Joanna Tuffy
Question:120. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the implementation of the Youth Guarantee. [12627/14]
View answerYouth Guarantee
Questions (120)
Written answers
Implementation of the Youth Guarantee is a medium-term policy of the Irish Government. It is envisaged that the guarantee as it affects those aged under 18 years will be implemented within 2 years, i.e. by the end of 2015. The guarantee of an offer of training, education or work experience for those aged 18-24 years after a four month period should be implemented on a phased basis.
Starting in 2014, and for completion by the end of 2014, processes and programmes will be progressively rolled out to ensure that all of those young unemployed people who need most support (i.e. are assessed as having a low probability of securing employment in the absence of support from the Public Employment Services) will receive a Youth Guarantee offer within four months. During 2014–2015 all long-term unemployed young people under 25 will be engaged by the Public Employment Service and will receive a Youth Guarantee offer if still unemployed after four months of this engagement process commencing.
The operation and coverage of the Youth Guarantee offer described above will be reviewed before the end of 2015, in the light of developments in the economy and in the labour market. Should the labour market situation of young people improve during this period the review will examine opportunities to broaden and deepen the level of supports offered in respect of those young people who continue to be unemployed.
The Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan was transmitted to the European Commission in December and was officially launched on 28 January this year. The Commission has responded favourably to the Plan.
Social Welfare Benefits Expenditure
Questions (121, 122)
Heather Humphreys
Question:121. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline in tabular form the amount paid in jobseeker's allowance in the years 2008 to 2013, inclusive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12636/14]
View answerHeather Humphreys
Question:122. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline in tabular form the amount paid in jobseeker's benefit in the years 2008 to 2013, inclusive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12639/14]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 122 together.
The information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the following tabular statement:
Jobseeker’s allowance and jobseeker’s benefit expenditure 2008 to 2013 (Estimated)
|
- |
2008 €000 |
2009 €000 |
2010 €000 |
2011 €000 |
2012 €000 |
2013 €000 (Estimate) |
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance |
1,158,851 |
2,004,556 |
2,809,381 |
2,974,987 |
3,054,741 |
3,098,210 |
|
Jobseeker’s Benefit |
928,844 |
1,733,816 |
1,285,438 |
926,900 |
736,881 |
564,200 |
Rent Supplement Scheme Applications
Questions (123)
Bernard Durkan
Question:123. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason rent support was terminated in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12702/14]
View answerWritten answers
The rent supplement of the client concerned was initially suspended by a local Community Welfare Officer on 31 October 2012, pending the completion and return of the necessary rent review forms to verify rent payable was within the statutory limits for that area. The Department is still awaiting confirmation of same.
Community Employment Schemes Places
Questions (124)
Bernard Durkan
Question:124. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if, in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare, who was offered a position on a community employment scheme in November 2013, the relevant files might be updated to indicate inability to become involved in any such scheme due to their health condition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12704/14]
View answerWritten answers
A review of the case of the person concerned is currently being undertaken, and as part of the review process Maynooth Employment Services will contact the person concerned shortly in order to request further information.
Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility
Questions (125)
Bernard Durkan
Question:125. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the eligibility for jobseeker's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12705/14]
View answerWritten answers
The claim of the person concerned for jobseeker's allowance was disallowed as the Deciding Officer was not satisfied that the person concerned had fully disclosed her means. It is open to the person concerned to appeal this decision.
Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility
Questions (126)
Bernard Durkan
Question:126. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which rent support remains available to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22. [12706/14]
View answerWritten answers
A review has been carried out on the rent supplement claim of the person concerned. The supplement has been increased as his daughter with whom he resides is no longer in receipt of a social welfare payment but is attending full time education. This increase in the rent supplement of the person concerned will issue with the next monthly payment.
Question No. 127 withdrawn.
Pension Provisions
Questions (128)
Bernard Durkan
Question:128. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which previous submissions in respect of unrecorded employment have been examined by her Department with a view to increasing the level of payment of old age pension in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12708/14]
View answerWritten answers
The person concerned currently qualifies for a reduced rate of State pension (contributory), based on a yearly average of 19 contributions, paid or credited, for the period 16 July 1962 to 31 December 2010. According to the record held by the Department, the person concerned has no social insurance contributions during the period 1969 to 1997.
On foot of previous representations from the Deputy, the Department contacted the person concerned to establish if there were additional contributions due for the period in question. The information was sought on 24 May 2011, 12 September 2011 and 20 November 2012. To date no response has been received from the person concerned. If the person concerned provides further information in relation to his social insurance record, his claim for State pension (contributory) will be reviewed and he will be notified of the outcome without delay.
Invalidity Pension Eligibility
Questions (129)
Bernard Durkan
Question:129. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if invalidity pension already refused or entitlement to disability allowance, as appropriate, may be considered in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12711/14]
View answerWritten answers
Invalidity pension is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the contribution conditions. A previous claim for invalidity pension in respect of the person concerned was refused on 11 March 2013 as the claimant did not satisfy the medical criteria.
A new claim for invalidity pension for the person concerned was received on 20 January 2014. The medical evidence provided by the claimant in support of his claim was examined by a medical assessor who was of the opinion that the person concerned is not eligible for invalidity pension as he does not satisfy the medical criteria. The application for invalidity pension was, accordingly, disallowed by a deciding officer. The applicant was notified of this decision on 03 March 2014 and advised of his right to request a review of the decision and also of his right to lodge an appeal with the social welfare appeals office. To date no further correspondence has been received from the person concerned.
Disability Allowance is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged over 16 and under 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least on year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency test. A completed application form for disability allowance must be submitted to the Department in order to have eligibility checked and a formal decision made on entitlement. To date no application for disability allowance has been received, an application form has issued to the person concerned 11 March 2014 should he wish to apply.
Guardian's Payment Appeals
Questions (130)
Bernard Durkan
Question:130. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will indicate, notwithstanding her replies to previous parliamentary questions in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare whose application for guardianship payment has been refused, if their case might be reviewed in view of the extreme hardship caused and due to the fact that they continued to support and raise a child whose mother has not made contact for several years and offers no support; if it is recognised that the original decision made by the deciding offer and upheld on appeal was arrived at notwithstanding the existence of clearly compelling evidence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12712/14]
View answerWritten answers
Having considered all of the evidence available, the Guardian’s payment (contributory) claim of the person concerned was disallowed by the Deciding Officer on 30 May 2012 because the care arrangements in place for the child were the result of a private mutual agreement between the child’s mother and the applicant. The child was not deemed to be abandoned as defined in social welfare legislation. The person concerned appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office and the Appeals Officer upheld the decision of the Deciding Officer on 15 March 2013.
Under social welfare legislation, the decision of an Appeals Officer is final. If the person concerned has new facts or evidence that was not previously available to the Deciding Officer or the Appeals Officer, they should forward it to the Guardian’s payments section and request a review. If the person concerned is experiencing financial hardship it is open to them to contact their local Community Welfare Service to examine their possible entitlement to supplementary welfare allowance or if they are in employment they may have be eligible for Family income supplement. Both of these payments provide extra income support to qualified people who are experiencing financial difficulties.