Results 19,341-19,360 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (9 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: Farm Assist Scheme Data (9 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of recipients of Farm Assist in each county is detailed in the table. The breakdown of the moneys paid to recipients is not collated on a county basis by my Department. I am however informed that the total expenditure on Farm Assist in each of the years 2012 to 2015 was approximately €108.2m, €99.2m, €93.6m,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (9 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No 196 of 2nd November 2016 and Parliamentary Question No 123 of 14th July 2016. The client concerned has not, to date, provided the Department with an up to date Rent Supplement application form confirming an increase to their monthly rent. On receipt of same, the client's entitlement can be re-assessed. I trust this clarifies the matter for the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (9 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The client concerned has been requested to provide the Department with relevant documentation regarding her Rent Supplement claim. On receipt of same, the client's entitlement will be re-assessed. The Deputy should note that under the Private Rental Tenancies legislation a rent supplement uplift request is unable to be granted before 24 months has elapsed since the commencement date of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (9 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The client concerned has been requested to provide a current lease agreement for her rental property. This documentation has not, to date, been received by the Department. On receipt of same, the client’s entitlement to Rent Supplement can be assessed. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (9 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: According to the records of the Department the person concerned is currently in receipt of a disability allowance payment, and has not submitted any recent application for basic payment under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. It is open to the person concerned to contact her local Community Welfare Service should she be experiencing financial hardship and to seek advice in relation...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Partial Capacity Benefit Scheme Applications (9 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned is in receipt of invalidity pension and has made an application for Partial Capacity Benefit (PCB). The PCB is a Social Welfare scheme which allows a person, who may not have full capacity for work, to return to employment and continue to receive a payment from my Department. A person who applies for PCB will, in the first instance, be assessed by a medical assessor who...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (9 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Department has not, to date, received an application for Rent Supplement from the client concerned. The client should forward an application in order to be assessed for entitlement to the Mid-Leinster Rent Unit, PO Box 11758, Dublin 24. I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Eligibility (8 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The One-Parent Family Payment is a means-tested payment which is made to men or women who are caring for a child or children without the support of a partner. This scheme was introduced on 2 January 1997, and replaced the Lone Parent’s Allowance and the Deserted Wife's Benefit. The One-Parent Family Payment has never been split between parents – it has always been paid to the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payments (8 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the can make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. Where the need is of a recurring nature, a weekly or monthly supplement under the SWA scheme may be awarded. The Government has provided some...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Appointments to State Boards (8 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of my Department are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council, the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a Board) and the Social Welfare Tribunal. There are no vacancies on the boards of the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council or the Social Welfare Tribunal. There is currently one vacancy on the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (8 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The application for carer’s allowance (CA) in respect of the person concerned was awarded on 6 February 2017 in respect of two care recipients. The first payment of CA is due to issue to her nominated bank account on 9 February 2017. Arrears of allowance due from 22 September 2016 to 8 February 2017 have issued to the bank. The person concerned was notified of these details on 6...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Commissions of Inquiry (8 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Commissions of investigation can investigate matters of significant public concern and are set up by Government order. Such commissions are currently provided for by the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004. No such commissions of investigation, inquiry or other formal investigations are currently ongoing in my Department.

Pensions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (7 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Yes.

Pensions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (7 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Perhaps the remainder of my speech might be included in the record.

Pensions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (7 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I welcome the opportunity to engage in a discussion of the problems in defined benefit pension schemes. The provisions contained in the Bill propose major changes to the Pensions Act. The changes would have significant and far-reaching consequences for the defined benefit pension sector in Ireland. I will speak first about the general issues affecting defined benefit schemes and then about...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Redundancy Data (7 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: 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. The total number of claims received under the redundancy payments scheme for the years 2011 to 2016 and in January, 2017, is provided in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (7 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The 2017 and 2018 costs of the Department’s Budget 2017 measures are outlined in the table. Budget 2017 Measures 2017 Cost (€m) 2018 cost (€m) €5 Weekly Rate increases Increase the weekly rates of payment €5 per week for pensioners and recipients aged under 66, with proportional increases for qualified adults and those on reduced rates [March 2017]....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (7 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department provides a range of activation supports for unemployed jobseekers. These supports include the JobPath service and employment programmes such as the Community Employment (CE) schemes for long term unemployed and Intreo activation support for the short term unemployed. The JobPath service is provided for jobseekers only, whereas CE provides part time temporary work in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Respite Care Grant Appeals (7 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing in this case on 22February 2017. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department...