Results 3,181-3,200 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

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

Martin Cullen: Maternity Benefit is an income maintenance payment awarded by this Department to eligible women for a twenty-six-week period on foot of a confinement. Entitlement to this benefit for employees is contingent on entitlement to statutory Maternity Leave. The right to Maternity Leave is established under the Maternity Protection Act, 1994 — legislation for which is the responsibility of my...

Written Answers — Live Register: Live Register (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: I am in regular contact with my colleague Michéal Martin T.D. Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment regarding employment opportunities for both Waterford City and County. My Department participates in tri-partite meetings regularly with FÁS and the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment on a National level to discuss Live Register management related issues and to develop...

Financial Services Regulation. (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: I would like to achieve a scenario in which people have no need to go to moneylenders in the first instance and can instead access legitimately the main stream of financial services to which most of us have access. The difficulty is that people on very low incomes get themselves into debt and find it very difficult to access credit from the normal institutions with which most of us deal on a...

Financial Services Regulation. (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: I will be very straight with the Deputy. I do not find it acceptable that people are charged up to 188% interest.

Financial Services Regulation. (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: I have just outlined to the Deputy that I wish to ensure that vulnerable people — the small but important cohort who are caught in this situation — have broader credit options and access to the legitimate system. I wish to ensure at the same time that if we take action in the financial market, the benefit is felt directly by those for whom we are making the changes. There is no point in...

Financial Services Regulation. (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: It has not been demonstrated that even if one places a cap on interest, the game will not change dramatically again. I wish to ensure that if I move, as I would like to, in conjunction with the Minister for Finance and the Financial Regulator, the outcome of our action works. It is easy to pick things out of the sky, but we must ensure that they deliver.

Waste Management. (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: The setting of waste management charges and the introduction of waivers in respect of waste charges is, as has been stated in this House on many occasions, a matter for each local authority. Local authorities operate under the auspices of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Since taking office as Minister for Social and Family Affairs I have not been in contact...

Waste Management. (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: I do not disagree with the Deputy's last point. Everybody is aware that this issue can be difficult for some people. I have some experience with the matter because I dealt with it when I was Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. This is a matter for the local authorities. Some local authorities operate good waiver schemes, and not simply where the authorities...

Waste Management. (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy asked where the authority lay and I gave a straight answer. When the Deputy reads the full reply, she will see that the matter of how this issue could be managed best was considered in some detail during recent discussions between this Department and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and it was clear it was managed best at local authority level. It...

Pension Provisions. (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: My Department is committed to providing a quality service for all of its customers. Claims and applications are processed and decisions on entitlement issued as quickly as possible, having regard to the eligibility conditions which apply and the available resources. The State pension transition, SPT, and State pension contributory, SPC, schemes, which are insurance based schemes, require...

Pension Provisions. (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy's first question is one I also asked. All of the issues have been resolved. There were some technical issues but they have been resolved. I have provided the information to the Deputy. About 40% of the staff turnover was related to decentralisation where staff transferred to another area. I certainly do not want any issues relating to decentralisation, which is substantial...

Pension Provisions. (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: I do not have that information with me but I will raise the issue in the Department.

Social Welfare Benefits. (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 child care; improved information services for lone parents and the introduction of a social assistance...

Social Welfare Benefits. (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: We have moved on some of the income areas which have made a considerable difference. We all agree that the measure that led to the greatest level of stability and the greatest number of options for many families was the removal of the cohabitation issue, whereby the partner was not supposed to be living in the property. This issue led to considerable instability, particularly for young...

Social Welfare Benefits. (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: The pilot system will work in Coolock in Dublin and Kilkenny. The test due to commence in October will focus on identifying and resolving the practical and administrative issues that may arise in advance of the scheme being introduced. They will work with all those who will benefit from the scheme. In the past we introduced new ideas which of themselves seemed beneficial only to find that...

Social Welfare Benefits. (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111, 117, 119, 133, 134, 172 and 569 together. 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 greatly increased, qualifying conditions for carer's allowance have significantly eased, coverage of the scheme has been extended and new schemes such...

Social Welfare Benefits. (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: I am glad the Deputy agrees. We have come a long way in a relatively short period, and rightly so. There is no doubt those who provide care deliver a great service. If the State had to provide this, the cost would probably far exceed the current cost. Nevertheless we have grown the budget in this area very substantially. Nobody has unlimited resources, so we must continue to ensure we...

Social Welfare Benefits. (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: They would not.

Social Welfare Benefits. (26 Sep 2007)

Martin Cullen: I would like to have full information on this, although I know the area being spoken about by the Deputy and some of my own colleagues have pointed out these facts to me. We must look at how we can achieve results on the issue. At this stage I cannot pre-empt what the Minister for Finance might decide to do with the budget. We will have our own discussions — as do all Departments — in...