Results 21,461-21,480 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Funding (19 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: Capital Expenditure in the Department of Social Protection is incurred in two areas in particular;- 1.- The purchase of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) equipment which is required for the delivery of social welfare services. This includes the purchase of computer hardware and software, data storage, desktop equipment and a range of network infrastructure equipment. It also...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (19 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned has not been received by that office. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (19 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 14th of November 2011. This application was referred to one of the Department’s medical assessors who found that the caree in question was not medically eligible for carer’s allowance. The person in question subsequently submitted further medical evidence for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (19 Dec 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 on 05 April 2012. The medical evidence provided by the claimant in support of her claim was examined by a medical assessor who was of the opinion that...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (19 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received on the 11th December 2012. This application has been forwarded to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors for their medical opinion. Upon receipt of this opinion, a decision will issue to the customer. It can take up to 8 weeks to process an application for DCA.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Employment Support Schemes (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: I have long experience with thousands of people in the education sector.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Employment Support Schemes (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: I do not understand why Sinn Féin is so negative about young people and people changing fields to gain work experience that will help them to find a job. The Seanad adjourned at 8.05 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 19 December 2012.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Employment Support Schemes (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The national internship scheme, JobBridge, was launched on 1 July 2011. It provides internship opportunities of six or nine months for unemployed people on the live register in organisations in the private, public, community and voluntary sectors. Its aim is to assist in breaking the cycle whereby jobseekers are unable to get a job without experience. It gives such people an opportunity to...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Employment Support Schemes (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: I am relying on the figures from the Indecon survey. This is the way they are structured. The Senator is probably aware that the vast majority of public, voluntary and community organisations in this country are funded by the State. I am a little disappointed that Sinn Féin is so opposed to internship. I always thought that many people worked in Sinn Féin for nothing. I thought they...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Employment Support Schemes (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: It is somewhat disappointing that Sinn Féin is quite so negative. I have long experience of working at third level. I am particularly conscious that one of the problems caused by the recession is that many young people hit a brick wall when they look for employment opportunities after completing secondary education, FETAC training, community employment schemes or third level education. I...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: I apologise, I was not aware of the time limit. I will be brief. If the Bill were to be paused for 90 days, the loss in respect of social welfare would be ¤124 million and this money would have to be made up during the remaining nine months of the year, unfortunately from the budget of the Department of Social Protection.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The loss of PRSI income would be ¤22 million per month, while the loss in terms of expenditure savings would be ¤15 million per month. The total loss over the 90 days would, therefore, be ¤124 million.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: I am merely saying that-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: Senator David Norris made some really important points and I am merely highlighting the fact that there would be financial consequences in voting in favour of a 90 day pause. It is for Senators to make a judgment on the importance of these consequences.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: Senators James Heffernan, John Kelly and others referred to child benefit. I have undertaken to publish with the permission of the Government the Mangan report at the end of January. The report highlights a number of difficult choices to be made. I will be returning to the House to discover whether Senators are willing to engage with some of these choices which include taxing child benefit...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: Another of the choices relates to means-testing. In the North the consequence of such testing is that no one who earns more than £60,000 can receive child benefit. The report also refers to the creation of a two tier payment structure. In that context, it is most important that we maintain the incentive for all members of families to go out to work. I disagree with Senator Jillian van...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: It would not be unreasonable to increase the rate of recovery to ¤10, ¤15 or ¤20 per week.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The social welfare system is brought into disrepute when we cannot-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: I am listening really carefully to the Senator.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: I thank all Senators who contributed to this debate, especially those who have given their support to the measures contained in the Social Welfare Bill. People find any reductions or changes in social welfare payments difficult. Every euro in the ¤20.2 billion social protection concerns an individual, a family and a community somewhere in this country. Senator Cullinane gave an example...