Results 2,181-2,200 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: A review of the National Anti Poverty Strategy (NAPS) was undertaken in 2001/2002 in line with a commitment in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. The revised NAPS that emerged from the review, Building an Inclusive Society, provided for new institutional arrangements to monitor its implementation. This included the setting up of the Social Inclusion Consultative Group which...

Written Answers — Live Register: Live Register (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: The Live Register is not designed to measure unemployment. It includes part-time workers (those who work up to three days a week), seasonal and casual workers entitled to jobseeker's benefit or allowance. Unemployment is measured by the Quarterly National Household Survey and, according to the CSO, the latest seasonally adjusted figure, for June-August 2007, is 97,700. 2003 2004 2005...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 280 and 281 together. Disability allowance is a weekly allowance paid to people with a disability who are aged between 16 and 66 years. The allowance is subject to both a medical examination and a means test. The person must be suffering from an injury, disease, congenital deformity or physical or mental illness or defect which has continued or may...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: In the last 12 months a total of 13,245 Respite Care Grant claims have been processed by the Department. Details of Respite Care Grant claims refused by month, totalling 1,397 for the 12-month period February 2007 to January 2008 are detailed in tabular form below. Respite Care Grants refusals February 2007 to January 2008 Month Claims Refused February 2007 104 March 74 April 117...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 283 to 285, inclusive, together. Supporting and recognising carers in our society is, and has been, a priority of the Government since 1997. Over that period, weekly payment rates to carers have greatly increased, qualifying conditions for carer's allowance have significantly eased, coverage of the scheme has been extended and new schemes such as carer's...

Written Answers — Bilateral Social Security Agreements: Bilateral Social Security Agreements (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 286 and 287 together. Ireland has social security agreements with Austria, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the USA and Switzerland. These agreements came into effect between 1989 and 1999, except for that with the UK which covers the Isle of Man and Channel Islands and came into effect on 1st October 2007. Ireland also has a bilateral...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) provides for a weekly or monthly supplement to be paid in respect of rent or mortgage interest to any person in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs. Rent supplements provide short-term assistance with reasonable accommodation costs of eligible persons living in private rented accommodation who are unable to provide for...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: The living alone increase is an additional payment of €7.70 per week made to people aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are living alone. It is also available to people who are under 66 years of age who are living alone and receiving payments under one of a number of invalidity type schemes. While, as outlined, the increase is paid to those...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: The Department has significant recognized internal expertise in procurement. It has not recruited specialists, either from the open market or by secondment, in the area of information technology procurement and/or capital project evaluation and management.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: I am aware of the issue.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: I thank Deputies from all sides of the House for their contributions to this debate. I am also heartened by the fact there was generally a warm welcome for the improvements in budget 2008. The social welfare package was larger than many had anticipated and its share of the available resources was considerable. In this regard I acknowledge the support of the Minister for Finance and his...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Referral to Select Committee. (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Social and Family Affairs, in accordance with Standing Order 120(1) and paragraph 1(a)(i) of the Orders of Reference of that committee.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: Some local authorities have very good waiver schemes, both with private operators as well as their own. It is a matter for the local authorities. Some of them are very good.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: It is abdication of responsibility.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: It is not my responsibility. It is local government.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: That is terrible. I agree with the Deputy.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: I did not say a word.

Social Welfare Benefits. (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: Carer's allowance is a means tested social welfare payment for people providing full-time care and attention to people who need it. In line with social assistance payments generally, one of the eligibility requirements for carer's allowance is that the applicant be habitually resident in the State. All applicants, regardless of nationality, are required to be habitually resident in the State...

Social Welfare Benefits. (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: The correct information is that from 1 May 2004 to 31 December 2007 the number of claims with complex habitual residence condition, HRC, issues decided in respect of Irish citizens was 16,242 of which 1,684 were disallowed. It was not 16,000 as the Deputy indicated.

Social Welfare Benefits. (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: There were 16,000 applications. European Union legislation prohibits discrimination between nationals of EU member states in the context of freedom of movement and people's access to social security or social assistance entitlements. Irish nationals returning here to live on a permanent basis have absolutely no difficulty in demonstrating that they satisfy the requirements of the habitual...