Results 20,581-20,600 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobPath Implementation (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: All jobseekers are required to engage with the Department's activation service and this obligation applies irrespective of whether the service is provided by the department's own case officers or those employed by the Local Employment Service or by JobPath. Participants on JobPath receive intensive individual support to help them tackle barriers to employment and to assist them in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Properties (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: While the Department of Social Protection has a presence in Government Buildings, Millennium Centre, Dundalk, the Revenue Commissioners are the main tenant of the building. As such they are responsible for arranging the opening and closing of the building. The Minister for Social Protection has therefore no statement to make on the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Data (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The following table shows jobseeker's allowance recipients as at the end of November 2016: Age Bands by Sex Duration <3mths 3-6mths 6-12mths 1-2yrs 2-3yrs >3yrs Grand Total Under 25 5961 3082 5374 5031 2411 2871 24730 M 3651 1840 3152 2909 1471 1700 14723 W 2310 1242 2222 2122 940 1171 10007 25-29 3867 2339 4357 4806 2760 10098 28227 M 2392 1394 2568 2838 1610 5890 16692...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of persons that have availed of education, training and labour market activation programmes such as Tús and Gateway who were previously in receipt of the supplementary welfare allowance is not readily available in my Department. The Central Statistics Office publishes the number of persons who are participating on...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobPath Data (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 333 to 335, inclusive, together. As the deputy will be aware, JobPath is an employment activation service that supports people who are long-term unemployed (over 12 months) and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. JobPath supplements the internal case management capacity of my Department's Intreo...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Credit Union Services (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: A Personal Micro Credit (PMC) Scheme providing for small scale loans by Credit Unions to borrowers who have difficulty accessing low cost credit was piloted in 30 credit unions for a six month period from November 2015. Over 1,200 loans were drawn down under the Scheme during the pilot with an overall value of over €720,000. The Programme for a Partnership Governmentprovides for the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The table indicates the social welfare claims by average waiting times on 31 October 2016. Scheme Average Waiting Time (weeks) Jobseeker's Benefit 1 Jobseeker's Allowance 2 Carer's Allowance N/A Carer's Benefit N/A Invalidity Pension 9 Disability Allowance 12 Domiciliary Care Allowance 16 State Pension Contributory 5 State Pension Non-Contributory 14 Child Benefit (Domestic...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department received an application for carer's allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 18 August 2016. The application was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer's allowance are satisfied. Once the SWI has reported, a decision will be made and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department received an application for carer's allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 12 July 2016. Unfortunately, the medical part of the form was not fully and appropriately completed so it had to be returned. Following a reminder from my Department, this part of the form was returned on 2 December 2016. The application is currently being processed and once...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Legislative Programme (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: My Department's normal legislative cycle involves the enactment of two or more Social Welfare Bills each year: (a) a Bill in November/December to implement the annual social welfare changes announced in the October Budget, and (b) a Bill in spring/early summer to provide a legal basis within the social welfare code for policy, administrative and operational changes (and Budget measures, if...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Benefit Applications (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department received an application for carer's benefit from the person concerned on 26 September 2016. It is a condition for receipt of carer's benefit that the person being cared for must have a disability whose effect is that they require full-time care and attention. This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I am sorry to disappoint Senators, but I will not be able to accept this amendment. It proposes that the class K-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I am not going to. If abolished, the class K contribution of 4% made by a range of public officeholders, including the President, Members of both Houses and members of the Judiciary, would result in increases in net pay of up to €8,000 for some politicians and judges. The class K contributions were introduced at a time when the State was experiencing an unprecedented financial...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The House may also wish to note that during the crisis, class K contributions also were introduced for employed persons and certain occupational pensioners under the age of 66. These contributors also became liable for an additional class K liability without gaining additional entitlements based on the payment of that additional charge. While these contributions were already covered for all...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I can. I cannot confirm that the financial emergency is over, though.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: There was a couple of factors. I believe the FEMPI legislation in question was from 2011 but I will double-check it. The basic principle that I have applied to any change to social insurance treatment for councillors was that they should get fair treatment, not special treatment. That is why they will continue to pay PRSI but on the same basis that it is paid by an employee or...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I will speak a little about pensions in general, as Senators have referred to the issue, and then refer to the Bill. Senators of course know that there are many different types of pensions and issues relating to them. The State contributory pension is not means tested and is funded from PRSI. There is a State non-contributory pension which is means tested and is tax funded. There are...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: It should be no mystery as to why we have an emerging or extent pensions crisis in Ireland, because pensions were always calculated on the basis that people would pay into the system for 30, 40 or 50 years and only need pensions for a few years. We are now in a very different space. The last thing we need to do is make reforms or reverse some of the reforms that made things better for...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I was asked whether I would support to commit to supporting a Fianna Fáil Bill that has not been published. I will consider that, once I have seen the Bill, if it is even drafted. If the amendment tabled was in order, the most striking thing to me is the first line, which states that a solvent firm shall not be allowed to close a defined benefit pension scheme except in certain...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (14 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Details of Community Employment (CE) eligibility criteria are published on the Department’s website (welfare.ie) and on the Citzens Information website (citizensinformation.ie). Current eligibility to participate on CE is linked to a person’s social welfare status (duration of payment) and age. The CE Programme has two options: - Part Time Integration Option (PTI) provides for...