Tuesday, 14 May 2013

Written Answers Nos. 327-349

Social Welfare Appeals Delays

Questions (327)

Jack Wall

Question:

327. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection when an appeal will be heard in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22204/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 19th April 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.

Rural Social Scheme Statistics

Questions (328)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

328. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are proposals to increase the number of places on the rural social schem on a national basis, and if so the degree to which we can hope to see the schemes increased; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22206/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The purpose of the rural social scheme is to provide income support for farmers and those engaged in fishing who have an entitlement to specified social welfare payments. Participants are engaged for 19½ hours per week to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities. The scheme currently provides work opportunities for around 2,600 participants and 130 supervisory staff. The funds allocated for 2013 amount to €45m, which should enable the scheme to continue as in previous years but does not allow for the recruitment of additional participants above the numbers stated above.

The Department of Social Protection has recently published a review of employment support schemes which, together with the outcome of the focused policy assessment of the RSS which the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has indicated it intends to publish this year, will inform future policy developments of the scheme.

I have no plans to increase the number of places available on this scheme.

Respite Care Grant Applications

Questions (329)

John McGuinness

Question:

329. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a respite care grant will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [22247/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The 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 14th 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.

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Questions (330)

James Bannon

Question:

330. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in the social welfare services office forwarding documentation sought by the appeals office regarding a carer's allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22255/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The person in question is currently receiving carer’s allowance for one child.

I confirm that the department received two further applications for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on the 19th January 2012. The person concerned was refused carers allowance on the grounds that the care recipients are not so disabled as to require full time care and attention and she was not providing full time care and attention as required. She was notified of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review or appeal. The person in question requested a review of this decision and submitted additional medical evidence in support of the application. This review is on-going at present.

This medical evidence was reviewed on the 9th of May 2013. However the application is currently with a social welfare investigative officer for assessment of the level of care being provided. Once the investigative officer has completed and submitted the report the deciding officer will complete the review and make a revised decision. The application will be processed quickly and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Homeless Persons Supports

Questions (331)

Nicky McFadden

Question:

331. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has considered the moving n proposal from Focus Ireland to address unnecessary youth homelessness; if her Department will lead a network of relevant agencies to construct an activation package of education, training and support for young people in emergency accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22260/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The €100 rate of jobseeker’s allowance was introduced for claimants aged under 20 in April 2009, and this rate was applied to claimants aged up to 21 from December 2009. A rate of €144 applies to claimants aged 22-24.

The measures encourage young jobseekers to improve their skills and remain active in the labour market in order to avoid the risk of becoming long-term unemployed and will help them to progress into sustainable employment on a long-term basis. Where a person is in receipt of a rate of jobseeker's allowance described above and he or she participates in a course of education or training a higher rate of €160 applies. Where they participate on a Community Employment, Rural Social Scheme or the Tús scheme a rate of €208 applies.

My officials are in on going contact with Focus Ireland in relation to their concerns and proposals in this area.

More generally, the Deputy may wish to note that the Department’s role with regard to persons who are homeless is mainly income maintenance. Under the social welfare system, homeless people have entitlements to the full range of social welfare schemes, including supplementary welfare allowance and associated supplements, subject to the normal qualifying conditions.

Question No. 332 withdrawn.

Disability Allowance Applications Waiting Times

Questions (333)

Tom Fleming

Question:

333. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will intervene in the prolonged processing time of a disability allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22291/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I confirm that an application for disability allowance has been received from the person concerned. The application was referred to a social welfare investigator for a means investigation. I understand the investigator will be in contact with the person shortly to clarify some aspects of his means.

A decision on the person’s entitlement to disability allowance will be made on receipt of the social welfare investigator’s report and the person will be notified directly of the outcome.

Entitlement to disability allowance is based on satisfying medical, means and residency conditions. In determining entitlement to the allowance there are, in certain cases, unavoidable time lags involved in making the necessary investigations and enquiries to enable accurate decisions to be made. Certain claims have to be sent to social welfare investigators for means investigations and this can add to the overall processing times. These claims are often complex and can take time to investigate.

Question No. 334 withdrawn.

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Questions (335)

Pat Breen

Question:

335. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on an invalidity pension appeal will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22296/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 11th October 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. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 11th April 2013 and the case will be 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.

Carer's Allowance Applications

Questions (336)

John O'Mahony

Question:

336. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a decision on their application for a carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22309/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 20th February 2013 in relation to two care recipients. The application is currently with a social welfare investigative officer for assessment of means and confirmation that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied. Once the investigative officer has completed and submitted the report a deciding officer will make a full decision. The application will be processed as quickly as possible and when a decision is made the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Question No. 337 withdrawn.

Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals

Questions (338)

Jack Wall

Question:

338. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a domiciliary care appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22318/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 4th October 2011. 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 5th December 2011 refusing the allowance. The person concerned subsequently lodged an appeal against this decision and she was informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office on the 7th February 2013 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, it is open to her to re-apply for the allowance.

Community Employment Schemes Eligibility

Questions (339)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

339. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection the qualifying conditions that a person must meet in order to be eligible to apply for participation in a community employment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22339/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The criteria for participating on the Community Employment Programme are based on age and length of time in receipt of various qualifying social welfare payments. The qualifying social welfare payments include:

- Jobseekers Benefit;

- Jobseekers Allowance;

- One Parent Family Payment;

- Widows/Widowers Contributory Pension;

- Widows/Widowers Non-Contributory Pension;

- Deserted Wife's Benefit; and

- Farm Assist.

The Community Employment Programme has two options:

- Part-Time Integration Option (PTI);

- Part-Time Job Option (PTJ).

In general, the Part-time Integration Option is for people of 25 years or over who are receiving social welfare payments for 1 year or more, and people of 18 years or over in receipt of disability-related payments. The Part-time Job Option is for people who are 35 years or over and in receipt of social welfare payments for 3 years or longer. Specific groups such as travellers and refugees aged 18 or over are eligible for both options. In addition, certain eligibility requirements are waivered for participants referred for drugs rehabilitation training.

If an individual qualifies under the criteria but does not wish to take up the option, there are certain conditions under which the individual can do a spousal swap.

Eligibility to participate on the Community Employment Programme is linked to those in receipt of an Irish social welfare payment. Those persons not meeting the criteria under the Part-time Integration or Part-time Job Options, or who are signing for credits, or are receiving social welfare benefits from a different country, are not eligible to participate on Community Employment.

In addition to the above criteria it is important to note that time spent on Tús, Rural Social Scheme, Springboard, JobBridge or Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) will not count towards the qualifying period for eligibility to CE. The only exceptions to this rule are if the BTEA was being received for second-level education purposes. Tús participants who have completed 52 weeks on that programme can progress onto CE for a maximum of one year where it is considered appropriate within the context of an agreed progression plan mediated by Intreo/DSP Employment Services.

Question No. 340 withdrawn.

School Meals Programme

Questions (341)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

341. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will furnish a list of the new schools that were placed on the programme for school meals and the schools that received additional funding from the recent announcement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22393/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food services for disadvantaged children through two schemes. The first is the statutory urban school meals scheme, operated by local authorities and part-financed by the Department. The second is the school meals local projects schemes through which funding is provided directly to participating schools and local and voluntary community groups who run their own school meals projects. The Government has allocated an additional €2 million for the school meals programme in 2013, providing a total allocation of €37 million.

Priority for funding is given to schools which are part of the Department of Education & Skills’ initiative for disadvantaged schools, ‘Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools’ (DEIS). The Department has written to approximately 170 DEIS schools requesting expressions of interest in participating in the scheme for the coming school year. To date, some 75 schools have expressed an interest in participating in the scheme. The Department is currently assessing these applications in determining the most appropriate method of distributing the additional funding for the 2013/14 school year.

The Department also contacted a further 11 schools/groups who had already made an application to join the scheme. These schools were invited to participate in the scheme for the remainder of the current school year. One group, a School Completion Programme in Bray, Co. Wicklow, has accepted and will be participating in the scheme during May and June 2013. This programme will provide a food club for children attending St. Fergal’s Senior National School in Ballywaltram, Bray, Co. Wicklow. It is expected that the remaining 10 schools will join the school meals scheme from September 2013.

National Carers Strategy Consultation

Questions (342)

Jack Wall

Question:

342. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection her views regarding a submission on carer's (details supplied); her plans to address the issues raised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22399/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

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.

The other issues raised in the submission are the responsibility of the Minister for Health and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Questions (343)

Barry Cowen

Question:

343. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on an appeal for invalidity pension. [22447/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 26th April 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 Applications

Questions (344)

Barry Cowen

Question:

344. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on an application for carer's allowance. [22448/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 2nd May 2012. The application is currently with a social welfare investigative officer for assessment of means and confirmation that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied. Once the investigative officer has completed and submitted the report a deciding officer will make a full decision. The application will be processed as quickly as possible and when a decision is made the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Free Travel Scheme Applications

Questions (345)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

345. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a companion pass in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22459/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Department is committed to ensuring that claims are processed as expeditiously as possible. Processing times can vary across schemes depending on the differing qualification criteria. The application for a companion free travel pass for the person named was medically assessed by a Medical Assessor on 9th May 2013. The medical opinion has been conveyed to Household Benefits Section, Sligo and the claimant will be contacted shortly regarding the decision on the application.

Free Travel Scheme Applications

Questions (346)

Michelle Mulherin

Question:

346. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for a companion bus pass in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; when a decision will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22480/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The application for a Companion Free Travel Pass for the person named was medically assessed by a Medical Assessor on 9th May 2013. The medical opinion has been conveyed to Household Benefits Section, Sligo and the claimant will be contacted shortly regarding the decision on the application.

Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility

Questions (347)

Patrick Nulty

Question:

347. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Social Protection if all taxi drivers are refused rent supplement as a matter of departmental policy; if so, the basis for this policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22486/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The purpose of rent supplement is to provide short-term support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation, whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The overall aim is to provide short term assistance, and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes operated by the Exchequer. There are currently approximately 86,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €403 million for 2013.

There is no guidance or legislation from the Department which states that taxi drivers should be refused rent supplement as a matter of policy. Each application for rent supplement, whether by taxi drivers or any other applicant, is decided in accordance with the legislation governing the scheme.

Job Initiatives

Questions (348, 362)

Simon Harris

Question:

348. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify the terms of the JobBridge scheme as they apply to the education sector and specifically if and when educational institutions can recommence advertising for future placements starting in September 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22495/13]

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

362. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is satisfied that displacement of persons in paid employment in certain companies is not taking place because of the companies taking on interns from the JobBridge scheme, in view of concerns highlighting that positions advertised on the JobBridge website are identical to paid employment positions previously advertised by certain companies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22799/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 348 and 362 together.

In line with previous years, the deadline for applications for 9 month internships in the education sector will be 13th September, 2013 and for 6 month internships the deadline will be 6th December 2013. Education sector host organisations may submit applications from 1st August to 6 December 2013 for placements for the academic year 2013/14. These closing dates have been chosen to ensure that interns can complete their internship prior to the summer holiday period, that is no later than 27th June, 2014. These dates will be clearly advertised on the home page of the JobBridge website later this month thereby giving several months advance notice to potential host organisations in the education sector.

With regard to the issue of displacement, the recent independent evaluation of JobBridge launched by myself and the Taoiseach on 1st May found that any such scheme inevitably has some element of displacement but that, based on reported instances, displacement of existing paid jobs by JobBridge internships occurs in only a very small number of cases and accounted for just 3% of the overall number of placements within the organisations responding to the survey. I am satisfied that the Department’s monitoring and control measures are addressing displacement where it is occurring. More than 2,000 monitoring visits have taken place to-date and I am pleased to say that 97% of those visits found the internships to be operating satisfactorily. Remedial action has been taken in cases of non-compliance.

If any individual suspects any potential abuses of the Scheme including displacement there is a dedicated support facility on the Contact Us page of the JobBridge website. All such matters will be fully investigated.

Invalidity Pension Applications

Questions (349)

Jim Daly

Question:

349. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22499/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the available evidence, has allowed the appeal of the person concerned 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.