Results 2,761-2,780 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — National Carers Strategy: National Carers Strategy (20 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: My Department provides income support to carers by way of carer's allowance, carer's benefit and the respite care grant. The respite care grant, which is an annual payment for carers who look after certain people in need of full-time care and attention, is payable from age 16. The payment is made regardless of the carer's means or social insurance contributions but it is subject to certain...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (20 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: There are two strands of the scheme — back to work enterprise allowance (BTWEA) for self employed and back to work allowance (BTWA) for employees. The allowance is payable at a tapered rate of the qualifying payment. The self employed strand is payable at 100% of the qualifying payment in year one, 75% in year two, 50% in year three, and 25% in year four. Participants on the employee strand...

Written Answers — National Carers Strategy: National Carers Strategy (20 Nov 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 — National Carers Strategy: National Carers Strategy (20 Nov 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 (20 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that before proceeding with the appeal, the Appeals Officer has afforded the person concerned an opportunity of setting out the complete and up to date grounds of his appeal and, for this purpose, has issued him with a form to complete. On return of the completed form the appeal will proceed. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of...

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

Martin Cullen: The person concerned is in receipt of jobseeker's allowance from 9 October 2007 at the weekly rate of €142.80. She made a retrospective application for the period from July 2007 to 8 October 2007. A Deciding Officer was not satisfied that the person concerned showed that, throughout the period of her retrospective claim, there was good cause for her failing to apply for jobseeker's...

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

Martin Cullen: The farm assist scheme, which introduced special arrangements for farmers on low incomes, was provided for in the Social Welfare Act, 1999 and came into operation with effect from 7 April 1999. At the time of its introduction, it was estimated that the scheme would cater for 13,600 people, approximately double the number who were availing of the existing smallholders scheme. The estimated...

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

Martin Cullen: The office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for the procurement and maintenance of all my Department's office accommodation. I have asked the OPW to examine the feasibility of installing this facility at the local Office, Hanover Quay, Cork.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (20 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: Under the Government's decentralisation programme for the civil and public service, the Department's headquarter sections and the Social Welfare Appeals Office are relocating to 6 locations — Sligo, Carrick-on-Shannon, Donegal, Buncrana, Carrickmacross and Drogheda. In addition, the Combat Poverty Agency and Citizens Information Board are scheduled to relocate to Monaghan and Drogheda,...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (15 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: Section 175 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 provides that a qualified parent for the purposes of the one parent family payment, shall not, if and so long as they and any other person are cohabiting as husband and wife, be entitled to and shall be disqualified for receiving payment of the one parent family payment. Any amendment to this provision would require primary...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (15 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: Since the formation of the new Government I have made use of the Ministerial Air Transport Service (MATS) on one occasion in October 2007. No further travel costs have been incurred as I have made use of the official Ministerial car to attend all other engagements. There is no Minister of State assigned to my Department.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (15 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: Although there are no statistics available in relation to the number of pensions that operate on an integrated basis, it is generally accepted that the system applies in the vast majority of defined benefit schemes. There were 1,411 defined benefit schemes registered with the Pensions Board at the end of 2006. The manner in which integration is implemented can vary, but the most common...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (15 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: As I explained in my previous reply, my Department was approached by third parties to assist them in contacting individuals who could not be contacted at the address held in their name on the third parties' records. My Department has consistently maintained that it should be a last port of call in overcoming problems with contacting individuals and has engaged with third parties to the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: This person was awarded a State Pension Non-Contributory from 8 October 2004. In January 2007, the Department was notified by the UK Department of Social Security that he qualified for a British Retirement Pension with effect from 21 June 2004. His entitlement to State Pension Non-Contributory for the period 8 October 2004 to 4 January 2007 was therefore reviewed and an overpayment arising...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: All applicants regardless of nationality are from 1 May 2004 required to be habitually resident in the State in order to qualify for Supplementary Welfare Allowance, child benefit and certain social welfare assistance payments. The Eastern Area of the Health Service Executive has advised that the person concerned was refused supplementary welfare allowance on the grounds that he is not...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: The Health Service Executive has advised that it is awaiting documentation from the person concerned so that it can make a decision on any entitlement to rent supplement. It has further advised that it will inform the person concerned of its decision on the matter in writing in due course. The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes rent supplement, is administered on my...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (15 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 122 together. 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...

Written Answers — Anti-Social Behaviour: Anti-Social Behaviour (14 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 Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (14 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the appeal from the person concerned has been referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing. The person concerned will be informed when arrangements have been made. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of my Department that is independently responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (14 Nov 2007)

Martin Cullen: A new pension scheme, known as State Pension (Non-Contributory) was introduced in September 2006 and incorporated all means-tested schemes for people aged 66 and over. As part of this reform, the basic income disregard for the purposes of the means test for non-contributory pensions was increased to €20 per week and a new disregard on earnings from employment of €100 per week was...