Results 2,321-2,340 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

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 — Money Advice and Budgeting Service: Money Advice and Budgeting Service (26 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) is the main Government funded service which provides assistance to people who are over-indebted and need help and advice in coping with debt problems. The role of money advisors is to help clients to assess their financial situation, make a budget plan and deal with creditors. The MABS is now dealing with increasingly complex debt situations in...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (26 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Rent Supplement is administered on behalf of the Department by the Community Welfare Service of the Health Service Executive as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme. It is a requirement of the rent supplement scheme that a person makes an application, on being so required by the Executive, to a housing authority to be assessed for a housing need. The Health Service Executive has...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (26 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The person concerned does not qualify for a qualified child increase as his ex-spouse who is in receipt of a social welfare payment receives an increase for that child. If the position with regard to the residency of the child has changed it is open to him to contact his Local Social Welfare Office to have his case reviewed.

Written Answers — PRSI Refunds: PRSI Refunds (26 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The application for a refund of PRSI was received from the person concerned on 16 November 2009 as she paid PRSI on her full salary while in receipt of Illness Benefit payments for the years 2006, 2007 and 2008. The Department endeavours to process applications for refunds of PRSI as soon as possible. However, as the volume of applications for refunds of PRSI has increased dramatically in...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (26 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The claim for illness benefit by the person concerned was disallowed by a Deciding Officer of the Department following an examination by a Medical Assessor who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. Her application for invalidity pension was similarly disallowed. She appealed this decision and was examined by a second Medical Assessor who also expressed the opinion that she was...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (26 Nov 2009)

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

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (26 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The person concerned applied for jobseeker's benefit on 19 October 2009. His claim was forwarded to a Social Welfare Inspector for enquiries regarding his employment record and jobseeker's benefit entitlement as a self-employed person. When enquiries are completed a decision will be made as soon as possible and he will be notified of the outcome. He is currently in receipt of a disablement...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (26 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 229 and 230 together. The statistics requested by the Deputy are not readily available. However, I will revert to him by letter as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (26 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: A carer's allowance appeal from the person concerned was opened on 07 January 2009 and I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that this case has been considered by an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing. The logistics in arranging an oral hearing can add at least 8 weeks to normal processing times. There has been a 44% increase in the number of appeals received by...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (26 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Department has supported the organisation in question over a period of many years. Funding of €410,000 was provided in 2007, €431,000 was provided in 2008, and €386,250 was provided in 2009. This funding is provided under the "Grants for the Development and Promotion of Information and Welfare Rights". The organisation deals with requests for information, advice and assistance in a...