Results 21,741-21,760 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Department operates a range of statutory means tested schemes, taking account of the income a claimant has in terms of cash, property (other than the family home) and capital. The combination of the means test and awarding differentiated rates of payment is premised on ensuring that social welfare payments are paid to those most in need and reflects the position that persons with...

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. The rate of payment to a person is related to the number of contributions made over the years into the Social Insurance Fund by the person. To ensure that the individual can maximise their entitlement to a State pension (contributory), all contributions paid or credited over their working life...

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

Leo Varadkar: All applications for state pension (contributory) must be assessed under the eligibility conditions set out in social welfare legislation. This provides thatwhere anapplicant for state pension (contributory) became a self-employed contributor on 6 April 1988 and, at any time before that date, was an employed contributor, the date on which they first entered insurance, or 6 April 1988,...

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

Leo Varadkar: The tables that follow provide the details which have been requested by the Deputy in respect of 2015, 2016 and to date in 2017. The schemes with the highest number of appeals to the Social Welfare Appeals Office in 2015, 2016 and to end of March 2017 were - disability allowance (6,435 in 2015/4,912 in 2016/1,444 in 2017), carer’s allowance (3,188 in 2015/3,887 in 2016/1,003 in 2017),...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Unemployment Measures (11 Apr 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, including young...

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

Leo Varadkar: Self-employed people who earn €5,000 or more in a contribution year, are liable for PRSI at the Class S rate of 4%, subject to a minimum annual payment of €500. This provides them with access to the following benefits: State pension (contributory) and widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner’s pension (contributory), guardian’s payment...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Workplace Relations Commission (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: There have been no adjudications or findings of the Workplace Relations Commission in respect of my Department or the bodies that come under its aegis during the period in question, that have not been accepted by my Department having consulted with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Eligibility (12 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: As is common with social security systems across the world, the Irish social welfare system generally applies the principle of one person, one payment. It can happen that a person may experience more than one contingency at the same time such as being on maternity leave, while providing full-time care and attention to a person, who consequent on an illness or disability, requires such care....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobPath Implementation (12 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy will be aware, JobPath is an employment activation service that supports people who are long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. Two companies, Seetec and Turas Nua, have been contracted to deliver the service. While engaging with the JobPath service, participants are provided with a range of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Payments (12 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Family Income Supplement (FIS) section incorrectly calculated the FIS entitlement of the person concerned as it included the part time job incentive payment in its calculation The FIS claim for the person concerned has been reviewed and their weekly payment will increase to €196.00. FIS arrears will issue to their designated Bank Account this Thursday. I hope this clarifies the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit Applications (12 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: As per responses to PQ Refs: 8896-17, 5148-17 & 12712-17, the person concerned has submitted an application for jobseeker’s benefit. Specific documentation was requested in order to assess entitlement to this benefit. This documentation is still outstanding and the application cannot be progressed. Upon receipt of the requested documentation/information a decision will be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Waiting Times (12 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested (where available) by the deputy is detailed in the following table: Social Welfare claims by average waiting times and number of claims pending 28 February 2017 Scheme Average Waiting time to award (weeks) Average processing times (weeks) Summary Decisions Average processing times (weeks) Oral Hearings Jobseeker's Benefit 1 17.9 20.2 Jobseeker's Allowance 2...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Guarantee (12 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The report by the Court of Auditors relates to the overall implementation at the Union level of the EU Recommendation on a Youth Guarantee, rather than making findings about individual Member States. The Court did however visit seven Member States, including Ireland, to assemble material for its assessment. The report concludes that the “Member States visited had made progress in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (12 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: In order to qualify for jobseeker’s allowance or benefit a customer must satisfy certain conditions including genuinely seeking work and being available for work. Customers who are genuinely seeking work must agree a personal progression plan with a case officer and avail of all reasonable employment and training opportunities offered to them. All customers must be in a position to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Job Initiatives (12 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 209 together. 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 found that it is one of the most effective labour market programmes – increasing participants’ employment outcomes by 32%. It...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme Payments (12 Apr 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. ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (12 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Turas Nua is one of two companies who have been contracted by my Department to provide the JobPath service to people who are long term unemployed. The main aim of the JobPath service is to place jobseekers into full time sustainable employment. During that time, the person receives intensive and personalised support and assistance to find suitable work. There is no restriction on any...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Household Benefits Scheme (12 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The savings arising from the initial reduction and subsequent discontinuance of the telephone allowance meant that my Department was able to retain the other valuable elements of the household benefits package such as the electricity and gas allowance and the television licence. My Department will spend approximately €232 million this year on these elements of the household benefits...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Work Placement Programmes (12 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The activation supports and services which are available to those who are long-term unemployed include the JobPath employment activation service and work experience and training schemes such as Community Employment, CE, and Tús. The aim of the JobPath service is to assist participants in finding sustainable full-time paid employment. It is distinct from the Tús scheme which...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Places (12 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Department does not refuse places on Community Employment schemes; the primary role of the Department in relation to the filling of vacancies is to check the person’s eligibility to participate. Once a person is deemed eligible it is the Sponsor’s responsibility to recruit the approved number of participants. It is not possible to say the number of Community Employment...