Written Answers Nos. 80 to 88
80. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal against refusal of invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if she will expedite the matter. [43828/12]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned has not been received by that office. 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.
81. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 135 of 4 October 2012, if she will provide further analysis of the number of families that are recipients of both a social welfare payment and child dependent payment that receive a payment for more than one child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43833/12]
View answerA breakdown of the 263,515 families in receipt of a primary social welfare payment who are also recipients of a child dependant payment by payment type and family size is in the following table:
|
Social Welfare Payments |
1 Qualified Child |
2 Qualified Children |
3 Qualified Children |
4 Qualified Children |
5 Qualified Children |
6+ Qualified Children |
Total Families With Children |
Total Children |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
275 |
72 |
31 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
384 |
538 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
1,615 |
376 |
81 |
23 |
3 |
3 |
2,101 |
2,736 |
|
State Pension (Transition) |
193 |
50 |
10 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
255 |
331 |
|
Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension |
3,841 |
2,013 |
775 |
194 |
46 |
15 |
6,884 |
11,310 |
|
Death Benefit Pension |
47 |
23 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
78 |
120 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
26,250 |
24,946 |
12,842 |
4,962 |
1,617 |
848 |
71,465 |
148,237 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
50,608 |
25,842 |
9,563 |
3,012 |
851 |
301 |
90,177 |
149,200 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
3,911 |
3,275 |
1,896 |
843 |
317 |
178 |
10,420 |
22,280 |
|
Farm Assist |
1,258 |
1,333 |
1,013 |
500 |
177 |
78 |
4,359 |
10,363 |
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance |
162 |
40 |
12 |
6 |
2 |
1 |
223 |
319 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
6,914 |
5,910 |
2,435 |
671 |
145 |
36 |
16,111 |
29,676 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
609 |
161 |
36 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
815 |
1,081 |
|
Health and Safety Benefit |
3 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
7 |
|
Back to Work Allowance |
18 |
15 |
11 |
9 |
2 |
1 |
56 |
133 |
|
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance |
1,317 |
1,717 |
944 |
352 |
79 |
12 |
4,421 |
9,459 |
|
Back to Education Allowance |
2,429 |
1,629 |
847 |
310 |
92 |
29 |
5,336 |
10,111 |
|
Disability Allowance |
5,730 |
3,655 |
1,875 |
855 |
403 |
263 |
12,781 |
25,866 |
|
Blind Pension |
93 |
63 |
34 |
12 |
6 |
1 |
209 |
405 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
4,059 |
5,004 |
2,934 |
1,333 |
403 |
220 |
13,953 |
31,460 |
|
Illness Benefit |
5,609 |
4,841 |
2,116 |
608 |
156 |
58 |
13,388 |
25,237 |
|
Interim Illness Benefit |
20 |
14 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
41 |
73 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
4,440 |
2,709 |
1,015 |
254 |
70 |
30 |
8,518 |
14,463 |
|
Injury Benefit |
52 |
50 |
22 |
9 |
1 |
0 |
134 |
259 |
|
Disablement Pension |
123 |
134 |
102 |
48 |
5 |
14 |
426 |
426 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
291 |
367 |
224 |
66 |
11 |
14 |
973 |
1,997 |
|
Totals |
119,867 |
84,243 |
38,827 |
14,084 |
4,390 |
2,104 |
263,515 |
496,087 |
82. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on a review for carer's allowance. [43836/12]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question. This application was referred to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors who found that the caree in question was not medically eligible for carer’s allowance. A letter issued on the 7 March 2012 refusing the allowance. The person in question subsequently submitted further medical evidence for review on 10 August 2012. This medical evidence has been sent for medical assessment by a medical assessor. On completion of all the necessary investigations, a decision will be made and the person in question will be contacted directly with the outcome.
83. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding possible cuts to child benefit (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43839/12]
View answerThe Revised Estimates for my Department provide for expenditure of nearly €2.08 billion on child benefit in 2012 or 10.1% of total expenditure. The Comprehensive Expenditure Report, 2012 – 2014, published last December, provides for additional new expenditure reduction measures of €1,033 million over the next two years in the Department of Social Protection’s budget. This includes €540 million of new savings to be achieved in Budget 2013. Reducing overall expenditure in 2013 and beyond in line with these targets will be very challenging.
The Government will consider the appropriate level of expenditure on child benefit in 2013 in the context of the forthcoming Budget. The outcome will be announced on Budget Day.
84. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is any assistance available for a person on invalidity pension with an eye test and subsequent treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43845/12]
View answerEligibility for optical benefit is based on a customer’s PRSI record. To check the eligibility of an individual will require the person’s PPS number, a person already in receipt of invalidity pension is likely to qualify for optical benefit as the qualifying conditions are similar.
Optical benefit covers a free yearly optical examination, no additional treatments are currently available under the scheme.
85. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding sick pay for nursing home staff [43855/12]
View answerThe Government is considering the introduction of a scheme of statutory sick pay at this time for a number of compelling reasons – firstly, as a measure to help in addressing the deficit in the social insurance fund; secondly, as a measure to limit progression from short-term illness to long-term illness or disability; and thirdly, to bring Ireland into line with practices in other countries in this area.
In considering the matter, I am acutely conscious of the pressures facing employers in the current economic climate, and in particular, the pressures facing smaller and medium-sized enterprises.
There is a range of complex issues that need to be addressed before any decision could be taken by Government on the possible introduction of such a scheme – the extent of coverage; the rate of payment; possible compensation mechanisms for employers where appropriate and how a scheme would be enforced and policed – and these will be discussed in the course of the wider process associated with the preparation of Budget 2013. The views of stakeholder groups, including enterprises in the health care sector where particular issues arise associated with the replacement of staff who are absent on sick leave, will be taken into account in that process.
86. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Social Protection in view of fresh evidence sent by letter dated 13 of August 2012 to the Social Welfare Appeals Office the position regarding an appeal against refusal of disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; if she will expedite the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43884/12]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of the Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by the Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new facts.
Following the submission of the additional evidence the Appeals Officer has agreed to review the case. The person concerned will be contacted when the review of his appeal has been finalised.
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.
87. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an invalidity pension appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43896/12]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the invalidity pension claim of the person concerned was disallowed following an assessment by a Medical Assessor who expressed the opinion that she was medically unsuitable for the allowance. An appeal was registered on 24 July 2012 and in accordance with the statutory procedures the relevant department papers and the comments of the Social Welfare services on the matter raised in the appeal have been sought. In that context, an assessment by another Medical Assessor will be carried out.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
