Results 20,301-20,320 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Welfare Services Staff (8 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The terms and conditions under which former Community Welfare staff transferred from the HSE to the Department of Social Protection, provided for the retention of the Gaeltacht allowance on a personal basis. The allowance is considered as part of pay for pension purposes.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Remuneration (8 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: In line with Labour Court recommendations LCR 20116, LCR 20117 and LCR 20116, the Community Welfare Officers (CWOs) transferred to the Department of Social Protection on the principle that their existing terms and conditions of employment would neither improve nor diminish by reason of the transfer. During the course of the negotiations of the Public Service Stability Agreement...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (8 Nov 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: State Pension (Contributory) Applications (8 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: An application by the person concerned for state pension (contributory) was received on 16 September 2009. The person did not indicate in his application form that he had been self- employed, nor did his social insurance record contain any self-employment contributions. Based on the person’s record as it stood, he satisfied the state pension (contributory) eligibility conditions and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (8 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The fuel allowance is a payment of €22.50 per week for 26 weeks from October to April, to approximately 376,000 low income households. 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. It is not intended to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (8 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: An application for carer's allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 29 January 2016. The application was disallowed on 2 June 2016. The person concerned appealed this decision and the case was submitted to the Social Welfare Appeals office for determination on 22 August 2016. An appeals officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence has allowed the appeal...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Data (8 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme currently supporting some 49,700 recipients for which the Government has provided €267 million for in 2016. The detailed data requested by the Deputy is published annually by my Department in the “Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services” report. The reports for years 2005 to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (8 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on 28 September 2016. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times (8 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible. The figures you request for each scheme, as at 30 September 2016, are shown in the table below. Scheme Awaiting Decision Average weeks to award Carer's Allowance 4,146 14 Child Benefit...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times (8 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible. The average waiting time for new carer's allowance (CA) applications at the end of September was 14 weeks. This is a significant reduction in CA processing from 22 weeks at the end of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Payments (8 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Following a review of the farm assist claim of the person concerned by the Department his means were assessed at €175 per week based on his 2015 accounts. The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned together with the relevant Departmental papers were received by that office on 14 October 2015 and that the case will be referred to an Appeals...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Strategy Statements (8 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of Social Protection has prepared a Statement of Strategy 2016-2019 which will be published when finalised. The draft Statement of Strategy takes account of the views submitted though the consultation process and is fully aligned with the commitments in the Programme for a Partnership Government and broader Government policy. As in the previous Statement of Strategy 2015...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Offices (8 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned has been contacted and advised that she may attend the Newbridge Intreo Office on any Monday or Thursday; no appointment is necessary. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (8 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 232 to 234, inclusive, together. The information sought by the Deputy is outlined in the following tables: Table 1: Effective dates of operation of increases in weekly rates of payment, 2017 Date Increases in weekly rates of payment 8 March -Jobseeker’s Allowance (other than Jobseeker’s Transition payment) -Pre-retirement allowance -Farm...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (8 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 235 and 236 together. Social Assistance payments act as a safety net for people who have insufficient income and who do not qualify for a contributory payment. The use of a means test is to ensure that scarce resources are directed to those in greatest need. Payments from the United Kingdom (UK) are assessed as income under current legislation. In...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (8 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: In assessing means for social assistance payments, account is taken of the income and the value of property, including capital, of the claimant and his or her spouse/partner. 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: Personal Micro Credit Scheme (8 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 239 together. A Personal Micro Credit Scheme providing for small scale loans by Credit Unions to borrowers who have difficulty accessing low cost credit has been piloted in 30 credit unions. The loans under the scheme range from €100 to a maximum of €2,000, and have a maximum interest rate of 12% per annum. Over 1,200 loans were drawn...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement (3 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Department currently has 56,163 customers in receipt of Family Income Supplement (FIS). I would like to outline to the Deputy that the Family Income Supplement (FIS) payment is a weekly payment for families at work on low pay. As the Family Income Supplement is an in-work payment the department considers that payment through an account in a financial institution better facilitates those...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Work Family Dividend Scheme Administration (3 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: As outlined in my previous response to an earlier question from the Deputy, unfortunately there is no provision for the back to work family dividend (BTWFD) scheme to be paid to customers via the post office. It is important to note that my Department facilitates customers to have their social welfare payments made via the post office. This is subject to overall control requirements. Under...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (3 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 94 together. Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme currently supporting some 49,700 recipients for which the Government has provided €267 million for in 2016. Rent supplement is subject to a means test that is normally calculated to ensure that a person, after the payment of their rent,...