Results 2,621-2,640 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (21 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The person's application for carer's allowance was disallowed by a deciding officer on the grounds that she was not deemed to be habitually resident in the State. The person appealed this decision to the social welfare appeals office and the appeals officer considers that an oral hearing is necessary in the case. It is not possible at this stage to give a date for the hearing. However, the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (21 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: My Department operates a range of family-friendly working arrangements including work-sharing, term time leave and parental leave. Some 900 staff currently avail of these schemes. A flexible working hours scheme was introduced into my Department in 1986 and now forms part of a package of measures which have been implemented across the Civil Service to allow staff balance work and other...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (21 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The person's application for carer's benefit was disallowed by a deciding officer on the grounds that the person was not engaged in remunerative employment prior to her claim as she was on a career break from the Department of Education and Science. The person appealed this decision to the social welfare appeals office and an oral hearing was held on 28 February 2006. Having considered all of...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (9 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The free travel scheme is available to all people living in the State aged 66 years, or over, and to all carers in receipt of carer's allowance and to carers of people in receipt of constant attendance or prescribed relative's allowance. It is also available to certain people with disabilities and people who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments. The scheme provides free travel on...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (9 Mar 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. In addition, many of the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (9 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Diet supplements are provided through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Any person who is receiving a social welfare or health service executive payment, who has been prescribed a special diet as a result of a specified medical condition and who is unable to provide for his or her...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (9 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The application for a respite care grant from the person to whom the Deputy refers was successful. The payment issued on 28 February 2006.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (9 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: In order to be entitled to unemployment benefit, UB, or unemployment assistance, UA, social welfare legislation provides that, among other conditions, a person must satisfy the condition of genuinely seeking work. A table showing the number of customers who made an application for unemployment assistance in 2005 together with those who were disallowed as not genuinely seeking work is set out...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (9 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I will be representing the Government in Boston at a number of engagements, events and festivities to celebrate and mark St. Patrick's Day in the USA. My itinerary includes an address that will focus on Ireland's knowledge economy to the Irish Association at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and an address at a breakfast to mark the expansion of the operations of the Irish software...

Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages. (9 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The woman may also qualify for other benefits. In respect of the case raised by Deputy Ring, the Deputy is aware that the habitual residency rules apply to carers who have worked outside the State. If someone enters this country to become a carer, the Department must assess whether he or she meets the requirements of the habitual residence clause. I do not think we can do much in this area...

Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages. (9 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Photographs.

Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages. (9 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Deputy Penrose again pointed out a number of apparent anomalies. We are trying to iron out as many of them as possible. Almost 18 months ago I said the experience of Deputies, Senators and councillors — our public representatives — is a great treasure trove. I have taken careful note of every anomaly and proposal made by members of my parliamentary party and by others in this House. I...

Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages. (9 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: In reply to Deputy McCormack, I do not want to go over the debate about the half rate again as I dealt with it a few moments ago. In the example the Deputy gave, the person concerned would not necessarily have to lose the carer's allowance. She could keep the carer's allowance, which is now €200 if she is over 65 but she would not be entitled to the widow's pension. It would be one or the...

Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages. (9 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I take the point. We will not go through it again. We had a good debate a few moments ago on the reasoning behind not making two payments. Deputy McCormack may wish to look at the transcripts of that debate. I will find another occasion to go through the matter with the Deputy if he wishes. In reply to Deputy Boyle's question on the FIS, 17,445 people are currently in receipt of this payment....

Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages. (9 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: It is in legislation.

Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages. (9 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The average FIS payment is about——

Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages. (9 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Sorry.

Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages. (9 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I acknowledge the Deputy's commitment to this issue. In his contributions as the Chairman of the committee in question, he singled out carers as his top priority. As such and due to his patent commitment, I owe it to him to take the issue seriously. As the Deputy said, we have made substantial progress. The means test for carer's allowance has been eased significantly in recent years,...

Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages. (9 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I understand the point the Deputies are making. I examined the half rate allowance before the budget, as recommended by the Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs, but I was unable to implement this measure. Instead, I increased the carer's allowance to €200. The State non-contributory pension is now €182 and the carer's allowance for those over 66 years is €200. The reason I...

Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages. (9 Mar 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I acknowledge that anomalies exist throughout the system and we are trying our best to iron them out, within an overall philosophy of supporting people. On the issue of indexation, the consumer price index rose by 34% in the past ten years, gross earnings rose by 65% and social welfare rates increased by 84%. I acknowledge the Deputy's point about disregards is slightly different....