Results 7,021-7,040 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (16 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: My Department identified a requirement for a social welfare local office in Carrigaline and requested the Office of Public Works which has responsibility for the provision of all new office accommodation for my Department to provide this. The OPW is following up on this request and it is hoped to have a new office in Carrigaline in 2008.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (16 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: The farm assist scheme, which introduced special arrangements for farmers on low incomes, was provided for in the Social Welfare Act, 1999 and came into operation with effect from 7 April 1999. The statistics requested by the Deputy are set out in the table. End 2002 End 2003 End 2004 End 2005 End 2006 No. of recipients 8,498 8,703 8,601 7,880 7,500 There are currently 7,390 farm assist...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (16 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: Under the Decentralisation Programme, the Department is to relocate 85 posts to Carrickmacross. According to figures received from the Central Application Facility (CAF), through which all applications for decentralisation locations must be submitted, 64 applicants applied for Carrickmacross before the priority application date of 7 September 2004. Since this date, there have been 12 new...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (16 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the appeal from the person concerned has been referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing. The person concerned will be informed when arrangements have been made. Appeals Officers are statutorily appointed and are independent in determining appeals. I have no role in relation to such determinations.

Decentralisation Programme. (17 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: They are very happy.

Decentralisation Programme. (17 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: Absolutely. Hear, hear.

Decentralisation Programme. (17 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: There is less stress.

Decentralisation Programme. (17 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: Well done.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (17 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: Occupational pension schemes are approved in the first instance by the Revenue Commissioners and then entered on the scheme register of the Pensions Board. Information in relation to the schemes registered and membership is set out in the table for each year from 2000. No. of Schemes Registered with The Pensions Board as at 31st December each year Year Total No. of Occupational Pension...

Written Answers — Anti-Poverty Strategy: Anti-Poverty Strategy (17 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: Poverty proofing was introduced in 1998 on foot of a commitment in the first National Anti-Poverty Strategy. Since then it has been a requirement for significant policy proposals to indicate clearly the impact of the proposal on people in poverty or at risk of falling into poverty. Following a review of the poverty proofing process, the Office for Social Inclusion, which is based in my...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (17 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: The living alone allowance is an additional payment of €7.70 per week made to people aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are living alone. It is also available to people who are under 66 years of age who are living alone and who receive payments under one of a number of invalidity type schemes. The increase is intended as a contribution...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (17 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: Diet supplements are paid under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered by the Health Service Executive on behalf of my Department. The person concerned recently applied for, and was refused a diet supplement. She has appealed the decision to the Executive's designated Appeals Officer who is examining her appeal. She will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (17 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: The social welfare pension rights of those who take time out of the workforce for caring duties are protected by the homemaker's scheme. The scheme allows up to 20 years spent caring for children or incapacitated adults to be disregarded when a person's social insurance record is being averaged for pension purposes. However, the scheme will not of itself qualify a person for a pension. The...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (17 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: The back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) scheme provides a one-off payment to eligible families to assist with the extra costs when their children start school each autumn. The allowance is not intended to meet the full cost of school clothing and footwear but only to provide assistance towards these costs. A person may qualify for payment of an allowance if they are in...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (17 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: Illness benefit is a social insurance payment for people who cannot work due to illness. Continuing entitlement is subject to the beneficiary conforming to certain "Rules of Behaviour" set out in legislation. One of the rules of behaviour states that a person cannot work while receiving illness benefit. However, in order to encourage claimants to take up employment or training...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (17 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: Under the Government's decentralisation programme for the civil and public service, the Department's headquarter sections and the Social Welfare Appeals Office are relocating to 6 locations — Sligo, Carrick-on-Shannon, Donegal, Buncrana, Carrickmacross and Drogheda. In addition, the Combat Poverty Agency and Citizens Information Board are scheduled to relocate to Monaghan and Drogheda,...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (18 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: Under the Government's Programme of Decentralisation, 118 posts in my Department are to be relocated to Buncrana. The Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for the acquisition of all decentralised accommodation for my Department. In this regard, the OPW have obtained a site in Buncrana and planning permission was obtained on 30 January 2007. The project is expected to take 21 months...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (18 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: The majority of Child Benefit applications received are for children born in Ireland. Claims are processed automatically if child benefit is already in payment for other children in the family once the birth details are registered with the General Registrar's Office. Parents are contacted in most cases by the Child Benefit office within two days of the registration of their child's birth....

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (18 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: Payment of a qualified adult allowance is dealt with differently depending on whether the customer is in receipt of jobseeker's allowance or jobseeker's benefit. Jobseekers Allowance From the 26th September 2007 a new means assessment applies to persons in receipt of jobseeker's allowance. This is based on a family rate of payment which is made up of a personal rate, a full qualified adult...

Seanad: Treaty of Amsterdam: Motion (18 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: I thank the Seanad for making time available to discuss the exercise by the State of the option under the Fourth Protocol to the Treaty of Amsterdam in respect of a proposal for a Council regulation extending the provisions of Regulation 883/2004, which will replace the existing EU social security co-ordination rules in Regulation 1408/71. There is a three month time limit for notifying the...