Results 20,941-20,960 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (2 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 10 January 2017, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (2 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing in this case on 23 February 2017. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (2 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing in this case on 8 February 2017. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (2 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: An application for carer's allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 31 August 2015. As a result of an appeals officer’s decision CA was awarded to the person concerned on 26 January 2017 and the first payment will issue to her nominated post office on 2 February 2017. Arrears for the period 3 September 2015 to 1 February 2017 will issue shortly. The person concerned...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (2 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department received an application for Carer’s Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 11 May 2016. It is a condition for receipt of a CA 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 throughout...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Communications (2 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister uses his department email for government business. He does have a private email address which he uses for personal and party matters, and which to the best of his knowledge has not been used for other purposes. Minister McGrath does not have a personal e-mail account. The Department has well defined policies in relation to the use of email and internet services. Every...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Commencement of Legislation (2 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department is responsible for the legislation underpinning the social welfare code and for a number of other areas of legislation. These are occupational and private pensions, civil registration and gender recognition, redundancy and employer’s insolvency and Citizens Information Board/Comhairle legislation. A number of provisions of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as...

Pensions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (7 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I welcome the opportunity to engage in a discussion of the problems in defined benefit pension schemes. The provisions contained in the Bill propose major changes to the Pensions Act. The changes would have significant and far-reaching consequences for the defined benefit pension sector in Ireland. I will speak first about the general issues affecting defined benefit schemes and then about...

Pensions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (7 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Perhaps the remainder of my speech might be included in the record.

Pensions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (7 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Yes.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Redundancy Data (7 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The purpose of the redundancy payments scheme is to compensate employees for the loss of their jobs, where the employer is unable to pay statutory redundancy due to financial difficulties or insolvency. The scheme is funded from the social insurance fund. The total number of claims received under the redundancy payments scheme for the years 2011 to 2016 and in January, 2017, is provided in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (7 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The 2017 and 2018 costs of the Department’s Budget 2017 measures are outlined in the table. Budget 2017 Measures 2017 Cost (€m) 2018 cost (€m) €5 Weekly Rate increases Increase the weekly rates of payment €5 per week for pensioners and recipients aged under 66, with proportional increases for qualified adults and those on reduced rates [March 2017]....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (7 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department provides a range of activation supports for unemployed jobseekers. These supports include the JobPath service and employment programmes such as the Community Employment (CE) schemes for long term unemployed and Intreo activation support for the short term unemployed. The JobPath service is provided for jobseekers only, whereas CE provides part time temporary work in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Respite Care Grant Appeals (7 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing in this case on 22February 2017. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (7 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department received an application for Carer’s Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 4 November 2016. It is a condition for receipt of a CA 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobPath Data (7 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Each JobPath Provider’s website lists a service guarantee which will be offered to every participant, this covers a baseline level of service including frequency of engagement, personal progression planning, geographic accessibility and in-employment support. On referral, each jobseeker is assigned a personal advisor who assesses the person’s skills, experience, challenges and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (7 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned commenced on Community Employment (CE) on 24thSeptember 2012. He has an entitlement of up to six years (312 weeks) on CE, which would allow him to remain on CE until September 2018, subject to the renewal of the current scheme which is due to end on 2ndJune 2017 and the agreement of the Sponsoring Body. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (7 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Community Employment (CE) is a labour market activation programme which helps long-term unemployed people (those 12 months or more in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment) and other disadvantaged groups to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work routine. The programme assists participants to enhance and develop skills which can...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (7 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Community Employment (CE) is an employment programme with the aim of helping the long-term unemployed to re-enter the workforce by breaking their cycle of unemployment through a return to a regular work routine. CE also provides training and development to participants. The basic eligibility requirement is that a person is currently in receipt of a CE-qualifying payment from my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit Applications (7 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The client concerned made an application for jobseeker’s allowance on 4th October 2016. Her file was referred to a Social Welfare Inspector in order to fully establish her means from self-employment, casual work and property. Unfortunately there was a delay with this process and the Department apologises for this. A Deciding Officer contacted the client on 3rd February 2017,...