~Written Answers Nos. 32-38
32. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she continues to monitor the various measures taken to date to address long-term and youth unemployment; the extent to which any adjustment in the existing schemes needs to be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17738/14]
View answerPathways to Work is the Government’s overarching strategy to address the issue of unemployment both long-term and youth unemployment. In-built in the Strategy is a strong monitoring component, including a set of key performance indicators (KPIs) for this purpose. Progress in implementing the priority actions and performance against the KPIs are reported publicly, on a quarterly basis. In addition, I have set up an independent Labour Market Council composed of non-governmental representatives. The Labour Market Council was established to monitor and advise on the implementation of the reforms contained in the Government’s Pathways to Work (PTW) strategy. The Council has a particular focus on Employer Engagement, JobPath and the Youth Guarantee. To date, the work of the Council has centred on reviewing the performance of PTW 2013 and advising the Department on measures to improve employer engagement. I eagerly await the Council’s Interim Report, which is due to be published later this month. Once I have read the report, I will consider adjusting the Pathways to Work Strategy in light of its findings. Thus far, most of the targets/milestones set out in PTW 2013 are either being met or ahead of target. The key achievements to date are outlined below: A further 26,600 people who had been long-term unemployed at the beginning of 2012 moved into employment in 2013 (exceeding the target of 20,000). The total number of people from this group who have moved into employment since PTW was launched in 2012 is now over 40,000; 44 Intreo ["one stop shop"] offices have been officially opened, with the remaining 16 to be launched by the end of this year; Last year, 130,100 unemployed jobseekers attended group engagements, up from 68,600 in 2012. 156,700 people attended initial one-to-one interviews and a further 136,900 follow up one-to one interviews were also completed. The Department of Social Protection is now offering Group Engagements to all new jobseekers registering with its services; The number of staff deployed on front-line case work duties was doubled at the end of 2013 from c 300 to c 600, leading to an increase in the caseworker/client ratio from c 1:800 to c 1:400. The introduction of JobPath, commencing later this year, will further improve this ratio to c 1:200; Every jobseeker client on the Live Register has been profiled to help prioritise and direct interventions.
With specific reference to youth unemployment, the main strategy of the Government is set out in the Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan which was launched in January. Key to our Youth Guarantee is a gradual, targeted approach focusing resources first and foremost on those with the greatest need. This will include adjustments to the existing engagement process and schemes such as JobBridge and JobsPlus. These adjustments are designed specifically to address the needs of young people at risk of becoming or remaining long-term unemployed. As part of the implementation of the Youth Guarantee it is proposed, subject to labour market and economic developments, to review the targeted nature of the Youth Guarantee offer, before the end of 2015.
33. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the criteria for the conducting of interviews with unemployed persons to assist them in their job seeking activities; and the safeguards in place to ensure that social welfare recipients are not unduly pressurised or feel intimidated. [17645/14]
View answerMy Department is committed to providing a professional, inclusive and timely service that is responsive to the needs of its clients, including comprehensive employment support and income support services. It is also committed to conducting its business in an impartial, open and transparent manner and seeks to treat people fairly, with dignity and respect. A customer charter setting out the standards of service that people can expect in their dealings with the Department is displayed in the Department’s public offices and on its website www.welfare.ie. Training programmes are provided for relevant Departmental staff in the areas of claims decision making, customer service, non-violent crisis intervention, change management, communications skills, community welfare service, jobseeking supports, employer engagement, adult guidance and IT systems. Training materials are continuously updated to reflect new programmes and changes to existing initiatives. To this end, the Department, in conjunction with an external partner, is currently undertaking a review and redesign of its functional training programmes, focusing on the skills required for key frontline roles in the organisation. To monitor its services, the Department operates a well-established formal comment and complaint system which allows clients to provide feedback on the quality of services they receive. The Department values the views of all those accessing their service and will continue to monitor and improve on the quality of service it provides as opportunities to do so arise.
35. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to review the family income supplement renewal process (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17576/14]
View answerThe family income supplement (FIS) is an in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. FIS is designed to prevent child and family poverty and to offer a financial incentive to take-up employment as compared to social welfare payments. Expenditure on FIS for 2014 is estimated to be of the order of €280 million and it is currently paid to some 44,000 families in respect of some 97,000 children. An integral part of the FIS scheme is that once the level of payment is determined, it continues to be payable at that rate for a period of 52 weeks, provided that the person remains in full-time employment.
However, in the following two circumstances, the weekly rate of FIS can be revised during the year: If a claimant starts to care for an additional child in the course of the 52 weeks; If a claimant was getting a one-parent family payment and this payment was stopped because their youngest child reached the relevant age limit, then the FIS rate can be reassessed to take account of the loss of their one-parent family payment.
The rate of payment will not change if there is an increase or decrease in the recipient’s earnings. A key advantage of this approach, which is unique to the FIS scheme, is that claimants can be certain that they will receive a guaranteed level of income support throughout the period. This certainty is important to the success of the scheme as it provides a real incentive to workers with families to avail of employment opportunities. For those who experience a reduction in their income over the course of the year, the rate of payment will be reassessed at the end of the 52 weeks upon renewal of a FIS claim.
Creating jobs and reducing unemployment are key challenges facing the Government. The tax and social protection systems have a part to play by ensuring work is remunerative. I established an Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare with the aim of harnessing expert opinion and experience to develop cost-effective proposals for improving employment incentives and achieving better poverty outcomes. The Group is currently examining the issue of working age supports, including in-work supports such as FIS. I expect to receive the report of the Advisory Group in the coming months and look forward to considering its recommendations in relation to FIS and other in-work supports.
36. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps she will take to tighten up on data protection protocols and procedures in her Department in view of the findings by the Data Protection Commissioner during his investigation of private investigators. [17648/14]
View answerI would like to emphasise to the Deputy that the Department is constantly reviewing and updating its procedures in relation to data protection and will continue to do so. It will continue to cooperate fully, as it has done to date, with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) on all matters relating to data protection including its investigation into the activities of some private investigators. The Department has not, to date, received a report from the ODPC on this investigation. I should also emphasise that the Department takes its responsibilities in relation to data protection and protecting the data of its clients very seriously. Every effort is made to ensure that personal customer data is used solely for business purposes and that it is not compromised in any way. The Department has data protection and information security policies, standards, procedures and guidelines in place governing the use of its computer systems and customer data. As I have indicated the Department’s policies, procedures and guidelines are kept under constant review and are updated as appropriate. Staff members are regularly reminded of their obligations under data protection and information security policies and of the penalties that are applicable in respect of any breach of these policies. Data protection obligations are also covered on induction programmes for new staff members and on management development programmes and in presentations given by the Department’s Business Information and Internal Control Support Units.
37. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps she is taking to promote the uptake of family income supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17687/14]
View answerFamily income supplement (FIS) is an employee incentive scheme for low income working families, including one-parent families, aimed at supporting them through supplementing their income while they remain in work. There has been a steady growth both in the number of families supported by FIS over recent years and associated expenditure as set in the table below. Expenditure on the FIS scheme is estimated to be €281.7 million in 2014, up €20 million on 2013.
|
Year |
Number in payment (approx.) |
Expenditure (€ Millions) |
|
2011 |
28,875 |
204.5 |
|
2012 |
32,310 |
223.6 |
|
2013 |
44,160 |
261.5 (provisional) |
The Department avails of every opportunity in its engagement with employers and jobseekers to build awareness of the availability of FIS and how this payment may benefit potential employees with children. The increasing numbers of families in receipt of FIS is testament to the effectiveness of the Department’s information strategy for the scheme and the significant improvements in customer service and processing times for FIS customers.
The Departments web site www.welfare.ie has full information on the FIS scheme and provides typical family scenarios to aid understanding and provide comparisons. This information is also available in all the Department local offices, CICs and information offices.
In addition a series of road-shows have also been held around the country designed to inform employers about the wide range of employment support services provided by the Department, including FIS. Case Officers in each locality will specifically use FIS as an incentive to move people from the long-term Live Register to employment.
Furthermore, the Department launched a Benefit of Work ready reckoner in December last year. The ready reckoner gives an indication of the difference between a person’s potential in-work payment, including FIS, and current out-of-work payments.
The Department will shortly be launching a poster campaign in its Intreo centres and local offices to further promote FIS. In conclusion, I am satisfied that the FIS scheme is being promoted and evidence shows that it is fulfilling its role in assisting employees to take up employment opportunities and to remain at work.
38. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the problem with JobBridge whereby persons who take the initiative and secure temporary employment in a sector which is unrelated to their main area of interest or area of qualification are subsequently unable to take up positions on JobBridge which arise in their area of interest without leaving the current employment and remaining on the live register for three months; if it will be possible to introduce greater flexibility in such cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17689/14]
View answerParticipation in JobBridge is limited to individuals who are in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance, Jobseeker’s Benefit, One Parent Family Payment or Disability Allowance, or are signing on for credits for at least 3 months, that is 78 days, within the last 6 months. Those who take up casual or temporary employment may accrue eligibility for JobBridge while engaged in casual or temporary employment, although the days when they are in employment may not count for eligibility purposes. JobBridge requires interns to work for 30-40 hours per week. If they can meet that requirement, individuals are not absolutely precluded from continuing temporary or casual employment while on JobBridge, although it may impact upon their basic Social Welfare payments.
JobBridge is a highly flexible and highly effective labour market intervention. Since its inception, 27,781 interns have participated in the scheme, with 6,666 interns currently participating and 2,482 internship opportunities currently advertised on the JobBridge website. If the Deputy has a specific query in relation to an individual, the Department will be happy to assist on receipt of the details.
