Written Answers Nos. 88-95
88. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has been involved in stakeholder consultations in regard to the proposed merger between Fingal Leader Partnership Company and Blanchardstown Area Partnership; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18160/14]
View answer89. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department is considering any changes to existing local employment service or other external service contracts as part of a proposed new country-wide structure for Department of Social Protection services in Fingal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18161/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 89 together.
This Department is aware of the proposals being advanced by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government for the future delivery of local and community initiatives in Fingal. My understanding is that Blanchardstown Area Partnership and Fingal Leader Partnership plan to merge their operations and that Fingal County Council are facilitating this process and chairs an oversight committee comprising a number of stakeholders and interested parties. The Department of Social Protection is part of this process.
The two companies concerned deliver a broad range of services to - and on behalf of - this Department, including supports for jobseekers, the operation of local employment services and in the provision of work placements under Tús and community employment. The Department supported a similar and successful merger of local development companies in South Dublin County Council during 2012 without any negative impact to the delivery of the various schemes implemented previously by the pre-merger companies. The Department is committed to working with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Fingal County Council and the two companies in supporting the successful conclusion of the merger process which is designed to provide enhanced capacity for the future delivery of a range of programmes across a number of policy areas.
90. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection are there any plans to change the rural social scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18224/14]
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. Participants are engaged for 19½ hours per week to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities. The scheme currently provides work opportunities for around 2,600 participants and 130 supervisory staff. Funding of €45m is earmarked for the scheme in 2014. This level of funding will allow the scheme to continue along the same lines in 2014 as in previous years but does not allow for any increase in the overall numbers.
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (D/PER) recently published a Focused Policy Assessment of the RSS. As with all schemes, the Department is required to ensure that the RSS remains effective, provides value for money and is in line with other policies being developed and delivered. The recommendations made in the D/PER Report will be carefully examined by my Department in the coming weeks to determine the improvements, if any, that should be made to the RSS.
91. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she is aware of the situation affecting tenants on local authority housing lists currently dependent on rent support which in turn is inadequate to meet their needs in a rapidly changing market; if any consideration will be given to a means whereby some provision can be made by way of further assistance in order to protect against the threat of homelessness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18239/14]
View answerThe purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term income support to assist with reasonable accommodation costs of eligible people living in private rented accommodation who are unable to provide for their accommodation costs from their own resources. The overall aim is to provide short term assistance, and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes operated by the Exchequer. There are currently approximately 78,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014.
Following the most recent review of the private rental market undertaken by the Department revised maximum rent limits were introduced from Monday 17 June 2013 until 31 December 2014. Despite the overall pressures on the social protection budget, there have been increases in the rent limits in some areas including Dublin and North Kildare. The purpose of the review is to ensure availability of accommodation for rent supplement tenancies and not to provide access to all housing in all areas while ensuring maximum value for money is achieved.
I am aware of the difficulties facing prospective tenants to secure appropriate accommodation due to the reduced availability of rental properties, particularly in Dublin. Increasing the maximum rent limits for rent supplement will not resolve this difficulty and would result in further increases in rental costs for all persons renting including those on reduced incomes and students. I have no plans to revise the maximum rent limits at this time.
The Dublin local authorities are currently engaging with the Department in developing an inter-agency intervention system to identify vulnerable families who are in receipt of rent supplement and at risk of becoming homeless due to the imminent loss of their tenancy. These cases will be assessed on an individual basis having regard to the individual circumstances of the families involved.
Department officials administering rent supplement have considerable experience in dealing with customers of the scheme and will continue to make every effort to ensure that their accommodation needs are met.
The Department’s strategic policy direction is to return rent supplement to its original purpose of a short term income support. In July 2013 the Government approved the introduction of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). Under HAP, responsibility for recipients of rent supplement with a long-term housing need will transfer from the Department of Social Protection to local authorities. Officials in the Department are working closely with those in the lead Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, in piloting HAP in Limerick City and County Council with further roll out to selected local authorities during the year.
92. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which proposals to target youth unemployment are so far in place and effective; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18240/14]
View answer93. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the degree to which the long-term unemployed are likely to benefit from unemployment alleviation measures currently in course or proposed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18241/14]
View answer94. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she expects to be in a position to bring about a further reduction in numbers of the long-term unemployed in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18242/14]
View answer95. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of youth unemployed she expects to be facilitated by way of specific measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18243/14]
View answer100. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which EU support for the long-term and youth unemployed is available in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18248/14]
View answer101. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which the age profile of those on the live register has been recorded, categorised and listed for specific alleviation measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18249/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 92 to 95, inclusive, 100 and 101 together.
In 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 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 (among others) 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. Below is 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 JobBridge, 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 rollout of a radically reformed public employment service by 2015. The Government is currently on target to meet this goal.
The Government’s approach to tackling the unemployment problem is to focus resources on those individuals most at risk of long-term unemployment.
The Department of Social Protection keeps a detailed breakdown of the profiles of jobseekers. Data on each client’s age, past occupation, and his/her education, is collected at the point of registration for job-seekers’ payment; these and other relevant data are processed and the probability of exiting the live register is calculated (PEX). This is essentially a predictor of whether or not someone will become long-term unemployed. The roll-out of the profiling system at the Department’s ‘one-stop-shop’ Intreo offices implicitly involves age profiling of the long-term unemployed, as age is one of the main determining variables in predicting if someone will become long-term unemployed. As a result, if someone is in an age category that is more likely to experience long-term unemployment, s/he will, all other things being equal, receive more targeted assistance.
Summary statistical information on the clients’ age, duration of unemployment, and last held occupation together with other demographic and regional information is published on the Central Statistics Office website.
In addition, the Youth Guarantee initiative is specifically aimed at those under 25 who are unemployed with specific targeting of those who are either long-term unemployed or are most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed. The implementation of the 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 table. The programmes where being long-term unemployed is an eligibility requirement are indicated, as well the expected inflow of young people.
The cost of the Youth Guarantee will be funded, in the first instance, by the Irish Exchequer. However, it is expected that a number of these programmes will meet ESF eligibility criteria and will be included in the Youth Employment Initiative application for Ireland. This should permit EU funding to be drawn down in respect of expenditure in 2014 and 2015 to a level that should enable the full YEI allocation for Ireland of €68.1 million in current prices (with a further similar amount in ESF funding) to be taken up over those two years.
Expected participation, activation programmes, 2014
|
Programme |
Average participation |
Expected inflow of young people |
Inflow of new participants (all ages) |
Aimed at Long Term Unemployed ? |
|
Youthreach/CTC |
6,000 |
3,300 |
3,300 |
- |
|
JobBridge (including planned reserve) |
7,700 |
5,000 |
13,300 |
- |
|
Tus |
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 |
- |
|
FAS/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 |
- |
- |
- |
The cost of the Youth Guarantee will be funded, in the first instance, by the Irish Exchequer. However, it is expected that a number of these programmes will meet ESF eligibility criteria and will be included in the Youth Employment Initiative application for Ireland. This should permit EU funding to be drawn down in respect of expenditure in 2014 and 2015 to a level that should enable the full YEI allocation for Ireland of €68.1 million in current prices (with a further similar amount in ESF funding) to be taken up over those two years.
