Results 2,621-2,640 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

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

Martin Cullen: Information on poverty levels, deprivation and social exclusion are provided in the EU Survey on Income and Living Conditions (EU–SILC), which is conducted on an annual basis by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and which commenced in Ireland in 2003. The most recent results are for the year 2006, which were published on November 27 2007. In 2006 the percentage of households 'at risk of...

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

Martin Cullen: The Programme for Government features a number of commitments in relation to social welfare pensions, including a commitment to increase the basic State pension to €300 per week by 2012. Over the last number of Budgets, pension increases have been well ahead of inflation ensuring that not only is the real value of pensions maintained but that they are significantly improved in real terms....

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

Martin Cullen: The recommendation of the Law Reform Commission arose from one of two important pieces of work which have been completed regarding different types of partner relationships and how they should be treated and recognised in Irish society. The first report an 'Options Paper, presented by the Working Group on Domestic Partnership' to the then Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law...

Written Answers — Departmental Inspections: Departmental Inspections (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) is an important part of the social welfare system. Social Insurance provides a range of benefits to customers at certain specified times in their lives. The integrity of the PRSI system is dependent on timely, appropriate contributions being made to the Social Insurance Fund by employers, employees and the self employed as laid down in social welfare...

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

Martin Cullen: Family income supplement (FIS) is the principal in-work income support for people in low-income employment with children. It designed to provide the incentive to remain in, or take up, employment rather than be fully welfare dependent. In 2006, some 33,000 claims were received for FIS. 13,000 of these were first claims while 19,400 approx. were renewals. For the same period in 2005 there were...

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

Martin Cullen: The following table shows that there are 24,703 recipients of rent supplement for 18 months or more. This table represents unbroken continuous claims only. Where recipients change address, the claim at the new address is normally recorded as a new claim and the duration spent at the previous address may not be taken into account in this table. Number of Recipients of Rent Supplement by...

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: In line with the recommendations of the Final Report of the National Pensions Board, Section 12 of The Social Welfare Act 1997 (now incorporated in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005) provides for amendments to the contribution conditions for the purposes of State contributory pensions. In accordance with the legislation, from April 2002 the paid contributions requirement was...

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

Martin Cullen: The requirement to be habitually resident in Ireland was introduced as a qualifying condition for certain social assistance schemes and child benefit with effect from 1st of May 2004. The basis for the restriction is the applicant's habitual residence. The restriction is not based on citizenship, nationality, immigration status or any other factor. The question of what is a person's "habitual...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: The primary objective of my Department's information policy is to ensure that all citizens are made aware of the wide range of schemes and services available and that they are kept informed of changes and improvements as they occur. My Department operates a network of approximately 130 local and branch offices throughout the country. Each Local Office has officers who are dedicated to...

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

Martin Cullen: The legislative provisions relating to late claims for social welfare benefits are set out in Section 241 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, and in Regulations made under that section. These provisions set out the times within which a person must claim, the disqualifications which apply where a claim is made late, and the circumstances in which the time limits may be extended....

Written Answers — National Carers Strategy: National Carers Strategy (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: 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 benefit and the respite care grant have been introduced and...

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

Martin Cullen: The Family Income Supplement (FIS) is designed to provide cash support for employees on low earnings with families. FIS is paid for 52 weeks provided a person continues to meet the qualifying conditions and a claim for renewal may then be made. With regard to the level of take up, it is not possible to estimate from administrative sources the number of families who would be eligible but do...

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

Martin Cullen: The Respite Care Grant is payable to all carers, irrespective of means or contribution record, but subject to certain conditions, relating notably to employment. The person concerned was refused a Respite Care Grant on the grounds that the Deciding Officer in her case was not satisfied that she was providing full-time care and attention. This decision was based on information supplied by the...

Written Answers — Departmental Publications: Departmental Publications (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: The annual report of my Department for the year 2006 was published in June 2007. Copies of the report were distributed to all members of Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann in July 2007. The report is available in both Irish and English and is also available on my Department's website, www.welfare.ie.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: State Pension Non-Contributory is a means tested payment with entitlement to pension decided based on the income or means of the customer. In determining the means of a customer items such as cash income, including British Pensions, the value of any property (excluding a person's own home) and the value of any savings and investments which a person may have are taken into account. Customers...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: The majority of Social Welfare Local Offices are open to the public from 9.30am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, including lunch hours. Some Local Offices, including Social Welfare Branch Offices, do not open during lunch hour as it would not be feasible given the size of the customer base and small numbers of staff working in them. The most recent national independent customer survey, Consulting...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: Information in relation to all the Department's schemes and services is available from the Department's website www.welfare.ie, and application forms, in respect of all schemes, can be downloaded from this site. The facility to complete scheme application forms on-line does not currently exist on the website. Customers can however use an on-line form to notify the Department that they are...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: The majority of Social Welfare Local Offices are open to the public from 9.30am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, including lunch hours. Some Local Offices, including Social Welfare Branch Offices, do not open during lunch hour as it would not be feasible given their customer base and the small number of staff working in them. The majority of Social Welfare Local Offices do however provide a phone...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: The five statutory agencies operating under the aegis of my Department are the Pensions Board, the Combat Poverty Agency, the Citizens Information Board (formerly Comhairle), the Family Support Agency and the Social Welfare Tribunal. In addition the Pensions Ombudsman comes under the remit of my Department. The Information requested by the Deputy is set out on the schedule. Office Opening...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 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 no record of an application for rent supplement from the person concerned. The Executive has further advised that if the person concerned wishes to make an application for rent...