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Tuesday, 9 Jul 2013

Written Answers Nos. 1 - 82

Child Benefit Rates

Questions (64, 96)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

64. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will guarantee the current rates of child benefit as a universal payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33251/13]

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Michael Moynihan

Question:

96. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an assurance to Dáil Éireann that there will be no reduction in child benefit rates in the forthcoming budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33227/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 96 together.

Child benefit is a universal payment that assists parents with the cost of raising children and contributes towards alleviating child poverty. The estimated expenditure on child benefit in 2013 is around €1.9 billion and it is currently paid to around 613,000 families in respect of some 1.17 million children. The Government is conscious that child benefit, as a universal payment, is an important source of income for all families. Since becoming Minister for Social Protection, I have strongly defended the universality of child benefit because the State values every child and supports families. The fact that every family receives child benefit, regardless of their employment status, also ensures that there is not a disincentive to work. Any changes to the child benefit payment rate will be a matter for Government, to be considered as part of the annual budget and estimates process and I am not in a position to comment further at this time.

In addition to child benefit, the social protection system also provides assistance to low income families with children through the payment of qualified child increases on primary social welfare payments and through the family income supplement payment. Both of these provide a level of assistance which is directly or indirectly linked with a household’s income situation. In the interest of achieving a better design of the overall system of child income supports, I established an Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare, which has been tasked with recommending cost-effective solutions as to how employment disincentives can be improved and better poverty outcomes achieved, particularly child poverty outcomes.

The Advisory Group prioritised the area of family and child income supports and its report on this issue was published in February. It is the Government’s intention that the report will now contribute to the policy debate. Given the range of complex issues involved, including fiscal, operational and legal considerations, as well as the implications for reforms in terms of child poverty and employment incentive outcomes, the Government has made no decision at this time on the core recommendations of the report. In considering the proposals to reform the structure of child and family income support payments, Government will also take into account further work by the Advisory Group on the issue of social protection and taxation supports for working age persons and more general developments in the budgetary and fiscal situation.

Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility

Questions (65)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

65. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will look at the case of a person (details supplied) who is three years homeless and seven months pregnant with one daughter in school in Bray and who is unable to find any accommodation within the rent allowance caps; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33191/13]

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Written answers

No application for rent supplement has been received in respect of the person concerned. All claims are assessed on a case by case basis. The Department will be in a position to assess whether the client has an entitlement to a higher rent limit when an application has been received regarding same. An application can be sent to the Wicklow Rents Unit, PO Box 11758, Dublin 24.

Social Welfare Fraud Cost

Questions (66)

Michael Colreavy

Question:

66. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of prosecutions taken for fraud against her Department; the cost of taking the cases and the full sum of moneys recovered for each of the past five years. [33267/13]

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Written answers

The following table outlines the numbers of cases referred to the Chief State Solicitor’s Office (CSSO) for consideration of criminal prosecution under social welfare legislation for the years 2008 to 2012. It also outlines the numbers referred to An Garda Siochána for consideration of prosecution under criminal justice legislation.

Cases referred for Legal Proceedings

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Criminal Cases

354

301

209

207

158

Cases referred to Gardaí

26

42

132

174

84

Total

380

343

341

381

242

Criminal prosecutions are taken against persons who defraud the social welfare system and employers who fail to carry out their statutory obligations. They are taken either by summary proceedings in the District Court or indictment proceedings in the Circuit Court. In addition, in cases where serious cases of identity fraud or multiple claiming occur, these are generally referred to the Gardaí for prosecution under criminal justice legislation. The legal costs are not borne by this Department and, therefore, that information is not readily available.

The Department ensures that cases that merit prosecution are forwarded for consideration of legal proceedings and that all necessary evidential proofs are available. In considering cases of social welfare fraud for legal proceedings, the Department applies defined and recognised best practice standards. While criminal prosecutions are taken with a view to securing a conviction for the offences, the recovery of the overpayment in these cases is a separate issue. However, the monies that are recovered in cases prosecuted are not tracked individually. A social welfare overpayment will remain on a person’s record until fully recovered. This will result in a reduction of all future entitlements up to and including pension. Following the death of a customer owing a debt to the Department, the Department will have a claim on any estate remaining.

Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility

Questions (67)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

67. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if there can be some leeway in the rent caps in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33192/13]

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Written answers

No application for rent supplement for new accommodation has been received in my Department from the person concerned. Any new application would have to be considered in the context of the person’s ability to meet the qualifying conditions for rent supplement and the revised maximum rent limits which came into effect on 17 June 2013.

Unfair Dismissals

Questions (68)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

68. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason no attempt has been made to recover from employers the full sum of social welfare appeals or other social protection payments paid to employees who are found to have been wrongfully dismissed by the Labour Court. [33262/13]

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Written answers

Under the Unfair Dismissals Acts 1977 to 2007 a person may take a case to the Rights Commissioner Service or to the Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) if they feel they have been unfairly dismissed from employment. Where the case is upheld an award may be made against the employer in accordance with the penalties set out in that legislation. The unfair dismissals legislation falls under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. However, I understand it provides for social welfare payments received after their dismissal to be disregarded in calculating the person’s financial loss. Therefore, the person is not penalised for having been in receipt of a social welfare payment following their dismissal. The purpose of the insolvency payments scheme is to protect certain outstanding pay-related entitlements due to employees where their employer is insolvent in line with the legislation governing the scheme. These include wages, holiday pay, and various statutory awards made by the EAT and the Rights Commissioners, including awards under the unfair dismissals legislation. The Minister becomes a preferential creditor with regard to payments made under the scheme.

Generally, where the employer is continuing to trade, the Department would not be aware, and would have no reason to be aware, that a person had received an award under the Unfair Dismissals Acts. Therefore, it would not be possible for the Department to recoup social welfare payments from the employer. In addition, to do so could be inequitable, it would likely be administratively complex and it may have implications for the unfair dismissals process as a whole. Consideration of such issues would be a matter for my colleague the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in the first instance.

State Pensions Reform

Questions (69)

Sandra McLellan

Question:

69. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Social Protection when she plans to double the rate of the State pension which she has recently been quoted as proposing. [33258/13]

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Written answers

The sustainability of State pension into the future is vital given the changing demographics, the increased numbers of those over 65 and increased longevity and reduced dependency ratio. Sustainable public finances are a prerequisite for future economic stability and growth, as well as being a prerequisite for maintaining and developing our social protection system. The Government’s priority is to secure economic recovery, promote growth and employment. To this end, the State must pursue a determined deficit reduction strategy. Accordingly, there will be an on-going requirement to curtail expenditure in 2013 and in later years.

There are, therefore, considerable challenges ahead including the need to protect, as far as possible, the key income supports and services operated by my Department. These services and supports impact in some way on the lives of almost every single person in the State. The scope and scale of this expenditure plays a key role in the wider economy and helps to partially offset the effect of the downturn.

In relation to the forthcoming Budget, the Deputy will be aware that the Expenditure Report 2013 published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform last December provides for additional new expenditure reduction measures of €440 million to be achieved in 2014 in the Department of Social Protection budget. The Government have not made any decisions in relation to measures to be introduced in budget 2014. The Government will finalise its consideration of the Budget in the coming months having regard to all of its commitments, including the commitment in the Programme for Government to maintain welfare rates. The outcome of this process will be announced on Budget Day. Any plans to change State pension will be a matter to be decided in a budgetary context and announced on Budget day.

Youth Unemployment Measures

Questions (70)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

70. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection her priorities for areas within her Department which she will be recommending for no further cuts in budget 2014; and her views on her Department's plans to enhance work activation schemes for young unemployed persons here following the agreement reached on the Youth Guarantee scheme at European level. [33208/13]

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Written answers

The Government have not made any decisions in relation to measures to be introduced in Budget 2014. The Government will finalise its consideration of the Budget in the coming months having regard to all of its commitments, including the commitment in the Programme for Government to maintain core welfare rates. The outcome of this process will be announced on Budget Day.

Youth unemployment continues to present a major challenge for Ireland as it does for most Member States. Recognising the urgency required in tackling the challenge of youth joblessness, the EPSCO Council quickly agreed on the Recommendation on a Youth Guarantee in February. The Government and the Department were at the forefront of securing agreement on the adoption of the EU Council Recommendation on the Youth Guarantee. 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 .

As part of the European Council agreement on the 2014 – 2020 EU Budget in February, it was decided, in association with the agreement on the Youth Guarantee, to provide €6 billion for a new Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) for regions with particularly high levels of youth unemployment. This funding will consist of €3 billion from the European Social Fund and an additional €3 billion from a new Youth Employment budget line. Proposals supported by the Irish Presidency that payments of the Youth Employment Initiative be front-loaded and all monies provided for this purpose be used in 2014 and 2015 were approved by the European Council last month. In addition, the European Council President, Herman Van Rompuy intimated in the final days of the Irish Presidency that a further €2 billion may be available, arising from proposed changes to the EU’s Multiannual Finance Framework.

It is recognised, both in the Youth Guarantee Recommendation itself and more generally, that the pace of implementation must take account of the scale of the youth unemployment and inactivity challenge and consider the fiscal capacity of each Member State. At the same time, Member States should take all possible measures to ensure that the Recommendation is swiftly implemented. For our own part, the Government will now review the current range of youth employment policies in Ireland to assess what measures will need to be taken to commence the implementation of the Guarantee. It is intended to produce a concrete plan for the implementation of the Guarantee before the end of 2013. The Government intends to work with all relevant stakeholders to maximise the impact of a Youth Guarantee in Ireland.

The scale and nature of any additional measures required for the 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. While recent trends have been positive in this regard, 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. In terms of a starting point to implementation, we sought funding from the European Commission (€250,000) for a proposed pilot Youth Guarantee project in the Ballymun area. I am pleased to say that our submission was one of those approved by the commission for funding and I expect that the Ballymun project will commence later this year.

Farm Assist Scheme Eligibility

Questions (71, 74, 107)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

71. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to review current qualifying criteria for farm assist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32895/13]

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Joe McHugh

Question:

74. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will acknowledge the importance of farm assist as a dependency support for many farm families in rural Ireland; if she will commit to fully reviewing the scheme ahead of budget 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32897/13]

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Joe McHugh

Question:

107. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the farm assist scheme; if she will acknowledge its importance as a dependency support for many farm families in rural Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32898/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 71, 74 and 107 together.

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. Farm assist is a flexible payment and any farmer experiencing lower levels of income or cash-flow issues can ask his-her local social welfare-Intreo office to examine 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. In the case of new entrants or persons changing from one type of farming to another the assessment looks at all expected annual income and is based on normal output and costs appropriate to normal stock levels, capacity, and market trends.

I met with a delegation from the Irish Farmers Association in 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. Subsequent to that meeting my officials have held further discussions with the Irish Farmers Association and the operation of the scheme is under on-going consideration. Any changes to the scheme would be a matter for Government to consider in a budgetary context.

Youth Guarantee

Questions (72)

Timmy Dooley

Question:

72. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Social Protection the total amount of funding allocated from the European Union for the youth guarantee scheme here; her views on the adequacy of this funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33215/13]

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Written answers

As part of the European Council agreement on the 2014 – 2020 EU Budget in February, it was decided, in association with the agreement on the Youth Guarantee, to provide €6 billion for a new Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) for regions with particularly high levels of youth unemployment. This funding will consist of €3 billion from the European Social Fund and an additional €3 billion from a new Youth Employment budget line. Proposals supported by the Irish Presidency that payments of the Youth Employment Initiative be front-loaded and all monies provided for this purpose be used in 2014 and 2015 were approved by the European Council last month. In addition, the European Council President, Herman Van Rompuy intimated in the final days of the Irish Presidency that a further €2 billion may be available, arising from proposed changes to the EU’s Multiannual Finance Framework.

It is recognised, both in the Youth Guarantee Recommendation itself and more generally, that the pace of implementation must take account of the scale of the youth unemployment and inactivity challenge and consider the fiscal capacity of each Member State. At the same time, Member States should take all possible measures to ensure that the Recommendation is swiftly implemented. For our own part, the Government will now review the current range of youth employment policies in Ireland to assess what measures will need to be taken to commence the implementation of the Guarantee. It is intended to produce a concrete plan for the implementation of the Guarantee before the end of 2013. The Government intends to work with all relevant stakeholders to maximise the impact of a Youth Guarantee in Ireland.

The scale and nature of any additional measures required for the 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. While recent trends have been positive in this regard, 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.

Development of an implementation plan will include identification of the costs of implementation, and how it is envisaged that these will be met, how much can be provided from domestic sources, and what is the likely requirement from EU funds, e.g. ESF and YEI. The amount that would be required for Ireland will only become clear when the implementation plans are drawn up. The precise amount that will be available to Ireland from the EU funds is also as yet unclear. Hence, it is not currently possible to comment on the adequacy or otherwise of the funding that will be available. In terms of a starting point to implementation, we sought funding from the European Commission (€250,000) for a proposed pilot Youth Guarantee project in the Ballymun area. I am pleased to say that our submission was one of those approved by the commission for funding and I expect that the Ballymun project will commence later this year.

Social Welfare Offices

Questions (73)

Derek Keating

Question:

73. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider opening a temporary social welfare office in the Lucan area, County Dublin, until an adequate premises is located by the Office of Public Works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32896/13]

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Written answers

The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for the acquisition of all accommodation requirements for the Department. The Department has identified the need for a new office to serve the Lucan-Adamstown area and the Office of Public Works is committed to providing a new Intreo Office in this area during 2014. Given the time required to secure new leases and the expenditure involved, it is not considered appropriate to open a temporary Social Welfare Local Office at this time.

Question No. 74 answered with Question No. 71.

Pension Provisions

Questions (75)

Timmy Dooley

Question:

75. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is concerned at the failure by a number of companies to submit to the Pensions Board plans for the way they intend to return their defined benefit pension schemes to surplus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33240/13]

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Written answers

The Funding Standard, which monitors the funding level of defined benefit pension schemes, was re-introduced in June 2012 and pension schemes were required to submit funding proposals to the Pensions Board by end June 2013. The Funding Standard had been in abeyance following the financial downturn in 2008, until June 2012. Many administrative and legislative measures were introduced during that period to assist the sustainability of defined benefit pension schemes.

The majority of schemes either already have a current actuarial funding certificate with the Pensions Board, in which case they do not have to submit a funding proposal, or they have submitted funding proposals. Of those have not met the deadline of 30 June, a number have been in contact with the Pensions Board with a view to submitting proposals very shortly. The Board will, in the coming days, be formally contacting schemes that have not submitted plans to ascertain their particular circumstances. The Board will decide what steps to take, scheme by scheme, on a measured basis and taking account of the individual scheme circumstances. However, it must be emphasised that trustees must meet their legal obligations, and ultimately the Pensions Board will use its regulatory powers where benefit underfunding is not properly addressed.

Illness Benefit Reform

Questions (76)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

76. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the application documentation which is necessary to apply for illness-related social welfare benefits which has been found to be badly designed in so far as it frequently does not provide clear instruction and space for medical professionals to include critical information; if she has evidence which demonstrates that insufficiently filled out forms lead to a high number of initial rejections and that this represents a serious barrier to genuinely-deserving individuals and increases administration costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33204/13]

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Written answers

The key principles underpinning the design of the Department’s application forms are the use of clear and simple language, with consistent layout and presentation across both online and paper forms. All primary application forms are designed to facilitate the use of scanning and automated processing. This ensures that the application is processed as efficiently as possible and that customers receive their entitlement in a timely manner. Primary application forms are regularly reviewed, including those parts of forms that relate to the provision of medical evidence, to ensure they request only the information required to establish the customer’s entitlement, in a clear and easy to understand manner. A key aspect of this review is customer feedback and a number of channels are used for this including consultative fora, customer panels and a formal complaints process.

In support of their application for medical based schemes, customers are advised to submit all medical evidence they have in support of their claim. The disability and illness related schemes require that all available medical evidence is assessed by the Department’s Medical Assessors (MAs) and this, together with other qualifying criteria such as means testing, qualifying contributions, etc. are taken into account in assessing claims. In addition to application forms which are completed by trained medical professionals (GPs), all applicants are encouraged to provide as much additional information in support of their case as they wish, in the form of additional papers, medical reports, test results, scans, X-rays, etc. All medical evidence submitted is considered by the Department’s MAs as part of their assessment.

I am satisfied that the initiatives underway in the Department, the improvements in processes and procedures supported by the redesign of application forms, and the Department’s use of modern technology will continue to deliver an improved and efficient service to customers. Any specific suggestions to improve forms would be welcomed and considered in future subsequent design reviews.

Departmental Budgets

Questions (77)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

77. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is satisfied regarding the availability to her Department of the necessary resources to meet the widest possible scale of eventualities arising from the ongoing economic situation which she inherited, with particular reference to the need to meet the needs of all categories of persons now dependent on a payment from her Department with particular reference to incentives to address issues such as youth unemployment, disability/invalidity payments/entitlements and/or upskilling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33189/13]

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Written answers

The Estimates for the Department of Social Protection as published in the 2013 Revised Estimates (REV) provides for expenditure of €20.243 billion on schemes, services and administration in 2013. The Estimates are based, in the main, on an analysis of trends as regards likely numbers of recipients and average value of payments in 2013. Actual trends on individual schemes are being closely monitored on an ongoing basis and overall expenditure is very close to target at the end of June. Decisions about the adequacy of resources available to the Department in 2014 will be taken in the overall budgetary context.

The Deputy will be aware that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's Expenditure Report 2013 published last December provides for additional new expenditure reduction measures of €440 million to be achieved in 2014 in the Department of Social Protection. Reducing overall expenditure in 2014 in line with this target will be very challenging. The Government will be giving detailed consideration to the formulation and composition of its overall budget package and future expenditure ceilings over the coming months, including measures relating to this Department.

Social Welfare Offices

Questions (78)

Martin Ferris

Question:

78. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Social Protection when the Thomas Street, Dublin 8, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10 and the Bishop's Square social protection offices will be upgraded to Intreo offices; the additional staff training required to facilitate the change; and the progress being made to achieve the required upskilling. [33263/13]

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Written answers

The Office of Public Works is responsible for the provision of the Department’s property requirements, including refurbishment and fit out works. The Intreo roll-out for upgrading accommodation operates on a rolling programme and is heavily weighted towards a significant number of offices completed by the end 2013 and the remainder throughout 2014. Preparations are underway in Ballyfermot and Bishop’s Square and it is expected that these offices will be completed by the end 2013 and during 2014 respectively.

The Department expects to relinquish the lease of the Thomas Street premises and earlier this year the Office of Public Works sought expressions of interest from landlords and their agents for a new premises to service the customers of that office. A number of options have been explored and negotiations have commenced. Given that this is new accommodation and given the scale of the project it is expected to be delivered in 2014. With regard to the rollout of Intreo offices I can advise the Deputy that the first twelve Intreo offices are now live and it is intended to convert a further 31 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.

The Intreo roll-out is being supported by a training and development plan for all offices to equip staff and management to deliver this new service. The Department’s centralised training section, Staff Development Unit, works in partnership with a dedicated Intreo Project Team and local management to address identified training needs for each Office in preparation for the provision of the new service to customers. All of the training is being developed and delivered by in-house training resources and, to date, there has been no expenditure on external providers for Intreo-related training. Where additional training is required following the introduction of the new service, this is provided on an on-going basis.

Management and staff are receiving training in a range of areas including decision-making, the habitual residence condition, community welfare service awareness, customer service, change management, non-violent crisis intervention, presentation skills and internal IT systems training. These training programmes range from one half-day session to two weeks in duration. Former FÁS employment service officers, who joined the Department in January 2012, undertook Adult Guidance and Education training at NUI Maynooth as part of their role-specific development. They continue to use these skills in their daily interaction with customers regarding activation into employment or education.

The Department is currently developing a training course for newly-appointed case officers to equip them with the skills necessary to operate in this new role and this may include an external training element. In addition, the Department is beginning a process to review and redesign its functional training programmes, focusing on the business skills required for key frontline roles in the organisation, with a view to preparing these programmes for future accreditation. A Request For Tender will issue in this regard later this year.

Social Welfare Schemes

Questions (79)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

79. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of each social protection scheme; the annual cost of each scheme; and the numbers availing of the payment for each of the past three years. [33270/13]

View answer

Written answers

The information requested by the Deputy is collated by the Department annually for inclusion in the Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services report which is laid before the Dáil when published and copies lodged in the Oireachtas library. Furthermore these reports are available to the public at www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Annual-Statistical-Information-Reports.aspx. I enclose for the Deputy’s convenience a tabular statement detailing the number of persons in receipt of a Social Welfare payment and the annual cost of each scheme at 31 December in each of the years 2010 to 2012. The annual scheme costs for 2012 are provisional, pending auditing by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Expenditure by Scheme 2010 to 2012 (provisional)

Scheme

2010

€000

2011

€000

2012

€000

State Pension (Non-Contributory)

977,293

971,769

963,211

State Pension (Contributory)

3,451,503

3,622,746

3,800,469

State Pension (Transition)

108,194

132,395

146,468

Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving

Civil Partner’s Contributory Pension

1,335,584

1,337,865

1,342,192

Death Benefit Pension

7,778

7,977

7,827

Jobseeker’s Allowance

2,809,381

2,974,987

3,054,741

One-Parent Family Payment

1,110,328

1,088,897

1,057,753

Widow’s, Widower’s, or Surviving

Civil Partner’s Non-Contributory Pension

19,252

18,173

17,670

Deserted Wife’s Allowance

5,020

4,211

3,546

Basic Supplementary Allowance

206,570

174,393

179,437

Farm Assist

110,931

113,724

108,170

Pre-Retirement Allowance

77,850

59,942

46,091

Jobseeker’s Benefit

1,285,438

926,900

735,747

Deserted Wife’s Benefit

93,387

85,828

83,536

Maternity Benefit

323,938

309,141

303,196

Adoptive Benefit

891

1,075

465

Health & Safety Benefit

588

643

518

Back to Education Allowance

179,851

201,519

199,567

Back to Work Allowance / Back to Work Enterprise Allowance

87,960

114,582

127,203

Part-Time Job Incentive Scheme

1,157

1,032

1,370

Community Employment Programme

-

349,396

330,399

Tus-Community Work Placement Scheme

-

11,761

67,055

Rural Social Scheme

-

46,835

45,242

National Internship Scheme-JobBridge

-

7,914

54,739

Disability Allowance

1,109,505

1,089,178

1,087,512

Blind Pension

16,032

15,624

15,747

Carer’s Allowance

501,789

507,193

509,671

Illness Benefit

942,571

875,549

773,224

Injury Benefit

17,884

16,507

15,848

Invalidity Pension

639,994

606,502

603,925

Disablement Pension

78,822

77,460

76,123

Carer’s Benefit

26,288

24,474

24,453

Family Income Supplement

185,998

204,543

223,608

Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory)

4,697

5,134

4,987

Guardian’s Payment (Contributory)

11,462

11,416

10,848

Rent Allowance

804

701

663

Child Benefit

2,213,429

2,076,338

2,046,955

Domiciliary Care Allowance

95,710

99,924

102,237

Recipients by Scheme at 31 December in each of the years 2010 to 2012

Scheme

2010

2011

2012

State Pension (Non-Contributory)

97,179

96,749

96,126

State Pension (Contributory)

280,419

296,995

312,314

State Pension (Transition)

10,206

12,110

14,372

Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving

Civil Partner’s Contributory Pension

114,579

115,762

116,751

Death Benefit Pension

633

628

645

Jobseeker’s Allowance

261,850

283,929

294,442

One-Parent Family Payment

92,326

90,307

87,918

Widow’s, Widower’s, or Surviving

Civil Partner’s Non-Contributory Pension

1,977

1,959

1,860

Deserted Wife’s Allowance

487

409

336

Basic Supplementary Allowance

37,413

34,597

32,358

Farm Assist

10,714

11,333

11,162

Pre-Retirement Allowance

6,021

4,820

3,684

Jobseeker’s Benefit

123,457

96,044

80,291

Deserted Wife’s Benefit

8,372

8,071

7,753

Maternity Benefit

23,456

23,947

22,850

Adoptive Benefit

53

45

14

Health & Safety Benefit

60

61

60

Back to Education Allowance

21,147

24,666

25,033

Back to Work Allowance Employee

851

182

18

Back to Work Enterprise Allowance

7,958

10,751

10,810

Part-Time Job Incentive Scheme

161

180

215

Community Employment Programme

N/A

22,589

22,445

Tus-Community Work Placement Scheme

N/A

2,077

4,530

Rural Social Scheme

N/A

2,537

2,591

Disability Allowance

101,111

102,866

101,784

Blind Pension

1,485

1,496

1,456

Carer’s Allowance

50,577

51,666

52,209

Illness Benefit

81,253

73,397

64,429

Injury Benefit

835

776

671

Invalidity Pension

50,766

49,792

50,053

Disablement Pension

13,721

13,993

14,202

Interim Illness Benefit

374

327

363

Carer’s Benefit

1,642

1,637

1,638

Family Income Supplement

28,223

28,876

32,307

Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory)

429

441

433

Guardian’s Payment (Contributory)

919

955

938

Rent Allowance

179

159

141

Child Benefit

591,432

597,333

608,733

Domiciliary Care Allowance

23,428

24,101

24,699

One-Parent Family Payment Expenditure

Questions (80, 100, 108)

Seán Fleming

Question:

80. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who will be affected by the proposed changes to the lone parent's allowance which will commence on 4 July; the savings she estimates will be made from these changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33216/13]

View answer

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

100. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the activation measures introduced by her, combined with changes to one-parent family payment in the past two years, are having the opposite effect to that intended. [33257/13]

View answer

Michael Colreavy

Question:

108. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Social Protection the full saving-cut made to one-parent family payment recipients for each of the past three budgets. [33266/13]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 80, 100 and 108 together.

There are currently 83,210 people who receive the one-parent family payment (OFP). The cost of the OFP scheme was €1.06 billion in 2012 and is estimated to be €935 million in 2013. In 2013, on foot of the OFP reforms which came into effect on 4 July, it is expected that up to 9,300 recipients will leave the OFP scheme. Up to 8,000 of these will lose entitlement this month. These numbers reflect the maximum number of cases who may lose entitlement in 2013. This reform is expected to yield estimated savings of €3.94m in 2013.

The reforms to the OFP scheme are predicated on activation and on getting customers who may have experienced recurring poverty and social exclusion traps back into the workforce once their children have reached an appropriate age. The Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) figures published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) in February, 2013, show that, in 2011, 16.4% of lone parents in Ireland were experiencing ‘consistent poverty’ – compared to 6.9% of the population as a whole. In order to address these issues, I am introducing reforms to the OFP scheme that aim to ensure better long-term outcomes for lone parents and their families.

It is expected that the majority of those who will lose their entitlement to the OFP payment will apply for the jobseeker’s allowance (JA) scheme. Lone parents who apply for JA and whose youngest child is under 14 years of age can avail of the new JA transition arrangement. The JA transition arrangement is provided for in the Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2013 and is a specific measure for lone parents transitioning from OFP to JA, whose youngest child is under 14 years of age. Customers who avail of this arrangement will be exempt from the JA conditionality that requires them to be available for, and genuinely seeking, full-time work. They will also be exempt from having to prove unemployment and be able to work part-time without restrictions and still receive the JA payment – subject to a means test.

The JA transition arrangement recognises the difficulty of parenting alone and will ease the transition of former OFP recipients with children of primary school age onto the JA scheme. Without it, it is likely that many former OFP recipients would not have qualified for the JA payment as their caring responsibilities may have prevented them from being available for, and genuinely seeking, full-time work. Significantly, the JA transition arrangement will still require that this group of customers fully engage with my Department’s full activation process. This is the same requirement that applies to all other jobseekers.

The OFP reforms are designed to provide the necessary supports to enable lone parents improve their skills and enhance their prospects of progressing into employment. As part of this process lone parents who transition to the jobseeker schemes will have access to the full range of supports and services provided under my Department’s activation service.

The following table outlines the savings, as announced, for budget measures that affected OFP recipients only in Budgets 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Year

Measures

Savings

2011

Reduction in the weekly rates of payment on OFP of €8 to €188 per week

€38.56m

2012

Reduction in the age of the youngest child for payment of OFP, reduction in the earnings dis-regard and cessation of the 6 month transitional payment on OFP

€15.3m

2013

Continued implementation of the 2012 reforms.

€36.97m

OFP recipients may have been affected by other budget measures in the last three years that also affected other social welfare recipients such as changes to the child benefit scheme, fuel allowance etc. These savings are not included in the above table.

Youth Guarantee

Questions (81)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

81. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years of age who have received an offer of employment, continued education, an apprenticeship or a traineeship within a period of four months of becoming unemployed or leaving formal education since the youth guarantee scheme was announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33256/13]

View answer

Written answers

While the Recommendation for an EU-wide Youth Guarantee Scheme was adopted during the Irish Presidency, the implementation of the scheme across the EU has yet to begin. It is recognised, both in the Youth Guarantee Recommendation itself and more generally, that the pace of implementation must take account of the scale of the youth unemployment and inactivity challenge and consider the fiscal capacity of each Member State. At the same time, Member States should take all possible measures to ensure that the Recommendation is swiftly implemented. For our own part, the Government will now review the current range of youth employment policies in Ireland to assess what measures will need to be taken to commence the implementation of the Guarantee. It is intended to produce a concrete plan for the implementation of the Guarantee before the end of 2013.

The Government intends to work with all relevant stakeholders to maximise the impact of a Youth Guarantee in Ireland. The scale and nature of any additional measures required for the 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. Development of an implementation plan will include identification of the costs of implementation, and how it is envisaged that these will be met - how much can be provided from domestic sources, and what is the likely requirement from EU funds, e.g. ESF and YEI. The amount that would be required for Ireland will only become clear when the implementation plans are drawn up.

As part of the European Council agreement on the 2014 – 2020 EU Budget in February, it was decided, in association with the agreement on the Youth Guarantee, to provide €6 billion for a new Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) for regions with particularly high levels of youth unemployment. This funding will consist of €3 billion from the European Social Fund and an additional €3 billion from a new Youth Employment budget line.

Proposals supported by the Irish Presidency that payments of the Youth Employment Initiative be front-loaded and all monies provided for this purpose be used in 2014 and 2015 were approved by the European Council last month. In addition, the European Council President, Herman Van Rompuy intimated in the final days of the Irish Presidency that a further €2 billion may be available, arising from proposed changes to the EU’s Multiannual Finance Framework. The precise amount that will be available to Ireland from the EU funds is also as yet unclear. Until clarity is provided on this issue, the finalisation of any implementation plan will not be possible.

In terms of a starting point to implementation, we sought funding from the European Commission (€250,000) for a proposed pilot Youth Guarantee project in the Ballymun area. I am pleased to say that our submission was one of those approved by the commission for funding and I expect that the Ballymun project will commence later this year.

Social Welfare Code Issues

Questions (82)

Clare Daly

Question:

82. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to bring in legislation to deduct maintenance orders from social welfare payments where the court order is ignored. [32892/13]

View answer

Written answers

Under family law provisions, it is possible to apply to the court for an Attachment of Earnings Order. An Attachment of Earnings Order can be sought if the person is in employment, on social welfare or in receipt of a private pension, resulting in the maintenance being deducted at source. Under the Family Law Act 1995, it is possible to apply for this attachment at the initial maintenance hearing, if the person applying to court fears that there will be a default of maintenance. Where a judge deems it appropriate to attach welfare payments, this Department complies with all such Family Law Maintenance Orders received by deducting the amount specified in the court order from a social welfare recipient’s payment.

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