Results 3,641-3,660 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (29 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: All social welfare schemes have different qualifying criteria, depending on the contingency the scheme seeks to address. Often these criteria include an upper and/or lower age limit. It is intended that these age limits ensure that the appropriate group is targeted for support. Legislative provisions in general and any changes to existing schemes are subject to approval by the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (29 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The range of benefits and pensions to which different groups of workers may establish entitlement reflects the risks associated with the nature of their work. This in turn reflects the rate of contribution payable. Self-employed people are liable for PRSI at the Class S rate of 3% and are consequently eligible for a narrower range of benefits than general employees who, together with their...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (29 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: When a person collects their social welfare payment at a post office, they may be required to provide evidence of their identity. The most common forms of ID produced are Passports, National ID cards, Driving Licenses and employer identity cards. This is not an exhaustive list and customers can prove their identity in other ways such as being personally known to post office staff. Other...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (29 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: My officials recently met with the Carers Association to discuss proposals which they had put forward. The majority of the proposals relate to services provided by the Department of Health and Children and the Health Services Executive. However, my officials are committed to working with the Association on any proposals which can be progressed by this Department within existing resources. ...

Written Answers — Money Advice and Budgeting Service: Money Advice and Budgeting Service (29 Apr 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. There are 53 independent MABS companies with voluntary boards of management employing some 250 money advice staff operating the local MABS services from 65 locations throughout the country. In...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (29 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The back to work allowance (BTWA) scheme was designed to assist the long term unemployed, lone parents, people with disabilities and other social welfare recipients to return to work. There are two strands to the scheme; the back to work enterprise allowance for the self-employed and the back to work allowance for employees. Details of the number of people benefiting from the back to work...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (29 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The total expenditure for each of the Agencies/Boards under the aegis the Department in the years 2004 to 2008 and the budget for 2009 is outlined in the following table. Name of Statutory Body Total Expenditure for each year â'¬ Family Support Agency 2004: 19.610m Social Welfare Tribunal 2004: 4,527 Office of the Pensions Ombudsman 2004: 0.510m The Pensions Board The...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (29 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. In recent years a significant number of people have come to rely on rent supplement for extended periods. There are...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2009: Second Stage (29 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I thank Senators for their contributions and for the informed debate we have had. Everybody recognises this has been the most difficult budget for many years. The decisions made were not taken lightly as we were very conscious of their impact on people and their families throughout the country. However, we have had to increase taxes and borrowing to pay for social welfare. It is sad that...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2009: Second Stage (29 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: As public representatives, we cannot ask that social welfare payments be protected while people's incomes are decreasing. There must be a correlation between the two. I would rather be a Minister for Social and Family Affairs who could give significant increases, but those were the days in which people's incomes were increasing and the Exchequer received considerable tax revenue. It is no...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2009: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: As I mentioned earlier, control measures for combating fraud are a serious issue which I have prioritised. I am not suggesting for one moment that fraud is behind this issue but older people in long-term residential care are not entitled to the household benefits or the living alone allowance. We do not have a system where there is an automatic notification from the nursing homes, although...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2009: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: This section relates to customer activation, information profiling, the new short-term schemes, etc. The Department of Social and Family Affairs is fortunate that it has access to the skills of 60 facilitators and 40 adult guidance officers. It also has access to vocational education committee information officers, is involved with FÁS and is involved in partnerships with local employment...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2009: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Section 6 is designed to encourage increasing numbers of young people to avail of educational and training opportunities. Our priority, therefore, is to ensure an adequate number of places will be available in the first instance. The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Minister for Education and Science and I have, through meetings of the Cabinet sub-committee...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2009: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: People on FÁS courses are paid travel and child care allowances. It will depend, therefore, on the nature of the course on which a person obtains a place whether he or she will obtain an allowance for travel.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2009: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: As already stated, an 18 year old who signs on will, if he or she is fully qualified, receive a payment of €100 per week. However, he or she will also be given information on the providers of education and training courses in the local area. If he or she participates in a Youthreach, FÁS, Traveller centre or back to education course, he or she will also qualify for the relevant...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2009: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Everyone wants to ensure the rent scheme will operate properly and that ultimately the money will only be paid to legitimate landlords who are providing accommodation of a proper standard. At present, community welfare officers are responsible for disbursing this funding. However, matters such as housing, the condition thereof, etc. come under the remit of the local authorities. I have...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2009: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I thought amendment No. 10 was about rent supplement changes.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2009: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Owing to mobile telephone interference I did not catch what the Senator said.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2009: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: It was somebody else's telephone.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2009: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: To try to support tenants in that situation we will be writing to them outlining the reductions that have been made to the rent supplement so that they can use the information in discussions with their landlords. We will also be advertising in the national print media so that landlords will be aware that cuts have been made. It will not be a case of them assuming that tenants are receiving...