Results 19,861-19,880 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Remuneration (25 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: I provided the information requested by the Deputy in reply to his previous question on the matter. Question No. 387 was answered on 23rd April 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (25 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: In order to qualify for a State pension contributory, a person must satisfy a number of qualifying conditions which include; commencing insurable employment at least 10 years before pension age, payment of a minimum of 520 qualifying contributions and achieving a yearly average of at least 10 qualifying contributions, paid or credited, over their working life. Qualification for a pension...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Applications (25 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: The person concerned submitted an application for an exceptional needs payment on the 08 April 2013 which was refused. It is open to the person concerned to seek a review of this decision from the relevant supplementary welfare allowance review officer.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Numbers (25 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: There are currently 23 Medical Assessors employed in my Department, including the Chief Medical Adviser and the Deputy Chief Medical Adviser. All of the staff in question serve on a full time basis. As an exception to the current moratorium in the civil and public service, my Department received sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to hold a competition to appoint...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Eligibility (25 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: The Department has been accepting new claims for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) since 1 April 2009. The person concerned has not been in receipt of DCA at any time since the scheme transferred to the Department. There have been no changes made to the qualification criteria since the Department took over the administration of the scheme. Information relating to any application that may...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Scheme Criteria (25 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: Tús - the community work placement initiative - came into operation in mid-2011 and to date some 7,824 people have completed or are currently serving in work placements provided by community organisations. The purpose of Tús is to support the work-readiness of people who are unemployed for a year or more. For this reason, eligibility is confined to those in receipt of a job...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (25 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 17th April 2013. This application has been forwarded to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors for their medical opinion. Upon receipt of this opinion, a decision will issue to the person concerned. It can take up to 8 weeks to process an application for DCA.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Illness Benefit Appeals (25 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that a Disability Allowance appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 6 March 2013. 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. When received, the appeal in question will be referred in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Carers Strategy (25 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 107, 108 and 110 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (25 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 119 together. The Rent Supplement claim in this case was suspended, pending establishment of entitlement to a primary social welfare payment. The person concerned made a repeat claim for Jobseekers Allowance in December 2012, following suspension of an earlier Jobseekers Allowance claim that was disallowed in August 2011 which was upheld on appeal...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Applications (25 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: The person concerned’s application for a Companion Free Travel Pass was medically assessed by a Medical Assessor on 24 April 2013. The medical opinion has been conveyed to Household Benefits Section, Sligo and the person will be contacted shortly regarding the decision on his application.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (25 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that a revised decision favourable to the person concerned was made by the Department of Social Protection in respect of her Domiciliary Care Allowance claim. The person concerned has been notified of this decision. With regard to the Carer’s Benefit appeal of the person concerned, I am advised that an Appeals Officer having fully...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Administration (25 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: Since it commenced on 1 July, 2011, Jobbridge has made exceptional progress. At 18 April, 2013, 16,545 had commenced internships, 5,947 individuals were on internships and 2,452 internship opportunities were advertised. The recent independent evaluation of the Scheme found that 61% of interns have progressed into employment on within five months of completing their internship. This...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (25 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 31 January 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 received, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (25 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: The Labour Court recommended in July 2008 that an agreed pension scheme should be introduced for community employment (CE) scheme supervisors and assistant supervisors, and that such a scheme should be adequately funded by FÁS. Notwithstanding the positions of the Department (who now has responsibility for CE) in rejecting that liability for these costs to be met from public funds, this...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Eligibility (25 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on 30 October 2012. The application is with a deciding officer for a decision. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Applications (25 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: The person concerned made a repeat claim for Jobseeker’s Allowance in December 2012, following disallowance of an earlier claim in August 2011 which was upheld on appeal in September 2012. Following investigation, the current Jobseekers Allowance claim has been disallowed as the person concerned failed to provide evidence of their circumstances and means. The person concerned has a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (25 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: According to our records, no claim for rent allowance has been received from the person concerned. She should contact her local Community Welfare Officer if she wishes to make such a claim.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (25 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is currently in receipt of a rent supplement payment.

Topical Issue Debate: Pension Provisions (24 Apr 2013)

Joan Burton: The most important incentives or the tax breaks for people who invest in private pensions reached their height under Fianna Fáil. We know of quite a number of individuals who were able to build up pension pots of €20 million to €30 million as a consequence of the extraordinary pension-related tax incentives Fianna Fáil provided for very-----