Noel Dempsey
Question:124 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will outline (a) the number of new schemes introduced by him since 1987 and (b) the alterations and improvements to previously existing schemes.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Schemes.
A wide variety of new social welfare schemes and improvements have been introduced over this period, affecting all categories of social welfare recipients. The following is an outline of the main initiatives which I have taken for the different categories involved.
Unemployed; Abolition of lower rural rate of unemployment assistance. Extension of free fuel schemes to long term unemployed. National Jobsearch programme. Vocational training opportunities scheme. Part-time job incentive scheme. Voluntary work option. Second-level education initiative. VPT courses for long term unemployed. Pilot scheme of third level education. Pre-retirement allowance scheme. Extension of Christmas bonus to long term unemployed.
Families; Higher rate of child benefit for fourth and subsequent children. Streamlining of child dependant rates from 36 to three. Minimum payment of £12 per week for child dependants. Payment of increases for children of long term recipients up to age 21 if in full-time education. Lone parent's allowance scheme including provision for widowers and deserted husbands. Provisions for recovery of maintenance from liable relatives and the setting up of a new unit for that purpose in my Department. New arrangements for separate payments in certain cases. Major improvements to the family income supplement scheme for working families. Extension of Treatment (Dental and Optical) Benefit scheme to dependent spouses of insured persons in 1987. Continued payment of adult and child dependant allowances for six weeks after the death of a spouse or child. Through the Minister for Finance, the introduction of child related tax exemptions for low income families.
Elderly etc.; Carer's allowance for persons caring for elderly or incapacitated persons.Pro-rata pensions for certain persons with gaps in their insurance records due to the operation of the insurable income limit or due to mixed insurance. Extension of free scheme entitlements to pensioners from other EC countries and countries with which Ireland has a reciprocal agreement. Carry-over of unused free electricity units from summer to winter. Retention of free electricity allowance by over-80s where someone comes to live with them. Regulation and safeguarding of occupational pension rights under the Pensions Act, 1990.
Disabled; Carer's allowance to be extended to persons caring for recipients of disabled person's maintenance allowance. Free travel for companions of certain DPMA recipients and for DPMA recipients entering institutions.
Emigrants: Bilateral agreements have been signed with Austria, Canada and Australia to protect the social security pension rights of Irish people who go to work there andvice versa. Negotiations on similar agreements are taking place with the US, New Zealand, Switzerland, Quebec and the UK.
Free Schemes; Standardisation of fuel schemes and extension to long term unemployed. Smokeless fuel allowance in 1990. Standardisation of footwear scheme in 1987. Introduction of new back to school clothing and footwear allowance in 1990.
Means Tests; Various improvements in means tests, including exemption of certain items from assessment as means eg mobility allowance, fostering allowance, income as home help, own produce consumed etc. Exemption of proceeds from the sale of a pensioner's residence in certain circumstances.
PRSI Coverage; Extension of social insurance pension coverage to selfemployed persons in 1988. PRSI exemption scheme for low paid workers in 1990. Extension of full social insurance coverage to part-time workers in 1991.
Voluntary Organisations etc.; Improved scheme of grants for voluntary organisations in the social services area. Measures to help people in debt to moneylenders in co-operation with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Development of home management and personal development courses operated by the society. Community development fund to support resource centres in local communities. Setting up of special community development unit in my Department to co-ordinate the nationwide programme of community development which I introduced in 1990. Scheme of grants for locally based women's groups. Government commitment to draw up a charter for voluntary social services in Ireland and to prepare a White Paper.
In addition to the introduction of new schemes and improvements to existing schemes, major advances have been made in the administration and delivery of social welfare schemes, including a major programme to improve and modernise all local offices of my Department, the establishment of a separate independent social welfare appeals office in 1990, and the introduction of a new pensioners information service in 1991.