Results 1,801-1,820 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (19 Jan 2010)

Mary Hanafin: The production of the Personalised Payable Order (PPO) book ceased in September 2009. The migration from PPO to electronic payment was successfully carried out on a phased basis over 2008 and 2009. All social welfare customers who had PPO books now collect their payment at their post office by using the social services (swipe) card.

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (19 Jan 2010)

Mary Hanafin: The Jobseeker's Benefit and Jobseeker's Allowance schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative employment. It is a fundamental qualifying condition for these benefits that a person must be available for full-time work. Under the current Jobseeker's Benefit/Allowance system, a working week is considered to be six days. Sunday is not considered...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Jan 2010)

Mary Hanafin: The position has not changed since I responded to the Deputy in relation to this matter on 8th December last. At that time, I informed the Deputy that the person concerned is currently serving in the Sligo office of the Department. Staffing of the Department's offices is kept under ongoing review to ensure that adequate resources are deployed as necessary. The business requirements of the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (19 Jan 2010)

Mary Hanafin: Payment of disability allowance, to the person concerned, was refused by a Deciding Officer following an assessment by a Medical Assessor of the Department who expressed the opinion that he was medically unsuitable for disability allowance. An appeal was opened and in the context of that appeal, his case was reviewed by a second Medical Assessor who also expressed the opinion that he was...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (19 Jan 2010)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 783 and 801 together. The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that, in accordance with statutory requirements, the relevant Departmental papers and comments on the grounds of appeal in the case of the persons concerned have been sought. When received, the appeals in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer for early consideration. The Social...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (19 Jan 2010)

Mary Hanafin: Payment of disability allowance, to the person concerned, was refused by a Deciding Officer following an assessment by a Medical Assessor of the Department who expressed the opinion that he was medically unsuitable for disability allowance. 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 Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (19 Jan 2010)

Mary Hanafin: The Department assists social welfare recipients with heating costs, through their basic payments, through the fuel allowance scheme and through the household benefits package of electricity and gas allowances. The household benefits package is payable throughout the year to almost 380,000 pensioners, people with disabilities, and carer households to assist them with their heating, light and...

Written Answers — Anti-Poverty Strategy: Anti-Poverty Strategy (19 Jan 2010)

Mary Hanafin: 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 consistent poverty by 2016. These commitments and the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Jan 2010)

Mary Hanafin: Social welfare changes for 2011 will be considered later this year in the context of next year's Budget preparations, having regard both to needs and to the resources available to meet those needs.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Jan 2010)

Mary Hanafin: I have noted the contents of the recently released report How the Poor were made to pay: an analysis of the impact of the December 2009 Budget. I appreciate that the cuts made in the welfare area will not be easy for people but I genuinely believe that if the Government doesn't take steps now to reduce overall public expenditure and restore stability to the public finances, we risk making...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (19 Jan 2010)

Mary Hanafin: It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 793, 795 and 798 to 800, inclusive, together. The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the relevant Departmental papers and comments of the Department on each of the appeals from the persons concerned have been received and have been referred to an Appeals Officer for consideration. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (19 Jan 2010)

Mary Hanafin: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, following receipt of the grounds of appeal from the person concerned, the relevant Departmental papers and comments of the Department have been sought. On receipt of its response the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer for early consideration. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of the Department that is independently...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (19 Jan 2010)

Mary Hanafin: The person concerned applied for jobseeker's allowance on 8 March 2009. In December 2009 he was awarded jobseeker's allowance with effect from 8 March 2009 to 18 July 2009 at which time he had signed off to take up employment. Arrears of jobseeker's allowance amounting to €3847.70 for the period 8 March 2009 to 18 July 209 were issued to him on 4 December, 2009. The delay in deciding his...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (19 Jan 2010)

Mary Hanafin: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned has been referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing in the case. The person concerned will be notified when the necessary arrangements have been made. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of the Department that is independently responsible for determining appeals...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (19 Jan 2010)

Mary Hanafin: Payment of disability allowance, to the person concerned, was refused by a Deciding Officer following an assessment by a Medical Assessor of the Department who expressed the opinion that he was medically unsuitable for disability allowance. An appeal was opened and in the context of that appeal, his case was reviewed by a second Medical Assessor who also expressed the opinion that he was...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (19 Jan 2010)

Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the deputy is contained in the tabular statement. Table: One-Parent Family Payment and Disability Payments as a percentage of the Labour Force and Numbers in Employment, 2000 to 2009. Year Labour Force (1) Number in Employment (1) One-Parent Family Payment One-Parent Family Payment as % of Labour Force One Parent Family Payments as % of Employed Disability...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (19 Jan 2010)

Mary Hanafin: The National Employment Action Plan, operated jointly with FÁS, is the main activation measure for jobseeker's. It has been in operation since 1998 and has proven successful in that period in assisting people on the live register back into employment. It provides for a systematic engagement of the employment services with unemployed people. Under the Plan, all persons between the ages of...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Jan 2010)

Mary Hanafin: The table details the number of staff serving in the Department annually since 2007, broken down by Division. 1.1.2007 1.1.2008 1.1.2009 1.1.2010 SW REGIONS 1903 1917 2028 2303 PLANNING/POLICY 91 91 90 105 CENTRAL SUPPORT/ ADMIN 391 385 380 342 IS Division 251 236 235 230 SW SCHEMES/CONTROL + Associated Areas 1626 1757 1752 1699 SOCIAL WELFARE APPEALS...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (19 Jan 2010)

Mary Hanafin: Statistics are not available on the overall number of persons currently in receipt of Widow/er' Contributory Pension on the basis of self employment PRSI specifically. However, of 5,573 Widow/er's Contributory Pensions awarded in 2009, 44 were based on self employment PRSI. There have been no applications disallowed on the basis that self employment contributions applied to one spouse only,...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (19 Jan 2010)

Mary Hanafin: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that they have no record of instances whereby an appeal was initiated by the Department in cases where a deciding officer had previously awarded a payment. The Deputy may be referring to cases where the Department requested a review by the Chief Appeals Officer in respect of Appeals Officers decisions. An Appeals Officer's decision is final...