Results 11,701-11,720 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: In fact, it was recognising the significance and importance of the achievements across all schools around the country in respect of both literacy and numeracy. The Deputy will know that the report, which was published in the last month or so, actually shows the greatest improvement in 30 years in areas such as reading and writing in schools. That is a great achievement on the part of the...

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: I recall the record of the Deputy's own party in respect of post offices. In a period of great economic boom in Ireland, from 2003 to 2011, such was his party's incredible concern for rural Ireland that it closed 1,100 post offices. Those are the numbers.

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: I would not expect much to bring a blush to the face of Fianna Fáil, but the closure of 1,100 post offices is somewhat Olympian in standards. As the Deputy knows, particularly since I became Minister for Social Protection, An Post has gone on to compete successfully-----

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The record should show that the Deputy is now an attractive shade of pink, demonstrating that he does have a response.

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: Since I became Minister for Social Protection, An Post has gone on to successfully compete for the contract for payments in cash through post offices across the country. This is important in urban areas but is particularly important in rural areas. I have been very happy as Minister for Social Protection to see this happen, as opposed to having extended discussions on it, as happened when...

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: This has given quite a significant cost break to people in rural Ireland.

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The Deputy will be aware that the number of people in negative equity and mortgage difficulties is falling. It is not falling as far or as fast as I would like, but it is decreasing. The Taoiseach and I recently met with the Insolvency Service of Ireland and with personal insolvency practitioners, PIPs, who arrange deals with the banks and other mortgage suppliers where there are...

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: Regarding the development of rural Ireland, I am sure the Deputy will join me in welcoming the announcement by Apple of the establishment of a major data centre, on a global and European scale, in Athenry. That is the type of news for rural Ireland that every Deputy wishes to hear. It is part of the fruits of the work of the Government in developing a regional strategy, which we published...

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: I thank the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Respite Care Grant Eligibility (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The respite care grant (RCG) is an annual payment made to full-time carers who satisfy certain conditions. The grant is payable automatically to carers who are in receipt of carer’s allowance on the first Thursday in June of the relevant year. The person in question was not paid a RCG for 2014 automatically because their carer’s allowance was awarded from 11thSeptember 2014...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: As explained in the previous answer to the Deputy’s question (PQ 6583-15), because the person concerned was not in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment immediately prior to the commencement date of her course in September 2014, her application for BTEA cannot be approved. There is no new information available apparent that would give rise to a reconsideration of this decision,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Magdalen Laundries (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: Details of the Social Welfare Regulations Statutory Instruments 155, 156 and 157 of 2014 were circulated to all staff of the Department of Social Protection in April 2014 through a number of information channels. These Regulations extend the list of compensation payments that are to be disregarded for the purposes of the means test applying to social assistance payments and also the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Payments (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: There are arrears due to the person concerned. However, as the person has an overpayment outstanding, on 23 February 2015 the Department has written to hm with proposals for the recovery of the overpayment and the releasing of his arrears. His comments have been invited and will be considered before any decisions are made by the Department.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Living Alone Allowance (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: According to the records of the Department, the application from the person concerned for invalidity pension was disallowed as the qualifying conditions were not satisfied. Instead, the person concerned qualified for disability allowance including an increase for living alone. In 2007, while in receipt of disability allowance, the person concerned applied for and was awarded state pension...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Applications (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 17th February 2015. This application has been forwarded to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors for their medical opinion. Following receipt of this opinion, a decision will be made by a Deciding Officer and notified to the person concerned. It can currently take 10 weeks to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 5th January 2015. 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 these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: An overpayment of jobseeker’s allowance was determined in the case of the person concerned for the period 1stJanuary 2014 to 22ndApril 2014. The person concerned declared that she was not available for full time employment as she was providing full time care to her son. One of the qualifying conditions for receipt of this income support is that a person be available for, capable of and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 18thNovember 2014. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers have been received in the Social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The family concerned have been in receipt of rent supplement from this Department in respect of their current address since July 2013. It is not possible to pre-approve an increase in their rate of payment several months before it is due to take effect. In the intervening period this family should engage with the housing charity Threshold under the Interim Tenancy Sustainment Protocol,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (26 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing in this case on 10thMarch 2015. The person concerned will shortly be notified of the arrangements for the hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the...