Results 19,981-20,000 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report Stage (24 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: That is a very good point which has been well made. Like everyone I want to see more up-to-date statistics. They will always be a bit out of date. The year ends on 31 December and the statistics will always be a quarter or two quarters in arrears. We would like to see more up-to-date numbers in order to make decisions based on them. The amendment does not provide for that and simply...

Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report Stage (24 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I do not propose to accept the amendment which calls for an annual analysis of child poverty rates and a report thereon to be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and issued to the Joint Committee on Social Protection. There is already independent annual reporting of child poverty rates through the CSO in the survey on income and living conditions, SILC. The survey is carried out as...

Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report Stage (24 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I move amendment No. 2:In page 8, to delete lines 1 to 7.

Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report Stage (24 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I move amendment No. 3:In page 8, to delete lines 8 to 13.

Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report Stage (24 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I have nothing further to add.

Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report Stage (24 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I very much take the points on board. If a detailed report is to be produced at all on the changes made over the years to the one-parent family payment, it might as well be produced sooner rather than later. We might as well have it in good time, well before the next summer recess, so we can all consider it. I would rather have it produced also. The difficulty I have is the advice from my...

Social Welfare Bill 2016: Order for Report Stage (24 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report Stage (24 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I move amendment No. 1:In page 7, after line 33, to insert the following: "Report on one-parent family payment changes 12. The Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following section after section 178E:"178F.(1)The Minister shall, not later than 3 months after the passing of the Act of 2016, cause to be prepared a report on the financial and social effects of the amendments to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Eligibility (24 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: In order to qualify for family income supplement (FIS), the applicant must be engaged in full-time remunerative employment as an employee for at least 38 hours per fortnight (19 hours per week). An application for FIS was received from the lady concerned on 25thOctober 2016 but was disallowed on the grounds that she is not working the required number of hours. A letter was issued to the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Payments (24 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Further to my response to PQ 191 of 10 November 2016, I am taking it that the period in question referred to in this question is the period for which the person concerned was overpaid supplementary welfare allowance. That period is 5 August 2010 to 21 November 2011. The lady in question was paid carer's allowance at the weekly rate of €301.40 during this period. This was the maximum...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (24 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person in question does not have a recent or current claim with the Department. He should, accordingly, contact his local Intreo Centre or Citizens Information Centre in Blanchardstown whereupon appropriate advice can be given to him in light of his prevailing domestic, personal and financial circumstances. I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Programmes (24 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: While systemised data are not readily available on employment outcomes on all programmes, some indicative figures are available. For example: - The evaluation of JobBridge by Indecon (report published October 2016), shows on the basis of self-reported survey results that 64.2% of interns were currently in employment at the time of the survey. Overall, individuals similar to those who...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Programmes (24 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Given the need to manage the allocation of places effectively, the Department does not, in general, facilitate or encourage jobseekers to transfer from or leave one activation support scheme to take up a place on another activation support scheme. While systematic data are not readily available on activation programme participants who subsequently move to another activation programme, some...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Agencies Staff Data (24 Nov 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. Currently, there are no vacancies on the boards of these statutory bodies. I have made 8 board appointments, all of which were to the Citizens Information Board,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (24 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: In assessing means for social assistance payments, account is taken of the income and the value of property of the claimant and his or her spouse/partner, where applicable. Social welfare legislation provides that the yearly value of property, including capital, owned but not personally used or enjoyed is assessable for means-testing purposes. Such property includes all monies held in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme (24 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The farm assist scheme provides support for farmers on low incomes and recipients retain the advantages of the jobseeker’s allowance scheme such as 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. Budget 2017 introduces new measures in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance (24 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: When the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme was introduced in 1977, replacing the public assistance scheme, it was proposed that the public assistance footwear scheme would continue within the general context of the SWA scheme. From 1977 to 1990 child clothing and footwear payments were made under the exceptional needs payment (ENP) scheme. The back to school clothing and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pensions Reform (24 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Social Protection, I have previously indicated that the development of a new, universal, workplace retirement saving system for those workers without supplementary pensions will be a priority area of policy reform. This development of such a system is consistent with the key recommendation contained in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (24 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned was awarded on 9 November 2016 and the first payment issued to her nominated bank account on 17 November 2016 together with arrears of allowance from 27 October 2016. The person concerned was notified of these details on 9 November 2016. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Eligibility (24 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Two payments of financial assistance towards funeral expenses were awarded and paid on 3 and 13 October 2016 respectively, amounting to €2,500. A review of this case has been undertaken on foot of this PQ and a further, final payment of €500 was issued to the next of kin on 22 November 2016. This is the maximum amount payable in respect of funeral expenses. I hope this...