Written Answers Nos. 103-117
103. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if she considered the local development companies who have a track record of delivery and an established network in every community as a lead partner in the roll-out of the JobPath iniviative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53485/13]
View answerThe Department currently has 43 contracts with Local Development Companies (LDCs) for the provision of employment services. These contracts cover the delivery of both the Local Employment Service (LES) and Job Clubs.
JobPath is the title of the Government’s proposed new programme of labour market activation aimed specifically at the long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed. JobPath will be delivered by third party providers of employment services under contract to the Department.
It is the Department’s intention to issue a contract notice for the procurement of JobPath services shortly and Local Development Companies are free to participate in the procurement process.
104. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the low rent allowance limits for Arklow and surrounding areas (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53493/13]
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 approximately 80,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €403 million for 2013.
Revised rent limits under the rent supplement scheme came into effect from Monday 17 June 2013 and will be in place until 31 December 2014. The new rent limits have been determined following an extensive review of the private rental market. The rent limits review was completed during the second quarter of this year and used a number of data sources, including that of the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) which contained details of actual registered rental tenancies. As outlined by the Deputy, the Daft.ie Q3 2013 rental report records a year on year increase of 4.4% in rents in County Wicklow. There is no detailed breakdown of this figure by area within the county or by property type.
There have been increases in the maximum rent limits in some areas including Bray, Delgany and Greystones while there have been some reductions across a number of counties, including parts of County Wicklow, reflecting the conditions in the rental markets in those areas.
There are currently over 2,400 rent supplement recipients in County Wicklow. Latest figures show that there are over 580 rent supplement recipients in the Arklow area, indicating that it is possible to secure accommodation in this location within the rent limits. A search conducted on a leading property website shows that there are properties available for rent in the Arklow area within the maximum rent limits. Officials in the Department continue to examine the impact of the rent limits on those who claim rent supplement.
Department officials operating the rent supplement scheme have discretionary powers to award a supplement at a higher level in exceptional cases where it appears that the circumstances of the case so warrant. Each case is examined individually and is decided on the basis of the situation presented. In relation to the case referred to by the Deputy, the officer administering the rent supplement claim has advised that the person concerned has been requested to provide documentation in support of the request for a rent supplement above the relevant rent limit. The claim will be reviewed by the Department on receipt of this documentation.
105. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of invalidity pension claims that were awarded following appeals in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53517/13]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy in respect of invalidity pension appeals from 2008 to 2012 and to date in 2013 is contained in the table below.
A total of 1,991 invalidity pension appeals were processed during 2012. 1,509 (61.22%) of these appeals had a successful outcome for the appellant. 474 (31.41%) of the successful appeals were in fact revised decisions made by statutorily appointed deciding officers of my Department who reviewed the claim following the initial disallowance.
These revised decisions arose as a result, in many cases, of new facts or fresh evidence produced by the claimant after the original decision on his /her claim. In such cases an Appeals Officer decision was not necessary.
A total of 6,651 invalidity pension appeals have been processed to date in 2013 (to 30th November 2013). 80.47% of these (5,382) had a successful outcome for the appellant. 2,233 (41.49%) of the successful appeals were in fact revised decisions made by statutorily appointed deciding officers of my Department who reviewed the claim following the initial disallowance.
Outcome of Invalidity Pension Appeals 2008 – 2013
|
- |
Decided by Appeals Officers |
Decided by Appeals Officers |
Decided by Appeals Officers |
|
|
Revised Deciding Officers' Decisions |
Appeals Allowed |
Appeals Partly Allowed |
Appeals Disallowed |
|
|
2008 |
78 |
233 |
1 |
160 |
|
2009 |
82 |
243 |
1 |
136 |
|
2010 |
185 |
341 |
6 |
314 |
|
2011 |
345 |
408 |
6 |
489 |
|
2012 |
474 |
1,031 |
4 |
430 |
|
2013 (to 30/11/2013 |
2,233 |
3,132 |
17 |
1,215 |
106. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a decision from the Revenue Commissioners in relation to their request for rebate regarding their local property tax under section 26 of the Property Act; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53518/13]
View answerThis is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Finance.
107. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when basic social welfare payment will be restored in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6W; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53532/13]
View answer108. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when rent support will be restored in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6W; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53533/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 108 together.
The person concerned recently submitted documentation to his Social Welfare Local Office and requested to have the disallowance of his claim for jobseeker’s allowance reviewed. The claim review was based on documentation received from him which addressed the issue of him genuinely seeking employment. As a result of this review his claim has now been awarded from the original date of application and an arrears payment will be available for collection on Friday 13th December 2013. The person concerned has been notified of this revised decision.
As there has now been a favourable outcome to the review of the jobseeker’s allowance claim for the person concerned, his application for rent supplement will now be processed in the normal manner.
109. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the correct level of rent support applicable in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53534/13]
View answerThe household composition in the case of the person concerned is that of one adult and four children. According to the information available to this Department, the person concerned is required to contribute €107.00 per week towards the cost of their rent or €463.70 per month. This consists of a minimum contribution to the rent of €30.00 per week, and €77.00 per week being income the person concerned receives which is in excess of the relevant SWA rate for this family composition.
The monthly rent payable in this case is €1000.00 monthly or € 230.76 per week. The required contribution of €107.00 is deducted from the rent giving a rent supplement entitlement of €123.76 per week or €536.30 per month.
The person concerned can contact the office administering her rent supplement to seek a review of this payment if her circumstances have changed.
110. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the correct level of jobseeker's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53535/13]
View answerAccording to the records of this Department the person concerned is currently in receipt of a one parent family payment at the maximum personal rate of €188.00 with an increase for four qualified children amounting to €119.20. She is also in receipt of a fuel allowance of €20.00 per week. The total entitlement in the case of the person concerned is currently €327.20 per week.
111. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current position in regard to a request for an oral hearing in respect of guardianship payment in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53536/13]
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 hold an oral hearing in this case on 16th December 2013. The person concerned has been 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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.
113. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the options available to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53539/13]
View answerThe person concerned has been in regular contact with the Employment Services office in Maynooth. The person concerned last met with the Case Officer on 04/12/2013 and was advised of the options available to him and placed on a waiting list for a course which is due to commence in January 2014.
114. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Meath qualifies for jobseeker's allowance-unemployment benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53540/13]
View answerAccording to the records of the Department the person concerned does not currently have an entitlement to jobseeker’s benefit as he does not have a social insurance contribution history.
Jobseeker’s allowance is a means-tested payment payable to those who are unemployed and satisfy a means assessment in addition to a number of other qualifying conditions. According to the records of this Department there is no recent application from the person concerned for jobseeker’s allowance. The person concerned can submit such an application at his local social welfare office and his entitlement to same will be examined.
115. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether using the pension levy as the sole means in which to fulfil European Court of Justice court ruling requirements concerning insolvent pension schemes is inequitable; her views that in so far as the pension levy is a levy on private pensions and therefore the burden of meeting the State's obligations for insolvent pension schemes is being shouldered entirely by private pension schemes means that public sector schemes remain untouched; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53626/13]
View answerThe application of the pension levy is a matter for the Minister for Finance.
116. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the refurbishment works at the community welfare office in Enfield, County Meath; the date on which works are scheduled for completion; the date on which she expects services for customers of her Department to be operational at this location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53640/13]
View answerSupplementary Welfare Allowance services are provided by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) from the HSE Heath Centre in Enfield. The building was vacated to allow HSE undertake refurbishment. Works are nearing completion and it is expected that the refurbished building will be ready for occupation by mid-January 2014. Once the building is reopened, DSP will, as before, provide Supplementary Welfare Allowance services at the location one day per week.
117. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his Department is aware of the current regulatory difficulties surrounding the air strips at Inishbofin and Cleggan in Connemara; his plans to resolve these difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53505/13]
View answerThe airstrips on Inishbofin and at Cleggan in Co. Galway are not open or licensed for use by the Irish Aviation Authority. Therefore, landing aircraft on the airstrips is strictly prohibited.
A decision has been made to dispose of the airstrips in view of the economic downturn, the ongoing cost of maintaining the airstrips and the unlikelihood that my Department will, at any time in the near future, have the resources to subsidise a regular air service between the island and the mainland. My Department is currently assessing the disposal options available to it and a decision in this regard will be announced in due course.
