Results 2,041-2,060 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (27 Sep 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The pensioner in this case, who is now deceased, was in receipt of old age non contributory pension from my Department since 1982. Following her death in September 2003, her schedule of assets indicated that she had a substantial amount of savings which she did not declare to the Department as she was legally obliged to do. Her circumstances were investigated by a social welfare inspector,...

Written Answers — National Fuel Scheme: National Fuel Scheme (27 Sep 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 999 to 1001, inclusive, 1018 and 1029 together. The aim of the national fuel scheme is to assist householders on long-term social welfare or health service executive payments with meeting the cost of their heating needs during the winter season. Some 264,400 people (145,800 with basic fuel allowance and 118,600 with smokeless fuel supplement) benefited from...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (27 Sep 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The setting of waste management charges and the introduction of waivers inrespect of waste charges is, as stated by my colleague the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government, a matter for each local authority. The introduction of a national social welfare scheme to address the issue would be complex given the wide range of charging regimes and cost structures that exist in...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Sep 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The person concerned is in receipt of Carer's Allowance in respect of two care recipients. She applied for the Respite Care Grant on 21 July 2006 in respect of an additional two care recipients. The medical evidence in support of her application has been forwarded to the Chief Medical Advisor of my Department for consideration of medical eligibility. On completion of the necessary...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (27 Sep 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1004 to 1007, inclusive, together. There are currently 28 persons from Co. Mayo and adjoining counties awaiting an oral hearing of their appeal in hearing centres located in Co. Mayo. The number of oral hearings held nationally each month in 2005 and in 2006 (to the end of August) is set out on the following table. There are no specific figures available as...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Sep 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The carer's allowance is a social assistance payment which provides income support to people who are providing certain elderly or incapacitated persons with full time care and attention and whose incomes fall below a certain limit. The primary objective of the social welfare system is to provide income support and, as a general rule, only one weekly social welfare payment is payable to an...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Schemes: Social Welfare Schemes (27 Sep 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Financial contribution schemes are operated by local authorities in order to facilitate older people who wish to move from private accommodation, which may be too large for them, into local authority housing as tenants. The issue for my Department is how the proceeds of such a sale are treated in the means test for social assistance payments. Social assistance payments are designed to...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (27 Sep 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Payment of invalidity pension to the person concerned was discontinued by a Deciding Officer in July 2006 following an examination by a Medical Assessor of the Department who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. The person appealed against this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 19 July 2006. In the context of the appeal she will be examined by another Medical...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Sep 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes rent supplement, 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. One of the qualifying conditions for entitlement to rent supplement is that in certain circumstances, an applicant...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Sep 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The person's application for a Grant under the 2005 Respite Care Grant scheme was received on 18 April 2006 and she received payment on 26 April 2006. She has now been written to enclosing a short questionnaire to establish whether she also satisfies the Grant conditions in 2006. When the questionnaire is returned, it will be processed and a decision issued, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Sep 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Child Benefit has been awarded to the person concerned with effect from July 2006, i.e. the month following that in which the children became members of the family.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Sep 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The person concerned applied for unemployment assistance on 26 April 2006. He had previously been in receipt of disability benefit but was considered to be capable of work by the Department's Medical Referee on 5 April 2006. The person concerned did not appeal this decision. A Deciding Officer disallowed his unemployment assistance claim from 26 April 2006 on the grounds that he is not...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Sep 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The person concerned applied for Carer's Allowance on 26 July 2006. My Department's Chief Medical Advisor has confirmed that the person meets the medical criteria for the scheme. The case was referred to an Investigative Officer for means assessment and confirmation that all conditions necessary for receipt of Carer's Allowance are satisfied. I understand that this investigation is...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Sep 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The application for a Respite Care Grant from the person to whom the Deputy refers was received in my Department on 16 August 2006. It is currently being processed and my Department hopes to be in a position to make a decision on it and inform the applicant of the outcome shortly.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (27 Sep 2006)

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 €100 per week or less, with a reduced or tapered rate payable where this income is between €100 and €250. Since this Government came into office, a number...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Sep 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) Scheme is administered on behalf of my 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. A person may qualify for payment of a back to school clothing and footwear allowance if he or she is in receipt of a social...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Sep 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The Family Income Supplement is designed to provide cash support for employees on low earnings with families. This preserves the incentive to remain in employment in circumstances where the employee might only be marginally better off than if he or she were claiming other social welfare payments. To ensure that families are made aware of these improvements, my Department undertook a...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Sep 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was discontinued by a Deciding Officer on 5 September 2006 following an examination by a Medical Assessor of the Department who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. The person's appeal against this decision was received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 7 September 2006. In the context of the appeal an examination by...

Written Answers — Census of Population: Census of Population (27 Sep 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The results of the Census of Population are used by many of the policy and operational areas of the Department. The Census 2006 Preliminary Report, published in July 2006, gives a useful analysis of population change across the country since 2002. However, it is of limited use of the Department since it does not cover the range of topics that will be available in the final Census results....

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Sep 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Decisions on statutory social welfare schemes, including state contributory, state non-contributory and state transition pensions are made by statutorily appointed Deciding Officers of my Department. Where a customer is dissatisfied with a decision made by a Deciding Officer, s/he has a statutory right of appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. Guidelines are issued by my Department in...