Results 25,401-25,420 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: I reiterate that the code of conduct on mortgage arrears has been agreed with all lenders and with everyone licensed to lend, whether in this country or in other countries in the European Union. However, the contract is between the mortgage holder or borrower and the financial institution. The relationship of the Department of Social Protection is not with the banks but with the individual...
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: The best way to do that is to have the mortgage arrears resolution process managed by MABS. As the Deputy probably knows, most banks now have dedicated desks and sections to deal with customers in debt difficulties. Some people seem to suggest that people should be able to walk into a social welfare office and get an arrangement, where the Department of Social Protection would simply pay...
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: It is regrettable that Deputy Fleming did not make those representations to the previous Government because I do not think it engaged at all. I refer to the Cooney report and various other reports and I do not recall very much happening at that time. Perhaps the Deputy was not engaged in this subject at the time and he has become more engaged since he changed over to being in opposition. A...
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: Yes.
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: I thank Deputies for their contributions. I wish to reiterate that this year the Department will spend more than â¬50 million, which in one sense will be for distressed mortgage holders, in mortgage interest. In fact, however, it is â¬50 million that goes to the banks. We could all have a debate about the wisdom of that, but basically an individual comes to the Department or MABS and...
- Social Welfare Benefits (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: Disability allowance is a means tested weekly payment made to people aged between 16 and 66 years who have an injury, disease, physical or mental disability that has continued or may be expected to continue for at least one year and as a result of which the person is substantially restricted in undertaking work that would otherwise be suitable for a person of similar age, experience and...
- Social Welfare Benefits (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: I thank the Deputy for his question. The number of people in receipt of the disability allowance has continued to increase significantly. In 2005, some 79,000 people were in receipt of disability allowance as compared with 102,000 in 2011, an increase of 1.7%. The number of awards has continued to rise. Medical evidence and diagnosis presented by a person's medical advisers and experts,...
- Social Welfare Benefits (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: People often do not understand that the diagnosis of the person's medical advisers, doctors and experts is examined by medical assessors who are trained in occupational medicine. This is about whether a person can participate in some work. International information in this area indicates that enabling people to do some work is extremely good for their health-----
- Social Welfare Benefits (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: An alternative approach would be to set up an independent agency. The Deputy should remember that the claims on the Department in this respect are very large. The number of people has reached 102,000. The adviser who is the expert is the person's own doctor. The Department of Social Protection is not a medical service. We are asking medical experts to examine what the person's own doctor...
- Community Employment Schemes (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. The Department's estimated overall expenditure on employment support schemes in 2012 is â¬983 million, which represents an increase of almost â¬121 million on the 2011 figure. Some â¬315 million has been provided for community employment this year in respect of some 23,300 participants. In addition, approximately 1,400 supervisors are...
- Community Employment Schemes (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: As the Deputy is probably aware, the schemes transferred from the old FÃS to my Department on 1 January last. I am determined that the important social contribution of community employment schemes, in delivering social services in communities across the country, will be recognised. I am keen to ensure those who participate in the scheme enjoy good experiences which help them to get back to...
- Community Employment Schemes (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: The second review to which the Deputy referred is a policy review of activation measures that are under way. This review will be completed in the next few months. It takes into account all the headings, including community employment, under the labour support measures valued at just under â¬1 billion. The expenditure of â¬1 billion by the Department of Social Protection on labour support...
- Job Creation (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: The Pathways to Work initiative has been developed to deliver a new approach to the provision of services to unemployed people. The key objective is to deliver a service that supports people who are unemployed to find a pathway back to employment and thereby reduce both the average duration of unemployment and the number of people who are long-term unemployed. A detailed project plan for...
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: I move amendment No. 2: In page 3, subsection (4), line 18, to delete "Section 3" and substitute "Sections 9, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 19". The purpose of this amendment is to provide that a number of the provisions I propose by way of Committee Stage amendments come into operation by way of commencement order. In addition, arising from the Committee Stage amendment which I propose to...
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: Ports as well.
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: These provisions will be ready to go almost immediately, whereas other changes will take a number of months to implement. For example, the provision moving the social welfare week from a six-day week to a five-day week akin to the working week will be enacted in July. Regarding inspectors at ports and airports and inspectors questioning landlords, the critical aspect that I am trying to...
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: Social welfare inspectors do not have the necessary powers. This Bill gives them those powers.
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: Those powers may not be sufficient.
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: They are included.
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: The list includes ports, airports, landlords of rent supplement tenants and identity cards.