Tuesday, 10 Dec 2013

Written Answers Nos. 273-288

Capital Programme Expenditure

Questions (275)

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

275. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Social Protection of the €4 million in capital funding recorded as not spent under the expenditure profile at end November in the most recent analysis of gross Voted expenditure Exchequer figures, the reason for the underspend; if she will provide a breakdown of the capital projects or outlays that have not commenced as yet, as per the profile; if any of the €107.2 million in total capital carryover in Government for 2012 relates to her Department; the amount of same; if it has been spent; on what it has been spent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52957/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The capital allocation provided in the Revised Estimates Volume for 2013 was €10.5million of which €8.525 million was profiled to be spent up to the end of November, 2013. The financial data for the Department of Social Protection contained in the November Exchequer Returns indicated an underspend of €4 million (€3.577 million rounded to the nearest million) in capital expenditure in the year to date. This data was not final as it was compiled prior to the month end and was estimated based on the best information available at the time of preparation.

Final data in relation to the position at the end of November is now available. This shows that capital expenditure at end November was €2.143 million under profile. Capital expenditure in the Department relates to two main areas of expenditure, namely, buildings and computer hardware/e-Government. Capital expenditure on buildings provides for the costs of new buildings ('fit outs' of new leased buildings) and the refurbishment of other buildings necessary to meet the accommodation demands on the Department. Current capital projects arise principally from the continued rollout of the accommodation element of the Intreo programme in a very wide range of locations throughout the country as well as Public Service Card centres. These projects are being progressed in conjunction with OPW and includes acquiring new Local Office accommodation and in placing contracts for refurbishment of existing offices. At end November, capital expenditure on buildings was €0.827 million over profile and reflects the considerable progress which has been made.

Capital expenditure on computer hardware/e-Government was €2.97 million behind profile at the end of November. This was mainly due to lower than profiled expenditure in a number of demand led expenditure items including routers and switches, servers and scanner hardware. In addition a significant invoice (over €1 million) for the purchase of computer storage equipment was not received in time for payment in November. Finally, a sum of €1.05m in capital carry-over was allocated to the Department in 2013. This has been entirely expended on buildings, principally Intreo and public service card centres, and is not included in the earlier buildings financial data outlined above.

Tax Code

Questions (276)

Martin Heydon

Question:

276. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is a policy to claw back jobseeker's benefit through the tax system from persons who gain employment; the reason this is so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52969/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Issues in relation to taxation of social welfare payments and the administration of such taxation are the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Finance.

In tandem with most other social welfare payments jobseeker's benefit, a weekly payment to people out of work and covered by social insurance, is taxable but the actual tax liability will depend on the overall income position of the person. There are arrangements between the Department of Social Protection and the Revenue Commissioners providing for the electronic transfer of data relating to beneficiaries of social welfare payments.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (277)

Clare Daly

Question:

277. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the reasons a person (details supplied) in Dublin 20 has been denied access to any social welfare payment even though the person is unable to apply for jobseeker's allowance at age 65 while awaiting transition to the contributory old age pension. [52981/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

According to the records of this department the person concerned has not made a recent application for a social welfare payment. The person concerned can contact her local social welfare office where a member of staff will be in a position to advise her of the entitlements for a person in her circumstances. A person aged 65 years can apply for the Jobseekers allowance; it is a means tested payment.

Rent Supplement Scheme Payments

Questions (278)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

278. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if additional information and application for rent allowance will be determined in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if any other documentation is outstanding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52992/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Outstanding information has been received allowing eligibility to be established which resulted in the award of the rent supplement. Any arrears due will issue accordingly.

Social Welfare Appeals Issues

Questions (279)

Jack Wall

Question:

279. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a social protection appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52994/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to partially 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.

Departmental Reports

Questions (280)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

280. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will immediately publish or circulate the report of the Mercer review she commissioned and has had since the end of 2012 on the pension wind-up priority order contained in section 48 of the Pensions Act 1990, which the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013 proposes to amend, in order to ensure a fully democratic and thorough debate on the context and implications of the Bill. [53015/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Review of Pension Scheme Wind-Up Priorities was undertaken by Mercer during 2012 at the request of the Department of Social Protection. The review was undertaken to inform the deliberative process regarding the wind up priority provision in section 48 of the Pensions Act. The review primarily considers the technical aspects of the distribution of assets. The objective of the review was to determine to what extent the provisions in section 48 of the Pensions Act might be revised to provide for a different approach to the distribution of assets in the wind up of an underfunded pension scheme.

The Mercer review was published by the Department (www.welfare.ie) on the 9th December 2013 and a copy of the review has issued to the Deputy.

Supplementary Welfare Allowance Appeals

Questions (281)

Finian McGrath

Question:

281. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will support the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3 in relation to a supplementary welfare allowance appeal; and if she will support this person’s appeal. [53018/13]

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 24th October 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.

Question No. 282 withdrawn.

Rent Supplement Scheme Payments

Questions (283)

Jerry Buttimer

Question:

283. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Social Protection if payments of rent allowance are backdated from the date of award to the date of application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53020/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The 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 approximately 80,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €403 million for 2013.

Customers who establish an entitlement to rent supplement by satisfying the conditions of the scheme will receive payment from the date of application. There is also provision for the backdating of the claim for a period up to six months before the date of application where specific circumstances apply.

Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals

Questions (284)

Noel Coonan

Question:

284. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Social Protection when an application for domiciliary care allowance will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53031/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

An application for domiciliary care allowance was received on the 28th August 2013. The application was disallowed as the child was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for the allowance. A letter issued on the 23rd September 2013 advising of the decision.

A review of this decision has been requested and additional information on this child’s condition/care needs has been supplied. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome of this review as soon as it is completed.

Disability Allowance Appeals

Questions (285)

Noel Coonan

Question:

285. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a disability 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. [53032/13]

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 21st 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 2nd December 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.

Question No. 286 withdrawn.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (287)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

287. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding Christmas bonuses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53049/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The last Government announced the abolition of the Christmas Bonus as one of the measures in the Supplementary Budget introduced in April 2009. It is now estimated that the payment of a December Bonus, equivalent to 100% of a person’s weekly social welfare rate, to recipients of long-term social welfare payments is of the order of €261 million.

Since I became Minister, I have prioritised the protection of core weekly welfare payments in recognition of their critical importance to recipients. In Budget 2014 I was able to protect the State Pension, Carer's Allowance, Disability Allowance and other core weekly payments, in addition to Child Benefit, while still reducing the overall welfare spend as part of the necessary effort to reduce the deficit.

Given the need to control Government expenditure generally, it will not be possible to re-introduce a bonus payment at this time.

Pension Provisions

Questions (288)

Michael McGrath

Question:

288. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is envisaged that the pension schemes in respect of which a section 50 application has been recently approved by the Pensions Board will come under the provisions of the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53064/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Section 50 of the Pensions Act permits the Pensions Board on application from the trustees of a defined benefit pension scheme to approve a reduction in the benefits of current and former scheme members and/or the post-retirement increases in benefits where a scheme does not meet the Funding Standard. The provisions in section 11 of the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013 broadens the categories of benefits which can be considered in such an application to include a portion of the benefits payable to pensioners.

The provision in this Bill allows the trustees of a scheme to consider a reduction in pension benefits of:

- up to 10% where the annual rate of pension is between €12,000 and €60,000 and

- up to 20% where the annual rate of pension is greater than €60,000.

Pensions up to €12,000 cannot be reduced.

These new provisions will apply to applications which have been approved by the Pensions Board scheme after the date of the passing of Social Welfare and Pensions (No.2) Act 2013.