Written Answers Nos. 152-159
152. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine the invalidity pension appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24578/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 5th March 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.
153. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on an invalidity pension appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24585/13]
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’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.
154. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in determination of an appeal for invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24588/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that there is no record of any appeal from the person concerned having been received by that office.
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.
155. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the eligibility for mortgage interest relief in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24590/13]
View answerThe calculation of the mortgage interest supplement for the person concerned is based on a mortgage interest payment of €443.50 per month which equates to €102.35 per week. As the minimum contribution for a couple claiming mortgage interest supplement is €35 per week, the maximum payable in this case is €67.35 per week which equates to €291.90 per month.
156. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the work her Department is doing to close the welfare trap (details supplied). [24591/13]
View answerAnalysis of replacement rate values, which compare net in-work and welfare incomes, demonstrates that for the great majority of unemployed people securing employment will result in higher levels of income.
The jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker’s allowance schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative employment. It is a fundamental qualifying condition for these schemes that a person must be available for full-time work. If a person refuses an offer of suitable employment he/she may be subject to a disqualification under the jobseeker’s schemes.
A person is entitled to jobseeker’s benefit or jobseeker’s allowance where they are fully unemployed for at least 4 days in any period of 7 consecutive days.
It is recognised that a changing labour market has resulted in a move away from the more traditional work patterns, with a consequent increase in the number of casual workers. This is an important policy issue for my Department but any changes to the current criteria could have significant cost implications. For that reason my Department will consider this issue very carefully. In tandem the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare, which has already reported to me on a number of important policy areas, is now looking at the whole area of atypical work and I look forward to their recommendations on this issue.
This work is complex and is taking place in the context of other social welfare reforms, the current economic situation, and the considerable administrative change that implementation of reform to the jobseeker’s schemes will require.
I have asked my officials to liaise with the Deputy in relation to these cases so as to get a full understanding of the situation.
157. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is considering making the disability payment to Irish citizens portable across the EU when persons leave Ireland to work within the EU (details supplied). [24593/13]
View answerThe social security rights of people moving within the EU are coordinated under EU Regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009. While the general conditions for qualifying for benefits and the design and financing of schemes remain a matter for the individual Member States, the EU Regulations determine, amongst other things, where a person is to be insured and what benefits must be exported outside the State.
Generally speaking, the competent State for payment of social insurance is the country of last employment and that country is usually responsible for the payment of benefits. With regard to the export of benefits, the position is that most contributory payments can be paid to someone resident in another country provided that Ireland remains the competent State under the EU Regulations. If a person becomes employed in another Member State then competency will usually change.
However, the Regulations also provide for a particular class of benefit known as a special non-contributory benefit. These benefits are generally social assistance type non-contributory payments which are financed from general taxation. Such benefits are provided in the Member State in which the person resides and in accordance with its legislation. Accordingly, such benefits are not exportable.
In Ireland the benefits classed as special non-contributory benefits include blind pension, jobseekers’ allowance, State pension non-contributory, widow's, widower's (non contributory) pension, disability allowance and mobility allowance. There are no plans to request a re-classification of any Irish benefit to make it exportable to another EU or EEA State.
158. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection the target of her Department and subsidiary offices throughout the country regarding employment of persons with disabilities in the special category and whether the target is being achieved; the total number of employees in that category currently and the percentage of the total workforce in her Department that it represents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24620/13]
View answerPublic service bodies are subject to specific legal obligations set out in the Disability Act 2005. Under the Act, public sector bodies are obliged to meet a target of ensuring that 3% of their employees are people with disabilities. Compliance with this target is monitored by the National Disability Authority.
The total number of employees in the Department at the end of December 2012 was 7,148. The total number of persons who disclosed a disability to the Department’s Disability Liaison Officer was 315, equating to 4.4% of the workforce, thereby exceeding the 3% target.
The 2012 figures for the Department’s agencies (Citizen’s Information Board, Office of the Pensions Ombudsman and the Pensions Board) are not yet available. However, in 2011, the number of employees in these agencies was 153, six of whom were persons declaring a disability – or 3.9% of the workforce.
159. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite a carer's allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24676/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 25th March 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.
