Results 7,421-7,440 of 7,652 for speaker:Joanna Tuffy

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: National Adult Literary Agency: Discussion (25 Nov 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: While there has not been a great level of attendance by members of the committee, the people who are here are very interested and we will definitely follow it up. We have had a very good, informative engagement. We are very grateful to the witnesses for coming here. I also thank the members for their contributions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: National Adult Literary Agency: Discussion (25 Nov 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: Over the next two weeks, the Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills will meet to consider Supplementary Estimates for the Department of Social Protection on 1 December and the Department of Education and Skills on 8 December.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Data (26 Nov 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: 53. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the amount spent on rent supplement, by month, in 2014 and to date in 2015; the number of families in receipt of the supplement by county; the number of new applicants who have been provided with the supplement in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42157/15]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: State Banking Sector (1 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: 198. To ask the Minister for Finance the levies paid by the banks to the State, following the bank guarantee and recapitalisation, and the funds recouped by the State from these banks through the re-sale of shares or other assets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42579/15]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care Education (1 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: 365. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the need to have a career path for those who take degrees in early childhood education and to have proper pay and conditions in the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42478/15]

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: I welcome the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, and the officials from her Department. We are meeting to consider the Supplementary Estimate for Vote 37 - Social Protection for an amount of €299 million. For these items under discussion the committee has an opportunity to review the additional allocations now being sought on an item by item basis,...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: Members have also received briefing material from the secretariat. Will the members refer to outputs and inputs when asking questions?

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: Funds that are to be reallocated from the subhead arising from the saving or underspend-----

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: I am referring to the tables on page six of the document. One of the savings, which is in pay, is €3 million. It states that one of the factors giving rise to the saving or underspend is slower-than-expected filling of vacancies. What is the issue there? One would have thought that in the current climate it would not be difficult to fill vacancies. How is that affecting the...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: Are there many competitions?

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: There also appears to be a saving of €21 million under various subheadings - travel and subsistence, training and development and incidental expenses, postal and telecommunications services, office expenses and payment for agency services. Is it that there was an overestimate for these?

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: I have one final question in relation to PRSI and the extra money being received. A report was presented to this committee, and we have had a number of debates about the Social Insurance Fund and the deficit in it and the gap that needs to be filled. Where stands what was framed in that report? Does it appear that the hole and the future-----

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: Yes.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: In the absence of any further questions, that concludes our consideration of the matter. I thank the Minister, Deputy Joan Burton, and her officials for attending today's meeting of the select sub-committee.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Message to Dáil (1 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: In accordance with Standing Order 87, the following message will be sent to the Dáil:The Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection has completed its consideration of the following Supplementary Estimate for public services for the year ending 31 December 2015: Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (3 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: 237. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the building of school extensions for schools (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43226/15]

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary) (8 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: I ask everybody to put their phones on safe or flight mode or switch them off. The general note on privilege applies. Absolute privilege applies in respect of evidence but if anyone is directed to cease giving evidence on a particular matter, only a qualified privilege applies. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not criticise or...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary) (8 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: We will first consider subhead A6 - SNAs. I refer members to page 3 of the secretariat's brief and to page 3 of the Department's document.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary) (8 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: On that point, the purpose of an SNA might have to do with care but, obviously, it would free up teaching hours. An issue that has arisen is whether the SNA facility was being used in the correct way. The reform being proposed by the national council as to how we look at these matters is that we are not just putting in the numbers of SNAs, but asking if they are needed, if they are being...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary) (8 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: It is not that they are not interconnected. A special needs assistant in a classroom has a relationship with education. That may not be the SNA’s role, although many would argue differently. The SNA is there to help the child stay in the classroom.