Written Answers Nos. 46-51
46. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form the number of PPS numbers issued in each year from 2003 to 2014; the number cancelled in each year; the total number of active PPS numbers currently in issuance; her views on the robustness of the system for issuing PPS numbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37429/14]
View answerThe PPS Number is the individual’s unique reference number for all dealings with Government Departments and public bodies. This covers its use for DSP purposes as well as use by other agencies (in accordance with legislation - Section 262 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005 provides the basis for the allocation, use and sharing of the PPS Number).
Before a PPS Number can be allocated, the person making the application must provide evidence of identity, and demonstrate the reason why s/he requires the allocation of a PPS Number. PPS Numbers are issued by the Department following checks on an individual’s identity. The checks vary depending on the type of individual concerned – the Department accepts notification via the General Register Office of births but insists on a face to face interview before issuing a PPS number to a resident of working age. In addition, acceptable evidence of address must be provided. The process of allocating a PPS Number has been expanded to include the capture of a photograph and signature. This is being rolled out to PPS Number allocation centres and will be in place in all PPS Number allocation centres by the end of this year. Photographs captured are compared with other photographs previously captured in order to detect any possible duplicates.
PPS Numbers may be used by persons in their dealings with public bodies that are specified in legislation. I would also like to make the point that possession of a PPS Number, in itself, does not convey any entitlement. While it can make identifying a person easier for both the individual and the agency, checks on identity and meeting the qualifying conditions for any service must be carried out.
It is not possible for me to describe all uses that other agencies have for the PPS Number, but it is worth remarking that my Department uses the number to identify an individual’s PRSI contributions while they are working in the State. This means that, even after they have left the State, the number allocated to them remains valid. The PRSI contribution information will be relevant to calculating pension entitlements in other jurisdictions as well as in this one. While there is no current activity on such PPS Numbers, activity is expected in the future as people reach retirement age. Consequently it is not possible to determine the number of “Active PPS Numbers”.
PPS Numbers, once allocated, are not cancelled. Should a PPS Number be compromised, that number is put beyond use, but is retained on the Department’s records.
Details of the PPS Numbers allocated over the years have already been published and are available on the Department’s Website at:
http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Personal-Public-Service-Number-Statistics-on-Numbers-Issued.aspx .
47. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a case for disability allowance will be reconsidered in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37430/14]
View answerAn application for disability allowance (DA) by the person concerned was refused on medical grounds and the person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 23 October 2013. He appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. An appeals officer, having considered all the evidence available in the case, disallowed the appeal and the person in question was notified of the outcome.
It is open to the person in question to make a new application for DA. I am informed that the Department has posted an application form to the person concerned. The new application, once received, will be dealt with as soon as possible.
48. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will consider introducing protections for deferred members of defined benefit pension schemes being wound up; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37438/14]
View answerSection 48 of the Pensions Act sets out the manner in which the assets of a defined benefit pension scheme are distributed in the event of the wind up of a pension scheme. These rules prioritise the benefits of pensioner over the benefits of active and deferred scheme members. The priority given to the distribution of assets to deferred scheme members is the same as that given to active scheme members. The Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Act 2013 amended the Pensions Act to change the wind up rules. This change deprioritised an element of pensioner benefits in favour of the benefits of active and deferred scheme members. There are no plans to make further changes to section 48 of the Pensions Act at this time.
The manner in which the assets of a pension scheme are distributed is not an issue when a pension scheme is fully funded. The Pensions Authority is working with the trustees of defined benefit pension schemes to ensure that all schemes can secure a sustainable funding position.
49. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37439/14]
View answerThe only application for domiciliary care allowance on record in respect of the person concerned was received in April 2012. The application was not allowed as it was considered that the child did not meet the eligibility criteria for the allowance. A decision letter issued to her on 15 June 2012 advising of this decision.
In the case of an application which is refused the applicant may submit additional information and/or ask for the decision to be reviewed or they may appeal the decision directly to the Social Welfare Appeals Office within 21 days. No request for a review was received and there is no record of an appeal having been registered in this case.
50. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 75 of 17 September 2014, if her Department is working on the development of guidelines for general practitioners and other medical professionals in relation to the preparation of medical reports which are provided in addition to and in support of applications for social protection payments, including disability allowance, invalidity pension and carer’s allowance but where the reports required are supplementary to those required under the medical evidence section of the application forms for the social protection payments in question. [37453/14]
View answerIt is the policy of my Department to request medical reports from General Practitioners when customers are applying for social protection illness related schemes, including disability allowance, invalidity pension and carer’s allowance. The design of the medical evidence report part of the application forms is undertaken in consultation with the Chief Medical Advisor and the Medical Research team and is designed to gather relevant quality information to assist the Department’s medical assessors and decision makers. Medical Reports from General Practitioners are also requested when cases are being reviewed or are on appeal. These reports are also designed to gather relevant quality medical information.
All medical report forms and application forms for the individual illness related schemes are reviewed on a regular basis, including those parts of forms that relate to the provision of medical evidence.
Furthermore, customers, and General Practitioners are asked, if they wish, to include all or as much medical evidence as they may have in support of their case either in relation to an application or a review. This further medical evidence may be diverse and lengthy in nature depending on the individual. Assessment of any additional medical evidence, is made in accordance with the Department's evidence based medical guidelines and protocols.
51. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form the percentage of vacant positions on State boards under the aegis of her Department that were filled from the panels created through open application by the Public Appointments Service by year from to 2011 to date in 2014. [37495/14]
View answerThe statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a Board) and the Social Welfare Tribunal. The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table.
|
- |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
- |
Percentage of vacant positions filled by panels created through open application by the Public Appointments Service |
Percentage of vacant positions filled by panels created through open application by the Public Appointments Service |
Percentage of vacant positions filled by panels created through open application by the Public Appointments Service |
Percentage of vacant positions filled by panels created through open application by the Public Appointments Service |
|
Citizens Information Board |
50%* |
0% |
0% |
0% |
|
Pensions Board |
0% |
0% |
0% |
0% |
|
Pensions Authority (formerly the Pensions Board - established 7 March 2014) |
__ |
__ |
__ |
0% |
|
Social Welfare Tribunal |
0% |
0% |
0% |
0% |
a) Citizens Information Board
There were four appointments since March 2011, three of which did not require public advertisement. Two were the Department of Social Protection’s representatives to the Board, the first appointed on 1 November 2011, and her replacement appointed on 14 March 2014. A Citizens Information Board staff representative was appointed on 5 November 2012. The fourth person was appointed through the Public Appointments Service (PAS) process. These appointments were made in accordance with the governing legislation: the Comhairle Act, 2000, as amended by the Citizens Information Act 2007.
b) Social Welfare Tribunal
Legislation provides that the four ordinary members of the Tribunal are appointed by the Minister on the recommendation of the two relevant bodies ICTU and IBEC. Therefore, none of these positions are publicly advertised.
The Chairperson of the Tribunal, who was re-appointed in 2012, is sourced by the Department of Social Protection by way of a recommendation from the Labour Court with regard to a particular candidate’s suitability.
c) Pensions Board (now the Pensions Authority)
There were no new appointments to the Pensions Board in the period.
d) Pensions Authority
The Pensions Authority comprises three members – a chairperson and two ordinary members. There were four new appointments to the newly established Pensions Authority (March 2014). The outgoing chairperson of the Pensions Board was appointed as the first chairperson of the Pensions Authority.
A representative of the Department of Social Protection and a representative of the Department of Finance were also appointed as ordinary members in March 2014.
The representative of the Department of Social Protection resigned during May 2014 and was replaced by another representative of the Department.
These appointments do not require public advertisement.
