Results 7,881-7,900 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (13 Feb 2008)

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. As the Deputy may be aware, a special pension paid...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: Under the Government's decentralisation programme for the civil and public service, some 1,210 posts comprising 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...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Payment System: Social Welfare Payment System (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: In 1992, my Department and An Post entered into a five year contract for the delivery of social welfare payments. This contract was renewed in 1997 for a further three years to the end of 1999. The Government's decision in 1999, to extend the Department's contractual arrangements with An Post, gave rise to a procurement complaint being lodged with the European Commission in 2000. The...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 278 together. Last September, I was pleased to introduce two reforms of the social welfare means testing system. The new arrangements enable recipients of Jobseeker's Allowance, as well as their spouses or partners, to retain more of their social welfare payment if either or both engage in employment. The overall aim of these reforms is to encourage...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: The Data Protection Commissioner notified my Department in late October 2007 that he intended to undertake a focussed audit of the Department's procedures for processing personal data. This audit commenced in late January 2008 and has not yet been finalised.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Fraud: Social Welfare Fraud (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: The prevention of fraud and abuse of the social welfare system is an integral part of the day-to-day work of the Department. A key objective of the Department's control strategy is to ensure that we pay the right person the right amount of money at the right time. Over 600 staff at local, regional and national level are engaged on a full or part-time basis on work related to the control of...

Written Answers — School Meals Programme: School Meals Programme (13 Feb 2008)

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 directly by the Department...

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: My Department assumed responsibility for the allocation of PPS Numbers in June 2000. Because the PPS Number is a unique identifier for access to services provided by Government Departments and other public bodies it is essential to have effective controls around the PPS Number registration process. Controls are exercised at both the initial allocation stage and at subsequent stages in the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: Rent supplement is administered on my behalf by the Health Service Executive as part of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. Rent supplement is subject to a limit on the amount of rent that an applicant may incur. Rent limits are set at levels that enable the different eligible household types to secure and retain basic suitable rented accommodation, having regard to the different...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Payment System: Social Welfare Payment System (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: It is government policy to facilitate the greater use of electronic payment systems in the economy in the interest of developing a world-class payment environment in Ireland. In this context, the National Payments Implementation Program Advisory Group, under the aegis of the Department of the Taoiseach, monitors the growth in electronic payments, the reduction in cash transactions and any new...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: Under the Government's current decentralisation programme for the civil and public service, some 1,200 posts comprising 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 (CPA) and Citizens Information Board (CIB) are...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) provides assistance to people who are over-indebted and need help and advice in coping with debt problems. The MABS was initiated in 1992 when the Budget provided for a special allocation of €330,000 (£260,000) for the establishment of five Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) pilot projects around the country. Since 1992 the service has...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: The Social Welfare Benchmarking and Indexation Working Group was established under the terms of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness (PPF), in late 2000 and met for the first time on 17 December 2000. The group comprised some 16 members drawn from government departments and social partners. It was chaired by an independent chairperson, Professor Kieran Kennedy, former director of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: A review of the National Anti Poverty Strategy (NAPS) was undertaken in 2001/2002 in line with a commitment in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. The revised NAPS that emerged from the review, Building an Inclusive Society, provided for new institutional arrangements to monitor its implementation. This included the setting up of the Social Inclusion Consultative Group which...

Written Answers — Live Register: Live Register (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: The Live Register is not designed to measure unemployment. It includes part-time workers (those who work up to three days a week), seasonal and casual workers entitled to jobseeker's benefit or allowance. Unemployment is measured by the Quarterly National Household Survey and, according to the CSO, the latest seasonally adjusted figure, for June-August 2007, is 97,700. 2003 2004 2005...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 280 and 281 together. Disability allowance is a weekly allowance paid to people with a disability who are aged between 16 and 66 years. The allowance is subject to both a medical examination and a means test. The person must be suffering from an injury, disease, congenital deformity or physical or mental illness or defect which has continued or may...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: In the last 12 months a total of 13,245 Respite Care Grant claims have been processed by the Department. Details of Respite Care Grant claims refused by month, totalling 1,397 for the 12-month period February 2007 to January 2008 are detailed in tabular form below. Respite Care Grants refusals February 2007 to January 2008 Month Claims Refused February 2007 104 March 74 April 117...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 283 to 285, inclusive, 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 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...

Written Answers — Bilateral Social Security Agreements: Bilateral Social Security Agreements (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 286 and 287 together. Ireland has social security agreements with Austria, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the USA and Switzerland. These agreements came into effect between 1989 and 1999, except for that with the UK which covers the Isle of Man and Channel Islands and came into effect on 1st October 2007. Ireland also has a bilateral...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) provides for a weekly or monthly supplement to be paid in respect of rent or mortgage interest to any person in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs. Rent supplements provide short-term assistance with reasonable accommodation costs of eligible persons living in private rented accommodation who are unable to provide for...