Results 7,801-7,820 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Social Welfare Benefits. (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: If we were to do that, anybody who landed on our shores could immediately access many aspects of the social welfare system.

Social Welfare Benefits. (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: The second test applies to anybody who seeks the carer's allowance. It does not matter whether they live here, have come here or are re-establishing their habitual residence condition in the country. The bottom line is that one has to fulfil conditions to get the carer's allowance. As I outlined in the reply, this particular aspect was reviewed in 2006 and the report was published only...

Pension Provisions. (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: The final report of the National Pensions Board, published in 1993, recommended that the number of paid contributions required to qualify for a contributory pension should be increased to 520 contributions. At the time, the paid requirement was as low as 156 contributions. The new requirement represents 20% of the potential maximum number of contributions that a person can register over his...

Pension Provisions. (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: As I have stated to Deputy Shortall, since these changes were brought about there has been active involvement with all pensioners and those approaching pension age in ensuring that they are aware of the changes. I have asked that the position be clarified as soon as possible. We are four years from when the change will take place. There are, according to the estimates, approximately 40,000...

Pension Provisions. (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: I do not have any evidence from the Deputy that all of these people are not aware of the situation. My view is that most, if not all, of them are aware of what is happening.

Pension Provisions. (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: The advice given was from 1997, which gave a 15-year window. These people know that five years of contributions within the 15 year timespan, which is a fairly reasonable approach, is all that they must make up and most of them are doing so. A person reaching age 66 on or after 6 April 2012 must have paid 520 full-rate employment contributions or if at least 260 full-rate employment...

Lone Parent Supports. (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: The Government discussion paper, Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents, put forward proposals for 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 child care, improved information services for lone parents and the introduction of a new social...

Lone Parent Supports. (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: In the first instance, the report on the pilot schemes I am awaiting will be submitted this month and then I expect to make a report to the Cabinet sub-committee on social inclusion on the issue. Deputy Enright correctly identified that there is a range of bodies and agencies involved in the process. It is not something I can deliver on my own from my Department but we are determined to lead...

Lone Parent Supports. (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: The two pilot schemes in Kilkenny and Coolock have been filtering the information and looking at the wide range of issues involved, some we might not even have considered. It is surprising the issues that arise only when we interact with people. The Deputy identified child care as an issue. We are all aware that will be a major issue for many of these people in getting them into part-time...

Employment Support Services. (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: Based on the latest information available, 49,300 people from the live register were referred to FÁS in the period January to November 2007. Of these, over 7,000 had been placed in jobs, training or education by the end of December 2007. This represents over 14% of the total referred. A further 16,900, approximately, left the live register at the end of December 2007. In total,...

Employment Support Services. (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: The figures I provided show that over 50% of the 49,300 were placed. Some 7,000 were placed directly and another 17,000 left the live register. I presume they got employment too, but did not need the assistance of FÁS to do so. However, they would have interacted with FÁS. Out of that interaction that 17,000 decided they were in a position to work. I am not saying we have reached the...

Employment Support Services. (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: That is a matter of policy and whether I think it might make a substantial difference. There are no such proposals currently. I made the point in my initial response that all new claimants are referred to FÁS after three months on the register. Therefore, the figures I gave dealt with the historical situation. In the recent past all new claimants must——

Employment Support Services. (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: Yes, but not all the ability to deliver jobs lies solely with FÁS. There are many different ways——

Employment Support Services. (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: The figure that went to FÁS is 49,000. That is a substantial number of people and approximately half of those placed came directly or indirectly off the register because of that interaction. That is significant.

Employment Support Services. (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: I agree. That is the approach we are taking and that is why we are exploring the pilot schemes in Coolock and Kilkenny. We need to substantially increase that figure. All new entrants are automatically referred to FÁS after three months on the system.

Anti-Poverty Strategy. (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: Fuel poverty has been described as the inability to afford adequate warmth in a home, or the inability to achieve adequate warmth because of the energy inefficiency of the home. The primary contributory factor to fuel poverty is the low energy efficiency of parts of the private and public housing stock. Such problems relate mainly to older housing with poor insulation and draught-proofing...

Anti-Poverty Strategy. (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: For Deputies with responsibility for the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the people we deal with, this issue, among many others, is always a major concern and we do all we can through our responsibilities in supporting people to meet their needs. As I said, there is an historical problem with the quality of much of the housing stock in both the public and private sectors, and it...

Anti-Poverty Strategy. (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: I have no difficulty working with the other Departments and I have indicated where we are working with them. In 2000, the expenditure on the fuel allowance was €55.5 million and this year it was €167 million so from my Department's point of view the costs have risen dramatically.

Anti-Poverty Strategy. (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: More than 286,000 people benefit from this provision. The other packages cost over €300 million, such as the wider heating supply for electricity in other units in the family home.

Anti-Poverty Strategy. (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: The contribution from my Department to the general area of facilitating people to heat their homes and live a comfortable life is close to €500 million per year, which is a substantial amount of money.