Results 2,241-2,260 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Employment Support Services. (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: Regarding the Deputy's last point, I do not appear to have the date in the notes before me. In fairness to people in both Departments, FÁS has transformed itself dramatically in the past ten years. I find myself involved with FÁS a lot, particularly in the south-east region and I have met many of the people involved. The Irish economy faces competition when it comes to job creation from...

Employment Support Services. (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: On Deputy Enright's point, my Department has not been passive, rather it has been central to bringing about many changes. The Department's remit has changed substantially in recent years and it has proactively engaged with FÁS and other agencies. The Department of Social and Family Affairs has led the way rather than sit back and simply send out cheques. I spoke to many people in the...

Employment Support Services. (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: As I said to the Deputy, I do not feel the name over the door is important but rather the outcome. In some cases I would like to see better outcomes than are evident at present, but this matter is not about the system. I have always felt that in public life the system can take precedence over facilitating the customer. I believe that the people I have met at the Department are focused on...

Social Welfare Benefits. (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 110 together. The Government discussion paper, Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents, put forward proposals for the introduction of a new social assistance payment for lone parents and other low income families with young children. It also proposed a range of additional services, including the expanded availability and range of education and training...

Social Welfare Benefits. (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: New measures have not yet been introduced due to the substantial engagement taking place with groups representing lone parents or working in this general area. One does not always secure agreement on a way forward. We have engaged in substantial discussions with all the relevant groups to move forward. One of the recommendations arising from this engagement was that the Department would...

Social Welfare Benefits. (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: As the Deputy stated, there probably are prejudices.

Social Welfare Benefits. (13 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: That issue is central to what I am trying to do and I would like to achieve this objective before budget 2009. We do not know the identity of a large cohort of disqualified adults, so to speak, or what means they have at their disposal. We want to ensure everyone avails of their rights to the available supports. That is a significant challenge ahead.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (12 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: Under the terms of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive, an exceptional needs payment (ENP) may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which the applicant is unable to meet out of his/her own resources. There is no automatic entitlement to this payment. Each application is...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (12 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: The position is that in accordance with formal procedures agreed between the Civil and Public Service Union (CPSU) and the Department of Finance, the names of officers applying for transfer to a location are entered on the Department's transfer lists in the order in which they are received. Vacancies which arise are then filled by reference to these lists. This is a matter for management in...

Written Answers — Registration of Marriages: Registration of Marriages (12 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: I have been advised by the Registrar General that the position is as set out below. The new marriage provisions in question came in to effect on 5 November, 2007 and the following is the position in relation to Cork: 1. Marriages by civil ceremony which have taken place through the Civil Registration Office in Cork since the commencement of Part 6 of the Civil Registration Act, 2004 on 5...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (12 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: The Health Service Executive has confirmed that the person concerned was advised that payment of rent supplement would be suspended on the grounds that it had been unable to establish to its satisfaction the household income or household composition. The Executive has advised that the person concerned has asked that her claim be reviewed by another officer, and if appropriate an Appeals...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (12 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: The Health Service Executive has advised that the person concerned was initially awarded a rent supplement in excess of the rent limits appropriate to her family size. The payment was made as an exceptional measure and on a temporary basis to allow the opportunity of securing alternative accommodation. The person concerned was advised of the decision to terminate rent supplement with effect...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (12 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: The Health Service Executive has advised that an application for assistance under the supplementary allowance scheme has not been received from the person concerned. However, the person was advised informally that in order to process a rent supplement claim, an assessment of housing need by her local housing authority would be required. It is open to the person concerned to make an...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (12 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: The Department of Social and Family Affairs has no role with regard to the concessionary fares schemes which ferry companies or any other transport operators may choose to extend to their customers. The Department does operate the free travel scheme which provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and...

Written Answers — General Register Office: General Register Office (12 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: The General Register Office (GRO) is the central repository for records of life events in the State, including records relating to legal domestic adoption. The primary function of the Civil Registration Service is to facilitate the civil registration of life events and to provide certified copies of entries in registers of such life events on application from clients. The GRO also provides...

Written Answers — Official Languages: Official Languages (12 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: There are no plans to recognise sign language as an official language of the State. However, sign language has formal recognition in the Education Act 1998. Under the Act, it is a function of the Minister for Education and Science to ensure, subject to the provisions of the Act, that there is made available to each person resident in the State, including a person with a disability or who...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (12 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: At the end of 2007 there were 59,726 persons in receipt of rent supplement. This includes 20,498 recipients in Dublin. Expenditure on rent supplement in 2007 was €391.2 million.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (12 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: REACH, the Unit established in my Department to provide e-services across the public service, currently employs 20 agency workers to provide various services on a short-term contract basis. The Citizens Information Board currently employs 2 agency workers for the purpose of filling short-term vacancies.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (12 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: The Health Service Executive has confirmed that it has received an application for rent supplement from the persons concerned on 23rd January 2008. The Executive has advised that it has requested documentation indicating the employment status of the members of the household but this has not been received to date. If the persons concerned contact the community welfare officer dealing with the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (12 Feb 2008)

Martin Cullen: Any person who is receiving a Social Welfare or Health Service Executive payment and who has been prescribed a special diet as a result of a specified medical condition, and whose means are insufficient to meet his/her needs, may qualify for a diet supplement under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. The amount of diet supplement payable in individual cases is calculated by assessing...