Results 7,021-7,040 of 7,991 for speaker:John Brady

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments (20 Jun 2017)

John Brady: 2270. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties that persons are having in sourcing private rented accommodation through the HAP scheme in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28613/17]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pension Schemes: Discussion (15 Jun 2017)

John Brady: I thank the witnesses for attending in order to discuss this very complex issue, which is of concern to many people. We have seen the impact of the winding down of many defined benefit schemes on workers who have paid into them all of their working lives and have been unfairly left out on a limb. Some major and highly profitable businesses have wound down their defined benefit schemes....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pension Schemes: Discussion (15 Jun 2017)

John Brady: I thank Mr. Courtney. That says it all. The issue affects 20 people. The financial implications of bringing into effect the real meaning of equality would be very small. While we are dealing with heads of the Bill and it is to be hoped that the issues the witnesses outlined will be addressed once it is published. If not, it is incumbent on members of this committee to bring forward...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pension Schemes: Discussion (15 Jun 2017)

John Brady: Mr. O'Brien said IBEC would support businesses that work with their employees to ensure the schemes survive but large companies such as Irish Life clearly have not been working with their employees and they have wound these schemes down. I refer to Irish Life because it has one of the more high-profile schemes. It has a huge surplus and there has been no engagement with employees. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pension Schemes: Discussion (15 Jun 2017)

John Brady: The point to take from the meeting is that the assessment is that because the proper information is not available and there has not been a proper costing or that level of detail, therefore we should do nothing at this point. From my perspective, I do not think that is a fair assessment of this morning's proceedings. There is clearly a huge issue here. Irrespective of delay in this or in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2017: Discussion (1 Jun 2017)

John Brady: Five minutes is not much time to discuss this legislation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2017: Discussion (1 Jun 2017)

John Brady: I will try my best. I welcome the change made to the payment for guardians. The change recognises that the payment to the guardian should be for the benefit of the child. It is a fundamental principle that underpins payments to guardians. However, there is a contradiction because the same principle does not apply to maintenance payments. A payment to a lone parent family is regarded as a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2017: Discussion (1 Jun 2017)

John Brady: The anti-fraud campaign is labelled an awareness campaign. I get the sense from the officials that even they are uncomfortable with it. It has been mentioned that there has been an increase in the number of calls to the Department. How many will turn out to be legitimate fraudulent cases? Like the Data Protection Commissioner, I have concerns about the publication of information on the...

Other Questions: Community Employment Schemes Places (31 May 2017)

John Brady: I acknowledge the Minister understands the concept of community employment. I have listened to him previously on this. He said he appreciates and acknowledges the essential and critical work of the programme right across the State. My concerns are replicated outside the House. I outlined the case of one organisation. Another organisation, the Local Employment Service Network, a...

Other Questions: Community Employment Schemes Places (31 May 2017)

John Brady: They then have to wait a full year to go back onto a community employment scheme, on which they really should have been in the first case. This would have saved the State €1,000 up front. The people get locked into a scheme, run by a privatised service, for which they are not really suitable in the first place.

Other Questions: Community Employment Schemes Places (31 May 2017)

John Brady: 95. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the way in which community employment scheme places are to be filled if he continues prioritising JobPath over community employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25896/17]

Other Questions: Community Employment Schemes Places (31 May 2017)

John Brady: The focus on JobPath as opposed to all other job activation schemes is something I have raised with the Minister consistently in the last year. If the focus on JobPath continues, how does he realistically expect to fill the many vacant community employment scheme places in the State?

Other Questions: Community Employment Schemes Places (31 May 2017)

John Brady: At this stage, over 97,000 people have been transferred to JobPath and the private companies Turas Nua and Seetec. Community employment schemes across the State are in serious trouble not just because of the creation of JobPath but also because the lack of funding has thrown open a series of other challenges for community employment schemes. It is not just the low unemployment rates that...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: School Meals Programme (31 May 2017)

John Brady: The Minister will attend the committee tomorrow.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: School Meals Programme (31 May 2017)

John Brady: I hear what the Minister is saying. As we stand here, many schools in the State have issued letters to parents informing them that, as of 1 June, they will not be in a position to provide lunches for the entire month. Other schools found out at the beginning of September last year that there would not be the same level of funding as the previous year. Those schools chose to forego school...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: School Meals Programme (31 May 2017)

John Brady: In March, the Minister stated the school meals programme was a top priority for him, and I have to take him at his word. The reality, as I outlined, is that schools are being impacted. One school which I brought to the attention of the Department in February is now in the process of carrying out an audit into its spending. Schools are operating within the same budget as previously. As...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: School Meals Programme (31 May 2017)

John Brady: Has the Minister spoken to them?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: School Meals Programme (31 May 2017)

John Brady: Suppliers are saying-----

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: School Meals Programme (31 May 2017)

John Brady: I can guarantee that is not the case.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Fraud Cost (31 May 2017)

John Brady: The figures came from the Minister's Department.