Results 20,641-20,660 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Data (6 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The rent supplement scheme is currently supporting some 50,700 recipients for which the Government has provided €267 million for in 2016. Under the legislative provisions governing rent supplement, the Department’s relationship is with the tenant and there is no direct relationship between the landlord and the Department in the administration of the scheme. The most recent...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Payments (6 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: At the time of the Carrickmines tragedy, this Department ensured continuity of income to the surviving families concerned. The Department ensured that those customers affected received financial assistance with unforeseen and exceptional expenses arising from the tragedy. The Department assisted towards the provision of clothing/household items and also assisted with funeral expenses. The...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (6 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: An application for carer's allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 26 April 2016. It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have a disability whose effect is that they require full-time care and attention. This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (6 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 17thAugust 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: Child Support Payments (6 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The support payments provided for children with disabilities, including domiciliary care allowance and Carers Allowance are routinely reviewed in a budget context, within the constraints of competing priorities and available resources. Indeed, one such payment, the Carers Support Grant, was recently increased to €1700 per annum per child. My colleague, Simon Harris, Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (6 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: As a result of Budget 2016 all Social welfare payments to recipients aged 66 and over were increased by €3 per week. This increase applied to State pensions, but also to Widows/Widowers/Surviving Civil Partners pension recipients aged 66 and over, Carer's Allowance recipients aged 66 and over and Incapacity Supplement recipients aged 66 and over. A widow/widower/surviving civil...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Waiting Times (6 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Processing times for all schemes are kept under constant review. My Department is committed to ensuring that claims are processed as expeditiously as possible. Operational processes, procedures and the organisation of work are continually reviewed to ensure that processing capability is maximised. In addition, the staffing needs of my Department are regularly reviewed, having regard to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Public Sector Staff Data (6 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The ‘marriage bar’ describes a rule that existed in most of the public service and some private sector employments, where women were required to leave their employment upon marriage. This practice was abolished in 1973 when Ireland joined the EEC. As employees in the public service generally paid a reduced rate of PRSI, which provided no cover for the State pension...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Unemployment Benefits Data (6 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of persons in receipt of unemployment benefit and jobseeker's allowance for 12 months and over in each of the past eight years is detailed in the table. Long-term Live Register registrants by scheme, 2008-2016 Year Jobseeker’s Allowance Change over previous year -Jobseeker’s Allowance Jobseeker’s Benefit...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Respite Care Grant (6 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: My Department continues to empower and support carers in their caring role through its payment of the Carer’s Support Grant (CSG) formerly known as the Respite Care Grant (RCG). The name was changed from the Respite Care Grant to the Carer’s Support Grant in Budget 2016 to ensure that carers are empowered to use the grant in a manner that suits their individual circumstances,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Delays (6 Oct 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 as compared to 22 week at the start of June. At the end of September, those on hand...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Delays (6 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The average appeal processing time for appeals determined in 2015 and to date in 2016 broken down by all social welfare scheme types is outlined in the tables. Significant effort and resources have been devoted to reforming the appeals process in recent years resulting in a marked improvement in overall appeal processing times. The average time taken to determine an appeal requiring an oral...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Unemployment Levels (6 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Government’s primary strategy to tackle long-term unemployment and youth unemployment is to create the environment for a strong economic recovery through effective policies. In doing so it is hoped to promote competitiveness and productivity. Reflecting the impact of government policy, and the overall improvement in the labour market, both long term unemployment and youth...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment (6 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: My Department estimates spending €500 million on the one-parent family payment scheme in 2016. The scheme supports almost 40,800 lone parents and over 73,500 children. In addition to this, my Department estimates spending €177 million on the jobseeker’s transitional payment scheme in 2016. The scheme supports almost 15,000 lone parents. The aim of the reforms to the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Funding (6 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has 2 agencies under its remit: 1. Citizens Information Board 2. Pensions Ombudsman In the case of the Citizens Information Board, funds are drawn down as required on a monthly basis over the course of the year based on projected expenditure, which is closely monitored by the Department. If the full allocation is not required in any given year, funds will not be drawn down and...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Free Travel Scheme Eligibility (5 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Senator for raising this innovative idea. I acknowledge the high cost of third level education for students which is attributable to travel and accommodation in addition to fees. Services for students and the adequacy, or otherwise, of their supports are matters for the Minister for Education and Skills. Transport is primarily a matter for the Minister for Transport, Tourism...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Free Travel Scheme Eligibility (5 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: This is an innovative and good idea. Of course I would be happy to engage with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Department of Education and Skills on any idea like this. Joined-up thinking is important in government. There are, of course, other good ideas also. Free travel for children is a good idea. When I was Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I was...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance (5 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The primary objectives of the illness and disability payments administered by my Department are to provide income support; promote social inclusion and provide supports to work. The various illness and disability payments provide income support for people, and their dependants, who cannot earn a living because of sickness and/or disability. These schemes also provide a range of supports...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Eligibility (5 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 at an estimated cost of €224 million in 2016. 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 meet those costs in full. Only one...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme (5 Oct 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Supports in relation to housing are a key priority for this Government, as evidenced by the early implementation of its commitment to introduce increased rent limits under the rent supplement and Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) schemes with increased limits introduced from 1 July 2016. The rent supplement scheme is supporting some 50,700 tenants at a cost of €267 million this year. ...