Results 22,001-22,020 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Appeals (18 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The appeal of the person concerned was registered with the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 16 November 2016. I am advised that it is likely that his appeal will be determined within the next week or so. The quasi-judicial nature of the appeal system impacts on appeal processing times which are proportionate to the complexity of many of the issues under appeal and often require a high level...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (18 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: To ensure that the individual can maximise their entitlement to a State pension (contributory), all contributions paid or credited over their working life from when they first enter insurable employment until pension age are taken into account when assessing their entitlement and the level of that entitlement. At the moment, to qualify for the State pension (contributory) a person must...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Public Services Card Authentication (18 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: In circumstances where a British citizen applying for a Public Services Card does not have acceptable photographic ID, such as a driving licence or a passport, they are interviewed by a supervisor and asked to provide information in relation to their employment, social welfare and address history. Where the person has been living in the State, the answers can then be checked against the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Job Initiatives (18 May 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 found that it is one of the most effective labour market programmes – increasing participants’ employment outcomes by 32%. It also found that while participants rated the scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Applications (18 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned has not lodged an application for an Exceptional Needs Payment. The Designated Person in the Intreo Office concerned has forwarded an application to them today to complete and return. On receipt of same, their claim will be processed and a decision made on their application. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Applications (18 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: According to the records of this Department the person concerned made an initial claim on 24/4/2017 on the basis that she had a difficulty budgeting for school expenses and examination fees. Details were later provided of arrangements made to fund the cost of travel for her mother’s funeral. On this basis an Exceptional Needs Payment was made to the person concerned on 8/5/2017. It...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (18 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that there is no record of any appeal by the person concerned having been received in that office. In light of your request, an appeal will be registered and in accordance with statutory requirements the Appeals Office will contact the person concerned to ask her to set out her complete grounds of appeal i.e. the reason why she disagrees with...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Appeals (18 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that a Supplementary Welfare Allowance (Rent Supplement) appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 11 May 2017. The Appeals Officer will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. I am further advised by the Social Welfare Appeals...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Reports (18 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: An interdepartmental working group, comprising officials from the Department of Social Protection, the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners, has been examining the issue of disguised employment. To inform the work of the group, a public consultation on the use of intermediary-type employment structures and self-employment arrangements and their impact on income tax and PRSI,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Data (18 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Family Income Supplement (FIS) is an in-work support, which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. FIS is designed to prevent in-work poverty for low paid workers with child dependants and to offer a financial incentive to take-up employment. There are nearly 57,000 families with almost 127,000 children in receipt of FIS. The estimated spend on FIS this...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Data (18 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the following table. Number of recipients of Family Income Supplement at 31 December in each of the years 2013 to 2016 and to date in 2017 Year Recipients 2013 44,159 2014 50,306 2015 55,913 2016 57,567 30th April 2017 56,833

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (18 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Departmental officials have provided for the use of the committee detailed briefing material which includes comprehensive financial and recipient data. It also provides updates on the Department's performance in meeting its output targets for 2016. It is useful, in the first instance, to outline the scope and scale of the Department's expenditure and its importance, not alone for those who...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (18 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I will starting with the Deputy's first question concerning administration. There are two key reasons for the increase in the administration subhead. First, we have engaged in a detailed staff education and training programme whereby the Department now has a contract, or a partnership, with the National College of Ireland to upskill and educate our staff. This is for many reasons....

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (18 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Yes.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (18 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I do not. Averaging would form the bulk of it, though. I apologise - the figures I have given the Deputy concern a reversal of the change made to the averaging system. I do not have the figures for the change made to the number of contributions required. However, the Deputy knows where we are going on this. I am not satisfied with the way we contribute to the State contributory pension....

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (18 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I did not quite catch the question about the bereavement grant.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (18 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I am accused of many things these days but being bewildered is not one of them.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (18 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I have been accused of so many things in the past few weeks but being bewildered is not one of them. I will add it to the list.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (18 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I am happy to clarify that there were three types of payments in the case of bereavement, two of which still exist. One of these is an exceptional needs payment where a person can go to his or her community welfare officer and say that he or she cannot afford to pay funeral expenses or burial costs. We can help with that. Approximately €5 million was paid out to help 1,000 people to...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (18 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: No, they did not.