Written Answers Nos. 102-12
102. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has been cut off from receiving domiciliary care allowance; the criteria that changed that meant they were no longer eligible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19531/13]
View answerThe Department has been accepting new claims for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) since 1 April 2009. The person concerned has not been in receipt of DCA at any time since the scheme transferred to the Department. There have been no changes made to the qualification criteria since the Department took over the administration of the scheme.
Information relating to any application that may have been submitted or paid prior to April 2009 is a matter for the HSE, the previous administrators of the scheme. An application for DCA was received from the person concerned in my Department on the 30th April 2010. This application was referred to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors who found that the child was not medically eligible for the allowance. A letter issued on the 16th July 2010 advising of the decision not to allow the application. The person concerned subsequently lodged an appeal against this decision and she was informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 6th January 2012 that the appeal had not been allowed.
The decision/appeal process for this application is now complete. If the person concerned has additional information which was not available to the deciding and appeals officers when they made their decisions, or if circumstances have changed in the intervening period, it is open to her to re-apply for the allowance at any time.
103. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason persons who are currently in receipt of disability allowance are not allowed to pursue schemes under Tús; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19532/13]
View answerTús - the community work placement initiative - came into operation in mid-2011 and to date some 7,824 people have completed or are currently serving in work placements provided by community organisations. The purpose of Tús is to support the work-readiness of people who are unemployed for a year or more. For this reason, eligibility is confined to those in receipt of a job seekers payment from the Department of Social Protection. These provisions are to ensure a highly targeted approach on those at danger of falling into long term unemployment. A person cannot apply for a Tús supported position and all selection is undertaken by random processes undertaken by the Department of Social Protection.
Persons in receipt of disability allowance are eligible for a range of other job activation initiatives, including community employment. The Deputy should note that I increased the range of options available to persons in receipt of disability allowance by announcing that with effect from the 28th of May 2012 the eligibility for JobBridge - the national internship scheme – was broadened to include people in receipt of disability allowance.
104. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will approve an application for domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19554/13]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 17th April 2013. This application has been forwarded to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors for their medical opinion. Upon receipt of this opinion, a decision will issue to the person concerned. It can take up to 8 weeks to process an application for DCA.
106. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on an illness benefit appeal will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19561/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that a Disability Allowance appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 6 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. 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.
107. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection her views that family carer's provide an invaluable service and save the Government money by providing unpaid care to family members; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19587/13]
View answer108. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department is considering any other options to support carers who are experiencing difficulties as a result of cuts to the respite care grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19588/13]
View answer110. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has concerns that recent cuts to family carers will prevent persons from being cared for and growing old in their own homes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19609/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 107, 108 and 110 together.
The contribution that people provide in caring for members of their own family is critical for society. It was for that reason that the Government last year adopted the National Carers’ Strategy with a view to giving greater public recognition to carers and their work. Carers receive significant income supports from my Department so that people can continue living at home. Expenditure 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.
The supports to carers from my Department are 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.
111. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if rent support is payable in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19618/13]
View answer119. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if rent support is payable in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin who has accumulated considerable rent arrears and is in danger of being evicted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19713/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 119 together.
The Rent Supplement claim in this case was suspended, pending establishment of entitlement to a primary social welfare payment. The person concerned made a repeat claim for Jobseekers Allowance in December 2012, following suspension of an earlier Jobseekers Allowance claim that was disallowed in August 2011 which was upheld on appeal in September 2012. The current Jobseekers Allowance claim has now been disallowed on the basis that the person concerned failed to provide evidence of the circumstances and means. As it has been decided that there is no entitlement to a primary social welfare payment, the person concerned is not entitled to Rent Supplement. The person concerned has a right of appeal in relation to the disallowance of the Jobseekers Allowance claim.
112. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on a companion travel pass will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19646/13]
View answerThe person concerned’s application for a Companion Free Travel Pass was medically assessed by a Medical Assessor on 24 April 2013. The medical opinion has been conveyed to Household Benefits Section, Sligo and the person will be contacted shortly regarding the decision on his application.
