Results 25,841-25,860 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Unemployment Measures (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: In the first instance, the Government’s primary strategy to reduce unemployment (including youth unemployment) is through policies to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting competitiveness and productivity. Economic recovery will underpin jobs growth. This strategy is working. Employment rose by 42,700 in the year to Q1 2014. Unemployment decreased by...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: Since the lowest point of the jobs crisis, the unemployment rate has fallen from a peak of over 15% to 11.8% at present. The long-term unemployment rate has fallen from 9.5% to 7.3%. The number of long-term unemployed has fallen from 204,000 in early 2012 to 156,000 at present. In terms of the Live Register, a target was set that 75,000 of those who were long-term on the Register at the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (10 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: JobsPlus provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers who recruit employees from those who are long-term on the live register (LR). The incentive is payable, on a monthly basis, over a two year period if the employee is retained in full-time employment for two years. JobsPlus is biased in favour of those who are longer term unemployed. The value of the aggregate monthly...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (11 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: A person wishing to partake in the back to education allowance (BTEA) will have to satisfy a number of conditions such as being a certain age, in receipt of a prescribed social welfare payment for a specified time period, commencing the first year of a course, pursuing a full time course of study leading to a recognised qualification in a recognised college and progressing in the level of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (11 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The Living Alone Allowance (LAA) was introduced from October 1977, and is an additional payment of €7.70 per week made to people aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments, including State pensions, and who are living alone. It is also available to people who are less than 66 years of age, living alone and in receipt of , invalidity pension, incapacity...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (11 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 the 16thApril 2014. 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 papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (11 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 the 19thMay 2014. 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 papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Appeals (11 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an oral hearing of the appeal of the person concerned took place on the 31stMarch 2014 and that the Appeals Officer was considering the appeal in the light of all of the evidence submitted, including that adduced at the oral hearing. In the meantime, the wife of the person concerned phoned the Appeals Office on the 6thMay 2014 and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (11 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: Payments of Rent Supplement to the person concerned were re-instated following the previous suspension, as the Deputy contacted the Rents Unit on 9thMay 2014 to assure them that the person concerned had lodged an application with Dublin City Council for a Housing Needs Assessment, and that it was being processed. The Rents Unit wrote to the person concerned to advise him that evidence of this...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Appeals (11 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on the 6thJune 2014 who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Appeals Officer will be advised that the person concerned has requested an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: If the Deputy wants to table an amendment, we can discuss it in due course.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I am glad the Deputy is aware of it.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I thank the Deputies for their contribution on the issue, particular of An Post which is a very important issue. We seem to agree that An Post services are very important from an economic, commercial and social point of view. I am glad to hear Deputies support An Post. I am sure that An Post will appreciate their support and the fact that they see the social and commercial role that it...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: It is a new contract that I have just signed. An Post won the contract. I wish to be very clear about that.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I will explain that issue. I said that it was to provide an additional resilience relating to the fact that An Post won the contract. I am glad that An Post won the contract but I want to ensure that the contract is resilient and robust because I want An Post to continue to provide services. In the past, the provision of services by An Post has been legally protested in the context of EU...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: It may be dangerous to suggest that the State prefers any tenderer when it is an open tender competition under EU rules. Let me stress that An Post applied for the contract and won it. It is important to specify that, Deputy.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: On a general legal point, I have been advised that designing tenders to favour one potential bidder may be legally suspect, as anyone who has been involved in contracts will be aware. To address a point raised by Deputies Joan Collins, Brendan Ryan and Ray Butler, the standards specified in the contract require that the outlets where the services are to be delivered are available for 95% of...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: We are talking about very large sums of money. We have to ask An Post to confirm and verify identities. When people are going to collect such payments, it would be advisable to bring some form of identification with them. I am aware that there have been many informal arrangements during the years. As the Deputy and I know, there has been significant movement of people around and in and out...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: Yes, 15 km.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: When did that occur?