Results 23,861-23,880 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Budget 2013 (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 19 together. The Government is committed to tackling Ireland's economic crisis in a way that is fair, balanced and recognises the need for social solidarity. The appropriate level of overall expenditure by the Department of Social Protection will be considered in the context of budget 2013 and subsequent budgets. This consideration will be informed by...

Budget 2013 (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: I cannot make any commitment about what will or will not be included in the budget. That is a matter to be decided by the Government. The announcement of the budget will be made in this House. I acknowledge and share the Deputies' concerns that during this very difficult period for the economy we should protect those who are most vulnerable, particularly the elderly and people who have...

Budget 2013 (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: The important study published yesterday by Social Justice Ireland includes figures relating to the Fianna Fáil budgets in the 2009 to 2010 period.

Budget 2013 (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: Deputy Joan Collins referred to the platform on which the Labour Party contested the last election. That platform included a commitment to protect basic social welfare rates, which I am pleased to say was done in the budget for this year. In addition, we ensured some 330,000 people on very low pay were taken out of the universal social charge net, which had an important impact for those...

Budget 2013 (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: To be picky about history, it was Aneurin Bevan and the British Labour Party which created the National Health Service.

Budget 2013 (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: I am sure Deputy John Halligan from Waterford is aware of the work of Mr. Bevan from across the water in Wales. Credit should be given where it is due, to the British Labour Party and to Mr. Bevan. To respond to Deputy Halligan's comments, unemployment is the most important issue we face. Since becoming Minister, I have reinstated the minimum wage because it is vital that people avail of...

Community Employment Schemes (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: Total expenditure on the community employment programme in 2012 will be approximately €340 million. The number of places available on the community employment programme has remained constant at 23,300, including supervisors. The financial review of the schemes has been completed, and the Department has contacted schemes to advise them of their revised materials and training allocations....

Community Employment Schemes (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: It was a very substantial piece of work because, as the Deputy knows, the FÁS employment officers and responsibility for the community employment, CE, schemes transferred to my Department on 1 January. The review was a major undertaking and I received the report in recent weeks. I do not have the exact date, which I can get for the Deputy, but it was towards the end of June. As soon as I...

Community Employment Schemes (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: Schemes have been allocated funding of between €500 and €1,000. Approximately 6% of schemes have been allocated less than that because the process depended on two things: the submission and application the schemes themselves made and the availability of funding for both materials and training of up to €1,000. Some schemes would have other forms of funding whereas other schemes might...

Community Employment Schemes (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: -----to the actual work the scheme is doing. We have looked very closely at the work the scheme is doing in the community as well as the provision of the training experience to the community employment scheme participants.

Illness Benefit (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: Illness benefit is a non-means-tested social insurance payment. It is payable to people who are unable to work owing to illness, satisfy the relevant contribution conditions, are certified as unfit for work by a medical practitioner and aged under 66 years. It is not payable for the first three days of an illness. That cost is borne by the employee, except where there is a work scheme....

National Employment and Entitlements Service (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 34 and 43 together. The Department is establishing the new national employment and entitlements service, NEES, which is central to the realisation of the Government's Pathways to Work policy. As set out in the NEES project plan, published on the Department's website, the development of the NEES is a multi-annual programme to the end of 2014. The first...

National Employment and Entitlements Service (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: The targets set out in Pathways to Work are to be achieved in the period up to 2014. This is a major change. The first part of the year was spent taking in the new staff and integrating the three strands of staff, that is, the original Department of Social Protection staff; the former FÁS staff who, on 1 January, became civil servants and the former community welfare service staff who, on...

National Employment and Entitlements Service (17 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: We are examining options for private contractors. I referred to the local employment services. These are local companies which provide services on a one-to-one basis and offer an interesting and good model. These are not-for-profit bodies funded by the Department. They were formerly funded by FÁS. The annual spend on these programmes is approximately €20 million. There are other...

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (12 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: The National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities (NAS) was established under the Citizens Information Board (CIB) in January 2011. NAS provides an independent, confidential and free, representative advocacy service to vulnerable people with disabilities who cannot self advocate, while supporting others to use mainstream services. The budget assigned to the National Advocacy Service...

Written Answers — Universal Social Charge: Universal Social Charge (12 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: The Department has received a very high level of enquiries in relation to requests for refunds of the Health Contribution over the last year. To clarify the position in relation to eligibility for a refund, a person who earned more than €26,000 in 2008, 2009 and 2010 was liable to pay the Health Contribution and is not due a refund. A person who earned less than €26,000 and never earned...

Written Answers — Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme: Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme (12 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: The back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) entitlements of some 115,350 families in respect of 205,125 children have now been automatically established with reference to their primary scheme entitlement with no application form required. Letters have issued to the people identified in this way, informing them of their entitlement and notifying them that payment will issue in...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (12 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: A review of the case is being undertaken and the person concerned will be informed of the outcome once the review is completed.

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (12 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: The National Internship Scheme was launched on 1st July 2011. It provides internship opportunities of either 6 or 9 months for unemployed individuals at all skills levels. The aim of JobBridge is to assist individuals in breaking the cycle where they are unable to get a job without experience. It provides them with an opportunity to gain valuable experience, relevant knowledge and skills...

Written Answers — Carer's Allowance: Carer's Allowance (12 Jul 2012)

Joan Burton: The person in question has been awarded carer's allowance and received their first payment on 21st June 2012.