Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:26. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the JobPath tender process. [10345/14]
View answerJob Initiatives
Questions (26)
Written answers
JobPath is the Government’s new programme of labour market activation aimed specifically at the long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed.
On 1 July 2013, the Department published a Prior Information Notice (PIN) in which it notified the market that it was considering the potential of contracting private/third party providers of employment services. A consultation process was initiated whereby the Department held two information sessions in late July 2013 at which it outlined its thinking in relation to JobPath and invited responses. On the 12th of December 2013, the Department published a contract notice inviting tenders for the provision of JobPath services. The closing date for receipt of JobPath tenders is the 28th of February 2014. Taking account of the time required for the tender evaluation process, it is expected that contracts will be awarded in summer 2014. Subject to the detail of any proposals received through the tender process it is expected that successful tenderers will require about 6 months to set up operations following contract award. On this basis JobPath should commence operations towards the end of this year.
National Internship Scheme Administration
Questions (27, 41, 44)
Joe Higgins
Question:27. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection if any Department or statutory body has been banned from making use of the JobBridge scheme. [10477/14]
View answerJoe Higgins
Question:41. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of Members of the Oireachtas who employ persons under the JobBridge scheme either in their constituency offices or in companies they own; if she will provide the names of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10478/14]
View answerAengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:44. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for her decision to make JobBridge an involuntary scheme for young persons as part of the Youth Guarantee in view of the regular emphasis she placed on the voluntary nature of participation on the scheme theretofore. [10344/14]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 41 and 44 together.
The total cost to the Exchequer of JobBridge, including underlying social welfare and top-up payments, is approximately €80m. per annum. JobBridge is one of the key initiatives introduced to assist individuals to bridge the gap between unemployment and the world of work. To date over 26,000 jobseekers and some 12,000 companies have participated in the scheme. There are over 6,500 jobseekers currently participating.
I have taken the view that, as participation as a host organisation is voluntary and as host organisations receive no payment from the State in relation to their participation in JobBridge, it is not necessary to publish their names. In coming to this view I am informed by the very high progression to employment rates under the JobBridge scheme, which an independent evaluation by Indecon shows to be in excess of 60%, and am concerned that nothing should be done that might discourage companies from participating in the scheme.
The scheme is not currently open to members of the Oireachtas to recruit interns to undertake an internship in their constituency offices nor is it open to political parties to recruit interns. However, companies owned by members of the Oireachtas may participate in the scheme provided that the company is fully compliant with all scheme eligibility criteria. The Department does not collect data in relation to the ownership of companies that host interns.
Under the Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan, the Department is developing a variant of the JobBridge scheme for the most disadvantaged young people. The participation of clients, once referred by the Department, will be non-discretionary. This is because:
The variant scheme will see the Department dedicate extensive resources to the young jobseekers involved, and in the context of a guaranteed offer, the standard of mutual commitment must be higher.
The approach to recruitment and candidate preparation will be tailored specifically to reflect the needs of these young people.
Social Welfare Appeals Data
Questions (28)
Willie O'Dea
Question:28. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of appeals made by those refused the invalidity pension, the carer's allowance and the disability allowance for 2013 and to date in 2014; the percentage of successful appeals arising from those appeals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10447/14]
View answerWritten answers
The figures requested by the Deputy relating to the number of invalidity pension, carer's allowance and disability allowance appeals received and finalised during 2013 and to the end of January 2014, and the percentage of those appeals which were successful, are provided in the table below.
A total of 4,501 invalidity pension appeals were received during 2013. 6,968 invalidity pension appeals were finalised during that year. 80.4% of the appeals which were finalised had a successful outcome for the appellant. 32.2% 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. During the first month of 2014 a total of 371 invalidity pension appeals were received and 605 invalidity pension appeals were finalised. 77.8% of the appeals which were finalised had a successful outcome for the appellant. 29.1% of those successful appeals were revised decisions of Deciding Officers.
A total of 3,869 carer’s allowance appeals were received during 2013. 3,722 carer’s allowance appeals were finalised during that year. 58.0% of the appeals which were finalised had a successful outcome for the appellant. 27.9% of those successful appeals were revised decisions made by deciding officers who reviewed the claim following the initial disallowance. During the first month of 2014 a total of 218 carer’s allowance appeals were received and 347 carer’s allowance appeals were finalised. 45.8% of those appeals which were finalised had a successful outcome for the appellant. 18.7% of those successful appeals were revised decisions of Deciding Officers.
The position with regard to disability allowance appeals is that a total of 6,836 appeals were received during 2013 and 7,745 disability allowance appeals were finalised during that year. 61.4% of those appeals which were finalised had a successful outcome for the appellant and 10.2% of those successful appeals were revised decisions made by deciding officers. During the first month of 2014 a total of 684 disability allowance appeals were received and 651 disability allowance appeals were finalised. 67.8% of those appeals which were finalised had a successful outcome for the appellant. 13.2% of those successful appeals were revised decisions of Deciding Officers.
The decisions which were revised following a review by a Deciding Officer of my Department 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 had been made. In such cases an Appeals Officer decision was not necessary.
Table: Invalidity Pension, Carers Allowance and Disability Allowance – appeals registered and finalised in 2013 and to end January 2014 and percentage successful
|
Scheme |
Year |
Appeals Registered |
Appeals Finalised |
Percentage of appeals allowed by an Appeals Officer |
Percentage of appeals partially allowed by an Appeals Officer |
Percentage of appeals allowed on review by a Deciding Officer |
|
2013 |
4,501 |
6,968 |
47.9% |
0.3% |
32.2% |
|
|
Invalidity Pension |
2014 (to end January 2014) |
371 |
605 |
48.4% |
0.3% |
29.1% |
|
2013 |
3,869 |
3,722 |
26.6% |
3.5% |
27.9% |
|
|
Carer's Allowance |
2014 (to end January 2014) |
218 |
347 |
23.6% |
3.5% |
18.7% |
|
2013 |
6,836 |
7,745 |
50.1% |
1.1% |
10.2% |
|
|
Disability Allowance |
2014 (to end January 2014) |
684 |
651 |
54.4% |
0.2% |
13.2% |
Jobseeker's Allowance Payments
Questions (29)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:29. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is satisfied that the payment of €100 to jobseeker's aged 18-24 years and €144 to 25 year olds is not discriminatory on grounds of age as per the Equality Act 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10471/14]
View answerWritten answers
There were 300,590 recipients of jobseeker’s allowance at the end of December last and nearly €3.1 billion was spent on the scheme in 2013. Budget 2014 extended the reduced rates of jobseeker’s allowance to recipients under 26 years of age. This measure aims to incentivise young jobseeker’s allowance recipients to avail of education and training opportunities. Such rates in respect of younger jobseekers were first introduced in 2009. By extending the €100 jobseeker’s allowance rate to ages 22, 23 and 24 the changes provide that claimants in this age bracket will be €60 better off if they engage in education or training as they will then receive €160 per week. Persons aged 25, had previously been subject to no financial incentive measure, will now receive €144 per week. These individuals will generally be €16 better off if they engage in education or training as they will now receive €160 per week. The decision to reduce the amount of jobseeker’s allowance payable to young jobseekers was made on foot of on-going consideration of unemployment and activation policy by Government. The changes are not discriminatory but rather are targeted measures aimed at protecting young people from welfare dependency.
I believe that it is necessary to provide young jobseekers with a strong financial incentive to engage in education or training or to take up employment. If they do not improve their skills, it will be much more difficult for them to avail of job opportunities as the economy recovers and they are at risk of becoming long term unemployed from a young age.
Question No. 30 answered with Question No. 9.
Food Poverty
Questions (31)
Willie O'Dea
Question:31. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the progress in tackling food poverty in Ireland as part of the commitment to do so in the programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10446/14]
View answerWritten answers
There is no specific commitment in the Programme for Government to tackle food poverty and no official measure of food poverty.
The Department of Social Protection’s primary role is to provide a minimum standard of living through the social protection system. Recently published ESRI research shows that transfers lifted almost 40 per cent of the population out of poverty in 2011, which equates to a reduction of 71 per cent in the pre-social transfer at-risk-of-poverty rate. As a result, Ireland is among the best performing countries in the EU in reducing poverty through social transfers. This reflects the continuation of substantial State investment in the social protection system, despite the challenges and constraints of the economic and fiscal crisis.
In addition, the Department’s school meals programme is a targeted intervention for children at risk of food poverty and educational disadvantage. The Department has provided €37 million for the programme in 2014 which will benefit over 205,000 children across some 1,600 schools and organisations, for the academic year. In Budget 2014, I announced the provision of additional breakfast clubs to support school going children in disadvantaged areas.
Question No. 32 answered with Question No. 16.