Written Answers Nos 111-120
112. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will examine a family income supplement appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31781/14]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence including that adduced at the oral hearing, has decided to partially allow the appeal of the person concerned. 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.
114. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if it is the case that a person working as a self-employed contractor, particularly in the construction sector, and operating under the relevant contracts tax system could be working part-time as a subcontractor and also claiming jobseeker’s benefit from her Department for the days during which the person involved is not working. [31808/14]
View answerSelf-employed persons pay a Class S contribution which does not qualify them for jobseeker’s benefit. A self-employed person may be entitled to jobseeker’s allowance provided s/he satisfies the normal qualifying conditions including availability for full-time work and the appropriate means test.
In order to assess the means for a self-employed person, account is taken of the level of earnings in the last twelve months and of the potential for significant upward or downward variations in income from one year to the next.
All jobseeker’s claims are subject to review. If a self-employed person's situation changes after they have made an initial claim for jobseeker's allowance, they can apply to have their means reviewed in the light of their changed circumstances.
115. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the estimate and outturn for the wage subsidy scheme in each of the past four years; the number of employers participating in the scheme in each year concerned and the number of employees availing of such supports; the estimate for 2014; the cost to date and the number of employees and employers availing of the scheme in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31816/14]
View answerThe Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS) is a demand-led employment support for private sector employers who employ people with disabilities. The scheme transferred from FÁS to the Department of Social Protection (DSP) on 1 January 2012. The relevant statistics for the last four years are contained in the following table. It is estimated that approx. 1,460 employees will be in employment under the scheme at the end of 2014.
Wage Subsidy Scheme (2010 to date)
|
YEAR |
Actual Expenditure € (millions) |
Annual Budget € (millions) |
Number of Employees at year end |
Number of Employers at year end |
|
2010 |
10.871 |
11.609 |
833 |
498 |
|
2011 |
10.065 |
11.250 |
916 |
547 |
|
2012 |
10.566 |
10.850 |
1,006 |
618 |
|
2013 |
11.042 |
10.850 |
1,159 |
715 |
|
2014 (to end of June 2014) |
6.199 |
10.850 |
1,308 (end of June 2014) |
812 |
116. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the correct level of allowance or top-up payable in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who is currently attending a training course in Newbridge, County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31825/14]
View answerThe allowance payable to the client concerned, as determined by his social welfare entitlement, is €402.20 per week. This is made up of a personal allowance of €188.00, an adult dependant allowance of €124.80 and three child dependant allowances of €29.80.
Peripheral allowances such as travel and meal allowance are administered by the local Education and Training Board (ETB), in this case the Athlone Training Centre for Kildare Wicklow ETB.
117. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a disability allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31839/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 23 June 2014, 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.
118. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form, the number of participants on JobBridge since its inception on a county basis and on a yearly basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31841/14]
View answer125. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of past participants in JobBridge who are currently in full-time employment and not in receipt of a social protection payment; in full-time employment and in receipt of a social protection payment, for example, family income supplement; in part-time employment and in receipt of a social protection payment; or still on the live register and classed as full-time unemployed; her views on the effectiveness or otherwise of JobBridge as a labour market activation scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31911/14]
View answer130. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of host organisations on the JobBridge programme which have taken on between one and nine interns; the number which have taken on between ten and 20 interns; the number which have taken on between 21 and 50 interns; the number which have taken on between 51 and 100 interns; and the number which have taken on 101 or more interns since the commencement of the programme in July 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31974/14]
View answer131. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of monitoring visits conducted on the JobBridge programme in each of the following years: 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31975/14]
View answer132. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of host organisations who have participated in the JobBridge programme since July 2011 in each of the following categories: private sector, public sector, and community and voluntary sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31976/14]
View answer133. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of monitoring visits conducted on the JobBridge programme since July 2011 in host organisations in each of the following categories: private sector, public sector, and community and voluntary sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31977/14]
View answer134. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of monitoring visits conducted on the JobBridge programme since July 2011 arising out of complaints and requests made by interns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31978/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 118, 125 and 130 to 134, inclusive, together.
The number of JobBridge interns since the scheme commenced on 1 July, 2011, by county and by year is set out in Table 1.
The department does not routinely collate data on post scheme (JobBridge, Community Employment, Tús etc) employment/unemployment episodes of participants. Progression outcomes are in general evaluated as a survey/study basis by bodies such as the ESRI.
In the case of JobBridge, the independent evaluation of JobBridge by Indecon found that, at the time of survey, 61% of former JobBridge interns had moved into employment within 5 or more months after finishing their internship and that 45.2% of former JobBridge interns in employment were in full time permanent employment, 9.3% were in part time permanent employment, 35.0% were in full time temporary employment and 10.5% were in part time temporary employment.
The number of JobBridge host organisations by number of interns taken on is set out in Table 2.
The number of monitoring visits conducted on JobBridge internships in each year of operation is set out in Table 3.
The number of Jobridge host organisations in the public, private and community and voluntary sector is set out in Table 4.
More than 6,600 on-site monitoring visits have been conducted in the 3 years since the JobBridge scheme was introduced. These on-site monitoring visits to host organisations are either chosen at random or visits arranged in response to concerns raised by interns or others. The Department does not distinguish between monitoring visits conducted at random or in response to concerns raised or between those carried out with host organisations in different sectors.
Since JobBridge came into operation, the Department has received 464 such expressions of concern. All such complaints are investigated as a matter of urgency. 97% of all monitoring visits conducted found internships to be proceeding satisfactorily and in line with the established criteria.
Table 1: JobBridge Interns by County and by Year
|
County |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
Total |
|
CARLOW |
60 |
118 |
145 |
75 |
398 |
|
CAVAN |
38 |
122 |
181 |
89 |
430 |
|
CLARE |
81 |
204 |
251 |
140 |
676 |
|
CORK |
396 |
883 |
1,063 |
561 |
2,903 |
|
DONEGAL |
105 |
352 |
371 |
164 |
992 |
|
DUBLIN |
1,397 |
3,149 |
3,745 |
1,924 |
10,215 |
|
GALWAY |
217 |
652 |
721 |
397 |
1,987 |
|
KERRY |
87 |
291 |
340 |
183 |
901 |
|
KILDARE |
111 |
336 |
393 |
209 |
1,049 |
|
KILKENNY |
42 |
171 |
147 |
96 |
456 |
|
LAOIS |
37 |
151 |
157 |
94 |
439 |
|
LEITRIM |
16 |
44 |
57 |
55 |
172 |
|
LIMERICK |
177 |
483 |
615 |
340 |
1,615 |
|
LONGFORD |
32 |
73 |
76 |
51 |
232 |
|
LOUTH |
93 |
220 |
292 |
187 |
792 |
|
MAYO |
73 |
218 |
328 |
184 |
803 |
|
MEATH |
66 |
228 |
263 |
169 |
726 |
|
MONAGHAN |
58 |
155 |
209 |
90 |
512 |
|
OFFALY |
35 |
120 |
152 |
95 |
402 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
24 |
69 |
91 |
49 |
233 |
|
SLIGO |
85 |
173 |
208 |
129 |
595 |
|
TIPPERARY |
120 |
308 |
358 |
194 |
980 |
|
WATERFORD |
125 |
341 |
357 |
191 |
1,014 |
|
WESTMEATH |
98 |
218 |
271 |
160 |
747 |
|
WEXFORD |
102 |
280 |
333 |
180 |
895 |
|
WICKLOW |
98 |
215 |
204 |
125 |
642 |
|
Total |
3,773 |
9,574 |
11,328 |
6,131 |
30,806 |
Table 2: JobBridge Host Organisations by Number of Interns taken on
|
Number of Interns |
Number of Host Organisations |
|
1-9 interns |
13,500 |
|
10-20 interns |
188 |
|
21-50 interns |
86 |
|
51-100 interns |
29 |
|
101- |
7 |
|
Grand Total |
13,810 |
Table 3: Monitoring Visits conducted on JobBridge Internships by Year
|
Year |
Number of Visits |
|
2011 |
0 |
|
2012 |
1,052 |
|
2013 |
3,406 |
|
2014 (to 14 July) |
2,312 |
|
Total |
6,770 |
Table 4: JobBridge Host Organisations by Sector (Cumulative Total)
|
Sector |
Number of Host Organisations |
|
Private |
11,302 |
|
Public |
1,401 |
|
Community & Voluntary |
1,107 |
|
Total |
13,810 |
119. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will outline in a tabular form, the number of participants on community employment schemes since 2011 on a county basis and on a yearly basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31843/14]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy is set out in the table attached.
Year-End Community Employment Places by County
|
County/Area |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
14/07/2014 |
|
Carlow |
335 |
320 |
399 |
416 |
|
Cavan |
225 |
216 |
284 |
299 |
|
Clare |
596 |
573 |
605 |
582 |
|
Cork |
2,177 |
2,122 |
2,198 |
2,241 |
|
Donegal |
1,157 |
1,124 |
1,169 |
1,218 |
|
Dublin |
6,410 |
5,658 |
5,997 |
6,085 |
|
Galway |
1,507 |
1,467 |
1,538 |
1,558 |
|
Kerry |
966 |
973 |
1,014 |
1,010 |
|
Kildare |
664 |
615 |
817 |
873 |
|
Kilkenny |
445 |
389 |
443 |
461 |
|
Laois |
307 |
296 |
282 |
302 |
|
Leitrim |
170 |
182 |
172 |
178 |
|
Limerick |
1,305 |
1,160 |
1,196 |
1,217 |
|
Longford |
304 |
291 |
305 |
322 |
|
Louth |
817 |
776 |
845 |
831 |
|
Mayo |
794 |
767 |
796 |
783 |
|
Meath |
472 |
411 |
488 |
448 |
|
Monaghan |
341 |
340 |
358 |
405 |
|
Offaly |
372 |
357 |
372 |
387 |
|
Roscommon |
349 |
356 |
320 |
331 |
|
Sligo |
433 |
399 |
442 |
447 |
|
Tipperary |
1,022 |
905 |
992 |
1,013 |
|
Waterford |
708 |
716 |
766 |
851 |
|
Westmeath |
551 |
544 |
590 |
586 |
|
Wexford |
851 |
859 |
933 |
965 |
|
Wicklow |
726 |
629 |
622 |
665 |
|
TOTAL |
24,004 |
22,445 |
23,943 |
24,474 |
|
(Inclusive of Supervisors) |
120. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of past participants in community employment schemes currently in full-time employment and not in receipt of a social protection payment; in full-time employment and in receipt of a social protection payment, that is, family income supplement and so on; in part-time employment and in receipt of a social protection payment or are still on the live register and classed as full-time unemployed; and her views on the effectiveness or otherwise of community employment schemes as a labour market activation scheme. [31844/14]
View answer127. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of past participants in community employment schemes who are currently in full-time employment and not in receipt of a social protection payment; in full-time employment and in receipt of a social protection payment, for example, family income supplement in part-time employment and in receipt of a social protection payment; or are still on the live register and classed as full-time unemployed; her views on the effectiveness or otherwise of CE schemes as a labour market activation scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31913/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 127 together.
Community Employment (CE) progression statistics for 2013 show that of the 8,191 participants who finished and exited the programme during that year, 2,122 (25.9%) were recorded as having found employment (1,927) or self-employment (195). A further 617 (7.5%) progressed on exit into further education, training or internship programmes, giving an overall progression figure of 33.4%. The remainder of CE exits returned to their former social welfare payment, where applicable.
However, it is important to note that these statistics were recorded immediately after the participants exited CE, so persons who finished and found employment or commenced further education/training subsequent to their CE exit may not have their employment or progression into training/education fully captured for statistical purposes.
Considerable improvements have been made to the CE Programme in the past two years. This includes the introduction of a 3 year application process, improved financial monitoring and programme monitoring systems, and a greater focus on needs of job seekers and other vulnerable groups. Greater efficiencies have also been achieved in terms of the overall administration and management of the programme, both at scheme and Department level. This improvement process will continue during 2014 with a continued focus on progression of the client and continued support for the delivery of important social services to communities across the country.
