Results 19,941-19,960 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Eligibility (25 Oct 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. It was paid to 390,958 recipients in 2015. The estimated cost of the scheme in 2016 is €224 million. 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....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance (25 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme is considered the "safety net" within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. The main purpose of the scheme is to provide immediate and flexible assistance for those in need who do not qualify for payment...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (25 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 24thAugust 2016. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Services Programme (25 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 326 and 327 together. At present, there are 6 community employment (CE) participants in place to support the operation of the Michael Davitt Museum. There was no other direct funding from my Department to the Michael Davitt Museum in the past twelve months. A proposal was made by the Michael Davitt Museum for funding under the Community Services...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (25 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of the number of applicants for welfare payments disallowed on the basis of the habitual residence condition each year since its introduction, broken down into Irish citizens, EU/EEA citizens and third country nationals is not available in my Department. I have been informed that between 2005 and 2015 there has been a total of 50,961 claims...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Ministerial Functions (25 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The statutory responsibilities delegated to Minister of State Finian McGrath, T.D., are set out in the Social Protection (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2016 (S.I. No. 326 of 2016). The Order of delegated responsibility was signed by An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, T.D., on 21stJune 2016. These statutory responsibilities relate to the Invalidity Pension, Partial Capacity Benefit,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Administration (25 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: According to this department, all payments due to the client concerned have been paid. An uncashed payment which issued on 28/07/16 was stopped by the departments' accounts section and reissued on the 29/08/16 directly to the client at the address he requested. I hope this clarifies the matter for the deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Applications (25 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned applied for Farm Assist on 19thSeptember 2016. The file of the person concerned has been sent to a Social Welfare Inspector for investigation and they will make contact with the person in question next week. A decision will be made as soon as possible and the person in question will be notified of the outcome. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Payments (25 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Self-employed persons, including self-employed tradesmen, who earn €5,000 or more in a contribution year, are liable for PRSI at the Class S rate of 4%, subject to a minimum annual payment of €500. This provides them with access to the following benefits: State pension (contributory) and Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Pension (contributory), Guardian's Payment...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (25 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The State pension (contributory) is one of the State pension schemes, and its rate of payment is related to contributions made over years into the Social Insurance Fund. As such, those with a stronger attachment to the workforce, who have paid more into that fund, are more likely to be paid under that scheme. There are a number of criteria which must be satisfied in order to qualify for a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (26 Oct 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 17thOctober 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: Community Employment Schemes Data (26 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 85 together. The Community Employment (CE) Childcare Programme provides an opportunity for jobseekers to gain qualifications and work experience in the childcare sector as well as making an important contribution to community-based early childhood services. The FETAC Major 5 Award is the entry level requirement to work as a basic practitioner in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Work Allowance Payments (26 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The back to work family dividend (BTWFD) scheme is an in-work payment. Payment by electronic fund transfer (EFT) into a bank account was chosen as the appropriate payment method for the scheme. There is no provision for it to be paid into a post office account. More generally, the Deputy should note however that customers of the Department can choose between payment at the post office or...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (26 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme currently supporting some 50,700 recipients for which the Government has provided €267 million for in 2016. Rent supplement is a statutory means tested scheme which is payable at differentiated rates of payment taking into account the applicant's means and their family's accommodation...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Data (26 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of the number of persons in receipt of Rent Supplement and in receipt of One Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker Transition Payment is detailed in the attached tabular statement. Recipients of Rent Supplement at the end of September 2016 also in receipt of One Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker Transition Payment One-Parent Family Payment...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Rates (26 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Scope section in the Department of Social Protection makes statutory decisions on insurability of employment under the Social Welfare Act. Employers, employees and the self-employed may apply to Scope 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 from a social welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Non-Contributory) Eligibility (26 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Entitlement to State Pension non-contributory is subject to a means test. Items which count as means include cash income, including foreign pensions, the value of any property (excluding a person's own home) and the value of any savings and investments which a person may have. All the necessary enquiries are almost finalised in this case and the person concerned will be notified of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (26 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Carer's Allowance (CA) is a social assistance payment made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a relevant person/persons and whose income falls below certain limits. The person concerned is currently in receipt of CA in respect of two care recipients, for whom she also receives domiciliary care allowance (DCA). Her earliest application for CA was awarded from 5 June...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (26 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The requirements for the allocation of a Personal Public Service (PPS) Number are acceptable evidence of identity, evidence as to why a PPS Number is required, and evidence of address. In addition, for persons under 16 years of age, evidence of the relationship between the child and responsible adult must be presented. In this case, no evidence of the requirement for the PPS Number or...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Applications (27 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. The department received a claim for IP for the lady concerned on the 13 May 2016. She was refused IP on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. She was...