Results 19,221-19,240 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (21 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Internationally as well as in Ireland, Defined Benefit (DB) schemes have been facing an increasing headwind over the last two decades. This has been due to volatility in the stock markets, increasing liabilities arising from the demographic pressures of increasing life expectancy, low interest rates, and regulatory requirements. Essentially the cost of providing benefits has increased at a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (21 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Carer's Allowance (CA) is a social assistance payment made to carers who are providing full-time care and attention to someone who has a disability such that they require that level of care. As well as providing full-time care and attention, applicants must satisfy a means test and be habitually resident in the State. In order to qualify for disability allowance (DA), a person must be aged...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Administration (21 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators. There are currently approx. 873,000...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Rates (21 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The various illness and disability payments administered by my Department provide income support for persons who cannot earn a living because of sickness and/or disability. The schemes also provide a range of supports to encourage and assist people on long-term illness and disability payments to identify and take up available employment, training, educational and other self-development...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service Administration (21 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 65 together. At the outset it is important to note that The Citizens Information Board (CIB) assures me that there will be no job losses, no closure of services, no change to service delivery locations and no change to the terms and conditions of serving staff during the lifetime of the restructuring programme. Most importantly, there will be no...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Arrears Information and Advice Service (21 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The most appropriate way for homeowners experiencing mortgage difficulties is through on-going engagement with their lender, exploring sustainable solutions within the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP). The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), under the aegis of the Citizens Information Board, assists people who are over-indebted and need help and advice in coping with debt...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (21 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: At the end of January 2017, there were 59,480 casual workers on the Live Register. Equivalent figures for all months from May 2002 to January 2017 are published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), based on returns made to them by my Department, in Table 7 of the Live Register statistical release (available at ). A tabular statement giving a breakdown of this total by last held occupation...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pensions (21 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Since 1961, when contributory pensions were introduced, the average contributions test has been used in calculating the rate of pension entitlement. Entitlement is banded, with the maximum rate payable to those with a yearly average of 48-52 contributions, and the minimum rate payable to those with a yearly average in the range of 10-14 contributions per year. Even if someone has only 10...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Poverty (21 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) for 2015 shows that 11.5 per cent of children were in consistent poverty. This is the first reduction in the number of children in consistent poverty since 2008. Compared to 2014, in 2015 there was a 13,000 or approximately 9 per cent decrease in the number of children in consistent poverty. The full impact of the recovery is not yet...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Paternity Leave Scheme (21 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The paternity benefit scheme was introduced on 1st September 2016 to enable fathers take time off work to care for their new born babies. The scheme provides payment for up to two weeks leave at the rate of €230 per week. Since its introduction, some 7,000 fathers have availed of the leave and the benefit payment. Details on the paternity benefit claims received in the period from...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (21 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 68 together. D.): The overall concern in recent years has been to protect the value of weekly social welfare rates. Expenditure on pensions, at approximately €7 billion, is the largest block of expenditure in my Department in the Estimate for 2017, representing approximately 35% of overall expenditure. Due to demographic changes, my...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Poverty (21 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Government policy around tackling poverty for children and families is articulated in Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures (BOBF): The national policy framework for children & young people 2014-2020, published by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in 2014. BOBF includes a target to reduce child poverty by two-thirds by 2020. Meeting this target means lifting 102,000 children...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance (21 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme 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 under other State schemes. Supports provided under the SWA scheme can consist of a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Brexit Issues (21 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: A key area of concern is the impact of Brexit on the current reciprocal arrangements for social insurance and social assistance schemes and child benefit between Ireland and the UK, including Northern Ireland. I met with the UK Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the Right Hon. Damian Green, M.P. on 2nd February 2017. Prior to that meeting, I also met informally with Mr Damian...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (21 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I am very much aware of the public concern highlighted by the recent publicity surrounding defined benefit (DB) schemes. DB schemes have been facing substantial challenges over the last two decades. This is due to volatility in the stock markets, increasing liabilities arising from the demographic pressures of increasing life expectancy, low interest rates, and regulatory requirements....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobPath Implementation (21 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy will be aware, JobPath is an employment activation service that supports people who are long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. The service is delivered by two companies, Seetec and Turas Nua. The service was rolled out on a phased basis over the period mid-2015 to July 2016, as a result the first...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (21 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: In order to qualify for a widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner’s contributory pension, a person must satisfy certain social insurance conditions and be a widow, widower or (since 1 January 2011) a surviving civil partner, and not be in a cohabiting relationship. The contributions must have been paid on one of the spouse/civil partners’ social insurance...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pensions Reform (21 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The State pension contributory is a very valuable benefit and is the bedrock of the Irish pension system. Therefore, it is important to ensure that those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund over their working lives. To ensure that the individual can maximise their entitlement to a State pension, all contributions paid or credited over their working...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Poverty Data (21 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The latest CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) results for 2015 show that the consistent poverty rate, for people in households headed by a person who was unable to work due to illness or a disability, was 22.4% in 2015. This compared to 14.4% the year before. The at-risk-of-poverty rate increased from 25.2% to 34.8% and basic deprivation rose from 51.3% to 53.2% for this...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Bereavement Grant (21 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: In recent Budgets the Department has protected primary social welfare rates. Abolishing the bereavement grant provided a significant annual saving. This allowed the Department to protect other social welfare payments such as the State pension. There are a range of supports available for people following bereavement which provide more significant support than the grant. These include a...