Written Answers Nos. 323-347
323. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of administering the child benefit scheme; the estimated administration cost of a means-tested child benefit scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25469/14]
View answerChild benefit is currently being paid to over 600,000 families in respect of over 1.16 million children on a universal basis. The cost of administration of the scheme is in the order of €7.5 million per annum.
The Department has not estimated the cost of administration of means testing the scheme as no decision has been taken to introduce means testing to the scheme. Any decision to introduce a means test for child benefit would be a matter for consideration by Government.
324. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection if existing participants of a community employment scheme who are no longer eligible to participate in the scheme will continue to receive their payments until December 2014; the date in December 2014 when the payments will cease; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25497/14]
View answerAs part of the Budget 2012 measures, new entrants to the Community Employment (CE) scheme who commenced on or after 16 January 2012 were disqualified from simultaneously receiving their original social welfare payment and CE allowances under Section 12 of the Social Welfare Act 2011 (dual payments). This measure only affected those new CE entrants in receipt of One Parent Family Payment, Deserted Wife’s Benefit, Widow(er)s Pension, Illness Benefit, Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension and Blind Pension. Arising from this change, the new entrant participants receive CE allowances only, equivalent to their original payment plus €20.
However, persons who were already engaged on the CE scheme as at 16 January 2012 and who were receiving both CE allowances and their original social welfare payment, could continue to receive both their original social welfare payment, including adult and/or child dependant allowances, plus a CE Personal Rate allowance of €208. This dual payment situation was scheduled to be phased out over a three year period ending in December 2014. This phasing out would mainly be achieved by participants either exhausting their time on CE during the 3-year transition phase (after exiting CE they would remain on their original payment only).
Alternatively, if they left CE for the standard minimum 12-month gap between schemes and returned to CE subsequently, they would be treated as a new entrant and receive CE allowances only on recommencing the CE scheme. The CE participants who have remained on the scheme continuously since before 16 January 2012 and who have retained their dual payment will be notified in November 2014 by their respective social welfare payment scheme sections that if their CE participation extends beyond December 2014, their original social welfare payment will cease as of 31 December 2014 for the remaining duration of their CE placement. Their CE allowances will be adjusted accordingly for any adult and/or child dependants. Once they exit CE after December 2014, they can return to their original social welfare payment provided they still meet the underlying conditions for the scheme in question.
The following revised reply was received on 5 December 2014:
As part of the Budget 2012 measures, new entrants to the Community Employment (CE) scheme who commenced on or after 16 January 2012 were disqualified from simultaneously receiving their original social welfare payment and CE allowances under Section 12 of the Social Welfare Act 2011 (dual payments). This measure only affected those new CE entrants in receipt of One Parent Family Payment, Deserted Wife’s Benefit, Widow(er)s Pension, Illness Benefit, Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension and Blind Pension. Arising from this change, the new entrant participants receive CE allowances only, equivalent to their original payment plus €20.
However, persons who were already engaged on the CE scheme as at 16 January 2012 and who were receiving both CE allowances and their original social welfare payment, could continue to receive both their original social welfare payment, including adult and/or child dependant allowances, plus a CE Personal Rate allowance of €208. This dual payment situation was scheduled to be phased out over a three year period ending in December 2014. This phasing out would mainly be achieved by participants either exhausting their time on CE during the 3-year transition phase (after exiting CE they would remain on their original payment only).
Alternatively, if they left CE for the standard minimum 12-month gap between schemes and returned to CE subsequently, they would be treated as a new entrant and receive CE allowances only on recommencing the CE scheme. The CE participants who have remained on the scheme continuously since before 16 January 2012 and who have retained their dual payment will be notified in November 2014 by their respective social welfare payment scheme sections that if their CE participation extends beyond December 2014, their original social welfare payment will cease as of 31 December 2014 for the remaining duration of their CE placement. Their CE allowances will be adjusted accordingly for any adult and/or child dependants. Once they exit CE after December 2014, they can return to their original social welfare payment provided they still meet the underlying conditions for the scheme in question.
Note: The sentences in bold should read “This dual payment situation would be phased out over time. This would mainly be achieved by participants exhausting their time on CE (after exiting CE they would remain on their original payment only).”
325. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to increase the carer's allowance payment in the forthcoming budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25502/14]
View answerThe Government published a National Carers' Strategy in 2012 to signal its commitment to recognising and respecting carers as key care partners and to respond to their needs, across a number of policy areas.
The Department, in meeting its commitments under this Strategy, provides a range of income supports to assist with the financial burden of caring. These include Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and Respite Care Grant. €806 million is provided for these payments in 2014.
Carer's Allowance is the main income support. Over the past decade the number of people in receipt of Carer's Allowance has increased from just over 23,000 in 2004 to close to 57,200 at the end of last May. Nearly 25,000 of these recipients are in receipt of a Carer's payment at a half rate as they are also in receipt of another social welfare payment. Recipients of Carer's Allowance also qualify for free travel and, if they are living with the person they are caring for, the household benefits package
In addition, the Respite Care Grant is an annual non means-tested payment made to carers by the Department. Full time carers who are not in receipt of a carer’s payment from the Department are also entitled to the grant. Annual payment of the Respite Care Grant commenced this month to more than 70,000 carers at an estimated cost of €122 million for the full year in 2014. Carers can use the grant in whatever way they wish.
Any increases in the weekly personal rate of carer’s allowance or the level of other supports for carers would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
326. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding respite care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25504/14]
View answer335. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the respite care grant is only awarded to persons in receipt of carer's allowance, carer's benefit, domiciliary care allowance or prescribed relative's allowance on the first Thursday of June each year; her views that this is very unfair on persons who may have been in receipt of these payments but the person they were caring for passed away in the period leading up to the first Thursday in June and are therefore no longer entitled to the respite care grant yet the grant will still be awarded to someone who passes away in the period immediately after the first Thursday; if she will introduce a phased payment of the grant for those who pass away in the period leading up to this time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25627/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 326 and 335 together.
The Respite Care Grant (RCG) is an annual payment of €1,375 for carers who look after certain people in need of full-time care and attention. The payment is made regardless of the carer's means but is subject to certain conditions, one of which is that the period of full-time care and attention must last for at least six months (which must include the first Thursday in June when the payment is made automatically to recipients of carer's allowance/benefit and domiciliary care allowance). I think this condition is reasonable and I have no plans to make any changes in this regard.
I would point out that in the case of bereavement the Department already recognises the financial difficulties arising at this time for carers as payment of carer's benefit/allowance continues to be made for a period of 6 weeks after the date of death of the care recipient.
I am pleased to confirm that payment of the RCG for 2014 has commenced, with automatic payments issuing to over 70,000 DSP clients earlier this month at an estimated cost of €122 million for the full year in 2014. Of course, there is no conditionality attached to how the RCG is utilised, so carers can use the grant as they wish.
I should also mention that the RCG, with no requirement to satisfy a means test, is not available for any other social welfare group nor indeed is there an equivalent payment for carers in any other country in Europe.
While I am not in a position to increase the amount of the RCG, I would point out that in relation to income supports for carers generally, expenditure on such supports has increased from €773m in 2012 to an estimated €806m in 2014. The number of people in receipt of carer’s allowance over the past decade has also increased from 23,000 to over 57,000.
Responsibility for providing respite care facilities and services rests with the HSE.
327. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the total amount of capital spending on construction projects carried out by her Department and by bodies operating under the responsibility of her Department between 2008 and to date in 2014; if she will provide the information on an annual basis in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25544/14]
View answerSince 2009, the Department of Social Protection has been provided with a capital allocation for new accommodation, including the refurbishment and fit-out of buildings. Prior to then the funding was made available direct to the Office of Public Works. The annual amounts of capital spending on construction projects between 2008 and 2014 are shown in the following table:
|
Year |
Expenditure |
|
2008 |
Nil |
|
2009 |
€1.199m |
|
2010 |
€3.161m |
|
2011 |
€2.193m |
|
2012 |
€1.018m |
|
2013 |
€9.720m |
|
2014 (to date) |
€3.253m |
328. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of the €19 million designated to her Department for direct Exchequer capital funding according to the Government Estimates for 2014 is expected to go towards construction-related projects; if she will list the projects; if she will provide an update on these projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25561/14]
View answerOf the €19 million capital funding allocation to DSP in 2014, €13.5 is allocated to complete construction related projects. The majority of this allocation will be utilised to complete the office refurbishment programme which is being rolled out to facilitate the introduction of the Department’s INTREO service. INTREO is the integrated income and employment supports service which aims to significantly enhance DSP services to both jobseekers and employers in a new “one-stop-shop” environment. The following is a list of current INTREO projects:
Adamstown, Dublin
Bishop’s Square, Dublin
Carrigaline, Cork
Clondalkin, Dublin
Cork, Abbeycourt House
Cork, Hanover Quay
Cork Street, Dublin
Ennis, Co. Clare
Letterkenny, Co Donegal
Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
Nutgrove, Dublin
Balbriggan, Dublin
Newbridge, Co. Kildare
Swords, Co. Dublin
Navan, Co Meath
Galway City
Thurles, Co. Tipperary
Westport, Co. Mayo
329. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the implementation of the recommendations of the Report on Pension Charges 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25579/14]
View answerThe Report on Pension Charges, published in October 2012, was undertaken by my Department, working with the Central Bank and the Pensions Authority, and with support from PwC and was the first comprehensive Government report on this subject. The purpose of the report was to gather information on pension charges levied to assess whether charges are reasonable and transparent, and make recommendations. The report highlighted a wide range of issues in relation to pension charges and identified a number of problems. While the provision of pension schemes cannot be cost free, it is clear that there are major challenges to be addressed in the two main areas of reasonableness and transparency of charges.
Following the Report's publication and a consultation with stakeholders, it was agreed by Government in April 2013 that the recommendations contained in the report would be implemented. A group comprising the Department of Social Protection, the Pensions Authority and the Central Bank is in place to initiate actions that follow up on these recommendations. Each has a core role to play in delivering on the recommendations contained in the report and work is progressing in this regard.
In line with the report's recommendation to monitor the implementation of the Consumer Protection Code, the Central Bank recently published findings of a review of annual pension statements. This review found the vast majority of firms were in compliance with the code. Where the Bank identified a small number of firms where the format of annual statements was not as required, the firms concerned were required to submit implementation timelines for full compliance.
Work is also ongoing in relation to other recommendations of the report such as consideration of a single standard measure that would assess all charges as well as investigation of the drivers behind take up of PRSAs.
In parallel, my Department is involved in complementary EU negotiations in relation to a review of the IORPs (Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision) Directive which lays down basic requirements for occupational pensions and their supervision. It is anticipated that agreement would result in improvements for consumers in the areas of member information regarding charges, trustee competencies, scheme governance and risk management.
In addition, progress on the issue of charges will be supported by recent actions to restructure the Pensions Authority and strengthen governance and regulation and give consumer representatives a greater input into pensions policy. I have previously highlighted that the first task of the new Pensions Council will be to monitor the implementation of the recommendations in the Report on Pension Charges and advise if further actions are needed.
330. Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Social Protection when an appeal against the disallowance of invalidity pension will be dealt with in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [25586/14]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.
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.
331. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to transfer community employment to Pobal from her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25611/14]
View answerThe Department is considering the option of outsourcing the management and the administration of the Community Employment Programme to Pobal. The matter is under examination and no decision has been made in relation to this.
332. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when a review-appeal will be activated in respect of a carer's allowance application in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25613/14]
View answerAfter a search, the Department can find no trace of an application for either carer’s allowance or carer’s benefit from the person in question. If the Deputy has any further information on this person, he is urged to forward it to the Department and the issue will then be revisited.
333. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is any financial assistance available to persons who are in receipt of social welfare and require extensive dental work at a high cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25621/14]
View answerThe Department’s dental benefit scheme currently provides for an annual free dental examination for people who meet the PRSI-based qualifying conditions. Other treatments are not covered by the scheme.
People in employment may also be able to avail of a tax rebate on the cost of some non-standard dental treatments. Revenue will be able to advise in this regard. Anyone holding a Medical Card should contact their local HSE office, who will be able to advise them of their entitlements under that scheme.
334. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite a disability allowance appeal that is pending over two months in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25625/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 17 April 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. As part of this process the Department is making arrangements to have the medical evidence reviewed by a Medical Assessor.
When papers 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.
336. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of cases before the Labour Court, Equality Tribunal, CPSA and EAT involving civil servants taking cases against her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25645/14]
View answerCases taken by civil servants against the Department that are before the Labour Court, Equality Tribunal, CPSA and EAT are outlined in the following table:
|
Organisation |
Number of Cases |
|
Labour Court |
Nil |
|
Equality Tribunal |
2 |
|
CPSA |
Nil |
|
EAT |
3 |
337. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Social Protection for each of the years 2008 to 2013, inclusive, the number of decisions of a deciding officer of the social welfare appeals office to disallow an appeal that have been revised in favour of the appellant by the chief appeals officer under section 318 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25661/14]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the figures requested relating to cases reviewed under section 318 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005 were not maintained prior to 2010. However the position in relation to the number of decisions of a deciding officer which were revised by the Chief Appeals Officer in favour of the appellant for the following years are: 2 in 2010, 15 in 2011, 12 in 2012 and 17 in 2013.
339. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update, on a county basis and in tabular form, of the number of jobs supported under the JobsPlus scheme since its inception; the number of applications currently waiting to be processed through the system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25671/14]
View answerJobsPlus provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers who recruit employees from those who are long term on the live register. JobsPlus is biased in favour of those who are longer term unemployed. It provides employers with two levels of payment: €7,500 over two years where a jobseeker who is 12-24 months on the live register is recruited and €10,000 for each person recruited who has been unemployed for more than 24 months. The subsidy is paid in monthly instalments over a two year period provided the employment is maintained.
Since its launch in July 2013 to the end of May 2014, JobsPlus has concluded arrangements to support 2,385 jobseekers in full-time employment with 1,811 employers nationally. Around 60% of jobseekers being supported had been on the live register for over 24 months at the time of recruitment. The Department is currently processing 247 applications for the scheme.
The following table outlines the number of employees supported in each county at the end of May 2014.
Persons supported by JobsPlus at end May 2014
|
County |
Number of Employees Supported |
% |
|
Dublin |
659 |
27.6% |
|
Cork |
206 |
8.6% |
|
Galway |
129 |
5.4% |
|
Waterford |
115 |
4.8% |
|
Kildare |
98 |
4.1% |
|
Tipperary |
96 |
4.0% |
|
Donegal |
91 |
3.8% |
|
Limerick |
89 |
3.7% |
|
Louth |
86 |
3.6% |
|
Wicklow |
79 |
3.3% |
|
Meath |
73 |
3.1% |
|
Kerry |
73 |
3.1% |
|
Wexford |
70 |
2.9% |
|
Mayo |
62 |
2.6% |
|
Westmeath |
57 |
2.4% |
|
Laois |
54 |
2.3% |
|
Monaghan |
53 |
2.2% |
|
Kilkenny |
44 |
1.8% |
|
Sligo |
38 |
1.6% |
|
Clare |
37 |
1.6% |
|
Carlow |
37 |
1.6% |
|
Cavan |
36 |
1.5% |
|
Longford |
35 |
1.5% |
|
Offaly |
32 |
1.3% |
|
Roscommon |
21 |
0.9% |
|
Leitrim |
15 |
0.6% |
|
Total |
2,385 |
100.0% |
340. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of the increased spend in her Department, year on year, on the family income supplement measure; if she will provide details of her plans to create a wider awareness of the scheme for qualifying families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25672/14]
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 out in the following table.
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) |
|
2014 |
44,405 (@ 30/4/14) |
281.7 (Revised Estimate) |
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 Department's 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.
341. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the work of the Labour Market Council; if she will outline its key successes since its inception; the council's key objectives and targets in terms of the remainder of 2014 on the implementation of pathways to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25673/14]
View answerThe Labour Market Council's role is to provide a constructive but challenging mechanism to support the effective and efficient implementation and delivery of Pathways to Work
Work and Success of the Labour Market Council to Date
The Council has set up an Employer Engagement Sub-Group. which has supported the Department in a number of activities to build relationships with employers including briefings and consultations with employer stakeholder groups, job fairs, the production and distribution of employer focused promotional materials, direct engagement with employers at national and regional level, the development and launch of new employer recruitment incentives and the design and implementation of bespoke training and recruitment solutions. This has, inter alia, served to raise employer awareness about initiatives, such as JobsPlus and JobBridge, designed to encourage recruitment from the Live Register. These activities have provided both employers and jobseekers with information on the range of services and supports available and more importantly have resulted in the direct placement of unemployed jobseekers into employment.
In addition, significant work is currently being undertaken by the Sub-Group to develop a Charter, which commits employers to prioritising recruitment of candidates from the Live Register and to working with unemployed jobseekers and jobseeker support organisations to assist in developing the skills and competencies required to find employment. It is intended that the Charter will initially be signed by the 50 largest companies in the State who will then be able to use the skills of the unemployed/long-term unemployed. The Charter is an important flagship initiative which will be supported by the Intreo service.
More generally, the Council has also worked closely with the Department in developing an Employer Engagement Strategy which will be a cornerstone of the Pathways 2014.
The Council has also set up an Evaluation/Metrics Sub-Group tasked with devising a systematic evaluation strategy for Pathways and ensuring that Pathways outcomes are monitored in a meaningful way. The Sub-Group is comprised of leading labour market economists from Ireland and abroad.
Additionally, in April the Council published its Interim Report which outlined the extent to which the targets set on key action points in Pathways have been met.
Key Objectives for the Remainder of 2014
The Council has several objectives for the remainder of 2014. These are to:
- monitor and advise on the development and implementation of Pathways to Work 2014;
- focus on rigorous evaluation of programmes in order to ensure that the limited resources available are being put to best use and delivering the best outcomes for all;
- build on the very positive engagement with employers in recent months and harness the undoubted goodwill of many employers towards hiring from the Live Register. This will include the launch of the Employer Charter in July;
- take an active role in the monitoring and implementation of the Youth Guarantee;
- play an important role in monitoring the implementation and performance of JobPath. Specifically, the Council will be seeking clarity in terms of how JobPath, Intreo and other related services are “joined up” and integrated.
Targets for the Implementation of Pathways to Work for the Remainder of 2014
The targets for remainder of Pathways to Work for 2014 are contained in the following table. The Council will play a key role in the monitoring of the performance of the Pathways to Work strategy against these targets.
|
Measure/Target |
2014 |
|
Move 75,000 long-term unemployed at start of 2012 into employment by end 2015. |
22,500 |
|
Increase the exit rate of people on the live register for two years or more by 50% (to 40%) by the end of 2015 |
Exit rate target = 35% |
|
Reduce the persistence rate (the rate at which short term unemployed people become long term unemployed) to 25% |
28% |
|
Increase % of vacancies filled with involvement of Department of Social Protection Employment Services to 15% by end 2015 |
10% |
|
Provide Group Information/ Engagement sessions to jobseekers |
All new Jobseekers plus 20,000 LTU |
|
Conduct initial one-to-one guidance interviews with jobseekers |
All new eligible jobseekers plus 20,000 LTU |
|
Fill all additional places on Community Employment, TÚS, JobBridge and the Local Government Social Employment Scheme |
33,000 active places, 17,500 starters of which 16,000 LTU |
|
Roll-out ‘One-Stop-Shop’ Intreo offices |
17 new Intreo offices (60 offices in total) |
|
Make a range of FÁS, Further Education and Higher Education Programmes available to meet the needs of the long term unemployed |
62,747 places available to long-term unemployed |
343. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a late appeal will be accepted in the case of a refusal of disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25687/14]
View answerAn application for Disability Allowance by the person concerned was disallowed by a Deciding Officer of the Department on 4 February 2012. I am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that there is no trace of any appeal against this decision having been received from the person concerned.
In the normal course, an appeal against the decision of a Deciding Officer must be made within 21 days of a decision being notified. Appeals received outside of this time limit may be accepted at the discretion of the Chief Appeals Officer. This limit is not rigidly enforced but in view of the length of time which has elapsed since the person concerned was notified of the Deciding Officer's decision and in the absence of any explanation for his failure to submit an appeal within the prescribed timeframe, I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that it is unlikely that an appeal would be accepted at this late stage.
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.
345. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on the review of a domiciliary care allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo, considering that the review was requested over 12 weeks ago. [25698/14]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person concerned on the 28th November 2013. This application was found not medically eligible for the allowance and a letter issued on 26 February 2014 advising of the decision to disallow the application.
The person concerned requested a review of the decision and this review was completed by a Deciding Officer on 16 June 2014. The Deciding Officer, following consideration of all the information supplied, decided that a revision of the original decision was not warranted. A letter issued notifying her of the review decision on 16 June 2014.
346. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on carer's allowance appeal will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25745/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 20 March 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 papers 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.
