Results 21,081-21,100 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence including that adduced at the oral hearing, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: A person who is in receipt of a social welfare payment (other than jobseeker payments or supplementary welfare allowance) or who is being claimed as a qualified adult (QA) on their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant’s social welfare payment may qualify for a half-rate carer's allowance (CA), subject to all conditions being satisfied. The person concerned is in receipt of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Respite Care Grant Applications (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: An application for the Carer’s Support Grant (formerly called Respite Care Grant) was received in my Department on 30 June 2016. This application is being processed as expeditiously as possible having regard to the significant increase in the number of people applying for Carers Support Grant this year. Once a decision has been made on this case the applicant will be notified.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (19 Jul 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 allow 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 Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 29 March 2016. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my Department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 6 May 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: Carer's Allowance Applications (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 28 October 2015. The person concerned was refused carer’s allowance on the grounds that, based upon the evidence available, her means exceed the statutory limit. The person concerned was notified on 18 March 2016 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my Department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 13 May 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: Carer's Allowance Applications (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The application for carer’s allowance in respect of the person concerned was awarded on 7 June 2016 and the first payment was made on 23 June 2016. Arrears of allowance due from 23 July 2015 to 22 June 2016 have issued to the person’s nominated bank account for payment on 21 July 2016. The person concerned was notified of these details on 13 July 2016. I hope this clarifies the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that a disability allowance appeal by the person concerned has been registered in that office. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Qualified Child Increase Payments (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The estimated full year cost in 2017 of increasing the qualified child increase by €2.00, €3.00, and €5.00 per week is €39.5 million, €59.3 million and €98.8 million respectively. These costings include the cost of increasing the back to work family dividend (BtWFD) by the same respective weekly increase. The rates of the BtWFD payment are currently...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: There are currently approximately 853,000 people in Ireland in receipt of free travel at an annual cost of €80 million per annum. The free travel scheme is available to all people aged over 66 living permanently in the State. Applicants who are under age 66, including those with learning disabilities, must be in receipt of a qualifying payment in order to qualify for the scheme....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobsPlus Scheme (19 Jul 2016)

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

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 26 April 2016. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (19 Jul 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 15 July 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: Employment Support Services (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: There are currently 59 Intro Centres in operation. 2 further offices will be opened during July. The locations of each of the 61 Intreo Centres is outlined in the table below. While counties Monaghan, Roscommon and Laois do not have an Intreo Centre, the full range of DSP services including Activation, Community Welfare and Inspectorate services are provided to DSP customers in these...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The self-employed can access long-term benefits such as State pension (contributory) and widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's pension (contributory) as well as guardians payment (contributory), maternity benefit and adoptive benefit. They cannot, however, currently establish entitlement to certain social insurance benefits, such as those relating to long term illnesses. ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: In general, the cumulative maximum participation on community employment by an individual is 3 years for persons under 55 years of age and 6 years for persons of 55 years of age up to State Pension age. As the person in question will have accumulated 6 years on the 20 July 2016 his participation cannot be extended further. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Redundancy Payments (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The purpose of the Redundancy Payments Scheme is to compensate workers, under the Redundancy Payments Acts 1967 to 2013, for the loss of their jobs by reason of redundancy. An eligible employee is entitled to two weeks statutory redundancy payment for every year of service, plus a bonus week. Compensation is based on the worker’s length of reckonable service and reckonable weekly...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: School Meals Programme (19 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to schools and organisations benefitting over 200,000 children at a total cost of €42 million in 2016. The objective of the scheme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them. In recent...