Results 17,701-17,720 of 22,424 for speaker:Finian McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Eligibility (8 Nov 2017)

Finian McGrath: Self-employed contributors will be eligible for the invalidity pension from December 2017. This is a major reform as self-employed people could have access to income support without having to go through a means test, if they become permanently incapable of work as a result of an illness or disability. Details as to how to apply will be made public by my Department in the coming weeks. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (8 Nov 2017)

Finian McGrath: The Department is currently experiencing delays in the processing of Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) claims due to an increase in claim volumes and the need for more detailed decisions to be provided, following a High Court ruling. Corrective actions are in place, including having additional deciding officers assigned to the scheme. As a result average processing times have reduced over...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Medical Certificates Applications (9 Nov 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: Disability Services Provision (9 Nov 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: Home Help Service Provision (9 Nov 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: Disability Support Services (9 Nov 2017)

Finian McGrath: This is not a matter for the Department of Health.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disability Services Provision (9 Nov 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: Disability Services Provision (9 Nov 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 Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (9 Nov 2017)

Finian McGrath: An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received in respect of this child on 21 June 2017. The application was not allowed as it was considered that the child did not meet the eligibility criteria for the allowance. A letter issued on 26 October 2017 outlining the decision in this case. In the case of an application which is refused, the applicant may submit additional...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (9 Nov 2017)

Finian McGrath: I can confirm that my Department received an application for disability allowance from this gentleman on 10 August 2017. On 13 October 2017 the person concerned was requested to supply supporting documentation required by the deciding officer in order to make a decision on his eligibility. On receipt of this information a decision will be made and this gentleman will be notified of the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Applications (9 Nov 2017)

Finian McGrath: The lady referred to has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from the 29 June 2017. Payment will issue to her nominated bank account on the 16 November 2017. Any arrears due from 29 June 2017 to 15 November 2017 (less any overlapping social welfare payment and/or outstanding overpayment) will issue in due course. The lady in question was notified of this decision on the 09 November...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (9 Nov 2017)

Finian McGrath: I can confirm that my Department was notified by the Social Welfare Appeals Office on the 13 October 2017 that the appeal for this lady was upheld. She was deemed to be medically suitable for the scheme. Her file has been passed to a deciding officer to implement the appeals officers’ decision and the person concerned will be notified in writing once full entitlement has been...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance Payments (9 Nov 2017)

Finian McGrath: If a person in receipt of disability allowance (DA) dies and he/she was claiming qualified adult allowance then six weeks after death payment at personal and qualified adult rate is made to the surviving spouse. Also if a person in receipt of DA dies and his/her surviving spouse/partner is in receipt of a Social Welfare payment in their own right, then the spouse is entitled to receive six...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (9 Nov 2017)

Finian McGrath: This lady submitted an application for disability allowance on 23 August 2017. The application, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds and this lady was notified in writing of this decision on 23 October 2017. She was also notified the reason for it and of the option to submit further medical evidence in support of her application for review and of her right to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Eligibility (9 Nov 2017)

Finian McGrath: Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. The gentleman concerned is in receipt of IP at the maximum weekly personal rate since 05 March 2015. In addition, he receives an increase for a qualified adult payable at the maximum rate and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance Eligibility (9 Nov 2017)

Finian McGrath: Following a review of this gentleman’s entitlement to disability allowance (DA), payment was stopped as he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit and failed to disclose to my Department that he was out of state on several occasions. Notification of this decision issued to him on 19 October 2017. This gentleman has lodged an appeal with the independent Social...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (9 Nov 2017)

Finian McGrath: In 2016, the last complete year for which total figures are available, the Domiciliary Care Allowance section received 7,434 applications of which 1,683 were disallowed. This represents 22.5% of the total received. There were 319 appeal submissions to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) in 2016, 162 appeals were allowed and 6 other cases were partially allowed. The current processing...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Mental Health Services Provision (9 Nov 2017)

Finian McGrath: I thank Senator Máire Devine for raising this very important issue. I am well aware of her track record on mental health and with the Pyschiatric Nurses Association, PNA. I thank and commend her for her work in the past on those particular issues. I know the concerns she raises today are totally genuine. Our objective is to ensure that all patients and the staff who work with them...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Mental Health Services Provision (9 Nov 2017)

Finian McGrath: I thank Senator Devine for her contribution and welcome her comments on the CAMHS facility in Ballyfermot. That is a good news story. To go back to the original debate, we have a major problem with staffing and I share the Senator's concerns in that regard. I met with Mr. Paul Bell from SIPTU yesterday in regard to care staff and the disability services. There is an issue there about...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospitals Funding (14 Nov 2017)

Finian McGrath: I thank Deputy McConalogue for raising this important matter. First, I am delighted that as part of the budget 2018 announcements, €40 million in additional finding was provided for winter pressures in 2017 and a further €90 million for measures to improve access to scheduled and unscheduled care in 2018. As such, we are planning for these particular issues. This is a signal...