Results 21,681-21,700 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Treatment Benefit Scheme Data (9 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 to 97, inclusive, together. All of these questions (PQ 15141 through to 15146-16) relate to expenditure on certain dental treatments in 2009 and the potential cost of re-introducing these treatments. The treatments available under the dental benefit scheme were limited in Budget 2010 to an annual free dental examination. The cost in 2009 of the three...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (9 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department received an application for carer's allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 22 February 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 Payments (9 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The appeal of the person concerned to the independent social welfare appeals office against a refusal of carer's allowance (CA) has been allowed and the application was awarded on 7 June 2016. The first payment of CA is due to issue to her nominated bank account on 23 June 2016. Any arrears of allowance due (less any overlapping social welfare payment and/or outstanding overpayment) will...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Payments (9 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals office by the person concerned against a refusal of carer's allowance (CA) has been allowed and the application was awarded on 7 June 2016. The first payment of CA is due to issue to his nominated post office on 23 June 2016. Any arrears of allowance due (less any overlapping social welfare payment and/or outstanding overpayment) will issue in due...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Legislative Programme (9 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Programme for Government sets out the key priorities for the Government for its term in office. There are no Department of Social Protection Bills from the previous Dáil to be re-initiated. My Department's normal legislative cycle involves the enactment of two or more Social Welfare Bills each year: - a Bill, usually in December each year, whose primary focus is to implement the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (9 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 31 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 have been received in the Social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Allowances (9 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: This is a matter for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit Eligibility (9 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: In order to qualify for a Jobseeker's Benefit (JB) payment a person must suffer a loss of employment. The normal level of employment is calculated once at the start of each JB claim and remains for the duration of the claim. The person concerned is a part-time factory worker and her pattern of employment has been calculated at one day per week. The person concerned applied for JB on 14...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Respite Care Grant (8 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: While the primary responsibility for providing respite care lies with the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive, my Department continues to empower and support carers in their caring role through its payment of the Carer’s Support Grant (CSG) formerly known as the Respite Care Grant (RCG). This grant has not ceased or been curtailed in any way. The grant is paid...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Respite Care Grant Payments (8 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 bank account on 2 June 2016. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (8 Jun 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (8 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: As advised in the reply to the Deputy’s recent question in this matter, Question No. 45 of 14 April 2016, the person concerned is currently participating in the part-time job initiative (PTJI) scheme. The PTJI scheme is intended as a stepping stone to full-time work. It allows certain long-term unemployed people to take up part-time work and get a special weekly allowance instead of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Cross-Border Co-operation (8 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: 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. None of the bodies under the aegis of my Department have developed Memoranda of Understanding with my counterpart in Northern Ireland nor has any cost-benefit analysis...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Review (8 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The current free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by approximately 80 private transport operators. Free travel is also...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Applications (8 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: An application for an exceptional needs payment was submitted by the person concerned and refused. The decision of the officer in this case was upheld by a review officer. A further application form has issued to the person concerned in relation to other heating works which require repair. This application will be considered on return of the application form and the person concerned...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Eligibility (8 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: With effect from January 2010 new age related payments were introduced affecting persons availing of supplementary welfare allowance (SWA). The applicable maximum personal rate of SWA for a person between the ages of 18 and 24 is €100 per week. There are a number of exemptions where the age reduction does not apply: - those in receipt of a higher rate of payment immediately before...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Work Placement Programmes (8 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Gateway is a work placement initiative administered by my Department and delivered at a local level by the local authorities. Recruitment and selection of part-time employees outside of this initiative is a matter for the Local Authority concerned and my Department has no role in determining how these positions are filled.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Correspondence (8 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 296, 301, 337 and 338 together. My Department provides two main options for payment methods for its customers: payments direct to customer accounts in financial institutions or payments in cash at post offices. Specifically in respect of cash payments at Post Offices, in 2015 my department made over 38 million such payments in cash at a cost of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Applications (8 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: An application for an exceptional needs payment in the case of the person concerned is currently being processed. Further information was requested by the designated officer and a decision will be made on submission of the relevant requested documentation. I hope this clarifies the matter for the deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Cross-Border Co-operation (8 Jun 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I am satisfied that the Department collects and has access to the data that is required to perform its functions. The Department works closely with and exchanges data, in accordance with the law, with administrations in other States for the purposes of assessing entitlement to, and making, welfare payments. As part of this process Department officials meet regularly with their...