Results 18,361-18,380 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Electric Vehicles: Electric Vehicles (1 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: No arrangement has been entered into by the Department for the purchase of electric vehicles in 2009 to 2010.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Dec 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 approx. €2.46 billion and the payment is made to children of some 190 nationalities living in Ireland. Against this background, the control policy for the child benefit scheme has been...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (1 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Since the publication of the Green Paper on Pensions in October 2007, the Government has taken several initiatives to respond to the immediate difficulties facing members of pension schemes, particularly of defined benefit schemes. We have moved quickly to assist pension scheme members through measures announced last December and the amendments passed in the Social Welfare and Pensions Act,...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (1 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal, from the person concerned, was registered on 11 November 2009 and in accordance with statutory requirements, the relevant Departmental papers and comments on the grounds of appeal have been sought. When received, the appeal in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer for consideration. The Social Welfare Appeals Office...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: A tabular statement is set out below showing the number of recipients of rent supplement by HSE area from 2004 to 2009. Number of Recipients of Rent Supplement by HSE Area EasternMidlandMid-WesternNorth EasternNorth WesternSouth EasternSouthernWesternTotal 2004 25,711 2,090 4,163 2,876 2,535 6,018 8,539 5,942 57,874 2005 26,573 2,230 4,333 2,892 2,932 6,514 8,716 5,986 60,176 2006...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (1 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: At the end of June 2007, there were 38 staff, equating to 29.85 full-time posts in Blanchardstown Local Office. Details of the number of posts in the office at the end of the last five years are set out in the tabular statement. There are currently 35 posts occupied in the office and work is in train on the assignment of one further permanent staff member which will bring the staff allocation...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Disability Allowance is a weekly Allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged over 16 and under 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residence test. The person concerned is currently in receipt of a reduced rate of Disability Allowance. He was assessed with means...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term 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 to them from any other source. There are over 91,500 people in receipt of rent supplement of which over 33,300 are getting a supplement for 18 months or...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Dec 2009)

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

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (1 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The case reported on by the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) involves a couple who were over 56 years of age in 1988 when compulsory social insurance for the self-employed was introduced and who, therefore could not, satisfy one of the basic requirements for pension as they did not commence paying insurance ten years before pension age. A special pension paid at half the personal rate and...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The objective of the back to education allowance (BTEA) scheme is to equip people on social welfare payments with qualifications that will enable them to obtain employment in the labour market. In general, to qualify for the scheme a person must be progressing in education by reference to the National Framework of Qualifications. A BTEA application will not be approved in respect of a person...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (1 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The costs of heating all buildings owned or rented by the Department in 2008 are outlined hereunder: Heating source Total cost 2008 Gas 384,430 Oil 260,576 *Electricity 2,666,440 *This figure includes other facilities such as lighting, technology and machine operation requirements. The additional costs of heating buildings owned or rented by the Department's...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (1 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The person concerned applied for Illness Benefit on the 18th September 2009. This claim was submitted to the Chief Medical Advisor who was of the opinion that the claimant's incapacity was not a new incapacity that it was in the same category as a previous Illness Benefit claim she had made which had been disallowed from 18th May 2009. She was notified directly of this decision by letter...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (1 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Entitlement to benefits financed from general taxation, rather than social insurance contributions, such as child benefit and social assistance payments, are normally limited to residents in the State paying the benefits, in accordance with international practice. Persons coming from abroad who claim these benefits generally have to satisfy an habitual residence test, to avoid entitlement...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (1 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the relevant Departmental papers and comments of the Department have been received and the case has been referred to an Appeals Officer for consideration. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of the Department that is independently responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (1 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence, including that adduced at an oral hearing, disallowed the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of the Department that is independently responsible for determining appeals...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (1 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, in accordance with statutory requirements, the relevant Departmental papers and comments of the Department have been sought in this case. 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 responsible...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Dec 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 — Health Service Allowances: Health Service Allowances (2 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes rent supplement, is administered on behalf of the Department by the Community Welfare division of the Health Service Executive. The 2009 Supplementary Budget introduced new arrangements for access to rent supplement. In order to qualify for a rent supplement, from 27 July 2009, a person must have been residing in private rented...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (2 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 235 and 236 together. The Government recognises the devastation suffered by people in many areas of the country as a result of the recent floods. Community Welfare Service staff throughout the country have been providing huge support to families every day since this flooding occurred. They have already provided emergency financial and other assistance to...