Results 4,381-4,400 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Feb 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. Capital may include the following: stocks and shares of every description, which are assessed according to their current market value; savings certificates, bonds, national instalment savings, which are assessed according...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (15 Feb 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The number of means-tested pension cases where my Department assessed overpayments against the estates of deceased pensioners since 2000 with the value of overpayments recovered from those estates is as follows; Year Number of Cases Value of overpayments recovered 2000 508 £3,463,606.00 2001 442 £4,541,903.00 2002 406 â'¬5,016,542.40 2003...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Feb 2005)

Séamus Brennan: Subject to certain conditions, rent 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. The legislation governing rent supplements precludes payments being made to defray the cost of maintenance of, or repairs to, a dwelling for which, in the absence of agreement to...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Feb 2005)

Séamus Brennan: An earnings "ceiling" was introduced for deserted wife's benefit as and from 31 August 1992. The ceiling, which applied only to new claims after that date, is currently €12,697.38 a year gross earnings. Where earnings are in excess of this amount, there may be entitlement to a continued payment at a reduced rate up to maximum earnings of €17,776.33 a year gross. The person concerned was...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Feb 2005)

Séamus Brennan: As the Deputy will be aware, the home help service is administered by the Health Service Executive which comes under the aegis of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children. In the social welfare system, home help earnings are generally disregarded or treated more favourably than earnings from other insurable employment. No substantial changes have been made in these arrangements in...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Feb 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The person concerned was employed in the construction industry from 22 November 2004 until 10 December 2004, when he left this employment. He applied for unemployment assistance on 14 January 2005. Based on the information supplied in his application regarding his job seeking efforts, a deciding officer disallowed his claim on the grounds that he is not available for or genuinely seeking...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Feb 2005)

Séamus Brennan: With the exception of those participating in my Department's back to education allowance scheme, people in full-time education are excluded in legislation from receipt of rent supplement which is provided for under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. The back to education allowance is a second chance educational opportunities scheme designed to encourage and facilitate certain groups...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Feb 2005)

Séamus Brennan: With effect from 27 May 2003 rent supplement is no longer payable in respect of a person who is awaiting the outcome of his or her claim for asylum. The accommodation needs of people in these circumstances are provided for through the system of direct provision operated by the Reception and Integration Agency of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The Dublin and mid-Leinster...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Feb 2005)

Séamus Brennan: At the time of application for a diet supplement the person concerned declared his sole source of income as being invalidity pension. The application form which he completed concludes with a declaration that the information given is complete and accurate and that the applicant undertakes to advise of any changes in circumstances, including income levels. As the Deputy is aware from my...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Feb 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The cost of the electricity allowance to my Department over the last four years has been as follows: 2001 —€51.3 million; 2002 —€62.6 million; 2003 —€75.4 million; 2004 —€88 million. It is estimated that the allowance will cost the Department €102.26 million in 2005. The allowance covers the normal standing charges, urban or rural domestic, the public service obligation levy...

Written Answers — Family Support Services: Family Support Services (9 Feb 2005)

Séamus Brennan: Family income supplement was introduced in 1984 with the purpose of providing an incentive to low-paid employees with families to take up or remain in full-time employment in circumstances where they might otherwise be only marginally better off then of claiming another social welfare payment. The scheme does not apply to self-employed people. Arrangements already exist whereby self-employed...

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (9 Feb 2005)

Séamus Brennan: As announced in budget 2005, €1 million has been provided this year to the national information agency, Comhairle, to prepare the groundwork for the introduction of the new personal advocacy service. It is envisaged that the new service will be introduced in early 2008 subject to the necessary legislation being enacted. The introduction of a personal advocacy service aimed specifically at...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (9 Feb 2005)

Séamus Brennan: The approach to determining the effective dates for increases in social welfare weekly rates of payment following December's budget was the same as in previous years. The effective dates of increases for each scheme are determined by reference to the payment weeks for each scheme, which may commence on different days of the week, and the fact that some schemes are paid in advance and some in...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (9 Feb 2005)

Séamus Brennan: A person is regarded as being available for employment if he or she is prepared to accept any offers of suitable full-time employment. In considering entitlement under this condition, account is taken of the person's skills, qualifications and experience, duration of period of unemployment and the availability of job vacancies in the locality. The question of specific support for the costs of...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Feb 2005)

Séamus Brennan: Continued entitlement to disability allowance is subject to the person satisfying a means test and the medical eligibility criteria that apply. Legislation provides that all income which the claimant and his or her spouse or partner have is assessable for means purposes subject to certain exemptions. Following a review, the disability allowance claim of the person concerned was disallowed by...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Feb 2005)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 341 and 347 together. The conditions for receipt of the extended respite care grant will be set out in the forthcoming Social Welfare Bill and regulations. As set out in my speech at budget time, the following broad conditions will apply: the carer must be providing full-time care to a person who is in need of such care; as is the case with recipients of...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Feb 2005)

Séamus Brennan: A person aged 66 years or over may qualify for an old age non-contributory pension if his or her weekly means do not exceed €171.10. All income is taken into account in calculating the means including the value of any property owned, but excluding a person's own home. Each of the couple concerned is getting an old age non-contributory pension of €38.50 per week based upon weekly means of...

Written Answers — Child Support: Child Support (8 Feb 2005)

Séamus Brennan: My Department administers a number of child income support measures, including child benefit which delivers standard rates of payment in respect of all qualified children in a family regardless of income levels or employment status. Child benefit supports all children but delivers proportionately more assistance to those on low incomes and with larger families. It is not intended primarily to...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Feb 2005)

Séamus Brennan: My Department aims, through the provision of a range of supports, to encourage and assist people with disabilities and long-term illnesses who are in receipt of social welfare payments to identify and take up available employment, training and other self-development opportunities, where appropriate. This is achieved through a number of measures, which include: exemptions from the general "no...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Feb 2005)

Séamus Brennan: A person is not permitted, as a general rule, to engage in work while receiving disability benefit. Legislation provides, however, that a person may be granted an exemption from this rule where she-he is engaged in part-time work in the nature of rehabilitation or occupational therapy, with a view to return to full-time employment. The person concerned has been in receipt of disability...