Results 3,121-3,140 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: The recommendation of the Law Reform Commission arose from one of two important pieces of work 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 Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, focuses on different types of cohabiting...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 152, 155 and 613 together. The back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) scheme operates from the beginning of June to the end of September each year and is administered on behalf of my Department by the Community Welfare division of the Health Service Executive. As the BSCFA scheme will be running to the end of September, final figures in...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: The report to which the Deputy refers was produced by the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) of my Department in accordance with legislative requirements. It contains details of the activities of the office in 2006 as well as commentary on other issues which arose during the year. As I previously stated on 29 June 2007, I welcome the continued commitment of the SWAO to provide an accessible...

Written Answers — Social Inclusion: Social Inclusion (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: The CORI review Addressing Inequality, which was published earlier this year, is currently being examined by my Department. The review analyses the current social and economic position in the country under twelve different headings including income, taxation, work, public services, migration, social participation and sustainability. It sets out a wide range of recommendations under each of...

Written Answers — Anti-Poverty Strategy: Anti-Poverty Strategy (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 160 and 182 together. The annual report of the Combat Poverty Agency for 2006 which I launched on 4 September, 2007 contains details of the progress made by the Agency on its strategic plan 'Working for a Poverty-Free Ireland'. It contains inter alia details of its findings in relation to child poverty and it highlights the importance of services such as...

Written Answers — Retirement Age: Retirement Age (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: It is important that those who wish to continue in employment after normal retirement age should, as far as is possible, be facilitated and supported. Longer working can play an important role in ensuring that our pensions system is sustainable in the future and can be beneficial to the individual. The Green Paper on pensions will include an examination of the issues surrounding retirement...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: A recommendation for the introduction of a new social assistance payment was included in the Government discussion paper, "Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents." The discussion paper also put forward proposals for the expanded availability and range of education and training opportunities for lone parents; the extension of the National Employment Action Plan to focus on lone parents; focused...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Offices: Social Welfare Offices (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: My Department delivers a front-line service to its customers through a network of 59 Local Offices and 66 Branch Offices countrywide. The services provided from these offices include jobseekers payments, One-parent Family Payment and a customer information service. The 59 Local Offices are staffed by departmental staff. The 66 Branch Offices are run by branch managers who are employed under a...

Written Answers — Young Carers: Young Carers (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167, 175, 616 to 620, inclusive, together. According to Census 2002 almost 3,000 people between the ages of 15 and 17 are providing unpaid care in the home of which over 2,600 or 89% are still in formal education. Over 300 people aged in that age group provide over 4 hours of care per day with over 200 young people provide a minimum of 43 hours of care per...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Schemes: Social Welfare Schemes (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: 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 in receipt of certain disability type welfare payments,...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: The Family Income Supplement (FIS) provides income support for employees on low earnings with families. This preserves the incentive to remain in employment in circumstances where the employee might only be marginally better off than if he or she were claiming other social welfare payments. Improvements introduced as part of Budget 2007 continued the re-focusing of income thresholds to...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 and 186 together. My immediate plans entail the progression of two legislative initiatives over the coming months. These are the Social Welfare Bill 2007, and the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008. Immediately following the Budget Statement by the Minister for Finance in early December, I will introduce the Social Welfare Bill 2007 to the House. This...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: A disregard of €100 per week of earnings from employment was introduced at the end of September 2006 for the purposes of the State Pension Non-Contributory. To further encourage State pensioners to participate in the workplace, the disregard was doubled, from €100 to €200 per week with effect from January 2007. While labour force participation by people aged 55-64 years is increasing in...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (26 Sep 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...

Written Answers — Social Insurance Fund: Social Insurance Fund (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to 'Increase the basic State pension by around 50% to at least €300 per week by 2012'. Changes to pension rates are considered in a budgetary context and will be announced in the forthcoming budget. It is estimated that the cost of increasing contributory pensions, which are financed through the Social Insurance Fund, to €300 would be...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Schemes: Social Welfare Schemes (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: The Warmer Homes Scheme is operated by Sustainable Energy Ireland and matters relating to that scheme are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. The aim of the national fuel scheme, administered by my Department, is to assist householders on long-term social welfare or health service executive payments with meeting the cost of their...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: The person concerned has been awarded Carer's Allowance in respect of two care recipients with effect from 22 February 2007. She has also qualified for the Respite Care Grant for 2007 of €3,000. The person concerned has qualified for a free travel pass and her entitlement to the Household Benefits package will be assessed on receipt of a completed application form; a form is being forwarded...

Written Answers — Anti-Poverty Strategy: Anti-Poverty Strategy (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: My Department through its various social insurance and assistance schemes provides income supports to people to meet their basic living needs, including food, clothing, heat and light. Supplements are also payable in certain circumstances for specific needs, for example fuel allowances, rent supplements, living alone allowance for older people or the household benefits package for pensioners,...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: The Family Income Supplement (FIS) scheme is designed to provide cash support for employees on low earnings with families. Entitlement to FIS is based on an applicant satisfying a means test and on certification of employment by the employer. My Department has consistently publicised the scheme in order to maximise uptake by qualified families. Following significant improvements in the...

Written Answers — Tax and Social Welfare Codes: Tax and Social Welfare Codes (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: My Department has taken a lead role over the years in developing and implementing identity management policies and procedures based on the use of the Personal Public Services (PPS) number. This number was previously known as the Revenue and Social Insurance (RSI) number. The name was changed to indicate the broadening of its role to one which supports delivery of a broader range of public...