Results 2,901-2,920 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (6 Oct 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 (6 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 (6 Oct 2009)
Mary Hanafin: An application for state pension (non contributory), by the person concerned, was disallowed by a Deciding Officer of the Department on 05 January 2009 on the grounds that he did not satisfy the statutory means assessment. An appeal was opened on 03 March 2009 and, I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that this case has been referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (6 Oct 2009)
Mary Hanafin: The requirement to be habitually resident in Ireland was introduced as a qualifying condition for certain social assistance schemes and child benefit with effect from 1 May 2004. All applicants â regardless of nationality â for the following payments are required to be habitually resident in the State: Jobseeker's Allowance State Pension (Non-Contributory for persons aged over 66) Blind...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (6 Oct 2009)
Mary Hanafin: The social security rights of people living and working in the EU are governed by EU Regulations 1408/71 and 574/72. The Regulations co-ordinate social security systems and are designed to ensure that people are not disadvantaged by moving within the EU to take up work. The Regulations are also intended to guarantee equality of treatment, under various national legislation, to workers living...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (6 Oct 2009)
Mary Hanafin: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, an Appeals Officer, having considered all the available evidence, including that adduced at an oral hearing, disallowed the disability allowance appeal of the person concerned. Following the submission of additional medical evidence the case has been forwarded to the Chief Medical Advisor for his opinion. On receipt of his response the...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (6 Oct 2009)
Mary Hanafin: The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term support to eligible persons living in private rented accommodation, whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from another source. The 2009 Supplementary Budget introduced new arrangements for applications for rent supplement. In order to qualify for...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (6 Oct 2009)
Mary Hanafin: I am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office 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. Those processing times replicate those for 2007 notwithstanding the fact that there was an...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (6 Oct 2009)
Mary Hanafin: The current average processing times for the schemes referred to by the Deputy are as follows: Bereavement Grant 3 weeks Disability Allowance 17 weeks Disability Benefit 1 week Domiciliary Care Allowance 8 weeks Family Income Supplement 8 weeks Jobseeker's Allowance 4 weeks Jobseekers Benefit 8 weeks One-Parent Family Payment 13 weeks Widows Pension Contributory 4 weeks Widows...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Offices: Social Welfare Offices (6 Oct 2009)
Mary Hanafin: The Live Register has increased to unprecedented levels as a result of the economic downturn that the country is currently experiencing. This in turn has led to large numbers attending at our offices and the consequent delays that claimants are experiencing. While it is not feasible in most cases to provide shelter for customers queueing outside our offices, a number of initiatives have been...
- Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (6 Oct 2009)
Mary Hanafin: Details of overseas travel costs incurred by my predecessors and me from 1999 to September 2009 are set out in the following table -: Year Total(â¬) 1999 44,375 2000 30,149 2001 19,802 2002 33,141 2003 22,957 2004 19,902 2005 30,114 2006 38,922 2007 9,312 2008 24,280 1/1/2009 â 1/9/2009 11,318 Total: 284,272 These expenses related to a number of events such as EU Presidency...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (6 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 — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (6 Oct 2009)
Mary Hanafin: The Pensions Insolvency Payments Scheme (PIPS) is being established by the Minister for Finance on a pilot basis for a three year period. This scheme is intended as an option of last resort and a social protection measure to assist pension schemes where the sponsoring employer is insolvent and the pension scheme is being wound up in deficit. The PIPS is intended to make it cheaper to pay for...
- Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (6 Oct 2009)
Mary Hanafin: The increase for a qualified adult (under 66 years) on a full rate state pension contributory is â¬153.50 per week, compared to â¬206.30 for a qualified adult aged 66 and over, which is a difference of â¬52.80 per week. Traditionally, an additional increase has been paid for qualified adults who have reached state pension age, in recognition of the fact that these persons are no longer of...
- Written Answers — Family Support Services: Family Support Services (6 Oct 2009)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 864 and 867 together. The Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmesmade a range of recommendations relating to the Department of Social and Family Affairs including recommendations relating to the Family Support Agency and its programmes. The Department will consider, as part of the Estimates and budgetary process for...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Payments: Social Welfare Payments (6 Oct 2009)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 865 and 866 together. The numbers of persons awaiting Jobseeker's Allowance and Jobseeker's Benefit in some Branch Offices in County Cork are set out hereunder as requested.
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Payments: Social Welfare Payments (6 Oct 2009)
Mary Hanafin: As Deputy will be aware, the rates of child benefit have increased significantly since 2001 having trebled for the first two children and increased by over 185% for the third and subsequent children. Partly as a result of this and partly as a result of an increase in the number of eligible children, overall expenditure on child benefit grew from just â¬965 million in 2001 to nearly â¬2.5...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (6 Oct 2009)
Mary Hanafin: An application for disability allowance, by the person concerned, was refused following an assessment by a Medical Assessor of the Department who expressed the opinion that she was medically unsuitable for the allowance. An appeal was opened and in the context of that appeal, her case was reviewed by a second Medical Assessor who also expressed the opinion that she was medically unsuitable....
- Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (6 Oct 2009)
Mary Hanafin: The pension rights of scheme members are protected through trust law and by provision in the Pensions Act 1990 as amended. As supplementary pension schemes are usually established under irrevocable trust, the assets of the scheme are legally separate from the assets of the employer and are not available to any other creditors where the employer becomes insolvent. Under trust law, trustees of...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (6 Oct 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 15 October 2009 at 11.15 am. 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...