Written Answers Nos. 170-181
172. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of the number of recipients who are in receipt of a reduced rate State contributory pension arising from the changes introduced from 1 September 2012 to the yearly average bands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45217/12]
View answer173. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of the number of recipients who are in receipt of reduced rate State contributory pension arising from their eligibility for having a yearly average of at least 10 full rate contributions paid and or credited from the date of entry into insurance to the end of the last full contribution year before reaching age 66 years. [45218/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 172 and 173 together.
There is an important context to the proposed changes to State pension provision. Given the scale of the fiscal crisis and because spending on social protection accounts for nearly 40% of current Government expenditure, you will appreciate that savings have to be found in the social welfare system.
As social structures in Ireland are changing rapidly, the structures of our social support need to change to accommodate this and the changes to State pension have been made in the context of changing demographics and the fact that people are living longer and healthier lives. This has obvious and significant implications in relation to the future costs of State pension provision given that the period for which a pension will be paid will be greater than the current time period.
In addition to the budgetary imperative, there is an important long-term policy context for the proposed changes to State pension, which includes reform of pension rate bands and gradual increases in age of retirement for State pension There are currently six people of working age for every pensioner and this ratio is expected to decrease to approximately two to one by 2050. Therefore, the task of financing increasing pensions will fall to a diminishing share of the population.
The State pension is a very valuable benefit. Therefore, it is important to ensure that those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund over their working lives. Recent changes to State pension supports the direct link between contributions made and the rate of pension received which underpins State pension policy. By aligning the rate of pension paid with the contribution made ensures that those who contribute more during a working life benefit more in retirement than those with lesser contributions.
The change in relation to State pension (contributory) introduced in legislation from 1st September 2012 set out a wider graduation of yearly average bands and corresponding pension rates. The aim of this change is to ensure that the rate of pension entitlement is more closely related to the level of social insurance contributions a person has paid (including credited contributions, where applicable) over their working lives.
Overall, there are currently 308,752 State pension (contributory) claims in payment, at maximum and reduced rates. Of this number, there are 107,549 State pension (contributory) claims in payment at a reduced rate, where the claimants have a contributions yearly average of between 10 and 47. Everyone in receipt of a State pension (contributory) has a contributions yearly average of at least ten paid contributions as this is one of the qualifying criteria.
The changes introduced from 1 September 2012 only affected those who qualified for State pension (contributory) after that date and who had an average of between 10 and 39 contributions per year. The maximum rate of pension remains unchanged and the rate payable to people with an average of between 40 and 47 contributions per year also remains unchanged. However, those who have fewer contributions will receive a lower rate of pension. This change moves somewhat closer to the total contribution approach where those who pay more, benefit more. Since 1 September 2012, 1,800 claimants have been awarded a pension below the 98 per cent maximum rate.
It is important in assessing any rates of payment that we focus on the real impact of social welfare payments. In this regard, it should be noted that older people do not experience the levels of poverty that existed in the past. This can be clearly seen in a wide range of data such as the significant reduction in the ‘risk of poverty’ rate from 27.1% in 2004 to 9.6% in 2010. The consistent poverty rate over the same period also declined from 3.9% to 0.9%.
174. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason relocation assistance is not available for people on jobseeker's allowance; if relocation assistance is available to people who wish to go abroad to take up a job offer. [45221/12]
View answerAn unemployed person may qualify for jobseeker’s benefit or jobseeker’s allowance. Jobseeker’s benefit is based on a person’s social insurance record and jobseeker’s allowance is based on weekly means. A fundamental qualifying condition for a jobseeker’s payment is that a person must be available for full-time work.
Under EU Regulations, in certain circumstances a person on jobseeker’s benefit may retain payment for a period of up to 13 weeks, while seeking work in another EU Member State. However, it is not possible to transfer jobseeker’s allowance in the same way. Jobseeker’s allowance is listed by EU Regulation 883/2004 as a special non-contributory cash benefit and, as a result, it is paid “exclusively in the Member State in which the persons concerned reside, in accordance with its legislation”. A jobseeker’s allowance customer, to retain his or her payment, is therefore required to remain in the State.
Locally, however, arrangements may be made between a local office and a person on jobseeker’s allowance, permitting the person to travel abroad for a job interview or a short holiday.
A person who travels abroad to take up a job offer would not be entitled to jobseeker’s allowance as they would not be available for full time work and would not be resident in the State. Additionally, there are no plans to introduce an assistance payment for persons who wish to go abroad to take up a job offer.
176. Deputy Paschal Donohoe asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will direct the jobs facilitator at a location (details supplied) to provide details of the numbers of persons currently on the live register living in different districts of Dublin Central; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45284/12]
View answerAccording to the most recent statistics available to my Department, which are based on addresses provided by people making a claim for an unemployment payment, there are currently approximately 392 persons who state that they reside in the East Wall area of Dublin and who are signing on the Live Register.
Should additional information be required the organisation concerned should contact the Manager of the Social Welfare Local Office at Kings Inns St, Dublin 1.
177. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details in tabular form for the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012 the total amount of expenditure on consultancy by her Department, any body under her aegis or State agency for which she has responsibility; the names of the consultancy companies awarded contracts; the nature of the work concerned; the fees paid to each consultant; if the matter was advertised for competitive tender [45303/12]
View answerMy Department engages a range of consultants (individuals or organisations) to provide intellectual or knowledge based services (expert analysis and advice).
Total expenditure on the engagement of consultants by my Department for the years 2008 to the end of September 2012 is set out below and consultancies involved are detailed in the following tables.
|
2008 (Outturn) |
€1,919,600 |
|
2009 (Outturn) |
€1,145,917 |
|
2010 (Outturn) |
€596,663 |
|
2011 (Outturn) |
€893,056 |
|
2012 (to end of September) |
€593,669 |
The majority of expenditure on consultancy expertise is to support the Department in implementing a multi-annual service delivery modernisation programme to enhance the efficiency and quality of delivery of services to customers. Further technical consultancies relate to the on-going development of the Department’s extensive information technology systems.
All goods and services are procured in accordance with EU directives, and Department of Finance and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform procedures. Procurement without competitive tender is only done in exceptional circumstances, and in accordance with criteria set out in EU Directive 18/2004 and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform procedures. As requested by the deputy, the spread-sheet below highlights any instances where such procurements are undertaken without competitive tender.
Article 31 of EU Directive 18/2004 sets out particular circumstances for use of single or restricted tendering for procurements of goods or services over the EU threshold, currently €130,000 (VAT exclusive) for Government Departments; justifications include particularly unforeseeable extreme urgency or exclusive technical expertise of selected provider of services, or proprietorial nature of goods required. These conditions are also used in the Department as guidelines in determining the suitability of single tenders in the cases which are below EU threshold.
The bodies operating under the aegis of the Department are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Board, the Pensions Ombudsman, and the Social Welfare Tribunal. Details are provided in relation to the Citizens Information Board and the Pensions Board. Neither the Pensions Ombudsman nor Social Welfare Tribunal incurred any expenditure over the period.
YEAR: 2008
|
COMPANY/ PERSON |
PURPOSE |
€ |
Advertised for competitive tender (Y/N) |
|
Naked Objects |
Business Objects Modelling Advice and Expertise (Service Delivery Modernisation Programme) |
€434,995 |
Y |
|
Accenture |
Strategic Review of Client Eligibility Services |
€368,573 |
Y |
|
Grant Thornton |
Strategic Review of Customer Facing Services |
€183,781 |
Y |
|
Mel Cousins |
Equality Review of Social Welfare Code |
€125,062 |
Y |
|
ERSI |
Assessment of impact of tax and welfare policy |
€150,000 |
N |
|
Ernst & Young |
Information Security Support |
€120,000 |
Y |
|
Deloitte |
IS Audit Consultancy |
€118,403 |
Y |
|
Hewlett Packard Ireland Limited |
Implementation of Centralised Infrastructural Management System |
€81,266 |
Y |
|
WRC Social & Economic Consultants |
Review of Activation & Family Support Programme |
€77,552 |
Y |
|
Millward Brown |
Family Income Supplement - Uptake Research Project |
€65,606 |
Y |
|
ERSI |
National Employment Action Plan (NEAP) Evaluation |
€51,847 |
N |
|
Lan Communications |
Network Security Consultancy |
€37,455 |
Y |
|
Rits Information Security |
Forensic Investigation Services |
€30,454 |
Y |
|
ERSI |
Live Register Customer Profiling |
€24,200 |
N |
|
ERSI |
Measurement & analysis of levels of consistent poverty |
€16,000 |
N |
|
Camille Loftus |
Welfare to work review |
€14,000 |
N |
|
Conal Devine Associates |
CORE Functions - Organisational Design/Development and Configuration & Transition Management |
€10,905 |
Y |
|
Accenture |
DSFA Corporate Taxonomy |
€5,569 |
Y |
|
Technical Guidance |
Pensions Policy Report |
€3,448 |
N |
|
Open Interface |
Website Design (Office of Social Inclusion) |
€484 |
Y |
YEAR: 2009
|
COMPANY/ PERSON |
PURPOSE |
€ |
Advertised for competitive tender (Y/N) |
||
|
Naked Objects Group Ltd |
Technical Development Advice (Service Delivery Modernisation Programme) |
€216,906 |
Y |
||
|
Naked Objects Group Ltd |
Business Objects Modelling Advice and Expertise (Service Delivery Modernisation Programme) |
€169,857 |
Y |
||
|
Accenture |
Business Process Improvement |
€152,297 |
Y |
||
|
ERSI |
SWITCH Model |
€150,000 |
N |
||
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Information Systems Audit Consultancy |
€99,731 |
Y |
||
|
Ernst & Young |
Provision of a Security Partner to provide ongoing Information Security Support |
€98,415 |
Y |
||
|
ESRI |
Analysis & Measurement of Deprivation & Poverty in Ireland |
€64,265 |
N |
||
|
A&L Goodbody Solicitors |
Pensions Policy Advice |
€32,659 |
Y |
||
|
ESRI |
National Employment Action Plan Evaluation |
€26,031 |
N |
||
|
ESRI |
Live Register Customer Profiling |
€24,300 |
N |
||
|
WRC Economic Consultants |
Review of Activation & Family Support Programme |
€19,440 |
Y |
||
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Provision of Forensic Investigation Services |
€6,560 |
Y |
||
|
Prof. Mansel Aylward |
Review of Protocols for Medical Referral Case Management Project |
€437 |
N |
||
*In addition to the consultants engaged by the Department set out above, €85,018 was paid by the Department to support the external research program of the Combat Poverty Agency.
YEAR: 2012
|
COMPANY/ PERSON |
PURPOSE |
€ |
Advertised for competitive tender (Y/N) |
|
ESRI |
SWITCH Model |
€150,000 |
N |
|
Naked Objects Group Ltd |
Technical Development Advice (Service Delivery Modernisation Programme) |
€137,255 |
Y |
|
Naked Objects Group Ltd |
Business Objects Modelling Advice & Expertise (Service Delivery Modernisation Programme) |
€105,289 |
Y |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Information Systems Audit Consultancy |
€67,175 |
Y |
|
ESRI |
Activation: Customer Profiling + Case Management (APCM) |
€36,602 |
N |
|
PA Consulting Group |
ePayments RFI Evaluation |
€34,058 |
Y |
|
Ernst & Young |
Provision of a Security Partner to provide ongoing Information Security Support |
€29,889 |
Y |
|
ESRI |
National Employment Action Plan (NEAP) Evaluation |
€25,924 |
Y |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Provision of Confidential Forensic Investigation Services |
€8,671 |
Y |
|
Camille Loftus |
Feasibility Study on Introduction of Single Social Assistance Payment for People of Working Age |
€1,800 |
N |
YEAR: 2011
|
COMPANY/ PERSON |
PURPOSE |
€ |
Advertised for competitive tender (Y/N) |
|
Accenture |
Business Process Improvement |
€186,563 |
Y |
|
ESRI |
SWITCH Research Programme |
€150,000 |
N |
|
Naked Objects |
Technical Development Advice (Service Delivery Modernisation Programme) |
€135,495 |
Y |
|
PA Consulting Group |
Payments Strategy |
€111,142 |
Y |
|
Naked Objects |
Business Objects Modelling Advice and Expertise (Service Delivery Modernisation Programme) |
€101,253 |
Y |
|
Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS) |
Social Inclusion Research Innovation Awards |
€50,000 |
Y |
|
ESRI |
Analysis & Measurement of Deprivation & Poverty |
€48,101 |
N |
|
Price Waterhouse Cooper |
National Pensions Framework Implementation |
€36,300 |
Y |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Information Systems Audit Consultancy |
€14,792 |
Y |
|
Dept of Enterprise, Trade & Employment |
Administrative Burden Review (Contribution by DSP to review conducted by DETE) |
€14,000 |
Y |
|
Trinity College |
Poverty Research Initiative Awards |
€9,788 |
Y |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Confidential Forensic Investigation Services |
€7,109 |
Y |
|
Patrick Oliver Ryan |
Gender Recognition Advisor Group |
€7,000 |
N |
|
UCD |
Poverty Research Initiative Awards |
€6,650 |
Y |
|
NUI Maynooth |
Poverty Research Initiative Awards |
€6,500 |
Y |
|
NUI Galway |
Poverty Research Initiative Awards |
€5,000 |
Y |
|
Eleanor Ashe |
Poverty Research Initiative Awards |
€1,750 |
Y |
|
Dr. Mary Mulcahy |
Poverty Research Initiative Awards |
€1,422 |
Y |
|
Net Affinity Ltd |
Poverty Research Initiative Awards |
€291 |
Y |
YEAR: 2012 (to end of September)
|
COMPANY/ PERSON |
PURPOSE |
€ |
Advertised for competitive tender |
|
|
KPMG |
Actuarial Review of Social Insurance Fund |
€153,750 |
Y |
|
|
OECD |
OECD Review of Long Term Pension Policy |
€130,000 |
N |
|
|
Naked Objects Group Ltd |
Technical Development Advice (Service Delivery Modernisation Programme) |
€115,820 |
Y |
|
|
Accenture |
ICT Applications Systems Review |
€44,772 |
Y |
|
|
Naked Objects Group Ltd |
Business Objects Modelling Advice and Expertise (Service Delivery Modernisation Programme) |
€35,258 |
Y |
|
|
ESRI |
Analysis & Measurement of Deprivation & Poverty |
€33,494 |
N |
|
|
Creative Inc. |
Design Services for National Employment & Entitlements Service (NEES) |
€24,777 |
Y |
|
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Information Systems Audit Consultancy |
€18,714 |
Y |
|
|
Price Waterhouse Cooper |
Review of Pensions Charges |
€12,300 |
Y |
|
|
Indecon |
Evaluation of the JobBridge National Internship Scheme |
€11,911 |
Y |
|
|
Ernst & Young |
Provision of Security Partner Services |
€7,623 |
Y |
|
|
Compass Point |
Developing architecture for NEES |
€4,600 |
Y |
|
|
Prof Daniel Finn |
Pathways to Work Consultation |
€650 |
N |
|
Bodies under the Aegis of the Department
Citizens' Information Board
|
- |
- |
- |
Year 2008 |
|
COMPANY/ PERSON |
PURPOSE |
€ |
Advertised for competitive tender |
|
Prospectus |
Organisational review |
11,422 |
Yes |
|
Roundtable |
Evaluation and Case Analysis of the Advocacy Programme for people with Disabilities in the Community and Voluntary Sector |
99,995 |
Yes |
|
- |
- |
- |
Year 2009 |
|
|
COMPANY/ PERSON |
PURPOSE |
€ |
Advertised for competitive tender |
|
|
PA Consulting |
Strategic Plan |
47,933 |
Yes |
|
|
Pathfinder |
Implementation Plan |
68,191 |
Yes |
|
|
Vision Consulting |
Assistance with the development of project management software |
2,000 |
Yes |
|
Year 2012 (to date) |
|||
|
COMPANY/ PERSON |
PURPOSE |
€ |
Advertised for competitive tender |
|
Persuasion |
Strategic Plan |
56,273 |
Yes |
The Pensions Board
|
- |
- |
- |
Year 2008 |
|
COMPANY/ PERSON |
PURPOSE |
€ |
Advertised for competitive tender |
|
PA Consulting |
Advice re Data Management system |
€42,048 |
Yes |
|
P Tools |
Trustee E- learning system |
€4,389 |
Yes |
|
Q4 |
Public relations |
€92,764 |
Yes |
|
Mercer |
Website content |
€42,350 |
Yes |
|
Red C |
Consumer Research |
€58,407 |
Yes |
|
Coyle Hamilton |
Website content |
€7,623 |
Yes |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Assistance with Investigations |
€12,100 |
Yes |
|
Baker Tilly Ryan Glennon |
Internal Audit |
€15,156 |
Yes |
|
Rits |
Computer Consultancy |
€18,211 |
Yes |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Computer Consultancy |
€9,438 |
Yes |
|
Inventory Concepts |
Fixed Asset Audit |
€900 |
Yes |
|
Crowleys DFK |
Accountancy Services |
€11,169 |
Yes |
|
- |
- |
- |
Year 2009 |
|
COMPANY/ PERSON |
PURPOSE |
€ |
Advertised for competitive tender |
|
Attain |
Trustee E learning content |
€86,186 |
Yes |
|
P Tools |
Trustee E learning system and website enhancement |
€118,316 |
Yes |
|
PA Consulting |
Advice re Data Management system |
€8,266 |
Yes |
|
Q4 |
Public Relations |
€83,518 |
Yes |
|
Crowleys DFK |
Assistance with Investigations |
€10,548 |
Yes |
|
Coyle Hamilton |
Update web content |
€6,994 |
Yes |
|
Rosin Bennett |
Pension Advice |
€6,075 |
Yes |
|
Baker Tilly Ryan Glennon |
Internal Audit |
€17,010 |
Yes |
|
Red C |
Consumer Research |
€21,235 |
Yes |
|
Woodgrange |
Consumer Research |
€16,650 |
Yes |
|
Inventory Concepts |
Fixed Asset Audit |
€1,600 |
Yes |
|
- |
- |
- |
Year 2010 |
|
COMPANY/ PERSON |
PURPOSE |
€ |
Advertised for competitive tender |
|
Mazars |
Development of Investigations on site procedures |
€92,840 |
Yes |
|
Price Waterhouse Coopers |
Assistance with Investigations |
€39,306 |
Yes |
|
Q4 |
Public Relations |
€79,547 |
Yes |
|
Attain |
Research on Lifecycle Project |
€9,680 |
Yes |
|
Clear Inc |
Style Guide assistance |
€3,300 |
Yes |
|
P Tools |
Website enhancement and Trustee E learning System |
€10,861 |
Yes |
|
Baker Tilly Ryan Glennon |
Internal Audit |
€22,688 |
Yes |
|
Red C |
Consumer Research |
€23,340 |
Yes |
|
Inventory Concepts |
Fixed Asset audit |
€3,950 |
Yes |
|
- |
- |
- |
Year 2011 |
|
COMPANY/ PERSON |
PURPOSE |
€ |
Advertised for competitive tender |
|
KPMG |
Assistance with Investigation |
€39,349 |
Yes |
|
Crowleys DFK |
Assistance with Investigation |
€5,700 |
Yes |
|
HBC Kennington |
Assistance with Investigation |
€18,029 |
Yes |
|
Q4 |
Public relations |
€23,247 |
Yes |
|
P tools |
Website Enhancement |
€3,376 |
Yes |
|
Attain |
Website content enhancement |
€7,260 |
Yes |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Accountancy Services |
€14,453 |
Yes |
|
Baker Tilly Ryan Glennon |
Internal Audit |
€18,168 |
Yes |
|
Red C |
Consumer Research |
€26,348 |
Yes |
|
Public Authority Pension Service |
Assistance with pension statement preparation |
€1,262 |
Yes |
|
Purchasing Solutions |
Preparation of tender documents |
€4,930 |
Yes |
|
Safecon |
Safety Statement preparation |
€1,089 |
Yes |
|
Nobel Property Consultants |
Rent review |
€1,000 |
Yes |
|
Tribal Helm |
Computer consultancy |
€3,207 |
Yes |
|
Inventory Concepts |
Fixed Asset Audit |
€1,592 |
Yes |
|
- |
- |
- |
Year 2012 |
|
COMPANY/ PERSON |
PURPOSE |
€ |
Advertised for competitive tender |
|
Strata 3 |
Lifecycle Project |
€35,821 |
Yes |
|
Attain |
Lifecycle Project and update booklets |
€22,214 |
Yes |
|
P Tools |
Lifecycle Project |
€8,320 |
Yes |
|
Q4 |
Public relations |
€5,616 |
Yes |
|
Bernie Gray |
Board Evaluation |
€11,685 |
Yes |
|
Public Authority Pension Service |
Assistance with pension statement preparation |
€1,374 |
Yes |
|
Safecon |
Safety Consultancy |
€615 |
Yes |
|
Capita |
Computer Consultancy |
€1,520 |
Yes |
|
Unity Technologies |
Computer Consultancy |
€6,810 |
Yes |
|
Crowleys DFK |
Assistance with Investigation |
€10,430 |
Yes |
|
PricewaterhouseCoopers |
Assistance with Investigation |
€2,768 |
Yes |
178. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details in tabular form for the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012 inclusive, of the arrangements entered into by her, any body under her aegis or State agency for which she has responsibility for the obtaining of advice from a senior or junior counsel and or a firm of solicitors; the subject matter for which advice was sought; the names of the barristers' and solicitors' firms concerned and the fees paid; the nature of the work concerned; if in each case the matter was advertised for competitive tender; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45320/12]
View answerIt is not possible in the time available to provide a comprehensive answer to the various matters raised by the Deputy in respect of all of the periods in question. The information requested is currently being compiled within the Department and will be made available to the Deputy as soon as possible.
179. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a list of all companies or persons providing an external professional service to her Department such as ICT, legal advice, advertising, project management and including any other external professional service not listed; the amount invoiced by each company to her over the past 12 months, in tabular form. [45337/12]
View answerThe Department will compile the information sought and will revert to the Deputy at the earliest possible opportunity.
181. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide in tabular form, in respect of 2011, the number of payments issued by his Department and each agency within the remit of his Department to suppliers in respect of the supply of goods and services; splitting the payments between those issued within 30 days of receipt of the invoice; between 30 and 60 days of receipt of the invoice; between 60 and 90 days of receipt of the invoice; between 90 and 120 days of receipt of the invoice; and in excess of 120 days of receipt of the invoice. [45012/12]
View answerPursuant to Government Decisions of 2009 and 2011, my Department is required to publish details relating to the overall value of payments made under 15 calendar days and between 15 and 30 calendar days. This requirement extends to all applicable public bodies under the aegis of my Department.
Accordingly, I refer the deputy to my Department’s website at http://www.ahg.gov.ie/en/Publications/CorporatePublications/CurrentPublications/, where composite tables containing this information, both current and historical, in respect of my Department and the relevant public bodies is available.
The additional categories of information sought are not readily available and their compilation would involve a disproportionate amount of time and work that would be difficult to justify.
