Results 15,281-15,300 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Other Questions: Farm Assist Scheme Eligibility (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: We will look at that in the context of the budget, but it is a significant support of €310 a week for such a family. It is an important support, in addition to other supports such as the rural social scheme and other schemes, which my Department offers widely to people from farming families. I recognise what the Deputy said about the significance, contribution and hard work of...

Other Questions: Farm Assist Scheme Eligibility (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: -----at the level of €91 million per year. Assistance of €310 a week to the kind of farming family the Deputy is talking about is a significant assistance.

Other Questions: Farm Assist Scheme Eligibility (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: If conditions improve, we may be able to improve it.

Other Questions: State Pensions Reform (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: As provided for in budget 2012, from September 2012, new rate bands for State pensions were introduced. These additional payment rate bands more accurately reflect the social insurance history of a person and ensure those who contribute more during a working life benefit more in retirement than those with fewer contributions. People who have insufficient contributions to qualify for a full...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: First, this is a supply problem in a number of cities. I note the recent study on what are the likely requirements for housing and homes in the near future. I believe the only solution is to have a major investment in housing and to have a housebuilding programme. Unfortunately, the direct involvement of local authorities in housebuilding was abandoned by the previous Government at the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: As the Deputy is aware, many people in Waterford who rent are being paid the rent supplement within the limits. The Deputy should remember that the limits were identified by an intensive and extensive survey of all of the current up-to-date data. One concern I have is that because the Department accounts for just under 40% of the total rental market, it will end up pushing up rents for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The evidence I have is that many people are able to rent. However, there is an issue in respect of housing and the way to deal with that, as part of the construction strategy, would be to recommence significant amounts of housing construction. That in turn would ease the pressures on rents as more supply becomes available.

Other Questions: Farm Assist Scheme Eligibility (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 30 together. This year, the Department will spend approximately €91 million on the farm assist scheme and it is expected that an average of 9,900 individuals will be in receipt of this payment each week. The farm assist scheme is based on jobseeker’s allowance. For example, a person with an adult dependant and two children with a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: Who said the following?In order to incentivise young people to avail of training and education opportunities and to prevent their becoming welfare-dependent from a young age, changes have been made to the jobseeker's allowance. This decision is not discriminatory but rather a targeted measure aimed at protecting young people from welfare dependency.It was the Deputy's colleague, former...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The Fianna Fáil-led Government introduced this measure.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The Deputy must have been sitting at the Cabinet table at the time.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: I quoted the then Minister. The Deputy was in the Cabinet.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: Amnesia is all the rage in Fianna Fáil. Sometimes I wonder if they even remember the bank guarantee.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The Deputy should withdraw that if he is implying it about me.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: I quoted from his colleague as Minister. I suggest he withdraw his remark. I quoted the record of the House.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: I never said that.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: I quoted from the Deputy's colleague when he was a Minister, then Minister and Deputy, Mary Hanafin. It is a straight quote from an answer to a parliamentary question.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: Some 105,650 places are being provided in 2014 including 6,000 by Youthreach and 7,700 by JobBridge. I could read them all but I will sent the Deputy the table. We anticipate and hope that an additional 28,000 young people will take up further courses this year. It is all set out in the table.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: There are approximately 78,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014. Following the most recent review of the private rental market, revised maximum rent limits were introduced from Monday 17 June 2013 until 31 December 2014. For all counties, major urban population centres were tested to ensure access to housing and value for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Job Creation (16 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The Deputy's examples relates to an individual who worked 19.5 hours per week on Tús from October 2012 to October 2013. I understand he has a spouse and partner and for most of the year three qualifying children but subsequently two qualifying children. I presume one child reached the age of 18 and became an adult. He would have been paid a standard social welfare allowance of...