Results 21,221-21,240 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme (7 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The increased rent limits under the rent supplement scheme, as announced last week, were introduced with effect from Friday, 1 July 2016. Supports in relation to housing and the provision of financial supports, including the rent supplement scheme currently supporting some 54,000 recipients at a cost of €267 million in 2016, are a key priority as evidenced by the early implementation...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (7 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an oral hearing of the appeal of the person concerned took place on 29 June 2016 and that the Appeals Officer is now considering the appeal in the light of all of the evidence submitted, including that adduced at the oral hearing. The person concerned will be notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision when the appeal has been...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Eligibility (7 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: In accordance with Departmental guidelines, Crèche Supplement applications can only be considered, in exceptional circumstances, in respect of children attending a community crèche. This application for a Crèche Supplement was disallowed because the person concerned was applying for a payment for their child to attend a privately-run crèche and the scheme applies to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance (7 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) is designed to support jobseekers to undertake second chance education. A person wishing to pursue a course of study under BTEA must satisfy a number of conditions such as age and in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for a specified period of time amongst others. The period for which a person is required to be on a jobseeker’s...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Applications (7 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: A jobseeker’s payment is paid for days of unemployment where the person is not in receipt of holiday pay for those days and where they also satisfy the conditions of the scheme. School educational sector workers, who are employed on a temporary basis and who have previously been in contact with the Department, are issued with a repeat jobseeker’s application form and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (7 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The state pension transition and contributory claims of the person concerned have been reviewed. Based on this review, the person has been awarded a pro-rata state pension (transition) with effect from 1 September 2010, (on retirement) in accordance with EU legislation. The person concerned has also been awarded a pro rata state pension (contributory) with effect from their 66th birthday....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals (7 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned is currently in receipt of a weekly jobseekers payment of €232.70. This is in payment with effect from the 23rd of May 2016 when he made his most recent claim for jobseekers allowance at Blanchardstown Intreo Centre. The amount payable includes his own personal rate of €188.00 weekly plus the appropriate child dependent payments for a person in his...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Work Placement Programmes (7 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Tús, the community work placement initiative was set up to provide short-term, quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. Tús is designed to break the cycle of unemployment, and maintain work readiness, thereby improving a person’s opportunities of returning to the labour market. For this reason, eligibility is confined to those in receipt...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (7 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The application for carer’s allowance in respect of the person concerned was awarded on 22 June 2016 and the first payment issued to the person’s nominated post office on 30 June 2016. Arrears of allowance due from 10 March 2016 have also issued to the post office for payment. The person concerned was notified of these details on 22 June 2016. I hope this clarifies the matter...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: UK Referendum on EU Membership (7 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Staff in the EU and International section of the Department of Social Protection, in addition to their role in supporting the Department on EU and International matters generally, manages the social protection implications for Ireland of the decision of the United Kingdom to exit the European Union. This role involves liaising with colleagues both across the Department and in other...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Consultancy Contracts Data (7 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in tabular form. Reports commissioned by Department of Social Protection since March 2011 Report Name of Consultants Commissioned Publication Date Cost € 2011 Social Welfare Appeals Office – Research on Insurability Issues & Access to Legal Resources Mel Cousins & Associates 2011 2011 €7,744...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (7 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Photography services are used, in conjunction with some press releases and conferences, to communicate my Department’s initiatives, schemes and services to customers and to the regional and national media. In 2015 photography services were used for the occasions as set out in the following table. The procurement of these photography services is carried out in accordance with national...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Public Relations Contracts Data (7 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: It is the policy of the Department of Social Protection that its Press Office deals with all media queries and public relations matters. My Department’s policy is to use in-house resources as much as possible and to restrict the use of external public relations firms to a minimum. Since my appointment as Minister for Social Protection on 6 May this year, my Department has not...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Administration (6 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I understand that my Department has sought clarification from the Deputy on her specific information requirement and this is awaited. To date, deductions from social welfare payments to enable payment of Local Property Tax have been made at the request of the customer and no mandatory deductions have been imposed. It is also important to note that even where the deductions are taken at the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Appointments to State Boards (6 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The legislative provisions governing Board membership of the Citizens Information Board (CIB) are contained in the Comhairle Act 2000, the Citizens Information Act 2007 and the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011. The legislation provides that the Board may have up to 15 members. I have recently appointed 7 members to the Board of CIB, bringing the membership to 14. These appointments...

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

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 5 February 2016. 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. As the applicant’s spouse is self-employed and the most recent set...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (6 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 13th June 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 Applications (6 Jul 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The application for carer’s allowance in respect of the person concerned was awarded on 4 July 2016 and the first payment is due to issue to the person’s nominated bank account on 21 July 2016. Arrears of allowance due from 14 January 2016 to 20 July 2016, less jobseeker’s allowance paid during that period, will issue in due course. The person concerned was notified of...

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

Leo Varadkar: The application for carer’s allowance in respect of the person concerned was awarded on 22 June 2016 and the first payment was issued to the person’s nominated post office on 30 June 2016. Arrears of allowance due from 18 February 2016 have also issued to the nominated post office for payment on 7 July 2016. The person concerned was notified of these details on 22 June 2016. I...

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

Leo Varadkar: Carer’s allowance (CA) is in payment to the person concerned since 3 October 2013 in respect of one care recipient. I confirm that my department received an application for Carer’s Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 24 February 2016 in respect of second care recipient. It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have a disability whose...