Results 4,721-4,740 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)
Mary Hanafin: I am not sure that any one case is sufficient grounds to change legislation anyway. That arises in many different cases. One would never change a whole piece of legislation just to facilitate one particular scenario. The end result would be somebody getting â¬40,000 a year to look after two foster children.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The Deputy was given an impression at the briefing, however, and I will look into the issue for the future.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)
Mary Hanafin: For a certain amount of the time, the provision would ensure that a category of unmarried persons is not excluded by removing the old anomaly that is there. The current definition includes five different people: widow, widower, separated spouse, an unmarried person or a person whose spouse has been committed in custody to a prison or a place of detention for not less than six months. They...
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)
Mary Hanafin: My understanding of the case raised by the Deputy, that of an unmarried couple living together, is that the biological parent leaves the relationship or dies and the non-biological parent is left caring for the child.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The remaining partner would still be a non-biological parent. Section 13 improves that person's position, but he or she would need to seek legal guardianship of the child, which is in the child's best interests.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)
Mary Hanafin: Is the Deputy asking whether someone would qualify for the one-parent family payment on the basis of the definition?
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)
Mary Hanafin: If the person becomes the child's legal guardian, he or she would qualify under the new section. It has nothing to do with the other payments being received.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)
Mary Hanafin: It is my understanding that the Deputy raised a separate case.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)
Mary Hanafin: I understand that the Deputy raised three cases at the advance briefing.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)
Mary Hanafin: One case related to the foster payment and another to a non-biological parent left caring for a child. Previously, that person would not have been entitled to a payment. However, he or she would be entitled under section 13 if he or she is the child's legal guardian. The section extends to the person the right to the payment. The foster payment was raised in a different case.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)
Mary Hanafin: It is a separate issue because he or she is in receipt of a foster payment.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The Deputy has raised questions about the briefing that she received. My understanding is that she raised three distinct casesââ
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)
Mary Hanafin: If I may, my answers refer to three individual cases. If the Deputy wishes to submit a parliamentary question on or put in writing the circumstances in each case, I can address them. However, we will not make legislation for a single case. In this section, we are aiming to broaden the definition so that more people in this situation can be supported. It is in the best interests of the child.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)
Mary Hanafin: As a number of Deputies stated, the Government published a discussion paper which contains its proposals for supporting lone parents. This paper puts forward suggestions and proposals on tackling obstacles to employment not just for lone parents, but also for low income families. Our strategy for the future refers not only to lone parents, but also to those on qualified adult payments and...
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)
Mary Hanafin: Having seen today the number of people who have joined the live register, we realise this is an extremely difficult time. As Deputies stated, it is not just a question of losing one's job because many are in danger of losing their homes also. The State is in a position to support many of them with rent supplement and mortgage interest supplement. The increase in the unemployment rate over...
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)
Mary Hanafin: I will not accept the amendment because there are already powers in the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2007 to provide a more streamlined appeal mechanism once the transfer takes place between the community welfare officers in the HSE and my own Department. I believe that will address the need. In the meantime I will try to ensure that times are not unduly long for people. In view of the...
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)
Mary Hanafin: I do not propose to accept the amendment because this research, which will help to guide future policy, will become available. The Government is aware that not everyone who is entitled to the family income supplement avails of it. However, it has not been possible to ascertain from administrative sources the exact numbers of people who do not apply. There are also a number of reasons...
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The research that has been undertaken by the Department is attempting to ascertain the current level of take-up among those who would qualify for FIS, as well as the reasons they are not availing of it. This will help the Department to determine future policy in this regard. However, the biggest increase in applications arose from a nationwide awareness campaign in 2006. While there were...
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)
Mary Hanafin: I am advised that it was by looking at the Department's own data on people's income levels and contacting them directly. In other words, people who had applied for other benefits or whatever.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)
Mary Hanafin: No, while that might include those who had made contact with the Department of Social and Family Affairs, not everyone necessarily would have done so. For example, the Department does not have income rates for those who are in receipt of child benefit, whereas Revenue has data on low income earners. It should be remembered that these are the people who qualify for this supplement and not...