Results 29,841-29,860 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Order of Business (7 May 2015)

Joan Burton: No, the civil debt procedures Bill-----

Order of Business (7 May 2015)

Joan Burton: Perhaps the Deputy is better off addressing that specific question to the Minister. Deputy Stanley asked about debt. What I said is the same as I outlined to his deputy leader, Deputy McDonald, which is that in particular, the Department of Social Protection has a very long record in helping families who have debt issues, especially through the household budgeting scheme with An Post, to...

Order of Business (7 May 2015)

Joan Burton: In regard to households who wish to pay-----

Order of Business (7 May 2015)

Joan Burton: -----in small amounts, the household budgeting service discussions are ongoing between the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and An Post to have the service extended to include those particular bills if people so wish. Many people use the scheme, in particular for paying bills such as ESB and gas and local authority rents.

Order of Business (7 May 2015)

Joan Burton: I understand legislation on victims rights will be introduced later this year. On the second matter, I do not have a date for the publication of the prisons Bill or any further information on the Bill.

Order of Business (7 May 2015)

Joan Burton: I expect the Bill to come before the House later this year.

Order of Business (7 May 2015)

Joan Burton: First, as the Deputy is aware, domestic violence affects men as well.

Order of Business (7 May 2015)

Joan Burton: We must be conscious of that point because it is terrible when it happens in any family. Discussions are ongoing on domestic violence and the Istanbul declaration. I do not have a date for when the discussions will conclude. Neither do I have dates on the other matters.

Order of Business (7 May 2015)

Joan Burton: I understand the Bill will be published later in the year.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance (7 May 2015)

Joan Burton: Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) is paid by employees, their employers and the self-employed for the sole purpose of funding social insurance benefits to provide pensions and other working age benefits to those who have established an entitlement. Prior to 2011 the health contribution paid by employees was collected along with PRSI. PRSI was separate to the health contribution and was...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme (7 May 2015)

Joan Burton: The free travel scheme permits free travel on most CIE public transport services, Luas and a range of services offered by some 80 private operators in various parts of the country for those eligible under the scheme. There are currently in excess of 810,000 customers with direct eligibility with an annual allocation of €77 million. As regards routes with Public Service Obligation...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Bereavement Grant (7 May 2015)

Joan Burton: The overall concern in recent Budgets has been to protect primary social welfare rates. Abolishing the bereavement grant provided an annual saving of €22 million. This allowed the Department to protect other more fundamental social welfare payments such as the State pension. Accordingly, I have no plans to reinstate the bereavement grant. There are a range of supports available...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Payments (7 May 2015)

Joan Burton: The disability allowance payment of the person in question has been re-instated with effect from 29 April 2015. First payment will be on 8 May 2015 and includes arrears due.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (7 May 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 17thDecember 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: Carer's Allowance Appeals (7 May 2015)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 24th July 2013. The person in question was refused carer’s allowance on the grounds that the care recipient is not so disabled as to require full time care and attention as prescribed in regulations. The person in question was notified on the 21st of September 2013 of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Appeals (7 May 2015)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was requested to submit written confirmation of her current address to Maynooth Branch Office. On receipt of the requested documentation, her claim will be reviewed and she will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Eligibility (7 May 2015)

Joan Burton: The reforms to the one-parent family payment aim to reduce long-term social welfare dependency among lone parents by providing them with access the Department’s range of education, training, and employment programmes, with a view to developing their skills set and assisting them into sustainable employment, whilst simultaneously acknowledging their specific caring responsibilities. ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (12 May 2015)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 220 and 248 together. The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) is designed to support jobseekers to undertake second chance education. A person wishing to pursue a course of study under BTEA must satisfy a number of conditions such as age, in receipt of a qualifying payment, in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for a specified period of time...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (12 May 2015)

Joan Burton: The person in question has been awarded a disability allowance payment with effect from 4 February 2015. First payment will be on 27 May 2015 and any arrears due will follow shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (12 May 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 has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection...