Results 5,001-5,020 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (11 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: It has not been possible to provide the information requested in the time available. The data is currently being compiled and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy when it becomes available.
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (11 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The requirement to be habitually resident in Ireland was introduced as a qualifying condition for certain social assistance schemes and child benefit with effect from 1 May 2004. It was introduced in the context of the Government's decision to open the Irish labour market to workers from the 10 new EU Member States, without the transitional limitations which were imposed at that time by most...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (11 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The national fuel allowance scheme assists householders on long-term social welfare or health service executive (HSE) payments with meeting the cost of their heating needs during the winter season. The allowance represents a contribution towards a person's normal heating expenses. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. There is no additional means test to qualify for fuel...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Payments: Social Welfare Payments (11 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The family income supplement scheme (FIS), which provides income support for employees on low earnings with families, is designed to preserve the incentive to move from welfare to (or remain in) employment in circumstances where the employee might only be marginally better off than if he or she were claiming other social welfare payments. In order to achieve this objective the income...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (11 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered on behalf of the Department by the community welfare service of the Health Service Executive. The Department has function in deciding entitlement in individual cases. Subject to certain conditions, any person in the state whose means are insufficient to meet his or her basic needs may be statutorily entitled to assistance under the...
- Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (11 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: Since the commencement of the decentralisation programme in the Department, expenditure returns have been submitted to the Department of Finance detailing non-property costs associated with the programme for both this Department and the agencies under its aegis. The expenditure recorded in respect of non-property costs for the period up to the end of September 2008 is set out. Location...
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: They take a while to light up but then they shine brighter and longer.
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (11 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: Tá an-áthas orm an Bille seo a chur os comhair an Teach. The legislation will implement the â¬515 million package of social welfare improvements announced in budget 2009. In very difficult economic circumstances this package will bring total expenditure on social welfare in 2009 to â¬19.6 billion, which is an increase of â¬2.6 billion or 15.5% over the Estimates allocation for 2008. At...
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Order for Second Stage (11 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (11 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."
- Social Welfare Fraud. (11 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: Since July 2008, additional control measures have been introduced with a view to achieving savings of â¬25 million from the detection or avoidance of fraud. These measures target the jobseeker's allowance and benefit schemes, one parent family payment and child benefit schemes. This year, the option to review payments by electronic fund transfer was removed for new claimants for jobseeker...
- Social Welfare Fraud. (11 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The Deputy is correct that it is important to continue to have strong control measures. As money becomes more scarce, we must ensure that it is targeted at the right people. A total of 620 staff members throughout the country are involved in control in some form. The Deputy referred to the rule for signing on each week as having some impact. Other segments being targeted are the 18 to 25...
- Social Welfare Fraud. (11 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: When tackling fraud one must use methods of prevention, detection, deterrence and debt recovery. All of those methods can be used before ever resorting to prosecution.
- Social Welfare Fraud. (11 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: Every effort is made at all stages to try to recover any moneys which have been overpaid. So far this year, 235 cases of general claims have been sent to the Chief State Solicitor's office. We do not wish to go down the road of taking prosecutions against people but debt recovery is probably the most important. We will continue to ensure that good control measures are in place.
- Child Support. (11 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: Child benefit is paid for all children up to the age of 16 years and also for children up to the age of 19 years who continue in full-time education and for children with a disability. Child benefit is tax free and is not affected by the level of income of the claimant. The rates of child benefit have increased very significantly since 2001, by over 200% for the first and second child and by...
- Child Support. (11 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: We appreciate it is always very difficult for any family to have to take a financial hit.
- Child Support. (11 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: Unfortunately, when one is faced with the current economic situation and financial pressures, and given that the budget of my Department is â¬19.5 billion, we are under pressure to find money to protect the people who will lose their jobs and their families. The money had to be found somewhere. We looked at the figures and realised that the Deputy is incorrect. The vast majority of...
- Child Support. (11 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: Certainly not. I wish to correct the Deputy's statement. In the leaving certificate cohort of 2007, some 35,900 were under the age of 18 and 14,000 were 18 years. Many of those would have turned 18 between April and June of that year so, in effect, they would have completed their second level education. That is not completing education, which I fully accept. The Deputy is also incorrect...
- Child Support. (11 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The Deputy is incorrect. It is not the majority.
- Child Support. (11 Nov 2008)
Mary Hanafin: Increasingly, we are seeing that the completion rate of people in second level schools is at 86%, which is encouraging, although of course it would need to go higher. It is also the case, although I would like to see it otherwise, that schools that qualify for disadvantaged status for the most part do not offer transition year. Many of the students who would be completing their education at...