Results 2,641-2,660 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

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

Mary Hanafin: I am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that there are, currently, just over 14,000 appeals awaiting processing by that office and that, during 2008, the average time taken to process all appeals (i.e. those decided summarily and by way of oral hearing) was 22 weeks. However, if allowance was made for the 25% most protracted cases, the average time fell to just over 14 weeks....

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (3 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 902 and 904 together. The tabular statement sets out the number of rent supplement recipients in 2008 and 2009, expenditure and the average weekly payment in both years. The additional number of people benefiting from the rent supplement scheme and the average cost for each family unit is not readily available. Date NoClaims Expenditure€ AverageWeeklyCost...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The average number of days lost to sick-leave per staff member in whole time equivalent terms and per grade in 2007 and 2008 is as follows: 2007 Grade Average working days Lost Senior Mgt 6.18 AP 7.06 HEO 9.74 AO 3.42 EO 12.18 SO 10.13 CO 19.01 Service Grades 15.68 Total 14.74 Question No. 904 answered with Question No. 902.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (3 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The numbers in receipt of Disability Allowance have increased from 50,431 at the end of 1999 to some 98,898 at the end of September 2009. A review of the Disability Allowance scheme, currently underway, has sought to identify the causes for this increase. While that review has not been finalised, the evidence suggests that the increase in the numbers claiming Disability Allowance is...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (3 Nov 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. As part of this consideration, the Appeals Officer will decide if an oral hearing is appropriate in this case. The Social Welfare Appeals Office...

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (3 Nov 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The publication of the booklet SW124 – "Working with your spouse: how it affects your social welfare contributions and entitlements" – clarified existing procedures in relation to the recognition of commercial partnerships between husbands and wives for social insurance purposes. It did not involve a change in existing policy or administration and applicants for the state pension...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (21 Oct 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 purpose of mortgage interest supplement is to provide short-term income support to eligible people who are unable to meet their mortgage interest repayments in respect of a house which is...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (21 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I received correspondence from the Irish Dental Association expressing concerns about the future of the dental benefit scheme. I had a meeting with them on 17 September where they indicated that they would return with "proposals which would achieve greater efficiencies while retaining the integrity of the scheme and minimise the impact on clients and their patients". No proposals have been...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (21 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Details of payments made by agencies and organisations under the aegis of the Department to the Irish Business and Employers Confederation are set out in the following table. State Board/Agency Amount paid2007 Amount paid2008 Amount paidto date in 2009 Citizens Information Board € 9098 € 9462 € 9462 Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) € 2132 * July 2008 to end December...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (21 Oct 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 — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (21 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence has allowed the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned will be notified of the decision. 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 Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (21 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Each year the Government makes a decision on the payment of the Christmas Bonus having regard to the prevailing economic circumstances. This year it has been necessary for the Government to take steps to reduce overall public expenditure so as to restore order and stability to the public finances. In this context, the decision was made that the Christmas Bonus would not be paid in 2009. The...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (21 Oct 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 approximately €2.46 billion and the payment is now made for children of some 190 nationalities living in Ireland. Against this background, the control policy for the child benefit scheme...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (21 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The person concerned applied for jobseeker's allowance from 28 July 2009. His claim was closed because he failed to provide documents requested to determine his means. His case will be reviewed if he supplies the requested documentation. A previous application for jobseeker's allowance dated 28 January 2008 was disallowed on the grounds that he failed to disclose his means. He appealed...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (20 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Under the Government's Programme of Decentralisation, 118 posts in the Department are to be relocated to Buncrana. Work on a new building in Buncrana has now been completed and the assignment of staff will commence within the next week. It is proposed to relocate the local office currently based in Castle Avenue, Buncrana, to the new Government offices in mid November next. The new offices...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (20 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The system of civil registration in Ireland, which includes the registration of births, deaths, marriages, stillbirths and domestic adoptions, is administered by an tArd Chlaráitheoir (Registrar General). The Official Languages Act, 2003, provides the statutory basis for the promotion and use of both official languages of the State. In compliance with the provisions of the Act, all...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (20 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The current free travel scheme operated by the Department provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators. While the scheme is...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Health Service Executive has advised that according to its records, an application for rent supplement has not been received from the person concerned. It is open to the person concerned to contact his local community welfare officer with a view to making an application for rent supplement.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The projected cost of Jobseeker's Benefit in 2010 is being considered in the context of the current Estimates and Budget process. It is not possible at this stage in the process to predict the cost of the scheme next year.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (20 Oct 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...