Results 1,201-1,220 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: As Deputies have said in this House on many occasions over the last two years, the Department always approaches these matters from the customer's perspective.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: It sets out to help the customer. Community welfare officers have nothing to fear from being in such a Department. As someone who faced many picket lines over the years because I successfully tried to move public servants from Departments to agencies, I sometimes enjoy a wry smile about matters of this nature.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: We are now doing the opposite, in a way — we are bringing workers back into a Department — but objections are still being made.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: This matter has been debated for many years, since the Brennan report found that health sector management should concentrate on health issues.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Many studies and reports about matters like the development of the welfare state and the creation of a more inclusive labour market have been produced over many years. This concept was not dreamt up over the last couple of weeks. It is obvious that everybody is flexing their muscles as the general election approaches. Talks and industrial relations procedures are ongoing. I assure...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I support these officials, who have nothing to fear from this process.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The Department holds regular meetings with SIPTU and IMPACT, which are the two trade unions which represent community welfare officers. The most recent meeting was on 8 February last.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: There were three meetings in 2006. I have met the unions. This matter was discussed at all those meetings. The national joint council of the health sector, which involves the two trade unions, the Health Service Executive and the Department of Health and Children, meets regularly and has discussed the matter. Officials from the Department met the entire cadre of superintendent community...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Referral to Select Committee (21 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Social and Family Affairs, in accordance with Standing Order 120(1) and paragraph 1(a)(i) of the Orders of Reference of that committee.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The Health Service Executive has advised that it has issued an application form to the person concerned. When it has been received, it will be considered and a decision given as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The living alone increase is an additional payment of €7.70 per week made to people aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are living alone. It is also available to people who are under 66 years of age who are living alone and who receive payments under one of a number of invalidity type schemes. The increase is intended as a contribution...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (20 Feb 2007)

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. In 2005 the amount of capital disregarded for means test purposes for all schemes (except supplementary welfare...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Under the terms of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive (HSE), an exceptional needs payment may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which the applicant is unable to meet out of his/her own resources. There is no automatic entitlement to this payment. Each application is...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: From September 2007 people in receipt of another social welfare payment who are also providing full time care and attention to a person will be able to retain their main welfare payment and receive another payment, depending on their means, the maximum of which will be equivalent of a half rate carer's allowance. A person currently in receipt of a carer's allowance who may have an underlying...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (20 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: As part of improvements announced in the Budget measures for 2006, I introduced legislation (under the Social Welfare Law Reform and Pension Act 2006) whereby all persons in receipt of State Pension (Transition) who attain the age of 66 transfer automatically to the State Pension (Contributory). In these cases, a once-off payment of an additional days pension is being made in recognition of...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (20 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 432 and 433 together. Social welfare programmes aim to be responsive to the needs of those who depend on income maintenance support while providing incentives to assist people to become more independent financially, particularly through employment. Lone Parents and others on rent supplement who participate in community employment (CE) schemes are financially...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Jobseeeker's allowance is a means tested payment. To qualify for Jobseeeker's allowance a person must also be available for and genuinely seeking work. The person concerned applied for jobseeker's allowance on 19 January 2007. A Deciding Officer assessed his means at €329.00 from 19 January 2007, derived from income from self-employment. This assessment exceeds the maximum weekly rate...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: From February 2006, the majority of the one-parent family payment customers, who were previously paid by Personalised Payable Order (PPO) books, were transferred to a card-based payment known as Electronic Information Transfer (EIT) payment. These customers collect their payment at post offices, using their social services card. In general, the response to the change in payment method has...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: A Social Welfare Inspector is in the course of completing his enquiries in this case and will shortly forward his report to the Deciding Officer. The Deciding Officer will make a decision on this case on receipt of the report. Under Social Welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by Deciding Officers and Appeals Officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (20 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: To date, 79 officers have transferred to offices of the Department outside of Dublin under the Government's Decentralisation Programme. This includes 14 officers who have transferred to temporary accommodation while the permanent accommodation is being finalised. 13 of the 79 officers transferred from a non-Dublin office to a Dublin office initially for training purposes. The average time...