Results 16,221-16,240 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (27 Jan 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Insofar as the Department of Social and Family Affairs is concerned, there are no issues outstanding which would impede the ratification of the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Jan 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Details of expenses and allowances paid by this Department since May 2007 to Minister Martin Cullen T.D. and myself are listed below: Minister Martin Cullen T.D Minister Mary Hanafin T.D. â'¬ â'¬ Travel and Subsistence 1,300 253 Expense Allowance for Parliamentary Office Holder 12,000 9,218

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (28 Jan 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Rent supplement is administered on behalf of the Department by the Health Service Executive as part of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. The Executive has advised that payment of basic supplementary welfare allowance and rent supplement is being reviewed and that both payments have been suspended while the review is ongoing. The Executive will be in direct contact with the person...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (28 Jan 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The information requested is currently being compiled within the Department and will be made available to the Department as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (28 Jan 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 230 and 231 together. The pension rights of scheme members are protected through trust law and by provision in the Pensions Act 1990 as amended. As supplementary pension schemes are usually established under irrevocable trust, the assets of the scheme are legally separate from the assets of the employer and are not available to any other creditors where the...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (28 Jan 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the following tabular statement. Name Title Salary Pension € Averil Power Special Adviser 100,191 Model Scheme for non established civil servants Geraldine Butler Press Officer 76,087 Model Scheme for established civil servants Peter O'Brien Personal Assistant 55,030 Private pension contribution of 11% of salary Martine Lynch...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (28 Jan 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Rent supplement is administered on behalf of the Department by the Health Service Executive 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 available...

Written Answers — Public Service Card: Public Service Card (28 Jan 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Department has developed, in conjunction with a number of other government departments, the specifications for a Public Service card under the SAFE (Standard Authentication Framework Environment) programme. The specification provides for identification features, including a photograph. The Department has invited tenders for the production of the card along with associated management...

Written Answers — Money Advice and Budgeting Service: Money Advice and Budgeting Service (28 Jan 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 235 and 236 together. The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) provided services to 16,600 new clients in the period to end December 2008. In addition, 2,441 people sought information about budgeting and money management. The MABS National Helpline received approximately 11,000 calls in 2008. The detailed statistical breakdown of clients per centre...

The Economy: Statements (Resumed) (29 Jan 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Last evening, a framework for a pact for stabilisation, social solidarity and economic renewal was agreed with the social partners. It was a very significant step in uplifting this country and renewing the economy. That is what all of us are concerned with in the House today. It is not merely about looking back and seeing how we got here, but about listening to the people who are working,...

The Economy: Statements (Resumed) (29 Jan 2009)

Mary Hanafin: It is also about ensuring that we train and educate and are ready for the upturn. There are many very good news stories out there. When one thinks that Intel and Microsoft let 11,000 people go throughout the world, out of that number only 17 jobs were lost in this country. That says a great deal about us having the right skills for those companies. No jobs are to be lost in Ireland in...

The Economy: Statements (Resumed) (29 Jan 2009)

Mary Hanafin: ——and five and a half weeks for jobseeker's allowance. I know the staff in all our offices throughout the country are working flat out to try to help these people and support them. None of them wants to be on the live register or unemployed. They want the opportunity to get back into work. One of the key ways of achieving that is to ensure that the economy beyond the employment sector...

The Economy: Statements (Resumed) (29 Jan 2009)

Mary Hanafin: ——at least by doing that immediately we ensure that these people are not merely signing on and getting welfare and perhaps becoming dependent on it at a very early age.

The Economy: Statements (Resumed) (29 Jan 2009)

Mary Hanafin: There are other groups that we can ensure will benefit from the same approach. We are making a prudent move and ensuring that it works properly in the first place. We will see what the needs are and how the project works in the pilot areas and then expand it elsewhere. There are many other sectors we can look at and we are doing so. Some employers are struggling to hold onto their...

The Economy: Statements (Resumed) (29 Jan 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy could try making a suggestion.

The Economy: Statements (Resumed) (29 Jan 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Hear, hear.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (29 Jan 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Disability Allowance is a weekly Allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged over 16 and under age 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year. The allowance is subject to both medical assessment and a means test. The person concerned is in receipt of a reduced rate of Disability Allowance of €87.40 and a Child Dependant Allowance of €26.00....

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (29 Jan 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes mortgage interest supplement, is administered on behalf of the department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Mortgage interest supplement provides short-term income support to eligible people who are unable to meet their mortgage interest repayments in respect of a house which is their sole place of...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Offices: Social Welfare Offices (29 Jan 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Department delivers a frontline service through a network of 61 local offices and 62 branch offices countrywide. The main services provided from these offices include jobseeker supports, one-parent family payment and an information service. Each office provides Social Welfare services to people living in specified catchment areas. People living in or around Ashbourne making a claim for...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (29 Jan 2009)

Mary Hanafin: In assessing means derived from payments received from EU Member States (including U.K.) which do not form part of the EMU currencies, the Department uses the conversion mechanism provided for under Article 107 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 574/72 on Social Security for Migrant Workers. The exchange rates for converting Sterling and other non-EMU currencies are published quarterly in the...