Results 4,581-4,600 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 371 and 372 together. Attached is a tabular statement showing the number of Irish and Non-Irish nationals in receipt of rent supplement at the end of 2007 and at 3 December 2008. Recipients of Rent Supplement by Nationality 2007 and 2008 Nationality 2007* 2008** Irish 36,892 44,598 Non-Irish 17,959 23,628 Coded as "Other"*** 4,875 4,018 Total 59,726...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 373 and 374 together The information requested on persons in receipt of One-parent Family Payment on 1 December 2007 and 1 December 2008 is set out in the table below. The table identifies the number of Irish nationals, non-Irish nationals and also those people for whom the Department does not hold nationality data. Nationality 01 December 2007 01 December...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the Deputy is not available. Irish citizens living and working abroad may claim any social security payments for which they qualify in their country of residence but there is no requirement that foreign countries notify such claims to the Department.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Illness Benefit (formerly know as Disability Benefit) is an income support payment for people of working age who are unable to work due to illness and who satisfy certain social insurance conditions. There are no plans to introduce a means-test to this social insurance-based scheme.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The person concerned made the claim on 13 February 2008 and sought to have his claim backdated to 24 December 2007. The Deciding Officer was of the opinion that Mr Flynn had not shown good cause for not claiming on time and awarded payment from date of claim. Mr Flynn appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office and his appeal was allowed on 21 July 2008. A review of this...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Hanafin: According to the records of the Department, the person concerned has not made an application for the household benefits package. An application form has now issued to her as a result of this representation. On receipt of the completed application form, a decision will be made and she will be notified of the outcome.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The claim for illness benefit, by the person concerned, was disallowed by a Deciding Officer of the Department on 18 October 2008 following an examination by a Medical Assessor who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. She appealed this decision on 28 October 2008 and, in the context of this appeal, she was examined by a second Medical Assessor on 28 November 2008 who also...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Hanafin: My Department makes grant-in-aid allocations to the Combat Poverty Agency. Details of estimates provision and outturns are set out in the table below. Year Estimate provision Outturn â'¬000 â'¬000 2006 4,521 3,689 2007 4,384 4,008 2008 4,313 4,313* 2009 4,088 *Outturn figure for 2008 is provisional.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on behalf of the Department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive, an exceptional needs payment (ENP) may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which the applicant is unable to meet out of his/her own resources. There is no automatic entitlement to this payment. Each application is...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Service in Balbriggan was provided through the Social Welfare Branch Office, provided by a Branch Manager under contract to the Department. The Branch Manager retired on 28 November 2008. The Department is working closely with the Office of Public Works with a view to acquiring a new premises in Balbriggan for the establishment of a new social welfare local office as soon as possible. This...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Carer's allowance, in line with other social assistance schemes, is means tested. This ensures scarce resources are directed at those in greatest need. The primary objective of the carer's allowance is to provide income support to low income carers. The carer's allowance means test is one of the more flexible tests in terms of the assessment of household incomes. It has been significantly...

Written Answers — Departmental Surveys: Departmental Surveys (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Disability Sectoral plan for the Department of Social & Family Affairs provides that the Department will complete a national customer satisfaction survey in 2007 for Disability Allowance customers, in 2008 for Invalidity Pension customers and in 2009 for Carer's Allowance & Benefit Customers. The purpose of the survey is to assess customer satisfaction with the services that the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Hanafin: In its Disability Sectoral Plan, the Department of Social and Family Affairs has undertaken to facilitate participation in education by social welfare customers of working age with disabilities who are most distant from the labour market in order to enhance their employability and assist them in accessing sustainable employment. The department also committed to enhancing the National...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Hanafin: In accordance with the commitments outlined in the Sectoral Plan under the Disability Act 2005, the Department liaises regularly with the Public Appointments Service with regard to the appointment of people with a disability from competitions. The required supports are identified and put in place prior to the person's appointment. In addition, the Department conducts workplace assessments for...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The adequacy of social welfare payments will always be questioned. We have always tried to maintain the basic rate of payment at 35% to 37% of the average industrial wage and we succeeded in doing that again this year. Obviously, it was not possible to be as generous in the budget package this year as in previous years but we provided for a 3.3% increase which we anticipated would match...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I am on record as asking financial institutions to show forbearance with clients, not to foreclose early and to give people an opportunity to reschedule their payments or pay only the interest on mortgages, an issue raised by Senator Prendergast. However, arrangements the Government makes on behalf of taxpayers to ensure money is made available more freely to the banks in order that small...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I have not held formal talks. As I indicated, however, I had a casual conversation with the chief executive of one of the large banks. The Government deals with the major institutions whereas the companies taking cases to court tend to be sub-prime lenders. I have discussed the issue with the Minister for Finance and I may discuss it again.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Hanafin: To give the Senator an idea of the control activity which has taken place this year, at the end of September almost 290,000 reviews and 2,300 employer inspections had been carried out. These measures produced savings of €337 million. The special investigation unit is doing more regular interviews of jobseeker's payments recipients, especially those with high risk ratings. These may be...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I have addressed the issue of carers and we will produce the carers strategy. I do not propose to accept the amendment. Regarding the fuel issue, at the time budget submissions were made fuel prices were at the highest level ever and they are now at the lowest in 20 years, so now is a good time to buy. Pensioners in particular were glad of the two week extension, which ensures the fuel...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Hanafin: As Senators are aware, Part 5 of the Bill is necessary to give effect to the Government decision to integrate the Combat Poverty Agency with the Office of Social Inclusion in the Department of Social and Family Affairs. The decision arose from a recommendation made by a review group that was established on foot of a Government decision in June 2007. Long before I was appointed as Minister...