Written Answers Nos. 574-595
574. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is a problem having jobseekers' payments paid directly into bank accounts, and if so, the nature of problem and the way it can be overcome. [48223/12]
View answerMy Department is committed to providing a high quality service to our customers. In most cases, we offer a range of payment options to customers including payment at a local post office via electronic information transfer (EIT), payment through a bank, building society account or certain credit unions via electronic funds transfer (EFT) or payment by cheque.
There are some exceptions whereby for administrative or control purposes we may limit the choice of payment method. In the case of Jobseeker’s Benefit and Jobseeker’s Allowance, payment at the Post Office contributes to the Department’s current approach to fraud control. Since 2008 it is normal practice to pay jobseekers in their local post-office. Exceptions are made in certain circumstances such as while a person is undertaking a course of study under the Back To Education Allowance or partaking of an internship under the Work Placement Programme or National Internship Programme and has difficulty accessing the post-office during normal working hours.
There are no plans to change payment arrangements for jobseeker customers.
575. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that many applicants for positions through jobbridge are having their applications unacknowledged by host organisations; if there is any mechanisms in place to ensure that all applicants receive an acknowledgement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48244/12]
View answerThe National Internship Scheme, JobBridge, was launched on 1st July 2011. It provides internship opportunities of either 6 or 9 months for unemployed individuals at all skills levels. The aim of JobBridge is to assist individuals in breaking the cycle where they are unable to get a job without experience. It provides them with an opportunity to gain valuable experience, relevant knowledge and skills within a working environment. The Scheme is open to organisations in the private, public and community or voluntary sectors.
The JobBridge Scheme has made significant progress to-date since it came into operation on the 1st July 2011. 11,671 internships have commenced to date with 5,262 participants currently on an internship as at 1st November 2012 and 1,879 internship opportunities presently advertised on www.jobbridge.ie.
I would like to advise the Deputy that the Department has developed a toolkit on the JobBridge website, www.jobbridge.ie that provides advice and guidance on key elements of a good internship. Within this context, it is widely recognised that it is good policy and practice for host organisations to acknowledge receipt of applications from jobseekers.
However, I would advise the Deputy that the process of applying for internships is entirely a matter for the host organisation and prospective interns. As you are aware, participation on the Scheme is on a voluntary basis and the Department is not involved in the recruitment process other than hosting the advertisements and verifying the eligibility of jobseekers to participate.
The Department does not condone incidences wherein jobseekers apply for posts and do not receive an acknowledgment from their prospective host organisation. In light of matters raised by the Deputy, the Department will re-emphasise the importance of host organisations responding to applications by jobseekers. This will be implemented via the JobBridge website.
576. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection when her Department and agencies funded by her Department will implement the Labour Court recommendation in relation to Labour Court recommendation number LCR19293 dated the 22 July 2008 regarding the provision of a pension scheme for community employment supervisors and assistant supervisors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48283/12]
View answerThe position is as set out in my reply to Questions Nos. 89, 99 and 102 on 1st December 2011. Supervisors and assistant supervisors are employed by sponsor organisations in contract with FÁS (now the Department of Social Protection) for the operation of community employment (CE) and the delivery of the local services. All sponsor organisations operated independently of FÁS and of the Department in the discharge of their various functions in respect to the management of staff, participants, finance, and governance arrangements. These arrangements did not change with the integration of FÁS services into the Department of Social Protection. The position regarding the making of pension provisions for CE supervisors and assistant supervisors remains unchanged and I do not accept that any liability falls to the Exchequer in respect of this matter.
578. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite a decision 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. [48321/12]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 10th September 2012. In accordance with the statutory requirements the Appeals Office contacted the person concerned asking her to set out the complete grounds of her appeal. These have now been received and 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.
579. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a mortgage interest supplement appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48334/12]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 5th September 2012. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 17th September 2012 and the case has been referred 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.
581. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [48377/12]
View answerI confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 23rd May 2012. The application is with a deciding officer for a decision. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
583. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will refer to the qualifying criteria for employers who wish to partake in job bridge national internship scheme; if tax-compliant self-employed persons who have no employees/cannot afford to take on an employee qualify for the internship scheme and if not, the number of self-employed persons in this category who have applied to be included in the scheme and if she will consider extending qualifying criteria to include self-employed persons in this category in the job bridge internship scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48395/12]
View answerThe National Internship Scheme, JobBridge, was launched on 1st July 2011. It provides internship opportunities of either 6 or 9 months for unemployed individuals at all skills levels. The aim of JobBridge is to assist individuals in breaking the cycle where they are unable to get a job without experience. It provides them with an opportunity to gain valuable experience, relevant knowledge and skills within a working environment. The Scheme is open to organisations in the private, public and community or voluntary sectors.
The JobBridge Scheme has made significant progress to-date since it came into operation on 1st July 2011. 11,671 internships have commenced to date with 5,262 participants currently on an internship as at 1st November 2012 and 1,879 opportunities presently advertised on www.jobbridge.ie .
A clear set of rules have been developed and are in operation to protect the intern and safeguard JobBridge from potential abuse. Thus, in order for an organisation to participate on JobBridge, one of the key conditions is that an organisation or self-employed person must have a minimum of 1 full time employee who is employed for 30 hours or more per week (i.e. on payroll and subject to tax and PRSI). A host organisation participating in JobBridge must be in a position to provide a substantial commitment to their intern so as to ensure the provision of a quality internship. It is important that strong mentoring and support is available for the intern and that they can improve their skills and knowledge while working with other colleagues in a team environment.
Potential host organisations can avail of the JobBridge guidelines and full eligibility criteria which are available on the JobBridge website www.jobbridge.ie.
I wish to further highlight that an independent evaluation of the Scheme is currently being undertaken by Indecon International Economic Consultants. This evaluation will assess the design, delivery and impact of the JobBridge Scheme; it will provide details of the nature of the work experience of the participants; a measurement of the relevance of that experience to the labour market and progression into employment. It is anticipated that the final report will be published in late December. This Report will also present recommendations on how the Scheme might be improved. It is at this stage that further consideration will be given to amending the terms and conditions of the Scheme including the specific matters raised by the Deputy.
584. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the position in relation to the appeal for diet supplement in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [48420/12]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 15th August 2012. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on the 9th October 2012 and the case has been 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.
585. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a carer's allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [48533/12]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 10th October 2012. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be 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.
586. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of the type and frequency of North South engagement her Department undertakes; the current priorities in this area; the number of whole time equivalent staff assigned to these matters; the grades involved and the amount of time each grade spends on North South Activities as a proportion of their WTE employment; the co-ordination arrangements that have been put in place; if there are any current vacancies in North South Co-operation unites; the duration of this vacancy and the steps being taken to fill the vacancy. [48551/12]
View answerThere are strong and long standing relationships with a wide range of contacts taking place between officials of my Department and their counterparts in Northern Ireland. This ranges from senior management engagement, ongoing day-to-day operational contact and also the annual Summer School jointly run by the two authorities. In general, the main contacts are in relation to the assessment and payment of social welfare benefits. Payment of cross-border benefits is regulated by EU Regulations on the co-ordination of social security systems and so there is a necessity for ongoing contacts with Northern and UK authorities to assess and pay benefits across a wide range of schemes.
Fraud control is an important issue for authorities in both jurisdictions and in this regard there are formal and ad-hoc arrangements in place for the sharing of information in this area. A Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Ireland is in place to ensure Co-operation and Mutual Assistance in the Administration of Social Security Programmes in matters of mutual interest in the areas of fraud in their respective social security systems.
In addition, there is a Cross-Border Operational Forum, comprising senior fraud managers from the Department of Social Protection, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Northern Ireland Social Security Agency of the Department for Social Development. The Forum’s remit is to liaise at operational level and ensure that measures are in place to ensure effective co-operation, prevention and detection of fraud .
Case by case data-matching takes places between the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Social Development (DSD) in Northern Ireland on cases where social welfare fraud or abuse is occurring. In 2011, 4,288 checks were carried out by the DSD on behalf of the DSP. Similarly, 2,716 checks were carried out by the DSP on behalf of the DSD for the same year.
The Department’s Special Investigation works with other agencies such as Revenue, National Employment Rights Authority, Customs and the Gardaí and ensures that control activity is being targeted at high risk categories of claimants/employers. There is an active and ongoing relationship between the Department’s SIU officers and their counterparts in the Fraud Investigation Service in Northern Ireland.
An annual Summer School is run jointly by the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Social Development, Northern Ireland. This year marked the 13th anniversary of this very successful joint event. The School is residential and takes place over the period of one week. It is hosted in turn by each Department, and held in Dublin and Belfast on alternate years. Twenty four staff from each Department are invited to attend. Lectures and study group sessions held throughout the week provide an opportunity for staff to come together in a university environment to explore issues of social policy facing their Departments and their societies in general. In the Department of Social Protection, staff of the following grades are invited to apply for a place on the School; Staff Officer, Executive Officer, Higher Executive Officer and Administrative Officer. All administration in relation to the Summer School is managed by a small team of staff in both Departments who liaise regularly.
The Department does not have any unit dealing exclusively with co-operation with Northern Ireland. Officers contact Northern authorities as required as part of their normal responsibilities. Given the manner in which contacts with Northern Ireland take place and the wide number of people involved it would not be possible to quantify the actual staff numbers and time involved.
587. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the position, whereby a person who is in receipt of widow's contributory pension, can participate on a community employment scheme; if such participation will affect their entitlement to the widow's contributory pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48563/12]
View answerA person of 25 years of age or over who is currently in receipt of Widow's/Widower's Contributory or Non-Contributory Pension for a minimum of 12 months is eligible to participate on the Community Employment (CE) programme, as per the published eligibility criteria.
From 16th January 2012, new participants on CE schemes will not be able to simultaneously claim their original social welfare payment and a Community Employment allowance, as per section 12 of the Social Welfare Act 2011. This measure affects those in receipt of the following payments commencing CE after that date:
One Parent Family Payment
Deserted Wife’s Benefit
Widow(er)s Pension (Contributory or Non-Contributory)
Illness Benefit
Disability Allowance
Invalidity Pension
Blind Pension
These new CE participants will receive payments directly via the CE scheme at a rate equivalent to their original social welfare payment (including any increase for a qualified adult and/or child dependants) plus an additional €20 CE participation bonus.
New participants are defined as those persons who, with effect from 16th January 2012, have not been employed on a CE scheme in the 12 months prior to commencing the current CE placement.
588. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding rent allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48593/12]
View answerThe person concerned has reduced his rent to the limit applicable to his circumstances which is €670.00 per month. A rent supplement has now been awarded and the client is in receipt of his entitlement in full based on his current household circumstances. An exceptional needs payment has also been issued regarding the deposit required.
589. Deputy John Perry asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on an invalidity appeal in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48599/12]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 19th September 2012. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be 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.
590. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on a disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48620/12]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 4th February 2012. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on the 11th July 2012 and the case has been referred to an Appeals Officer who will hold an oral hearing in the next four weeks.
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.
591. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is possible for her to legislate to ensure that pension charges are kept low for those in pension schemes (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48624/12]
View answerThe Report on Pension Charges which I published last week was undertaken by my Department with support from the Central Bank and Pensions Board. The primary objective of the report was to gather information on the level of pension charges levied, to assess whether these charges are reasonable and transparent, to report on the findings and to make recommendations.
The report highlights a wide range of issues in relation to pension charges and identifies a number of serious problems. It is fully recognised that the provision of pension schemes cannot be cost free. However, there are major challenges to be addressed in the two main areas of reasonableness and transparency of charges.
The report is a fact finding report and comments from interested parties and stakeholders are being invited over a 3 month period (i.e. by the end of January 2013). These responses will be considered and a further policy and regulatory response, if considered necessary, will be brought to Government.
In recent years a number of initiatives have been progressed at Irish and EU level which focused on the area of disclosure and transparency of pension charges. These initiatives included the publication of the revised Consumer Protection Code by the Central Bank in 2012 and the recent consultation paper by the Pensions Board on pension simplification. At EU level, my Department will be monitoring development across a range of proposals which are currently under consideration and will be progressed during 2013. The outcome of these developments will inform the regulatory framework in Ireland.
On the broader pension policy front, the report clearly identifies the importance of economies of scale in driving down charges. At present the OECD is conducting a review of longer term pension policy and will comment on key policy issues such as the possible introduction of an auto-enrolment pension scheme for all employees which could have a major impact on reducing charges.
592. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48635/12]
View answerI confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 5th June 2012. The application is with a deciding officer for a decision. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
593. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Meath. [48643/12]
View answerI confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on 29th March 2012. The application is with a deciding officer for a decision. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
594. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection when a carer's allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be processed; the reason for the delay in processing the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48646/12]
View answerI confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on 8th March 2012. The application is with a deciding officer for a decision. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
595. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal for invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48664/12]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 29th August 2012. As the appeal was received via the Local Office the necessary submission and case papers were also received and the case will be referred 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.
