Results 18,921-18,940 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Respite Care Services (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The respite care grant (RCG) is an annual payment made automatically to people in receipt of carer’s allowance, carer’s benefit, or domiciliary care allowance from my Department. Other people who are not in receipt of one of these payments, but who are providing full time care and attention can also apply for the grant via separate application. The RCG is paid automatically on...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer having fully considered all the available evidence allowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision on 11th December 2012. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 28th November 2012, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: Under social welfare legislation, certain payments received by way of pension are excluded from income on which PRSI is charged. As payments received under the Early Retirement Scheme are regarded as payments received by way of pension, they are not subject to PRSI and therefore do not contribute to a social welfare entitlement.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Turbary Rights (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: Payments received by persons under European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 in compensation for loss suffered by the depreciation of an interest in the land to which he or she is entitled (turf cutting compensation scheme) are not assessable as cash income for the purposes of means tested, social assistance payments.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Remuneration (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection has not sought sanction for any promotions or acting-up allowances in respect of staffing arrangements associated with the upcoming EU presidency.

Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: I would like to put on the record of the House that much of the discussion by the Opposition around the lone parent and carers issues is confusing people. I will explain to Members what a single parent with a special needs child receives from the Department by way of income support, which with a special needs child such parent would, of course, need. A single parent of a special needs child...

Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: -----€319.80 per week. In addition, from next year the parent will also receive €130 per month in child benefit.

Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: Deputy Murphy raised the issue of concern for lone parents. A lone parent who is a carer - I know the Deputy is aware of this - is not, as suggested by Deputy Murphy, required to seek employment because he or she is, by virtue of being a carer, deemed to be working. In addition to the €319.80 per week payment plus €130 per month by way of child benefit, a lone parent is entitled...

Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: Let me say, with regard to-----

Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: These are the facts, Deputy-----

Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The facts are very important-----

Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: -----for the people who are outside the House.

Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: On the amendment, we are talking about lone parents and the fact that we are reforming the one-parent family system to bring it into line with the best such systems that operate in other European countries. I took a particular category of lone parent - namely, a lone parent looking after a child with a disability - and pointed out, reasonably, that such a person is not, as the Deputy was...

Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: Regarding lone parents whose children are growing up and are in school, reforms are being introduced, and I am glad - if I understood her correctly - that Deputy Murphy is supportive of this. We are providing lone parents with the options of returning to education or training, gaining work experience and getting back to work.

Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: I am aware that Deputy Murphy knows of and cares about many parents who are parenting on their own. The best outlook for such parents and for their children, whom they love and care for so much, will come from our assistance in getting them back into the labour force or into training and education, which will open up a life of opportunity for themselves and their children. We have one of...

Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: We should think about putting more of the resources into services. That is why, for instance, in this budget I am increasing funding for the provision of hot school meals and for the special initiatives for children in disadvantaged areas. Deputy Murphy, to some extent, is not looking at the question of how to ensure we have a strong social welfare system that is not simply strong in terms...

Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: This is a reform of the social welfare system about which I feel passionate because I went to school with people who, for various reasons, had to rely on social welfare for their income. The best help for somebody in his or her early twenties or thirties who is dependent on a State payment is for the State to assist him or her to become financially independent. I know from private...

Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: We want people of working age to be able-----

Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: In the-----