Results 13,881-13,900 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (8 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: Rent supplement provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation, whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. Since 2005, rent supplement expenditure has increased from €369 million to a provisional outturn of €503 million in 2011. The number of persons...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (8 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: The live register has risen to unprecedented levels due to the economic downturn and this has resulted in a major increase in the number of people attending the Department's local offices. In many instances people begin queuing outside offices before they open in the mornings. These queues include people making a claim for the first time and people signing the live register to show that they...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (8 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: Responsibility for the Local Employment Services (LES) transferred from the Department of Education and Skills to the Department of Social Protection with effect from 1 January 2012. My Department recognises the valuable role the Local Employment Services play in the activation of unemployed people, particularly those most disadvantaged and distant from the labour market. My officials have...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (8 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: Self-employed persons are liable for PRSI at the Class S rate of 4% which entitles them to access long-term benefits such as State pension (contributory) and widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's pension (contributory). A total of 14.75% PRSI is payable in respect of ordinary employees under PRSI Class A and provides access to the full range of social insurance benefits. (4% is...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (8 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was refused carer's allowance in respect of a second care recipient on the grounds that the Department's Medical Assessor expressed the opinion that the care recipient mentioned above is not so disabled as to require full-time care and attention as prescribed in regulations. She was notified of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review or appeal....

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: Invalidity pension is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the contribution conditions. This department received a claim for invalidity pension for the person concerned. The medical evidence provided by the claimant in support of her claim was examined by a medical assessor who was of the opinion that the person...

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: I wish to be associated with the condolences offered by Deputy Michael McGrath to the deputy leader of Fianna Fáil, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, on the death of his mother, Emer Uí Chuív. This is a retirement scheme which, as I am sure the Deputy will recall, was arranged and introduced by the late Brian Lenihan, with a retirement date of February 2012. What it means in practice is the...

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: In regard to my Department, and I speak for my other colleagues-----

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: -----course we have been aware of this scheme, we inherited it from your good selves, and in every Department planning has gone ahead to deal with this transition and transformation, which is also a critical element of the changes which are taking place under the Croke Park agreement. The Taoiseach correctly has asked for this to be formalised by bringing it for discussion before the Cabinet...

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: I think I speak for the other members of the Government when I say-----

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: -----that probably the most notable example of surprise was the notification one day of an option, which was perfectly exercisable by the individual concerned, as he was entitled to do under the arrangements and commitments the Deputy's party in government made in the context of the broader Croke Park agreement and other arrangements with public servants, when we heard that the director of...

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: -----and befuddled by arrangements his party put in place-----

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: -----leaves me slightly puzzled.

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: Can I say to Deputy McGrath that the thing that surprised me most is the state that Fianna Fáil left the country in-----

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: -----and the lack of detailed arrangements they left behind them.

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: Perhaps, the party can reflect back in sorrow.

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: Perhaps Fianna Fáil is in reflection mode in sorrow and self-blame for what it did.

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: Let me say again in regard to the various Departments, as I think the Deputy will appreciate, this has been an ongoing matter of continuous discussion between individual Ministers and the Secretaries General of their Departments. I can speak for myself but I know I also speak for other Ministers.

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: I have discussed this with my Secretary General on a weekly basis and we have had a group of very senior civil servants-----

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: -----in our Department. Can I just explain? In the Department of Social Protection we have taken in 1,700 new staff under the transformation programme, the former community welfare officers and the former FÁS employment staff.