Results 19,121-19,140 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Data (28 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the following table: Recipients of Jobseeker’s Allowance by age at 31 January 2017 Age Recipients 18-25 29,903 26-30 29,246 31-35 29,013 36-40 27,029 41-45 25,611 46-50 23,459 51-55 19,910 56-60 15,620 61-66 14,526 Total 214,317

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Offices (28 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Following a review of all of the Department’s divisions and offices some minor and administrative changes have been decided. As the Deputy will be aware the Department continually monitors its service provision to ensure that its resources are employed in an effective and efficient manner. Most of the changes identified will not affect customers. Some customers currently being...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Data (28 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the following tabular statement. Recipients of Jobseeker’s Allowance in County Kerry by age at 31 January in each of the years 2012 to 2017 Age 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 18-25 2,192 2,097 1,923 1,462 1,200 997 26-30 1,731 1,721 1,558 1,308 1,221 986 31-35 1,403 1,456 1,371 1,334 1,267 1,072 36-40 1,126 1,186 1,220 1,139...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Data (28 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The systems and procedures for processing applications for the schemes listed vary depending on the individual characteristics of the particular scheme. Additionally, the volume of claims and associated maintenance work varies considerably across schemes. A number of strands of information input into the process which culminate in a Deciding Officer being in a position to assess the claim...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (28 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The objective of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) is to assist those who are distant from the labour market to acquire the necessary education to improve their chances of becoming independent of the social welfare system. To qualify for BTEA a person has to satisfy a number of conditions. These include being a certain age and being in receipt of a prescribed social welfare payment...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Public Services Card Availability (28 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: A Public Services Card is issued to an individual following a robust registration process to establish and verify the person’s identity. Part of the required evidence of identity for a non-EEA national to get a Public Services Card is a current valid passport. The person concerned claims to be unable to produce such a document at this time. Consequently, enquiries are being made...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Poverty Data (28 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) is the official source of data on the key national poverty indicators and on household and individual income. The CSO released the main results of the 2015 Survey on 1st February 2017. The report includes the measures the CSO considers most useful for the broad user community. The consistent poverty rate for lone parents (26.2%) is on Page...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Labour Activation Projects (28 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 446 to 448, inclusive, together. The activation supports and services which are available to those who are long-term unemployed include the JobPath employment activation service and work experience and training schemes such as Community Employment (CE) and TÚS. The JobPath service procured by my department provides additional resources to enable it to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Welfare Services Provision (28 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of Social Protection keeps the operation of all services, including the Community Welfare Service (CWS) under regular review to ensure they continue to remain fit for purpose. The table at Appendix 1 details the CWS clinics currently operating in Donegal. There are no plans at this time to open a clinic in either Bunbeg or Derrybeg. However, if a person is unable to travel to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (28 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I can confirm that my department received an application for disability allowance from this lady on 9 January 2017. On 24 February 2017 the person concerned was requested to supply supporting documentation required by the deciding officer in order to make a decision on her eligibility. On receipt of this information a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified of the...

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

Leo Varadkar: The JobPath contracts provide that a customer should not have to travel more than 60 minutes in normal circumstances to attend an appointment. Where a customer has transport difficulties the JobPath Provider may assist the customer with travel arrangements including the reimbursement of reasonable travel costs. Seetec currently have 29 full-time and 20 part-time offices throughout their...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Tribunals of Inquiry Data (28 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Tribunals of inquiry are established by resolution of the Houses of the Oireachtas to inquire into matters of urgent public importance. The Department of Social Protection has not been responsible for any such tribunals of inquiry.

Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The programme for Government commitment is not about getting people onto schemes. It is about getting people into jobs. We are having enormous success in that regard. The Deputy will note from yesterday's figures that the quarterly national household survey shows that long-term unemployment in Ireland is now below 4%. Everything we are doing, whether Intreo services or JobPath services,...

Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: On the first part of the question, we are developing proposals for working family payments and I hope to have them completed well in advance of the budget in order that they can inform the budget discussions. On the particular issue the Deputy mentioned, I understand that once somebody qualifies for family income supplement, he or she continues to have it paid for a year even if there is a...

Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: -----in legal industrial action. However, I will follow up on the matter. I certainly do not believe it should not be paid.

Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I will have to check the law on it first in order to determine the position.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: School Meals Programme (23 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 240 and 242 together. The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to 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 (14% over the previous...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Redundancy Rebates (23 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 254 together. The purpose of the redundancy payments scheme is to compensate employees for the loss of their jobs, where the employer is unable to pay statutory redundancy due to financial difficulties or insolvency. The scheme is funded from the social insurance fund. Up to 2013, the State paid a rebate to all employers who provided statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Interest Supplement Scheme Data (23 Feb 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. This scheme was discontinued to new entrants from 1st January 2014. The most appropriate way in which customers experiencing mortgage difficulties...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Benefit Applications (23 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s benefit from the person concerned on 21 December 2016. Additional information was requested from her on 2 February 2017. Once the information is received the application will be processed without delay and she will be notified directly of the outcome. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.