Written Answers Nos. 137-145
137. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on current efforts to reduce the social welfare appeals backlog; if she will acknowledge the strain the current backlogs are placing on individuals and families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10738/13]
View answerThere has been a significant increase in the number of appeals finalised from 17,787 in 2009 to 32,558 in 2012. Processing times have been reduced by 10.3 weeks overall in 2012 with respect to 2011, with time for an oral hearing down by 13 weeks and the time for summary decision up by 2.7 weeks. Of course, further improvement is needed to reduce unacceptable delays in the time taken to conclude appeals.
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 expected that eight additional Medical Assessors will be appointed in 2013, which will assist in reducing the time taken for appeals where a medical assessment is required.
All these measures together will reduce the waiting time for appellants.
139. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a PPS number will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10744/13]
View answerWhere a person living outside of the State requires a Personal Public Services Number, an application may be made to have one allocated under the exceptional registration process by submitting the required documentation to the Client Identity Services (CIS) Division of my Department. From the information provided by the Deputy, CIS have been unable to trace an application in the case of the person concerned. I understand that further detail has been requested from the Deputy’s Office but that a response has not yet been received.
140. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to a situation in a community council whereby a difficulty has arisen in terms of replacing a person (details supplied); the options available to the council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10763/13]
View answerTús is a community work placement initiative which is being delivered through the network of local development companies and by Údarás na Gaeltachta in Gaeltacht areas – collectively referred to as the Implementing Bodies. Expressions of interest and applications from community, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations wishing to offer work placement opportunities are managed at local level by the relevant Implementing Body operating in that area. I have made enquires with respect to the matter raised by the Deputy and have been advised that the community group concerned has made a request for a replacement Tús participant to West Cork Development Partnership. Unfortunately, the Implementing Body has not been able to identify a person for this placement to date but it will maintain contact with the community council to support its operations. Should the community group wish to check the status of their application, I would advise that they liaise directly with West Cork Development Partnership on 023 - 8834035.
141. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection under the present rules of the rural social scheme, the amount of payment that a single farmer would get on the rural social scheme if he or she were to go on the scheme; if he or she were at present receiving a personal payment of €100 per week, farm assist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10768/13]
View answer142. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if payment on the rural social scheme for new entrants is based on the current rate of farm assist they receive or other social welfare payment plus €20 and not the personal rate of €208 for all participants as heretofore; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10769/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 142 together.
With effect from 17 September 2012 rates of payment on the rural social scheme (RSS) were amended to bring them in line with those on the community employment programme and Tús, the community work placement initiative. All new entrants to the RSS from this date onwards are paid the equivalent of their existing rate of social welfare payment plus a top-up of €20, with a minimum payment of €208 being awarded for those joining the scheme with an existing social welfare payment rate of €188 or less per week. The rates of payment to those already on the RSS prior to 17 September 2012 are not affected by this change.
143. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if she intends to continue with the job initiative scheme; if all participants on the scheme will be allowed remain on the scheme indefinitely or to retirement age; the number of participants on the scheme and the number of these who are under 60 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10772/13]
View answerThe Job Initiative (JI) scheme was launched in 1996. The Job Initiative programme initially provided three years full-time employment for people who – on entry to the scheme – were 35 years of age or over, unemployed for 5 years or more, and in receipt of social welfare payments over that period. In November 2004 the then Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment decided to allow those already on the programme to remain until retirement age (at 66). Further recruitment onto the scheme was also halted from that date. Current policy is to let JI wind down naturally, with no new recruitment. There are 1,170 persons on JI as at month-end January 2013 of whom 866 are under the age of 60.
A stakeholder conference was held on the 18 of February 2013 to consider the recommendations made in the Review of Employment Support Schemes, published by this Department in November 2012. The conference provided stakeholders with the opportunity to debate the issues raised. Further consideration will now be given to the recommendations made over the next number of months.
144. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 will receive their rent supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10781/13]
View answerThe person concerned recently moved address, which necessitated a review of her entitlement to Rent Supplement. The claim has been reviewed and Rent Supplement has been awarded at the monthly rate of €811.30. The next payment date will be 4 March 2013. This payment covers the period 1 February 2013 to 28 February 2013. Some documentation in relation to this claim remains outstanding and the claim has been awarded on the understanding that the person concerned will provide the outstanding documentation to the Rents Unit by 22 March 2013. Failure to provide the outstanding documentation may result in payment of the Rent Supplement being suspended.
145. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection when carer's allowance will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10805/13]
View answerThe person in question was awarded carer’s allowance for two people from 23 December 2008. The person concerned was in receipt of the payment up to 25 April 2012. A social welfare investigative officer reviewing this case was of the opinion that the person in question was not providing full-time care and attention. In response to the social welfare investigative officer’s report, the case was referred to one of the Department’s medical assessors for review. Having assessed additional evidence submitted by the carer the medical assessor was of the opinion that the carees in question were not medically eligible for carer’s allowance. The deciding officer, having reviewed all the evidence in this case, disallowed the payment on the grounds that the carees are not medically eligible and that full-time care and attention is not being provided and the payment ceased on 25 April 2012.
The person in question has appealed this decision. All the necessary papers have recently been submitted to the Social Welfare Appeals Office for determination. The Social Welfare Appeals Office will be in touch with the person directly regarding the progress of the appeal.
