Results 1,841-1,860 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (19 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 270 to 272, inclusive, together. A special half rate old age contributory pension was introduced in 2000 to enable people with pre-1953 insurance, who could not qualify for a payment under normal qualifying conditions, to receive a pension. In order to be eligible for the payment, a person requires 260 paid contributions at the appropriate rate, which can...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (19 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 273 and 274 together. 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. Rent...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (18 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: In the case of contributory pensions such as state pension (contributory), state pension (transition) and invalidity pensions, which are not means tested, a person may have a combined household income of up to EUR 51 per week over and above the maximum state pension (contributory) rate, or savings/investments of up to EUR 46,000, and still qualify for fuel allowance. The fuel allowance income...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (18 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The scheme operated by my Department provides treatment benefit (optical, dental and medical appliance) for insured workers over 16 years of age and their dependent spouses, provided they satisfy certain PRSI conditions. Children of insured workers are not covered under the scheme. The operation of the optical benefit scheme is subject to ongoing monitoring by my Department. I am always...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (18 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 248 to 252, inclusive, together. The Family Income Supplement (FIS) is designed to provide cash support for employees on low earnings with families. Entitlement to FIS is based on an applicant satisfying a means test and on certification of employment by the employer. The income limits were increased significantly in the 2006 Budget and in earlier budgets,...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (18 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The Social Welfare Appeals Office deals with about 14,000 appeals on an annual basis. On 30 September 2006 there were 5,565 appeals awaiting decision. A breakdown of these cases follows (Table A). A breakdown of average processing times for each scheme, based on 2005 figures, also follows (Table B). Figures regarding the longest time it takes to process an appeal for each scheme of my...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Investigations: Social Welfare Investigations (18 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: In determining entitlement under any of my Department's schemes, the eligibility conditions may include PRSI contribution, means or medical conditions or household circumstances. The time taken to process individual claims varies significantly having regard to the nature of the scheme and the circumstances in each case. Straightforward means tested cases are "fast tracked" by deciding...

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The Deputy should read the full statement.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (17 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take 416, 418 and 423 together. In December 2003, as part of the Government's announcement of the new Decentralisation Programme, it was decided that 220 posts would be decentralised from my Department to Carrick-on-Shannon. The construction and fit-out of a building is underway and is expected to be ready for occupation in the first quarter of 2007. This building will...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (17 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: In the recently negotiated social partnership agreement, Towards 2016, the Government and social partners agreed to work together over a ten-year period to enhance pension provision and income supports, including an increase in the level of qualified adult allowance (QAA) for pensioner spouses to the level of the state non-contributory pension. The cost, based on current rates of payment, of...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (17 Oct 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 people with disabilities and carers under the age of 66 who...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (17 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) scheme provides a one off payment to eligible families to assist with the extra costs of clothing and footwear when their children start school each autumn. In order to qualify for payment of the allowance, a person must be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare or Health Service Executive payment, be participating in an approved...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (17 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The back to work allowance scheme is part of my Department's programme of initiatives designed to assist long term unemployed, lone parents, and other social welfare recipients to return to the active labour force. The allowance is intended to encourage claimants to take up employment who might not otherwise do so. The scheme is not intended for people who are already in work or who are in a...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (17 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Up to 1998, the weekly rate of blind pension was equivalent to the rate of old age pension. In Budget 1998, special additional increases were provided for all pensioners aged 66 and over, including persons in receipt of blind pensions. Accordingly since then, blind pension has been payable at two different weekly rates, one for recipients aged under 66 and the second for those aged 66 and...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (17 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The back to education allowance is a second chance education opportunities scheme designed to encourage and facilitate people on certain social welfare payments to improve their skills and qualifications and, therefore, their prospects of returning to the active work force. To qualify for participation in the BTEA scheme an applicant must, inter alia, be in receipt of a relevant social...

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (17 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: There have been no cases of civil servants in my Department obtaining an Order of the Courts in relation to contractual rights and entitlements.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (17 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare Division of the Health Service Executive. The Executive has advised that following a routine review of the person's entitlement, the rent supplement payable to the person concerned was reduced from EUR 95 per week to EUR 59.30 per week and that this is the appropriate maximum amount payable. The...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (17 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Qualification for Disability Allowance depends on an applicant passing a medical examination and a means test. An applicant must be found to have an injury, disease, illness or physical or mental disability that has continued or may be expected to continue for at least one year. The applicant concerned was examined by a Medical Assessor of my Department on 5th September 2006 and in the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (17 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 428 and 429 together. The aim of the national fuel scheme is to assist householders on long-term social welfare or health service executive payments with meeting the cost of their additional heating needs during the winter season. Fuel allowances are paid for 29 weeks from end-September to mid-April and are not intended to meet the full cost of heating....

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (17 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 430 and 431 together. The Government discussion paper, "Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents", which I launched in March of this year, put forward proposals for the expanded availability and range of education and training opportunities for lone parents; the extension of the National Employment Action Plan to focus on lone parents; focused provision of...