Results 2,241-2,260 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (8 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The social insurance system in Ireland is generally based on compulsory paid PRSI contributions on which entitlement to a range of contingency-based payments are established. Workers are insured under the Social Welfare Acts as either employed or self-employed contributors. Employees and their employers generally pay contributions at PRSI class A, whereas self-employed workers generally pay...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (8 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Since 1994, successive Governments have followed the policy of holding the rate of child dependant allowances constant while concentrating additional resources for child income support on the child benefit scheme. Child benefit is neutral vis-À-vis the employment status of the child's parents and does not contribute to poverty traps, whereas the loss of child dependant allowances by social...

Written Answers — Anti-Poverty Strategy: Anti-Poverty Strategy (8 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The causes of poverty and its effects are multifaceted and require an integrated, multi-policy response at national, regional and local levels. The Government's strategic approach to tackling poverty was initially provided through the national anti-poverty strategy, NAPS, which was introduced in 1997. This strategy has now been subsumed into the national action plan against poverty and social...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 146 together. Support of carers has been a priority of Government since 1997. Payments to carers have been greatly improved over that period and 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 payment have been introduced....

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (8 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes rent supplement, is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Neither I nor my Department has any function in relation to decisions on individual claims. Under standard SWA rules rent supplements are normally calculated to ensure that a person, after the payment of rent, has an income...

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (8 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: There have been no developments on this matter and the position remains as outlined in my reply to a question, reference number 2677/06, of 26 January 2006. There have been no discussions between staff representatives and the company contracted by the OPW to oversee the installation.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (8 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Under the Government programme of decentralisation, it is proposed that all headquarter sections of the Department will relocate to six provincial locations: Drogheda, Carrick-on-Shannon, Sligo, Donegal town, Buncrana and Carrickmacross. As part of the Department's decentralisation implementation plan, the maintenance recovery unit, MRU, which comprises some 14 employees and is currently...

Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages. (9 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I thank Deputies for taking the trouble to table these amendments. I appreciate them and will keep these matters under review. I take note of what Deputy Seán Ryan and Deputy Penrose said. Following the introduction of the one-parent family payment in 1997 the deserted wife's benefit was discontinued with effect from 2 January 1997. The scheme for deserted wives under social insurance has...

Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages. (9 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I acknowledge the Deputy's commitment to this issue. In his contributions as the Chairman of the committee in question, he singled out carers as his top priority. As such and due to his patent commitment, I owe it to him to take the issue seriously. As the Deputy said, we have made substantial progress. The means test for carer's allowance has been eased significantly in recent years,...

Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages. (9 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I understand the point the Deputies are making. I examined the half rate allowance before the budget, as recommended by the Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs, but I was unable to implement this measure. Instead, I increased the carer's allowance to €200. The State non-contributory pension is now €182 and the carer's allowance for those over 66 years is €200. The reason I...

Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages. (9 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I acknowledge that anomalies exist throughout the system and we are trying our best to iron them out, within an overall philosophy of supporting people. On the issue of indexation, the consumer price index rose by 34% in the past ten years, gross earnings rose by 65% and social welfare rates increased by 84%. I acknowledge the Deputy's point about disregards is slightly different....

Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages. (9 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Over the last six years the Department has reviewed 9,474 such cases. I am referring to the assets of deceaseds' estates and the number of means-tested pension cases for which the Department has assessed overpayments. The number found to have overpayments was 2,326. As I said on Committee Stage, that recovered €30.9 million. It works out at around €5 million a year, on average, with about...

Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages. (9 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I will have to get more advice on that matter.

Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages. (9 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: It is a good concept. Even if it is not in our area, perhaps we could look at it.

Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages. (9 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: In respect of the case referred to by Deputy Penrose involving the accountant who has, unfortunately, been unwell, paragraph 2.7 on page 30 of the guide to social welfare services deals with voluntary PRSI contributions. According to this paragraph: If an employee or self-employed contributor is no longer covered by compulsory PRSI and they are under the age of 66, they may opt to pay...

Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages. (9 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I am advised that a measure of discretion will be exercised in this case, although I am not sure of its extent.

Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages. (9 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The woman may also qualify for other benefits. In respect of the case raised by Deputy Ring, the Deputy is aware that the habitual residency rules apply to carers who have worked outside the State. If someone enters this country to become a carer, the Department must assess whether he or she meets the requirements of the habitual residence clause. I do not think we can do much in this area...

Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages. (9 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Photographs.

Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages. (9 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Deputy Penrose again pointed out a number of apparent anomalies. We are trying to iron out as many of them as possible. Almost 18 months ago I said the experience of Deputies, Senators and councillors — our public representatives — is a great treasure trove. I have taken careful note of every anomaly and proposal made by members of my parliamentary party and by others in this House. I...

Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages. (9 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: In reply to Deputy McCormack, I do not want to go over the debate about the half rate again as I dealt with it a few moments ago. In the example the Deputy gave, the person concerned would not necessarily have to lose the carer's allowance. She could keep the carer's allowance, which is now €200 if she is over 65 but she would not be entitled to the widow's pension. It would be one or the...