Tuesday, 11 Jun 2013

Written Answers Nos. 427 to 444

Housing Assistance Payments Implementation

Questions (427)

Catherine Byrne

Question:

427. Deputy Catherine Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection when rent supplement will be replaced by the announced housing assistance payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26945/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term income 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. There are approximately 86,000 recipients of rent supplement of which approximately 54,000 have been in receipt of the supplement for over eighteen months. The Government has provided over €403 million for the scheme in 2013.

The Government has approved in principle to transfer responsibility for the provision of rental assistance to persons with a long term housing need from this Department to housing authorities using a new Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). Officials in this Department are working closely with those in the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government to assist with the necessary work required to initiate HAP.

The necessary legislative requirements to facilitate HAP are a matter for the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government. It is expected that pilot testing of HAP will commence once the necessary legislation is in place.

Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals

Questions (428)

John McGuinness

Question:

428. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No.107 of 7 February 2013, the position regarding an appeal for jobseeker's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26991/13]

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 5 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 on the 21 May 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.

Carer's Allowance Eligibility

Questions (429)

Dessie Ellis

Question:

429. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the EU Commission has initiated an infringement procedure against Ireland due to its failure to provide carer's allowance to Irish citizens entitled to it who are living elsewhere within the EU; and the way this procedure will affect her Department's dealings with a person (details supplied) who had her carer's allowance denied to her when she relocated to Spain and was repeatedly told she had no grounds to claim her entitlements. [27000/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Carer's Allowance is a social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full time care and attention to elderly people or to people with disabilities and whose income falls below certain limits. The principal conditions for receipt of the allowance are that full time care and attention is required and being provided, and the means test which applies is satisfied. The applicant must also complete the medical component part of the application form in respect of the caree. Habitual residency criteria must also be met.

The EU Commission has recently opened infringement proceedings against my Department concerning the status of carers allowance under EU Regulations. The Commission claims that, for the purposes of the EU regulations on the co-ordination of social security systems, the carer’s allowance is a sickness benefit which should be exported and paid in other EU States. This represents a change of position by the Commission, which previously supported the view that carers allowance is a social assistance payment, which means it is not covered by the EU regulations and not paid to people outside the State. This matter is being raised with the Commission.

As regards the particular case raised by the Deputy, the person in question requested to withdraw from the carer's allowance scheme on 14 of June 2012. Her payment was stopped and this was confirmed to the person concerned in writing on the 15 of June 2012.

Disability Allowance Appeals

Questions (430)

Pat Breen

Question:

430. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on a disability allowance appeal will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27080/13]

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 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.

Departmental Contracts

Questions (431)

Willie O'Dea

Question:

431. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of contracts granted by her Department, or by agencies under the auspices of her Department, from 1 January 2012 to date in 2013; the total value of these contracts; the percentage value of these for which no tenders were required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27351/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The annual expenditure in respect of goods and services of the Department is in the order of €400 million, €40 million in respect of Citizens Information Board and €1.3 million in respect of the Pensions Board. The quarterly Prompt Payments Report to Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation is available on the Department’s website www.welfare.ie . This return includes all commercial payments from the Department and its agencies, including payments to transport providers under the Free Travel Scheme and utility providers under the Household Benefits Package.

The Department participates fully in on-going initiatives of the National Procurement Service (NPS) based in the Office of Public Works (OPW), focusing especially at achieving procurement savings, including the use of shared framework agreements for the provision of an increasing number of categories of supplies and services.

Award of tenders without a competitive process is only permitted in exceptional circumstance and then only in conformity with criteria set down in EU directive 18/2004. In compliance with Department of Finance Circular 40/02, any proposal to award a contract above €25,000 (exclusive of VAT) without a competitive process is reviewed in advance by the Department’s Internal Audit Unit. In accordance with Circular 40/02 full returns of such procurements are signed off by the Secretary General and submitted to the Comptroller and Auditor General before 31 March in the following year and copied to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

In addition, all such procurements above €25,000 must first be approved by the Project Governance Committee (PGC), a committee of the Department’s Management Board, chaired by the Secretary General. Where procurement is specifically for IT external service provision, or consultancy, all such contracts are approved by the governance committee.

With regard to the Citizens Information Board any proposal to award a contract above €25,000 (exclusive of VAT) without a competitive process is reviewed in advance by the Board’s Senior Management Team and by the Audit and Risk Committee which is a committee of the Board. The Board applies, in all cases, very restrictive conditions for use of single or restricted tendering for procurements of goods or services.

It is the policy of the Pensions Board to use open tendering process for all contracts. All contracts greater than €20,000 not being awarded by competitive tender must be authorised by the Chairperson of the Finance & Audit Committee or Chief Executive.

The total value of contracts awarded on foot of a competitive tender advertised on eTenders, including contracts awarded under DSP framework agreements, since 01 January 2012 is €22.9 million. The total value of contracts awarded by way of a non-competitive or single tender process was €0.94 million or 4% of the competitively tendered contracts.

The Department is committed to achieving value for money in the procurement of supplies and services essential to support its work in providing high quality service to the public in a cost effective and efficient manner. The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the attached tables and I am satisfied the Department applies, in all cases, very restrictive conditions for use of single or restricted tendering for procurements of goods or services.

Department of Social Protection (DSP) Tenders Advertised on eTenders and where Contracts Awarded since 01 January 2012

(includes all IT procurements valued over €10,000 and all other procurements valued over €25,000 ex VAT)

Tender	RFT publication date	Contract Commencement Date	Value of Contract  (incl VAT)	Contract Awarded to
IT consultancy services for the support & maintenance of the department’s corporate portal	23-Nov-12	04-Mar-13	€600,000	Hewlett Packard Ireland Ltd
Provision of IT managed services for the Civil Registration Service.	15-Nov-12	04-Feb-13	€621,687	Hewlett Packard Ireland Ltd
Provision of expert advice & assistance with the design and delivery of an employment service model	05-Nov-12	30-Nov-2012	€114,260	Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion London
Training Services for Special Investigation Unit and Central Prosecutions	05-Oct-12	30-Apr-13	€27,750	La Touche Bond Solon Training Limited
Supply of A4 Scanners	11-Jul-12	01-Aug-12	€69,184	Digital Imaging Services
IT consultancy support for the design, development & implementation of a new www.welfare.ie website	31-May-12	7-Sept-2012	€569,958	Hewlett Packard Ireland Ltd
Provision of a Media Monitoring Service for the Department Of Social Protection	28-May-12	12-Oct-2012	€48,708	Media World Ltd
Delivery of Projects to Support the Department’s Service Delivery Modernisation (SDM) Programme	16-May-12	Framework Agreement	€1,227,284	See details below contracts  within DSP framework
Provision of Security Services at the Department of Social Protection	01-May-12	16-Dec-2012	€1,814,000	At Risk Security
Production Support & Consultancy for Payment & Agency Reconciliation Project (PARP) and  Oracle Financials & Business Objects	23-Mar-12	01-Aug-2012	€2,750,000	Fujitsu (Ireland) Limited
Provision of Grounds Maintenance Services	15-Mar-12	01-Jun-2012	€60,660	Steve Noone Landscaping
Provision and Deployment of Hardware Security Modules	24-Feb-12	06-Sept-2012	€60,265	SafeNet UK Limited
Repair and Maintenance of Data Processing (Computer) equipment	21-Feb-12	01-July-2012	€1,331,197	Hewlett Packard Ireland Ltd
Repair and Maintenance of Data Processing (Computer) equipment	21-Feb-12	01-July-2012	€73,889	Unity Technology Solutions
Transport Services	23-Jan-12	15-Oct-2012	€376,000	William Tracey & Sons
Provision of Pest Control Services	13-Jan-12	01-Jul-2012	€21,429	Rentokil
Actuarial Review of Social Insurance Fund	8-Dec-2011	02-Mar-2012	€153,750	KPMG Ireland
Hygiene Maintenance/Washroom Services	14-Nov-2011	1-Apr-2012	€40,000	OCS Cannon Hygiene
Appointment of Security Partner to provide on-going Information Security support	08-Nov-2011	01-Apr-2012	€83,025	Deloitte & Touche
Evaluation of JobBridge -National Internship Scheme	1-Nov-2011	18-Apr-2012	€60,725	Indecon
Supply of Facial Image Matching Software (SAFE Programme)	01-Jul-2011	27-Apr-2012	€259,330	3M Ireland Limited

Contracts awarded within DSP Framework Agreements since 01 January 2012

Tender	Contract Commencement Date	Value of Contract (VAT incl)	Contract Awarded to
Payment and Generic Scheme	30-Aug-2012	€1,687,612	Accenture
Provision of ICT Resources for Regional Service Development	16-May-2013	€1,272,000	Deloitte
Provision of ICT Resources  for BOM Modelling Development Team	16-May-2013	€826,560	Deloitte
Continuing operation and development of the Central Test function in the BOMi environment	7-Jan-2013	€1,199,250	BearingPoint Ireland Limited
Support and Continuing development and operation of the Release and Environment Management Processes	07-Jan-2013	€1,445,250	BearingPoint Ireland Limited
Business Change/Enhancement on the Business Object Model Implementation (BOMi)	07-Jan-2013	€2,386,200	BearingPoint Ireland Limited
Production support and essential Maintenance of the Business Object Model Implementation (BOMi)	07-Jan-2013	€3,693,075	BearingPoint Ireland Limited
Review of Pension Priority Order	14-Aug-2012	€18,150	Mercer

DSP Contracts Awarded without a competitive process (single tenders) since 01 January 2012

Tender	Value of  Contract (VAT inclusive)	Contractor	Reason for not undertaking a Competitive Process
Analysis & Measurement of Deprivation & Poverty Project	€321,322	ESRI	The specialised expertise required is not available elsewhere
Maintenance of the Social Welfare Appeals Office system	€54,090	IBM	The Social Welfare Appeals Office relies on a custom built computer application to support its core business activities.  Renewal of the contract was regarded as the most viable option in order to ensure continuity of provision of this essential service
Strategic input to the DSP technical architecture group	€43,000	Microsoft	Microsoft representation on the Departments Technical Architecture Group (TAG) providing specific assistance in relation to how the Department might adopt the Microsoft tools and techniques to take account of DSP technical architecture.
Mobile Opportunity Exploration	€33,388	Accenture	Project to inform the development of mobile applications on Microsoft’s Windows 8 and Windows 8 mobile platform to support DSP Inspectors which utilised the Accenture/Avanade knowledge and experience and had to be completed in advance of a significant exploratory project.
Profiling of Live Register customers for the Pathways to Work Programme	€33,745	ESRI	ESRI worked with DSP in development of Customer profiling and has all the software & data relating to the development of that model and are therefore the only body in a position to do the profiling in the time period.
Gartner Subscription Service	€162,600	Gartner Ireland Ltd	The Gartner subscription service provides a unique source of information, insight and advice that assists ISD to formulate its strategy and architecture as well as providing detailed technical information to support the Department's adoption of new and evolving technologies
Review of Long-Term Pensions Policy in Ireland	€130,000	OECD	The OECD is uniquely qualified to conduct this review.
Upgrade of CoreExpense (T&S System) and CoreTime (T&A) systems	€80,980	Core International	Necessary upgrade of proprietary Core systems.
Maintenance of the Toshiba CTX telephone system	€60,323	ATS	ATS is the only provider of the required maintenance service.
Purchase additional Daon licences for Public Service Card	€23,092	Daon	Daon is the only suppliers of such licences

CIB Tenders Advertised on eTenders and where Contracts Awarded since 01 January 2012

(includes all IT procurements valued over €10,000 and all other procurements valued over €25,000 ex VAT)

Tender	RFT publication date	Contract Commencement Date	Value of Contract  (incl VAT)	Contract Awarded to
Data Strategy	26-Mar-12	June 2012	€34,440	DNM Technology
Hainault House, Tallaght, internal alterations/modifications	24-May-12, 21-Jun-12	July 2012	€54,544	Simon Bernard Ltd
Provision of HR support and advice to CIB and network companies	22-Jun-12	Sept 2012	€70,686	Graphite HRM
Research: Qualitative Study MABS Casework	02-Aug-12	Oct 2012	€30,135	IPSOS MRBI
Review of National Advocacy Service	31-Jul-12	Oct 2012	€12,300 + subsistence where required	Round Table Solutions
Provision of the EFQM Goldstar Service Excellence QA programme in CIB and all our Delivery Partners	28-Mar-12 OJEU	Nov 2012	€325,476	Centre for Competitiveness
Design and print management services	30-Mar-12 OJEU	Dec 2012	Demand dependant	Clickworks Ltd.
Marketing & Media Services to promote new telephone numbers	08-Oct-12	Dec 2012	€159,000	Marketing Network
Managed ICT Helpdesk	24-Sept-12	Dec 2012	€309,045	Arkphire
Research on the role of Employment Schemes in Service Delivery in CISs	09-Nov-12	Jan 2013	€33,754	TMA Consultancy

CIB Contracts Awarded without a competitive process (per Circular 40/02 Single Tenders) since 01 January 2012

Tender	Value of  Contract (VAT inclusive)	Contractor	Reason for not undertaking a Competitive Process
Golden Pages & Phone Book Listing for MABS, CISs, CIPS	€100,516	Truvo Ltd	Sole supplier.
An accredited course delivery for a Certificate in Management Skills  for the managers of Advocacy Services	€32,933	Institute Technology Blanchardstown (ITB)	Several companies consulted.  ITB only one capable of delivering the programme.
Insurance Services 2012/13 for Citizens Information Bureau (CIB) Citizens Information Centres (CICs) and  Citizens Information Phone Services (CIPS)	€143,422	IPB Insurance Brokers	In Aug 2012 there was a proposal from DPER for the State Claims Agency (SCA) to underwrite insurance but this would have excluded CISs, CIPS.  Further clarification was been sought by the time the renewal date was due and it was decided not to go to tender until the situation was clarified.
Improvements to the ECMS/advocacycase.ie	€35,000	Engine Solutions	Company holds intellectual property for the software to be upgraded
MAIH Campaign- Radio/Online/Print	€98,892	Marketing Network	Campaign required in a tight timeframe as requested by DSP, on behalf of Interdepartmental Working Group on Mortgage Arrears.
Delivery of accredited Training Programme to managers in CIS+	€32,933	Institute of technology, Blanchardstown [ITB]	Continuation with provider as second delivery of programme.

Pensions Board Tenders Advertised on eTenders and Contracts awarded since 01 January 2012 (includes all IT procurements valued over €10,000 and all other procurements valued over €25,000 ex VAT)

Name of Tender (Description/Purpose	RFT Publication Date	Contract Commencement Date	Value of Contract (including VAT)	Contract Awarded to
Supply of IT Infrastructure Hardware	19 - Nov 2012	6 - Dec 2012	€9,833.85	DCB Group
Tenders are invited for the implementation of an upgrade-solution for the Board's virtualised IT environment	21 - November 2012	6 - Dec 2012	€15,322.50	Unity Technology Solutions
MS Software Licenses - Microsoft Software Licensing	18 - Dec 2012	21 - Dec 2012	€16,698.23	Kelway IT Solutions Limited

Name of Tender (Description/Purpose	RFT Publication Date	Contract Commencement Date	Value of Contract (including VAT)	Contract Awarded to
Purchase of PCs under PC Framework (procured through ictprocurement.gov.ie PC framework)	16-Aug-2012	11-Sept-2012	€30,440.66	PC Peripherals
Supply of Internal audit services	30-May-2012	12-Oct-2012	€25,461	D’Arcy Lynch partners
Accountancy Services	7-Dec-2012	7-Mar-2013	Agreed Hourly rates contracted for services as required	Crowleys DFK

There were no non-competitive (single tender) contracts awarded by the Pensions Board since 01 January 2012.

Back to Education Allowance Expenditure

Questions (432)

Patrick Nulty

Question:

432. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Social Protection the total savings made by abolishing the €300 for back to education allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27362/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Revised Estimates for my Department provide for estimated expenditure of €189.3 million on the back to education allowance scheme in 2013. The discontinuation of the cost of education allowance will yield savings of €7.8 million per annum. The BTEA scheme remains an attractive scheme for social welfare recipients who wish to further their education and compares very favourably with other State funded supports for those pursuing education. A significant majority of those entering the scheme are in receipt of the maximum personal weekly rate of payment of €188 per week and, in addition, increases for qualified adults and children may also be payable. These rates of payments were fully protected in the last two Budgets.

Questions Nos. 433 to 435, inclusive, withdrawn.

Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage

Questions (436)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

436. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection if she or officials in her Department have had discussions regarding plans to include Williams syndrome on the long-term illness scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27420/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

This is a matter for my colleague in the Department of Health.

Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals

Questions (437)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

437. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection if an appeal on a jobseeker's allowance application has been received at the Social Welfare Appeals Office in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan; when a decision is expected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27442/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an appeal by the person concerned has not 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.

Farm Assist Scheme Appeals

Questions (438)

Tom Fleming

Question:

438. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite a farm assist appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27457/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an oral hearing of the appeal of the person concerned took place on 4 June 2013 and the Appeals Officer is now considering the appeal in the light of all the evidence submitted, including that adduced at the hearing. The person concerned will be notified of the Appeals Officer decision when the appeal has been determined.

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.

Employment Support Services

Questions (439)

Jim Daly

Question:

439. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a schedule for the roll-out of Intreo offices across west Cork in view of the fact that employment service clinics only operate for five hours per month in towns such as Dunmanway, Bandon and Kinsale; if she will confirm the locations of these offices and the areas they will cover; if these offices will report operations directly to her Department or will this function be contracted out in areas where no main departmental office is located; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27459/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Pathways to Work document states that the introduction of the new Intreo service is a multi-annual project with all Department local offices upgraded to full Intreo offices by the end of 2014.

The delivery of the Intreo service comprises a number of elements. The main elements being:

(i) the integration of the various welfare decision making processes to speed up decision making and minimise recourse to supplementary welfare payments;

(ii) the implementation of a systematic activation process based on profiling of clients; and

(iii) the delivery of a ‘one-stop-shop’ service from an integrated office location.

The first ten Intreo offices, with all elements in place, went live in 2012. These first ten offices were Sligo, Arklow, Tallaght, Kings Inns, Ballymun, Buncrana, Coolock, Dundalk, Finglas and Killarney.

A further two Intreo offices have now opened in Newcastlewest and Blanchardstown. It is intended to have the full service available from a total of approximately 40 offices this year and to complete the full roll-out of all service elements to all 63 offices of the Department in 2014. As part of this process it is intended to complete the roll-out of elements (i) and (ii) above to all offices during 2013. Element (iii) requires infrastructural works in many office locations and therefore has a longer timeline.

Currently activation clinics are held twice a week in Bantry, twice a month in Bandon, Clonakilty, Kinsale, Dunmanway and Skibbereen and once a month in Castletownbere. Group engagement sessions for unemployed customers in west Cork are provided once a month in Bantry with subsequent one to one guidance interviews at which unemployed clients identify and agree individual progression plans with a DSP Activation Case Officer. Group engagement will be further rolled out in west Cork in the autumn.

Group talks are also held, when required, normally twice monthly, with unemployed customers who are interested in self-employment, to advise them of the supports available. Again there are follow up one to one meetings with these customers.

The delivery of activation services in west Cork are kept under review to determine the options available with existing resources to deliver the optimum service to the Department’s customers in that area.

Jobseeker's Allowance Payments

Questions (440)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

440. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when arrears due to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare for the month of January 2013 will issue in respect of their jobseeker's allowance payment which has since closed, this person having received a once-off payment in late December 2012 but no other payment up until 5 February 2013, who received no notification that their arrears were available for collection, and who has since visited the CWO in their local office on 18 of April and provided the requested documentation to illustrate they were in the jurisdiction for the time period relating to the outstanding arrears in question; if arrears can now be issued as was indicated would be done by their CWO; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27466/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The person concerned made an application for jobseeker's allowance on 14 December 2012. He applied for supplementary welfare allowance while his jobseeker’s application was being processed. He collected his first supplementary payment on 21 December 2012 but he did not collect the following four payments covering the period 3 January to 30 January 2013.

When the jobseeker’s application was awarded on 30 January 2013 arrears were withheld as the person concerned failed to contact the office to explain why he did not collect the supplementary payments. His jobseeker’s application was closed with effect from 6 February 2013 as he failed to sign.

The person concerned made a fresh application for jobseeker’s allowance on 10 April 2013 and a fresh application for supplementary welfare allowance on 11 April 2013. He did not provide documentation confirming his residency in the country during the month of January. His applications for jobseeker’s allowance and basic supplementary welfare allowance were closed in April and he has not been in touch since then.

A decision regarding payment of arrears of jobseeker’s allowance for the period 3 January to 30 January 2013 cannot be made until the person concerned outlines his reasons for failing to collect the supplementary payments during this period. The local office will contact him again for the details required.

EU Directives

Questions (441)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

441. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection the work her Department is currently undertaking through potential Bills to go through the Houses of the Oireachtas or through statutory instruments, to ensure Ireland is in compliance with the upcoming deadlines for directives from the European Union; the deadline in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27480/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The provisions of EU Directive 2010/41/EU (on the principle of equal treatment between men and women engaged in an activity in a self-employed capacity) require, amongst other things, the provision of social protection and maternity benefit to spouses and civil partners who are not employees or business partners but who participate in the activities of the self-employed worker, performing the same tasks or ancillary tasks.

The deadline for transposition of the Directive was 5 August 2012. However, the Directive allows, in particular circumstances, for an extension of up to 2 years on the period allowed for the implementation of the social insurance provisions. Ireland secured agreement to allow it to avail of this extended period and so the deadline for implementation of this aspect of the Directive is 5 August 2014.

The required provisions will be included in a future social welfare Bill so as to meet the extended deadline for implementation.

Employment Support Services

Questions (442)

Paschal Donohoe

Question:

442. Deputy Paschal Donohoe asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 421 of 28 May 2013, the progress to date on the specific targets that were published in the Government's Pathways to Work strategy (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27491/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Pathways to Work represents the single biggest ever change to how the State engages with, and provides services to, people who are unemployed. It is delivering on the Programme for Government commitment to set up a National Employment and Entitlements Service and involves a multiannual programme of complex legislative, organisation, process, people, and work change running to the end of 2014.

There are five strands to the Pathways approach relating to

1. Engagement with people who are unemployed.

2. The provision of activation places and opportunities

3. Incentivising the take-up of opportunities

4. Working with employers

5. Reforming institutions

We have made good progress on all strands. The Deputy will be aware of the institutional changes arising from the merger of the Community Welfare Service and FÁS employment services with my Department – both of which were transferred on time and within budget at the start of last year. Progress has been made on working with employers through the establishment of an Employer Engagement Unit within my Department. With regard to activation places and opportunities 2012 saw the very successful roll-out of JobBridge and TÚS while Budget 2013 provided for an additional 13,000 places on various employment schemes representing a 30% increase on existing provision. Jobseekers have a stronger incentive to take up these and other employment opportunities by virtue of changes to referral processes, payment arrangements in respect of casual work and the introduction of penalty rates of payment for non-engagement with activation initiatives.

The impact of the Pathways approach is most evident in the more frequent and more intensive manner of our engagement with jobseekers. For example 68,600 clients participated in a group engagement process last year, while over 40,000 clients have benefitted from such engagements already this year. Similarly the Department conducted 158,000 initial one-to-one guidance interviews with jobseekers last year. The target is to complete 185,000 initial interviews in 2013. Significantly under the Intreo model being rolled out across the country, the process of engagement starts immediately when a client registers for a Jobseekers payment and is informed by a personal profile captured in respect of each individual. In the past no such profiles were captured and clients had to wait at least three months before being invited to a Group Engagement. In addition decision times in respect of jobseeker claims are significantly reduced from an average of four weeks under the old method of operation to under a week, and in most cases to no more than 2/3 days, in Intreo offices.

The first twelve Intreo offices are now live and it is intended to convert circa 30 additional offices to full Intreo working by the end of this year and to complete the full roll-out to all 63 offices of the Department in 2014. It is to be noted that key elements of the Intreo model are being rolled-out in advance of the physical modification of offices. Personal profiling is already in place in all offices while individual progression planning and the accelerated integrated decision process will be operational in all offices by the end of this year.

With respect to plans for 2013 I have published a comprehensive set of performance targets, set out on a on a quarter by quarter basis, on the Department’s website www.welfare.ie and will publish performance against these targets starting in July of this year.

Invalidity Pension Waiting Times

Questions (443)

Emmet Stagg

Question:

443. Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in determining an appeal that was lodged in July 2012 regarding the refusal of an invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if an indication will be given as to when the appeal will be determined. [27512/13]

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 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.

Community Employment Schemes Eligibility

Questions (444)

James Bannon

Question:

444. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Longford may not acquire an exemption to continue in his or her role as community employment supervisor of a project in County Longford due to the fact that he or she will reach the age of 66 years in October 2013 and will not be eligible to be funded under her Department beyond that age, despite the fact that this is a very versatile, fit person and a very able-bodied supervisor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27526/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme/intervention designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons (including lone parents, recovering drug misusers and those with a disability) with an opportunity to engage in useful part-time work within their communities on a temporary, fixed-term basis. CE helps unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to a work routine and to assist them to enhance/develop both their technical and personal skills by providing opportunities for individual training and development.

The person concerned will reach the age of 66 years in October 2013 and will qualify for a state pension from this Department. Persons who reach the age of 66 years are required to finish their participation time on CE.