Results 19,361-19,380 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (7 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department received an application for Carer’s Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 4 November 2016. It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have a disability whose effect is that they require full-time care and attention. This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance...

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

Leo Varadkar: Each JobPath Provider’s website lists a service guarantee which will be offered to every participant, this covers a baseline level of service including frequency of engagement, personal progression planning, geographic accessibility and in-employment support. On referral, each jobseeker is assigned a personal advisor who assesses the person’s skills, experience, challenges and...

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

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned commenced on Community Employment (CE) on 24thSeptember 2012. He has an entitlement of up to six years (312 weeks) on CE, which would allow him to remain on CE until September 2018, subject to the renewal of the current scheme which is due to end on 2ndJune 2017 and the agreement of the Sponsoring Body. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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

Leo Varadkar: Community Employment (CE) is a labour market activation programme which helps long-term unemployed people (those 12 months or more in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment) and other disadvantaged groups to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work routine. The programme assists participants to enhance and develop skills which can...

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

Leo Varadkar: Community Employment (CE) is an employment programme with the aim of helping the long-term unemployed to re-enter the workforce by breaking their cycle of unemployment through a return to a regular work routine. CE also provides training and development to participants. The basic eligibility requirement is that a person is currently in receipt of a CE-qualifying payment from my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit Applications (7 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The client concerned made an application for jobseeker’s allowance on 4th October 2016. Her file was referred to a Social Welfare Inspector in order to fully establish her means from self-employment, casual work and property. Unfortunately there was a delay with this process and the Department apologises for this. A Deciding Officer contacted the client on 3rd February 2017,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Tús Programme (7 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Tús was set up to provide short-term work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. It is designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work readiness, thereby improving a person’s opportunities of returning to the labour market. In addition, as a community work placement scheme, Tús provides valuable services to local communities. The...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobBridge Programme (7 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. Its main aim was to help unemployed jobseekers to break the vicious cycle of ‘no experience no job, but no job no experience’. Since then over 19,000 Host Organisations have offered work placement opportunities to over...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Household Budget Facility (7 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Deductions from social welfare payments through the Household Budgeting facility are only available to customers who receive their payments at An Post. Where Household Budgeting is not an option, alternative arrangements should be made between the tenant and the housing body regarding the collection of rent. My Department is committed to ensuring customer choice in social welfare payment...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (7 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: An application for carer's allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 4 February 2016. As a result of an appeals officer’s decision the application was awarded to the person concerned on 3 February 2017, with effect from 9 June 2016, and the first payment will issue to her nominated post office on 9 February 2017. Arrears for the period 9 June 2016 to 8 February 2017...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (7 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. Where a person is not satisfied with the decision made on their entitlement to CA, they can appeal that decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office. In recent years, the increasing...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Delays (7 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Please see table below outlining the requested information from January 2016 to December 2016, the latest month for which figures are available. The average processing time is currently 11 weeks. Month Awarded Disallowed Total Jan 2016 1,023 802 1,825 Feb 2016 1,325 813 2,138 Mar 2016 1,087 712 1,799 Apr 2016 1,190 800 1,990 May 2016 1,405 878 2,283 Jun 2016 1,608 1,021 2,629 Jul...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (7 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 27th January 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: Farm Assist Scheme (7 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Decisions on farm assist are made by statutorily appointed deciding officers. The rules of natural justice and fair procedures are applied by deciding officers when making decisions that could have an adverse effect on the person concerned. When a person makes a claim for farm assist or where their claim is reviewed they are notified in writing of the decision and of their right to seek a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals (7 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: An application for a jobseeker’s allowance from the person concerned was disallowed as his means could not be determined due to outstanding documentation. The person concerned appealed the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. As part of the process the application was reviewed within the Intreo Centre and the original decision was upheld. The application papers and report...

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

Leo Varadkar: My Department provides a range of activation supports catering for long-term unemployed jobseekers and those most distant from the labour market. These supports include JobPath and employment programmes such as Community Employment (CE) and Tús schemes. The JobPath service aims to place people into full-time sustainable employment. The period of engagement with JobPath for any...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (7 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 24thJanuary 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: Back to Education Allowance Applications (7 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The objective of the back to education allowance scheme (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. The BTEA, which is designed to support second chance education, enables eligible persons to pursue approved education courses and to continue to receive income...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Drug Rehabilitation Projects (7 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: A new application for a Community Employment (CE) Drug Rehabilitation Scheme was received from the Kilkenny Amárach Nua CE Training Scheme Company Ltd. in November 2016. This application is currently under consideration and has not yet been approved by my Department therefore I cannot confirm any details. All CE Special Drugs Schemes have to comply with the CE Drug Programme Framework...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobBridge Scheme (7 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. Its main aim was to help unemployed jobseekers to break the vicious cycle of ‘no experience no job, but no job no experience’. Since then over 19,000 Host Organisations have offered work placement opportunities to over...