Social Welfare Benefits.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 October 2008

Tuesday, 21 October 2008

Questions (349, 350, 351, 352, 353)

Jack Wall

Question:

443 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of people who are in receipt of a pre-1953 old age contributory pension; if the payments for this pension are less than the non-contributory old age pension; the reason for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35733/08]

Written answers

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin)

The special half-rate Pre-1953 State Pension (Contributory) was introduced with effect from 5th May 2000. To qualify for this pension, a person must have at least 260 full-rate contributions paid. The 260 can be made up solely of pre-1953 contributions, or a mixture of pre and post-1953 contributions. At the end of September 2008, the numbers of people receiving this pension was 26,130.

The personal rate of pension payable for Pre-1953 pension is half the maximum standard rate of State Pension (Contributory) which is less than the maximum rate of State Pension (Non-Contributory). The rate of State Pension (Non-Contributory) is subject to a mean test so the rate payable in any case is dependent on the personal circumstance of each individual. Any increases awarded for a qualified adult or dependent child(ren) are also payable at half the standard rate.

Michael Ring

Question:

444 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved and awarded jobseeker’s allowance. [35735/08]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin)

The person concerned applied for jobseeker's allowance on 10 October 2008. His claim is currently being examined, a decision will be made as soon as possible and he will be notified of the outcome.

Under Social Welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by Deciding Officers and Appeals Officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.

John O'Mahony

Question:

445 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of people benefiting from the back to work allowance over the past three years and the breakdown for each county in tabular form; if there is a significant restriction on those now benefiting from this allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35755/08]

John O'Mahony

Question:

446 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of people benefiting from the back to education allowance over the past three years and the breakdown for each county in tabular from; if there is a significant restriction on those now benefiting from this allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35756/08]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin)

I propose to take Question Nos. 445 and 446 together.

Details of the number of people benefiting from the back to work allowance and the back to education allowance over the past 3 years are set out as follows in tabular format. The tables also show the breakdown for each scheme on a county basis.

The back to education scheme is a second chance education opportunity designed to remove the barriers to participation in second and third level education. It encourages and facilitates people on certain social welfare payments to improve their skills and qualifications and, therefore, their prospects of returning to the active work force. The objective of the scheme is to enhance the employability skills of vulnerable groups who are distant from the labour market.

The back to work allowance scheme is designed to assist and encourage the long term unemployed, lone parents, people with disabilities and other social welfare recipients to return to the active labour force. These allowances provide a monetary incentive for people who are long term dependant on social welfare payments to make the return to work financially attractive and viable.

There were no new conditions introduced to these schemes in Budget 2008. Both of these schemes show increases in the total numbers participating over the past three years. The numbers availing of the back to work allowance increased by 2%, while the numbers availing of the back to education allowance increased by 22%. The numbers on the back to education allowance are at their highest level ever and are expected to increase again this year.

No. of Back to Education Allowance participants: 2005-2008

Year	Second Level Courses	Third Level Courses	Total
2005/2006	2,975	4,285	7,285
2006/2007	3,359	4,731	8,090
2007/2008	4,242	4,641	8,883

Back to Education Allowance

Academic Year	2005/06	2006/07	2007/08
Carlow	152	218	254
Cavan	107	68	99
Clare	179	198	206
Cork	774	930	911
Donegal	442	478	506
Dublin	1,943	2,028	2,072
Galway	606	688	819
Kerry	230	282	348
Kildare	194	215	234
Kilkenny	133	131	141
Laois	56	67	100
Leitrim	40	39	57
Limerick	407	399	429
Longford	69	97	78
Louth	210	252	309
Mayo	275	243	268
Meath	103	107	78
Monaghan	111	72	93
Offaly	47	61	98
Roscommon	69	63	50
Sligo	132	157	175
Tipperary	274	328	360
Waterford	275	385	433
Westmeath	98	119	145
Wexford	196	256	315
Wicklow	163	209	306
	7285	8090	8,883

Back to Work Participation level at year end 2005-2007

Year	Employees	Self-Employed	Total
December 2005	5,297	3,646	8,943
December 2006	4,373	3,963	8,336
December 2007	4,305	4,828	9,133

Back To Work Allowance — Employee

	2005	2006	2007
Carlow	62	73	80
Cavan	55	54	75
Clare	64	73	92
Cork	422	421	470
Donegal	315	319	454
Dublin	839	1,018	1,074
Galway	209	217	403
Kerry	157	140	216
Kildare	118	127	116
Kilkenny	52	79	96
Laois	47	66	50
Leitrim	24	28	53
Limerick	124	131	161
Longford	65	55	62
Louth	129	132	183
Mayo	154	160	168
Meath	63	62	80
Monaghan	64	83	89
Offaly	57	66	64
Roscommon	59	57	63
Sligo	58	63	72
Tipperary	111	117	165
Waterford	78	106	144
Westmeath	62	55	98
Wexford	151	156	185
Wicklow	107	105	115
	3,646	3,963	4,828

Back To Work Allowance — Self-Employed

	2005	2006	2007
Carlow	80	60	61
Cavan	69	65	55
Clare	129	77	72
Cork	569	482	420
Donegal	471	441	348
Dublin	1,086	930	1,201
Galway	370	311	206
Kerry	270	229	145
Kildare	140	107	128
Kilkenny	92	84	92
Laois	57	40	56
Leitrim	72	49	31
Limerick	178	149	147
Longford	52	49	54
Louth	206	164	128
Mayo	187	148	176
Meath	79	65	67
Monaghan	100	83	103
Offaly	70	55	58
Roscommon	87	57	59
Sligo	91	67	66
Tipperary	191	151	134
Waterford	185	140	131
Westmeath	119	97	76
Wexford	194	158	179
Wicklow	153	115	112
	5,297	4,373	4,305

Seamus Kirk

Question:

447 Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if child benefit is paid by her Department in respect of children living outside the jurisdiction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35765/08]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin)

Child Benefit is payable to children who are ordinarily resident in the state or who reside with a qualified person outside the state, while that person is a member of the defence forces, a civil servant posted abroad, a volunteer development worker or who remain insurable under Irish Social insurance while working abroad.

EU Migrant workers may have an entitlement to Child Benefit and other "Family benefits" under EU Regulation 1408/71. Where a national of an EU state is working in Ireland, she/he is entitled to payment of these benefits, even if his/her children are resident in the worker's home country.

The social security rights of people living and working in the EU are governed by EU Regulations 1408/71 and 574/72. The Regulations co-ordinate social security systems and are designed to ensure that people are not disadvantaged by moving within the EU to take up work. This is achieved primarily by setting out rules as to which State's social security a person will pay insurance when, for example, s/he moves from one Member State to another to take up work or where s/he lives in one State and works in another. In addition, the Regulations also set out rules as to which State will pay benefit in the event of the usual contingencies arising, sickness, unemployment old-age etc.

The general rule is that a person is insured in the State in which s/he works. Equally, the state of employment has, in general, responsibility for paying benefits when, for example, a person becomes unemployed or ill. The Regulations also provide that, when entitlement to benefit is being examined, account must be taken of insurance paid in any other Member State where the person worked.

For the purposes of the EU Regulation, Irish Child Benefit and Early Childcare Supplement are classified as Family Benefits and there are specific rules governing the payment of these benefits.

Because entitlement to family benefits can often arise in more than one Member State (based on residence and/or employment) the Regulations set out a number of rules in order to determine which country pays family benefits. The main ones are:

Residence requirements in national legislation (such as the habitual residence condition in Ireland) are overridden.

The level of payment of family benefits in the State of employment has priority over the level of payment in the State of residence. If there is employment in two States, the level of payment in the State of residence of the children has priority.

If the level of payment of family benefits in the State of residence is higher than that in the State of employment, the State of residence is required to pay a supplement equal to the difference between the two amounts.