Results 30,341-30,360 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Order of Business (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: It is up to Galway City Council to have actually made the applications-----

Order of Business (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: If it has now done them, the Department has actually approved the applications in respect of councils right around the country.

Order of Business (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The Minister, Deputy Howlin, made that allocation of additional staffing available precisely to encourage councils to speed up the time they take to provide accommodation, pass on tenants and deal with refurbishments. If we can get the councils working as quickly and strongly as possible in getting through all the stages, we will be able to house more families sooner. That allocation was...

Order of Business (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The legislation pertaining to building regulations will come before the Houses later this year. I do not currently have a date for the insurance Bill.

Order of Business (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: Deputy McGrath is just a little ahead of his time.

Order of Business (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: As Deputy McGrath knows, more than half of the GPs in the country have signed up for a service----

Order of Business (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: -----which was going to be vitally important for 270,000 children and their families. I urge any GPs who are still considering their options to sign up.

Order of Business (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: It is in the interests of the health of the children of Ireland to do this.

Order of Business (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: Regarding the precise situation in south Tipperary to which the Deputy referred, as he knows everything about everything in County Tipperary, I am sure he understands whatever the complexities may be.

Order of Business (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: I would really like to see County Tipperary having the full value of the GP card for all children under six. Whatever the issues are, I hope they can be resolved as quickly as possible and that the doctors of south Tipperary can join the scheme.

Order of Business (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The health information Bill should come before the House later this year. I do not have any date for the human tissue Bill.

Order of Business (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: That may be included in the human tissue Bill, for which, as I said, I do not yet have a date.

Order of Business (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: I am happy to say that we have had 1,000 additional apprenticeships since Christmas. I had the privilege of being with the ESB as it launched a very ambitious three-year programme for apprenticeships and had many tens of thousands of young people indicating an interest. I know this matter is a very important priority for the Minister for Education and Skills. The Apprenticeship Council of...

Order of Business (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: As I said earlier, obviously, interested parties are circulated by the judge, as the chairperson of the commission of inquiry sees appropriate. I have seen the same media reports that some interim documentation has been circulated to interested parties and, obviously, as I am not an interested party, I would not have received it. When these matters are dealt with between the judge and the...

Order of Business (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: In regard to a Dáil debate on children, as I said, that is a matter for the Whips. If the Whips care to identify a time, I would be very happy to see that debate taking place.

Order of Business (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: The Deputy must bear in mind that our social welfare system is among the strongest in Europe and the effect of social transfers in Ireland is to reduce the risk of poverty for children and adults right down to one of the lowest figures in Europe. It is a great tribute to all the parties in this House that we have broad agreement that social welfare and income support for families,...

Order of Business (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: All of that, as it grows the economy, is producing prosperity for families with children. In last year's budget, I was delighted to be able to increase child benefit and to increase and bring in-----

Order of Business (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: -----the back to work family dividend, which is worth €30 per week per child to any adult in a family with children who is going back to work. The roll-out of that has been extremely successful in attracting families with children back to work.

Order of Business (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: Traditionally, Fianna Fáil would have absolutely supported supports for families with children going back to work. It is surprising it does not support them at the moment. Vetting is dealt with in the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill, which is awaiting Report Stage. I will have to ask the Minister to give me an enactment date for the Child and Family Relationships Bill.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Eligibility (11 Jun 2015)

Joan Burton: I should point out that the means test for carer's allowance (CA) has been significantly eased over the years, and is now one of the most generous means tests in the social welfare system - the income disregard is €332.50 per week for a single person and €665 per week for a couple I am satisfied that the means test as it presently applies in respect of CA helps to ensure...