Finian McGrath
Question:87. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will support a matter (details supplied) in Dublin 3 regarding rent supplement. [53286/13]
View answerRent Supplement Scheme Applications
Questions (87)
Written answers
The person concerned made an application for a rent supplement on 10th October 2012. As the application was incomplete, a request for further information was sent to him on 18th October 2012 detailing 12 items that were required in order to assess the application. As of 21st January 2013, 8 of the required items had been submitted and a request was sent for the 4 remaining items; to date they have not been received. A decision cannot be made on this application until such time as this outstanding information is provided.
Carer's Allowance Appeals
Questions (88)
Brendan Griffin
Question:88. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an appeal for a carer's allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53288/13]
View answerWritten answers
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence has disallowed the appeal of the person concerned. However, on receipt of further information from the person concerned, the Appeals Officer has decided to re-open the appeal by way of an oral hearing. The person concerned will be notified of the date, time and venue for the hearing in due course.
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 on social welfare entitlements.
Respite Care Grant Appeals
Questions (89)
Róisín Shortall
Question:89. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 whose respite grant appeal was lodged in March 2013; the reason for the delay in the processing this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53296/13]
View answerWritten answers
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing in January 2014. The person concerned will be notified of the arrangements for the 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 on social welfare entitlements.
Community Employment Schemes Data
Questions (90)
Robert Troy
Question:90. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection the proposed changes to the community employment scheme; the implications these changes will have on the sponsoring bodies, participants and the communities in which they work; the level of consultation her Department has had with the relevant stakeholders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53309/13]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Social Protection (DSP) is consolidating and improving the provision of training and work experience for CE participants in particular for those who wish to pursue a career in childcare.
For CE participants who work directly with children, a dedicated programme comprising formal learning and supervised work experience will become a mandatory part of participation. This formal learning programme will lead to a FETAC Level 5 Major Award in Early Childhood Care and Education. This is the minimum entry requirement for a Childcare Practitioner. The duration of this programme will comprise of 2 years in which the Major Award will be completed and one year work practice leading to a maximum 3 year programme overall.
This programme involves defined standards of achievement, a career progression path, and a structure for CE participants in Early Years Services. These changes are designed to provide a more tailored and valuable support to the provision of community childcare and to achieve greater coherence between participation on CE and the job market.
The objectives of this policy are:
- to ensure that all Community Employment schemes with childcare places will, in the future, operate under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Framework and use the Síolta standards (the quality standards in childcare) as a developmental tool;
- to provide CE participants on childcare places who work directly with children with quality work experience, training, a clear progression path and qualifications in the childcare sector; and
- to re-align the allocation of CE childcare places under dedicated childcare schemes with the standards outlined by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
There will be no reduction in the number of childcare places supported under CE. The locations where CE participants currently work will not change, but their employer will now be the dedicated childcare scheme. Where a sponsor loses childcare places to the dedicated childcare scheme, these places can be back-filled with non-childcare related CE places provided that there is an appropriate work programme available.
The above improvements have been informed by consultation with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, County Childcare Committees and representatives of Scheme Sponsors and Supervisors.
Disability Allowance Appeals
Questions (91)
Luke 'Ming' Flanagan
Question:91. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are over 18,000 people awaiting results for reviews within her Department on disability allowances; if this is not the correct figure, if she will provide the correct figure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53314/13]
View answerWritten answers
I understand that the Deputy is inquiring about the number of successful appeals on disability allowance awaiting processing in the Department. There are currently 260 successful disability allowance appeals awaiting attention all of which were recently received from the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
The Department is currently working hard to eliminate backlogs of new disability allowance applications and to reduce waiting times for new applicants. The higher than average number of new applications being processed has led to a higher than average number of appeals to be processed and, consequently, delays may be experienced by some successful appellants who are awaiting payment. Again, every effort is being made to ensure these temporary delays are kept to an absolute minimum.