Written Answers Nos. 337-355
337. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons employed through the JobBridge scheme in the area of water meter installation; and if she will provide a breakdown of numbers, contract duration and employer's name on a county basis. [2389/14]
View answer357. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a breakdown of participants in the JobBridge scheme for the years 2012 and 2013 based on the eligibility criteria for the scheme detailing the number of participants who were in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance, jobseeker’s benefit, one parent family payment, disability allowance and those signing for social insurance contribution credits. [2585/14]
View answer373. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons that have taken part in the JobBridge scheme in Fingal, South Dublin, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and Dublin City Council areas. [2766/14]
View answer385. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether it is appropriate for the JobBridge scheme to be used for the recruitment of a worker where the minimum requirement for candidates is a PhD in synthetic chemistry (details supplied). [2886/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 337, 357, 373 and 385 together.
As at 17 January, 2014, one JobBridge intern has commenced an internship in the water meter installation sector, for nine months, based in County Clare.
JobBridge statistics are not available broken down by payment type.
I set out below a table giving a breakdown of JobBridge internships commenced in Dublin since the scheme came into operation. It is not possible to provide a breakdown of JobBridge participants by each of the Local Authority areas in the Dublin region.
JobBridge is giving opportunities to jobseekers across the spectrum of qualifications. In the independent evaluation of JobBridge, it was found that 35.9% of interns hold qualifications below primary degree level, with 22.4% of interns having a post-graduate qualification. Given those high numbers of interns holding graduate and post-graduate qualifications, it is obviously necessary that JobBridge is in a position to offer them an internship that meets their needs.
It is worthy of note that many professions and occupations offered internships to graduates prior to the commencement of JobBridge. One of the advantages of JobBridge is that it allows unemployed people including unemployed graduates access to these internships while retaining their social welfare payment.
Table 1. Total JobBridge Internships in Dublin
|
District |
Finished |
Ongoing |
Total |
|
DUBLIN 1 |
517 |
119 |
636 |
|
DUBLIN 10 |
45 |
37 |
82 |
|
DUBLIN 11 |
153 |
46 |
199 |
|
DUBLIN 12 |
344 |
116 |
460 |
|
DUBLIN 13 |
28 |
16 |
44 |
|
DUBLIN 14 |
136 |
38 |
174 |
|
DUBLIN 15 |
375 |
133 |
508 |
|
DUBLIN 16 |
50 |
14 |
64 |
|
DUBLIN 17 |
104 |
34 |
138 |
|
DUBLIN 18 |
263 |
83 |
346 |
|
DUBLIN 2 |
1593 |
396 |
1989 |
|
DUBLIN 20 |
44 |
9 |
53 |
|
DUBLIN 22 |
184 |
59 |
243 |
|
DUBLIN 24 |
318 |
102 |
420 |
|
DUBLIN 3 |
157 |
55 |
212 |
|
DUBLIN 4 |
359 |
130 |
489 |
|
DUBLIN 5 |
40 |
10 |
50 |
|
DUBLIN 6 / 6W |
192 |
56 |
248 |
|
DUBLIN 7 |
224 |
69 |
293 |
|
DUBLIN 8 |
373 |
137 |
510 |
|
DUBLIN 9 |
177 |
71 |
248 |
|
DUBLIN NORTH COUNTY - FINGAL |
327 |
119 |
446 |
|
DUBLIN WEST COUNTY |
52 |
23 |
75 |
|
DUN LAOGHAIRE - RATHDOWN |
368 |
114 |
482 |
|
Grand Total |
6423 |
1986 |
8409 |
339. 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. [2395/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 12 December 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.
340. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Social Protection when an appeal will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2411/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 13 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 16 January 2014 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.
341. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a carer's allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2427/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 11 December 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.
342. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been reached in respect of an appeal for guardian's payment in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2455/14]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an oral hearing of the appeal of the person concerned took place on 16 December 2013 and that the Appeals Officer is now considering the appeal in the light of all of the evidence submitted, including that adduced at the oral hearing. The person concerned will be notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision when the appeal has been determined.
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.
343. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount her Department spends on an annual basis in payments to consultancy firms (details supplied). [2483/14]
View answerThe following amounts were paid in 2012 and 2013:
|
Oracle Limited |
2012 € |
2013 €* |
|
Licensing renewals |
740,850 |
737,116 |
|
Software updates, licensing & support |
229,530 |
247,890 |
|
Total |
970,380 |
985,006 |
|
Accenture Ireland |
||
|
Application Maintenance |
530,680 |
602,700 |
|
Application Development / IT External Service Provision |
1,061,477 |
4,288,714 |
|
Total |
1,592,157 |
4,891,414 |
* 2013 amounts are provisional pending audit by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General.
344. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on a disability allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Louth. [2491/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 11 December 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.
345. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for invalidity pension will be expedited in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2498/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that a disability allowance appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 19 November 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.
If the means of the person concerned are insufficient to meet her needs, it is open to her to contact her local Community Welfare Officer to explore her possible entitlement to supplementary welfare allowance pending the outcome of her appeal.
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.
346. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will allow an appeal in respect of a refusal of an application for disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2506/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 21 November 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.
347. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if the levy on pensions is to cease in 2015; if she will confirm whether there is any lawful basis to this money being deducted from any pension schemes after this date. [2523/14]
View answerThe pension levy is a matter for the Minister for Finance and I have asked that his Department respond to you directly on this matter.
348. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) with full parental responsibility for their two young children has been refused one parent family payment. [2531/14]
View answerThe claim by the person concerned for One-Parent Family Payment was disallowed as he failed to supply the Department with the documentation required to support his claim.
349. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will implement changes to social welfare payments to ensure that those who take up employment on a part time basis are not penalised by her Department refusing to pay a bank holiday payment to part time workers, when their employers do not cover these days as the hours worked are insufficient to qualify. [2538/14]
View answerIn order to accrue a statutory entitlement to payment by an employer in respect of a public holiday, employees must have worked at least 40 hours in the 5 weeks ending on the day before the public holiday.
In cases where a casual or part-time employee has no accrued entitlement to pay in respect of a public holiday and where s/he is unemployed on that day, the day may be treated as a day of unemployment for the purposes of jobseeker’s benefit or allowance. A jobseeker's payment may, therefore, be made in respect of that day, subject to all other scheme conditions being satisfied.
350. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15 will have their mortgage interest supplement restored; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2542/14]
View answerThe person concerned applied for a mortgage interest supplement on 12 November 2013. Following the processing of her application it was disallowed on three grounds:
Firstly, as her loan was not a primary mortgage for the purpose of purchasing, repairing or improving her home, it was not a qualifying loan under the mortgage interest supplement scheme. Secondly, her mortgage arrears were of such magnitude that it was not deemed reasonable to award a supplement; social welfare legislation provides that where payment of a supplement is unlikely to prevent repossession due to high arrears, payment of a mortgage interest supplement is to be avoided. Thirdly, it is required that an applicant for mortgage interest supplement must first show that he/she had entered into an alternative payment arrangement with their lender, and had complied with that arrangement for twelve months or longer. The lender indicated on the application that the person concerned had no alternative payment arrangement.
Unfortunately despite the personal circumstances of the person concerned cited by the Deputy which my Department is sympathetic towards, there are no legal grounds for reconsidering this decision.
351. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason rent allowance has been suspended in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; when same will be restored; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2543/14]
View answerFollowing the birth of her third child, information regarding her husband’s means was requested from the person concerned in order that her means be established. To date this information has not been forthcoming despite being requested and her claim for a rent supplement has been disallowed. The person concerned has been notified of this decision in writing and of her right to appeal same. However if she does provide the requested information to her local office the case will be reviewed immediately.
352. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15 will be granted an oral hearing in relation to their appeal for domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2544/14]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision on 13 December 2013. Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of an Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed in the light of new evidence or new facts.
I am also advised that the person concerned notified the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 2 January 2014 that she will submit additional medical evidence in support of her appeal. On receipt of same, the appeal will be referred to the Appeals Officer dealing with this case for further consideration and the request for an oral hearing will be noted. As part of this consideration the Appeals Officer will decide if an oral hearing of the case is warranted.
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.
353. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for a clothing grant will be accepted in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2545/14]
View answerIn general, assistance towards clothing is only awarded as a single payment where evidence of an exceptional need is available. This would have been the case last year when she applied for, and received, a payment.
This year the person concerned first applied for clothing assistance on 25 October 2013. She presented a letter from her GP asserting that she suffers from a medical condition which causes her weight to fluctuate over time. The application was disallowed on 8 November 2013 on the grounds that there was no exceptional need. The reasoning behind the decision was that her weight was now stable, and that no exceptional need for clothing had been presented. This decision was re-examined by a Reviewing Officer on 15 November 2013 and was upheld.
The person concerned then made a further application on 9 December 2013. This was also disallowed on the grounds that there was no new evidence of an exceptional need since the previous application.
354. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will amend the eligibility for community employment schemes to allow persons aged 18-22 years to participate in same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2546/14]
View answerThe current eligibility rules do not extend generally to persons under 25 years. Community Employment (CE) is not generally intended for persons under 25 years of age as there are other more appropriate and suitable interventions for that cohort, for example, training programmes provided under the Local Education and Training Boards (ETBs). However, the Department is prepared to consider in certain circumstances, supporting on a limited basis innovatory proposals that are tailored to meet the needs of persons between 20-25 years. This would involve the provision of a FETAC Major Award as part of the Employment Programme as well as work-based learning with a target of gaining employment as the main outcome. Participation will also be of limited duration. The priority provision for young people is as outlined above through Solas and the ETBs.
For those who do not meet the CE eligibility criteria they are advised to contact their local DSP Intreo/Employment Services Office where an Employment Services Officer will be happy to discuss the employment and training options that are open to them.
355. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will allow persons who have successfully undertaken a year on the Tús scheme to be able to do a second year if the organisation in which they are based wants them to continue. [2547/14]
View answerTús, the community work placement initiative introduced during 2011, was set up to provide short-term, quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. This initiative is being delivered through the network of local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta. Tús is designed to break the cycle of unemployment, and maintain work readiness thereby improving a person’s opportunities in returning to the labour market.
The duration of the Tús contract was set to reflect a number of inter-related elements. These include the need to ensure that limited numbers of placements available are opened to those on the live register, that weaknesses identified in other work programmes resulting from longer duration placements are not replicated in Tús, optimisation of the resources available, and how Tús fits with the objectives set out in the Government’s activation policies in Pathways to Work.
It also ensures that as many unemployed people as possible are able to benefit from the initiative. As of the week ending 10 January 2014, 7,123 participants were working and in receipt of a payment on Tús. An additional 369 full-time supervisory/team leader personnel had been engaged by the implementing bodies for Tús. Since its inception in July 2011, some 14,642 participants have completed 12 months on Tús.
There are no circumstances under which a person’s term on Tús will be extended beyond 12 months and I consider the existing 12-month period on Tús to be adequate to meet the programme’s objectives.
