Results 19,421-19,440 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rural Social Scheme (1 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The rural social scheme (RSS) provides opportunities for low income farmers and fishermen who are currently in receipt of specified social welfare payments to work to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities. While communities benefit from the skills and talents of local farmers and fishermen, participants also have the opportunity to improve existing skills, or develop new...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Services for People with Disabilities (1 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department provides an annual funding contribution of €1.5 million towards the Rural Transport Programme (RTP) which is administered by the National Transport Authority. That programme provides services to people whose travel needs are not met by existing bus or train services. The Programme aims to enhance and sustain nationwide accessibility, through community based...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: EU Funding (1 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has not been involved in putting forward projects to the Department of Finance task force in relation to the European Fund for Strategic Investments.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (1 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 5thJanuary 2017. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Data (1 Feb 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The rent supplement scheme plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme currently supporting approximately 47,100 tenants for which the Government has provided €253 million for in 2017. A breakdown of rent supplement recipients by county is provided in the attached tabular statement, this information is not maintained by local authority area or family unit....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Commissions of Investigation (1 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 have either been completed, or are currently ongoing, in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (31 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Rent Supplement payment for the client concerned is due to issue overnight in regards her rent increase. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (31 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The client concerned was requested to provide the Department with further documentation regarding her rent application on 6thJanuary 2017. On receipt of same, the claim will be assessed with regard to entitlement. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Payments (31 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: As a result of an appeals officer’s decision, carer's allowance was awarded to the person concerned on 26 January 2017 and the first payment will issue to her nominated Post Office on 2 February 2017. Arrears due for the period 3 September 2015 to 1 February 2017 will issue shortly. The person concerned was notified on 26 January 2017 of the outcome. I hope this clarifies the matter...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Respite Care Grant Eligibility (31 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The carer’s support grant (CSG) is an annual, non means tested payment, made by my Department to full-time carers. It is paid automatically to carers who are already in receipt of carer’s allowance, carer’s benefit and domiciliary care allowance. Payment is made on the 1st Thursday in June. Other people who are not in receipt of a social welfare payment but who are...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Administration (31 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: There are no plans to introduce a surcharge on the free travel pass and I am fully committed to its retention as a service provided without charge to passholders. The free travel scheme provides free travel for those with eligibility on the main public and private transport services which includes road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pensions Insolvency Payments Scheme (31 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 332 and 333 together. The mediated agreement for former Waterford Crystal workers covers 1,774 members of the Waterford Crystal Pension Factory and Staff Schemes. As the Deputy is aware, the vast majority of former workers have agreed full and final settlements and are in receipt of their payments. During the mediation process it was agreed by the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (31 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Following a review of entitlement, jobseeker’s payment in respect of the person concerned has been reinstated and all payment due to her is available for collection at her nominated post office on 31 January 2017. Application forms for Supplementary Welfare Allowance were issued by post to the person concerned on 24/01/2017. These forms were not returned to the Community Welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (31 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Services Programme (31 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The community services programme (CSP) provides financial support to community companies that provide revenue generating services of a social inclusion nature. The CSP works on a social-enterprise model. This means that it does not fully fund contract holders but requires that they generate revenue by charging fees or raising funds. All CSP recipients are obliged to meet these criteria....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Dietary Allowance Administration (31 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Diet supplement, administered under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, is payable to qualifying persons, in receipt of the supplement prior to February 2014, who have been prescribed a special diet as a result of a specified medical condition. There are currently 3,400 in receipt of the diet supplement of diet supplement at a cost of €4.6 million in 2017. Following...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (31 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The rent supplement scheme, the purpose of which is to provide short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation, is currently supporting approximately 47,100 tenants at a total cost of €253 million in 2017. Under Social Welfare legislation, people engaged in full-time education are generally excluded from receiving rent supplement. Those...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Contracts (31 Jan 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. Two companies, Seetec and Turas Nua, have been contracted to deliver the service. The service is being delivered through a payment by results model and all initial costs are...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (31 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 6 January 2017. When the application form was examined, it was discovered that a large part was left incomplete. Accordingly the application could not be processed. My Department contacted the applicant on 27 January 2017 to request the missing information. Once the outstanding...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rural Social Scheme Administration (31 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Rural Social Scheme (RSS) was introduced in 2004. It is managed by 35 Local Development Companies (LDCs) and by Údarás Na Gaeltachta. As the Deputy will be aware, many rural areas benefit from the services provided by the RSS and the positive impact the scheme has on the livelihoods of farming families and rural communities. Supervisors employed to support RSS participants...