Results 1,901-1,920 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Written Answers — Budget Submissions: Budget Submissions (10 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 406 together. I have recently received the Pre-Budget submission from One Family. Of the ten areas of concern, entitled steps to equality for all families which are set out in the submission, a number, including the issues of adequate incomes for one-parent families, adequate supports for employment and the issue of poverty traps deterring a move off...

Written Answers — Anti-Poverty Strategy: Anti-Poverty Strategy (10 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138, 147, 177 and 185 together. I was very glad to recently launch the 2005 Annual Report of the Combat Poverty Agency. In addition to outlining the work of the agency, the report includes a commentary on translating strategy into action. The need for a strategic approach reflects the complex nature of poverty, which is multi-faceted in its causes and effects...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (10 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Section 48 (3) of the Pensions Act contains a provision which enables trustees of a pension scheme which is being wound up to make a transfer payment to another occupational pension scheme, without the consent of members. This legislation was used in one case highlighted by the Pensions Ombudsman to transfer the members of a scheme to another scheme run by the same employer, rather than...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The primary objective of my Department's information policy is to ensure that all citizens are made aware of their rights and entitlements and that they are kept informed of changes and improvements in schemes and services as they occur. The provision of information in a clear and accessible manner is an essential element in the achievement of this objective. My Department takes a pro-active...

Written Answers — Anti-Poverty Strategy: Anti-Poverty Strategy (10 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Earlier this year, I welcomed the publication by the Combat Poverty Agency of its report "The Distributional Impact of Ireland's Indirect Tax System" and the associated policy statement "Promoting Equity in Ireland's Tax System". The report addressed whether and to what extent the Irish system of indirect taxation, namely VAT and excise duties, is regressive. The report outlines that over the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 183 together. EU migrant workers have an entitlement to Child Benefit and other "Family benefits" including Early Childcare Supplement (ECS) under EU Regulation 1408/71. Where a national of an EU State with a family is working in Ireland, the worker is entitled to payment of such benefits, even if the children are resident in the worker's home...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: In the recently negotiated social partnership agreement, Towards 2016, which succeeds Sustaining Progress, 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,...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (10 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 159 together. The function of the Pensions Ombudsman is to investigate complaints that an individual has suffered a financial loss because of maladministration in the operation of an occupational pension scheme or a personal retirement savings account. He also investigates disputes of fact or law concerning pension schemes, between members and others...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (10 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The primary responsibility for the administration of a pension scheme rests with the trustees of schemes. The trustees must, at all times, act in the best interests of the members and are required under the Pensions Act, and subject to regulations, to provide for the proper investment of the resources of the scheme. In order to discharge their responsibilities to scheme members they should...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 152, 163, 179 and 192 together. The aim of the national fuel scheme is to assist householders on long-term social welfare or health service executive (HSE) payments with meeting the cost of their heating needs during the winter season. I have no plans to extend the scheme to people who are not in receipt of a weekly social welfare or HSE payments. Issues in...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (10 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The setting of waste management charges and the introduction of waivers in respect of waste charges is, as stated by my colleague the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government, a matter for each local authority. The introduction of a national social welfare scheme to address the issue, for example as part of the household budget scheme, would be complex given the wide range of...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (10 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 154, 156, 167, 182, 189 and 420 together. The most recent results from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) Quarterly National Household Survey show a 0.9% point decline in supplementary pensions coverage from 52.4% of the working population aged 20-69 in quarter 1 of 2004 to 51.5% in the same quarter of 2005. The decline is within the margin of error for the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The farm assist scheme, which introduced special arrangements for farmers on low incomes, was provided for in the Social Welfare Act, 1999 and came into operation with effect from 7 April 1999. There are currently 7,542 farm assist customers and the average weekly payment is €178.59. The cost of the scheme for the years 2004 and 2005 was as follows: Year Outturn €m €m 2004 66.343...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (10 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The figures referred to are contained in a Central Statistics Office Report, published on the 27th of June 2006, entitled "Measuring Ireland's Progress, 2005". The information is based on figures published by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the EU, which publishes comparisons of social protection expenditure as a percentage of GDP across the EU. This encompasses not only social welfare...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (10 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The most recent figures available from the Central Statistics Office, 1st quarter 2005, show that 51.5% of workers have supplementary pension coverage. The figure for males is 54.2% while 47.5% of females are contributing to a pension. The Government is aiming for a coverage rate of 70% for those who are 30 years of age and over. The coverage rate for this group is currently about 59%....

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The schemes administered by my Department which assist pensioners and others with energy costs include the national fuel scheme and the electricity/gas allowance. 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. The fuel allowance is...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (10 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: While there were no specific measures in relation to the leasing of land in the recent Budget, it did contain a number of important measures which are designed to target resources at particular groups of older people, including the farmers in question. In considering these measures I was anxious to target resources at those who are at the greatest risk of poverty; to encourage saving, and to...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (10 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 200 together. The Construction Federation Operatives Pensions Scheme operates as a Registered Employment Agreement under the Industrial Relations Acts. There is a statutory obligation on employers to register eligible employees in the scheme and to pay the necessary contributions. Compliance with the terms of the scheme is enforced through the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (10 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 190 together. The requirement to be habitually resident in Ireland was introduced as a qualifying condition for child benefit and social assistance schemes with effect from 1st May 2004. The basis for the restriction contained in the rules is the applicant's habitual residence. The question of what is a person's "habitual residence" is decided in...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (10 Oct 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The provision of occupational pensions in this country is on a voluntary basis and depends on the willingness of employers to contribute to, and maintain schemes for their employees. Traditionally, such schemes were organised on a defined benefit basis. However, in recent years defined benefit provision has been under pressure because of volatility in the stock markets and increasing...