Results 1,861-1,880 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (2 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 547, 567 and 591 together. In order to qualify for the maximum rate of the state pension (contributory) a person must, amongst other qualifying conditions, achieve a yearly average of at least 48 contributions paid or credited on his/her social insurance record over their working life. Reduced pensions are paid to those with yearly averages as low as 10...

Written Answers — Family Support Services: Family Support Services (2 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 548 and 590 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 as carer's benefit and the...

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (2 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: The person concerned is currently in receipt of a Special Partial (self-employed) State Pension (Contributory), payable at €111.70 per week. Social insurance contributions (Class S PRSI) were introduced for self-employed people on 6th April 1988. However the person concerned had reached age 56 by that date, and therefore did not qualify for a standard rate State Pension (Contributory),...

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (2 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: The information requested is given in the following tables. Table A sets out the 2008 monthly schedule of planned expenditure for Vote 38 and Table B sets out the corresponding expenditure, and income, for the Social Insurance Fund. Tables C and D show actual expenditure incurred and income received in the month of January for Vote 38 and the Social Insurance Fund, respectively. Full...

Written Answers — Family Support Services: Family Support Services (2 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: Initial examination of the Deputy's proposal indicates that it would not be possible to provide the data on a similar basis to the Exchequer Statement.

Written Answers — Tax and Social Welfare Codes: Tax and Social Welfare Codes (2 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 552, 553 and 557 together. The Programme for Government states: "The role and economic contribution of spouses working on the farm will be better recognised within the social insurance system, following on from Budget 2007 which allowed recipients of Farm Assist to make PRSI contributions for the first time". There are three situations where spouses may pay...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (2 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: In general, customers may continue working after reaching their retirement age but any contributions paid after retirement age are not reckonable for pension purposes. The entitlement of this customer to continue working may be subject to having a valid work permit and any question in this regard should be addressed to the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment. My Department does...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (2 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: EU nationals who come to work in Ireland but whose families remain in their home country may have an entitlement to family benefits, e.g. Child Benefit, in Ireland under EU Regulation 1408/71. Since 2005 the number of claims in respect of non-resident children of EU nationals has increased significantly. This influx has resulted in delays in finalizing claims. A number of measures has...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (2 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: Disability allowance is the principal means tested social assistance payment available from my Department for persons with disabilities. As is the case with all social assistance payments, disability allowance is subject to a means test. For the purposes of assessing means, the proceeds of court awards are treated as capital. Since June 2007, the following method has applied to the assessment...

Written Answers — Child Support: Child Support (2 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: Child Benefit section routinely contact customers to ensure that they still meet the conditions for receipt of the benefit and are receiving their full entitlement. Since late 2007, an automated process has been introduced that will issue a residency certification letter to selected groups of customers on a regular periodic basis. The person referred to was written to in December 2006 as...

Written Answers — Child Support: Child Support (2 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 559 and 560 together. The Child Benefit scheme has, in recent years, years experienced significant expansion in the volume of claims received, the rates of payment and the diversity of the customer base. Over the last five years, the rate of benefit has almost doubled. The annual cost in 2008 will be in excess of €2.3 billion and the payment is now made for...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (2 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: The jobseeker's allowance claim from the person concerned is currently with a Social Welfare Inspector for investigation of his circumstances. On completion of enquiries, a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (2 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: The position regarding the rent supplement entitlement of the person concerned remains as advised in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 322 which I answered for the Deputy on 18th December 2007. The Health Service Executive has advised that in December 2006, it refused a payment of rent supplement in this case on the grounds that the local housing authority had not certified that the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (2 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the appeal from the person concerned has been allowed. 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 — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (2 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the HSE, 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 the Executive based on...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (2 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: My Department provides a wide range of second chance education opportunities to equip people on certain social welfare payments to improve their skills and qualifications and, therefore, their prospects of returning to the active work force. Attendance at approved full-time courses of education provides opportunity for personal development and progression to employment for those dependent on...

Written Answers — Departmental Facilities: Departmental Facilities (2 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: The information requested is currently being compiled within my Department and will be made available to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (2 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: The customer in this case made an application for Old Age Non Contributory Pension on the 19th February 1990. At the time of application the customer declared that both she and her spouse were in receipt of a U.S. pension. Following an assessment by the Social Welfare Inspector a reduced rate of Old Age Non Contributory Pension, including an increase in respect of her spouse was awarded to...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (2 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: The Social Welfare appeals system is quasi-judicial and the procedures involved are designed to ensure that every appellant gets full and fair consideration. I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, ordinarily, appellants are sent their decisions in writing within three or four weeks of an oral hearing. In unsuccessful appeals, the Appeals Officers set out the reasons for...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (2 Apr 2008)

Martin Cullen: The persons concerned are married and each is in receipt of a farm assist payment. The basis of the decisions to award them farm assist is currently under appeal. A Deciding Officer assessed the means of the husband at €89.47 from 20 February 2008. The means assessed are halved, as his wife is in receipt of a social welfare payment in her own right, giving an effective weekly means of...