Written Answers Nos. 352 to 370
352. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18498/13]
View answerThis application for carer's allowance was disallowed on 5 of October 2012. The person in question appealed this decision. All the necessary papers have 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.
354. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will undertake a review of the recent refusal of family income supplement in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18500/13]
View answerThe family income supplement (FIS) is designed to provide support for people with families who are on low earnings. To qualify, an applicant must have at least one qualified child. A qualified child for FIS purposes is a child aged less than 18 years of age or between the ages of 18 and 22 who is in full-time education. The child must reside with the applicant or if resident with the other parent, the applicant must be substantially maintaining the other parent and child.
The person concerned applied for FIS in respect of three children. However, as the children are not residing with him and are not being maintained by him the person concerned was deemed to have no qualified children for FIS purposes. Consequently his application for FIS was refused on these grounds. The person concerned has been notified directly of this decision and of his right to appeal against it to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.
355. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on jobbridge (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18502/13]
View answerSince it commenced on 1 July, 2011, Jobbridge has made speedy progress. At 18 April, 2013, 16,545 people had commenced internships, 5,947 people were on internships and 2,452 internship opportunities were advertised as available on the JobBridge.ie website. In the context of Budget 2013, the Government increased the number of JobBridge places from 6,000 to 8,500. Accordingly, the previous closing date for applications for internships of 30 June, 2013, no longer applies. This information has been conveyed on the JobBridge website www.jobbridge.ie. The recent interim independent evaluation of the scheme conducted by Indecon Economic Consultants found that 61% of individuals who participated in JobBridge progressed into employment within five months of completing their internship placements. This high level of progression into employment exceeds that of similar schemes across Europe, suggesting that JobBridge is an appropriate labour market intervention.
356. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when an oral hearing will be rescheduled in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare in respect of their appeal for one parent family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18510/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing in this case on 8 May 2013. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the 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.
357. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is considering any alteration to the cut to the carer's respite grant. [18515/13]
View answerExpenditure on carers has increased significantly in recent years. In 2013 it is estimated to be €776 million compared with an estimated outturn of €771 million in 2012. The expenditure on carers in 2012 included: €509 million on carer’s allowance; €24 million on carer’s benefit; €135 million on the respite care grant and; €103 million on domiciliary care allowance. Carers also receive a free travel pass at an annual cost of €6 million and carers who reside with the care recipient are eligible for the household benefits package at an annual cost of approximately €30 million. The revised rate of the respite care grant of €1,375 will still be more than what it was in 2006 when the rate was €1,200.
The respite care grant is paid to more than 70,000 people each year, with some 5,000 people in receipt of more than one grant as they care for more than one person. Almost 54,000 people are in receipt of the carer’s allowance and 27,000 in receipt of the domiciliary care allowance. There are also 1,700 in receipt of carer’s benefit. Some 5,000 carers not in receipt of a carer’s payment also receive the grant.
Carers receive significant income supports from my Department, among the highest rates of income support in Europe. A person getting certain qualifying payments and also providing full-time care and attention to another person can keep their main social welfare payment and receive a half-rate carer’s allowance as well. The half-rate carer’s allowance was protected in Budget 2013.
The respite care grant is available to all full-time carers regardless of their means while the income disregard and means test for carers allowance is the most generous in the social welfare system. A couple under 66 with two children, earning a joint annual income of up to €35,400 can qualify for the maximum rate of carer’s allowance while a couple earning €59,300 will still qualify for the minimum rate. Carers are entitled to an extra half-rate carer’s allowance if they care for more than one person and a respite care grant for each care recipient. I have no further plans for the respite care grant this year.
358. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps being taken, and continue to be taken, to address concerns about large sums of money being paid in children's allowance to families who are not resident in the State. [18516/13]
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. 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 costs peaked. This represents 0.65% of the total cost of child benefit expenditure.
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 European 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. It 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.
359. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will indicate the appropriate level of rent allowance applicable to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18529/13]
View answerRent supplement is a means tested payment which is calculated using the current weekly supplementary welfare allowance rate as the baseline. In the case of a family size for the person concerned this rate is €400.20. All income in excess of this rate, in this case €65.20, must go towards the family contribution towards the rent. In addition there is a minimum statutory contribution of, for a couple, €35.00, giving a total family contribution of €100.20. This is what the family pay towards their rent; the balance is paid by way of rent supplement. The rent on the property is €900 per month which equates to €207.70 per week. After the family contribution of €100.20 this leaves a balance of €107.50 per week to be paid by rent supplement. The monthly equivalent of this is €465.80 which is what the person concerned is receiving.
360. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on the application for a carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [18539/13]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the available evidence, allowed 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.
362. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person has to issue an overpayment (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18548/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 19 April 2013. 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.
364. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of an application for guardian's payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; when a determination is expected to be made on this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18571/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing in this case on 30 April 2013. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the 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.
365. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will set out in tabular form for 2011 and 2012 and analysed by social protection headings, the amounts paid by her Department to citizens whilst they were incarcerated in Irish and foreign prisons. [18576/13]
View answerIn general a person that is detained in prison is disqualified for payment throughout the period of detention subject to a small number of limited exemptions. In order to ensure that payments do not continue when a person is imprisoned data matching between the Irish Prison Service (IPS) and this Department is undertaken. The Department began in 2005 by obtaining the prison data on a twice yearly basis. Since July 2011, the data is obtained on a weekly basis and is matched against the Department's systems, in accordance with data matching regulations.
Since receiving prison data on a weekly basis, any social welfare claims in payment are stopped as soon as possible after the person is imprisoned. In this manner, overpayments are minimised and the opportunity to continue to receive a payment while in prison is virtually eliminated. If an overpayment has occurred, it is assessed for the period that the person was not entitled to the payment and the recovery of the overpayment is followed up by the Department. The following tables provide details of the number of overpayments raised as a result of a person being in prison. A breakdown of these cases between Irish or foreign prisons is not available.
|
Year |
Number of overpayments raised |
Average amount of overpayment |
|
2010 |
324 |
€4,500 |
|
2011 |
614 |
€3,400 |
|
2012 |
Not available |
Not available |
2010 In Prison OPs by Scheme
|
Disability Allowance |
195 |
€1,215,749 |
|
Jobseekers Allowance |
86 |
€124,566 |
|
State Pension Contributory |
3 |
€36,261 |
|
Other |
40 |
€92,671 |
2011 In Prison OPs by Scheme
|
Disability Allowance |
310 |
€1,443,385 |
|
Jobseekers Allowance |
235 |
€289,410 |
|
Widow(er)'s Contributory Pension |
8 |
€229,115 |
The Department is not in a position to publicly comment on overpayments recorded in 2012 as these figures form part of the statutory accounts of the Department and are subject to audit by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. The increase in the number of overpayments raised due to imprisonment reflects the fact that the Department is now capturing this information from the IPS in a timely manner and acting on it by raising overpayments in all relevant cases. The opportunity to commit this type of fraud has been virtually eliminated and the chances of being caught and required to repay any monies received has been substantially improved under the new system of weekly data matching with the IPS.
366. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection when an appeal for carer's allowance will be granted in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18579/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 10 April 2013. 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.
367. Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in determining an appeal for suspending jobseeker's benefit with particular reference to an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and when the appeal will be determined. [18589/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 25 March 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. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office 26 March 2013 and the case 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.
368. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite a domiciliary care allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18676/13]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person concerned on 5 February 2013. This application was referred to one of the Department’s Medical assessors who found the child to be medically eligible for the allowance. The person concerned was notified on19 April 2013 that her claim was awarded. The first payment including arrears will issue to her on 21 May 2013.
