Results 2,741-2,760 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (21 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: The calculation referred to arose from an overlap in the payment of State Pension Non-Contributory and British Retirement Pension in the period from 8 October 2004 to 4 January 2007. The overpayment of pension amounted to €2,387.50. Due to an oversight reference to the amount overpaid was omitted in the letter that issued on 19 th October 2007. The misunderstanding that has arisen in...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (21 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: The office at King Street Loughrea had to be closed, from Friday 2 November, 2007, for Health and Safety reasons. It is not possible to develop the premises to the standard required by my Department for customers, or staff and consequently the Office of Public Works have been pursuing alternative accommodation. It is expected that a new office will be ready for occupation early in the New...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (21 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: My Department has consistently publicised the FIS scheme in order to maximise uptake by qualified families. Significant improvements in the qualifying income limits and ongoing awareness campaigns have resulted in a strong upward trend in the level of new claims and, consequently, in claims for renewals. Entitlement to FIS is based on an applicant satisfying a means test and on certification...

Written Answers — Departmental Statistics: Departmental Statistics (21 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: A PPS Number is automatically issued in the case of children born in Ireland. In other cases application must be made in person at one of the Department's network of Local Offices. PPS Numbers are issued following a controlled allocation procedure, involving a personal attendance at the office, the completion of a written application form and the submission and authentication of appropriate...

Written Answers — Conflicts of Interest: Conflicts of Interest (21 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: In the period in question, none of the people employed as Special Advisers by me or both my predecessors, have declared a conflict of interest in relation to the performance of their duties as Special Adviser. INFORMATION NOTE Extract of the relevant section (19.3) of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 follows: (3) (a) If the remuneration of a person as a special adviser exceeds a...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (21 Nov 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 — Complaints Procedures: Complaints Procedures (21 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: A formal comments and complaints system has been in operation in my Department since 2002. All such complaints received from members of the public are processed under this system whish is monitored centrally. The number of complaints registered for the years 2005, 2006, and to date in 2007, was 95, 104, and 138 respectively.

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (21 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the following table. With regard to Internet Advertising, my Department has its own website www.welfare.ie and any advertising campaigns being conducted by my Department are publicised on that site. Appendix: Advertising Expenditure 2002-2007 Advertising Expenditure Total Print Television Radio Other â'¬ â'¬ â'¬ â'¬ â'¬...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (21 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: A key commitment by my Department, as outlined in its business plans, is that the business of the organisation be carried out having regard to principles of economy, efficiency and effectiveness. To this end, the Management Services Unit (MSU) within my Department is providing specialist development for staff to analyse business processes; seek ways to streamline and improve those processes;...

Written Answers — Anti-Social Behaviour: Anti-Social Behaviour (20 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on behalf of my Department by the Health Service Executive, provides for the payment of a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of rent to eligible persons in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation needs. In order to qualify for rent supplement a person must satisfy a number of conditions...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: Under 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 determined by...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (20 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the appeal by the person concerned has been referred to an Appeals Officer for consideration. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of my Department that is independently responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (20 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: The Construction Federation Operatives Pensions Scheme, was first put in place in 1965, and operates as a Registered Employment Agreement under the Industrial Relations Acts. There is a statutory obligation on employers to register eligible employees in the scheme and to pay the necessary contributions. The scheme was reformed in 2006 after an extended review process between employers and...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 334 and 335 together. A Deciding Officer awarded the person concerned jobseeker's allowance at the weekly rate of 10 cent from 26 September 2007. She has weekly means of €309.00 derived from benefit of partner's earnings. In practice the Department does not issue payments each week for such small amounts but this award will entitle her to credited pay...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (20 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: My Department is involved in a number of programmes some of which are part funded by the EU. Details of the amount received by this Department from the EU over the last ten years are not immediately available. However, my Department will write to the Deputy with these details as soon as they are available.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (20 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: The person concerned was in receipt of jobseeker's benefit from 12 October 2005. Following a review of her entitlements, a Deciding Officer disallowed the jobseeker's benefit claim of the person concerned from 10 May 2007 on the grounds that she was not genuinely seeking full-time work. The person concerned appealed this decision. An Appeals Officer subsequently upheld the Deciding...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: The estimated cost of the 2007 budget increase in the earnings limit for recipients of deserted wife's benefit (DWB) was €1.54 million for a full year. For those who first claimed DWB after 31st August 1992, the increase now allows for the retention of full-rate deserted wife's benefit with earnings of up to €20,000 per annum. This would entitle a recipient earning €20,000 to an annual...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (20 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: Due to the sad and untimely death of the Branch Manager in Dunmanway an arrangement had to be put in place immediately to ensure continuity of service to customers. The number of customers involved includes approximately 230 in receipt of a jobseekers payment and a further 120 on farm assist, back to work and pre retirement allowance. These customers are being facilitated by neighbouring...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (20 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: The Office of Public Works which has responsibility for the maintenance and upkeep of all my Department's offices, plan to undertake a major refurbishment of the Social Welfare Local Office in Newcastle West. Any improvement works to the entrances and exits of the car park will be addressed as part of that programme.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: The aim of the national fuel scheme is to assist householders on long-term social welfare or health service executive payments with meeting the cost of their additional heating needs during the winter season. Fuel allowances are paid for 29 weeks from end-September to mid-April and are not intended to meet the full cost of heating. Eligibility to the fuel allowance scheme is subject to means...