Results 15,561-15,580 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Price Increases: Price Increases (30 Oct 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Department and the agencies operating under the aegis of the Department, with the exception of the Pensions Board, do not impose any charges for their services, nor do they raise taxes. The only products they produce are publications. The Citizens Information Board increased the price of the Directory of National Voluntary Organisations and other State Agencies, from €10 to €12,...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (30 Oct 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Deserted Wife's Benefit scheme was an insurance based scheme for women whose marriage had broken down. In 1992 an earnings limit was brought in for the scheme so that resources would be effectively targeted to those deserted wives who required an additional supplement to their income until they were able to support themselves. The deserted wife's benefit (DWB) scheme was closed to new...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (30 Oct 2008)

Mary Hanafin: A child benefit claim was received from the person concerned in November 2007; however during subsequent processing the claim file was inadvertently misplaced. The person concerned has been contacted and the position has been explained to her and she will submit a new application form. When this is returned to the Child Benefit office the case will be prioritised and payment will be made as...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (30 Oct 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The main causes of absenteeism in the Department in 2007 relate to illnesses caused by respiratory related conditions, stress, back injury and pain, depression and surgery. In 2007, the average number of working days lost to sick leave per employee was 14.74. This figure includes those employees who were absent for periods of six months or more due to long term illnesses. 23% of total...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, in the context of the current economic circumstances it has been necessary for the Government to take a number of steps to reduce overall public expenditure in order to restore order and stability in the public finances. Increases ranging between 185% and 200% have been provided in Child Benefit between 2001 and 2008. Total expenditure on the scheme has increased...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, which is administered on behalf of the department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive, provides for the payment of rent supplement to eligible people whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs. The Health Service Executive has advised that it has no record of a claim for rent...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Deserted Wife's Benefit is a payment made to a woman deserted by her husband. Entitlement to payment is based on Social Insurance contributions paid by the wife or her husband. Deserted Wife's Benefit scheme was discontinued for new applications with effect from January 1997 when One Parent Family Payment was introduced. However, people who were in receipt of this scheme at that stage...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (4 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Pre-Retirement Allowance is a means tested payment for people aged 55 and over who opt to retire from the labour force. People transferred to this scheme from Jobseeker's Allowance (formerly Unemployment Assistance). The Pre-Retirement allowance scheme was discontinued for new applicants with effect from July 2007. However, people who were in receipt of the payment at that stage continued to...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (4 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Social Assistance and other allowance subhead relates to the means tested payment for deserted wives and prisoners' wives schemes. These schemes were discontinued for new claimants with effect from January 1997, when One Parent Family Payment was introduced. However, people who were in receipt of these schemes at that stage continued to receive their payment, and will continue to receive...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (4 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Subhead T2 provides for the Exchequer's contribution to projects under the social inclusion and social protection strand of the EU Community Action Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity (PROGRESS) 2007 to 2013, which involve Irish partners (both statutory and non-statutory). EU funding for the projects amounts to approximately 80% of project costs, with the remaining 20% to be...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (4 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The projected decline of €2.45 million (8%) in the grant to the Citizen's Information Board in the 2009 Estimate over the 2008 Estimate is due to measures taken by the Board to control expenditure next year. These measures include: A 3% reduction in payroll costs over 2008, through the management of staff vacancies. A 50% reduction in expenditure on consultancy, advertising and promotional...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme is administered on behalf of the Department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Applications for the allowance may be made between the beginning of June and the end of September each year. The 2009 rates are €200 for children aged 2 to 11 years old and €305 for children aged 12 to 22. In Budget 2009,...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive, provides for the payment of rent supplement to eligible people whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs. The Health Service Executive has advised that the person concerned has been refused rent supplement on the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 362 and 374 together. A number of families and representative groups expressed concerns about the impact of the changes to the DA scheme announced in Budget 2009. Having reflected on these concerns the Government, on my recommendation, agreed that the existing arrangements, whereby DA is paid to 16 and 17 year olds, will continue pending completion of a full...

Written Answers — Live Register: Live Register (4 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The table shows the monthly Live Register figures for late October 2004 to 2007 and for end of September 2008, for both the Coolock and Kilbarrack Social Welfare Local Offices. The end of October 2008 figure will be published by the Central Statistics Office later this week. Coolock Kilbarrack 29/10/04 2,482 2,475 28/10/05 2,259 2,259 27/10/06 2,226 2,058 26/10/07 2,247 2,054 26/09/08...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (4 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: As at 15th October 2008 there were no vacancies at Executive Officer level in my Department's offices in Athlone and Tullamore.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Child Benefit is payable to children who are ordinarily resident in the state or who reside with a qualified person outside the state, while that person is a member of the defence forces, a civil servant posted abroad, a volunteer development worker or who remain insurable under Irish Social insurance while working abroad. EU Migrant workers may have an entitlement to Child Benefit and other...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 366, 367 and 370 together. There is no delay in processing the majority of Child Benefit applications. Awards on behalf of Irish-born children are processed either automatically or in a partially automated way using the child's birth details when they are registered with the General Registrar's Office. The average processing time for these claims is less...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (4 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: At the 1st November 2008, there were 106 permanent posts and 24 temporary posts in the Child Payments area in the Department, comprising Child Benefit and Early Childcare Supplement. 23 permanent posts and 16 temporary posts are deployed on claims in respect of non-resident children, under EU regulations. 83 permanent posts and 8 temporary posts are deployed on claims for children resident in...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Local Offices provide statements of benefit paid to customers in respect of the schemes administered at local level such as jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker's allowance. The Department is in the process of localising the One-Parent Family Payment Scheme to the network of local offices across the country. Where a One-Parent Family Payment claim is held at the local office, that office, of...