Results 6,721-6,740 of 28,255 for speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (17 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: 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 qualification than that already held. With effect from...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (17 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The primary objective of the Department's information policy is to ensure that all customers are made aware of the wide range of schemes and services available, including pension entitlements, and that they are kept informed of changes and improvements as they occur. The Department operates a network of some 125 Local and Branch Offices throughout the country. Each Local Office has officers...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (17 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I propose to take Questions Nos. 200 and 201 together. I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that a very approximate average cost of processing an appeal is €115. This covers the period 1 January 2010 to 31 October 2010 and was calculated by dividing the number of appeals decided into the administrative budget of the Office for that period. The administrative budget comprises...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (17 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The integrity of the Pay-Related Social Insurance (PRSI) system is dependent on timely, appropriate contributions being made to the Social Insurance Fund by employers, employees and the self-employed, as laid down in social welfare legislation. Contributions due to the Social Insurance Fund are collected by the Revenue Commissioners. The Department's Inspectorate has the responsibility of...

Written Answers — Tax Reliefs: Tax Reliefs (17 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The position remains as advised in my reply of 27th October 2010, which indicated that the person concerned has sufficient income to meet the interest cost of his mortgage. The person concerned has been advised that if they are not satisfied with the decision, they should appeal the decision to the HSE Appeals Office. However, if there is additional documentary evidence now available this...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (17 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Early Child care Supplement (ECS) payment ended at the end of 2009. The following table details the average total number of children in payment for ECS for each year from 2006 until 2009, along with the associated costs. Also shown are the average total numbers in payment in respect of children resident abroad and the associated costs, which amounted to less than 1% of the overall cost...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (17 Nov 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. The Government is acutely aware and appreciative of the contribution made by carers. It was for that reason, that when resources were available, we invested heavily in improving social welfare rates and services for carers. Following this year's...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (18 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The circumstances of the person concerned are being examined. When enquiries have been completed a decision will be made and she will be notified of the outcome. She is currently in receipt of a supplementary welfare allowance payment at the maximum weekly rate of €225.80.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (18 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The legislative provisions for family income supplement (FIS) are contained in the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005 - Chapter 11 of Part II, Sections 227 to 233 as amended and the Social Welfare (Consolidated Payments Provisions) Regulations, 2007 Sections 172 to 177 as amended. Under these provisions all income is assessable when calculating eligibility for FIS with the exception of...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (18 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Health Service Executive (HSE) has acknowledged receipt of an appeal against its decision not to award a mortgage interest supplement to the person concerned. The HSE has advised that it will process this appeal as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (18 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 17 May 2010. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received back in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 06...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (18 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. In order to be fair to all appellants, oral hearings are arranged in strict chronological order. I am assured by the Chief Appeals Officer that...

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (18 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The three statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department are the Pensions Board, the Citizens Information Board and the Social Welfare Tribunal. In addition the Pensions Ombudsman comes under the remit of the Department. On 1 July 2009, the Combat Poverty Agency integrated with the Office for Social Inclusion within this Department to form the Social Inclusion Division. From...

Social Welfare Benefits (23 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The social welfare system supports people of working age by providing income and other supports and by facilitating them in taking up employment, training, education or development opportunities. A key concern in this regard is to ensure that social welfare payments provide adequate income replacement and maintenance for the customer and their family, while also providing that sufficient...

Social Welfare Benefits (23 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: As Deputy Ring knows, it is illegal to work while drawing social welfare benefits. Clearly I would not condone the practice. The replacement rates compared to the national minimum wage are 64% for a single person, 70% for a couple with one earner, 73% for a couple with one earner and one child and 76% for a couple with one earner and two children. When compared to the average industrial...

Social Welfare Benefits (23 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Individuals on low incomes are entitled to the back-to-school allowance.

Social Welfare Benefits (23 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: No, they do not. The family income supplement will suffice in such a case.

Social Welfare Benefits (23 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Anybody in employment who is earning a low income should be on the family income supplement.

Social Welfare Benefits (23 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Obviously, people on low incomes are short of money. The Deputy is making a contradiction in terms by asking me what I am doing. The family income supplement exists to help people on low incomes and we should encourage them to take it up. It would be preferable for the individuals concerned and for the State to pay family income supplement because it would make it more sustainable to those...

Social Welfare Benefits (23 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: May I make a final point?