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Tuesday, 5 Mar 2013

Written Answers Nos. 258 - 275

Trade Missions Participation

Questions (258)

Seán Kenny

Question:

258. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to have a trade mission to India; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11362/13]

View answer

Written answers

I and my Department are currently planning Trade and Investment missions for India for later this year with Enterprise Ireland and the IDA. The Trade Mission is aimed at opening doors for Enterprise Ireland client companies, particularly in the software services sector in the Indian market. The Trade Mission will facilitate meetings with Indian decision makers and will include networking opportunities with potential partners and customers. The Investment mission will look to target companies with the potential to invest and locate new or expanding operations in Ireland. I will announce further details on these plans in due course.

Appointments to State Boards

Questions (259)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

259. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of appointments he has made from March 2011 to January 2013 to State boards; in the case of each appointment, the number of appointments that were made to members of the general public who submitted a curriculum vitae for the appointment; and the number of direct appointments he made. [11478/13]

View answer

Written answers

Since coming to Office I have made 64 appointments to the State Boards under my aegis. It should be noted that of these, only 21 of these were new appointments made at my discretion. 7 were reappointments, and the remaining 36 were allocated under legislation to Department Representatives, social partners, nominees of other Ministers, nominees of prescribed bodies and appointments on an Ex Officio basis and were not appropriate, therefore, for public advertisement. Of the 21 new appointments made at my discretion, I have made 14 appointments to State Boards arising directly from applications from the public.

A breakdown by type and details of all appointments made by me to the State Agencies under the aegis of my Department since taking office, are listed in the tables below.

Breakdown of the State Board appointments made since March 2011

Reappointments

7

Department Representatives

7

Social Partners

7

Nominated by other bodies in accordance with Legislation

16

Discretion of Minister – From among individuals who made application

14

Discretion of Minister- Other

7

Ex Officio

4

Staff Representatives

2

Details of the State Board appointments made since March 2011

Labour Relations Commission

Membership

Method of appointment

Date of appointment

Re-appointment

Expiry of contract

Fees per annum

Breege O'Donoghue, Chairperson

Ministerial- Nominated by the Government

01/04/2003

Yes 7/7/2012

06/07/2013

€20,520

Brendan McGinty

Ministerial -Nominated by IBEC

06/11/2000

Yes 7/7/2012

06/07/2013

€11,970

Fergus Whelan

Ministerial – Nominated by ICTU

05/07/2009

Yes 7/7/2012

06/07/2013

€11,970

Gerard Barry

Ministerial

01/04/2006

Yes7/7/2012

06/07/2013

€11,970

Iarla Duffy

Ministerial

05/07/2009

Yes 7/7/2012

06/07/2013

€11,970

John Hennessy

Ministerial -Nominated by IBEC

05/07/2009

Yes 7/7/2012

06/07/2013

€11,970

Peter McCloone

Ministerial – Nominated by ICTU

29/03/2000

Yes 7/7/2012

06/07/2013

€11,970

Forfás

Membership

Method of appointment

Date of appointment

Re-appointment

Expiry of contract

Fees

Professor Mark Ferguson

Ex Officio (DG of SFI)

18/01/2012

No

06/01/2017

None

John Murphy

Ministerial -Dept Rep (Sec Gen)

18/01/2012

No

None

*The membership of the Forfas Board was reduced to an executive style board, with effect from 5th October 2012, to facilitate the integration of Forfas with the Department. The remaining Board members will continue in situ, to oversee the integration process.

Enterprise Ireland

Membership

Method of Appointment

Date of appointment

Re-appointment

Expiry of contract

Fees

Amanda Pratt

Ministerial

10/10/2012

No

*see attached note

€11,970

Clare Dunne

Ministerial -Dept Rep (Asst Sec)

10/10/2012

No

*see attached note

None

Colum Horgan

Ministerial

15/10/2012

No

*see attached note

€11,970

Geoff Meagher

Ministerial

15/10/2012

No

*see attached note

€11,970

*In accordance with Section 9 of the Industrial Development Act, (Enterprise Ireland) 1998, on each anniversary of the establishment day (23 July, 1998), two members of the Board (other than the chairperson and the chief executive officer) shall retire from office. The members to retire in any year shall be those who have been longest in office since their appointment.

InterTradeIreland

Membership

Method of Appointment

Date of appointment

Re-appointment

Expiry of contract

Fees

Thomas Hunter McGowan (CEO)

Nominated by Ministers North and South and approved by NSMC

23/07/2012

No

22/07/2017

None

Martin Cronin (Chair)

Nominated by Minister and approved by NSMC

13/12/2011

No

12/12/2015

€11,970

Brendan Butler

Nominated by Minister and approved by NSMC

12/12/2007

Yes 13/12/2011

12/12/2015

€7,695

Patricia McKeown

Nominated by Minister and approved by NSMC

12/12/2007

Yes 13/12/2011

12/12/2015

€7,695

Kevin Norton

Nominated by Minister and approved by NSMC

13/12/2011

No

12/12/2015

€7,695

Mairead Sorensen

Nominated by Minister and approved by NSMC

13/12/2011

No

12/12/2015

€7,695

John Corbett

Nominated by Minister and approved by NSMC

13/12/2011

No

12/12/2015

€7,695

Personal Injuries Assessment Board

Membership

Method of appointment

Date of appointment

Re-appointment

Expiry of contract

Fees

Breda Power

Ministerial -Dept Rep (Asst Sec)

26/10/2011

No

25/10/2016

None

Ann Fitzgerald

Ministerial

12/09/2006

08/09/2011

17/10/2012

None

Sean Murphy

Ministerial

20/12/2012

No

-

None

Martin Naughton

Statutory nomination by ICTU

05/04/2012

No

04/04/2017

€11,340

Dr. Fionnuala O'Loughlin

Ministerial

01/08/2012

No

31/07/2015

None

John Lynch

Ministerial

01/08/2012

No

31/07/2015

€11,340

Health and Safety Authority

Membership

Method of appointment

Date of appointment

Re-appointment

Expiry of contract

Fees

John Newham

Ministerial- Dept Rep (Principal Officer)

10/04/12

No

19/12/13

None

National Standards Authority of Ireland

Membership

Method of appointment

Date of appointment

Re-appointment

Expiry of contract

Fees

Terry Landers

Ministerial

06/03/2012

No

*see attached note

Waived

Barbara O'Leary

Ministerial

06/03/2012

No

*see attached note

None

Anne Clarke

Ministerial -Staff Rep by lot

14/04/2012

No

*see attached note

€7,695

Kieran Cox

Ministerial -Staff Rep by lot

14/04/2012

No

*see attached note

€7,695

Deirdre O’Hara

Ministerial

31/01/2013

No

see attached note

€7,695

Aedin Goggin

Ministerial

31/01/2013

No

see attached note

€7,695

Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority (IAASA)

Membership

Method of appointment

Date of first appointment

Re-appointment

Expiry of contract

Fees

Mr Brendan Walsh

Chairperson

Ministerial Appointment

21/12/12

No

20/12/15

€11,970

Deirdre Behan

Ministerial - Nominated by the Revenue Commissioners in accordance with the Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Act 2003

03/01/12

No

02/01/15

None

Marie Daly

Ministerial - Nominated by IBEC in accordance with the Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Act 2003

03/01/06

Yes 3/1/2012

02/01/15

€7,695

Mairead Devine

Ministerial - Nominated by the Central Bank in accordance with the Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Act 2003

03/01/12

No

02/01/15

None

Sean Hawkshaw

Ministerial - Nominated by the Irish Association of Investment Managers in accordance with the Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Act 2003

03/01/06

Yes 03/01/2012

02/01/15

€7,695

David Martin

Ministerial - Nominated by the Prescribed Accountancy Bodies in accordance with the Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Act 2003

03/01/06

Yes 03/01/2012

29/05/14

€7,695

Sylvia McNeece

Ministerial - Nominated by the Pensions Board in accordance with the Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Act 2003

03/01/12

No

02/01/15

None

Kevin O'Donovan

Ministerial - Nominated by the Prescribed Accountancy Bodies in accordance with the Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Act 2003

30/05/11

No

29/05/14

€7,695

Conor O'Mahony

Ministerial - Nominated by the Director of Corporate Enforcement in accordance with the Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Act 2003

01/03/12

No

20/01/14

None

Ms Bernadette McGrory-Farrell

Ministerial - Nominated by the Prescribed Accountancy Bodies in accordance with the Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Act 2003

03/01/13

No

02/01/2016

€7,695

Mr Paddy Keating

Ministerial - Nominated by ICTU in accordance with the Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Act 2003

03/01/13

No

02/01/2016

€7,695

Ms Helen Hall

Ex-Officio

Member

18/12/12

No

N/A

None payable

Ms Muireann O’Neill

Ministerial Appointment

01/09/12

No

02/09/2015

€7,695

Shannon Development

Membership

Method of appointment

Date of appointment

Re-appointment

Expiry of contract

Fees

Stephen Curran

Ministerial- Dept Rep (Principal Officer)

23/02/2012

No

April 2016

None

National Consumer Agency

Membership

Method of appointment

Date of appointment

Re-appointment

Expiry of contract

Fees

Stephen

Costello

Ministerial

01/05/2007

01/05/2012

30/04/2017

€20,520

Sean Murphy

Appointed by the Board (CEO of NCA9

18/10/2012

No

On appointment of CEO

None

Isolde Goggin

Ministerial – Competition Authority Rep (Chair of Competition Authority)

30/11/2011

No

*see attached note

None

Robin O'Sullivan

Ministerial

01/05/2007

06/05/2012

*see attached note

€11,970

Colleen Savage

Ministerial

06/05/2012

No

*see attached note

€11,970

Eugene Gallagher

Ministerial

06/05/2012

No

*see attached note

€11,970

Tina Leonard

Ministerial

31/01/2013

No

*see attached note

€11,970

* Section 10 of the Consumer Protection Act provides that on the anniversary of the establishment day of the Agency and on each subsequent anniversary of that day, two members of the Agency (other than the chairperson and the CEO) shall retire from office. The section further provides that a member of the Agency (other than the CEO) shall serve for not more than 10 consecutive years.

IDA Ireland

Membership

Method of appointment

Date of appointment

Re-appointment

Expiry of contract

Fees

Dermot Curran

Ministerial- Dept Rep (Asst Sec)

09/07/2012

No

December 2016

None

Alan W. Gray

Ministerial

25/01/2012

No

December 2016

Waived

Mary Campbell

Ministerial

23/05/2012

No

December 2016

€11,970

Peter Cassels

Ministerial

23/05/2012

No

December 2016

€11,970

Science Foundation Ireland

Membership

Method of appointment

Date of appointment

Re-appointment

Expiry of contract

Fees

Professor Mark Ferguson

Ex Officio (DG of SFI)

16/01/2012

No

*see attached note

None

Dermot Curran

Ministerial- Dept Rep (Asst Sec)

01/09/2012

No

*see attached note

None

Mary Doyle

Ministerial – Nominated by Minister for Education

05/12/2012

No

*see attached note

None

Dr. Rita Colwell

Ministerial

31/03/2008

Yes 26 July 2011

*see attached note

€11,970

Prof. Martina Newell-McGloughlin

Ministerial

25/07/2003

Yes 26 July 2011

July 2013

€11,970

Liam Madden

Ministerial

31/01/2013

No

see attached note

€11,970

*Section 9.3 of the 2003 Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) Act 2003 determines that each year (on anniversary of formal establishment of SFI – 25 July 2003) that the two longest serving members of the Board shall retire from the Board with effect from July 24 each year. However, there is also a stipulation in the legislation that a member cannot serve more than ten years in succession.

IDA Site Visits

Questions (260)

Derek Nolan

Question:

260. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the visit made by the Industrial Development Agency to a town (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11491/13]

View answer

Written answers

I am informed by IDA Ireland that it sponsored 18 site visits by potential investors to Galway city and county during 2012. These site visits were from new companies visiting the location for the first time and from senior executives of existing companies. For reasons of client confidentiality and commercial sensitivity IDA does not comment on site visits by individual companies or on site visits to specific locations.

As Ireland competes for high quality investments, the concept of scale is crucial. Leading global corporations require a significant population pool, access to qualified talent, world standard physical and digital infrastructure coupled with the availability of sophisticated professional and business support services. County Galway has been particularly successful in recent years in terms of attracting inward investment from FDI companies, particularly in the areas of Medical Technologies and ICT. There are currently 59 IDA Ireland client companies employing some 12,900 people in Galway, city and county. IDA Ireland has strong relationships with these companies and works closely with them to ensure their long term sustainability and to encourage their growth, development and continuing re-investment in their sites.

I am, however, mindful of the concerns that have been expressed by Deputies on all sides of the House about the relatively low level of site visits to certain regional locations and I have raised this matter with the CEO of IDA Ireland with a view to exploring what further initiatives can be taken to influence potential investors to invest in such locations. I am mindful that in order to ensure that Ireland can continue to compete globally for FDI, it will be necessary to undertake an in depth analysis of our FDI strategy with a view to informing the formulation of an appropriate strategy for the period post 2014. This analysis, which will be undertaken later this year, will take account of factors such as key trends emerging in FDI best practice internationally, Ireland’s strengths in attracting FDI, any changes to the EU’s State Aid rules that may be introduced in the near future and our agreed approach to regional development.

In the meantime, IDA Ireland has assured me that it will in 2013, in accordance with the Government’s recently announced 2013 Action Plan for Jobs, seek to target more than 130 new investments, secure €500 million of R&D expenditure and create 13,000 new jobs in its client companies.

Work Permit Criteria

Questions (261)

Jim Daly

Question:

261. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the criteria and process for a work permit giving particular details regarding the visa status required at the date of application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11494/13]

View answer

Written answers

In order to work in Ireland a non-EEA National (unless exempted) must, under the terms of the Employment Permits Acts 2003 and 2006, hold a valid employment permit. It is an offence under the above mentioned legislation for both an employer and an employee to be party to the employment of a non-EEA national without a valid employment permit. Either the employer or employee may apply for an employment permit. The issue of an employment permit requires a job offer from a prospective employer.

In terms of general eligibility new employment permit applications are normally only considered for highly skilled, highly paid positions or for positions where there is an officially recognised scarcity of supply in relation to a particular qualification or occupation type. Irish labour market policy is to ensure that general labour and skills needs are met from within the workforce of the European Economic Area (EEA). Current Government policy is to issue employment permits for the employment of non-EEA nationals for specific vacancies and in response to employer demand for strategic skills and labour shortages in designated occupations in key economic sectors such as healthcare, information technology and financial services. Eligibility criteria are set out on my Department’s website.

The holder of an employment Permit is permitted only to work for the employer and in the employment stated on the permit. Should the employee named on the permit, for any reason, cease to be employed by the employer and in the employment stated on the permit during the period of validity specified, the permit and any copies thereof must be returned immediately to the Employment Permits Section .

There are four main Employment Permit categories, i.e. Work Permits, Green Cards, Spousal Dependent Permits, and Intra Company Transfer Permits. While requirements vary from one employment permit category to another, in general terms each employment permit application must be made on the appropriate application form, include the appropriate processing fee, details of the employer’s registration with Revenue and Companies Registration Office, colour copies of the employee’s passport, and finally, confirmation of the employee’s immigration status in cases where the employee is residing in the State. When a third country national who has been issued with an employment permit arrives in this State they must produce their valid employment permit at the point of entry. They are then given a landing stamp facilitating entry. However the onus lies on the permit holder to contact INIS (the Irish Naturalisation Service) with a view to finalising their immigration status.

Finally, I should advise the Deputy that in response to changes in the Irish labour market, the desire to enhance the user friendly profile of the process and in particular to address shortages in certain employment categories my Department is finalising a review of all Employment Permit related practice and procedures. This review addresses all aspects of Employment Permit policy and administration, its rules in respect of the processing of permits as well as a reappraisal of the eligible categories of employment in respect of which permit applications will be considered. I will be making a statement shortly with regard to the improvements to be made.

Pension Provisions

Questions (262)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

262. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the interaction, if any, he has had with employer groups regarding the alignment of compulsory retirement age with the new State pension age. [11620/13]

View answer

Written answers

There is no statutory compulsory retirement age for employees in Ireland. A contract of employment may stipulate a compulsory retirement age and this is generally a matter of contract law between the relevant parties.

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has made rulings in a series of age-discrimination cases concerning Directive 2000/78/EC, which prohibit work-related discrimination on various grounds, including age. The CJEU has clarified that mandatory retirement ages may be set down within the context of national law, whether by contract, custom and practice or other means, which must be objectively and reasonably justified by a legitimate social policy aim, with the means of achieving that aim being both appropriate and necessary. Directive 2000/78/EC is given effect in national law by the Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2011, which come within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Mr Alan Shatter, T.D.

As regards my Department’s interaction with employer groups on this issue, my Department participated in a Working and Retirement Forum in Croke Park on 12 December 2012, which was organised and chaired by the Department of Social Protection, which has lead responsibility for the State pension and pension age policy. Employers were among the stakeholder groups represented at the Forum, at which there was a discussion of issues relating to the alignment of mandatory retirement age practices with the new State pension age. My Department will continue to interact on this issue with the Department of Social Protection, in the context of its on-going outreach initiatives with relevant stakeholders.

Job Creation

Questions (263, 265)

Finian McGrath

Question:

263. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will make every effort to build on the 90,000 local jobs created; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11687/13]

View answer

Written answers

The combined wholesale and retail sector in Ireland employs 273,000 people. The sector also supports employment in other related services, such as transport and logistics. The retail sector has a diverse profile, encompassing large international players, some large indigenous companies and a sizeable number of small businesses and franchises, often family owned and owner-managed. It is an employment-intensive sector, and covers every community in the country, creating local jobs.

In recognising the importance of the retail sector to the economy, the 2013 Action Plan for Jobs contains a number of measures aimed at supporting the sector. These include an initiative to increase the number of small businesses trading on-line and an initiative to streamline business licence application procedures. The retail sector has been chosen to pilot the licensing initiative as it is one of the sectors which requires a multiplicity of licences and where the positive impact of streamlining the application process can be realised. The intention is that an integrated licensing application system, incorporating up to 25 licences in the retail sector, will be developed in 2013.

Employers in the retail sector can also avail of the JobsPlus initiative which will provide financial assistance to employers who recruit people who have been out of work for 12 months or more. The Government has also committed, in the Action Plan for Jobs, to establishing an Interdepartmental Group to consider further possible measures to assist the retail sector.

Finian McGrath

Question:

265. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will make every effort to build on the 90,000 local jobs created; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

View answer

Jobseeker's Allowance Applications

Questions (266)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

266. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare she has an entitlement to jobseeker's allowance allowance or part thereof in conjunction with her entitlement to one-parent family allowance at full or partial rate in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10946/13]

View answer

Written answers

As the person concerned is in receipt of one parent family payment she does not have an entitlement to a jobseeker’s allowance payment.

Family Income Supplement Appeals

Questions (267)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

267. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a full review will be carried out on a family income supplement approval rate in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo as had been promised by her Department officials. [10947/13]

View answer

Written answers

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 21 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.

Community Employment Schemes Eligibility

Questions (268)

Joe Higgins

Question:

268. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) on a community employment scheme may not receive a scheme payment or sickness benefit if the person has a certified illness. [11005/13]

View answer

Written answers

The Community Employment (CE) Operating Guidelines allow the grant aiding of participant wages by the Department to the CE Sponsor organisation/employer for up to 56 working hours of medically certified sick leave (the hourly equivalent of 7 full days). Only when that 56 hour threshold has been exhausted is grant aid for wages suspended for any further certified sick leave by that participant during the 52 weeks of their CE contract.

Parallel to the above is the provision of illness benefit which is available to any employee who is medically certified unfit for work for 4 or more consecutive days (the first three days of illness are always unpaid on this benefit). CE participants will not receive any illness benefit for any day they are in receipt of CE allowances while medically certified unfit for work, but if they are no longer receiving CE allowances due to exceeding the 56 hour limit, then illness benefit will be payable for any qualifying days sick.

Pension Provisions

Questions (269)

Clare Daly

Question:

269. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason persons retiring next year at the age of 65 years will have to wait a full year before they are eligible for their pensions; and the action she will take regarding same. [11018/13]

View answer

Written answers

The State pension (transition) (SPT) is paid for a maximum of 12 months and is currently available to people who retire from work on reaching age 65 provided they satisfy the necessary PRSI contributions. This will change in 2014 as provided for in the Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2011. SPT will cease to be paid from 2014 which will standardise the payment of State pension at age 66. In addition, the age at which State pension (contributory) (SPC) will be payable will increase to 67 years from 2021 and to 68 years from 2028.

The decision to increase State pension age was taken in the context of changing demographics and the fact that people are living longer and healthier lives. The abolition of SPT removes the retirement condition which acts as an incentive to leave the workforce and has been widely criticised as a barrier to older people remaining in employment. There is no retirement condition attached to SPC. Currently, a person who retires from work on reaching age 65 and who does not have sufficient PRSI contributions to qualify for SPT may apply for another social welfare payment, depending on their individual circumstances. This will remain the case when SPT is abolished in 2014. The State pension is the bedrock of the Irish pension system. These reforms are essential to ensure its sustainability and to address the challenges of changing demographics such as increasing life expectancy. There are no plans to change the date of implementation.

Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility

Questions (270)

Clare Daly

Question:

270. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason persons retiring next year are only entitled to nine months jobseeker's benefit while waiting a year to become eligible for their pensions. [11019/13]

View answer

Written answers

Jobseeker's benefit (JB) is a weekly payment to people out of work and covered by social insurance (PRSI). If a person does not qualify for JB they may qualify for means tested jobseeker's allowance. In 2012 my Department spent some €737 million on the scheme and at the end of 2012 there were some 85,000 persons in receipt of a JB payment. Budget 2013 provided that the duration for which JB is paid will, with effect from April 2013, be reduced from 12 months to 9 months for recipients with 260 or more contributions paid and from 9 months to 6 months for recipients with less than 260 contributions paid.

The reduction in duration from 12 months to 9 months will apply to new claimants from April, 2013, and existing recipients who, in April, 2013, have been getting JB for less than 6 months. The reduction in duration from 9 months to 6 months will apply to new claimants from April, 2013 and existing recipients who, in April, 2013, have been getting JB for less than 3 months. Legislation provides that, subject to the person having paid 156 or more qualifying contributions and satisfying the general scheme conditions, a person whose JB expires in their 65th year will continue to be paid benefit up until the age of 66. On this basis, workers who suffer a substantial loss of employment at age 65 will not be subject to the reductions in duration provided they have paid at least 156 qualifying contributions.

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Questions (271)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

271. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal for invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; when a decision will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11117/13]

View answer

Written answers

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 2 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 appeal in question will be referred in 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.

Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals

Questions (272)

Michael McGrath

Question:

272. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding domiciliary care allowance appeal in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Cork. [11118/13]

View answer

Written answers

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence, including that adduced at oral hearing, disallowed the appeal of the person concerned. Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of the Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by the Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new facts. Following the submission of additional evidence the Appeals Officer has agreed to review the case. The person concerned will be contacted when the review of her appeal has been finalised. 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.

Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals

Questions (273)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

273. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on an appeal for domiciliary care allowance and carer's benefit in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11122/13]

View answer

Written answers

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that a Domiciliary Care Allowance appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 7 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. When received, the appeal in question will be referred in 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.

A Carer’s Benefit appeal by the person concerned was 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.

Social Welfare Appeals Status

Questions (274)

Jack Wall

Question:

274. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11137/13]

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Written answers

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 31 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.

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Questions (275)

Jack Wall

Question:

275. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a carer's allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11215/13]

View answer

Written answers

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 28 November 2012. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When received, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on 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.

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