Results 23,081-23,100 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: There is provision for those aged 62 years.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: They all talk now.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: I thank Senators on all sides of the House who contributed to the debate, particularly those who put forward useful proposals. This is the third successive budget in which the Government has protected all weekly primary welfare rates. I have met extensively, on a weekly basis from April onwards, with organisations advocating on behalf of older people, carers, people with disabilities and so...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: It is little wonder that the protection of primary rates is a priority for people given the actions taken by Fianna Fáil and the Green Party in government.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: Amnesia seems to be well in favour with Fianna Fáil.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: The bottom line is that it was Fianna Fáil which introduced cuts in primary rates. I listened carefully to what Senator Mary White had to say. I refuse to accept, however, that anybody in this House, of any party or none, actually believes it is in the interests of young people in this country to have a social welfare system which facilitates people as young as 18 years of age in going...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: Senators will appreciate that it is a difficult job to find the resources to finance everything I would like to provide. In regard to work incentives, we are opening up the JobsPlus scheme to include people under 26 years of age who are unemployed for six months or more. JobBridge is already open to those who have been unemployed for three months. We have to get employers in this country,...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: It is very important that we send out a message this evening asking employers to think creatively. Can they take on some extra young people who unfortunately have found themselves unemployed and give them an opportunity to get working? We have already had 22,000 people on the JobBridge internship scheme. The report from Indecon shows that 60% of those people go on to further significant...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: I certainly hope that the review of the apprenticeship scheme being carried out by the Minister for Education and Skills will become one of the opportunities. The mortgage interest supplement was also raised by many Senators. In recent years during this crisis, the Department of Social Protection has spent €319 million on mortgage interest supplement. I would like to outline two...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: -----for people who are bereaved. The key support is that if somebody's spouse dies, particularly a pensioner's spouse, we continue the payment of the person who has died to the person who has been bereaved for a period of six weeks. That support is worth approximately €1,300 to the bereaved spouse. It is far more significant than the bereavement grant. Second, if people become...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: That was the proposal-----

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: We got it down to €226 million, and they are very difficult decisions. Everything in social welfare affects an individual, a family or a community. However, on balance, I believe we have a budget that strongly supports people to get back to work. I listened with interest to the contribution by the Sinn Féin Senator. When I last checked, Sinn Féin has been in government in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Support Services (6 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: In addition to child benefit, there are a number of social insurance and social assistance payments for which a single separated parent may qualify, depending on their circumstances. One-parent family payment may be payable, subject to a means assessment, to a parent with a qualified child or children where the person is parenting alone. Family income supplement may be payable to a person...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (6 Nov 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 15th October 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: Family Support Services (6 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: The Government is committed to supporting one-parent families to become economically independent. The Department is in the process of introducing a series of reforms to the one-parent family payment (OFP) scheme. These reforms are predicated on activation and on getting people back into the workforce once their children have reached an appropriate age. A wide range of supports and services...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals (6 Nov 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. I am advised that the oral hearing is likely to take place during week commencing 18th November 2013. The person concerned will be informed when arrangements for the oral hearing have been made. The Social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Applications (6 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: The application for a Companion Travel Pass for the person named above was medically assessed by a Medical Assessor on 4 November 2013. The medical opinion has been conveyed to Household Benefits Section, Sligo and the applicant will be contacted shortly regarding the decision on her application.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (6 Nov 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 September 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Places (6 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: The current rules regarding maximum durations on Community Employment (CE) are as follows: With effect from 3rd April 2000, lifetime cumulative participation on CE by an individual will be limited to: - 3 years (156 weeks) for persons under 55 years of age. - 6 years (312 weeks) for persons of 55 years of age up to and including 65 years of age. - Eligible persons in receipt of a qualifying...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (6 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: When applying for a means tested social assistance payment a claimant must satisfy the eligibility conditions for the relevant scheme. The fact that the person may have been in care prior to reaching 16 years of age is not relevant for the purposes of a means test. However, in the case of jobseeker’s allowance, the Deputy may wish to note that the reduced rates of jobseeker’s...