Results 20,341-20,360 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Unemployment Measures (2 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Government’s primary strategy to tackle youth unemployment is to create the right environment for a strong economic recovery through effective policies. In doing so it is hoped to promote competitiveness and productivity. The success of this approach has been reflected in strong growth in the economy since 2012, accompanied by rising employment and falling unemployment. In...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Applications (2 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The purpose of the fuel allowance scheme is to assist people in need of financial support to meet their heating needs. Eligibility to the fuel allowance scheme is subject to a household means test and other qualifying conditions, such as household composition. With regard to means, a person may have a combined household income of up to €100.00 per week over and above the maximum...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals (2 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned named dwelling arrangements/living arrangements prior to declaring his residence at his current address and these have already been investigated by officials in Kildare. As a result of this investigation his claim for jobseekers allowance was disallowed in July 2015. He subsequently appealed this decision to the independent Appeals Office and the Department’s...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (2 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The State pension contributory is a very valuable benefit and is the bedrock of the Irish pension system. Therefore, it is important to ensure that those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund over their working lives. To ensure that the individual can maximise their entitlement to a State pension, all contributions paid or credited over their working...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (2 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The State pension contributory is a very valuable benefit and is the bedrock of the Irish pension system. Therefore, it is important to ensure that those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund over their working lives. To ensure that the individual can maximise their entitlement to a State pension, all contributions paid or credited over their working...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Appeals (2 Nov 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 5 October 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 Benefit Applications (2 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 16 September 2016. Further information was requested from her on 1 November 2016. Once received the application will be processed and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. In the meantime, the person concerned is in receipt of a weekly social welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Payments (2 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned was in receipt of carer’s allowance (CA) from 22 May 2014 to 26 August 2015 in respect of two care recipients, at the maximum weekly rate. On 20 August 2015, the person concerned withdrew her claim to CA in writing in Mullingar Intreo, on the grounds that she would no longer be providing care from 21 August 2015. The person concerned was notified on 24 August 2015...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (2 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 21 September 2016. Additional information was requested from the person concerned on 21 October 2016. Once the information is received the application will be processed without delay and she will be notified directly of the outcome. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Payments (2 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: An application for carer's allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 3 December 2015. As a result of an appeals officer’s decision, CA was awarded to the person concerned on 28 October 2016 and the first payment will issue to her nominated bank account on 3 November 2016. Arrears for the period 5 November 2015 to 2 November 2016 issue shortly. The person concerned was...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Payments (2 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned had their FIS claim renewed in March 2016. When this claim was reviewed, it was brought to our attention that the person concerned was absent from the state between 15 October 2015 to 15 November 2015 and 8 December 2015 to 2 February 2016. As a consequence, FIS would not be payable during these periods. The person concerned was given an opportunity to provide travel...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (2 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Under the new Private Rental Tenancies Legislation a landlord must give a minimum of 90 days written notice prior to increasing a tenant’s rent. The client concerned should submit to the Department an up to date Rent Supplement application, lease agreement and verification of 90 day notice confirming any increase in their monthly rent. On receipt of this documentation the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Wage Subsidy Scheme (2 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The wage subsidy scheme (WSS), formally launched in 2005, was one of the employment support schemes for people with disabilities that transferred to the Department of Social Protection in 2012. The scheme is aimed at employers with a view to incentivising the employment of people with disabilities in the open labour market. The WSS is payable where the employee works a minimum of 21 hours...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Eligibility (2 Nov 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: Family Income Supplement Appeals (2 Nov 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: JobsPlus Scheme (2 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: JobsPlus provides a direct financial incentive for employers to recruit employees who are long term on the live register, or those transitioning into employment. It provides employers with two levels of payment - €7,500 and €10,000. The €7,500 is paid primarily to those who are 12 months or more on the live register with the higher grant is paid in respect of those who...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (2 Nov 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. In the determination of this appeal, the Appeals Officer concluded that the assessment of means of the person concerned by the Department was correct. The means are based on...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Contracts (2 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: JobPath is an employment activation service that supports people who are long-term unemployed (over 12 months) and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. A public procurement process was conducted in accordance with EU and Irish procurement rules. A Prior Information Notice (PIN) and a request for tenders (RFT) were published on both...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Legal Costs (2 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Given the detail required it is not possible to provide the information within the required timeframe. The information requested is being compiled by my officials and will be sent to the Deputy when finalised.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Benefit Applications (2 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s benefit (CARB) from the person concerned on 21 June 2016. The person concerned is in receipt of widow’s contributory pension (WCP). Under social welfare legislation, CARB and WCP cannot be paid concurrently. However, a recipient of WCP can qualify for carer’s allowance (CA) at half-rate and retain their...