Results 18,841-18,860 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (30 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The farm assist scheme was introduced in 1999 to provide income support for low income farmers. It replaced the former smallholders’ unemployment assistance payment. In line with the then existing arrangements for unemployment assistance (including smallholders) and pre-retirement allowance, the income of farm assist recipients was exempt from class S PRSI for self-employed workers....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times (30 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The claims in question are being dealt with by Newbridge Intreo Centre. There have been some delays in claim processing recently due to high demand but it is expected that claims for the customers concerned will be processed this week. All customers are advised of their right to apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance, as an interim payment, while they await a decision on their...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (30 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned was awarded Jobseekers Allowance from 20th March, 2017. The rate of payment of Jobseekers Allowance is age-related and therefore the customer is currently receiving the maximum rate payable to claimants in 18 to 24 years age range. I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (30 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of Social Protection delivers its services in County Monaghan through our network of offices including Branch Offices, Community Welfare Clinics, Activation Services, Social Welfare Inspectorate Services, Community Employment Services, Local Employment Services (LES) and the JobPath Programme. Provision of information and access to income supports is provided by the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (29 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The pension payment increases announced in Budget 2016 in respect of widow’s/widower’s and surviving civil partners contributory pension were effective from 10 March 2017 for recipients aged 66 years and over, and from 17 March 2017 for recipients aged under 66. The person concerned correctly received their €5 weekly increase with effect from 17 March 2017. I trust this...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Job Losses (29 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: As with all persons who find themselves in the unfortunate position of losing their employment, any affected bank employees should contact their local Intreo centre or Social Welfare Branch Office where they will receive advice on jobseekers payments and other income supports. Where practical, the Department can make arrangements with an employer to actually visit the business premises...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff (29 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Duleek and Laytown clinic is being relocated to Drogheda Intreo Centre from 3 April 2017. The staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continuously reviewed, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources with a view to providing an efficient service to those who rely on the schemes operated by the Department. The community welfare service claimload for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit Eligibility (29 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: To qualify for jobseeker’s benefit a person must satisfy certain contribution conditions. The first condition is a person must have at least 104 reckonable contributions (classes A, H or P) paid since they entered insurable employment. Class S self-employed contributions are not reckonable for jobseeker’s benefit purposes. To satisfy the second condition, a person must...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Contracts Data (29 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department does not hire private investigation firms and has not hired any for the period in question.

Money Advice and Budgeting Service and Citizens Information Centres: Motion (28 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I move amendment No. 2:To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following:wholeheartedly commends the important work undertaken by the Citizens Information Board, CIB, together with its network of delivery partner services, including the Citizens Information service, CIS, and the Money Advice and Budgeting Service, MABS, in fulfilling its statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance (28 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Currently class A employers pay PRSI at the rate of 8.5% where weekly earnings are between €38 and €376. Once weekly earnings exceed €376, the rate of employer PRSI is 10.75%. The annual increase in the PRSI yield to the Social Insurance Fund from increasing the class A employer PRSI rate from 10.75% to 15.75% on the portion of salary is dependent on the number of people...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Offices (28 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Following the transfer of the Community Welfare Service (CWS) from the Health Service Executive (HSE) to the Department in 2011, the Department has re-engineered its business model to support the provision of integrated services across all business streams involved in the delivery of localised services. As part of this strategy, the Department is engaged in the delivery of integrated Intreo...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Treatment Benefit Scheme (28 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The treatment benefit scheme, which includes provision for a grant towards hearing aids, is based on PRSI contributions. There are two main qualification criteria for someone the age of the person concerned; - The first is that they must have paid at least 260 qualifying PRSI contributions since first starting work. The person concerned meets this condition. - The second is that they must...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Relocation (28 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Department facilitates staff transfers in accordance with the appropriate protocols. In this regard, where a permanent post falls to be filled by transfer the relevant transfer list is consulted. In addition to having to satisfy attendance and performance criteria, the question as to whether the person can be released from their current office/Department arises. There are a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Unemployment Measures (28 Mar 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: Unemployment Benefits Data (28 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the following table. It should be noted that the county level statistics indicate the number of people signing-on for payment at an office located in the county indicated. As the catchment area of many local offices cross county borders this data is not equivalent to the number of people residing in each county who are signing-on....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times (28 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The average appeal processing times for all appeals determined from 2014 to 2016 broken down by all social welfare scheme types is outlined in the following tables. I am advised by the Chief Appeals Officer that statistics are not maintained on a county by county basis and she is not in a position to supply information specific to counties Sligo and Leitrim. Appeal processing times are...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (28 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The main social welfare schemes offered by my Department for unemployed people in the State are jobseeker’s allowance and benefit. Both schemes provide significant support to unemployed people such that they can work up to 3 days a week and still retain access to a reduced payment, subject to continuing to satisfy all of the qualifying conditions. The goal of Government’s...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Unemployment Levels (28 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The official measure of unemployment is sourced from the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS). Measures of unemployment from the QNHS are based on International Labour Office (ILO) definitions. To be ‘ILO unemployed’ a person must in the week before the survey be without work but available for work and have recently taken specific job-search steps. The Live Register,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Protected Disclosures Data (28 Mar 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 provides a statutory framework within which workers can raise concerns regarding potential wrongdoing that has come to their attention in the workplace. The Department of Social Protection is committed to fostering an appropriate environment for addressing concerns relating to potential wrongdoing in the workplace and to providing the necessary support for...