Results 19,601-19,620 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Interest Supplement Scheme Applications (28 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: As previously outlined in reply to the Deputy’s earlier questions, No. 47257/14 on 9thNovember 2014 and No. 2076/15 on 15thJanuary 2015, the claim for Mortgage Interest Supplement in respect of the person concerned was disallowed on 23rdDecember 2011 and this decision was upheld by the Social Welfare Appeals Office in an appeal decision issued on 27 July, 2012. There is no recourse to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Eligibility (28 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: On the 27/04/16 an application for an exceptional needs payment in relation to a full central heating installation was submitted by the person concerned and refused taking into account her particular circumstances. The decision of the officer in this case was upheld by a review officer. The person concerned however did receive a payment in relation to hot water system repairs on 20/06/16. I...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Fund (28 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Social Protection, I am required under legislation to carry out actuarial reviews of the financial position of the Social Insurance Fund “for the purpose of determining the extent to which the Fund may be expected, in the long term, to meet the demands in respect of payment of benefits and other payments, having regard, in particular, to the adequacy or otherwise of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Payments (28 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned has been awarded disability allowance with effect from 6 April 2016. The first payment will be made by his selected payment method on 5 October 2016. Arrears of payment due will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments or in respect of outstanding overpayments (if applicable).

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance (28 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The role of Scope section in the Department of Social Protection is to make statutory decisions on insurability of employment under the Social Welfare Act. Employers, employees and the self-employed may apply to Scope section for an investigation of an employment status and a determination of the correct class of PRSI. Scope decisions are based on all available evidence, including a report...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rural Social Scheme Administration (28 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Rural Social Scheme (RSS) provides income support for farmers and fishermen who have an entitlement to specified social welfare payments. Eligibility for the scheme is on the basis that the participant is underemployed in their primary activity, either farming or fishing, and that their earnings are insufficient to support their family circumstances. The scheme currently provides work...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (28 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Eligibility for the Dental Benefit scheme is based on a person’s PRSI record. To qualify in 2016, a customer must have: 1. At least 260 Class A/E/H/P PRSI contributions paid since first starting work, and 2. At least 39 such contributions paid or credited in 2014. According to our records, the person in question does not have the 260 paid contributions necessary, and the last paid...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (28 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the above named person on 22 August 2016. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. The processing time for individual disability allowance claims may vary in accordance with...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (29 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Christmas Bonus was abolished in 2009. It was partially reintroduced in 2014 with a 25% Bonus payment. A 75% Bonus was paid in December 2015 to some 1.2 million long-term social welfare recipients such as pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and the long-term unemployed at a cost of €197 million. There is no provision in 2016 Revised Estimates for the payment of a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Expenditure (29 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Christmas Bonus was abolished in 2009. It was partially reintroduced in 2014 with a 25% Bonus payment. A 75% Bonus was paid in December 2015 to some 1.2 million long-term social welfare recipients such as pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and the long-term unemployed at a cost of €197 million. There is no provision in 2016 Revised Estimates for the payment of a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (29 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: According to the Department’s records, the person concerned will reach state pension age, 67, in 2026. It is not possible to predict at this time what the person’s future state pension (contributory) entitlement will be. Pension entitlement can only be assessed on the basis of the eligibility conditions applicable on the date an individual reaches pension age. The first date...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Eligibility (29 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department received an application for Carer’s Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 31 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: Local Employment Service (29 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 151 to 153, inclusive, together. Ireland’s Public Employment Service (PES) is managed by my Department and delivered directly by its own Intreo service as well as by contracted private companies i.e. the JobPath companies, the Local Employment Service (LES) and Job Clubs. The Local Employment Service engages primarily with long-term unemployed...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (29 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 15 June 2016. The application is current in processed and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. In the meantime, if the means of the person concerned are insufficient to meet his needs he should apply for a means-tested supplementary welfare allowance...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Places (29 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned has been participating on a Tús scheme since November 2016. Tús placements are for one year only and cannot be renewed or extended. There is, however, a facility whereby Tús participants can be referred by a Case Officer to transfer to Community Employment. If the person concerned is interested in availing of this option, he should make contact with our...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (29 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 24 June 2016. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers have been received in the Social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (29 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 30 August 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,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (29 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The application of the person concerned will be reviewed as soon as possible in accordance with the Department’s guidelines and she will be contacted upon completion of this review. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (29 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned was in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) in 2015 when she completed a course at FETAC level 5. This year she applied for BTEA in respect of another FETAC level 5 programme. This application was refused as it is not considered progression in accordance with the guidelines for BTEA. The application was also reviewed by a case officer to determine if the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (29 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The client concerned has been requested to provide an up to date lease agreement confirming rent increase to €1200 per month and payslips outlining his daughter’s current income from employment. The Deputy will also be aware that the Department has been in contact with representatives from his Constituency Office in relation to outstanding documentation required from the client...