Results 2,661-2,680 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Social Welfare Code. (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: I gave the Deputy detailed information in my reply. As I said, from January to August 2007, a total of 28,542 claims were decided. Of these, 3,430 required particular examination of the habitual residence condition. Some 90% of these satisfied the condition and only 341 were refused as the condition was not satisfied. I repeat we provide direct provision. I would be astonished if certain...

Social Welfare Code. (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: It is about a balance. It is not only about a few people, as the Deputy rightly said. The generosity and flexibility in the system is indicative of the Irish people and the amount of resources we have put into this area. It would be wrong to be irresponsible and to attach no conditions for people coming to this country to access what is a very generous social welfare system.

Anti-Poverty Strategy. (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: The overall goal in the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion, NAPinclusion, is to reduce the proportion of our population experiencing consistent poverty to between 2% and 4% by 2012, with the aim of eliminating consistent poverty by 2016. The goal is based on the trends since 2003 in the EU survey on income and living conditions, EU-SILC, conducted by the Central Statistics Office. It...

Anti-Poverty Strategy. (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: I do not.

Anti-Poverty Strategy. (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: The measurement used is utterly meaningless and I will explain why. EU survey results for 2006 are not yet available from all EU countries. However, in the case of Ireland, given the progress being achieved in tackling poverty, it is expected that our comparative position should improve. Ireland has regularly pointed out the limitations of the use of at risk of poverty measures. They may...

Anti-Poverty Strategy. (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: I am glad the Deputy shifted her focus and argued for dealing with the real picture where there are children living in consistent poverty. There is no question about that and we have been dealing with this issue. The figures are coming down. That is why under the NAP inclusion plan, the national development plan and Towards 2016, we want to eliminate it within that timeframe. That is...

Anti-Poverty Strategy. (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: I want, again, to deal with what we know to be the factual position as opposed to some statistical analysis. I pointed out to the people who bombarded me with statistics that we are actually dealing with real people here.

Anti-Poverty Strategy. (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: Frankly, I am not interested in dealing with people who are using all sorts of very strange measurements to come up with certain figures. The fact is that we are targeting a huge amount of our resources to deal with children in poverty. In respect of the two big groups, children in families where there is unemployment and the children of single parents, there are two pilot schemes being...

Anti-Poverty Strategy. (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy wanted an answer to the question. It is not about the amount of money one simply gives somebody; it is about using the services to get them out of the situation and into employment, which is what we are doing — just so the Deputy knows what the strategy is.

Social Welfare Benefits. (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: Rent supplement is administered on my behalf by the Health Service Executive as part of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. Rent supplement is subject to a limit on the amount of rent that an applicant for rent supplement may incur. These rent limits are set at levels that enable the different categories of eligible tenant households to secure and retain basic suitable rented...

Social Welfare Benefits. (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: As I said earlier, the review for this year has been completed. Clearly, there are issues within the system at which I would like to look. The system that is in place will run up to June next year. In the meantime, we will look at all of the issues, some of which were raised by Deputy Enright and some of which I am aware of, having interacted with many of these people who come to my...

Social Welfare Benefits. (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: It would be wrong to provide a specific answer seven months in advance of what may happen because that would have a major effect on the market and the people with whom we are both trying to deal. When the review, which will involve voluntary organisations, the Private Residential Tenancies Board and various Departments, is complete——

Social Welfare Benefits. (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: There was a review that set up the system that is effective from January 2007 to June 2008. We are now beginning a review for 2008.

Social Welfare Benefits. (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: Supporting and recognising carers in our society is a priority of the Government and has been so since 1997. Over that period, weekly payment rates to carers have been greatly increased, qualifying conditions for the carers 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...

Social Welfare Benefits. (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: Much as Deputy Enright might like me to do so, I cannot put the budget on the record of the House this afternoon. The development of a strategy for carers, which has happened over the past few years, resources and major income supports are very important. I, like Deputy Enright, have met many carers throughout the country who say that the quality of their lives has been transformed in...

Social Welfare Fraud. (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: A memorandum of understanding between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland concerning co-operation and mutual assistance in the administration of social security schemes was signed on 9 October 2000. The memorandum provides for the establishment of a management committee, which meets several times a year and oversees and directs the...

Social Welfare Fraud. (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: I must stop giving all this wonderful information if I cannot deliver it.

Social Welfare Fraud. (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy's question was specific to Northern Ireland and, therefore, all the information I provided relates to cross-Border fraud involving people from that jurisdiction.

Social Welfare Fraud. (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: There has obviously been a misunderstanding because the information I provided relates specifically to people from Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom. The Deputy's supplementary questions related to all EU borders. There is a memorandum of understanding in place and cases are continually being investigated. The seven prosecutions and the 15 pending relate specifically to fraud...

Social Welfare Code. (4 Dec 2007)

Martin Cullen: 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 opportunities, the extension of the national...