Results 12,441-12,460 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: I would like that message to be sent. I would like emigrants to return and vote in Ireland.

Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Government is working through the different proposals of the Constitutional Convention. I am glad that the Deputy recognises that the two referendum proposals to be put to the people are important. It is the judgment of the Government that it is appropriate that the two proposals selected be put before the people next year. Many very important proposals have been put to the people,...

Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: First, regarding the media reports on the case of a young woman who is unfortunately brain-dead and being kept on life support, I understand her family is seeking to take a case to the courts. Obviously, I cannot comment in any detail on legal action that might take place. I wish to express my sympathy for the family of this young woman on the tragedy that has happened. She had a serious...

Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: I will be honest about this. The people voted in favour of the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution, but when it was put to the people the Labour Party recommended against voting in favour of that amendment. That was our position then and it has been our position for a long time. In cases such as this, the issue is the medical care of the woman. It is a relatively early stage in the...

Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: We are all delighted to see people coming home to Ireland from across the world. The good news is that, due to the expansion in employment here, for many people it might well be the first step towards what we hope is a permanent return home for those who wish it, after having spent time abroad and probably having gained extremely valuable experience for building a career in Ireland. I...

Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: -----but due to the strength of the growth in employment, unemployment has fallen.

Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Deputy referred to the catastrophic fall in the economy. I am happy to inform him that the latest figures show that unemployment has fallen below 11% and is now at 10.7%. Thankfully, it is now well below the eurozone average.

Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: When this Government took office, unemployment was up to 40% above the eurozone average. However, Christmas is all about families coming home. As Deputies will be aware, No. 38 on the Order Paper provides for the Dáil to discuss the fourth report of the Constitutional Convention. The Government takes the work of the convention very seriously. As the Taoiseach said, at our recent...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Reports (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The 2013 Annual Report of the Department of Social Protection was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 9 April 2014, and was published the following day. The 2013 Annual Report is available for download on the Department of Social Protection's website at

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Eligibility (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department has no record of the person concerned seeking a review of the decision to disallow an application for an exceptional needs payment. If she wishes to make an appeal she should contact the community welfare service of the Department.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Household Benefits Scheme (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department will spend €230 million this year on the household benefits package for approximately 415,000 customers. There were no changes to the household benefits package or the fuel allowance arising from Budget 2015. The living alone allowance has been increased to €9 per week, benefitting 177,500 people at a cost of €12 million. A 25% Christmas bonus will...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 21stOctober 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 were received in the Social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 05thNovember 2014, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: I am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an appeal was registered on 15thSeptember 2014 and in accordance with the statutory requirements the Appeals Office contacted the person concerned and asked him to set out the complete grounds of his appeal. The person concerned responded and on 07thOctober 2014 and the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker's allowance schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative employment. The revised estimates for the Department provide for expenditure of €3.3bn in 2014 in respect of the jobseekers schemes. In respect of jobseeker's allowance, legislation provides that a person shall be disqualified from the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 5th November 2014. 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 process an...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Treatment Benefit Scheme Administration (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The treatment benefit scheme is paid from the Social Insurance Fund (SIF). Due to a shortfall in the funds available from the SIF, subvention to the fund from the general exchequer was required from 2010. Given that the expenditure pressures on the Fund were likely to continue and the need to get the public finances back on track, changes to the benefits available under the treatment...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Administration (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 42 together. This year the Department will spend approximately €91.6 million on the farm assist scheme benefitting around 9,900 farmers each week. The farm assist scheme provides support for farmers on low incomes and is similar to jobseeker’s allowance. Farm assist recipients retain the advantages of the jobseeker’s allowance...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Programmes (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Government published a Statement of Government Priorities for the period 2014 to 2016 on 11 July last. The statement sets out how we will build a social recovery to accompany the economic recovery that is now under way. The key priorities in the statement are: 1. Strengthening the Domestic Economy & Prioritising New Jobs for the Unemployed 2. Delivering Better Living and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that following an oral hearing of this case on 10 June 2014 it was agreed to review the case by way of further investigation by a Social Welfare Inspector. Following these investigations, the file in question was returned to the Appeals Office on 2 October 2014. The Appeals Officer who initially dealt with this case has transferred to...