Results 18,821-18,840 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (2 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: Disability Allowance Payments (2 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: An application for disability allowance was received from the person concerned on 25 January 2012. The medical evidence submitted with the application was referred to one of the Department's medical assessor who was of the opinion that the person did not satisfy the medical conditions for receipt of the allowance. The deciding officer accepted this opinion and refused the application and the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (2 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the available evidence, has allowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (2 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 06th 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 and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Rehiring (2 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: As an exception to the current moratorium on recruitment, my department has limited sanction to recruit temporary clerical officers to cover critical staff absences and to assist with the roll-out of the Public Services Card. Currently two of these temporary staff are retired civil servants. They are on an annual pay scale of €22,016 - €35,515. Abatement of pension applies,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Citizen Information Services (2 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The Citizens Information Board (CIB) under the aegis of my Department is responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice (including money advice and budgeting) and advocacy on a wide range of public and social services. The Citizens Information Board delivers on this remit through direct provision, by supporting a network of delivery partners and by funding targeted...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals (2 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the jobseekers allowance and supplementary welfare allowance appeals from the person concerned were 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Training (2 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The Department’s frontline staff cannot and are not expected to be in a position, or have the expertise to, clinically assess the mental health needs of customers. However, the Department has taken initiatives to raise mental health awareness among its staff. Since 2010, Mental Health Ireland has assisted in the delivery of a one-day training course to staff in the Department to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (2 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: Partial capacity benefit was awarded to the person concerned following an assessment by a Medical Assessor of the Department who expressed the opinion that the restriction on her capacity for work should be assessed as moderate. An appeal was registered on 14th May 2013 and the Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that, in accordance with statutory requirements, the Department has...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (2 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 08th 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: Invalidity Pension Applications (2 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: Invalidity pension is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the contribution conditions. This department received a claim for invalidity pension for the person concerned on 08 August 2011. The medical evidence provided by the claimant in support of her claim was examined by a medical assessor who was of the opinion,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (2 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 May 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 (2 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 28th May 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: Mortgage Interest Supplement Payments (2 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The person concerned has been in receipt of a mortgage interest supplement from November 2010. As at 01 November 2010 the rate of supplement paid to the person concerned was €895 per month and from 01 January 2011 the rate paid was €886.90. As at the 01 December 2011 the rate paid was €1,170 and from 01 May 2012 the rate paid was €796.50. The person concerned is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Waiting Times (2 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The backlog of claims and processing times for carer’s allowance were unacceptable in 2012 but significant improvements have been made in the past year by my Department and the backlog of carer’s allowance applications has been eliminated. New applications are now being actioned on receipt and applications received in the last 6 months are now decided within 8 weeks. The total...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (2 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 20th June 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: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (2 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: Men and women are required by law to maintain their dependants. Maintenance can be paid voluntarily or as a result of a maintenance order granted by the courts. If someone is in receipt of a social assistance payment they must satisfy a means test. All sources of income, including maintenance, are assessed as part of the means test.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Eligibility (2 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: Where a supplementary welfare allowance is awarded at a rate below the maximum rate payable it is the position of the Department that details of the full means assessment is communicated to the customer in writing. This position applies to refusals, withdrawals, suspensions or reductions in the rate of supplementary welfare allowance payable. If the Deputy has a concern in relation to a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Funding (2 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The payment of wage grants to Community Employment (CE) Sponsors is done on a 4-week basis (called a cycle). There are 13 cycles in a 52-week CE project year. Community Employment (CE) Sponsors are required to pay the participants (employees) on a weekly basis (current week). At the end of each 4-week cycle, the Sponsor can claim a grant from the Department towards the cost of wages paid...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (2 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 Protection...