Results 21,421-21,440 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Supervisors (28 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Community Employment (CE) is a non-statutory scheme put in place to support persons who are long-term unemployed and other vulnerable groups to gain the confidence and skills to re-enter the labour market. Schemes are sponsored by local community and voluntary groups who provide valuable support services to local communities. These sponsoring organisations employ supervisory staff to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Local Employment Service (28 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: There is no provision within the existing funding streams of the Department of Social Protection to cover tools or other similar accoutrements that can assist a trainee in their work. The Department’s network of Intreo Offices does not have access to a grant or subsidy to pay for the provision of such equipment. The Department of Social Protection contracts for the provision of a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance (28 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Jobseeker’s allowance is a means tested social assistance scheme. In the case of a couple, account is taken of the means of both members of the couple and this reflects the fact that married couples, civil partners and cohabitants are financially interdependent on each other. The jobseeker’s allowance scheme features a range of disregards and tapering arrangements where...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (28 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 15 March 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: Social Welfare Code (28 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 283 together. I can assure the Deputy that my department is not undertaking any measures which seek to influence customer choice in the manner of payment away from cash payments at the Post Office. To specifically address the deputy’s query my department has a cohort of jobseeker customers who are classified as casual jobseekers. These are...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (28 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 249 and 280 together. Given the need to manage the allocation of places effectively, the Department does not, in general, facilitate or encourage jobseekers to transfer from or leave one activation support scheme to take up a place on another activation support scheme. However JobPath participants may apply to participate on other schemes and can, subject...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Support Grant (28 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Carer’s Support Grant (CSG) is paid automatically in June of each year (usually on the first Thursday of the month) to carers, such as the person concerned, who are in receipt of a qualifying payment on the first Thursday in June. The CSG for the person concerned issued to their nominated post office on 2 June 2016. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (28 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 24 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: Free Travel Scheme Administration (28 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The purpose of the Public Services Card (PSC) is to enable individuals to gain access to public services more efficiently and with a minimum of duplication of effort, while at the same time preserving their privacy to the maximum extent possible. The PSC is designed to replace other cards within the public sector such as the free travel pass and the social services card of this Department...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement (28 Jun 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 child and family poverty and to offer a financial incentive to take-up employment as compared to social welfare payments. Expenditure on FIS for 2016 is estimated to be of the order of €410 million and it is currently paid to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (28 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The jobseeker’s allowance scheme provides income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative full-time employment. The 2016 Estimates for my Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseeker’s allowance scheme of €2.45 billion. Social welfare legislation states that a person is not entitled to jobseeker’s allowance while...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Offices (28 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The new Intreo office in Carrigaline, County Cork, is expected to open during July 2016. This means that the totality of Intreo services will be offered from two locations in the town. These services include income support, employment support, social welfare inspectorate, community welfare and a public service card facility. Expenditure on this Intreo project amounts to €0.9m....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (28 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 20 April 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: State Pension (Non-Contributory) (28 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: In assessing means for social assistance payments, account is taken of the income and the value of capital and property of the claimant and their spouse/partner. Social welfare legislation provides that the yearly value of property (including capital) owned but not personally used or enjoyed is assessable for means testing purposes for social assistance payments. Such property includes all...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme (28 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: This is a matter for housing authorities, operating under the Housing Acts 1966 -2014, which come under the remit of the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government. The Minister for Social Protection has no role in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Means Assessments (28 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: In assessing means for social assistance payments, account is taken of the income and the value of capital (including redundancy payments) of the claimant and their spouse/partner. For means assessment purposes, savings are assessed by reference to the following formula: Capital – Assessment Formula AMOUNT OF CAPITAL WEEKLY MEANS ASSESSED Up to €20,000 Nil €20,000 -...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (28 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Magdalen Commission Scheme is administered by my Department on behalf of the Department of Justice and Equality. The scheme enables the women over the age of 66 who qualify to receive the equivalent of the maximum rate of State pension contributory for the remainder of their lives. The current maximum rate of State pension contributory is €233.30 per week. If a person is already...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (28 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: A revised decision was made on the Jobseeker’s Allowance application based on new information provided by the person concerned. The full rate of payment relevant to the client’s age will be paid from the date of application. Any arrears due will issue with the first payment. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Data (28 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The rent supplement scheme plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme currently supporting approximately 55,000 people for which the Government has provided approximately €267 million for 2016. The numbers of rent supplement have been dropping at a pace since they reached a peak of over 97,000 in 2010. As the Deputy outlines, the numbers have continued...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Data (28 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The farm assist scheme provides support for farmers on low incomes and is similar to jobseeker’s allowance. Farm assist recipients retain the advantages of the jobseeker’s allowance scheme such as 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...