Results 19,261-19,280 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Appeals (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned has been referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The State pension is a very valuable asset and it is important, for sustainability reasons, that those who receive it have made a significant contribution towards it during a working life. Currently, to qualify for a State pension (contributory), a person must satisfy a number of qualifying conditions which include commencing insurable employment at least 10 years before pension age, having...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The information below most contains the most recent ‘Annual Actuarial Data’ returns submitted to the Pensions Authority by funded Defined Benefit schemes: - Including schemes in wind-up Excluding schemes in wind-up Number of defined benefit schemes subject to the funding standard 685 653 Number of active members in the defined benefit schemes; 135,571 133,565 Number of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Rates (19 Jul 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 Operation (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Community Employment (CE) is a labour market activation programme which helps long-term unemployed people (those 12-months or more in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment) and other disadvantaged groups to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work routine. It is designed to be a temporary fixed-term activation intervention. The...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Tax and Social Welfare Codes (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Tús is an activation initiative which provides short-term work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. It is designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work readiness. In addition, as a community work placement scheme, Tús provides valuable services to local communities. Participants on Tús are entitled to claim for any dependent...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing, which is schedule to take place on 25 July 2016. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The rate of payment under the State pension (contributory) scheme is related to contributions paid over the years into the Social Insurance Fund, and credited contributions where applicable. As such, those with a stronger attachment to the workforce, who have paid more into that fund, are more likely to be paid at a higher rate under that scheme, than those with more intermittent...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Respite Care Grant Applications (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: An application for the Carer’s Support Grant (formerly called Respite Care Grant) was received in my Department on 30 June 2016. This application is being processed as expeditiously as possible having regard to the significant increase in the number of people applying for Carers Support Grant this year. Once a decision has been made on this case the applicant will be notified.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned has been in receipt of carer’s allowance (CA) for one care recipient since 31 January 2013. An application by the person concerned for CA in respect of a second carer recipient was awarded on 4 July 2016. The first payment of CA at the higher rate of payment was issued to the person’s nominated bank account on 7 July 2016. Arrears of allowance due from 3...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Ministerial Staff (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The name, role and annual salary of the political staff that I have appointed are shown in the following table: Names Role Salaries Brian Murphy Special Adviser €99,370 Nick Miller Press Advisor €87,258 Philip O’Callaghan Policy and Parliamentary Adviser Employed by Houses of the Oireachtas Mary O’Donoghue Personal Secretary Employed by Houses of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Services Programme (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Community Services Programme (CSP) provides financial support to community companies that provide revenue generating services of a social inclusion nature. Many of these companies are also funded from other sources and generate revenue from the public use of their facilities and services. A total of 404 service providers are supported under the CSP to provide local social, economic...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Services Programme (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Community Services Programme (CSP) provides financial support to community companies that provide revenue generating services of a social inclusion nature. Many of these companies are also funded from other sources and generate revenue from the public use of their facilities and services. A total of 404 service providers are supported under the CSP to provide local social, economic...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Services Programme (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Community Services Programme (CSP) provides financial support to community companies that provide revenue generating services of a social inclusion nature. Many of these companies are also funded from other sources and generate revenue from the public use of their facilities and services. A process has been put in place to assist and support existing funded companies who are not in a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Services Programme (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Community Services Programme (CSP) provides financial support to community companies that provide revenue generating services of a social inclusion nature. Many of these companies are also funded from other sources and generate revenue from the public use of their facilities and services. By increasing the CSP contribution to match the new minimum wage, the additional programme cost...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Applications (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the person concerned has been awarded a state pension (contributory), with effect from 9 December 2015, their 66th birthday. The Deciding Officer notified the person concerned of their decision, including details of arrears due, on 13 July 2016. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Eligibility (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Carer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has a disability such that they require that level of care. The Department periodically reviews claims in payment to ensure that there is continued entitlement and a recipient on a reduced rate may request a review if s/he believes they are...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Public Sector Staff Data (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I understand that the information on the number of staff who entered the civil service is being provided by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The following table outlines, for agencies under the aegis of my Department, the number of staff who entered the Public Service from 2011-2016: Year Pensions Authority Citizens Information Board 2011 10 2012 6 2013 1 2014 5 ...

Seanad: Tax and Social Welfare Codes: Motion (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Senator Butler, in particular, but I also thank all Senators for providing this opportunity to discuss the treatment of self-employed citizens under social insurance and income tax systems. I am encouraged by the fact that so many Senators turned up on a very sunny evening to speak on this very important issue. This is an issue with which I have been actively engaged since assuming...

Seanad: Tax and Social Welfare Codes: Motion (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: How many only received small or nominal payments, as Senators Kieran O'Donnell and Colm Burke mentioned? A self-employed person with a working spouse on a modest income may not meet the means test and, therefore, receive no benefit for any period, whereas an employee on becoming unemployed would have access to non-means-tested jobseeker's benefit for nine months. That seems unfair. The...