Results 8,021-8,040 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: The person concerned applied for carer's allowance on 10 December 2007. The case has been referred to my Department's Medical Assessor to determine if the care recipient requires full-time care and attention. On completion of the necessary investigations a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. Under Social Welfare legislation decisions in...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Mar 2008)
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 — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 365 and 366 together. The Health Service Executive has advised that the persons concerned are currently in receipt of a rent supplement of â¬598.13 per month and that the Executive's Appeals Office is to make a decision in relation to any arrears due. The persons concerned will be advised of the decision in due course. Rent supplement is calculated to ensure...
- Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: To have an entitlement to sign the live register for credited social insurance contributions, a person must previously have worked and paid contributions at the appropriate rate. If at any stage since starting work, a person has no contributions paid or credited for two full consecutive tax years, he or she will not have an entitlement to credited contributions until he or she returns to...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: The current social assistance payment for separated parents and widows/ers with children is the One Parent Family Payment (OFP). This payment is means tested and in the case of separated persons also dependent on the recipient having sought maintenance from their former spouse. The weekly rate of payment is â¬197.80, with an additional â¬24 per qualified child. The payment can be made until...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: There are no payments specifically to cover communion/confirmation costs or the cost of other religious ceremonies as such. However, under the terms of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme a person whose means are insufficient to meet their needs may apply for the exceptional needs payment. The scheme is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: The Health Service Executive has advised that it is awaiting the return of documentation from the persons concerned. A decision will be made on the application for rent supplementation as soon as the persons concerned contact the community welfare officer and provide the relevant documentation.
- Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (4 Mar 2008)
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 — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (5 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: The Department is implementing a three year strategy to change paper based payment instruments to electronic payments at post offices and financial institutions. The programme is being implemented on a phased basis to coincide with book renewal production schedules and as personalised payable order books expire. The current range of payment options offered by my Department to customers'...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (5 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: Maternity Benefit is an income maintenance payment awarded by this Department to eligible women for a 26-week period on foot of a confinement. Entitlement to this benefit for employees is contingent on entitlement to statutory Maternity Leave. Under the provisions of social welfare legislation, the 26-week period of core statutory Maternity Leave attracts a payment from my Department â...
- Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Second Stage (5 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: This is the second of two Bills to implement the social welfare package of â¬900 million announced in last December's budget. This generous package brings total expenditure on social welfare in 2008 to just under â¬17 billion and represents nearly half of all additional current Government spending announced in last December's budget. The Social Welfare and Pensions Bill provides for the...
- Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Second Stage (5 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: I hope so.
- Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Second Stage (5 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: We did not receive that increase.
- Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Second Stage (5 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: I thank Senators from all sides for their contributions to this debate and for the recognition of the improvements in the social welfare system over recent years. There is now an emphasis on those who are less well off and we are targeting children, lone parents and those who clearly are in danger of living in poverty. We use the resources of the State on behalf of the taxpayer to maximise...
- Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Second Stage (5 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: I was not addressing the Deputy's point specifically.
- Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Second Stage (5 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: During the debate on this issue, there was a suggestion that this was a payment to landlords, but it is not. In some cases we make a direct payment to the landlord on behalf of a small number of individuals who request it. That helps the individuals who for different reasons may not be capable of managing the money themselves. It is true to say it is a short-term support, but in recent...
- Seanad: Departmental Staff (5 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: I thank Senator McCarthy for raising this important issue. As he said, many of my colleagues from both Houses from the area have raised this issue with me in the recent past. I understand the importance of the office and its impact locally, particularly on our customers. The Department delivers a front-line service to its customers through a network of 59 local offices and 66 branch...
- Seanad: Departmental Staff (5 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: I do not have the information on when the review will be finished. It is being carried out across the country, but it will be finished this year obviously. I am acutely aware of the issue in Dunmanway.
- Seanad: Hazardous Waste (5 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: I am taking the debate on behalf of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, who is at an official function. Since the matter was last raised in the House in April 2005 there has been substantial progress on the rehabilitation project, which I am happy to outline here today. On the previous occasion the matter was raised, the then Minister outlined the Department's...
- Seanad: Hazardous Waste (5 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: I will ensure a record of the Senator's comments is forwarded to the Minister.