Results 27,081-27,100 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Order of Business (16 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: That is a matter for the Whips who can have such a discussion.

Order of Business (16 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: I favour Irish Water having communications with the different political parties and with the Oireachtas. It is a publicly-owned company and is responsible in terms of public accountability. I am sure it will provide public accountability - as is required of similar public utility bodies - to this House on its own operations. The Deputy's other query concerned the Finance Bill which will...

Order of Business (16 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: There is the normal Oireachtas scrutiny in respect of health. I am sure the Fianna Fáil spokesman will speak to the Minister about it.

Order of Business (16 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: With regard to carers and the wonderful work they do for the people they care for, the Deputy is aware they will be among the principal beneficiaries of the partial restoration of the Christmas bonus. For an individual carer, this means an additional payment in December. In respect of the individual, if the family of the carer is in receipt of social welfare the amount will be higher. It...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Unemployment Data (16 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: The geographical distribution of the Department of Social Protection resources is matched to the variation in demand including unemployment black spots around the country. Our labour market activation strategy, Pathways to Work, targets resources at helping the long-term unemployed and those at risk of becoming long-term unemployed. Targeting those most at risk of long-term unemployment, by...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Job Creation (16 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: The Government’s primary strategy to reduce unemployment has been through policies to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting competitiveness and productivity. Economic recovery will underpin jobs growth. The Government also recognises the need to ensure that particular groups, such as the long-term unemployed and young people, share in the recovery and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Respite Care Grant Payments (16 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: The Respite Care Grant (RCG) is an annual payment of €1,375 for carers who look after certain people in need of full-time care and attention. The Government acknowledges the critical contribution made by carers to society which is why income supports for carers in this country are among the highest in Europe - expenditure on income supports for carers generally has increased from...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Eligibility (16 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 44 together. Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is paid in respect of children who have a severe disability requiring constant care and attention substantially in excess of that needed by a child of the same age without the disability. The need for the additional care and attention must be likely to last for at least 12 months. Eligibility for DCA is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Support Services (16 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: While services for people with disabilities are the responsibility of the Department of Health and the HSE, in relation to income supports for people with disabilities, in framing budgetary adjustments over the past number of years, the primary concern of the Department has been to protect primary social welfare rates including disability payments, pensions and carer’s allowance, and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Eligibility (16 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: To qualify for the carer’s allowance payment, a person must meet certain conditions. For example, they cannot be engaged in employment, self-employment, training or education courses outside the home for more than 15 hours a week as this would impact on their caring responsibilities. Community Employment (CE) involves working a 19½hour week, so by taking up a CE position, a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (16 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 to 51, inclusive, together. The purpose of the rent supplement scheme 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 own resources. The overall aim is to provide short term assistance, and not...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (16 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: Jobseeker's allowance is a means tested social assistance scheme. For means test purposes, account is taken of the income and assets of the claimant and their spouse or partner including the earnings of the spouse. No account is taken of outgoings such as mortgage repayments, rent or other financial commitments in calculating means for social assistance schemes generally, including...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Interest Supplement Eligibility (16 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: Following a review, the client was requested, in line with Departmental guidelines, to contact her mortgage provider with a view to restructuring her loan and to inform the Department of the outcome. Following on from Parliamentary Questions raised by you Deputy in May and July of this year, an officer of the Department contacted the client to offer assistance and again requested outstanding...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Applications (16 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned made a claim for jobseeker's allowance on 26th May 2014. During the claim process he was requested to provide documentary evidence of how he had supported himself since his last employment terminated in May 2011. The person concerned failed to provide the satisfactory evidence and the deciding officer disallowed his claim. This decision can be appealed by the person...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (16 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: The application based upon the evidence submitted was refused as the person concerned has means in excess of the statutory limit applied for disability allowance arising from his wife's earnings. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 7 October 2014 and of his right to seek either a review of this decision or appeal directly to the independent Social Welfare Appeals...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: Jobseeker's allowance is payable to a person who satisfies all the conditions for the scheme including being capable of, available for and genuinely seeking work. Generally a person receiving hospital treatment would not be considered available for work. A person who finds themselves in this situation and who has insufficient funds to meet their needs can apply for a payment under the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (16 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer's decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Internship Scheme Administration (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: The Minister of State has spoken of the overwhelming positive experiences reported by interns on this scheme. It would be helpful to recall that when JobBridge was introduced in 2011, many people were expressing frustration that jobseekers could not take up unpaid work experience opportunities either because they could not afford the expenses associated with going to work or, worse still,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Internship Scheme Administration (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: As the Deputy probably heard during the budget announcement, next year 1,800 people will be recruited into schools, including teachers, resource teachers and SNAs. In terms of Ireland's economic recovery, it is a real pleasure to be able to announce such widescale recruitment in 2015. That is very positive. The reality - the Deputy does not appear to appreciate this - is that a person who...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Internship Scheme Administration (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: There is in place a monthly reporting format which allows hosts and interns to cross-check on their mutual experiences. I suggest that the Deputy's constituent - I would be disappointed if she does not do this - who appears to be highly qualified, contacts the Department of Social Protection and provides it with a run-down of her experience, including the name of the school concerned. Often...