Results 19,501-19,520 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 29 August 2016 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: Illness Benefit Applications (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: In accordance with Social Welfare Regulations a claim to Illness Benefit should be made within six months of the commencement of the incapacity. If a claim is made outside this period it can only be considered for payment where the delay in claiming was due to either information received from my Department or the claimant being so incapacitated as to be unable to claim in time. The...

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

Leo Varadkar: An application for carer's allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 3 June 2016. 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. A person can be considered to be providing full-time care and attention where they are engaged self-employment...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned can obtain his Personal Public Service (PPS) Number by calling to the Department’s Local Office at Park Court, Beech Road, Killarney. Once his identity has been verified, he will be provided with his PPS Number. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. Please do contact my Parliamentary Adviser in my office if you require further assistance with this query.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Administration (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: My department makes electronic payments through its banking services provider and the Single European Payment Area (SEPA) system. The department can make payments to any SEPA reachable account within the European Economic Area. SEPA accounts must have an International Bank Account Number (IBAN) and be directly or indirectly linked to the SEPA system. Currently 185 Credit Unions are able to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Appointments to State Boards (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of my Department are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council, the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a Board) and the Social Welfare Tribunal. Appointments to the boards of these bodies are made in accordance with the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards, published in November 2014. The information...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme Data (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of school clothing and footwear when children start school each autumn. The Government has provided €38.8 million for the scheme in 2016. Similar to arrangements in previous years, the majority of BSCFA payments to just over 108,000 families...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Waiting Times (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested (where available) by the deputy is detailed in the following table: Social Welfare claims by average waiting times 31 August 2016 Scheme Average Waiting Time (weeks) Jobseeker's Benefit 1 Jobseeker's Allowance 2 One-Parent Family Payment 5 State Pension Contributory (Dom) 8 Widow’s, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The State pension (contributory) SPC is a very valuable benefit and is the bedrock of the Irish pension system. Therefore, it is important to ensure that those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund over their working lives. To ensure that the individual can maximise their entitlement to a State pension, all contributions paid or credited over their...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Reports (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The report to which the Deputy refers was commissioned at the request of my Department through the Irish Research Council (IRC) in 2014. The theme, suggested by my Department, was; how best to engage and support lone parents from an activation perspective. Following the IRC tender process a proposal put forward by Dr Michelle Millar of NUI Galway was chosen by the IRC. The topic of Dr....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Unemployment Data (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: In July 2016, the EU28 average harmonised unemployment rate for the age group 15 to 24 was 18.8% while Ireland’s youth unemployment rate was 17.7%. Ireland’s youth unemployment rate has been below the EU28 average every month since December 2015. Ireland’s youth unemployment fell in August 2016 to 17.1%; the EU28 average for August 2016 is not yet available from Eurostat....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes Data (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The following table provides details of the average number of recipients getting a payment each week on Jobseeker’s Allowance, One Parent Family Payment and Family Income Supplement for 2015 and for 2016 up to end of August: 2015 outturn 2016 YTD end Aug 2016 Jobseeker's Allowance expenditure (€'000) 2,742,509 1,674,371 average number receiving a payment each week...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Expenditure (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The State pension (contributory) is a very valuable benefit and is the bedrock of the Irish pension system. Therefore, it is important to ensure that those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund over their working lives. To ensure that the individual can maximise their entitlement to a State pension, all contributions paid or credited over their working...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Budget 2017 (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Programme for Government contains a number of commitments on social protection. These include increasing pensions and the living alone allowance, protecting Free Travel for pensioners and people with disabilities, and supports a rate increase for people with disabilities and for carers. A review of the farm assist scheme has been carried out. The Programme also outlines the...

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

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned is currently in receipt of disability allowance (DA). The department was informed that he went to Poland on 27 June 2016 and returned on 2 September 2016. On an administrative basis, DA allows for two/three weeks holiday entitlement in any twelve month period. In all circumstances, DA recipients must inform the department that they are intending to leave the state...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Act Employment Targets (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The role of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is to ensure that workplaces are safe, employment rights are appropriate and respected, harmonious industrial relations are promoted and any disputes or breaches are handled efficiently and effectively. My Department has a more limited role in relation to improving workplace diversity but it does provide a wide range of work...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Local Drugs Task Forces (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: My Department is very committed to the ongoing support and implementation of the National Drugs Strategy (NDS). This is evidenced by the continued engagement of my officials with a number of national groups and committees, including the Oversight Forum on Drugs; the National Drugs Strategy Steering Group, the Focus Group on Continuum of Care and the National Coordinating Committee for Drugs...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Offices (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: An open recruitment process to fill the position of Branch Manager in Macroom will be commencing shortly and advertisements will be place in local and national newspapers in the next couple of weeks. Each applicant will be required to submit details of the proposed premises where they will provide the agreed services for the Department at a suitable accessible and central location in the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The over 80 allowance is an increase of €10 per week on the basic pension rate, which is automatically awarded to qualified pensioners on attaining 80 years of age. Only one such allowance is payable in respect of each pension. An Increase for a Qualified Adult (IQA) is paid, generally, where a pensioner has an adult dependent (e.g., a spouse who is financially dependent upon them),...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare Appeals Office received an appeal against the decision on 15/09/2016. The person concerned will be notified of the decision in due course. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.