Results 2,541-2,560 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (11 Dec 2007)

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 (11 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: The case reported on by the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) involves a couple who were over 56 years of age in 1988 when compulsory social insurance for the self-employed was introduced and who could not, therefore, satisfy one of the basic requirements for pension as they did not commence paying insurance 10 years before pension age. In addition, the couple could not satisfy the...

Written Answers — Departmental Communications: Departmental Communications (11 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: My Department is currently testing the use of mobile e-mail equipment and has provided Blackberry or similar PDA type devices to 15 staff in a test environment. Further significant development of the underlying Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure is required before general secure deployment of such devices. This work has commenced and will continue over the coming...

Written Answers — Departmental Communications: Departmental Communications (11 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: The Department administers some fifty separate Social Welfare schemes and makes payments to one million people each week. The nature and volume of its business means that it has responsibility for a significant amount of personal and other data and it is heavily dependent on secure Information Communications Technology (ICT) facilities to provide its services. The ICT portfolio within the...

Written Answers — Departmental Communications: Departmental Communications (11 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: The information requested is currently being compiled within the Department and will be made available to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (11 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: My Department has not established records of carbon dioxide emissions from Ministerial transport provided to me for official purposes. However, on foot of the commitment in the Programme for Government on carbon offsetting official air travel, the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government is developing a scheme for use by all Government Departments and bodies under their aegis....

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (11 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: The Department administers some fifty separate schemes and makes payments to one million people each week. The nature and volume of its business means that it has responsibility for a significant amount of personal and other data and it is heavily dependent on secure Information Communications Technology (ICT) facilities to provide its services. The Department is fully aware of its...

Written Answers — Management Information Framework System: Management Information Framework System (11 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 557 and 558 together. My Department's Management Information Framework incorporates a financial module, which is updated on a regular basis, as well as an extensive business activity module. The financial module provides up to date information based on a cost centre and nominal coding structure that reflects the full range of business needs. The system...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (11 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: In assessing means for social assistance purposes account is taken of any cash income the person may have, together with the value of capital and property (except the home). Capital may include the following: Stocks and shares of every description, which are assessed according to their current market value. Savings certificates , bonds, national instalment savings, which are assessed...

Social Welfare Bill 2007: Second Stage (11 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: I do not suggest that.

Social Welfare Bill 2007: Order for Second Stage (11 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Social Welfare Bill 2007: Second Stage (11 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to introduce this, the first of two Bills that will implement the social welfare package of €900 million announced last week in budget 2008. This generous package, representing nearly half of all additional current Government spending announced in last week's budget, brings total expenditure on social welfare in 2008 to just...

Social Welfare Bill 2007: Second Stage (11 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: That is unfair.

Social Welfare Bill 2007: Second Stage (11 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: The UN was quite satisfied that we do an excellent job. The point is unfair.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (6 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: Social welfare legislation provides that a person is disqualified from receipt of social welfare payments while undergoing imprisonment or detention in legal custody. An exception to this general principle is provided for in cases where a period of imprisonment is being served in place of payment of a fine. Notwithstanding the above, the qualification criteria for various schemes would...

Written Answers — Departmental Meetings: Departmental Meetings (6 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 172 together. My Department has a Management Board, chaired by the Secretary General, which meets regularly on a monthly basis. Minutes of the Board meetings, which note actions to be taken and the people responsible for progressing these actions, are circulated subsequent to each meeting. A separate meeting of the Management Board is held each month...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (6 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: There are a total of 13.5 staff employed in my private and constituency offices. These include 9.5 administrative staff, comprising 1 Higher Executive Officer, on secondment from the Department of Transport, 2 Executive Officers and 6.5 Clerical Officers. All of the administrative staff are established civil servants. Since my appointment as Minister for Social and Family Affairs on 14th June...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (6 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: The supplementary allowance (SWA) scheme, including rent supplement, is administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare division of the Health Service Executive (HSE). The Executive has advised that it has awarded a rent supplement of €263.92 per week to the person concerned with effect from 24th August 2007. The Executive has further advised that person concerned will be notified of...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (6 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: The National Pensions Policy Initiative, subsequently confirmed in the National Pensions Review, estimated that 70 per cent of people at work, aged 30-65, would need supplementary coverage to meet the agreed aim in the Programme for Government to secure a retirement income from all sources of at least 50% of pre-retirement earnings. At present, 62 per cent of people in this category have...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (6 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: The supplementary allowance (SWA) scheme, including rent supplement, is administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare division of the Health Service Executive (HSE). Rent supplement is subject to a limit on the amount of rent that an applicant for rent supplement may incur. These limits take household size into account as the objective is to ensure that rent supplement is not paid in...