Results 19,601-19,620 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (16 May 2013)

Joan Burton: In 2013, the Employee’s PRSI-Free Allowance of €127 per week was abolished for all workers. Participants on work placement and similar schemes earning €352 or more per week are now subject to PRSI at a rate of 4%. Employment on Tús is insurable under the Social Welfare Acts for all social welfare benefits and pensions. Tús participants are insured at Class...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 May 2013)

Joan Burton: One of the conditions to receive a jobseeker's payment is that an individual must be capable of, available for and genuinely seeking work. That is, a person must be available for work in respect of each day for which s/he declares that s/he is unemployed. In this case, the person’s claim was stopped when he entered hospital as it was decided he was not capable of, available for and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Illness Benefit Eligibility (16 May 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 164, 165 and 167 together. I wish to reassure the Deputy that narcolepsy is recognised as a clinical entity. However, eligibility on medical conditions, for any illness-related benefit/allowance will depend on the severity and expected duration of the condition, and in the case of carers the care requirements. All applications are assessed on a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications Waiting Times (16 May 2013)

Joan Burton: There are approximately 6,800 applications for disability allowance awaiting decision of which some 5,800 are new applications. Of the 5,800 new claims awaiting decision 600 have been actioned and are awaiting further information before a decision can be made. A recent analysis of the applications pending decision indicated that approximately 60% of them had been waiting for a decision for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Illness Benefit Appeals (16 May 2013)

Joan Burton: Payment of illness benefit to the person concerned was disallowed by a Deciding Officer of the Department of Social Protection, following an examination by a Medical Assessor of the Department, who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. An appeal was registered on the 3rdApril 2013 and the Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that, in accordance with statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (16 May 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 10th May 2013 and the Appeals Officer is now considering the appeal in the light of all the evidence submitted, including that adduced at the hearing. The person concerned will be notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision when the appeal has been determined. ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (16 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The purpose of Tús is the provision of quality work for those who are unemployed in order to break the cycle of unemployment and to improve a person’s opportunities in returning to the labour market. The 12-month duration on Tús is designed to ensure that the benefits of these work placements are offered to the greatest number of those eligible. I consider the existing...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Unemployment Statistics (16 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The report - Work and Poverty in Ireland: An analysis of the CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions 2004-2010 - was jointly published by the Department and the Economic and Social Research Institute in 2012. Its findings were discussed with national and European stakeholders at a conference last December. The purpose of the study is to provide new insights into the relationship between...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Offices (16 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The Pathways to Work document states that the introduction of the new Intreo service is a multi-annual project with all Department Local Offices upgraded to full Intreo offices by the end of 2014. The delivery of the Intreo service comprises a number of elements. the main elements being: i. The integration of the various welfare decision making processes to speed up decision making and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Eligibility (16 May 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. The medical evidence provided by the claimant in support of her claim was examined by a medical assessor who was of the opinion that the person...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Eligibility (16 May 2013)

Joan Burton: I can confirm that the Department received an application for Carer's Allowance from the person concerned on 1st November 2012. The application was sent to a social welfare investigative officer for assessment of means. The investigative officer interviewed the person concerned on 14th March 2013. During the course of the interview five additional supporting documents were requested, and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (16 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The person concerned should contact her local Community Welfare Officer at the earliest available opportunity whereupon any possible social welfare entitlements that she may have can be identified.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (16 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The rent supplement claim from the person concerned has been awarded with effect from 12th November 2012 and has been paid up to date.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (16 May 2013)

Joan Burton: In cases of disputes between private landlords and tenants on Rent Supplement, the Department advises that both parties contact the PRTB for a resolution. Similarly, in cases where there is a dispute or issues between RAS landlords and their tenants (or tenants in any Local Authority accommodation) the Department advises both parties to contact the Local Authority in the first instance to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Public Services Card (16 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The Department has developed, in conjunction with a number of other Government Departments, a rules based standard for establishing and authenticating an individual’s identity for the purposes of access to public services. This programme of work, which is known as the Standard Authentication Framework Environment or SAFE for short, also provides for the introduction of a Public...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (16 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 3rd 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, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 May 2013)

Joan Burton: According to the records of this Department family income supplement was not paid to the persons concerned. A total of €634.20 jobseeker’s allowance was paid in the case of the first person concerned for the period 20 May 2010 to 01 June 2010 and the payments included an increase in respect of a qualified adult and a qualified child.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (16 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The process for allocating a Personal Public Service (PPS) Number normally involves an application in person at one of my Department’s PPS Number allocation centres. In respect of the particular case raised by the Deputy, the person attended Newbridge PPS Number allocation centre on the 9th of May. However, the documents presented by the person have been retained for examination....

Seanad: OECD Review of Irish Pensions System: Statements (15 May 2013)

Joan Burton: Yes, but we must anticipate it as part of the architecture of the scheme. The former Minister, Mr. Charlie McCreevy, allocated part of the then economic surplus to annual transfers to the National Pensions Reserve Fund, which is one way of approaching the matter. However, if people contribute individually, they must have confidence that their contribution is being invested very long term in...

Seanad: OECD Review of Irish Pensions System: Statements (15 May 2013)

Joan Burton: I have a commitment at 4 p.m. with a deputation. I am happy to stay for the extra five minutes, but I was here at the time the debate was due to start.