Results 4,461-4,480 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Séamus Brennan: In my review of the 2004 provisions, I concluded that some easement of this measure would be appropriate. Therefore, with effect from next January, the transitional half rate one-parent family payment will be made for a period of six months for qualifying recipients. Some 700 one-parent family payment recipients will benefit from this measure. The introduction of the transitional arrangement...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I have no difficulty with the principle of helping lone parents. It is worth noting, however, that there are almost 80,000 people in receipt of one-parent family payments. The State's budget in this area is some €700 million, which is a substantial resource. Not all the recipients are lone parents in the traditional sense in that some may be widows and so on. It is also an area we need to...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I thank you, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, the Cathaoirleach and the various acting chairpersons for the work done in helping us with the Bill. I thank each Member of the Seanad for the work they put in and the comments they made. I single out Senator Terry, who through all Stages assiduously pursued me on a range of issues, which gave me the opportunity to explain and expand. I know that the...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Séamus Brennan: The qualifying conditions for pensions require that a person should have paid a minimum number of contributions at an appropriate rate and that he or she should enter insurance ten years before pension age and achieve a yearly average of between ten and 48 contributions over his or her working life. A yearly average of 48 contributions is required for a full-rate pension. Reduced pensions are...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I provided an additional allocation in the 2005 budget of €2 million to enable us to press ahead with the new diet supplement. I have received the report to which the Senator referred. It is with the Department, and we have been considering it; we will continue to study it. We are pressing ahead with the diet supplement issue. The best assessment I can give the Senator of the timescale is...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Séamus Brennan: When the Department initiated additional inquiries regarding the diet supplement, it commissioned the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute to examine several factors, including the average cost of a proper, nutritionally balanced, healthy diet and how it corresponded to the current measure of cost relating to social welfare. Diet supplements are paid to 12,700 people. It is worth reminding...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Séamus Brennan: This amendment relates to the rent supplement debate, which has been protracted. I reviewed this scheme and made some changes to it. I only made those changes having met many groups, having listened to what was said in the Dáil and in the Seanad and having studied the matter in the Department with officials. I put a number of new arrangements in place. I have abolished the six months rule...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Séamus Brennan: The amendment refers largely to rent supplement. Subject to certain conditions, the supplementary welfare allowance scheme provides for the payment of a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of rent to eligible persons whose means are insufficient. I have dealt with this question. With the exception of those participating in improved employment schemes, those engaged in full-time...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Séamus Brennan: Of the 12,000 people I mentioned, some two thirds are women. Obviously the matter affects women disproportionately, which is a cause for concern.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Séamus Brennan: As of 3 December 2004, the number of families in receipt of the family income supplement was 14,611. They received an average weekly payment of €72.19. The scheme dates back to 1984 when it was established to assist low-income families. The measure is designed to help people move from unemployment into work, as well as supporting employees on low earnings who have families. The FIS ensures...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I reiterate that I have reduced the qualifying period from 15 months to 12 months. The reason is that it was originally intended to be an assault on long-term unemployment. Long-term unemployment is generally defined as 12 months. With unemployment at 4.4% and a long-term unemployment rate of less than 1%, it is very tightly focused. I thought 12 months made sense given where the scheme was...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I will consider this issue before Report Stage. The contribution of Senator Cox, supported by that of Senator Terry, strikes a chord with me. This is an area that is difficult to administer because of the numbers involved. I have already said regarding the rent supplement scheme that we should deal with people on the basis of individual needs, not according to an arbitrary time restriction or...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I thank the Senator for tabling this amendment, whose purpose is primarily to allow debate on the matter. It would not be normal to insert into legislation a requirement to issue a report. I have no difficulty in adhering to the spirit of the amendment requiring me to report to the Houses on the means test for carer's allowance, which I am happy to do. While it does not require an amendment...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I appreciate the intent of the amendment. The household benefits package, which is made up of electricity, gas, telephone and free television licence allowances, is available to people living in the State who are over 66 years of age and who are in receipt of social welfare type-payments or who otherwise pass a means test. The package is also available to carers and people with disabilities...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Séamus Brennan: Yes. The free travel scheme is available to people living in the State who are over 66 years irrespective of needs. Widows and widowers aged from 60 to 65 years whose late spouses were in receipt of the household benefits package or free travel retain that entitlement to ensure householders do not suffer loss of entitlement. The allowances outlive the spouse. The schemes exist to support...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Séamus Brennan: My mother is 80 years old and I know exactly how she likes things to be kept in boxes. I looked at the fuel and living alone allowances. I cannot do everything in a first budget but I will keep things under review. With hundreds of millions of euro allocated to child benefit and increases in pensions and unemployment assistance rates it became a choice whether to put the extra funding into...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I will launch the first major annual report of the Office for Social Inclusion tomorrow morning. The office, which is based in the Department of Social and Family Affairs, was established in 2002. It has overall responsibility for developing, co-ordinating and driving the national anti-poverty strategy, which is the national action plan for combating poverty and social inclusion. The office...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Séamus Brennan: Senator Terry knows that two claims are linked if a claim is considered to be a continuation of a previous claim. If a person makes an unemployment benefit or disability claim within 26 weeks of the end of a previous claim, both claims can be linked. The recipient can enjoy certain benefits when claims are linked. The claimant can retain some or all of the entitlements established during the...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Séamus Brennan: On amendment No. 6, to qualify for a social insurance payment a person must fulfil all the relevant conditions, including the social insurance contribution conditions relating to the particular benefit being claimed. These contributions rules exist to preserve a fair balance between the contributions paid and benefits received. Certain principles are required when setting equitable...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I believe there is about €1.5 billion in the fund but I am open to correction. Although €1.5 billion seems like a lot, it amounts to only four months of payments. The Senator will appreciate that while the fund is solid, it has not been built up such that it will last for three or four years.