Written Answers Nos. 162 - 173
162. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if the youth guarantee scheme will be considered in provisions for Budget 2014 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31390/13]
View answerSecuring EU Council agreement for an EU Recommendation on a Youth Guarantee was one of the priorities of the Irish Presidency and this was secured during my chairing of the Council of European Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO).
The Recommendation is that Member States should:
Ensure that all young people under the age of 25 years receive a good-quality offer of employment, continued education, an apprenticeship or a traineeship within a period of four months of becoming unemployed or leaving formal education.
While Member States are encouraged to implement the Recommendation as soon as possible, it is recognised that implementation will need to be more gradual in countries with higher levels of youth unemployment and particularly severe budgetary problems. The government will now review the current range of youth employment and training policies in Ireland to assess what measures will need to be taken to commence the gradual implementation of the guarantee. This will include the identification of what would be the appropriate timescale for implementation in Ireland's current employment and budgetary circumstances. A plan for the implementation of the Recommendation will be developed before the end of 2013.
The scale and nature of any additional measures required for the gradual implementation of a guarantee at national level will depend on the trend in youth unemployment, and in particular the number of young people likely to experience periods of unemployment of more than four months under current policies. In this context, it is a welcome development that the official labour market figures published by the CSO recently indicated that the number of young unemployed in the first quarter of 2013, at 53,800, decreased by over 10,000 on the same time a year earlier. It is to be hoped that this is the beginning of a sustained downward movement in youth unemployment as the economy recovers. Even so, the implementation of a guarantee will, almost certainly, require an expansion in the range of opportunities currently on offer to young people in the form of further education and training, internships, subsidised private-sector recruitment, and supports for self-employment.
The additional costs involved in delivering the Youth Guarantee in Ireland are likely to be substantial. Issues will therefore arise as to how a guarantee is to be financed and over what period, given the fiscal constraints currently facing the country. In this context the additional funding available from the EU, to be allocated across qualifying member states is actually €3bn. The balance of €3bn is a reallocation of monies from within the European Social Fund. Although it is now proposed to frontload the provision of these funds the actual process by which they will be allocated to member states is is as yet unclear.
As part of the process of developing our own national implementation plan the costs of any measures involved arising in 2014 will be dealt with in the normal way through the 2014 Budget.
163. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a social welfare appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath in relation to the disallowance of a claim for disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31413/13]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of the Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by the Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new facts.
As additional evidence has been submitted, the Department has been requested to return the file to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. On receipt of this file, the Appeals Officer will review the case. The person concerned will be contacted when the review of his appeal has been finalised.
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.
164. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a social welfare appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath in relation to the disallowance of a claim for domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31414/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 30th 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. 165 withdrawn.
166. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an appeal for a jobseeker's allowance payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare in view of the fact that they are in urgent need of the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31421/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 24th June 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. When these are received in the Appeals Office 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.
167. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a domiciliary allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31446/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 11th June 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. When these are received in the Appeals Office 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.
168. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on a carer's allowance review will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31448/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 27th 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.
169. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will receive a payment for the designation of their bog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31188/13]
View answerThe individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question has applied for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme, administered by my Department.
I am advised that issues in relation to legal title over the land in question have been investigated and payments have been made to the applicant in respect of 2011, 2012 and 2013.
170. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of staff in his Department who availed of term time in 2012; the average duration of such in 2012; the number that will do so in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31200/13]
View answerIn 2012, a total of 29 members of staff in my Department availed of unpaid leave under the terms of the Shorter Working Year, formerly referred to as Term Time. The average duration of leave taken was 5.34 weeks, and a total of 155 weeks were taken. 35 members of staff have applied to take leave under this scheme in 2013 for a sum total of 192 weeks’ leave, with an average duration of 5.48 weeks per applicant.
171. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of staff in organisations or agencies under the aegis of his Department who availed of term time in 2012; the average duration of such in 2012; the number that will do so in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31216/13]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that the matters referred to are a day-to-day matter for the management of the organisations concerned in which neither I nor my Department have any role or function. The Deputy may wish to contact the bodies concerned directly.
172. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of staff in his Department who availed of study or training leave in 2012; the average duration of such leave; if all staff availing of this leave received full pay and benefits during the time; the number that will do so in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31232/13]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy in relation to the granting of study leave in my Department in accordance with Civil Service guidelines as set out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is set out in the following table.
|
Year |
Number of paid leave days |
Number of staff |
Average Duration |
|
2012 |
117 |
17 |
7 days |
|
2013 (to date) |
70 |
11 |
6.5 days |
Additional unpaid study leave of 5 days was permitted in one instance in 2012. In relation to the Deputy's query regarding training leave, I would advise the Deputy that attendance at work related training is an integral part of the work of staff and that the issue of leave does not arise in relation to such activities.
173. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of staff in organisations or agencies under the aegis of his Department who availed of study or training leave in 2012; the average duration of such leave; if all staff availing of this leave received full pay and benefits during the time; the number that will do so in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31248/13]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that the matters referred to are a day-to-day matter for the management of the organisations concerned in which neither I nor my Department have any role or function. The Deputy may wish to contact the bodies concerned directly.
