Results 16,581-16,600 of 22,424 for speaker:Finian McGrath

Topical Issue Debate: Social Welfare Schemes (21 Mar 2017)

Finian McGrath: I thank Deputy Smyth for raising this important issue. I am taking this debate because the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, is detained in the Seanad. The community employment scheme and Tús are part of the Department's range of programmes and schemes catering for long-term unemployed jobseekers and those most distant from the labour market. They are designed to break the cycle of...

Topical Issue Debate: Social Welfare Schemes (21 Mar 2017)

Finian McGrath: The Deputy acknowledged that the unemployment rate has reduced to 6%. She spoke about County Cavan and mentioned that she has received a number of calls in recent days in this regard and this is an issue I will bring back to the Minister. She raised other points regarding infrastructure, transport and roads in rural areas and this is something about which I can speak to the Minister, Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Partial Capacity Benefit Scheme Eligibility (21 Mar 2017)

Finian McGrath: Partial Capacity Benefit (PCB) is a scheme which allows a person, who may not have full capacity for work, return to employment and continue to receive a payment from my Department. To be considered for PCB a person must, at the time of the application, be in receipt of either illness benefit for at least six months, or invalidity pension. A person who applies for PCB will, in the first...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Illness Benefit Applications (21 Mar 2017)

Finian McGrath: The current IT systems which administer the Illness Benefit schemes are being modernized. A key part of this project is the overhaul of medical certification. A new A4 sized certificate is being designed which will allow GPs give a wider range of diagnoses in line with the WHO international standard of classification – ICD10. The new certificate will also give GPs greater...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (21 Mar 2017)

Finian McGrath: I can confirm that my department received an application for disability allowance from this lady on 27 January 2017. On 11 March 2017 the person concerned was requested to supply supporting documentation required by the deciding officer in order to make a decision on her eligibility. On receipt of this information a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (21 Mar 2017)

Finian McGrath: I confirm that my department received an application for disability allowance from this lady on 6 February 2017. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. The processing time for individual disability allowance claims may vary in accordance with their relative...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (21 Mar 2017)

Finian McGrath: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 2 March 2017, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (21 Mar 2017)

Finian McGrath: As previously outlined to the Deputy my department received an application for disability allowance from this lady on 22 August 2016. On 28 February 2017 the person concerned was requested to supply supporting documentation required by the deciding officer in order to make a decision on her eligibility. On receipt of this information a decision will be made and the person concerned will be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Applications (21 Mar 2017)

Finian McGrath: Following a review of her claim the lady referred to has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from 19 January 2017. Payment will issue to her nominated bank account on 30 March 2017. Any arrears due from 19 January 2017 to 29 March 2017 (less any overlapping social welfare payment and/or outstanding overpayment) will issue in due course. The lady in question was notified of this...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (21 Mar 2017)

Finian McGrath: An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received in respect of this child on 23rdJanuary 2017. The application will be considered by a Deciding Officer and the decision notified to the applicant as soon as possible. It is currently taking up to 14 weeks from date of receipt to process an application for DCA. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (21 Mar 2017)

Finian McGrath: Following a successful review, the man has been awarded disability allowance with effect from 16 November 2016. The first payment will be made by his chosen payment method on 5 April 2017. Arrears of payment due will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments or in respect of outstanding overpayments (if...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Occupational Injuries Benefit Appeals (21 Mar 2017)

Finian McGrath: Injury Benefit is payable in respect of incapacity for work due to an accident arising out of and in the course of employment. For the purposes of the scheme an accident while on an unbroken journey between one’s normal place of residence and one’s place of employment is regarded as an accident at work. Injury Benefit was claimed on the basis that the accident happened...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Partial Capacity Benefit Scheme Payments (21 Mar 2017)

Finian McGrath: Partial Capacity Benefit (PCB) is a scheme which allows a person, who may not have full capacity for work, return to employment and continue to receive a payment from my Department. Under the scheme increases are payable in respect of qualified children up to the age of eighteen. These increases can be paid up to the age of twenty two where evidence is shown that the child is in full-time...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (21 Mar 2017)

Finian McGrath: This lady submitted an application for disability allowance on 8 September 2015. The application, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds and the person in question was notified in writing of this decision on 9 November 2015 and of her rights of review and appeal. No request for review or appeal was received. If the person in question believes they may qualify,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (21 Mar 2017)

Finian McGrath: I confirm that an application from this lady for disability allowance (DA) was received by my Department on 1 February 2017. The application has been referred to a Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) for a report on the person’s means and circumstances. Once the SWI has submitted his/her report to DA section, a decision will be made on the application and the person concerned will be...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Commissions of Investigation (21 Mar 2017)

Finian McGrath: The Commission of Investigation into certain matters relative to a disability service in the South East and related matters i.e. the Commission being established into the care of "Grace" (pseudonym) and others, will be tasked with establishing the facts regarding the role of public authorities in the care and protection of Grace and the other vulnerable individuals who resided with the former...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Commissions of Investigation (21 Mar 2017)

Finian McGrath: The Commission of Investigation into certain matters relative to a disability service in the South East and related matters i.e. the Commission established into the care of "Grace" (pseudonym) and others, is being established under the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004, which is under the aegis of the Minister for Justice and Equality. The Commissions of Investigation Act contains the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Services for People with Disabilities (21 Mar 2017)

Finian McGrath: The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Services for People with Disabilities (21 Mar 2017)

Finian McGrath: The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Services for People with Disabilities (21 Mar 2017)

Finian McGrath: The safety and protection of vulnerable people in the care of the State is a priority for the Government. A number of important steps have been taken in recent years to strengthen the protection afforded to vulnerable children and adults in the State's day care and residential care settings. Some of these measures, such as the establishment in early 2014 of the Child and Family Agency,...