Results 25,221-25,240 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: I quoted from the Deputy's colleague when he was a Minister, then Minister and Deputy, Mary Hanafin. It is a straight quote from an answer to a parliamentary question.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: Some 105,650 places are being provided in 2014 including 6,000 by Youthreach and 7,700 by JobBridge. I could read them all but I will sent the Deputy the table. We anticipate and hope that an additional 28,000 young people will take up further courses this year. It is all set out in the table.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: There are approximately 78,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014. Following the most recent review of the private rental market, revised maximum rent limits were introduced from Monday 17 June 2013 until 31 December 2014. For all counties, major urban population centres were tested to ensure access to housing and value for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: First, this is a supply problem in a number of cities. I note the recent study on what are the likely requirements for housing and homes in the near future. I believe the only solution is to have a major investment in housing and to have a housebuilding programme. Unfortunately, the direct involvement of local authorities in housebuilding was abandoned by the previous Government at the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: As the Deputy is aware, many people in Waterford who rent are being paid the rent supplement within the limits. The Deputy should remember that the limits were identified by an intensive and extensive survey of all of the current up-to-date data. One concern I have is that because the Department accounts for just under 40% of the total rental market, it will end up pushing up rents for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The evidence I have is that many people are able to rent. However, there is an issue in respect of housing and the way to deal with that, as part of the construction strategy, would be to recommence significant amounts of housing construction. That in turn would ease the pressures on rents as more supply becomes available.

Other Questions: Farm Assist Scheme Eligibility (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 30 together. This year, the Department will spend approximately €91 million on the farm assist scheme and it is expected that an average of 9,900 individuals will be in receipt of this payment each week. The farm assist scheme is based on jobseeker’s allowance. For example, a person with an adult dependant and two children with a...

Other Questions: Farm Assist Scheme Eligibility (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: More importantly, when I met the farming organisations and their representatives, I learned, understandably, that what they were concerned about in the run-up to last year's budget was that farmers who were experiencing difficulties because of fodder shortages were likely to have much worse outcomes in terms of their income than might have been anticipated the previous year. What I did, and...

Other Questions: Farm Assist Scheme Eligibility (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: I would give the example of a farm family who have a gross income of €19,600 and costs and expenses of approximately €14,800, leaving them with an income of €4,700. That farm family would get a payment of €310.20 per week. That is in line with the benefit that both self-employed people and jobseekers would get. It is a significant support to the family....

Other Questions: Farm Assist Scheme Eligibility (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: We will look at that in the context of the budget, but it is a significant support of €310 a week for such a family. It is an important support, in addition to other supports such as the rural social scheme and other schemes, which my Department offers widely to people from farming families. I recognise what the Deputy said about the significance, contribution and hard work of...

Other Questions: Farm Assist Scheme Eligibility (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: -----at the level of €91 million per year. Assistance of €310 a week to the kind of farming family the Deputy is talking about is a significant assistance.

Other Questions: Farm Assist Scheme Eligibility (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: If conditions improve, we may be able to improve it.

Other Questions: State Pensions Reform (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: As provided for in budget 2012, from September 2012, new rate bands for State pensions were introduced. These additional payment rate bands more accurately reflect the social insurance history of a person and ensure those who contribute more during a working life benefit more in retirement than those with fewer contributions. People who have insufficient contributions to qualify for a full...

Other Questions: State Pensions Reform (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: In 1994, as Minister of State in the then Department of Social Welfare, I was involved, together with the Minister at that time, Michael Woods, in introducing the credits scheme. I recognised that access to State pension and retirement entitlements is very important for both men and women. It was a landmark scheme introduced by the Labour Party and Fianna Fáil in government. The...

Other Questions: State Pensions Reform (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: As I said, I was involved in the introduction of the credits scheme in 1994, in conjunction with the former Minister for Social Welfare, Michael Woods. That scheme represented a landmark breakthrough in retirement provision. It is an issue we need to keep under review and monitor closely. Any change, however, is dependent on resources. In each of the past three budgets, in difficult...

Other Questions: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 10 together. There are approximately 78,000 rent supplement recipients, at a cost of €344 million for 2014. A top-up payment occurs where the applicant declares a rent lower than that actually being charged by the landlord. No evidence has been presented to the Department showing widespread incidence of illegal top-ups, although I am aware of...

Other Questions: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: I deal extensively with people in my constituency in the context of queries relating to housing. The Deputy indicated that the family to which she refers has an issue with a local authority. I am not quite sure which local authority is involved. The solution is to build a supply of houses.

Other Questions: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: Will the Deputy allow me to answer? I listened very carefully to her.

Other Questions: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: Figures issued on 1 November 2013 indicate that there are fewer than 1,500-----

Other Questions: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: -----properties available to rent in Dublin.