2003
December 2003
31 December
31 December - €28 Per Week Increase In Family Income Supplement Thresholds, €7 Per Week Increase In Minimum Family Income Supplement - Minister For Social And Family Affairs Mary Coughlan TD
29 December
29 December - €10 Minimum Increase In Weekly Social Welfare Payments, €11.50 Per Week Increase For Widows & Widowers - Minister For Social And Family Affairs Mary Coughlan TD
28 December
28 December - Cold Alert Card To Be Launched By Mary Coughlan Minister For Social And Family Affairs
27 December
27 December - Minister Coughlan Cuts Red Tape To Help Job Seekers Overseas
22 December
22 December - Minister Coughlan Acts to Maintain Sign Language Service
21 December
21 December - Allowance May Be Extended For Mobile Phones - Mary Coughlan Minister For Social And Family Affairs
19 December
19 December - Minister Coughlan Opens Family Mediation Service In Sligo
17 December
17 December - Meeting "Constructive And Positive" - Mary Coughlan Minister for Social and Family Affairs
10 December
10 December - Minister Coughlan Welcomes ESRI Report Confirming Continuing Fall In Consistent Poverty In Ireland
8 December
08 December - Minister Coughlan Publishes Social Welfare Bill To Implement €630 Million Social Welfare Package
4 December
04 December - Minister Coughlan Asks Public To Inform Government Policy In Unique Forum In Croke Park
3 December
03 December - €630 MILLION SOCIAL WELFARE BUDGET PACKAGE€11.262 BN TOTAL SOCIAL WELFARE EXPENDITURE IN 2004Social Welfare Payment Protected - Minister For Social And Family Affairs Mary Coughlan TD
November 2003
26 November
26 November - €363,000 For Family Resource Centres - Mary Coughlan Minister Of Social And Family Affairs
20 November
20 November - Department Of Social And Family Affairs Receives Combat Poverty Report
13 November
13 October - 100% Christmas Bonus - Minister Coughlan announces at Pre-Budget Forum
13 November
13 November - Social Welfare Spending To Rise To €10.65 Billion - Mary Coughlan
12 November
12 November - Mary Coughlan Minister for Social and Family Affairs' Website Now Accessible to All in Year of the Disabled
6 November
06 November - Forum on Family Policy held in Galway - Mary Coughlan Minister for Social and Family Affairs
6 November
06 November - New Premises For Clare MABS Opened - Mary Coughlan, Minister For Social And Family Affairs
5 November
5 November - Importance Of Cultural Diversity - Minister Mary Coughlan
4 November
04 November - Babies and Bosses Review Launched by Mary Coughlan TD Minister for Social and Family Affairs
October 2003
27 October
27 October - €230 Million Saved By Anti-Fraud Measures - Mary Coughlan TD Minister For Social And Family Affairs
26 October
26 October - Early Arrival Of Christmas Putting Families Under Pressure Social Welfare Christmas Bonus Will Be Paid First Week Of December - Mary Coughlan Family Affairs Minister
19 October
19 October - Phone Allowance Scheme Extended To More Land Line Providers - Minister For Social And Family Affairs Mary Coughlan
17 October
17 October - Encouraging Trend In Eradication Of Poverty - Mary Coughlan Minister For Social And Family Affairs
17 October
17 October - Value For Money In Public Services - Mary Coughlan Minister For Social And Family Affairs
7 October
07 October - Launch Of Major eGovernment Initiative 'eEnabling Life Event Data'
7 October
07 October - Encouraging Trend In Eliminating Poverty - Mary Coughlan Minister For Social And Family Affairs
6 October
06 October - Extended Payment Of Child Dependant Allowances To People Receiving Short-Term Social Welfare
3 October
03 October - Live Register Drop Welcome - Mary Coughlan Minister For Social And Family Affairs
1 October
01 October - Check Up On Your Elderly Neighbour On International Day Of Older Persons Call By Mary Coughlan Social And Family Affairs Minister
September 2003
25 September
25 September - Mary Coughlan Minister for Social and Family Affairs Says Michael Ring Gets it Wrong Again
25 September
25 September - Mary Coughlan Minister for Social and Family Affairs Rejects Pension Age Increase
22 September
22 September - Statement By Minister Mary Coughlan In Response To "Every Child Matters"
22 September
22 September - Help Available to Stay Warm This Winter as Four New Areas Become Smoke Free - Mary Coughlan Minister for Social and Family Affairs
19 September
19 September - Support For Emigrants - Social And Family Affairs Minister Mary Coughlan
18 September
18 September - Schools Urged to Take Up Subsidised Dairy Products Scheme by Mary Coughlan Minister for Social and Family Affairs
16 September
16 September - Department of Social and Family Affairs Welcomes CPA Research
12 September
12 September - Have Your Say On Family Policy Says Mary Coughlan Minister For Social And Family Affairs
9 September
09 September - Employers Reminded Of 15th September Pension Deadline By Mary Coughlan Minister For Social And Family Affairs
7 September
07 September - Minister Campaigns To Use Plain Language For Dealing With Public
2 September
02 September - Office of the Pensions Ombudsman Opens for Business - Minister Mary Coughlan
2 September
02 September - Thousands More Children to Benefit From Enlarged School Meals Scheme - Mary Coughlan Minister for Social and Family Affairs
August 2003
29 August
29 August - Thousands More Children To Benefit From Enlarged School Meals Scheme - Mary Coughlan Minister For Social And Family Affairs
28 August
28 August - Minister Coughlan Signs 15th September Deadline for Pensions Into Law
27 August
27 August - Mary Coughlan, Minister for Social and Family Affairs Launches National Action Plan Against Poverty and Social Exclusion
25 August
25 August - €17m Funding for Back to School Expenses, Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Coughlan TD
25 August
25 August - Families Continue to Shrink in Size - Mary Coughlan Minister for Social and Family Affairs
21 August
21 August - Minister Coughlan Presents €77,240 to Marriage Counselling Groups in Donegal
20 August
20 August - Minister Coughlan Announces National Family Consultations and Presents €1.9m to Marriage Counselling Group
19 August
19 August - Fine Gael Gets It Wrong as School Shoes and Clothing Package Increased Not Cut - Mary Coughlan Minister for Social and Family Affairs
19 August
19 August - Information Guide for Lone Parents Launched by Minister Mary Coughlan
17 August
17 August - Expenditure of €9.52 Billion on Social Welfare Payments Benefited 1.5 Million People
14 August
14 August - Mary Coughlan Appoints Staff Member to Family Support Agency
5 August
05 August - €6.8 Million for Marriage, Child and Bereavement Counselling Services - Mary Coughlan Minister of Social and Family Affairs
3 August
03 August - New System Makes Checking Social Welfare Records Customer Friendly - Mary Coughlan Minister for Social and Family Affairs
1 August
01 August - Minister Coughlan Announces National Action Plan Against Poverty and Social Exclusion
July 2003
31 July
31 July - €78 Million Saved by Anti-fraud Measures - Mary Coughlan TD Minister for Social and Family Affairs
25 July
25 July - Compensation Pyments for Hep C and HIV Will Not Be Included in Eligibility Tests for Social Welfare Payments - Mary Coughlan Minister for Social and Family Affairs
22 July
22 July - New Civil Registrations Will Be Customer Friendly Says Social And Family Affairs Minister Mary Coughlan
17 July
17 July - Mary Coughlan Minister for Social and Family Affairs Confirms She Will Contest European Commission Action on Post Offices
9 July
09 July - Minister Coughlan Launches Pensions Board Annual Report 2002
8 July
08 July - Minister Coughlan Launches Donegal Disability Awareness Day
7 July
07 July - Minister Mary Coughlan Launches Irish Pensioners Network Of Great Britain
7 July
07 July - Almost 7,000 People Successfully Appeal Social Welfare Decisions in 2002, Minister Mary Coughlan
1 July
01 July - Minister Mary Coughlan Launches Publication on Immigrants Rights
June 2003
29 June
29 June - €17m Funding for Back To School Expenses - Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Coughlan TD
25 June
25 June - Minister Mary Coughlan Launches Report On The Future Financing Of Long-Term Care In Ireland
22 June
22 June - Minister Mary Coughlan in Adult Literacy Initiative
20 June
20 June - Chronic Debts Initiative Underway - Mary Coughlan, Minister for Social and Family Affairs
18 June
18 June - Minister Coughlan Stresses Support for Families
12 June
12 June - Minister Coughlan Launches Report - 'Poverty and Inequality'
5 June
05 June - 21,000 Carers to Benefit From Respite Care Grant
May 2003
30 May
30 May - Minister Mary Coughlan Opens Ballymote Family Resource Centre
29 May
29 May - Minister Coughlan Opens Leitrim Citizens Information Service's New Premises
27 May
27 May - Back To Education Allowance
23 May
23 May - Major Challenges Ahead as Society Changes Says Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Coughlan TD
16 May
16 May - Mary Coughlan Minister for Social and Family Affairs Launches New Nationwide Information Service
16 May
16 May - Minister Mary Coughlan Launches Videophone In Cork Social Welfare Office
16 May
16 May - Mary Coughlan Minister for Social and Family Affairs launches County Carlow Citizen's Information Centre
15 May
15 May - Launch of Family Support Agency and Directory marks UN International Day of the Family - Mary Coughlan Minister of Social and Family Affairs
15 May
15 May - Mary Coughlan TD, Minister For Social And Family Affairs Launches Information Books For Lone Parents
12 May
12 May - Back to Education Allowance Extended Following Review
5 May
05 May - Minister Coughlan Announces Family Support Agency CEO
1 May
01 May - Mary Coughlan Hosts National Family Policy Consultation Process
April 2003
29 April
29 April - €77.5 Million Saved by Anti-fraud Measures - Mary Coughlan TD, Minister for Social and Family Affairs
25 April
25 April - Mary Coughlan Announces Extension of Island Allowance
25 April
25 April - Major Challenges Ahead as Society Changes Says Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Mary Coughlan TD
17 April
17 April - Balbriggan To Host Consultative Seminar On Poverty And Social Exclusion
17 April
17 April - Kilkenny To Host Consultative Seminar On Poverty And Social Exclusion
11 April
11 April - 4,500 People to Benefit From Improvements to the Carer's Allowance
11 April
11 April - Castletroy, Co. Limerick to Host Consultative Seminar on Poverty and Social Exclusion (15th April 2003)
9 April
09 April - Inaccurate Speculation On Rents Supplement In Threshold/Cómhairle Report
6 April
06 April - €283 Million Saved by Anti-fraud Measures - Mary Coughlan TD Minister for Social and Family Affairs
4 April
04 April - Nationwide Consultation on Poverty and Social Exclusion Launched by Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Coughlan TD
4 April
04 April - The Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Coughlan Meets With the Pensions Board
3 April
03 April - Transfer Of Social Welfare Local Office At Lower Gardiner Street To Coolock
3 April
03 April - Disadvantaged Primary and Secondary School Children to get Free School Meals - Mary Coughlan TD Minister for Social and Family Affairs
1 April
01 April - Mary Coughlan TD Minister for Social and Family Affairs Seeks School Meals Funds Application from Enable Ireland
1 April
01 April - Blueprint For Better Public Service Launched By Minister For Social And Family Affairs Mary Coughlan
March 2003
31 March
31 March - One Million Children to Get Child Benefit Increases - Minister Coughlan
28 March
28 March - Minister Coughlan Launches Strategic Plan of Donegal Citizens Information Centre Limited
27 March
27 March - National Family Policy Consultation Process Announced By Mary Coughlan TD Minister for Social and Family Affairs
24 March
24 March - Minister Coughlan Responds to Emigrant/Immigrant Needs
7 March
07 March - Irish Doctor Elected President of European Organisation
6 March
06 March - Minister Coughlan Announces Pensions Ombudsman
4 March
04 March - Mary Coughlan Minister for Social and Family Affairs Announces €2 million Increase Funding and Targeting of Disadvantage in Free School Meals Scheme
3 March
03 March - Over 5,000 Nursing Home Residents To Benefit From New Stay-In-Touch Allowance - Minister For Social And Family Affairs Mary Coughlan TD
February 2003
27 February
27 February - Minister Coughlan Announces The Introduction Of Mandatory Access For Employees To PRSAs
24 February
24 February - Minister Coughlan Welcomes Pensions Board Announcement Of Its Approval Of The First PRSA Products
24 February
24 February - Mary Coughlan TD Minister For Social And Family Affairs Welcomes End To Dentists' Dispute
20 February
20 February - Mary Coughlan TD Minister for Social and Family Affairs Disputes EU Commission Position Concerning Post Offices Contract
20 February
20 February - Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Coughlan Provides €86,000 Grant for ICTU
17 February
17 February - Minister Mary Coughlan Doubles Social Welfare Grant For Hearing Aids
17 February
17 February - Minister Coughlan Publishes Social Welfare Bill & Moves To Facilitate Flexibility In The Funding Of Occupational Pension Schemes
12 February
12 February - €150,000 Funding For The Irish National Organisation Of The Unemployed - Minister Coughlan
11 February
11 February - €45 Million In Social Welfare Lump Sum Payments Are Paid This Week - Minister Mary Coughlan
10 February
10 February - South West Donegal Communities Partnership Ltd Given €25,000 Grant By Minister For Social And Family Affairs Mary Coughlan TD
January 2003
31 January
31 January - €7 Million For Counselling Services - Minister Coughlan
30 January
30 January - Minister Mary Coughlan Addresses Social Inclusion Forum
29 January
29 January - Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Coughlan TD Plans to Expand School Meals Scheme
28 January
28 January - Families In Hidden Break-Up Trauma - Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Coughlan TD
23 January
23 January - Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Coughlan Invites the Irish Dental Association to Talks
21 January
21 January - Minister Mary Coughlan Urges Irish Dental Association To Reconsider Their Position
2 January
02 January - MABS - Busiest Time Ever