Results 25,761-25,780 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Internship Scheme Funding (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh does a great disservice to the 30,000 people who have done JobBridge on an entirely voluntary basis at over 13,000 host organisations range from SMEs, larger companies, community organisations and not-for-profit organisations of various kinds.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Internship Scheme Funding (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The Deputy does people a great disservice to describe their attempts to get back on their feet or, having finished various courses including high-level college courses, to get a job. It is a bit sad that Sinn Féin should decry-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Internship Scheme Funding (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: It is regrettable. Is Sinn Féin's view of Ireland that we will all be on social welfare and does it want no one to be at work? Sinn Féin seems to want no one to be at work.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Internship Scheme Funding (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The scheme is to allow people who have completed education and are, in the current market, unable to get employment-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Internship Scheme Funding (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The Indecon study showed a displacement rate of 6%. If the Deputy studied displacement rates, he would know that this is an extraordinarily low rate. In fact, the return to the State from the people who participate in JobBridge every year-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Internship Scheme Funding (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: -----and then get a job and leave the social welfare system has been €15 million for each of the past two years.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Internship Scheme Funding (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I am telling the Deputy what the figures are. The saving has been €15 million.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Internship Scheme Funding (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The report states that 89% of the people who participated in JobBridge were very satisfied with the experience.

Other Questions: Social Welfare Benefits Applications (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 123 together. I assure the Deputies that provision of good customer service is paramount to the Department and there is a good understanding and awareness of the importance of medical-related schemes to customers. A total of €3.4 billion was spent on illness, disability and caring schemes in 2013, including a total of €2.5 billion on the...

Other Questions: Social Welfare Benefits Applications (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: If departmental staff were to do that, they would end up before the Committee of Public Accounts facing complaints. When people are given allowances, there are procedures which must be followed, otherwise the Deputy's colleagues on the Committee of Public Accounts would be complaining. There is a procedure in place, but one of the good things about the Irish system, unlike that in other...

Other Questions: Social Welfare Benefits Applications (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The area of disability payments, for example, is still undergoing reform. At the end of April 2013 over 4,000 people were awaiting a decision, whereas in April 2014, the number was down to 2,750. The average processing time of disability allowance applications going through the social welfare appeals system has dropped from 10.2 weeks in 2013 to 9.6. Departmental delays have been reduced...

Other Questions: State Pensions Reform (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: Some 33%, or €6.5 billion, of all expenditure incurred by the Department relates to pensions. The number on pensions is increasing by approximately 17,000 annually. In other words and as a result of demographic changes in society, an additional 17,000 individuals seek payment of retirement pensions each year. In 2013, for example, the Department was obliged to make provision for an...

Other Questions: State Pensions Reform (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: It is important to reiterate that €6.5 billion of all social welfare payments made by Department relates to pensions. The cost in this regard is increasing by €190 million each year as a result of the 17,000 additional people who claim pensions each year. As the Deputy is aware, the social protection system provides alternative methods in supporting pensioners who have been...

Other Questions: State Pensions Reform (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I am saying to Deputy Collins that the independent actuarial review shows comprehensively that women actually benefit significantly from the social welfare system - in fact, more than men do. We do not have the time now to go into a detailed discussion of why this is so. I refer Deputy Collins to the actuarial review, which is on the Department's website. I am pleased to say that, as a...

Other Questions: Social Welfare Rates (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: My lips are sealed.

Other Questions: Social Welfare Rates (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 106 together. I will bring to the attention of the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the fact that Deputy Ó Snodaigh is supporting my budget. It is helpful to have an ally such as Deputy Ó Snodaigh.

Other Questions: Social Welfare Rates (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The Government is committed to reaching the deficit target of less than 3% of GDP in 2015.

Other Questions: Social Welfare Rates (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The Government will give detailed consideration to how the target will be reached over the coming months. The Exchequer returns to the end of May were published last week. They showed that taxes were €446 million or 2.9% ahead of profile while overall net voted expenditure was €156 million or 0.9% below profile. The Department of Social Protection returns showed that net...

Other Questions: Social Welfare Rates (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I notice that Sinn Féin's proposals to generate extra income are to increase taxes significantly, particularly for those in work or who have family homes. It has also promised on the doorsteps to abolish water charges, the property tax and the universal social charge, USC. It is important that the stabilisation and growth in the economy, particularly in employment, that we have...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89, 92, 96, 98, 99 and 114 together. The Government has provided over €344 million for the rent supplement scheme in 2014, the purpose of which is to provide short-term income support to assist with reasonable accommodation costs of eligible people living in private rented accommodation who are unable to provide for their accommodation costs from their...