Results 7,501-7,520 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (11 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 537 and 538 together. The details requested by the Deputy are not immediately available but are being collated. I will provide this information in writing to the deputy as soon as it becomes available.
- Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (11 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: Meeting the needs of older people is a priority for this Government. Since 2005, and including the increases announced in the recent Budget, cumulative increases in the state pension (contributory) and the state pension (non contributory) amounted to â¬56 and â¬58 per week respectively. During this period the Government reached its commitment for a minimum target of â¬200 per week for...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (11 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 540 and 545 together. 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...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (11 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: Under EU regulations 1408/71, an employed person who is working in a Member State is entitled to the family benefits provided by that State even though their family may be residing in another Member State. When both parents are employed in two different States, the country of residence of the children pays the family benefits. The person concerned is currently employed in Ireland and...
- Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (11 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: The review of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme was carried out as part of the Government's Expenditure Review Initiative series of Programme Evaluation reviews. Given the extensive and complex nature of the scheme, the review was undertaken in two phases. A report was published at the end of the first phase in December 2004. That report gave a broad appraisal of the scheme and...
- Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (11 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: The review of the jobseeker schemes which was undertaken under the expenditure review process, focused on the application of the schemes conditions to workers who are not employed on a full-time basis. The review was completed in November 2006. The review contained a range of recommendations, some of which may result in savings to the Exchequer or to the Social Insurance Fund while others...
- Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (11 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: The review of the one-parent family payment was one of two strands of work undertaken with regard to lone parents and their families under the auspices of the Senior Officials Group on Social Inclusion, the other being an analysis of obstacles to employment for lone parents. Both of these reports are contained within the 'Government Discussion Paper: Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents'...
- Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (11 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: Disability allowance was one of the payments which formed part of the Expenditure Review of Illness and Disability Payment Schemes that was carried out by my Department in 2003 and subsequently published in 2004. The review examined and reported on the trend and level of expenditure and found that disability allowance is well targeted in addressing income maintenance requirements of...
- Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (11 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: My department is carrying out a Value for Money Review of its information services together with the relevant agencies under the aegis of the Department that are engaged in information provision, i.e. Citizens Information Board and Reach. The review will cover the period 2005-2007 and will examine direct and indirect expenditure incurred in the provision of information on welfare schemes....
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (11 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) is administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare division of the Health Service Executive (HSE). The person concerned applied for SWA on 18th September 2007. The HSE has advised that payment was awarded from that date and remained in payment until 29 October 2007. Retrospective payments are not made under the terms of the SWA scheme....
- Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (11 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: My staff require the use of taxis for travelling to various meetings when public transport is not suitable. This service is provided by the taxi firm, selected following a tender process, with whom my Department has an account. The table shows the relevant expenditure from January 1997 to November 2007. Information in relation to transport costs incurred in the course of Ministerial trips...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (11 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: Under the terms of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive, an exceptional needs payment (ENP) may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which the applicant is unable to meet out of his/her own resources. There is no automatic entitlement to this payment. Each application is...
- Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (11 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: The case reported on by the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) involves a couple who were over 56 years of age in 1988 when compulsory social insurance for the self-employed was introduced and who could not, therefore, satisfy one of the basic requirements for pension as they did not commence paying insurance 10 years before pension age. In addition, the couple could not satisfy the...
- Written Answers — Departmental Communications: Departmental Communications (11 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: My Department is currently testing the use of mobile e-mail equipment and has provided Blackberry or similar PDA type devices to 15 staff in a test environment. Further significant development of the underlying Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure is required before general secure deployment of such devices. This work has commenced and will continue over the coming...
- Written Answers — Departmental Communications: Departmental Communications (11 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: The Department administers some fifty separate Social Welfare schemes and makes payments to one million people each week. The nature and volume of its business means that it has responsibility for a significant amount of personal and other data and it is heavily dependent on secure Information Communications Technology (ICT) facilities to provide its services. The ICT portfolio within the...
- Written Answers — Departmental Communications: Departmental Communications (11 Dec 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 — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (11 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: My Department has not established records of carbon dioxide emissions from Ministerial transport provided to me for official purposes. However, on foot of the commitment in the Programme for Government on carbon offsetting official air travel, the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government is developing a scheme for use by all Government Departments and bodies under their aegis....
- Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (11 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: The Department administers some fifty separate schemes and makes payments to one million people each week. The nature and volume of its business means that it has responsibility for a significant amount of personal and other data and it is heavily dependent on secure Information Communications Technology (ICT) facilities to provide its services. The Department is fully aware of its...
- Written Answers — Management Information Framework System: Management Information Framework System (11 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 557 and 558 together. My Department's Management Information Framework incorporates a financial module, which is updated on a regular basis, as well as an extensive business activity module. The financial module provides up to date information based on a cost centre and nominal coding structure that reflects the full range of business needs. The system...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (11 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: In assessing means for social assistance purposes account is taken of any cash income the person may have, together with the value of capital and property (except the home). Capital may include the following: Stocks and shares of every description, which are assessed according to their current market value. Savings certificates , bonds, national instalment savings, which are assessed...