Results 3,681-3,700 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Jobseeeker's allowance is a means tested payment. To qualify for Jobseeeker's allowance a person must also be available for and genuinely seeking work. The person concerned applied for jobseeker's allowance on 19 January 2007. A Deciding Officer assessed his means at €329.00 from 19 January 2007, derived from income from self-employment. This assessment exceeds the maximum weekly rate...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: From February 2006, the majority of the one-parent family payment customers, who were previously paid by Personalised Payable Order (PPO) books, were transferred to a card-based payment known as Electronic Information Transfer (EIT) payment. These customers collect their payment at post offices, using their social services card. In general, the response to the change in payment method has...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: A Social Welfare Inspector is in the course of completing his enquiries in this case and will shortly forward his report to the Deciding Officer. The Deciding Officer will make a decision on this case on receipt of the report. Under Social Welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by Deciding Officers and Appeals Officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (20 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: To date, 79 officers have transferred to offices of the Department outside of Dublin under the Government's Decentralisation Programme. This includes 14 officers who have transferred to temporary accommodation while the permanent accommodation is being finalised. 13 of the 79 officers transferred from a non-Dublin office to a Dublin office initially for training purposes. The average time...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and those Members who took part in the debate which was very positive and informative. I will try to deal with as many of the issues raised as possible. There was a broad welcome for the thrust of what we are trying to do in the Bill, for which I thank Members. I will be able to go into much more detail on Committee Stage when we can tease out some of the...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: If customers get in touch with the Department of Social and Family Affairs in advance of their holidays, or after the period of 12 days has elapsed, arrangements will be made to reinstate their payments, as long as they continue to be entitled to them. While the Department does not think there is any evidence the 12-day rule has caused problems for customers, it is undertaking a full review...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I will ensure that the operation of the 12-day limit is considered as part of the ongoing review. People should not lose any money as a result of the new computer arrangements. The new system is voluntary — people can get their funds in other ways. The use of the computer programme also has an important anti-fraud element, which will be reviewed. I hope nobody is disadvantaged by the...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Community welfare officers have nothing to fear from the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: As someone who has been in a fair few Departments, I assure Deputies that the Department of Social and Family Affairs is the most caring and sensitive of all Departments.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: As Deputies have said in this House on many occasions over the last two years, the Department always approaches these matters from the customer's perspective.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: It sets out to help the customer. Community welfare officers have nothing to fear from being in such a Department. As someone who faced many picket lines over the years because I successfully tried to move public servants from Departments to agencies, I sometimes enjoy a wry smile about matters of this nature.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: We are now doing the opposite, in a way — we are bringing workers back into a Department — but objections are still being made.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: This matter has been debated for many years, since the Brennan report found that health sector management should concentrate on health issues.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Many studies and reports about matters like the development of the welfare state and the creation of a more inclusive labour market have been produced over many years. This concept was not dreamt up over the last couple of weeks. It is obvious that everybody is flexing their muscles as the general election approaches. Talks and industrial relations procedures are ongoing. I assure...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I support these officials, who have nothing to fear from this process.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The Department holds regular meetings with SIPTU and IMPACT, which are the two trade unions which represent community welfare officers. The most recent meeting was on 8 February last.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: There were three meetings in 2006. I have met the unions. This matter was discussed at all those meetings. The national joint council of the health sector, which involves the two trade unions, the Health Service Executive and the Department of Health and Children, meets regularly and has discussed the matter. Officials from the Department met the entire cadre of superintendent community...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Referral to Select Committee (21 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Social and Family Affairs, in accordance with Standing Order 120(1) and paragraph 1(a)(i) of the Orders of Reference of that committee.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (21 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Social welfare pensions, both contributory and non-contributory, are paid on the basis of a person's personal entitlement to a payment having satisfied the qualifying conditions and there is no right to inherit a pension on the death of the pensioner. The surviving spouse of a pensioner may apply for a widow(er)'s contributory pension which can be based on either the deceased's or surviving...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (21 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on behalf of my Department by the Health Service Executive, provides for the payment of a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of rent to eligible persons in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation needs. The Executive has advised that, the person concerned was in receipt of rent supplement up to...