Written Answers Nos. 113-123
113. 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. [19652/13]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that a revised decision favourable to the person concerned was made by the Department of Social Protection in respect of her Domiciliary Care Allowance claim. The person concerned has been notified of this decision. With regard to the Carer’s Benefit appeal of the person concerned, I am advised that an Appeals Officer having fully considered all the available evidence allowed the appeal by way of summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s 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.
114. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider amending the eligibility criteria for the JobBridge scheme to allow a person complete more than one internship beyond the current limit of nine months to facilitate those who have not yet secured employment and who wish to improve their employment prospects by gaining more experience. [19667/13]
View answerAs of 1st April, 2013, 16,545 people had commenced internships with the JobBridge scheme. There are circa 6,000 people currently on internships and provision was made in Budget 2013 to increase this to 8,500 places.
It is essential to strike a balance between our commitments to combat unemployment through the up-skilling opportunities provided by quality internship placements that offer real workplace experience, on the one hand, and the potential to destabilise the normal functioning of the labour market and a consequent reduction of opportunities for permanent employment, on the other. In particular, the time limits placed on participation are designed to ensure that.
The increase in the number of available places reflects the fact that progression rates into employment from the scheme at circa 61% (measured over a 5 month period post completion) are very high compared to other schemes. In particular, the scheme appears to be very effective at improving the employment prospects of people who are long-term unemployed.
Given the positive impact of the scheme, it is as important that as many people as possible can get access to the available places. It is for this reason and in order to minimise deadweight and labour market distortion, that a limit was placed on the total time that any individual can spend on an internship.
The Department has recently received an independent report on the scheme from Indecon Economic consultants and I expect to publish the report in early May. The report confirms the positive impact of the scheme and suggests a number of areas for improvement. I will consider the suggestion made by the Deputy as part of the process of reviewing the findings of the Indecon Report.
115. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will advise on the status of a disability allowance appeal application by a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19676/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 31 January 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.
116. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on a pension scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19681/13]
View answerThe Labour Court recommended in July 2008 that an agreed pension scheme should be introduced for community employment (CE) scheme supervisors and assistant supervisors, and that such a scheme should be adequately funded by FÁS. Notwithstanding the positions of the Department (who now has responsibility for CE) in rejecting that liability for these costs to be met from public funds, this matter has been the subject of discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the unions representing CE supervisors. In the event that funding was required from the Department of Social Protection, the implementation of the claim is not considered sustainable in light of the current and ongoing fiscal environment and the requirement to contain and reduce public expenditure. The costs of the introduction of any scheme are likely to be of the order of €3m per annum with retrospective costs of the order of at least €30m.
It should also note that the Department of Social Protection is not the employer of CE supervisors and such employees are not public servants. Neither was FÁS or the Department of Social Protection a party to the Labour Court dispute on this matter. The responsibilities of the sponsoring organisations and the individuals concerned must also be recognised when considering pension provision arrangements.
117. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the position in regard to the determination of eligibility for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19711/13]
View answerI confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on 30 October 2012. The application is with a deciding officer for a decision. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
118. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for jobseeker's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19712/13]
View answerThe person concerned made a repeat claim for Jobseeker’s Allowance in December 2012, following disallowance of an earlier claim in August 2011 which was upheld on appeal in September 2012. Following investigation, the current Jobseekers Allowance claim has been disallowed as the person concerned failed to provide evidence of their circumstances and means. The person concerned has a right to appeal this decision.
120. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the availability of rent support in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 2; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19714/13]
View answerAccording to our records, no claim for rent allowance has been received from the person concerned. She should contact her local Community Welfare Officer if she wishes to make such a claim.
121. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when rent support will be made payable in respect of a person details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19715/13]
View answerThe person concerned is currently in receipt of a rent supplement payment.
122. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide in tabular form the number of civil and public servants under the remit of his Department who earn more than €500,000, between €400,000 and €500,000, €300,000 and €400,000, €250,000 and €300,000, €200,000 and €250,000, €150,000 and €200,000, €100,000 and €150,000, €80,000 and €100,000, €60,000 and €80,000, €40,000 and €60,000, €30,000 and €40,000 and less than €30,000. [19494/13]
View answerI would refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 407 of 23 April 2013.
123. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of grants allocated for the purpose of a kitchen for a club (details supplied); the value of these grants over the period of the past 13 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19572/13]
View answerI have been informed by Údarás na Gaeltachta that 2 grants in total, as detailed in the table below, were approved and paid to the club referred to by the Deputy in respect of the construction and refurbishment of a day care centre in the period 2005 - 2008.
|
Type of grant |
Approved |
Amount Paid |
|
Capital |
€83,385 |
€78,013 |
|
Capital |
€57,159 |
€53,749 |
|
Total |
€140,544 |
€131,762 |
