Results 18,381-18,400 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (16 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It has not been possible to fully investigate, in the limited time available for this reply, the relevant legislative changes in 1974 and subsequently as to their impact on the group in question. I will respond directly to the Deputy providing full details, once my Department’s investigations are complete.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobPath Data (16 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I assume the Deputy is referring to JobPath as the Department does not administer a scheme called JobPass. As the Deputy will be aware, the state’s Public Employment Service is managed by my Department and delivered directly by its own Intreo service as well as by contracted private companies, such as JobPath, Local Employment Service (LES) and Job Club providers. These services...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (16 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 5 April 2017. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. Do not hesitate to contact my office for further assistance with this query.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (11 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The application in question has been processed and a PPS Number has been assigned. The applicant will be advised in writing in due course. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Schemes (11 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 to 137, inclusive, together. The purpose of the redundancy payments scheme is to compensate employees for the loss of their jobs when the employer is unable to pay statutory redundancy due to financial difficulties or insolvency. The purpose of the insolvency payments scheme is to pay outstanding wage-related entitlements due to employees in the event of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Fund (11 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 139 together. When a payment is made from the redundancy and insolvency payments schemes from the Social Insurance Fund a debt is raised against the employer, which is reported in the Social Insurance Fund (SIF) financial accounts. The total employer debt to the Social Insurance Fund at 31 December, 2016 stood at €459 million. Almost...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Overpayments (11 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Overpayments of benefit or assistance arise where a person is paid in excess of their entitlement or paid where no entitlement exists. In 2016, the Department overpaid customers by €110 million. Of this, customer fraud accounted for €41 million and relates to cases where a customer intentionally provides incomplete or inaccurate information in order to receive benefits, or...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Training (11 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Department’s spend on staff training programmes run by external organisations amounted to €603,908 in 2016. Among the training included in this expenditure were leadership and management development programmes, Irish language training, policy and legislative development, information technology and systems courses, public procurement, mental health awareness, and train...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Redundancy Data (11 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The purpose of the redundancy payments scheme is to compensate employees for the loss of their jobs when the employer is unable to pay statutory redundancy due to financial difficulties or insolvency. The purpose of the insolvency payments scheme is to pay outstanding wage-related entitlements due to employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer. When a payment is made from the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Public Services Card (11 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Public Services Card (PSC) is issued on completion of a robust registration process designed to ensure a substantial level of identity assurance. The PSC is intended to replace other cards within the public sector such as the free travel pass and the social services card of this Department and to make it easier for providers of public services to verify the identity of customers in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement (11 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned returned to work on 15thFebruary 2017 and notified Family Income Supplement (FIS) Section on 05thApril 2017. FIS Section requested further information in relation to this customer’s employment on 07thApril 2017. This information was provided to FIS Section on 25thApril 2017. FIS was reinstated to the person concerned on 06thMay 2017 and will be paid to their bank...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (11 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Carer’s allowance was awarded to the person concerned on 4 May 2017 and the first payment is due to issue to her bank account on 11 May 2017. Arrears of allowance due from 9 February to 10 May 2017 will also issue to her bank account. The person concerned was notified of these details on 4 May 2017. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit Appeals (11 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned has not submitted an appeal in relation to an application made to the Department; they have however recently submitted an application for Farm Assist. As is the normal procedure with all Farm Assist claims, it has been forwarded to a Social Welfare Inspector for investigation. Once this investigation is completed the Department will be in a position to make a decision...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Data (11 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The table provides the details which have been requested by the Deputy in respect of appeals in the past twelve months in so far as they are available. The table provides a breakdown by scheme area of the number of appeals registered and determined during the past twelve months, i.e. during the period from 1 May 2016 to 30 April 2017, along with a breakdown by scheme of the number of appeals...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Review (11 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: In line with a review of entitlement to rent supplement, the person concerned was requested on 13/2/17 to provide documentation to the Department confirming her combined household income including verification of income for all residents in her rental property. This documentation is still outstanding. A further request for the relevant documentation was issued to the person concerned on...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (11 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned has been requested to provide the Department with an up-to-date lease agreement confirming her monthly rent payable. On receipt of this documentation, her rent supplement entitlement can be re-assessed accordingly. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Review (11 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Department has initiated a review of the weekly deduction in place in respect of this person's overpayment and correspondence has issued to the person concerned. The Department has suspended the weekly deduction for 21 days, pending receipt of the requested information. On receipt of this information, the department will determine the level of deduction to be applied in this case. I hope...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (11 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned is currently in receipt of a widow’s contributory pension at €198.50 per week, the maximum rate payable to a person under 66 years of age. She is also in receipt of a fuel allowance payment of €22.50 per week for the fuel season. The appropriate form will be forwarded to the Department of Work and Pensions in the UK immediately requesting that any...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Applications (11 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned applied for an increase in respect of an adult dependant with effect from 8/5/17. This increase has been awarded from the date of application. Payment will be made on 18/5/17 and will include any arrears due. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance (11 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned is currently entitled to and in receipt of the maximum personal rate of jobseeker’s allowance. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.