Results 5,141-5,160 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Anti-Poverty Strategy: Anti-Poverty Strategy (29 Oct 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The recently published OECD report 'Growing Unequal? Income Distribution and Poverty in OECD Countries' examines whether income inequality has increased over time in the 30 developed countries of the OECD. The report concludes that the gap between rich and poor has grown in more than three-quarters of OECD countries over the past two decades. Although income inequality in Ireland, as...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (29 Oct 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Civil service posts at the levels of Assistant Secretary and Deputy Secretary are covered by a scheme of performance related awards. Recommendations in relation to awards are made by the Secretary General of each department and the operation of the scheme is overseen by the Committee for Performance Awards. The funding for awards is based on 10% of the payroll for the posts covered by the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (29 Oct 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The number of claims for Child Benefit received in the last 5 years is as follows: Year Number of claims 2003 74,392 2004 77,166 2005 81,715 2006 97,707 2007 95,723 2008 70,252 (to end Sept) There is currently a total of 8,600 claims for non-resident children of EU migrant workers, dating from late 2006 to September 2007, to be finalised. Of these, some 1,200 were received in 2006,...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (23 Oct 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Mortgage interest supplement is administered on behalf of the Department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive, as part of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. In determining entitlement to mortgage interest supplement, a community welfare officer must fully establish the means of the person concerned. The original loan application, supporting...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (23 Oct 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Since my appointment as Minister for Social and Family Affairs on 7th May 2008, I have appointed, on a contract basis for my term of office, one Special Adviser, Ms. Averil Power, whose salary is €97,109 per annum.

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (23 Oct 2008)

Mary Hanafin: There is no Social Welfare Local Office in Lucan. The Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for the acquisition and maintenance of office accommodation for the Department. The Department together with the OPW and South Dublin County Council is exploring the possibility of having a Local Office in Adamstown as part of the planned new Civic Centre. Jobseeker claims for people living...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (23 Oct 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The claim for Jobseekers Allowance by the person concerned was refused by a Deciding Officer of the Department on 25 February 2008 as his means, derived from self-employment, exceeded the statutory limit. An appeal was opened on 28 March 2008 and I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office, that in accordance with the statutory requirements, the Department was asked for the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (23 Oct 2008)

Mary Hanafin: In order to qualify for a range of Social Welfare payments, including Child Benefit, applicants are required to satisfy the Habitual Residence condition (HRC), which was introduced on 1st May 2004. The HRC requires the applicant to satisfy the deciding officer that they meet certain conditions, including that their centre of interest is in Ireland and that their future intentions, as...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (23 Oct 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 179 together. The details being sought by the Deputy are set out in the following tabular statement. All costs, which are based on existing staffing levels, are estimates and as such are liable to fluctuate due to factors such as staff movement. Organisation Annual cost of increments in 2008 Annual cost of increments in 2009 Annual cost of September...

Social Welfare Payments. (22 Oct 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I thank Deputy Lynch for the opportunity to set out the background and context for the changes being introduced to the disability allowance, DA, and domiciliary care allowance, DCA, schemes. The current arrangements provide that DA, a weekly payment made to persons with a disability whose employment capacity is substantially restricted by reason of his or her disability and whose means are...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (22 Oct 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Directive 2006/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the implementation of the principle of equal opportunities and equal treatment of men and women in matters of employment and occupation was adopted on 5 July, 2006. This Directive simplifies, modernises and improves Community legislation in the area of equal treatment for men and women in employment and occupation by...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Oct 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Disability Allowance is a weekly allowance which is currently paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under age 66. With effect from January 2009, as part of the Budget 2009 measures, the minimum age for receipt of Disability Allowance has been raised to 18 years for new claimants. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (22 Oct 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The claim for jobseeker's allowance by the person concerned was disallowed by a deciding officer of the Department on 24 August 2008 on the grounds that his means exceeded the statutory limit. An appeal was opened on 17 September 2008 and I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, in accordance with statutory requirements, the Department was asked for the documentation in the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (22 Oct 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The claim for Carer's Allowance, by the person concerned, was refused by a Deciding Officer of the Department on the 10th April 2008 on the grounds that he was not providing full-time care and attention in respect of the care recipient and that he was employed outside the home for more than 15 hours per week. An appeal was opened on 17 April 2008 and I am advised by the Social Welfare...

Written Answers — Anti-Poverty Strategy: Anti-Poverty Strategy (21 Oct 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 163 together. Combating poverty and building an inclusive society are key priorities for the Government. The overall goal of the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion (NAPinclusion) introduced in February 2007 is to reduce the number of those experiencing consistent poverty to between 2 per cent and 4 per cent by 2012, with the aim of eliminating...

Written Answers — Combat Poverty Agency: Combat Poverty Agency (21 Oct 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115, 126 and 182 together. As Deputies will be aware, a review of the Combat Poverty Agency was undertaken on foot of a Government Decision on the 6th of June 2007. The purpose of the review was to examine the role of the Agency in light of the emergence since 1986 of comprehensive strategies and new institutional arrangements to promote social...

Written Answers — Personal Advocacy Service: Personal Advocacy Service (21 Oct 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116, 135 and 176 together. The statutory basis for the introduction of a personal advocacy service under the Citizens Information Board (CIB) was provided for in the Citizens Information Act, 2007. However, having regard to the current budgetary circumstances, it will not be possible to proceed with this next year. The provision of an advocacy service remains...

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (21 Oct 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 131 together. The Department undertakes advertising and awareness activities to ensure that all members of the public are made aware of their rights and entitlements and that they are kept informed of changes and improvements in schemes and services as they occur. The amount spent on advertising and awareness activities in any one year is determined...

Written Answers — Money Advice and Budgeting Service: Money Advice and Budgeting Service (21 Oct 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 130 together. The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) is the main Government funded service which provides assistance to people who are over-indebted and need help and advice in coping with debt problems. There are 53 independent companies nationwide with over 240 money advice staff operating the service. Almost €18 million has been provided in...

Written Answers — Fuel Poverty: Fuel Poverty (21 Oct 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I share Deputies' concerns about the impact of rising fuel and energy costs. My own priority, as Minister for Social and Family Affairs, is to ensure that Government assistance is available to those who need our help the most, older people, those with disabilities or serious illnesses, and people on low incomes. Government policy in recent years, has focused on increasing primary social...