Results 22,641-22,660 of 28,255 for speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív

Social Welfare Benefits (29 Jun 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term support to eligible people 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 other source. The overall aim is to provide short-term assistance and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes...

Social Welfare Benefits (29 Jun 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: We need to do a number of things. I agree with what the Deputy said. It is not satisfactory that people are in long-term receipt of rent supplement, particularly where there are children involved. Moving from house to house and from school to school can often create great instability. I agree with the Deputy that this issue needs to be tackled. I am sure the Deputy is interested in the...

Social Welfare Benefits (29 Jun 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Minister of State, Deputy Finneran, is working hard on this question. Some of the issues I examined regarding the scheme in my Department were not focused on the transfer issue, which is important, but on the scheme. The Deputy mentioned the level of rent and dealing with that issue involved a considerable amount of time. I am happy that the level of rent reflects prices in the market....

Social Welfare Benefits (29 Jun 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Department of Social Protection already assists low income households with heating costs through their basic payments, through the fuel allowance scheme and through the household benefits package of electricity and gas allowances. These schemes have been improved significantly in recent years. Since 2001, increases in social welfare rates, including fuel allowance, have exceeded energy...

Social Welfare Benefits (29 Jun 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Deputy has asked this question on previous occasions and I have had no difficulty in answering it. I expect to receive the report to which she referred over the summer period. As the Deputy rightly points out, and as I have said from the beginning, the months during which significant heating costs arise are those from October through to spring, that is, the months for which the fuel...

Social Welfare Benefits (29 Jun 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: That is the intention, and I will be pushing to ensure it is done. I have not seen a report from the strategy group, but we will continue pressing for it to be brought forward, after which we will have to make decisions on it. To clarify, from the time I came into the Department it was my understanding that the deadline by which action would have to be taken to implement supports for...

Mortgage Interest Supplement (29 Jun 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: There are 16,800 people in receipt of mortgage interest supplement this month, compared to 8,091 in 2008. Expenditure for the year ending December 2009 was €60.7 million, and the Estimate for 2010 is €63.9 million. The mortgage interest supplement scheme is currently under review. The main purpose of this review is to examine how the scheme can best meet its objective of catering for...

Mortgage Interest Supplement (29 Jun 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Given that there is a significant overlap in departmental representation on both groups, the two reports will have to be brought forward together. As I said, there will be a separate departmental report on the mortgage interest supplement scheme, but that must mesh in with the work of the Cooney group. I expect both reports to be published at approximately the same time, as the same...

Mortgage Interest Supplement (29 Jun 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I am not trying to avoid any questions. I have not seen the Cooney report and, as such, am not aware of what delivery mechanisms are proposed, whether they can be implemented immediately or whether there will be a lead-in time. As I said, both reports should be available in the coming weeks and decisions will be made speedily thereafter. I do not know what the complexities of...

Mortgage Interest Supplement (29 Jun 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: These are the issues that must be examined. This is where MABS has a big role to play in drawing up financial plans after getting all of the information from clients; if a client only gives half of the information, the problem cannot be solved.

Social Welfare Payments (29 Jun 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I propose to take Question Nos. 37, 44, 45, 58 and 421 together. There are 16,800 people in receipt of mortgage interest supplement, compared to 8,000 recipients in 2008. Expenditure for the year ending December 2009 was €60.7 million and the Estimate for 2010 is €63.9 million. Generally, all applications for mortgage interest supplement are recorded electronically. However, as this...

Social Welfare Payments (29 Jun 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I spoke to the Minister for Finance in a general way about this issue. I also spoke to Mr. Hugh Cooney about it. It is important that the benefit of the mortgage interest supplement is to the mortgage holder. Many parties have a part to play in resolving this; the banks lent the money and in some cases they did less than their homework before doing so. We have all come across such cases....

Social Welfare Payments (29 Jun 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I agree that we need action but it must be taken in a focused way. As I indicated to Deputy Enright, I expect the Cooney report in the next few weeks and the mortgage interest supplement report will be available at the same time because they are linked together inextricably.

Social Welfare Payments (29 Jun 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I do not have a copy but I understand it is almost complete. I hope to have a copy in the next few weeks.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Jun 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Due to staff action currently being taken in the Department, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Jun 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Due to staff action currently being taken in the Department, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Jun 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Due to staff action currently being taken in the Department, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Jun 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Due to staff action currently being taken in the Department, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Jun 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Due to staff action currently being taken in the Department, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Jun 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Due to staff action currently being taken in the Department, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.