Results 18,541-18,560 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: Deflation did not occur in previous years. On other occasions there would have been inflation but now we have deflation. Whereas we have returned to the incomes of 2003 and the prices of 2007-----
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: -----social welfare rates have not returned to what they were in those years.
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: There was reference to specific groups. In its pre-budget submission, Fine Gael indicated that it would cut the social welfare rates relating to the unemployed and lone parents. Fine Gael accepted that we needed to take action in this regard but it also indicated that certain groups would be excluded from such cuts. When one considers the various groups of working-age people and tries to...
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: -----it is impossible to state which of them is more special than the other. We appreciate the work done by carers in particular. Carers are the first to recognise that not only have their basic payments increased in recent years and that the disregards were also increased.
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: In addition, carers can avail of free travel and household benefits. The groups representing carers requested, in the strongest terms, that we should not touch the half-rate allowance or the respite grant.
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: We did not touch either of these payments and the reason is that we recognise the role of carers.
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: The respite care grant has increased to â¬1,700. When it was first introduced, the rate of payment was only â¬250. The grant is paid to those who do not receive carer's allowance. Therefore, it constitutes a real recognition for these individuals. We could have cut the respite care grant and left the rate unchanged. However, this would have had an impact on a greater number of carers...
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: We did not touch the disregards for carers. Very generous disregards apply in circumstances where carers or their spouses are allowed to work.
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: A couple with two children can earn in the region of â¬37,200 and still receive the maximum rate of carer's allowance. In light of the disregards that exist, we are trying to ensure that carers, depending on family circumstances, have the opportunity to work outside the home as well. We recognise and appreciate these individuals for the work they do. The same applies in respect of the...
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: While it is regrettable that we have been obliged to cut the weekly rate, it would not have been possible to exclude just one group. We could not, for example, have cut the rates paid to carers and not cut those relating to another of the working-age groups. There has been a great deal of discussion with regard to the sensitivities that apply in respect cutting allowances for people with...
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: The rate of payment on disability benefit has increased from â¬89.70 in 1997 to â¬204 this year.
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: The rate of payment has increased by 130%. However, it is not just about the payment.
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: In meeting the relevant groups, I discovered that what is of as much concern to them as the rate of payment is the level of community and health supports in place.
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: If cuts were not made in the social welfare budget, the burden would have fallen on making cuts in, for example, the health budget.
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: It would have been far worse for people with disabilities if we had been obliged to cut back on home help, home care packages, respite care or day care places.
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: An additional â¬10 million has been invested in home care packages.
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: We are ensuring that there will be no diminution of the services available for people with disabilities. That is the type of choice the Government faced when trying to frame the budget. There were recommendations to the effect that the various disability groups, carers groups, and so on, should have been left out.
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: If that had been accepted, we would have been obliged to take â¬100 million or â¬120 million from another Department's budget, which would have caused undue hardship. I mentioned reductions in the cost of living. I know the figures are far better for people who perhaps have a mortgage or cars, but the prices relating to energy, clothing, footwear and food have also decreased and this has...
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: There has been much discussion with regard to fraud and combating fraud, which is a major priority for the Government and the Department of Social and Family Affairs.
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: There is absolutely no evidence that the figures which were bandied about on a recent television programme to the effect that 10% of the people on social welfare schemes are engaged in fraud.