Results 5,821-5,840 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (21 May 2008)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 and 182 together. Supporting and recognising carers in our society is, and has been, a priority of the Government since 1997. Over that period, weekly payment rates to carers have greatly increased, qualifying conditions for carer's allowance have significantly eased, coverage of the scheme has been extended and new schemes such as carer's benefit and the...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (21 May 2008)
Mary Hanafin: Supporting and recognising carers in our society is a priority of the Government. Since 1997, weekly payment rates to carers have greatly increased, qualifying conditions for carer's allowance have significantly eased, coverage of the scheme has been extended and new schemes such as carer's benefit and the respite care grant have been introduced and extended. Carers can also qualify for free...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (21 May 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The development of a National Carers' Strategy is a key Government commitment in both the national partnership agreement "Towards 2016" and the Programme for Government. A working group, chaired by the Department of An Taoiseach, has begun work on developing the strategy. My Department provides the secretariat to the working group which also includes representatives of the Departments of...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (21 May 2008)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 186 together. The Government discussion paper, "Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents," put forward proposals for the expanded availability and range of education and training opportunities for lone parents; the extension of the National Employment Action Plan to focus on lone parents; focused provision of childcare; improved information services for...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (21 May 2008)
Mary Hanafin: Under the terms of an earlier Social Partnership agreement, 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) and possibly including other child supports such as the back to school clothing and footwear allowance, resulting in a single means-based child income...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (21 May 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 (21 May 2008)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 190 together. The school meals programme gives funding towards provision of food services for disadvantaged school children through two schemes, the long-standing statutory urban school meals scheme and the school meals local projects programme. Implementation of improvements in the programme is well underway. Expenditure on the programme increased...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (21 May 2008)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 to 193, inclusive, together. The commitment in the programme for Government in relation to the development of a mortgage support system is being advanced in the context of housing policy. Housing supports in general are provided by local authorities but the Department provides income maintenance support where required in particular circumstances. Mortgage...
- Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (21 May 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The development of advocacy services for people with disabilities remains a priority for my Department. In order to expand advocacy provision for people with disabilities the Citizens Information Board began a process in 2004 of engaging the community and voluntary sector in the provision of advocacy services to people with disabilities. In this regard funding of â¬1million was allocated to...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (21 May 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The free travel scheme is available to all people living in the State aged 66 years or over and to people receiving certain disability or care payments. Proposals to extend the free travel scheme to Irish born people living abroad and those receiving pensions from my Department have been examined and, in this regard, officials of the Department have engaged in discussions with EU Commission...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (21 May 2008)
Mary Hanafin: 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. The MABS has a unique and expert contribution to make in meeting the needs of people with debt difficulties in today's society. This includes promoting greater awareness about household budgeting...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (21 May 2008)
Mary Hanafin: Poverty proofing was introduced in 1998 on foot of a commitment in the first National Anti-Poverty Strategy. Since then it has been a requirement for significant policy proposals to indicate clearly the impact of the proposal on people in poverty or at risk of falling into poverty. Following a review of the poverty proofing process, the Office for Social Inclusion (OSI) in my Department,...
- Written Answers — Family Support Services: Family Support Services (21 May 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The Family Support Agency was established on 6 May 2003 and brings together programmes and services to support families introduced by the Government in recent years. Its mission is to promote family and community well being through the provision of appropriate supports and services to families. Funding for the Agency has increased from â¬17.28 million in 2003 to â¬39.38 million for 2008....
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (20 May 2008)
Mary Hanafin: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the appeal from the person concerned has been referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing. The person concerned will be informed when arrangements have been made. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of my Department that is independently responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 May 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) is administered on behalf of the Department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive (HSE). SWA provides a safety net against poverty in that it gives a statutory entitlement to a minimum weekly income, based on criteria set out in legislation. The Eastern Area of the HSE has advised that the person concerned was...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 May 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that the entitlement to rent supplement of the person concerned has been reviewed. The executive has established that she has means which were not previously taken into account in the assessment of entitlement to rent supplement. The assessment of these means has resulted in the rate of rent supplement being reduced and she has been advised...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 May 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) is administered on behalf of the Department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive (HSE). SWA provides a safety net against poverty in that it gives a statutory entitlement to a minimum weekly income, based on criteria set out in legislation. The Midland Area of the Health Service Executive has advised that the person...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (20 May 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 (HSE). The purpose of rent supplement 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...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (20 May 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The outgoings of a household are not taken into account in the means assessment for jobseeker's allowance. The assessment is based on income. All the income of the customer and his/her spouse/partner is taken into account. However certain disregards apply. For example, the first â¬20,000 of any savings or investments is disregarded. If the customer or his/her spouse/partner is working in...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 May 2008)
Mary Hanafin: The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that an application for rent supplement has been received from the person concerned. It is awaiting the receipt of outstanding documentation from him. A decision on entitlement to rent supplement cannot be made until all documentation requested has been received.