Thursday, 15 Jan 2015

Written Answers Nos. 53 - 61

Mortgage Interest Supplement Scheme Applications

Questions (53)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

53. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a review will be carried out into the circumstances whereby a person (details supplied) in County Kildare was originally refused mortgage support on the basis that their house would inevitably be repossessed by the lenders where in fact the opposite is the case, the lack of any support clearly indicated to be a major factor in the manner in which the lending agency deals with the situation; if dietary allowance restored by the decision of the appeals officer, and subsequently discontinued after one month, will be again restored while the review takes place in order to alleviate hardship; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2076/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

As previously outlined in reply to the Deputy’s earlier PQ No. 161, 47257-14, on 9 November 2014, the claim for mortgage interest supplement in respect of the person concerned was disallowed on 23 December 2011 and this decision was upheld by the Social Welfare Appeals Office in an appeal decision issued on 27 July 2012. There is no recourse to a further review of this claim.

No new claim was made by the person concerned prior to the closure of the mortgage interest supplement scheme on 1 January 2014. As the scheme is now closed to new claims, this Department is not in a position to accept a further application for mortgage interest supplement.

As outlined in reply to the Deputy’s earlier PQs, Nos, 140 of 18 November, 44094-14, and 144 of 9 December, 47062-14, diet supplement was suspended in September 2014 pending receipt of requested documentation, specifically bank statements. This documentation is still outstanding. Once this information is provided to the Department the claim will be re-examined.

Jobseeker's Allowance Applications

Questions (54)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

54. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when jobseeker's allowance will be payable in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2079/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The person concerned has been deemed to meet the habitual residency condition for jobseekers allowance following a review of the original decision on the 09/01/2015. However information concerning a property contained in the paperwork provided in support of the jobseekers application, necessitates a means review to be carried out before an entitlement can be established. The file of the person concerned was sent to the Social Welfare Inspector to conduct a means review on 13/01/2015. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome of the review once completed.

Question No. 55 withdrawn.

Jobseeker's Allowance Payments

Questions (56)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

56. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the correct level of jobseeker's allowance payable in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2088/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

According to the information available to this Department, the correct level of jobseeker’s allowance payable, in the case of the person concerned is as follows:

Personal Rate:	€188.00
Increase for Qualified Adult:	€124.80
Sub Total:	€312.80
Less means from spousal earnings:	€269.00
Weekly rate payable:	€ 43.80

It is open to the person concerned to request a review of his means at his local office in Ballyfermot if his circumstances have changed.

Rent Supplement Scheme Applications

Questions (57)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

57. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the provision of rent support in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2090/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

As outlined to the Deputy in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 52 of 11th December 2014, a request for remaining outstanding documentation was issued by the Department on 3rd December 2014 and 10th December 2014, and has not been received to date. On receipt of this information the client’s entitlement to Rent Supplement can be assessed.

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Questions (58)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

58. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a travel allowance is payable in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2092/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The Department has no record of a recent application for a travel allowance from the person concerned. The person concerned can make such an application at the office of her local Community Welfare Service and her entitlement to same will be assessed.

Departmental Staff Recruitment

Questions (59)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

59. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason short-term employment contracts based in her Department are being offered to persons who are engaged in short-term contracts in other Departments, and consequently cannot accept those positions even though they may only have two or three weeks left on their existing contract; the reason this is marked as a rejection of an offer against them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2104/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The Public Appointments Service (PAS) have responsibility for all temporary clerical officer recruitment for this Department. PAS maintain the panel of temporary clerical officers (TCOs) and assignments are then made as temporary vacancies arise.

Competitions for TCOs are conducted by PAS on an annual basis and when candidates come up for consideration they may be in employment as a TCO on foot of a previous year's competition. PAS assign successful candidates to Departments in strict order of merit.

When an assignment is made to the Department, the Department then makes an offer of appointment to the successful candidate. If a candidate is already employed from a previous competition, it is matter for him/her to decide either to accept the offer or to decline the offer and remain on their current contract. This is in accordance with the PAS process which the Department is obliged to comply with.

Departmental Staff Data

Questions (60)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

60. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of employees of her Department, who were engaged on short-term contracts, that opted to take extra payment in lieu of holiday entitlement accrued at the expiration of their contracts in each of the past three years; the proportion of all employees hired on short-term contracts over this period who opted to do so; if her attention has been drawn to any specific policy within her Department which may serve to encourage persons not to take holiday time accrued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2105/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

Temporary staff are recruited by this Department to cover absences of permanent staff on maternity leave, long term sick leave, other statutory leave and also to provide cover for some staff availing of the shorter working year scheme. They are also recruited from time to time to alleviate work pressure in certain areas.

Temporary contracts are offered for a fixed purpose and the term can vary according to the purpose of the contract.

Annual leave is accrued based on the length of individual temporary contracts and staff can apply to take their annual leave entitlement. If they retain any annual leave at the termination of their contract, the Department will issue payment in lieu of any untaken annual leave.

No records are maintained which would identify the number of temporary clerical officers who were paid for any untaken annual leave.

There is no policy in place to encourage persons not to take holiday time accrued.

IBRC Mortgage Loan Book

Questions (61)

Michael Creed

Question:

61. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Finance if individual mortgage holders with IBRC or Irish Nationwide Building Society will be entitled to pay in full the balance of their mortgages either to the IBRC or the purchasers of the mortgage loan book; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1908/15]

Written answers

Minister for Finance

The Special Liquidators confirm that all debts owing to Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Limited (in Special Liquidation) whilst under their remit, remain due and payable in accordance with their terms.

I am advised that remaining mortgage holders with IBRC are permitted to buy-out their mortgage at par value and that there are no legislative barriers for such borrowers to do so.

In relation to loan assets purchased by third party purchasers, the Special Liquidators are unable to comment on the intentions and/or the subsequent actions of these third party purchasers once the loan assets have been sold.

However, whether the mortgage provider is IBRC or a third party purchaser, the mortgage holder is legally entitled to buy-out their mortgage at par, unless it specifically states otherwise in their mortgage contract.  I would encourage borrowers to engage with either IBRC or their new mortgage provider on this matter should they wish to repay the full debt outstanding on their mortgage.