Written Answers Nos. 42-71
42. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of his acceptance of the severity of the housing crisis, his plans and the streams of funding he is making available for social housing; the new potential sources of funding he has identified for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34304/14]
View answerIncreasing both public and private housing supply is a priority for this Government and the Construction 2020 strategy, published on 14 May 2014, provides a framework and action plan to secure a properly functioning and sustainable construction sector. It provides for a strategic approach to the provision of housing based on real and measured demand and addresses the full range of relevant issues including the planning process, financing, access to mortgage finance and the construction workforce.
The preparation and publication of a Social Housing Strategy is a commitment under Action 8 of Construction 2020 and my Department is currently finalising the Strategy. The economic context in which we must address social housing need is such that innovative solutions must be found which will harness new funding streams while continuing to protect the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. My intention is that the Strategy will provide the basis for an enhanced approach to social housing provision in Ireland. It with contain clear measurable actions aimed at increasing the supply of social housing to meet the needs of households over the next five years. The strategy will be considered by Government in the coming weeks and will be published thereafter.
The level of funding available to housing authorities in 2015 for housing programmes is currently being considered in the context of the Estimates process. In light of budgetary demands and given the centrality of housing to the Statement of Government Priorities 2014 – 2016, I am working with my colleagues in Government to ensure that appropriate funding priority continues to be given to social housing.
43. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will overrule the four Dublin local authority chief executives' decision to proceed with the Poolbeg incinerator in view of its rejection by elected members of Dublin City Council and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34327/14]
View answerThe project concerned is a Public Private Partnership between Dublin City Council, acting on behalf of the four Dublin local authorities, and its private sector partner, and is part of the implementation of the Dublin Region Waste Management Plan. In accordance with the provisions of the Waste Management Act 1996, the preparation and adoption of a waste management plan, including in respect of infrastructure provision, is the statutory responsibility of the local authority or authorities concerned. Under legislation introduced in 2001, such matters are an executive function of the relevant local authority.
I have no function in the matter and am precluded, under section 60(3) of the Act, from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance by a local authority, in particular circumstances, of a statutory function vested in it.
44. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will share the data, method and findings of research conducted by Irish Water that has been cited as evidence for a reduced free water allowance for children; if he will specify the full test area used, the number of meters utilised, the timeframe over which data were gathered, the precise formulae applied to the data gathered to determine a result; if he will indicate whether the findings were compared with similar studies conducted in other jurisdictions and if they were independently verified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34318/14]
View answerWith effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water can collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it. The Act also provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and the CER has been given statutory responsibility for protecting the interests of customers.
In July 2014, a policy direction was issued to the CER in accordance with section 42 of the 2013 Act on a number of matters relating to domestic water charges including the provision of a free allowance to cover the normal usage of water services by every child in their primary residence based on the same qualifying conditions as child benefit, such that water charges will in effect only apply to adults in such households. The estimated limit was subject to verification through actual consumption data from metering.
Irish Water has now submitted to the CER the results of surveys of actual metered usage which are considered more robust and accurate than previous studies. I instructed my Department to write to Irish Water to underline the critical importance of Irish Water continuing to undertake such monitoring on a regular basis, with appropriate independent validation, to ensure that the allowance set covers the normal consumption of children. Data on consumption patterns will also be provided by Irish Water to the CER on a regular basis.
In the context of its consultation on the water charges plan submitted to the CER by Irish Water, the CER has published information on its website, www.cer.ie, relating to the consumption surveys undertaken to determine household consumption and consumption by children. If further information is required, this can be obtained directly from Irish Water which has responsibility for all aspects of the metering programme and the consumption surveys undertaken.
Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on 1890 278 278.
45. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the appointment to the State planning board of persons who were previously involved in framing controversial proposals such as the Poolbeg incinerator. [34305/14]
View answerIt is unclear as to which Board member, or members, of An Bord Pleanala the Deputy is referring.
The process for making appointments to An Bord Pleanála is governed by the Planning and Development Act 2000. In terms of its operations, An Bord Pleanála operates under a Code of Conduct as required by section 150 of the Act. One of the purposes of the Code is to ensure that any potential conflicts of interest relating to the statutory functions of An Bord Pleanala are dealt with in an appropriate manner. This Code is available for viewing on the Board’s website at www.pleanala.ie
Section 13 of the Code contains procedures for dealing with conflicts of interest in the context of meetings of An Bord Pleanála where appeals and other planning cases are determined. Section 15.2 of the Code also requires that a Board member shall not deal with any case in any capacity on behalf of the Board where the member had any involvement at any time in the matter, either on a personal basis or on behalf of a previous employer or as a member of any other organisation or voluntary body. Furthermore, section 15.4 of the Code requires that a Board member shall not knowingly deal with a file relating to a planning authority or a private practice where he/she was previously employed during the previous 2 year period or any voluntary or professional organisation of which the person is or was a member during the previous 2 year period.
46. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if, arising from the recommendation contained in the first report of the homelessness oversight group, a homelessness policy implementation team has been established for achieving the objective of ending homelessness by 2016; if so, the composition of the team; and the number of occasions on which it has convened. [34312/14]
View answerOn 25 February 2014, the Government approved the establishment of a Homeless ness Policy Implementation Team. The Team is responsible for overseeing and monitoring the delivery of actions outlined in the Government's Implementation Plan on the State’s Response to Homelessness, which was published on 20 May 2014. The Plan outlines the Government's approach to delivering on its objective of ending involuntary long-term homelessness by the end of 2016 and gives effect to the recommendations of the Homelessness Oversight Group’s First Report.
Progress on the plan's implementation is reported to the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy on a quarterly basis. A copy of the plan and the Quarter 2 Progress Report are available on my Department's website at,
http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/SpecialNeeds/HomelessPeople/
The Homelessness Policy Implementation Team is chaired by my Department and includes senior officials from the Department of Social Protection, the Health Service Executive as well as the Chief Executives of Dublin City Council and Monaghan County Council. The Team has met on five occasions since its establishment and its next meeting is being held today.
47. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the formula utilised by his Department in determining the needs and resources model for disbursement of both general purpose grants and equalisation funds from local property tax; when the most recent such assessment took place; if he will make available a copy of the findings; if he is satisfied that the model employed fully takes into account likely demographic changes in specific areas and consequent likely future needs; if variations in staffing requirements form part of the assessed needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34443/14]
View answerGeneral purpose grants from the Local Government Fund have historically been structured to bring about equalisation over time; that is a position of balance where the financial needs of local authorities are met by their resources and they are able to provide an appropriate level of service to their customers. Local authorities’ cost and income bases vary significantly from one another as a result of their size, population, public service demands, infrastructure and income sources and calculating an appropriate distribution of these grants has been complex.
There are significant variances between local authorities in all areas of operation, service provision, income generation and service demand, some of which is geographically driven and influenced and is subject to fluidity and uncertainty, particularly in the last 5 years. In these circumstances, a strict formulaic approach to General Purpose Grant allocations would have limitations. In determining these grants a number of factors were taken into account as relevant, including the overall funding available for local authorities, the estimated cost to each authority of providing a reasonable level of service to their customers, the income each authority should generate from local sources and the necessity to provide each authority with a baseline allocation that will support its financial stability. Each local authority’s financial position is kept under ongoing review by my Department, through gathering data and meeting local authority personnel, where necessary; local authorities’ annual and multi-annual financial performance and projections, where available, along with any other relevant information would also have been considered as part of the process of allocating General Purpose Grants.
In 2014 the establishment of Irish Water presented local government with significant organisational and financial challenges. Service provision responsibilities are moving from the local authorities to Irish Water, infrastructure is being transferred, financing arrangements have altered and local authorities are operating on behalf of Irish Water under Service Level Agreements. These changes impacted directly on the funding model for local authorities, with General Purpose Grants in 2014 reflecting the move of the funding source from my Department to Irish Water; the levels of General Purpose Grants received in 2014 are, therefore, not comparable to previous years’ allocations.
In 2015, in addition to the changes in water services funding, local authorities will be faced with further changes to their funding model as a result of the move to local retention and variation of Local Property Tax (LPT. The Government has decided that 80% of LPT will be retained locally to fund vital public services in 2015. The remaining 20% will be re-distributed to provide additional funding to certain local authorities that have lower property tax bases due to the variance in property values across the State. This additional funding will be allocated to ensure that no local authority receives less income from LPT in 2015 than they received from the General Purpose Grants in 2014.
Certain local authorities, with stronger property bases, will however receive additional income in 2015 from LPT compared to their 2014 General Purpose Grant. The Government has decided that these local authorities will use this surplus funding in two ways, with a portion available for their own discretionary purposes and the remainder, if any, to fund some services in the Housing and Roads areas for which they currently receive Central Government funding. The portion that will be retained for discretionary purposes by these authorities will be an amount equal to 20% of the total expected LPT income in their respective areas (before any decision to vary rates) or, in the case where that surplus will be less than 20%, the full amount. It will be a matter for the individual local authorities to decide how to spend that discretionary funding.
I have advised local authorities of their individual provisional LPT allocations for 2015. This information has been provided at this early stage in the budget process for 2015 in order to ensure that local authorities have sufficient detail available to inform their decision-making in respect of LPT rate variation for 2015, which must be completed and notified to the Revenue Commissioners by 30 September 2014.
48. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the aggregate annual costs and cost per household from 2008 to 2013 to the Exchequer of the various rent allowance and rent supplement schemes. [33043/14]
View answer150. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the total expenditure by her Department on rent supplement and mortgage supplement, respectively, in each year since 2010, including 2014 to the end of August; the reasons for the change in the amounts paid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34507/14]
View answer157. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form the number of recipients of rent supplement in the Dublin city area for the years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; the absolute amount of rent supplement paid by her Department in each of these periods; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34692/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 48, 150 and 157 together.
The 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 73,800 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014.
Expenditure on rent supplement has decreased from a maximum spend of over €516 million in respect of over 97,000 recipients in 2010 to some €373 million in respect of almost 80,000 recipients in 2013. Changes in expenditure are attributable to variations in recipient numbers experienced during the economic crisis, the transfer of recipients to social housing, changes in rent levels and increases to the minimum contribution payable by rent supplement tenants.
The original purpose of the mortgage interest supplement scheme was to provide short-term support to eligible people who are unable to meet their mortgage interest repayments in respect of a house which is their sole place of residence. The supplement assists with the interest portion of the mortgage repayments only. There are currently approximately 7,000 people in receipt of mortgage interest supplement for which the Government has provided €17.9 million in 2014.
Similar to the rent supplement scheme, both expenditure and recipients of the mortgage interest supplement scheme reached a peak during the period of economic crisis, of almost €68 million in respect of over 19,000 customers in December 2011. Changes in expenditure can be attributed to variations in recipient numbers, interest rates and changes to the minimum contribution payable by mortgage interest supplement tenants.
Budget 2014 made provision for the discontinuation of entitlement to mortgage interest supplement for all new applicants from 1 January 2014. This has ensured that persons with long term difficulties with their mortgage are continuing to engage with their mortgage service provider through the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP). Customers in receipt before the 1 January 2014 were not affected by this measure and can retain entitlement to the scheme over a four year period, up to 1st January 2018. This measure will allow for a natural winding down of the mortgage interest supplement scheme over this four year period through the provision of sustainable repayment arrangements and engagement in employment.
The annual expenditure on the rent supplement and mortgage interest supplement schemes, including that to August 2014, is provided in the attached tabular statements. Rent supplement recipients statistics at end of year are maintained at county level and the detail in respect of Dublin county is also provided. The cost of the rent supplement per household is not available.
Tabular Statements
Table 1
Rent Supplement: End of Year Recipient Numbers & Expenditure: 2008 to Date
|
Year |
Recipients |
Cost €000 |
|
2008 |
74,038 |
440,548 |
|
2009 |
93,030 |
510,751 |
|
2010 |
97,260 |
516,538 |
|
2011 |
96,803 |
502,747 |
|
2012 |
87,684 |
422,536 |
|
2013 |
79,788 |
372,909 |
|
End August 2014 |
74,080 |
229,000 |
Table 2: Rent Supplement: End of Year Recipient Numbers in Dublin 2010 to Date
|
Year |
Recipients |
|
2010 |
33,818 |
|
2011 |
34,423 |
|
2012 |
32,584 |
|
2013 |
29,541 |
|
End August 2014 |
27,601 |
Table 3: Mortgage Interest Supplement: End of year Recipient Numbers & Expenditure: 2010 to 2013
|
Year |
Recipients |
Cost €000 |
|
2010 |
17,974 |
65,615 |
|
2011 |
18,988 |
67,849 |
|
2012 |
14,597 |
55,082 |
|
2013 |
9,768 |
35,063 |
|
End August 2014 |
6,970 |
15,000 |
49. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason families or 22Q11 adults are not receiving the carer's allowance. [33146/14]
View answer115. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to review the requirement that a person, in order to qualify for carer's benefit, must have been working 16 hours per week or 32 hours per fortnight; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34019/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 115 together.
Carers Benefit is designed to facilitate people, including job-sharers, in full-time employment to leave the workforce temporarily to care for someone who is need of full-time care and attention. The employment conditions attached to Carers Benefit (including the requirement to have been working 16 hours per week or 32 hours per fortnight for at least 8 of the previous 26 weeks), are intended to ensure that the recipients of Carers Benefit have had a recent attachment to the workforce while facilitating the inclusion of those who have an irregular work pattern and I have no plans to make any changes in this regard.
Regarding qualification for Carers Allowance, one of the conditions is that the recipient of care must be over the age of 16 and so incapacitated as to require full-time care and attention or aged under 16 and getting a Domiciliary Care Allowance.
The person receiving care is deemed to require full-time care and attention where he or she is so incapacitated as to require continuous supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself or continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions, and he or she is so incapacitated as to be likely to require full-time care and attention for a period of at least twelve months.
The degree and type of medical incapacity of the care recipient must be certified by a medical doctor and each case is assessed in accordance with the criteria that the person receiving care is regarded as requiring full time care and attention, as outlined above. A decision on entitlement is then delivered based on the assessment of the need for full–time care and meeting the other criteria for the scheme.
50. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the actions she will take to redress the difficulties experienced by employees in situations where their employer goes out of business but has not been formally wound up, particularly the problem in relation to such employees not having access to the State's insolvency fund. [33338/14]
View answer54. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to address the flaws in the Protection of Employees (Employers' Insolvency) Act 1984, as amended in 2006, which allowed for rogue employers not to give the necessary support employees require during an insolvency process. [34662/14]
View answer142. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the dates on which she, her Ministers of State or Department officials have met with the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to discuss the exclusion of workers from the insolvency payments scheme where a company ceases trading and, in effect, is informally insolvent; and the outcome of these meetings. [34421/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 50, 54 and 142 together.
The purpose of the insolvency payments scheme, which operates under the Protection of Employees (Employers’ Insolvency) Act, 1984, which, in turn, derives from EU Council Directive 987/80, is to protect certain outstanding pay-related entitlements due to employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer. These entitlements include wages, holiday pay, sick pay, payment in lieu of minimum notice due under the Minimum Notice & Terms of Employment Acts, 1973-2001, and certain pension contributions. Various other statutory awards made by the Employment Appeals Tribunal, Rights Commissioners, etc., are also covered by the scheme.
Where a person’s former employer was a limited company, the company must be in liquidation or receivership in order for the person to be eligible to claim under the insolvency payments scheme. In such circumstances, the liquidator or receiver becomes the relevant officer for submitting claims as he or she has access to the company records and can certify that the amounts claimed are in order.
I am aware that there are cases where companies have ceased trading without engaging in a formal winding-up process and that in some such cases those employers may owe monies to their employees. Such employees are not eligible for payments under the insolvency payments scheme. I have asked my Department to review the position to establish what, if anything can be done to progress payments to individuals in these situations.
My Department is consulting with a range of interested parties in this review including the ODCE, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the Revenue Commissioners. The Department has received submissions from ICTU on the issue. In its review the Department will also have to have regard to legal issues arising in the general area of insolvency law and the potential impacts that any proposed policy development will have in that area of law. To date my officials have had one meeting with the various parties mentioned above in connection with this issue.
I am not in a position to indicate when this review will be completed.
51. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if costings have been undertaken for providing a daily school meal for all primary and secondary school children in the country; what these costs are; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34447/14]
View answerThe school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to approximately 1,600 schools and organisations which benefits some 205,000 children through two schemes. The first is the statutory urban school meals scheme, operated by local authorities and part-financed by the Department. The second is the school meals local projects scheme through which funding is provided directly to participating schools and local and voluntary community groups who run their own school meals projects. The Government has provided €37 million for the school meals programme in 2014.
Despite pressure on the social protection budget, the Government allocated an additional €2 million for the school meals programme in 2013, increasing the total allocation from €35 million to €37 million. The additional €2 million was used to extend the programme to some 100 additional DEIS and special schools who were not part of the scheme.
The programme is in place to provide support to disadvantaged children and priority is given to schools which are part of the Department of Education and Skills’ initiative for disadvantaged schools, ‘Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools’ (DEIS). Costings are not available in respect of extending the scheme to all primary and secondary school children in the country. The cost of extending the scheme to additional schools can only be quantified where more specific information is available such as the type of food clubs to be provided. Any extension to the scheme could only be considered in a budgetary context.
52. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to restore the funding for the community employment drug rehabilitation programme in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34516/14]
View answerThe Drugs Rehabilitation CE schemes have not experienced any reduction in funding in recent years. The significant contribution of resources from the Department of Social Protection to the drugs rehabilitation response includes the 1,000 dedicated CE places delivered through the CE Drug Rehabilitation Projects (DRP’s). The focus of the CE DRP places continues to be on training and development in support of recovery for those seeking a more stable lifestyle, including a path to progression to work. A CE Drugs Advisory Stakeholders Group, led by the Department and including statutory, community, voluntary and scheme representatives is working on a framework to further develop and enhance the CE drugs response.
53. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the amount deemed recoverable from employers in respect of redundancy and-or insolvency payable to the Social Insurance Fund; the way in which it is treated in the national accounts; if the total amount outstanding is included as an asset or if a recoverable amount is treated as an asset in the national accounts; the figure included as at 31 December 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34659/14]
View answer143. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to publish the 2013 report carried out by internal auditors in her Department which found that her Department has no comprehensive policy for pursuing outstanding debt from employers regarding redundancy and insolvency-related payments; and the actions she has taken to remedy these failures over the past 12 months. [34422/14]
View answer144. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will indicate, in tabular form, the moneys paid out by her Department from the insolvency payment scheme and the redundancy payment scheme in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date 2014. [34423/14]
View answer156. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the amounts outstanding from employers in respect of redundancy and-or insolvency and the amount of these that are expected to be recovered to provide an aged analysis in respect of the outstanding amount; the number of employers involved; the efforts taken to date this year to collect this outstanding money; the way this outstanding amount is included in the national debt finances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34661/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 53, 143, 144 and 156 together.
The Department’s Internal Audit unit carries out independent audits across business activities. Its purpose is to examine the internal controls in place to guard against the risks associated with the activities and to provide assurance to management. Following an audit, Internal Audit reports are generated for management and outline issues and make recommendations if applicable for improving any deficiencies or shortfalls. The reports are internal documents circulated to senior management and the relevant business areas to assist in obtaining assurance and in addressing issues arising.
A new Compliance and Anti-Fraud Strategy 2014 – 2018 was introduced earlier this year, building on the approach and progress made under the Fraud Initiative (2011–2013), and redundancy debt is pursued under this overall Departmental policy.
To support and enhance its debt recovery approach, the Department is also in the process of replacing its current debt management system in order to deliver a more modernised and automated approach to the recording, accounting and recovery of all debts outstanding. The new system will be operational in the last quarter of 2014. Redundancy and Insolvency Sections will be using this system as part of their debt recovery strategy.
Where a company is continuing to trade, the Department actively engages with such employers in order to maximise the recovery of debt. Full recovery of the debt is sought and where appropriate, the Department agrees a debt recovery plan with employers which can include payment by instalment.
Where a company has gone into liquidation, the Minister for Social Protection becomes a preferential creditor against the assets of the employer.
Redundancy payments, are made to firms which are in financial difficulty, therefore, a very significant amount of this debt will not be recoverable.
Since 2011 the Department has introduced a much more rigorous and detailed examination of claims submitted. This includes cross checking wage figures against the P45/P35 returns and double checking for breaks in service, periods in receipt of social welfare payments etc. This detailed examination of claims ensures that the correct level of redundancy payment is made in each case.
Where employers default in making redundancy lump sums, the full statutory entitlement may be made to employees from the Social Insurance Fund (SIF). In addition where employers become insolvent, certain other outstanding statutory entitlements (arrears of wages, holiday pay etc.) may also be paid from SIF. Amounts paid under these circumstances are recoverable from employers. However the level of recoveries cannot be accurately estimated and the amount recoverable is recognised as a contingent asset of the SIF.
In accordance with recognised accounting practice (International Accounting Standard 37 refers) a contingent asset is not recognised in the balance sheet of the SIF but is disclosed by way of note to its annual statutory account. The annual statutory account of the SIF which is subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General records full details by way of note of Redundancy and Insolvency amounts paid, recovered, written off and outstanding; recoveries are brought to account on a cash receipt basis. The book value of the amount recoverable in respect of Redundancy and Insolvency at 31 December 2013 is €460,498,000.
Expenditure on the redundancy and insolvency payments schemes from 2011 to the end of August 2014 and debt recovery details for the period 2011 to June 2014 are set out in the following tables.
Expenditure on Statutory Redundancy Payments
|
Year |
|||
|
Rebates to Employers (€ million) |
Lump sums to employees (€ million) |
Total (€ million) |
|
|
2014 Jan to Aug (Provisional) |
4.93 |
40.93 |
45.86 |
|
2013 |
49.5 |
76.6 |
126.1 |
|
2012 |
167.4 |
134.3 |
301.7 |
|
2011 |
185.3 |
126.7 |
311.96 |
|
Year |
Expenditure on Statutory Insolvency Payments Scheme (€ million) |
|
2014 Jan to Aug (Provisional) |
24.48 |
|
2013 |
22.047 |
|
2012 |
21.664 |
|
2011 |
18.510 |
Redundancy and Insolvency Payments Schemes
Payments and Recoveries 2011 to June 2014
|
Debt |
2011 €m |
2012 €m |
2013 €m |
2014 to end June €m |
|
Redundancy Payments Scheme |
||||
|
Payments (debt incurred) |
68.6 |
95.6 |
61.2 |
29.4 |
|
Recoveries |
3.7 |
4.09 |
5.2 |
6.5 |
|
Insolvency Payments Scheme |
||||
|
Payments (debt incurred) |
18.5 |
21.7 |
22.05 |
11.8 |
|
Recoveries |
0.8 |
1.8 |
1.8 |
1.9 |
55. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when rent support, including arrears, will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32912/14]
View answerAll Rent Supplement payments, including arrears, are paid up to date for this client.
56. Deputy John Deasy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of participants in each year since its inception in July 2011 in the JobBridge internship programme in each county; the number of these placements that have led to full-time employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33047/14]
View answer93. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason top-up payments are available for the JobBridge scheme but not the Springboard scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33591/14]
View answer95. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a company is permitted to offer internships under JobBridge when an existing employee of 11 years was put on a three-day week in 2011 and, for the past four months, is working four days a week, and when this employee wants to work a full five days a week but is told by the employer there is not work for five days; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33678/14]
View answer102. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason special needs assistant positions are being advertised on her Department's website under the JobBridge national internship scheme; if there was prior consultation and an agreement drawn up between her Department and the Department of Education and Skills that SNA posts previously funded by that Department would now be filled under the JobBridge national internship scheme at no cost to the Department of Education and Skills; which persons will undertake to mentor interns as specified under the JobBridge SNA posts; her plan for these persons once they have completed the internship; if they will be required to sign back on the live register and if the posts they previously held and for which they cannot reapply will be re-advertised the following year for new applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33793/14]
View answer169. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the conditions for persons who wish to participate in internships; if there are conditions and stipulations attached thereto; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32899/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 56, 93, 95, 102 and 169 together.
Individuals wishing to undertake internships under the JobBridge scheme must be in receipt of a relevant Social Welfare payment i.e. Jobseekers Allowance, Jobseekers Benefit, One Parent Family Payment, Disability Allowance, or signing for credits for 3 months (78 days) out of the last 6 months and have a live claim. Eligibility of potential interns is assessed by the Department once the individuals have been selected by the host organisation.
The following tables set out details of the number of internships since 2011 on a County basis. An independent evaluation of JobBridge found that 61% of former interns moved into employment within 5 or more months of finishing their internship.
The Department pays each JobBridge intern a €50 per week top up in addition to their Social Welfare payment to take account of the additional ‘out of pocket’ expenses that may be incurred in undertaking an internship. Springboard is operated by the Higher Education Authority under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills.
Host organisations are not permitted to displace an employee with a JobBridge intern. Host organisations must undertake to provide a high quality real workplace internship experience for an intern for at least 30 hours per week. A robust monitoring system is in place to ensure that all internships under the JobBridge scheme are fully compliant. If the Deputy has specific details of displacement or other abuse of JobBridge to give to the Department, the matter will be fully investigated.
Internship opportunities, including SNAs, are advertised by the host organisation, in this case schools, at their discretion. When advertising internship opportunities host organisations undertake to comply with the stringent criteria that the Department applies for the protection of the intern and the integrity JobBridge scheme. In addition to these requirements, host organisations must also be mindful of the requirements within their own Sector or governing authority. The Department has ongoing liaison with the Department of Education and Skills regarding the operation of JobBridge in the Education Sector.
In addition to the initial vetting of advertisements and the requirement for the host organisation to participate in monthly compliance reporting, the Department has, as outlined, on-going monitoring of internships; this includes the regular review of monthly compliance reports and random monitoring site visits to facilitate discussions with both parties to the internship. The strict requirements for mentoring also apply to internships within the Education Sector.
If an intern does not receive an offer of employment at the end of an internship they are required to notify their local Social Welfare office and sign back onto the Live Register. Interns are not permitted to undertake a second internship with the same host organisation.
Table 1. JobBridge Internships in 2011 by County
|
County |
Finishers |
|
CARLOW |
60 |
|
CAVAN |
38 |
|
CLARE |
81 |
|
CORK |
396 |
|
DONEGAL |
105 |
|
DUBLIN |
1397 |
|
GALWAY |
217 |
|
KERRY |
87 |
|
KILDARE |
111 |
|
KILKENNY |
42 |
|
LAOIS |
37 |
|
LEITRIM |
16 |
|
LIMERICK |
177 |
|
LONGFORD |
32 |
|
LOUTH |
93 |
|
MAYO |
73 |
|
MEATH |
66 |
|
MONAGHAN |
58 |
|
OFFALY |
35 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
24 |
|
SLIGO |
85 |
|
TIPPERARY |
120 |
|
WATERFORD |
125 |
|
WESTMEATH |
98 |
|
WEXFORD |
102 |
|
WICKLOW |
98 |
|
Total |
3773 |
Table 2. JobBridge Internships in 2012 by County
|
County |
Finishers |
|
CARLOW |
118 |
|
CAVAN |
122 |
|
CLARE |
204 |
|
CORK |
883 |
|
DONEGAL |
352 |
|
DUBLIN |
3149 |
|
GALWAY |
652 |
|
KERRY |
291 |
|
KILDARE |
336 |
|
KILKENNY |
171 |
|
LAOIS |
151 |
|
LEITRIM |
44 |
|
LIMERICK |
483 |
|
LONGFORD |
73 |
|
LOUTH |
220 |
|
MAYO |
218 |
|
MEATH |
228 |
|
MONAGHAN |
155 |
|
OFFALY |
120 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
69 |
|
SLIGO |
173 |
|
TIPPERARY |
308 |
|
WATERFORD |
341 |
|
WESTMEATH |
218 |
|
WEXFORD |
280 |
|
WICKLOW |
215 |
|
Total |
9574 |
Table 3 JobBridge Internships in 2013 by County
|
County |
Finishers |
Current |
Total |
|
CARLOW |
143 |
2 |
145 |
|
CAVAN |
177 |
4 |
181 |
|
CLARE |
250 |
1 |
251 |
|
CORK |
1038 |
25 |
1063 |
|
DONEGAL |
364 |
7 |
371 |
|
DUBLIN |
3672 |
73 |
3745 |
|
GALWAY |
706 |
15 |
721 |
|
KERRY |
335 |
5 |
340 |
|
KILDARE |
382 |
11 |
393 |
|
KILKENNY |
138 |
9 |
147 |
|
LAOIS |
153 |
4 |
157 |
|
LEITRIM |
53 |
4 |
57 |
|
LIMERICK |
602 |
13 |
615 |
|
LONGFORD |
74 |
2 |
76 |
|
LOUTH |
291 |
1 |
292 |
|
MAYO |
324 |
4 |
328 |
|
MEATH |
259 |
4 |
263 |
|
MONAGHAN |
202 |
7 |
209 |
|
OFFALY |
145 |
7 |
152 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
91 |
0 |
91 |
|
SLIGO |
199 |
9 |
208 |
|
TIPPERARY |
341 |
17 |
358 |
|
WATERFORD |
351 |
6 |
357 |
|
WESTMEATH |
261 |
10 |
271 |
|
WEXFORD |
324 |
9 |
333 |
|
WICKLOW |
197 |
7 |
204 |
|
Totals |
11072 |
256 |
11328 |
Table 4. JobBridge Internships to date in 2014 by County
|
County |
Finishers |
Current |
Total |
|
CARLOW |
20 |
74 |
94 |
|
CAVAN |
33 |
78 |
111 |
|
CLARE |
38 |
133 |
171 |
|
CORK |
179 |
521 |
700 |
|
DONEGAL |
49 |
160 |
209 |
|
DUBLIN |
699 |
1731 |
2430 |
|
GALWAY |
121 |
374 |
495 |
|
KERRY |
49 |
187 |
236 |
|
KILDARE |
64 |
207 |
271 |
|
KILKENNY |
22 |
97 |
119 |
|
LAOIS |
32 |
82 |
114 |
|
LEITRIM |
19 |
46 |
65 |
|
LIMERICK |
104 |
316 |
420 |
|
LONGFORD |
12 |
48 |
60 |
|
LOUTH |
55 |
179 |
234 |
|
MAYO |
65 |
165 |
230 |
|
MEATH |
61 |
152 |
213 |
|
MONAGHAN |
21 |
92 |
113 |
|
OFFALY |
30 |
90 |
120 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
19 |
53 |
72 |
|
SLIGO |
32 |
130 |
162 |
|
TIPPERARY |
53 |
199 |
252 |
|
WATERFORD |
42 |
203 |
245 |
|
WESTMEATH |
50 |
163 |
213 |
|
WEXFORD |
53 |
183 |
236 |
|
WICKLOW |
46 |
124 |
170 |
|
Totals |
1968 |
5787 |
7755 |
57. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if the three-year and six-year time periods for persons on the part-time integration option and the part-time job option in the community employment scheme will be extended where future participants, especially in rural areas, are difficult to obtain and therefore will impact local communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33059/14]
View answerThere are no plans to extend the participation limits beyond that currently available under Community Employment (CE), i.e. three years maximum cumulative participation for those under 55 years of age and up to six years maximum cumulative participation for those of 55 years of age up to State Pension age. Where CE projects are experiencing difficulties in recruitment due to lack of eligible candidates in a locality, the local DSP management can exercise a limited degree of participation flexibility in terms of sustaining a service until a replacement participant can be commenced.
58. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if changing the name of the Pensions Board to the Pensions Authority in March 2014 directly or indirectly amended statements made to Dáil Éireann, details supplied, by the then Minister for Social Welfare, Dr. Woods, on Second Stage of the Pensions Bill on 29 May 1990, Debates Vol. 399, No. 3. [33103/14]
View answerThe Pensions Authority was launched 7th March 2014 under S.I. No. 103/2014 - Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013 (Sections 22(b), 26, 27, 28, 29 and 34) (Commencement) Order 2014.
The name change from the Pensions Board to the Pensions Authority did not directly or indirectly amend the statements recited in this PQ, which were originally made to Dáil Éireann at the second stage of the Pensions Bill on 29 May 1990 (Debate Vol. 399 No. 3).
The Pensions Authority retains all of the Pension Board’s functions under the Pensions Act, such as to inspect and investigate schemes and to prosecute offences. All references to the Pensions Board in the Pensions Act 1990 are to be read as references to the Pensions Authority.
59. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm that a statement, details supplied, made by the legal unit of the Pensions Board in its presentation on pensions law to the Ballymun Community Law Centre on Thursday, 18 July 2013, remains valid following the change in name of the Pensions Board to the Pensions Authority in March 2014. [33104/14]
View answerThe Pensions Authority was launched 7th March 2014. The statement made in the presentation to the Ballymun Community Centre that “The Pensions Board is the regulator of pension schemes. They supervise compliance with the Pensions Act. They have the power to inspect and investigate pension schemes to ensure that they are complying with their statutory obligations” continues to be a valid statement following the change of name of the Pensions Board to the Pensions Authority.
All of the statutory functions and powers of the Pensions Board (including the exercise of specific function and power set out in the italicised statement) are retained by the Pensions Authority.
60. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in determination of an application for guardianship payment in the case of a person, details supplied, in County Kildare who submitted her application at the beginning of June; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33135/14]
View answerA claim for Guardian’s payment was received from the person concerned on 11th June 2014. The case was referred to a Social Welfare Inspector for investigation on 19th June 2014.
Following receipt of the Inspector’s report, the Deciding Officer considered all the information available and decided that additional information is required before a decision on eligibility can be made. A request for additional information issued to the person concerned on 28th July 2014.
A Deciding Officer will review the application on receipt of the requested information, and the person concerned will be informed of the outcome without delay.
61. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the correct level of rent support in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33136/14]
View answerThe client is in receipt of their full entitlement to Rent Supplement based on their weekly income and family composition.
62. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify the resources that will be contributed in the budget to support the work of the DRPs. [33164/14]
View answerThe significant contribution of resources from my Department to the drugs rehabilitation response includes the 1,000 dedicated CE places delivered through the CE Drug Rehabilitation Projects (DRP’s). The focus of the CE DRP places continues to be on training and development in support of recovery for those seeking a more stable lifestyle, including a path to progression to work. A CE Drugs Advisory Stakeholders Group, led by my Department and including statutory, community, voluntary and scheme representatives is currently working on a framework to further develop and enhance the CE drugs response. This work is ongoing.
63. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in each of the past three years who requested to sign on for credits but were not allowed do so; if she will provide the reasons this happens and review the situation as these persons are not considered as existing even for the live register purposes and are not entitled to attend any community employment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33171/14]
View answerPRSI credited contributions ("credits") are an integral part of the social insurance system. For the most part they are linked to having an underlying entitlement to a social welfare payment while temporarily detached from the labour force or having entitlement to statutory leave e.g. parental or maternity leave. The primary purpose of PRSI credits is to secure social welfare benefits and pensions of employees by covering gaps in insurance where they are not in a position to pay PRSI such as during periods of unemployment, illness, etc.
In order to qualify for credits, a person must first have entered insurable employment - he or she must have paid at least one PRSI contribution as an employed contributor. Subsequently, insured workers may be awarded credits if they claim a social welfare payment because they are out of work, or they are ill or incapacitated, or if they are engaged in certain training or educational courses. If at any stage in their working life, a person has no PRSI paid or credited contributions for two full tax years, they cannot be awarded credits again until they return to work and pay PRSI contributions for at least 26 weeks. Statistics are not collected in respect of the number of persons who do not qualify for credits.
With regard to the Live Register it should be noted that the register is not designed to measure unemployment. It includes part-time workers (those who work up to 3 days a week), seasonal and casual workers entitled to jobseeker's benefit or jobseeker's allowance. Unemployment is measured officially by the Central Statistics Office's Quarterly National Household Survey. A person is unemployed if, in the week before the survey, they were without work and available for work within the next 2 weeks.
Persons in receipt of qualifying social welfare payments have access to the full range of activation measures available through the State. Given the scale of unemployment levels, the key objective of activation policy and labour market initiatives is to offer assistance to those most in need of support in securing work and achieving financial self-sufficiency. This policy objective prioritises scarce resources to those in receipt of qualifying welfare payments. Accordingly the employment services and schemes provided by the Department, such as Community Employment, are focused in the first instance on this cohort of unemployed people. However, many services are available to persons who are not in receipt of a social welfare payment or qualifying for credits.
Question No. 64 withdrawn.
65. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of staff who retired, left or otherwise departed from their employment from 1 July 2013 to 31 December 2013, and the expected annual savings arising therefrom; the number of staff expected to leave in 2014, and the annual expected savings therefrom; the number of staff expected to leave in 2015, and the annual savings therefrom; the number of staff expected to leave in 2016, and the annual savings therefrom; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33210/14]
View answerThe following table shows the actual number of staff who retired, resigned or otherwise departed from their employment in the Department during the periods requested. It also includes details of the numbers who are due to reach their compulsory retirement age from now to the end of 2016. It is not possible to be definitive on numbers of any other staff that may depart from the Department during this period
Definitive figures on savings generated from departures are not available because some of these vacated posts are critical and consequently filled. However, the Department’s salary outturn for 2013 was €8m less than 2012.
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform approved an increased Employment Control Framework for the Department for 2014 for the filling of critical posts. The Department is actively working to fill these posts and the salary outturn for 2014 is not yet determined.
With regard to expected annual savings in 2015 and 2016, the Department is currently in discussion on pay budgets for 2015 with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and this will inform future expenditure and savings.
|
Period |
01/07/13 - 31/12/13 |
01/01/14 - 09/09/14 |
10/09/14 - 31/12/14 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
*Number of departures |
59 |
123 |
26 |
61 |
77 |
*Figures exclusive of Temporary Clerical Officers and staff transferring to other Government Departments
66. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of new staff employed since 1 July 2013 up to 31 December 2013 and the expected annual costs arising therefrom; the expected number to be employed in 2014 and the estimated annual cost arising therefrom; the expected number to be employed in 2015 and the estimated annual cost arising therefrom; the expected number to be employed in 2016 and the estimated annual cost arising therefrom; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33227/14]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware there is currently a moratorium on recruitment across the civil and public service. Also, like all other Government Departments, the Department has to operate within an employment control framework (ECF) target determined by the Minster for Public Expenditure and Reform. Therefore, the only sources available to the Department to fill critical vacancies, including those arising from retirements, are from redeployment and transfers of staff from other Government Departments and the wider Public Service.
As an exemption to the moratorium the Department received sanction to recruit externally to establish a panel of Medical Assessors. 1 Medical Assessor was appointed during the period from July 13 to Dec 13, at an approximate cost per annum of €71,554. In addition the Department received sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, outside the ECF, to recruit temporary staff for the Public Services Card Programme and the annual Back to School Footwear Allowance scheme. 27 Temporary Clerical Officers were recruited externally from July 13 to Dec 13 for the purpose of delivering these schemes, at an approximate annual cost of €591,732.
The Department is currently 130 posts under the ECF sanctioned posts of 6,476, and is working to fill these posts. Therefore, the Departments staff numbers fluctuate on an on-going basis with retirements, staff availing of career breaks and work life balance arrangements etc. For these reasons, it will not be possible to provide staff costs for 2014 until the end of the year.
With regard to expected numbers and staffing costs for 2015 and 2016, the Department is currently in discussion on pay budgets for 2015 with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and this information will not be available until these discussions are concluded.
67. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the amount that was spent refurbishing the community welfare offices at Edward Street, Tralee, before Christmas 2013. [33238/14]
View answer68. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of years the community welfare office in Edward Street, Tralee, is open; and the amount it cost to move to these offices from Denny Street. [33239/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 68 together.
The new Intreo Centre at Edward Street, Tralee incurred a refurbishment cost of €225,810.84.
The costs are broken down as follows:
Structural Costs: €173,196
Furniture and Fittings: €47,559.18
Internal Signage: €4,196.46
External Signage: €859.20
The transfer of the Community Welfare Service from Denny St to Edward St, took place before the Department of Social Protection assumed responsibility for the Community Welfare Service in 2011.
The Community Welfare Service moved from Denny Street to Edward Street in 2008. Any associated costs would need to be confirmed by the Health Service Executive.
69. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason a holder of a personal retirement bond who was previously a member of a defined benefit scheme which was subsequently wound up is not entitled to invest in an approved retirement fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33283/14]
View answerPersonal Retirement Bonds, otherwise known as Buy-out-Bonds (BoBs), are approved by the Revenue Commissioners on a generic basis under Chapter 1 of Part 30 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. A BoB is a pension vehicle designed to receive transfer payments from occupational pension schemes as a consequence of a scheme member leaving service, the winding up of a scheme or of pension splitting in the context of a Pensions Adjustment Order. They are not savings vehicles in their own right. An individual with a BoB cannot make contributions to the BoB.
I understand that it has always been a condition of the approval of generic BoB policies that the benefits to be provided to an individual under such policies be subject to the same restrictions and conditions that applies to the occupational pension scheme from which the BoB originated. As you are aware the option of investing in an Approved Retirement Fund (ARF) is available to holders of a BoB where the originating scheme was a defined contribution scheme. Such an option is not available to holders of a BoB where the originating scheme was a defined benefit scheme.
There are fundamental differences between a defined contributions pension scheme and a defined benefit pension scheme. Any consideration of making the ARF option available to a holder of a Bob where the origination scheme was a defined benefit pension scheme would fundamentally change the defined benefit model and potentially impact both on the promised benefits to scheme members and on the funding standard. Such a proposal will be considered in the context of a review of personal pension vehicles with a view to rationalising provision in this area. I expect that this review will be undertaken in the near future.
70. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the implications of a court ruling (details supplied) on the provision of defined benefit pension schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33284/14]
View answerThe ruling in this case is noted.
However, I would point out that defined benefit pension schemes are normally established under trust and maintained by employers on a voluntary basis. The obligation imposed on an employer and on scheme members is normally agreed and set out in the trust deed and rules of each scheme. The trust deeds and rules differ from scheme to scheme and reflect the parameters on the level of obligation of the parties involved.
The Pensions Act imposes a requirement on the trustees of a defined benefit scheme to maintain sufficient assets in a scheme to meet the liabilities of a scheme. This is often referred to as the funding standard. The funding standard provides a benchmark against which the "health" of a scheme can be tested. When a scheme fails the funding standard that means that unless some action is taken, the scheme will not be able to pay the benefits promised. The existence of the funding standard itself is not the central issue in relation to whether a scheme is properly funded. Rather the responsibility rests with the employer and the trustees for ensuring that the scheme is properly funded and managed.
A number of both administrative and legislative changes have been made in recent years to assist both employers and the trustees of pension scheme address the funding difficulties facing many schemes at this time.
In 2012, I amended the Pensions Act to require the trustees of pension schemes to maintain a additional level of funding in the form of a risk reserve to protect the interests of scheme members against future volatility in financial markets. This requirement will come into effect from 2016. The trustees of defined benefit pension schemes were required to inform the Pensions Authority of their funding position by June 2013. The Pensions Authority is working with the trustees of defined benefit pension schemes, particularly schemes in a weak funding position, to help them achieve a sustainable funding position.
71. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will approve an appeal in respect of an application for disability allowance in respect of a person, details supplied, in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33304/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 22nd July 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.
