Written Answers 359-377
361. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on a child benefit appeal will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2662/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 29th November 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.
363. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 514 of 16 October 2012, the reason a person with a horticulture enterprise is not categorised as a farmer for the purpose of applying for farm assist while they are categorised as a farmer in the Department of Agriculture; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2666/13]
View answer387. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Social Protection when a farm assist application appeal will be heard in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2970/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 363 and 387 together.
The farm assist application, by the person concerned, was disallowed by a Deciding Officer of the Department on the grounds that his means are in excess of the statutory limit and he is not engaged in husbandry.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that, following receipt of the relevant Departmental papers including the comments of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal, the case was referred to an Appeals Officer for consideration. The Appeals Officer has referred the case back to the Deciding Officer for clarification on certain matters. On receipt of her response, the appeal will be further considered by the Appeals Officer.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decision on social welfare entitlements.
364. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Social Protection the circumstances under which four persons who are on JobBridge in the housing section of Galway County Council and would like to remain may be allowed to continue their placements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2724/13]
View answerThe National Internship Scheme was launched on 1st July 2011. It provides internship opportunities of either 6 or 9 months for unemployed individuals on the Live Register, in organisations in the private, public and community voluntary sectors and at present is limited to individuals who are in receipt of a live claim (jobseeker's allowance jobseeker's 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 since it came into operation on the 1st July 2011. Some 13,770 internships have commenced to date with 5,548 participants currently on an internship as at 17th January 2013 and over 1,900 internship opportunities presently advertised on www.jobbridge.ie.
The eligibility to access the National Internship Scheme is based on the overall objective of labour market policy to provide a pathway to paid employment for people who are unemployed.
At present an eligible participant can avail of a placement on an internship work experience opportunity under the National Internship Scheme (NIS) for a 6 month (26 weeks) period or a 9 month (39 weeks) period. A six month internship may be extended , at the conclusion of the period, to nine months. An individual may avail of up to two placements on the National Internship Scheme, the total cumulative time not exceeding 9 months (39 weeks) over the two year period. The duration of any individual internship is determined, within these guidelines, by the host organisations
The time limits set for the duration of internships are designed to minimise the potential displacement of ‘real’ jobs by subsidised internship opportunities. The Department of Social Protection does not allow for any exceptions in relation to the eligibility criteria for JobBridge internship placements.
An independent evaluation of the Scheme is currently being undertaken by Indecon International Economic Consultants and is anticipated that a final report will be published in the coming weeks. As part of its remit Indecon has been asked to include recommendations on how the Scheme might be improved or expanded. I will consider any such recommendations carefully.
It is not possible to comment on the specific case raised by the Deputy without greater details on the circumstances of the participants or internships concerned. If the Deputy wishes to provide such details, officials in my Department will pursue the matter further.
365. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved for carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2736/13]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 25th April 2012. The application is with a deciding officer for a decision. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome .
367. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which a person (details supplied) in County Kildare failed to prove that their means did not exceed the statutory limit in respect of their application for jobseeker's payment in view of the fact that they submitted all requested documentation and this appears to meet the requirements necessary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2775/13]
View answerA Deciding Officer contended that the person concerned had not shown that her means were less than the statutory limit as she had failed to give a true and accurate account of her circumstances. The decision was appealed to the Social Welfare Appeal’s Office. The person concerned stated her case at the hearing. The Deciding Officer’s decision was upheld on appeal.
368. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal for jobseeker's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2781/13]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer having fully considered all the available evidence disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer decision.
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.
369. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress made to date in respect of an appeal for jobseeker's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2785/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that, following receipt of the relevant Departmental papers including the comments of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal, the case was referred to an Appeals Officer for consideration. The Appeals Officer has referred the case back to the Department for clarification on certain matters. On receipt of their response, the appeal will be further considered by the Appeals Officer.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decision on social welfare entitlements.
370. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage and number of people living in Waterford City and County who are in receipt of a social welfare payment; and if she will list each category of payment with the number of recipients. [2849/13]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is collated, at county level only, by my Department annually for inclusion in the Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services report. Work has commenced on the compilation of data for the production of the 2012 report. However, the most recent data available, at present, in respect of the number of people living in Waterford County and who were in receipt of a social welfare payment is for the year 2011. This information is listed by each category of payment in the following tabular statement.
|
Scheme |
Recipients |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
2,511 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
7,066 |
|
State Pension (Transition) |
372 |
|
Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension |
3,063 |
|
Death Benefit (OIB Widows) |
14 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
9,501 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
2,522 |
|
Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's Non-Contributory Pension |
40 |
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance |
6 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
1,000 |
|
Farm Assist |
96 |
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance |
186 |
|
Other Supplements |
328 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
3,070 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
225 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
556 |
|
Health and Safety Benefit |
0 |
|
Back To Education Allowance |
385 |
|
Back To Work Allowance Employee |
0 |
|
Back To Work Enterprise Allowance |
412 |
|
Short-Term Enterprise Allowance |
44 |
|
Part-Time Job Incentive Scheme |
12 |
|
Disability Allowance |
2,637 |
|
Blind Pension |
32 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
1,341 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
586 |
|
Respite Care Grant (Stand Alone) (1) |
112 |
|
Illness Benefit |
1,960 |
|
Interim Illness Benefit |
5 |
|
Injury Benefit |
12 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
1,417 |
|
Disablement Benefit |
443 |
|
Incapacity Supplement (2) |
23 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
47 |
|
Child Benefit (Families) |
15,799 |
|
Child Benefit (Children) |
29,685 |
|
Scheme |
Recipients |
|
Family Income Supplement |
936 |
|
Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance |
5,756 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory) |
9 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Contributory) |
25 |
|
Rent Supplement |
2,098 |
|
Mortgage Interest Supplement |
513 |
|
Local Authority Mortgage Interest Supplement |
12 |
(1) Incapacity Supplement is paid as a supplement to Disablement Benefit.
(2 )The number of recipients of Respite Care Grant reported are those who are not in receipt of any other Carer's payment (Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit and Domiciliary Care Allowance). There are approximately a further 65,000 Respite Care Grant recipients nationally who qualify for payment automatically under the terms of the relevant scheme.
371. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will outline the way it was concluded that a person (details supplied) in County Kildare has been overpaid by the Department in respect of their jobseeker's allowance payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2854/13]
View answerA review of the jobseeker’s allowance application of the person concerned established that there was an overpayment of €154 in this case. The person concerned had an entitlement to €67 per week as means of €33 were assessed.
372. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal for jobseeker's benefit in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if she could expedite a decision on same. [2874/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer for consideration. A decision will issue shortly.
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.
373. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15 will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2879/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 2nd July 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 January 2013 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.
375. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have availed of the JobBridge scheme to date; and the number of persons known to have moved from JobBridge into full-time employment. [2891/13]
View answerThe JobBridge Scheme has made significant progress since it came into operation on the 1st July 2011. Some 13,770 internships have commenced to date with 5,548 participants currently on an internship as at 17th January 2013 and over 1,900 internship opportunities presently advertised on www.jobbridge.ie.
The interim results of the independent evaluation of JobBridge conducted by Indecon International Economic Consultants (published on www.welfare.ie on 5th October, 2012) shows 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 very favourably with European averages in this area. Further information on outcomes will become available when Indecon completes its evaluation. I expect their report to be finalized in the next few weeks.
376. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of immediate or extended family members employed by her Department; the names and remuneration in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2905/13]
View answerI have not employed any family members or related party members.
377. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress made to date in the determination of an application for non contributory old age pension in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin who applied five months ago; if and when payment will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2914/13]
View answerThe person concerned applied for the State pension (non-contributory) on 27th August 2012. The claim was referred to the Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) for investigation. A letter issued to the customer on the 1st November 2012 advising that the claim was refused because of a failure to fully disclose means.
The customer then provided further information in early December and the claim was again referred to the SWI for further investigation. When that investigation is complete, the customer will be advised of the formal decision.
