Results 5,621-5,640 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Anti-Poverty Strategy: Anti-Poverty Strategy (25 Jun 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93, 114 and 139 together. Fuel poverty has been described as the inability to afford adequate warmth in a home, or the inability to achieve adequate warmth because of the energy inefficiency of the home. Various studies have been conducted in recent years which highlight fuel poverty problems affecting particular groups including households on low income,...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (25 Jun 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Government is anxious to ensure that as many people as possible can be accommodated within the social welfare pensions system, with due regard being paid to the contributory principle underlying entitlement to contributory payments and, in the case of non-contributory payments, the need to ensure that resources are directed to those who are most in need. Over the last 10 years, means...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (25 Jun 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The primary objective of my Department's information policy is to ensure that all citizens are made aware of their entitlements and that they are kept informed of changes and improvements in schemes and services as they occur. In relation to older people, the Department produces a comprehensive range of information leaflets and booklets. For example, a booklet entitled "Checklist for...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (25 Jun 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96, 102, 124, 125 and 136 together. The Government discussion paper, Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents, put forward proposals to tackle obstacles to employment for lone parents and other low income families. Under the proposals, the lone parenthood category would no longer exist. Instead, a new payment would be made to all parents, living alone or with a...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (25 Jun 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The setting of waste management charges and the introduction of waivers in respect of waste charges is, as has been stated in this House on many occasions, a matter for each local authority. Local authorities operate under the auspices of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The introduction of a national social welfare scheme as part of the household benefits scheme...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (25 Jun 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has a proud tradition of supporting and championing the rights of the poorest members of our society. I met with representatives of the Society recently and listened carefully to their concerns about increased demands on their supports and services generally and in the Dublin area, in particular. At the outset, I would like to draw attention to the fact that...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (25 Jun 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The purpose of the review of the social welfare code, which is currently being undertaken in the Department, is to examine its compatibility with the Equal Status Act, 2000 (as amended). The review will examine all the schemes and services provided for both in social welfare legislation and the administrative schemes operated by the Department. It will identify any instances of direct or...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (25 Jun 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101, 126 and 141 together. I welcome the recent research by the Vincentian Partnership which clearly demonstrates the considerable progress made by the Government since the publication of their original research entitled "Minimum Essential Budgets for Six Households" in late 2006. This is one of a number of research modals and, it presents some very useful...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (25 Jun 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103, 120 and 137 together. Rent supplement is administered on behalf of the Department by the Health Service Executive (HSE) as part of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. Rent supplement is subject to a limit on the amount of rent that an applicant may incur. Rent limits are set at levels that enable the different eligible household types to secure...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (25 Jun 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes rent supplement, is administered on behalf of the Department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. The purpose of the scheme is to provide short-term income support, in the form of a weekly or monthly payment, to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (25 Jun 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Rent Supplement is administered on behalf of the Department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term income support to eligible tenants living in private rented accommodation, whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (25 Jun 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Child benefit is a universal payment, paid in respect of children up to the age of 16 years. It continues to be paid in respect of children up to age 19 who are in full-time education, or who have a physical or mental disability. The policy of the Government over the past number of years has been to substantially increase the amount spent on child benefit for all families. Commitment to...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (25 Jun 2008)

Mary Hanafin: This transfer arises from a Government decision to reallocate certain functions to the Department from the Health Sector. It involves the transfer of Domiciliary Care Allowance, the associated Respite Care Grant, Blind Welfare Allowance, Infectious Diseases Maintenance Allowance and Mobility Allowance. Legislation contained in the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2008 provides for the transfer...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (25 Jun 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108, 189 and 190 together. In order to qualify for the maximum rate of the state pension (contributory) a person must, amongst other qualifying conditions, achieve a yearly average of at least 48 contributions paid or credited on his/her social insurance record over their working life. Reduced pensions are paid to those with yearly averages as low as 10...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (25 Jun 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 121 together. The Department delivers a front-line service through a network of 60 Local Offices and 65 Branch Offices countrywide. The main services provided from these offices include Jobseekers Payment, One-Parent Family Payment and an Information service. The staffing levels in Local Offices are reviewed from time to time. Following on the most...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (25 Jun 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Working Group on Long Term Care was established in 2005 to identify the policy options for a financially sustainable system of long-term care. It comprises senior officials from the Departments of Finance, Health and Children and my Department. The report of that working group has influenced recent Budgets and the national partnership agreement Towards 2016. The Department of Health and...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (25 Jun 2008)

Mary Hanafin: A person may qualify for payment of a back to school clothing and footwear allowance if they are in receipt of a social welfare or Health Service Executive (HSE) payment, or are participating in an approved employment scheme or attending a recognised education and training course and have household income below standard levels. The scheme provides a one-off payment to eligible families to...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (25 Jun 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The social welfare appeals process is quasi-judicial and the procedures are designed to ensure that every appellant's case gets full and satisfactory consideration. It is necessary for the Appeals Officer to be satisfied that he/she has all the facts before making a decision on a case. The Appeals Officer must give the person making the appeal and the Deciding Officer the opportunity to make...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (25 Jun 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 127 together. In the context of social partnership The National Economic and Social Council (NESC) was asked to examine the feasibility of merging the family income supplement (FIS) with the increase for qualified children (IQC). While NESC failed to reach a consensus on this issue, a research paper by Dr. John Sweeney was made available late in 2007...

Written Answers — Anti-Poverty Strategy: Anti-Poverty Strategy (25 Jun 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 142 together. There is a constant balance to be maintained in ensuring that social welfare programmes provide an adequate safety net for those who need to avail of them and, at the same time, provide opportunities to assist people to become less welfare dependent. In this context, a number of measures have been introduced in recent years to remove...