Results 28,821-28,840 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (25 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The application, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds and the person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 20 February 2015. In that decision notification the applicant was given the option of seeking a review or appealing our decision directly to the Social Welfare Appeals Office, within 21 days.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Public Services Card Provision (25 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The Public Services Card (PSC) has been introduced to enable individuals gain access to public services more efficiently and with a minimum of duplication of effort, while at the same time preserving their privacy to the maximum extent possible. The PSC is designed to replace other cards within the public sector such as the Free Travel Pass and the Social Services Card (SSC) of this...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Eligibility (25 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: There are currently approximately 800,000 people in Ireland in receipt of free travel at an annual cost of €77 million per annum. The free travel scheme is available to all people aged over 66 living permanently in the State. The Department does not accept applications from people under 66 who are not in receipt of a qualifying payment. The qualifying payments for those aged under...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Offices (25 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The Intreo Office in Kilbarrack is fully operational and fitted out and was opened in January 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Data (25 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 72 together. The number of interns participating in the JobBridge scheme in each County is set out in Table 1. The number of interns participating in the JobBridge scheme with each Local Authority is set out in Table 2. Table 1. JobBridge Interns by County County Finished Current Total DUBLIN 10,463 1,734 12,197 CORK 2,925 522 3,447 GALWAY ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (25 Feb 2015)

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 was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision on 19thFebruary 2015. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for...

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: Regarding the development of rural Ireland, I am sure the Deputy will join me in welcoming the announcement by Apple of the establishment of a major data centre, on a global and European scale, in Athenry. That is the type of news for rural Ireland that every Deputy wishes to hear. It is part of the fruits of the work of the Government in developing a regional strategy, which we published...

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: I thank the Deputy.

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: I recall the record of the Deputy's own party in respect of post offices. In a period of great economic boom in Ireland, from 2003 to 2011, such was his party's incredible concern for rural Ireland that it closed 1,100 post offices. Those are the numbers.

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: I would not expect much to bring a blush to the face of Fianna Fáil, but the closure of 1,100 post offices is somewhat Olympian in standards. As the Deputy knows, particularly since I became Minister for Social Protection, An Post has gone on to compete successfully-----

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The record should show that the Deputy is now an attractive shade of pink, demonstrating that he does have a response.

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: Since I became Minister for Social Protection, An Post has gone on to successfully compete for the contract for payments in cash through post offices across the country. This is important in urban areas but is particularly important in rural areas. I have been very happy as Minister for Social Protection to see this happen, as opposed to having extended discussions on it, as happened when...

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: This has given quite a significant cost break to people in rural Ireland.

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The Deputy will be aware that the number of people in negative equity and mortgage difficulties is falling. It is not falling as far or as fast as I would like, but it is decreasing. The Taoiseach and I recently met with the Insolvency Service of Ireland and with personal insolvency practitioners, PIPs, who arrange deals with the banks and other mortgage suppliers where there are...

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: With regard to the Deputy's proposal on the banks, the important point from the perspective of everybody in the country, including people suffering from mortgage distress, is that we have banks that function properly as banks, give credit and also lend mortgages for new homes. There has to be balance, however. In developing a balanced policy, I assume Sinn Féin would want functioning...

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: We inherited a banking system that had collapsed and we had to address it. Figures from the Department of Finance show that, with regard to the six main banks, the number of people in arrears for more than 90 days has actually fallen very significantly, by over 15,500 accounts, by comparison with the figure for the start of 2014. This is a process that has to be worked through.

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: There are several difficulties. First, to get any settlement, there has to be engagement between the debtor and lender. There was a significant number of debtors who, to their detriment, were not engaging at all. It is vital that anybody with this kind of difficulty engage with his bank.

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: We established the Insolvency Service of Ireland. The bankruptcy period and the settlements that were available for people-----

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: -----in debt or arrears were extremely confined in Ireland. We now have a range of measures in this regard. My Department runs, sponsors and finances the Money Advice and Budgeting Service, which deals with quite a number of difficult cases.

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: What is needed is for both sides to come together and an agreement to be reached in which there is some payment and some attempt to address the debt. That can be done. As I stated, I met personal insolvency practitioners at some length, together with representatives of the Insolvency Service of Ireland. There is more that we can do. One step we can take is to re-examine the period of...