Results 2,361-2,380 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin
- Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (24 Nov 2009)
Mary Hanafin: The person concerned applied for a State Pension (Contributory) in November 2008 but was disallowed on grounds that she had not entered into insurable employment before age 56. She is currently awaiting a decision to have a commercial partnership between her and her spouse recognised for the purposes of gaining addition social insurance contributions. Following this decision, her...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (24 Nov 2009)
Mary Hanafin: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, the appeal from the person concerned has been referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing on 10 December 2009. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of the Department that is independently responsible for determining appeals against decisions on...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Nov 2009)
Mary Hanafin: The Family Support Agency funds the Scheme of Grants to voluntary and community organisations providing marriage, relationship, child and bereavement counselling services. The organisation referred to by the Deputy receives funding under the counselling grants scheme. This year, funding of over â¬11 million is being granted to some 600 counselling organisations. The Report of the Special...
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 Nov 2009)
Mary Hanafin: To date 21.5 of the 30 additional facilitator posts announced as part of Building Ireland's Smart Economy: A Framework for Sustainable Economic Renewal Report in December 2008 have been appointed to the Department's social and family support service. The number of facilitator posts currently filled is 61.5 (half post is due to a work sharing arrangement). It is envisaged that this number...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Nov 2009)
Mary Hanafin: The application for a State Pension (Contributory) from the person concerned was disallowed in June 2009 on the grounds that she had a yearly average of 8 social welfare contributions. In order to qualify for a minimum SPC, a yearly average of at least 10 is required. She subsequently submitted an application to a have a commercial partnership between her and her spouse recognised for the...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Nov 2009)
Mary Hanafin: An application for State Pension (Non-Contributory) was received from the person concerned on 23 June 2009. The claim was investigated by a Social Welfare Inspector and a decision issued to the customer on 14 September 2009 stating that she does not qualify for State Pension (Non-Contributory) as her means, derived from the capital value of land and a US retirement pension, exceed the...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Nov 2009)
Mary Hanafin: Annual statistics are collated by the Department for the number of participants on the back to education allowance (BTEA) scheme on the basis of the relevant academic year. There were 11,646 people in receipt of the back to education allowance for the 2008/2009 academic year. The figures for the 2009/2010 academic year will be significantly higher with over 18,700 applications approved by...
- Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (24 Nov 2009)
Mary Hanafin: The total cost of translating documents to Irish in the Department was approximately â¬93,000 in 2008 and â¬43,000 to date in 2009. The printing costs for State documents, including Statement of Strategy, Annual Reports and policy documents, amounted to some â¬40,000 in 2008 and â¬1,600 in 2009. It is the Department's policy to minimise costs by restricting the printing of documents....
- Flood Relief: Statements. (24 Nov 2009)
Mary Hanafin: Which Aire?
- Flood Relief: Statements. (24 Nov 2009)
Mary Hanafin: It is a hardship fund so some element of means testing must be involved. Nonetheless, I accept what previous speakers said about having too much bureaucracy. We will try to avoid that. In answer to Deputy Hogan's point, I believe that community welfare officers are the right people to do this work because they have local knowledge. Good and all as the Red Cross is, it is not locally...
- Flood Relief: Statements. (24 Nov 2009)
Mary Hanafin: In the past, that fund has not supported businesses because they normally have insurance cover.
- Flood Relief: Statements. (24 Nov 2009)
Mary Hanafin: We will have to assess those to see what the need is, but it is intended as a humanitarian fund for individuals and families. It is not our intention that the fund would be restricted geographically, but we will be doing an immediate assessment of the requirements. It is only when the floods abate that we will see the genuine need for replacement of goods and furniture. Urgent needs are...
- Flood Relief: Statements. (24 Nov 2009)
Mary Hanafin: I accept that community welfare officers are under a great deal of pressure and I recognise that they will require further resources in order to be in a position to administer the fund. My Department, in conjunction with the groups to which I referred earlier, will consider the level of resources required and the mechanisms best suited to delivering the money.
- Flood Relief: Statements. (24 Nov 2009)
Mary Hanafin: I commend all those who responded so quickly at a local and national level to the terrible devastation caused by the flooding and rain in recent days. We have all witnessed the way in which Government agencies, community groups and volunteers have worked together to try to alleviate the problems experienced by people. Today, I met the emergency co-ordinating team which draws on everyone...
- Flood Relief: Statements. (24 Nov 2009)
Mary Hanafin: This will support people by providing the essentials they will need to rebuild their lives and homes whether furniture, carpets or the replacement of goods. We will start immediately setting out who might qualify for it and how and why.
- Flood Relief: Statements. (24 Nov 2009)
Mary Hanafin: It is not the first time that we have had such a fund. We had one in 2004 to respond to the flooding in Clonakilty and Clonmel and in 2002 to respond to the flooding around the Tolka in Dublin. We have established a framework. We are anxious to draw on local knowledge, not just on the community welfare officers but the local authorities, whether the engineer, the town clerk depending on...
- Flood Relief: Statements. (24 Nov 2009)
Mary Hanafin: Our intention is to distribute it through the community welfare officers. We have met today and will meet again tomorrow to set out exactly how to notify people about applying for this fund. People will only realise the real impact on their homes over the next few days and then they can fall back on this humanitarian assistance. Meanwhile, the exceptional needs and urgent needs funding is...
- Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (19 Nov 2009)
Mary Hanafin: In the revised Programme the Government accepts the need to provide legal recognition for transsexuals in their acquired gender. I will be moving to progress this matter in the immediate future. The means by which legal recognition will be effected may include legislation and in any event will require careful consideration and consultation.
- Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (19 Nov 2009)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 128 and 129 together. The buoyancy of social insurance receipts is contingent on a number of factors including the ease of access to insurability, the buoyancy in the labour market, the earnings of workers and the applicable rates of social insurance. The numbers of insured population of workers has grown consistently over the period referenced. In 1982 the...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (19 Nov 2009)
Mary Hanafin: The case in question is currently being reviewed and the Department will be in contact with the person concerned and the Deputy as soon as possible.