Results 3,141-3,160 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (26 Sep 2007)
Martin Cullen: The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) Scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the Community Welfare division of the Health Service Executive (HSE). Applications for the allowance may be made between the beginning of June and the end of September each year. A person may qualify for payment of a back to school clothing and footwear allowance if he or she is...
- Written Answers — Anti-Poverty Strategy: Anti-Poverty Strategy (26 Sep 2007)
Martin Cullen: In providing vital income support to the unemployed and other disadvantaged people there is a constant balance to be maintained in ensuring that programmes are developed in ways that are sufficiently responsive to various contingencies, while simultaneously providing opportunities to assist people to become less welfare dependent. I am conscious of the need to facilitate persons in receipt of...
- Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (26 Sep 2007)
Martin Cullen: The class of social insurance applicable to people in semi-state companies who were recruited prior to 6 April 1995 is PRSI Class D, paid at a modified rate. This provides social insurance coverage for a limited range of benefits as it was considered that the sick pay and occupational pension arrangements available to people employed in semi-state companies were such that they did not require...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Policy: Social Welfare Policy (26 Sep 2007)
Martin Cullen: The Government discussion paper, "Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents," 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 provision of childcare; improved information services for lone parents and the introduction of a new social...
- Written Answers — Anti-Poverty Strategy: Anti-Poverty Strategy (26 Sep 2007)
Martin Cullen: Combating poverty and building an inclusive society are key priorities for the Government. The National Action Plan for Social Inclusion (NAPinclusion) and the social inclusion commitments in the National Development Plan were drawn up in consultation with the social partners and after a wide ranging consultation process with other stakeholders. They set out clear goals, demanding targets and...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (26 Sep 2007)
Martin Cullen: The PRSI system is designed to provide income protection to employees and the self employed in insurable employment, with entitlement to benefits based on a person experiencing certain contingencies and satisfying prescribed contribution conditions. Insurable employment is employment which involves earnings from â¬38 per week and so the accumulation of contributions is relatively easy under...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (26 Sep 2007)
Martin Cullen: The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) Scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the Community Welfare division of the Health Service Executive (HSE). Applications for the allowance may be made between the beginning of June and the end of September each year. A person may qualify for payment of a back to school clothing and footwear allowance if he or she is in...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (26 Sep 2007)
Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 575, 595 and 601 together. The back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) scheme provides a one-off payment to eligible families to assist with the extra costs when their children start school each autumn. The allowance is not intended to meet the full cost of school clothing and footwear but only to provide assistance towards these costs. A...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (26 Sep 2007)
Martin Cullen: In accordance with Social Welfare legislation the weekly rate of jobseeker's benefit payable is graduated according to the earnings of the claimant in the governing contribution year. The governing contribution year is the second last complete contribution year before the benefit year in which the claim is made. A claimant with no reckonable earnings in the governing contribution year is...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (26 Sep 2007)
Martin Cullen: I am advised by the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office that the appeal from the person concerned has been referred to an Appeals Officer for consideration. Under social welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by Deciding Officers and Appeals Officers who are statutorily appointed. I have no role in regard to making such decisions.
- Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (26 Sep 2007)
Martin Cullen: It is a fundamental principle of our social insurance system that those qualifying for benefits must satisfy a range of contribution and other conditions. In the case of contributory pensions this involves commencing payment of contributions 10 years before pension age, payment of a minimum number of contributions at an appropriate rate and reaching a minimum average annual contribution...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (26 Sep 2007)
Martin Cullen: I am advised by the independent 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. Under Social Welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by Deciding Officers and Appeals Officers. These officers...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (26 Sep 2007)
Martin Cullen: I am advised by the independent 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 on 2nd of October 2007. The person concerned has been informed of the arrangements. Under Social Welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by Deciding Officers and Appeals Officers. These...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (26 Sep 2007)
Martin Cullen: In October 2006, the customer concerned applied for a widower's contributory pension. Following an examination of his insurance record, his application was disallowed as he did not have enough paid contributions. In January 2007 his application was referred for examination of his entitlement to widower's non contributory pension. However, the customer withdrew his claim as he did not wish...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (26 Sep 2007)
Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 582 and 583 together. The person concerned was awarded Family Income Supplement (FIS) for a period of 12 months from 25th May 2006 and payment continued to 23rd May 2007. He made a renewal claim on 17th April 2007. Due to high volumes of claims in the FIS section, there have been delays in processing claims with the result that this claim was not examined...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (26 Sep 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. There are currently 20,247 people in receipt of FIS. Entitlement to FIS is based on an applicant satisfying a means test and on certification of...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (26 Sep 2007)
Martin Cullen: I am advised by the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office that, having considered all the available evidence, an Appeals Officer disallowed the appeal of the person concerned. Under Social Welfare Legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by Deciding Officers and Appeals Officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (26 Sep 2007)
Martin Cullen: I am advised by the independent 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. Under Social Welfare Legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by Deciding Officers and Appeals Officers. These officers are...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (26 Sep 2007)
Martin Cullen: I am advised by the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office that, in accordance with the statutory requirements, the relevant Departmental papers and comments of my Department have been sought in this case. On receipt of this response the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer for early consideration. Under Social Welfare Legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (26 Sep 2007)
Martin Cullen: An application for Widow's Contributory Pension was received on 26 April 2007 on behalf of the person concerned (now deceased). The claim was refused in July 2007 on the basis that the insurance contributions condition was not satisfied. Earlier this month, the application was reviewed as additional information on insurance records was provided by the applicant. However, following a full...