Results 121-140 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (10 Feb 2004)

Mary Coughlan: A deciding officer disallowed the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned from 16 January 2001 to 23 September 2003 on the grounds that he was not unemployed for this period. He has been employed on a part-time basis and did not inform the Department of this. He has also failed to supply information regarding his means. A letter outlining the decision and informing him of the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Feb 2004)

Mary Coughlan: The carer's allowance is a social assistance payment which provides income support to people who are providing certain elderly or incapacitated persons with full time care and attention and whose incomes fall below a certain limit. From January the maximum rate of carer's allowance for a carer under 66 years increased to €139.60 per week while a carer over age 66 years may be entitled to a...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (10 Feb 2004)

Mary Coughlan: The family support agency administers the scheme of grants for voluntary organisations providing marriage, child and bereavement counselling services. I retain final responsibility for approving funding under the scheme. An application form for the 2004 scheme of grants issued recently to Down Syndrome Ireland. The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday, 27 February 2004. Down...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (10 Feb 2004)

Mary Coughlan: The amount spent by my department for media and advertising purposes in the period January 2002 to December 2003 was €1,605,919. This money was spent on advertising in national, daily and Sunday newspapers, provincial papers, television, national, radio and local radio. In this two year period, my department advertised on a broad range of social welfare related issues. Issues covered...

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Second Stage. (11 Feb 2004)

Mary Coughlan: Tá lúcháir orm a bheith ar ais arís sa Seanad agus gabhaim buíochas as ucht seans a thabhairt dom an Bille tábhachtach a chur os comhair an Tí. I am pleased to bring the Civil Registration Bill 2003 before the House. The Bill provides a new legislative framework for civil registration, supports and enables the modernisation of the Civil Registration Service and facilitates the...

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (11 Feb 2004)

Mary Coughlan: Gabhaim mo bhuíochas leis na Seanadóirí a bhí páirteach sa díospóireacht seo. I mo thuairim, is Bille an-tábhachtach é seo. Beidh díospóireacht níos faide againn ar Chéim an Choiste, agus b'fhéidir go mbeidh níos mó le rá ag na Seanadóirí ansin. Many might have felt that this legislation was simple, but it impinges on everyone in this country. Without a doubt, the Lower...

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (11 Feb 2004)

Mary Coughlan: As long as I want? We will be here until morn.

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (11 Feb 2004)

Mary Coughlan: Within reason. I will go over one or two points in particular, perhaps giving answers, before returning to the policy issues. There was a question from the genealogists regarding the death certificate and having information on the place and date of birth. I have agreed to this being included in the legislation, so that should assuage their concerns. Senator Mansergh spoke about the fact that...

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (11 Feb 2004)

Mary Coughlan: That would be a matter for the coroner. He or she determines the time and place of death and then advises the tArd-Chláraitheoir of those statistics. As the Senator knows, there is much consideration of a new coroner's Bill. We would not have any role in regard to the place and date of death and would be advised accordingly.

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (11 Feb 2004)

Mary Coughlan: That entry will now be cross tabulated; heretofore, it was not. As a consequence, we have created a number of savings in the health services. A number of dead people were kept well by eminent members of the medical profession who did not advise us that their patients had died. That has created a number of savings within the GMS.

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (11 Feb 2004)

Mary Coughlan: Yes. It will also facilitate my Department in regard to pensions and pensions policy. As a consequence, it will become a control measure. As this is a great equal opportunities Department, child benefit is paid to the primary carer, whether male or female.

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (11 Feb 2004)

Mary Coughlan: That is a matter for my Department which would make a determination. It has created much concern, but the primary carer is the rule we use. If a woman or a man is the primary carer, he or she is entitled to child benefit. I thank the Cathaoirleach for facilitating this debate. We have listened to many of the concerns expressed, many of which have been addressed in the revised legislation...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (17 Feb 2004)

Mary Coughlan: The detailed information requested by the Deputy is being compiled and a letter enclosing the information will issue to the Deputy in the near future.

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (17 Feb 2004)

Mary Coughlan: The detailed information requested by the Deputy is being compiled and a letter enclosing the information will issue to the Deputy in the near future.

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (17 Feb 2004)

Mary Coughlan: The family and community services resource centre programme provides financial assistance to projects to assist with the staffing and equipping community development activities. The emphasis in the projects is on the involvement of local communities in developing approaches to tackle the problems they face and on creating successful partnerships between the voluntary and statutory agencies in...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (17 Feb 2004)

Mary Coughlan: The North Eastern Health Board was contacted on behalf of the person in question and has confirmed that an application for rent supplement was lodged on 27 January 2004. The board has advised that it will assess the person's application on the basis of the provisions which pertained prior to 31 January 2004 and a determination will be made as soon as all of the necessary information has been...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (17 Feb 2004)

Mary Coughlan: There are three staff in the Department's press office. They include the press officer who is a higher executive officer on a payscale of €37,520 to €47,606, the deputy press officer who is an executive officer with a payscale of €26,006 to €41,143 and one staff officer, who is in charge of administration, on a payscale of €28,250 to €37,599. I have also appointed on a contract...

Written Answers — Press Statements: Press Statements (17 Feb 2004)

Mary Coughlan: All press statements issued by the Department are posted to the Department's website which can be accessed at www.welfare.ie The Department's website enables the Department to deliver its information and other services effectively. The press office area of the website has a mailing list which enables a subscriber to receive the press releases of the Department by e-mail, as soon as they are...

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (17 Feb 2004)

Mary Coughlan: Under social welfare legislation, the social insurance status of spouses and relatives engaged in a family business can vary with the circumstances. A number of different situations can arise. Spouses or relatives who are engaged in a business partnership are treated as individual self-employed contributors and can make social insurance contributions which may allow them, in due course, to...

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (17 Feb 2004)

Mary Coughlan: According to the records of my Department, no PRSI contributions were received in respect of the person concerned, from the beginning of 1985 up to the year ending 5 April 1988.