Results 21,621-21,640 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned will receive their jobseeker's allowance payment on Monday, 20thJune, including any arrears that are due. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (16 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 78, Reference No. 8399/16, of 26th April 2016 and a further nine previous Parliamentary Questions relating to this case. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Jobseeker’s Allowance has been awarded to the person concerned and payment will be available for collection next week. Rent Supplement is currently in payment to the person concerned. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Eligibility (16 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person in question has been in contact directly with my department regarding the options available to him whilst pursuing third level education. He indicated he may pursue a course with an Educational Training Board. A letter issued to the person in question confirming he may do so whilst remaining on disability allowance (DA). If, however, the course is provided through Solas and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (16 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person referred to remains qualified for treatment benefits. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Social Insurance Rates (15 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: As this is my first time in the new Seanad, I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate all the Senators on their election, particularly those who are serving for the first time in the Oireachtas. I also congratulate the Cathaoirleach on his return and his election as Cathaoirleach.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Social Insurance Rates (15 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Senator Burke for raising this very important matter, which has been raised with me on a number of occasions and which I know is of real importance to councillors and to Senators. PRSI class K contributions are paid by a number of different categories of contributor. Since 1 January 2011, public officeholders pay PRSI at the class K rate of 4% on their income as officeholders,...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Social Insurance Rates (15 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I am definitely keen to do something. The issue has been going on for a long time and I have the opportunity now to do something about it. I intend to make some change in the forthcoming budget or, more particularly, in the forthcoming social welfare Bill, which will come before this House in the winter. The situation as it stands is unfair. Local authority members pay 4% PRSI and get no...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Interest Supplement Scheme (14 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 276 and 278 together. There are currently approximately 2,700 people in receipt of the mortgage interest supplement scheme for which the Government has provided over €7 million for in 2016. The scheme was discontinued for new applicants from 1 January 2014, with customers availing of this support prior to 1st January 2014 retaining entitlement...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme (14 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 277, 279, 308, 317, 331 and 332 together. Supports in relation to housing and the provision of financial supports, such as the rent supplement scheme currently supporting in excess of 55,500 recipients at a cost of €267 million in 2016, are a key priority for Government and are being considered by the Cabinet Committee on Housing in the context of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Unemployment Levels (14 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Government’s primary strategy to tackle long-term unemployment is through policies to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting competitiveness and productivity. Reflecting the impact of government policy, and the overall improvement in the labour market, long term unemployment is falling. The long-term unemployment rate peaked at 9.5% in Q1 2012...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Unemployment Measures (14 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Government’s primary strategy to tackle youth unemployment is through policies to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting competitiveness and productivity. Reflecting the impact of government policy, and the overall improvement in the labour market, youth unemployment continues to fall with a rate of 15.0% (27,900) in May 2016 (as estimated by CSO),...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Water Conservation Grant Administration (14 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of Social Protection is administering the Water Conservation Grant on behalf of the Department of Environment, Community, and Local Government. As of 13th June 2016, a total of 890,036 grant applications had been submitted by householders and processed. The administration and payment of this grant was a significant project requiring the development and implementation of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Activation Projects (14 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 283 and 289 together. The EmployAbility programme is a national employment service dedicated to improving employment outcomes for job seekers with a disability. EmployAbility participants are people with a disability, which can range from physical to mental health, who are able to work a minimum of 8 hours per week and who need the support of a job coach...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Work Placement Programmes (14 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Participants on JobPath receive intensive individual support to help them address barriers to employment and to assist them in finding jobs. Each person is assigned to a personal advisor who assesses a person’s skills, experience, challenges and work goals. A personal progression plan is developed for each individual and includes a schedule of activities, actions and job focused...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Labour Activation Measures (14 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy will be aware JobPath is a new approach to employment activation that supports people who are long-term unemployed and those most distant from the labour market to secure and sustain full-time paid employment. JobPath is one of a range of activation supports, including schemes such as Community Employment, catering for long-term unemployed jobseekers. The person concerned...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (14 Jun 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 disallow 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 Social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Eligibility (14 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: A renewal application form for family income supplement (FIS) was issued to the person concerned on 28 April 2016. This form was returned, undelivered, to FIS section stating 'no access' and the FIS claim was suspended on 18 May 2016 as the department had not been notified of a change of address as is required. The person concerned contacted FIS Section on 3 June 2016 and was asked to supply...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (14 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: My Department incurred no cost in 2015 for the Public Sector Times Magazine. The Public Services Time Magazine is free of charge to all public sector bodies.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (14 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The expenditure on newspapers purchased by the Department in 2015 amounted to €8,335.33. The Department monitors such expenditure closely at all times and keeps these costs to a minimum. Some newspapers are not available or fully available online without subscription.