Results 21,721-21,740 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobPath Data (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 372 and 373 together. As the Deputy will be aware JobPath is a new approach to employment activation designed to support long-term unemployed people and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. Two companies, Turas Nua and Seetec, have been contracted by the Department to deliver the JobPath service. ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobPath Implementation (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: JobPath is a payment by results model and all initial costs and the ongoing operational costs are borne by the companies. Payments made to the service providers are only in respect of registration fees, for persons engaging with the service, and fees for sustained employment outcomes. My Department does not publish the individual fees to providers because of commercial sensitivity. This...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobPath Implementation (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: JobPath is a payment by results model. All initial set up costs and the ongoing running costs are borne by the companies. The companies are paid registration fees and job sustainment fees. A registration fee may be claimed only when a jobseeker has developed a personal progression plan. Job sustainment fees are payable for each 13-week period of sustained employment, up to a maximum of 52...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobPath Implementation (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The survey of JobPath candidates formed part of a single contract covering a 2016 customer satisfaction survey of both JobPath candidates and of jobseeker users of standard Intreo services. Taking account of the numbers surveyed in the different respondent categories, the amount of the contract charge attributable to the JobPath element of the survey was €58,500 before VAT, or...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Partnerships (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Scope section of this Department approved the application for a retrospective farm partnership on 23 February, 2017 for the customers referred to by the Deputy. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobPath Implementation (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Following the completion of a rigorous public procurement process, conducted in accordance with EU and national procurement rules, Turas Nua is one of two companies selected to provide the JobPath service. The JobPath Agreement between my Department and Turas Nua Limited was signed on 5 June 2015. Turas Nua is a joint venture between FRS Recruitment and Working Links: FRS Recruitment, part...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Job Assist Scheme (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: JobBridge was introduced in July 2011 in response to the sharp and dramatic increase in unemployment. A robust external evaluation of the scheme conducted by Indecon Economic Consultants in 2016 recommended that it should be replaced and JobBridge was closed to new applications from 27th October 2016. Participants who started before that date have been facilitated to complete the full...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Momentum Programme (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Momentum Programme is under the remit of the Department of Education and Skills (DES) and is managed on behalf of DES by SOLAS. The programmes include on-the job training in the form of work experience modules as well as the provision of accredited further education and training required to obtain and retain employment. The programme is currently not recruiting new participants....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Data (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The back to education allowance (BTEA) scheme is one of a range of activation supports and policies administered by the Department of Social Protection for their customers. The main focus of BTEA is to assist qualifying applicants to enhance their qualifications and therefore improve their prospects of returning to sustainable employment. The objective of the scheme is to raise the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Work Allowance Data (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: There are two schemes to assist people on certain social protection payments who wish to become self-employed, namely, the short term enterprise allowance (STEA) and the back to work enterprise allowance (BTWEA). The STEA provides immediate access to those who qualify for jobseekers benefit wishing to set up a business. Payment under the scheme is at the same rate and for the same duration...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Data (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: As requested by the Deputy, the table below outlines the number of young persons aged under 25 years that commenced a Community Employment placement in 2015 and 2016. Start Date 2015 Total 2016 Total Jan 102 87 Feb 65 118 Mar 153 97 Apr 95 74 May 130 122 Jun 116 70 Jul 65 87 Aug 47 85 Sep 124 121 Oct 134 159 Nov 157 87 Dec 70 83 Grand Total 1,258 1,190

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Data (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the attached tabular statement. Recipients of a reduced rate Jobseekers Allowance payment by age and rate at the end of March in each of the years 2016 and 2017. March 2016 March 2017 Age €100 €144 Total €100 €144 Total 18 2,551 2 2,553 1,866 3 1,869 19 4,134 4 4,138 3,246 5 3,251 20 4,067 7 4,074...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department provides a range of activation supports for long-term unemployed jobseekers and those most distant from the labour market. These supports include JobPath and employment programmes such as Community Employment (CE) schemes and Tús. The JobPath service is provided for jobseekers only. JobPath aims to place people into full-time sustainable employment. The period of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The eligibility for participation on the Community Employment (CE) programme is dependent on the individual circumstances of each person and the length of time s/he has been in receipt of a CE-qualifying social welfare payment. CE is intended for the long-term unemployed and other specified disadvantaged groups. The aim of CE remains as an active labour market programme with the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobPath Implementation (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The aim of the JobPath service, which is provided for jobseekers only, is to assist them in finding sustainable full time paid employment. Each person referred to the JobPath service is allocated a personal advisor who provides intensive individual support and assistance. When a jobseeker with JobPath finds employment, they will be supported by the JobPath Company for at least the first 13...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The State pension contributory is one of a number of pensions the State pays to people over 66. At present, entitlement to the contributory pension is determined by means of a ‘yearly average’ calculation, where the total contributions paid or credited are divided by the number of years of the working life (i.e. the period between when they first entered insurable employment...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Carer’s allowance was awarded to the person concerned on 5 April 2017 and the first payment is due to issue to their nominated post office on 13 April 2017. Arrears of allowance due from 15 December 2016 to 12 April 2017 will also issue to the post office. The person concerned was notified of these details on 5 April 2017. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Delays (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The average processing times to date in 2017 for appeals relating to means-tested payments are set out in the table below. Appeal processing times are kept under constant scrutiny by the Chief Appeals Officer. The Deputy will be aware that significant effort and resources have been devoted in recent years to reducing the length of time taken to finalise an appeal and that as a consequence...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 395, 396 and 404 together. The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme is demand led and provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. The main purpose of the scheme is to provide immediate and flexible assistance for those in need who do not qualify for payment...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Treatment Benefit Scheme Data (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Dental and optical benefits claim numbers and the associated costs for the past 12 months (April 16 – March 17), are set out as follows: Dental - 318,500 claims; Optical - 171,500 claims