Results 6,581-6,600 of 28,255 for speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Department of Social Protection operates a range of employment support services that are designed to encourage and to support social welfare recipients of working age, including lone parents, to reduce their dependency on social welfare payments and to return to work. These services are provided through the Department's network of locally-based Facilitators. The primary role of these...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: 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 functions independently of the Minister for Social...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The necessary changes to the Social Welfare code arising from the provisions of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010, will be brought forward in the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2010, which will be brought before the Oireachtas before the end of the year.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Minister for Social Protection (Éamon Ó Cuív T.D.): The numbers of persons in receipt of State pension contributory and State pension transition at end-September 2010, are shown in the table below, including those in receipt of an increase for qualified adult (IQA) in respect of their spouse/partner. Scheme Total no. in payment No. including IQA State pension contributory 276,123...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (2 Nov 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 — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Activation and support for those who are unemployed is a key priority for Government. Earlier this year, the Taoiseach announced a number of changes to improve the delivery of employment, training and community services to the public by bringing together related responsibilities in these areas. These changes include the restructuring of Departmental responsibilities with the objective of...

Written Answers — Departmental Procurement: Departmental Procurement (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: All sourced printing contracts are awarded by the Department following competitive processes which are carried out strictly in accordance with government procurement guidelines and in line with the relevant EU procurement policies. All print contracts in the past three years were placed with companies based within the State.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 392 and 401 to 407, inclusive, together. The attached table sets out the total number of cases by scheme type on appeal on 30 September 2010; the average time taken to process all appeals during the period and the average time taken to process appeals which required an oral hearing. Figures for the longest recorded times for appeals to be determined...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 393 and 394 together. The requirement to be habitually resident in Ireland was introduced as a qualifying condition for certain social assistance schemes and child benefit with effect from 1st May 2004. A person who does not satisfy the habitual residence condition is not eligible for specified social welfare payments, regardless of citizenship,...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I propose to take Questions Nos. 395 and 396 together. The back to education allowance (BTEA) scheme is a second chance education opportunities scheme designed to remove the barriers to participation in second and third level education by enabling eligible people on social welfare to continue to receive a payment while pursuing an approved full-time education course that leads to a higher...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Department of Social Protection operates a range of employment support measures designed to encourage and support social welfare recipients of working age to reduce their dependency on welfare payments. The Department plays a key role in the National Employment Action Plan which is the main activation measure for jobseekers and provides for a systematic engagement of the employment...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Social welfare expenditure for 2011 will be considered in the context of the forthcoming Budget, having regard both to needs and to the resources available to meet those needs. In an uncertain economic environment, my priority will be to ensure that the Government strategy to stabilise the financial position is advanced and to protect those most in need in a manner which is sustainable in...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Since May 2008, some 450 additional posts have been assigned to my Department to deal with the significant increase in claims for the schemes operated by the Department. The majority of these posts have been sourced through the lateral transfer and redeployment of staff from within the Department and from other Government Departments. Staffing needs are kept under constant review to ensure...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Decisions on statutory social welfare schemes are made by statutorily appointed Deciding Officers of my Department. Where a customer is dissatisfied with a decision made by a Deciding Officer, s/he has a statutory right of appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. In addition to statutory schemes a number of non-statutory schemes are operated by my Department. Decisions are made by...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The circumstances of the person concerned are currently being examined. When enquiries have been completed a decision will be made and she will be notified of the outcome.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that payment of mortgage interest supplement ceased as the person concerned did not return a review form which issued to her in August 2010. The HSE further advised that if the person concerned wishes to discuss her entitlement to mortgage interest supplement she should contact the community welfare officer at her local health centre.

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Following clarification in relation to this question there are no high levels groups appointed by me to examine a specific issue which involves stakeholders outside the Department such as interest groups.

Written Answers — Business Regulation: Business Regulation (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: My Department has been involved in the Inter-Departmental Group on Administrative Burden Reduction. The information obligations (IOs) which this Department's legislation/regulations impose on business have been examined and listed with a view to reducing, where possible, the administrative burden on business. Nine IOs have been identified for this Department, of which two overlap with the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The purpose of rent supplement 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 scheme is intended as a temporary income support payment and is not designed to be a medium to long term housing support or a...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (3 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that a form for the opening of an appeal has been forwarded to the person concerned and requesting her to state the grounds for her appeal. On receipt of her reply the appeal will be opened and processed in the normal manner. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the...