Written Answers Nos. 153 - 169
153. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for family income supplement that were received by her Department before 5 November 2012 that are not yet processed; the timescale for concluding these cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57595/12]
View answerThe Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible.
FIS claims, both new and renewal, received on or after the 5th November 2012 are currently being processed on receipt. On 2 November 2012 there were 7,390 (approx.) new FIS applications and 7,810 (approx.) renewal applications awaiting approval. There are 7,370 (approx.) new FIS applications and 4,290 (approx.) renewal applications currently awaiting approval.
An in-depth Business Process Improvement (BPI) project has recently been completed for the FIS scheme. This project focused on optimising output, improving customer service and the elimination of backlogs.
The outcome of this review is a detailed plan outlining the process required to manage both the continuous weekly intake and backlog claims clearance. This plan sees the current weekly new claim and renewal intake processed by one team, while the backlog is ring-fenced and a focused team assigned to this work with a clear plan for its elimination.
The team including additional temporary resources has been identified and is already assigned and working on the backlog claims. In order to reduce the time it will take to eliminate the backlog, some claims are being processed outside of Longford Social Welfare Services Office. This team is fully focused on the elimination of the backlog of claims in the shortest possible timeframe, concentrating in the first instance on those claims which were previously in payment but where payment has expired and continuing on to first-time new claims. Within those categories, those waiting the longest will be processed first.
It is expected that the backlog will be fully eliminated by the end of March 2013. Claims which are approved by the backlog team will be backdated to the date of claim or the date of expiry of the previous claim, as appropriate, and all arrears due will be paid.
Question No. 154 withdrawn.
155. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath was classified as an adult dependant, but who in fact could have afforded a social welfare payment in their own right is not allowed to participate under the jobbridge initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57604/12]
View answerThe eligibility to access the National Internship Scheme is based on the overall Labour Market policy objective of ensuring a pathway to appropriate employment, training and education opportunities. The policy objective is to prioritise scarce resources to those in receipt of specified payments or who are on the Live Register so as to increase their chances of leaving it, thereby ensuring a reduction in Exchequer costs over time.
In pursuit of this objective, it has been decided that eligibility for the scheme should be targeted at those in receipt of a qualifying claim (Jobseekers Allowance/Jobseekers Benefit/One Parent Family Payment/Disability Allowance /Signing for Credits) for 78 days out of the last 6 months. Time spent of certain other government-sponsored training may also be taken into account when calculating eligibility. The Department is not in a position to make any exceptions to these requirements.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the person concerned has never made a claim for a Job Seeker's payment. The person concerned was classified as an adult dependant by virtue of the fact that their partner made the claim for JobSeeker's Allowance and applied for an increase in his payment in respect of them as his adult dependant. It is open to the person concerned to submit a claim for a Jobseeker's payment/ sign for credits in her own right, which, if allowed, would entitle her for application to the JobBridge Scheme, once she has a live claim for the requisite number of days as outlined above.
156. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [57640/12]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 9th March 2012. The application is with a deciding officer for a decision. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
157. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if arrears in respect of back to education or one parent family allowance is warranted for the period February to October 2012 in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57666/12]
View answerA review of this case will be undertaken and the person concerned will be informed of the outcome on completion of the review.
158. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which entitlement to partial sick benefit is likely to be affected after 9 January 2013 when entitlement expires in the case a person (details supplied) in County Laois; if they will have an entitlement to disability allowance in view of the fact that their spouse is unemployed and in receipt of unemployment benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57667/12]
View answerThe person concerned made an application for partial capacity benefit on 1st October 2012. They will be notified of the decision of this application on 21st December 2012.
Partial capacity benefit is a social welfare scheme which allows a person with a reduced capacity to work to return to work or self-employment, and continue to receive a payment from the Department of Social Protection.
To qualify for partial capacity benefit a person must be currently in receipt of either illness benefit (for a minimum of 6 months) or invalidity pension .
An applicant for partial capacity benefit may not commence employment until they have received written approval to do so from the Department of Social Protection.
A claimant for partial capacity benefit will continue to have an entitlement to this payment for as long as an entitlement to illness benefit exists. When partial capacity benefit exhausts, the person concerned may apply for disability allowance. Applicants for disability allowance must satisfy the medical eligibility requirements of that scheme and are subject to a means test. Partial capacity benefit is not available to persons in receipt of disability allowance.
159. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the level of rent allowance payable in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57668/12]
View answerThe person concerned was sent a request for further information on the 18th September 2012 in relation to a matter that was brought to our attention by the landlord. The rent supplement claim remains suspended until this information has been supplied.
160. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a domiciliary care allowance will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as a matter of urgency. [57674/12]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an oral hearing of the appeal of the person concerned took place on 17th December 2012 and the Appeals Officer is now considering the appeal in the light of all the evidence submitted, including that adduced at the hearing. The person concerned will be notified of the Appeals Officer decision when the appeal has been determined.
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.
161. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an application for a social welfare appeal hearing of the refusal of an application for disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57687/12]
View answer163. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an application for a social welfare appeal of a refusal of an application for disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath [57689/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 163 together.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 3rd 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. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 17th December 2012 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.
162. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an application for a social welfare appeal hearing of the refusal of 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. [57688/12]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 3rd 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. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 7th December 2012 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.
164. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of participants on the rural social scheme broken down on an integrated company basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57735/12]
View answer165. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of participants on the rural social scheme broken down by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57743/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 165 together.
The rural social scheme currently provides work opportunities for around 2,600 participants and 130 supervisory staff. Overall responsibility for the RSS rests with the Department of Social Protection with responsibility for its day-to-day operations resting with 35 local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta which is responsible for delivery in Gaeltacht areas, collectively referred to as Implementing Bodies. €45m has provisionally been allocated for 2013, which will allow the scheme to continue along the same lines in 2013 as in previous years but does not allow for the recruitment above the numbers stated above.
The tables outline the breakdown of participants by Implementing Body and on a county basis.
Table 1 - Allocation of RSS Placements
|
Implementing Body |
County |
Participant Quota |
Supervisor Quota |
|
Breffni Integrated Limited |
Cavan |
80 |
4 |
|
Carlow County Development Partnership Ltd. |
Carlow |
18 |
1 |
|
Clare Local Development Co. Ltd. |
Clare |
117 |
6 |
|
Avondhu/Blackwater Partnership Ltd. |
Cork |
17 |
1 |
|
South and East Cork Area Development |
Cork |
8 |
1 |
|
West Cork Development Partnership Ltd. |
Cork |
68 |
3 |
|
Ballyhoura Development Limited |
Cork/Limerick |
47 |
2 |
|
IRD Duhallow Ltd. |
Cork/Limerick/Kerry |
58 |
3 |
|
Donegal Local Development Company Ltd |
Donegal |
76 |
4 |
|
Inishowen Development Partnership |
Donegal |
30 |
2 |
|
Comhar na nOileán Teoranta |
Islands |
20 |
0 |
|
FORUM Connemara Ltd. |
Galway |
14 |
1 |
|
Galway Rural Development Co. Ltd. |
Galway |
156 |
8 |
|
North and East Kerry LEADER Partnership Teoranta |
Kerry |
89 |
5 |
|
South Kerry Development Partnership Ltd. |
Kerry |
138 |
7 |
|
Cill Dara ar Aghaidh Teoranta |
Kildare |
22 |
1 |
|
County Kilkenny LEADER Partnership Co. Limited |
Kilkenny |
19 |
1 |
|
Laois Community and Enterprise Dev. Co. Ltd. |
Laois |
25 |
1 |
|
Leitrim Integrated Development Company Ltd. |
Leitrim |
100 |
5 |
|
West Limerick Resources |
Limerick |
36 |
2 |
|
Longford Community Resources |
Longford |
55 |
3 |
|
Louth LEADER Partnership |
Louth |
10 |
0 |
|
Mayo North East LEADER Partnership Co. Teo. |
Mayo |
221 |
11 |
|
South West Mayo Development Company Ltd. |
Mayo |
191 |
10 |
|
Meath Community Rural & Social Dev. Partnership |
Meath |
16 |
1 |
|
Monaghan Integrated Development Limited |
Monaghan |
40 |
2 |
|
Offaly Integrated Local Development Company Ltd. |
Offaly |
52 |
3 |
|
Roscommon Integrated Development Company Ltd. |
Roscommon |
149 |
7 |
|
County Sligo LEADER Partnership Co. Ltd. |
Sligo |
124 |
6 |
|
North Tipperary LEADER Partnership |
Tipperary |
37 |
2 |
|
South Tipperary Development Company Limited |
Tipperary |
26 |
1 |
|
Waterford LEADER Partnership Ltd. |
Waterford |
12 |
0 |
|
Westmeath Community Development Ltd. |
Westmeath |
33 |
2 |
|
Wexford Local Development |
Wexford |
39 |
2 |
|
Co. Wicklow Community Partnership |
Wicklow |
20 |
1 |
|
Údarás na Gaeltachta |
Mayo/Kerry/ Galway/Donegal |
437 |
21 |
|
Totals |
2,600 |
130 |
Table 2 - Participants per County as at 18th December 2012
|
County |
- |
|
Co. Carlow |
18 |
|
Co. Cavan |
83 |
|
Co. Clare |
115 |
|
Co. Cork |
170 |
|
Co. Donegal |
228 |
|
Co. Galway |
281 |
|
Co. Kerry |
280 |
|
Co. Kildare |
23 |
|
Co. Kilkenny |
18 |
|
Co. Laois |
20 |
|
Co. Leitrim |
98 |
|
Co. Limerick |
76 |
|
Co. Longford |
53 |
|
Co. Louth |
11 |
|
Co. Mayo |
566 |
|
Co. Meath |
14 |
|
Co. Monaghan |
42 |
|
Co. Offaly |
45 |
|
Co. Roscommon |
149 |
|
Co. Sligo |
129 |
|
Co. Tipperary |
65 |
|
Co. Waterford |
12 |
|
Co. Westmeath |
36 |
|
Co. Wexford |
41 |
|
Co. Wicklow |
18 |
|
Totals |
2,591 |
166. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications on hand, under each social welfare scheme, that have not been decided and were made more than three months ago; the reason for the delay in processing applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57749/12]
View answerThe Department is committed to ensuring that claims are processed as expeditiously as possible. Processing times vary across schemes, depending on the differing qualification criteria. Schemes that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case of illness-related schemes, can take longer to process. Similarly, means-tested payments can also require more detailed investigation and interaction with the applicant, thereby lengthening the decision making process. Delays can also arise if information is required from social security organisations in other jurisdictions and where additional information has been requested from the applicant but remains outstanding. For example, pension claims on hand for more than three months typically occur in the case of EU/bilateral pensions where information from other jurisdictions is awaited or, in the case of self-employed, there may be outstanding PRSI liabilities. This delay also impacts on household benefits in many cases as they are linked to when the pension is awarded.
As part of the Department’s programme of service delivery modernisation, a range of initiatives aimed at streamlining the processing of claims, supported by modern technology, have been implemented in recent years. Operational processes, procedures and the organisation of work are continually reviewed to ensure that processing capability is maximised.
In addition, the staffing needs of the Department are regularly reviewed, having regard to workloads and the competing demands arising, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources. The Department will continue to source available staff to fill critical vacancies by way of redeployment, or transfer from within the Department and other
Government Departments, taking account of the employment control framework (ECF) target, as determined by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
I wish to assure the Deputy that prompt processing of claims remains a priority for me.
Table: Applications pending longer than 3 months:
|
Scheme |
Applications awaiting decision |
|
State Pension (contributory) |
1,095 |
|
State Pension (transition) |
952 |
|
State pension (non-contributory) |
372 |
|
Widow(er)’s and surviving civil partner’s pension (contributory) |
118 |
|
Widow(er)’s and surviving civil partner’s pension (non-contributory) pension & one parent family payment (widow) |
19 |
|
One parent family payment |
1,364 |
|
Household benefits |
1,086 |
|
Bereavement grant |
649 |
|
Invalidity pension |
2,255 |
|
Family income supplement - new claims |
4,965 |
|
Family income supplement - renewals |
941 |
|
Disability Allowance |
2,876 |
|
Carer’s Benefit |
20 |
|
Carer’s Allowance |
6,782 |
|
Jobseeker’s Benefit |
643 |
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance |
3,408 |
|
Illness Benefit |
0 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
0 |
|
Child Benefit (domestic) |
0 |
|
Child Benefit (EC Regulation) |
Not readily available |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
89 |
167. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of appeals on hand in the appeals office for more than three months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57750/12]
View answerThe number of appeals on hands for more than three months in the Social Welfare Appeals Office at 18th December 2012, is 13,232. A breakdown of the current status of these appeals is given in the Table.
There was a rapid and sustained increase in the number of appeals from 2009 to date which has placed extraordinary pressure on the SWAO. Significant resources and efforts have been put into reducing backlogs and improving processing times for appellants, including the assignment of 15 additional Appeals Officers, retaining retired experienced officers for 18 months ending December 2011, improving business processes and implementing a new operating model.
As a result of these measures, there has been significant increase in the number of appeals finalised from an average of 13,500 in 2009 to 34,027 in 2011 and the processing times have reduced by an overall 10.2 weeks in the nine months of this year. Further improvement is needed and in that regard,
- The Chief Appeals Officer expects to finalise 6,000 more cases in 2013 than in 2012;
- There is a major programme of process redesign and modernisation currently underway in relation to many scheme areas which will reduce backlogs and will also reduce the time taken for the Department to respond to requests from the SWAO for submissions in relation to appeals;
- It is planned to recruit 8 additional Medical Assessors in 2013.
All these measures together will reduce the waiting time for appellants.
However, by its nature and because it is a quasi-judicial process, the processing of appeals takes time even at the best of times and reflects the fact that while every effort is made to deal with appeals as fast as possible this cannot be at the expense of fairness of due process.
Table: Appeals on hands for more than three months
|
Status |
Number |
|
With Social Welfare Appeals Office |
5,488 |
|
Awaiting response from Line Section |
6,006 |
|
Awaiting Medical Review and Assessment |
1,590 |
|
Awaiting Response from Appellant |
148 |
|
TOTAL |
13,232 |
168. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will revisit the issue of restrictions on gorse burning time, taking account of the implementation method in other jurisdictions, with a view to easing the difficulties that the current calendar based system is causing for farmers and also the fire services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57493/12]
View answerI am aware of the concerns expressed in relation to the current restrictions on burning gorse and, indeed, I recently met with farmers' representatives in relation to this matter.
Under section 40 of the Wildlife Acts, the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction by other means of vegetation growing on uncultivated land or in hedges or ditches is prohibited during the nesting and breeding season for birds and wildlife, from 1 March to 31 August. This is subject to certain specific exceptions, but these exceptions - which include the cutting or grubbing of isolated bushes of gorse during the ordinary course of agriculture - do not allow anything done by burning. Hedgerows are an important reservoir of biodiversity and habitat for birds, insects, wild flowers and other wildlife during the summer breeding season. The purpose of these provisions is to protect bird life during the nesting season, to prevent forest fires, and to protect vegetation and wildlife habitats during the months of growth and reproduction.
However, while hedgerows and scrub are important as wildlife habitats, they need to be managed in the interests of both farming and biodiversity. Accordingly, I included a commitment in the National Biodiversity Plan 2011-2016 to review the overall policy in this area. The commitment is to review, in co-operation with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, both hedgerow and scrub regulation with a view to producing guidelines to encourage best practice for hedgerow and scrub management for wildlife.
With regard to the specific issues raised with me by the farmers' representatives, I have asked my officials to consider them and to report to me as soon as possible.
169. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his Department or an agency which receives funding from it have funds available towards the restoration and or conservation of unoccupied thatched houses which are used for community, heritage or cultural activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57557/12]
View answerPart IV of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2011 provides for the protection of architectural heritage. The Act gives primary responsibility to planning authorities to identify and protect architectural heritage, including thatched buildings, by including them on the Record of Protected Structures. Inclusion on the Record of Protected Structures places a duty of care on the owners and occupiers of protected structures and also gives planning authorities powers to deal with development proposals affecting them and to seek to safeguard their future.
A number of State financial supports have enabled the conservation and restoration of thatched structures. In 2012, my Department provided €500,000 in grant-aid assistance through a Structures at Risk Fund administered by local authorities to assist with works to safeguard structures protected under the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2012 including the conservation of two thatched structures. The Heritage Council, which is funded by my Department, grant-aided the restoration of twenty-three thatched structures under their Heritage Management Scheme in 2012.
The Heritage Council, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, also administers a grants scheme to REPS 4 participants on the conservation and repair of traditional farm buildings, known as the Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme. Grants are available under this scheme to carry out approved conservation works to the exterior of farm outbuildings including roofs. I understand that, subject to continued availability of funding, a call for applications for the 2013/14 scheme will be issued next year to participants.
The level of funding available in 2013 and future years for these schemes will be subject to the normal Budgetary and Estimates processes. It is hoped that the Structures at Risk Fund will be continued in 2013 but, a s the Deputy can appreciate, the scope for additional funding for the conservation of the built heritage is constrained by the significant reduction in the public finances.
In relation to policy and guidance matters, my Department, with the assistance of an Expert Advisory Committee representing key stakeholders, is currently finalising a review of the operation of Part IV of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2012. The review will consider the need, in the light of current economic circumstances, to develop alternative ways of supporting the conservation of protected structures, including thatched structures.
In addition, as part of an Architectural Advice Series, my Department plans to publish an advice book on thatching in 2013, which will include further practical advice and guidance on aspects of conserving and restoring thatched structures. The nine previously published booklets in the Architectural Advice Series cover areas such as roof and energy efficiency for traditionally built buildings. The full series is available on my Department’s website at www.ahg.gov.ie .
