Results 19,701-19,720 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (16 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Carer’s benefit (CARB) can be paid for a maximum of 104 weeks for each care recipient. The person concerned was in receipt of CARB up to 30 November 2016 when their claim expired after 104 weeks. An application for carer's allowance (CA) was received from her on 24 November 2016. CA was awarded to her on 12 December 2016 and the first payment for 15 December 2016 should be available...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobPath Data (16 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: In addition to providing income support my Department also provides employment services and supports to unemployed jobseekers and expects them to engage with such services in order to improve their prospects of securing employment and achieving financial self-sufficiency. This approach is in line with the principle of ‘rights and responsibilities’ whereby an unemployed...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Redeployment (16 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Transfers are carried out in accordance with agreements reached with staff unions. The majority of transfers into and out of the Social Welfare Appeals Office during the period under review involved the movement of existing departmental staff. A number of personnel were redeployed into the Appeals Office when particular units of work were relocated outside Dublin under decentralisation....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Data (16 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The rent supplement scheme is supporting approximately 48,600 tenants at a total cost of €267 million this year. A breakdown of rent supplement recipients by county is provided in the attached tabular statement. In recognition of the ongoing supply difficulties, my Department continues to implement a targeted case-by-case policy approach that allows for flexibility where landlords seek...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Widow's Pension Eligibility (16 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Widow’s, widower’s and surviving civil partner’s non-contributory pension is a means-tested payment. The person concerned was assessed with an overpayment of widow’s non-contributory pension, arising from a failure to declare her means from employment. A decision letter issued to the person concerned on 10 January 2013 informing them of the overpayment. If...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Live Register Data (16 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: During the recession, unemployment rose much more rapidly for men and for young people than it did for women aged over 25. The peak unemployment rate during the recession was 9.9% for women aged over 25; 16.1% for men aged over 25; 25.0% for women aged under 25; and 37.5% for men aged under 25. Inevitably, the recovery has seen the greatest falls in unemployment in those groups that...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Ministerial Travel (16 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I travelled on the Government jet on Wednesday 15 June 2016 from Dublin to Luxembourg with my Adviser and Private Secretary to attend a meeting of EPSCO. The Minister for Finance was the requester on this occasion.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Ministerial Travel (16 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Government Jet was used by Joan Burton TD as Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection during the dates March 2011 to February 2016 as follows: Date of travel Destination 3rd October 2012 Outwards to Brussels to meet with College of Commissioners travelled with Taoiseach 27th February 2013 Outwards to Brussels to attend EPSCO 19th June 2013 Outwards to Luxembourg to attend...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Applications (16 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned was awarded family income supplement (FIS) effective from 22 September 2016 to 20 September 2017. The one parent family (OFP) claim of the person concerned ceased on 12 October 2016 due to her youngest child reaching the age threshold for that payment. My Department advises that there is a system in place in FIS section where they are alerted in advance of cases where...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (16 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from this lady on 23 November 2016. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. The processing time for individual disability allowance claims may vary in accordance with their relative...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Appointments to State Boards (16 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of my Department are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council, the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a board) and the Social Welfare Tribunal.The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table: Name of Board or Agency Total No. of Board Members No. of Board Members who are...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (16 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from this man. On 5 December 2016 the person concerned was requested to supply supporting documentation in order to finalise the claim. On receipt of this information a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly in writing of the outcome. I trust this clarifies the matter...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Maternity Benefit Data (16 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of Justice and Equality have responsibility for maternity and paternity leave which are provided for in the 1994 and 2004 Maternity Acts and the Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016. The Department of Social Protection has responsibility for maternity and paternity benefit payments provided for in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended). As the Deputy will be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (16 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Department has not, to date, received an application for Rent Supplement from the client concerned. The client should forward an application to be assessed for entitlement to Rent Supplement to the Mid-Leinster Rents Unit, PO Box 11758, Dublin 24. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. If you require any further assistance with this query please do not hesitate to contact...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (16 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The details of this case have been explained in replies to several Parliamentary Questions; most recently in questions 36185 and 32749-16. The current question contains the assertion that the person concerned retained an entitlement to a jobseekers allowance payment following the decision of the Appeals Officer to disallow his claim. However, there has been no claim made to the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Contracts (16 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Department’s existing cash payments contract with An Post began on 1 January 2014 for an initial two years with an option for extension for a further four years on a yearly basis, a total of six years. The contract was renewed in late 2015 for a further year covering 2016 and will be renewed again in the coming days for a further year covering 2017.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Supervisors (16 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The matter of a pension for Community Employment Scheme Supervisors is currently being considered by a high level working group, set up under the auspices of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER). This Group includes officials from the Departments of Public Expenditure, Social Protection and Environment, Community and Local Government, as well as from Pobal and the two...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Applications (16 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Jobseeker’s Allowance application of the person concerned has been referred for further investigation to a Social Welfare Inspector, who will be in touch with her if further information is required. A decision on the application will issue to the person concerned once the assessment has been completed. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Seanad: Registration of Wills Bill 2016: Second Stage (14 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Senators for giving me the opportunity to consider and discuss this important and interesting topic. As Senator Terry Leyden said, even debating the issue is of value because it gets people thinking about the importance of having a will. It got me thinking, first, about the fact that I did not have one and, second, that I did not know that a will became void if one got married,...

Seanad: Registration of Wills Bill 2016: Second Stage (14 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Also, I did not realise so many Senators were solicitors until the debate commenced today. Having listened to the very short debate we have had, I am a little better disposed to the merits of the idea than I might have been even an hour ago. I acknowledge the initiative of Senators Terry Leyden, Catherine Ardagh and Lorraine Clifford-Lee in drafting the Bill. I can certainly see why it...