Results 1,781-1,800 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (2 Nov 2006)
Séamus Brennan: In April 2006, as part of the introduction of the early childcare supplement (ECS) scheme, a letter issued to qualifying customers i.e. those in receipt of child benefit for children under the age of 6 years, informing them of the new payment including the method and frequency of payment and the approximate date of the first payment. In August, a further letter issued confirming the date of...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (2 Nov 2006)
Séamus Brennan: Entitlement to fuel allowance is subject to a means test. People who are in receipt of relevant non-contributory payments automatically satisfy the fuel allowance means test and do not have to undergo a further means test to qualify for fuel allowance. The majority of people who receive fuel allowances qualify because they satisfy the relevant means test for their primary weekly payment. In...
- Order of Business (2 Nov 2006)
Séamus Brennan: That is not what I said.
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Nov 2006)
Séamus Brennan: The application of the person concerned for a bereavement grant was refused on the basis that the qualifying PRSI conditions were not satisfied. The person concerned also applied to the Community Welfare Officer of the Health Service Executive for an exceptional needs payment towards funeral expenses but, based on the circumstances and the details provided, the payment was not granted. The...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Nov 2006)
Séamus Brennan: In order to qualify for payment of back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA), a person must be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment (including family income supplement) or Health Service Executive payment, be participating in an approved employment scheme or attending a recognised education and training course and have household income at or below certain set levels....
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Nov 2006)
Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 456 and 460 together. As I stated in response to the Deputy's previous question, supporting and recognising carers in our society has been a priority of the Government since 1997. Over that period, weekly payment rates to carers have been greatly increased, qualifying conditions for the carer's allowance have been significantly eased, coverage of the scheme...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (1 Nov 2006)
Séamus Brennan: In August 2006, the person concerned applied for and was refused jobseeker's allowance from my Department. She appealed the decision of the deciding officer to the Social Welfare Appeals Office on October 18th 2006. Her appeal is currently being assessed by an Appeals Officer and she will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible. The supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) is...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Nov 2006)
Séamus Brennan: My Department is very conscious of the increasing number of non-English speakers requiring access to services. The list of forms available in other languages is constantly reviewed and, when the need arises to translate a form into another language, this is done. In addition to English and Irish the main Guide to Social Welfare Services (SW4) is available on the website in Polish, Chinese,...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (1 Nov 2006)
Séamus Brennan: Farm assist is a means-tested scheme providing weekly income support to low-income farmers. For the purpose of determining the rate of farm assist payable, deductions are allowed from net income in respect of qualified children, with the balance is assessed at 70%. In this regard, the means test is more favourable than the scheme's predecessor, the unemployment assistance scheme for...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Nov 2006)
Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 461, 476 and 477 together. The living alone increase is an additional payment of â¬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...
- Written Answers — Money Advice and Budgeting Service: Money Advice and Budgeting Service (1 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. The service places an emphasis on practical budget-based measures that help people to move permanently from dependence on moneylenders and to access alternative sources of...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Nov 2006)
Séamus Brennan: The person concerned applied for jobseeker's allowance (unemployment assistance) on 19 October 2006. A Deciding Officer disallowed his claim on the grounds that he is not genuinely seeking work. The person concerned failed to produce sufficient evidence of having looked for work from employers where work is available. He has appealed this decision and his file is with the Deciding Officer...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Nov 2006)
Séamus Brennan: Some 264,400 people (145,800 with basic fuel allowance and 118,600 with smokeless fuel supplement) benefited from the national fuel scheme in 2005 at an annual cost of â¬85.4 million. It is estimated that some 274,000 people (151,000 with basic fuel allowance and 123,000 with smokeless fuel supplement) will benefit in 2006 at an estimated annual cost of â¬125.1 million. Eligibility to the...
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (1 Nov 2006)
Séamus Brennan: The amounts expended by the Department of Social and Family Affairs on photographers for departmental events in the Minister's constituencies during 2004, 2005 and to date in 2006 is as follows: 2004, â¬265; 2005, â¬2,850.41; and 2006, â¬760.73. There was no departmental expenditure on publicity leaflet production specifically for the Minister's constituencies. The Department did not...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Nov 2006)
Séamus Brennan: The person concerned has been receiving disability allowance since April 2001. Under the legislative provisions that apply to disability allowance all income which the claimant has, subject to certain exceptions, is assessable as means. At the time she applied for the allowance she was receiving maintenance from her spouse and this was assessed as means resulting in a reduced rate of...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Nov 2006)
Séamus Brennan: While the person concerned satisfies the medical criteria for the award of disability allowance, it has not been possible to determine his means. He was interviewed by appointment on 19 April 2006. When the Social Welfare inspector subsequently called to the address he was informed that the person concerned was not resident at that address and had not resided there for several years....
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Nov 2006)
Séamus Brennan: Supporting and recognising carers in our society 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 extended....
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Nov 2006)
Séamus Brennan: To qualify for a payment under the national fuel scheme, the income of a person over age 80 must not exceed a weekly threshold of â¬254.30. The weekly threshold comprises the maximum weekly rate of Social Welfare Contributory Pension of â¬203.30 (in this person's case) plus â¬51. The person concerned reapplied for Fuel Allowance on 27 October 2006. She has not disclosed the amount of...
- Written Answers — Money Advice and Budgeting Service: Money Advice and Budgeting Service (1 Nov 2006)
Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 470 and 471 together. Moneylending is regulated under the Consumer Credit Act 1995. The licensing of moneylenders is a matter for the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority. I am concerned about the cost and availability of credit for people on low incomes. In June 2005, I met the Financial Regulator to discuss this issue. As a result, the Financial...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Nov 2006)
Séamus Brennan: Widows and widowers can qualify for one of a number of different schemes depending on their circumstances. The contributory widow(er)'s pension is available to those who satisfy the necessary PRSI contribution conditions, either on their own record or that of the deceased spouse. Those qualifying for this benefit are not subject to a means test. Those without the necessary PRSI...