Results 20,981-21,000 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (8 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The application for carer’s allowance (CA) in respect of the person concerned was awarded on 6 February 2017 in respect of two care recipients. The first payment of CA is due to issue to her nominated bank account on 9 February 2017. Arrears of allowance due from 22 September 2016 to 8 February 2017 have issued to the bank. The person concerned was notified of these details on 6...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Commissions of Inquiry (8 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Commissions of investigation can investigate matters of significant public concern and are set up by Government order. Such commissions are currently provided for by the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004. No such commissions of investigation, inquiry or other formal investigations are currently ongoing in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (9 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 129 and 130 together. The table shows the number of applications received and the number of applications disallowed for carer's allowance (CA), disability allowance (DA), domiciliary care allowance (DCA), invalidity pensions (INVP) and illness benefit (IB) in 2016. The grounds for disallowing an application for one of these schemes include a failure to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (9 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 132 together. The table provides the details which have been requested by the Deputy in relation to appeal receipts and successful appeal outcomes during 2016 for carer's allowance, disability allowance, domiciliary care allowance, invalidity pension and illness benefit. The number of carer’s allowance appeals received during 2016 (3,887)...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Ministerial Meetings (9 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I met with the UK Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the Right Hon. Damian Green, M.P. on Thursday, 2nd February 2017 to discuss two main issues, namely: 1. Information exchange on the UK’s welfare reforms with regard to pensions, working age and also illness payments; and 2. The social protection implications of the vote by the UK to leave the EU. Social security...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Poverty Data (9 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The latest CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions for 2015 shows that the consistent poverty rate for lone parent households is 26.2%, up from 25% in 2014. The deprivation rate for lone parent households fell from 58.7 per cent in 2014 to 57.9% in 2015. The at-risk-of-poverty rate for lone parent households is largely unchanged in 2015 at 36.2%, compared to 36.5% in 2014. The full...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Poverty Data (9 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Eurostat data, based on the latest CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions for 2015, shows that Ireland has one of the lowest in-work poverty rates among the EU-28 member states. The EU average is 9.5%. Ireland ranks 4th lowest with a rate of 4.8%. The full impact of the recovery is not reflected in these 2015 figures. Macro-economic and labour market indicators have shown...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Poverty Impact Assessment (9 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The latest CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions for 2015 shows that the at-risk-of-poverty threshold – 60% of the median income for all households – in 2015 was €230 per week for a single person, compared with €217 in 2014. This reflects the rise in real median disposable income of 6.2% in 2015, driven by employment growth and the safeguarding of social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment (9 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: During the debate on the Social Welfare (SW) Bill 2016, I agreed that my Department would commission an independent report on the OFP reforms to examine the financial and social effects of the amendments to the scheme made since 1 January 2012, taking into account the poverty rates and welfare dependency of those impacted by the reforms. This is now in legislation. I am committed to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance (9 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The CSO’s latest monthly unemployment figures reports that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for persons aged 15-24 years (youth unemployment rate) was 13.5% in January 2017, a decrease from 14.4% in December 2016. This is a significant decrease of almost 5 percentage points, from 18.1%, in the past 12 months. The overall unemployment rate has fallen by 1.4 percentage points...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Work Allowance Applications (9 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: A copy of the decision, and reason for same, in respect of the back to work allowance application made by the person concerned was issued to him by post on 31st January 2017. He has since been in contact with his case officer who will continue to work with him in relation to possible options. I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Fraud Data (9 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department is responsible for making statutory decisions on insurability of employment under the Social Welfare Act. In this regard, employers, employees and the self-employed may apply, where there is doubt, to have an employment or self-employment status investigated and the correct class of pay-related social insurance (PRSI) determined. Scope decisions are based on all of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Public Relations Contracts Data (9 Feb 2017)

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

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (9 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The State pension contributory is a very valuable benefit and is the bedrock of the Irish pension system. Therefore, it is important to ensure that those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund over their working lives. To ensure that the individual can maximise their entitlement to a State pension, all contributions paid or credited over their working...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Data (9 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of recipients of Farm Assist in each county is detailed in the table. The breakdown of the moneys paid to recipients is not collated on a county basis by my Department. I am however informed that the total expenditure on Farm Assist in each of the years 2012 to 2015 was approximately €108.2m, €99.2m, €93.6m,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (9 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No 196 of 2nd November 2016 and Parliamentary Question No 123 of 14th July 2016. The client concerned has not, to date, provided the Department with an up to date Rent Supplement application form confirming an increase to their monthly rent. On receipt of same, the client's entitlement can be re-assessed. I trust this clarifies the matter for the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (9 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The client concerned has been requested to provide the Department with relevant documentation regarding her Rent Supplement claim. On receipt of same, the client's entitlement will be re-assessed. The Deputy should note that under the Private Rental Tenancies legislation a rent supplement uplift request is unable to be granted before 24 months has elapsed since the commencement date of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (9 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The client concerned has been requested to provide a current lease agreement for her rental property. This documentation has not, to date, been received by the Department. On receipt of same, the client’s entitlement to Rent Supplement can be assessed. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (9 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: According to the records of the Department the person concerned is currently in receipt of a disability allowance payment, and has not submitted any recent application for basic payment under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. It is open to the person concerned to contact her local Community Welfare Service should she be experiencing financial hardship and to seek advice in relation...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Partial Capacity Benefit Scheme Applications (9 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned is in receipt of invalidity pension and has made an application for Partial Capacity Benefit (PCB). The PCB is a Social Welfare scheme which allows a person, who may not have full capacity for work, to return to employment and continue to receive a payment from my Department. A person who applies for PCB will, in the first instance, be assessed by a medical assessor who...