Results 18,901-18,920 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Guarantee (27 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: Securing EU Council agreement for an EU Recommendation on a Youth Guarantee was one of the priorities of the Irish Presidency and this was secured during my chairing of the Council of European Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO). The Recommendation is that Member States should: Ensure that all young people under the age of 25 years receive a good-quality offer of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Delays (27 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of the Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by the Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new facts. ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Delays (27 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 30th May 2013, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Delays (27 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 24th June 2013. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these are received in the Appeals Office the case will be referred to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Delays (27 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 11th June 2013. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these are received in the Appeals Office the case will be referred to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Delays (27 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 27th May 2013, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (26 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: I shall give a little background on the issue. The EU regulations that deal with family benefits do not specifically deal with child benefit. They encompass a range of benefits designed to support families in one way or another. In the case of Ireland, the benefits designated as family benefits include: child benefit, family income supplement, one-parent family payment, guardians payment...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (26 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: I understand the sentiments behind the amendment. The social welfare entitlements of European Union citizens moving around the EU are governed by EU regulations and the co-ordination of social security systems. These regulations have direct effect and override domestic legislation which would conflict with their provisions. Under these regulations, EU citizens enjoy the same benefits and...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (26 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: I thank Senator Zappone for putting forward the amendment, although I do not propose to accept it. We had a very long discussion about this and we went through the various sections that set out in some detail what each element of this change means. Essentially, the Department is being given power to recover overpayments, as we are required to do arising from successive reports of the...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (26 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: Two years.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (26 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: Deputy Ó Snodaigh asked about children and after-school services. We are rolling out the 6,000 after-school places. Some were rolled out on a pilot basis towards the end of April. We hope to have all of them rolled out by the start of the new school year in September. We will be concentrating on and emphasising parents' going back to work, be they lone parents or part of a couple....

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (26 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The Deputy should provide the details of the specific case. I will undertake to examine the matter. If Deputy Ó Snodaigh has a specific case in mind, particularly in regard to some of the young people, he should give us the details and we will undertake to examine them.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (26 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: I have been able to facilitate the sub-committee in the case of previous reports. In fact, I have made it a priority to do so. In the case of the actuarial review, for example, there was actually some criticism from the media because the sub-committee had received it first.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (26 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: Yes, it had not leaked. It went to the sub-committee first. The Mangan committee indicated that 85% of formerly self-employed persons who had submitted claims did obtain access to social welfare supports. The outcome of such claims depends in large part on the production of information by claimants, something which has also become apparent in the case, for instance, of the farm assist...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (26 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: I cannot wait for it.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (26 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: There is an excellent distributor road running along the edge of the Chairman's constituency which takes one onto the Naas Road.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (26 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: I assure the Deputy that I raise this issue at Cabinet almost every week and the message is getting through. In the case of small-scale construction contracts involving schools, for instance, many other Deputies and I are concerned that several were won by companies outside the jurisdiction. As part of our broader control and anti-fraud efforts, a joint project is under way between the...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (26 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: No. We have spent an additional €7 million or thereabouts on rent allowance this year as a result of the review.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (26 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: It is referred to as HAP, or one might say "happy".

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (26 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: I prefer "happy".