Results 1,601-1,620 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

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

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 Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (28 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: My Department received a total of 35,623 claims for maternity benefit in 2005. A total of 33,988 claims were put into payment during that year at a total cost of some €133.6 million.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (23 Nov 2006)

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. Supplementary welfare allowance is not normally payable where a person is absent from the State. The Health Service Executive has advised that it ceased payment of rent supplement to the person concerned for the period she...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (23 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Social welfare legislation provides for PRSI refunds to be made on contributions to a personal retirement savings account (PRSA) or a retirement annuity contract (RAC) where the contributions are paid by an employed contributor i.e. an employee, or a self-employed worker who pays income tax through the PAYE system i.e. a proprietary director. In relation to additional voluntary contribution...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (23 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Family income supplement (FIS) 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 unemployed and claiming other social welfare payments. FIS is paid on a weekly basis over a period of 52 weeks, taking into account a...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (23 Nov 2006)

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. The Health Service Executive has advised that it has no record of an application for rent supplement from the person concerned. If she requires assistance with rent, she should make an application for rent supplement at...

Citizens Information Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I thank all those who contributed to a long debate on the Citizens Information Bill. I was able to listen to every speaker who contributed. I took careful notes of the points made by Deputies on all sides of the House. I thank them for giving the Bill such detailed and serious consideration and I look forward to teasing out some of the outstanding issues on Committee and Remaining Stages...

Citizens Information Bill 2006: Referral to Select Committee (23 Nov 2006)

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 Code: Social Welfare Code (22 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 344 and 355 together. My Department assists and encourages the long term unemployed, lone parents and other social welfare recipients to return to work, training or further education through a range of measures administered by my Department's social and family support service. One significant measure is the back to work allowance scheme which incentivises and...

Written Answers — Radon Gas Levels: Radon Gas Levels (22 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: My Department undertook a programme to have all of the Department's 140 offices tested for radon levels in 2004. To date over 100 offices have been tested with the remaining 40 expected to be completed by early 2007. Of the offices tested, 5 indicated radon levels above the National reference Level. An approved company has carried out remedial work in these locations and the offices were...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Supply contracts for my Department's energy requirements are negotiated by the Office of Public Works through the Government Supplies Agency. Electricity supplies are provided by the Electricity Supply Board and Energia Ltd. Natural gas is supplied by Bord Gáis and liquefied petroleum gas by Calor Gas Ltd., while heating oil is supplied by Texaco (Irl) Ltd. For the 2005 year the costs of...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: In 2005 my Department spent a total of €45,924.19 on bottled and filtered tap water. Figures in relation to the quantity of water this represents are not available. The following is a breakdown of suppliers and amounts paid to each supplier. Supplier Amount paid € All Water Systems Ltd 5,032.34 Ballygowan Water 3,183.08 Castle Consultants Ltd 10,856.26 EW Technologies 2,759.82...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I am aware of the campaign to which the Deputy refers. EU Regulations provide that migrant workers who are EEA nationals, i.e. EEA nationals who have been employed since coming to this country, are entitled to payment of family benefits under the same conditions as Irish nationals and the habitual residence condition does not apply in their case. The effect of the condition, therefore, is...

Written Answers — Money Advice and Budgeting Service: Money Advice and Budgeting Service (22 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: My Department has overall responsibility for the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) which provides assistance to people who are over-indebted and need intensive help and advice in coping with their debt problems. There are 53 independent companies nationwide operating the service. The MABS service has been allocated €16.4 million this year to ensure the continued development of the...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (22 Nov 2006)

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. The scheme will not of itself...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme (SWA) is administered by some 700 Community Welfare Officers and 59 Superintendent Community Welfare Officers and supporting staff, within the Community Welfare Service of the Health Service Executive. Over 110,000 people receive an SWA payment each week. €733.6m has been provided for the scheme in 2006 including provision for administration costs...

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (22 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The 2007 Abridged Estimates assumes an increase in the employee PRSI ceiling from the current €46,600 figure to €48,800 per annum — an increase of €2,200. This is an increase of approximately 4.8% and is in line with projected earnings increases. The 2007 Abridged Estimates assume no increase in the PRSI thresholds or exemption limits. The employee PRSI ceiling is reviewed annually...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare division of the Health Service Executive, a weekly or monthly rent or mortgage interest supplement is available to assist eligible people who are unable to meet their immediate accommodation needs through their own resources. Under standard supplementary welfare allowance assessment...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I assume the changes to which the Deputy refers are the recently announced increases in the level of the electricity and gas allowances. In order to cover the 33.8% increase in the cost of natural gas, from 1 October I increased the value of the natural gas allowance to cover increased standing charges and the associated VAT as well as additional kilowatt hours usage. This means that the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Nov 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive, provides for the payment of a rent supplement to assist eligible people who are unable to provide for their immediate accommodation needs from their own resources and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. Rent...