Results 14,301-14,320 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Rates (9 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: It is not possible to provide this figure in the time available. I will revert directly to the Deputy with the figure as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Data (9 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: The most recently available estimates relating to employers PRSI for 2014 show that the estimated share of employers’ class A PRSI contributions paid at the higher rate relative to the percentage derived from employments with respect to which the lower rate is paid is as follows: --- % Lower Rate 5.4 Higher Rate 94.6 The total number of persons in class A insurance in 2012 was...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: School Meals Programme (9 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to some 1,600 schools and organisations which benefits some 205,000 children through two schemes. The first is the statutory urban school meals scheme, operated by local authorities and part-financed by the Department. The second is the school meals local projects scheme through which funding is provided...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit Payments (9 Jul 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 full-time employment. The 2014 Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseekers’ schemes of €3.28 billion. The profile of the schemes has changed significantly over recent years, in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobs Initiative (9 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department is currently in the process of finalising the evaluation of tenders for the provision of employment services under the JobPath initiative. This is a confidential process and is being conducted in accordance with EU and national public procurement rules. No information in relation to the tenders will be released during the process. In order to respect the procurement process...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme (9 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: The back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme (BSCFA) provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the extra costs when children start school each autumn. The Government has provided €46.3 million for the scheme in 2014. In 2013, approximately 176,000 families, in respect of approximately 324,000 children were assisted under the scheme. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Household Benefits Scheme (9 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: The overall concern of Government in Budget 2014 and previous Budgets has been to protect the primary social welfare rates. To allow the Department to protect core payments, we have had to look very carefully at other additional payments such as the household benefits package. In Budget 2014, I regretfully had to make the decision to abolish the telephone allowance, which was €9.50...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Data (9 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: In the twelve month period January to December 2013, 13,118 components of learning accredited by FETAC were started and completed by CE participants. Table 1 shows the award level of these components of learning accredited by FETAC. Fifty eight per cent (7,622) minor awards were at FETAC Level 5, a further 22 per cent (2,849) minor awards were at Level 4 and 12 per cent (1,578) were at Level...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (9 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: There were 19,535 recipients aged 24 and under within the total of 34,521 recipients reported to the Deputy in Question No. 240. While the number of young people in this category can be related to activation measures that are also paid from the jobseeker's payment system, many activation measures are either not paid from this payment system or are provided by the Department of Education and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Appeals (9 Jul 2014)

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 convene an oral hearing in this case. Every effort will be made to hear the case as quickly as possible and the appellant will be informed when arrangements for the oral hearing have been made. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Services Programme (9 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: This community-based company is supported by funding from a variety of sources to provide a range of shared and specialised services to other community and voluntary bodies. The Department of Social Protection supports service provision under the Community Services Programme (CSP) and the company also acts as a scheme sponsors for the Community Employment (CE) Programme. As indicated in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Data (9 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: One member of staff in the Department, the Chief Medical Advisor, has been rehired on a temporary contract on a pay scale of €87,741 to €106,423. Payment of his pension is abated pending the termination of his temporary contract. The Department held a competition to recruit a new Chief Medical Advisor in late 2013, however, no candidate was deemed suitable at interview. The...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Appointments to State Boards (9 Jul 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 Ombudsman (which does not have a Board) and the Social Welfare Tribunal. Citizens Information Board The legislative provisions governing appointments to the Citizens Information Board are contained in the Comhairle Act 2000, the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Bodies Data (9 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: The non-commercial State sponsored bodies that operate under the aegis of the Department are the Pensions Authority and the Citizens Information Board. The Office of the Pensions Ombudsman also comes under the remit of the Department. The annual salaries of each Chief Executive Officer are set out below in tabular format. Agency Annual Salary CEO Citizens Information Board €...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Ministerial Advisers Remuneration (9 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the salaries of my Special Advisors is set out in the tabular statement below. Title Annual Salary Post Implementation of the Haddington Road Agreement Savings if the salary is Capped at the 1ST Point of PO Scale Press Advisor €78,670 (2nd point of PO scale) € 3,023 Special Advisor €119,572 €43,925 As...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Bodies Data (9 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: There are two non-commercial State sponsored bodies that operate under the aegis of the Department the Citizen’s Information Board and the Pensions Authority. The Office of the Pensions Ombudsman also comes under the remit of the Department.

Free Travel Pass: Motion [Private Members] (8 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: I rest my case. The free travel pass is safe.

Free Travel Pass: Motion [Private Members] (8 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: I hope Deputy O'Dea appreciates that I was involved in discussions, and the bells do not sound clearly where I was. I welcome the opportunity to open the debate and I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Donohoe, for his opening statement. The Government has provided steadfast support for older people and, in that context, I want to say loudly and clearly that the Government has protected...

Free Travel Pass: Motion [Private Members] (8 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: Age Action Ireland is entitled to make policy choices and engage in campaigns. The Deputy and Fianna Fáil want to put a statement on the record of the House. As Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection I say, as I have said since this campaign began, that there is no threat to free travel for older people, pure and simple.

Free Travel Pass: Motion [Private Members] (8 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: I do not want older people to feel worried and scared because of a campaign for which, with due respect to Fianna Fáil and the people involved, there is no requirement. People are free to campaign on whatever they wish to campaign on. The free travel pass is safe. The population of Ireland is aging rapidly. It is estimated that the over-65 population will rise by nearly 220,000 over...