Results 21,461-21,480 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Citizen Information Services (28 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Citizens Information Board (CIB), which has statutory responsibility for the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) and the Citizens Information Services (CIS) decided, on 15 February 2017, to restructure the governance arrangements of these services. The decision was communicated by the Board of CIB to all CIS and MABS Boards and to all staff on the same day. The CIB assures me that...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Unemployment Data (28 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Government policy to reduce unemployment is twofold. First, through policies set out in the Action Plan for Jobs, to create an environment in which business can succeed and create jobs; and second, through Pathways to Work to ensure that as many as possible of these new jobs and other vacancies that arise in our economy are filled by people taken from the Live Register. To date, these...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Support Grant (28 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The appeal of the person concerned against the decision to refuse her claim for Carer’s Support Grant was successful. An amount of €1,700, in respect of the 2016 Carer’s Support Grant, was lodged to her nominated bank account on Thursday 23 March 2017.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (28 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeals from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing in this case on 11 April 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: Family Income Supplement Appeals (28 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: In order to qualify for Family Income Supplement (FIS) a person must be engaged in full-time remunerative employment as an employee for at least 38 hours per fortnight (19 hours per week). Following an application for FIS on 10 March, 2016, from the person concerned, a file was sent to a Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) on 11 May, 2016, for further investigation, but from the information...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (28 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 12 January 2017. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers have been received in the Social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (28 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: An application for carer's allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 24 January 2017. The application was awarded to the person concerned on 23 March 2017 and the first payment issued to their nominated post office on 30 March 2017. Arrears of allowance due from 27 January 2017 to 29 March 2017 have also issued. The person concerned was notified on 23 March 2017 of this...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Eligibility (28 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The fuel allowance is a payment of €22.50 per week for 26 weeks from October to April, to 378,000 low income households to assist them with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only one allowance is paid per household. My Department also pays an electricity or gas...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Data (28 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The fuel allowance is a payment of €22.50 per week for 26 weeks from October to April, to 378,000 low income households to assist them with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only one allowance is paid per household. The fuel allowance is a means tested payment,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Public Services Card Provision (28 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The legislation governing the issuance of a Public Services Card is contained in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended. Section 263(1) states – “The Minister may, subject to subsection (1C), issue a card (in this Act referred to as a ‘public services card’) to a person in such form as the Minister considers fit for the purposes of carrying out a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Eligibility (28 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Department operates a range of means tested social assistance payments, including farm assist. Social welfare legislation provides that the means test takes account of the income and assets of the person (and spouse/partner, if applicable) applying for the relevant payment. Income and assets include income from employment, self-employment, occupational pensions, maintenance payments as...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit Eligibility (28 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I gave a commitment at Dáil report stage of the Social Welfare Bill 2016 that I would ask my officials to examine the issue of jobseeker’s benefit and the treatment of part-time and seasonal workers, including those categorised as having subsidiary employment. That report is currently being undertaken with the intention of presenting it to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (28 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer 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 is responsible for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Payments (28 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned withdrew her one parent family claim on 1/3/17 and was advised by an officer of the Department that her partner could apply to have her and her dependent child added as dependents to his disability allowance payment. At present the person concerned has no applications pending for any payment. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Applications (28 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: According to the records of this department, no recent application for an exceptional needs payment has been made by the person concerned. It is open to the person concerned to make an application to the local community welfare service and in this regard an application form has been sent today. I hope this clarifies the matter for the deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (28 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that following an oral hearing of the appeal of the person concerned, the Appeals Officer is now considering the appeal in the light of all of the evidence submitted, including that adduced at the oral hearing. The person concerned will be notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision within the next week. The Social Welfare Appeals...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (28 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned was requested to provide proof that she attended a medical consultation in her homeland as well as a letter from her GP confirming fitness to work. This is a requirement for receipt of jobseeker’s allowance payment. The associated medical costs were not questioned. The person concerned was requested to provide proof of how the trip to her homeland was paid for....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Payments (28 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Carer's Allowance (CA) is a social assistance payment made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a relevant person/persons and whose income falls below certain limits. When a person is in receipt of a social welfare payment (other than jobseeker payments or supplementary welfare allowance) and also qualifies for CA, it is paid at half the normal rate. The person...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Job Initiatives (28 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Programmes such as Community Employment, (CE), Tús and Rural Social Scheme (RSS) are designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed and other disadvantaged people with an opportunity to engage in part-time work and training within their communities on a temporary, fixed-term basis. The pattern of participation on the CE programme is dependent on the individual circumstance of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (28 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: In assessing means for social assistance payments such as jobseeker’s allowance, account is taken of the income and the value of property, including capital, of the claimant and their spouse/partner. Social welfare legislation provides that the yearly value of property (including capital) owned but not personally used or enjoyed is assessable for means testing purposes. However, it...