Results 18,701-18,720 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The eligibility for participation on the Community Employment (CE) programme is dependent on the individual circumstances of each person and the length of time s/he has been in receipt of a CE-qualifying social welfare payment. CE is intended for the long-term unemployed and other specified disadvantaged groups. The aim of CE remains as an active labour market programme with the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobPath Implementation (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The aim of the JobPath service, which is provided for jobseekers only, is to assist them in finding sustainable full time paid employment. Each person referred to the JobPath service is allocated a personal advisor who provides intensive individual support and assistance. When a jobseeker with JobPath finds employment, they will be supported by the JobPath Company for at least the first 13...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The State pension contributory is one of a number of pensions the State pays to people over 66. At present, entitlement to the contributory pension is determined by means of a ‘yearly average’ calculation, where the total contributions paid or credited are divided by the number of years of the working life (i.e. the period between when they first entered insurable employment...

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

Leo Varadkar: Carer’s allowance was awarded to the person concerned on 5 April 2017 and the first payment is due to issue to their nominated post office on 13 April 2017. Arrears of allowance due from 15 December 2016 to 12 April 2017 will also issue to the post office. The person concerned was notified of these details on 5 April 2017. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Delays (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The average processing times to date in 2017 for appeals relating to means-tested payments are set out in the table below. Appeal processing times are kept under constant scrutiny by the Chief Appeals Officer. The Deputy will be aware that significant effort and resources have been devoted in recent years to reducing the length of time taken to finalise an appeal and that as a consequence...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 395, 396 and 404 together. The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme is demand led and provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. The main purpose of the scheme is to provide immediate and flexible assistance for those in need who do not qualify for payment...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Treatment Benefit Scheme Data (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Dental and optical benefits claim numbers and the associated costs for the past 12 months (April 16 – March 17), are set out as follows: Dental - 318,500 claims; Optical - 171,500 claims

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Department operates a range of statutory means tested schemes, taking account of the income a claimant has in terms of cash, property (other than the family home) and capital. The combination of the means test and awarding differentiated rates of payment is premised on ensuring that social welfare payments are paid to those most in need and reflects the position that persons with...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The State pension contributory is one of a number of pensions the State pays to people over 66. The rate of payment to a person is related to the number of contributions made over the years into the Social Insurance Fund by the person. To ensure that the individual can maximise their entitlement to a State pension (contributory), all contributions paid or credited over their working life...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: All applications for state pension (contributory) must be assessed under the eligibility conditions set out in social welfare legislation. This provides thatwhere anapplicant for state pension (contributory) became a self-employed contributor on 6 April 1988 and, at any time before that date, was an employed contributor, the date on which they first entered insurance, or 6 April 1988,...

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

Leo Varadkar: The tables that follow provide the details which have been requested by the Deputy in respect of 2015, 2016 and to date in 2017. The schemes with the highest number of appeals to the Social Welfare Appeals Office in 2015, 2016 and to end of March 2017 were - disability allowance (6,435 in 2015/4,912 in 2016/1,444 in 2017), carer’s allowance (3,188 in 2015/3,887 in 2016/1,003 in 2017),...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Unemployment Measures (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Government policy to reduce unemployment is twofold.First, through policies set out in the Action Plan for Jobs, to create an environment in which business can succeed and create jobs; and second, through Pathways to Work, to ensure that as many as possible of these new jobs and other vacancies that arise in our economy are filled by people taken from the Live Register, including young...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Self-employed people who earn €5,000 or more in a contribution year, are liable for PRSI at the Class S rate of 4%, subject to a minimum annual payment of €500. This provides them with access to the following benefits: State pension (contributory) and widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner’s pension (contributory), guardian’s payment...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Workplace Relations Commission (11 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: There have been no adjudications or findings of the Workplace Relations Commission in respect of my Department or the bodies that come under its aegis during the period in question, that have not been accepted by my Department having consulted with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

An Bille um an gCúigiú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Colscaradh) 2016: An Dara Céim - Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Divorce) Bill 2016: Second Stage (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I am delighted to contribute to the debate and to offer my support for the Bill. I acknowledge the significant work Deputy Madigan has put in, as she brings forward a timely reform, which in many ways is overdue. I doubt many of us in 1994 thought that this provision would not have been amended within a shorter period. The history of divorce in Ireland makes interesting reading. As...

An Bille um an gCúigiú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Colscaradh) 2016: An Dara Céim - Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Divorce) Bill 2016: Second Stage (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: There could be referendums on many issues. It was part of our manifesto in 2011 to have a big Constitution day on which we would have perhaps ten referenda on the same day. It would be exciting but could also be extremely confusing. I am not entirely sure where I fall on that matter. It demonstrates the extent to which our Constitution is in so many ways very much out of date. It was...

Garda Síochána (Amendment) Bill 2017: First Stage (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: No.

Public Transport Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2017: First Stage (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: No.

Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: That legislation is currently being developed but it is not anticipated that the heads will be ready this session.

Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I will ask the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, to respond directly to the Deputy on that matter.