Results 19,581-19,600 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

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

Leo Varadkar: Core to the Programme for Government is improving the position of the self-employed generally, including the commitment to introduce an enhanced PRSI scheme for the self-employed. Making progress on this commitment has been one of my key priorities since becoming Minister in this Department. On Budget Day, I was pleased to announce a number of important measures which will benefit the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: School Meals Programme (19 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to schools and organisations benefitting over 200,000 children at a total cost of €42 million in 2016. As part of Budget 2017, I announced an additional €5.7 million for school meals which will benefit over 50,000 children. From September 2016 additional funding is being provided to DEIS schools...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Data (19 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 to 167, inclusive, together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Brexit Issues (19 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The details, to date, are as follows: Date Meeting with Meeting Areas covered 14 July 2016 Mr Dragos Nicolae Pislaru - Minister for Labour, Family Social Protection and the Elderly, Romania Informal Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council [EPSCO], Bratislava, Slovakia Social Security, Posted Workers 8 December 2016 Mr Damian Hinds, Minister for Employment, UK...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Applications (18 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: An application form for Supplementary Welfare Allowance was posted to the person concerned on 10/01/2017. An assessment will be made when the completed application form and any additional documents are received by the Community Welfare Officer. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Review (18 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department operates a number of programmes including Community Employment (CE), Tús, Gateway and the Rural Social Scheme that provide part-time temporary work in local communities, including opportunities for training and development as a stepping-stone back to employment, for people in receipt of a range of social welfare payments, including those on a long-term jobseeker’s...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Administration (18 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Subject to the client identifying a suitable vacancy and being facilitated by another Community Employment scheme, the Department will endeavour to facilitate this transfer for the person concerned. I trust this clarifies the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (18 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 provided for the necessary amendments to increase the State pension age in line with the National Pensions Framework as set out in the EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland. It provided for an increase in the age for qualification for the State Pension from 66 years to 67 years from 2021, and a further increase to 68 years from 2028. It...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (18 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Green Paper consultation process commenced in October 2007 and was completed in May 2008 and it formed the basis of the National Pension Framework published in 2010. These reports are available on my Department’s website. Since its publication many of the areas identified have been subject to legislative change. My Department continues to work to improve the pension’s...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Investigations (18 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Tribunals of inquiry are established by resolution of the Houses of the Oireachtas to enquire into matters of urgent public importance. 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 tribunals of inquiry or commissions...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme (17 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: Carer's Allowance Applications (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Carer’s allowance was awarded to the person concerned on 9 December 2016 and the first payment issued to their nominated bank account on 12 December 2016. Arrears of allowance due from 18 August 2016 to 14 December 2016 have also issued to the bank. The person concerned was notified of these details on 9 December 2016. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Appeals (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: An application for family income supplement (FIS) was made by the person concerned but was disallowed on the grounds that the net weekly assessable earnings exceeded the prescribed income level for the number of people in the family. The person concerned has now appealed this decision on 3rdJanuary 2017 and this information has now been forwarded to the Chief Appeals Office, D’Olier...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Christmas bonus is a payment equivalent to 85% of the appropriate amount of a person’s weekly payment, which is to be paid to all customers on a long-term Social Welfare payment who meet certain criteria. The person concerned is in receipt of a Jobseeker's Allowance payment. One of the criteria to qualify for this bonus is that one must be in receipt of this payment in excess of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 533 and 542 together. The legislation governing the issue of a PPS Number is the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended. Sections 262(2) and (2A) provide that – (2) The Minister may, subject to subsection (2A), allocate and issue a personal public service number to each person who is the subject of any transaction with a specified body....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Sections 50 and 50B of the Pensions Act, respectively, give the Authority the powers to direct trustees of defined benefit (DB) schemes to reduce benefits under a scheme or to wind up the scheme. These powers may be exercised by the Authority where a DB scheme fails to meet the statutory funding standard under the Act. The Authority recognises the serious nature of these powers and the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Sections 50 and 50B of the Pensions Act, respectively, give the Pensions Authority the powers to direct trustees of defined benefit (DB) schemes to reduce benefits under a scheme or to wind up the scheme. These powers may be exercised by the Authority where a DB scheme fails to meet the statutory funding standard under the Act and where a sustainable funding proposal is not put in place. ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I understand the importance of ensuring that safeguards are in place for scheme members where a pension scheme is being wound up as a result of a direction by the Pensions Authority. The Pensions Authority has the power to issue a direction to the trustees of a defined benefit pension scheme to: - restructure scheme benefits under section 50 of the Pensions Act or - wind up a defined...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Pensions Act requires that trustees arrange for an actuary to carry out a valuation of a defined benefit (DB) pension scheme’s liabilities and assets at regular intervals and submit an actuarial valuation certificate to the Pensions Authority outlining the funding position of the scheme. The date of each scheme valuation must be not later than 3 years after the last date of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I recognise the importance of pension scheme trustees keeping their investment strategies under review. Section 59(1B) of the Pensions Act requires trustees of a scheme, other than a small scheme, to: (a) prepare and maintain a written statement of the investment policy principles applied to the resources of the , (b) review the statement at least every 3 years, and (c) revise the statement...