Results 2,061-2,080 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: If I were to do so, I would fundamentally change relationships. All sorts of issues, including means testing, would come to the fore. It would become an entirely different payment. I would not be using resources properly if I were to try to change the entire system for 18 months.
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: We will see.
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: I would have to devise an entirelyââ
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: In general, there is no limit or restriction on the proportion or number who may receive rent supplement in an area. However, section 25 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2007 provides that payment of rent supplement can be refused in respect of accommodation situated in an area notified to the Minister for Social and Family Affairs by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and...
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: I stated it would return to its original role of providing short-term income support.
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: I do.
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: That is unfair.
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: I have stated I understand the problem; I had first hand experience of it and intend to discuss the matter with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. There is no point in me making a unilateral decision in legislation that will have no practical effect.
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: It would be a pointless exercise. I want to ensure that if there is a clear way forward, we will do something about the matter. It is not easy.
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: Each year rent supplement is paid in respect of over 900 tenancies where the landlord is living outside the State. The total value of such payments is of the order of â¬4 million or approximately 1% of total expenditure on rent supplement. Payment is made directly to some 130 of these landlords domiciled outside of the State in respect of approximately 150 such tenancies. The value of...
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: Potentially, it could cost millions in information technology systems to do this. I am not so sure that is the correct use of taxpayers' resources. As I said, we are discussing this matter with Revenue to see if there are alternative methods to do this.
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: I do not like using the fact the numbers are very small but there must be proportionality which is quite obvious. Some â¬950,000, just under â¬1 million, is less than one quarter of 1% of what we pay out. Changing the entire information technology systems in the Department to accommodate that would be proportional.
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: The carer's allowance is a social assistance payment which provides income support to people who provide certain older people or people with a disability with full-time care and attention and whose incomes fall below a certain limit. The carer's allowance means test has been eased significantly in the past few years, most notably with the introduction of disregards of spouses' earnings. In...
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: I accept that.
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (4 Mar 2008)
Martin Cullen: I accept that.
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (28 Feb 2008)
Martin Cullen: The current range of payment options offered by my Department to customers' includes payment at a local post office or to a bank or building society account; or certain credit unions that have been authorised by the banking and credit union regulators. Customers opt for a particular payment method having regard to their own personal circumstances. The Department is implementing a three year...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (28 Feb 2008)
Martin Cullen: The Health Service Executive has advised that the persons concerned are currently in receipt of a rent supplement of â¬160.07 per week. The community welfare officer advised that if they wish to source accommodation, in excess of prescribed rent limits, they should contact the community welfare service in the area in which they intend to reside. The community welfare officer will make a...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (28 Feb 2008)
Martin Cullen: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, at the oral hearing which took place on 13 December 2007, the appellant was afforded an opportunity to submit more up to date medical evidence in support of her case. On receipt of this evidence the Appeal Officer will further consider the appeal as a matter of urgency. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of my Department...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Feb 2008)
Martin Cullen: Rent supplement is administered on my behalf by the Health Service Executive (HSE) as part of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. Rent supplement is subject to a limit on the amount of rent that an applicant may incur. Rent limits are set at levels that enable the different eligible household types to secure and retain basic suitable rented accommodation, having regard to the...
- Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (27 Feb 2008)
Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 to 129, inclusive, together. The requirement to be habitually resident in Ireland was introduced as a qualifying condition for certain social assistance schemes and child benefit with effect from 1st May 2004. The State Pension (Non Contributory) (formerly Old Age Non Con Pension) is one such scheme. The restrictions were introduced in the context of the...