Results 2,861-2,880 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Social Insurance. (7 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: This issue is being dealt with. The mortgage interest supplement is just one small element. It is a valuable element of it, but what is just as important is the work that is going on with the Department of Finance and the Department and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

Social Insurance. (7 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: In so far as people need and qualify for the scheme, additional money will of course be made available. A total of €40.2 million was originally provided for this year, but we anticipate that the scheme will cost about €59 million. Before I answer the next question, I would like to clarify for Deputy Reilly that the Office of Public Works has secured premises for the Department in...

Back to Education Allowances. (7 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 155 together. The back to education allowance, BTEA, is designed to facilitate people of working age on welfare payments to return to education to gain qualifications which will help to enhance their employment prospects. Jobseekers who avail of the scheme are exempt from the requirement to be available for work while participating in an approved...

Back to Education Allowances. (7 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I will have to come back to the Deputy on that, but I do not believe they are taken into account. The table will be of assistance to Deputies in seeing the number of applicants from each different area. There has been an increase in the numbers this year because we have promoted the initiative significantly, the facilitators have been very positive and there has been a significant increase...

Back to Education Allowances. (7 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Currently, if people have a masters degree they are considered not to need anything else. The allowance is restricted to people doing a course in education or the higher diploma in education. I intend to see if other post-graduate courses that might lead to a professional qualification can be considered for it.

Money Advice and Budgeting Service. (7 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Money Advice and Budgeting Service, MABS, is the main Government-funded service that assists people who are overly indebted and need help and advice in coping with debt problems. It is important for people coping with debt difficulties to take early action and approach MABS for help and guidance. This can be the first positive step for people as they address their debt difficulties. ...

Money Advice and Budgeting Service. (7 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I understand that 12 full-time posts have been divided up among 19 full-time and part-time workers, although I stand to be corrected. The Deputy suggested that people should be given advice in advance, which can be done in several ways. I recently launched a programme under the Money Advice and Budgeting Service's community education programme, which is very successful at giving information...

Money Advice and Budgeting Service. (7 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I do not question the Deputy's opinions on what has happened. She is right to mention that people were advised to take out 100% mortgages, for example. The Financial Regulator obliges financial institutions to give certain advice. There has been an increase in the number of debt collection groups, many of which have written to me to offer assistance with our work. I am aware of a serious...

Money Advice and Budgeting Service. (7 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: There are two issues. At a time when there is an embargo on recruitment, we were lucky to secure 12 positions. We have divided them among the MABS offices with the greatest increase in demand. I was also a little taken aback by the comments of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the number of cases being dealt with by MABS. I have witnessed the work that is being done. The Comptroller...

Pension Provisions. (7 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Government is aware that wider and longer term pensions issues require a comprehensive and co-ordinated response. Following the conclusion of the successful consultation process last year, we have been considering options to address the challenges facing our pensions system which were raised in the Green Paper process. These issues relate to social welfare pensions, the sustainability...

Pension Provisions. (7 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: When I indicated at the beginning of the year that we hoped to publish within weeks, that was the situation which then obtained. However, it would be foolish of us to issue a long-term framework or strategy while ignoring the changes that have taken place in the economy since the publication of the Green Paper. The economic basis for any framework has changed completely in the past two...

Pension Provisions. (7 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Department of Finance is responsible for drawing up regulations under the pension insolvency payment scheme. Officials from that Department have been working on the scheme over the summer because technical issues have arisen. However, they continue to make progress on it. The fact that regulations are not in place has not impacted on the funds because it is not as if they have not been...

Pension Provisions. (7 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: It was never stated that SR Technics would be included in this scheme. I met representatives of the group and they made good arguments but according to the definition of insolvency in legislation introduced by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the company does not qualify. I sympathise with the workers because, as far as they are concerned, the company no longer exists....

Social Welfare Benefits. (7 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Processing times vary across schemes, having regard not only to the volume of applications but also to the requirements of each scheme. For example, a means assessment must be carried out for all social assistance schemes, medical examinations are required for illness related schemes and customers must satisfy the habitual residence conditions. In the case of the insurance based schemes, it...

Social Welfare Benefits. (7 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I will take the middle issue first. It is unusual where there is a complicated situation where somebody is not in receipt of a social welfare benefit already and is coming along looking for two payments at the same time. I can understand how-----

Social Welfare Benefits. (7 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: She cannot qualify for the back to education allowance unless they can prove that she qualifies for the lone parent allowance. I can understand why that particular waiting time might be long. Generally, there is not a long delay on lone parent allowance applications. I do not think I have the figure for the waiting time for that allowance to hand, but I shall-----

Social Welfare Benefits. (7 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Sorry, I do have it. Yes, it is 13 weeks for the lone parent allowance application. However, as the Deputy will be aware, there are issues in that regard. It is not merely the case that one must have a child; a person must also be living alone and the income must be assessed. It is the income that takes time to assess. Some 11,710 applications for back to education allowance have already...

Social Welfare Benefits. (7 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: A question on the back to education allowance is coming up.

Social Welfare Benefits. (7 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I am sorry. What was the Deputy's third question?

Social Welfare Benefits. (7 Oct 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy is quite correct about Edenderry. There is a long waiting time but it is now shorter than it was.