Results 3,821-3,840 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Below is a tabular statement showing the expenditure on rent supplement by HSE area for the month of February 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. Expenditure on Rent Supplement by HSE Area HSE Area February 2006 February 2007 February 2008 February 2009 â'¬000 â'¬000 â'¬000 â'¬000 Eastern 17,636 17,014 17,575 19,746 Midland 905 947 1,250 1,558 Mid-Western 1,651 1,598 1,830 2,228 North...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (22 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 537 and 545 together. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of the Department that is independently responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements. I am advised by that Office that the Appeals Officer, having considered all the available evidence, including that adduced at an oral hearing, disallowed the appeal of...

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (22 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The PRSI system has a number of features designed to facilitate access to employment. Among these are the reduced rates of employer PRSI payable at lower income levels. Class A PRSI is the social insurance class paid by most ordinary employees, encompassing circa 80% of all insured persons. The AO and AX subclasses feature a reduced 8.50% rate of employer PRSI, as opposed to the general...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (22 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Staff in An Post are required to satisfy themselves that they are making payment to the person entitled to receive that payment. This has generally been done through signature verification. The introduction of photo id is designed to strengthen the identification in order to prevent abuse of the social welfare system. While passports and driving licences are the main documents used by...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (22 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 543 and 553 together. 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...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (22 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) provides for a supplement to be paid in respect of mortgage interest to any person in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs. The scheme is administered by the community welfare service of the Health Service Executive on behalf of the Department. The purpose of mortgage interest supplement is to provide short term support...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (22 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of the Department that is independently responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements. I am advised by that Office that the Appeals Officer, having considered all the available evidence, including that adduced at an oral hearing, disallowed the appeal of the person concerned on the grounds that she did not...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The person concerned claimed Jobseekers Benefit on 20 February 2009 and was requested to supply specific information and documentation to support his claim. Unfortunately, he has failed to submit his P45 in the absence of which a decision cannot be given on his claim. On receipt of the P45 or a letter from his employer confirming the date of cessation of employment a decision will be made...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (22 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Details of the number of uncertified sick days taken by staff of my Department in the years 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009, including those days taken on either Monday or Friday are as set out in the following table. Year Total Uncertified Sick Days Uncertified Sick Days (Monday) Uncertified Sick Days (Friday) 2007 5,933 1,491 691 2008 5,970 1,412 686 2009 (15th April) 1,705 464 184 All...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (22 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Department has a programme of training and development for its staff to ensure they are in a position to deliver a quality service to its customers. The Department's central training section, Staff Development Unit provide a large number of training initiatives for staff who interact with the public. Among these are courses such as: Customer Service training; Dealing with Difficult...

Written Answers — Family Support Services: Family Support Services (22 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Family Support Agency funds the Family and Community Services Resource Centre Programme, the Scheme of Grants to Voluntary Organisations providing Marriage, Child and Bereavement Counselling Services, the nationwide Family Mediation Service and research on family related issues. Funding for the Family Support Agency in 2009 now totals €35.707m. Funding of €1m had been set aside to...

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (22 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: A copy of the information requested by the Deputy is being made available to him.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The changes that are being made to the Jobseekers Allowance and Supplementary Welfare Allowance schemes are to incentivise 18 and 19 year old jobseekers to avail of education and training opportunities and prevent them becoming welfare dependent from a young age. The rates of the schemes that will be paid to new claimants under the age of 20 are being reduced to €100 per week, with effect...

Social Welfare Benefits: Motion (22 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: That is why our priority is to get people back to work. Our priority is to get people into training and education so they can be prepared for work. Getting them back into work is the best way of reducing the social welfare budget.

Social Welfare Benefits: Motion (22 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: In the meantime, difficult choices had to be made.

Social Welfare Benefits: Motion (22 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: There is no doubt that we regret having to make these difficult decisions. However, as soon as there is a turn in the economy, this Government will reconsider the payment of the Christmas bonus.

Social Welfare Benefits: Motion (22 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: In the meanwhile, we will continue to try to effect savings through social welfare controls-----

Social Welfare Benefits: Motion (22 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: -----against fraud. We will continue to try to protect and defend the people who have come to depend on their regular payments, not just the bonus payment at Christmas.

Social Welfare Benefits: Motion (22 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Because I do not have €223 million.

Social Welfare Benefits: Motion (22 Apr 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Because we had the money then.