Results 15,781-15,800 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: Some 30,000 of the long-term recipients are due to transfer to the rental accommodation scheme.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: A Cheann Comhairle, there is a radio in my left ear that does not seem to turn off.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: Every local authority in the State has officers in place and is now working the scheme. As a result, we hope to see even greater progress on this.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: I was pleased that Deputy Enright welcomed the new housing initiative yesterday.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: Deputies claimed that recipients of rent supplement could not work at all. The reality is that those on rent supplement who enter full-time work will continue to be eligible if the local authority deems them to be so.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: There is no reason that people should feel they are in a welfare trap. That is not the case. Everything is means tested in this regard. In recent years, the provision of the rent supplement via the local authorities has improved the capacity of people to avail of voluntary or social housing within their local authority areas.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: All the independent data indicate that rents have decreased by 5%. In addition, the number of accommodation units available for rent has doubled in recent months. That will make it easier for many people. As I indicated, it is something we will keep under review.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: One of the provisions in the Bill is to ask recipients of very large sums of money from the State to pay â¬18 per week towards their accommodation. This has not been changed for several years.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: As I outlined yesterday, at the time the initiative was introduced it was decided that it should be set at some 10% of the social welfare payment. In the intervening years, the social welfare payment has increased by â¬70 while the rent supplement contribution has remained the same.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: Now we are simply increasing it by â¬5 per week.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: People will be delighted to obtain good quality accommodation.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The quality of the accommodation that has become available in recent years, and particularly in recent months, is much higher than what was available in the past. We are working closely with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the local authorities to ensure the accommodation is of a good standard.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: We want to ensure also that landlords are held to account for the standard of accommodation they provide. Taxpayers' money is going towards supporting 70,000 people in receipt of rent supplement. There is plenty of good accommodation now available. We hope this will be of benefit to people.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: Deputies also asked about the numbers of staff within the Department. I thank those Deputies on the Opposition benches who paid tribute to the departmental staff. Some generous and well deserved comments were made in regard to their dealings with staff in local offices. Following a review of staffing, we have placed additional personnel in the offices that were under particular pressure...
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: We appreciate the pressures that are on individuals and by giving these increases we are aiming to support those people and families.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill aims to do that. For that reason I commend the Bill to the House.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Referral to Select Committee (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Social and Family Affairs, in accordance with Standing Order 122(1) and paragraph 1(a)(i) of the Orders of Reference of that committee.
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The back-to-work allowance scheme is part of the department's employment support programmes designed to assist and encourage the long term unemployed, lone parents, people with disabilities and other social welfare recipients to return to the active labour force. These allowances are designed to provide a monetary incentive for people who are long term dependant on social welfare payments to...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The total expenditure on Child Benefit in 2006 was â¬2,056M, for 2007 the figure was â¬2,232m. The percentage of total Child Benefit expenditure paid to non national customers in respect of resident children is estimated at 13.5% in 2006 and 14% in 2007, this would equate to circa â¬277m in 2006 and â¬312m in 2007. The amount of Child Benefit paid to EU workers in respect of non resident...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: Further to my response to PQ 39068/08 on 6 November 2008, I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the person concerned was notified on 2 September 2008 that her case was referred to an Appeals Officer and that it was proposed to hold an oral hearing in her case. A time and date has not yet been arranged for her hearing, but every effort is being made to have it dealt with as...