Written Answers Nos. 122-129
122. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection when the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the deciding officer on an invalidity pension claim, in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo, were sent by the Longford office to the Social Welfare Appeals Office; if the file has been received in Dublin; and when the appeal will be progressed. [3079/14]
View answerA claim for invalidity pension from the person concerned was received by the Department on 17 October 2012. The claim for invalidity pension was disallowed by a deciding officer on the grounds that, based upon the evidence provided, the person was not permanently incapable of work in accordance with the relevant legislation. The person in question was notified of this decision and the reason for it on 07 November 2012.
Following a request from the claimant for a review of the decision to disallow invalidity pension, further medical evidence was received on 22 March 2013 and was forwarded to a different medical assessor for review. This additional evidence, along with the original information, was evaluated by a different medical assessor in May 2013 who also was of the opinion that the person in question did not satisfy the medical criteria for invalidity pension. The deciding officer found that there were no grounds to overturn the original decision to disallow invalidity pension.
However due to an unfortunate oversight the person concerned was not notified of the outcome until 09 October 2013 and advised of her right to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). The person concerned has appealed the decision and has submitted further medical evidence with her appeal. Prior to sending the papers to the SWAO, the Department is having the entirety of the medical evidence examined by a medical assessor. It is expected that the medical assessor will have completed the assessment and provided an up-to-date opinion today. In view of the particular circumstances of this case, a deciding officer will review the claim immediately upon receipt of that opinion. If, following this review, it is decided that she still does not satisfy the medical criteria, the person in question will be notified and her file and all relevant papers will be immediately prepared and forwarded to the Social Welfare Appeals Office for determination. On the other hand, if the deciding officer is satisfied that the claimant is eligible for invalidity pension, a revised decision will be made and the person in question will be notified of same in the next few days.
123. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection the limits or rent ceilings for persons who are accommodation sharing in the Westmeath region; when the limits were set; and her views on whether these rent limits or ceilings reflect the current market rate in the Westmeath region. [3085/14]
View answerThe purpose of rent supplement 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. The overall aim is to provide short-term assistance, and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes operated by the Exchequer. There are currently approximately 80,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014.
Revised rent limits under the rent supplement scheme have been implemented with effect from Monday 17 June 2013 and will be in place until 31 December 2014. The new rent limits were determined following an extensive review of the private rental market based on the most up-to-date data available. The emphasis of the rent limit review is to ensure that maximum value for money for tenants and the taxpayer is achieved whilst at the same time ensuring that people on rent supplement are not priced out of the market for private rented accommodation. It is also essential that State support for rents do not distort the market in way that could increase rent prices for others including low paid workers and students.
In Westmeath, the monthly shared rate for a single person is €190 and the couple shared rate is €210.
Analysis shows that there are properties available in county Westmeath within the maximum rent limits for rent supplement recipients. Latest figures show that there are approximately 1,600 rent supplement recipients in Westmeath, with approximately 100 of these in shared accommodation indicating that it is possible to secure accommodation within the rent limits.
Officials in the Department will continue to monitor the impact of the revised rates ensuring that the accommodation needs of rent supplement recipients are met.
124. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide assistance to unemployed persons who are unable to qualify for primary payments because of their spouse's income and are unable to afford and are ineligible to participate in retraining and Department schemes such as JobBridge, Springboard and community employment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3087/14]
View answerGiven the scale of unemployment and the level of available resources, the key objective of activation policy and labour market initiatives is to offer assistance to those most in need of support in securing work and achieving financial self-sufficiency.
This policy objective prioritises scarce resources to those in receipt of qualifying welfare payments so as to increase their chances of leaving it, thereby ensuring a reduction in Exchequer costs over time. Accordingly the employment services and schemes provided by the Department are focused in the first instance on this cohort of unemployed people. However, many services are available to people who are not in receipt of a social welfare payment.
For example employment services, such as advice on job-search activities and the use of online job search tools, are available to people if they register with the Department's employment services offices regardless of their social welfare status.
Unemployed persons not in receipt of payments may also be eligible to avail of up-skilling opportunities, for example through ETB training for unemployed people. Although not eligible to receive a training allowance while undertaking the course, they may receive some support for expenses on travel, meals and accommodation.
Springboard and Skillnets courses for unemployed people, funded through the Department of Education and Skills, are also open to people who are not in receipt of payment, regardless of their social welfare status.
126. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form a list of all professional fees, including but not limited to legal, consultancy, IT related, advisory, capital, advertising and accountancy; and the company name and the amount invoiced between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2013 to her Department and agencies under the aegis of her Department. [3099/14]
View answerThe information requested is not immediately available. The Department will write to the Deputy when the information is compiled.
128. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a list of all community employment schemes in Dublin mid west, including addresses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3119/14]
View answerThe following table has the addresses of Community Employment schemes that most closely match the constituency of Dublin Mid-West.
|
Sponsor |
Project Type |
Address Line 1 |
Address Line 2 |
Address Line 3 |
Address Line 4 |
Location |
Area |
|
IRISH WHEELCHAIR ASSOC D.3 |
Mainstream CE |
BLACKHEATH DR |
CLONTARF |
DUBLIN 3 |
LUCAN |
DUBLIN WEST COUNTY |
|
|
THE GET AHEAD CLUB LTD |
Mainstream CE |
12 WEAVER COURT |
NEILSTOWN ROAD |
CLONDALKIN |
DUBLIN 22 |
CLONDALKIN |
DUBLIN 22 |
|
NEILSTOWN PARISH SOCIAL ACTION |
Mainstream CE |
THE PRESBYTERY |
ST PETER THE APOSTLE |
NEILSTOWN |
DUBLIN 22 |
CLONDALKIN |
DUBLIN 22 |
|
STEWARTS CARE LTD- STEWARTS SPEC SC |
Mainstream CE |
WATERSTOWN AVENUE |
PALMERSTOWN |
DUBLIN 20 |
PALMERSTOWN |
DUBLIN 20 |
|
|
BLUEBELL WOMEN'S GROUP |
Mainstream CE |
UNIT 18 PALMERSTOWN SHOPPING |
CENTRE, PALMERSTOWN |
DUBLIN 20 |
PALMERSTOWN |
DUBLIN 20 |
|
|
STH.DUBLIN CO.COUNCIL |
Mainstream CE |
TOWN CENTRE |
TALLAGHT |
DUBLIN 24 |
CLONDALKIN |
DUBLIN 22 |
|
|
CATHOLIC YOUTH CARE |
Task Force Response |
20/23 ARRAN QUAY |
DUBLIN 7 |
CLONDALKIN |
DUBLIN 22 |
||
|
SDC Partnership Ltd |
Mainstream CE |
County Hall Block 3 |
Belgard Square North |
Tallaght |
Dublin 24 |
DUBLIN 22 |
DUBLIN 22 |
|
TRUSTUSWECARE LIMITED |
Mainstream CE |
TWS House |
1-2 Main Street |
TALLAGHT |
DUBLIN 24 |
DUBLIN 24 |
DUBLIN 24 |
|
Clondalkin Tus Nua Ltd |
Task Force Response |
New Nangor Road |
Clondalkin |
Dublin 22. |
NULL |
CLONDALKIN |
DUBLIN 22 |
|
CABHAIR |
Mainstream CE |
ST KILLIANS SCOUTS HALL |
WATEREY LANE |
CLONDALKIN |
DUBLIN 22 |
CLONDALKIN |
DUBLIN 22 |
|
RONANSTOWN COMM CHILDCARE CTR. |
Mainstream CE |
NEILSTOWN ROAD |
CLONDALKIN |
DUBLIN 22 |
CLONDALKIN |
DUBLIN 22 |
|
|
CLONDALKIN CENTRE FOR UNEMP LTD |
Mainstream CE |
ARAS RUALACH |
NEILSTOWN ROAD |
CLONDALKIN |
DUBLIN 22 |
CLONDALKIN |
DUBLIN 22 |
|
WEST DUBLIN DISABILITY SERVICE |
Mainstream CE |
BALLYOWEN CASTLE COMM. CENTRE |
BALLYOWEN LANE |
LUCAN |
CO DUBLIN |
LUCAN |
DUBLIN WEST COUNTY |
|
CLONDALKIN ADDICTION SUPPORT GROUP |
Task Force Response |
BALLYOWEN MEADOWS |
FONTHILL ROAD |
CLONDALKIN |
DUBLIN 22 |
CLONDALKIN |
DUBLIN 22 |
|
CLONDALKIN TRAVELLERS ENTERPRISE |
Mainstream CE |
UNIT4 BAWNOGUE ENTERPRISE CEN. |
CLONDALKIN |
CLONDALKIN |
DUBLIN 22 |
CLONDALKIN |
DUBLIN 22 |
|
DOLCAIN PROJECT |
Mainstream CE |
BAWNOGUE ENTERPRISE & COMMUNITY CENTRE |
BAWNOGUE ROAD |
CLONDALKIN |
DUBLIN 22 |
CLONDALKIN |
DUBLIN 22 |
|
CATHOLIC YOUTH CARE |
Mainstream CE |
20/23 ARRAN QUAY |
DUBLIN 7 |
CLONDALKIN |
DUBLIN 22 |
