact their local DSP Employment Services/Intreo Office which is the sole access and referral point for entry onto Community Employment. An Employment Services Officer will then ensure the referral of eligible and suitable clients to Community Employment schemes.The criteria for participating on the Community...

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

Joan Burton: Social welfare legislation provides for the disregard of certain compensation awards when assessing the means of a person for social assistance purpose, including jobseeker’s allowance. The compensation awards disregarded include awards made by the Residential Institutions Redress Board.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Applications (17 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 142 together. Medical Assessors are all fully qualified medical practitioners with several years of experience in a variety of medical fields. The majority of Medical Assessors have additional postgraduate specialist qualifications. All are registered with the Irish Medical Council (IMC). They are employed by the DSP to provide independent,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (17 Jul 2013)

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: Pension Provisions (17 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The process of submitting a funding proposal requires that trustees arrange for an actuary to carry out a valuation of the DB pension scheme's liabilities and assets at regular intervals and submit an actuarial valuation certificate to the Pensions Board outlining the funding position of the scheme. The date of each scheme valuation must be not later than 3 years after the last date of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (17 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: Pensions legislation provides for the supervision and regulation of defined benefit occupational pension schemes and, in that context, requires schemes to meet the commitments they have made to their members. This method by which this is regulated is set out in the Funding Standard, the operation of which is supervised by the Pensions Board. Section 52 of the 1990 Pensions Act provides...