2005
December 2005
19 December
Minister Outlines Details of Increased Benefits, Supports & Flexible Arrangements in Recognition of Valuable Role of Carers
November 2005
18 November
Minister Brennan- Spending On Social Welfare To Rise To Record Pre Budget €12.49 Billion In 2006
10 November
Rights Of Immigrants:- New Information Factsheets Launched By Social Affairs Minister
9 November
Minister Says Significant Progress Made On Welfare Reforms On Child Poverty, Lone Parents And Pensions
October 2005
31 October
Minister Says Contingency Plans Will Be In Place To Get €140m Christmas Bonus To Welfare Customers If Post Disrupted
24 October
Minister Says Specific Proposals To Tackle Child Poverty And Assist Lone Parents Now At Advanced Stage
19 October
Minister To Publish Major Pensions Strategy Report To Encourage Robust Debate On Shaping Future Direction
17 October
Minister Tells Gathering Of Voluntary & Community Groups That Welfare Reforms Being Urgently Advanced
14 October
Social Affairs Minister Announces Full Implementation by Ireland of Major EU pensions Directive
3 October
Minister Says New Advocacy Services Will Empower People With Disabilities To Assert Their Rights
September 2005
29 September
Minister Launches "Plain English" Cd-Rom Targeted At Saving Time And Ending Confusion Over Information
28 September
€16 Million Paid Out So Far This Year For Back To School Expenses – Minister Brennan
27 September
Minister Says Easier Access to Credit Major Factor in Increased Numbers Seeking Help From Money Advice Service
August 2005
31 August
Social Affairs Minister Responds To ERSI Survey On Trends In Welfare In Ireland
29 August
MINISTER FOR SOCIAL AFFAIRS ANNOUNCES PUBLICATION OF ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE APPEALS OFFICE
25 August
Minister Publishes Report to EU on Irish Pensions
11 August
More Than 28,000 Full-Time Carers Receive Increased And Extended €1,000 Respite Care Grant
8 August
Minister Announces €18m Funding For Back To School Expenses
July 2005
29 July
Over 144,000 Welfare Customers to Get Once Off Double Weeks Payment - Costing €25m - as Result of Improved Payment System
18 July
Minister Announces Expansion Of Money Advice Services As Thousands Seek Help With Debt Problems.
12 July
Minister Outlines Progress of Pensions Review and Urges Radical Thinking in Tackling of Country's Serious Pensions Problem
4 July
Minister Outlines Reforms Urgently Needed if Ireland to Meet Future Employment Demands
4 July
Minister Approves €8.3 Million For Marriage, Child and Bereavement Counselling Services
1 July
Minister Says New Online Assistive Technology Database Will Further Empower Those With Disabilities And Older People
June 2005
28 June
Minister Says New Online Assistive Technology Database Will Further Empower Those With Disabilities And Older People
27 June
Minister Welcomes Social Partners Report On Reform Of Social Insurance System
20 June
Welfare Queries Top the List As Almost 680,000 Citizens Seek Advice Through Network Of Information Services
16 June
Minister Brennan Celebrates Cross Border Advice and Information Initiative
14 June
Minister Pledges More Supports to Encourage & Assist People With Disabilities to Work or Train
9 June
Minister Says Urgent Practical Measures to Address "Blemish" Of Child Poverty Being Intensified
6 June
Thousands Of Welfare Customers To Benefit From Record New Increases In Savings And Investments Limits
5 June
Minister Announces Dental & Optical Customers Now Offered Choice Of Treatment In Other EU Countries
May 2005
30 May
Minister Committed to Increased Benefits, Supports & Recognition Payments For Carers
26 May
Minister Brennan Says Transition From Welfare to Work Must Be Seamless
16 May
Minister To Meet Banks As Evidence Suggests Lone Parents Having Difficulties Opening Accounts
15 May
Minister Marks International Day Of Families
12 May
SIPTU Protest Over Construction Pensions
9 May
Minister Urges Radical & Innovative Pension Plans As Statistics Show 900,000 Workers Have No Cover
1 May
More Than 30,000 Full-Time Carers Expected To Receive Increased And Extended €1,000 Respite Care Grant
1 May
"Ireland, 8th In The World On Human Development" - UN Report
April 2005
29 April
Minister Announces Increase In Funding To €360,000 For Dublin’s Northside Community Law Centre
28 April
Minister Committed to Promoting "Seamless" Transition From Welfare to Work For Jobseekers
4 April
ONE MILLION CHILDREN TO GET CHILD BENEFIT INCREASES - Séamus Brennan T.D.
March 2005
29 March
Minister Announces Review of Welfare Payment Methods to Identify Best & Most Flexible SystemsSod Turning Signals Start of Work on €14m Extensions to Decentralised Welfare Offices in Sligo
29 March
Special Weekly Island Allowance Being Extended to Inhabitants From Other EU States
28 March
Social Affairs Awards Of €240,000 To INOU & ICTU For Welfare Rights And Information Services
15 March
Minister Signals Urgent Action To Combat Unacceptable 'BLEMISH' Of Child Poverty
10 March
10 March - Minister Brennan Represents Government At Ceremonies To Remember Madrid Bomb Victims
8 March
Minister Warns That More Than 400,000 Working Women Have No Private Pensions
February 2005
28 February
Social Affairs Minister Says New Advice Pack Will Help Most Vulnerable Deal With Debt Situations
14 February
February 14th 2005 - Minister Announces SSIA Savings Not To Affect Social Welfare Payments
10 February
10 February - United Nations Told Ireland's Unemployment Rate Now One Of The Lowest In World
2 February
February 2nd 2005 - More Than 9,000 People In Co.Longford To Benefit From Budget Welfare Increases
2 February
February 2nd 2005 - More Than 7,500 People In Co.Leitrim To Benefit From Budget Welfare Increases
January 2005
26 January
26 January - SOCIAL AFFAIRS MINISTER TELLS ANTI-POVERTY FORUM THAT FUNDS MUST BE TARGETED AT THOSE MOST IN NEED
24 January
24 January - Social Affairs Minister Opens New Citizen Information Office For Dublin’s Northside
24 January
24 January - Social Affairs Minister Responds To Eu Survey On Income And Living Conditions In Ireland
1 January
Minister Urges Applications For Increased School Meals Funding
1 January
Minister Announces Significant Relaxing Of Qualifying Rules For Back To Education Support Scheme
1 January
€206 Million Saved By Anti-Fraud Measures - Minister Reveals
1 January
01 January - Social Welfare To Rise To Record Prebudget €11.42 Billion- Séamus Brennan - Minister for Social and Family Affairs
1 January
Largest Ever Welfare Budget Package Of €1.12 bn Features Substantial Social Policy Reforms
1 January
Minister Says Over 60,000 Irish Emigrants Have Returned Home In Recent Years
1 January
New Year Social Welfare Increases To Benefit More Than 1.5 Million People