Results 7,041-7,060 of 28,255 for speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív

Social Welfare Bill 2010: Second Stage (8 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The universal social charge is not subject to this Bill.

Social Welfare Bill 2010: Second Stage (8 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: No.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (8 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that, following receipt of the relevant Departmental papers including comments on the grounds of appeal, the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing in this case. However, the Appeals Officer has referred the case to the Deciding Officer for clarification on certain matters....

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (8 Dec 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. 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 Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Expenditure on mortgage interest supplement is not available on a county basis. The information in relation to recipients from 2007 is shown in the tabular statement. Tabular Statement Recipients of Mortgage Interest Supplement in County Meath 2007 to Present Year Ending Number of Recipients 2007 167 2008 438 2009 998 2010 * 1,297 * Number at 6th November 2010

Written Answers — State Bodies: State Bodies (8 Dec 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. No bonus payment was made to any staff member of the above statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department in the past twelve months.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The weekly rate of jobseeker's allowance payable to the person concerned is €73.90. Means from his part-time work and his partner's employment are deducted from his weekly rate of payment. If the person concerned is unhappy with the means assessment it is open to him to lodge an appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The registration of a tenancy with the PRTB is not a qualifying condition for entitlement to rent supplement and I have no plans in making this a requirement for the scheme. Under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, landlords are legally obliged to register tenancies with the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB). Not all tenancies are required to be registered with the PRTB as the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The scheme of performance related awards at the levels of Assistant Secretary and Deputy Secretary in the Civil Service was discontinued in early 2009. No bonus payments were made to civil servants in my Department in the 12 month period from 1 December 2009 to 30 November 2010.

Social Welfare Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: In 19th century Britain only the elite could afford to be bountiful. The Deputy should be very careful of what he proposes.

Social Welfare Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Minister stated clearly in the Budget Statement that from now on State cars will be two litre models or less from now on. They will be ordinary saloon cars, which is progress. The budget also proposes a 33% saving on the number of drivers.

Social Welfare Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The partial capacity scheme will be ready next week, but the much wider approach to disability will not be done -----

Social Welfare Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: That is a very good point.

Social Welfare Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I remember earlier this year talking about pensioners who had significant extra income but Deputies opposite were very silent at that time.

Social Welfare Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The problem is negative equity.

Social Welfare Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I thank all the Deputies for their contribution. Many valid points were made and I will try to deal with as many as I can. Deputy Ring asked about the universal social charge. The charge is not payable on any social welfare payment. We must start from the premise that €6 billion had to be taken out. Fine Gael agrees with that premise and the Labour Party does not. My belief is that if...

Social Welfare Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Rightly so. It was less than €100 million in 2000 and it is now more than €600 million. A great many fundamental reforms took place. For example, we introduced the half-rate carer's allowance.

Social Welfare Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: This allowed one, for the first time, to obtain the half-rate carer's allowance in addition to an underlying social welfare payment. We introduced the respite care grant, amounting to €1,700 per year, which is more than €30 per week. There is an arrangement whereby a carer caring for somebody down the street or a quarter of a mile away can get the free benefits, worth €20 per week,...

Social Welfare Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: This should be compared to the new basic rate for one in receipt of the jobseeker's allowance, €188 per week. I felt it was important to retain the architecture put in place. I refer to the universal respite grant paid to all carers. Many carers are not entitled to the carer's allowance but they do receive the respite grant in recognition of the work they do. I felt it was very important...

Social Welfare Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Exactly. The Deputy is right. With my background, it would have been tempting to pick out the blind and treat them separately.