Results 28,101-28,120 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Order of Business (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: I am delighted at what has happened in the relationship been the United States and Cuba. The boycott of Cuba had been in place for more than 50 years and I am delighted to see it lifted. I wish prosperity and positive developments from this for the people of Cuba. I understand this is covered by the mediation Bill. The Deputy will know that last weekend we marked the successful conclusion...

Order of Business (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: As I said, the legislation on the sale of alcohol is anticipated to come before the House in the middle of next year. I do not have an exact date for the wind energy guidelines as Ministers have changed in both of the relevant Departments.

Order of Business (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: Both Ministers have met communities and organisations and have travelled the country to talk to people on what is a very sensitive and important issue.

Order of Business (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: I am not aware of any commitment the Taoiseach made to Deputy Troy on parliamentary questions but I do know that my Department uses a great deal of its resources, at a cost of several million euro per year, to answer parliamentary questions in their many facets and formats. I think my Department answers the largest number of individual parliamentary questions and my staff, at all levels,...

Order of Business (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: I understand that the Minister is ready to announce the terms of reference, though I am not sure precisely when this will occur. This matter was discussed by the Cabinet and I understand that the terms of reference are ready to be announced soon.

Order of Business (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The first meeting of the Cabinet is to take place on 8 January and I understand that this matter will be raised on that occasion. The legislation will be dealt with in the new year.

Order of Business (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The plan brought before the House by the Minister, Deputy Kelly, included very good innovations like the night café, which guarantees that people living on the street can get tea, coffee, soup and other food. All of this is proceeding, as is the night bus to bring people to shelters with beds. A certain amount of accommodation has become available and I saw yesterday that the...

Order of Business (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: I understand the pre-legislative examination of the proposals has been before the committee and that the Minister is currently examining the proposals made by the committee.

Order of Business (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: It will be before the committee at Christmas. I imagine the Deputy is aware of and has seen the fine new facilities opened recently in Blanchardstown and more recently in Grangegorman. They are providing vital services to people troubled by mental health issues. Furthermore, we have seen significant change with the opening and building of primary care centres throughout Dublin....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Reports (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The 2013 Annual Report of the Department of Social Protection was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 9 April 2014, and was published the following day. The 2013 Annual Report is available for download on the Department of Social Protection's website at

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Eligibility (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department has no record of the person concerned seeking a review of the decision to disallow an application for an exceptional needs payment. If she wishes to make an appeal she should contact the community welfare service of the Department.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Household Benefits Scheme (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department will spend €230 million this year on the household benefits package for approximately 415,000 customers. There were no changes to the household benefits package or the fuel allowance arising from Budget 2015. The living alone allowance has been increased to €9 per week, benefitting 177,500 people at a cost of €12 million. A 25% Christmas bonus will...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 21stOctober 2014. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (18 Dec 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 05thNovember 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: Carer's Allowance Appeals (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: I am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an appeal was registered on 15thSeptember 2014 and in accordance with the statutory requirements the Appeals Office contacted the person concerned and asked him to set out the complete grounds of his appeal. The person concerned responded and on 07thOctober 2014 and the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker's allowance schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative employment. The revised estimates for the Department provide for expenditure of €3.3bn in 2014 in respect of the jobseekers schemes. In respect of jobseeker's allowance, legislation provides that a person shall be disqualified from the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 5th November 2014. This application has been forwarded to one of the Department's Medical Assessors for their medical opinion. Following receipt of this opinion, a decision will be made by a Deciding Officer and notified to the person concerned. It can currently take 10 weeks to process an...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Treatment Benefit Scheme Administration (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The treatment benefit scheme is paid from the Social Insurance Fund (SIF). Due to a shortfall in the funds available from the SIF, subvention to the fund from the general exchequer was required from 2010. Given that the expenditure pressures on the Fund were likely to continue and the need to get the public finances back on track, changes to the benefits available under the treatment...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Administration (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 42 together. This year the Department will spend approximately €91.6 million on the farm assist scheme benefitting around 9,900 farmers each week. The farm assist scheme provides support for farmers on low incomes and is similar to jobseeker’s allowance. Farm assist recipients retain the advantages of the jobseeker’s allowance...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Programmes (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Government published a Statement of Government Priorities for the period 2014 to 2016 on 11 July last. The statement sets out how we will build a social recovery to accompany the economic recovery that is now under way. The key priorities in the statement are: 1. Strengthening the Domestic Economy & Prioritising New Jobs for the Unemployed 2. Delivering Better Living and...