Results 19,561-19,580 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Schemes (24 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department measures the performance of each scheme area on a monthly basis. Backlogs in each area can be measured by the number of claims pending a decision at the end of each month. Figures for 2016 are currently being finalised by my officials, and I will supply the requested data directly to the Deputy as soon as this process is completed.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (24 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 311, 315 and 320 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Unemployment (24 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Government’s primary strategy to reduce youth unemployment is through policies to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting competitiveness and productivity. Economic recovery will underpin jobs growth and the availability of productive employment for young people. This strategy has been succeeding; by Q1 2016 the number of people in employment is up by...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Live Register Data (24 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The official measure of unemployment is sourced from the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS). Measures of unemployment from the QNHS are based on International Labour Office (ILO) definitions. To be ‘ILO unemployed’ a person must in the week before the survey be without work but available for work and have recently taken specific job-search steps. The Live Register,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pensions (24 Jan 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: Social Welfare Schemes Data (24 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 316 and 317 together. The following tables provide the details which have been requested by the Deputy in respect of 2015 and 2016. The schemes with the highest number of appeals to the Social Welfare Appeals Office in 2015 and 2016 were - disability allowance (6,435 in 2015/4,912 in 2016), carer’s allowance (3,188 in 2015/3,887 in 2016),...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (24 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: In the preparation of this year’s Budget, I gave consideration to a number of approaches to improve the position of social welfare recipients generally and to make the social insurance system more comprehensive. As part of this consideration, I took account of the views of members of the Oireachtas and a wide range of welfare representative groups including those relating to the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (24 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The numbers of Dental Benefit claims paid in each of the last five years are as follows: Year Dental Benefit claims 2012 270,600 2013 298,700 2014 310,350 2015 312,700 2016 319,600 Stats are compiled on a monthly basis, those relating to January 2017 are not yet collated.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme (19 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: 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 Éireann, Iarnród Éireann, Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators. There are currently approximately 873,000 customers with direct...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service Data (19 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: 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 problems, in particular those on low incomes or living on social welfare payments. As part of its free services, MABS provides help and advice to those in mortgage arrears. MABS local services are staffed by...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit Payments (19 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: According to the records of the Department, the person concerned has not submitted an application for a jobseeker’s payment. It is open to the person concerned to call to his local Branch Office in Maynooth where a member of staff will be in a position to advise him of his Social Welfare entitlements and assist him make an application. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (19 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The details of this case have been explained in replies to several Parliamentary Questions; most recently in questions 36185, 32749 & 40764-16. As previously outlined, his claim for jobseekers allowance from an address in Co Kildare was disallowed, a decision he appealed and lost, in July 2015. He subsequently claimed jobseekers allowance from the family home in May 2016 and this...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Offices (19 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of Social Protection delivers its services in County Monaghan through our network of offices including Branch Offices, Community Welfare Clinics, Activation Services, Social Welfare Inspectorate Services, Community Employment Services, Local Employment Services (LES) and the JobPath Programme. Provision of information and access to income supports is provided by the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Payments (19 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Carer’s allowance (CA) is in payment to the person concerned since 9 August 2012 in respect of care recipient. Following your representations the rate of payment has been increased to full rate from 15 December 2016. Payment at the increased rate is due to issue to the nominated bank account on 26 January 2017. Arrears of allowance due from 15 December 2016 to 18 January 2017 will...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (19 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I understand from the Deputy’s office that the background to this question is that a farmer in the Deputy’s constituency was refused his jobseeker’s allowance claim on the basis of means, and was advised that “reasonable expenses” had been allowed in his means assessment. Social welfare legislation provides that all income and property of the claimant and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (19 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on the 20 October 2016. The application has been awarded to the person concerned from 20 October 2016 and the first payment will issue to their nominated post office on 9 February 2017. Arrears of allowance due from 20 October 2016 to 8 February 2017 will issue shortly. The...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (19 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: An application for Carer's Allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 5 October 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 throughout the day in connection with...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (19 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: People assessed by a local authority as having a housing need apply for housing support under the Housing Assistance Payment scheme (HAP) rather than Rent Supplement scheme. An application for Rent Supplement from the person concerned was received in this Department on 28 November 2016. This application was not deemed appropriate for Rent Supplement, however, and the person concerned was...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (19 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: An application for Rent Supplement was received for the person concerned on 10/01/2017. She has been requested to supply a letter from her landlord confirming proof of ownership of the property. When this is received, her application will be assessed. I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Job Initiatives (19 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Gateway is a county and city council work scheme which aims to provide short-term, quality work opportunities to those who are unemployed for more than 24 months. Gateway was introduced in 2013 as a response to the high levels of unemployment at that the time. Participants improve their employability and work readiness through work opportunities with structured environments where existing...