Results 20,001-20,020 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Legal Costs (2 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Given the detail required it is not possible to provide the information within the required timeframe. The information requested is being compiled by my officials and will be sent to the Deputy when finalised.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Benefit Applications (2 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s benefit (CARB) from the person concerned on 21 June 2016. The person concerned is in receipt of widow’s contributory pension (WCP). Under social welfare legislation, CARB and WCP cannot be paid concurrently. However, a recipient of WCP can qualify for carer’s allowance (CA) at half-rate and retain their...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (2 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The state pension (contributory) entitlement of the person concerned has been reviewed. His weekly pension rate has been increased and he has been notified of the outcome. The higher rate of pension has been put into payment and the person’s due pension arrears will issue shortly. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: School Meals Programme (2 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to schools and organisations benefitting over 200,000 children at a total cost of €42 million in 2016. As part of Budget 2017, I have announced the provision of an additional €5.7 million for the scheme which will provide support to over 50,000 additional children. My department does not have a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobPath Implementation (2 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: JobPath is a new approach to the provision of employment services to jobseekers that are long term unemployed. While engaging with the JobPath service participants are provided with a range of supports based on an assessment of individual needs, which may include reasonable travel costs and childcare. On a case by case basis, the JobPath providers will pay for items such as personal...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement (3 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Department currently has 56,163 customers in receipt of Family Income Supplement (FIS). I would like to outline to the Deputy that the Family Income Supplement (FIS) payment is a weekly payment for families at work on low pay. As the Family Income Supplement is an in-work payment the department considers that payment through an account in a financial institution better facilitates those...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Work Family Dividend Scheme Administration (3 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: As outlined in my previous response to an earlier question from the Deputy, unfortunately there is no provision for the back to work family dividend (BTWFD) scheme to be paid to customers via the post office. It is important to note that my Department facilitates customers to have their social welfare payments made via the post office. This is subject to overall control requirements. Under...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (3 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 94 together. Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme currently supporting some 49,700 recipients for which the Government has provided €267 million for in 2016. Rent supplement is subject to a means test that is normally calculated to ensure that a person, after the payment of their rent,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (3 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: My department will contact the person concerned and make arrangements to meet with her to clarify her situation and to determine the most suitable support available to assist her in gaining sustainable employment.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobPath Implementation (3 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: JobPath is a new approach to employment activation which caters for people who are long-term unemployed (over 12 months) to assist them to secure full-time paid employment or self-employment. Two providers are contracted to deliver JobPath for this Department– Seetec Limited and Turas Nua Limited. The person concerned was referred to JobPath on 21 May 2016 and agreed a Personal...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times (3 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 99 together. The Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible. The current processing times for Carers Allowance (CA) applications is 14 weeks and for Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA)...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (3 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 5 October 2016. This application will be processed as quickly as possible and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. In the meantime, both the person concerned and his spouse are in receipt of a weekly social welfare support. I hope this clarifies the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Live Register Data (3 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: At the end of September there were 286,490 people on the Live Register (published by the Central Statistics Office at www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/lr/liveregistersept ember2016/). My records show that 55,075 (19.2%) of those people stated at the time of making their Live Register claim that their principal skills and/or experience related to Construction, Woodwork, Metal and...

Social Welfare Bill 2016: Order for Second Stage (8 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Social Welfare Bill 2016: Second Stage (8 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." The purpose of the Bill is to provide the legislative framework for the implementation of the measures announced in budget 2017. It also contains a number of largely technical measures which aim to resolve minor deficiencies identified within the welfare code. Overall, the Bill represents a prudent approach, with modest increases across...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Clár na mBéilí Scoile (8 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Cuireann clár na mbéilí scoile maoiniú ar fáil chun seirbhísí bia a sholáthar do scoileanna agus d’eagraíochtaí, rud a théann chun tairbhe do bhreis agus 200,000 leanbh ar chostas iomlán €42 mhilliún sa bhliain 2016. D’fhógair mé, mar chuid de Cháinaisnéis na Bliana 2017, €5.7...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Lottery Funding Disbursement (8 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: National lottery funding is not available through my Department. Details of Government Departments that do consider applications for lottery funding are available on the National Lottery website (www.lottery.ie). Community groups seeking lottery funding should apply to the relevant Department. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobs Initiative (8 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: There is no restriction on unemployed teachers taking up short notice substitution or supervision hours while in receipt of employment support services under JobPath. Unemployed jobseekers who take up a short term work assignment are required to notify the Department of Social Protection of any such employment so that the appropriate adjustments can be made to their welfare payment. If they...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Redundancy Payments (8 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: It is the statutory responsibility of employers to make redundancy payments to employees when their jobs cease to exist. Where an employer cannot pay redundancy due to financial difficulty or insolvency, payments can be made from the Social Insurance Fund under the redundancy payments scheme. Up to 2011, a rebate of up to 60 per cent was paid to all employers who made statutory redundancy...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (8 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: This case has been reviewed and it has been determined that the person concerned is eligible to apply for further participation on the community employment scheme. The person concerned has been contacted to inform him of the outcome of the review. I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.