Results 6,361-6,380 of 28,255 for speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív

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

Éamon Ó Cuív: 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 informed when arrangements have been made. 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 (19 Oct 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing in this case. The person concerned will be informed when arrangements have been made. There was a 46% increase in the number of appeals received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office in 2009 when compared to 2008, which in itself...

Written Answers — Departmental Statistics: Departmental Statistics (19 Oct 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The information requested by the deputy is contained in the tabular statement below for the week ending 24th September, which is a further breakdown of the most recent published CSO Live Register information. Statistics on the daily patterns of casual registrants within the 1-4 day group identified in the tabular statement are not routinely kept by the Department. The most recent analysis of...

Written Answers — Departmental Statistics: Departmental Statistics (19 Oct 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The average time taken to assess a claim for carer's allowance between January 2010 and the end of September 2010 is 9 weeks. The target of the scheme is set at 90% in 12 weeks and the standard achieved for 2010 to date is 78% in 12 weeks. A total of 13,894 applications were received in 2010 to date and a total of 11,541 have being decided. 45% of the total claims decided were refused on...

Written Answers — Post Office Payments: Post Office Payments (19 Oct 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Department of Social Protection is committed to delivering a high quality service for all customers. Over fifty per cent of our payments are delivered through An Post. An Post operate a Household Budgeting Service on behalf of the Department which is a useful option for people looking to manage their household bills. This is a free, easy to use service and aimed at social welfare...

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

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Department has no record of an application for Back to Work Enterprise Allowance being made by the person concerned. He should contact his Local Social Welfare Office in Athlone if wishes to make an application for the allowance.

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

Éamon Ó Cuív: An application for Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) was received on the 3 rd August 2010 from the person in question. This application was referred to one of the Department's Medical Assessors who found that her child was not medically eligible for DCA. A letter advising of the decision to refuse DCA issued to the person in question on the 25 th September 2010. In the case of an application...

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

Éamon Ó Cuív: Due to the wide distribution of its offices and the importance of communications, the Department has invested in video-conferencing facilities in headquarters offices throughout the country and mobile working devices (notebook computers and/or smartphones) to reduce the amount of travel required from its staff, however, the Department does not have a formal scheme of e-working.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (20 Oct 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Under the Pensions Act, defined benefit pension schemes must meet a minimum Funding Standard which requires that schemes maintain sufficient assets to enable them discharge their accrued liabilities in the event of the scheme winding up. The Government is fully aware of the pressures being faced by all defined benefit schemes due to the recent market downturn. Over the last two years, the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (20 Oct 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that in appeals for Family Income Supplement, where it appears that the reason for the decision may not have been fully understood, the letter of appeal is referred to Family Income Supplement section requesting that the decision be clarified to the appellant. The person is advised that if s/he is still not satisfied following receipt of this...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Oct 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that according to its records, it has not received an application for mortgage interest supplement from the person concerned.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (20 Oct 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I propose to take Questions Nos. 211, 212 and 216 together. I am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the average time to process all appeals is at present 28 weeks. Carers allowance appeals take 29 weeks on average and Disability Allowance appeals take 35 weeks. There was a 46% increase in the overall number of appeals received by that Office in 2009 when compared to 2008,...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (20 Oct 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The table below details the number of posts in the Department at 1st October 2010, that are primarily occupied in the functions concerned. Primary Function No of Posts Entitlement Processing 2,778 * Inspections 403 IT (including Procurement) 223 HR 80 Legal Services 1 The 2,778 posts are primarily occupied in processing claims made under the various schemes administered by the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (20 Oct 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Temporary contract clerical staff are recruited by this Department to cover absences of permanent staff on maternity leave, long-term sick leave, other statutory leave and also to provide cover for some staff availing of the shorter working year scheme. Temporary contracts are offered for a fixed purpose and the term can vary according to the purpose for the contract. The majority of...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Oct 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The technical assistance and training scheme allows the Department to provide support to back to work enterprise allowance recipients, who are engaging in self employment projects, to enhance their chances of success and become independent of the social welfare system. This is a discretionary scheme and there is not an entitlement to the assistance as of right. Take up of the scheme has been...

Seanad: Social Welfare Appeals (20 Oct 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghlacadh leis an Seanadóir as ucht an cheist seo a ardú. Aontaím leis go bhfuil sé thar a bheith tábhachtach go ndéanfaimid na hachomhairc seo a phróiseáil chomh scioptha agus is féidir. Ó tháinig mé isteach sa Roinn, tá mé dírithe go mór ar an gceist seo. Déanfaidh mé mo dhícheall, i dteannta na hoifigigh seo, a chinntiú go dtabharfaí...

Seanad: Social Welfare Appeals (20 Oct 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: There are 20 appeals officers working in the social welfare appeals office and, as the Senator knows, we appointed two extra in January 2009. There are also eight extra experienced retired staff working on a short-term basis to supplement current resources, and they are vetting claims with the aim of deciding a significant number of these on the basis of the documentary evidence and without...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (21 Oct 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: In considering any changes to social welfare schemes, full consideration is given to the impact of any proposals on the recipients involved. Government policy is to support older people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. In the case of persons being cared for at home, the care they receive is usually a balance of support from...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (21 Oct 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received on the 1st June 2010 from the person in question. This application was referred to one of the Department's Medical Assessors who found that her child was not medically eligible for DCA. A letter issued to the person in question on the 27th July 2010 where she was advised of the decision to refuse DCA. In the case of an...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (21 Oct 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Long queues seldom exist at Bray social welfare local office and local management are continually monitoring the flow of people in and out of the office to ensure that delay is kept to a minimum. The staff complement at the office is 23.4. The latest available average processing times for claims at Bray social welfare local office are as follows: Jobseeker's Allowance 6.5 weeks...