Written Answers Nos. 432-455
432. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on a medical assessment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58008/12]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 14th December 2012, 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.
433. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding contributory State pensions (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58009/12]
View answerI have not received any report from the OECD on this matter so I take it that the Deputy is referring to the Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance fund. The OECD, who I have commissioned to carry out a review of pensions policy in Ireland, has not yet submitted a report to me. Work on the OECD report is ongoing and I expect to receive the report in the near future.
My Department recently published the third actuarial review (Review) of the Social Insurance Fund (Fund) which informs both short to medium term and long term policy development in relation to the social insurance system generally. The main social insurance benefits paid by the Fund relate to retirement, illness, incapacity, unemployment, maternity and bereavement. It is funded by PRSI contributions from employees, employers and the self-employed, with a subvention from the Exchequer where there is a gap between income and expenditure. The Review covers a 55 year period from 2011–2066.
With regard to pensions, the Review indicates that taking recent and planned changes to pension eligibility into consideration, 14% of claimants will not receive a contributory pension. Recent changes introduced include future changes to State pension age, a minimum total paid contributions requirement and adjustments to pension rate bands. The 14% figure also applies in 2020, when a total contributions approach, rather than an averaging approach will be taken to calculating State contributory pension entitlement. Those who do not qualify and who have an income need may qualify for a means-tested non-contributory pension.
The recent changes to pension eligibility are reform measures to ensure the sustainability of the pension system. Attachment to the workforce is a key issue for the sustainability of pensions. Those who pay more into the Fund will be awarded a higher pension in retirement.
The Review confirms that benefits offer excellent value for money for those on the lower part of the income distribution, those with shorter contribution histories, and the self-employed. The social solidarity principle which underlies the Fund is reflected in the fact that, for those at the higher end of the income distribution, the Fund is redistributive and they generally get back less than they pay in. Those with lower earnings and those with shorter contribution histories will continue to obtain the best value for money from the Fund. This is because the negative impact of these changes continues to be outweighed by the lower contributions paid into the Fund in respect of these workers. The Review also looked at the value for money provided by the Fund on a range of individual scenarios and found that:
- Those on lower incomes fare considerably better than those on higher incomes.
- Those with dependants achieve better value for money (when assessing value for money on an individual rather than on a per household basis).
- Those with short contribution histories have the potential to fare better than those with full contribution histories, which is particularly helpful for women who take time out of the workforce for caring purposes.
- The Fund provides better value to female than to male contributors.
- The self-employed achieve very good value for money compared with the employed – when the comparison includes both employer and employee contributions in respect of the employed person.
- For those at the higher end of the income distribution, the Fund is redistributive and these individuals generally get back less than they pay in.
- Higher value for money is achieved where benefits in addition to the State pension (contributory) are accessed.
434. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when an application for carer's allowance will be determined with a view to granting the application in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58015/12]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 3rd November 2011. The person in question was awarded carer’s allowance for one caree on the 16th August 2012. This carer’s allowance claim is in payment. The carer’s allowance application for the second caree was disallowed on the 16th August on medical grounds. The person in question subsequently submitted further medical evidence for review. On completion of all the necessary investigations in relation to this review, a decision will issue directly to the person in question.
435. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Social Protection when an appeal will be heard in relation to the illness benefit claim in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58025/12]
View answerPayment of illness benefit, to the person concerned, was disallowed by a Deciding Officer following an examination by a Medical Assessor of the Department who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work.
An appeal was registered on 9th November 2012 and the Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that, in accordance with statutory requirements, the Department was asked for the documentation in the case and the Deciding Officer’s comments on the grounds of the appeal. In that context, an examination by another Medical Assessor will be carried out. The person concerned will be notified when arrangements for the examination have been completed.
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.
436. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an application for rent supplement in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58047/12]
View answerThe rent supplement claim has been awarded for the person concerned. She is now in receipt of her full entitlement to rent supplement based on her household circumstances.
438. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection in view of the recent announcements of additional community employment places, his plans to introduce changes to eligibility criteria and allow those that had previously participated in schemes to continue beyond the current time duration so as to avoid returning to long-term unemployment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58057/12]
View answerThere are no plans to change the current CE eligibility criteria to facilitate those who have previously participated on CE schemes for the maximum duration to re-enter. As of the 4th January of this year there were 188,632 jobseekers on the Live Register who were over 1 year unemployed. These jobseekers are the primary target group for Community Employment. Any changes as advised would result in less places being available for this target group.
The current CE durations are follows.
With effect from 3rd April 2000, lifetime participation on Community Employment by an individual will be limited to:
- 3 years (156 weeks) for persons under 55 years of age.
- 6 years (312 weeks) for persons of 55 years of age up to and including 65 years of age.
- Eligible persons in receipt of a qualifying disability-linked Social Welfare payment will be eligible for one additional year on CE over the standard maximum participation caps, i.e. 4 years maximum time on CE for those under 55 years of age (PTJ Option only), and 7 years maximum time for those between 55 and 65.
- Participation on Community Employment has an upper age limit of 65 years of age, i.e. a CE participant/Supervisor can remain on CE until the day before their 66th birthday, provided they meet all other eligibility requirements.
- Participation on CE prior to 3rd April 2000 is not counted.
Under the Government Policy Statement, Pathways to Work, one-third of places on Community Employment schemes will be refocused towards shorter more focused active labour market interventions.
The Department will continue to review schemes to ensure that there are adequate supports available to assist jobseekers and other disadvantaged groups and that the maximum utilisation and value is gained from Community Employment participation.
439. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will change the criteria for the TÚS schemes to enable unemployed persons to apply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58074/12]
View answerTús, the community work placement initiative introduced during 2011, was initially set up to provide up to 5,000 short-term, quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. To date 7,305 people have completed or are currently on work placements. This figure includes supervisory/team leader positions. As a relatively new initiative, Tús continues to be monitored and developed and to date has proven to be effective in meeting its objectives. As part of the 2013 budget package for my Department, the number of placements available on Tús is being extended by a further 2,400 placements during the coming year with associated provision for supervision.
A person cannot apply to participate on Tús. All selection is undertaken by random processes conducted at local level by the Department of Social Protection. The selection is focused on those on the live register for a year or more and in receipt of a jobseekers’ payment. I consider the current selection process effective and I have no proposals to alter these arrangements. The Deputy should note that a person interested in gaining access to a work placement or internship supported by my Department can avail of opportunities available on community employment schemes and JobBridge. Details are available on the Department website on www.welfare.ie.
440. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will change the application criteria for community employment schemes to coincide with the reduction of jobseeker's benefit to nine months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58075/12]
View answerThere are currently no plans to lower the standard qualifying period in receipt of CE-eligible payments from the current 12 month duration, as Community Employment is primarily aimed at long-term unemployed persons, which is generally defined as one year or more on the Live Register. Persons who claim Jobseekers Benefit from 3rd April 2013 will only be able to claim for a maximum duration of 9 months provided they have 260 or more contributions (or 6 months if less than 260 contributions).
Persons who exhaust their entitlement to Jobseekers Benefit can subsequently apply for Jobseekers Allowance, provided they meet the conditions for receipt of that payment. For the purposes of eligibility for Community Employment, a person can combine time spent in receipt of Jobseekers Benefit with time spent in receipt of another CE-eligible social welfare payment, such as Jobseekers Allowance, providing it makes up a continuous 12-month qualifying period and that the person is still currently in receipt of a qualifying payment immediately prior to commencing CE.
441. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58077/12]
View answerPayment of invalidity pension, to the person concerned, was disallowed by a Deciding Officer following an assessment by a Medical Assessor of the Department who expressed the opinion that she was medically unsuitable.
An appeal was registered on 20th December 2012 and the Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that, in accordance with the statutory procedures, the relevant department papers and the comments of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of the appeal have been sought. In that context, an assessment by another Medical Assessor will be carried out.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
442. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection in view of the fact that the Operative Plasterers and Allied Trades Society of Ireland are concerned by the inability of the members to take up offers of short-term work because of the negative impact this would have on reclaiming social welfare when the work was complete, her proposals to deal with this issue as it would save on social welfare payments and increase tax revenue if a solution could be found. [58092/12]
View answerIf a jobseeker finds employment, s/he must inform their Social Welfare Local Office.
A shortened application form and a streamlined claim decision process has been introduced for those returning to the live register having been in temporary employment, or having participated in short-term training. In cases where a jobseeker finds employment for up to eight weeks, the claim remains open with the payment suspended. In this way, payment can be restored without delay after the work has finished, provided there is no relevant change in the person’s circumstances.
444. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58100/12]
View answerThere is no record of a carer’s allowance or carer’s benefit application from the person in question. If the person concerned wishes to apply for either scheme they should complete an application form and return it to the Department as soon as possible.
445. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection in view of recent developments in the roll out of service programmes from her Department if she will provide clarification on the current status of the national employment programme and it's dual stranded approach to solving the problem of long term unemployment and for those who are most disadvantaged in terms of the employment market; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58123/12]
View answerThe new Intreo service, previously called the National Employment and Entitlements Service (NEES), is currently being rolled-out and implemented on a phased basis. This new one-stop shop service integrates employment and income supports and provides for a streamlined and personalized service to clients in accessing job opportunities and availing of supports to enable them to get back to work at the earliest possible opportunity.
An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny formally launched the new service in Sligo on the 15th of October 2012. At the same time the service was also made available in three other trial locations: Kings Inn/Parnell Street, Tallaght and Arklow and since then the model has been rolled out to six other locations. Work will continue throughout 2013 on the roll out of Intreo services to c 20 other locations and the full Intreo service will be available in all of the Department’s offices nationwide by the end of 2014.
The Intreo service provides for more regular and ongoing engagement, and greater targeting of activation places and opportunities for jobseekers. By 31st October 2012, c130,000 initial guidance interviews and over 118,000 follow up meetings were conducted.
Through the Department’s new profiling model each new client’s job readiness and probability of exit (PEX) from the live register is assessed. Clients who are most likely to become long-term unemployed are given targeted support and are placed on appropriate training and personal development programmes and work experiences. The profiling system enables us to identify these clients at the earliest possible opportunity, as soon as they engage with the service, and to provide immediate targeted interventions. Over 41,000 profiles had been conducted by the end of October 2012, and services are then provided in line with the client’s needs and progression plan.
As a measure of the Government’s commitment to providing supports for those who are unemployed, an allocation of an additional €11 million was announced in the recent budget for employment programmes representing an additional 10,000 places.
In parallel with the development of an integrated service for jobseekers, the Department is increasing its engagement with employers. A dedicated Employer Engagement Unit has been established and an Employer Engagement Manager is available in each region to support and advise employers at each stage of the employment process including the advertisement of opportunities and sourcing potential candidates from the Live Register. During Autumn 2012, a series employer briefings were held to provide employers with practical advice and assistance on the full range of employment and financial supports available from the Department.
Given the scale of the unemployment crisis, a key objective of labour market policy is to keep those on the Live Register close to the Labour Market. The new Intreo service is designed to fulfil this objective. It is aimed at ensuring that the individual needs of each client are assessed and provided for. Each client receives appropriate supports related to their individual needs and the needs of industry, thus enabling them to remain job ready and motivated to take up employment as soon as the opportunity arises.
447. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline any planned changes to the rural social scheme. [58128/12]
View answer479. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Social Protection the level of funding the rural social scheme will receive in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1208/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 447 and 479 together.
The rural social scheme provides income support for farmers and those engaged in fishing who have an entitlement to specified social welfare payments. Participants are engaged for 19½ hours per week to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities. The scheme currently provides work opportunities for around 2,600 participants and 130 supervisory staff. The funds allocated for 2013 amount to €45m. This level of funding will allow the scheme to continue along the same lines as in previous years but does not allow for the recruitment above the numbers stated above.
The Department of Social Protection has just published A Review of Social Employment Schemes. The Review seeks to assess the effectiveness of a range of schemes, including the rural social scheme in supporting the Department’s activation role. The review questions the effectiveness of the rural social scheme in terms of labour market activation and raises the prospect of its transfer to another Department.
Whilst I have no immediate proposals to alter the scheme I can advise that the recommendations made in the Review will be discussed at a stake-holders conference in February and that the feedback from that conference will be considered when the scheme is reviewed. In overall terms all schemes are being considered in the context of labour market activation and community support in order to determine their primary objective and to ensure that schemes are aligned, merged or replaced as appropriate.
449. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will re-examine the entitlement to contributory pension in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58146/12]
View answerSection 110(1)(b) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005 provides that a self-employed contributor shall not be regarded as satisfying the qualifying conditions for State pension (contributory) unless all self-employed PRSI contributions payable by him or her have been paid.
The person concerned applied for State pension (contributory) on 22 March 2012. His application was disallowed because according to the records of the Department, he had an outstanding PRSI liability for the 2006 tax year.
I can now confirm that the person concerned has paid outstanding liabilities for the 2006 tax year and his record has been updated to reflect this.
His State pension application can now be re-examined and he will be notified of the outcome without delay.
450. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the JobBridge scheme to other institutions in the public service, such as Met Éireann, to enable people with the relevant qualifications to get work experience; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58180/12]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, JobBridge, the National Internship Scheme, provides internship opportunities of either 6 or 9 months for unemployed individuals in organisations in the private, public and community voluntary sectors and at present is limited to individuals who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments (Jobseekers Allowance/Jobseekers Benefit/One Parent Family Payment/Disability Allowance) or are signing on for credits for at least 3 of the last 6 months (78 Days).
The JobBridge Scheme has made significant progress to-date since it came into operation on the 1st July 2011. 13,232 internships had commenced by 27th December, 2012, with 5,612 participants on an internship and 2,083 opportunities advertised on www.JobBridge.ie on that date. By that date, 2,911 placements had been made with Public Sector bodies, representing 22% of the total number of placements, reflecting a significant commitment by the Public Sector to JobBridge.
If they otherwise comply with the requirements of the Scheme, no Public Sector body is excluded from participating as a host organisation in JobBridge. However, their participation is a matter for those bodies themselves.
The interim evaluation of JobBridge by Indecon International Economic Consultants (published on 5th October, 2012) states that 52.3% of JobBridge finishers progressed into employment with either their host organisation or another employer since finishing their internship. These progression rates compare favourably with European averages in this area. Given that, in the past, some labour market programmes have been seen as having insignificant or even negative impacts on employment probabilities, this suggests JobBridge is an appropriate labour market intervention.
Further information on outcomes will be ascertained as a result of the ongoing formal evaluation of JobBridge. It is anticipated that the final Report will be available in the coming weeks. 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, analysis of age categories and further findings concerning progression into employment. It 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. Any such amendments to the scheme will be notified via the website.
451. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding child benefit (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58181/12]
View answerChild Benefit is not generally payable in respect of children who are resident outside the State. However, special arrangements do apply where a parent is working here and the children are resident in another EU Member State.
The social security rights of people living and working in the EU are governed by EU regulations which co-ordinate social security systems and are designed to ensure that people are not disadvantaged by moving within the EU to take up work.
For the purposes of the EU regulations, Irish child benefit is classified as a family benefit and there are specific rules governing the payment of these benefits. EU nationals who come to work in Ireland but whose families reside in another EU Member State may have an entitlement to family benefits in Ireland under the EU regulations. As a Member State of the European Union, Ireland is bound to apply these regulations in accordance with the objective of the EC Treaty regarding free movement of persons.
Before payment is made in respect of children resident in other EU countries it is necessary to contact the authorities in the country of residence of the children to confirm details and establish what, if any, family benefits are payable in the home country as this will impact on any entitlement under the Irish system. Once payment has commenced, as part of the Department’s on-going control programme, these customers are required to confirm periodically their continued entitlement to benefit. Where questions arise in relation to entitlement, or there is a delay in responding to enquiries from the Department, payment is suspended pending investigation.
Changes to EU legislation to modify child benefit entitlements in respect of non-resident children requires the agreement of the EU Commission as any proposals for amendments must be tabled by it. I have raised the issue with the Commission and with relevant Ministers from other EU countries. The Commission stressed the importance attached to the system of coordinating social security for the role it plays in encouraging and facilitating free movement of people across the Union and indicated extreme reluctance to introduce changes along the lines that have been discussed in this country because they would discriminate against migrant workers and would not be in line with judgements of the Court of Justice of the European Union in this area.
In 2012 the total cost of paying child benefit in respect of children resident in other EU countries was approximately €13 million, down some 36% on 2008 when such costs peaked.
452. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the introduction of a statutory sick pay scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58192/12]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the introduction of a scheme of statutory sick pay was considered in the context of Budget 2013 and while the decision was taken not to progress it at this time, there are a number of critical policy issues underpinning consideration of statutory sick pay and indeed social welfare reform generally that require attention. These include the on-going need to address the deficit in the social insurance fund from which illness benefit, amongst other insurance-based benefits and pensions, is paid. There is also an imperative to limit progression from short-term illness to long-term illness or disability as well as to incentivise the active management of absenteeism and to contribute more broadly to the enhancement of the health of workforce.
I am pleased to say that the Government has already taken some actions to address these policy issues.
Insofar as the social insurance fund is concerned, I introduced measures in Budget 2013 which are designed to increase the income to the Fund. From January 2013, the Employee's PRSI-Free Allowance of €127 per week (for those paying PRSI Class A, E and H) and €26 per week (for those paying PRSI Class B, C and D) has been abolished. Employees who earn €352 or less per week continue to have no liability to make a PRSI contribution and are not affected by the abolition of the weekly PRSI-Free Allowance.
In addition, the exemption from PRSI in respect of self-employed earned income (from a profession or trade) and any other unearned income e.g. rental income available to employees who pay PRSI at Classes B, C and D (a minority of the civil and public sector) is being abolished and all such income will now become liable to PRSI at the rate of 4%. The minimum annual PRSI contribution for people with annual self-employed income over €5,000 is being increased from €253 per annum to €500 per annum.
More widely, the Deputy will be aware of the reforms to the sick-pay arrangements which have been introduced by my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and which will have a positive effect on absenteeism rates in the public sector.
On a general note, I can assure the Deputy that ongoing reforms of the social welfare system will continue to be introduced in ways which are sensitive to the pressures facing employees and employers and against the wider economic background which requires that overall spending on social welfare programmes is reduced while ensuring that the most vulnerable sectors of society are protected.
453. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a domiciliary care appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58196/12]
View answerThe 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 14th 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.
454. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58202/12]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 7th of August 2012. The application is with a deciding officer for a decision. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
455. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a carer's allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1009/13]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 15th May 2012. The application is with a deciding officer for a decision. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
