Results 20,741-20,760 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Payments (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Carer’s allowance was awarded to the person concerned on 18 July 2016 and the first payment issued to her nominated bank account on 21 July 2016. Arrears of allowance due from 19 May 2016 to 20 July 2016 have also issued. The person concerned was notified of these details on 18 July 2016. Carer’s allowance is not a qualifying payment for the Fuel Allowance. However, the Fuel...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: An application for carer's allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 19 November 2015. 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: Bereavement Grant (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: In recent Budgets the Department has protected primary social welfare rates. Abolishing the bereavement grant provided a significant annual saving. This allowed the Department to protect other social welfare payments such as the State pension. There are a range of supports available for people following bereavement which provide more significant support than the grant. These include a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Payments (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned was first awarded Family Income Supplement (FIS) on the 2ndOctober 2014 and they have been in receipt of a weekly FIS payment since that date. Each year customers must forward a completed renewal application form and in this case, the person concerned was issued a renewal form on the 20thJuly 2016 but to date, this form has not been returned. When the completed...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 19 July 2016. Unfortunately, there are currently delays in the processing of new applications.Additional resources have been provided to the CA section in order to improve the waiting times for new applications and they are working hard to make this happen. Frequently, delays...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Illness Benefit Appeals (27 Sep 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 27thJuly 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 Allowance Payments (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: A person who is entitled to a Carer’s Allowance (CA) on the first Thursday in June, is also entitled to oneCarer’s Support Grant (CSG) for each person they provide care to. However, the person concerned was paid two CSGs in respect of the same care recipient for 2012. Accordingly, they incurred an overpayment amounting to €1,700.00. The person concerned was notified of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Garda National Immigration Bureau card for the person concerned issued on 16/08/2016. As full Jobseeker’s Allowance has been in payment from 07/09/2016, arrears will issue to the person concerned covering the period 16/08/2016 to 06/09/2016. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Data (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Family Income Supplement (FIS) is an in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. FIS is designed to prevent in-work poverty for low paid workers with child dependants and to offer a financial incentive to take-up employment. There are over 55,000 families with almost 123,000 children in receipt of FIS, an increase of over 70 per cent...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: According to the records of this Department the person concerned applied for a back to education allowance (BTE) and was refused as he was not in receipt of a Department of Social Protection payment. As the BTE is an administrative scheme, it is not subject to the appeal process but may be reviewed by a more senior officer in the Department. Arising from this parliamentary question the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The farm assist scheme provides support for farmers on low incomes. Farm assist recipients maintain 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. The Programme for Government contains the commitment to undertake a "Review of the Farm Assist...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Services Programme (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Community Services Programme (CSP) is one of a number of programmes and schemes operated by the Department. The CSP provides financial support to community companies that provide revenue generating services of a social inclusion nature. The provision of local social, economic and environmental services is the core aim of the CSP. Given the level of resources available and the number...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Payments (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned has been awarded Family Income supplement (FIS) effective from 22ndSeptember 2016 to 20thSeptember 2017. All FIS payments have issued to their nominated bank account.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Eligibility (27 Sep 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department received an application for Carer’s Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 23 May 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The objective of the back to education allowance (BTEA) is to assist those who are distant from the labour market to acquire the necessary education to improve their chances of becoming independent of the social welfare system. Administration of the BTEA by my Department is aligned with the student support schemes under the Department of Education and Skills. The BTEA is not intended to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Social Welfare Inspectors (SWIs) are appointed under Section 250 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended) and are required to investigate and report on customer’s claims. As part of their investigations, SWIs may need to make un-notified home inspections. Such visits to a customer’s home are an operational control measure and it is solely at the discretion of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of un-notified home inspections undertaken in each year since 2010 is not available in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of un-notified home inspections for One-Parent Family Payment claims undertaken in each year since 2010 is not available in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (27 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of un-notified home inspections for Jobseeker’s Allowance claims undertaken in each year since 2010 is not available in my Department.