Written Answers Nos. 40-63
40. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to increase funding for or reform the dental treatment benefit and services schemes so that PRSI payers will have their benefits reinstated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48965/14]
View answerThe treatment benefit scheme is paid from the Social Insurance Fund (SIF). Due to a shortfall in the funds available from the SIF, subvention to the fund from the general exchequer was required from 2010. Given that the expenditure pressures on the Fund were likely to continue and the need to get the public finances back on track, changes to the benefits available under the treatment benefit scheme were introduced from January 2010.
These changes included limiting dental benefit to a free annual examination. This was retained to encourage customers to continue attending for checkups and so to address some of the concerns regarding the population’s dental health. In 2013 almost 300,000 free examinations were provided to insured customers at a cost of almost €10m, this figure will increase further for 2014.
Entitlements arising from PRSI contributions are not confined to dental benefit, a range of other benefits are available to qualified people. These include jobseeker’s benefit, illness benefit, maternity benefit, and state pensions. A more detailed explanation of PRSI benefits is available on the Department’s website, www.welfare.ie.
Changes to the treatment benefit scheme will continue to be considered as part of the overall welfare package, in light of available resources and competing priorities.
41. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if an analysis has been carried out of the impact on farm assist following the changes to income disregards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48990/14]
View answer42. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she proposes to reverse the changes she made to farm assist in relation to income disregards in view of the serious effects on the income levels of many farming families on low incomes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48991/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 42 together.
This year the Department will spend approximately €91.6 million on the farm assist scheme benefitting around 9,900 farmers each week. The farm assist scheme provides support for farmers on low incomes and is similar to jobseeker’s allowance. Farm assist recipients retain the advantages of the jobseeker’s allowance scheme such as retention of secondary benefits and access to activation programmes.
All recipients of farm assist have benefitted from the Christmas Bonus paid this month and all recipients with children will also benefit next month from the increase in child benefit I announced in the Budget.
Changes introduced in Budgets 2012 and 2013 have brought farm assist into closer alignment with the jobseeker’s allowance scheme’s treatment of self-employed persons. Farm assist is a flexible payment and any farmer experiencing lower levels of income or cash-flow issues can ask their local social welfare/Intreo office to review the level of means applying to their claim.
The assessment of means for the purpose of qualifying for farm assist is designed to reflect the actual net income from farming. Income and expenditure figures for the preceding year are generally used as an indicator of the expected position in the following year. However, account is taken of any exceptional circumstances so as to ensure that the assessment accurately reflects the current situation.
The scheme will be kept under ongoing review by my officials and there are no plans to change the current scheme criteria.
43. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the priorities in her Department for the remainder of the term of the Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49029/14]
View answerThe Government published a Statement of Government Priorities for the period 2014 to 2016 on 11 July last. The statement sets out how we will build a social recovery to accompany the economic recovery that is now under way.
The key priorities in the statement are:
1. Strengthening the Domestic Economy & Prioritising New Jobs for the Unemployed
2. Delivering Better Living and Working Standards
3. Improving Housing Availability & Affordability
4. Responsible and Sustainable Management of the Public Finances
5. Rebuilding Trust in Politics & Public Institutions
6. Protecting & Enhancing Peace in Northern Ireland
The full text of the statement is available at: http://www.merrionstreet.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Statement-of-Government-Priorities-Final-110714.pdf.
I am determined that the Department of Social Protection will play its role in ensuring that the benefits of recovery are felt evenly across the country. Key priorities for the Department of Social Protection are as set out as follows:
- Pathways to Work 2015, containing the 17 actions and 45 milestones across Departments and agencies including the Department of Social Protection, sets out the Government’s approach for ensuring that as many jobs as possible are filled by people from the Live Register, and is available at: http://www.welfare.ie/en/downloads/Pathways-to-Work-2015.pdf.
- The continued implementation of the current approaches to labour market activation which include Intreo, Pathways to Work, JobPath, the Youth Guarantee, employer engagement, and other employment schemes and supports.
- In addition to the overall Pathways to Work reforms, further changes are being made to how the Department engages specifically with the young unemployed under the Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan published earlier this year. In particular, all young people will be engaged with immediately on becoming unemployed, regardless of their profiled probability of re-employment. Re-employment subsidies will be available for young people at an earlier stage in terms of duration of unemployment, and a specific variant of JobBridge is being launched for particularly disadvantaged young people.
- Progressing Social Welfare and Gender Recognition legislation.
- Illness scheme reform.
- Implementation of the Department’s Compliance and Anti-fraud Initiative 2014-2018. In particular, the Department will:
1. utilise predictive analytical techniques to enhance the models currently in place to identify claims that are more likely to be fraudulent,
2. enhance debt recovery through the new debt management system, and
3. have a greater presence on the ground through the 20 recently seconded Gardaí in the Department’s Special Investigation Unit.
- Continue work on adequacy and sustainability of pensions into the future. In 2015, the Government will agree a roadmap and timeline for the introduction of a new, universal supplementary pension saving scheme.
- Supporting Local Authorities in the roll out of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) to 8,000 recipients in 2015.
- Continue the roll out of the Public Services Card.
In addition, on Budget Day, I announced a number of measures for implementation in 2015. One of the key objectives of Budget 2015 was to assist unemployed families to return to work.
Through the Back to Work Family Dividend scheme announced in Budget 2015, long-term unemployed jobseekers with children who leave welfare and return to work can retain the child-related portion of their social welfare payment on a tapered basis over two years. This includes those who move to self-employment, such as the construction sector. It will also apply to One-Parent Family Payment recipients who similarly go back to work. The scheme will be worth €1,550 per child in the first year of employment or self-employment and half that amount again in the second year.
The expansion of JobsPlus, the employer incentive scheme, which provides cash grants to businesses that hire persons who have been long-term unemployed, will provide for an additional 3,000 employees to be supported by this scheme.
Child Benefit will increase from €130 to €135 per month with effect from January, which will benefit over 611,000 households with children. This will help all families with children but also has the additional benefit for unemployed families in that it is work neutral as it is retained in full when they return to the workforce.
A range of other measures were also announced. These included an additional €2 million funding for the School Meals scheme, primarily for the provision of breakfast clubs to support school going children in disadvantaged areas, and where possible, to increase funding for existing DEIS schools as a consequence of increased pupil numbers.
In January, there will be an increase of €1.30 in the Living Alone Allowance from €7.70 a week to €9 a week as a targeted support for pensioners and people with disabilities living alone.
Furthermore, the current Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014 provides for the retention of the weekly earnings disregard for recipients of One-Parent Family Payment in 2015 and subsequent years at its current level of €90.
In line with the Government decision of 19 November last, the Department will also administer the new water conservation grant on behalf of the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government. This grant will replace the water support measures announced in the Budget.
Finally, I was also pleased to be able to reintroduce a partial Christmas Bonus this year and this has now been paid to approximately 1.2 million people.
Looking ahead, I will ensure that the social welfare system is reformed and improved so as to provide sustainable and adequate income supports and services in the years ahead.
47. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a social welfare appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath regarding a claim for carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49104/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that following an oral hearing of this case on 10 June 2014 it was agreed to review the case by way of further investigation by a Social Welfare Inspector.
Following these investigations, the file in question was returned to the Appeals Office on 2 October 2014. The Appeals Officer who initially dealt with this case has transferred to another area and in the interest of natural justice it has been decided to arrange another oral hearing with a different Appeals Officer.
Every effort will be made to hear the case as quickly as possible and the person concerned will be informed when arrangements for the oral hearing have been made.
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.
48. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her Department performs analysis on the nature of parliamentary questions submitted to it in order to try to ascertain trends and developments which require urgent attention or policy change; if so, the way this feeds into policy formation within her Department; if the nature of withdrawn questions is recorded or analysed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49114/14]
View answerAll Parliamentary Questions (PQs) are monitored and provide insight into both the operational and policy development functions of the Department and also highlight areas of concern. These are then further examined, as appropriate.
Some 70% of PQs tabled to the Department refer to the status of individual claims in relation to the schemes administered by the Department. The practice of withdrawing PQs has assisted the Department to cope with the large volume of PQs it receives annually. This practice has been used generally in relation to PQs relating to individual social welfare claims and does not apply to questions raised on policy matters. Under the system, the Department provides the Deputy with the relevant information in relation to the individual query and in a majority of cases, subsequently confirms this information in writing. In general, feedback to the Department is that Deputies find this service helpful.
49. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when it is proposed to commence legislation to ensure that Irish Water may no longer require the PPS numbers of its customers. [49116/14]
View answerAs you are aware, the Government recently announced a revised package of measures for water charges, which, when implemented, will negate the necessity for Irish Water to collect, store and use PPS numbers. As a consequence, there will no longer be a need for Irish Water to be listed as a specified body in Schedule 5 to the Social Welfare Consolidation Act for the purposes of using PPS Numbers.
My colleague, the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government is currently bringing the Water Services Bill 2014 through the Houses of the Oireachtas to give these measures legislative effect. Section 11 of this Bill provides for the deletion of Irish Water as a body specified to use PPS numbers. Section 11 also provides that this change will come into operation by way of a Commencement Order to be made by the Minister for Social Protection, in consultation with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, to facilitate the deletion of all PPS data currently held by Irish Water in the case of those people who had already registered and provided their details. The process of deleting PPS data held by Irish Water will be undertaken in consultation with the Data Protection Commissioner’s Office and the Department of Social Protection.
50. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of staff in her Department currently on a sabbatical-career break, broken down by zero to six months, six to 12 months, one to two years, two to three years, four to five years and more than five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49132/14]
View answerDetails of the number of staff from my Department currently on career breaks are provided in the table. The duration for which a career break is sanctioned is not recorded as staff can extend the duration during the course of the career break. All career breaks are sanctioned for a minimum period of six months.
The details provided indicate the duration since the career break commenced.
|
Staff |
Number |
|
On Career Break for less than 6 months |
13 |
|
On Career Break for a period between 6 months and 1 year |
5 |
|
On Career Break for a period between 1 and 2 years |
18 |
|
On Career Break for a period between 2 and 3 years |
16 |
|
On Career Break for a period between 3 and 4 years |
10 |
|
On Career Break for a period between 4 and 5 years |
3 |
|
On Career Break for a period over 5 years |
3 |
51. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, the total photography costs for her Department since coming to office inclusive of costs incurred from use of the ministerial allowance; the occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; the breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; if there is a policy regarding the booking of photographers within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49147/14]
View answerPhotography services are used, in conjunction with some press releases and conferences, to communicate the Department’s initiatives, schemes and services to customers and to the regional and national media. Since March 2011, photography services were used for the occasions as set out in the table. The total cost from that date is €11,865.
The procurement of these photography services is carried out in accordance with national and EU procurement procedures and since March 2012, the Department has been procuring photography services under the Framework Agreement established by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in February 2012.
Full details of the Framework are available online via the National Procurement Services contract list at www.procurement.ie.
I do not use my ministerial allowance for this purpose.
|
Year: 2011 |
Details |
Photographer |
Cost (€) |
|
29 July 2011 |
Launch of JobBridge |
Maxwells |
1,035.16 |
|
16 Aug 2011 |
Departmental Summer School, Maynooth |
Kevin Morris Photography |
950.00 |
|
07 Nov 2011 |
Mortgage Arrears Seminar |
Ark Photography |
254.10 |
|
09 Nov 2011 |
Social Inclusion Forum |
Ark Photography and Dragana Jurisic |
547.50 |
|
21 Nov 2011 |
2 Social Inclusion Projects |
Ark Photography |
326.70 |
|
- |
- |
Total 2011: |
€3,113.46 |
|
Year: 2012 |
Details |
Photographer |
Cost (€) |
|
13 Feb 2012 |
Launch of ‘Partial Capacity’ and ‘Employability’ |
Maxwells |
338.25 |
|
23 Feb 2012 |
Launch of Pathways to Work |
Maxwells |
536.28 |
|
27 Apr 2012 |
Opening of Community Campus in Phibblestown |
Lensmen |
280.44 |
|
06 Sep 2012 |
Launch of Mortgage Information Helpline |
Ark Photography |
258.30 |
|
13 Sep 2012 |
Launch of Good Practice Guide for Breakfast Clubs |
Ark Photography |
184.50 |
|
17 Sep 2012 |
Presentation of Report of the Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund |
Ark Photography |
184.50 |
|
15 Oct 2012 |
Launch of Intreo, Sligo |
Joe Travers |
300.00 |
|
19 Oct 2012 |
Intreo roadshow in Limerick |
Picsure Ltd (Kieran Clancy) |
233.70 |
|
26 Oct 2012 |
Employer roadshow in Galway |
Joe Travers |
125.00 |
|
01 Nov 2012 |
Employer roadshow in Cork |
Tony O’Connell Photography |
227.00 |
|
16 Nov 2012 |
Employer roadshow in Dublin |
Ark Photography |
258.30 |
|
Total 2012: |
€2,926.27 |
||
|
Year: 2013 |
Details |
Photographer |
Cost (€) |
|
22 Mar 2013 |
Launch of Intreo in Tallaght |
Lensmen |
323.48 |
|
16 Apr 2013 |
Launch of JobBridge Arts in Killarney |
MacMonagle Photography |
338.25 |
|
19 Apr 2013 |
Briefing for Employers in Blanchardstown and Launch of Intreo in Blanchardstown |
Lensmen |
851.25 |
|
1 May 2013 |
Publication of Indecon Report on JobBridge |
Lensmen |
589.79 |
|
2 May 2013 |
EU Presidency Conference, Leuven |
Peter Cavanagh |
707.25 |
|
10 May 2013 |
Kilkenny Local Office |
Vicky Comerford |
123.00 |
|
18 July 2013 |
Launch of Pathways to Work |
Maxwells |
482.16 |
|
25 Sept 2013 |
Inaugural Meeting of the Labour Market Advisory Council |
Maxwells |
424.35 |
|
22 Nov 2013 |
Launch of Intreo in Loughrea (Minister and Taoiseach) |
Joe Travers |
225.00 |
|
- |
- |
Total 2013: |
€4,064.53 |
|
Year: 2014 |
Details |
Photographer |
Cost (€) |
|
15 Jan 2014 |
Launch of Benefit of Work ready reckoner and official opening of Intreo in Ballyfermot office |
Ark Photography |
322.88 |
|
20 Jan 2014 |
Official opening of Intreo in Limerick |
Kieran Clancy |
221.40 |
|
21 Feb 2014 |
Official opening of Intreo in Castlebar |
Joe Travers |
300.00 |
|
3 April 2014 |
Medical Assessor Admin Conference |
Bobby Studios Photography |
270.60 |
|
30 April 2014 |
Launch of Interim Report of Labour Market Council |
Ark Photography |
258.30 |
|
10 Oct 2014 |
Launch of Pathways to Work 2015 |
Ark Photography |
387.45 |
|
- |
- |
Total 2014 to date: |
€1,760.63 |
|
- |
- |
Overall Total: |
€11,864.89 |
52. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, the use of external public relations firms employed by her Department since she came to office; the list of uses of the external public relations firm; internal Department policy with regard to employing external groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49162/14]
View answerIn line with Department of Social Protection policy, the press office deals with all media queries and public relations matters. It is the Department’s policy to use in-house resources as much as possible and to restrict the use of external firms to a minimum.
During the period referred to by the Deputy, the Department has used the services of one external public relations firm for training purposes, details of which are outlined in the following table.
|
Year |
Company Function |
|
2012 |
Carr Communications, 5 Northumberland Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 Communications training for senior management. |
|
2014 |
Carr Communications, 5 Northumberland Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 Media Skills one-day training for 21 officials. |
53. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the total amount spent on external IT consultants by her Department in 2010 to 2013, inclusive, and to date in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49177/14]
View answer54. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her Department has renegotiated external IT consultancy contracts and costs since March 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49192/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 54 together.
The Department is engaged in a number of service delivery modernisation and transformation programmes involving business process, organisational and technological change. These programmes are supported by the procurement of separate external development services (IT external service provision) as well as engagement of external IT consultants to provide strategic technical advice. A breakdown of the annual expenditure on consultancy & IT external service provision for previous years is available on the Department’s website http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Procurement-Policy.aspx.
The procurement of external IT consultancy services is essential to support the Department in providing high quality service to the public in a cost effective and efficient manner. External IT consultants are engaged for a fixed period following procurement exercises conducted in accordance with Department procedures that are compliant with EU and national legislation and with guidelines set down by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. IT consultancy contracts in place prior to March 2011 have now expired. New contracts have since been put in place as appropriate and in accordance with relevant guidelines.
The expenditure details for IT consultancy for the years 2008 to 2013, and to 11 December 2014, are set out in the following tables.
I am satisfied that the engagement of external IT consultants provides valuable support for the Department’s service delivery modernisation and transformation programmes and that procurement of external IT consultants is compliant with best practice in realising value for money.
IT Consultancy
Year 2008
|
Contractor |
Purpose |
€ |
|
Naked Objects |
SDM - Business Objects Modelling Advice & Expertise |
€435,120 |
|
Ernst & Young |
Information Security Support |
€120,000 |
|
Deloitte |
IS Audit Consultancy |
€118,403 |
|
Hewlett Packard Ireland Limited |
Implementation of Centralised Infrastructural Management System |
€81,266 |
|
Lan Communications |
Network Security Consultancy |
€37,455 |
|
Rits Information Security |
Forensic Investigation Services |
€30,454 |
IT Consultancy
Year 2009
|
Contractor |
Purpose |
€ |
|
Naked Objects Group Ltd |
SDM - Technical Development Advice |
€216,906 |
|
Naked Objects Group Ltd |
SDM - Business Objects Modelling Advice & Expertise |
€169,857 |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Information Systems Audit Consultancy |
€99,731 |
|
Ernst & Young |
Provision of a Security Partner to provide ongoing Information Security Support |
€98,415 |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Provision of Forensic Investigation Services |
€6,560 |
IT Consultancy
Year 2010
|
Contractor |
Purpose |
€ |
|
Naked Objects Group Ltd |
SDM - Technical Development Advice |
€137,255 |
|
Naked Objects Group Ltd |
SDM - Business Objects Modelling Advice & Expertise |
€105,289 |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Information Systems Audit Consultancy |
€67,175 |
|
Ernst & Young |
Provision of a Security Partner to provide ongoing Information Security Support |
€29,889 |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Provision of Confidential Forensic Investigation Services |
€8,671 |
IT Consultancy
Year 2011
|
Contractor |
Purpose |
€ |
|
Naked Objects |
Technical Development Advice |
€144,644 |
|
Naked Objects |
Business Objects Modelling Advice & Expertise |
€92,104 |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
IS Audit Consultancy/Computer Audit Assistance |
€14,792 |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Confidential Forensic Investigation Services |
€7,109 |
IT Consultancy
Year 2012
|
Contractor |
Purpose |
€ |
|
Naked Objects Group Ltd |
SDM - Technical Development Advice |
€199,260 |
|
Naked Objects Group Ltd |
SDM - Business Objects Modelling Advice & Expertise |
€108,486 |
|
Accenture |
FÁS ICT Applications Systems Review |
€44,772 |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
IS Internal Audit Services |
€39,541 |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Security Partner to provide ongoing Information Security Support |
€27,675 |
|
Ernst & Young |
Security Partner to provide ongoing Information Security Support |
€7,623 |
|
Rits |
Confidential Forensic Services |
€4,654 |
IT Consultancy
Year 2013
|
Contractor |
Purpose |
€ |
|
Naked Objects Group Ltd |
BOMi - Business Objects Modelling Advice & Expertise |
€234,463 |
|
Naked Objects Group Ltd |
BOMi- Technical Development Advice |
€168,181 |
|
Haywood Associates |
BOMi- Technical Development Advice |
€87,871 |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
IS Internal Audit Services |
€48,688 |
|
Accenture |
Mobile Opportunity Exploration |
€33,388 |
|
Microsoft |
Support to Technical Architecture Group |
€11,515 |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Provision of Security Partner Services |
€6,540 |
IT Consultancy
Year 2014
|
Contractor |
Purpose |
Spend to 11 December 2014 € |
|
Haywood Associates |
Technical Development Advice |
€224,340 |
|
Naked Objects Group |
Business Objects Modelling Advice & Expertise |
€183,282 |
|
Microsoft |
Support to Technical Architecture Group |
€19,590 |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Provision of Security Partner Services |
€18,098 |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
IS Internal Audit Services |
€17,712 |
|
Rits |
Confidential Forensic Investigation Services |
€6,541 |
55. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide the number of appointments to State boards under her Department's remit made since March 2011 to date; the number of vacancies on State boards under her Department's remit since March 2011 to date; the number of vacancies on State boards under her Department's remit publicly advertised since March 2011 to date; and the number of appointments to State boards under her remit drawn directly from the public advertisement process. [49208/14]
View answerThe statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council, the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a Board) and the Social Welfare Tribunal.
Details of board appointments/vacancies since March 2011 are set out in the table.
|
Agency/Board |
Number of Appointments to State Boards |
Number of Vacancies |
Number of vacancies Publically Advertised |
Number of appointments made from the Public Advertisement Process |
|
Citizens Information Board |
5 |
8 |
3 |
1 |
|
Pensions Board (up to March 2014) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Pensions Authority-established March 2014 (formerly the Pensions Board) |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Pensions Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Social Welfare Tribunal |
6 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
Citizens Information Board
The number of appointments includes a representative of the Department of Social Protection and a staff representative of the Citizens Information Board which did not require public advertisement.
There are currently three vacancies on the Citizens Information Board.
Pensions Board
The Pensions Board was renamed the Pensions Authority with effect from 7 March 2014.
Pensions Authority
The legislation governing appointments to the Board of the Pension Authority is the First Schedule to the Pensions Act 1990 (No. 25 of 1990), as amended by the Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013. The Pensions Authority consists of three members. Appointments are made in accordance with this legislation
Pensions Council
The Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013 provided for the establishment of a new body called the Pensions Council.
The Pensions Council will be made up of a chairperson and not less than 8 and not more than 12 ordinary members. The ordinary members will include:
- The Pensions Regulator;
- A representative of the Department of Social Protection;
- A representative of the Central Bank;
- A representative of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform;
- No fewer than 4 and not more than 8 other members with specialist knowledge, skills or expertise.
The recruitment process for “other members” of the Pensions Council was conducted through the Public Appointments Service (PAS). People interested in serving as members of the Pensions Council were invited to make expressions of interest to the PAS earlier this year, and 56 such applications were received. These are currently being considered.
A Chairperson for the Council, has been announced, but will not be formally appointed until the membership of the Council has been finalised.
Social Welfare Tribunal
There were 6 appointments to the Board of the Social Welfare Tribunal since March 2011. A new member of the Board was appointed with effect from 24 October 2011 as a replacement for a member who resigned. The term of office for the board expired in October 2012 and 5 appointments were made at that time.
The revised Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies does not apply to the Social Welfare Tribunal due to its structure and purpose.
58. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form per annum, all external consultant reports commissioned by her Department since March 2011; the cost per report; the company involved; the title of the report; and the publication date. [49265/14]
View answerThe procurement of services is essential to support the Department in providing a high quality service to the public in a cost effective and efficient manner and is governed by a comprehensive regulatory, legal and procedural framework.
The Department engages consultants (individuals or organisations) to provide intellectual or knowledge based services (e.g. expert analysis and advice) including the delivery of reports, studies, assessments, recommendations and proposals that contribute to decision making or policy making.
The Department is engaged in a number of service delivery modernisation and transformation programmes involving business process, organisational and technological change. These programmes are supported by the procurement of separate external development services (IT external service provision) as well as engagement of external consultants to provide strategic technical advice. A breakdown of the annual expenditure on consultancy & IT external service provision for previous years is available on the Department’s website http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Procurement-Policy.aspx.
The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table. I am satisfied that the engagement of consultants provides valuable support to the Department and that the reports, studies, assessments, recommendations and proposals produced contribute to decision making and policy making and is compliant with best practice in realising value for money.
|
Report |
Name of Consultants |
Commissioned |
Publication Date |
Cost € |
|
Investigation of odour/smells, Belmullet Local Office |
Wright Environmental Services |
Apr-2011 |
Internal Management Report |
€1,699 |
|
Report on electronic access to GRO Records for genealogy research |
John Grenham |
Apr-2011 |
Internal Management Report |
€3,557 |
|
Investigation of odour/smells, DSP Cobh |
Employment Health Advisors Ltd |
May-2011 |
Internal Management Report |
€2,023 |
|
Development & implementation of the National Employment & Entitlements Service |
Accenture |
June-2011 |
Aug-2011 |
€186,563 |
|
Report on Pension Charges in Ireland |
PWC |
Oct-2011 |
Oct-2012 |
€61,500 |
|
Social Inclusion Forum – Conference Report |
Aidan Lloyd |
Nov-2011 |
Aug-2012 |
€1,500 |
|
Social Welfare Appeals Office – Research on Insurability Issues & Access to Legal Resources |
Mel Cousins & Associates |
2011 |
2011 |
€7,744 |
|
Review of Irish Pensions Policy |
OECD |
Jan-2012 |
Apr-2013 |
€130,000 |
|
Analysis & Measurement of Poverty & Deprivation 2012: 1. Work & Poverty in Ireland: An Analysis of CSO Survey on Income & Living Conditions 2004-2010 (2012 annual report) 2. Technical Paper on Poverty Indicators – [Appendix C of Report of the Review of the National Poverty Target] 3. Implications of Income Pooling & Household Decision-Making for Poverty & Deprivation (2012 technical paper) |
ESRI |
Jan-2012 |
Dec-2012 & Nov-2012 |
€81,230 |
|
FÁS IS Applications Systems Review |
Accenture |
Jan-2012 |
Internal Management Report |
€44,772 |
|
Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund |
KPMG |
Feb-2012 |
Jun-2012 |
€153,750 |
|
Evaluation of JobBridge (National Internship Scheme) |
Indecon International Economic Consultants |
Apr-2012 |
Apr-2013 |
€59,555 |
|
Developing system architecture for the National Employment & Entitlements Service |
Compass Point |
June-2012 |
Internal Management Report |
€4,600 |
|
Risk assessments regarding reception areas [Arklow, Tallaght, & Kings Inn, Dublin Local Offices] |
Nifast |
June-2012 |
Internal Management Report |
€1,845 |
|
Air Quality Investigation, Áras Mhic Dhiarmada |
Wright Environmental Services |
Aug-2012 |
Internal Management Report |
€3,383 |
|
Air Quality Investigation, Ballymun Local Office |
Wright Environmental Services |
Aug-2012 |
Internal Management Report |
€3,644 |
|
Report on Pension Priority Order |
Mercer |
Sep-2012 |
Feb-2013 |
€18,450 |
|
Contracted Employment Service Model |
Centre for Economic & Social Inclusion |
Nov-2012 |
Internal Management Report |
€140,989 |
|
Mobile Applications Opportunity Exploration |
Accenture |
Feb-2013 |
Internal Management Report |
€33,388 |
|
Social Inclusion Forum – Conference Report |
Aidan Lloyd |
Mar-2013 |
Sep-2013 |
€1,500 |
|
Diet Supplement Diet Costings Update |
Irish Nutrition & Dietetic Institute |
Apr-2013 |
Sep-2013 |
€4,000 |
|
Health & Safety Review of DSP premises, Upper Gardiner St, Dublin 1 |
CPL Training Ltd, trading as Nifast Health & Safety Training |
Apr-2013 |
Internal Management Report |
€1,100 |
|
Analysis & Measurement of Poverty & Social Exclusion (AMPSE) 2013 programme: 1. Social Transfers & Poverty in Boom & Recession (for 2013 annual report) 2. Indicators of Economic Strain in the Great Recession (for 2013 technical paper) |
ESRI |
June-2013 |
1. Dec-2013 2. Q2-2014 |
€67,979 |
|
Delivery of Administrative Profiling Models to Identify those at Risk of Labour Market Disadvantage |
ESRI |
July-2013 |
June-2014 |
€33,745 |
|
A Review of In-work Supports for the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare |
Mel Cousins & Associates |
July-2013 |
Will be published with the report of the Advisory Group |
€10,000 |
|
Advisory report on implementation of European Youth Guarantee in Irish circumstances |
Organisation for Economic co-operation & Development (OECD) |
Sept- 2013 |
Jan-2014 |
€50,000 |
|
Auto Enrolment & Applicability to Ireland (Pensions) |
TOR Financial Consulting Ltd. |
Mid-2013 |
Internal Management Report |
€9,900 |
|
Report on Organisation Development |
Axiom Consultants |
Sept- 2013 |
Internal Management Report |
€122,692 |
|
Evaluation of the Youth Guarantee Pilot |
Franklin Research Ltd |
October 2013 |
Q 1 2015 |
€20,000* |
|
Survey air quality in Nutgrove LO |
Wright Environmental Services |
Nov-2013 |
Internal Management Report |
€2,900 |
|
Social Welfare Appeals Office – Research into Revising Decisions |
Mel Cousins & Associates |
Dec -2013 |
Internal Management Report |
€2,400 |
|
Evaluation Research (Back to Education Allowance) |
ESRI |
Nov-2013 |
Internal Management Report |
€24,809 |
|
Analysis & Measurement of Poverty & Social Exclusion 2014 programme: 1. Transitions into and out of household joblessness using CSO SILC data 2. Measuring Irish joblessness: The SILC and LFS data sources |
ESRI |
Q1-2014 |
1. Q2-2015 2. Q1-2015 |
€80,000 |
|
Social Inclusion Forum – Conference Report |
Aidan Lloyd |
Mar-2014 |
Dec-2014 |
€1,650 |
|
Identification & containment of malicious software |
Deloitte |
Apr-2014 |
Internal Management Report |
€15,699 |
|
Confidential Forensic Services |
Deloitte |
Mar-2014 |
Internal Management Report |
€2,398 |
|
Confidential Forensic Services |
Rits |
Apr-2014 |
Internal Management Report |
€4,201 |
|
Confidential Forensic Services |
Rits |
Apr-2014 |
Internal Management Report |
€2,340 |
|
Application Life Cycle Review |
Microsoft Ireland |
May-2014 |
Internal Management Report |
€22,586 |
|
Ex-ante Evaluation of the Fund for European Aid for the Most Deprived 2014-2020 |
Mel Cousins & Associates |
July-2014 |
Internal report required by EU Regulation No. 223/2014 |
€16,000 |
|
Report on the effectiveness & efficiency of the guidance model used during Youth Guarantee Pilot |
NUI Maynooth |
November 2014 |
Internal Management Report |
€14,145* |
|
Survey air quality in Waterford Intreo |
Wright Environmental Services |
December 2014 |
Internal Management Report |
€6,863 |
*EU Funded Reports
59. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, the total amount spent per annum in 2011 to 2013, inclusive, and to date in 2014 on staff subsistence payments and taxi payments; if her Department has been audited for tax compliance on these payments and other benefits-in-kind; if these processes have been revised in view of the Revenue Commissioners' concerns over practices in other State bodies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49331/14]
View answerThe total amount spent on staff travel and subsistence payments and staff taxi payments by my Department for the period 2008 to 17 December 2014 is outlined in the following table.
|
Description |
2008 €000s |
2009 €000s |
2010 €000s |
2011 €000s |
2012 €000s |
2013 €000s |
up to 17 Dec 2014 €000s |
Total €000s |
|
Travel and Subsistence |
€4,259 |
€3,117 |
€3,069 |
€3,075 |
€4,995 |
€4,790 |
€4,274 |
€27,579 |
|
Taxi |
€61 |
€49 |
€49 |
€35 |
€93 |
€107 |
€37 |
€431 |
Staff in the Department are paid travel and subsistence expenses where such costs are incurred wholly and exclusively in the course of a person’s business. This does not attract benefit in kind. Travel and subsistence expenses are paid in accordance with Civil Service rules and regulations. Where taxi costs are paid in the normal course of business they are not subject to benefit in kind and the Department does not pay other than for a person’s work. Given the nature of the Department’s business significant numbers of staff incur travel and subsistence expenses in carrying out their duties.
The integration of over 1,800 HSE and FÁS staff during 2012 did result in increased taxi and travel and subsistence costs for the Department.
Currently the Department makes no payments that are subject to BIK. In 2011 and 2012 BIK payments were made to staff working in the IS Services area in respect of mileage. These were paid through the Department’s payroll and were subject to PAYE and PRSI deductions. These allowances were reviewed in 2012 as part of the review of all allowances requested by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) and as a result these allowances were withdrawn on 31 December 2012.
No tax compliance audits have or are being conducted by the Revenue Commissioners.
60. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the total legal costs incurred by her Department in 2011 to 2013, inclusive, and estimated in 2014. [49346/14]
View answerThe following table sets out legal costs paid by the Department for the period 2009 to 2013 which are confirmed in the Department’s audited accounts. The figures for 1 January 2014 to 16 December 2014 are provisional and will be subject to audit.
|
Year |
Amount € |
|
2009 |
280,778 |
|
2010 |
838,266 |
|
2011 |
1,246,686 |
|
2012 |
453,262 |
|
2013 |
697,694 |
|
1/1/2014 – 16/12/2014 |
816,951 |
|
Total: |
4,333,637 |
Costs relating to prosecutions arising from fraudulent claims made to the Department are borne by the Office of the Chief State Solicitor.
The Department is involved in a number of pending legal proceedings which may generate legal costs to the Department, depending on the outcome of the litigation. Any actual amount or the timing of potential costs arising from these proceedings is yet to be determined.
61. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, the average waiting time for a decision in respect of appeals for all social welfare payments paid on a weekly basis; the average waiting time for appeal for each of these where there is no oral hearing and where there is an oral hearing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49366/14]
View answer62. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, the average waiting time for a decision in respect of appeals for invalidity pension, disability allowance, domiciliary care allowance and the one-parent family payment; the average waiting time for appeal for each of these where there is no oral hearing and where there is an oral hearing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49367/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 62 together.
The average appeal processing time for appeals decided by summary decision and following an oral hearing broken down by all social welfare scheme type is outlined in the following table.
Appeal processing times peaked in 2011 when the average time for an oral hearing was 52.5 weeks and for a summary decision was 25.1 weeks. In 2012 the average processing time for an oral hearing dropped to 39.5 weeks and the time for a summary decision increased slightly to 27.8 weeks. Further improvements were achieved in 2013, when the average appeal processing time reduced to 33.9 weeks for an oral hearing and 25.8 weeks for a summary decision, and also in 2014. As at 30 November 2014, the average time taken to process an appeal requiring an oral hearing was 28.7 weeks and for a summary decision was 21.4 weeks.
Appeal processing times are calculated from the registration date of the appeal to the date of its finalisation. They include all activities during this period including time spent awaiting any clarification from the appellant, time in the Department for comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal put forward by the appellant, and any further investigation, examination or assessment by the Department’s Inspectors and Medical Assessors that is deemed necessary. While this process carries an inherent delay in terms of finalising an appeal, it also crystalises the flexibility and accessibility of the appeals system. By its nature and because it is a quasi-judicial function, the processing of appeals takes time and reflects the fact that, by definition, the appeal process cannot be a quick one.
There has been a rapid and sustained increase in the number of appeals received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office since 2009 which has placed extraordinary pressure on the office. Up to 2009, the average number of appeals received was 15,000 per annum whereas in 2012, the number of appeals received peaked at 35,484, reducing to 32,777 appeals in 2013. In order to manage this increasing workload, significant resources and efforts have been put into reducing backlogs and improving appeals processing times for appellants, including the assignment of 15 additional Appeals Officers, in addition to 10 former Community Welfare Service Appeals Officers who joined the appeals office in 2011, bringing the total number of serving Appeals Officers to 41; reviewing and improving business processes; and implementing a new operating model within the appeals office.
In addition to the improvement in processing times, these measures have also led to a significant increase in the annual number of appeals finalised in the appeals office from 17,787 in 2009 to 38,421 in 2013. An additional 5,863 appeals were finalised in 2013 compared to 2012. Good progress has also been made in reducing the number of appeals on hand from 20,414 at 1 January 2013 to 9,793 at 15 December 2014.
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.
Appeals processing times by scheme 01/01/2014 – 30/11/14
|
- |
Average processing times (weeks) Summary Decisions |
Average processing times (weeks) Oral Hearings |
|
Adoptive Benefit |
17.1 |
- |
|
Blind Pension |
20.2 |
25.5 |
|
Carers Allowance |
30.6 |
34.7 |
|
Carers Benefit |
23.1 |
23.2 |
|
Child Benefit |
23.6 |
33.1 |
|
Disability Allowance |
20.9 |
27.0 |
|
Illness Benefit |
29.7 |
34.8 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
23.0 |
29.5 |
|
Deserted Wives Benefit |
- |
64.7 |
|
Deserted Wives Allowance |
- |
41.8 |
|
Farm Assist |
23.6 |
28.5 |
|
Bereavement Grant |
25.6 |
31.9 |
|
Family Income Supplement |
26.5 |
32.7 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
26.2 |
31.3 |
|
Liable Relatives |
21.5 |
33.2 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
24.1 |
33.8 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
23.1 |
44.7 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
48.5 |
47.5 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
26.7 |
43.4 |
|
State Pension (Non-Cont) |
20.2 |
29.8 |
|
State Pension (Transition) |
27.0 |
35.1 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
31.4 |
33.0 |
|
Disablement Pension |
23.8 |
31.1 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit (Medical) |
- |
53.9 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
21.5 |
53.5 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Con) |
25.9 |
24.9 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-con) |
17.9 |
30.3 |
|
Pre Retirement Allowance |
17.3 |
- |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance (Means) |
18.4 |
27.1 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
16.3 |
21.2 |
|
JA/JB Fraud Control |
12.1 |
- |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
16.9 |
21.4 |
|
Treatment Benefit |
20.8 |
- |
|
Respite Care Grant |
25.8 |
27.1 |
|
Insurability of Employment |
44.6 |
66.5 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
14.6 |
22.4 |
|
Survivor's Pension (Con) |
19.9 |
31.4 |
|
Survivor's Pension (Non-Con) |
24.8 |
23.7 |
|
Widowed Parent Grant |
24.4 |
- |
|
All Appeals |
21.4 |
28.7 |
63. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the current number of young persons not in education, training or employment; the current percentage of youth unemployment; the way this number compares with the EU area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49368/14]
View answerBased on micro data from the Quarterly National Household survey, the Department of Social protection estimates that the number of young people aged less than 25 years not in employment, education or training in the second quarter of 2014 was 76,500. This represented 14.6% of the estimated population in this age group. There has been a significant fall in this percentage since the second quarter of 2011, when it stood at 18.3%.
According to Eurostat, the seasonally adjusted youth unemployment rate for Ireland in October was 22.2%. This compares with a rate of 23.5% in the Eurozone and 21.6% in the EU area overall. Since October 2011, youth unemployment in Ireland has fallen from 30.0% to 22.2%, while the rate for the Eurozone rose from 21.4% to 23.5%, and the overall EU rate fell marginally, from 22.1% to 21.6%.
While the progress made in reducing youth unemployment over the last few years is welcome, continuing policy efforts are required in order to bring about further reductions.
In this regard, the Government’s strategy to tackle all forms of unemployment is being achieved through the actions set out in the Action Plan for Jobs and in Pathways to Work.
In relation to young people, these overall policies are further supported by the measures set out in the Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan published earlier this year. The Plan provides for enhancing the Intreo engagement with newly unemployed young people, and for building on and adding to the current range of education, training and employment interventions for young people.
