Results 781-800 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (25 Apr 2007)

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 1st of May 2004. It was introduced in the context of the Government's decision to open the Irish labour market to workers from the 10 new EU Member States without the transitional limitations which were imposed at that time by...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (25 Apr 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 63 together. In February 2006, as part of the health service reform programme, the Government decided to transfer certain functions and associated staff and other resources from the Health Service Executive to my Department. The functions to be transferred include the administration of the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme. The transfer of...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (25 Apr 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64, 73, 84, 97 and 103 together. The Government discussion paper, "Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents," put forward proposals for the expanded availability and range of education and training opportunities for lone parents; the extension of the National Employment Action Plan to focus on lone parents; focused provision of childcare; improved information...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (25 Apr 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 67 together. The Family Income Supplement (FIS) provides income support for employees on low earnings with families. This preserves the incentive to remain in employment in circumstances where the employee might only be marginally better off than if he or she were claiming other social welfare payments. There are currently 20,869 people in receipt of...

Written Answers — Anti-Poverty Strategy: Anti-Poverty Strategy (25 Apr 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Last month, I presented the first Annual Output Statement for my Department to the Select Committee on Social and Family Affairs as part of its consideration of the 2007 Estimates. In brief, the Annual Output Statement is a top level report linking the Department's financial allocations with the high level goals of the strategy statement and specified business objectives for the year. It also...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (25 Apr 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Housing supports in general, including the more recent Rental Accommodation Scheme, are provided by local authorities. However, I am anxious that all avenues are explored to provide financial support for people on long-term rent supplementation who may be in a position to purchase their own home. In this regard a study overseen by my Department and the Department of the Environment Heritage...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (25 Apr 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The recommendation of the Public Accounts Committee to which the Deputy refers is that my Department should keep under close review those GPs who certify persons as incapable for work and who are later consistently found capable by the Department's medical assessors. Medical certifiers, who are in the main general practitioners or hospital doctors, enter into a contract with my Department...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (25 Apr 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The Family Income Supplement is designed to provide cash support for employees on low earnings with families. This preserves the incentive to remain in employment in circumstances where the employee might only be marginally better off than if he or she were claiming other social welfare payments. To ensure that families are made aware of these improvements, my Department undertook a...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (25 Apr 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The CORI review Addressing Inequality, which was published earlier this month, is currently being examined by my Department. The review analyses the current social and economic position in the country under twelve different headings including income, taxation, work, public services, migration, social participation and sustainability. It sets out a wide range of recommendations under each of...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (25 Apr 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The recommendation of the Law Reform Commission arose from one of two important pieces of work which have recently been completed regarding different types of partner relationships and how they should be treated and recognised in Irish society. The first report an 'Options Paper, presented by the Working Group on Domestic Partnership' to the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (25 Apr 2007)

Séamus Brennan: My Department aims to ensure that all citizens are made aware of their rights and entitlements and that they are kept informed of changes and improvements in schemes and services as they occur. The provision of information in a clear and accessible manner is an essential element in the achievement of this objective. My Department takes a pro-active approach in advertising its schemes and...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (25 Apr 2007)

Séamus Brennan: As the Deputy is no doubt aware, 220 posts in my Department are due to be relocated to Carrick-on-Shannon under the Government's decentralisation programme. Having carried out an examination of available accommodation in the town, the Office of Public Works (OPW) decided, in consultation my Department, that an office development then under construction would provide the most suitable solution...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (25 Apr 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The all Ireland free travel scheme commenced on 2nd April 2007. The scheme enables pensioners resident here and in Northern Ireland to travel free of charge on all eligible transport services on the island. The scheme extends the existing cross-border free travel arrangements by allowing pensioners over the age of 66 and resident here to travel free of charge on all bus and rail services in...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (25 Apr 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Social welfare pensions are adjusted annually at budget time having regard to commitments or targets set by Government, available resources and economic conditions. In relation to the first, Government commitments for a target rate for pensions of €127 per week achieved in 2002 and, later, for a rate of €200 per week, achieved in the current year, have ensured that not only has the value...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (25 Apr 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The social welfare pension entitlements of those who take time out of the workforce for caring duties are protected by the homemaker's scheme, which was introduced in and took effect from 1994. The scheme allows up to 20 years spent caring for children or incapacitated adults to be disregarded when a person's social insurance record is being averaged for pension purposes. However, the...

Written Answers — Family Support Services: Family Support Services (25 Apr 2007)

Séamus Brennan: My Department does not provide parenting courses directly. The funding provided by my Department to groups and organisations under the Family Services Project (FSP) and the Special Projects Fund is used to support projects run by third parties to assist welfare recipients and members of their families. The type of projects supported include family support programmes and personal development...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (25 Apr 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The purpose of the review of the social welfare code, which is currently being undertaken in my Department, is to examine its compatibility with the Equal Status Act, 2000 (as amended). The review will examine the schemes and services provided for in social welfare legislation and in the administrative schemes operated by the Department. It will identify any instances of direct or indirect...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (25 Apr 2007)

Séamus Brennan: My Department administers payment of the Early Childcare Supplement (ECS) on behalf of the Office of the Minister for Children. The ECS is intended to help families meet the costs of childcare. The supplement is paid every three months, in arrears, in respect of children under 6 years of age who qualify for child benefit. The ECS commenced in April 2006 and three payments issued to eligible...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (25 Apr 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes rent supplement, is administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Rent supplement under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme has, over the years, developed beyond the original objective of providing short-term assistance with accommodation. A significant number of people have now...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (25 Apr 2007)

Séamus Brennan: It is estimated that the cost of applying an increase to €300 to contributory pensions, which are financed through the Social Insurance Fund, would be €1,495 million. Increasing the value of all social welfare pensions to €300 is estimated to cost €2,019 million in a full year, including the cost of increasing payments to qualified adults to maintain their current proportionate...