Results 18,201-18,220 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Child Poverty. (11 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Factors such as the number of children in one's family, or whether one's spouse is in work, are taken into account when payments are made to people who have lost their jobs. The role of child benefit has to be acknowledged too. The Deputy suggested that people are unable to pay their rents, but the rent supplement scheme, which we discussed earlier, is in place to assist such people.

Child Poverty. (11 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Rents are varied by local authorities according to the income coming into people's houses.

Child Poverty. (11 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: They reduce rents when people find themselves on social welfare. We are all familiar with how the system works. I know it is not easy for people who are trying to survive on social welfare, particularly those who suddenly find themselves in difficulties because their outgoings are commensurate with the good incomes they used to enjoy but no longer have. We have always had a commitment to...

Child Poverty. (11 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: We will aim to continue to do that, bearing in mind the difficult economic conditions we face.

Child Poverty. (11 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: It is not possible to identify the family incomes of the vast bulk of the working population of the State. Married couples are identified in the code, but cohabiting couples are not. We are anxious for people to avail of the family income supplement scheme. By the end of the year, the number of people doing so will probably have increased slightly by comparison with the number at the end...

Child Poverty. (11 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I am saying that it cannot be done in the cases of the vast bulk of workers. One might be able to identify a target group, but one cannot do it for the whole working population. Such matters are being discussed at present. In the specific case of family income supplement, the system is designed to support people who are in low-paid employment. It is also a way of ensuring that people can...

Child Poverty. (11 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The other point that needs to be made is that most such people do not pay tax. They are not covered by the tax net because they are on low incomes.

Child Poverty. (11 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Almost 50% of people will be out of the tax net next year. Even if the Revenue Commissioners were able to identify everybody on its books, it could not identify those who do not pay tax.

Money Advice and Budgeting Service. (11 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 69 and 90 together. The Money Advice and Budgeting Service, MABS, is the main Government-funded service that assists those who are overly indebted and need help and advice to cope with their debt problems. The role of money advisers is to help clients to assess their financial situations, make budget plans and deal with their creditors. MABS is dealing with...

Money Advice and Budgeting Service. (11 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy's last point is important. Some people are advertising that they are debt collectors, but are giving the impression that they are almost doing it as a community service and that they are working closely with MABS. We are concerned about this and that is why we are ensuring that information on the MABS website and telephone line is well advertised. The service provided by MABS is...

Money Advice and Budgeting Service. (11 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I understand the average number on a waiting list is 31. I believe the Deputy asked for the longest waiting time. I do not have that specific information.

Money Advice and Budgeting Service. (11 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: In fairness the only issues MABS will not deal with are commercial difficulties. MABS advisers are finding that the people coming into them have a very complex range of personal difficulties, some of which may indeed be tied up with commercial entities. However, as far as possible they are able to deal with them very successfully. The renewed programme for Government contains a specific...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (11 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 72 together. The average processing times for claims decided in October was 3.14 weeks for jobseekers benefit and 7.38 weeks for jobseekers allowance. In October, 3 out of every 4 claims for Jobseekers Benefit were processed within 3 weeks and 2 out of every 3 claims for the means tested payment Jobseekers Allowance were processed within 6 weeks. To...

Written Answers — Identity Cards: Identity Cards (11 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Department has developed, in conjunction with a number of other Government Departments, the specifications for a Public Service Card (PSC) under the Standard Authentication Framework Environment, or (SAFE), programme. The specification provides for identification features, including a photograph. The aim is to develop a card that acts as a key for access to public services in general,...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Fraud: Social Welfare Fraud (11 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Control savings are calculated by applying validated multipliers to the difference in the rate of payment before and after the control activity. Multipliers used in assessing control savings estimate the total future savings to the Department of a revocation or reduction resulting from a control action. The multiplier used is based on the average amount of time the person who signs off will...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (11 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 115 together. The Rural Environment Protection Scheme, REPS 4, was closed to new entrants in July of this year. However, under the Rural Development Programme, a new agri-environment measure will be introduced and individuals who have been affected by the closure of REPS 4 can apply for this new scheme. On this basis, estimation of the number of farmers...

Written Answers — Money Advice and Budgeting Service: Money Advice and Budgeting Service (11 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The money advisers throughout the country focus on providing assistance, advice and intense support to people who have financial difficulties. The money adviser works out a budget, negotiates on behalf of the client with all creditors, including financial institutions and sub-prime lenders, to secure better terms for the client in managing the repayment of their debts. Where required by the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (11 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme provides for a weekly or monthly supplement to be paid in respect of rent or mortgage interest to any person in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs. The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered by the community welfare service of the Health Service Executive on behalf of the Department. The purpose of the rent...

Written Answers — Child Support: Child Support (11 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Child Benefit scheme has, in recent years, experienced significant expansion in the volume of claims received, the rates of payment and the diversity of the customer base. The annual cost in 2008 was some €2.46 billion and the payment is now made for children of some 190 nationalities living in Ireland. Against this background, the control policy for the child benefit scheme has been...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Fraud: Social Welfare Fraud (11 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78, 80, 89, 102 and 105 together. The prevention of fraud and abuse of the social welfare system is an integral part of the day-to-day work of the Department. A key objective of the Department's control strategy is to ensure that the right person is paid the right amount of money at the right time. The Department processes in excess of 2 million claims each...