Departmental Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 July 2010

Thursday, 8 July 2010

Questions (475, 476, 477, 478)

Michael Ring

Question:

473 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year spend on all payments administered by his Department for 2010 in tabular form; the estimated number of persons eligible for these payments in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31540/10]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív)

Estimated expenditure for Vote 38 Department of Social Protection and the Social Insurance Fund together with estimated average number of recipients for 2010 are set out in Tables 1, 2 and 3.

Table 1: Vote 38

		€000	Estimate of Average Number of Recipients
	ADMINISTRATION	385,316	N/A
	SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
B.	State Pension (Non-Contributory)	946,740	97,020
C.	Blind Pension	15,686	1,470
D.	Child Benefit (No of children)	2,260,990	1,135,300
E.	Jobseeker’s Allowance	2,759,911	235,170
F.	Farm Assist Scheme	96,280	8,400
G.	Employment Support Services	229,330	24,386
H.	Pre-Retirement Allowance	75,440	6,500
I.	One-Parent Family Payment	1,119,932	90,870
J.	Widow(er)s’ Pension & Guardian’s Payment (N/C)	22,460	2,315
K.	Deserted Wives Without Dependent Children	5,070	415
L.	Family Income Supplement	215,040	30,000
M.	Carer’s Allowance	541,460	52,000
N.	Supplementary Welfare Allowances	1,026,439	See Table 3
O.	Disability Allowance	1,100,970	101,500
P.	Respite Care Grant	153,000	90,000
Q.	Free Schemes (Assistance)	408,536	See Table 3
R.	School Meals Schemes	35,000	N/A
S.	Grant to the Family Support Agency	33,509	N/A
T.	Grant to Citizens Information Board	45,872	N/A
U.	Domiciliary Care Allowance	99,264	26,727
V.	Miscellaneous Services	4,892	N/A
	Subtotal Assistance	11,195,821
	SOCIAL INSURANCE
W.	Payment to the Social Insurance Fund under Section 7(9) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005.	1,551,448	N/A
	Gross Total	13,132,585
	Deduct:—
X.	Appropriations-In-Aid	212,720	N/A
	Net Total	12,919,865

Table 2: Social Insurance Fund

2010 REV
	€000	Estimate of Average Number of Recipients
SOCIAL INSURANCE FUND
INCOME	7,073,988	N/A
EXPENDITURE
Benefits:
Illness Benefit	884,420	78,200
Invalidity Pension	685,610	56,600
Occupational Injuries Benefits	109,750	15,000
Maternity Benefit	351,890	25,000
Health and Safety Benefit	650	58
Adoptive Benefit	1,300	72
Treatment Benefits	34,000	N/A
State Pension (Contributory)	3,430,910	271,000
State Pension (Transition)	111,100	9,300
Jobseeker’s Benefit	1,545,840	146,000
Widows’, Widowers’ Pension (Con)	1,320,260	114,850
Guardian’s Payment (Con)	10,500
Widowed Parent Grant	4,800	800
Deserted Wife’s Benefit	93,790	8,600
Carer’s Benefit	31,260	2,100
Bereavement Grant	20,400	24,000
Free Schemes (Insurance)	302,482	See Table 3
Redundancy & Insolvency Payments (a)	340,000	66,740
Subtotal benefits	9,278,962
Administration (b)	280,700	N/A
Total Expenditure	9,559,662
Excess of expenditure over income	2,485,674
Surplus carried forward*	934,226
Deduct: Excess of expenditure over income	-2,485,674
Surplus/deficit at end-year	-1,551,448
Subvention from Vote 38	1,551,448

*The detail is as published in the Revised Estimates in February 2010.

Table 3: Vote 38 Subheads G, J, N, Q and Free Schemes (Insurance)

2010 REV
		€000	Estimate of Average Number of Recipients
G.	ESS
1.	Back to Work Allowance	48,870	6,600
2.	Back to Education Allowance	169,760	17,616
3.	Part Time Job Incentive	1,130	170
4.	Assistance towards training etc. of BTWA participants	3,000	On Demand
5.	Credit Union loan guarantee scheme	20	On Demand
6.	Activation and Family Support Programme	6,000	On Demand
7.	Second-chance education opportunities	380	On Demand
8.	Assist persons unemployed for 5 years or more	0	On Demand
9.	Special payments to long-term unemployed & lone parents	170	On Demand
	Total	229,330
J.	Widow(er)s’ Pension & Guardian’s Payment (N/C)
1.	Widows’/Widowers’ Pension (Non/Con)	17,760	1,900
2.	Guardian’s Payment (Non/Con)	4,700	415
	Total	22,460
N.	SWA
1.	Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance Payments	194,550	36,592
2.	Direct Provision payments	5,000	5,060
3.	Supplements i.e.
	— Rent (secondary benefit)	509,200	98,000
	— Mortgage Interest (secondary benefit)	63,928	16,000
	— Other — diet & heating	14,930	On Demand
4.	Except. & urgent needs	90,000	287,000
5.	B-to-S Clothing etc.	82,830	165,000
6.	Humanitarian Aid	1	N/A
7.	Administration	66,000	N/A
	Total	1,026,439

Table 3: Subheads G, J, N, Q and Free Schemes (Insurance)

2010 REV
		€000	Estimate of Average Number of Beneficiaries
	FREE SCHEMES (Assistance):
1.	Free travel	77,000	687,060
2.	Fuel allowance	165,520	220,618
3.	Electricity allowance	82,498	144,216
4.	Free Television Licence	23,076	151,026
5.	Telephone allowance	54,047	172,540
6.	Natural gas allowance	6,176	11,638
7.	Bottled gas allowance	219	1,404
	Total	408,536

2010 REV

		€000	Estimate of Average Number of Beneficiaries
	FREE SCHEMES (Insurance):
1.	Free travel	—	N/A
2.	Fuel allowance	62,330	114,667
3.	Electricity allowance	119,650	209,255
4.	Free Television Licence	36,100	236,221
5.	Telephone allowance	67,140	214,321
6.	Natural gas allowance	17,230	32,447
7.	Bottled gas allowance	32	263
	Total	302,482

Michael Ring

Question:

474 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount spent, as at 30 June 2010, on all payments administered by his Department in tabular form; the number of persons eligible for payments as at 30 June 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31541/10]

Michael Ring

Question:

475 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount spent on all payments administered by his Department for each year since 2007 in tabular form; the number of persons eligible for each payment for each year since 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31542/10]

Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 474 and 475 together.

Details of all payments administered in respect of Vote 38 Department of Social Protection and the Social Insurance Fund from 2007 to 2010 together with average numbers of recipients are set out in tables 1 to 3 and accompanying notes.

Expenditure for 2009 and 2010 is provisional and will be subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General. Monthly expenditure figures are available up to 30 April 2010. May figures will be available shortly.

Table 1: Vote 38, Department of Social Protection — 2007 to 2009

	2007	2008	2009
Payment Type	Expenditure	Average Number of Recipients	Expenditure	Average Number of Recipients	Expenditure	Average Number of Recipients
	€000		€000		€000
ADMINISTRATION	347,133	n/a	362,109	n/a	374,523	n/a
State Pension (Non-Contributory)	920,167	97,380	972,765	97,800	1,000,546	97,800
Blind Pension	15,031	1,470	16,319	1,480	16,277	1,435
Child Benefit1	2,232,974	1,119,600	2,453,957	1,108,038	2,495,304	1,139,462
Jobseeker’s Allowance	875,092	78,620	1,158,851	95,150	2,004,556	156,581
Farm Assist scheme	78,686	7,450	84,881	7,430	93,297	7,720
Employment Support Services	145,024	See Note 1	160,531	See Note 1	193,888	See Note 1
Pre-retirement Allowance	124,490	11,100	117,666	9,800	96,606	7,721
One-parent Family Payment	962,425	84,230	1,067,158	86,963	1,121,344	90,125
Widows’/ Widowers’ Pension and Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory)	24,287	See Note 1	28,328	See Note 1	27,299	See Note 1
Social Assistance / Deserted Wives without Dependent Children	6,912	726	6,631	650	6,044	589
Family Income Supplement	140,020	21,040	170,309	27,700	167,133	25,110
Carer’s Allowance	361,257	30,070	450,260	39,052	502,469	45,840
Supplementary Welfare Allowances	739,820	See Note 1	866,941	See Note 1	1,031,950	See Note 1
Disability Allowance	901,131	86,160	1,052,660	92,500	1,142,769	100,555
Respite Care Grant2	72,471	48,917	98,204	57,759	99,200	58,344
Free Schemes (Assistance)	285,750	See Note 1	324,110	See Note 1	353,166	See Note 1
Money Advice & Budgeting Service	14,578	n/a	16,217	n/a	17,041	n/a

Table 1: Vote 38, Department of Social Protection — 2007 to 2009— continued

	2007	2008	2009
Payment Type	Expenditure	Average Number of Recipients	Expenditure	Average Number of Recipients	Expenditure	Average Number of Recipients
	€000		€000		€000
Grant to Family Support Agency	35,339	n/a	35,981	n/a	34,660	n/a
*Combat Poverty Agency	4,008	n/a	4,114	n/a	1,564	n/a
EU Community Action Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity (PROGRESS) 2007-2013	42	n/a	0	n/a	21	n/a
**Grant to Citizens Information Board (formerly Comhairle)	27,860	n/a	29,468	n/a	28,005	n/a
Dormant accounts — economic and social disadvantage	0	n/a	0	n/a	642	n/a
***Domiciliary Care allowance	0	n/a	0	n/a	31,017	8,448
Miscellaneous services	36,500	n/a	40,631	n/a	38,231	n/a
TOTAL PAYMENTS:	8,350,997		9,518,091		10,877,552

*The Combat Poverty Agency was dissolved on 1 July 2009 and its functions and staffing were integrated into the Department's Social Inclusion Division.

**Comhairle's name was changed to the Citizens Information Board in February 2007. The Money Advice and Budgeting Service was transferred to the Citizen's Information Board during 2009.

***The Department took over responsibility for the payment of all Domiciliary Care Allowance claims from the Health Service Executive in September 2009.

1Average Number of Child Beneficiaries.

2Number of grants paid once a year.

Table 2: Vote 38, Department of Social Protection — 1 January to 30 April 2010

	2010
Payment Type	Expenditure (€000)	Estimate of Average Number of Recipients
ADMINISTRATION	116,278	n/a
State Pension (Non-Contributory)	295,939	97,020
Blind Pension	5,065	1,470
Child Benefit	733,160	1,135,300
Jobseeker’s Allowance	819,817	235,170
Farm Assist scheme	33,910	8,400
Employment Support Services	96,872	See Note 1
Pre-retirement Allowance	26,801	6,500
One-parent Family Payment	343,905	90,870
Widows’/ Widowers’ Pension and Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory)	7,391	See Note 1
Social Assistance / Deserted Wives without Dependent Children	1,626	525
Family Income Supplement	57,546	30,000
Carer’s Allowance	151,788	52,000
Supplementary Welfare Allowances	291,279	See Note 1
Disability Allowance	357,613	101,500
Respite Care Grant	1,203	90,000
Free Schemes (Assistance)	152,709	See Note 1
School Meals Schemes	20,184	n/a
Grant to Family Support Agency	9,909	n/a
Grant to Citizens Information Board	19,803	n/a
Domiciliary Care allowance	31,234	26,727
Miscellaneous services	1,702	n/a
Combat Poverty Agency	57	n/a
Money Advice & Budgeting Service	0	n/a
Payment to the Social Insurance Fund under Section 7(9) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005	0	n/a
TOTAL PAYMENTS:	3,575,790

NOTE 1: (Breakdown of Employment Support Services, Widows’/ Widowers’ Pension and Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory), Supplementary Welfare Allowances, Free Schemes (Assistance))

	2007	2008	2009	2010
	Average Number of Recipients	Estimate of Average Number of Recipients
Employment Support Services
Back to Work Allowance	8,790	8,797	9,387	6,600
Back to Education Allowance	8,100	9,700	18,000	18,000
Part Time Job Incentive	210	200	152	170
Assistance towards training etc. of BTWA participants	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Credit Union loan guarantee scheme	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Activation and Family Support Programme	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Second-chance education opportunities	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Assist persons unemployed for 5 years or more	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Special payments to long-term unemployed & lone parents	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Widows’/ Widowers’ Pension and Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory)
Widows’/Widowers’ Pension (Non/Con)	2,160	2,070	2,010	1,900
Guardian’s Payment (Non/Con)	444	440	425	415
Supplementary Welfare Allowances
Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance Payments	24,340	29,798	36,330	36,592
Direct Provision payments	5,000	5,000	5,000	5,000
Supplements i.e.	—	—	—	—
Rent	59,730	78,090	92,100	98,000
Mortgage Interest	4,100	8,090	13,100	16,000
Other — diet & heating	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
*Exceptional & urgent needs	236,000	257,000	240,000	287,000
*Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear	163,000	207,080	288,000	316,000
Humanitarian Aid	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Administration	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a

*Number of once-off payments.

Free Schemes (Assistance)	Average Number of Beneficiaries	Estimate of Average Number of Beneficiaries
Free travel	641,865	648,807	673,588	687,060
Fuel allowance	207,043	216,285	205,513	220,618
Electricity allowance	127,695	133,336	138,669	144,216
Free Television Licence	137,832	144,811	143,886	151,026
Telephone allowance	144,203	153,560	162,774	172,540
Natural gas allowance	8,077	8,958	10,391	11,638
Bottled gas allowance	291	477	936	1,404

Table 3: Social Insurance Fund- 2007 to 2010

	2007	2008	2009	2010
Payment Type	Expenditure	Average Number of Recipients	Expenditure	Average Number of Recipients	Expenditure	Average Number of Recipients	Expenditure to 30 April	Average Number of Recipients
	€000		€000		€000		€000
Illness Benefit	755,077	71,160	852,305	74,500	919,783	78,640	302,391	78,200
Invalidity Pension	618,133	52,860	685,717	54,200	681,642	54,128	207,417	56,600
Occupational Injuries Benefits	104,349	14,740	112,011	15,020	112,332	14,945	33,966	15,120
Maternity Benefit	257,896	17,910	315,878	23,100	331,289	23,268	109,019	25,000
Health & Safety Benefit	503	49	576	55	619	56	195	58
Adoptive Benefit	1,333	70	1,644	88	1,247	68	303	72
Treatment Benefits*	91,602	848,059	97,124	902,462	100,178	981,885	19,908	245,076
State (Con) Pension	2,754,749	231,480	3,117,855	244,400	3,367,320	258,020	1,058,099	271,000
State Pension (Transition)	79,070	5,380	92,089	7,000	104,969	8,377	33,662	9,300
Jobseeker’s Benefit	544,931	54,960	928,844	83,543	1,733,816	155,120	462,098	146,000
Widow(er)s & Guardians (Con) Payment	1,214,539	111,436	1,313,412	112,720	1,364,901	113,880	426,984	114,850
Widowed Parent Grant	3,862	1,236	5,543	1,100	5,504	908	1,436	800
Deserted Wife’s Benefit	100,710	9,550	104,618	9,221	100,130	8,890	30,033	8,600
Carer’s Benefit	26,900	1,820	33,666	2,212	30,204	1,955	8,370	2,100
Bereavement Grant	16,673	19,416	17,851	20,000	18,503	21,708	5,895	24,000
Free Schemes (Insurance)	249,774	See Note 2	260,562	See Note 2	279,039	See Note 2	111,866	See Note 2
Redundancy & Insolvency Payments	188,178	16,115	202,264	23,225	350,133	70,835	164,560	66,740
Administration Expenses	242,711	n/a	257,780	n/a	281,423	n/a	78,458	n/a
TOTAL PAYMENTS:	7,250,990		8,399,739		9,783,033		3,054,660

*For Treatment Benefits recipients refer to total number of claims.

NOTE 2: (Breakdown of Free Schemes (Insurance))

	2007	2008	2009	2010
FREE SCHEMES (Insurance):	Average Number of Beneficiaries	Estimate of Average Number of Beneficiaries
Free travel	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Fuel allowance	106,658	111,419	105,871	114,667
Electricity allowance	185,282	193,468	201,207	209,255
Free Television Licence	215,584	226,499	225,053	236,221
Telephone allowance	179,122	190,745	202,190	214,321
Natural gas allowance	22,517	24,974	28,970	32,447
Bottled gas allowance	55	90	176	263

Michael Ring

Question:

476 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of overpayment paid by his Department per year since 2004 to 2009 in each payment area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31547/10]

Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív)

Overpayments are generally defined as money obtained contrary to or in excess of a valid decision. Most overpayments arise as a result of a revised decision regarding entitlement. The overpayment information for years 2004 to 2009 requested by the Deputy is setdown in the tabular statements attached. The figures for 2009 are provisional and are subject to audit by the Office of the C&AG.

Overpayments arise as a result of fraud, failure by customers to report changes in their circumstances, and Departmental errors. Most overpayments are detected by control activities and claim reviews. The overall goal of the Department in relation to debt management is to actively pursue the recovery of debt to maximise recovery levels, with due regard to value for money and with greater emphasis on recovery from people no longer dependant on welfare payments.

The objectives are:

To maximise the recovery of overpayments;

To efficiently record, report and monitor the occurrence and recovery of overpayments;

To fulfil statutory, accounting and reporting obligations

To conduct overpayment and debt management as efficiently as possible.

Overpayments may be recovered by:

withholding arrears due to the person;

deduction from payments due to the person;

payment of a lump sum by the person;

regular payments by the person to the Department;

recovery from the person's estate.

The general approach is that the amount proposed would be the maximum repayment that the person can afford in order to recover the overpayment as quickly as possible.

Most overpayments are recovered in instalments over a period of years, rather than in a single lump sum. The bulk of recoveries in any one year will relate to overpayments, which came to light in previous years.

When determining the rate of recovery consideration would be given to the following:

getting repayment as soon as possible;

not causing undue hardship to the person;

setting a rate that the person will agree to;

any case made by the person

The general approach would be that the amount proposed would be the maximum repayment that the person can afford in order to recover the overpayment as quickly as possible.

Overpayments 2004 to 2009

	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Vote Schemes	Value	Value	Value	Value	Value	Value
	€	€	€	€	€	€
Blind Pension	22,553	9,575	31,666	39,116	4,155	10,040
Back to Work Allowance	138,766	119,586	66,219	103,111	116,892	119,477
Back to Education Allowance				18,418	61,240	48,089
Child Benefit	1,673,455	1,967,698	3,241,782	2,489,377	3,229,321	5,979,412
Carers Allowance	713,715	1,058,210	883,662	383,129	2,046,425	4,374,481
Disability Allowance	1,271,099	2,166,557	2,570,976	2,524,905	2,818,827	2,781,558
Deserted Wife’s Allowance	3,455	39,590	32,241	46,503	13,973	119,012
Equal Treatment	0	0	0	0.00	0.00	0
Early Childcare Supplement				2,681.00	-2,175.00	0
Fuel Allowance	504	0	2,370	2,374	2,760	4,698
Farm Assist	180,252	292,159	232,278	179,562	157,605	138,237
Family Income Supplement	99,266	163,344	206,826	123,234	287,418	922,622
Guardian Payment Non Con				58,201	274,014	3,530
One Parent Family Payment	22,768,406	12,457,770	8,366,814	4,662,427	8,626,654	9,430,836
Old Age Non Con Pension	7,893,425	6,824,892	6,259,303	7,441,346	7,843,583	11,696,381
Part-time Job Allowance	156	7,889	350	364	2,139	1,872
Pre-Retirement Allowance	140,619	160,252	212,144	153,781	212,133	164,050
Rent Allowance	0	0	18,362	355,601	92,201	185,256
Second Level Allowance	24,860	36,218	24,365	400	10,310	5,098
Single Woman’ s Allowance	0	0	0	0	1,434	0
Supplementary Welfare Allowance	1,321,341	989,724	2,816,183	2,382,290	1,515,675	1,911,496
Third Level Allowance	3,494	0	0	0	2,202	500
Unemployment Assistance	7,669,200	8,067,715	8,480,491	10,401,109	8,914,219	7,571,336
Widow/er’s Non-Con. Pension	307,434	318,721	456,450	270,797	129,145	136,035
SW Vote Schemes Total	44,231,999	34,679,900	33,902,481	31,638,726	36,360,150	45,604,014

Overpayments 2004 to 2009

	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Fund Schemes	Value	Value	Value	Value	Value	Value
	€	€	€	€	€	€
Adoptive Parent Benefit				476	868	1,727
Carers Benefit	22,931	16,840	33,411	22,818	75,634	122,803
Carers Respite Grant				17,500	95,000	67,166
Constant Attendane Allowance				0	1,700	0
Guardian Pension Contributory				3,913	29,492	6,403
Disability Benefit	1,411,156	1,298,501	1,713,461	2,423,692	3,276,728	3,787,154
Death Grant	635	0	0	0	0	1,123
Disablement Pension	74,244	29,347	65,575	26,763	44,556	111,696
Deserted Wife’s Benefit	541,626	285,345	43,695	213,544	142,300	169,390
Equal Treatment	0	-24,275	0	0	0	1,800
Health & Safety Benefit	938	0	9,577	1,951	2,896	-2,227
Injury Benefit	14,033	34,533	23,807	22,041	31,416	37,414
Invalidity Pension	875,856	1,325,987	1,558,795	2,425,349	1,322,276	1,042,969
Maternity Benefit	22,351	41,407	83,243	84,672	132,769	280,449
Medical Care	0	0	0	0.00	0.00	15,305
Old Age Contributory Pension	976,168	609,209	805,677	3,542,598	3,482,991	5,023,682
Pay Related Benefit	8,100	-234	0	0.00	0.00	0
Retirement Pension	478,403	288,458	468,559	401,504	373,913	497,201
Treatment Benefit	30,055	26,099	38,141	20,279	53,336	1,508
Unemployment Benefit	6,555,175	5,656,493	5,722,241	7,155,906	8,026,254	7,018,862
Unemployability Supplement	30,694	7,019	0	0.00	0.00	0
Widow/er’s Contributory Pension	1,000,405	1,160,455	621,471	1,125,501	1,021,409	1,722,695
SIF Total	12,042,768	10,755,183	11,187,653	17,488,507	18,113,538	19,907,119
Grand Total	56,274,768	45,435,083	45,090,134	49,127,233	54,473,688	65,511,134