Results 2,341-2,360 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (30 Jan 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 — Judicial Reviews: Judicial Reviews (30 Jan 2008)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 727 and 728 together. The details sought by the Deputy are set out in the following table. Year No. of Applications where leave was granted Costs paid by the State Cases not yet determined Cases appealed/ being appealed by Plaintiff Judgment awaited by Supreme Court 1997 Nil 1998 Nil 1999 Nil 2000 1 Nil 2001 4 €904 2002 1 €12,000...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (30 Jan 2008)

Martin Cullen: I have been advised by the Registrar General that the position is as set out as follows. As a general rule, for a marriage to be valid in the State, under the law that pertained at the time the parties celebrated the marriage, they must: Have had the capacity to marry each other; Freely consent to the marriage: and Observe the necessary formalities as required by the laws of the State....

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (30 Jan 2008)

Martin Cullen: During the period 2003 to 2007, a total of thirteen (13) Acts, sponsored by the Department, were passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas. In general, these Acts contain the legislative basis of the Social Welfare code, and provide for the schemes and services operated by the Department, and through the agencies which come under its remit. None of these Acts were wholly or mainly necessitated...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (30 Jan 2008)

Martin Cullen: As provided for in my Department's Modernisation Action Plan, a strategic review of customer facing services is being undertaken this year. The terms of reference for this review provide, inter alia, for recommendations in relation to the criteria to be used to determine the locations in which my Department should have a Local Office or Branch Office presence. The position in relation to the...

Written Answers — Live Register: Live Register (30 Jan 2008)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 732 to 737, inclusive, together. The data requested is collated by my Department at local office level and is given in tabular form as follows in respect of offices located at Mallow, Cobh, Youghal, Midleton and Fermoy for the years 2005 to 2007 as recorded for the last Friday in each of these years. December 2005 December 2006 December 2007 Cobh Total...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (30 Jan 2008)

Martin Cullen: The back to education allowance (BTEA) is a second chance education opportunities scheme designed to remove the barriers to participation in second and third level education. It encourages and facilitates people on certain social welfare payments to improve their skills and qualifications and, therefore, their prospects of returning to the active work force. The scheme enables qualified...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (30 Jan 2008)

Martin Cullen: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) is administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare Service of the Health Service Executive (HSE). The means test for the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, through which rent supplement is provided, requires that additional income, including maintenance payments for a lone parent and his/her children, must be taken into account in...

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (30 Jan 2008)

Martin Cullen: Direct Provision and all matters relating to supports for asylum seekers is the responsibility of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and of the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of that Department. Persons in Direct Provision are not regarded as being habitually resident in the state. A person who leaves Direct Provision while his/her asylum status is undecided is not...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (30 Jan 2008)

Martin Cullen: Departmental mobile phones do not store customer data and while departmentally supplied laptops can be used to access critical customer information such data is not retained on the device following access. Industry standard security protocols such as password protection and security software are deployed to protect all departmentally supplied devices and preserve the confidentiality and...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (30 Jan 2008)

Martin Cullen: The main condition for receipt of Respite Care Grant are that the person or persons in respect of whom the application is made must require full-time care and attention and that the applicant must be providing that care. The legislation provides that a person is regarded as requiring full-time care and attention where they require continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (30 Jan 2008)

Martin Cullen: The free travel scheme is available to all people living in the State aged 66 years or over. This includes people aged 66 or over, such as missionaries, returning from abroad to live in Ireland. All carers in receipt of carer's allowance and carers of people in receipt of constant attendance or prescribed relative's allowance, regardless of their age, also receive a free travel pass. The...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (30 Jan 2008)

Martin Cullen: The Health Service Executive has advised that a rent supplement has been awarded to the person concerned in respect of her current address from December 2007.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (30 Jan 2008)

Martin Cullen: The Health Service Executive has advised that a rent supplement has been in payment to the person concerned since February 2005. The Executive has further advised that the person concerned should contact the community welfare officer dealing with her claim if she wishes to have a review of the amount of rent supplement currently payable.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (30 Jan 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 — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (30 Jan 2008)

Martin Cullen: In 2006, a wide range of important reforms were announced for non-contributory pensioners, including pensioners in receipt of occupational pensions, in conjunction with the introduction of the State pension (non- contributory). The new pension replaced a range of non-contributory payments for persons aged 66 and over including the old age pension. All these schemes currently featured a common...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (30 Jan 2008)

Martin Cullen: The Government discussion paper, "Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents," put forward proposals for the expanded availability and range of education and training opportunities for lone parents; the extension of the National Employment Action Plan to focus on lone parents; focused provision of childcare; improved information services for lone parents and the introduction of a new social...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (30 Jan 2008)

Martin Cullen: As the Deputy will be aware, all major computer networks are subject to attempted unauthorised access on a constant basis. The Department deploys industry standard hardware, software (firewalls and anti-virus) and process to protect its network from attacks of the type referred to by the Deputy. Due to the successful operation of these procedures, the only incidences of network vulnerability...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (30 Jan 2008)

Martin Cullen: All matters relating to Direct Provision, including the rate of direct provision allowance, are the responsibility of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and of the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of that Department.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (30 Jan 2008)

Martin Cullen: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the appeal from the person concerned has been referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing. The person concerned will be informed when arrangements have been made. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of my Department that is independently responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social...