Results 3,701-3,720 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Written Answers — Employment Action Plan: Employment Action Plan (21 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: At present, people aged between 18 and 64 who are approaching 3 months on the Live Register are systematically referred to FÁS for guidance in terms of returning to education, training or employment. Referral at 3 months commenced at the end of October 2006 following a Government decision arising from a commitment in Towards 2016 to apply the National Employment Action Plan referral process...

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

Séamus Brennan: The supplementary allowance (SWA) scheme, including rent supplement, is administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare division of the Health Service Executive (HSE). As stated in my reply to the Deputy's previous question on 26th January 2007, the Executive has advised that it has not received an application for rent supplement from the person concerned. My Department has been in...

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

Séamus Brennan: From September 2007 people in receipt of another social welfare payment who are also providing full time care and attention to a person will be able to retain their main welfare payment and receive another payment, depending on their means, the maximum of which will be equivalent of a half rate carer's allowance. A person currently in receipt of a carer's allowance who may have an underlying...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (22 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: My Department operates a network of 130 local offices and branch offices throughout the country. In the greater Dublin area there are currently sixteen Social Welfare Local Offices from which members of the general public may obtain information on the Department's schemes and services. Each Office has officers who are dedicated to providing information and are available to explain supports...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (22 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The objective of my Department's information policy is to ensure that all citizens, including pensioners, are made aware of their entitlements and that they are kept informed of changes and improvements in schemes and services as they occur. The provision of information in a clear and accessible manner is an essential element of this. Comprehensive information and guidance in relation to...

Written Answers — Payment Delivery Service: Payment Delivery Service (27 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Following the Government decision in 1999 to extend the An Post contract for the delivery of social welfare payments for a further 3 years, a complaint was lodged with the European Commission under the Procurement Services Directive. The Advocate-General to the European Court of Justice gave an opinion on the case on 14th September 2006 and concurred with the European Commission's view that...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. The person concerned was in receipt of jobseeker's allowance from 03 February 2005 to 27 June 2006. Following a review his claim was disallowed by a Deciding Officer, with effect from 28 June 2006, on the grounds that he was not genuinely...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, which is administered by the Community Welfare Division of the Health Service Executive (HSE), is designed to provide immediate and flexible assistance for those in need who do not qualify for payment under other State schemes. Under the legislation governing the scheme, the Health Service Executive (HSE) may make an exceptional needs payment...

Written Answers — Free Travel Scheme: Free Travel Scheme (27 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 409, 413 and 414 together. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to the introduction of a scheme of all-Ireland free travel for pensioners resident in all parts of the island of Ireland. I have recently announced the implementation of the all-Ireland free travel scheme commencing from 2 April. This scheme will enable pensioners resident here and...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare division of Health Service Executive (HSE) provides for an exceptional needs payment to be made to assist with essential, once-off costs which the applicant is unable to meet from his/her own resources. There is no automatic entitlement to this payment. Each application is determined by...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Feb 2007)

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. As of 23 February there were 59,450 tenants in receipt of a rent supplement payment of which approximately 32,000 have been in receipt of a payment for 18 months or more. Under the Rental Accommodations Scheme (RAS), at...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Feb 2007)

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. The Executive has been contacted regarding this case and has advised that it received an application for rent supplement from the person concerned in January 2007. It has further advised that it has awarded the maximum...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The person concerned applied for a Jobseeker's payment on 8 February 2007. The claim is currently being examined, a decision will be made as soon as possible and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome. The bank statement of the person concerned has now been returned. Under Social Welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by Deciding Officers and Appeals...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (27 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Under the Government's decentralisation programme, all of my Department's Dublin based headquarters staff, including IT staff, (1310 posts in all as well as 47 from citizen information board and 25 from the Combat Poverty Agency) are due to move to locations outside Dublin. Currently the staff are accommodated in the following locations in the Dublin area. 1.Áras Mhic Dhiarmada, Store...

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: They sample drugs.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (28 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I have recently announced the implementation of the all Ireland free travel scheme commencing on 2 April which will enable pensioners resident here and in Northern Ireland to travel free of charge on all eligible transport services on the island. Implementation of a single travel pass for all-Ireland free travel, acceptable in both jurisdictions, will require the completion of the Integrated...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (28 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The office for Social Inclusion (OSI) was set up in 2002 under the National Anti-Poverty Strategy (NAPS) as part of the institutional structure of the NAPS and to be responsible for the implementation of the strategy and monitoring of progress and for research and data development. The Office is within my Department and has been involved in the development and co-ordination of the recent...

Order of Business (1 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: It depends on the weather.

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Financial Resolution (1 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I move: That provision be made in the Act giving effect to this Resolution for the charging in accordance with the Act of certain fees, being fees for the granting of particular classes of wireless telegraphy related licences to public service, commercial and related broadcasters.

Social Welfare Benefits. (1 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: A person who is in receipt of a social welfare payment may claim an increase in respect of a dependent spouse or partner. This increase, known as qualified adult allowance, QAA, is normally paid as a single amount with the primary payment to the claimant. Provision has existed for many years to split the payment and pay the spouse or partner separately if the recipient so wished, or in...