Results 23,841-23,860 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Homeless Persons (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: To imply, as the Deputy does, that the future for young people is contingent upon their becoming dependent on social welfare over a long period of their lives is wrong. In all my experience down the years - I have always lived in the centre of Dublin and am very familiar with people who become homeless - the most important thing-----

Homeless Persons (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: -----is to get those people as quickly as possible back into education, training, support, workshops and community employment schemes. Many people who become homeless, as I know and I am sure the Deputy is aware, have a complex series of problems. What they need is a helping hand in regard to accessing education and training and getting their lives back together.

Homeless Persons (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: If they take up the options that are there, they will get a full rate of payment. I went to very specific efforts to ensure the needs of people who are leaving care are specifically provided for. As well as having long experience with people who have become homeless, I have had an opportunity to sit down and discuss this with people from Focus Ireland. They agree it is important that we,...

Homeless Persons (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: What I am saying to the Deputy is that I expect him to perhaps encourage young people he may know in this situation to take up the options of education and training. This is very important for their future. We have some good options and opportunities available.

Rent Supplement Scheme (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: The Government has provided €436 million for rent supplement in 2012. Total expenditure on the scheme over the past five years from 2007 to 2011 was €2.36 billion. At present, approximately 92,000 persons are in receipt of rent supplement, of whom approximately 37,000 are single persons. The remaining 55,000 clients are couples, couples with children and single-parent households. New...

Rent Supplement Scheme (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: The Deputy and I have discussed this issue previously. Rent supplement is intended as a short-term renting scheme for people who have lost their jobs and who expect to find new employment within a short period. Over the past decade, the numbers relying on this scheme have grown enormously. The purpose of the scheme is to provide a rent supplement to persons who require that supplement...

Rent Supplement Scheme (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: The issue concerning the NAMA houses, an important potential resource, is under negotiation between my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, and NAMA. The Department of Social Protection commands approximately 40% of the private rental market. There has been a fall at historic levels in the value of housing and property assets and the Deputy is...

Rent Supplement Scheme (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: The private landlords need to give value for money on their tenancies. I have advised Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh that in the past five years the country has spent €2.36 billion on rent supplement. That is a great deal of money in anybody's language. I share any concern the Deputy may have about any individual in distress, but the officials in the Department, community welfare officers,...

Rent Supplement Scheme (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: We are in an exceptionally difficult financial position and Sinn Féin is suggesting the Department should push up private rents.

Rent Supplement Scheme (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: Deputy Ó Snodaigh has just made allegations-----

Rent Supplement Scheme (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: -----about staff in the Department of Social Protection.

Rent Supplement Scheme (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: Deputy Ó Snodaigh has not accepted that the staff in the Department of Social Protection are working very hard.

Rent Supplement Scheme (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: The staff are the Department.

Rent Supplement Scheme (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: The staff are the Department. I am glad Deputy Ó Snodaigh has withdrawn his comment about them.

Rent Supplement Scheme (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: Deputy Ó Snodaigh never objected before, so obviously he has been holding a lot of it back.

Sick Pay Scheme (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: From 2008 to 2011, inclusive, total expenditure on illness benefit, invalidity pension and disability allowance was €10.6 billion, of which €3.6 billion related to illness benefit. It is estimated that expenditure on illness benefit in 2012 will be €847 million. The introduction of a scheme of statutory sick pay, whereby employers would directly meet the costs of illness-related...

Sick Pay Scheme (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: I have stated on a number of occasions that in the context of the consultative forum held a short time ago, a statutory sick pay scheme would have to take into account the needs of different sectors of employment, particularly those small businesses, and other specific situations. The costs relating to illness benefit, disability allowance and invalidity pension are enormous. The number of...

Sick Pay Scheme (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: Absolutely.

Sick Pay Scheme (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: That is in a full year. It would be introduced halfway through the year.

Sick Pay Scheme (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: The savings indicated have been exactly the same on every occasion on which I have commented on this matter. As stated earlier, introducing a statutory sick pay scheme involves a series of very detailed steps and an in-depth examination must be carried out. Both the dialogue and the consultation process which have taken place indicate that all sick pay schemes generally take into account...