Results 13,361-13,380 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Appeals (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: I do not wish to go into the facts of the particular case, of which the Deputy is aware. As it is the subject of an oral appeal, there then will be an opportunity to discuss the case in greater detail. However, when a person makes an application, to some extent the decision reached by a deciding officer depends significantly on statements and remarks made by that person to support his or...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Data Protection (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: There is a protocol, as well as regular information and training programmes, in the Department in respect of people's personal data not being utilised in any way that falls outside the law and the Department's regulations. In addition, the Data Protection Commissioner closely oversees the Department's work in that respect, as the commissioner's primary function is to protect people's data....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Appeals (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: Decisions on the awarding of social welfare payments such as jobseeker's benefit or allowance are made by the deciding officers appointed under the terms of the Social Welfare Acts. In making decisions, deciding officers are bound by the provisions of social welfare legislation. Each case is dealt with on its merits and in accordance with the facts of the case. Social welfare legislation...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Data Protection (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: When a public representative or some other third party rings the Department on behalf of somebody, staff in the Department have to follow a standard procedure to ascertain that the person in question has the authority to act in that manner. Given that 1.8 million phone calls are received each year, or 35,000 a week, it is clear that a significant proportion of the Department's public...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: Nationally, 73,000 individuals or families receive rent allowance. The Deputy knows how popular it is with families. In Waterford, 325, or almost 25%, of the claims for rent allowance were awarded this year. I do not accept that there is not a significant number of people in Waterford whose housing needs are being addressed. I am aware, and I understand what the Deputy is referring to,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Data Protection (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: I take it the Deputy is referring to the Data Protection Commissioner’s successful prosecution of a firm of private investigators, MCK Rentals Limited, which recently resulted in convictions against the firm and both of its directors. I congratulate the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner on this successful and important prosecution. The firm illegally obtained...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: There are currently 1,400 rent supplement recipients in Waterford, at an approximate cost of €4.2 million this year. Some 326 of those, or almost 25% of these claims, were awarded this year. I want to assure the Deputy that officers administering rent supplement throughout the country have considerable experience in dealing with customers and will continue to make every effort to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: As the Deputy knows, a major newly refurbished centre was opened in Waterford which has proven enormously successful in providing a very high-quality social welfare service because all of the IT platforms have been improved. As the Deputy also knows, there is a general reception desk, without glass barriers, where people can ask for the information they want. People in Waterford are very...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Internship Scheme Administration (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: There is in place a monthly reporting format which allows hosts and interns to cross-check on their mutual experiences. I suggest that the Deputy's constituent - I would be disappointed if she does not do this - who appears to be highly qualified, contacts the Department of Social Protection and provides it with a run-down of her experience, including the name of the school concerned. Often...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Internship Scheme Administration (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: The Minister of State has spoken of the overwhelming positive experiences reported by interns on this scheme. It would be helpful to recall that when JobBridge was introduced in 2011, many people were expressing frustration that jobseekers could not take up unpaid work experience opportunities either because they could not afford the expenses associated with going to work or, worse still,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Internship Scheme Administration (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: As the Deputy probably heard during the budget announcement, next year 1,800 people will be recruited into schools, including teachers, resource teachers and SNAs. In terms of Ireland's economic recovery, it is a real pleasure to be able to announce such widescale recruitment in 2015. That is very positive. The reality - the Deputy does not appear to appreciate this - is that a person who...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: Community Employment (CE) is a key resource in the provision of opportunities for long-term unemployed persons, lone parents, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. At the same time, CE provides valuable support to community and voluntary organisations in the provision of vital supports to local communities.At the end of September, 2014, there are over 1,030 CE schemes with...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Payments (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: The Government will continue to ensure that those on low incomes and those who are more vulnerable to energy poverty are supported through the household benefits package and the fuel allowance. The Department will spend €230 million this year on the household benefits package for almost 415,000 customers. The fuel allowance, worth €520 per year, is paid for 26 weeks from...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Administration (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: JobBridge is an administrative scheme on which participation is voluntary and, accordingly, there is no formal appeals process. However, there are complaints and queries procedures which interns, host organisations and other interested parties may use to raise any concerns that they may have with regard to the operation of the scheme. All complaints and queries, are processed through the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Administration (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: Child benefit is a universal payment made to families with children. It assists those families with the cost associated with raising children. It is paid to almost 1.2 million children in over 600,000 families. The estimated expenditure in 2014 will be €1.9 billion. The cost of the administration of the scheme is in the order of €7.5 million per annum. The Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Administration (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: The free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for approximately 800,000 people, elderly, disabled and carers, at an annual cost of €77 million.Funding for the free travel scheme was capped by the previous Government in the National Recovery Plan 2011-2014. To implement this cap on funding during a time in which passenger numbers have...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Drug Rehabilitation Projects (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: Participants who are in addiction recovery and who are referred to a CE drugs rehabilitation place can engage in a wide range of training and development opportunities to assist their overall rehabilitation and re-integration into community and working life. There is no requirement that a referred client in recovery has to complete education or training to a FETAC Level 5 standard in two...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: There are approximately 73,500 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014. I am acutely aware of the difficulties people are experiencing in maintaining affordable rented accommodation, including those in receipt of rent supplement, in the current market where supply is constrained. Raising rent limits may not be the solution to the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Data (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: There are approximately 73,500 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014. There are currently almost 49,000 persons in receipt of the scheme for periods over 18 months. Under the new Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) responsibility for recipients of rent supplement with a long-term housing need will transfer to local authorities. HAP...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (21 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: There are approximately 73,500 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014. I am acutely aware of the difficulties people are experiencing in maintaining affordable rented accommodation, including those in receipt of rent supplement, in the current market where supply is constrained. Raising rent limits at this time may not be the...