Results 17,141-17,160 of 22,424 for speaker:Finian McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (27 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance (27 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: I confirm on receipt of your representation, that my Department is currently reviewing the entitlement of the person in question. Notification in writing will issue once a decision has been made. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (27 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from this lady on the 13th April 2017. The application will be considered by a Deciding Officer and the decision notified as soon as possible. Due to the volume of applications currently being received, it is taking approximately 18 weeks to process an application for DCA at this time. I hope this clarifies the matter for the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (27 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: The application for disability allowance (DA) from this gentleman was disallowed by a deciding officer (DO). The DO decided that he did not satisfy the medical conditions for the scheme. Notification of this decision and the reason(s) for it issued to him on 2 May 2017. The person in question has lodged an appeal with the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). All the relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Eligibility (27 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: Domiciliary care allowance (DCA) is a payment made in respect of children under the age of 16 who have a severe disability that requires care and attention substantially in excess of another child of the same age without that disability. The need for the additional care and attention must be likely to last for at least 12 months. Eligibility for DCA is not based on the child’s...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (27 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: I confirm my department is currently reviewing the entitlement of the person concerned. A decision is expected to issue shortly. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Wage Subsidy Scheme (27 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: The Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS) is an employment support to encourage private sector employers to employ people with disabilities, the purpose of which is to increase the numbers of people with disabilities participating in the open labour market. The WSS operates as a subsidy to employers taking on an employee with a disability who has a productivity deficit amounting to 20 per cent or...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Eligibility (27 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: In line with the commitment contained in the Programme for Government for an improved PRSI scheme for the self-employed, Budget 2017 provided for the extension of cover for Invalidity Pension to the self-employed on the same basis as employees, with effect from December 2017. Legislation for this measure has already been enacted through the Social Welfare Act, 2016. Commencement of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (27 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: Processing times for Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) are currently not meeting the target of having 70% of applications processed within 15 weeks. At present it is taking up to 18 weeks on average to finalise an application. There are a number of factors that have contributed to the extended time required to process claims. First, there is a significant increase in the volume of...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Air Ambulance Service (27 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: I thank Senator Frank Feighan for raising this important issue and providing me with an opportunity to inform him of the Department's ongoing work to enhance the aeromedical services. The emergency aeromedical service, EAS, provides rapid access to appropriate treatment for patients specifically where land ambulance transit times would not be clinically appropriate. The service is...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Air Ambulance Service (27 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: I thank Senator Feighan for his remarks. I take his point on the downgrading of the Roscommon accident and emergency department several years ago and how this service was brought onto the pitch. I will bring his concerns back to the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, and the Minister of State at the Department of Defence. He has pointed out how the accident and emergency service has been...

Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: I welcome the introduction of the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017 to the House by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan. Radical reform of the current system of judicial appointments was a key demand of the Independent Alliance during last year's government formation negotiations. The programme for Government committed the Government to reforming that system to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Partial Capacity Benefit Scheme Applications (28 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: Partial Capacity Benefit (PCB) is a payment which allows a person, who may not have full capacity for work, return to employment and continue to receive a payment from my Department. A person who applies for PCB will, in the first instance, be assessed by a Medical Assessor who will assess the restriction on their capacity for work. A person assessed with a moderate level of work incapacity...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Overpayments (28 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: I confirm my department has been in contact with proposals for the recovery of the debt owed to the department. The person concerned should respond to the proposal letter issued to him on 22 June 2017 and supply an income and expenditure statement. On receipt of this information, the deciding officer may revise the deduction. The person in question is currently in receipt of full rate...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Review (28 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware, the domiciliary care allowance (DCA) scheme transferred to the Department of Social Protection in 2009, at which point some 24,000 children were in receipt of the allowance. This figure has risen every year since and now stands at just under 36,000, with 60% of parents also getting carers allowance in respect of their child. All parents in receipt of DCA also...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (28 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: This man has been awarded disability allowance with effect from 29 March 2017. The first payment will be made by his chosen payment method on 5 July 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 applicable). I trust this clarifies the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (28 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: The application for disability allowance (DA) from the person in question, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds and the person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 18 May 2017. Further evidence was received on 2 June 2017 and this is currently being reviewed by a deciding officer. The person in question can expect a decision on the review of his...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (28 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: I can confirm that my department received an application for disability allowance from this lady on 30 March 2017. On 10 June 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 (28 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: I confirm that an application from the person concerned for disability allowance (DA) was received by my department on 12 April 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...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: We would never talk down the clock.