Results 7,861-7,880 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: JobPath Implementation (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: It is important to note that jobseekers can be referred to relevant employment focused further education and training opportunities provided under the auspices of education and training boards, ETBs, and others while on JobPath. In such cases the engagement period with JobPath will be adjusted. In other words, in a situation where people might be undertaking FETAC level 4, 5 or 6 courses,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Pensions Reform (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: To be absolutely clear, we have a two-option process for persons aged 62 years and older. The option chosen is entirely at the person's discretion. If he or she wants to avail of an activation scheme and are currently involved in such a scheme, he or she would be expected to continue in that regard. If he or she does not wish to opt for an activation scheme, he or she does not have to so...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Pensions Reform (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: No; it is entirely optional. It is an option for them to say to a social welfare officer that they really want to continue working and would like to take part in a community employment scheme. It is also an option for them to say they do not wish to take part.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Pensions Reform (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: I am sorry-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Pensions Reform (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: Check it out locally.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: JobPath Implementation (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: I should first note that we have reached another milestone today in getting people back to work. There are now 1.983 million people at work and the unemployment rate has fallen below 9% to 8.9%. As a consequence of the very significant increase in the number of people at work, we now have more tax revenue and greater capacity to invest, as announced, in primary and secondary schools across...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Pensions Reform (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: We have changed those regulations from the age of 62.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Pensions Reform (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: Several years ago, I introduced some fundamental reforms as to how people over 62 years of age right up to 66 were dealt with by the Department of Social Protection. First, once people reach the age of 62, if they so wish, they are placed on a yearly signing. In other words, they only need to sign on once a year. If they wish, they can transfer their payments to an electronic fund...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Pensions Reform (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 provided for increases in the State pension age. This process began in January 2014 with the abolition of entitlement to the State pension (transition) at 65 years of age, thereby standardising State pension age for all at 66 years. The changes introduced in 2011 were on foot of a Government commitment which arose out of the memorandum of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Welfare Services (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: In the context of the enhanced services provided nationally as part of Pathways to Work initiatives the Department re-engineered its business model to support the delivery of local services across all business streams, including the Community Welfare Service (CWS). The model of service delivery for CWS in South Kildare was changed from local drop-in clinics where services were only...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Payments (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The Family Income Supplement (FIS) is an in-work support which provides an income top-up for low paid employees with children. It is designed both to prevent in-work poverty and to offer a financial incentive to take-up employment. I was pleased to announce in the recent Budget that there will be an increase in the Family Income Supplement income thresholds of €5 for families with...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Education and Training Provision (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The unemployed, including those who were formerly self-employed, have access to the full range of standard training courses. There are some exceptions in respect of special programmes developed and delivered specifically for long-term unemployed people, such as Momentum, or for people with disabilities but these represent just a small proportion of the overall number of places available. ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Respite Care Grant Payments (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The Government recognises the significant contribution that carers make to society andprovide a range of income supports to assist with the financial burden of caring. These supports include carer'sallowance, carer's benefit, domiciliary care allowance and respite care grant which are administered by my Department.Expenditure on carers has increased significantly in recent years and it is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The one-parent family payment reforms were introduced in order to address long-term social welfare dependency and poverty levels among lone parents. Approximately 25,500 customers transitioned from the one-parent family payment scheme on 2 July, 2015, when the final phase of the reforms was implemented. The majority of these customers transitioned to jobseeker’s transitional...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: Jobseeker's allowance provides means tested income support to persons subject to the contingency of involuntary unemployment. It is a fundamental qualifying condition of the scheme that a person must be available for and genuinely seeking full-time work. In the case of the person concerned a determination was made by a Deciding Officer that he was not genuinely seeking work in accordance...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Labour Activation Measures (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: As the Deputy is aware,Gateway is a county and city council work scheme which aims to provide short-term quality and suitable work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than 24 months. Funding of the order of €22.4 m is being provided in the Department's Vote in 2015 to cover placements under the scheme. The Department has made inquiries and has been unable to establish...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Expenditure (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: Both the last Government and the current Government have introduced a range of welfare expenditure reduction measures in order to restore the public finances to health and to reduce our debt to sustainable levels. During their time in office, the previous Government introduced a wide range of cost saving measures in the welfare area including: - An 8% reduction in the weekly personal rates...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Job Initiatives (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The key objective of activation policy and labour market initiatives is to offer assistance to those most in need of support in securing work and achieving financial self-sufficiency. This policy objective prioritises scarce resources to those in receipt of qualifying welfare payments – Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Allowance – that are conditional on the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Administration (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: Since the introduction of the JobBridge scheme in July 2011, over 18,200 Host Organisations have provided work experience opportunities to over 44,000 unemployed jobseekers. In order to try to ensure that the scheme provides a good basis for successful outcomes, the Department applies a number of conditions. These include the requirement on a Host Organisation to agree to adhere to the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobsPlus Scheme (17 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The JobsPlus incentive is designed to encourage employers and businesses to focus their recruitment efforts on those who have been out of work for long periods or on young people seeking work. JobsPlus provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers in the form of a monthly grant paid over two years. Two levels of grant are payable - €7,500 or €10,000 –...