Results 2,561-2,580 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (16 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The aim of the national fuel scheme is to assist householders on long-term social welfare or health service executive payments with meeting the cost of their additional heating needs during the winter season. Fuel allowances are paid for 29 weeks from end-September to mid-April. The allowance represents a contribution towards a person's normal heating expenses. The scheme has been improved in...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (16 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: There are no outstanding EU directives within the competency of my Department that have not been transposed into law.

Written Answers — Health Service Allowances: Health Service Allowances (16 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The estimated cost of €140 million was based on data available last year and the rate of carer's allowance at that time. According to Census 2002 there are 48,500 carers caring for 29 or more hours per week of which 15,700 are working for over 10 hours per week and so would not be eligible for carer's allowance. Some 25,000 people were in receipt of a carer's allowance. Approximately, 6,000...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (16 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Since I took up office, I have appointed on a contract basis for my term of office four non-established civil servants, a Special Adviser, Mr. Frank Lahiffe, a Press Adviser, Mr. Tom Rowley, a Personal Secretary, Ms. Mary Browne and a Personal Assistant, Mr. Bobby Holland. All four appointees are employed full-time. The duties carried out by the Advisers (Special Adviser and Press Adviser)...

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (17 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: There has been no further contact from the Office of Public Works (OPW) on the matter in question, so the meeting between staff representatives and the company concerned has not been necessary or taken place. My Department has received an assurance from the OPW that no further action will be taken until such a meeting has taken place and the staff are aware of the situation in this regard.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (17 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: This Government is committed to introducing a personal entitlement for pensioner spouses currently in receipt of the qualified adult increase, set at the level of a full non-contributory pension and that remains the position. The cost, based on current rates of payment, of bringing all of the relevant qualified adult rates up to the level of the non contributory pension personal rate is...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (17 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Access to information within my Department is strictly controlled and only released in accordance with law. Procedures have been in place for some time and there have been no changes in the past year. Under the data sharing provision, Section 261 (2) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 2005 (previously Section 222(2) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993) — information held...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (17 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Prior to Budget 2005, the only people paid the Respite Care Grant by my Department were those in receipt of Carers Benefit or Carers Allowance who were paid the Grant automatically with their primary payment. As neither Carers Benefit nor Carers Allowance is payable to people under 18 years of age, nobody under that age was entitled to the Grant prior to 2005. Accordingly, the answer to the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (18 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Recipients of Social Welfare or Health Service Executive payments who have been prescribed a special diet as a result of a specified medical condition, and whose means are insufficient to meet their needs, may qualify for a diet supplement under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. This scheme and related supplements are administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare division of...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (18 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The back to education allowance or BTEA is a second chance education opportunities scheme designed to encourage and facilitate people on certain social welfare payments to improve their skills and qualifications and, therefore, their prospects of returning to the active work force. At present, to qualify for participation in the BTEA scheme an applicant must be, prior to commencing an...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (18 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 149 together. Under the Government decentralisation programme announced in Budget 2004, the Department is to relocate 230 posts to Donegal town and 120 posts to Buncrana. According to the Progress Report to the Minister for Finance on 30 June 2005, the indicative construction start date in both cases is end 2007 and the construction completion date is...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (18 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Under the Government decentralisation programme announced in Budget 2004, the Department is to relocate 220 posts to Carrick-on-Shannon. The Decentralisation Implementation Group (DIG) report to the Minister for Finance on 19 November 2004 recommended those locations and organisations to be included in the first phase of moves, and those to be regarded as potential early movers. In the case...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (18 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: My Department reviews on a continuing basis the organisational arrangements for the delivery of its services, to meet the changing demands of customers, to avail of the benefits of new technology and to accommodate changes such as decentralisation. Over the next twelve months, my Department will be required to assign and redeploy a number of staff at Principal level to address requirements...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (18 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: In order to qualify for the maximum rate of the old age (contributory) pension a person must, amongst other qualifying conditions, achieve a yearly average of at least 48 contributions paid or credited on their social insurance record. Reduced pensions are paid to those with yearly averages as low as 10 contributions and arrangements are also in place for the payment of pro-rata pensions to...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (18 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. The Health Service Executive has been contacted concerning this case and has advised that the rate of rent supplement payable to...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (23 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 maximum rent levels that an applicant for rent supplement may incur which are established by...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (23 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 332 and 333 together. The details requested by the Deputy of the numbers availing of the Farm Assist Scheme have been compiled from data that is maintained on a Local Office catchment area basis and these figures do not correspond exactly with county boundaries. The figures are as follows: Leitrim 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Awarded claims 238 247...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (23 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Family Income Supplement (FIS) is an in-work income support, payable to low income families with children. Currently family income supplement and disability benefit can be paid together for a period of six weeks, which is intended to cover cases of short-term illnesses or injury. This ensures that for the majority of short-term disability benefit claims, a person can receive disability...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (23 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: This Government is committed to introducing a personal entitlement for pensioner spouses, currently in receipt of the qualified adult increase, at the level of a full non-contributory pension. The cost, based on current rates of payment, of bringing all of the relevant qualified adult rates up to the level of the non-contributory pension personal rate is €55 million in a full year. This...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (23 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Part III of the Pensions Act 1990 requires occupational pension schemes to provide preserved benefit, calculated in accordance with the normal scheme rules, for members who leave relevant employment after completing at least two years service in the pension scheme. Part III also provides for the revaluation of such preserved defined benefits from the date of termination of employment to the...