Results 4,901-4,920 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: That study was completed this year.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The fact that the take-up was low and that it was done on a voluntary basis gives us some information as to how we can work with lone parents and other qualified adults. It is not something that can be looked at in my Department alone. There are issues in regard to child care, educational participation and so on.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: That is why the Department has increased the number of facilitators working with those on the live register, persons with disabilities and lone parents, in order to support them in their choices for themselves and their children.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: Another issue that was raised during the debate was the question of rent supplement and employment. Some 70,000 people are in receipt of rent supplement and it is clearly making a significant contribution in enabling them to find suitable accommodation.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: Some 30,000 of the long-term recipients are due to transfer to the rental accommodation scheme.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: A Cheann Comhairle, there is a radio in my left ear that does not seem to turn off.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: Every local authority in the State has officers in place and is now working the scheme. As a result, we hope to see even greater progress on this.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: I was pleased that Deputy Enright welcomed the new housing initiative yesterday.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: Deputies claimed that recipients of rent supplement could not work at all. The reality is that those on rent supplement who enter full-time work will continue to be eligible if the local authority deems them to be so.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: There is no reason that people should feel they are in a welfare trap. That is not the case. Everything is means tested in this regard. In recent years, the provision of the rent supplement via the local authorities has improved the capacity of people to avail of voluntary or social housing within their local authority areas.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: All the independent data indicate that rents have decreased by 5%. In addition, the number of accommodation units available for rent has doubled in recent months. That will make it easier for many people. As I indicated, it is something we will keep under review.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: One of the provisions in the Bill is to ask recipients of very large sums of money from the State to pay â¬18 per week towards their accommodation. This has not been changed for several years.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: As I outlined yesterday, at the time the initiative was introduced it was decided that it should be set at some 10% of the social welfare payment. In the intervening years, the social welfare payment has increased by â¬70 while the rent supplement contribution has remained the same.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: Now we are simply increasing it by â¬5 per week.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: People will be delighted to obtain good quality accommodation.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The quality of the accommodation that has become available in recent years, and particularly in recent months, is much higher than what was available in the past. We are working closely with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the local authorities to ensure the accommodation is of a good standard.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: We want to ensure also that landlords are held to account for the standard of accommodation they provide. Taxpayers' money is going towards supporting 70,000 people in receipt of rent supplement. There is plenty of good accommodation now available. We hope this will be of benefit to people.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: Deputies also asked about the numbers of staff within the Department. I thank those Deputies on the Opposition benches who paid tribute to the departmental staff. Some generous and well deserved comments were made in regard to their dealings with staff in local offices. Following a review of staffing, we have placed additional personnel in the offices that were under particular pressure...
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: We appreciate the pressures that are on individuals and by giving these increases we are aiming to support those people and families.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill aims to do that. For that reason I commend the Bill to the House.