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Thursday, 8 Nov 2012

Written Answers Nos. 182-195

Rental Accommodation Scheme Applications

Questions (182)

Peter Mathews

Question:

182. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in respect of an application for rent allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 16; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49055/12]

View answer

Written answers

The claim is currently being processed and a decision will be made shortly. The person concerned will be advised of this decision when it is made.

Question No. 183 withdrawn.

Social Welfare Appeals Status

Questions (184)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

184. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cavan; when a decision may be expected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49104/12]

View answer

Written answers

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 27th 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 4th September 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.

Community Employment Schemes Places

Questions (185)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

185. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of participants on community employment programmes on 1 October 2012 and 1 October 2011, nationally and specifically in counties Dublin and Cork; the number of participants in receipt of disability allowance and also the number of community employment participants on one parent family payment on the above dates nationally and in counties Dublin and Cork. [49111/12]

View answer

Written answers

Statistics for Community Employment are compiled at the end of each month. At the end of September 2012 there were 22,636 (participants and Supervisors) engaged on Community Employment (CE); at the end of September 2011 there were 23,348 (participants and Supervisors) engaged on CE. Specifically in the Dublin counties at the end of September 2012 there were 5,822 (participants and Supervisors) engaged on CE, the corresponding number for the end of September 2011 is 6,135. In County Cork at the end of September 2012 there were 2,106 (participants and Supervisors) engaged on CE, the corresponding number for the end of September 2011 is 2,115.

The number of CE participants in receipt of Disability Allowance at the end of September 2012 was 1,416; the corresponding number at the end of September 2011 is 1,865. The number of CE participants in receipt of the One Parent Family Payment at the end of September 2012 was 3,060; the corresponding number at the end of September 2011 is 4,508. Specifically in the Dublin counties at the end of September 2012 there were 620 CE participants in receipt of Disability Allowance; the corresponding number at the end of September 2011 is 775. In County Cork at the end of September 2012 there were 179 CE participants in receipt of Disability Allowance; the corresponding number at the end of September 2011 is 206. In the Dublin counties at the end of September 2012 there were 1,306 CE participants in receipt of the One Parent Family Payment; the corresponding number at the end of September 2011 is 1,834. In County Cork at the end of September 2012 there were 217 CE participants in receipt of the One Parent Family Payment; the corresponding number at the end of September 2011 is 346. The statistics are detailed in following Summary Table.

Summary Table : Participation on CE

-

-

September 2012

September 2011

Participation

National

22,636

23,348

-

Dublin Counties

5,822

6,135

-

County Cork

2,106

2,115

Disability Allowance (DA)

National

1,416

1,865

-

Dublin Counties

620

775

-

County Cork

179

206

One Parent Family Payment (OFP)

National

3,060

4,508

-

Dublin Counties

1,306

1,834

-

County Cork

217

346

It should be noted that as a result of the continuous recruitment onto CE schemes, the numbers on the CE programme will fluctuate over and under the approved 23,300 full time equivalent numbers for 2012. There has been no change to the number of approved places in 2012 compared to 2011.

Carer's Allowance Applications

Questions (186)

Michael Creed

Question:

186. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision on a carer's allowance application has been appealed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49120/12]

View answer

Written answers

I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 12th October 2011. 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 3rd July 2012 refusing the allowance. The person in question subsequently submitted further medical evidence for review on 7th August 2012. This medical evidence is awaiting medical assessment by a medical assessor. On completion of all the necessary investigations as part of this review, a decision will be made and the person in question will be contacted directly with the outcome.

Social Welfare Benefits Applications

Questions (187)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

187. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49157/12]

View answer

Written answers

The circumstances of this claim are under review at present. If a revised decision is made, any arrears that may be due will be paid immediately.

Exceptional Needs Payments

Questions (188)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

188. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection if will arrange to have a manual payment raised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare whose rent allowance was temporarily suspended; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49159/12]

View answer

Written answers

The person concerned has been issued with an Exceptional Needs Payment in respect of arrears of rent supplement.

Rental Accommodation Scheme Payments

Questions (189)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

189. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection in view of correspondence (details supplied) if she will now arrange to have arrears of rent supplement paid to the person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49160/12]

View answer

Written answers

Following confirmation from Kildare County Council that the person concerned has a housing need since date of application for a Housing Need Assessment in 2011, the Department can now pay arrears from the commencement date of the tenancy. An Exceptional Needs Payment will be issued to the client for all arrears owed.

Social Welfare Fraud Cost

Questions (190)

Denis Naughten

Question:

190. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the fraud savings target set for each scheme in 2012; the fraud savings to date under each scheme and the number of claims involved; the level of fraud under each scheme based on the most recent fraud survey; the total annual amount paid under each scheme and the number of recipients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49174/12]

View answer

Written answers

My Department has a target of reviewing 985,000 individual welfare claims and achieving €645 million in control savings for 2012. Up to the end of September 2012, some €501 million in estimated control savings has been reported and over 917,000 reviews have been carried out. I fully expect that my Department will achieve the 2012 control targets.

Control savings represent an estimate of the value of prevented expenditure from control activity over a future period. Control savings are not actual monies recovered by the Department but are a good indication of the increase in social welfare expenditure that would occur without these activities taking place. These activities also have a deterrent or knock-on effect, which are not readily quantifiable in monetary terms. Control savings are used as a performance indicator for year-on-year activities.

The following table gives a breakdown of the control savings and reviews recorded up to end Sept 2012.

Achieve to end of September 2012 (YTD)

Annual Savings Target €M

Amt. of savings YTD €M

Annual Reviews

Target

No of Reviews YTD

Jobseeker Allowance & Benefit

€102.00

€64.00

194,000

174,000

Illness Benefit & Medical Review Assessment

80.00

€44.00

154,000

100,000

Disability Allowance/Invalidity Pension/DCA

39.00

€23.00

30,000

23,000

State Pension Non Con & Estates

€61.00

€54.00

8,000

5,000

State Pension Con./Transitional Pension

€63.00

€63.00

5,000

11,000

One Family Parent

€116.00

€92.00

90,000

73,000

Widows/Widowers/Survivors & Civil Partners

€30.00

€37.00

2,000

8,000

Maintenance Recovery Unit

€4.000

€2.00

2,500

4,000

Child Benefit

€72.00

€70.00

247,000

335,000

Carers

€12.00

€12.00

4,000

17,000

Family Income Support

€12.00

€14.00

26,000

23,000

Free Schemes & Others

€24.00

€6.00

20,000

15,000

PRSI

€4.00

€6.00

2,500

7,000

SWA

€26.00

€14.00

200,000

122,000

€645.00

€501.00

985,000

917,000

Under the Fraud Initiative 2011 - 2013, the Department plans to undertake at least two fraud and error surveys each year. These surveys highlight the risk of non-compliance with the rules of the schemes being surveyed at a particular point in time and enable the Department to target those schemes for stronger control measures, where necessary. Results are presented in terms of the net rate of fraud and error which refers to the position after account is taken of decreases or increases in weekly rates, termination of payments, transfers to other payments and the position following appeal of any cases affected.

Fraud and Error Surveys were published on three schemes in 2012 - Jobseekers Benefit, Disability Allowance and One Parent Family Payment and the results were as follows:

- Jobseekers Benefit - the net cost of fraud and error in the claims surveyed was found to be 1.6% of expenditure. Of this, 0.1% related to suspected fraud and 1.5% related to error.

- Disability Allowance - the net cost of fraud and error in the claims surveyed was found to be 2.1% of expenditure. Of this, 1.2% related to suspected fraud and 0.9% related to error.

- One Parent Family Payment - the net cost of fraud and error in the claims surveyed was found to be 2.7% of expenditure. Of this, 2.3% related to suspected fraud and 0.4% related to error.

A fraud & error survey on the Child Benefit scheme has been completed and will be published in the coming weeks. A survey on Jobseekers Allowance began in September 2012 and further surveys are planned for 2013.

The following tables provide details of the number of recipients and the total amount paid under each scheme in 2011 and as requested by the Deputy.

Recipients 2011

State Pension (Non-Contributory)

96,749

State Pension (Contributory)

296,995

State Pension (Transition)

12,110

Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension

115,762

Death Benefit Pension

628

Total Number of Recipients of Pensions

522,244

Jobseeker's Allowance

283,929

One-Parent Family Payment

90,307

Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Non-Contributory Pension

1,959

Deserted Wife's Allowance

409

Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance(1)

34,597

Farm Assist

11,333

Pre-Retirement Allowance

4,820

Jobseeker's Benefit

96,044

Deserted Wife's Benefit

8,071

Maternity Benefit

23,947

Adoptive Benefit

45

Health and Safety Benefit

61

Total Number of Recipients of Working Age on Income Supports

555,522

Back to Education Allowance

24,666

Back to Work Allowance Employee

182

Back to Work Enterprise Allowance

Self - Employed First Year

5,617

Self - Employed Years 2 - 4

5,134

Part-Time Job Incentive Scheme

180

Community Employment Programme(2)

22,589

Tús- Community Work Placement Scheme(3)

2,077

Rural Social Scheme(4)

2,537

Total Number of Recipients of Working Age on Employment Supports

62,982

Disability Allowance

102,866

Blind Pension

1,496

Carer's Allowance

51,666

Illness Benefit

73,397

Interim Illness Benefit

327

Injury Benefit

776

Invalidity Pension

49,792

Disablement Benefit

13,993

Carer's Benefit

1,637

Total People with Disabilities

295,950

Family Income Supplement

28,876

Guardian's Payment (Contributory)

955

Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory)

441

Total Children

30,272

Rent Allowance

159

Grand Total

1,467,129

Annual Expenditure 2011

Type of Payment

Provisional

-

€000

State Pension (Non-Contributory)

971,566

State Pension (Contributory)

3,622,767

State Pension (Transition)

132,396

Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension

1,337,868

Death Benefit Pension

7,977

Bereavement Grants

19,440

Total Pensions

6,092,014

Jobseeker's Allowance

2,974,987

One Parent Family Payment

1,088,897

Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Non-Contributory Pension

18,173

Deserted Wife's Allowance

4,211

Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance(2)

174,349

Farm Assist

113,724

Pre-Retirement Allowance

59,942

Jobseeker's Benefit

927,105

Deserted Wife's Benefit

85,828

Maternity Benefit

309,143

Adoptive Benefit

1,075

Health and Safety Benefit

643

Redundancy and Insolvency

326,892

Treatments Benefits

23,042

Exceptional Needs and Urgent Payments

62,228

Other Supplements

12,766

Humanitarian Aid

359

Total Working Age Income Supports

6,183,364

Community Employment

349,396

Other Employment Programmes

48,180

Integration Supports

27,158

Employment Support Services

435,163

Total Working Age Employment Supports

859,897

Disability Allowance

1,089,178

Blind Pension

15,625

Carer's Allowance

507,193

Domiciliary Care Allowance

99,924

Respite Care Grant

130,392

Illness Benefit

875,641

Injury Benefit

16,508

Invalidity Pension

606,512

Disablement Benefit

77,460

Medical Care Scheme

317

Carer's Benefit

24,474

Total Illness, Disability and Caring

3,443,224

Child Benefit

2,076,338

Family Income Supplement

204,543

Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance

90,909

School Meals Scheme

34,975

Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory)

5,134

Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner Grant (Non-Contributory)

276

Guardian's Payments (Contributory)

11,502

Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner Grant (Contributory)

6,228

Total Children

2,429,905

Household Benefits and Free Travel(3)

711,011

Rent Allowance

701

Supplementary Payments(3)

617,894

Total Supplementary Payments

1,329,606

Administration - Insurance Schemes

280,984

Administration - Assistance Schemes

348,847

Total Administration

629,831

Grand Total

20,967,841

Question No. 191 withdrawn.

One-Parent Family Payment Appeals

Questions (192)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

192. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a lone parent allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49220/12]

View answer

Written answers

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an appeal from 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.

Disability Allowance Appeals

Questions (193)

Seán Fleming

Question:

193. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection when an appeal for a disability allowance will be granted in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49228/12]

View answer

Written answers

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 17th May 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 27th August 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.

Questions Nos. 194 and 195 withdrawn.
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