Results 161-180 of 288 for 5 million speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (19 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: ...costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. There are approximately 81,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €403 million for 2013. Rent supplement is subject to a means test which is normally calculated to ensure that a person, after the payment of rent, has an income equal to the rate of supplementary...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: We are talking about difficult choices. As I said yesterday, this measure will result in departmental savings in expenditure of approximately €22 million but there will also be further savings because there was an additional scheme, a small scheme, which required a certain amount of administration. Therefore, there will be administrative savings and staff savings, which we are...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (5 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: ...and we can look forward to regaining control of our destiny. The live register figures are a clear sign that things are moving in the right direction. The latest CSO data showed there were 396,512 people on the register in October, 23,000 fewer than the same month last year and almost 34,000 fewer than in October 2011. This is a very welcome turnaround considering that the register was...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Budget 2014 (5 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the tabular statement. Measure Savings 2014 € million Savings Full Year € million Recovery of social welfare payments - Recover the value of certain social welfare payments from compensation awards made to persons in relation to loss of earnings.  To be introduced in 2014. 21 22 Illness Benefit - Increase the number...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Oct 2013)

Joan Burton: ..., are the people who should receive the most significant level of help. That is the way the Department has done it and will continue to do it. Where a person dies in an accident, an accident funeral grant of €850 is paid and that grant will continue to be paid. A number of Deputies raised another issue at different points in time, namely, that for the past number of years,...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (24 Oct 2013)

Joan Burton: ...is to get people back to work. The proof of this is now being witnessed. When negotiations on the budget began, the Department was initially requested to make new expenditure reductions of €440 million. However, we were able to limit expenditure reductions to €226 million, as part of an overall €290 million adjustment, largely because of the performance of the live...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: School Meals Programme (15 Oct 2013)

Joan Burton: ...which funding is provided directly to participating schools and local and voluntary community groups who run their own school meals projects. The Government has allocated an additional €2 million for the school meals programme in 2013, providing a total allocation of €37 million. A total of some 1,000 schools/organisations received funding under the school meals local...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Interest Supplement Payments (8 Oct 2013)

Joan Burton: ...who are unable to meet their mortgage interest repayments. There are currently some 11,000 people in receipt of mortgage interest supplement for which the Government has provided almost €42 million in 2013. Detail of the number of recipients of mortgage interest supplement at year end for the period from 2008 to date is provided in the following tabular statement. Statistics are not...

Seanad: Pathways to Work Strategy: Statements (25 Sep 2013)

Joan Burton: ...of an integrated employment and income support service with an intensified work activation focus. The initial reforms concentrated on how we deliver services to the newly unemployed. The 50-point action plan was published in July this year and it sets out to maintain the momentum developed under the pathways strategy and to build on the progress we have made to date. It also has a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Job Initiatives (24 Sep 2013)

Joan Burton: ...had been made, a significant milestone for an activation scheme with exceptional rates of progression into employment. At 19 September, there had been 20,912 placements since the Scheme commenced, 5,446 individuals were actually on internships and 3,061 internship opportunities were advertised on the JobBridge website. Interns continue to receive their basic Social Welfare payment for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Applications (18 Sep 2013)

Joan Burton: ...in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. The Government has provided approximately €718 million for the various SWA schemes in 2013. Basic weekly SWA may be payable to customers awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal for a primary social welfare payment. The following is a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service Issues (18 Sep 2013)

Joan Burton: ...with debt problems, in particular those on low incomes and people living on social welfare payments. In 2013, the Citizens Information Board has been allocated a budget of approximately €47.5 million of which some €19 million has been assigned to MABS. In 2012 the corresponding allocation was €46.8 million and €18.3million respectively. The Money Advice and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 344 to 350, inclusive, and 352 354, inclusive, together. An increase of €5 in the weekly personal rate of jobseeker's benefit with a proportionate increase for a qualified adult would cost an estimated €13.7 million in a full year. A reduction of €5 in the weekly personal rate of all social protection payments made to persons aged under...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service Issues (16 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: ...need help and advice in coping with debt problems, in particular those on low incomes and people living on social welfare payments. The Money Advice and Budgeting Service is made up of a network of 53 companies which includes 51 local companies and 2 national companies, MABS ndl and National Traveller MABS. In addition, the MABS National Telephone Helpline is available from 9am to 8pm...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Carers Strategy Status (16 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: ...supports available to carers in Ireland are among the highest rates of income support in Europe. Expenditure on carers has increased significantly in recent years. In 2013 it is estimated to be €776 million compared with an estimated outturn of €771 million in 2012. The expenditure on carers in 2012 included: €509 million on carer's allowance; €24 million on...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Application Numbers (16 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: ...requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance. The Government has provided over €47 million for the scheme in 2013. Application can be made under the scheme for assistance with funeral and burial expenses. A table detailing the available statistics in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Household Benefits (11 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 to 127, inclusive, together. The household benefits package comprises the electricity/gas allowance, the telephone allowance and the free television licence. In 2013, my Department will spend an estimated €284 million on this scheme, providing some 410,000 customers with a package worth almost €700 per year. Under my Department’s...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Pre-Budget Consultation Process: Discussion with Minister for Social Protection (10 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: ...relevant next year. I shall then move on to discuss the budget. The 2013 expenditure report was published last December. It provided for additional new expenditure reduction measures of €440 million in 2014 and an expenditure ceiling of €19.633 billion. Reducing overall expenditure in 2014 and beyond, as required, while protecting the most vulnerable in society, will be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Functions (9 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: ...options. The service has three elements: - Website: is the key online access portal for general mortgage arrears information and advice. - Mortgage Arrears Information Helpline (phone 0761 074050): The Helpline provides general mortgage arrears information and signposting in relation to the Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears, and other supports available for those in mortgage arrears or...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Citizen Information Services (9 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: ...and advice in coping with debt problems, in particular those on low incomes and people living on social welfare payments. In 2013, the Citizens Information Board has been allocated some €47.4 million from the exchequer of which some €19 million has been assigned to MABS and €14.6 million has been assigned to the Citizens Information Services. The corresponding...