Results 3,941-3,960 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (28 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The person concerned appealed against the decision to refuse him a Respite Care Grant for 2005. In accordance with the statutory requirements, the relevant departmental papers and comments of my Department were sought. These have now been provided and I am informed that the case has been referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing. I am advised that a date is not yet...

Written Answers — Tax and Social Welfare Codes: Tax and Social Welfare Codes (28 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Until 1974, liability for social insurance contributions was compulsory for almost all workers over the age of sixteen years who were either manual workers employed under a contract of service, regardless of their remuneration, or non-manual workers whose remuneration did not exceed a specified limit. The remuneration limit in 1974 was £1,600 per annum for full-time workers or equivalent for...

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

Séamus Brennan: The person concerned made an application for jobseeker's allowance on 23 February 2007. Due to an administrative error, she was incorrectly informed that her means exceeded the limit for entitlement to jobseeker's allowance in her case. Her case is currently being re-examined and she has been asked to supply further details in connection with her claim. A decision on her claim will issue as...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (28 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The five statutory agencies operating under the aegis of my Department are the Pensions Board, the Combat Poverty Agency, the Citizens Information Board (formerly Comhairle), the Family Support Agency and the Social Welfare Tribunal. In addition the Pensions Ombudsman comes under the remit of my Department. There are 2 vacancies on the Citizens Information Board which are in the process of...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: As the Senator knows, child benefit is paid to the qualified person with whom the child resides. Since 1 May 2004 the qualified person must satisfy the habitual residence condition. The requirement was introduced in the context of the Government's decision to open the labour market to workers from the ten EU member states that acceded at that time without the transitional limitations. As...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. If even one child in this country lives in any kind of poverty, it shames us all. Progress must be made to ensure this cannot continue. I have said many times that it is unacceptable in the 21st century that even one child should live in any kind of poverty in a country whose economy grew last year by 7%, the highest rate in almost any developed...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I thank the Senator for those kind comments. I suppose that in everything one does, one would prefer to go further but I acknowledge the generosity of her remarks. I have announced significant improvements in the rate of State pensions for qualified adults as well as important changes in the way these payments will be made. I am also committed to improving the rate for qualified adults to...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: From September, new applicants will automatically be paid separately.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: If they come forward together and demand a joint payment, I do not think we could refuse that. Under the default system, two payments will normally be made. If somebody officially contacts us and says they want to continue joint payments, we would have to facilitate such a request.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Yes.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Yes.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: As the Senator is probably aware, last year's Government discussion paper, which I think we discussed in this House, was entitled Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents. It contained proposals for an expanded availability and range of education and training opportunities for lone parents. It recommended the extension of the national employment action plan to focus on lone parents, focusing...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I thank Senators for their comments on the section. I read carefully Senator Ormonde's contribution on the Second Stage debate and noted her emphasis on the need to put in place integrated education and training programmes. The purpose of the reforms is to ensure people have a choice because until now many lone parents have not had choices. This has left bright young people trapped and...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Discussions are taking place between Departments to progress the national carer's strategy. One of the key Government commitments in the national partnership agreement, Towards 2016, is the development of a national carer's strategy which will focus on supporting informal and family carers in the community. While social welfare support is a key element of the strategy, other issues also...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: It is 300. The report found that of an estimated 3,000 young carers who were providing some care, there were over 300 between the ages of 15 and 17 who were providing full-time care. It is obviously a bit of both. In terms of income support for young carers, the respite care grant is payable from the age of 16 and the carer's allowance is payable from the age of 18. Deputy Stanton and I...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I thank both Senators for their comments. The means test has been eased significantly in the past few years, particularly with the introduction of the disregard of the spouse's earnings. Provision was made in the recent budget to increase the income disregard on the carer's allowance means test to €320 per week for a single person and €640 per week for a couple from April 2007. This...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Senator Moylan's point is at the heart of this issue because the payments for rent supplement in 2000 were €150 million. This year they will probably exceed €400 million covering 59,000 households. Arguably the scheme has gone beyond its original intention which was to help young people. It also helps many who are not young who might otherwise not be able to provide accommodation for...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The directive commenced in 2004 and, on the basis of legal advice, we are giving it statutory effect. The Bill, including the section in question, has been cleared legally. This does not stop anybody challenging legislation in the courts. The Government operates according to the best legal advice available to it and it is satisfied that section 25 and the other relevant sections are...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Come on.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: He is not going to say that.