Results 15,021-15,040 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin
- Advocacy Services. (25 Jun 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The total funding for advocacy services for this year is â¬6.1 million. There was additional funding included in that in the budget of â¬1.8 million for service development, which would include the advocacy service and the additional post for the PAS. The person has been identified as the appropriate choice for director of the service but sanction from the Department of Finance is...
- Advocacy Services. (25 Jun 2008)
Mary Hanafin: No, to my knowledge, the only named post is that of the director, if that is what the Deputy is asking.
- Advocacy Services. (25 Jun 2008)
Mary Hanafin: I do not know if the number of posts is specified. I will have to check for the Deputy.
- Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (25 Jun 2008)
Mary Hanafin: I understand that the Deputy is concerned in particular about the current means testing arrangements applying in the case of the State pension (non-contributory) where a land-holder leases land or is otherwise in possession of land which is fallow or idle. Currently, a group in the Department is undertaking a review of means testing arrangements generally and I understand that the issue...
- Written Answers — Anti-Poverty Strategy: Anti-Poverty Strategy (25 Jun 2008)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 98 together. The effective delivery of services at both national and local levels with flexibility to adapt to change is essential in tackling poverty and social exclusion. This can best be achieved if the services are coordinated and, where appropriate, integrated at local and national levels and between these levels. The importance of this approach...
- Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (25 Jun 2008)
Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, the needs of older people have been a priority for Government for many years and we have managed to make very significant improvements in social welfare pensions. The rate of contributory pension has increased from just â¬95 per week in 1996 to more than â¬223 per week in 2008 and the non-contributory pension has increased from â¬82 per week in 1996 to â¬212...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (25 Jun 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The household benefits package is generally available to people living in the State, aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or who satisfy a means test. It is also available to people aged under 66 who are in receipt of certain disability social welfare payments or carer's allowance. The package includes the electricity and gas allowance, telephone allowance...
- Written Answers — Rental Accommodation Scheme: Rental Accommodation Scheme (25 Jun 2008)
Mary Hanafin: Rent supplement is administered on behalf of the Department by the Health Service Executive (HSE), as part of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation, whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs, and who do not have accommodation...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (25 Jun 2008)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 88 together. The policy in relation to support for older people has been, for many years, to give priority to increasing the personal rates of pension in addition to enhancing the Household Benefits Package rather than supplements like the living alone increase. The objective is to use resources to improve the position of all pensioners to the fullest...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (25 Jun 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The Government discussion paper, "Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents", put forward proposals to tackle obstacles to employment for lone parents and other low income families. Extensive consultation has been carried out at all stages in the development of the proposal. Submissions were invited from a range of organisations when the working group was first established within the Department...
- Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (25 Jun 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that pension claims are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible. Claims for State Pension (Contributory) and State Pension (Transition) are now fully processed within three weeks of receipt of the applications where all information is available....
- Written Answers — Departmental Procedures: Departmental Procedures (25 Jun 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The Department exchanges data with a range of agencies and is committed to using the most modern, efficient and secure methods available for this purpose. The Department actively supports government policy which aims to facilitate the greater use of electronic payment systems in the economy in the interests of developing a world class payments environment in Ireland. The Department's payment...
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (25 Jun 2008)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90, 112, 113 and 132 together. In February 2006 the Government decided to transfer certain non core functions from the Health Service Executive to the Department. The General Registrars Office transferred to the Department with effect from 1 January 2008 and plans are well advanced for the transfer of a number of disability related payments including...
- Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (25 Jun 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) undertook an audit of the Department in late January 2008. When the final report is received by the Department, its findings and recommendations will be carefully examined with a view to taking whatever actions are necessary.
- Written Answers — Tax and Social Welfare Codes: Tax and Social Welfare Codes (25 Jun 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The Department and the Revenue Commissioners are continuing the process of negotiating a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The new MOU is designed to build on the close co-operation that already exists between this Department and the Revenue Commissioners by improving and intensifying the levels and scope of existing administrative and operational arrangements between the two...
- Written Answers — Anti-Poverty Strategy: Anti-Poverty Strategy (25 Jun 2008)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93, 114 and 139 together. Fuel poverty has been described as the inability to afford adequate warmth in a home, or the inability to achieve adequate warmth because of the energy inefficiency of the home. Various studies have been conducted in recent years which highlight fuel poverty problems affecting particular groups including households on low income,...
- Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (25 Jun 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The Government is anxious to ensure that as many people as possible can be accommodated within the social welfare pensions system, with due regard being paid to the contributory principle underlying entitlement to contributory payments and, in the case of non-contributory payments, the need to ensure that resources are directed to those who are most in need. Over the last 10 years, means...
- Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (25 Jun 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The primary objective of my Department's information policy is to ensure that all citizens are made aware of their entitlements and that they are kept informed of changes and improvements in schemes and services as they occur. In relation to older people, the Department produces a comprehensive range of information leaflets and booklets. For example, a booklet entitled "Checklist for...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (25 Jun 2008)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96, 102, 124, 125 and 136 together. The Government discussion paper, Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents, put forward proposals to tackle obstacles to employment for lone parents and other low income families. Under the proposals, the lone parenthood category would no longer exist. Instead, a new payment would be made to all parents, living alone or with a...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (25 Jun 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The setting of waste management charges and the introduction of waivers in respect of waste charges is, as has been stated in this House on many occasions, a matter for each local authority. Local authorities operate under the auspices of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The introduction of a national social welfare scheme as part of the household benefits scheme...