Results 1,261-1,280 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Order of Business (15 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The Bill is set for early summer 2007. That is the current position.

Finance Bill 2007: Allocation of Time Motion (15 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I move: That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders: (1) The proceedings in the Select Committee on Finance and the Public Service on the Finance Bill 2007 shall be brought to a conclusion in accordance with the following timetable:— Date: Proceedings: To conclude not later than: Tuesday, 20th February Chapters 1 and 2 (part) of Part 1 (sections 1 to 13) 2 p.m. Chapters 2...

Order of Business (15 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The Order of Business today——

Order of Business (15 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: It is proposed to take No. 12a, Finance Bill 2007, allocation of time motion for select committee; No. 12b, Finance Bill 2007 — Financial Resolutions, No. 24, statements on the national development plan; and No. 4, the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007 — Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall...

Written Answers — Tax and Social Welfare Codes: Tax and Social Welfare Codes (14 Feb 2007)

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

Written Answers — Live Register: Live Register (14 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Details of the number of persons who are registered unemployed at the end of January in 2005, 2006 and 2007 for the Newcastlewest and Kilmallock Social Welfare Offices are set out in tabular format. Figures for the Live Register are based on figures compiled on a Friday at the end of each week, and the figures provided relate to the last Friday in January of the years requested. Kilmallock...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (14 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Supporting and recognising carers in our society is and has been a priority of the Government since 1997. Over that period, weekly payment rates to carers have been greatly increased, qualifying conditions for carer's allowance have been significantly eased, coverage of the scheme has been extended and new schemes such as carer's benefit and the respite care grant have been introduced and...

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (14 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The Personal Public Service Number (PPS No.) is an individual's unique reference number for dealings with Government Departments and public bodies. Once issued, it is intended to have validity over a person's lifetime. A person generally retains the number whether or not it is used to access services on an ongoing basis. Records are noted on death or where there are concerns about identity...

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (14 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The number of PPS Numbers allocated each year from 2002 to 2006 is as follows: 2002: 215,567 2003: 91,629 2004: 219,982 2005: 271,224 2006: 311,791 The Department of Social & Family Affairs is the sole issuer of PPS Numbers. Children born in Ireland are automatically allocated a PPS Number when their birth is notified to the Department via the General Registers Office (GRO). In other cases,...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (14 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The detailed information requested is currently being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Seanad: Citizens Information Bill 2006: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Senator Terry will be aware of my arguments. I appreciate she is trying to be helpful in this case. I also appreciate the general welcome given to the legislation on all sides. The amendment proposes that a series of persons may notify the Minister that an offence has occurred. These persons are listed as a personal advocate; a qualifying person; members of a qualifying person's family; a...

Seanad: Citizens Information Bill 2006: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I have not put a number on that. The initial phase states that the director of the personal advocacy service, four advocates and support staff of about four to six would be recruited. It is difficult to estimate the likely demand for the service, but I want to give the commitment that new personal advocates will be recruited as required to meet the needs of people with disabilities and to...

Seanad: Citizens Information Bill 2006: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Senator Cox made an enlightened speech on Second Stage. When one puts in place something like this, it is an admission that the system is not working. However, it is possible to make that allegation when any support system is put in place. This is in place because the sad reality is that people with disabilities find it difficult to access services. That they should not find it difficult...

Seanad: Citizens Information Bill 2006: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I am not disputing the reasonable nature of the case made by the Senator but I am advised that it might be counter-productive to do this in a brand new service at this stage. Not all individuals will be in need of a personal advocate. Many will have family members and carers and it is probable that only the most vulnerable will come forward initially. They will be prioritised and this has...

Written Answers — Employee Protection: Employee Protection (13 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The case to which the Deputy refers, relates to Directive 80/987/EEC which provides for the protection of employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer. The High Court in the U.K. referred a case to the European Court of Justice for a preliminary ruling on whether Article 8 of this Directive requires "Member States to ensure, by whatever means necessary, that employees' accrued...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The supplementary allowance (SWA) scheme, including rent supplement, is administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare division of the Health Service Executive (HSE). The Executive has advised that it has not received an application for rent supplement from the person concerned. It has further advised that the person concerned should contact her local community welfare officer where she...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The supplementary allowance (SWA) scheme, including rent supplement, is administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare division of the Health Service Executive (HSE). The Executive has advised that it has finalised a claim for rent supplement for the person concerned and has communicated its decision to the person in question.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: There are currently 27,597 persons in receipt of carer's allowance (week ending 2 February 2007). There are currently 1,627 persons in receipt of Carer's Benefit. These recipients also qualify for Respite Care Grant. Support of carers has been a priority of Government since 1997. Payments to carers have been greatly improved over that period and qualifying conditions for carers allowance...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (13 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 461 and 462 together. My Department has received funding in the new National Development Plan (NDP) 2007-2013 under the Social Inclusion Priority of the Plan. The funding provided is mainly for four programmes as follows: The Activation Sub-Programme, aims to promote participation and social inclusion through engaging with people of working age on social...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) is administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare division of the Health Service Executive (HSE). SWA provides a safety net against poverty in that it gives a statutory entitlement to a minimum weekly income, based on criteria set out in legislation. Apart from a number of excluded categories, anyone in the State whose means are...