Written Answers Nos 97-102
97. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will revisit the criteria for the back to education allowance for students training to be secondary teachers in view of the fact that the qualification is now at masters level. [16871/14]
View answerThe back to education allowance (BTEA) scheme is designed to support second chance education. BTEA covers full-time second level courses and third level courses to include a higher diploma qualification in any discipline and the professional diploma in education which are both at level 8 in the national framework of qualifications (NFQ). The BTEA does not currently provide income support for students pursuing other postgraduate qualifications such as a masters or a doctorate qualification.
99. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will reconsider the method by which casual workers are means assessed for receipt of jobseeker's payments, that is, where a person can lose social welfare entitlement for a full day when working only for one or two hours of that day, thus acting as a deterrent to those wishing to return to work; if she will consider permitting a jobseeker to work a set number of hours per week to a maximum cap while still maintaining a payment on a sliding scale from her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16921/14]
View answerThe jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker’s allowance schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative full-time employment. The 2014 Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseekers’ schemes of €3.28 billion.
It is a fundamental condition of both schemes that a person must be fully unemployed for four days in any period of seven consecutive days in order to qualify for a jobseeker’s payment. Therefore a person who works more than three days every week, will not qualify for a jobseeker’s payment.
Under the jobseeker’s benefit scheme, provided an individual works three days or less per week they will lose €37.60 of their jobseeker’s payment for every day they work. Under the jobseeker’s allowance scheme provided a jobseeker works three days or less per week and they satisfy the means test they will receive a jobseeker’s allowance payment for that week.
Where a jobseeker takes up employment the part-time job incentive scheme may, subject to scheme criteria, support them in making such a transition to employment. The scheme allows persons who are long-term unemployed to take up part-time employment for less than 24 hours per week and receive a weekly income supplement. Participants in this scheme are expected to continue to make efforts to find full-time work.
It is recognised that a changing labour market has resulted in a move away from the more traditional work patterns, resulting in an increase in the number of persons employed for less than a full week. This is an important policy issue for my Department but any changes to the current criteria could have significant cost implications.
The Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare, which has already reported to me on a number of important policy areas, is now looking at the whole area of atypical work including the structure and operation of the jobseekers’ schemes. I look forward to their recommendations on this issue over the coming months.
101. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Social Protection when disability allowance arrears will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16939/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 9 January 2014. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals 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 26 March 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.
102. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to extend the Tús scheme placement from 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16962/14]
View answerTús, the community work placement initiative introduced during 2011, was set up to provide short-term, work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. This initiative is being delivered through the network of local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta. Tús is designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work readiness thereby improving a person’s opportunities in returning to the labour market.
The duration of the Tús contract was set to reflect a number of inter-related elements. These include the need to ensure that limited numbers of placements available are opened to those on the live register, that weaknesses identified in other work programmes resulting from longer duration placements are not replicated in Tús, optimisation of the resources available, and how Tús fits with the objectives set out in the Government’s activation policies in Pathways to Work.
It also ensures that as many people unemployed for over 12 months are able to benefit from the initiative. As of the week ending 30th March 2014, 7,233 participants were working and in receipt of a payment on Tús. An additional 368 full-time supervisory/team leader personnel had been engaged by the implementing bodies for Tús. Since its inception in July 2011, some 16,314 participants have been engaged on Tús.
There are no circumstances under which a person’s term on Tús will be extended beyond 12 months and I consider the existing 12-month period on Tús to be adequate to meet the programme’s objectives.
