Results 26,761-26,780 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)

Joan Burton: When we spoke at length about this last week, I said that this is a certain part of the hidden history of Ireland. I have had a long personal involvement in this issue. I know many people who were in these homes and institutions. I told Deputy McDonald last week that Judge Yvonne Murphy has been appointed by the Government to conduct an inquiry. Rather than rushing the terms of the...

Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)

Joan Burton: I cannot give the Deputy an exact date because the work is ongoing, but it will be as soon as possible. It is important that we get the terms of reference right because this is part of the story of hidden Ireland in the 20th century. We want to try to address all the relevant issues. There are some issues which can probably be addressed in other legislation such as, for instance, tracing...

Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)

Joan Burton: I am looking forward to the North-South meeting scheduled for the end of next week, in the context of the outcome of the referendum in Scotland and the ongoing debate in the British Parliament at Westminster about the implications of the result for the different regions in the United Kingdom. The North-South meeting will provide a timely opportunity to hear the views of people from the North...

Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)

Joan Burton: Deputy Shortall may be aware that there is a social inclusion division in the Department of Social Protection which publishes extensive material on poverty and inequality both before and after budgets in Ireland. That material, much of which is prepared in conjunction with the ESRI, is widely available and I have appeared before the Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection on...

Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)

Joan Burton: The mediation legislation should be ready early next year and the building control Bill is also expected next year.

Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)

Joan Burton: The geothermal Bill will be published late next year. As Deputy Durkan will be aware, the minerals Bill is coming through in this session. On the sale of alcohol Bill, the heads of that Bill were cleared by the Government some time ago but I expect it will come back to Government again before coming before the House.

Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)

Joan Burton: I do not have the detailed agenda to hand but I will come back to Deputy Smith separately.

Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)

Joan Burton: The children (amendment) Bill is for this session. On the recovery of funds from the banks and the financial institutions in the context of the banking collapse, as Deputy Broughan will be aware, strong progress has been made in renegotiating some €40 billion in savings from the national debt and very significant savings in interest from the different arrangements which have been...

Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)

Joan Burton: As I understand it, there is a memorandum coming to Cabinet next week on this matter. As Deputy Ó Fearghaíl will appreciate, there have been a number of changes in terms of officeholders and the new Ministers have had to come to grips with their new Departments. I expect the memorandum will come before Cabinet next week and will come before the House at an appropriate time...

Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)

Joan Burton: Deputy Higgins asked, on pending legislation, would the measure for the 410,000 households which will benefit from a quarterly payment of €25 or €100 per annum be legislated for after the budget, and the answer is "yes". While he may wish to disregard it, many feel that is an appropriate and helpful assistance.

Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)

Joan Burton: It will assist 410,000 households, including pensioners, carers, those who have a child on a domiciliary care allowance and those on disability. It will also be of significant assistance in reducing their water charges bill. As Deputy Higgins will be aware-----

Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)

Joan Burton: -----the best way to reduce water charges is to reduce consumption.

Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)

Joan Burton: When people are able to be advised of their consumption, we will have a significant opportunity to reduce expensive water usage.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Appeals (25 Sep 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 29 August 2014, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (25 Sep 2014)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the disability allowance appeal of the person concerned was received in that office on 15 April 2014. In accordance with legislative requirements the appeal contentions were forwarded to the Department with a request that the appeal file and submission by the Deciding Officer be provided. These were received in the appeals office on 30...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Payments (25 Sep 2014)

Joan Burton: The current position whereby Carers Allowance is retained for 6 weeks following the death of the care recipient is consistent with the approach taken by the Department in relation to payment after death across other schemes, such as the State Pension. The period gives a reasonable time for the carer to apply to the Department for other benefits to which they might be entitled or, where a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Household Benefits Scheme (25 Sep 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32, 33 and 51 together. The household benefits package comprises the electricity/gas allowance (€35 per month) and the free television licence scheme (€160 per annum). At present, it is paid to some 411,000 customers, with expenditure estimated at €230 million for 2014. From 2015 the household benefits package will also include a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Labour Activation Measures (25 Sep 2014)

Joan Burton: JobPath is the Government’s new labour market activation service aimed specifically at the long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed. JobPath will be delivered by third party providers of employment services under contract to the Department. JobPath will augment and complement the Department’s existing employment service capacity as well as...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (25 Sep 2014)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 20th February 2014. This application was referred to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors who did not consider that the child met the medical criteria for the allowance. A letter issued on the 10th April 2014 outlining the decision of the deciding officer to refuse the allowance. A...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme Payments (25 Sep 2014)

Joan Burton: The back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme provides a one-off payment to eligible families to assist with the extra costs when children start school each autumn. The Government has provided €46.3 million for the scheme in 2014 and provided assistance to over 160,000 families this year. It is estimated that the cost to restore the 2011 rates for the back to school...