Results 19,641-19,660 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Post Office Network (14 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection envisages a payments environment that will ultimately deliver all payments to customers electronically. This is in line with wider Government policies and objectives such as better public services, better and more effective ePayments and is aligned to the objectives of the National Payments Plan published by the Central Bank recently. The progression to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Rights Issues (14 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The ruling by the European Court of Justice was in response to a reference by the High Court seeking clarification of the interpretation of European law emanating from EU Directive 2008/94EC on the protection of employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer. Given this matter remains before the courts it would not be appropriate that I comment further on any aspects of or...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Respite Care Grant Administration (14 May 2013)

Joan Burton: I should point out that disability allowance is one of the core weekly social welfare payments which the Government is committed to protecting, and therefore, the weekly rate has not been reduced. However, in the course of Budget 2013, the Government had to make some very difficult decisions and in order to protect those core weekly social welfare payments, we had to look very carefully at...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Applications (14 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The information requested by the Deputy is not routinely collated by my Department. I am, however, informed that at the end of April 2013 there were 43,375 persons currently in receipt of jobseeker's allowance that have not, to date, made any PRSI contribution. A tabular statement breaking this number down by age and administrative area is set out below. Jobseeker’s Assistance...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Delays (14 May 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 19th April 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: Rural Social Scheme Statistics (14 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The purpose of the rural social scheme is to provide income support for farmers and those engaged in fishing who have an entitlement to specified social welfare payments. Participants are engaged for 19½ hours per week to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities. The scheme currently provides work opportunities for around 2,600 participants and 130 supervisory staff....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Respite Care Grant Applications (14 May 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 proposes to hold an oral hearing in this case on 14th May 2013. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (14 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The person in question is currently receiving carer’s allowance for one child. I confirm that the department received two further applications for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on the 19th January 2012. The person concerned was refused carers allowance on the grounds that the care recipients are not so disabled as to require full time care and attention and she...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Homeless Persons Supports (14 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The €100 rate of jobseeker’s allowance was introduced for claimants aged under 20 in April 2009, and this rate was applied to claimants aged up to 21 from December 2009. A rate of €144 applies to claimants aged 22-24. The measures encourage young jobseekers to improve their skills and remain active in the labour market in order to avoid the risk of becoming long-term...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications Waiting Times (14 May 2013)

Joan Burton: I confirm that an application for disability allowance has been received from the person concerned. The application was referred to a social welfare investigator for a means investigation. I understand the investigator will be in contact with the person shortly to clarify some aspects of his means. A decision on the person’s entitlement to disability allowance will be made on...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (14 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 11th October 2012. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 11th ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (14 May 2013)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 20th February 2013 in relation to two care recipients. The application is currently with a social welfare investigative officer for assessment of means and confirmation that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied. Once the investigative...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (14 May 2013)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 4th October 2011. 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 December 2011 refusing the allowance. The person concerned subsequently lodged an appeal against...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (14 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The criteria for participating on the Community Employment Programme are based on age and length of time in receipt of various qualifying social welfare payments. The qualifying social welfare payments include: - Jobseekers Benefit; - Jobseekers Allowance; - One Parent Family Payment; - Widows/Widowers Contributory Pension; - Widows/Widowers Non-Contributory Pension; - ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: School Meals Programme (14 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food services for disadvantaged children through two schemes. The first is the statutory urban school meals scheme, operated by local authorities and part-financed by the Department. The second is the school meals local projects schemes through which funding is provided directly to participating schools and local and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Carers Strategy Consultation (14 May 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 my Department so that people can continue living at home....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (14 May 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 April 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: Carer's Allowance Applications (14 May 2013)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 2nd May 2012. The application is currently with a social welfare investigative officer for assessment of means and confirmation that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied. Once the investigative officer has completed and submitted the report...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Applications (14 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The Department is committed to ensuring that claims are processed as expeditiously as possible. Processing times can vary across schemes depending on the differing qualification criteria. The application for a companion free travel pass for the person named was medically assessed by a Medical Assessor on 9th May 2013. The medical opinion has been conveyed to Household Benefits Section, Sligo...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Applications (14 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The application for a Companion Free Travel Pass for the person named was medically assessed by a Medical Assessor on 9th May 2013. The medical opinion has been conveyed to Household Benefits Section, Sligo and the claimant will be contacted shortly regarding the decision on the application.