Results 3,481-3,500 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Social Welfare Consolidation Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I intend to increase child benefit.

Social Welfare Consolidation Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I do not intend to do what the Deputy read about.

Social Welfare Consolidation Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I will not touch it.

Social Welfare Consolidation Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I will increase it.

Social Welfare Consolidation Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I thank the Deputy.

Social Welfare Consolidation Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: There are too many socialists in Government.

Social Welfare Consolidation Bill 2005: Order for Second Stage. (5 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Social Welfare Consolidation Bill 2005: Second Stage. (5 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am very pleased to introduce this Bill to the House. It is important and unique legislation. Social welfare legislation was consolidated on two previous occasions, 1981 and 1993. Since 1993, 18 Social Welfare Acts and a further eight miscellaneous Acts amending the provisions of the 1993 Act have been passed. Deputies will recall that the...

Social Welfare Consolidation Bill 2005: Second Stage. (5 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I did very little of it.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: Following the introduction of the farm assist scheme in 1999, farm income, including payments under the forest premium scheme, is now assessed on a more favourable basis than hitherto was the case. All gross yearly income, both on the farm and off-farm, engaged in by the farmer and his or her spouse or partner is reduced to allow for all costs necessarily incurred in carrying out the...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (4 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 352 and 355 together. For the purposes of that pension and most other social welfare payments, entitlement to an increase for a qualified adult is based on the income of the spouse or partner. A qualified adult increase at the maximum rate is payable where the spouse's or partner's income is less than €88.89 per week, and tapered reduced rates are payable...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (4 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: In assessing means for social assistance purposes account is taken of any cash income the person may have, together with the value of capital and property, except the home. Amounts held in special savings investment accounts are treated in the same manner as other capital. Last October, I requested my Department to carry out an examination of the current arrangements for the assessment of...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance scheme, BSCFA, is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Neither I nor my Department has any function regarding 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 welfare or health...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The back-to-education allowance is a second-chance education opportunities programme 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 workforce. Since the scheme was first introduced, its primary focus has been towards people who most need additional training or...

Written Answers — Departmental Records: Departmental Records (4 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: My Department recently undertook an examination of accesses to a particular computer record. During the period examined, our records show that 125 individuals accessed the record in question. The details of those who accessed the systems were brought to the attention of my Department's management. In addition to a general circular to staff stressing confidentiality obligations, a further...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (4 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The back-to-education allowance is a second-chance education opportunities programme 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 workforce. The conditions for entitlement to the third level option of the back-to-education allowance scheme were revised with...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Fund: Social Welfare Fund (4 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The amount of pay related social insurance paid annually by employers into the social insurance fund over the past five years is set out in the following table: 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 â'¬,000 â'¬,000 â'¬,000 â'¬,000 £,000 Employer Contributions 4,000,313.00 3,692,896.00 3,520,443.00 3,252,034.00 2,176,458.00 ...

Written Answers — Child Support: Child Support (4 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The back to education allowance is a second chance education opportunities programme 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. The back to education allowance is essentially a social welfare replacement income support which is paid at a...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (4 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: My Department's inspectorate, appointed under section 212 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 1993, assesses entitlement to all means tested social welfare schemes, excluding supplementary welfare allowance. Reviews of means-tested payments are also carried out by inspectors to ensure the conditions regarding entitlement continue to be satisfied. The inspectors' remit also includes the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Oct 2005)

Séamus Brennan: Recipients of social welfare or Health Service Executive payments that have been prescribed a special diet as a result of a specified medical condition, and whose means are insufficient to meet their needs, may qualify for a diet supplement under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. This scheme and related supplements are administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of...