Results 21,241-21,260 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme Data (1 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the extra costs when children start school each autumn. The BSCFA is not intended to meet the full cost of school clothing and footwear but to provide assistance towards these costs. The Government has provided €37.4 million for the scheme in 2017. End...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Data (1 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The information that the Deputy has requested is currently not available in my Department. Given the complex nature of the request, my Department will provide the information directly to the Deputy in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (1 Mar 2017)

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 the Mid-Leinster Rents Unit, PO Box 11758, Dublin 24. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Data (1 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The following table shows the number of persons who were awarded maximum rate state pension (contributory) based on a yearly average of 48 or more contributions, and the number awarded reduced rate based on a yearly average of less than 48, in each of the past five years. Year No. of max rate awards No. of reduced rate awards Total 2016 14,768 13,401 28,169 2015 14,456 12,915 27,371...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (1 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: As Ireland does not have a bilateral social security agreement with the Republic of South Africa, it is not possible to take into account insurance periods completed in that country for pension eligibility purposes. Ireland has with Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Japan, the United Kingdom (covering Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man), The Republic of Korea and Quebec (which...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff (1 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: From the 8 August 2016 to date, 6 permanent Clerical Officers have been assigned to the Abbeycourt Intreo Office in Cork. During the same period 2 permanent staff members (1.6 posts) left the office.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Payments (1 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: With reference to PQ No. 166 which advised that a one parent family payment was awarded in the case of the person concerned and payment was available for collection at the nominated post office on 16/2/17, all arrears were paid to the person concerned on 23/02/2017. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pensions (1 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: On Budget Day, I announced the first general increase in the weekly rates of payment since 2009, which builds on the €3 increase which was introduced for pensioners in Budget 2016. A €5 increase in the weekly rates of payment for all social welfare recipients will come into force this month, with proportionate increases for qualified adults and those on reduced rates of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Reviews (1 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Lower weekly rates for younger jobseekers were first introduced in the Supplementary Budget in 2009 and further extended in subsequent Budgets up to 2014. The rationale for these rates is to prevent young unemployed people from entering longer term welfare dependency by providing a strong financial incentive to take up a job, or a training or education programme. It should be noted that...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Statistics (1 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: In the European Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC), disability is based on the concept of global activity limitation. This is defined as a “limitation in activities people usually do because of health problems for at least the past six months”. The latest EU-SILC data available shows that severe material deprivation for people (aged 16 years and over) who are...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Payments (1 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 224 and 225 together. My Department received an application for carer's allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 27 January 2016. CA is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has a disability such that they require that level of care. A person can be considered to be providing...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Data (1 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Currently, there are 73.5 full-time equivalents (77 people) assigned to the Carers section. My Department, like all Government departments and agencies, is required to operate within a staff ceiling figure and a commensurate administrative staffing budget, which for this Department has involved reductions in staff numbers. Within these constraints, the Department is focusing on...

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

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 23 February 2017. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (2 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: One of the initiatives announced as part of the Creative Ireland Programme which was launched by the Taoiseach in December was that the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in conjunction with my Department would devise a mechanism during 2017 to assist self-employed artists who have applied for Jobseeker’s Allowance. I have been in contact with my...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (2 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Under the new Private Rental Tenancies Legislation a landlord must give a minimum of 90 days written notice prior to increasing a tenant’s rent. The client concerned should submit to the Department an up to date Rent Supplement application form, lease agreement and verification of this 90 days’ notice confirming any increase in their monthly rent. On receipt of this...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (2 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Department has not, to date, received an application for Rent Supplement from the clients 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 trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (2 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Under the new Private Rental Tenancies Legislation a landlord must give a minimum of 90 days written notice prior to increasing a tenant’s rent. The client concerned should submit to the Department an up to date Rent Supplement application form, lease agreement and verification of this 90 days’ notice confirming any increase in their monthly rent. On receipt of this...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (2 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No 985 of 16th February 2017, No 144 of 9th February 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 assessed. I trust...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Labour Activation Projects (2 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: In 2015 My Department initiated a rolling, multi-annual evaluations programme, using econometric and qualitative methods, of Pathways to Work programme and process reforms. This includes large-scale annual customer satisfaction surveys. It draws upon an episodic administrative database, the Jobseekers’ Longitudinal Database (JLD), capturing jobseekers spells of unemployment and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Programme for Government Initiatives (2 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has been working on the drafting of a strategy in line with commitments in Pathways to Work 2016-2020 and in the Programme for Government. In this preparation work DSP has consulted both with other relevant government Departments and with the Labour Market Council. I hope to bring a draft for consultation with government colleagues before the relevant Cabinet Committee...