Results 7,281-7,300 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — National Carers Strategy: National Carers Strategy (20 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: Supporting and recognising carers in our society is, and has been, a priority of the Government since 1997. Over that period, weekly payment rates to carers have been greatly increased, qualifying conditions for carer's allowance have been significantly eased, coverage of the scheme has been extended and new schemes such as carer's benefit and the respite care grant have been introduced and...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that before proceeding with the appeal, the Appeals Officer has afforded the person concerned an opportunity of setting out the complete and up to date grounds of his appeal and, for this purpose, has issued him with a form to complete. On return of the completed form the appeal will proceed. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: The person concerned is in receipt of jobseeker's allowance from 9 October 2007 at the weekly rate of €142.80. She made a retrospective application for the period from July 2007 to 8 October 2007. A Deciding Officer was not satisfied that the person concerned showed that, throughout the period of her retrospective claim, there was good cause for her failing to apply for jobseeker's...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Nov 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. At the time of its introduction, it was estimated that the scheme would cater for 13,600 people, approximately double the number who were availing of the existing smallholders scheme. The estimated...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (20 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: The office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for the procurement and maintenance of all my Department's office accommodation. I have asked the OPW to examine the feasibility of installing this facility at the local Office, Hanover Quay, Cork.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (20 Nov 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 — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (21 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: The Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 requires the Minister for Social and Family Affairs to arrange for an actuarial review of the financial condition of the Social Insurance Fund to be made every five years. The most recent actuarial review, which covers the period from 2005 to 2061, was published on the 17th October 2007. One of the Review's principal findings was that, based on a...

Written Answers — School Meals Scheme: School Meals Scheme (21 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: The school meals programme operated by my Department gives funding towards provision of food services for disadvantaged school children through two schemes. The first is the long-standing statutory urban school meals scheme, currently operated by 36 local authorities. The second is the school meals (local projects) programme through which funding is provided by my Department to...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (21 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: The calculation referred to arose from an overlap in the payment of State Pension Non-Contributory and British Retirement Pension in the period from 8 October 2004 to 4 January 2007. The overpayment of pension amounted to €2,387.50. Due to an oversight reference to the amount overpaid was omitted in the letter that issued on 19 th October 2007. The misunderstanding that has arisen in...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (21 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: The office at King Street Loughrea had to be closed, from Friday 2 November, 2007, for Health and Safety reasons. It is not possible to develop the premises to the standard required by my Department for customers, or staff and consequently the Office of Public Works have been pursuing alternative accommodation. It is expected that a new office will be ready for occupation early in the New...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (21 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: My Department has consistently publicised the FIS scheme in order to maximise uptake by qualified families. Significant improvements in the qualifying income limits and ongoing awareness campaigns have resulted in a strong upward trend in the level of new claims and, consequently, in claims for renewals. Entitlement to FIS is based on an applicant satisfying a means test and on certification...

Written Answers — Departmental Statistics: Departmental Statistics (21 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: A PPS Number is automatically issued in the case of children born in Ireland. In other cases application must be made in person at one of the Department's network of Local Offices. PPS Numbers are issued following a controlled allocation procedure, involving a personal attendance at the office, the completion of a written application form and the submission and authentication of appropriate...

Written Answers — Conflicts of Interest: Conflicts of Interest (21 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: In the period in question, none of the people employed as Special Advisers by me or both my predecessors, have declared a conflict of interest in relation to the performance of their duties as Special Adviser. INFORMATION NOTE Extract of the relevant section (19.3) of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 follows: (3) (a) If the remuneration of a person as a special adviser exceeds a...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (21 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: The information requested is currently being compiled within the Department and will be made available to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Complaints Procedures: Complaints Procedures (21 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: A formal comments and complaints system has been in operation in my Department since 2002. All such complaints received from members of the public are processed under this system whish is monitored centrally. The number of complaints registered for the years 2005, 2006, and to date in 2007, was 95, 104, and 138 respectively.

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (21 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the following table. With regard to Internet Advertising, my Department has its own website www.welfare.ie and any advertising campaigns being conducted by my Department are publicised on that site. Appendix: Advertising Expenditure 2002-2007 Advertising Expenditure Total Print Television Radio Other â'¬ â'¬ â'¬ â'¬ â'¬...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (21 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: A key commitment by my Department, as outlined in its business plans, is that the business of the organisation be carried out having regard to principles of economy, efficiency and effectiveness. To this end, the Management Services Unit (MSU) within my Department is providing specialist development for staff to analyse business processes; seek ways to streamline and improve those processes;...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: The State pension (transition) was introduced in 1970 when it was known as the retirement pension. It was designed to bridge the gap between the standard social welfare pension age, which at that time was 70 years of age, and retirement at age 65. Because of the purpose for which the scheme was introduced, a key qualifying condition was that a person had to be retired in order to qualify...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, in accordance with the statutory requirements, the papers of the person concerned have been forwarded to my Department for their comments on the grounds of appeal. On receipt of their response the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer for early consideration. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of my Department that is...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: There is no specific scheme for proprietors of businesses that have collapsed. Such persons may qualify for the jobseeker's allowance which is a means-tested scheme. To qualify for a jobseeker's allowance a person must be unemployed, be under 66 years of age, be capable of and available for work and be genuinely seeking employment. There are no statistics available on the number of persons...