Results 27,721-27,740 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

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

Joan Burton: Two measures in the budget are relevant to people with children, aside from the discussion we just had on people parenting on their own. The first is the increase payment of €5 a month to each child in receipt of child benefit. There is a commitment for a further increase of €5 in the next budget if resources permit. It is important to keep that caveat in mind. The economy...

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

Joan Burton: The back to work family dividend is estimated to cost €22 million. It will be backdated to 1 January. I anticipate the legislation dealing with this will be introduced in another social welfare Bill in the spring. The plan, subject to the Dáil timetable, is to have it enacted by 1 April 2015.

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 the total amount of money that will be spent on FIS. We are advertising it much more. Last year, we introduced a better off in work calculator which allows a family to compare benefits to working. In 2007, when the economy started to go down the hill, the amount spent on FIS was €140 million. The expected expenditure this year on FIS is €281 million. We anticipate 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 want to revise a figure. I confirm that the FIS spending figure for next year will be €350 million. We did have these discussions and our dear departed advisers may have had a lot of ideas on how to simplify things. We examined all the ideas. My overwhelming political priority is to get people back to work. The reform of the FIS scheme has made FIS much easier to avail of....

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

Joan Burton: Yes. When people come in for activation procedures introduced by the Department we sit them down in a group engagement and list for them all of the potential opportunities, ranging from education, training and work experience to employment. Subsequently, we offer people a tailored programme. One of the key points is that we have a response if somebody says: "Between myself and my family we...

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

Joan Burton: No. The supports are as they were, but they are now taken up.

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

Joan Burton: It was very difficult for people to take them up before until we made improvements in IT systems.

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. 3: In page 3, line 10, to delete “The Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005” and substitute “The Principal Act”.

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

Joan Burton: I will certainly undertake to examine the issue and see what can be done to assist. Clearly, the Lough Credit Union would have to be in agreement on the matter, as would the local MABS. Certainly, I am happy to examine 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 know exactly where it is. I am familiar with the Lough Credit Union.

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

Joan Burton: I do not want to say that until I have an opportunity to examine the matter.

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

Joan Burton: I understand there will be an Estimates debate early in the new year. I will certainly ask to have it looked at and perhaps take the opportunity to have some discussion on the matter at that point, or earlier if, in fact, a satisfactory resolution is reached.

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

Joan Burton: I do not propose to accept the amendment. The social welfare appeals process operates on a statutory basis and social welfare appeals officers are required to be quasi-judicial in performing their functions. The Social Welfare Appeals Office, therefore, operates independently of the Department of Social Protection. It is important to note that processing times for appeals do not relate...

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

Joan Burton: The over-emphasis on appeal?

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

Joan Burton: The Deputy is a national expert.

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

Joan Burton: I bow to his superior knowledge.

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

Joan Burton: We all share a common objective here, that where people have an entitlement to a social welfare income support they would be dealt with as quickly, efficiently, effectively and courteously as possible. It should be stressed again that, in essence, we have a multiple review process and opportunity. It is not available in the British or Northern Ireland systems. It is one of the reasons our...

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

Joan Burton: Deputies will know from previous discussions that the system for dealing with domiciliary care allowance applications was changed. All of the timelines were changed in order to facilitate applicants who had to get a letter from consultants. Chairman, may I make a suggestion that perhaps a committee hearing with the officials would be beneficial. The systems are improving all the time. I...

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. 7: In page 4, between lines 5 and 6, to insert the following: “Means assessment for one-parent family payment3. Rule 1(4) (amended by section 11 of the Social Welfare Act 2011) of Part 5 of Schedule 3 to the Principal Act is amended—(a) in subparagraph (a), by the substitution of “subject to this paragraph,” for “subject to subparagraph...

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

Joan Burton: I shall deal with this issue because I know members are anxious to mention the other amendments. As a consequence of the changes in the package announced last week we have more affordable water charges and the conservation grant of €100 which will be administered by the Department. As a result Irish Water will no longer require PPS numbers and there will no longer be a need for Irish...