Written Answers Nos 22-39
22. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide a progress report on the Defence Forces’ participation in the UNDOF mission in the Golan Heights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1215/15]
View answerAt the request of the United Nations, a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force has been deployed to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on the Golan Heights in Syria since September 2013. The current Defence Forces contingent, the 46th Irish Infantry Group UNDOF, comprises 130 troops and consists of a Force Reserve Company and support elements. Their role includes the provision of a Quick Reaction Force which is on standby to assist with on-going operations within the UNDOF Area of Responsibility. In that capacity, in August 2014, the Irish contingent dealt with several incidents as requested by the Force Commander UNDOF. The Golan situation remains volatile as Syrian Arab Armed Forces and Anti Government Armed Elements continue to clash within the Area of Separation. The threat to Defence Forces personnel serving in Golan Heights on the Israeli occupied side is assessed as MODERATE and on the Syrian side is assessed as SUBSTANTIAL. Eight (8) other Defence Forces personnel are also deployed in UNDOF Headquarters, Camp Ziouani, including the Acting Force Commander Brigadier General Anthony Hanlon. Last September, given events on the ground, I called for the UN to undertake a review of the mission, particularly the capacity of the mission to fulfil its mandate in light of the civil war in Syria. Since then there has been a fundamental realignment of the UNDOF mission with a view to minimising unacceptable risks to peacekeepers, while continuing to implement the mission’s mandate. The UN continues to review the mission and will provide regular updates on the mission to the Security Council in this regard.
During my visit to the Middle East last month, I had the opportunity of meeting the then Force Commander UNDOF, Lieutenant General Singha, and the Irish troops serving with the mission. The visit also afforded me an opportunity to see, at first hand, the dedication and professionalism of military personnel and the tremendous work done overseas by the Irish Defence Forces. I conveyed to the troops our deep appreciation for the outstanding manner in which they continue to perform their duties on overseas service.
23. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason the Action Plan for Jobs is being cut each year and highly skilled workers are not being followed up on having completed various State-funded courses, and recruiters for public sector jobs are not targeting those who are on the live register as the information is readily available for the Government on their skills and training experiences; the reason recruitment agencies (details supplied) are being used when there are many on the live register who are well qualified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49466/14]
View answerThe Action Plan for Jobs has been updated and revised each year since its inception in 2012. It has not been cut, and the 2015 iteration of the plan is expected to be finalised shortly.
Within the Intreo activation process managed by the Department of Social protection, a Personal Progression Plan is developed with each Jobseeker. Participation in a training, education, or development programme may form part of this development plan. At any time in the activation process, including on exiting a programme, a Jobseeker may seek a meeting with his/her Case Officer/Mediator to discuss potential next steps in their journey back to employment.
As part of a structured engagement with the enterprise sector to maximise recruitment from the Live Register, the Department undertook a series of activities and events in 2014 to deliver on the measures under Pathways to Work. The national employer relations team and divisional employer liaison teams work closely with employers and industry bodies on an ongoing basis to support engagement with job seekers and the Department’s employer services. In addition the www.jobsIreland.ie website is being redeveloped/ upgraded to better respond to employer and client needs via a new job matching system on a successor site which should be in place by late 2015.
As an example of this kind of engagement, officials from my Department met with Irish Water and the main contractors selected for the Water Metering Installation in 2013/2014 and provided information on the services and supports available for employers through the Intreo service.
In addition Irish Water has advertised over 320 positions for roles in Irish Water through the Department’s Jobs Ireland service – www.jobsireland.ie. This includes 11 vacancies which are currently available. The Department assisted the contractors in meeting their obligations under the social clause in their contracts.
Finally, the public service provides significant entry-level employment opportunities to those on the Live Register. The current legislative and regulatory framework for most public service recruitment is underpinned by the principle of merit-based recruitment which precludes discrimination against applicants from the Live Register. The recently-announced end to the public service recruitment moratorium from 1st January may provide an opportunity to consider how best the public sector in its recruitment activities can support Government policy around activation.
24. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if the decision of the European Court of Justice in April 2013 has a wider implication beyond the case of the former Waterford Crystal workers; if the application of the finding relates to other pension schemes here; if he will provide a list of such schemes; the period over which such schemes may be affected by the ruling; if he will provide details of the State's response; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49563/14]
View answerThe recent rulings of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on the Insolvency Directive (2008/94) has implications for any defined benefit pension scheme that has wound up after the date of the ECJ ruling in the UK Robins case on 25 January 2007 where on the date of the wind up both the scheme and the employer is insolvent (double insolvency).
The Social Welfare and Pensions (No.2) Act 2013 amended the Pensions Act to address double insolvencies occurring after 25 December 2013. No claim has been made in respect of any double insolvencies occurring since the enactment of the 2013 legislation.
The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2009 provided for the establishment by the Minister for Finance of a Pensions Insolvency Payments scheme (PIPS) to provide for the payment of pensions, in the event of the wind up of a pension scheme where both the employer and the scheme are insolvent, at less cost than through traditional annuities, thereby making more scheme assets available for the pensions of those yet to retire.
Application for pension payments under this scheme would give an indication of the number of double insolvencies arising in the period since the ECJ ruling in the Robins case and which may make a claim against the State. The following table lists the schemes which have applied to the Pensions Authority for certification as an eligible scheme for payment under PIPs.
Application for Pensions Insolvency Payments Scheme
|
Date Wind up |
Employer |
Pensioners |
Actives |
Deferred |
|
29/06/12 |
Protim Abrasives Ltd. |
17 |
0 |
45 |
|
19/07/12 |
Glencullen Holdings Ltd. |
18 |
17 |
71 |
|
01/12/10 |
McCormick MacNaughton Ltd. |
3 |
8 |
12 |
|
31/03/12 |
BHT Group Ltd. |
117 |
62 |
259 |
|
28/06/11 |
McConnell Group Ltd. |
13 |
0 |
41 |
|
28/06/11 |
McConnell Group Ltd. |
3 |
0 |
1 |
|
31/03/09 |
Waterford Crystal Ltd. |
162 |
262 |
337 |
|
31/03/09 |
Waterford Crystal Ltd. |
475 |
669 |
544 |
|
30/06/09 |
Waterford Wedgewood PLC |
22 |
1 |
5 |
|
15/01/13 |
Curragh Tintawn Carpets |
40 |
77 |
37 |
|
22/10/12 |
Co-Operative Poultry Products |
0 |
0 |
58 |
The Minister for Finance has made provision through the pension levy to meet any liability that might arise in a double insolvency occurring since the ECJ ruling in the Robins case.
25. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that weekly local property tax reductions from payments are synchronised with those payments to avoid extra weeks deductions being made at the year's end. [1041/15]
View answer56. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason three weeks local property tax was deducted from her Department's payments before Christmas. [1039/15]
View answer57. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the week in 2015 that her Department will be reversing the extra local property tax debit and putting through a credit for social welfare recipients deducted an extra week before the year end. [1042/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 25, 56 and 57 together.
Due to a technical error, a deduction in respect of Local Property Tax (LPT) for the 2015 year was taken earlier than planned resulting in some customers having additional LPT deductions taken from their double payment week before Christmas. Customers who had requested the deduction at source towards LPT had two deductions in respect of 2014 which were correctly applied to their double week payment. For some customers, however, an additional deduction towards their 2015 LPT liability was incorrectly applied.
I regret the inconvenience caused to customers in this regard. Those customers affected will have one less LPT deduction applied to their welfare payment in 2015 and my Department is working with the Revenue Commissioners to implement this as soon as possible.
My Department is reviewing this issue in conjunction with the Revenue Commissioners as part of ongoing dialogue to ensure that the deduction at source payment option operates as smoothly as possible.
26. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will introduce the community visitors programme in 2015, in partnership with Inclusion Ireland and other stakeholders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1517/15]
View answer43. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when she will commence section 5 of the Citizens Information Act 2007, which establishes the personal advocacy service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49655/14]
View answer82. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will commence section 5 of the Citizens Information Act 2007, which provides for the establishment of the personal advocacy service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1516/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 43 and 82 together.
The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the statutory body responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice (including money and budgeting advice) and advocacy services to all citizens on a wide range of public and social services.
One of the functions of the CIB, as defined in the Comhairle Act 2000 and the Citizens Information Act 2007, is to directly provide or support the provision of advocacy services to individuals, and in particular to assist those with a disability to identify and understand their needs and their options and to secure their entitlements to social services.
The Citizens Information Board delivers on its remit through the provision of advocacy services for the public in general, and for people with disabilities in particular. This process has involved building advocacy capacity and skills within Citizens Information Services to deliver advocacy to all citizens, including those with a disability who are able to access mainstream services.
In 2009, an evaluation report on the community and voluntary sector advocacy programme set out a proposed structure for the roll out of advocacy services, and recommended the establishment of a single service to provide improved advocacy services to people who need them, regardless of location, disability type or level of vulnerability. Following on from this report, the National Advocacy Service was established under the Citizens Information Board in January 2011, to provide an independent, confidential, and free representative advocacy service to vulnerable people with disabilities who cannot self-advocate, while supporting others to use mainstream services.
The aim of the National Advocacy Service is to ensure that people with disabilities have a voice and that their rights are safeguarded, particularly those who cannot self-advocate or who find themselves isolated in the community or living in residential institutions.
More recently, the National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities has been restructured to form one National Service under a National Advocacy Service Board. The National Advocacy Service, which has its national office in Dublin, comprises 45 staff providing services through its four regions.
Any proposed legislative action or introduction of a community visitors programme would require careful consideration in the context of the overall approach to the provision of the most suitable, timely and appropriate supports and services that best meets the needs of people with disabilities, across the range of organisations involved in this important work.
The CIB funded National Advocacy Service receives €3.8 million annually.
27. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for a domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49438/14]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on 5 November 2014. This application has been forwarded to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors for their medical opinion. Following receipt of this opinion, a decision will be made by a Deciding Officer and notified to the person concerned. It can currently take 10 weeks to process an application for DCA.
28. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will examine and expedite a disability allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49441/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 14 October 2014. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers have been received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 15 December 2014 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on 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.
29. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the courses available through her Department or agencies in County Kilkenny to assist those wishing to upskill or return to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49453/14]
View answerThe Department in conjunction with other Departments and agencies (most notably the Department of Education and Skills and Solas) has put in place a range of options for reskilling as part of the wider whole of government approach contained in the Pathways to Work Strategy.
The former FAS training provision is being transferred to the new regional Education and Training Boards (ETBs). The main FAS/Solas programmes of relevance to DSP clients are Specific Skills Training, Traineeships, Local Training Initiatives, and training for people with disabilities through Specialist Training Providers. In 2014 seven hundred and fifty eight places were provided by FÁS/Solas in Kilkenny.
MOMENTUM, a scheme for education and training interventions, is part of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs initiative. It was rolled out by the Department of Education and Skills in 2013. MOMENTUM supports the provision of free education and training projects to allow long term jobseekers to gain skills and to access work opportunities in identified growing sectors. Details of MOMENTUM courses offered in Kilkenny in 2014 are shown in the following table.
|
Momentum Courses offered in Kilkenny-2014 |
Number of Places available |
Numbers referred |
Learners recruited |
|
Hospitality and Tourism |
24 |
36 |
15 |
|
Early Childhood Care and Education |
24 |
26 |
19 |
|
Looking Forward 2- Warehousing and Logistics |
16 |
29 |
16 |
|
Tourism Today |
24 |
29 |
15 |
|
Coach Driving with Guiding |
24 |
44 |
24 |
Those wishing to upskill or return to work who are long-term unemployed can undertake re-training on a full-time basis and generally qualify either for a Solas training allowance or for support from the Department of Social Protection’s Back to Education Allowance scheme. Where the training is part-time or of shorter duration, support may be provided under the Part-time Education Option (PTEO) and Education Training and Development Option (ET&D). Details of education courses offered in Kilkenny in 2014 are shown in the following table.
|
Numbers currently on Education courses in County Kilkenny as 3/1/15 |
Kilkenny LO |
Thomastown LO |
Total |
|
|
Springboard |
21 |
1 |
22 |
|
|
Back to Education Allowance |
197 |
51 |
248 |
|
|
Part-time Education Option |
35 |
8 |
43 |
In conjunction with these programmes, there is also ongoing engagement between Intreo Offices and Education and Training Boards (ETBs) to ensure that training programmes are relevant to the needs of the unemployed. More generally, substantial reform is being undertaken in the education and training sector to ensure programmes are relevant to the needs of learners and employers.
When taken together these reforms and initiatives constitute a comprehensive approach to the reskilling of the unemployed.
30. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding mortgage interest supplement in respect of persons who are long term unemployed (details supplied); the way she plans on assisting 11,200 persons who are currently on mortgage interest supplement to obtain permanent employment; if she will provide the job creation and mortgage support schemes that the Government proposed to introduce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49465/14]
View answerThe 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 5,800 people in receipt of mortgage interest supplement, of which some 2,490 are on the Live Register, representing a small minority of less than 1% of the total number on the Live Register.
The Government’s strategy to assist those in mortgage difficulty is built around the following measures, as recommended in the 2011 Interdepartmental Mortgage Arrears Working Group (Keane Group), in four main distinct areas:
- Lenders providing sustainable and durable resolution options to their borrower;
- A social housing response sponsored by local authorities;
- Comprehensive advice to borrowers; and
- Personal Insolvency Reform.
In the context of the overall strategy, the continued payment of mortgage interest supplement does little to assist recipients in improving the long term difficulty in addressing their mortgage problem. Discontinuation of entitlement to the mortgage interest supplement (MIS) scheme was introduced for all new applicants from 1 January 2014. Customers availing of this support prior to 1st January 2014 have been able to retain entitlement to the scheme up to 1st January 2018.
It is expected that during the four year period, existing customers will no longer require this support through sustainable solutions being put in place with their lenders, exit strategies sponsored by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government or through securing employment. The Department of Social Protection provides a range of employment supports to jobseekers, including persons currently on mortgage interest supplement. Supports include career advice and guidance, information on and access to suitable further education and training opportunities, advice on employment incentives and supports and access to internships and employment programmes.
Where a jobseeker in receipt of mortgage interest supplement takes up temporary employment greater than 30 hours per week and does not qualify for the supplement, they may have their payment generally suspended for up to 8 weeks and re-instated after this period. I would advise any person in receipt of mortgage interest supplement who is taking up temporary employment to discuss their individual circumstances with the officer in the Community Welfare Service administering their claim.
31. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when she will have an Intreo office fully operational in Swords, County Dublin. [49471/14]
View answerThe INTREO service in Swords will be a single, integrated service delivered over two sites: Fingal County Hall, Swords and Mainscourt, Swords. While the fit-out of the Intreo office in County Hall office is complete, the office will not be opened to the public until the fit-out of the Mainscourt office is complete. It is hoped to commence work on Mainscourt immediately upon resolution of a number of outstanding property management issues and this work is expected to take several months.
32. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will approve and expedite an appeal for jobseeker's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49515/14]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
34. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an appeal for a disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [49523/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 27 November 2014. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection These papers have been received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 5 January 2015 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on 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.
35. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if an appeal claim for benefit will be expedited and approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if she will expedite the matter. [49528/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to convene an oral hearing in this case.
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.
36. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the difficulties persons may have being forced onto MOMENTUM courses while not being able to afford the cost of getting to class for the placement; if she will indicate the use of these courses in the Dún Laoghaire area, the practice of the Department of Social Protection Intreo centres and local employment services having to meet targets and quotas to fill these places; and the number of persons in the Dún Laoghaire constituency currently in placements in MOMENTUM courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49532/14]
View answerThe MOMENTUM Programme 2014, launched in September 2014, is under the remit of the Department of Education and Skills (DES) and is managed on behalf of DES by SOLAS. The programmes include on-the job training in the form of work experience modules as well as the provision of accredited further education and training required to obtain and retain employment. One third of the 6,500 places have been ring-fenced for the under 25s. This forms part of the Government’s Pathways to Work and the Action Plan for Jobs strategies.
Access to MOMENTUM is exclusively through Case Officers in this Department’s Intreo Centres and Mediators in the Local Employment Services, who operate under contract to this Department. To ensure full utilisation of all MOMENTUM places, this Department is working very closely at national and local level with SOLAS and MOMENTUM providers to host recruitment events and proactively identify eligible candidates. Intreo Centres also support clients who have independently identified MOMENTUM through other channels.
MOMENTUM programmes available to eligible Dun Laoghaire residents assist unemployed jobseekers to gain in-demand skills and to access work in sectors of the economy where there are job opportunities. Eligible clients are supported to access to the most appropriate programme, taking account of their personal requirements and circumstances, including training needs, geographical location, etc. An initial induction module on each programme provides an opportunity to reaffirm course suitability or exploration of alternative options, where appropriate. Continued monitoring of the participation and progression of the learners throughout the programme is facilitated by an active case management approach and a sharing of information between SOLAS and my Department.
It is not possible to establish the number of Jobseekers in the Dun Laoghaire Constituency who are currently on MOMENTUM programmes. While the number of MOMENTUM participants fluctuates from week to week, as at 5 January 2015, there were 46 jobseekers at the Intreo Centre Dun Laoghaire who were on MOMENTUM programmes. More than 850 MOMENTUM places have been made available to date in the South Dublin area, with 460 of these scheduled to commence in the next six weeks.
37. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will examine a refusal for disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry in view of the fact that additional information has been forwarded to the appeals section; if she will expedite the review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49537/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 6 January 2015. 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.
38. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding Pobal funding in respect of an organisation (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49540/14]
View answerThe community services programme (CSP) is designed to address gaps in the delivery of key local services, to tackle disadvantage and to ensure that community facilities are utilised. It provides valuable resourcing for service delivery undertaken by not-for-profit companies and cooperatives in communities around the country. Some 2,800 people are supported in employment by the programme across approximately 400 not-for-profit companies and co-operatives. Funding of €46m is being provided for the programme in 2015 which will maintain the current level of activity.
The service referred to by the Deputy submitted a business plan to be considered for funding for the period 2015-2017. Following the appraisal of the business plan, the decision was made to allocate funding to contribute to the costs of one manager and two FTEs for 2015 to the value of €70,066. Operational funding was not approved and the service has sought a review of this element of the decision and a determination of this matter is pending. Consideration of funding for the service for 2016 and 2017 will depend on the service providing an improved proposal. Any proposal received will be considered as part of the annual re-contracting process undertaken by Pobal and the Department in 2015. The service was notified of this decision on 14 November 2014.
39. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection in view of the failure of the wholesale and retail markets in home heating oil to pass on the significant decreases in crude oil prices to consumers, and the continuing hardship that many households experience in affording to heat their homes, her views on restoring the fuel allowance back to the previous payment period of 32 weeks from the current level of 26 weeks; her further views on the restoration of other cuts to fuel and energy supports in respect of elderly persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49561/14]
View answerI announced on budget day a number of welfare initiatives of benefit to pensioners, carers and people with disabilities who are in receipt of a welfare payment. These initiatives included the re-introduction of a Christmas bonus which was abolished by the previous Government in 2009 and an increase in the living alone allowance, which has not increased since 1996.
A bonus of 25% was paid in early December to all long-term welfare recipients, including all pensioners and carers, at a cost of over €63 million. From January the weekly living alone allowance has been raised from €7.70 to €9 for pensioners and people with disabilities.
In Budget 2015 the household benefits scheme, the fuel allowance scheme and the free travel pass were also maintained.
The overall concern of the Government in Budget 2015 and previous Budgets has been to protect the primary social welfare rates. Expenditure on pensions is the largest block of expenditure in the Department, representing about a third of overall expenditure. Because of demographic changes the Department’s spending on older people is increasing year on year. Maintaining the rate of the State pension and other core payments is critical in protecting people from poverty. The savings generated by reductions in secondary benefits were essential to maintain core weekly payments.
The adjustments made to the household benefits package in recent years have made it much easier for customers to switch to cheaper energy suppliers, without the loss of any credits they may have built up. This is important as there are significant discounts available for those who switch suppliers, with larger reductions on offer only for new customers. In all, the Department spent approximately €230 million in 2014 on the household benefits package for approximately 415,000 customers.
Approximately 415,000 customers receive the fuel allowance of €20 per week for 26 weeks from October to April, at an estimated cost of €208 million in 2014. Any decision to increase the fuel allowance would have budgetary consequences and would have to be considered in the context of budget negotiations.
It is recognised in the Government’s Energy Affordability Strategy that the best way to tackle fuel poverty in the long term is to improve the energy efficiency of the dwelling. The Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme which is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to low income households vulnerable to energy poverty that are free of charge to the customer.
