Results 3,341-3,360 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Social Welfare Benefits. (27 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The issue is bedevilled by attempts to statistically measure poverty. Estimates are made in terms of consistent poverty, risk of poverty and relative poverty, with different purposes for each. In addition, the Central Statistics Office, the EU and the UN have different measures of poverty.

Social Welfare Benefits. (27 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I do not have a figure.

Social Welfare Benefits. (27 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I have been around too long to estimate for the Deputy what people need to live.

Social Welfare Benefits. (27 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: While I would ask a similar question if I was in opposition, consistent improvements have been made in this area. When making a determination on State support, account must be taken of different circumstances, for example, whether a family lives in a local authority or inherited house or has to pay a mortgage.

Social Welfare Benefits. (27 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The sum of €528.49 was supplied in the details accompanying the question. That is a suggestion from one quarter. The other figure is €413.02 which was referred to in the question. To give the Deputy an appropriate answer to his question, all the circumstances of the family must be taken into account.

Social Welfare Benefits. (27 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: To ascertain what is an adequate income for any family, and not only a family living in poverty, depends very much on——

Social Welfare Benefits. (27 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: ——the circumstances of the family.

Social Welfare Benefits. (27 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I think so.

Local Authority Housing. (27 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: In general my Department has no function in securing accommodation for one parent families or any other social welfare customers. However, under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive, a weekly or monthly rent or mortgage interest supplement is available to assist eligible people who are unable to...

Local Authority Housing. (27 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I am unhappy at the pace at which the new scheme is taking off. Only about 30 or 40 people have been facilitated under the scheme by the local authorities. That is disappointing and we need to do far better. The rent supplement was only ever intended to be a temporary support. It was not meant to become a permanent housing arrangement. That is a matter for the Department of the Environment,...

Offshore Exploration. (27 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I am not taking the matter.

Social Welfare Benefits. (27 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: My Department provides child income support in a number of ways. The principal support is child benefit, a universal payment which is neutral vis-À-vis the employment status of the child's parents and does not contribute to poverty traps. Over the period since 1997, the monthly rates of child benefit have increased by €103.51 at the lower rate and €127.78 at the higher rate, increases of...

Social Welfare Benefits. (27 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I am not dependent exclusively on the NESC report in this regard but it is an important and valuable piece of work. I do not yet have the report from the NESC. I am aware it has to consider some drafts internally at the next meeting of the National Economic and Social Council. As I said in my reply, the policy in this regard will be very much informed by the proposals from NESC. Having said...

Social Welfare Benefits. (27 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The aim of the national fuel scheme is to assist householders who are in receipt of long-term social welfare or Health Service Executive payments towards the cost of their additional heating needs during the winter season. Fuel allowances are paid currently for 29 weeks from the end of September to the middle of April each year. Some 274,000 households benefit under the scheme at a cost of...

Social Welfare Benefits. (27 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The Deputy has made a good argument for re-examining the fuel allowance given that it has not been touched for many years and in light of recent fuel price increases. I will examine that closely in the context of the forthcoming budget and the subsequent social welfare legislation. There has been a windfall to the Exchequer from VAT and excise duty arising from fuel price increases, but the...

Social Welfare Benefits. (27 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: ——and I intend to address the situation. I have discovered that those 237 people were in receipt of a fuel allowance to which they were not legally entitled. It was taken away in the ordinary course of events, but I will examine how best I can deal with the issue. I hope to make an announcement on it shortly.

Social Welfare Benefits. (27 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The requirement to be habitually resident in Ireland was introduced as a qualifying condition for certain social assistance schemes and child benefit with effect from 1 May 2004. It was introduced in the context of the Government's decision to open the Irish labour market to workers from the new EU member states without the limitations being imposed at that time by many other member states....

Social Welfare Benefits. (27 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I am sure Deputy Boyle would agree that we want to be as decent and honourable towards people who come to our shores as we possibly can be. Our current regulations are among the most liberal in the world, and certainly in terms of the European Union we have one of the more liberally interpreted regimes of any of our colleague countries. We must strike a balance between being decent, humane...

Social Welfare Benefits. (27 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: Decisions on entitlement to social welfare schemes are made by statutorily appointed deciding officers under the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 1993, as amended. Social welfare appeals are undertaken by duly appointed appeals officers. All persons who apply for carer's allowance, carer's benefit or for any social welfare scheme are informed of the decision on their entitlement and the...

Social Welfare Benefits. (27 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I do not know if the form is sent out. I will check that for Deputy Stanton. If an entitlement is stopped or reduced, the policy is that the claimant is informed of his or her right of appeal. The Deputy may have a particular case in mind. If a person voluntarily gave up his or her right to a particular allowance, he or she may not be notified of the right of appeal, as this would not seem to...