Results 20,941-20,960 of 28,255 for speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The purpose of this section is to provide for certain circumstances. For example, as we discussed previously, certain people such as babies cannot provide signatures to register for a PPS number. Neither signatures nor photographs can be provided in respect of deceased persons. The section is to provide a facility to the Department whereby it is not required to obtain such information in...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Different organisations assess for different purposes. We discussed this point before. There is not a direct correlation between a specific disability and a person's ability to work. The scheme is based on ability to work. I gave the very simple example of one of our Oireachtas colleagues in the other House who has a very obvious disability but who can perfectly perform his function as a...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I do not wish to be too leadránach on this point. It is often the case that a person sends in medical certification only to be refused a benefit. The person will argue he or she has the medical condition but the point in the legislation is being missed. I do not mean to say the Department disputes the person's medical condition but it disputes whether that condition prevents the person...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Deputy's amendment provides that An Foras Áiseanna Saothair would provide a strategy, but given that it will be subsumed into the Department, it will not be able to publish such a strategy.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Tús is only a scheme. The Department is obliged by statute to publish its strategy statements. Like Manpower, community employment services will become a regular part of the Department and, as such, be covered by departmental strategy statements.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I am committed to promoting job creation. We have announced new schemes on internships in the public and private sectors, as well as the Tús scheme. We are developing a comprehensive employment strategy and many of our efforts are aimed at facilitating people to get back to work. We will continue to publish policies on employment. However, there is also a need for practical reforms to...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: We are developing pilot schemes to bring people to group interviews. I expect to have the results of the first phase of the schemes at the beginning of the year, at which point I will present a detailed account of our progress.

Seanad: Social Welfare Benefits (17 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I thank the Senator for raising this very valid question. I hope the answer will explain somewhat the challenges inherent in the matter raised. The social insurance system draws together a relationship between the employment or self-employment status and the rate of contribution payable and benefits or pensions receivable as a result of these contributions. In common with many social...

Seanad: Industrial Development (17 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I am replying on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe. Like many of our international competitors, including our European partners, Ireland makes commitments to venture capital funds. The State, through Enterprise Ireland, provides significant investment for the domestic venture capital...

Seanad: School Staffing (17 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I thank the Senator for raising the question and am delighted he made it back in time to the Chamber. It is always a pleasure to listen to him. In Connemara there is a very apt saying when one wishes to refer to a person who is a tremendous orator, namely, sheasfá sa sneachta ag éisteacht leis. One would stand in the snow listening to him. That is a very appropriate compliment to...

Seanad: School Staffing (17 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I will leave the Senator with the last word.

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (16 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The contracts with all 445 service providers funded by the Community Services Programme will expire at the end of December 2010. Contracts for up to three years from the 1st January 2011 are being offered to the service providers approved. These contracts are subject to satisfactory performance of the contract holders and the continued eligibility of services provided and the annual...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (16 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 22 September 2010 together with the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer and have since been referred to an Appeals Officer who will decide whether the case can be decided on a summary basis or whether to list it for oral...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (16 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The three statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department are the Social Welfare Tribunal, the Citizens Information Board and the Pensions Board. In addition, the Pensions Ombudsman comes under the remit of the Department. As Minister for Social Protection, I appointed the chairperson of the Pensions Board on 28 June 2010. This is the only appointment to the boards of any of the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (16 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I propose to take Questions Nos. 274 and 275 together. The information requested by the Deputy in not available on a county basis.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (16 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an appeal, for the person concerned, has not been received by that office. A form for the opening of an appeal has been forwarded to the person concerned and requesting him to state the grounds for his appeal. On receipt of his reply the appeal will be opened and processed in the normal manner. The Social Welfare Appeals Office...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (16 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The total estimated budget allocation for the Free Travel scheme for 2010 was €77 million. This includes an allocation to Pobal of € 1.5 million for funding to Rural Transport Programmes throughout Ireland. The estimated provision for 2011 is also €77 million and the apportionment of this funding will not be available until early in the New Year. Participation in the Free Travel...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (16 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I have in recent days approved the offer of funding for this co-operative to contribute to the cost of employing a manager and four and a half full-time equivalent staff members for three years from the 1st January 2011. As indicated in my reply of 30th November 2010, the contract is subject to satisfactory performance of the services, continued provision of resources for the Community...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (16 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Department has been accepting new claims for Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) since the 1 st of April 2009. This follows the transfer of the scheme from the Health Service Executive on foot of a Government decision to reallocate certain functions between Departments and Agencies as part of the health service reform programme. In the period 1st April 2009 to 31st December 2009 a total...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (16 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that they have requested additional information in relation to the application for mortgage interest supplement from the person in question. A decision will be made on this application when the information has been provided.