Written Answers Nos. 490-511
499. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding entitlement to jobseeker's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47568/12]
View answerThe person concerned was disallowed jobseeker’s allowance as her means were deemed to be in excess of the statutory limit based on spousal earnings. The person concerned can appeal the decision of the deciding officer to the social welfare appeal’s office.
500. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons in receipt of the vocational training opportunities scheme in 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; the number in receipt broken down by county; the total costs of the payment in 2010, 2011 and estimated total costs in 2012; her plans for the future of the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47526/12]
View answerThis is a matter for my colleague in the Department of Education and Skills.
504. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons in receipt of the smokeless fuel allowance in 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; the number in receipt broken down by county; the total costs of the payment in 2010, 2011 and estimated total costs in 2012; her plans for the future of the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47530/12]
View answerThe Smokeless Fuel Allowance was abolished with effect from September 2011. The numbers of recipients, their county of residence and the cost of the allowance were not segregated from the statistics of the schemes under which it was paid prior to its abolition and accordingly, the information sought by the Deputy in respect of 2010 and 2011 is not available.
509. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons in receipt of the diet and heating supplements in 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; the number in receipt broken down by county; the total costs of the payment in 2010, 2011 and estimated total costs in 2012; her plans for the future of the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47535/12]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is not collated by my Department. The number of recipients of miscellaneous Supplementary Welfare Supplements, including Diet and Heating Supplements, is collated annually for inclusion in the Department’s Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services report. A table detailing the available statistics is supplied for the Deputy’s information. With regard to my future plans for these supplements, a review of the Diet Supplement scheme is planned in the coming months.
Miscellaneous Supplementary Welfare Supplements
(Including Diet and Heating Supplements)
|
County |
31st December 2010 |
31st December 2011 |
|
Carlow |
188 |
170 |
|
Cavan |
162 |
144 |
|
Clare |
336 |
306 |
|
Cork |
2,112 |
1,839 |
|
Donegal |
145 |
139 |
|
Dublin |
3,353 |
5,320 |
|
Galway |
361 |
365 |
|
Kerry |
399 |
310 |
|
Kildare |
387 |
365 |
|
Kilkenny |
189 |
167 |
|
Laois |
255 |
232 |
|
Leitrim |
28 |
28 |
|
Limerick |
1,741 |
1,638 |
|
Longford |
119 |
108 |
|
Louth |
195 |
188 |
|
Mayo |
284 |
267 |
|
Meath |
176 |
166 |
|
Monaghan |
111 |
101 |
|
Offaly |
256 |
235 |
|
Roscommon |
231 |
207 |
|
Sligo |
42 |
42 |
|
Tipperary |
903 |
787 |
|
Waterford |
368 |
326 |
|
Westmeath |
150 |
140 |
|
Wexford |
372 |
357 |
|
Wicklow |
343 |
297 |
|
Others |
0 |
0 |
|
Totals |
15,206 |
14,244 |
Total recipients at 30 September 2012 - N/A.
510. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons in receipt of the humanitarian assistance scheme in 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; the number in receipt broken down by county; the total costs of the payment in 2010, 2011 and estimated total costs in 2012; her plans for the future of the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47536/12]
View answerThe Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is the lead Department for severe weather emergencies and the Office of Public Works has responsibility for capital flood relief activities. However, the Department of Social Protection has an important role to play in assisting households in the immediate aftermath of emergency events such as the flooding of November 2009, October 2011 and June 2012. A humanitarian aid scheme was approved by Government in response to these floods. The humanitarian aid scheme, which is means tested, is available to people whose homes were damaged in the flooding and who are not in a position to meet costs for essential needs, household items and in some instances structural repair as a result of the flooding damage. Payments issued to householders affected by these floods as follows.
Following the 2009 flooding, 2,100 payments were made at a value of approximately €1 million during 2010. The majority of these payments were made in counties Galway and Roscommon. The counties mainly affected by the autumn 2011 flooding were Dublin and Monaghan. Payments to the value of €879,073 have been paid to date in respect of 952 claims in Dublin and €28,767 in respect of 46 claims in Monaghan. The total paid during 2011 in respect of these counties was approximately €359,000. Following the June 2012 flooding, over 100 payments have been made to affected householders in the Cork area to the value of €108,500. Total payments to the value of €752,300 have been made in 2012 under the humanitarian aid scheme. Based on the scheme expenditure to date, it is estimated that expenditure for the full year will be in the region of €900,000. Any changes to this scheme will be considered in a budgetary context.
511. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection when an assessment will be carried out on an invalidity pension appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47604/12]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 28th August 2012. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When received, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on 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.
