Results 18,701-18,720 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Work Placement Programmes (14 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The purpose of Tús is the provision of short-term quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than one year in order to break the cycle of unemployment and to improve a person’s opportunities in returning to the labour market. Currently, there are no circumstances under which a person’s term on Tús can be extended. The Tús budget for 2016...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (14 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 17 February 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,...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Social Insurance Rates (15 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: As this is my first time in the new Seanad, I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate all the Senators on their election, particularly those who are serving for the first time in the Oireachtas. I also congratulate the Cathaoirleach on his return and his election as Cathaoirleach.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Social Insurance Rates (15 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Senator Burke for raising this very important matter, which has been raised with me on a number of occasions and which I know is of real importance to councillors and to Senators. PRSI class K contributions are paid by a number of different categories of contributor. Since 1 January 2011, public officeholders pay PRSI at the class K rate of 4% on their income as officeholders,...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Social Insurance Rates (15 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I am definitely keen to do something. The issue has been going on for a long time and I have the opportunity now to do something about it. I intend to make some change in the forthcoming budget or, more particularly, in the forthcoming social welfare Bill, which will come before this House in the winter. The situation as it stands is unfair. Local authority members pay 4% PRSI and get no...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: People with disabilities who wish to engage in employment, including those in receipt of Disability Allowance, may call to the local Intreo service or to their Local Employment service where they will receive an appointment with a case officer who will assist them in preparing a personal progression plan (PPP). PPPs are tailored to a person’s individual requirement so the customer...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (16 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned was in receipt of carer's benefit for 104 weeks up to 9 March 2016. I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 7 April 2016. Some additional information in relation to the person’s employment outside the home was required and was requested on 7 June 2016 by the deciding officer. Once the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (16 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Following review of all the evidence, the application for carer’s allowance in respect of the person concerned was awarded on 14 June 2016 and the first payment is due to issue to the person’s nominated bank account on 23 June 2016. Arrears of allowance due from 21 January 2016 have issued by cheque. The person concerned was notified of these details on 14 June 2016. I hope...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Payments (16 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person in question is in receipt of disability allowance (DA) since February 2015. The person concerned submitted a previous application for DA on 14 July 2009. The application was disallowed as the deciding officer was satisfied that he had failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit. The person in question had failed to supply certain required information when...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (16 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Rent Supplement payments for the client concerned will continue to issue in conjunction with their Jobseekers Allowance payment. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Payments (16 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Child benefit customers are obliged to notify the Department in writing of any change in their circumstances. A continuing eligibility certificate issued to the person concerned for this purpose on 13 October 2013. A reminder issued on 13November 2013 as no reply was received to the original correspondence. Child benefit payment was suspended when the person concerned again failed to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (16 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The jobseeker’s allowance scheme provides income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative full-time employment. The 2016 Estimates for my Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseeker’s allowance scheme of €2.45 billion. Social welfare legislation states that a person is not entitled to jobseeker’s allowance while...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (16 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 12th April 2016. This application has been forwarded to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors for their medical opinion. Following receipt of this opinion, a decision will be made by a Deciding Officer and notified to the person concerned. Applications are processed in date of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Expenditure (16 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Christmas Bonus was abolished in 2009. The Bonus was partially reintroduced in 2014 with the payment of a 25% Bonus. A 75% Bonus was paid last December to some 1.2 million long-term social welfare recipients, including pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and the long-term unemployed, in recognition of their financial dependence on their social welfare payments. The cost of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Data (16 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of Social Protection introduced a new community employment (CE) childcare strand at the beginning of 2013 under which there is a dedicated educational programme at Level 5 for CE participants who work directly with children. The Major 5 Award is the entry level requirement to work as a practitioner in childcare. This programme will improve the career path for participants who...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Eligibility (16 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned applied for Family Income Supplement (FIS) on the 9 June 2015 and was awarded €200.00 per week from the 11 June 2015 to 8 June 2016. A renewal form was submitted in May 2016, but the claim was disallowed as the evidence supplied in support of the claim indicated that the person concerned was not working the required number of hours to qualify for FIS. The person...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (16 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The application for carer’s allowance in respect of the person concerned was awarded on 28 November 2015 in respect of 2 care recipient. Arrears of allowance due from 22 October 2015 have issued to the person’s nominated post office on 14 June 2016. The person concerned was notified of these details on 14 June 2016. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Applications (16 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from the 7 April 2016. Payment will issue to his nominated bank account on the 30 June 2016. Any arrears due from 7 April 2016 to 29 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 15 June 2016. ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Payments (16 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned was awarded carer’s allowance (CA) from 30 January 1997. It is a condition for receipt of CA that a carer must not be employed outside the home in excess of 15 hours in any week. Information received by my department indicated that the maximum hours permitted in relation to work outside the home may be being exceeded in the case of the person concerned. The...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (16 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) is a means tested payment. A means assessment was carried out and it was found that the person concerned is not entitled to JA due to excess means. Jobseeker’s Benefit (JB) is a contribution based payment. Having exhausted his previous entitlement of 156 days, the person concerned will re-qualify for JB after a period of 13 weeks. I hope this...