Results 2,321-2,340 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (18 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 149 together. Under the Government decentralisation programme announced in Budget 2004, the Department is to relocate 230 posts to Donegal town and 120 posts to Buncrana. According to the Progress Report to the Minister for Finance on 30 June 2005, the indicative construction start date in both cases is end 2007 and the construction completion date is...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (18 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Under the Government decentralisation programme announced in Budget 2004, the Department is to relocate 220 posts to Carrick-on-Shannon. The Decentralisation Implementation Group (DIG) report to the Minister for Finance on 19 November 2004 recommended those locations and organisations to be included in the first phase of moves, and those to be regarded as potential early movers. In the case...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (18 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: My Department reviews on a continuing basis the organisational arrangements for the delivery of its services, to meet the changing demands of customers, to avail of the benefits of new technology and to accommodate changes such as decentralisation. Over the next twelve months, my Department will be required to assign and redeploy a number of staff at Principal level to address requirements...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (18 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: In order to qualify for the maximum rate of the old age (contributory) pension a person must, amongst other qualifying conditions, achieve a yearly average of at least 48 contributions paid or credited on their social insurance record. Reduced pensions are paid to those with yearly averages as low as 10 contributions and arrangements are also in place for the payment of pro-rata pensions to...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (18 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes rent supplement, 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 Health Service Executive has been contacted concerning this case and has advised that the rate of rent supplement payable to...

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (17 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: There has been no further contact from the Office of Public Works (OPW) on the matter in question, so the meeting between staff representatives and the company concerned has not been necessary or taken place. My Department has received an assurance from the OPW that no further action will be taken until such a meeting has taken place and the staff are aware of the situation in this regard.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (17 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: This Government is committed to introducing a personal entitlement for pensioner spouses currently in receipt of the qualified adult increase, set at the level of a full non-contributory pension and that remains the position. The cost, based on current rates of payment, of bringing all of the relevant qualified adult rates up to the level of the non contributory pension personal rate is...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (17 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Access to information within my Department is strictly controlled and only released in accordance with law. Procedures have been in place for some time and there have been no changes in the past year. Under the data sharing provision, Section 261 (2) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 2005 (previously Section 222(2) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993) — information held...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (17 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Prior to Budget 2005, the only people paid the Respite Care Grant by my Department were those in receipt of Carers Benefit or Carers Allowance who were paid the Grant automatically with their primary payment. As neither Carers Benefit nor Carers Allowance is payable to people under 18 years of age, nobody under that age was entitled to the Grant prior to 2005. Accordingly, the answer to the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (16 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The day to day administration of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which provides for the payment of rent supplements, is the responsibility of Health Service Executive. Neither I nor my Department has any function in relation to decisions on individual claims. In order to make a rent supplement payment the Executive must satisfy itself that a bona fide tenancy exists in respect of...

Written Answers — Comhairle Service: Comhairle Service (16 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Comhairle was established under the Comhairle Act, 2000. Its functions include the provision of independent information, advice and advocacy in relation to social services. Comhairle also has a particular responsibility to assist people with disabilities to identify their needs and access their entitlements. Comhairle carries out its functions in the provision of information primarily through...

Written Answers — Tax and Social Welfare Codes: Tax and Social Welfare Codes (16 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The Personal Public Service Number (PPS No.) is an individual's unique reference number for dealings with Government Departments and public bodies. My Department is responsible for allocating PPS Numbers for use by people, of any nationality, to access certain public services. A PPS Number does not issue automatically except in the case of children born in Ireland. In all other cases,...

Written Answers — Education Schemes: Education Schemes (16 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The back to education allowance or BTEA is a second chance education opportunities scheme designed to encourage and facilitate people on certain social welfare payments to improve their skills and qualifications and, therefore, their prospects of returning to the active work force. In 2002 the Government, in view of the expenditure constraints facing it at that time, appointed an independent...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (16 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes rent supplement, 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 Health Service Executive has advised that it has no record of any application for rent supplement from the person concerned...

Written Answers — Health Service Allowances: Health Service Allowances (16 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 297 and 298 together. Support of carers has been a priority of Government since 1997. Payments to carers have been greatly improved over that period and qualifying conditions for carers allowance have been significantly eased, coverage of the scheme has been extended and new schemes such as carers benefit and the respite care payment have been introduced. The...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (16 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The staffing allocation to the Department's Local Office in Coolock, which is located at the Northside Civic Centre, Bunratty Road, Dublin 17, is 27.5 posts. 27 posts are currently filled in this Office. As with all other offices in the Department, the staffing allocation to Coolock is reviewed regularly and adjusted as required by any changes in claim loads or other relevant factors.

Written Answers — Health Service Allowances: Health Service Allowances (16 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2005, inter alia, extended entitlement to the Respite Care Grant to all carers irrespective of means or contribution record, but subject to certain conditions relating to employment and to a medical report. The person to whom the Deputy refers made a successful application for the Grant in 2005 and payment was made to her in August 2005. Unfortunately, her...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (16 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: 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 additional heating needs during the winter season. Fuel allowances are paid for 29 weeks from end-September to mid-April. The allowance represents a contribution towards a person's normal heating expenses. The scheme has been improved in...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (16 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: There are no outstanding EU directives within the competency of my Department that have not been transposed into law.

Written Answers — Health Service Allowances: Health Service Allowances (16 May 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The estimated cost of €140 million was based on data available last year and the rate of carer's allowance at that time. According to Census 2002 there are 48,500 carers caring for 29 or more hours per week of which 15,700 are working for over 10 hours per week and so would not be eligible for carer's allowance. Some 25,000 people were in receipt of a carer's allowance. Approximately, 6,000...