Written Answers Nos. 44 - 49
45. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm that every JobBridge participant is covered at all times by their host organisation's employers liability and public liability insurance. [42297/14]
View answer46. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a young person or any other jobseeker may suffer a reduction or loss of payment as a consequence of a failure to seek or take-up an internship. [42299/14]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 46 together.
The General Guidelines of JobBridge, updated on 27 September, 2014, and published on the JobBridge website (www.jobbridge.ie) states: “The Host Organisation’s Public/Employers Liability insurance and Motor insurance, if applicable, will cover any Interns on this Scheme.” Every JobBridge host organisation is required to comply with the terms and conditions of the scheme. If the Deputy is aware of any host organisation that fails to comply with this requirement, it should be reported to the Department. All such reports are investigated as a matter of urgency.
Failure to seek or take up a JobBridge internship does not give rise to sanctions.
48. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an appeal for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42333/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 01 October 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.
49. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the 2015 budget for community employment schemes; the way this compares with previous years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42366/14]
View answerThe following figures detail the overall budget for Community Employment for 2013, 2014 and 2015:
|
Year |
Budget |
|
2013 |
€351.5m |
|
2014 |
€357.5m |
|
2015 |
€379m |
There has been a marginal increase in the CE budget between 2013 and 2014 to take account of an increase in CE places announced in the 2014 CE Budget. The increase in the 2015 budget figure is to allow for the full year cost of the 2,000 additional places on the programme. The total number of CE places planned for 2015 is 25,300 places.
