Written Answers Nos. 117-126
117. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the saving achieved each year in the past three years by the change in the method of means testing for participants of the rural social scheme whereby participants now get a payment of €208 per week or €20 more than their current payment, whichever is greater, irrespective of family make-up; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15839/14]
View answerThe rural social scheme (RSS) provides income support for farmers and those engaged in fishing who have an entitlement to specified social welfare payments.
Although there has been no change in the qualifying criteria for eligibility to participate on the RSS, all new entrants to the scheme from 17th September 2012 are paid the equivalent of their existing rate of social welfare payment plus €20 per week, subject to a minimum weekly payment of €208. These changes bring the payment rates in line with other similar schemes, such as community employment, and removed the anomaly whereby a person with a low value of farm assist payment, as a result of high means, was remunerated disproportionately when they accessed the RSS.
As the Deputy is aware, the Department has not required participants to vacate their positions on the scheme after a set period of time. The turnover of participants is low at around 5% annually. Since September 2012, 239 positions have become vacant and have been filled with estimated savings of approximately €10,000 to date as a result of the changes outlined above.
120. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if rent support will be restored in the interim in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15929/14]
View answerIn order to be eligible to receive rent supplement an applicant must be registered for housing with and have a Housing Needs Assessment carried out by their Local Housing Authority. A review of his claim was recently undertaken during which it came to light that there was no evidence of this requirement. Subsequently on 30th January 2014 a letter was issued to the person concerned from his Rents Unit informing him that he needed to provide this, and he was requested to respond by 28th February 2014. The letter also stated that failure to provide the information could result in further payments of his rent supplement being stopped. A response had still not been received by 3rd March 2014, and consequently his payment was suspended. Payments of rent supplement will be restored when the person concerned has complied with the requirement to provide proof of his Housing Needs Assessment.
121. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when jobseeker's allowance will be approved in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15930/14]
View answerThe person concerned has been in receipt of the personal rate of jobseeker's assistance since December 2013. Following her marriage on 3 March 2014 she made an application for an increase for an adult dependant. As part of the authorisation process the person concerned and her spouse were interviewed by a Social Welfare Inspector. The full financial circumstances of her spouse were not disclosed, and consequently the decision was taken that her jobseeker's allowance claim would be disallowed. The person concerned has been sent written notification of this decision and of her right to appeal it to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
122. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if further consideration can be given to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who is homeless due to an inability to meet rent demands and the fact that existing rent support was short of requirements; if such cases which have resulted in homelessness merit any special attention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15931/14]
View answerThe purpose of the rent supplement scheme 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. Following an extensive review of the private rental market new revised rent limits were introduced and came into effect on 17 June 2013, consequently, clients with rents over these limits are expected to bring their rent within the set limits or source alternative accommodation.
In this case, the client was provided with in excess of the statutory requirement of 13 weeks to bring her rent within the set limits applicable to her circumstances, or source alternative accommodation within the rent limit. Departmental records show the client is still residing at this address though she is no longer in receipt of a rent allowance. When the client secures alternative accommodation within the limits she should reapply for rent supplement and her case will be expedited accordingly.
123. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if mortgage interest support is available in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15933/14]
View answerThe mortgage interest supplement claim of the person concerned was disallowed following a review of the applicant's circumstances. The designated person established that an entitlement no longer existed to mortgage interest supplement given the means of the applicant. The person concerned has been advised that it is open to him to submit an appeal to the social welfare appeals office.
124. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to increasing rent support in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15934/14]
View answerThe client concerned is currently in receipt of her full entitlement to rent supplement based on her household circumstances. Should the client's circumstances change in the future, the Department will reassess her claim accordingly.
125. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the correct level of jobseeker's allowance payable in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15935/14]
View answerWhere a claimant and their spouse are both in receipt of jobseeker's allowance the total weekly amount payable is limited to the family rate, that is, the personal rate plus increases for a qualified adult and child dependants.
The person concerned and his spouse are both in receipt of jobseekers allowance and therefore the amount payable to each is limited to €156.40 per week which is equivalent to their family rate of €312.80 per week (personal rate of €188 plus increase for qualified adult of €124.80).
126. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the agency and-or person that citizens interested in accessing the Europe for Citizens Programme 2014-20 should contact. [15831/14]
View answerInformation on the Europe for Citizens Programme for Ireland is available from Europe for Citizens Point Ireland IPA (Institute of Public Administration) 57-61 Lansdowne Road Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 and at the link below:- http://ec.europa.eu/citizenship/about-the-europe-for-citizens-programme/the-europe-for-citizens-programme-in-the-member-states/ireland/index_en.htm
