Results 25,721-25,740 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Public Sector Staff Retirements (5 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: At the outset, the Deputy may wish to note that the terms and conditions of employment of civil and public servants, including the age at which they may be required to retire, and the public service pension they may qualify for, are the responsibility of my colleague, Mr Brendan Howlin, T.D. Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2011 provides that...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Review (5 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 71 together. The current free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by almost 90...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Appeals (5 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 08thApril 2014. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (5 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 27thJanuary 2014. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (5 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: Presently the department are preparing for implementation and it is intended to commence Section 13 and 14 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2013 inside the next two months. It is estimated that the measure will result in €20 million approx. annually being recovered by the Department.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Respite Care Services (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The Government published a national carer strategy in 2012 to signal its commitment to recognising and respecting carers as key care partners and to respond to their needs across a number of policy areas. The contribution that carers make is critical to our society. The Department, in meeting its commitments under this strategy, provides a range of income supports to assist with the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Respite Care Services (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I hear a slight tone of irony in Deputy O'Dea's comments because I am conscious that the Government of which he was a part-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Respite Care Services (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: -----cut the weekly payment to carers-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Respite Care Services (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I just said I detected a note of irony in the Deputy's voice.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Respite Care Services (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The Government of which he was a full serving member-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Respite Care Services (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: -----cut the weekly payment to carers by approximately €16.40 per week.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Respite Care Services (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: That is €850-plus per annum. Therefore-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Respite Care Services (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: -----the question the Deputy is asking now is a little ironic. A reduction in any social welfare allowance is difficult at any stage, but I chose as Minister - I take full responsibility for it - unlike Fianna Fáil in Government, which implemented a cut of €8 and a further cut of €8.40 a week-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Respite Care Services (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: -----to protect the weekly payment to carers. The Deputy is well aware that the carer's allowance is one of the few payments in our social welfare system - in that sense, it is unique in Europe - that is not subject to any means test.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Respite Care Services (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The current payment of €1,375 per annum is more than twice the amount of €635 per annum paid in 2002 by the previous Government, of which Deputy O'Dea was a member, and-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Respite Care Services (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: -----is higher than it was at the height of the boom in 2006, when it was €1,200 per annum.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Respite Care Services (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The Deputy, in asking questions, which he is legitimately entitled to do, might also want to reflect on his role and that of his party when in government.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Respite Care Services (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: My determination as Minister is to do what Fianna Fáil did not do, which is to protect the core weekly social welfare payment for people such as carers.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Respite Care Services (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: Unlike Fianna Fáil, which imposed a cut €16.40 per week-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Respite Care Services (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: -----I chose to protect the core weekly payment.