Results 22,081-22,100 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Humanitarian Assistance Scheme (19 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The purpose of the humanitarian assistance scheme is to prevent hardship by providing income tested financial support to people whose homes were damaged by flooding and other severe weather events and who are not in a position to meet costs for essential needs, household items and in some instances structural repair. In early December 2015, the Department activated the humanitarian...

Central Bank (Variable Rate Mortgages) Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (18 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I am thankful for the opportunity to speak on this very important issue, which is of great importance to the Government. It is also of great importance to my constituents, many of whom have mortgages at a standard variable interest rate. On a rough calculation, if there are 300,000 people with standard variable interest rates, there are probably between 9,000 and 10,000 in the constituency...

Central Bank (Variable Rate Mortgages) Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (18 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: There is, for example, the failure to consult the European Central Bank, which is required under Article 127 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and policy risks have been outlined by previous speakers. There is a possibility that the legislation could increase the cost of funds, thus making fewer mortgages available, particularly to people who want to buy for the first...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times (18 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested (where available) by the deputy is detailed in the tabular statement. Social Welfare claims by average waiting times and number of claims pending 30 April 2016 Scheme Average Waiting time (weeks) Claims Pending Jobseeker's Benefit 1 2,053 Jobseeker's Allowance 2 6,662 One-Parent Family Payment 6 1,119 State Pension Contributory (Dom) 7 4,396 Widow’s,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme (18 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting approximately 56,800 people for which the Government has provided approximately €267 million for 2016. Over 20,100 rent supplement tenancies were awarded during 2015 and over 4,500 during the first four months of 2016 showing that landlords are accommodating significant numbers of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Gratuity Payments (18 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: This is a matter for my colleague the Minister of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Applications (18 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. To qualify for IP a claimant must, inter-alia, have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last complete...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Payments (18 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Carer's Allowance (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. The person concerned is currently in receipt CA at the weekly rate of €263.60 which is the maximum rate of carer’s allowance for a person caring for one person who has two...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Overpayments (18 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The total debt of €495.10 contains three components. Jobseekers Allowance payments of €174.20 were overpaid to the person concerned from 11 November 2011 to 06 December 2011 as a result of a delay in administering a change in circumstances. A Jobseekers Allowance payment of €53.30 was overpaid from 09 January 2012 to 10 January 2012 due to the spouse of the person...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Offices (18 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Income support and welfare benefits to customers of the Department of Social Protection in the North Monaghan and Monaghan Town area are provided by Monaghan Branch Office. The Branch Office has been located in Rooskey, County Monaghan for many years. The Department also provides Activation and Community Welfare services from the Plantation Building in Monaghan Town. Social Welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (18 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Illness benefit is an income support payment for people of working age who are unable to work due to illness and who satisfy certain social insurance conditions. The payment has its origins in the disability benefit scheme. The scheme is intended to provide income replacement for insured persons during short spells of incapacity or illness. Other payments, such as invalidity pension or...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (18 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 27 April 2016. Unfortunately, there are some delay in processing new applications at this point. 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,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Appeals (18 May 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 11 May 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 is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: European Court of Justice Rulings (18 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The rulings of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on the Insolvency Directive (2008/94) was in response to a reference by the High Court seeking clarification of the interpretation of European law emanating from EU Directive 2008/94EC on the protection of employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer. The ECJ ruling has implications for any defined benefit pension scheme where,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Illness Benefit Reform (18 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The substantial deficit in the Social Insurance Fund (SIF) in recent years has been tackled through structural changes in PRSI rates such as the abolition of ceilings and allowances, as well as changes to contribution conditions and duration of payments. The increase in the number of “waiting days” from 3 to 6 was a relatively modest adjustment, required to ensure that the SIF...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (18 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Government recognises the importance of increasing participation in employment for persons with a disability and provides a wide range of income and employment-related supports. The partial capacity benefit scheme (PCB), introduced in 2012, provides an opportunity for people, who are in receipt of invalidity pension or who have been in receipt of illness benefit for a minimum of six...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (18 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to convene an oral hearing in this case. Every effort will be made to hear the case as quickly as possible and the appellant will be informed when arrangements for the oral hearing have been made. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Support Services Funding (17 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 431, 467, 472 and 498 together. The Providing Equal Employment Routes (PEER) project was one of 14 disability activation projects (DACT), in the Border, Midlands and West region, which were jointly funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Department of Social Protection (DSP), from the end of 2012 to April 2015. The project was delivered by the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Operation (17 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 432 and 520 together. The person commenced on Community Employment (CE) on 15 June 2009 having qualified to participate through receipt of a Disability Allowance for a number of years, immediately prior to commencing on CE. The person concerned was eligible to participate under the part time job (PTJ) option within CE, which allows persons over 55 years...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rental Accommodation Scheme Eligibility (17 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 433 and 437 together. Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting approximately 56,800 people for which the Government has provided approximately €267 million for 2016. Properties are being secured under the scheme with over 20,100 rent supplement tenancies awarded during 2015 and over 4,500...