Results 20,621-20,640 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Ministerial Travel (16 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I travelled on the Government jet on Wednesday 15 June 2016 from Dublin to Luxembourg with my Adviser and Private Secretary to attend a meeting of EPSCO. The Minister for Finance was the requester on this occasion.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Ministerial Travel (16 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Government Jet was used by Joan Burton TD as Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection during the dates March 2011 to February 2016 as follows: Date of travel Destination 3rd October 2012 Outwards to Brussels to meet with College of Commissioners travelled with Taoiseach 27th February 2013 Outwards to Brussels to attend EPSCO 19th June 2013 Outwards to Luxembourg to attend...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Applications (16 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned was awarded family income supplement (FIS) effective from 22 September 2016 to 20 September 2017. The one parent family (OFP) claim of the person concerned ceased on 12 October 2016 due to her youngest child reaching the age threshold for that payment. My Department advises that there is a system in place in FIS section where they are alerted in advance of cases where...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (16 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from this lady on 23 November 2016. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. The processing time for individual disability allowance claims may vary in accordance with their relative...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Appointments to State Boards (16 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of my Department are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council, the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a board) and the Social Welfare Tribunal.The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table: Name of Board or Agency Total No. of Board Members No. of Board Members who are...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (16 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from this man. On 5 December 2016 the person concerned was requested to supply supporting documentation in order to finalise the claim. On receipt of this information a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly in writing of the outcome. I trust this clarifies the matter...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Maternity Benefit Data (16 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of Justice and Equality have responsibility for maternity and paternity leave which are provided for in the 1994 and 2004 Maternity Acts and the Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016. The Department of Social Protection has responsibility for maternity and paternity benefit payments provided for in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended). As the Deputy will be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (16 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Department has not, to date, received an application for Rent Supplement from the client concerned. The client should forward an application to be assessed for entitlement to Rent Supplement to the Mid-Leinster Rents Unit, PO Box 11758, Dublin 24. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. If you require any further assistance with this query please do not hesitate to contact...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (16 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The details of this case have been explained in replies to several Parliamentary Questions; most recently in questions 36185 and 32749-16. The current question contains the assertion that the person concerned retained an entitlement to a jobseekers allowance payment following the decision of the Appeals Officer to disallow his claim. However, there has been no claim made to the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Contracts (16 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Department’s existing cash payments contract with An Post began on 1 January 2014 for an initial two years with an option for extension for a further four years on a yearly basis, a total of six years. The contract was renewed in late 2015 for a further year covering 2016 and will be renewed again in the coming days for a further year covering 2017.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Supervisors (16 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The matter of a pension for Community Employment Scheme Supervisors is currently being considered by a high level working group, set up under the auspices of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER). This Group includes officials from the Departments of Public Expenditure, Social Protection and Environment, Community and Local Government, as well as from Pobal and the two...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Applications (16 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Jobseeker’s Allowance application of the person concerned has been referred for further investigation to a Social Welfare Inspector, who will be in touch with her if further information is required. A decision on the application will issue to the person concerned once the assessment has been completed. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The free travel scheme provides free travel for those with eligibility on the main public and private transport services which includes road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann, Iarnród Éireann, Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators. There are currently approximately 873,000 customers with direct...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Carer’s allowance was awarded to the person concerned on 9 December 2016 and the first payment issued to their nominated bank account on 12 December 2016. Arrears of allowance due from 18 August 2016 to 14 December 2016 have also issued to the bank. The person concerned was notified of these details on 9 December 2016. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Appeals (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: An application for family income supplement (FIS) was made by the person concerned but was disallowed on the grounds that the net weekly assessable earnings exceeded the prescribed income level for the number of people in the family. The person concerned has now appealed this decision on 3rdJanuary 2017 and this information has now been forwarded to the Chief Appeals Office, D’Olier...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Christmas bonus is a payment equivalent to 85% of the appropriate amount of a person’s weekly payment, which is to be paid to all customers on a long-term Social Welfare payment who meet certain criteria. The person concerned is in receipt of a Jobseeker's Allowance payment. One of the criteria to qualify for this bonus is that one must be in receipt of this payment in excess of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 533 and 542 together. The legislation governing the issue of a PPS Number is the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended. Sections 262(2) and (2A) provide that – (2) The Minister may, subject to subsection (2A), allocate and issue a personal public service number to each person who is the subject of any transaction with a specified body....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Sections 50 and 50B of the Pensions Act, respectively, give the Authority the powers to direct trustees of defined benefit (DB) schemes to reduce benefits under a scheme or to wind up the scheme. These powers may be exercised by the Authority where a DB scheme fails to meet the statutory funding standard under the Act. The Authority recognises the serious nature of these powers and the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Sections 50 and 50B of the Pensions Act, respectively, give the Pensions Authority the powers to direct trustees of defined benefit (DB) schemes to reduce benefits under a scheme or to wind up the scheme. These powers may be exercised by the Authority where a DB scheme fails to meet the statutory funding standard under the Act and where a sustainable funding proposal is not put in place. ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I understand the importance of ensuring that safeguards are in place for scheme members where a pension scheme is being wound up as a result of a direction by the Pensions Authority. The Pensions Authority has the power to issue a direction to the trustees of a defined benefit pension scheme to: - restructure scheme benefits under section 50 of the Pensions Act or - wind up a defined...