Results 20,521-20,540 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (11 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The purpose of Tús is to provide short-term work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than one year. Tús breaks the cycle of unemployment and improves a person’s chances of returning to the labour market. Currently, there are no circumstances under which a person’s term on Tús can be extended beyond one year. The Tús budget for 2016...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Programme for Government Initiatives (11 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce a ‘Working Family Payment’ targeted at low-income families. My Department is currently developing proposals for the new payment. In doing so, we will be guided by two principles. First, that it should ensure that work pays more than welfare and that no family is better off on welfare than at work, and second,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (11 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 provided that State pension age will be increased gradually to 68 years. This began in January 2014 with the abolition of the State pension (transition), thereby standardising State pension age for all at 66 years, which is the current State pension age. This will increase to 67 in 2021 and 68 in 2028. The changes introduced in 2011 were on foot of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Work Allowance Applications (11 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: According to the records of this Department, the person concerned has met with a case officer on two occasions in relation to a back to work enterprise allowance. The person concerned can make an appointment to meet with a new case officer by contacting the employment services reception in Maynooth. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Payments (11 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: Social Insurance Payments (11 Oct 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: Social Welfare Appeals Delays (11 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 11 July 2016. The Appeals Officer requested additional documentation from the Records Section in the Department of Social Protection. This documentation has now been received and the Appeals Officer will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Administration (11 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Carthanach Community Employment (CE) scheme is due to amalgamate with TASN CE Scheme on 31 October 2016. The transfer of duties will commence then. When Carthanach CE Scheme ceases operation, all CE approved places including the supervisor and assistant supervisor positions will become part of TASN CE Scheme. The matter of redundancy does not arise in this case as the position remains in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (11 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Carer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has a disability such that they require that level of care. Where entitlement cannot be determined based on the information submitted with an application, it is referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) to assess the level of care being...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (11 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 22 September 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (11 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The student universal support Ireland (SUSI) grant - payable by the Department of Education and Skills - represents the primary support for persons pursuing education. The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) enables social welfare customers to pursue full-time education courses and to continue to receive income support. It replaces the customer’s qualifying payment and reflects...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (11 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer has completed a review of his original decision to disallow the appeal of the person concerned in light of additional evidence submitted and as a result, has decided to allow the appeal. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Benefit Payments (11 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned has been in receipt of Carer's Benefit (CARB) from 24 February 2015 to 4 August 2016 and applied for an extension to her claim. The extension was granted to the person concerned on 5 October 2016 and the first payment will issue to her nominated bank account on 13 October 2016. Arrears of benefit due from 4 August 2016 to 12 October 2016 will also issue on that date. The...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Widow's Pension (11 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned is in receipt of the maximum rate of widow(er)’s or surviving civil partner’s contributory pension payable to a person aged under 66. The person is also in receipt of electricity allowance and free television licence, under the Department’s household benefits scheme. The person concerned applied for an increase for living alone, which was...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Health and Safety Regulations (11 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of Social Protection has a Safety Statement that is up-dated annually. The current statement was signed by the Secretary General on 19 January 2016. This statement is available on the Departments intranet and is available for all staff to see. The Department has a National Health & Safety Committee which is a sub Committee of Departmental Council. The Committee is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Data (11 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council, the Pensions Ombudsman and the Social Welfare Tribunal. Both the Pensions Council and the Social Welfare Tribunal have no employees. No employees of the agencies outlined above were given gifts or hospitality to attend...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Services Programme (11 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: As you will be aware the community services programme (CSP) provides financial support to community companies that provide revenue generating services of a social inclusion nature. The CSP works on a social-enterprise model. This means that it does not fully fund contract holders but requires that they generate revenue by charging fees or raising funds. All CSP recipients are obliged to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit Payments (11 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 7 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 Payments (11 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Carer's Benefit is awarded to the person concerned for the period 19 March 2015 to 15 March 2017. An application for an increase for 2 qualified children was received on 25 July 2016 and has been awarded on 7 October 2016 and the first payment will issue to her nominated bank account 20 October 2016. Arrears of allowance due in the period from 19 March 2015 to 19 October 2016 will also issue...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance (11 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Self-employed workers, including farmers, are liable to pay PRSI at the class S rate of 4%, subject to a minimum annual payment of €500, where their annual income exceeds €5,000. Class S contributors are entitled to a range of long-term payments including State pension (contributory), based on their own PRSI contribution record while working. Entitlement to benefits cannot be...