Results 17,301-17,320 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (9 Jun 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The following is the data requested by the Deputy and is in respect of the Department's 154 offices around the country: 2006 - €32,211.22; 2007 - €34,724.65; 2008 - €35,646.58; 2009 - (to 30/4/09) €10,655.65. The Department makes every effort to keep such costs to a minimum.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (9 Jun 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The person concerned made a claim for jobseeker's benefit on 13 May 2009. Her claim will be decided by a deciding officer as soon as possible and she will be advised of the outcome.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (9 Jun 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The person concerned recently provided farm account details as requested by the Social Welfare Inspector in connection with her claim. These are currently being examined and on completion of enquiries, a decision will be made as soon as possible and she will be notified of the outcome. Under Social Welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by Deciding Officers and...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (9 Jun 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The person concerned has been in receipt of jobseeker's benefit for a total of 312 days (12 months) and exhausted her entitlement to benefit on 27 May 2009. She has now made a claim for credited contributions and this will be examined by a Deciding Officer as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (9 Jun 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The person concerned had her connection to the ESB ceased due to a house fire and notification of this to the Department caused her Household Benefits allowance to be stopped. The electricity supply has since been reconnected and her Household Benefits were restored on 28 May 2009. Any credit due will appear on her revised ESB bill.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (9 Jun 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The person concerned claimed jobseeker's allowance on 27 May 2009 and the claim has been forwarded to the social welfare inspector for investigation of the person's means. The claim will be decided by a deciding officer as soon as possible and the person concerned will be advised of the outcome immediately thereafter.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (9 Jun 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Rent supplement is administered on behalf of the Department by the community welfare division of 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...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (9 Jun 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The person concerned has not made an application for jobseeker's allowance. Until such time as an application is received, no determination can be made as regards his entitlements.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (9 Jun 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The person concerned claimed jobseeker's benefit on 13 March 2009. Her claim was disallowed by a Deciding Officer as she had not suffered a substantial loss of employment. The person concerned appealed this decision on 28 May 2009 and her appeal is being forwarded to the Social Welfare Appeals Office for consideration. That office will be in touch with her in due course.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Four hundred thousand.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Mary Hanafin: May I share time with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Dermot Ahern?

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Mary Hanafin: In 2007, the House mandated the Government by electing it and the then Taoiseach. This was on foot of a mandate from the people in the 2007 election. I welcome this opportunity to have a mid-term vote of confidence, as it will enable the House to reiterate its confidence that we will be able to steer the ship of State through the most difficult times experienced in many years. At the last...

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Every Department has areas where more can and will be done. However, it is wrong to say that we should have spent more while simultaneously saying that we did nothing at all. There are significant contradictions between what the Opposition said at the time and what it is saying now. We must acknowledge that the programme for Government must be reviewed because of the changed economic...

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I do not claim that any one individual is getting a significant amount of money, but spending so much is a considerable commitment on the part of the State. In recent weeks, we heard of many negatives, but no notice was given to the fact that 55,000 carers got a €1,700 respite grant.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Mary Hanafin: That we could continue to recognise their valuable role in society was important, but it was given no notice. Little attention was also given to recent announcements on the increased allocation to counselling grants, supports for people experiencing marriage difficulties and grants to family support agencies. It may be the case that we are not giving enough attention to good news. The past...

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Mary Hanafin: However, it is a significant protocol. The announcement was made at the IBF's buildings. We discuss the need to support people facing financial crises owing to personal indebtedness, but the protocol is one way of doing so. Another positive support related to a placement service to provide work experience to young graduates and people who had never been able to find work. The announcement...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (10 Jun 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Procedures for the processing of all appeals, including appeals for Jobseekers Allowance and Jobseekers Benefit claims are laid down in legislation (Part 10, Chapter 2 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act, 2005 and the Social Welfare (Appeals) Regulations (SI 108/98)). These provisions require that an appeal against a formal statutory decision by a Deciding Officer of the Department may...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (10 Jun 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The statistics required by the Deputy are attached in tabular form. I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the table comprises cases which have been allowed either in full or partially and includes cases which have been determined by Appeals Officers and cases which have been revised by Deciding Officers of the Department (following receipt of an appeal). The very high...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Jun 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The person concerned made an application for jobseeker's allowance on 11 February 2009. Under a pilot scheme for new claimants aged between 18 and 19 years she was referred directly to FÁS for a 6 week training programme. The Department was subsequently advised by FÁS that the person concerned was unable to attend the course. Outstanding issues regarding her availability for employment...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (10 Jun 2009)

Mary Hanafin: A high degree of cooperation and coordination exists at both policy and operational level between the Department of Social and Family Affairs and FÁS. Both sides operate under a memorandum of understanding which is updated periodically. Senior officials of the department hold regular joint meetings with FÁS and the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment. There are also regular...