Results 18,681-18,700 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: It is the largest, proportionately, in Europe and we are getting better value so we will get the same number of projects.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: There will be 60,000 to 70,000 people employed in that. There is a new retrofitting programme which will see people employed in that area and there will be direct funding for the tourism industry, especially with local attractions. Attracting tourists is one of our major industries. There is direct support for the food industry, the employment subsidy scheme and, within my own Department,...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I am not finished yet. If people doing apprenticeships are not able to get work, they will be able to do off-the-job training and FÁS is working with all apprentices to facilitate that. We have changed the criteria in the work and graduate placement scheme to make it easier for employers and graduates to participate. When it was first launched there was not much take-up because a small...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: With regard to employment opportunities, there has been an increase in places available through the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Education and Science. Significantly, a €20 million activation fund has also been established which will be available to the private and public sectors, enabling people to come forward with ideas on training and courses...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: There is a really strong message that we should be sending to young people in December and January. The CAO applications for the third level colleges and post-leaving certificate courses go in at the end of January. If these young people have to make a choice, they must go for education. The same people who would qualify for social welfare such as jobseeker's assistance, by virtue of...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The fuel allowance increased last year, as the amount and number of weeks in the scheme were increased. The price of fuel came down. It remains intact in this budget. We are still on target with NAPS. Despite the cuts in this budget, the average industrial wage has come down as well. It must be the case that there is no great incentive to be on social welfare as opposed to working. The...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: At no stage did I say carers were happy. Nobody from whom one takes money will be happy. No organisation advocating on behalf of different groups will be happy when it sees a cut coming. At no stage did I imply it or say it.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Carers and the Carers Association are happy the half rate allowance and the respite care grant were protected.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Nobody is implying anybody would be happy with the cut. Let us put this in perspective. The payment is still €10 a week more than in 2007 and prices have fallen. The cut is between €8.30 and €8.50 depending on the schemes people are on. The number of training and education places has increased. They include 3,500 under the European globalisation adjustment fund, 3,500 under the...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: No, but graduates are keen to take up the places.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I can get the Senator all of the details because it is a valuable scheme-----

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: -----and one probably worth advertising, not so much to graduates as to employers. However, we must ensure it does not result in job displacement.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: It comes back to the core issue in that what we propose is a cut in the rates. Difficult and all as that is - it is a very fine balancing act - it is about supporting young people and giving them an incentive to remain in education and training. It is working for 18 and 19 year olds and we believe it can work with older groups. It is about continuing to support carers and people with...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: To answer Senator Norris, I accept that people with disabilities have particular needs; there is no doubt about this. In trying to frame savings in the social welfare budget, once we decided those aged over 66 years and children in receipt of social welfare payments would be protected, we were left with a very large group under the age of 66 years. It would be very difficult to begin...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Yes, it did. For the record, the Fine Gael proposals only excluded people on disability benefit, carers and the blind. All others, including widows-----

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: -----of working age and lone parents-----

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I suggest Senator Buttimer read the document. It includes cuts for all those of working age with the exception of disability-----

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: That is it. The rest of-----

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Senator will notice that it suggests cutting payments to widows, lone parents and the unemployed.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Both parties, in recognition of the difficulties we face, acknowledged the social welfare budget had to be reduced. We did so, while protecting the elderly and children. Unfortunately, it involved cutting payments to other groups.