Results 2,461-2,480 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (9 May 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. Rent supplements are subject to a limit on the amount of rent that an applicant for rent supplement may incur. I understand that...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (9 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: There is a requirement under the legislation for a claimant to make a social welfare claim within a specified period from the date their entitlement arises. In the case of Disability Allowance this is within 7 days of the date on which the claimant becomes entitled to Disability Allowance. However, provision is made in the legislation to make payments within certain limits where there is...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (9 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The person's application for carer's benefit was disallowed by a Deciding Officer on the grounds that the person was not engaged in remunerative employment prior to her claim as she was on a career break. The person appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office and an oral hearing was held on 28 February 2006. Having considered all of the available evidence, including that...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (9 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 254, 255, 256 and 258 together. The National Pensions Policy Initiative, published in 1998, suggested that 70% of those at work who are 30 years of age and over require a supplementary pension to ensure that they can maintain their standard of living in retirement. The most recent figures from the Quarterly National Household Survey (CSO) show that in the...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (9 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The new Pensions Board took up office from 21st December 2005 for a five year period. The full membership of the board is: Tiarnan O'Mahony (Chairperson) Appointed by the Minister for Social & Family Affairs Kevin Brabazon Nominated by Irish Business & Employers Confederation Marie Daly Rosheen Callendar Nominated by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions Fergus Whelan ...

Written Answers — Family Support Services: Family Support Services (9 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 259 and 260 together. The Government acknowledges that the risk of poverty, especially child poverty, tends to be higher among one parent families, larger families and those faced by long-term unemployment, due mainly to the direct costs of rearing children, including child care costs, and the opportunity costs related to the reduced earning capacity of...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (9 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Rent supplements are available to eligible people through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Neither I nor my Department has any function in determining entitlement in individual cases. Under Section 190(1) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005, people in full-time education...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (10 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Social Welfare legislation provides that a person must satisfy the conditions of being available for and genuinely seeking work in order to be entitled to unemployment benefit or assistance. In order to satisfy these conditions, a person must demonstrate that he or she is making reasonable efforts to secure full-time employment or self- employment. In applying the legislation Deciding...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (10 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: As the Deputy is aware, the social welfare system comprises two types of pension; contributory pensions based on social insurance contributions and non-contributory pensions, payment of which are subject to a means test. The contributory pension is paid at a slightly higher rate; however, its main advantage is that it is paid regardless of any other income a person might have. Within that...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (10 May 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. In deciding entitlement to rent supplement the Executive must satisfy itself in relation to a number of conditions including that...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (10 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: A free travel recipient is issued with a free travel pass for the purpose of enabling him/her to travel for free on most CIE public transport services, on the Luas and on a range of services offered by a large number of private operators in various parts of the country. A pensioner can also travel for free on cross border journeys between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. In order...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (10 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 47 together. All carers who are in receipt of carer's allowance, carer's benefit, prescribed relative allowance or constant attendance allowance on the first Thursday in June will automatically receive the respite care grant without having to apply for it. Similarly, carers who are in receipt of domiciliary care allowance from the Health Service...

Written Answers — Family Support Services: Family Support Services (10 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The Commission on the Family was established by the Minister for Social Welfare in October 1995. Its remit was "to examine the effects of legislation and policies on families and make recommendations to the Government on proposals which would strengthen the capacity of families to carry out their functions in a changing economic and social environment". The membership of the Commission...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (10 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I understand that the Deputy's question relates to a recent newspaper article in relation to the operation of the habitual residence condition. I should clarify that there was no decision by the European Commission at that time concerning the habitual residence condition. However, in November 2005 a clarification was issued to Community Welfare Officers explaining that supplementary welfare...

Social Welfare Code. (11 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The social welfare system is designed to provide income supports and access to relevant services in a timely manner to all our customers. The system is neutral with regard to how it treats men and women; receipt of payment is dependent on contingency and other conditions being met. Levels of payment and how they apply are exactly the same for men and women. However, while there is equity in...

Social Welfare Code. (11 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: There are 40 questions there. The main thrust of what the Deputy is saying, under these different headings, is that we need to take more action as regards the position women find themselves in under the social welfare code, and I accept that. It is mainly women who are in receipt of qualified adult allowances. The issue of paying that directly is under examination. I have met representatives...

Family Support Services. (11 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The Government acknowledges that the risk of poverty, especially child poverty, tends to be higher among one parent families, larger families and those faced by long-term unemployment. This is due mainly to the direct costs of rearing children, including child care costs, and the opportunity costs related to the reduced earnings capacity of parents, arising from their care responsibilities....

Family Support Services. (11 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: We are having a national debate on this matter. We have had a number of fora and public discussions. As he is Chairman of the Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs, I have listened carefully to what the Deputy said and I will take it on board as part of the discussion we are having. As soon as I am satisfied that we have reached some conclusions that are sensible and workable, then I...

Social Welfare Benefits. (11 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: 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, receive a free travel pass. It is also available to people under age 66 who are in receipt of certain disability type welfare payments, such as...

Social Welfare Benefits. (11 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I compliment the Deputy on his great work in this area. He does a great deal of work with our emigrants in the UK and elsewhere and he is genuine about this issue, like everybody else. The legal position is that it would not be possible under EU legislation to extend free travel to all Irish citizens in the UK because that would mean discriminating in favour of our own nationality. That...