Results 24,141-24,160 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Internship Scheme Administration (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: He is shouting.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Internship Scheme Administration (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: I meet via Tús the finest people who are contributing to their local community, 7,000 at any one time, and who, thankfully, are getting employment. That is something the Deputy and I should be celebrating, not condemning.

Other Questions: Respite Care Grant Payments (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The financial supports available to carers in Ireland are among the highest rates of income support in Europe. Expenditure on carers has increased significantly in recent years and it is estimated the overall expenditure for 2014 will be €806 million, which is €4.6 million higher than the expected outturn for 2013. This does not include the value of other welfare payments,...

Other Questions: Respite Care Grant Payments (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: I am sure the Deputy knows, and I think spoke about, the fact that the most grievous change relating to carers was the reduction of €16.40 per week in disability payments and other payments related to people who may have been looked after by carers, which reduction was introduced by the Deputy's new party, Fianna Fáil. That would be the strongest communication to me from carers,...

Other Questions: Respite Care Grant Payments (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: I would be happy to do so. A number of issues have arisen, the first and most important of which has been the inherited backlog in applications for the domiciliary care allowance. Approximately 40% of those who receive that allowance go on to claim either a full-time or half-rate carer's allowance. The second issue is the backlog in applications for carer's allowance and delays in the...

Other Questions: Respite Care Grant Payments (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: -----and the free travel pass, which are important supports.

Other Questions: Respite Care Grant Payments (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: In difficult economic times, we have what is probably the best package of supports for carers in Europe, including income support and the travel pass. We have been able to maintain this position whereas the Deputy's current party cut the weekly carer's rate by €16.40.

Other Questions: Respite Care Grant Payments (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: This is the cut that received the most complaints in the feedback.

Other Questions: Respite Care Grant Payments (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: Deputy Keaveney asked me about the feedback.

Other Questions: Respite Care Grant Payments (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: This is what is most mentioned to me in the feedback.

Other Questions: Job Initiatives (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: To date, more than 25,200 jobseekers have participated on JobBridge. I am happy to report that it currently has 6,400 participants. The scheme has proved to be extremely popular with people who, unfortunately, are unemployed and who have been unable to get work experience. In the past, internships tended to be offered in professional or graduate-type roles and proved to be an effective...

Other Questions: Job Initiatives (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The Deputy, like some others in this House, has a very strange attitude to employment and to people getting employment. Sometimes when I listen to him, I think he would rather prefer if people stayed unemployed and perhaps they would listen to him more or something like that. I am not quite sure.

Other Questions: Job Initiatives (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: First, people are in receipt of jobseeker's allowance. A married person with a spouse and three children would possibly get €400 or €500 per week in the total social welfare package. The figure will be significantly higher if, for instance, he or she is also in receipt of rent supplement. Giving people an additional top-up of €50 is intended to assist with travel costs...

Other Questions: Job Initiatives (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The Labour Party is the party of work. The Deputy wants Ireland to be a country of welfare only, one in which no one works. He is wrong and his attitude is out of date.

Other Questions: Job Initiatives (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: People who have found themselves out of work as a result of the economic crisis are extremely anxious to get back into employment. The Deputy spoke of companies seeking people with PhD qualifications. One of the sad things I have encountered as Minister is people with extraordinary qualifications and a strong desire to work finding themselves locked out of employment. They do not want to...

Other Questions: Job Initiatives (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: Some people who take up JobBridge have families and are receiving significant supports, including rent supplement. In the past, such persons were required to give up all supports to gain work experience. We are trying to get the country back to work and this is one of the ways we are doing so. As Indecon has shown, 61% of JobBridge participants subsequently secure further employment.

Other Questions: Civil Registration Legislation (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 367 together. On 19 July 2013, the Cabinet approved the drafting by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government of the Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill. I brought this proposal for legislation to the Cabinet as there are a number of important policy issues I want to see implemented through amendments to the 2004 Act. The Bill will...

Other Questions: Civil Registration Legislation (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: I am aware of Deputy Kyne's Bill. I acknowledge the work he put into its preparation. I was surprised to learn on becoming Minister for Social Protection that the drafting of legislation, in terms of the fine legal details, is a lengthy process. The heads of the gender recognition Bill have been considered in committee, the report of which I am currently considering. The last number of...

Other Questions: Youth Employment Initiative (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 437 together. Youth unemployment has fallen from a peak of over 31% to approximately 25% at the end of 2013. Given the measures being taken to support young people, I am confident that there will be further reductions in youth unemployment this year. In this regard youth unemployment is being specifically targeted through the youth guarantee...

Other Questions: Youth Employment Initiative (28 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The most important element that has been lacking in Ireland is that of participation by employers in offering employment opportunities at all levels to people in Ireland who are, unfortunately, unemployed. I welcome the publication of the review of apprenticeships commissioned by my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, which commits to the introduction of a...