Results 761-780 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (23 Mar 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 197 and 198 together. The roles and functions carried out by the special advisers attached to my Department are as set out in section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997, that is, to assist the Minister by providing advice, by monitoring, facilitating and securing the achievement of Government objectives that relate to my Department and by performing...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (23 Mar 2005)

Séamus Brennan: People who enter public sector employment with effect from 6 April 1995 are insured at the full class A rate of PRSI, which covers all benefits and pensions. Where a person is employed on 5 April 1995 in the public sector in a capacity which is not permanent and pensionable and, subsequently, ceases to be so employed, but immediately upon such cessation, becomes employed in a permanent and...

Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (23 Mar 2005)

Séamus Brennan: Under section 3 of the Public Service Management Act, 1997, a Minister having charge of a Department shall, in accordance with the Ministers and Secretaries Acts, 1924 to 1995, be responsible for the performance of functions that are assigned to the Department pursuant to any of those Acts. Accordingly, I am responsible for the performance of functions assigned to my Department pursuant to...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (23 Mar 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The person concerned was interviewed by a local officer of my Department on 7 March 2005. In the local officer's presence, she signed a statement admitting to cohabiting since April 2004 and surrendered her lone parent's allowance book to the officer. On foot of this statement, her payment was subsequently suspended and her case has been forwarded to a deciding officer for formal decision....

Written Answers — Social Welfare Payments: Social Welfare Payments (24 Mar 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 111 together. My Department's payment delivery policy is to ensure that the most modern range of payment options is available to our customers. This approach is adopted to ensure that customer service is continually improved by providing access to a wide range of payment options and new services and facilities in the money transmission market. The...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Mar 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 113 together. The number of recipients of farm assist in County Longford was 120 in 2000, 112 in 2001, 113 in 2002, 113 in 2003 and 108 in 2004. The number of recipients of farm assist in County Westmeath was 85 in 2000, 89 in 2001, 96 in 2002, 89 in 2003 and 87 in 2004.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Mar 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The free travel companion pass scheme was introduced in 1990 for persons who qualify for free travel and who, because of their disability, are unable to travel alone. Those who are eligible for a companion free travel pass include recipients of disability allowance or invalidity pension who are medically assessed as being unfit to travel unaccompanied; people who are blind or severely...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Mar 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The Dublin and mid-Leinster area of the Health Service Executive has advised that the person in question had been accommodated in a direct provision centre provided by the Reception and Integration Agency after she applied for asylum in the State. When she was in the centre she was entitled to a direct provision allowance of €19.10 for herself and €9.60 for her child. The person...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Mar 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The Dublin and mid-Leinster area of the Health Service Executive has advised that it has carried out a routine review of the amount of rent supplement payable to the person concerned. The review was one of a number carried out in line with HSE procedures. The review uncovered a change in family circumstances which necessitated a reduction in the amount of rent supplement payable. If a person...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Mar 2005)

Séamus Brennan: Since 1 May 2004, all applicants for social welfare assistance and child benefit are subject to the habitual residence condition. The person in question made a claim for child benefit on 8 June 2004 and was deemed not to satisfy the habitual residence condition. When she appealed the decision, the appeals officer, having reviewed the evidence, upheld the decision.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (12 Apr 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 511, 513, 517, 527, 542 and 546 together. My Department's policy is to ensure that a range of payment options is available to customers and that service is continually improved by providing access to the wide range of payment options and new services and facilities now available. Current payment methods include payment at post offices by means of a pension...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (12 Apr 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The aim of the national fuel scheme is to assist householders in receipt of long-term social welfare or health board payments and who are unable to provide for their extra heating needs during the winter season. A fuel allowance of €9 per week is paid to eligible households, with an additional €3.90 per week being paid in designated urban smokeless zones, bringing the total amount in...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (12 Apr 2005)

Séamus Brennan: Rent supplements are provided through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. In general, rent supplement is payable where applicants are assessed by a housing authority as being homeless, or have an unmet housing need, and where they are unable to meet their accommodation needs through...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (12 Apr 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. The Dublin-mid-Leinster area of the executive has advised that the person concerned had initially been awarded supplementary welfare allowance pending the outcome of an application by him for unemployment assistance. He subsequently applied to the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (12 Apr 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I understand that this question relates to arrangements to have a social worker visit the person concerned to discuss her circumstances. The provision and deployment of social worker services is a matter for the Health Service Executive and the Deputy should raise the matter with the executive directly, or with my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children who has overall responsibility...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (12 Apr 2005)

Séamus Brennan: Carer's allowance is not a qualifying payment type for fuel allowance entitlement purposes and for that reason, fuel allowance is not paid to people on carer's allowance under the national fuel scheme. People in receipt of carer's allowance qualify for the Christmas bonus each year. The fact that fuel allowance is not payable to these recipients is not related to the fact that the Christmas...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (12 Apr 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I travelled to Estonia to represent the Government at various ceremonies which celebrated St. Patrick's Day. I also had bilateral meetings with the Estonian Social Affairs Minister and the Vice-Chairman of the Estonian Parliament Social Affairs committee and gave a number of press interviews. My official party travelled by Government jet to Tallinn on Wednesday night, 16 March and returned on...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (12 Apr 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The person concerned applied for an electricity allowance and a free television licence on 3 March 2005. He has been awarded an electricity allowance with effect from 15 December 2004. He has also been awarded a free lifetime television licence with effect from his next renewal licence after 15 December 2004. If he has purchased a licence since that date he should forward proof of purchase of...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (12 Apr 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The person concerned applied for an electricity allowance and a free television licence on 29 November 2004. He was requested to provide further details to assist in dealing with his claim. Following receipt of these details, he was awarded an electricity allowance with effect from 29 September 2004. He was also awarded a free lifetime television licence with effect from the next renewal...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (12 Apr 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The person concerned applied for carer's allowance on 3 December 2004. The principal conditions for receipt of the allowance are that full-time care and attention is required and being provided and that the means test that applies is satisfied. Her application was refused on the grounds that full-time care and attention as prescribed in regulations was not required in this case. She submitted...