Results 8,241-8,260 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: Social welfare customers in receipt of a long term payment or in receipt of a short term payment for more than six months can claim an IQC for each child who is over 18 years and up to age 22 and attending a full-time day course of education at an institute of education. If a child reaches age 22 during an academic year while attending a full-time day course of education, the IQC continues...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: The Health Service Executive has advised that it had terminated payment of a rent supplement in this case from March 2008. The Executive has advised that it will review the claimant's entitlement and advise the person concerned of its decision in due course.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: The Health Service Executive has advised that it awaiting the receipt of outstanding documentation from the persons concerned and will not be in a position to make a decision on entitlement until all documentation requested has been received.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an appeal from the person concerned was received on 2nd April 2008 and is being referred to an Appeals Officer for consideration. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of my Department that is independently responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: Irish nationals returning to live here on a permanent basis should experience no difficulty in demonstrating that they satisfy the requirements of the Habitual Residence Condition. My Department has been unable to trace any claims where this has not been the case, and has already offered to review any such claims that may be brought to its attention. However national legislation cannot...

Written Answers — Energy Efficiency: Energy Efficiency (8 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: In 2007, the Office of Public Works (OPW) piloted an Energy Conservation Campaign covering seven of my Department's offices. The aim of the campaign was to raise staff awareness on the issue and to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions in these offices. Staff in the Department were hugely supportive of this pilot campaign and it proved to be very successful. Energy usage is...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: A child benefit claim was received from the person concerned in February 2007 in respect of his children residing with their mother in Bulgaria. Additional information was requested and obtained from the person concerned in April 2007 and again in February 2008. Correspondence has also issued to the Bulgarian authorities concerning any entitlements to child benefit in Bulgaria. When all...

Written Answers — Statutory Instruments: Statutory Instruments (8 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy is referring to Statutory Instruments made under the European Communities Act 1972, section 4 of which provides that such regulations will have statutory effect. The Department of Social and Family Affairs has used the European Communities Act 1972 as a vehicle for implementing Council Directives on a number of occasions in the past. These Regulations are: European Communities...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes rent supplement, is administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare division of the HSE. The purpose of rent supplement is to provide short-term income support to eligible tenants living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Fraud: Social Welfare Fraud (9 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: The sanctions which are open to the Department in the situation outlined by the Deputy are set out in legislation as follows. Section 251 (1) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (the Act) provides that any person for the purpose of obtaining or establishing entitlement to payment of any benefit for himself or any other person, knowingly makes any statement which is to his knowledge...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (9 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: As stated in my reply on 2 April 2008, the transfer of functions from the HSE to my Department is a major programme and it does have implications for the staff who are due to transfer. In this regard discussions are taking place between management representatives from my Department, the Department of Health and Children and the HSE and the Unions representing staff in the Community Welfare...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (9 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the appeal from the person concerned has been referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing. The person concerned will be informed when arrangements have been made. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of my Department that is independently responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (9 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: The free travel scheme is available to all people living in the State aged 66 years or over. All carers in receipt of carer's allowance and carers of people in receipt of constant attendance or prescribed relative's allowance, regardless of their age, also receive a free travel pass. It is also available to people under age 66 who are in receipt of certain disability type welfare payments,...

Written Answers — National Biodiversity Plan: National Biodiversity Plan (9 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is currently coordinating the preparation of the new National Biodiversity Plan for Ireland, which will cover the period 2008-12 and my Department is represented on the Inter-Departmental Steering Group. When the Plan is agreed and published any actions appropriate to my Department will be implemented.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (9 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that it has not received an application for rent supplement from the person concerned. The HSE has further advised that the person concerned should contact the community welfare officer in his area so that any entitlement he may have, can be determined.

Order of Business (10 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: He is.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (10 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: The case referred to by the Deputy concerns the rights of a person who has undergone gender reassignment surgery to recognition of her acquired gender. On foot of a High Court judgement delivered on 19 October 2007, the judge made an order 14 February 2008 and the perfected order was issued on 10 March 2008. The order contains a declaration pursuant to Section 5 of the European Convention...

Written Answers — Parliamentary Questions: Parliamentary Questions (10 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: The matter that was the subject of the Deputy's question of 4 March was referred to the Chief Executive of the Health Service Executive for investigation of the substantive issue and for direct reply to the Deputy. Enquiries have been made with the Chief Executive, and I have been informed that his investigation of this matter is nearing completion and that a reply will issue to the Deputy in...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: Disability allowance is a weekly allowance paid to people with a disability who are aged between 16 and 66 years. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to both a medical examination and a means test. The weekly rate of Disability Allowance payment depends on the amount of weekly means assessed. The legislative provisions regarding...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: I refer to my reply to the Deputy on 6/3/08 in relation to the person concerned. I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that since that reply, an Appeals Officer again reviewed this case following the submission of further correspondence from the person concerned. However, the Appeals Officer considered that the correspondence contained no new facts or fresh evidence which would...