Results 29,921-29,940 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton
- Leaders' Questions (14 May 2015)
Joan Burton: It is difficult to contemplate a more distressing scenario for parents than the death of a baby during childbirth or shortly after delivery. It is all the more difficult for women in that I do not think anyone is quite as vulnerable as a woman when she is having a baby. I cannot say enough to express how sorry I am for the families and parents, in particular the mothers, involved. Having...
- Leaders' Questions (14 May 2015)
Joan Burton: I thank the Deputy for agreeing that the best outcomes for mothers and babies are the key objective. HIQA's Portlaoise hospital report makes eight recommendations, of which I want to pick out two. In terms of the recommendations to the Department of Health, the third is to develop a national maternity strategy. In terms of the recommendations to the HSE, the sixth is to develop a strong...
- Leaders' Questions (14 May 2015)
Joan Burton: As the Deputy knows, the Government has committed to probably the largest ever investment in social housing because most of the families to which she referred would be interested in obtaining social housing as the solution to their housing issues.
- Leaders' Questions (14 May 2015)
Joan Burton: That programme is under way. Councils have been given allocations and I want to see them starting work on the programme as soon as possible. In addition, the number of voided properties for which councils were given funding in recent years, including this year, should result in an extra 1,000 units being available this year-----
- Leaders' Questions (14 May 2015)
Joan Burton: -----depending in particular on the co-operation and level of activity of Dublin City Council. If we can increase supply significantly, be it through reopening and refurbishing voided properties or building new properties as fast as we can and looking for co-operation, which we are getting, from the voluntary housing associations in making additional housing provision, this will be the...
- Leaders' Questions (14 May 2015)
Joan Burton: -----is at risk of homelessness because his or her lease might be coming to an end or the landlord has made an approach about raising the rent, causing the person concern, I am asking people in that situation and public representatives to get people to go to the community welfare services of the Department of Social Protection. We have already negotiated, in conjunction with quite a number...
- Leaders' Questions (14 May 2015)
Joan Burton: We have already-----
- Leaders' Questions (14 May 2015)
Joan Burton: Can I just say-----
- Leaders' Questions (14 May 2015)
Joan Burton: Can I just say that we have already this year negotiated 4,500-----
- Leaders' Questions (14 May 2015)
Joan Burton: Would Deputy Ellis do me the courtesy of listening?
- Leaders' Questions (14 May 2015)
Joan Burton: We have already negotiated 4,500 rental agreements for families under the Department of Social Protection.
- Leaders' Questions (14 May 2015)
Joan Burton: Sorry, but I am just going to repeat the figures. We have already negotiated this year 4,500 rentals through the rent supplement scheme. Deputy Ellis should not be saying to people that their only alternative is to register as homeless.
- Leaders' Questions (14 May 2015)
Joan Burton: He should get them to go to the community welfare service-----
- Leaders' Questions (14 May 2015)
Joan Burton: -----where they will be helped to negotiate.
- Leaders' Questions (14 May 2015)
Joan Burton: I want to address-----
- Leaders' Questions (14 May 2015)
Joan Burton: I want to address Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan's question. There are two ways of helping families at risk of becoming homeless. I think that there is agreement across this House that that is a major priority. The first is to increase supply, build houses-----
- Leaders' Questions (14 May 2015)
Joan Burton: -----and get houses for lease or rent for families that need housing. We are doing that.
- Leaders' Questions (14 May 2015)
Joan Burton: Already this year, we have negotiated 4,500-----
- Leaders' Questions (14 May 2015)
Joan Burton: -----rental arrangements funded by rent supplement.
- Leaders' Questions (14 May 2015)
Joan Burton: What I want to say to Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan is that people having to register as homeless should be the absolute last resort. It is extraordinarily and exceptionally difficult for families that move into temporary accommodation such as hotels to look after their children properly. We want families with children in homes that they can call their own and where they do not need to be in a...