Results 1,821-1,840 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Local Authority Housing. (1 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I do not have a breakdown of the 56. The impression I get from the file is that it is substantially rented accommodation.

Local Authority Housing. (1 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: Yes. I will clarify it for the Deputy but that is my impression at present.

Local Authority Housing. (1 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The new arrangements are being implemented in 11 local authority areas and arrangements are due to be initiated in all local authority areas by the end of 2005. I can let the Deputy have the names of the areas. Clearly, with 56 completed, they are not widely spread. Tax reliefs are a matter for the Minister for Finance. He is reviewing the tax breaks across a range of industries, including...

Local Authority Housing. (1 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: A substantial amount of taxpayers' money goes into construction in this country, through pension funds, rent allowances, capital allowances and so forth. If one adds it all together, a great deal of taxpayers' money is fuelling the construction boom we are experiencing at present. I agree we should take an overview of that.

Local Authority Housing. (1 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The timeframe is such that arrangements are being put in place to ensure that all local authority areas initiate the scheme by the end of the year. Clearly it will be into next year before the process is concluded. Some months ago there was evidence that rents were decreasing or levelling off. As Deputy Stanton has stated, it is important that limits are not set that would push up rents, as...

Local Authority Housing. (1 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: If we had an immediate stock of social housing, it would be the answer. As we move down the road we will have a choice for people between rental, voluntary, social and private housing etc. To have a range of options under this scheme is probably the right way to go as one option may not necessarily suit everybody.

Local Authority Housing. (1 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The €19 million was designated for 2005 and we did not have an agreement on the number of houses it would supply. It is current money as well as capital in that sense. It is given to the Department of the Environment and Local Government which may use it for acquiring a supply of rented accommodation, if necessary, but can also use it for capital purposes. It is between definitions. The...

Local Authority Housing. (1 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The €19 million has not been spent.

Local Authority Housing. (1 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I will not transfer any more until that is spent. It rolls into 2006. The funding was transferred to the Department of the Environment and Local Government from my Department and it will move the schemes forward. If additional funding is required, that Department will get back in touch with my Department. We will be able to go beyond that figure for 2006 and 2007 if the output is produced.

Local Authority Housing. (1 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I take the Deputy's point that there may not be many prospects. I have met many of these people in my political career and many have the ambition or aspiration to do so.

Local Authority Housing. (1 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: Our role is to help these people realise these aspirations of getting on the ladder. Rent allowance for rental accommodation is part of this process, as is the mortgage supplement. I would not set limits to where people in that difficulty can rise.

Local Authority Housing. (1 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: My approach to the entire brief is not to block or categorise people by stating that people cannot reach a certain goal. I want people to look at the stars and believe they can go there, and I look to help them on their way. This is not meant to replace social housing which is only one of the options.

Pension Provisions. (1 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The needs of older people have been a priority for this Government since taking office in 1997. Since then we have delivered record increases in pensions. Pensions increased by 81% up to January this year, 50% ahead of the increase in the consumer price index over the same period. The household benefits scheme is now available to all those over 70 years of age regardless of their income or...

Pension Provisions. (1 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: Deputy Stanton asked if I have plans to change the retirement age for the old age pension. The answer is no, I have no proposal to change the age limit of 66 years. However, I am interested in what the UK is doing in this area. There may be a case for encouraging those who choose to work for longer to perhaps receive a higher or enhanced pension. Many countries are examining this issue to...

Pension Provisions. (1 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: All budgets and Social Welfare Bills, and every decision I will make as Minister, will reflect what I have said. That will get us some of the way but not all the way. I am not promising to get us to a utopian situation but I am determined that we should begin to move in a better direction, for example, by ensuring that women in the welfare system get a better deal.

Hospital Services. (1 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I thank Deputy Kirk for raising this matter. I reply on behalf of my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. The HSE is considering the development of hospital services at Our Lady of...

Sexual Offences. (1 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: On behalf of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, I thank the Deputy for raising the important issue of society's response to the very serious crime of rape. The Minister is aware of the survey in question which concluded that there remains a section of the population in the United Kingdom who believe behavioural traits can contribute to a woman being in some...

Crime Levels. (1 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Strong provisions are in place to combat anti-social and unlawful behaviour. The primary basis for the law regarding public order offences is the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994, which modernised the law in this regard. Because of the Minister's concerns about the abuse of alcohol and its...

Special Educational Needs. (1 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The Deputy will be aware that the general allocation of learning support-resource teachers is intended to cater for children with learning support and high incidence special educational needs. The system was constructed so that learning support-resource teachers' allocations would be based on pupil numbers, taking into account the differing needs of the most disadvantaged schools and evidence...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (1 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The construction federation operatives pensions scheme operates as a registered employment agreement under the Industrial Relations Acts. There is a statutory obligation on employers to register eligible employees in the scheme and to pay the necessary contributions. Compliance with the terms of the scheme is enforced through the Construction Industry Monitoring Agency, the Labour Court and...