Results 7,301-7,320 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Family Support Services: Family Support Services (22 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 110 together. The Government discussion paper, "Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents," put forward proposals for services for lone parents including the expanded availability and range of education and training opportunities for lone parents; the extension of the National Employment Action Plan to focus on lone parents; focused provision of childcare;...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (22 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 greatly increased, qualifying conditions for carer's allowance have 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 extended....

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

Martin Cullen: Rent supplement is subject to a limit on the amount of rent that an applicant for rent supplement may incur. These rent limits, provided for in Regulations and effective from January 2007 to June 2008, are set at levels that enable the different categories of eligible tenant households to secure and retain basic suitable rented accommodation, having regard to the different rental market...

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

Martin Cullen: The Bereavement Grant is a payment designed to assist families in dealing with death and funeral expenses. It is a scheme that relates specifically to those who have made PRSI contributions and is payable on the death of an insured person, his/her spouse and dependent children under age 18 or under age 22 if in full-time education. Budget 2007 extended the bereavement grant to the next of...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (22 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: The numbers and costs of legal opinions commissioned by the Pensions Board for the specified periods are: 2005 — 28 external legal opinions; total cost €118,160.10; 2006 — 26 external legal opinions; total cost €98,355.30; 2007 to date — 18 external legal opinions; total cost €60,292.69. The Pensions Board is a statutory body established by the Pensions Act, 1990. It regulates...

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

Martin Cullen: The Health Service Executive (HSE) was contacted regarding this case and has advised that the person concerned was refused supplementary welfare allowance in May 2007 on the grounds that she does not satisfy the habitual residency condition. The supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA), which is administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare staff of the Health Service Executive, is...

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

Martin Cullen: The Health Service Executive has advised that the person concerned is in receipt of a rent supplement at the maximum rate payable appropriate to her circumstances. The net disposable income of the person concerned has not changed in the last number of months. The reason the rent is in arrears is due to the non payment of rent by the person concerned. The Executive have further advised that...

Written Answers — State Bodies: State Bodies (22 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: The number of new boards, agencies, bodies, commissions and offices which have been established or abolished in the past ten years under the remit of my Department are as follows: Comhairle (now known as the Citizens Information Board) was established on the 12th June 2000 under the provisions of the Comhairle Act, 2000. The functions of the National Social Services Board (NSSB), which...

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes (22 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: I would like to thank Senator Keaveney for raising this important issue. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government regrets that he is unable to be here in person due to another commitment. He has asked me to respond to the motion on his behalf. Group sewerage schemes, though much less numerous than group water schemes, have provided communities with the opportunity of...

Seanad: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. In general, child benefit may be paid in respect of every child under the age of 16 years who is ordinarily resident in the State. Payment can be extended to the 19th birthday if the child is in education or incapable of self-support. The benefit is paid to the qualified person with whom the child resides and the qualified person must...

Seanad: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: Yes. This issue was considered at the time with particular reference to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It became clear that the convention does not prescribe that a straight cash payment must be made. If a state makes indirect provision — Ireland devotes quite substantial resources to indirect provision — rather than making payment by way of child benefit that is equally...

Estimates for Public Services 2007: Leave to Introduce (27 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: I move: That leave be given by the Dáil to introduce the following Supplementary Estimates for the service of the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2007:— Vote 20 — Garda Síochána (Supplementary Estimate). Vote 21 — Prisons (Supplementary Estimate). Vote 25 — Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Supplementary Estimate). Vote 26 — Education and Science (Supplementary...

Estimates for Public Services 2007: Referral to Select Committee (27 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: I move: That, subject to leave being given to introduce the following Supplementary Estimates for the service of the year ending on 31st December, 2007, the Supplementary Estimates be referred to the following Select Committees pursuant to Standing Order 154(3) and paragraph (1)(a)(ii) of the Committees' Orders of Reference, which shall report back to the Dáil by no later than the dates...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 377 and 378 together. At the end of September, the latest month for which full expenditure data is available, the amount spent on social insurance based income supports was €5,318 million. The figure for social assistance payments was €5,975 million. The corresponding amounts for the full year in 2007 are expected to be €7,202 million and €8,219...

Written Answers — Debt Management System: Debt Management System (27 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: The overall goal of my Department's Debt Management Strategy is to actively pursue the recovery of debt to maximise recovery levels, with due regard to value for money and with particular emphasis on recovery from people no longer dependant on welfare payments. The objectives of the strategy are: To maximise the recovery of overpayments To efficiently record, report and monitor the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: The following table outlines the number of full-time equivalent posts occupied in this Department on 31 October 2007 and 31 October 2002. Description Posts occupied at 31 Oct 2007 Posts occupied 31 Oct 2002 Permanent 4,393 4,445 Temporary 122 58 Contract 0 0

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: The expenditure incurred by my Department on air fares for the period 2004 to 2007 is set out in the following table. Details of individual flight classes are not recorded separately. As a general principle, it is the policy of my Department that staff travel on economy class tickets. Business class tickets are generally only purchased in respect of long haul flights. First class travel...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: Meeting the needs of an ever increasing and diverse customer base involves a considerable level of interaction between our staff and the public, whether by post, in person, by phone etc and with their representatives. Our income support work impacts on the lives of almost every person in the State. The bulk of our activity is in the delivery of direct services to the public (over 1 million...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to the schemes of performance awards in accordance with the recommendations of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Service (Report No. 38). The scheme of performance-related awards in the civil service applies to Deputy and Assistant Secretaries. A similar scheme applies in respect of the Chief Executives of non-commercial...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: The following table outlines the number of Civil Servants who have transferred to other Government Departments or left the Civil Service in the past five years (This data excludes officers recruited on a temporary basis). Year Transferred to other Government Departments Left the Civil Service 2003 84 115 2004 158 105 2005 86 72 2006 172 125 2007 (to end Oct) 121 103