Results 2,981-3,000 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (6 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: In May 2000, a special half rate old age, contributory, pension was introduced to enable people with pre-1953 insurance, who could not qualify for a payment under normal qualifying conditions, to receive a pension. People already qualifying for pensions at less than half rate could also benefit from the new scheme. In order to be eligible for the payment, a person requires 260 paid...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (6 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: A representative of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul was quoted in the press last week stating that the society's big concern was that some people would need to juggle between paying for heat and eating this winter. He called for a doubling of the social welfare fuel allowance. Fuel allowances are supplementary entitlements payable over the winter months to people in receipt of pensions and...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (6 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 308 to 310, inclusive, together. The job initiative programme is one of a number of FÁS schemes in which lone parents may participate. Under the programme full-time employment is provided in the social economy for individuals who are over 35 years and fulfil certain criteria. With effect from 1 January 2005, job initiative employees earn a minimum of...

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (6 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The revenue that will be raised in social insurance contributions from employers, employees and the self-employed in 2006 is estimated at €6,550 million, on a pre-budget basis. This represents an increase of €503 million on the 2005 projected outturn of €6,047 million which is due mainly to projected growth in earnings and employment levels in 2006. The make-up of both years' figures,...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (6 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The Dublin and mid-Leinster area of the Health Service Executive, which administers the rent supplement scheme on my behalf, has advised that its appeals officer decided in early November 2005 to uphold the decision to award the person concerned rent supplement rate of €65.20 per month. This rate was based on her household circumstances as then known. However, as there were indications at...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (6 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The free travel scheme is available to all people living in the State aged 66 years or over. All carers in receipt of carer's allowance and carers of people in receipt of constant attendance or prescribed relative's allowance, regardless of their age, receive a free travel pass. It is also available to people under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain disability type welfare payments,...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (6 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: Under the Government decentralisation programme announced in budget 2004, my Department is to relocate 230 posts to Donegal town and 120 posts to Buncrana. 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...

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (6 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The concept of weeks of insurable employment plays a key role in the operation of the social insurance system and is provided for in legislation. The system provides that social insurance contributions are paid by employees and employers on earnings exceeding €38 for each week of insurable employment. These contributions progressively build towards entitlement to a range of short and...

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (6 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The social welfare system is based on income replacement with entitlement related to defined contingencies such as sickness, unemployment, old age and widowhood. Social welfare legislation provides that generally only one social welfare payment is payable at the one time. This approach is common to social security systems across the world. The overall objective is to ensure that social...

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...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (1 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 43, 49, 87 and 150 together. According to census 2002, there are 48,500 people providing personal care for over four hours per day. Over 25,700 of these are in receipt of either carer's allowance or carer's benefit. This means that almost 53% of the 48,500 carers, estimated by the CSO to be caring for more than four hours per day, are in receipt of a...

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

Séamus Brennan: In the face of rapid population aging the OECD considers that there is a need to promote better employment opportunities for older people. Much of the focus in this area revolves around the reform of social welfare pensions systems and early retirement schemes but the OECD points to the need for a broader reform agenda which includes welfare systems, employment and dismissal procedures in...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (1 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: My Department engages consultancy expertise under three main headings. In the first instance consultancy is sought for a number of strategic multi-annual programmes aimed at enhancing the delivery of the Department's services. The second type are technical consultancies relating to the ongoing development of information technology systems. The final type is a consultancy assistance in other...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 25 together. The number of families benefiting from the family income supplement scheme on 18 November 2005 was 16,650. Family income supplement, FIS, is a payment made to low income families with children who are in employment but on low earnings, thereby preserving the incentive to remain in employment in circumstances where they might only be...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I recently announced that total spending on social welfare will increase in 2006 to a total of €12.49 billion even before announcements of further social welfare spending are made as part of the Government's broader budget package. The vast bulk of this spending meets the costs of payments to persons who through no fault of their own find themselves in circumstances where they need...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The Government is committed to maintaining a viable network of post offices throughout the country. The development and installation of any new technology which An Post might make available in post offices is a commercial matter for the company and that of my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, who is the Minister responsible for An Post. I have no role...

Written Answers — Anti-Poverty Strategy: Anti-Poverty Strategy (1 Dec 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 35 together. The causes of poverty and its effects are multi-faceted and require an integrated, multi-policy response for application at national, regional and local levels. The Government's strategic approach to tackling poverty was initially provided through the national anti-poverty strategy, NAPS, which was introduced in 1997. This strategy has now...