Results 27,681-27,700 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Applications (25 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: On 10thNovember 2014 the person concerned enquired about applying for an exceptional needs payment to cover the cost of the first month’s rent for his new accommodation. The landlord for this accommodation does not accept rent supplement; the person concerned was therefore advised that an exceptional needs payment cannot be paid in lieu of rent supplement in circumstances where rent...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pensions Legislation (25 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The Pensions Authority has published a range of information booklets on various aspects of pension provision. The booklet you refer to provides guidance on the duties and responsibilities of the trustees of a pension scheme. In the introduction, it states that the trustees “have duties and responsibilities under trust law, under other relevant legislation and under the Pensions Act,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Applications (25 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The person in question applied for Jobseeker’s allowance transition (JST) and was provisionally advised she would qualify. When the application was more closely examined the officer dealing with the claim realised the person in question did not have an entitlement and telephoned the person in question advising her that a payment would not be made. The person in question was advised of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (25 Nov 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 disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of an Oral Hearing. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision in writing on 17 November 2014. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Contracts (25 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: Neither the Department nor any agency of the Department has awarded any contracts to the company concerned since 9 March 2011.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Water Conservation Grant (25 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection will administer, on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, a €100 water conservation grant for households that complete a valid response to Irish Water’s customer registration process. The grant will be paid to the registered householders annually, in respect of their primary dwellings, with the first...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Water Charges Administration (26 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 43 together. The €100 water conservation grant for households that complete a valid response to Irish Water’s customer registration process will be a Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government scheme. That Department will be responsible for all aspects of policy in regard to the scheme, including eligibility. The...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Places (26 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: I acknowledge the valuable contribution made by community employment (CE) projects. In 2012 a financial review of all CE projects was carried out. In addition, the Department undertook a separate review of the effectiveness of a range of employment supports which included CE. Due to the current economic circumstances, the Department has had to find significant savings in the Budget for 2012...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Eligibility (26 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: Child benefit is payable in respect of children who are ordinarily resident in the state. In the case of the person concerned payment was suspended in June 2014 as she failed to provide relevant information that was requested in March 2014 in relation to her residency. The Department received notification of her new address during October 2014 and child benefit has now been reinstated from...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payments (26 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: Departmental records show that the person concerned last claimed one parent family payment in April 2014 when she was living in Celbridge, Co Kildare. She did, however, move from that address and her subsequent addresses were unknown. She is currently in temporary accommodation and is in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance in respect of herself and her child from the Department while...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Meetings (26 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The Management Board (MB) of the Department comprises the Secretary General, Deputy Secretary, Assistant Secretaries, Chief Appeals Officer and the Chief Medical Adviser, all of whom are civil servants. Other officials from the Department also attend MB meetings to assist in the discussion of agenda items. Their attendance is only for the agenda item being considered. The Management Board...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following: “Definitions 1.In this Act—“Act of 2012” means the Social Welfare Act 2012; “Principal Act” means the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005.”.The purpose of these amendments is to retain the earnings disregard in the case of recipients of one-parent family...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: Yes, that is the way it would have been. We had a detailed discussion in the Seanad at the time and I said I would keep this under review so I am delighted to say we have the resources. I am sure the Deputy has already heard the good news that the rate of unemployment has fallen below 11 and that 1.9 million people are at work. Many of those going back to work are lone parents. In the...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: That is-----

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: Well then I suggest the Deputy use it.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: I accept what the Deputy is saying but Deputy O'Dea would complain if we spent money on a nice wing-binder type of consolidated Act which, as a member of the legal profession, he would be used to. It certainly would be useful but we do not have the funds as yet to do that.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: I thank the Deputies for their contributions. On the issue of lone parents, Deputy Collins asks how come there are 1.9 million people at work. That is a great achievement for the Irish economy.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: I did not ask that.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The figure today - 1.9 million people at work - is a great achievement for the economy. I know enough people in the Deputy's constituency to know that there are many people in that area going back to work. They may not all go to the Deputy and tell her they are going back to work. However, the figures show they are. That is something we should all celebrate. This leads me to make a...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: It is because I would like to see women in Ireland presenting themselves not in terms of their parenting status but in terms of themselves as human beings who are involved in their families and communities. The first thing a politician says about somebody in a relationship is not whether he or she is married. There is an intense amount of stereotyping among some people in the political...