Results 19,541-19,560 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Illness Benefit Appeals (27 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 27thJuly 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Payments (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: A person who is entitled to a Carer’s Allowance (CA) on the first Thursday in June, is also entitled to oneCarer’s Support Grant (CSG) for each person they provide care to. However, the person concerned was paid two CSGs in respect of the same care recipient for 2012. Accordingly, they incurred an overpayment amounting to €1,700.00. The person concerned was notified of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Garda National Immigration Bureau card for the person concerned issued on 16/08/2016. As full Jobseeker’s Allowance has been in payment from 07/09/2016, arrears will issue to the person concerned covering the period 16/08/2016 to 06/09/2016. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Data (27 Sep 2016)

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 over 55,000 families with almost 123,000 children in receipt of FIS, an increase of over 70 per cent...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: According to the records of this Department the person concerned applied for a back to education allowance (BTE) and was refused as he was not in receipt of a Department of Social Protection payment. As the BTE is an administrative scheme, it is not subject to the appeal process but may be reviewed by a more senior officer in the Department. Arising from this parliamentary question the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The farm assist scheme provides support for farmers on low incomes. Farm assist recipients maintain the retention of secondary benefits and access to activation programmes. The 2016 Revised Estimates for my Department provide for expenditure of €85 million on the farm assist scheme. The Programme for Government contains the commitment to undertake a "Review of the Farm Assist...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Services Programme (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Community Services Programme (CSP) is one of a number of programmes and schemes operated by the Department. The CSP provides financial support to community companies that provide revenue generating services of a social inclusion nature. The provision of local social, economic and environmental services is the core aim of the CSP. Given the level of resources available and the number...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Payments (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned has been awarded Family Income supplement (FIS) effective from 22ndSeptember 2016 to 20thSeptember 2017. All FIS payments have issued to their nominated bank account.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Eligibility (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The fuel allowance is a payment of €22.50 per week for 26 weeks from October to April, to low income households, at an estimated cost of €224 million in 2016. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department received an application for Carer’s Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 23 May 2016. 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 supervision and frequent assistance throughout...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The objective of the back to education allowance (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. Administration of the BTEA by my Department is aligned with the student support schemes under the Department of Education and Skills. The BTEA is not intended to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Social Welfare Inspectors (SWIs) are appointed under Section 250 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended) and are required to investigate and report on customer’s claims. As part of their investigations, SWIs may need to make un-notified home inspections. Such visits to a customer’s home are an operational control measure and it is solely at the discretion of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of un-notified home inspections undertaken in each year since 2010 is not available in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of un-notified home inspections for One-Parent Family Payment claims undertaken in each year since 2010 is not available in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of un-notified home inspections for Jobseeker’s Allowance claims undertaken in each year since 2010 is not available in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The total travel and subsistence costs incurred by my Department for the period 2011 to 23 September, 2016 are outlined in the following table. 2011 (€000) 2012 (€000) 2013 (€000) 2014 (€000) 2015 (€000) up to 23 September 2016 (€000) Travel and Subsistence 3,110 5,088 4,897 4,453 4,283 2,908Staff in my Department are paid travel and subsistence...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Data Protection (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Department has a dedicated unit, the Business Information Security Unit, which oversees information security and data protection compliance across the Department.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Reduced rates for younger jobseeker’s allowance recipients were first introduced in 2009 and Budget 2014 further extended the reduced rates to recipients under 26 years of age. If a young jobseeker in receipt of the reduced jobseeker’s allowance rate participates on an education or training programme they will receive a higher weekly payment of €160. The 2016...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobPath Implementation (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 402 to 404, inclusive, together. JobPath is an employment activation service which supports people who are long-term unemployed to secure and sustain full-time paid employment. Two companies, Turas Nua Limited and Seetec Limited, have been contracted to provide the service on behalf of my Department. The JobPath contracts provide that a person should...