Results 24,501-24,520 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Child Care Services (12 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: The number of recipients of one-parent family payment, OFP, stood at 89,905 on 2 June 2012. This year, the cost of the OFP scheme is estimated at €1.06 billion, and child benefit payments to such families cost approximately a further €246 million. Between now and 2015, the consequences of the changes to the OFP scheme, as outlined in the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2012, will be...

Child Care Services (12 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: I disagree with the Deputy's contention that we are not spending significant amounts of public and taxpayers' money on child care provision.

Child Care Services (12 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: It is important to point out how much is paid by taxpayers in respect of children. It comes in the form of a whole series-----

Child Care Services (12 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: Child benefit is paid to all children, and it is a significant payment.

Child Care Services (12 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: No; I said how much one-parent families received in child benefit in addition to one-parent family payments.

Child Care Services (12 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: Some €1 billion has been invested over the last decade in developing a child care infrastructure under the national child care investment programme and, prior to that, the equal opportunities child care programme, which was co-funded by the European Union. The early childhood care and education programme, ECCE, is open to all children aged between three years and three months and four...

Child Care Services (12 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: I have always been strongly committed to the provision of child care and, in this case, the provision not just of preschool care during school hours but after-school care as well. It is important that we have ambitious targets for Ireland. Models exist in other countries; during the passage of the legislation we had a discussion about how other countries dealt with lone parent issues. For...

Child Care Services (12 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: However, he does seem to have a problem with changes to our structures to take account-----

Child Care Services (12 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: The Deputy's party seems to have a problem with a situation it is perfectly happy to accept in Northern Ireland, where it is in Government-----

Child Care Services (12 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: -----even though payments made to families with children here are far higher than those to similar families in the North. When the Deputy is commenting on the Republic, he should perhaps acknowledge what his own party is involved in just 90 miles north of here.

Written Answers — Carer's Allowance: Carer's Allowance (7 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: The Department is committed to delivering the best possible service to its customers. The average time taken to award a carers allowance application is 28 weeks at present, however individual cases may vary. Some will be processed more quickly, others will take longer. In particular, where a customer requests a review of an initial decision to refuse an application, this will take additional...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (7 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer having fully considered all the available evidence disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and...

Written Answers — Invalidity Pension: Invalidity Pension (7 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 5th March 2012. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When received, the appeal in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (7 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: The details requested by the Deputy relate to the State pension (contributory) and are outlined below. I have also outlined details on the State pension (transition) for the Deputy's information. In relation to the pension reform measure being introduced in September 2012, currently a person with an average of 20-47 PRSI contributions per year over their working life receives a weekly State...

Written Answers — Carer's Allowance: Carer's Allowance (7 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: I confirm that an application for carer's allowance was received from the person in question on 15 November 2011. In the interest of fairness and equity all applications are dealt with in order of date of receipt in the department. On completion of the necessary investigations a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. The average time taken to...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (7 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: Childcare provision is a major government priority and one to which the Department of Social protection has made a significant response through the development and provision of a range of quality training and qualification measures on Community Employment. There are 2,200 places ring-fenced for childcare on Community Employment programmes. These places are delivered through dedicated CE...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (7 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 87 together. The National Internship Scheme was launched on 1st July 2011. The Scheme has made significant progress to-date. As at 31st May 2012, 7,495 internship placements have commenced since the launch of the Scheme. There are currently 4,872 interns undertaking internship placements. In addition, there are in excess of 1,800 internship posts...

Written Answers — Carer's Allowance: Carer's Allowance (7 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: The person in question was advised that the care recipient does not satisfy the medical criteria for receipt of carer's allowance based on the evidence submitted with the application form. Additional medical evidence was provided in support of the case in April 2012. This information was forwarded to the medical assessor for further consideration. On completion of the necessary...

Written Answers — Invalidity Pension: Invalidity Pension (7 Jun 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 10 February 2011. The person concerned attended for a medical assessment with a medical assessor of the Department. On the basis of this assessment,...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (7 Jun 2012)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was not refused a TESG grant. He applied for a grant to attend a training course run by a private sector training provider. He was advised by the Employment Services Officer that the training provider was not accredited and that a grant cannot be paid unless accreditation is in place. An accreditation of provider form was sent to the provider but this was not returned...