Results 5,921-5,940 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Social Welfare Benefits. (14 May 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Last year the system was reviewed and as a result the rent supplement was increased in 14 local authority areas. It is the intention that it will be reviewed over the next few weeks with a view to it coming into effect on 1 July 2008. That review will be taking place——

Social Welfare Benefits. (14 May 2008)

Mary Hanafin: ——between the HSE, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the CSO, the Private Rented Tenancies Board and interested voluntary organisations. It is one of those schemes that needs to be kept constantly under review, particularly to see how it is working in getting people into appropriate housing. The big difference between the RAS and the rent supplement is...

Social Welfare Payments. (14 May 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 90 together. The Department supports Government policy which aims to facilitate the greater use of electronic payment systems in the economy in the interests of developing a world class payments environment in Ireland. Our payment strategy is designed to ensure that cost-effective arrangements are in place for making payments to social welfare...

Social Welfare Payments. (14 May 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The potential to use the card would enable all sorts of other schemes to be incorporated in it, such as transferring the money into a savings account and a payment account. It can be examined as it is used over the years. The Deputy mentioned those people who might not be familiar with technology, but 70% of new applicants for State contributory pensions and child benefit opted to use the...

Social Welfare Payments. (14 May 2008)

Mary Hanafin: It is encouraging. Having agents to collect for elderly people was a key issue for them. If an elderly person needs to appoint an agent, those arrangements will be made. Special arrangements will be made from next June and if it must be done in the long term, a letter will issue from the Department enabling the carer or agent to collect the payment.

Social Welfare Payments. (14 May 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Wide consultations took place regarding electronic payments, but it may well have been with those bodies that represent the recipients. I do not know if consultation took place on a wider basis, but I could certainly envisage that happening once it is up and running. This card enables the payment of money into accounts, as opposed to a card that allows for free travel or an integrated...

Social Welfare Payments. (14 May 2008)

Mary Hanafin: A person can claim a pension payment for up to 100 days and this continues to be the case. When payment is made, a receipt is given indicating the amount and what it was for. It includes the breakdown of the payment, such as whether there were qualified adults or children included in the payment. An agent collecting on a long-term basis will have to get a letter from the Department...

Social Welfare Payments. (14 May 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Department and An Post are jointly working on a system which will facilitate the agent, with a view to rolling it out at the end of next month.

Social Welfare Payments. (14 May 2008)

Mary Hanafin: It will facilitate the use of an agent by the recipient. Safeguards will have to be put in place to make sure the money is going to the right person.

Departmental Records. (14 May 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Department of Social and Family Affairs administers around 50 schemes and makes payments to 1 million people each week. Due to the nature, scale and diversity of its work, the Department is heavily reliant on ICT and holds detailed information about its customers. The Department takes its responsibilities to safeguard this data extremely seriously. All electronic data is stored in the...

Departmental Records. (14 May 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The five laptops and three mobile phones relate to the six years since 2002.

Departmental Records. (14 May 2008)

Mary Hanafin: None of them was recovered but none contained sensitive information so people need have no worries in that respect. Encryption is an important aspect where information is being passed from one agency to another. Of all Departments, my Department is conscious that it holds personal information such as identity, PRSI contributions and claim activity. Some 6.8 million datasets are held by the...

Departmental Records. (14 May 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Any breach of confidentiality is inexcusable and is not tolerated in the Department. Disciplinary action, up to dismissal, has always been taken in cases over the past few years. Given the number of staff and the amount of information held, the number of incidents is small and few staff have been involved. That is not to excuse it because people need the comfort of knowing their...

Departmental Records. (14 May 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I do not know how many are issued but I am quite sure it is more than the five that were stolen over a six year period. I will check if the information is available.

Social Welfare Benefits. (14 May 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The vision for older people as set out in the social partnership agreement, Towards 2016, is to enable people to maintain their health and well-being and to live full and active lives in an independent way in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. The agreement already includes a wide range of commitments regarding older people in the area of pensions, long-term care,...

Social Welfare Benefits. (14 May 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I did outline who the appropriate Minister was, stating that basic health services was a matter for the Minister for Health and Children, discrimination in employment is dealt with by the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and equality issues are the responsibility of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The area of concern to my Department is income...

Social Welfare Benefits. (14 May 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy asked where the areas of responsibility lie. The Minister of State, Deputy Hoctor, is assigned to the Departments of Health and Children, Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Social and Family Affairs. Her job is to co-ordinate a strategy for older people, drawing on those three areas.

Social Welfare Benefits. (14 May 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Pensions and income support is a central role of mine. I see the pensions strategy as one of the major items that must be addressed.

Social Welfare Benefits. (14 May 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I accept that pensions and the development of a long-term pension strategy are significant issues requiring to be addressed. The consultation process runs until the end of this month. A major forum will be held at the end of this month in Dublin Castle following which all ideas will be brought together. I should point out, however, that there is no consistency of approach in the...

Social Welfare Benefits. (14 May 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Pensioners are not in receipt of the average industrial wage.