Written Answers Nos. 82-88
83. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on a jobseeker's allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47281/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to convene an oral hearing in this case. I am advised that the oral hearing is likely to take place during the week commencing 18th November 2013. The person concerned will be informed when arrangements for the oral hearing have been made.
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.
84. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue in relation to a companion free travel pass in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47315/13]
View answerThe application for a Companion Travel Pass for the person named above was medically assessed by a Medical Assessor on 4 November 2013. The medical opinion has been conveyed to Household Benefits Section, Sligo and the applicant will be contacted shortly regarding the decision on her application.
86. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on an invalidity allowance appeal will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47328/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 09th September 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.
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.
87. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on any proposed changes to the community employment scheme, specifically referring to the maximum time a person may participate on such a scheme; if this criteria is likely to change in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47331/13]
View answerThe current rules regarding maximum durations on Community Employment (CE) are as follows:
With effect from 3rd April 2000, lifetime cumulative participation on CE by an individual will be limited to:
- 3 years (156 weeks) for persons under 55 years of age.
- 6 years (312 weeks) for persons of 55 years of age up to and including 65 years of age.
- Eligible persons in receipt of a qualifying disability-linked Social Welfare payment will be eligible for one additional year on CE over the standard maximum participation caps, i.e. 4 years cumulative maximum time on CE for those under 55 years of age (Part-Time Job Option only), and 7 years cumulative maximum time for those between 55 and 65 (Part-Time Job Option only).
Participation on CE prior to 3rd April 2000 is not counted. Offshore island residents are exempt from this participation cap, subject to the availability of places on island-based CE schemes.
Under the Pathways to Work (2012) policy document, it was recommended that one third of the Community Employment (CE) places be realigned towards shorter, more focused labour market interventions. The 2012 Review of Employment Support Schemes recommended that the duration of participation for new entrants should be limited to one year for participants from the unemployed and lone parent streams, to two years for those from the disability stream, and to three years for those entering based on drug dependency.
The Department is currently examining these recommendations with respect to maximum durations as part of the ongoing improvement process for the CE programme.
88. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection if being a child in care under the age of 16 years has any future bearing on an application for a means-tested payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47340/13]
View answerWhen applying for a means tested social assistance payment a claimant must satisfy the eligibility conditions for the relevant scheme. The fact that the person may have been in care prior to reaching 16 years of age is not relevant for the purposes of a means test.
However, in the case of jobseeker’s allowance, the Deputy may wish to note that the reduced rates of jobseeker’s allowance for people aged under 25 do not apply to people who were in the care of the Health Service Executive at any stage during the period of 12 months before he or she reached the age of 18. This provision is not impacted by the measures announced in the recent Budget in relation to the weekly rates of jobseeker’s allowance payable to certain other jobseekers aged 25 and under.
