Results 1,501-1,520 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan
- Social Welfare Consolidation Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (20 Oct 2005)
Séamus Brennan: The Deputy said he dealt with five cases.
- Social Welfare Consolidation Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (20 Oct 2005)
Séamus Brennan: I will examine the issue. In recent weeks we put new maximum amounts on rent allowances in an attempt to keep rent prices down. If rents were â¬600 and we agreed to pay rents up to â¬800, rents would rise to â¬800 to match what we would pay. We must be very careful in this market because the rent supplement accounts for 40% of the rental market of the State. When we impose a cap, we must...
- Social Welfare Consolidation Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (20 Oct 2005)
Séamus Brennan: I will reconsider the matter.
- Social Welfare Consolidation Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (20 Oct 2005)
Séamus Brennan: The caps were imposed for a good reason. If we pay more, the market will rise. That is why we have tried to hang back.
- Social Welfare Consolidation Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (20 Oct 2005)
Séamus Brennan: The statistics suggest that rents are mainly static or levelling off. This is probably because of the great number of new apartments being built.
- Social Welfare Consolidation Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (20 Oct 2005)
Séamus Brennan: I will get the details of those cases from the Deputy to ascertain what is the problem. I thank Deputies for their contributions. I will take on board the points made.
- Written Answers — Budget Submissions: Budget Submissions (20 Oct 2005)
Séamus Brennan: Earlier this week, I held a pre-budget forum which was attended by 31 representative organisations, including the Tallaght Welfare Society. At this forum, each organisation, including this society, had the opportunity to present its key priorities for consideration in advance of budget 2006. I thank the society for its contribution to the forum and the valuable work which it and many other...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (20 Oct 2005)
Séamus Brennan: The person concerned claimed carer's allowance from 27 July 2005. The deciding officer disallowed the claim on the grounds that the person's means exceeded the statutory limit for receipt of carer's allowance. She appealed against this decision to the social welfare appeals office on 30 September 2005. In accordance with the statutory requirements the relevant departmental papers and comments...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Oct 2005)
Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 111 together. In the course of a routine review of fuel allowance payments, the Department recently ceased allowance entitlement which had been paid in error in a specific number of cases where the recipients were in local authority accommodation with subsidised or low cost heating. The allowances in question, which should not have been put in payment...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Oct 2005)
Séamus Brennan: The person appealed against this decision to the social welfare appeals office. The appeal has been referred to an appeals officer who is of the opinion that an oral hearing is required. Arrangements are being made to have the hearing in the week commencing 7 November 2005. He will be advised of the exact date and venue for the hearing when the necessary arrangements have been made. Under...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Oct 2005)
Séamus Brennan: Asylum seekers who arrived in this country since 10 April 2000 can have their accommodation needs and other basic living facilities met through the direct provision services operated by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Following changes in social welfare legislation which came into effect on 27 May 2003, rent supplement is not payable where a person is not lawfully in the...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Oct 2005)
Séamus Brennan: The position remains as I outlined to the Deputy on 6 October 2005 in response to his question about this case. The Dublin-mid-Leinster area of the Health Service Executive has advised that, following a review of her entitlements, it determined the person concerned was not entitled to supplementary welfare allowance on the grounds that she did not satisfy the statutory habitual residence...
- Referral of Social Welfare Consolidation Bill 2005 to Standing Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills: Motion. (25 Oct 2005)
Séamus Brennan: I move: That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Ordersâ (a) the Social Welfare Consolidation Bill 2005 be referred to the Standing Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills; (b) the first meeting of the committee to consider the Bill be held on Wednesday, 26 October 2005; and (c) in the case of the Social Welfare Consolidation Bill 2005â (i) in accordance with Standing Order 142(3), the...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (25 Oct 2005)
Séamus Brennan: From 1 May 2004 a requirement to be habitually resident in Ireland was introduced as a qualifying condition for certain social assistance schemes including child benefit. The basis for the restriction contained in the rules is the applicant's habitual residence. The restriction is not based on citizenship, nationality, immigration status or any other factor. Irish citizens, including returned...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (25 Oct 2005)
Séamus Brennan: The free travel scheme is available to all people living in the State aged 66 years, or over. It is also available to carers and to people with disabilities who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments. It applies to travel within the State and cross-Border journeys between here and Northern Ireland. There has been a number of requests and inquiries in relation to the extension of...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (25 Oct 2005)
Séamus Brennan: A deciding officer disallowed the farm assist claim of the person concerned from 26 May 2005, on the grounds that his means exceeded the statutory limit of â¬148.80 per week, which is the rate applicable in this person's case. The means of the person concerned are derived from income from a holding and the capital value of a house. His means are assessed as follows: gross income from...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (25 Oct 2005)
Séamus Brennan: Section 172(1) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 1993 provides that people in full-time education are not normally eligible to receive assistance, including rent supplements, under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. Section 172(3) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 1993 and regulations made thereunder, provide that in a case where there are exceptional circumstances,...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (25 Oct 2005)
Séamus Brennan: Across the majority of social welfare payments, entitlement to an increase for a qualified adult is based, inter alia, on the spouse-partner's income. An increase at the maximum rate is payable where the spouse-partner's income is â¬88.88 per week or less, with a reduced or tapered rate payable where this income is between â¬88.88 and â¬220. This lower threshold of â¬88.88 was last...
- Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (25 Oct 2005)
Séamus Brennan: My Department engages consultants to provide expertise across a range of its activities. Broadly, expertise is sought under three main headings: support with a number of strategic multi-annual programmes aimed at enhancing the delivery of the Department's services, for example, the service delivery modernisation programme; technical consultancies relating to the ongoing development of...
- Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (25 Oct 2005)
Séamus Brennan: The Department's activities require the engagement of a range of consultancy expertise. Broadly, expertise is sought under three main headings: support with a number of strategic multi-annual programmes aimed at enhancing the delivery of the Department's services, for example, the service delivery modernisation programme; technical consultancies relating to the ongoing development of...