Results 18,761-18,780 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Leaders' Questions (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: First of all, the report on water is not yet finalised. I understand there will be a further meeting of the committee today to finalise the report. I am informed that while it does not provide for any mandatory provision of applying meters to new builds, it does not propose to scrap the metering programme altogether. The House will have a lengthy opportunity to debate the report, ideally...

Leaders' Questions (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Both parties reserve the right to adopt differing positions on any consequent legislation or resolutions being debated by the Oireachtas. I very much echo the words of the Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney, and stand by what he has said and has made clear throughout this process, that Fine Gael and this Government will not bring forward legislation that we know to be contrary to European law....

Leaders' Questions (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The second report of the Fennelly commission was received by the Taoiseach last Friday evening and it was then furnished to the Attorney General. It is the normal course of action that the Attorney General will read and review a report before its publication and this has now been done. The report has been cleared by the Attorney General. There will be a briefing for Ministers at...

Leaders' Questions (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: One thing I have seen a little too much of in politics is a report being published and within half an hour people expressing views and considered opinions on it and having many questions on it. So often we see things-----

Leaders' Questions (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: -----on which people have opinions-----

Leaders' Questions (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: -----and unless they have some superhero-type speed-reading powers they could not possibly have read them. This report has been cleared by the Attorney General and will be published this afternoon. It is 800 pages long. Any normal person would probably need to read it overnight or, better still, over the weekend, so any opinions on it can be informed and any questions on it can be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: School Meals Programme (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,460 schools and organisations benefitting over 200,000 children at a total cost of some €47.7 million in 2017. The funding for the scheme was increased this year, as part of Budget 2017, by an additional €5.7 million (almost 14% over the previous year’s allocation) which will benefit over...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pensions (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 provided that State pension age will be increased gradually to 68 years. This began in January 2014 with the abolition of the State pension (transition), which had been available from 65 for those who satisfied the qualifying conditions, thereby standardising State pension age for all at 66 years, which is the current State pension age. This will...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: PRSI credited contributions (“credits”) are an integral part of the social insurance system. For the most part they are linked to having an underlying entitlement to a social welfare payment while temporarily detached from the labour force or having entitlement to statutory leave e.g. parental or maternity leave. The primary purpose of PRSI credits is to secure social welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Relocation (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Department offers a range of training opportunities to staff dependent upon grade and function. The ‘One DSP curriculum’ offers training to staff in various roles including deciding officer, case officer, social welfare inspectors, designated persons and managers in Intreo centres. Undertaking the full suite of training for deciding officers, for example, includes up to 11...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Bodies Expenditure (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Citizens Information Board (CIB) under the aegis of my Department is responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice (including money advice and budgeting) and advocacy on a wide range of public and social services. It provides some services directly to the public and directly funds and supports an extensive range of services through its delivery partners including the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Interest Supplement Scheme (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The original purpose of the mortgage interest supplement (MIS) scheme was to provide short-term support to eligible people who are unable to meet their mortgage interest repayments in respect of a house which is their sole place of residence. The Deputy will be aware that the scheme was discontinued to new entrants from 1st January 2014. Customers availing of this support prior to 1st...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned has no current claim with this Department. It is open to the person concerned to contact his local Intreo Centre at Moorefield Road, Newbridge if he wishes to make a claim or seek information on possible entitlements. Alternatively, if he is in urgent need, he should contact the Community Welfare Officer for his area on 087 9638588. The spouse of the person concerned...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Benefit Eligibility (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Carer's benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce to care for a person(s) in need of full-time care and attention. To qualify the carer must satisfy PRSI conditions, employment conditions, show that they are or will be providing full-time care and attention and must show that the care recipient requires full-time care and attention. The PRSI condition...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Legislation provides that a person must satisfy the conditions of being available for and genuinely seeking work in order to be entitled to a jobseeker’s payment. However, I am deeply conscious of the long tradition of volunteering in this country and the contribution that volunteering makes to Ireland’s social fabric. In recognition of the vital role played by the voluntary...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned made an application for jobseekers allowance and has, as part of the qualifying conditions for receipt of this payment, declared herself available for and seeking full time work. To assist her in her efforts to find work she has been referred to her local JobPath provider and she is actively engaging with them at present. She is being paid the appropriate rate of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Payments (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I can confirm that the person concerned is in receipt of the maximum rate of Carer’s Allowance payable to a person caring for one care recipient of €209.00 per week. This includes a budgetary increase of €5.00 per week effective from 16 March 2017. In addition she is in receipt of the maximum rate payable for each of her 3 qualified children of €29.80 weekly per...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payments (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: A decision regarding Rent Supplement has been made in this case and it is now the subject of an appeal. If the person concerned wishes to apply for an Exceptional Needs Payment she should send an application to the CWS in Maynooth where it will be considered. An application form will be posted out to her to facilitate this. If she has any further queries regarding her Rent Supplement she...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that there is no record of any appeal having been received from the person concerned. In light of the Deputy’s representations, a form has been issued by the Appeals Office to the person concerned advising him that if he wishes to appeal the decision he should complete and return the form to that office setting out the grounds for his...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Eligibility (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 15 December 2016 in respect of the provision of care to both her parents. It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person(s) being cared for must have a disability whose effect is that they require full-time care and attention. This is defined as requiring from another person,...