Results 2,581-2,600 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: A number of non-statutory schemes are operated by my Department. These include: the household benefits package, which includes the electricity/gas allowance, the telephone rental allowance and the free television licence; the free travel scheme; the back to work allowance, which includes the back to work enterprise allowance; the back to education allowance; the national fuel scheme,...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: The review of the social welfare code to examine its compatibility with the Equal Status Act, 2000 (as amended), which is currently being undertaken in my Department, will examine all the schemes and services provided for both in social welfare legislation and the administrative schemes operated by the Department. It will identify any instances of direct or indirect discrimination, on any of...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: The number of people in receipt of qualified adult allowance at the end of September 2007 was almost 120,300.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 76, 141 and 147 together. 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...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: Illness Benefit (formerly know as Disability Benefit) is an income support payment for people of working age who are unable to work due to illness and who satisfy certain social insurance conditions. Because inability to work due to illness is a condition of receipt of the payment, it is also a requirement of the scheme that the recipient does not engage in employment while in receipt of...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 127 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 been greatly increased, qualifying conditions for carer's allowance have been significantly eased, coverage of the scheme has been extended and new schemes such as carer's...

Written Answers — Anti-Poverty Strategy: Anti-Poverty Strategy (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79, 83, 133 and 144 together. The publication this week of the EU Survey on Income and Living Conditions figures for 2006 shows an increase in the numbers of lone parents living in consistent poverty. This increase is despite large recent increases by the Government in the upper earnings limit for entitlement to the one parent family payment and increases to...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80, 84 and 86 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 been greatly increased, qualifying conditions for carer's allowance have been significantly eased, coverage of the scheme has been extended and new schemes such as carer's...

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: The Programme for Government states that 'The role and economic contribution of spouses working on the farm will be better recognised within the social insurance system, following on from Budget 2007 which allowed recipients of Farm Assist to make PRSI contributions for the first time'. Spouses working for self-employed contributors are specifically excepted from social insurance...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has introduced a revised scheme of grant aid to assist older people in carrying out essential repairs and improvements to their homes. This is the main mechanism for assisting older people maintain their home. The new scheme, which will be administered by the local authorities, will provide grant aid of up to €10,500 to cover...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to the position of people in receipt of social welfare payments who are in the process of taking up employment. My department already provides a number of incentives to ease the transition from welfare to work. For example, the back to work allowance scheme is part of my Department's programme of initiatives designed to assist long term unemployed...

Written Answers — Anti-Poverty Strategy: Anti-Poverty Strategy (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: The reviews, in relation to the work of the Combat Poverty Agency, are at different stages of progression. The review of the Agency's Research Programme, initiated in May 2007 by the Agency and the Office for Social Inclusion of my Department, is being carried out by Goodbody Economic Consultants. It will inter alia: Assess the activities, output and outcomes of the research programme;...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 88, 94 and 111 together. The programme for Government includes commitments to reduce long-term reliance on rent supplement. This will be done mainly by keeping the standard means test for rent supplement under review to provide enhanced financial incentives for people taking up employment or other professional options and by providing long-term housing...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: The social welfare system is designed to provide income supports and access to relevant services in a timely manner to all our customers. The system is neutral with regard to how it treats men and women; receipt of payment is generally dependent on contingency and other conditions being met. A person in receipt of a social welfare payment may claim an increase, known as a qualified adult...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 132 together. The back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) scheme provides a one-off payment to eligible families to assist with the extra costs when their 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...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 121 together. The free travel scheme is available to all people living in the State aged 66 years or over. 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. It is also available to people under age 66 who are...

Written Answers — Disability Strategy: Disability Strategy (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: The Programme for Government reiterates the Government's determination to prioritise the interests of people with disabilities over the course of the next five years through a series of significant measures in the social welfare, health, education, employment and environments areas. My Department has a pivotal role in providing income support for people with disabilities who may not be in a...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: The Department administers some fifty separate schemes and makes payments to one million people each week. It relies on other agencies in carrying out some of its business, for example An Post for payments, and the Revenue Commissioners for the collection of PRSI contributions. Information is also provided to other agencies such as the CSO and Health agencies, for various purposes, in...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Contract: Social Welfare Contract (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: In 1992, my Department and An Post entered into a five year contract for the delivery of social welfare payments. This contract was renewed in 1997 for a further three years to the end of 1999. The Government's decision in 1999, to extend the Department's contractual arrangements with An Post, gave rise to a procurement complaint being lodged with the European Commission in 2000. The...

Written Answers — Family Support Services: Family Support Services (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: I understand that the Deputy is seeking information on the commitment outlined in the programme for Government to continue to fully resource the Family Support Agency and its programmes. The Family Support Agency was established on 6 May 2003 by the Minister for Social and Family Affairs and brings together programmes and services to support families introduced by the Government in recent...