Results 19,781-19,800 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The table indicates the social welfare claims by average waiting times on 31 October 2016. Scheme Average Waiting Time (weeks) Jobseeker's Benefit 1 Jobseeker's Allowance 2 Carer's Allowance N/A Carer's Benefit N/A Invalidity Pension 9 Disability Allowance 12 Domiciliary Care Allowance 16 State Pension Contributory 5 State Pension Non-Contributory 14 Child Benefit (Domestic...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department received an application for carer's allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 18 August 2016. The application was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer's allowance are satisfied. Once the SWI has reported, a decision will be made and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department received an application for carer's allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 12 July 2016. Unfortunately, the medical part of the form was not fully and appropriately completed so it had to be returned. Following a reminder from my Department, this part of the form was returned on 2 December 2016. The application is currently being processed and once...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Legislative Programme (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: My Department's normal legislative cycle involves the enactment of two or more Social Welfare Bills each year: (a) a Bill in November/December to implement the annual social welfare changes announced in the October Budget, and (b) a Bill in spring/early summer to provide a legal basis within the social welfare code for policy, administrative and operational changes (and Budget measures, if...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Benefit Applications (13 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that my department received an application for carer's benefit from the person concerned on 26 September 2016. It is a condition for receipt of carer's benefit that the person being cared for must have a disability whose effect is that they require full-time care and attention. This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (8 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 30thNovember 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: Pre-Retirement Allowance (8 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Since the 4th July 2007, Pre-Retirement Allowance was abolished for new customers. However, customers who were already in receipt of Pre-Retirement Allowance on that date continue to receive payment as long as they satisfied the conditions for payment. The overall concern in recent years has been to protect the value of weekly social welfare rates. Expenditure on pensions, at...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (8 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: An application for carer's allowance was received from the person concerned on 28 September 2016. The application is currently being examined by a deciding officer and once processed, 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 Applications (8 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: An application for carer's allowance was received from the person concerned on 8 November 2016. The application is currently being examined by a deciding officer and once processed, 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: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (8 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: As detailed to the Deputy in reply to Parliamentary Question No 31509-16 and several related Parliamentary Questions this Rent Supplement was closed on 21stDecember 2015 as a result of information requested from the client not being submitted. It was also outlined to the Deputy that the client should make a new application for Rent Supplement if she wished to further their application. The...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Applications (8 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: An application for financial assistance was submitted by one of the persons concerned for floor covering and an exceptional needs payment was awarded and issued on 24 November 2016. There are no further applications pending in this case. It is open to the persons concerned to submit a further application for financial assistance should their circumstances warrant this. For convenience an...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (8 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned is in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance in respect of himself, a qualified adult and 2 qualified children. Weekly means have been assessed based on spousal employment. The current weekly rate payable is based on the information available to the Department. If the person concerned wishes his Jobseeker’s Allowance to be reviewed he should supply the most...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (8 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: If travel costs are payable as part of a specific course, such costs would be paid by the relevant Educational Training Board. A jobseeker’s allowance claim is closed by my Department when a person commences a course. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (8 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The requirements for the allocation of a Personal Public Service (PPS) Number are – - acceptable evidence of identity, e.g., a current valid passport or, for nationals of a country of the European Economic Area such as Norway, a National ID card; - evidence as to why a PPS Number is required (i.e., to carry out a transaction with a State body specified in legislation as permitted to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Bodies Data (8 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: There are 5 statutory bodies operating under the aegis of my Department. These 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 table. BOARD TOTAL NO. OF BOARD MEMBERS TOTAL NO. OF BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE WOMEN % OF...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Redeployment (8 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: On 1 January 2012, some 770 staff were redeployed from FÁS to my Department and of these about half were Employment Service Officers who provided and continue to provide a range of services to unemployed jobseekers throughout the country. However, even with these staff, additional capacity was still required to meaningfully engage with unemployed jobseekers and in particular with the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobsIreland Service (8 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Jobsireland.ie is a free online jobs site that enables employers to post job opportunities and jobseekers to search and apply for these opportunities online. The new service has been available since 28th July 2016, replacing an older site that enabled jobseekers to search for job opportunities based on job type and location, but did not facilitate employers to search for suitable jobseekers...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Ministerial Staff (8 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I wish to advise the Deputy that the number of ministerial appointments in my Department is four. Below you will find a list of their roles and annual salaries. Role Annual Salary Special Adviser €99,370 Press Adviser €87,258 Civilian Driver €32,965 Civilian Driver €32,965 Total Cost €252,558 I am also provided with the services of a personal...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Ministerial Staff (8 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: While no civil or public servants are seconded to work in my constituency office, there are currently two civil servants from my Department working in the constituency office in the Department as follows: Grade Salary scale: Executive Officer €29,024 to €45,616 Clerical Officer €23,177 to €37,341 I am also provided with the services of a personal secretary who...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Data (8 Dec 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 128 to 130, inclusive, together. I wish to advise the Deputy that the information requested is not readily available within the timeframe for this PQ response. However officials of my Department are currently retrieving and collating the information requested and will forward to the Deputy when completed.