Results 19,681-19,700 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

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

Leo Varadkar: Volunteer development workers who work abroad in developing countries are exempt from paying social insurance contributions while abroad. They may, however be awarded credited contributions (credits) for the duration of their absence, up to an aggregate of 5 years. A volunteer development workers is defined as a person who is employed temporarily outside the State in a developing country...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Fraud Data (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The majority of people in receipt of a payment from the Department of Social Protection receive what they are entitled to be paid. Nevertheless, my Department recognises that abuse of the welfare system is an ongoing reality and must be tackled proactively. Anti-fraud measures are set out in the Department’s Compliance and Anti-Fraud Strategy 2014 – 2018 and are designed to...

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

Leo Varadkar: Details of the PPS Numbers allocated broken down by nationality are available here: www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Personal-Public-Service-Number-Stati stics-on-Numbers-Issued.aspx. While the Department does not compile detailed statistics on period employment activity, it should be noted that PPS Numbers are not allocated solely for employment purposes, and that many of them are issued for a range...

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

Leo Varadkar: In 2016, a Christmas bonus payment of 85% of the appropriate weekly amount was paid to all those in receipt of a qualifying payment exceeding 390 days. Any person who was previously on Back to Work Enterprise Allowance and returned directly to Jobseeker's Allowance and the combined period on both schemes exceeded 390 days was entitled to the Christmas bonus. The person concerned is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: 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, thereby standardising State pension age for all at 66 years, which is the current State pension age. This will increase to 67 in 2021 and to 68 in 2028. Each year more people are...

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 28 October 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: Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy (where available) is detailed in the following tabular statement. Social Welfare claims by average waiting times 31 December 2016 Scheme Average Waiting Time (weeks) Jobseeker's Benefit 1 Jobseeker's Allowance 2 One-Parent Family Payment 5 State Pension Contributory (Dom) 6 Widow’s, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner’s...

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

Leo Varadkar: It is not possible at this stage to estimate what additional costs above the annual running costs that would be incurred to put the social welfare appeals office on a statutory footing.

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 benefit from the person concerned on 22 November 2016. Additional information in relation to the person’s application was requested by a deciding officer on 12 January 2017. Once the information is received the application will be processed without delay and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Parliamentary Question No. 187 of 1 December refers; the person concerned was in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance pending the processing of a jobseeker's allowance application. The person concerned did not disclose that she was in receipt of carers allowance at the maximum rate. Under the legislation that governs the carers allowance scheme, jobseekers allowance cannot be paid...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Data (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department provides a range of programmes, including Community Employment (CE), Tús, and the Rural Social Scheme, to cater for the long-term unemployed jobseekers and those most distant from the labour market. The following are the numbers employed on the respective programmes as at year-end 2016: Community Employment - 22,356 Tús - 7,273 Rural Social Scheme - 2,571 These...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Data (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Number of persons participating in Community Employment Schemes, Tús and Rural Social Scheme in Co. Clare are as follows: Schemes No. of persons Community Employment 494 Tús 117 Rural Social Scheme 117

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Applications Data (17 Jan 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The information referred to by the Deputy in relation to number of applications made for invalidity pension and domiciliary care allowance was published in Section J of the 2015 Annual Statistical Report on my Department’s website and can be accessed at . With regard to the number of applications refused by my Department during any year, this statistic is not segregated from the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Data Protection (17 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. The service is delivered by two companies, Seetec and Turas Nua. Information is shared with these companies to enable them to provide employment services on behalf of the...

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

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned will be contacted by a member of staff from the Clondalkin Intreo Centre to discuss a repayment schedule which will take into account her circumstances.

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

Leo Varadkar: The claim of the person concerned was disallowed on 22 November 2016 on Habitual Residence Condition and means grounds. He requested a review of the decision and his claim was returned to the Social Welfare Inspector on 8 December 2016. The Social Welfare Inspector has now reviewed the file and Mr. Olubode will be informed of the decision this week. If Mr. Olubode is not satisfied with the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Labour Activation Projects (17 Jan 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. ...

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 concerned on 17 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: Employment Support Services (16 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: JobPath is a new service to support jobseekers whereby the Department of Social Protection has procured additional resources, under contract, to enable it provide a high quality case managed employment support service to people who are long term unemployed. JobPath supplements the internal case management capacity of the Department’s Intreo service and the Local Employment Service....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Fund (16 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Self-employed people who earn €5,000 or more in a contribution year, are liable for PRSI at the Class S rate of 4%, subject to a minimum annual payment of €500. This provides them with access to the following benefits: State pension (contributory) and Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension (contributory), Guardian’s Payment...