Results 19,141-19,160 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Partnerships (23 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: An application for a retrospective farm partnership decision has been received in the Scope insurability section of the Department from the customer referred to by the Deputy. The matter is under investigation and a decision will be made in due course. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. If you require any further assistance with this query please do not hesitate to contact my...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Records (23 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department’s costs in relation to 3rd party off-site storage from 2014 to 2016 are set out in the following table:- Year 2014 2015 2016 Cost €164,393 €187,436 €121,020 These costs relate mainly to document handling and retrieval at the off-site facility. The cost of the facility itself is borne by the Office of Public Works (OPW). It is not possible to...

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

Leo Varadkar: Carer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has a disability such that they require that level of care. It is a condition for receipt of CA that the carer is not employed or self-employed outside his or her home. However, where the carer can show to the satisfaction of a deciding officer or...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme (23 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: JobBridge was introduced in July 2011 in response to the unprecedented collapse of our economy and particularly the sharp and dramatic increase in unemployment. Since then over 19,000 Host Organisations have offered work placement opportunities to over 48,000 participants. The findings of the recent external evaluation of JobBridge by Indecon Economic Consultants show that the scheme has...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Records (23 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department operates two secure data centres in which all business data is stored. Some limited utilisation of cloud computing services has been undertaken by my Department in recent years, in tandem with the growth in the utilisation of such services in the provision of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) services generally. My Department utilises very limited hybrid cloud...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Regulatory Impact Assessment Data (23 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Regulatory Impact Analyses (RIAs) are undertaken by my Department in accordance with the relevant Department of the Taoiseach guidelines on significant legislative, policy and other changes. A Regulatory Impact Analysis is not ordinarily undertaken on the package of tax, welfare and other measures announced in the annual Budget Day Statements. As most of the Social Welfare Bills provide for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Applications (23 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: An application for an Exceptional Needs Payment for the person concerned was received on 25/01/2017. The application was refused on the grounds that it should be possible for the client to meet this cost from his own income. The person concerned was advised of the outcome of the application and the right to appeal the decision. To date, no appeal has been received. I trust this clarifies...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Fund Data (23 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The last Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund, which referred to 31 December 2010, did not provide a cost for permitting self-employed workers to opt to into class A structure paying equivalent rates of contributions. It did provide a costing of extending two benefits – jobseeker’s benefit and invalidity pension – to self-employed workers. The full year...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (23 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of Social Protection has been in contact with the person concerned in relation to the particular circumstances in this matter. Following this communication it is now the intention of the person concerned to apply for a carer’s allowance. An application form was sent to the person concerned by post and upon receipt of a completed application for carer’s allowance...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Maternity Benefit (23 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Maternity benefit is a payment made for up to 26 weeks to employed and self-employed women who satisfy certain PRSI contribution conditions and who qualify for maternity leave from work. In addition to meeting the PRSI contributions for the tax year relevant to her claim, a woman must also be in insurable employment that is covered by the Maternity Protection Act, 1994, immediately before...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme (23 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Rent Supplement is currently in payment to the client concerned and will issue accordingly on 23/2/17. Any changes in a client's circumstances that may affect their entitlements should be immediately notified to the Department. The client should submit an up to date Rent Supplement application form to the Department together with a lease agreement confirming any increase in their monthly...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme (23 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that there is no record of any appeal by the person concerned having been received by that office. In order to make a valid appeal the person concerned should write to the Social Welfare Appeals Office outlining her up to date grounds of appeal i.e. the reason why she disagrees with the conclusions of the Deciding Officer. On receipt of same...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Data (23 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department currently has five staff members suspended from work pending the completion of investigations under the Civil Service Disciplinary Code. The staff members are suspended from work without prejudice on full pay in accordance with the Disciplinary Code.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (22 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The student support grant payable by the Department of Education and Skills and administered by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) represents the primary support for persons pursuing education in Ireland. The Department of Social Protection does not offer specific supports for students pursuing third level qualifications outside of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA). The Back...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobPath Data (22 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Ireland’s Public Employment Service (PES) is managed by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) 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. It is the role of the staff of these services to provide Jobseekers with a range of practical supports and assistance to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (22 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department provides a range of activation supports and programmes catering for long-term unemployed jobseekers and those most distant from the labour market. This includes programmes such as Community Employment (CE) and Rural Social Scheme (RSS). These schemes help to break the cycle of unemployment and improve a person’s chances of returning to the labour market. My...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (22 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department provides a range of activation supports and programmes catering for long-term unemployed jobseekers and those most distant from the labour market. These include programmes such as Community Employment (CE) and Rural Social Scheme (RSS). CE schemes provide part-time temporary work in their local communities, including opportunities for training and development as a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (22 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on the 27 January 2017. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. Please do contact my office if you require any further assistance with this query. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (22 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Payment of jobseeker’s allowance was suspended after the person concerned declared means to an officer of the Department. According to the Department’s records the person concerned does not have a dependent child. As informed by letter on 9th February 2017 if the person concerned wishes to appeal this decision they may do so by contacting their Local Office before 2 March...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit Eligibility (22 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: As per response to PQ 5148-17, an application for jobseeker’s benefit was submitted in the case of the person concerned. Specific documentation was requested from the person concerned in order to complete the application. This documentation is still outstanding and upon receipt, a decision will issue as soon as possible. If the person concerned is experiencing financial difficulties...