Results 18,561-18,580 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Delays (1 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 23 March 2016. Unfortunately, there are currently delays in the processing of new applications.Additional resources have been provided to the CA section in order to improve the waiting times for new applications and they are working hard to make this happen. Frequently, delays...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Activation Projects (1 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 128 together. The evaluation of the Disability Activation (DACT) project, conducted by Indecon International Economic Consultants on behalf of the department, found that although the projects had a number of innovative features and provided positive learning and development experiences, as well as health and social inclusion benefits for participants,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Strategies (1 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Comprehensive Employment Strategy (CES) for people with disabilities was published in October 2015. It sets out a ten-year approach to ensuring that people with disabilities who can and want to work are supported and enabled to do so. The CES sets out a range of actions across a number of departments. My Department has a number of commitments under the CES and these include the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Labour Activation Projects (1 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy is detailed by scheme in the following tabular statement for years 2013 to 2015. County breakdown of activation participants for Waterford - Community Employment Rural Social Scheme Tús Gateway Back To Work Allowance Self-employed Back to Work Allowance Employee JobBridge Back to Education Allowance Partial Capacity Benefit Short-Term...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (1 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the following tabular statement. Number of pending applications – 30 April 2016 Scheme Pending applications Jobseeker's Benefit 2,053 Jobseeker's Allowance 6,662 One-Parent Family Payment 1,119 State Pension Contributory (Domestic) 4,396 State Pension Transition (Domestic) 16 Widow(er)'s Contributory Pension 343 Widowed...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (1 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department is in receipt of an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned. Unfortunately, there are currently delays in the processing of new applications.Additional resources have been provided to the CA section in order to improve the waiting times for new applications and they are working hard to make this happen. Frequently, delays are...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (1 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 29 April 2016. Unfortunately, there are currently delays in the processing of new applications.Additional resources have been provided to the CA section in order to improve the waiting times for new applications and they are working hard to make this happen. This application...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (1 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that the department received an application for Carer’s Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 10 November 2015 in respect of two care recipients. It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have a disability whose effect is that they require full-time care and attention. This is defined as requiring from another person, continual...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pensions Reform (2 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 provided for a gradual increase in the State pension age. This process began in January 2014 with the abolition of the State pension (transition) previously available at 65, thereby standardising State pension age for all at 66 years. There are no plans to introduce changes to this legislation which was introduced on foot of a Government commitment...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Applications (2 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. The department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on 19 January 2016. In order to establish medical suitability, forms for completion issued to the person concerned on 19...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Wage Subsidy Scheme (2 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The wage subsidy scheme (WSS) is a support to private sector employers, providing financial incentives to employers who take on people with a disability for between 21 and 39 hours per week under a contract of employment. Rehab Enterprises, which is one of the largest organisations providing employment to people with disabilities in Ireland, was closely involved in the setting up of this...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Applications (2 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: An application for disability allowance was received from the person in question and, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds. The person concerned requested a review of the decision by a deciding officer (DO) and submitted additional evidence for consideration. The review has now been concluded by a DO but the outcome is that the decision to refuse on medical...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: General Register Office (2 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Section 65 of the Civil Registration Act 2004, provides that an tArd-Chláraitheoir (Registrar General) may examine an entry in a register to determine whether the entry is correct and complete and where an entry is found to be incorrect or incomplete arrange for the correction and completion of the entry. The application to which the Deputy refers is being examined under that section of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (2 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The objective of the back to education allowance scheme (BTEA) is to assist those who are distant from the labour market to acquire the necessary education to improve their chances of becoming independent of the social welfare system. The BTEA, which is designed to support second chance education, enables eligible persons to pursue approved education courses and to continue to receive income...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Services for People with Disabilities (2 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The recently agreed programme for a partnership government provides for a range of actions that are designed to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. One of these actions is a proposal for the Departments of Health and Social Protection to work together to pursue a “Fit for Work Programme” to support more people with an illness or disability to get back to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Data (2 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: In 2014 there were 765 Class K contributors who were over 66 years of age. 2014 is the most recent year for which full year figures available.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Delays (2 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible. My Department is experiencing some delay in the processing of new Carers allowance claims at present. The volume of CA claims on hands are a consequence of continued strong claim intake...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Applications (2 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from the 28 January 2016. Payment will issue to his nominated Post Office on the 16 June 2016. Any arrears due from the 28 January 2016 to the 15 June 2016 (less any overlapping social welfare payment and/or outstanding overpayment) will issue in due course. The person in question was notified of this decision on the 31...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (2 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The EmployAbility service is a national employment service dedicated to improving employment outcomes for people with disabilities who wish to take up employment. The budget for 2016 provides €9.6 million to run the service. EmployAbility participants are people with a disability, which can range from physical to mental ill health, who are “job ready” (typically able...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (2 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: An application for disability allowance was received from the person in question and, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds. The person concerned requested a review of the decision by a deciding officer (DO) and submitted additional evidence for consideration. The review has now been concluded by a DO but the outcome is that the decision to refuse on medical...