Results 20,841-20,860 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: A review of the decision to disallow Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) was requested on 16 November 2015 and the person concerned was notified on 5 February 2016 that following an examination of the file the original decision was upheld. The person concerned lodged an appeal on 1 March 2016. A further review was undertaken as part of the appeals process and the person concerned was...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The decision to refuse the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) application of the person concerned is correct and in line with the Department’s scheme rules which do not allow payment of BTEA for a degree course where the person concerned already holds a degree. The BTEA scheme is designed to support second chance education. It enables eligible persons to pursue approved education...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Paternity Leave Scheme (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The introduction of paternity leave and paternity benefit was originally announced as part of Budget 2016. At the time of the announcement, the Government gave a commitment that paternity leave and benefit would be introduced from September 2016. The Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016 states that paternity leave and benefit is available for births or adoptions, where these occur on or...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my Department received an application for Carer’s Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 28 January 2016 in respect of two care recipients. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Payments (16 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 Fuel Allowance. However, the person...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Operation (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Each community employment (CE) sponsor organisation is a legal entity with which the Department enters into an individual contract and, therefore, any formal negotiation about a scheme is with the sponsor. Officials of the Department have been working closely with the sponsors to which the Deputy’s question refers, to address the issues arising from expected closure of the scheme. ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: There are two types of schemes run by my Department – assistance schemes which are funded by the Exchequer, and benefit schemes, which are funded by the Social Insurance Fund through pay related social insurance contributions (PRSI). The 2016 Revised Estimates for my Department provide for expenditure of approximately €8.6 billion on benefit schemes. A person who applies...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payments (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: No application for Supplementary Welfare Allowance has been received to date from the person concerned regarding an Exceptional Needs Payment towards housing costs. In order to initiate an application, the person concerned should contact the Community Welfare Officer for their area at 087 9638588. I note that a Rent Supplement has been in payment since 6 June 2015. I trust this clarifies...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Tax Data (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The self-employed have been liable to pay Class S PRSI on rental income since the introduction of social insurance for the self-employed in 1988. Employees who also have unearned income, including rental income, pay PRSI on that unearned income, at the Class K rate of 4% since 2014. The Department of Social Protection does not receive data on the individual sources of self-employed or...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Tax Yield (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Currently, employers pay PRSI at the rate of 8.5% where weekly earnings are between €38 and €376. Once weekly earnings exceed €376, the rate of employer PRSI is 10.75%. The increase in the PRSI yield to the Social Insurance Fund from increasing the class A employer PRSI rates by 1%, 2% and 5%, is contained in the following table: Rate of Employer PRSI Increased Yield...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobPath Implementation (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 733 to 736, inclusive, together. JobPath is an employment activation service that supports people who are long-term unemployed and those most distant from the labour market to secure and sustain full-time paid employment. Two companies - Turas Nua Limited and Seetec Limited have been contracted to provide the service on behalf of my Department. The...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Contracts Data (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Office of Public Works (OPW) manages all accommodation leased by the Department of Social Protection and this role includes the payment of rent. 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. The information...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobs Initiative (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Gateway is a county and city council work scheme which aims to provide short-term, quality work opportunities to those who are unemployed for more than 24 months. Participants improve their employability and work readiness through work opportunities with structured environments where existing work skills can be put into practice. The 22 month duration of the Gateway contract ensures that...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: In the first instance, it should be noted that rulings of courts in other jurisdictions, such as the United Kingdom, regarding their domestic legislation, do not impact upon the laws in this State. However, the policy implications of such cases may be considered, if they are relevant. Simply put, the Court found that a payment related to co-raising children (in this case, the Widowed...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Persons in receipt of Disability Allowance, a scheme for people with long term condition (> 12 months) that limits their capacity to work, are eligible to participate in JobBridge internships subject to the same rules and conditions as other eligible participants. Disability Benefit is the name previously used as a title for the scheme now known as Illness Benefit. Illness Benefit is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The following table provides details of the total spending by the Department of Social Protection in the years 2013 to 2016, inclusive: 2013 Outturn 2014 Outturn 2015 Provisional Outturn 2016 REV Estimate €000 €000 €000 €000 20,247,638 19,785,315 19,904,326 19,625,326 The outturn figure for 2015 is provisional pending publication of the audited accounts by...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to convene an oral hearing in this case. Every effort will be made to hear the case as quickly as possible and the appellant will be informed when arrangements for the oral hearing have been made. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Payments (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: No application for Supplementary Welfare Allowance has been received to date from the person concerned regarding funeral expenses. In order to initiate an application, the person concerned should contact the Community Welfare Officer for their area at 086 7810420. I trust this clarifies the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (16 Sep 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 life...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (16 Sep 2016)

Leo Varadkar: In the case of means-tested payments from my Department, such as disability allowance (DA), applicants are assessed with any cash income, property other than the home, and capital (such as savings, shares and investments). For all means-tested schemes, there is an initial amount of capital that is disregarded for means assessment purposes. For most schemes this disregard is €20,000...