Tuesday, 16 Jul 2013

Written Answers Nos. 643-659

Rent Supplement Scheme Payments

Questions (643)

Pat Breen

Question:

643. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) has not been facilitated in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35183/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The person concerned applied for Rent Supplement under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) Scheme.

The application was refused on the grounds that her income is in excess of the SWA guidelines and, consequently, she does not qualify for rent supplement. She was advised of her right to appeal this decision.

Disability Allowance Appeals

Questions (644)

Tom Fleming

Question:

644. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine a disability allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35189/13]

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 June 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 these have been received from the Department, the case 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 appeal hearing.

In the meantime, if the means of the person concerned are insufficient to meet his needs, it is open to him to make an application for supplementary welfare allowance pending the outcome of his disability allowance appeal.

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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Questions (645)

Tom Fleming

Question:

645. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine the invalidity pension appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35197/13]

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 28 June 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 these have been received from the Department, the case 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 appeal hearing.

In the meantime, if the means of the person concerned are insufficient to meet his needs, it is open to him to make an application for supplementary welfare allowance pending the outcome of his invalidity pension appeal.

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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.

Question No. 646 withdrawn.

Invalidity Pension Waiting Times

Questions (647)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

647. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the average waiting time for the issuing of payment to applicants who have had invalidity pension appeals upheld; the number of upheld appeals awaiting processing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35329/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

At week ending 5 July 2013 there were approximately 600 invalidity pension claims awaiting award on foot of a successful appeal. This is due to the high number of claims processed in the past 12 months and the resulting increase in the number of appeals. In the last 4 weeks alone approximately 550 successful appeal cases were received in invalidity pension section. These cases will be processed and paid.

Invalidity pension section has been involved in a business process improvement review and backlog elimination programme. This programme has led to a significant reduction in the number of invalidity pension claims awaiting decision, down from 7,007 claims at end May 2012 to 1973 claims at the end of June 2013. In addition, new claims are now processed on receipt with a decision being made based on information provided or, if this is not possible, further medical evidence or additional information is requested and a decision is made on receipt.

The following information was provided under Standing Order 40A

Invalidity pension section, following an intensive clearance of a significant backlog of new claims, is now receiving an average of more than 140 successful appeals back from the Social Welfare Appeals Office each week, compare to approximately 30-50 cases which would be expected based upon the normal weekly intake and clearance of new claims. Consequently, a delay has built up in putting these successful appeals into payment, which currently stands at apprximately five weeks. This delay is very much regretted.

The processing of these successful appeals is being given priority and additional resources have been allocated in order to deal with this temporary increase in workload. It is expected that the waiting time for these cases to be put into payment will significantly decrease over the coming weeks.

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Questions (648)

Tom Fleming

Question:

648. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if she wil examine an invalidity pension appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35330/13]

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 30 May 2013. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers have been received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office 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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.

Question No. 649 answered with Question No. 642.

Social Welfare Rates

Questions (650)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

650. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will set out replacement rate values, in tabular form, comparing social welfare income, including fuel allowance and rent or mortgage interest supplement or both for single claimants, a couple, one earner; a couple, one earner and one child dependent; a couple, one earner and two child dependents; a couple, one earner and four child dependents; with net income at the national minimum wage, stating the monetary amount the new national minimum wage represents; with net income at two thirds of average weekly earnings, stating the monetary net two thirds of average weekly earnings represents and with net income at average weekly earnings, stating the monetary amount which represents average weekly earnings; her views on the instances where rates are in excess of 70%; her plans to tackle these rates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35351/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The replacement rate for given income levels is a tool used to measure the degree to which out-of-work benefits when unemployed replace take home income from work. While there is no predetermined level of replacement rate, which would influence every individual’s decision to work, higher replacement rates may indicate lower incentives to take up employment. In this regard a replacement rate in excess of 70% may be considered to be excessive.

The following table sets out replacement rates values for the requested household types, which compare social welfare income, assuming that fuel allowance and rent allowance is payable, with net income at National Minimum Wage (NMW), two thirds of the Average Weekly Earnings (67% AWE) and Average Weekly Earnings (AWE).

Relevant calculations use the current national minimum wage of €8.65 and an average weekly earnings figure of €687.84 - derived from the Central Statistics Office material in relation to the second quarter of 2012. Calculations in relation to rent supplement are based on rent allowance rates for Dublin effective in 2012 – and do not reflect new rent supplement rates introduced in June 2013. It may also be noted that rent supplement rates are higher in Dublin than in other counties.

Income Type	NMW	NMW with rent	67% AWE	67% AWE with rent	AWE	AWE with rent
Single	61%	86%	50%	70%	37%	52%
Couple: 1 earner	68%	95%	64%	89%	55%	77%
Couple: 1 earner/1 Child Dependent	72%	103%	68%	97%	61%	87%
Couple: 1 earner/2 Child Dependents	75%	105%	71%	99%	66%	93%
Couple: 1 earner/4 Child Dependents	75%	100%	72%	95%	66%	87%

Almost three-quarters of the people on the Live Register are only claiming a personal rate for themselves. They are either single or may have a spouse or partner who is working. In addition, 53% of the people on the Live Register receive less than the maximum personal weekly rate. This means that the great majority of people on the Live Register have a strong financial incentive to work and significant numbers leave the Register each year.

High replacement rates are generally associated with a relatively high number of dependent children and/or receipt of rent or mortgage supplement. However, it is important to note that only some 9% of persons on the Live Register are in receipt of rent supplement, with a further 1.5% in receipt of mortgage interest supplement. The vast majority of jobseekers do not receive these additional supports.

It should be noted that significant moves have already been taken to address the impact of housing entitlements upon replacement rates. Arising out of commitments in the Programme for Government to review the operation of the Rent Supplement Scheme, proposals to integrate the systems for providing rent supplement and social housing support have been advanced. It is intended to transfer responsibility for the provision of rental assistance to persons with a long term housing need from my Department (currently provided through Rent Supplement) to housing authorities using a new Housing Assistance Payment.

The effect of this transfer and the introduction of a new form of Housing Assistance Payment will be to address one of the significant disincentives to accessing full-time employment that exists under the Rent Supplement scheme. Under the new Housing Assistance Payment, the contribution that the tenant makes towards the rent is based on a means test that links the level of contribution to the household income, rather than employment status. This will have a positive impact on replacement rates.

Live Register Data

Questions (651)

Derek Nolan

Question:

651. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a yearly breakdown by local authority area of the average length of time a person is long-term unemployed, short-term unemployed or otherwise for the years 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35353/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The number of persons on the live register at the end of 2011, 2012 and June 2013 are detailed by county and duration in the attached tabular statement. It should be noted that all casual registrants are in the "Under 3 month" duration category based on the Central Statistics Office’s definitions.

Number of Persons on the Live Register by County and Duration, end of June 2013.

County	less than 3 mths	3-6 mths	6-12 mths	1-2 yrs	2-3 yrs	more than 3 yrs	Total
Carlow	2,583	596	815	919	667	1,743	7,323
Cavan	2,493	595	863	1,015	624	1,760	7,350
Clare	3,235	773	1,199	1,133	862	2,506	9,708
Cork	16,076	3,526	4,961	4,996	3,586	9,402	42,547
Donegal	8,264	1,321	2,177	2,405	1,849	5,362	21,378
Dublin	31,644	10,492	14,310	14,616	9,970	24,147	105,179
Galway	7,122	2,139	2,998	2,827	2,055	5,461	22,602
Kerry	6,266	1,165	1,564	1,583	1,079	3,262	14,919
Kildare	6,397	1,864	2,394	2,566	1,808	4,127	19,156
Kilkenny	2,670	530	783	913	670	1,868	7,434
Laois	3,133	749	1,060	1,199	952	2,116	9,209
Leitrim	1197	303	470	388	275	795	3,428
Limerick	6,117	1,493	2,297	2,268	1,783	5,193	19,151
Longford	1,458	393	623	670	497	1,517	5,158
Louth	5,744	1,408	2,175	2,356	1,545	4,049	17,277
Mayo	4,742	954	1,577	1,601	1,110	3,102	13,086
Meath	3,736	991	1,269	1,364	1,141	2,242	10,743
Monaghan	2,541	557	792	849	558	1533	6,830
Offaly	3,185	689	1,100	1,248	883	2,357	9,462
Roscommon	1505	315	489	539	376	943	4,167
Sligo	1,933	443	676	659	511	1,311	5,533
Tipperary	6,322	1,394	2,078	2,128	1,526	3,690	17,138
Waterford	4,644	1,173	1,596	1,756	1,296	3,703	14,168
Westmeath	3,824	942	1,194	1,332	978	2,579	10,849
Wexford	6,811	1,179	1,879	2,152	1,731	5,118	18,870
Wicklow	4,231	1,095	1,558	1,641	1,162	3,005	12,692
Total	147,873	37,079	52,897	55,123	39,494	102,891	435,357

Number of Persons on the Live Register by County and Duration end of December 2012.

County	less than 3 mths	3-6 mths	6-12 mths	1-2 yrs	2-3 yrs	more than 3 yrs	Total
Carlow	2,629	556	783	825	646	1,483	6,922
Cavan	2,332	575	943	880	670	1,594	6,994
Clare	3,484	914	1,144	1,156	955	2,312	9,965
Cork	15,371	3,904	4,996	4,931	4,036	8,449	41,687
Donegal	8,081	1,627	2,055	2,415	1,848	4,876	20,902
Dublin	30,585	10,440	13,847	13,816	10,443	21,193	100,324
Galway	7,304	2,369	2,783	2,727	2,039	4,859	22,081
Kerry	7,482	1,241	1,565	1,654	1,246	3,134	16,322
Kildare	6,131	1,733	2,475	2,360	1,884	3,435	18,018
Kilkenny	2,618	595	750	949	733	1,655	7,300
Laois	2,927	766	1,119	1,244	945	1,808	8,809
Leitrim	1,170	336	413	393	318	768	3,398
Limerick	6,186	1,754	2,156	2,346	2,213	4,573	19,228
Longford	1,527	453	577	655	521	1,339	5,072
Louth	5,733	1,495	1,985	2,262	1,591	3,740	16,806
Mayo	4,765	1,215	1,489	1,526	1,092	2,757	12,844
Meath	3,722	980	1,332	1,498	1,240	1,955	10,727
Monaghan	2413	536	763	799	610	1366	6,487
Offaly	3,008	817	1,136	1,231	946	2,070	9,208
Roscommon	1426	357	567	488	422	808	4,068
Sligo	1,826	455	567	623	500	1,137	5,108
Tipperary	6,186	1,369	1,888	2,058	1,726	3,241	16,468
Waterford	4,855	1,160	1,509	1,721	1,354	3,365	13,964
Westmeath	3,461	900	1,266	1,327	981	2,309	10,244
Wexford	6,837	1,307	1,920	2,212	1,872	4,557	18,705
Wicklow	3,942	1,144	1,562	1,547	1,193	2,694	12,082
Total	146,001	38,998	51,590	53,643	42,024	91,477	423,733

Number of Persons on Live Register by County and Duration end of December, 2011.

County	less than 3 mths	3-6 mths	6-12 mths	1-2 yrs	2-3 yrs	more than 3 yrs	Total
Carlow	2,526	446	927	960	930	943	6,732
Cavan	2,370	585	1,125	1,043	977	1,127	7,227
Clare	3,654	716	1,460	1,493	1,409	1,636	10,368
Cork	16,386	3,513	6,475	6,369	5,269	5,639	43,651
Donegal	8,694	1,429	2,600	2,720	2,786	3,367	21,596
Dublin	30,708	9,575	18,451	16,142	12,537	14,856	102,269
Galway	7,431	1,978	3,601	3,235	2,823	3,517	22,585
Kerry	7,619	1,215	2,130	1,970	1,728	2,244	16,906
Kildare	6,123	1,423	3,111	2,735	2,299	1,992	17,683
Kilkenny	2,729	519	1,014	1,113	984	1,083	7,442
Laois	2,937	658	1,405	1,325	1,205	1,045	8,575
Leitrim	1186	294	488	495	507	507	3,477
Limerick	6,641	1,555	3,075	3,290	2,690	3,088	20,339
Longford	1,514	423	766	765	724	929	5,121
Louth	6,068	1,412	2,705	2,522	2,195	2,624	17,526
Mayo	4,834	1,034	1,916	1,765	1,641	1,917	13,107
Meath	4,033	1,008	2,167	1,922	1,432	1,164	11,726
Monaghan	2379	523	959	912	935	781	6489
Offaly	3,255	707	1,499	1,357	1,181	1,331	9,330
Roscommon	1409	290	640	609	538	494	3,980
Sligo	1,880	461	746	737	605	810	5,239
Tipperary	6,372	1,295	2,449	2,628	2,063	2,043	16,850
Waterford	5,168	1,012	2,044	1,952	1,679	2,625	14,480
Westmeath	3,543	780	1,641	1,465	1,323	1,488	10,240
Wexford	7,137	1,289	2,623	2,736	2,446	3,135	19,366
Wicklow	4,199	1,008	2,026	1,857	1,541	1,849	12,480
Total	150,795	35,148	68,043	64,117	54,447	62,234	434,784

Social Welfare Appeals Status

Questions (652)

Tom Fleming

Question:

652. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine the back-dating of a living alone allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35358/13]

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 19 June 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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.

Domiciliary Care Allowance Payments

Questions (653)

Brendan Ryan

Question:

653. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection in respect of recipients of domiciliary care allowance, what the process is when the child in respect of whom payment is made reaches sixteen years of age; if the recipient will automatically qualify for carer's allowance if an application is made; if the child will automatically qualify for disability allowance if an application is made; if there are circumstances under which a parent receiving domiciliary care allowance might fail to qualify for carer's allowance for the child in respect of whom payment is made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35376/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) can be paid in respect of children under the age of 16 years. Children over 16 years can apply for Disability Allowance (DA) in their own right. However, different eligibility criteria apply and qualification for DCA does not confer an automatic entitlement to DA, each application is assessed on its individual merits.

DCA recipients are advised three months in advance of the child’s 16th birthday that the payment will stop the month they turn 16, but that the child may apply for and may be entitled to DA in their own right.

Qualification for DCA is deemed to satisfy the medical criteria for carers allowance. However the other qualifying conditions for the carers allowance must also be satisfied before eligibility for that payment is confirmed. As qualification for DA is based on the individual's ability to work, the medical criteria used to determine entitlement do not cover the care needs required to establish entitlement for carer's allowance.

Payment of carers allowance stops when eligibility to DCA ceases. For example, at age 16 years, but it can be applied-reapplied for at any time for children-adults over the age of 16 years.

Proposed Legislation

Questions (654)

Denis Naughten

Question:

654. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the dates and purpose of amendments to the Civil Registration Act 2004; when the issue of sham marriages will be addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35466/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2013 will provide for a wide range of issues relating to the registration of life events in the State. Representations and recommendations have been made by various groups and organisations since the enactment of the Civil Registration Act 2004 and this Bill seeks to address these issues. The General Register Office, which administers the Civil Registration Service, has identified areas where legislative amendments are required to streamline the service to the general public.

As previously stated, marriages of convenience, or “sham marriages” are defined as marriages which are entered into for the purpose of one of the parties gaining an automatic right of residency based on marriage to a person who already has a right of residency.

The matter is a complex one. EU citizens and their families have the right to move and reside freely within the territories of the Member States. These rights also apply to non-EU national spouses of EU nationals following the ruling of the European Court of Justice in the Metock case on 25 July 2008.

My Department has been considering this issue and has met with a number of stakeholders with a view to introducing measures to combat marriages of convenience. In this regard, I intend to introduce legislation shortly that will make such marriages far more difficult to contract in the future. The provisions will be part of legislation currently being drafted to amend the Civil Registration Act, 2004. I would hope to publish this legislation later this year.

It should also be noted there are, at present, guidelines for registrars for marriage notifications containing requirements concerning notification procedures, including the verification of identity and marital status which can assist in the prevention of marriages of convenience.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (655, 656, 657)

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

655. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has achieved the savings indicated in Budget 2013 of €5 million in the cost to her Department of medical certificates and reports on illness and disability related schemes for the year to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35491/13]

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

656. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount spent on medical certificates and reports in 2012; the amount of reduction achieved in 2011; the way the savings were achieved and the projected spend for 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35492/13]

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

657. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a breakdown of the amount spent on medical certificates and reports in 2011 and 2012; the highest payment and the average payment made to a medical certifier; if she will provide a breakdown of the range of payments made by category as follows €0-€999; €1,000-€4,999; €5,000-€9,999; and in increases of €10,000 above that for 2011 and 2012; if she will list the names and addresses of the top ten recipients of payments to medical certifiers for each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35493/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 655 to 657, inclusive, together.

A target expenditure of €20.75 millin has been set for 2013 in respect of payments for medical certificates and reports for illness and disability related schemes. This represents a reduction of some €5 million on payments made in 2012. Payments to certifiers are made on a quarterly basis. Two quarterly payments have been made to date in 2013. Payment expenditure for Q1 2013 was €5,473,080 out of a profiled €5,500,000. Payment expenditure for Q2 was €5,305,650 out of a profiled €5,500,000. The Department is on target to achieve its budgeted expenditure in this area in 2013. Close monitoring of the expenditure will continue during the year.

The following table outlines the payments made to certifiers in respect of medical certificates and medical reports for 2012 and for 2011.

Table 1 – Payments to Certifiers 2011 and 2012

Year	Certs	Certs Value	Reports	Reports Value	Total Value
2012	2,521,300	€20,800,725	94,878	€4,216,378	€25,017,103
2011	3,420,597	€28,219,925	77,329	€3,436,501	€31,656,426

My Department is continually examining ways of reducing the number of certificates that are furnished under the illness benefit scheme, for example; submitting medical certificates for the sole purpose of obtaining credited contributions, also the frequency of certification for some conditions. The projected spend for 2013 is €20,750,000.

The breakdown of the amounts spent on medical certificates and medical reports in 2011 and 2012 is outlined in the following tables – it should be noted that, in some cases, certifier payments cover practices involving a number of doctors.

PAYMENTS TO CERTIFIERS FOR 2011;

The total amount paid to certifiers was €31,656,426.

Highest payment €100,940

Average payment €10,859

Table 2 - Breakdown of Payments to Certifiers in 2011 by range

Breakdown	No.
Greater than €100,000	1
Between €70,000 to €79,999	1
Between €60,000 to €69,999	10
Between €50,000 to €59,999	27
Between €40,000 to €49,999	41
Between €30,000 to €39,999	88
Between €20,000 to €29,999	321
Between €10,000 to €19,999	743
Between €5,000 to €9,999	580
Between €1,000 to €4,999	496
Less than €1,000	607

For data protection reasons I regret I am not in a position to supply the names of the top 10 certifiers.

PAYMENTS TO CERTIFIERS FOR 2012;

The total amount paid to certifiers was €25,017,103

Highest payment was €101,749.78.Average payment for was € 8,653.44

Table 4 - Breakdown of Payments to Certifiers in 2012 by range

Breakdown	No.
Greater than €80,000	1
Between €70,000 to €79,999	0
Between €60,000 to €69,999	0
Between €50,000 to €59,999	7
Between €40,000 to €49,999	20
Between €30,000 to €39,999	53
Between €20,000 to €29,999	217
Between €10,000 to €19,999	719
Between €5,000 to €9,999	668
Between €1,000 to €4,999	558
Less than €1,000	648

Social Welfare Benefits Data

Questions (658, 659)

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

658. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount saved in the year to date from additional fraud and control measures as indicated at Budget time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35494/13]

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

659. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount recovered from overpayments to citizens in the year to date; if legislation has been implemented to date; if her Department is is on schedule to meet projected savings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35495/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 658 and 659 together.

The Department’s control work is measured in terms of control savings and they are used as a performance indicator for year-on-year activities. Control savings are an estimate of the value of the various control activities across the schemes in payment and refer to future expenditure that would have been incurred but for this control work. Without this control work, social welfare expenditure would over time increase by this amount. Control savings do not include any cases of departmental or clerical error or any cases where the customer voluntarily told the Department of their altered means or circumstances, which resulted in a change to their rate of payment. These activities also have a deterrent or knock-on effect, which are not readily quantifiable in monetary terms.

Controls are exercised at both the initial claim stage and at subsequent stages during the claim life cycle. Claims are reviewed on a regular and targeted basis. Means-tested payments are reviewed at certain intervals or when there are indications that changes in circumstances have not been reported to the Department. Those in receipt of illness payments are called for a medical examination by the Department's medical assessors. Customers in receipt of unemployment payments are checked on a regular basis to verify continued compliance with such requirements as being available for and genuinely seeking employment.

Current measures to control fraud and abuse also include desk reviews of claim papers, home visits, the issue of mail-shots to selected customers, database checking and data matching with other organisations.

In addition, the Department’s Special Investigation Unit focuses on planned and systematic control activity and projects. The concentration is on those schemes and sectors where the incidence of social welfare fraud is most pronounced. It works in conjunction with other agencies to tackle social welfare fraud and abuse.

Furthermore Intreo, the integrated employment and support service currently being rolled out across the Department’s local office network, comprehensively seeks to activate and review customers, where up to now three separate agencies had this role. Arising from this, a more integrated approach to fraud control can now be realised.

The roll out of the Public Service Card is also well under way. From the Department’s perspective, the PSC gives significant assurance as to the identity of the cardholder as it is a secure card and will considerably reduce the potential for forgery and identity fraud.

The Department recorded control savings of €669 million in 2012. The savings target for 2013 is €710 million, an increase of over €40 million on 2012. A total of just over €240 million was recorded in respect of control savings from January to end of May 2013. I expect that the Department will achieve the target set for this year.

The overall goal of the Department in relation to debt management is to actively pursue the recovery of debt to maximise recovery levels, with due regard to value for money. All debts currently owing to the Department, as a result of benefits received in excess of entitlement, are repayable in full. The Department does not apply interest or penalties on the amounts owing.

Customers who have received an overpayment from the Department have a liability to refund the overpayment. The Social Welfare Act, 2012 introduced a provision allowing the Department to make a recovery from an individual’s social welfare payment measuring up to 15% of their weekly personal rate. The deduction of 15% applies to the person’s personal rate only, and does not affect payment of any adult or child dependent allowances, or any other allowances that are in payment. It allows the person to retain 85% of their personal rate of payment. In each case, the person is informed of the Department’s intentions and given the opportunity to comment before a final decision is made on the level of deduction to be applied.

The volume of debtors to the Department repaying their debt has increased by approximately 20% in the first six months of 2013. As recoveries are reported on an annual basis only, a figure for the amount recovered in the first six months of this year is not available.