Results 18,401-18,420 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (3 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal from the person concerned was received on 14 July 2009 and in accordance with the statutory requirements, the relevant Departmental papers and comments of the Social Welfare Services on the matters raised in the appeal were sought. Following receipt of the relevant Departmental papers including comments on the grounds of appeal,...

Written Answers — Humanitarian Assistance Scheme: Humanitarian Assistance Scheme (8 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: 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 households affected by the flooding to cover items such as...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (8 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes rent supplement, is administered on behalf of the department by the Community Welfare Service of the Health Service Executive (HSE). The purpose of rent supplement 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...

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

Mary Hanafin: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes mortgage interest supplement, is administered on behalf of the department by the Community Welfare Service of the Health Service Executive. The Executive has advised that the person concerned has been awarded a mortgage interest supplement from the date of application in June 2009. She applied for an exceptional needs payment in...

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

Mary Hanafin: The back to education allowance (BTEA) is a second chance educational opportunities scheme designed to encourage and facilitate people on certain social welfare payments to improve their skills and qualifications and, thereby, their prospects of returning to the active work force. It is paid at a standard weekly rate equivalent to the maximum rate of the relevant social welfare payment that...

Written Answers — Humanitarian Assistance Scheme: Humanitarian Assistance Scheme (8 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 312 and 335 together. The Government recognises the devastation suffered by people in many areas of the country as a result of the recent floods. In view of the scale of the current floods the Government has set up a Humanitarian Assistance Scheme to provide means-tested financial support to people who have suffered damages to their homes from the current...

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

Mary Hanafin: The person concerned has been awarded a one- parent family allowance payment at the weekly rate of €222.80 with effect from 1 October, 2009. Her first payment and any arrears due will issue shortly. Under Social Welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by Deciding Officers and Appeals Officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard...

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (8 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The social welfare pension rights of those who take time out of the workforce for caring duties are protected by the homemaker's scheme which was introduced in and took effect from 1994. The scheme allows up to 20 years spent caring for children or incapacitated adults to be disregarded when a person's social insurance record is being averaged for pension purposes. However, the scheme will...

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

Mary Hanafin: The number of staff in my Department who have received financial assistance to pursue courses in further or higher education or support to participate in post graduate educational courses in the years 2004 to 2009 inclusive is 852 people. The breakdown of this figure is as follows: 2003/2004 - 214 staff 2004/2005 - 168 staff 2005/2006 - 149 staff 2006/2007 - 106 staff 2007/2008 - 112 staff...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (8 Dec 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 — Enterprise Support Services: Enterprise Support Services (8 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Department operates two schemes to assist people on social welfare who wish to become self-employed; namely the Short Term Enterprise Allowance (STEA) and the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA). The short term enterprise allowance, introduced from 1 May 2009, provides immediate access to support where people who have lost their jobs and qualify for Jobseekers' Benefit wish to set...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 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 issues now for children of some 190 nationalities living in Ireland. Against this background, the control policy for the child benefit scheme has...

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (8 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The estimated cost of the abolition of the allowance is included in the annual PRSI 'Ready Reckoner' - produced, and published, as part of the Budget process. It should be noted that these estimates are calculated with reference to macro economic projections by the Department of Finance for each Budget and therefore the circumstances underpinning the calculations can vary considerably from...

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

Mary Hanafin: It is proposed to take Questions Nos 320 to 324, inclusive, together. The social welfare appeals process is quasi-judicial and the procedures are designed to ensure that every appellant's case gets full and satisfactory consideration. I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, on receipt of appeal, it is registered and, in accordance with statutory procedures, the appeal is...

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

Mary Hanafin: A carer's allowance appeal, from the person concerned, was opened on 8 September 2009 and, 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. As part of this consideration the Appeals Officer will decide if an oral hearing is...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (8 Dec 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. There has been a 44% increase in the number of appeals received by the Social Welfare...

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

Mary Hanafin: An application for disability allowance, by the person concerned, was refused following an assessment by a Medical Assessor of the Department who expressed the opinion that he was medically unsuitable for the allowance. An appeal was opened and in the context of that appeal, his case was reviewed by a second Medical Assessor who also expressed the opinion that he was medically unsuitable for...

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

Mary Hanafin: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that, following receipt of the relevant Departmental papers including comments on the grounds of appeal, the appeal from the person concerned has been referred to an Appeals Officer for consideration. There has been a 44% increase in the number of appeals received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office to the end of November 2009 when compared to...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (8 Dec 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. There has been a 44% increase in the number of appeals received by the Social Welfare...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (8 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 against...