Written Answers Nos. 100-105
100. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when payment of one-parent family benefit will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare who is currently paying €540 per month rent with an income of €1,500 and who has three children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7082/14]
View answerThe person concerned made an application for one-parent family payment on 7 November 2013. The file was forwarded to a Social Welfare Inspector for investigation as this forms part of the application process. The Inspector’s investigations are now complete and the file has been returned to a deciding officer.
Notification of the decision on the application will issue as soon as possible.
101. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review an appeal for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7095/14]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer having fully considered all the available evidence disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of the Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by the Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new facts. Following the submission of additional evidence, the file has been requested to be returned to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. On receipt of this file, the Appeals Officer will review the case. The person concerned will be contacted when the review of his appeal has been finalised.
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.
102. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Social Protection when an appeal for invalidity pension payment will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary. [7096/14]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence including that adduced at the oral hearing, has decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned. 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.
103. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person who was eligible to participate on a community employment scheme on 17 December 2013 finds that they are no longer eligible as they finished a JobBridge placement in June 2013; if they can appeal the decision on the basis that they were eligible on 17 December 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7102/14]
View answerThe JobBridge scheme is considered suitable for those who are already job-ready and unemployed and wish to gain work experience and remain active in the labour market. The Community Employment (CE) scheme is aimed at those who are long-term unemployed and not ready for employment (those who are 12 months plus on the Live Register) or from other disadvantaged cohorts (e.g. drug rehabilitation, travellers, ex-prisoners). To this end, time spent on the JobBridge scheme cannot count towards the qualifying period for entry to CE. Persons who complete the JobBridge scheme are advised to continue their job-search activities and if special supports are required they are advised to keep in touch with the local Intreo Office who may refer them to a Jobsclub for additional support.
104. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff employed by her Department in the Government offices leased by the Office of Public Works in Tubbercurry, County Sligo, which are shared with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, on 1 January 2010, 1 January 2011, 1 January 2012, 1 January 2013 and 1 January 2014; if there are any proposals to increase or reduce the staff level in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7115/14]
View answerResponsibility for the Rural Social Scheme and the Community Services Programme, the staff of which are based in the Government Offices in Tubbercurry, County Sligo transferred to my Department from the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs in August 2010. Details of the number of staff and posts are shown in the following table. The staffing of all sections in my Department is constantly reviewed to ensure the best use of available resources. I have no specific plans in relation to the staffing levels in the office in Tubbercurry at this time.
|
Date |
No. of staff |
No. of posts |
|
August 2010 |
9 |
8.3 |
|
1 January 2011 |
9 |
8.3 |
|
1 January 2012 |
10 |
9.3 |
|
1 January 2013 |
10 |
9.3 |
|
1 January 2014 |
10 |
9.3 |
105. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if payment of jobseeker's allowance will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7119/14]
View answerThe person concerned was disallowed a jobseekers allowance claim on the grounds that he not genuinely seeking employment. The person concerned had advised the Department that he was not looking for work during part of a review process. If the person concerned can provide evidence that he is genuinely seeking employment, his entitlement to a payment will be reviewed.
