Results 17,881-17,900 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Civil Registrations: Civil Registrations (7 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The legislative provision governing the registration of domestic adoptions and the issue of birth certificates drawn from the register of adoptions is set out at section 22 of the Adoption Act, 1952. Under this provision the Registrar General is charged with maintaining an Adopted Children Register and also to maintain an index to make traceable the connection between each entry in the...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (7 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 175 together. The requirement to be habitually resident in Ireland was introduced as a qualifying condition for certain social assistance schemes and child benefit with effect from 1st May 2004. It was introduced in the context of the Government's decision to open the Irish labour market to workers from the new EU Member States without the limitations...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (7 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The range of benefits and pensions to which different groups of workers may establish entitlement reflects the risks associated with the nature of their work. This in turn reflects the rate of contribution payable. Self-employed people are liable for PRSI at the Class S rate of 3% and are consequently eligible for a narrower range of benefits than general employees who, together with their...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Fraud: Social Welfare Fraud (7 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The annual control target for my Department in 2009 is €616.5 million of which nearly €312 million was achieved by the end of last August. These target control savings for 2009 are incorporated in my Department's Revised Estimate for 2009. In the supplementary budget in April, it was announced that the December bonus payment would not be paid this year. There are no plans to alter this...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (7 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Family Income Supplement (FIS) is a non taxable payment, introduced in 1984 to provide income support for employees on low earnings with families and thereby preserve the incentive to remain in employment in circumstances where they might otherwise only be marginally better off than if they were fully reliant on social welfare payments. To qualify for FIS, a family must have at least one...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (7 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The mortgage interest supplement scheme provides support for people who have difficulty meeting their mortgage repayments and whose means are insufficient to meet their needs. The scheme provides a short-term income "safety net" within the overall social welfare system to ensure that people do not suffer undue hardship as a result of losing their employment. A supplement in respect of...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (7 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes made a range of recommendations relating to the Department of Social and Family Affairs including recommendations relating to the Family Support Agency and its programmes. The Department will consider, as part of the Estimates and budgetary process for 2010, the report's recommendations and decisions on all...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (7 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I presume that this question should refer to the Pensions Insolvency Payment Scheme (PIPS), currently being established by the Minister for Finance on a pilot basis for a three year period. This scheme is intended as an option of last resort and a social protection measure to assist pension schemes where the sponsoring employer is insolvent and the pension scheme is being wound up in deficit....

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (7 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: It is the policy of the Department to ensure that all customers are advised of any change in their entitlements. In the case of a person whose payment has been terminated the Deputy will be aware that anyone suffering hardship may apply for supplementary welfare allowance. This scheme is administered on behalf of the Department by the community welfare division of the Health Service...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Child benefit is a monthly payment made in respect of qualified children to assist in the costs associated with child rearing. Currently the standard monthly rates of child benefit in respect of single births are €166.00 in respect of each of the first and second child and € 203.00 for the third and subsequent children. In addition, with regard to multiple births, parents of twins are...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Rent Supplement is administered on behalf of the Department by the Community Welfare Service of the Health Service Executive (HSE) as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme. The Executive has advised that an application for rent supplement in this case was refused on the basis that the person concerned did not have a housing need as she had alternative accommodation available to...

Written Answers — Family Support Services: Family Support Services (8 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes made a range of recommendations relating to the Department of Social and Family Affairs including recommendations relating to the Family Support Agency and its programmes. The Department will consider, as part of the Estimates and budgetary process for 2010, the Report's recommendations and decisions on all...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: In order to qualify for Domiciliary Care Allowance a child must have a disability so severe that it requires the child needing care and attention and/or supervision substantially in excess of another child of the same age. This care and attention must be given by another person, effectively full-time, so that the child can deal with the activities of daily living. The child must be likely to...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (8 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that, in accordance with statutory requirements, the relevant Departmental papers and comments on the grounds of appeal in the case of the person concerned have been sought. When received, the appeal in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer for early consideration. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of the Department...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (8 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, in accordance with statutory requirements, the Department was asked for the documentation in the case and the Deciding Officer's comments on the grounds of the appeal. In that context, an examination by another Medical Assessor will be carried out. The person concerned will be notified when arrangements for the examination have been...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Since early 2008, the Department has experienced significant pressure on customer services due mainly to the increase in the Live Register. In recognition of this pressure, the Government has approved an increase in the number of staff working in the Department. In line with the Government moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the Civil Service, the additional staff have been sourced by...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, an oral hearing of this case took place on 6th October 2009 and the Appeals Officer is now considering the appeal in the light of all the evidence submitted, including that adduced at the oral hearing. The Chief Appeals Officer will write to the Deputy when the appeal has been determined. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (8 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Details of foreign travel undertaken by my predecessors and me for 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009 are set out in the following table: Year Location Purpose of trip Delegation (including Minister) Full Delegation Costs(€) 2009 Boston Represent Irish Government at Funeral of Eunice Kennedy Shriver 1 1,052 Jonkoping, Sweden EU meeting 2 2,035 Vienna Conference for Ministers of Family...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (8 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, following receipt of the grounds of appeal from the person concerned, the relevant Departmental papers and comments of the Department have been sought. On receipt of its response the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer for early consideration. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of the Department that is independently...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Health Service Executive has advised that according to its records, an application for rent supplement has not been received from the person concerned, at the address supplied by the Deputy. It is open to the person concerned to contact his local community welfare officer with a view to making an application for rent supplement in respect of his new residence.