Results 2,001-2,020 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen
- Seanad: Telecommunications Services (5 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: I speak on behalf of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, who is attending an official function. I am pleased to update the House on the availability of broadband services, including in Dunmore East and Tramore, in which I have a particular interest, and Government initiatives to assist the telecommunications sector to deliver next generation broadband. The...
- Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Second Stage (5 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: I thank Senators from all sides for their contributions to this debate and for the recognition of the improvements in the social welfare system over recent years. There is now an emphasis on those who are less well off and we are targeting children, lone parents and those who clearly are in danger of living in poverty. We use the resources of the State on behalf of the taxpayer to maximise...
- Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Second Stage (5 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: I was not addressing the Deputy's point specifically.
- Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Second Stage (5 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: During the debate on this issue, there was a suggestion that this was a payment to landlords, but it is not. In some cases we make a direct payment to the landlord on behalf of a small number of individuals who request it. That helps the individuals who for different reasons may not be capable of managing the money themselves. It is true to say it is a short-term support, but in recent...
- Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Second Stage (5 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: This is the second of two Bills to implement the social welfare package of â¬900 million announced in last December's budget. This generous package brings total expenditure on social welfare in 2008 to just under â¬17 billion and represents nearly half of all additional current Government spending announced in last December's budget. The Social Welfare and Pensions Bill provides for the...
- Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Second Stage (5 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: I hope so.
- Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Second Stage (5 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: We did not receive that increase.
- Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: Under the current programme of decentralisation, 85 posts in the Department are to be relocated to Carrickmacross. According to figures received from the Central Application Facility (CAF), through which all applications for decentralisation locations must be submitted, 64 applicants applied for Carrickmacross before the priority application date of 7 September 2004. Since this date, there...
- Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: Under the current programme of decentralisation, the Combat Poverty Agency is designated to relocate to Monaghan town. The Office of Public works is charged with securing accommodation in Monaghan for this Department and have advised that they are currently exploring a number of property options. These include the proposed refurbishment of an existing office and the construction of a new...
- Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: The provision of civil registration services at local and regional level is a matter for the Health Service Executive. My Department has asked the Chief Executive of the Health Service Executive to investigate the matters raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: The expenditure on rent supplement and number of recipients for the administrative areas, as listed by the Deputy, are shown in the following tabular statement. Rent supplement is administered on my behalf by the Health Service Executive (HSE) as part of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. In order to qualify for a rent supplement a person must satisfy a means test and be habitually...
- Written Answers — Civil Registrations: Civil Registrations (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: The provisions of the Civil Registration Act 2004 relating to marriage were commenced with effect from 5 November, 2007. New processes and procedures which are based on these provisions were put in place from that date to ensure that marriages which take place are legally valid. Section 46 of the Act requires that, save in exceptional circumstances, couples intending to marry in the State...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: The person concerned, who is self-employed in the construction industry, applied for jobseeker's allowance on 21 January 2008. A Deciding Officer assessed his weekly means at â¬385 and awarded the allowance to him at the weekly rate of â¬40.10 from 21 January 2008. A first payment, including arrears, issued to him on 25 February 2008. The means assessment in this case is based on...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: The person concerned applied for carer's allowance on 10 December 2007. The case has been referred to my Department's Medical Assessor to determine if the care recipient requires full-time care and attention. On completion of the necessary investigations a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. Under Social Welfare legislation decisions in...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: Under the terms of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive, an exceptional needs payment (ENP) may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which the applicant is unable to meet out of his/her own resources. There is no automatic entitlement to this payment. Each application is...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 365 and 366 together. The Health Service Executive has advised that the persons concerned are currently in receipt of a rent supplement of â¬598.13 per month and that the Executive's Appeals Office is to make a decision in relation to any arrears due. The persons concerned will be advised of the decision in due course. Rent supplement is calculated to ensure...
- Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: To have an entitlement to sign the live register for credited social insurance contributions, a person must previously have worked and paid contributions at the appropriate rate. If at any stage since starting work, a person has no contributions paid or credited for two full consecutive tax years, he or she will not have an entitlement to credited contributions until he or she returns to...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: The current social assistance payment for separated parents and widows/ers with children is the One Parent Family Payment (OFP). This payment is means tested and in the case of separated persons also dependent on the recipient having sought maintenance from their former spouse. The weekly rate of payment is â¬197.80, with an additional â¬24 per qualified child. The payment can be made until...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: There are no payments specifically to cover communion/confirmation costs or the cost of other religious ceremonies as such. However, under the terms of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme a person whose means are insufficient to meet their needs may apply for the exceptional needs payment. The scheme is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: The Health Service Executive has advised that it is awaiting the return of documentation from the persons concerned. A decision will be made on the application for rent supplementation as soon as the persons concerned contact the community welfare officer and provide the relevant documentation.