Results 19,721-19,740 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (14 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Details of Community Employment (CE) eligibility criteria are published on the Department’s website (welfare.ie) and on the Citzens Information website (citizensinformation.ie). Current eligibility to participate on CE is linked to a person’s social welfare status (duration of payment) and age. The CE Programme has two options: - Part Time Integration Option (PTI) provides for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times (14 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The average appeal processing time for all appeals determined to date in 2016 broken down by all social welfare scheme types is outlined in the following table. 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 an...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Reports (14 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. External consultant reports commissioned by Department of Social Protection since 6 May, 2016. Title of Report Company Publication Date/Estimated Publication Date Cost Jobseeker and JobPath Customer Satisfaction Survey 2016 – (this is the next annual round of Jobseeker Customer Satisfaction Survey which...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Unemployment Data (14 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: It is estimated by the Department of Social Protection based on micro-data from the CSO Quarterly National Household Survey that in the four quarters to Q2 2016 the average number of young persons not in employment, education or training (NEETs) was approximately 72,000 or 13.8% of the population aged 15-24. It should be noted that the way in which the EU-defined NEET concept is measured...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Programme for Government Implementation (14 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Programme for a Partnership Government includes a wide range of commitments which fall directly within the remit of my Department. While none of these commitments included a specific deadline of end-2016 for action to be taken, a substantial number of commitments are already being delivered upon. Budget 2017, for example, provided for €5 increases in the maximum weekly rates of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Poverty Data (14 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Eurostat Statistics on Income and Living Conditions 2014 show that the severe material deprivation rate for lone parent households in Ireland was 25.1% in 2014, reflecting a 7.2 percentage point decrease on the 2013 rate. This compares to an EU average of 19.2% in 2014. (See the following table) My Department estimates spending €500 million on the one-parent family payment (OFP)...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Data (14 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, my Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off and unforeseen expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. The Government has provided €30.3 million for the ENP scheme in 2016. There is no automatic entitlement to a payment....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (14 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned is currently in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance, fuel allowance and a top up supplementary welfare allowance. Her jobseeker’s allowance entitlement is currently being reviewed so that her payment rate will correspond with the change in her circumstances and any arrears due will issue to the person concerned promptly. The person concerned has submitted an...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Applications (14 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned does not have a pending application for an Exceptional Needs Payment. A Designated Officer from the Department will make contact with the person concerned to discuss the matter. I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (14 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Back to Education Allowance scheme is an educational opportunities scheme for persons in receipt of certain social welfare payments, wishing to pursue second or third level courses of education, subject to meeting the qualifying conditions. In this case, the person concerned was in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance which is a means tested payment. The person concerned...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (14 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Illness benefit and Invalidity pension are payments to persons who are unable to work due to illness and who satisfy certain statutory PRSI contribution conditions. The person concerned does not qualify for either of these benefits on her PRSI record. Disability Allowance is a means tested payment for persons who have a disability which is expected to last for at least twelve months....

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I am sorry to disappoint Senators, but I will not be able to accept this amendment. It proposes that the class K-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I am not going to. If abolished, the class K contribution of 4% made by a range of public officeholders, including the President, Members of both Houses and members of the Judiciary, would result in increases in net pay of up to €8,000 for some politicians and judges. The class K contributions were introduced at a time when the State was experiencing an unprecedented financial...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The House may also wish to note that during the crisis, class K contributions also were introduced for employed persons and certain occupational pensioners under the age of 66. These contributors also became liable for an additional class K liability without gaining additional entitlements based on the payment of that additional charge. While these contributions were already covered for all...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I can. I cannot confirm that the financial emergency is over, though.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: There was a couple of factors. I believe the FEMPI legislation in question was from 2011 but I will double-check it. The basic principle that I have applied to any change to social insurance treatment for councillors was that they should get fair treatment, not special treatment. That is why they will continue to pay PRSI but on the same basis that it is paid by an employee or...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I will speak a little about pensions in general, as Senators have referred to the issue, and then refer to the Bill. Senators of course know that there are many different types of pensions and issues relating to them. The State contributory pension is not means tested and is funded from PRSI. There is a State non-contributory pension which is means tested and is tax funded. There are...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: It should be no mystery as to why we have an emerging or extent pensions crisis in Ireland, because pensions were always calculated on the basis that people would pay into the system for 30, 40 or 50 years and only need pensions for a few years. We are now in a very different space. The last thing we need to do is make reforms or reverse some of the reforms that made things better for...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I was asked whether I would support to commit to supporting a Fianna Fáil Bill that has not been published. I will consider that, once I have seen the Bill, if it is even drafted. If the amendment tabled was in order, the most striking thing to me is the first line, which states that a solvent firm shall not be allowed to close a defined benefit pension scheme except in certain...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Redeployment (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 270, 271, 343 to 347, inclusive, together. At the outset it is very important to note that no jobs will be leaving Sligo rather staff will be reassigned roles within the area. The Department of Social Protection is responsible for the administration of 70 separate schemes and services at a cost of some €20 billion a year, which affect the lives...