Results 21,681-21,700 of 28,255 for speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme provides a one-off payment to eligible families to assist with the extra costs when children start school each autumn. The allowance is not intended to meet the full cost of school clothing and footwear but only to provide assistance towards these costs. A person may qualify for payment of an allowance if they are in receipt of a...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 93 together. Social welfare expenditure for 2011, including expenditure on State pensions, will be considered in the context of the forthcoming Budget, having regard both to needs and to the resources available to meet those needs. In an uncertain economic environment, my priority will be to ensure that the Government strategy to stabilise the...

Written Answers — Departmental Information Services: Departmental Information Services (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The primary objective of the Department's information policy is to ensure that all customers are made aware of the wide range of schemes and services available and that they are kept informed of changes and improvements as they occur. The Department operates a network of some 125 local and branch offices throughout the country. Each local office has officers who are dedicated to providing...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Between 1994 and 2008 social welfare pensions increased by 148% while the Consumer Price Index for this period increased by 51%. Increases in the State pension (contributory) have brought the personal rate of pension to a maximum weekly rate up to €230.30 per week. A pensioner couple would be eligible for a weekly income of €436.60. These pension increases demonstrate the significant...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92, 99 and 103 together. During 2008, an interdepartmental group, chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach, with secretariat support provided by my Department, undertook work, including a public consultation process, to develop a National Carers' Strategy. However, because of the prevailing economic situation, it was not possible to set targets or time...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Where a person is not satisfied with a decision in relation to their entitlement to Supplementary Welfare Allowance, they have a right of appeal in accordance with the terms of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005. This provides for the appeal to be considered by an Appeals Officer within the HSE. However, where this appeal is unsuccessful, the appellant can make a further appeal to...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: With effect from 19th July 2010, changes have been introduced to BTEA to increase flexibility in terms of accessing the scheme. The period for which a person is required to be on a qualifying social welfare payment before accessing BTEA was reduced from 12 months to 9 months (a 2 year qualifying period continues to apply to participants coming from Illness Benefit). People who are...

Written Answers — Money Advice and Budgeting Service: Money Advice and Budgeting Service (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) is a free, independent and confidential service which assists people who are over-indebted and need help and advice in coping with debt problems. MABS promotes the importance of people coping with debt difficulties taking early action with their creditors and approaching MABS for help and guidance. This can be the first positive step for people...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Self-employed people pay PRSI class S contributions which provide cover for long-term benefits such as state pension (contributory) and widows/widowers pension (contributory). Employees are covered by PRSI classes A, E, H and P, which provide cover for the above benefits as well as for short-term contingencies such as jobseekers and illness benefits. PRSI coverage is related to the risks...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Employer Job (PRSI) Incentive Scheme has been promoted through a number of channels. Information on the scheme is available on the Department's website at www.welfare.ie and also on the FAS website. The main information web page on this scheme on the Department's website was viewed 9,709 times between the 21st June and 22nd October 2010. There has also been a number of press releases...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The information requested is set out in the table below. Annual Reports and accounts for the Citizen's Information Board, Pobal, the Pensions Board and the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman when published are placed in the Dáil Library. This is also the case for the statutory accounts of the Social Insurance Fund. Figures for 2010 are provisional and subject to audit by the Office of the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: An application for Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) was received on 30th September 2010. This application together with medical reports has been forwarded to one of the Department's Medical Assessors for their medical opinion on the case. Upon receipt of this opinion a decision will issue to the customer. Currently it takes DCA section eight weeks to process an application.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I propose to take Questions Nos. 360 to 362, inclusive, and 366 together. There are currently 96,500 people in receipt of rent supplement, an increase of 62% since the end of December 2007. The outturn for rent supplement for 2009 was €511m with €509m provided for in 2010. It is not possible to provide an accurate cost to the exchequer if the withdrawal rates for rent and mortgage...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (2 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. The Government is acutely aware and appreciative of the contribution made by carers. It was for that reason, that when resources were available, we invested heavily in improving social welfare rates and services for carers. Following this year's...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (2 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. The Government is acutely aware and appreciative of the contribution made by carers. It was for that reason, that when resources were available, we invested heavily in improving social welfare rates and services for carers. Following this year's...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I propose to take Questions Nos. 367 and 368 together. My Department is currently renting two premises – Office Suites 1-3, Bridgewater Business Centre, Islandbridge, Dublin 8; and the Community Social Services Centre Bishopsgate, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. The Community Social Services Centre, Mullingar is the operational location for the Department's Disability Activation Project which is...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: An application for Domiciliary Care Allowance was received on 12 August 2010. This application was referred to one of the Department's Medical Assessors who found that the child was not medically eligible for the Allowance. A letter issued to the person concerned on 5 October 2010 advising her of the decision. Where a person is not satisfied with the decision of a Deciding Officer they may...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (2 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 02 September 2010. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received back in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 29...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Social welfare expenditure for 2011, including expenditure on payments to persons with disabilities, will be considered in the context of the forthcoming Budget, having regard both to needs and to the resources available to meet those needs. In an uncertain economic environment, my priority will be to ensure that the Government strategy to stabilise the financial position is advanced and to...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (2 Nov 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that the person concerned was refused rent supplement as his rent was in excess of the maximum rent limit for his family size. The HSE further advised that the decision to refuse rent supplement was upheld by the HSE Appeals Office. It remains open for the person concerned to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeal Office.