Results 1,581-1,600 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (30 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 133 together. Trustees have the main responsibility for the administration of occupational pension schemes and compliance with the statutory requirements that apply to these schemes. In discharging these duties trustees must act in the best interests of beneficiaries in accordance with the Pensions Act 1990 (as amended) and the trust deeds under which...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (30 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I wish to advise the Deputy that this matter is the responsibility of the Office of Public Works, which deals with matters relating to leases on properties.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (30 Nov 2006)

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, an exceptional needs payment (ENP) 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 — International Agreements: International Agreements (29 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Currently Ireland has bilateral social security agreements with seven countries: Austria, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the USA and Switzerland. Ireland entered into a bilateral understanding with Canada on 1 October 1994. The main purpose of these agreements is to protect the social security pension rights of workers who have worked both in Ireland and the other...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (29 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The information given in reply to the previous parliamentary question was based on information supplied by the HSE who advised that this and other cases have been the subject of discussion between the Deputy and the HSE by telephone. Following further enquiries with the Executive, I now understand that a meeting between the Deputy and the HSE is scheduled for early December. A person may...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (29 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The person concerned was refused the Carer's Allowance on the grounds that full time care and attention as prescribed in regulations is not required in this case. On 27 November 2006 he was notified of the decision, the reason for it and of his right to appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. Under Social Welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by Deciding...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (29 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Eligibility for a fuel allowance is subject to means and other conditions. The main conditions that apply to the fuel allowance scheme are that a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment, must satisfy a means test and must either be living alone or with a qualifying dependant. A person may have a combined household income of up to €51 per week over and above the maximum rate of...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (29 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: People in receipt of the state non-contributory pension who avail of the €100 a week earnings disregard do not lose fuel allowance. They continue to satisfy the means test for fuel allowance for as long as they remain entitled to the state non-contributory pension. Eligibility to the fuel allowance scheme is subject to means and other conditions. The main conditions that apply to the fuel...

Written Answers — Driver Testing: Driver Testing (29 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: A block of 40,000 driving tests, which can be extended to 45,000 tests if necessary, was outsourced to SGS Ltd., the company contracted to conduct driving tests, as part of a package of measures to reduce the driving test backlog that also included employment of additional staff and a bonus scheme for staff. The Road Safety Authority now has responsibility for the delivery of driving tests...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (28 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Social welfare legislation provides for payments made towards future pension provision by either an employed contributor in receipt of reckonable earnings, or a self-employed worker who is in receipt of reckonable emoluments and pays income tax through the PAYE system, to be exempted from liability for PRSI contributions. With regard to self-employed contributors who are outside the PAYE...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (28 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Rent supplements are subject to a limit on the amount of rent that an applicant for rent supplement may incur. The objective is to ensure that rent supplement is not paid in respect of overly expensive accommodation. Rent supplement is not normally paid where the rent is in excess of the limits because the personal contribution to rent made by the tenant should not be such that their post...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (28 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The person concerned applied for disability allowance on 21st February 2006. His case was considered by the Department's medical adviser who expressed the opinion that he was not medically qualified for the allowance. The person concerned appealed this decision and was subsequently found to be medically qualified. He was awarded disability allowance in August 2006, backdated to 22nd...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (28 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: An earnings limit was introduced for deserted wife's benefit in 1992. The limit, which applied only to new claims after August 1992, was set at €12, 697.38 a year (gross earnings). Where earnings are in excess of €12,697.38 a year, there may be entitlement to a reduced rate of payment of deserted wife's benefit, provided gross earnings do not exceed €17,776.33 a year. Following the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (28 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The person concerned claimed jobseekers allowance on 19 October 2006. The Deciding Officer disallowed the claim on the grounds that the person was not genuinely seeking employment. He appealed against this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 25 October 2006. In accordance with the statutory requirements the relevant departmental papers and comments of my Department were...

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (28 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The projected outturn for social insurance contribution income in 2006 is €6,872 million. The corresponding forecast revenue in 2007, on a pre-Budget basis, is €7,470 million. The make-up of both years' figures, as between employers, employees and the self-employed, is as follows: 2006 Projected Pre-Budget 2007 Outturn Forecast € million € million Employers 5,096 5,546...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (28 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered on behalf of the Department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Under the terms of supplementary welfare allowance scheme, a recipient of a social welfare or Health Services Executive payment who has exceptional heating costs due to ill health, infirmity or a medical condition which he/she is unable to...

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (28 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Over the period of my Department's sectoral plan under the Disability Act, 2005 (2006/2009), my Department aims to deliver support to people with disabilities to help them achieve an appropriate level of independence by achieving their full potential through accessing further education, developing life skills and engaging in employment. My Department will continue to provide appropriate...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (28 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The Christmas bonus payment is paid to recipients of state pension (transition) and state pension (contributory) regardless of their country of residence. State pension (non-contributory) is not payable outside the State.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (28 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The household benefits package, which comprises the electricity/gas allowance, telephone allowance and television licence schemes, is generally available to people living permanently in the State, aged 66 years or over, who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or who satisfy a means test. The package is also available to carers and people with disabilities under the age of 66 who...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (28 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The aim of the fuel allowance scheme is to assist householders on long term social welfare or health service executive payments with meeting the cost of their heating needs during the winter season. Fuel allowance, which is paid for 29 weeks from end-September to mid-April represents a contribution towards a person's normal heating expenses. Some 274,000 people (151,000 with basic fuel...