Results 18,581-18,600 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

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

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 128 together. I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the current average time taken to process carer's allowance appeals decided by summary decision is 28.2 weeks and 34.7 weeks for those requiring an oral hearing. The current average time taken to process carer's benefit appeals decided by summary decision is 24 weeks and 28 weeks...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Offices (11 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: My Department is continually monitoring and reviewing service delivery to ensure that services are delivered in the most effective and efficient manner to customers. In Granard, an information and claim-taking service has been provided by staff from Longford Social Welfare Local Office at the Social Welfare Inspector's office, Moxham St, Granard every Monday morning. On average 10 to 12...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (11 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: An application for Domiciliary Care Allowance was received from the person concerned on the 28th May 2013. This application was referred to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors who found the child to be medically eligible for the allowance. The person concerned was notified on the 8th July 2013 that her claim is awarded. The first payment will issue to her on the 16th July 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Numbers (11 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code Issues (11 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The contribution that people provide in caring for members of their own family is critical for society. It was for that reason that the Government last year adopted the National Carers’ Strategy with a view to giving greater public recognition to carers and their work. Carers receive significant income supports from the Department of Social Protection - indeed it should be noted...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Treatment Benefit Scheme Eligibility (11 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: To qualify for the Treatment Benefit Scheme an individual must satisfy certain PRSI conditions. One such condition requires a claimant to have 39 PRSI contributions paid at the appropriate class (either A, E, H or P) in the relevant tax year or years on which their application is based. The relevant tax years for this claim are 1985, 1991 and 1992. In each of these years PRSI was paid at...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Budget 2014 Issues (11 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The Revised Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure of €776 million in 2013 on the various carers schemes (carer’s allowance, domiciliary care allowance, respite care grant and carer’s benefit). The Deputy will be aware that the Expenditure Report 2013 published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform last December provides for additional new...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Respite Care Grant Administration (11 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The contribution that people provide in caring for members of their own family is critical for society. It was for that reason that the Government last year adopted the National Carers’ Strategy with a view to giving greater public recognition to carers and their work. Carers receive significant income supports from the Department of Social Protection so that people can continue...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Household Benefits (11 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 to 127, inclusive, together. The household benefits package comprises the electricity/gas allowance, the telephone allowance and the free television licence. In 2013, my Department will spend an estimated €284 million on this scheme, providing some 410,000 customers with a package worth almost €700 per year. Under my Department’s...

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

Joan Burton: The requirement to be habitually resident in Ireland was introduced as a qualifying condition for certain social assistance schemes and child benefit with effect from 1 May 2004. This qualifying condition is applied to all applicants, regardless of their nationality. The effect of the condition is that a person whose habitual residence is elsewhere would not normally be entitled to social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (11 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: There are a number of support systems in place for long term and older carers in relation to State Pension. Persons in receipt of carer’s benefit from my Department may be entitled to credited contributions or ‘credits’. Credits are intended to protect the entitlements, particularly to pension rights of employees participating in the social insurance when they are ill or...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (11 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 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 to...

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

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on 4 December 2012. The person concerned was refused carers allowance on the grounds that the care recipient is not so disabled as to require full time care and attention as prescribed in regulations. She was notified of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (11 Jul 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 convene an oral hearing in this case. Every effort will be made to hear the case as quickly as possible and the appellant will be informed when arrangements for the oral hearing have been made. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Benefit Applications (11 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for Carer’s Benefit from the person in question on 6 June 2013. This application has been processed by a Deciding Officer and the person concerned has been awarded Carer’s Benefit for the period requested on the Application. Notification of this decision was issued to the person in question on 10 July 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (11 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: Over 900 defined benefit (DB) schemes are subject to the Funding Standard. The process requires trustees to 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Overpayments (11 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: In addition to a number of other qualifying criteria, a person must be available for full-time employment in order to be eligible for a jobseeker’s payment. The person concerned was disallowed for jobseeker’s allowance as he did not fulfil this qualifying condition while engaged in an apprenticeship. An overpayment against the person concerned was assessed for the period in...

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

Joan Burton: The Medical Review and Assessment system is the principal control mechanism for illness and disability schemes administered by the Department of Social Protection. All medical assessments are carried out by the Department's Medical Assessors who present their medical opinions for the guidance of the Deciding Officers in the scheme areas. Medical Assessors conduct in person assessments in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (11 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The position remains the same as detailed in my previous responses to the Deputy’s Parliamentary Questions No 52068/12 on 22nd November, 2012, 54962/12 on 6th December 2012, 4326/13 on 29th January 2013 and 10153/13 on 26th February 2013 regarding this matter. The customer was asked to submit documentation to support her continued entitlement. As of today no further documentation has...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Pre-Budget Consultation Process: Discussion with Minister for Social Protection (10 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: I look forward to getting support and advice from the committee as we move into the intense negotiations for the budget. We have a social welfare model in Ireland which is supportive and highly redistributive. It reduces the poverty risk by 60%. It is a tribute to successive Governments and different parties of all shades to give that significance and importance to a welfare state in...