Written Answers Nos. 129-135
129. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite the payment of a redundancy claim in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; when payment will issue. [42222/12]
View answerA redundancy lump sum claim in respect of the person concerned has recently been awarded and payment is due to issue to the person’s nominated bank account in the coming weeks.
130. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an appeal for illness benefit in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42223/12]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the claim from the person concerned was examined by a Medical Assessor of the Social Welfare Services who was of the opinion that she was capable of work. She appealed this decision and in that context she was examined by another Medical Assessor who also expressed the opinion that she was capable of work.
In the light of this, it was decided to afford the person concerned an opportunity of setting out the complete and up to date grounds of her appeal and to furnish any further medical evidence that she wished to submit in support of her appeal. She did this and, at this stage the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal have been sought. When received, the appeal in question will be referred in to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
131. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has given consideration to the matter of introducing a voluntary PRSI rate for self employed persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42225/12]
View answerIn general, the current system of social insurance operates on a mandatory basis only and does not provide for voluntary participation on the part of contributors.
Self-employed persons are liable for PRSI at the Class S rate of 4% which entitles them to access long-term benefits such as State pension (contributory) and widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's pension (contributory). Ordinary employees who have access to the full range of social insurance benefits pay Class A PRSI at the rate of 4%. In addition, their employers make a PRSI contribution of 10.75% in respect of their employees, resulting in the payment of a combined 14.75% rate per employee under full-rate PRSI Class A. (For employees earning less than €356 per week, the rate of employer’s PRSI is 4.25%).
Any changes to the PRSI system to extend additional social insurance benefits to self-employed persons would have significant financial implications and would have to be considered in the context of a much more significant rise in the rate of contribution payable, which could not be introduced on a voluntary basis.
132. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the recently announced figures for compensation for the cessation of turf cutting on special areas of conservation bogs includes the compensation issued by him in the past, that is, compensation awarded before the current Government came into power; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42140/12]
View answerAs the Deputy would be aware, this Government put in place a compensation scheme for those affected by the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation. This cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme comprises a payment of €1,500 per year, index linked, for 15 years or, where feasible, relocation of turf cutters to non-designated bogs where they can continue to cut turf. Those wishing to relocate can avail of the financial payment or the delivery of 15 tonnes of cut turf per annum while relocation sites are identified and prepared. The costs of acquiring and preparing relocation sites will be met by the State. An additional once-off payment of €500 for qualifying turf cutters will be provided where legal agreements are signed with me, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
As of 1 October 2012, 2,401 applications have been received by my Department under the scheme. 1,461 payments and 58 deliveries of turf have been made with an additional 146 requests for the delivery of turf approved by my Department. The total expenditure under the scheme to date is €2.28 million approximately. My Department updates these figures on a regular basis.
The above figures do not include expenditure for land purchase under the voluntary bog purchase scheme, first introduced in 1999, or the interim compensation scheme which was introduced in 2010 and which applied to the 31 raised bog special areas of conservation nominated for designation between 1997 and 1999.
