Results 14,401-14,420 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: Not after two years.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: Yes.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: There were a couple of questions from Senator Mooney which he also raised on Second Stage. They were on the nature of state aid, social services and economic contracts. The Commission does not specifically define what is meant by the term "social services of general interest". However, it has described such services as economic activities which deliver outcomes in the overall public good...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: I ask the Senator to bear with me. They can launch legal action, as they did during the time of the previous Government in 1999. This goes back to then. The payment services provided by An Post to social welfare clients are similar to the payments services delivered by banks and, nowadays, other operators using mobile phones and the Internet. In relation to social welfare clients, the...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: The Senator does not even believe that himself.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: This is just scaremongering. The Senator is seeking to make people such as pensioners worry. That is his political job and he should continue.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: There will not be a post office in the country if Sinn Féin enters power.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: I thank the Senator for the concern he expressed about post offices. I am sure he is aware from reading the Grant Thornton report that a grand total of four post offices have closed. Most often, such closures are due to the death of the proprietor or postmaster. We are all - particularly those of us on the Government side - concerned and anxious that post offices and sub-post offices have a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobsPlus Scheme (2 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: JobsPlus provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers who recruit employees from those who are long term on the live register. JobsPlus is biased in favour of those who are longer term unemployed. It provides employers with two levels of payment: €7,500 over two years where a jobseeker who is 12-24 months on the live register is recruited and €10,000 for each...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Work Placement Programmes (2 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: This matter relates to spouses engaged on the rural social scheme and community employment. With effect from 17 September 2012, rates of payment on work placement and training programmes have been standardised. In cases where both spouses are simultaneously engaged on work placement and training programmes, as in the case detailed by the Deputy, the Department considers that neither spouse...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: School Meals Programme (2 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 98 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobsPlus Scheme (2 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 97 together. JobsPlus provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers who recruit employees from those who are long term on the live register. JobsPlus is biased in favour of those who are longer term unemployed. It provides employers with two levels of payment: €7,500 over two years where a jobseeker who is 12-24 months on the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (2 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: Following representations made by Deputy Durkan, the claimant’s payment was re-instated on 9 May 2014. The claim has continued in payment on a weekly basis since then and current payments are up to date. Arrears issued to the claimant on 20 June 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Work Initiatives (2 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: Tús, the community work placement initiative which was introduced during 2011, was set up to provide short-term, quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. This initiative is being delivered through the network of local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta. Tús is designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Widow's Pension Appeals (2 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 26 June 2014. 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: One-Parent Family Payments (2 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 104 together. The one-parent family payment (OFP) scheme has played an important role in providing income support to lone parents since its introduction in 1997. The number of OFP recipients stood at 77,209 in May, 2014, and an estimated €863 million is expected to be spent on the scheme during 2013. The Social Welfare and Pensions Act,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payments (2 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: An exceptional needs payment issued to the person concerned on 20 June 2014. On that date the person concerned stated that she is currently residing at an address in Clondalkin. She was advised to make an application to Clondalkin Local Office so that her case could be reviewed as soon as possible. The person concerned has also been advised that if she is currently homeless she should call...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (2 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: The Government has provided over €344 million for the rent supplement scheme in 2014, the purpose of which is to provide short-term income support to assist with reasonable accommodation costs of eligible people living in private rented accommodation who are unable to provide for their accommodation costs from their own resources. The overall aim is to provide short-term assistance,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (2 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: The number of persons in receipt of free travel in June 2014 is not currently available. I am however informed that at the end of June 2013 and May 2014 there were 771,147 and 793,812 free travel passes.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Payments (2 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: Arrears of disability allowance due to the person concerned issued by cheque on 30 June 2014 .