Written Answers Nos. 372-396
372. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the introduction of a new fund to support the provision of food and consumer products for persons who are the most deprived; if this will have €3.5million in funding from the EU and Exchequer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7666/14]
View answerThe European Council has advised that the regulation to create and underpin the operations of this new EU Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived will be adopted by the Council in early March and will come into effect shortly thereafter. The Fund will support national schemes whereby food products and basic consumer goods are distributed to those identified as being the most deprived. Under this regulation, Member States will be required to devise operational plans to procure supplies and support the distribution of food and consumer good using partner organisations (NGOs) and other public bodies to support these efforts.
The Department of Social Protection has been tasked with the development of the operational programme and has been in discussion with the European Commission and other agencies in setting out the implementation arrangements. A key priority for the Department is to ensure the administrative and associated cost burdens associated with the Fund are minimised to ensure that the indicative EU and Exchequer allocation of up to €3.5m per annum is prioritised for the purchase of goods. The programme requires certain tasks to be undertaken in the preparation of the operational programme, including consultation with interested parties and stakeholders. The current position is that the European Commission is continuing to finalise its guidance for Members States to underpin the delivery of the programme. Given that this Fund represent a new and innovative approach to the delivery of such support, a number of matters remain to be clarified before commitments to a particular delivery approach can be made.
373. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 90 of 5 February 2014, when the person concerned will be contacted regarding a back to education allowance by officials in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7668/14]
View answerOfficials from my Department have re-examined this case and considered if alternative options might be considered. The Department has stated that the reason the person detailed is not eligible for back to education allowance (BTEA) is that a single semester is not considered to be full-time education under the scheme. The BTEA is designed to support the person for study for the full academic year rather than on a modular or semester basis. Given the nature of BTEA, no provision is made to allow a person to complete an individual semester of a full-time course. The person in question will be advised of the position.
374. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress made to date in respect of a review for carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7705/14]
View answerI confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 1st November 2013. The person concerned was refused carer’s allowance on the grounds that the care recipient is not so disabled as to require full time care and attention as prescribed in regulations. She was notified of this decision on 15 January 2014. The person in question subsequently submitted further medical evidence for review, which was forwarded to the Department’s medical assessor for consideration. However, this information did not alter the opinion of the deciding officer and the decision remained unchanged. The person in question was notified of the outcome of the review on 5 February 2014 and of her right to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
375. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection her estimate of the number of persons on the live register who previously worked in construction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7711/14]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the following tabular statement.
|
- |
Construction related workers on the Live Register at the end of January 2014 |
|
Architects, Town Planners and Surveyors |
764 |
|
Construction Trades |
46,138 |
|
Draughtspersons, Quantity and Other Surveyors |
336 |
|
Electrical/Electronic Trades |
3,673 |
|
Engineers and Technologists |
3,831 |
|
Metal Forming, Welding and Related Trades |
2,543 |
|
Metal Machining, Fitting and Instrument Making Trades |
2,747 |
|
Metal Making and Treating Workers |
126 |
|
Metal Working Process Workers |
304 |
|
Other Craft and Related Occupations not elsewhere classified |
5,129 |
|
Other Occupations in Construction |
14,158 |
|
Other Occupations in Mining and Manufacturing |
200 |
|
Road Transport Workers |
6,600 |
|
Woodworking Trades |
6,347 |
|
Total |
92,896 |
376. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress in respect of a review of eligibility for invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who submitted further medical evidence in December 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7712/14]
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 convene an oral hearing in this case.
Every effort will be made to hear the case as quickly as possible and the appellant will be informed when arrangements for the oral hearing have been made.
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.
377. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress made to date in determination of application for carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7743/14]
View answer396. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if carer's allowance will be restored in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8024/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 377 and 396 together.
The person in question has been in receipt of carer’s allowance from 23rd October 1997. Following a recent review of continuing eligibility, a deciding officer has decided that the person in question is no longer eligible for carer’s allowance on the grounds that, based upon this medical evidence submitted by the person concerned in support of her claim, the care recipient is no longer in need of full-time care and attention.
The person in question was notified on 20 January 2014 that payment will be stopped with effect from 26 February 2014 and of her right to review or appeal. No request for review or appeal has been received to date.
378. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons employed in each local authority under the new Gateway local authority work placement scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7781/14]
View answerGateway was introduced to deliver on the policy objectives set out in Pathways to Work and is designed to bridge the gap between unemployment and re-entering the workforce. Responsibility for delivery of this initiative rests with individual county and city councils. Gateway has a target to provide for 3,000 placements focusing on those who have been unemployed for 24 months or more. Potential participants are currently being selected by a random process conducted by the Department of Social Protection for recruitment by county and city councils.
Progress on the roll-out has been slower than anticipated. Delays in the main relate to the on-going staff restructuring processes of county and city councils, the ongoing engagement with stakeholders, particularly Trade Unions, and operational matters relating to securing resources, identifying work and supervisory cover. So far some 1,600 work placements have been identified in councils in the initial phase of the roll-out.
To date some 61 persons have commenced working with Limerick, Fingal and Louth councils, with a further 60 expected to start work with these councils in the coming weeks. Progress is expected to accelerate in the coming weeks across a further 10 council areas. Despite the obstacles identified, county and city councils have given assurances of accelerating the recruitment process to fill all places identified and to meet the target of 3,000 placements.
379. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on an invalidity pension appeal will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7783/14]
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 allow 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.
380. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7815/14]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person concerned on the 20th August 2013. This application was referred to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors whose opinion was that the child was not medically eligible for the allowance. A letter issued on the 18th September 2013 advising of the decision to disallow the application.
The person concerned subsequently lodged an appeal against this decision. As part of the appeal process, the case has been forwarded to another of the Department’s Medical Assessors for further consideration, including a review of any new information supplied.
Upon receipt of the Medical Assessor’s opinion, the case will be further examined and forwarded for consideration by the Appeals Office, if necessary.
382. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons engaged in the JobBridge programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7822/14]
View answerThe JobBridge scheme came into operation on 1 July 2011. As at 13 February 2014, there has been a total of 25,956 starts to-date. There are currently 6,475 jobseekers participating on the scheme.
An independent evaluation conducted by Indecon Economic Consultants found that 61% of interns progress to paid employment after completing their internship. The 61% progression rate for JobBridge is among the best in Europe, where progression rates for similar internship schemes average just 34%.
384. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal for invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 4; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7828/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 6 February 2014, 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.
386. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an Irish person living in France for six months and whether that person would have entitlement to claim jobseeker's allowance for this period of time while living in France. [7838/14]
View answerThe social security rights of people travelling across the EU are governed by EU Regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009 on the coordination of social security systems. The Regulations determine, amongst other things, the social security legislation to which a person is subject, and the Member State which is liable to pay benefits.
For the purpose of these regulations job seekers allowance is classed as what is known as a special non-contributory benefit. This means the benefit is paid exclusively in the country of residence and in accordance with its legislation. Irish legislation does not provide for the payment of jobseeker’s allowance outside the jurisdiction and, accordingly, it cannot be paid to a person resident in France or any other country.
387. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason community employment scheme workers are prohibited from receiving family income supplement even though they are working the minimum hours required to qualify and their income is below the threshold. [7843/14]
View answerParticipants on the Community Employment (CE) scheme are disqualified from receiving family income supplement (FIS) under Part 6, Section 175 of Statutory Instrument No. 142 of 2007. This disqualification also applies to Jobseekers and Farm Assist claimants, Tús participants, Rural Social Scheme (RSS) participants and those engaged on the Part Time Job Opportunities Scheme.
388. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Social Protection if she considers the work done and the skill required to efficiently carry out the necessary duties performed by warmer homes scheme employees has been adequately rewarded by topping up their social welfare payments by €20 per week. [7844/14]
View answerCommunity Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme, designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed and other disadvantaged persons (including lone parents, recovering drug misusers and those with a disability) with an opportunity to engage in part-time work within their communities on a temporary, fixed-term basis. CE helps unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to a work routine and to assist them to enhance/develop both their technical and personal skills by providing opportunities for individual training and development. CE should also provide clear economic and social benefits to the local communities.
All Community Employment (CE) participants have standardised conditions on the programme. The original social welfare rate of the individual is matched by an equivalent CE allowance plus an additional €20 CE participation payment, (minimum CE payment of €208 gross per week) while on the CE scheme. CE participants also receive certified training as part of their Individual Learner Plan while engaged on the schemes. Participants have the opportunity to gain the skills necessary to enter employment after participation on the scheme.
389. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Social Protection if all warmer home scheme employees involved in the fitting and installation receive the same top-up to their social welfare payments; and that bonuses and additional incentives are not offered by some companies. [7845/14]
View answerAll Community Employment (CE) scheme participants receive a weekly rate of an allowance equivalent to their original social welfare rate plus €20 additional payment. Where a person is receiving a social welfare payment of less than or equal to €188.00 per week (inclusive of any dependant, but exclusive of fuel allowance), they receive the CE standard payment of €208.00. Where the original social welfare payment exceeds €188.00 per week, they will receive that same rate on CE plus €20.
If bonuses and/or additional payments are made to individuals in addition to the funds outlined above while they are participating on CE, this matter would warrant further clarification from the sponsoring organisation in order to establish the appropriateness of this payment.
390. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Social Protection if any of her Departmental or Ministerial offices have been swept for electronic or any other type of surveillance or bugging equipment since coming to office in March 2011; the reasons for this check; the results of this check; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7899/14]
View answerThe Department hasn’t conducted any sweep for surveillance devices in its offices since I took up office in March 2011.
391. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will explain the discrepancies in figures provided on the number of drug rehabilitation T-coded participants on community employment schemes in three different parliamentary question replies from her Department and which range between 578 and 835 participants (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7919/14]
View answerWhen Drug Rehabilitation Projects transferred into the Department of Social Protection in January 2012 a review was undertaken on the reporting system and a number of weaknesses were identified. A new reporting system was introduced in January 2012 for drug rehabilitation schemes based on designated ring-fenced places. Ring-fenced places are sub-divided into two categories for the purposes of recording: referred drug rehabilitation clients and CE support workers.
There were some discrepancies in how data on drug rehabilitation places was inputted in the past, the number 578 ring-fenced places for January 2012 is a more accurate representation.
This new system is now used as the basis for reporting since 2012. Table 1 details the number of ring-fenced drug rehabilitation places for referred clients and support workers for the years 2012 and 2013.
Table 1: Ring-fenced Drug Rehabilitation Places: 2012, 2013
|
Year |
Referred Clients |
Support Workers |
Total |
|
2012 |
- |
- |
- |
|
January |
504 |
74 |
578 |
|
February |
495 |
75 |
570 |
|
March |
582 |
154 |
736 |
|
April |
622 |
157 |
779 |
|
May |
598 |
164 |
762 |
|
June |
610 |
159 |
769 |
|
July |
598 |
156 |
754 |
|
August |
582 |
153 |
735 |
|
September |
558 |
152 |
710 |
|
October |
578 |
161 |
739 |
|
November |
642 |
174 |
816 |
|
December |
655 |
169 |
824 |
|
2013 |
- |
- |
- |
|
January |
662 |
168 |
830 |
|
February |
664 |
159 |
823 |
|
March |
676 |
159 |
835 |
|
April |
700 |
149 |
849 |
|
May |
723 |
157 |
880 |
|
June |
737 |
158 |
895 |
|
July |
737 |
155 |
892 |
|
August |
735 |
151 |
886 |
|
September |
733 |
160 |
893 |
|
October |
735 |
169 |
904 |
|
November |
759 |
163 |
922 |
|
December |
790 |
161 |
951 |
DSP CSM IT Extracts
392. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will list new organisations-agencies established in her Department since 9 March 2011; the role and functions and the annual operating budget for these organisations-agencies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7950/14]
View answerThe statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Board, the Pensions Ombudsman and the Social Welfare Tribunal.
No new organisation/agency has been established in my Department since March 2011. However, in relation to the existing Pensions Board, the Public Service Reform Programme provided for a critical review of the integration of the regulatory functions of the Pensions Board with the Financial Regulator and the merging of the Pensions Ombudsman with the Financial Services Ombudsman. The recommendations arising out of the Critical Review on the Pensions Board were approved by Government in April 2013 and were provided for in the Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2013.
It was recommended that the governance structure of the Pensions Board be restructured. Oversight of the Pensions Board will be undertaken by a three person body called the Pensions Authority. This will consist of a Chairperson and two officials from the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Finance.
A separate unpaid Pensions Council, with increased consumer interest representation, will be established to advise me on pensions policy. I expect to appoint the Chairperson of the Pensions Authority shortly. I intend to call for expressions of interest for the appointment to the Pensions Council through the Public Appointments Service.
393. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that an oral hearing is afforded to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare in respect of an application for disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7961/14]
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. The Appeals Officer decided this appeal by way of a summary decision as it was considered that an oral hearing of the case was not warranted. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officers decision on 22 November 2013.
The decision of an Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed in the light of new evidence or new facts. The appeal, in this case, was closed on 22 November 2013 and the person concerned has not been in contact with the Social Welfare Appeals Office since that date.
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.
394. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection in respect of persons who were formerly self-employed and who do not qualify for jobseeker's allowance because of the means test, her plans to address the situation whereby many of them are excluded from qualifying for various activation schemes because they are not in receipt of jobseeker's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7981/14]
View answerAny person of working age who does not qualify for jobseeker’s benefit may claim means tested jobseeker’s allowance. Subject to means and other qualifying conditions, self-employed persons may claim jobseeker’s allowance if their business ceases or there is reduced demand for their services. Typically over 80% of jobseeker’s allowance claims from self-employed persons have been awarded over recent years. People who were previously self-employed and are now in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance have access to the full range of activation measures available to other job-seeker’s allowance recipients.
Given the scale of unemployment levels, 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. 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 the formerly self-employed 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.
Further, unemployed persons not in receipt of payments, including the previously self-employed, may also be eligible to avail of up-skilling opportunities, for example through ETB (formerly FÁS) training for unemployed people, but are not eligible to receive a training allowance while undertaking the course. Springboard and Skillnets courses for unemployed people, funded through the Department of Education and Skills, are also open to people who were previously self-employed, regardless of their social welfare status.
The Work Placement Programme is also open to persons not in receipt of a social welfare payment, although the participant will not receive a payment while on the programme.
395. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a social welfare appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; when a decision will be made in respect of this appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7983/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 27 September 2013. It is a statutory requirement of the appeal 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 11 February 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.
