Written Answers Nos. 272-289
272. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the numbers on the live register for the town and district of Ballybay for each of the years 2010, 2011, 2012 and currently; if she will provide a breakdown of these figures by age, that is, 16 to 25; 26 to 40; 41 to 55; and 56 and above; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44459/13]
View answerInformation relating to a claimant's address is not currently coded to the geographical location of the address. As such it is not possible to accurately report persons in receipt of any social welfare payment in a particular area.
The town and district of Ballybay is in the catchment area of the Castleblaney Social Welfare Branch Office. I have provided, for the Deputy's information, a tabular statement detailing the live register by age category for this office at the 31st of December in each of the years 2010, 2011 and 2012 and at the 30th of September this year.
Castleblaney Social Welfare Branch Office Live Register
|
30/09/2013 |
Jobseeker's Allowance |
Jobseeker's Benefit |
Credits Only |
Total |
|
Under 26 |
304 |
25 |
1 |
330 |
|
26-40 |
600 |
128 |
19 |
747 |
|
41-55 |
343 |
100 |
38 |
481 |
|
56 and over |
161 |
33 |
55 |
249 |
Castleblaney Social Welfare Branch Office
|
31/12/2012 |
Jobseeker's Allowance |
Jobseeker's Benefit |
Credits Only |
Total |
|
Under 26 |
291 |
30 |
1 |
322 |
|
26-40 |
560 |
165 |
14 |
739 |
|
41-55 |
355 |
114 |
40 |
509 |
|
56 and over |
169 |
37 |
48 |
254 |
Castleblaney Social Welfare Branch Office
|
31/12/2011 |
Jobseeker's Allowance |
Jobseeker's Benefit |
Credits Only |
Total |
|
Under 26 |
307 |
31 |
2 |
340 |
|
26-40 |
541 |
173 |
19 |
733 |
|
41-55 |
310 |
135 |
34 |
479 |
|
56 and over |
141 |
42 |
34 |
217 |
Castleblaney Social Welfare Branch Office
|
31/12/2010 |
Jobseeker's Allowance |
Jobseeker's Benefit |
Credits Only |
Total |
|
Under 26 |
318 |
62 |
1 |
381 |
|
26-40 |
472 |
199 |
19 |
690 |
|
41-55 |
286 |
102 |
29 |
417 |
|
56 and over |
110 |
41 |
30 |
181 |
273. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for disability allowance under appeal will be expedited in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow. [44472/13]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer's decision.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
274. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if carer's allowance will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [44473/13]
View answerI confirm that the Department received an application for carer's allowance from the person in question on the 24th July 2013. The application was awarded on 1st October 2013 with effect from 31st of October 2013. The first payment of carer's allowance is due to issue to the bank for payment on 31st of October 2013. As the person concerned was in receipt of a higher rate of payment on jobseekers benefit which includes an increase for a qualified adult, the application is not back-dated to the date of application. Increase for a qualified adult is not payable on the carer's allowance scheme.
275. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Social Protection the payments public sector workers are entitled to once they are retired by the State at 65 years of age where their pension will not commence until 67 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44523/13]
View answerIncreasing State pension age and the abolition of the State pension (transition) are steps that have been taken to ensure the sustainability of pensions into the future. The decision to reform State pension was taken in the context of changing demographics and the fact that people are living longer and healthier lives.
The Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2011 provides that State pension age will be increased gradually to 68 years. This will begin in 2014 with the standardising of State pension age for all at 66 years and the cessation of State pension transition. The State pension age will then increase to 67 years in 2021 and to 68 years in 2028.
It should be noted that until the 1970s, the standard age for receipt of State pension was 70 years of age. This applied at a time when longevity was much lower and working patterns were more likely to be physically demanding. State pension (transition) was introduced in 1970 when it was known as the retirement pension and was designed to bridge the gap between the standard social welfare pension age, which at that time was 70 years of age, and retirement age. Over time, the age for State pension contributory was reduced to 66 years.
Public sector workers who are obliged to retire at age 65 will be able to draw their occupational public sector pension at age 65. The changes regarding State pension will have no impact on such public sector workers who are on modified social insurance. However, for those public sector workers who are fully insured and in defined benefit pension schemes, their occupational public sector pensions (and contributions) are, like many occupational pension schemes, integrated (or co-ordinated) with social welfare benefits. This means the occupational pension paid is based on the assumption that the pensioner also receives the State pension.
Where this does not happen, a discretionary supplementary pension may be payable under the relevant public sector pension scheme to bridge the gap. In such cases, a supplementary pension is only payable where the individual, through no fault of their own, does not qualify for social welfare benefit or qualifies at less than the maximum personal rate. It is therefore necessary to claim any available social welfare benefits in order to receive a supplementary pension. This situation is not new and already applies to public sector workers who have a retirement age below 65.
For other workers, the main social welfare payments available to those who leave employment before pension age are jobseekers benefit and job seekers allowance. Persons who qualify for a job seekers payment who are aged between 65 and 66 years are generally entitled to receive payment up to the date on which they reach pensionable age.
277. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding community employment schemes and her Department's strategy in respect of the schemes in the long term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44539/13]
View answerIn the programme for Government, an undertaking was given to introduce a better approach to how the State engages with and supports the unemployed to get back into the workforce. The challenge set by the Government in Pathways to Work is to ensure that the creation of new jobs results in a reduction in unemployment – particularly long-term unemployment so that individuals do not become permanently disenfranchised within our society.
The aim of the Department is to engage with every unemployed individual to make sure that their first day out of work is also their first step on the pathway back to work. This requires a more focused engagement with people on CE and greater targeting of places and opportunities to further the progression of unemployed people into work.
Community Employment is one of a number of Employment Schemes managed by the Department of Social Protection. Other smaller programmes that are similar in many respects to Community Employment are: the Rural Social Scheme (RSS); Community Services Programme (CSP); Job Initiative (JI) and Tús.
The Department is continuing its commitment to getting people back to work as set out in the programme for Government and the Pathways to Work documents.
278. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the provision being made for those who reach 65 and would have been entitled to the transition pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44540/13]
View answerIncreasing State pension age and the abolition of the State pension (transition) are steps that have been taken to ensure the sustainability of pensions into the future. The decision to reform State pension was taken in the context of changing demographics and the fact that people are living longer and healthier lives.
The Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2011 provides that State pension age will be increased gradually to 68 years. This will begin in 2014 with the standardising of State pension age for all at 66 years and the cessation of State pension transition. The State pension age will then increase to 67 years in 2021 and to 68 years in 2028.
It should be noted that until the 1970s, the standard age for receipt of State pension was 70 years of age. This applied at a time when longevity was much lower and working patterns were more likely to be physically demanding. State pension (transition) was introduced in 1970 when it was known as the retirement pension and was designed to bridge the gap between the standard social welfare pension age, which at that time was 70 years of age, and retirement age. Overtime, the age for State pension contributory was reduced to 66 years.
However, the Deputy may wish to note that a significant number of people coming on to State pension (transition) in 2012 did not come from work as many were already on other social welfare schemes. In December 2012 there were approximately 14,400 State pension (transition) claims in payment and of those, 12.5 per cent came from work with over 50 per cent coming from other social welfare schemes such as illness benefit, jobseekers benefit and assistance, invalidity and carers, indicating that significant numbers of people are leaving the workforce for a variety of reasons well in advance of State pension age.
In terms of social welfare supports available to those at age 65, all short term social welfare schemes are payable to age 66. The main social welfare payment available to those who leave employment before pension age is jobseeker's benefit. Persons who qualify for a jobseeker's benefit who are aged between 65 and 66 years are generally entitled to receive payment up to the date on which they reach pensionable age (66 years). Each application for any social welfare scheme is assessed on its own merit in terms of qualifying criteria and contribution history. Where a person fails to meet the qualifying conditions of an insurance based scheme, a means tested assistance payment may be available provided they satisfy the qualifying conditions including a means test.
Further consideration is being given to the position of those exiting the workforce before pension age.
279. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44546/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 1st August 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 were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 16th October 2013 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
280. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Social Protection when an application for carer's allowance appeal will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44556/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 18th October 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.
281. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding rent allowance in respect of separated persons (details supplied); if the social welfare regulations introduced in 2011 regarding same are a result of legislation or a decision she took; and if she will reverse the decision. [44558/13]
View answerThe purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term 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 currently over 82,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €403 million for 2013. The amendment to regulations in 2011 did not make any change to the entitlement conditions for rent supplement. Statutory Instrument No. 462 of 2011 revoked provisions which are contained in section 198(3F) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended.
In order to qualify for a rent supplement a person must have been residing in private rented accommodation or accommodation for homeless persons or an institution (or any combination of these) for a period of 183 days within the preceding 12 months of the date of claim for rent supplement. A person may also qualify for rent supplement where an assessment of housing need has been carried out within the 12 months preceding the date of claim and the person is deemed by a housing authority to be eligible for and in need of social housing support.
In all other cases, a person who wishes to apply for rent supplement is referred, in the first instance, for an assessment of eligibility for social housing support by a housing authority. Only when the person has been assessed as being eligible for and in need of social housing support, does the person become eligible for consideration for rent supplement. However, where a claimant's safety and wellbeing are at risk due to domestic violence Department officials operating the rent supplement scheme have discretionary powers to expedite the award of a payment to the person in question.
Policy in relation to eligibility for social housing and housing needs assessment is a matter for the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government.
282. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the recent refusal of carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare in view of the fact that all requested documentation was submitted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44578/13]
View answerI confirm that the Department received an application for carer's allowance from the person in question on the 20th May 2013. Following investigation, the application was disallowed on the 4th October as the person concerned did not provide certain relevant information as requested by the social welfare investigative officer.
Subsequently, the person in question submitted additional information and requested a review of the decision. The application, along with the supplementary information, has been returned to the social welfare investigative officer so that his/her report on the circumstances of the case may be completed. Once the investigative officer has completed and submitted the report the review will be completed as soon as possible and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
283. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a carer's allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44600/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 07th August 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 were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 17th October 2013 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
284. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Social Protection the implications of the removal of the telephone allowance for persons who are dependent on the land line for their alarm system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44631/13]
View answerMy overall concern in this Budget has been to protect the primary social welfare rates. To allow us to protect these core payments, we have had to look very carefully at other additional payments such as the household benefits package, including the telephone allowance. While we have cut the telephone allowance, there have been no cuts to the electricity/gas allowance, free travel, the free television licence, the fuel allowance or the living alone increase.
The cost of the telephone allowance scheme has risen each year and the number of eligible customers has increased very significantly. In 2007 there were some 316,000 people receiving the telephone allowance, today there are almost 400,000, an increase of 24%. Each year almost 10,000 extra customers become eligible for the allowance because of the increased number of pension recipients.
The telephone allowance was introduced at a time when telephone services were more expensive and fewer people had telephones. In recent years the nature of the telephone market has been transformed with deregulation, mobile services and bundled services including television, broadband and telephone. There is a wide variety of deals and great competition now available.
The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government has responsibility for the Seniors Alert Scheme which provides grant support for the supply of equipment such as personal alarms, smoke detectors and security lighting to enable older people without sufficient means to continue to live securely in their homes. The grant assistance is made available through community and voluntary groups registered with the Department and the equipment supplied under the scheme remains the property of the community group. The budget allocation for 2013 was €2.35 million.
While the equipment currently provided requires the use of a landline, there are other companies in the market providing similar services based on mobile technology.
Finally, if any person is in particular difficulty an application may be made for an exceptional needs payments (ENP) under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, to help meet an essential, once-off cost which an applicant is unable to meet out of his or her own resources. There is no automatic entitlement to this payment. Each application is determined by a Department based on the particular circumstances of the case.
285. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the impact the changes to jobseeker's allowance for recipients aged 25 and under will have on the rate of payment to those engaged in the JobBridge internship programme; if those who complete their placement on JobBridge and return to jobseeker's allowance will be categorised as new claimants and receive the lower jobseeker's allowance payment; her views on whether the cut in jobseeker's allowance is a cut to a core payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44647/13]
View answer286. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the basis of calculations relating to jobseeker's allowance showing projected savings of €32 million in terms of the expected number of new claimants and duration of claim; if she has sought legal advice on the constitutionality of this legislation; if she is confident that this legislation is acceptable under European Union law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44648/13]
View answer304. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection the impact assessment studies her Department undertook in advance of the decision to reduce the jobseeker's payment to the under 25s. [44759/13]
View answer305. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that equality legislation deems that discrimination in accessing services based on age is illegal; if this bears any legal consequence for her or her Department following her decision to cut jobseeker's payment for the those aged and under 25s by 30%. [44760/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 285, 286, 304 and 305 together.
In order to incentivise young jobseekers to avail of education and training opportunities and to minimise the risk of them becoming welfare dependent from a young age, changes are being made to the rates payable in respect of persons under 26 years of age. Such rates in respect of younger jobseekers were first introduced in 2009.
By extending the €100 jobseeker's allowance rate to ages 22, 23 and 24 the changes provide that claimants in this age bracket will be €60 better off if they engage in education or training such as the back to education programme as they will then receive €160 per week. Persons aged 25, had previously been subject to no financial incentive measure, will now receive €144 per week. These individuals will generally be €16 better off if they engage in education or training as they will now receive €160 per week.
Similarly, interns participating on JobBridge receive an allowance of €50 per week on top of their existing social welfare entitlement for the period of their internship. Arrangements provide that a claim for jobseeker's allowance is linked to any claim made within the previous 12 months, so persons returning to jobseeker's allowance following a 6 or 9 month internship will revert to the appropriate rate applying before their internship.
It is anticipated that the changes will affect 13,767 persons in 2014, rising to 31,577 persons per annum over time.
This decision was made on foot of on-going consideration of unemployment and incentives policy by Government. In making such decisions it is standard practice for all appropriate advice to be considered. The changes are not discriminatory but rather are targeted measures aimed at protecting young people from welfare dependency.
In preparation for the forthcoming implementation of the Youth Guarantee, Budget 2014 contained an additional €46 million to support a number of initiatives aimed at young people. These include:- reducing the threshold (in terms of duration of unemployment) for JobsPlus eligibility from 12 months – to 6 months or less – in the case of persons aged less than 25 years;- an additional intake of 1,500 young people on to the very successful JobBridge scheme;- ensuring that 1,000 places on the Tús scheme are targeted at young people;- developing a pilot programme to support young unemployed people to take up opportunities under schemes such as Your First EURES Job; and ring-fencing a minimum of 2,000 training places for under-25s by the Department of Education and Skills, under a follow-up to the successful Momentum programme that operated in 2013, with income support for participants being provided by my Department; and furthermore the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation will invest in the region of €2.5m next year in making funds available to young entrepreneurs via Micro finance Ireland and other business start-up schemes.
These measures are in addition to the significant existing spend of approximately €170m per annum on employment, training and further education programmes for young people.
I believe that it is necessary to provide young jobseekers with a strong financial incentive to engage in education or training or to take up employment. If they do not improve their skills, it will be much more difficult for them to avail of job opportunities as the economy recovers and they are at risk of becoming long-term unemployed from a young age.
288. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if those who are currently exempt from paying the television licence fee will also be exempt from paying the public broadcasting charge; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44651/13]
View answer289. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department held discussions with RTE and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources prior to the reduction in the annual transfer to RTE in respect of the television licence. [44652/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 288 and 289 together,
Budget 2014 provides for a reduction from €59.17 million to €54.17 million in the payment made to the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR) in respect of television licences provided for some 410,000 customers in receipt of the household benefits package. This budget measure will have no negative impact on any of our customers who will continue to receive their free television licence as part of the household benefits package.
My Department did not hold any direct discussions with RTÉ as funding for the free licence scheme is made to DCENR, not to RTÉ. The proposal to reduce the payment to DCENR was discussed and approved by the Government as part of the normal pre-budget deliberations.
The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has made proposals to introduce a new Public Service Broadcasting Charge to replace the current television licence and which is designed to increase the revenue base and reduce evasion. This charge is the subject of public consultation at present. Officials of my Department are in discussions with his Department as to how vulnerable customers will be dealt with in any new arrangements.
