Written Answers Nos. 307-28
307. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which he continues to monitor the performance of smaller, indigenous companies here in comparison with similar enterprises throughout Europe with a view to ensuring that companies in this jurisdiction are well placed in the context of international competition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18083/14]
View answerOngoing monitoring of the performance of Irish companies and the range of enterprise supports available to them vis-à-vis their competition locally, regionally and internationally is an ongoing element of the work of my Department and the Enterprise Agencies with a view to ensuring that companies in Ireland have a complete suite of supports available to them to enable competition in difficult global markets.
Growing the capability of Irish enterprise to compete in world markets is a specific priority of the Action Plan for Jobs 2014 and a range of actions are identified to facilitate the achievement of 13,000 new full-time jobs and €17.5bn in exports in 2014. These include:
- increasing and enhancing the provision of mentoring services to Irish companies;
- enhancing management development, clustering and indigenous-multinational company links;
- leveraging the links between Irish-owned and foreign-owned enterprises in Ireland;
- maximising the linkages between Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland client companies through a Global Sourcing initiative and other inter-agency collaborations;
- reviewing and updating procurement guidelines; and
- supporting Irish companies seeking to participate in procurement overseas.
Other actions contained in the Action Plan for Jobs 2014 address important factors impacting on the performance of Irish companies including access to finance and competitiveness and reports on these are provided by Government on a quarterly basis.
The Action Plan for Jobs 2014 contains 385 individual actions which will impact on the performance of Irish firms and my Department and its Agencies will continue to monitor developments to ensure that Irish firms remain competitive in the future.
308. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which indigenous Irish companies and multinational corporations continue to have access to European grant aid for research and innovation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18084/14]
View answerWith a budget of just under €80 billion and covering the period 2014 to 2020, Horizon 2020 is the EU's new programme providing access to European funding to researchers, research organisations and industry to engage in leading edge research, thus facilitating European economic recovery. Horizon 2020 is a core part of Europe 2020, the Innovation Union and the European Research Area and is responding to the economic crisis by investing in future jobs and growth, addressing people's concerns about their livelihoods, safety and environment and strengthening the EU’s global position in research, innovation and technology.
Ireland performed to a very high standard in the preceding programme, the Seventh Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Innovation 2007-2013 (FP7) with almost €600 million in funding to participants in Ireland having been allocated from call results to date, thereby achieving the national target set for Irish participation in this programme. It is important to remember that this funding is provided on a competitive basis, with excellence being the key award criterion.
In December 2013, the Government approved a national strategy for participation in Horizon 2020 together with an ambitious target of €1.25 billion in funding to Ireland over the lifetime of Horizon 2020. The strategy sets out a comprehensive range of actions designed to maximise Ireland’s participation in the programme and achieve the target, involving all of the key Departments, agencies and research performers. A Horizon 2020 High Level Group, under the chairmanship of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, has been established to oversee the implementation of the national strategy. This includes identifying key areas of opportunity where Irish researchers, agencies and companies can maximise their participation in the programme.
A national support network of National Contact Points coordinated by Enterprise Ireland has been established, comprising knowledgeable and experienced practitioners from relevant Departments and agencies, charged with helping companies and academics access the funding opportunities presented by Horizon 2020.
I am confident that, building on our successful performance in FP7 and supported by our national strategy and a strong national support network, Irish companies and multinational corporations based in Ireland will continue to have excellent support to compete for Horizon 2020 funding.
309. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which job creation efforts are focused on youth and long-term unemployment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18085/14]
View answerThe Government continues to address the needs of the long-term and youth unemployed through the combined strategies of the Action Plan for Jobs and Pathways to Work. The aim of the Action Plan for Jobs is to improve the operating environment for businesses, to enable companies to start-up, grow and create jobs. The objective of Pathways to Work – which has a particular focus on supporting those who are long-term unemployed - is to ensure that as many jobs as possible are filled by people from the Live Register.
There are a number of actions in both the Action Plan and Pathways to Work which are targeted at, or amenable to, younger people and the long term unemployed. These include the JobBridge internship programme, the JobsPlus initiative, the Youth Guarantee, the Momentum and Springboard training courses, and the ICT Action Plan. These initiatives are collectively delivered by the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Education and Skills.
The JobsPlus Initiative, which was launched last year, provides a financial support to employers who recruit a person who has been unemployed for 12 months or more.
The Government is also increasing the number of training places available for young people this year. For example, the 2014 Action Plan for Jobs includes a commitment to ring-fence 2,000 places for people under 25 years of age under the new iteration of the Momentum programme this year.
Within my own Department, there is a strong emphasis on supporting entrepreneurship this year, and the range of supports available to entrepreneurs - including young entrepreneurs - is being increased. A key initiative in 2014 under the Action Plan for Jobs is the establishment of a new Youth Entrepreneurship Fund.
We are also continuing to improve access to finance for small businesses and new entrepreneurs, including through the Microenterprise Loan Fund. The Local Enterprise Offices which have been formally established today will be the local hub for enterprise support, delivering a comprehensive ‘first stop shop’ service to local entrepreneurs and businesses.
The latest Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) figures show that in the year to Quarter 4 2013, the number of people who were long-term unemployed decreased by 20,900. This is reflected in a drop in the long term unemployment rate from 8.2% to 7.2% year-on-year. The unemployment rate for those aged 15-24 years decreased from 27.2% to 24.2% in the same period.
We will continue to build on this progress through the Action Plan for Jobs and Pathways to Work to ensure that more employment opportunities are available to all those who are seeking work, particularly young people and the long-term unemployed.
310. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of indigenous jobs created over the past three years to date in the wake of foreign direct investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18086/14]
View answerForeign Direct Investment (FDI) has been, and will continue to be, an integral part of Ireland’s economic development strategy. Foreign-owned firms contribute substantially to Ireland’s exports, jobs, expenditure in the Irish economy and to Exchequer funds. FDI plays a key role in stimulating the development of ‘new’ sectors in Ireland, in enhancing our research, development and innovation performance and in accelerating the achievement of critical mass within sectors.
FDI accounts for over 280,000 jobs, both direct and indirect, in the Irish economy. It is estimated that for every 10 jobs created in multinational companies 7 jobs are created in the wider economy in supply and service businesses. Over the past three years there have been a total of 39,157 new jobs created in IDA Ireland client companies. The net jobs gain in the same period is 19,759 which would account for a "knock on" indigenous job creation figure of 13,831.
The 2014 Action Plan for Jobs has set a job creation target of 13,000 new gross jobs for IDA Ireland. In addition the Government has committed additional resources to the agency aimed at increased market presence with the consequential delivery of an additional 10,000 new jobs (6,000 direct and 4,000 indirect), intensifying employment growth over a five year period.
311. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which foreign direct investment and indigenous investment has contributed to job creation in County Kildare over the past three years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18087/14]
View answer312. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the degree to which it is anticipated local indigenous jobs will arise as a consequence of major foreign or indigenous investment in County Kildare over the past three years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18088/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 311 and 312 together.
The Forfás Annual Employment Survey reports on job gains and losses in companies that are supported by the enterprise development agencies.
The survey shows that over the past three years there have been a total of 1,171 new jobs (gross) created in Co. Kildare in IDA Ireland client companies and 1,750 new jobs (gross) created in Enterprise Ireland client companies. It is estimated that for every 10 jobs created in multinational companies 7 are created in the wider economy in supply and service businesses, while on the indigenous side the comparable figure is that for every job created in an Enterprise Ireland company roughly 1.3 jobs are created in the wider economy.
Under the Action Plan for Jobs 2014, IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland are working with my Department to develop a framework for a Regional Enterprise Strategy to better integrate the efforts of enterprise agencies and the other regional stakeholders in building enterprise based on sustainable competitive advantage of the region. This exercise will complement the in-depth analysis of our FDI strategy which is currently being undertaken by Forfás and which will take account of factors such as key trends emerging in FDI best practice internationally, Ireland’s strengths in attracting FDI and any changes to the EU’s State Aid Rules, which will come into effect on 1 July 2014. The results of these two exercises will form the basis of IDA Ireland’s strategy from 2015 onwards.
313. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that a person (details supplied) in County Cavan will be advanced the funds owed to them for the enhanced redundancy scheme from mid-west Cavan community employment scheme; if she will confirm that the distribution of funds owed arising from their enhanced redundancy from mid-west Cavan community employment scheme comes through Pobal; if she will confirm when this payment that is lawfully owed to them will be provided; and if she will confirm whether it is the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation that is ultimately responsible for the distribution of the necessary funds for the enhanced redundancy to be paid out for this scheme. [17705/14]
View answer350. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will correct the record that a person (details supplied) was not in fact dismissed, as detailed in the Labour Court recommendation, reference CD/04/599, which was delivered on 24 April 2006, as this has caused the person significant distress; if she will provide the information her Department received to suggest the person had been dismissed; if she will confirm that the payment owed to the person arises from enhanced redundancy from mid-west Cavan community employment scheme and will be distributed by FÁS; if she will confirm whether it is her Department that is ultimately responsible for the distribution of the necessary funds for the enhanced redundancy to be paid out for this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17707/14]
View answer351. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will detail whether the payment owed to a person (details supplied) in County Cavan arising from the person's enhanced redundancy from mid-west Cavan community employment scheme willl be distributed by FÁS; if she will confirm when this payment that is lawfully owed to the person will be provided; if she will confirm whether it is the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation that is ultimately responsible for the distribution of the necessary funds for the enhanced redundancy to be paid out for this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17708/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 313, 350 and 351 together.
Funding has been allocated for enhanced redundancy of community employment scheme supervisors in the past. To be considered an application for enhanced redundancy must first be made by the employer, Mid-West Cavan Community Employment Project. In this case, no application has been received by this Department from this employer to date.
The circumstances of termination of employment are a matter between the employee and the employer who in this case is Mid-West Cavan Community Employment Project.
314. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in a specific payment issuing to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17841/14]
View answerIn order to qualify for a redundancy payment, an employee must:
- have at least two years continuous service;
- be in employment which is insurable under the Social Welfare Acts;
- be over the age of 16; and
- must have been made redundant as a result of a genuine redundancy situation meaning that the job no longer exists and he/she is not replaced.
It is the responsibility of the employer to pay statutory redundancy to all its eligible employees. Where an employer can prove to the satisfaction of the Department that he/she is unable to pay the statutory redundancy to his/her employees the Department will make lump sum payments directly to the employees and will seek to recover the debt from the employer.
In the case to which the Deputy refers the person was employed by the Department of Education and Skills. Therefore, it falls to that Department to make any statutory redundancy payment that may be due to the person concerned. As such, the question is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills.
315. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she expects emphasis to be placed on efforts to reduce the numbers on the live register in the current year with particular reference to youth and long-term unemployment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18085/14]
View answerIn the first instance, the Government’s primary strategy to reduce unemployment (including long-term and youth unemployment) is through policies to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting competitiveness and productivity. Economic recovery will underpin jobs growth. This strategy is working. Employment rose by 61,000 during 2013, which represents a year-on-year increase of 3.3%. The unemployment rate has fallen to 11.8% – the lowest rate in 5 years – and is down from a peak of just over 15% in 2011.
Long term unemployment has fallen from 196,000 at the end of 2011 to 155,000 at the end of 2013, a decline of over 40,000 in less than two years. As a result the long-term unemployment rate had fallen to 7.2% down from a peak of over 9%. Similarly, youth unemployment has also fallen, from 67,700 at the end of 2011 to 48,800 at the end of 2013. As a result the youth unemployment rate had fallen to 24% down from a peak of 33%.
Nevertheless, despite the progress that has been made, the Government recognises that the both youth unemployment and long-term unemployment remain unacceptably high. Hence, the Government also recognises the need for additional activation measures in the interim while the economy recovers. This is the rationale behind the Government’s Pathways to Work strategy and the Youth Guarantee, both of which are being led by my Department.
Pathways set a target of moving 75,000 of the 180,800 people who were on the Live Register for over a year (long-term unemployed) at the beginning of 2012, into employment by the end of 2015. By the end of February this year, over 45,000 of this group had already moved into employment, 13,000 of whom had taken up part-time employment.
Pathways to Work includes a wide range of programmes and services to help jobseekers back to employment. There follows a table which sets out the level of provision on programmes for 2014, indicating also which programmes are particularly targeted at the long-term unemployed. These include programmes such as JobsBridge, JobsPlus and Momentum introduced by this Government and schemes such as Community Employment and Tús where we have significantly increased the number of places available.
In summary, Pathways to Work sets out a strategy for the full roll-out of a radically reformed public employment service by 2015. The Government is currently on target to meet this goal.
The implementation of the Youth Guarantee is a medium-term policy of the Irish Government. 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.
A breakdown of likely activation places available for 2014 is presented in the following table. The programmes where being long-term unemployed is an eligibility requirement are indicated, as well the expected inflow of young people.
Expected participation, activation programmes, 2014
|
Programme |
Average participation |
Expected inflow of young people |
Inflow of new participants |
Aimed at Long Term Unemployed ? |
|
Youthreach/CTC |
6,000 |
3,300 |
3,300 |
- |
|
JobBridge (including planned reserve) |
7,700 |
5,000 |
13,300 |
- |
|
Tús |
7,500 |
1,000 |
7,500 |
Yes |
|
JobsPlus |
4,000 |
1,500 |
2,000 |
Yes |
|
Momentum |
6,500 |
2,000 |
6,500 |
Yes |
|
BTEA (excl Momentum) |
18,500 |
3,300 |
9,300 |
- |
|
BTWEA |
11,000 |
200 |
5,500 |
Yes |
|
VTOS |
5,600 |
500 |
2,800 |
|
|
FÁS/Solas |
10,300 |
9,500 |
25,000 |
40% target |
|
CEB youth Entrepreneurship Training and Mentoring supports |
- |
700 |
700 |
- |
|
CEB/MFI micro-loans for young people |
- |
150 |
150 |
- |
|
International Work Experience and Training |
250 |
250 |
250 |
- |
|
Gateway |
3,000 |
450 |
3,000 |
Yes |
|
Community Employment |
25,300 |
500 |
12,700 |
Yes |
|
Total |
105,650 |
28,350 |
92,000 |
- |
|
PLCs Apprenticeship |
35,000 8,000 |
22,000 2,000 |
32,000 2,500 |
- |
|
Vocational Third Level |
- |
- |
- |
It is estimated that at least 50% of the 41,000 entrants to third level each year are entering courses leading towards defined occupations |
316. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection in view of the significant saving carers make for the State, her views on the making the carer's allowance exempt from means assessment; and if she will reinstate the full respite care grant [17326/14]
View answerI would like to acknowledge at the outset the valuable contribution that carers make to society. In recognition of this fact, carers receive significant income supports from my Department - among the highest rates of income support in Europe. For example, a person getting certain qualifying payments and also providing full-time care and attention to another person can keep their main social welfare payment and get a half-rate carer’s allowance as well, while carers also receive a free travel pass and if they reside with the care recipient, are eligible for the household benefits package.
I would also point out that the income disregard and means test for carers allowance is the most generous in the social welfare system. A couple under 66 with two children, earning a joint annual income of up to €35,400 can qualify for the maximum rate of carer’s allowance while a couple earning €59,300 will still qualify for the minimum rate. There are no plans to remove the means test from carers at this time.
Expenditure on carer’s payments has increased significantly in recent years. The estimated expenditure on carers in 2014 is around €806 million: €557 million on carer’s allowance, €21.5 million on carer’s benefit, €122 million on the respite care grant and €105 on domiciliary care allowance.
This grant is paid to approximately 75,000 people each year, with some 5,000 people in receipt of more than one grant as they care for more than one person, and while I am aware that the reduction in the grant in 2013 has implications for carers and their families, I am not in a position to amend the rate of respite care grant at this time.
317. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding farm assist in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [17329/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned together with the relevant Departmental papers were received by that office on 4 March 2014 and that the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The information provided by the Deputy will be brought to the attention of the Appeals Officer.
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.
318. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an appeal for domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17334/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 13 February 2014. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral appeal 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.
319. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the total legal costs incurred by her Department in 2011, 2012, 2013 and estimated in 2014. [17362/14]
View answerThe Department incurs expenditure on costs associated with legal cases from Vote 37 Department of Social Protection and the Social Insurance Fund. The following table sets out legal costs paid by the Department for the period 2011 to 14 April 2014 -
|
Year |
Amount € |
|
2011 |
1,239,266 |
|
2012 |
453,262 |
|
2013 |
560,825 |
|
1/1/2014 – 14/4/2014 |
289,248 |
|
Total: |
2,542,601 |
Costs relating to prosecutions arising from fraudulent claims made to the Department are borne by the Chief States Solicitors Office.
The Department is involved in a number of pending legal proceedings which may generate legal costs to the Department, depending on the outcome of the litigation. Any actual amount or the timing of potential costs arising from these proceedings is uncertain.
320. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the total external public relations costs incurred by her Department in 2011, 2012, 2013 and estimated in 2014. [17378/14]
View answerDuring the period in question, the Department has not incurred any expenditure on public relations. The Department has, however, used the services of one external public relations firm for management training purposes, details of which are outlined as follows. There are no estimated costs relating to external public relation expenditure for 2014.
|
Year |
Company |
Function |
Cost |
|
2012 |
Carr Communications, 5 Northumberland Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 |
Communications training for senior management |
€5,150 |
321. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an application for domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17385/14]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on 27 March 2014. This application has been forwarded to one of the Department's Medical Assessors for their medical opinion. Upon receipt of this opinion, a decision will be made and notified to the person concerned. It can currently take up to 10 weeks to process an application for DCA.
322. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if agreement can be reached in respect of an overpayment in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17392/14]
View answerInvalidity pension is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the contribution conditions.
It is the Department's policy to pursue all debts with the aim of recouping the money owed within the shortest possible timeframe. To this end, the department may withhold any arrears due to a customer and/or implement weekly deductions of up to 15% of the personal rate payable to the customer.
When determining a recovery plan, due consideration is given to the cause, magnitude and age of the debt; previous efforts made by the customer to repay the debt and the current financial circumstances of each customer.
A letter issued to the person concerned on 17 January 2014 proposing to recover his debt to the department by withholding arrears of invalidity pension of €4,401.99 due to him and to recover the balance of the debt through weekly deductions of €29.00 from his invalidity pension payment. He was offered the opportunity to comment on the proposal and to provide relevant facts and circumstances that he wished to be considered prior to a recovery plan being implemented. A return addressed envelope was enclosed for his convenience.
To date, the person has not provided any information about his current financial circumstances or any comment on the Department’s proposals to recover the debt. This information is required in order to devise an appropriate recovery plan with the person concerned input. An alternative repayment plan cannot be considered until the requested information is received. Once received the Department will revisit the recovery plan.
323. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) has been waiting since 4 March 2013 for a decision on the review of their application for jobseeker's allowance. [17404/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned together with the relevant Departmental papers were received by that office on 27 February 2014 and that the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer 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.
324. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the way a resolution can be found to the ongoing difficulties in the Irish aviation superannuation scheme; and if she is examining ways in which deferred members of the scheme could have a greater input in working out proposals to address the difficulties with the scheme. [17405/14]
View answer325. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection her position on a recent complaint submitted by a group of former workers of a company (details supplied) in respect of a pension scheme to the Pensions Board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17406/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 324 and 325 together.
While I am aware of the funding challenges facing the Irish Airlines Staff Superannuation Scheme and indeed many other pension schemes at this time, you will appreciate that it is not appropriate for me to comment on these developments as these are a matter for the management of the company and the trustees of the relevant pension scheme.
You will be aware that a number of legislative measures have been put in place in recent years to assist employers and the trustees of pension schemes respond to the funding challenge and to ensure that pension schemes are sustainable into the future.
The matter of representation of deferred scheme members in consideration of proposals to address difficulties with a scheme needs to be considered in the context of engagement with trustees and in the broader industrial relations context. I have written to my colleague, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in this regard and my officials have engaged with officials from that Department to consider the issues arising.
The Pensions Authority supervises the regulation of individual schemes in accordance with the Pensions Act. The Pensions Authority is an agency under the aegis of my Department and exercises its functions independently of the Department. I would expect that the Authority will address the matters raised with them in accordance with their remit under the Pensions Act.
326. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Social Protection her views regarding the decision to substantially reduce a weekly personal rate of jobseeker's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Louth, noting that the decision has had serious financial implications on the household; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17409/14]
View answerFollowing a review of the jobseeker’s allowance claim of the person concerned, his weekly means were re-assessed by a Deciding Officer of the Department as €107.00 per week based on his spouse’s earnings for employment.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was received in that office on 19 February 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 10 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.
327. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons availing of community work placements under the Tús scheme since its establishment in the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014. [17411/14]
View answerTús, the community work placement initiative introduced during 2011, was set up to provide short-term, quality 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.
At the week ending 11 April 2014, there are a total of 7405 participants and 369 supervisors currently engaged on Tús. The following table reflects the numbers of persons who have commenced on Tús each year since its establishment to date.
Table: Commencements on Tús
|
Year |
Participants |
Supervisors |
|
2011 |
2,187 |
156 |
|
2012 |
4,902 |
111 |
|
2013 |
7,639 |
133 |
|
2014* |
2,028 |
16 |
*to week ending 11/4/14
328. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons employed under the JobsPlus scheme since its establishment; and the amount of expenditure incurred on the scheme to date. [17437/14]
View answerThe JobsPlus Incentive was introduced on 1 July, 2013 and replaced the existing Employer Job (PRSI) Incentive Scheme and the Revenue Job Assist. JobsPlus provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers who recruit employees from those who are long term on the live register. The incentive is payable, on a monthly basis, over a two year period if the employee is retained in full time employment for two years. JobsPlus is biased in favour of those who are longer term unemployed. The value of the aggregate monthly payments is €7,500 for employing a jobseeker 12 to 24 months on the live register and €10,000 if the jobseeker was on the live register for over 24 months. At the end of March 2014, payments under the JobsPlus scheme had been made in respect of 1,874 new jobs with expenditure totalling €2.83 million to date. Progress is detailed in the following table. The Deputy should note that 60% of beneficiaries were previously over 24 months on the live register.
Table: JobsPlus - Number of Employee Supported
|
Month |
Total |
|
August 2013 |
85 |
|
September 2013 |
235 |
|
October 2013 |
517 |
|
November 2013 |
844 |
|
December 2013 |
1,114 |
|
January 2014 |
1,286 |
|
February 2014 |
1,589 |
|
March 2014 |
1,874 |
