Results 19,241-19,260 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Data (21 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The rent supplement scheme plays a vital role in housing families and individuals supporting approximately 47,000 tenants for which the Government has provided €253 million for in 2017. The numbers in receipt of rent supplement are declining for a number of reasons including the continuing improvement in the economy and transfer to social housing options. The most significant policy...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pensions (21 Feb 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) 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 increase to 67 in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Payments (21 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: EU legislation provides that arrears of benefit due to a person payable by one Member State can be withheld or reduced, if required, by another Member State if that Member State had an assistance overpayment for the person concerned, relating to the same period. In this case, the person concerned applied for an Irish state pension (contributory) and indicated that they had also worked...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Payments (21 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Carer’s allowance was awarded to the person concerned on 26 January 2017 and she was notified on that date. Arrears of allowance due from 27 October 2016 to 8 February 2017 have issued to the person’s nominated post office on 9 February 2017. The person concerned was notified of these details on 9 February 2017. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (21 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 7 December 2016. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. If you require any further assistance on this please do not hesitate to contact my office. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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

Leo Varadkar: The following table shows the number of persons, by gender, who were awarded a state pension (contributory) in 2015 and 2016. Year Male Female Total 2015 18,392 12,061 30,453 2016 18,907 12,541 31,448 Entitlement to state pension (contributory) is decided having regard to an individual’s social insurance contribution history. It is not possible to quantify or aggregate the number...

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

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the following tabular statement. Recipients of Jobseeker’s allowance and Jobseeker’s Benefit by age and sex at the end of January 2017 - Jobseeker's Allowance - Jobseeker's Benefit - Age Male Female Male Female 18 1,256 990 0 1 19 2,084 1,585 5 7 20 2,270 1,615 21 16 21 2,207 1,478 80 77 22 2,307 1,494 146 166 23...

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 Ltd and Turas Nua Ltd. For the purposes of the JobPath service all long-term unemployed jobseekers on the Live Register...

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: Poverty Data (21 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I welcome the latest CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions results for 2015, showing improvements in living conditions and at tackling poverty. The CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) for 2015 shows that 31.4 per cent of children experienced deprivation. While this is higher than the national rate, this is a reduction on the 2014 figure of 36.1 per cent or 51,000 children....

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

Leo Varadkar: It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to the consistent poverty rate of children living in households headed by one parent. The latest CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) for 2015 shows that the consistent poverty rate for lone parent households is 26.2%, up from 25% in 2014. The deprivation rate for lone parent households fell from 58.7 per cent in 2014 to 57.9% in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Treatment Benefit Scheme Eligibility (21 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: As announced in Budget 2017, the treatment benefit scheme is being extended to cover self-employed contributors for the first time from March 2017. Department officials are involved in a consultative process with the relevant representative bodies at present. This consultative process should be finalised shortly. When the process is completed, it is intended to set and announce a...

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

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 13th February 2017, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department...

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

Leo Varadkar: All jobseekers claiming a jobseekers payment are required to be available and genuinely seeking work. They are also required to engage with the department’s activation service and this obligation applies irrespective of whether the service is provided by the department’s own case officers or those employed by the Local Employment Service or by JobPath companies. In general...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Labour Activation Measures (21 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: As Deputy may be aware, my colleague Paschal Donohoe T.D. Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, recently announced a new approach that will be taken to reviewing current Departmental expenditure in advance of Budget 2018. The purpose of this review is to ensure the best value for money for the taxpayer. It is quite distinct from the ‘savings’ reviews in Departmental...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (21 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The aim of Community Employment (CE) is to enhance the employability and mobility of disadvantaged and unemployed persons by providing work experience and training opportunities within their communities. CE participants are required to work 19.5 hours on a weekly basis. Current eligibility to participate on CE is linked to a person’s social welfare status (duration of payment) and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme (21 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 304 and 309 together. The rent supplement scheme, for which the Government has provided €253 million for in 2017, plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme currently supporting approximately 47,000 tenants, of which c. 2,500 are in Co. Kildare. In view of the on-going rental market difficulties, my Department implements a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Gender Recognition (21 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Section 10 of the Gender Recognition Act 2015 provides that an applicant for a gender recognition certificate shall furnish among other items, the forename and surname by which he or she wishes to be known and proof of his or her identity. Where a person notifies my Department of a change of name they are required to provide proof of the new name through either, evidence of "use and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (21 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 6 January 2017. 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. As part of the application process, the care recipient’s doctor must...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Information and Communications Technology (21 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department undertook a business study in 2015 to ascertain what the ICT implications of introducing the Eircode would be and this cost €5,701.56 (excluding VAT). The cost of the contract for the ICT work to implement Eircodes was €298,890 inclusive of VAT. The project was completed on time and within budget. Furthermore, my Department has the Eircode Address Database...