Results 19,641-19,660 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

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

Leo Varadkar: Carer’s allowance (CA) was awarded to the person concerned on 11 January 2017. The first payment is due to issue to his nominated bank account on 19 January 2017. The person concerned was notified of these details by letter on 11 January 2017. The letter also advised him that the Department proposes to reduce the amount of an existing debt, arising from a previous overpayment, by...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (17 Jan 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 10thJanuary 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: Carer's Allowance Appeals (17 Jan 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 convene an oral hearing in this case. Every effort will be made to hear the case as quickly as possible and the appellant will be informed when arrangements for the oral hearing have been made. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions...

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

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on 3 November 2016. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The application for disability allowance (DA) from this lady was disallowed by a deciding officer (DO) who decided that she did not satisfy the medical conditions for the scheme. Notification of this decision issued on 25 October 2016. The person in question has lodged an appeal with the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). All the relevant papers requested by that Office...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 15thDecember 2016. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection These papers have been received in the Social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (17 Jan 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 11thJanuary 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (17 Jan 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 28thNovember 2016, 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: Disability Allowance Appeals (17 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 including that adduced at the oral hearing, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the disability allowance appeal of the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who decided to hold an oral hearing in this case on 06thDecember 2016. However, the hearing was adjourned in order to allow the provision of additional information. On receipt of the additional evidence the Appeals Officer will schedule a further...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 616 and 664 together. The farm assist scheme was introduced in 1999 to provide income support for low income farmers. It replaced the former smallholders’ unemployment assistance payment. In line with the then existing arrangements for unemployment assistance (including smallholders) and pre-retirement allowance, the income of farm assist...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Benefit Eligibility (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s benefit (CARB) from the person concerned on 30 November 2016. CARB is a PRSI based payment made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has a disability such that they require that level of care. A person can be considered to be providing full-time care and attention where they are...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Funding (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: There are currently no capital investment projects or grants, under way or approved, for funding by my department, for County Wexford.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pensions Reform (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 provided that State pension age will be increased gradually to 68 years. This began in January 2014 with the abolition of the State pension (transition) available from 65 for those who satisfied the qualifying conditions, thereby standardising State pension age for all at 66 years, which is the current State pension age. This will increase to 67 in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Generally customers are more likely now than before to have an attachment to the workforce thus ensuring more awareness of their entitlements arising from their PRSI contributions. This, together with my Department’s focus on providing information to the public, ensures that people are more aware than ever of social welfare schemes and entitlements and are more likely to apply on...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 622, 624 and 633 together. I am very much aware of the public concern highlighted by the recent publicity surrounding the Independent News and Media (INM) pension scheme. In considering this matter it is imperative that any potential legislative change should be fully evaluated to ensure that the equilibrium of the pension sector is maintained. Any...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Funding (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Westport INTREO office was completed in 2015 and officially opened on 26 May, 2015. Project Status @ 31/12/2016 Funding (2014-2016) Westport INTREO Completed €1,011,492

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Records (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department’s costs in relation to 3rd party off-site storage from 2014 to 2016 are set out in the following table:- Year 2014 2015 2016 Cost €164,393 €187,436 €121,020 These costs relate mainly to document handling and retrieval at the off-site facility. The cost of the facility itself is borne by the Office of Public Works (OPW). The OPW also provides the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I can confirm that my department received an application for disability allowance from this lady on 28 October 2016. On 14 December 2016 the person concerned was requested to supply supporting documentation required by the deciding officer in order to make a decision on her eligibility. On receipt of this information a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The average appeal processing times for all appeals determined from 2014 to 2016 broken down by all social welfare scheme types is outlined in the following tables. Significant effort and resources have been devoted to reforming the appeals process in recent years resulting in a marked improvement in overall appeal processing times. The average time taken to determine an appeal requiring...