Results 13,121-13,140 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (6 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 57 together. The Department of Social Protection does not pay fees to recruitment or employment agencies because all department staff, both temporary and permanent are recruited and appointed through the Public Appointments Service The agencies that operate under the aegis of the Department are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Applications (5 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: One of conditions of the back to education allowance (BTEA ) scheme is that applicants must be commencing the first year of an approved full-time course. As the person has completed year one of a full time course, and applied for BTEA in year two of that course, an entitlement to BTEA does not exist. A review was completed on 3rd November 2014 and the original decision stands.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (5 Nov 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 01 October 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: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (5 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: Persons in receipt of illness benefit for at least two years and who want to return to education on a full-time basis may transfer to the back to education allowance (BTEA) scheme. If a person fails to satisfy the two year requirement on illness benefit, periods spent on other qualifying social welfare claims can be used to make up the two year qualifying period provided that at least 50% of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Superannuation Schemes (5 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: While I am aware of the issues arising in relation to this scheme, you will appreciate that it is not appropriate for me to comment on developments relating to a particular pension scheme as these are a matter for the management of the company and the trustees of the pension scheme. You will be aware that a number of changes were made to the Pensions Act in recent years to assist both the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Appointments to State Boards (5 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council, the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a Board) and the Social Welfare Tribunal. Appointments to position on Boards under the remit of the Department are made in accordance with the relevant legislation, guidelines...

Messages from Select Committees (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The Deputy is just standing up for another Kerry man.

Other Questions: Water Charges Administration (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: It probably escaped Deputy Joe Higgins's notice - perhaps he was away at the time - that I announced the water support payment as far back as July. Not only that, it is written into the document that myself and the Taoiseach agreed on in the first week of July. It has been a matter of public record for some time. While it might have escaped the Deputy's notice, it was fully and publicly...

Other Questions: Water Charges Administration (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The difficulty that the Deputy does not recognise-----

Other Questions: Water Charges Administration (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: -----is that it will require a huge level of State investment over the next ten years in order to fix all those issues which mean that people do not have proper drinkable water. This time last year, the entire Dublin region was threatened with the closure of pubs and hotels due to inadequate water supplies.

Other Questions: Water Charges Administration (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: My answer to the suggestions and scaremongering the Deputy has just now undertaken in relation to the level of charges-----

Other Questions: Water Charges Administration (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: -----is that I am happy to say it is my view that the charge for the type of household the Deputy described will be below €200.

Other Questions: Water Charges Administration (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The water support payment of €100 will help to defray the cost faced by households of single individuals and those in which there are two or more people. The Deputy was very wide of the mark in the figures he announced.

Other Questions: Water Charges Administration (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: For the figures involved, people will get what the country needs. The Deputy talked about my responsibility. My responsibility in relation to the country and Dublin West is to help to get people back to work in order that they can become financially independent.

Other Questions: Water Charges Administration (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: We do not need what Deputy Joe Higgins seems to want, which is for everybody to be on social welfare.

Other Questions: Water Charges Administration (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: Actually, we need people to be at work. I am perfectly happy that the level of water charges will be modest and will result in the provision of a supply of clean water for this country.

Other Questions: Water Charges Administration (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection will spend €230 million this year on the household benefits package for almost 415,000 customers. The fuel allowance is paid for 26 weeks from October to April to almost 415,000 households, at an estimated cost of €208 million in 2014. That means well over €430 million will be spent between the two schemes in 2014. I announced in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges Administration (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: For instance, in the first week of January parents will receive an additional €5 per month per child. I understand the Deputy might not welcome improvements in social welfare payments but I must confess that I am disappointed that Sinn Féin is so negative about increased payments to people on social welfare who need and welcome those payments.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges Administration (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: I understand, and we are making provision for extra income for people on social welfare. The Deputy is just a bit sour.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges Administration (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The social welfare package in this budget is the first since the fatal bank guarantee introduced by the previous Government to benefit very significant numbers of people. The restoration, on a partial basis, of the Christmas bonus has been very widely welcomed by the 1.1 million people who will benefit. One of the reasons for the different numbers quoted by the Deputy is that water charges...