Results 5,241-5,260 of 28,255 for speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (25 May 2010)

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

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (25 May 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, an oral hearing of this case took place on 17th May 2010 and the Appeals Officer is now considering the appeal in the light of all the evidence submitted, including that adduced at the oral hearing. The person concerned will be notified of the Appeals Officer decision when the appeal has been determined. The Social Welfare Appeals...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (25 May 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence, disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (25 May 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I propose to take Questions Nos. 312 and 313 together. The Renewed Programme for Government, published in October 2009, contains a commitment to introduce legal recognition of the acquired gender of transsexuals. An interdepartmental committee has been established with the following terms of reference:- "To advise the Minister for Social and Family Affairs on the legislation required to...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (25 May 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The number of farmers availing of the farm assist scheme in Co. Mayo are as follows: 2007 1,506 2008 1,522 2009 1,681 2010 1,751 (at mid May) The farm assist scheme which was introduced in the Social Welfare Act, 1999 is a practical response by the Department to the situation of low-income farmers and it represents a long-term safety net for them. It benefits farm families with...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 May 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Department of Social Protection incurs voted expenditure under Vote 38 and non-voted expenditure from the social insurance fund. Only voted expenditure is subject to surrender to the Exchequer in the event of an under-spend. The following table shows the estimate and outturn for Vote 38 in 2007, 2008 and 2009: Vote 38 Estimate Outturn Difference % Difference â'¬000 â'¬000...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (25 May 2010)

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

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (25 May 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I have set out below a tabular statement showing the expenditure on household benefits and free travel by each scheme and a second tabular statement showing the number of recipients of household benefits and free travel by the primary scheme of the recipient. A more detailed breakdown of the recipients of household benefits and free travel is not currently available. Tabular Statements...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (25 May 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Between defined contribution and defined benefit schemes, there were more than 850,000 pension scheme members in 2008. Excluding some 300,000 public sector members, that means that more than 500,000 private sector employees are members of occupational pension schemes. There is no compulsion on private sector employees to join an occupational pension scheme. Any decision to do so is usually...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (25 May 2010)

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

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (25 May 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: People who are unemployed and unable to meet their mortgage commitments may be entitled under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme to receive a supplement in respect of their mortgage interest. The scheme is administered by the community welfare service of the Health Service Executive (HSE) on behalf of the Department. The purpose of mortgage interest supplement is to provide short...

Written Answers — Family Support Services: Family Support Services (25 May 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the attached table. FIS claims 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 to date 14/5/10 Received 23,928 30,996 36,868 42,942 46,542 18,769 Awarded 19,371 25,253 27,857 41,669 33,106 12,983 Refused 2,982 4,807 4,394 8,429 9,595 3,266

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (25 May 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Participants in the back to education allowance (BTEA) scheme transfer from another social welfare payment. Annual statistics are collated by the department for the number of participants on the basis of the relevant academic year. Statistics are not available on the number of applications received or the number who are refused entry to the scheme and, consequently, remain on their existing...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (25 May 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The statistics requested by the Deputy are given in the accompanying table. A number of initiatives are currently underway designed to enhance the capacity of the office to deal with the current caseload and inflows. In that regard, 2 additional Appeals Officers were assigned to the Office in 2009. A number of additional staff are being assigned to the administration area of the Office....

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (25 May 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The national average processing times for jobseeker claims decided during April were 2.33 weeks for jobseeker's benefit and 6.92 weeks for jobseeker's allowance.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (25 May 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Department is committed to ensuring that claims are processed as expeditiously as possible having regard to the eligibility conditions that apply to each scheme. Over the past number of years a range of initiatives aimed at streamlining the processing of claims, supported by modern technology, have been implemented in the pension scheme area in Sligo. Significant improvements have been...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (25 May 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The statistics in respect of One-Parent Family claims requested by the deputy are contained in the accompanying tables: Month Registered Awarded Disallowed Closed (Withdrawn) April 2010 1597 1053 167 360 Mar 2010 1720 1202 196 362 Feb 2010 1974 1071 191 390 Jan 2010 2522 788 128 307 Dec 2009 1867 949 115 259 Nov 2009 2452 1242 167 371 Oct 2009 3034 1198 195 407 Sep 2009 3253 952...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (25 May 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the accompanying table. 2008 2009 Claims Received 93,996 81,451 Claims Awarded 102,062 88,533 Claims Disallowed 1,547 2,393 Appeals Received 688 1,294 Appeals allowed 54 12 The number of claims cleared exceeds the number of claims received in each year, due to a carry forward of claims outstanding from the previous year....

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (25 May 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The accompanying table shows the number of disallowances of jobseekers allowance in each of the years from 2006 to date: Total Decisions Total Disallowances 2006 80,313 10,024 2007 82,072 10,711 2008 110,967 12,996 2009 194,932 21,375 16/5/2010 80,640 10,484 There are a number of reasons why a claim may be disallowed. The most common grounds for refusal are: Means in Excess The...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (25 May 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Entitlement to carer's allowance is based on the applicant satisfying medical, means and residency conditions. The information requested by the Deputy is presented in tabular format. Carer's allowance refusals 2006 - 2010 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010* Total carer's allowance claims refused 1032 1,453 2,528 4,081 2047 Claims refused – medical or means grounds 724 980 1637 2975...