Written Answers Nos. 398 - 420
398. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to a carer's application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7216/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 11th June 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 04th February 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.
399. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 429 of 5 February 2013, if she will investigate the contribution record of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7220/13]
View answerThe person concerned reached pension age on 7 April 2012. According to the records of the Department, she has a total of 303 full-rate paid contributions and 26 credited contributions from 1971 to 2012 which is insufficient to meet the minimum paid 520 contributions condition for a State pension (contributory). In addition, her yearly average of eight contributions is also insufficient. Accordingly her pension claim was disallowed and she was notified of this decision on 18 June 2012.
A social welfare inspector has recently contacted the person concerned and has established that her employment as a school teacher from 1968 to 1969 was on a permanent pensionable basis with the social insurance paid during this period at a modified rate. Therefore, it cannot be used in an assessment for State pension (contributory) entitlement. Her other period of employment 6 months, even if deemed insurable, would not be sufficient to increase her overall record in order to satisfy the qualifying conditions.
400. 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 Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7234/13]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 26th October 2011. The person concerned was refused carer’s allowance on the grounds that the care recipient is not so disabled as to require full time care and attention as prescribed in regulations. She was notified of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review or appeal. Additional medical evidence was received on 2nd of August 2012 and forwarded to the Department’s medical assessor for consideration. However, this information did not alter the opinion of the deciding officer and the decision remained unchanged. A letter issued to the person in question on 4th of February 2013 confirming the refusal of the allowance and informing her of her right of appeal.
402. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on an appeal in relation to the decision to refuse a person (details supplied) in County Longford supplementary welfare allowance; if she will review this case on grounds of serious family hardship; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7236/13]
View answerUnder the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off, exceptional and unforeseen expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. There is no automatic entitlement to a payment. ENPs are payable at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance. The Government has provided over €47 million for the scheme in 2013.
A review of the guidelines on exceptional needs payments was carried out by the Department by a working group made up of former community welfare service staff. One of the recommendations emanating from this review is to address the different approaches taken, in different areas, in relation to the payment of exceptional needs payments in respect of religious ceremonies, mainly Communions and Confirmations.
For 2013, the Department has recommended that payment of the allowance specifically in respect of religious ceremonies will cease ensuring that the ENP scheme will continue to respond to specific need and not to the occasion. This recommendation does not affect the discretion available to officers administering the scheme in issuing an ENP to assist an individual or household in any particular hardship situation which may arise.
The person concerned made an application on 16th January, 2013 for an ENP in respect of a religious ceremony. The application was refused and the person was advised that they may seek a review of this decision by another officer in the Department. However, no such review has been sought to date.
407. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will indicate the progress made to date in determination 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. [7258/13]
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.
409. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular format, the number of non-nationals, their country of origin, and the constituency wherein they are registered, who are living outside the country and are in receipt of children’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7283/13]
View answerThe total number of people currently being paid child benefit in respect of children who are resident in other EU States is 4,842, with payment being made in respect of 7692 children.
A breakdown by country of origin or residence of the children is not available. The information requested is not held on a constituency basis.
410. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an invalidity pension appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7351/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 29th January 2013, 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.
411. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update with regard to an application for invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if she will expedite a decision on this application in view of the financial hardship that this delay is causing this person. [7352/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 16th January 2013, 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.
412. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update with regard to an appeal for disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11. [7353/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal, by the person concerned, was registered in that office on 14th January 2013. 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 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.
414. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on a disability allowance appeal will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7363/13]
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.
416. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the allocation, with subsequent outturn, for the special initiative for Travellers, FAS SIT, for each year 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012; the allocation for 2013; and the number of Traveller participants for each year. [7404/13]
View answerThe Special Initiative for Travellers (SIT) was introduced in 2005 to provide support for practical approaches to redressing the imbalance in Traveller under-employment, to support Travellers already engaged in the Traveller economy and provide other supports, including training, to address the needs of Travellers. Responsibility for the programme transferred from FÁS to the Department of Social Protection on 1st January 2012. The programme focused on providing job search, job coaching and other supports for individual Travellers, and assisting with enterprise development. Data reported by FÁS for 2008 to 2011 is set out in the table.
|
Annual data |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
|
- |
FÁS |
FÁS |
FÁS |
FÁS |
|
Allocation |
€1.5m |
€1m |
€0.75m |
€0.75m |
|
Out-turn |
€0.96m |
€0.51m |
€0.63m |
€0.38m |
|
No. engaged with service |
645 |
459 |
611 |
570 |
The implementation of the SIT underwent a significant change in 2011 resulting in a broad number of the actions being integrated into the core work of the contracting agents with a reduction in the level of expenditure. The funding provision for 2012 was €750,000 with the final outturn likely to be similar to 2011. The numbers of claims and Travellers supported in 2012 are currently being finalised. The provision for 2013 is €750,000.
417. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of Travellers identified as participants in community employment in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. [7418/13]
View answerIt is not possible to state the actual number of Community Employment (CE) participants that are members of the Travelling Community, as there is no obligation on a Traveller to identify themselves as such for CE purposes. A Traveller can be in receipt of a standard CE-qualifying social welfare payment and therefore be recorded under that eligibility category.
However, there is provision in the Department’s IT systems to record Traveller-specific eligibility categories where the person choses to be recorded as such, e.g. persons referred on from Traveller Training Centres to CE positions, or Travellers on the Live Register.
Of those who chose to be categorised under Traveller-specific eligibility types, the following are the figures for the years in question:
|
Year |
No. |
|
2008 |
96 |
|
2009 |
78 |
|
2010 |
75 |
|
2011 |
108 |
|
2012 |
164 |
|
January 2013 |
170 |
418. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the level of funding provided for national Traveller Money Advice and Budgeting Services in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 with the subsequent outturn and allocation for 2013. [7419/13]
View answerThe annual grant allocation to the National Traveller Money Advice and Budgeting Service for each of the years in question is set out in the table below:
|
Year |
Funding Allocated |
Actual funding drawn down by the company |
|
2008 |
261,829 |
261,829 |
|
2009 |
307,010 |
307,939 |
|
2010 |
322,543 |
322,543 |
|
2011 |
318,999 |
255,671 |
|
2012 |
345,371 |
348,671 |
Since 2009, the Citizens Information Board (CIB) has responsibility for the provision of funding to the National Traveller Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS). In 2011 the allocation was reduced by €63,000 to take account of a surplus that had been built up by the company. In 2012, additional staff costs primarily account for the increased allocation. The 2013 allocation has not yet been approved by the Board. It is expected that the allocation will be approved before the end of February and I will advise the Deputy in due course.
419. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of persons subject to lamping on their lands; the protection, if any, his Department may provide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7367/13]
View answerLamping is the practice of hunting animals at night, in most cases of deer. It is illegal to hunt animals at night under the Wildlife Acts, save where specific exemptions are provided under licence.
My Department is aware of the illegal killing of deer in certain areas of the country, both during the day and at night. Staff from my Department have carried out increased number of patrols, including night patrols, where there has been incidents of increased illegal deer killings. Persons involved in such illegal activity are, of course, subject to prosecution.
Where applications are being made under section 42 of the Wildlife Acts to cull deer, the use of lamps to carry out this activity at night may be considered, subject to certain conditions. Such permission is only given where there are substantial practical difficulties with effective culling over large areas by daylight.
420. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Questions No. 292 of 7 February 2012, No. 249 of 8 May 2012, No. 395 of 3 July 2012 and No. 156 24th October 2012 the progress that has been made on this case; when payment will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6730/13]
View answerThe individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question has applied to sell his interest in land within a site designated as a special area of conservation, under the voluntary bog purchase scheme administered by my Department. Contracts for sale have been signed by an official of my Department recently and these contracts and a deposit have been forwarded to the Chief State Solicitor’s Office. I expect that the Chief State Solicitor’s Office will be in contact with the solicitor acting for this individual in the near future with a view to closing the sale.
