Results 21,461-21,480 of 28,255 for speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (23 Nov 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 12 October 2010. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Social Welfare Services on the grounds of appeal be sought. When received, the appeal in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer for...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (23 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The following table sets out the numbers received, the number of staff and the average times for appeals for 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that these processing times are calculated from the registration date of the appeal to the date of its finalisation and include all activities during this period including time spent in the Department...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (23 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: For the purposes of EU Regulations, Irish Child Benefit is classified as a family benefit and there are specific rules governing the payment of these benefits. EU Nationals who come to work in Ireland but whose families reside in another EU Member State may have an entitlement to family benefits in Ireland under EU Regulations. As a Member State of the European Union, Ireland is bound to...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (23 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing in this case. The person concerned will be informed when arrangements have been made. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (23 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Currently there is provision for 2,600 Participants and 130 Supervisors on the Rural Social Scheme (RSS). All available places (both Participant and Supervisor) have been allocated and quotas have been assigned to each of the Implementing Bodies who manage the Scheme on my Department's behalf throughout the country. The RSS is managed in Meath by Meath Community Rural & Social Development...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (23 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The current Government policy in relation to pensions is laid out in the National Pensions Framework which was launched in March of this year. The Government is committed to seeking to maintain the State Pension at 35% of average earnings. The framework includes a number of changes to the State pension in order to make it more transparent, simple and equitable for those who reach pension age....

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (23 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: 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. A person who does not satisfy the habitual residence condition is not eligible for specified social welfare payments, regardless of citizenship, nationality, immigration status or any other factor. The purpose...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (23 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: In considering any changes to social welfare schemes, full consideration is given to the impact of any proposals on the recipients involved. Government policy is to support older people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. In the case of persons being cared for at home, the care they receive is usually a balance of support from...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (23 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I propose to take Questions Nos. 254, 257 and 258 together. I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, as of 15 November 2010, there were 20,344 cases being processed through various stages of the appeals system. It is not possible to give the monetary value involved in these cases. There has been a significant increase in the numbers of appeals being made to the Social Welfare...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (23 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The staffing needs in my Department are kept under constant review to ensure that best use is made of all available resources. Since May 2008, some 450 additional posts have been assigned to the Department to deal with the significant increase in claims for the schemes operated by the Department. In addition, a significant number of staff within the Department have been redeployed to...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (23 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Ireland has social security agreements with Austria, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the USA. Most of the agreements came into effect between 1989 and 1999. The Agreement with the Republic of Korea came into effect on 1 January 2009. Ireland also has a bilateral understanding with Quebec since 1 October 1994. In the cases of...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (23 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The person concerned claimed jobseeker's allowance from 30 August 2010. His claim has been awarded and payment will be issued to him this week.

Social Welfare Code (23 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: There are two issues. The Deputy rightly referred to money. The contribution would have to be 14.75%. The other problem is that, for example, people in employment can receive payments such as short term illness benefit after three days even though they are not at work. One is not allowed to receive the payment if one is attending one's place of work. If one is laid off work, one can...

Social Welfare Code (23 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: It is a very good question and was the first one on which I asked for absolute clarity when I came into the Department. I have answered numerous parliamentary questions on this but I am delighted to have an opportunity once again to clarify it. A person whose income drops beneath the threshold of the family circumstances - for a single person over 25 years of age, that would be €196 - is...

Departmental Schemes (23 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Activation and support for those who are unemployed is a key priority for Government. Earlier this year, the Taoiseach announced a number of changes to improve the delivery of employment, training and community services to the public by bringing together related responsibilities in these areas. These changes included the restructuring of departmental responsibilities with the objective of...

Departmental Schemes (23 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Work on the scheme is well advanced and I hope to be able to make an announcement on it in the near future. I did not make an announcement on a scheme but I did an interview in which I indicated that I believed a scheme such as this should be developed. I also indicated in the interview that it should provide 5,000 to 10,000 places initially. As I said, I am working on it and we will...

Departmental Schemes (23 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: It will be paid for out of Exchequer funds provided to my Department.

Departmental Schemes (23 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Work is well advanced on the scheme. An announcement will be made on the detail of the scheme in due course. The Deputy asked a parallel question about schemes being voluntary and so on. I remind her that it is my intention to commence sections 18 to 20, inclusive, of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2010 on 1 January 2011. The national employment action plan must have...

Departmental Schemes (23 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: This will be operated through the national employment action plan. As I pointed out to Deputy Shortall, it is intended to introduce sanctions provided for in law on 1 January 2011 to give teeth to the national employment action plan. When the scheme is introduced - I have explained this in detail previously - the names of those willing to participate and co-operate with the national...

Departmental Schemes (23 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I would be concerned if the Deputy believed my Department was not applying the guidelines in regard to self-employed people. The Deputy should give me specific incidents so I can prove that is not happening. From my own work, I know that sometimes people do not give adequate information to my Department to make these decisions. I would be more than willing to listen if the Deputy could...