Results 1,681-1,700 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Nov 2005)

Séamus Brennan: To qualify for an unemployment payment a person must be available for and genuinely seeking full-time work. Following a review, a deciding officer disallowed the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned from 2 November 2005, on the grounds that she was not available for or genuinely seeking full-time work. The person concerned stated that she had not looked for work and that she...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Nov 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The aim of the national fuel scheme is to assist householders who are in receipt of long-term social welfare or health service executive payments to meet the cost of their heating needs during the winter season from October to April. Residents of local authority accommodation where central heating is provided at a low or subsidised level are not eligible for the allowance. In a recent review...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (8 Nov 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The scheme in question is a defined benefit scheme. In 1991 and 1994, the scheme was split with the result that there are now three schemes, one for staff, one for middle management and one for senior executives. In 1996, a member trustee of the staff scheme complained to the Pensions Board about specific financial issues associated with the splitting of the scheme which the trustee believed...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Nov 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The setting of waste management charges and the introduction of waivers in respect of waste charges is, as stated by my colleague the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government, a matter for the each local authority and a number have done so. The introduction of a national social welfare scheme to address the issue is not considered feasible given the wide range of charging...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (8 Nov 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The five statutory agencies operating under the aegis of my Department are the Pensions Board, the Combat Poverty Agency, Comhairle, the social welfare tribunal, and the Family Support Agency. In addition, the Pensions Ombudsman comes under the remit of my Department. Appointments to State boards are generally made on the basis of the qualifications and suitability of the individuals...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Nov 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Neither I nor my Department has any function in relation to decisions on individual claims. The Dublin and mid-Leinster area of the Health Service Executive has advised that, following a review of her entitlements, it determined that the person concerned...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (9 Nov 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 261 to 263, inclusive, together. The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered on my behalf of the Department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Neither I nor my Department has any function in decisions on individual claims. With the exception of those participating in my Department's back to education allowance...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (9 Nov 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered on behalf of the Department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Neither I nor my Department has any function in relation to decisions on individual claims. Under the terms of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, a recipient of a social welfare or Health Services Executive payment who has...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (9 Nov 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The Department has allocated 37 posts for four different locations in County Kildare. A total of 26 posts are currently filled in Newbridge local office, with a further six posts in the Department's investigative office in Newbridge, two posts in the Department's investigative office in Athy and two posts in the investigative office in Naas. There is currently one vacancy in the Department's...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (9 Nov 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 266 to 270, inclusive, together. The company in question is a worldwide supplier of information and communications technology, ICT, industry research to suppliers and users of ICT. It has a number of services based around its continuous research programme. In addition to the provision of standard research papers and provision of access to the authors and...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (9 Nov 2005)

Séamus Brennan: Budget 2005 provided, inter alia, for the extension of eligibility for the respite care grant to people providing full-time care and attention who are not in receipt of either carer's allowance or carer's benefit. Those in receipt of the latter payments receive the grant automatically without having to make a separate application. The grant has been paid to 37 people in the Dublin 15 area.

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (9 Nov 2005)

Séamus Brennan: Prior to the engagement of consultants, a rigid procurement process is undertaken in my Department in accordance with public sector procurement guidelines and best practice. The achievement of value for money is the central criterion throughout the process. Once a preferred bidder has been identified, my Department agrees a contract, which details the scope of the services to be provided by...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (10 Nov 2005)

Séamus Brennan: As I stated previously in reply to a question tabled by the Deputy on 25 October 2005, the Health Service Executive has advised that its designated area appeals officer has upheld the decision not to award rent supplement to the person concerned. It remains open to her to appeal this decision further to the social welfare appeals office.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (10 Nov 2005)

Séamus Brennan: There are three social welfare schemes providing pensions for older people old age contributory pension, retirement pension and old age non-contributory pension. In the case of the first two, these are contributory schemes payable at 66 and 65, respectively. People who receive old age contributory pension can work without restriction while those applying for retirement pension at age 65 must...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (10 Nov 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 have been a number of requests and inquiries in relation to the extension of...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Nov 2005)

Séamus Brennan: My Department's policy is to ensure that a range of payment options is available to customers and that the service is continually improved by providing access to the wide range of payment options and new services and facilities now available. Customers opt for a particular payment method having regard to their own circumstances and particular need. My Department does not promote the use of...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Nov 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Neither I nor my Department has a function in determining entitlement in individual cases. As I stated in my reply to a question tabled by the Deputy on 11 October 2005, the Dublin mid-Leinster area of the executive has advised that, following a review of...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Nov 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The person concerned claimed farm assist on 18 April 2005. The claim has been disallowed on the grounds that the person concerned failed to prove to the satisfaction of the deciding officer how he supported himself and his wife since February 2003 given that he has no recorded income. Decision and notification of his right to appeal issued to the person concerned on 9 November 2005.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Nov 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered my behalf of the Department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Neither I nor my Department has any function in decisions on individual claims. Since 1 May 2004, this scheme and other social assistance payments are subject to a statutory habitual residence test. The Dublin-mid-Leinster region of the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (10 Nov 2005)

Séamus Brennan: Social welfare programmes aim to be responsive to the needs of those who depend on income maintenance support while providing incentives to assist people to become more independent financially, particularly through employment. A number of measures have been introduced in recent years to remove disincentives to taking up employment and to assist in the transition from welfare to work. These...