Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013

Written Answers Nos. 199-216

One-Parent Family Payment Eligibility

Questions (201, 203)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

201. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide the weekly loss of income that will be experienced by a lone-parent family with one child in part-time employment and in receipt of the one-parent family payment and family income supplement when eligibility for the one-parent family payment ceases due to the age of the child at the following net weekly earnings levels, €200, €300, €400 or €500 in 2013, 2014 and 2015. [28679/13]

Pearse Doherty

Question:

203. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale for requiring former recipients of the one-parent family payment who become entitled to the proposed jobseeker's allowance transition payment to continue to parent alone while in receipt of the jobseeker's payment. [28733/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 203 together.

Some OFP customers are presently in receipt of both the one-parent family payment (OFP) and the family income supplement (FIS) and will experience a loss when they lose their entitlement to the OFP payment from July, 2013, onwards. An integral part of the FIS scheme is that once the level of payment is determined, it continues to be payable at that rate for a period of 52 weeks, provided that the person remains in full-time employment and the rate of payment will not change if there is an increase or decrease in the recipient's income. In line with this policy, the current Social Welfare legislation generally precludes changing the FIS rate within the 52 week payment period. However, as an exceptional measure, it is proposed to introduce regulations shortly to enable entitlement to FIS to be reviewed during the 52 week period, commencing from July 2013, so that former OFP recipients in receipt of FIS will have it increased in light of the termination of their OFP due to the age of the youngest child. The FIS payment may be increased to compensate for 60% of the loss of the OFP payment.

The following table provides indicative examples of a lone parent, with one child, and with net earnings of €200, €300, €400 per week, who will be transitioning to the FIS scheme after their entitlement to the OFP payment ceases. There is a maximum earnings threshold of €425 for receipt of OFP so for a lone parent earning €500 per week, OFP is not payable.

-	Net earnings	OFP	FIS	Total OFP income (earnings plus OFP and FIS)	Total loss
Payment with OFP	€200.00	€180.30	€75.42	€455.72
Payment without OFP and with FIS  re-rated	€200.00	€0.00	€183.60	€383.60	€72.12

Payment with OFP	€300.00	€130.30	€45.42	€475.72
Payment without OFP and with FIS  re-rated	€300.00	€0.00	€123.60	€423.60	€52.12

Payment with OFP	€400.00	€80.30	€15.42	€495.72
Payment without OFP and with FIS  re-rated	€400.00	€0.00	€63.60	€463.60	€32.12

Please not that the earnings threshold allowed for receipt of OFPT is €425 and so in this case OFP would not have been payable

Payment with OFP	€500.00	€0.00	€3.60	€503.60
Payment without OFP and with FIS  re-rated	€500.00	€0.00	€3.60	€503.60	€0.00

The jobseeker's allowance transitional arrangement, I am introducing in the Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous) Bill 2013, will be available to former OFP recipients who continue to be parenting alone and who have a youngest child aged under 14 years. The arrangement exempts these customers from the jobseeker's allowance (JA) conditionality that requires them to be available for and genuinely seeking full-time work. I am introducing these arrangements in recognition of the difficulties that these lone parents may face in balancing their caring responsibilities towards their young children with the eligibility requirements of the JA scheme. These arrangements only extend to those continuing to parent alone. Should a former OFP recipient no longer be parenting alone then there would be no rationale for them to benefit from the exemptions to the JA conditionality. In these circumstances they would be treated the same as any other parent, who is in receipt of JA and who is required to meet the full JA conditionality.

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Questions (202)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

202. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the appeal for invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Meath. [28724/13]

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 30 May 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.

Question No. 203 answered with Question No. 201.

Family Income Supplement Eligibility

Questions (204)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

204. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection what the impact on child poverty would be if there was full take up of family income supplement, as it is estimated that this payment is only claimed by 40% of those currently eligible. [28734/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton)

The family income supplement (FIS) is designed to provide income for employees on low earnings with families. This preserves the incentive to remain in employment in circumstances where the employee might only be marginally better off than if he or she were unemployed and claiming other social welfare payments. The Revised Estimates for my Department provide for expenditure on FIS of almost €230 million in 2013. There are currently 40,593 families benefiting from the FIS scheme. Data on those who potentially qualify for FIS but who do not claim is not available from administrative data sources. In recent years, there has been a growth in the FIS claim load although it is not apparent whether this reflects better take-up or other factors. The Department continues to improve available information about the FIS payment and a comprehensive and easy to understand information booklet and application form are readily available on the Department’s website. In the past, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has produced estimates based on household income surveys that suggest relatively low take-up of FIS among potentially eligible households but these estimates have not been recently updated.

Questions Nos. 205 and 206 answered with Question No. 193.

Rent Supplement Scheme Applications

Questions (207)

Jack Wall

Question:

207. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare is due back money on their rent supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28737/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The person concerned made a rent supplement application on the 12 September 2012. The person concerned was awarded rent supplement in accordance with their Housing Needs Assessment from Athy Town Council which was dated the 29 August 2012. The entitlement has been paid in full.

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Questions (208)

Seán Fleming

Question:

208. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection when an appeal for carer's allowance will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28743/13]

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 10 April 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 appeal in question 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.

Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility

Questions (209)

Finian McGrath

Question:

209. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons in receipt of jobseeker's allowance and jobseeker's benefit are allowed attend start your own business courses without loss of allowance or benefit for the days they attend such course; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28744/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Recipients of jobseeker payments are encouraged to avail of all reasonable efforts to gain employment or self-employment and, in most cases, such efforts would not affect their entitlement to jobseeker’s benefit or allowance, as appropriate. However, the situation can vary and there are circumstances where a jobseeker payment may be affected. For instance, a course may be either full-time or part-time, and there may be a training allowance payable. If the Deputy has a specific case in mind and wishes to advise me of the particular circumstances, I would be pleased to make enquiries and furnish him with a detailed reply.

International Agreements

Questions (210)

Paschal Donohoe

Question:

210. Deputy Paschal Donohoe asked the Minister for Social Protection if Ireland has a social security agreement in place with Serbia; should one be in place, if an Irish citizen in receipt of disability allowance here would be able to receive a similar assistance payment in Serbia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28746/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Ireland does not have a bilateral agreement with Serbia and none is planned. There is an EU Stabilisation and Association agreement with Serbia in place which covers, amongst other things, cooperation in matters of social security. However, the social security provisions are not yet in force and a decision of the EU Stabilisation and Association Council would be needed to put this aspect of the agreement into operation. International agreements on social security, including the agreement mentioned above, generally deal with issues relating to long-term contributory payments such as invalidity and old age pensions. Non-contributory payments are not usually dealt with in such agreements and are provided in accordance with domestic legislation only and are not exportable. Accordingly, an Irish citizen living in Serbia would need to satisfy the legislation of that country in order to receive any payment similar to disability allowance there.

Social Insurance Rates

Questions (211)

Patrick Nulty

Question:

211. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a table with a breakdown of the amount of additional money that would be raised in a year for the Social Insurance Fund if a new band of employer's PRSI was introduced on weekly income exceeding €1,923 at the rate of 18%; if a new rate of employer's PRSI was introduced on weekly income exceeding €1,635 at the rate of 18%; if a new rate of employer's PRSI was introduced on weekly income exceeding €1,346 at the rate of 18%; if a new rate of employer's PRSI was introduced on weekly income exceeding €1,058 at the rate of 18%; if a new rate of employer's PRSI was introduced on weekly income exceeding €769 at the rate of 18%; if a new rate of employer's PRSI was introduced on weekly income exceeding €481 at the rate of 18%; and if a new rate of employer's PRSI was introduced on all weekly income at the rate of 18%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28757/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The information requested by the Deputy is not available at present. When the information becomes available, my Department will furnish it to the Deputy directly.

Farm Assist Scheme Payments

Questions (212)

Joe McHugh

Question:

212. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on her Department's consideration of concerns regarding changes to farm assist payments that have been conveyed to her Department in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28761/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The farm assist scheme is based on jobseeker’s allowance. It was introduced in 1999 to replace Smallholders Unemployment Assistance’for low income farmers, without the requirement to be available for and genuinely seeking work. Farm assist recipients retain all the advantages of the jobseeker's allowance scheme such as retention of secondary benefits and access to activation programmes. In Budget 2013 two measures were announced, which were implemented in April 2013, which bring the farm assist scheme into closer alignment with the jobseeker's allowance scheme’s treatment of self-employed persons by increasing the amount of means from self-employment, which is assessed against the claimant from 85% to 100%; and by discontinuing the means testing disregards for child dependents of claimants.

Farm assist is a flexible payment and any farmer experiencing lower levels of income or cash-flow issues, due for example to bad weather, can ask his/her local social welfare or Intreo office to review the level of means applying to his/her claim. The assessment of means for the purpose of qualifying for farm assist is designed to reflect the actual net income and looks at gross income, less any expenses necessarily incurred, from farming. Income and expenditure figures for the preceding year are generally used as an indicator of the expected position in the following year. However, account is taken of any exceptional circumstances so as to ensure that the assessment accurately reflects the current situation.

I met with a delegation from the Irish Farmers Association on 15 May 2013 to discuss a range of issues, including difficulties arising as a result of fodder shortages and the operation of the farm assist scheme generally. Arising from that meeting officials from the Department have held further discussions with the Irish Farmers Association and further contacts are planned.

Any changes to the scheme would be a matter for Government to consider in a budgetary context.

Rent Supplement Scheme Administration

Questions (213)

Patrick Nulty

Question:

213. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Social Protection when the new increased rent supplement limits covering the Fingal area, Dublin, will come into force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28768/13]

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 85,000 recipients of rent supplement for which the Government has provided over €403 million in 2013. The Department recently completed a review of the maximum rent limits under the rent supplement scheme to establish new limits in line with the most up to date data available. This review continues the previous rent limit reviews' emphasis, to ensure that value for money is achieved whilst at the same time ensuring that people on rent supplement are not priced out of the market for private rented accommodation. The revised maximum rent limits, including those for the Fingal area, came into force on Monday 17 June 2013 and will remain in place until 31 December 2014.

Public Relations Contracts Expenditure

Questions (214)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

214. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will detail in tabular form, the names of all external public relations, communications consultants and organisations used by her Department since 9 March 2011; the details of the services supplied by each; the expenditure on each; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28817/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Department's press office deals with all media queries and public relations matters. No money has been spent by my Department on public relations consultancy during the period in question. Services were supplied by four companies during the development of the new corporate identity for Intreo, the new service provided by the Department which integrates employment and benefits payments. A particular effort was made to keep costs down during the development of the new identity, through procuring services via public tender from various suppliers to ensure cost effectiveness. The initial work on the development of the identity and new name and logo of the new service was carried out by Creative Inc. Following a separate tender, work on the implementation of the new name and identity in the Department’s offices was carried out by Language Ltd. Photographic images for Intreo were also procured from iStock and Getty Images. The services supplied by all four companies came to a total of €56,187.93, inclusive of VAT. Separately, following a procurement process, Carr Communications provided communications training in 2012 to senior managers and officials in the Department who speak at public fora and engage with the media. The total cost inclusive of VAT was €5,150.00.

Community Work Initiatives

Questions (215)

Eoghan Murphy

Question:

215. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is considering giving an exemption to professional actors from the Tús initiative (details supplied). [28828/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Tús, the community work placement initiative introduced during 2011, was set up to provide up to 5,000 short-term, quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. Since its inception, some 10,250 people have been provided with work with 5,483 currently working on Tús. Tús was expanded in the last budget to enable an additional 2,500 per annum to participate. A person cannot apply to participate on Tús. All selection is undertaken by random processes conducted at local level by the Department of Social Protection. The selection is focused on those on the Live Register for a year or more and in receipt of a jobseeker's payment who have more limited job or work placement opportunities. Participants are encouraged and facilitated to engage in work, while participating on Tús with a range of flexibilities allowed within the contract to work 19 and a half hours per week. If a participant receives an offer of work for a short period then they are allowed to temporarily leave Tús and return at a later date to complete their full 52 week placement. Participants can terminate their engagement on Tús at any time to take up full-time work as long as they do not seek to return to the live register. Casual workers, including professional actors, who apply for or receive some level of jobseekers payment are generally not selected for participation on Tús.

My understanding of the particular circumstances of the jobseeker that the Deputy has enquired about is that the he has not been designated as a casual worker by the Department given the limited amount of acting he has undertaken in recent years and therefore qualifies for selection for Tús.

Question No. 216 withdrawn.