Finian McGrath
Question:40. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will support a matter (details supplied) regarding funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49565/14]
View answerDepartmental Funding
Questions (40)
Written answers
I regret to inform the Deputy that the Department does not have funds of this ad-hoc discretionary nature at its disposal. All funding to not-for-profit organisations for the provision of services and events is channelled through structured programmes aimed at generating and supporting employment of jobseekers, to support local service provision and/or to promote the social inclusion outcomes of beneficiaries.
Departmental Investigations
Questions (41)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:41. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the date by which the scope section of her Department plan to complete its investigation into allegations regarding the Kishoge site in Lucan, County Dublin. [49619/14]
View answerWritten answers
It is a function of my Department to give decisions on the insurability of employment in accordance with the relevant legislation. A decision on the insurability of employment has been recently sought by a number of workers formerly employed on the site referred by the Deputy. As part of the process of making such a decision, it is normal practice that a Social Welfare Inspector comprehensively interviews both the worker(s) and an appropriate representative of the employer separately about the nature of the employment and statements are taken from both parties.
In the case of all the workers concerned, this process has been completed and the file is currently with the relevant investigators to interview the employer. Once the interviews are completed, the file will be forwarded to Scope Section for decision. The Deputy can be assured that the matter is receiving prompt attention.
Question No. 42 withdrawn.
Question No. 43 answered with Question No. 26.
Exceptional Needs Payment Data
Questions (44)
Denis Naughten
Question:44. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for exceptional needs payments excluding ENP5 applications by county for the years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014; the number of those applications that were refused by county in each of the aforementioned years; the number of those refusals that were successful both on review and on appeal by county in those years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49660/14]
View answerWritten answers
Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off and unforeseen expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. The Government has provided €27.9m for exceptional and urgent needs payments in 2015.
There is no automatic entitlement to a payment. The ENP scheme is demand led and payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
Statistics are not maintained by county on the number of applications for ENPs or the outcome of those applications. Detail of the number of payments under the ENP scheme for the years 2010 to 2014 is set out in the following tabular statement. A breakdown by county is not available for the period from 2010 to 2012 but is provided for 2013 and 2014. As requested, these statistics exclude ENP5 code payments which relate to back to school clothing and footwear allowance payments.
ENP cases are reviewed by review officers within the community welfare service. Statistics are not maintained regarding the number of reviews undertaken or their outcome.
Tabular Statement
Number of Exceptional Needs Payments made by year excluding ENP5 payments
|
Year |
Number of Payments |
|
2010 |
218,000 |
|
2011 |
226,200 |
|
2012 |
196,837 |
|
2013 |
132,629 |
|
2014 |
107,307 |
Number of Exceptional Needs Payments by County for 2013 and 2014 excluding ENP5 payments
|
County |
2013 |
2014 |
|
Carlow |
1,882 |
1,247 |
|
Cavan |
1,052 |
788 |
|
Clare |
1,841 |
1,602 |
|
Cork |
10,290 |
9,709 |
|
Donegal |
1,767 |
1,533 |
|
Dublin |
59,901 |
46,609 |
|
Galway |
3,989 |
2,648 |
|
Kerry |
2,366 |
2,049 |
|
Kildare |
6,584 |
4,377 |
|
Kilkenny |
2,615 |
2,144 |
|
Laois |
2,645 |
3,401 |
|
Leitrim |
733 |
817 |
|
Limerick |
4,856 |
4,339 |
|
Longford |
1,020 |
1,102 |
|
Louth |
1,702 |
1,505 |
|
Mayo |
2,807 |
1,673 |
|
Meath |
4,051 |
3,129 |
|
Monaghan |
591 |
571 |
|
Offaly |
1,217 |
1,268 |
|
Roscommon |
1,502 |
845 |
|
Sligo |
1,794 |
1,499 |
|
Tipperary |
7,081 |
5,757 |
|
Waterford |
2,409 |
2,581 |
|
Westmeath |
2,123 |
2,251 |
|
Wexford |
2,191 |
1,313 |
|
Wicklow |
3,620 |
2,550 |
|
Total |
132,629 |
107,307 |
Social Welfare Code
Questions (45)
Ruth Coppinger
Question:45. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 140 of 9 December 2014 her views on a change to the current legislation and rules in relation to income earned on a once off basis as a polling clerk being deducted in a means test for a couple in receipt of carer's allowance and jobseeker's allowance. [49661/14]
View answerWritten answers
Parliamentary Question 140 of last December relates to the case of an individual who is in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance. He is also paid an increase in respect of a qualified adult (his spouse) and an increase for a qualified child.
His spouse is also in receipt of a half-rate carer’s allowance. She was employed as a polling clerk for one day last year. A person in receipt of half-rate carer’s allowance is entitled to work in paid employment for up to 15 hours per week and any such income from employment is assessed as means. In this regard, a couple can have means of up to €665 per week without affecting entitlement to a maximum rate of either a full-rate or half-rate carer’s allowance payment. Payment is reduced at a tapered rate (50%) where means are in excess of €665 per week. Accordingly, the income form employment as a polling clerk did not affect the rate of half-rate carer’s allowance payable.
When the spouse of a person in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance is in employment, his or her earnings are assessed as means for the purposes of establishing the level of entitlement to the payment. Means are assessed by applying a €20 earnings disregard per day worked (up to a maximum of €60), with the remainder of earnings assessed at 60%.
In the case in question, the spouse worked for one day as a polling clerk and earned €350.00. The means assessment was calculated as follows:
€350.00 - €20 (disregard) = €330.00 x 60% = €198.00 weekly means.
These means reduced the level of entitlement for the week in question by €198 and an overpayment of this amount arose. In the case of the individual concerned, there was a previous overpayment of €134.10, which accounted for a total overpayment position of €332.10.
Employment as a polling clerk is treated in the same manner as any other form of employment in relation to means testing. There are currently no plans to make any changes to these arrangements. It is considered that the current arrangements offer sufficient incentive for jobseekers and other means tested recipients including qualified adults to engage in employment, as earnings as assessed on a partial basis only and weekly or daily income disregards apply.
Back to Work Allowance
Questions (46)
Michael Creed
Question:46. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 171 of 16 December if she will clarify the final paragraph of her reply wherein she makes reference to the second year of a business plan; if there is an entitlement to a jobseeker's payment in the first year of the back to work enterprise allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49673/14]
View answerWritten answers
The key principles of the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) were set out in my December reply to the Deputy’s question. The rate of payment of BTWEA in the first year for a customer who pursues a self-employment option is equal to the full value of their previous jobseeker’s payment to which they were in receipt of prior to taking up the Allowance. Therefore, there is no particular advantage to a customer reverting to jobseekers payments during periods of slack business. The value of the BTWEA reduces to 75% of the prior payment in the second year. As indicated in my previous reply, it is likely that customers in receipt of BTWEA will be better off by the combination of the BTEWA payment and any income from their business venture, rather than reverting to a jobseeker’s payment.
Defined Benefit Pension Schemes
Questions (47, 75)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:47. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a profitable company (details supplied) in County Meath has not provided for its employees’ pension scheme; and if she will amend legislation to place an obligation on profitable employers to fulfil pension-related commitments to their employees. [49722/14]
View answerPeadar Tóibín
Question:75. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will meet with a representative group of the Tara Mine pensioners to discuss proposed cuts to payments arising from the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2014. [1386/15]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 75 together.
Defined benefit pension schemes in Ireland are set up and maintained by employers on a voluntary basis. A statutory obligation on employers under Irish law to contribute to their pension scheme has never existed. The level of employer and employee contributions is agreed and established in contract in the Trust Deeds and Rules of each scheme when a pension scheme is established. The imposition of such an obligation on employers has been considered on a number of occasions in recent years. The issue was last considered in the preparation of the measures included in the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Act 2013. However, it was decided not to proceed with such a measure given the current economic circumstances, uncertainties as to the overall impact on such a measure and the potential for unintended consequences.
I am aware that many pension schemes are encountering funding difficulties at this time.
A number of legislative measures have been put in place to assist employers and trustees of pension schemes respond to these difficulties. I hope that these measures will be of assistance in resolving the funding difficulties in the Tara Mines pension scheme. It would not be appropriate for me to engage with or comment on developments relating to a particular pension scheme as these are a matter for the management of the company and the trustees of the pension scheme.
Rent Supplement Scheme Payments
Questions (48, 52, 53, 81, 111, 113)
Tom Fleming
Question:48. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will review the current rent supplement limits and revise same, with a view to flexibility on the limits for tenants who are at risk of homelessness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49723/14]
View answerPeadar Tóibín
Question:52. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the average period of time that persons in County Meath currently spend in receipt of rent allowance and the percentage of these persons who are on the housing list for more than three years. [49748/14]
View answerPeadar Tóibín
Question:53. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form the number of persons in County Meath whose rent supplement has been stopped following a review which found the rent paid was higher than the threshold allowed in 2013 and 2014. [49751/14]
View answer
Jerry Buttimer
Question:81. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will review rent supplement levels as early as possible during 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1510/15]
View answerTom Fleming
Question:111. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the total cost of rent supplement and the number of recipients in each county in tabular form for the years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1725/15]
View answer
Seán Kyne
Question:113. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the progress of introducing new revised rent supplement limits which would better reflect the current rental accommodation market; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1754/15]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 48, 52, 53, 81, 111 and 113 together.
There are approximately 71,500 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €298 million for 2015.
I can assure the Deputies that the Department continues to monitor the maximum rent limits and is aware of the difficulties people are experiencing, including recipients of rent supplement, in maintaining affordable rented accommodation in areas of high demand in the current housing market. I am keeping this matter under close review. However, raising rent limits may not be the solution to the problem as it is likely to add to further rental inflation and could impact, not alone on rent supplement recipients, but also on many lower income workers, their families and students. Increasing housing supply and the reactivation of the construction activity is a key issue for Government and is critical to restoring stability to the rental market.
The Department is taking measures to ensure that the housing needs of rent supplement customers who are in danger of becoming homeless are being addressed by providing for increased flexibility within the administration of the scheme. A notice reminding all staff of their statutory discretionary power to award a supplement for rental purposes for example, when dealing with applicants who are at risk of losing their tenancy was circulated during 2014 and a further instruction recently issued in December 2014 to ensure that there is consistency throughout the country.
The tenancy sustainment protocol with the Dublin local authorities and voluntary organisations is designed to protect families on rent supplement who are at risk of losing their accommodation from becoming homelessness and payment in excess of the rent limits are being made for some 290 families in the Dublin region. The protocol will be shortly extended to Cork city and staff in the Department are engaging with Cork City Council and non-Government organisations in this regard. Staff outside the Dublin region are also increasing rent supplement payments as necessary and are actively engaging with the relevant local authority and various local organisations involved in homelessness.
Where a person in receipt of rent supplement is at risk of losing their tenancy they should make contact with the Tenancy Protection Service provided by Threshold in Dublin or to their local Community Welfare Service.
Rent supplement recipient numbers by county and information on expenditure since 2010 is provided in the attached tabular statements. The table shows that there are currently over 1,700 rent supplement recipients in Meath, of which nearly one third of these claims were awarded during 2014. A breakdown on claim duration by county or by reasons customers exit the scheme is not available. Policy in relation to housing lists is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government.
Tabular Statement
Table 1: Rent Supplement End of Year Recipient Numbers & Expenditure: 2010 to 2014
|
Year |
Recipients |
Cost €000 |
|
2010 |
97,260 |
516,538 |
|
2011 |
96,803 |
502,747 |
|
2012 |
87,684 |
422,536 |
|
2013 |
79,788 |
372,909 |
|
2014 |
71,533 |
339,367 |
Table 2: Rent Supplement Recipients by County: 2010 to 2014
|
County |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
Dublin |
33,818 |
34,423 |
32,584 |
29,541 |
26,453 |
|
Cork |
10,988 |
10,732 |
9,878 |
9,020 |
8,273 |
|
Kildare |
4,409 |
4,447 |
4,338 |
4,135 |
3,698 |
|
Galway |
4,829 |
4,615 |
4,134 |
3,983 |
3,591 |
|
Wexford |
4,055 |
4,102 |
3,700 |
3,179 |
2,700 |
|
Limerick |
3,896 |
3,833 |
3,323 |
2,984 |
2,461 |
|
Louth |
2,563 |
2,734 |
2,549 |
2,422 |
2,211 |
|
Wicklow |
2,613 |
2,719 |
2,495 |
2,381 |
2,130 |
|
Tipperary |
2,680 |
2,609 |
2,199 |
2,094 |
1,961 |
|
Donegal |
3,194 |
2,977 |
2,411 |
2,047 |
1,812 |
|
Meath |
2,552 |
2,723 |
2,143 |
1,941 |
1,726 |
|
Kerry |
2,339 |
2,278 |
2,037 |
1,888 |
1,736 |
|
Mayo |
3,012 |
2,928 |
2,435 |
1,900 |
1,619 |
|
Westmeath |
1,623 |
1,671 |
1,592 |
1,588 |
1,533 |
|
Waterford |
2,332 |
2,098 |
1,773 |
1,556 |
1,443 |
|
Clare |
1,937 |
1,961 |
1,722 |
1,547 |
1,336 |
|
Kilkenny |
1,577 |
1,619 |
1,365 |
1,210 |
1,011 |
|
Carlow |
1,484 |
1,440 |
1,239 |
1,108 |
1,086 |
|
Offaly |
1,273 |
1,349 |
1,240 |
1,124 |
1,041 |
|
Laois |
1,151 |
1,178 |
1,097 |
1,085 |
1,008 |
|
Roscommon |
1,276 |
1,275 |
997 |
802 |
687 |
|
Longford |
715 |
623 |
511 |
507 |
476 |
|
Sligo |
787 |
698 |
591 |
542 |
451 |
|
Cavan |
1,029 |
843 |
519 |
455 |
414 |
|
Monaghan |
598 |
488 |
438 |
395 |
352 |
|
Leitrim |
530 |
440 |
374 |
354 |
324 |
|
Total |
97,260 |
96,803 |
87,684 |
79,788 |
71,533 |
Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility
Questions (49)
Michael Fitzmaurice
Question:49. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views that persons who have earned through their contributions an entitlement to a widow's-widower's contributory pension should not be denied the benefit of their entitlements because they are working on a community employment scheme on which they continue making contributions; in the interests of justice and fairness her plans to remove the widow's-widower's contributory pension from section 39(1) of the Act; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49724/14]
View answerWritten answers
A person of 25 years of age or over who is currently in receipt of Widows/Widowers Contributory or Non-Contributory Pension for a minimum of 12 months is eligible to participate on the Community Employment (CE) programme, as per the published eligibility criteria.
From 16 January 2012, new participants on CE schemes will not be able to simultaneously claim their original social welfare payment and a CE allowance, as per section 12 of the Social Welfare Act 2011. This measure affects those in receipt of the following payments commencing CE after that date:
- One Parent Family Payment
- Deserted Wife’s Benefit
- Widow(er)s Pension (Contributory or Non-Contributory)
- Illness Benefit
- Disability Allowance
- Invalidity Pension
- Blind Pension
These new CE participants will receive their payments directly via the CE scheme at a rate equivalent to their original social welfare payment (including any increase for a qualified adult and/or child dependants) plus an additional €20 CE participation payment. The person will not be financially disadvantaged by participating on CE.
New participants are defined as those persons who, with effect from 16 January 2012, have not been employed on a CE scheme in the 12 months prior to commencing the current CE placement.
There are no plans to amend the legislation in this regard.
Rent Supplement Scheme Payments
Questions (50)
Terence Flanagan
Question:50. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding rent supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49746/14]
View answerWritten answers
The person concerned has been in receipt of rent supplement at her current address since 1 October 2011. She is currently receiving the maximum rate payable for a person with her specific circumstances; i.e. that of a single person with a maximum rent limit of €520 per month.
The Department is taking measures to ensure that the housing needs of rent supplement customers who are in danger of becoming homeless are being addressed by providing for increased flexibility within the administration of the rent supplement scheme. A notice reminding all staff of their statutory discretionary power to award a supplement for rental purposes, for example when dealing with applicants who are at risk of losing their tenancy, was circulated during 2014, and a further instruction issued in December 2014 to ensure that there is consistency in the provision of payments in excess of the rent limit throughout the country.
The person concerned should contact their local DSP representative to discuss her particular circumstances.
Carer's Allowance Applications
Questions (51)
Bernard Durkan
Question:51. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who has submitted all recent documentation requested, including bank statements; if a decision will be made in the near future with particular reference to the ongoing poor health of the caree; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49747/14]
View answerWritten answers
The person concerned was awarded carer’s allowance on 23 December 2014 and the first payment issued to the bank on 8 January 2015. The person in question was notified of this decision on 23 December 2014.
Questions Nos. 52 and 53 answered with Question No. 48.
Departmental Bodies Data
Questions (54)
Patrick O'Donovan
Question:54. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of agencies, quangos or other bodies within, funded by or established by her Department which have been scrapped, merged or reduced since this Government was formed; the amount saved in each case; the reduction in staff as a result; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1020/15]
View answerWritten answers
The 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.
The Pensions Board was renamed the Pensions Authority on 7 March 2014.
The Public Service Reform Programme provided for a critical review which examined the potential to merge the Pensions Ombudsman with the Financial Services Ombudsman. The Critical Review was completed in 2013, and it recommended such a merger. The recommendations arising out of the Critical Review were approved by Government in April 2013. The process of merging the two organisations is now underway.
This work is advancing under an Inter-Departmental Steering Group chaired by the Department of Finance, with the participation of officials from the Department of Social Protection, the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform, and the offices of the two Ombudsmen. Preparations are being made for the offices to be co-located early 2015, and it is hoped that the legislative changes required for a formal merger will be proposed by the Minister for Finance in the second half of 2015. No significant savings are expected in advance of the full merger of the two organisations.
Decentralisation Programme Data
Questions (55)
Patrick O'Donovan
Question:55. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the agencies or sections from her Department that were decentralised during the period 1997 to 2011; the travel costs and expenses incurred by decentralised personnel travelling to their base Department in that period. [1035/15]
View answerWritten answers
Under the terms of the Decentralisation Programme which was announced in December 2003, various sections of the Department were designated to move to the following locations, Buncrana, Carrickmacross, Carrick-on-Shannon (in 2 Phases), Donegal Town, Drogheda and Sligo. The Combat Poverty Agency and the Citizens Information Board which operate under the aegis of my Department were designated to move to Monaghan Town and Carrickmacross respectively. The Combat Poverty Agency was subsequently subsumed into the Department in July 2009.
However, following a review of the programme, the Government determined that where no progress had been made in relation to the provision of accommodation or the movement of staff, that these parts of the programme were no longer viable and accordingly were cancelled. The locations in respect of the Department and its agencies that were cancelled were Carrick-on-Shannon (Phase 2), Carrickmacross, Donegal Town, Drogheda and Monaghan Town.
The table below details the number of posts and sections that were relocated.
|
Location |
Posts |
Sections |
|
Buncrana |
99 |
Client Eligibility Services |
|
Carrick-on-Shannon (Phase 1) |
159 |
Client Identity Services, Employment Support Services, Labour Market Unit, Control Division, Maintenance Recovery Unit, Freedom of Information & Decisions Advisory Unit, Overpayment & Debt Management |
|
Sligo |
72 |
Internal Audit, Staff Development Unit, Supplementary Welfare Administration, Information and Customer Services |
The records available in relation to the travel and subsistence costs associated with the decentralisation programme are for the period between 2004 and 2009. The total cost of travel and subsistence of the overall decentralisation programme was €103,032 during this period. This would include the set up travel costs associated with the decentralised move. However, although records are held of all travel and subsistence costs incurred by staff in the Department, separate records are not held on costs incurred by decentralised personnel between their new locations and the base Department HQ locations.
In addition to the locations outlined above, the Department also relocated its Accounts Branch (98.5 posts) to Dundalk in 2002, which was during the period in question. There are no separate records held in relation to travel and subsistence costs associated with the relocation.
Question Nos. 56 and 57 answered with Question No. 25.