Written Answers Nos. 102-107
102. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which the previously self-employed and currently unemployed have been able to access the relevant welfare payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18250/14]
View answerSelf-employed persons are liable for PRSI at the Class S rate of 4% which entitles them to access long-term benefits such as State pension (contributory) and widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's pension (contributory). Ordinary employees who have access to the full range of social insurance benefits pay Class A PRSI at the rate of 4%. In addition, their employers make a PRSI contribution of 10.75% in respect of their employees, resulting in the payment of a combined 14.75% rate per employee under full-rate PRSI Class A.
Any person of working age who does not qualify for jobseeker’s benefit may claim means tested jobseeker’s allowance. Subject to means and other qualifying conditions, self-employed persons may claim jobseeker’s allowance if their business ceases or there is reduced demand for their services. In assessing means from self-employment, income from the previous twelve months is used as an indicator of likely future earnings. Given the variety of self-employment situations, the means assessment procedures are applied in a flexible manner to ensure that any circumstances that would be likely to lead to a significant variation, either upward or downward, in the level of a person’s income from one year to the next are taken into consideration.
In September 2013, I published the report of the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare on Extending Social Insurance Coverage for the self-employed. The Group was asked to examine and report on issues involved in extending social insurance coverage for self-employed people in order to establish whether or not such cover is technically feasible and financially sustainable, with the requirement that any proposals for change must be cost neutral. The Group found that the current system of means tested jobseeker’s allowance payments adequately provides cover to self-employed people for the risks associated with unemployment. In this context, the Group noted that almost 9 out of every 10 self-employed people who claimed the means tested jobseeker’s allowance during the three-year period from 2009 to 2011 received payment. Consequently, the Group was not convinced that there was a need for the extension of social insurance for the self-employed to provide cover for jobseeker’s benefit.
103. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which community employment schemes, upskilling or training places are available to those currently on the live register or otherwise available and in need of such schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18251/14]
View answerCommunity Employment (CE) is an option for those in long-term receipt of jobseeker's payments (for 12 months or more). There are 25,300 places available on the programme for 2014 and a budget of €358m has been earmarked for it this year.
An integral part of a participant’s CE experience is the provision of accredited training under the CE Individual Learner Plan (ILP). All CE participants have an ILP drawn up for them on commencement of the programme in conjunction with their CE Supervisor, tailored to their specific requirements and career goals. This training is available until they exit the scheme. The training budget for CE currently stands at €5.9m for 2014. There are currently 711 CE places advertised nationally on the Department’s JobsIreland.ie website as of 14th April 2014.
SOLAS (formerly FÁS) also runs training courses at no cost to unemployed persons. Springboard offers a choice of 220 part-time courses in higher education up to post-graduate level for unemployed persons. Momentum is a Government initiative under the Pathways to Work programme which provides education and training courses for up to 6,500 long-term unemployed jobseekers. In all instances, persons wishing to participate in any of these schemes/programmes should contact their local Intreo office to initiate the process and have their eligibility to participate confirmed.
104. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm the availability of appropriate social welfare payment on retirement for persons aged 65 in the absence of a transitionary State pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18252/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 provides that State pension age will be increased gradually to 68 years. This began in January 2014 with the abolition of the State pension (transition) available at 65, thereby standardising State pension age for all at 66 years. State pension age will increase further to 67 in 2021 and 68 in 2028.
The State pension (transition) was introduced in 1970 when it was known as the retirement pension. It was designed to bridge the gap between the standard social welfare pension age, which at that time was 70 years of age, and retirement age. Over time, the age for State pension (contributory) was reduced to 66 years.
All short term social welfare schemes are payable to age 66. The main social welfare payment available to those who leave employment before pension age is jobseeker’s benefit. Persons aged between 65 and 66 years who qualify for a jobseeker’s benefit are generally entitled to receive payment up to the date on which they reach pensionable age (66 years). In the case of a jobseeker’s benefit recipient aged under 65 whose claim spans from one benefit year into another, a new relevant tax year requirement is not applied in the case of the job seekers entitlement relating to the second benefit year. A further provision states that 3 waiting days do not have to be served for jobseekers assistance in the case of certain people aged between 65 and 66 years who have been in receipt of job seekers benefit within the past year.
I was happy to be able to introduce new arrangements in Budget 2014 for older jobseekers, i.e., those aged 62 and over who have left work before reaching the State pension age of 66 and who wish to claim a jobseeker’s payment. With effect from 1 January 2014, fully unemployed jobseekers aged 62 or over will be placed on yearly signing and will be given the option of transferring to EFT payments. Furthermore, they will not be subject to mandatory activation measures or activation-related sanctions but may avail of employment supports which will continue to be available to them.
Finally, social welfare supports will continue to be available to those who need it most and where a person fails to meet the qualifying conditions of an insurance based scheme, a means tested assistance payment may be available provided they satisfy the qualifying conditions.
105. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of cases referred to appeal in respect of invalidity pension, disability allowance or other health-related payments; the number of such cases in respect of which the decision on appeal was in favour of the applicant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18253/14]
View answerThe figures requested by the Deputy relating to the main health-related payments received and finalised during 2013 and to the end of March 2014, are provided in the following table.
A total of 4,501 invalidity pension appeals were received during 2013. A total of 6,968 invalidity pension appeals were finalised during that year. 80.4% of the appeals which were finalised had a successful outcome for the appellant. 32.2% of the invalidity pension appeals which were finalised during 2013 were in fact revised decisions made by statutorily appointed Deciding Officers of my Department who reviewed the claim following the initial disallowance. During the first 3 months of 2014 a total of 975 invalidity pension appeals were received and 1,253 invalidity pension appeals were finalised. 77.4% of the appeals which were finalised had a successful outcome for the appellant and 22.4% of the cases finalised were revised decisions of Deciding Officers.
In the case of disability allowance appeals, a total of 6,836 appeals were received during 2013 and 7,745 disability allowance appeals were finalised during that year. 61.4% of those appeals which were finalised had a successful outcome for the appellant and 10.2% of appeals finalised were revised decisions made by deciding officers. During the first three months of 2014 a total of 1,847 disability allowance appeals were received and 2,094 disability allowance appeals were finalised. 65.52% of those appeals which were finalised had a successful outcome for the appellant. 6.4% of appeals finalised were revised decisions of Deciding Officers.
The decisions which were revised following a review by a Deciding Officer of my Department arose as a result, in many cases, of new facts or fresh evidence produced by the claimant after the original decision on his /her claim had been made. In such cases an Appeals Officer decision was not necessary.
Appeal Receipts and Outcomes 2013 – 2014 (to 31/3/2014)
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
Appeals Decided by Appeals Officers |
- |
||
|
- |
- |
Appeal Receipts |
Revised Decisions by Deciding Officers |
Allowed |
Partially Allowed |
Disallowed |
Withdrawn |
|
Disability Allowance |
2013 |
6,836 |
792 |
3,882 |
84 |
2,842 |
145 |
|
- |
2014 |
1,847 |
134 |
1,212 |
26 |
699 |
23 |
|
Illness Benefit |
2013 |
1,761 |
928 |
303 |
13 |
554 |
740 |
|
- |
2014 |
488 |
227 |
26 |
2 |
53 |
13 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
2013 |
4,501 |
2,243 |
3,336 |
18 |
1,311 |
60 |
|
- |
2014 |
975 |
280 |
686 |
4 |
273 |
10 |
|
Carer’s Allowance |
2013 |
3,869 |
1,040 |
990 |
131 |
1,505 |
56 |
|
- |
2014 |
686 |
161 |
237 |
48 |
410 |
8 |
|
Carer’s Benefit |
2013 |
115 |
43 |
44 |
2 |
53 |
3 |
|
- |
2014 |
25 |
9 |
8 |
1 |
13 |
- |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
2013 |
1,688 |
533 |
783 |
25 |
694 |
30 |
|
- |
2014 |
321 |
123 |
269 |
9 |
136 |
2 |
106. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans to commemorate the speech by John Redmond at Woodenbridge, County Wicklow, the centenary of which occurs on 20 September 2014; if he will liaise with Wicklow County Council and the Woodenbridge Village Development Association in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18155/14]
View answerI am pleased to have brought forward a number of initiatives to commemorate John Redmond and the Irish Parliamentary Party, beginning in 2012 with commemorative events marking the centenary of the introduction of the Third Home Rule Bill to Westminster. Each stage in the progress of this historic Bill has been marked with commemorative lectures, events and exhibitions, including a joint exhibition brought forward by the Northern Ireland Office and hosted in the Westminster parliament, the Oireachtas and at the National Library of Ireland last year. I am working on proposals to mark the passing and suspension of the Home Rule Act in September 2014 and Redmond's speech at Woodenbridge that followed immediately thereafter. Reportage and analysis of these events will be carried in the Century Ireland, the online platform of contemporary news brought forward in co-operation with Boston College and RTE.
I am particularly keen that commemorative arrangements in the Centenary programme would be developed in partnership with local communities and representatives. I would be very pleased to work with Wicklow County Council and the Woodenbridge Development Association on the development of an appropriate commemoration. I have asked officials of my Department to make contact with the Deputy directly in this regard.
107. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will outline the conditions that apply for the transfer of the position of postmaster or postmistress; if it is permitted for this position to be transferred to a family member; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18090/14]
View answerThe issue raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for the Board and management of An Post and one in which I have no statutory function. I have however forwarded the matter raised to An Post for direct reply to the Deputy.
