Results 21,921-21,940 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pensions Reform (10 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The National Pensions Framework (2010) proposed that a “Total Contributions Approach” (TCA) should replace the yearly average approach, for new pensioners from 2020. The aim of this approach is to make the rate of contributory pension more closely match contributions made by a person. Officials of my Department are currently working on the detailed development of the TCA with...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Maternity Benefit Administration (10 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Currently there are over 2,850 claims for maternity benefit waiting to be processed. Just over 1,300 of these claims have a leave commencement date of 8 May 2017, or earlier. Maternity benefit claims are processed in leave commencement date order. The average time to process a paper claim is 6 weeks. Processing claims by leave commencement date order ensures that those whose maternity...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Relocation (10 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I refer the Deputy to my response to PQ No. 178 of 6 April where I advised him that there is no definitive time period associated with the training of new staff as it is very much dependent on the area of work and the training needs associated with same. With regard to the Deputy’s question in relation to Grade 5 and temporary Grade 3 staff, I wish to advise the Deputy that there are...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (10 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence including that adduced at the oral hearing, has decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (10 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 1 March 2017. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (10 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Carer’s allowance was awarded to the person concerned on 2 May 2017 and the first payment issued to her nominated bank account on 4 May 2017. Arrears of allowance due from to 9 February 2017 have also issued. The person concerned was notified of these details on 2 May 2017. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Applications (10 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: As explained in response to recent Parliamentary Question No. 191 on 6 April 2017, an application form for Supplementary Welfare Allowance has been posted to the person concerned. If she wishes to apply for an exceptional needs payment she should complete the application form and return it to the welfare service in Maynooth where it will be considered. I hope this clarifies the matter for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (10 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Community Employment (CE) participants and supervisors are not employed by my Department, rather they are employees of private companies in the community and voluntary sector. Given that situation, the State is not responsible for funding pension arrangements for such employees, even where the companies in question are reliant on State funding. It is open to individuals to make provision...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance (10 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The jobseeker’s allowance scheme is a means-tested social assistance scheme which provides income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative full-time employment. The 2017 Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseeker’s allowance scheme of €2.1 billion. In the case of persons aged under 25 years of age, the...

Seanad: Gender Recognition (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (10 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I want to start by thanking Senator Warfield, Senator Norris - Monsieur Thénardier du Sénat- and Senator Grace O'Sullivan for tabling this Bill on gender recognition. I welcome the opportunity to engage with the House on the issues contained in this important Bill. I join with colleagues in congratulating Senator Warfield on what I believe was a very fine speech on introducing his...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (11 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The application in question has been processed and a PPS Number has been assigned. The applicant will be advised in writing in due course. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Schemes (11 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 to 137, inclusive, together. The purpose of the redundancy payments scheme is to compensate employees for the loss of their jobs when the employer is unable to pay statutory redundancy due to financial difficulties or insolvency. The purpose of the insolvency payments scheme is to pay outstanding wage-related entitlements due to employees in the event of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Fund (11 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 139 together. When a payment is made from the redundancy and insolvency payments schemes from the Social Insurance Fund a debt is raised against the employer, which is reported in the Social Insurance Fund (SIF) financial accounts. The total employer debt to the Social Insurance Fund at 31 December, 2016 stood at €459 million. Almost...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Overpayments (11 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Overpayments of benefit or assistance arise where a person is paid in excess of their entitlement or paid where no entitlement exists. In 2016, the Department overpaid customers by €110 million. Of this, customer fraud accounted for €41 million and relates to cases where a customer intentionally provides incomplete or inaccurate information in order to receive benefits, or...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Training (11 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Department’s spend on staff training programmes run by external organisations amounted to €603,908 in 2016. Among the training included in this expenditure were leadership and management development programmes, Irish language training, policy and legislative development, information technology and systems courses, public procurement, mental health awareness, and train...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Redundancy Data (11 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The purpose of the redundancy payments scheme is to compensate employees for the loss of their jobs when the employer is unable to pay statutory redundancy due to financial difficulties or insolvency. The purpose of the insolvency payments scheme is to pay outstanding wage-related entitlements due to employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer. When a payment is made from the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Public Services Card (11 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Public Services Card (PSC) is issued on completion of a robust registration process designed to ensure a substantial level of identity assurance. The PSC is intended to replace other cards within the public sector such as the free travel pass and the social services card of this Department and to make it easier for providers of public services to verify the identity of customers in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement (11 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned returned to work on 15thFebruary 2017 and notified Family Income Supplement (FIS) Section on 05thApril 2017. FIS Section requested further information in relation to this customer’s employment on 07thApril 2017. This information was provided to FIS Section on 25thApril 2017. FIS was reinstated to the person concerned on 06thMay 2017 and will be paid to their bank...

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

Leo Varadkar: Carer’s allowance was awarded to the person concerned on 4 May 2017 and the first payment is due to issue to her bank account on 11 May 2017. Arrears of allowance due from 9 February to 10 May 2017 will also issue to her bank account. The person concerned was notified of these details on 4 May 2017. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit Appeals (11 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned has not submitted an appeal in relation to an application made to the Department; they have however recently submitted an application for Farm Assist. As is the normal procedure with all Farm Assist claims, it has been forwarded to a Social Welfare Inspector for investigation. Once this investigation is completed the Department will be in a position to make a decision...