Written Answers Nos. 205-221
205. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of medical officers within her Department assessing applications for disability allowance/carer's allowance and domiciliary care allowance that have qualifications in child and adolescent psychology; the weighting that is given to learning disabilities in the assessment of applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2611/15]
View answerMedical Assessors are fully qualified and experienced practitioners who provide a second opinion to that of the person’s own doctor. Their assessments conform to the ethical conduct and behaviour guidelines of the Irish Medical Council. Medical Assessors are required to be medical practitioners who are on the general register of medical practitioners while holding an appointment. They must have at least three years satisfactory experience in the practice of medicine since registration. Many of the Medical Assessors have specialist post-graduate qualifications and three have mental health/child and adolescent psychiatry qualifications or experience. All have received special training in human disability evaluation. They also have special training in disability assessment. The Medical Assessors have an on-going commitment to continuing medical education to ensure that standards are maintained and enhanced. The Medical Assessors also work in a collegiate way to ensure that best practice and professional expertise is shared and applied across all of the cases that are reviewed by them. This includes daily case conference meetings and a medical research unit to actively engage in the update of the body of medical knowledge and evidence based practice.
Applications for disability allowance, carer’s allowance and domiciliary care allowance are normally assessed by Medical Assessors at desk level on the basis of medical evidence submitted. Medical eligibility is determined by the severity and expected duration of the medical condition. Each case is individually assessed on its own merits and in accordance with the Department’s evidence based medical guidelines and protocols.
207. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 94 of 15 October 2014, the reason persons under the age of 26 on jobseeker's benefit only receive €100 training allowance on a FÁS training scheme while those under 26 on jobseeker's allowance automatically see an increase of €60 bringing their payment to €160 per week; her plans to bring these people on jobseeker's benefit into line with those on jobseeker's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2633/15]
View answerThe jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker’s allowance schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative full-time employment. The 2015 Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseekers’ schemes of €3.01 billion.
Reduced rates for younger jobseeker’s allowance recipients were first introduced in 2009. Budget 2014 further extended the reduced rates of jobseeker’s allowance to recipients under 26 years of age.
This is a targeted measure aimed at protecting young people from welfare dependency. It aims to incentivise young jobseeker’s allowance recipients to avail of education and training opportunities. If a jobseeker in receipt of the reduced jobseeker’s allowance rate participates on an education or training programme they will receive a higher weekly payment of €160.
The jobseekers benefit scheme works differently. A person’s benefits are linked to their employment history irrespective of age.
Under jobseeker’s benefit, recipients with earnings of less than €300 per week in the relevant tax year – for claims in 2015, the relevant tax year is 2013 – get a personal rate ranging from €84.50 to €147.30 per week, and reduced rates for qualified adults may also apply. Jobseeker’s benefit recipients with average earnings over €300 per week in the relevant tax year will receive a personal rate of €188 per week.
These are general provisions for the jobseeker’s benefit scheme which are designed to prevent a disincentive to employment whereby workers on low incomes could have access to weekly social welfare payments in excess of their income from employment.
There are no plans to change these jobseeker’s benefit provisions.
I understand that when a jobseeker’s benefit recipient participates in an Education and Training Board scheme the training allowance rate associated with that participation will be the appropriate jobseeker’s benefit rate which, in terms of personal rate, may range from €84.50 to €188 per week.
209. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if jobseeker's allowance has now issued in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; the reason for the ongoing delay if payment has not yet issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2673/15]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 20 November 2014, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
210. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the supports in place for parents of a child who has cerebral palsy and requires both parents to act as full-time carers leaving them unable to seek employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2687/15]
View answerCarers' Allowance (CA) is the primary income support for those who are providing full-time care and attention to a care recipient. Only one Carer's Allowance can be paid in respect of a person requiring full-time care and attention. Two carers who are providing full-time care on a part-time basis in an established pattern can share the carers allowance income support payment and the annual respite care grant.
Where the carer has an entitlement to another social welfare payment in their own right they may qualify for a half-rate Carers’ Allowance in addition to their primary payment. (This does not apply to Jobseekers’ Benefit or Jobseekers’ Allowance as the conditionality for these two schemes involves a requirement to be available for full-time work).
If the Carer's spouse/civil partner/cohabitant is in receipt of a payment from the Department, which included an increase in respect of him/her as a dependant, the increase on the spouse/civil partner/cohabitant's social welfare payment will continue to be payable along with a half -rate Carers Allowance payment.
I should also add that Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly payment payable in respect of a child aged under 16 with a severe disability likely to last for at least one year, who requires ongoing care and attention, substantially over and above the care and attention usually required by a child of the same age. It is not means tested.
212. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in processing an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10; and when a decision will be made on their case. [2690/15]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence has allowed the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the 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 on social welfare entitlements.
214. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding free travel; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2702/15]
View answerThe free travel scheme provides free travel on CIÉ, Luas and more than 80 private transport services for approximately 800,000 people, elderly, disabled and carers, at an annual cost of €77 million. It is my intention that private operators who may take over routes currently operated by CIÉ companies, will be able to apply to participate in the free travel scheme.
215. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a determination will be made in an appeal for jobseeker's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and the reason for refusal. [2711/15]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing on 28 January 2015. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements.
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 on social welfare entitlements.
216. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if the JobPath contracts with the preferred bidders have been finalised; if not, the expected timeframe for same and the expected date from which social welfare recipients are expected to be referred to the new providers. [2761/15]
View answerJobPath is the Government’s new labour market activation service aimed specifically at supporting the long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long term unemployed, with the primary objective of assisting such persons to gain sustained employment. JobPath will both augment and complement the Department’s internal activation services as well as such services delivered on behalf of the Department under existing contract arrangements.
The Department expects to finalise JobPath contracts shortly. Subject to the successful finalisation of contracts, it is anticipated that the first clients will be referred to JobPath service providers in mid-2015.
218. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of jobseekers that have been employed under the JobsPlus scheme since it was commenced; if she will provide a breakdown of the numbers in the 12 months to two years unemployed category and the two years or more unemployed category; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2782/15]
View answerJobsPlus provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers who recruit employees from the Live Register and those transitioning into employment. It provides employers with two levels of payment - €7,500 or €10,000 over two years - paid in monthly instalments provided the employment is maintained. The rate of payment depends on the length of time the person is unemployed.
Since July 2013, 13,083 jobseekers have confirmed their eligibility for JobsPlus. Of these, 4,855 have gone on to take up employment or are approved to take up employment, with 3,492 employers as of 15 January 2015. Of those who commenced employment with the support of JobsPlus, 3,026 or 62% had been unemployed for more than two years prior to taking up employment. The remaining 1,829 had been unemployed for between 12 months to two years.
219. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of the monitoring and enforcement regime around the JobBridge scheme to ensure the scheme is not being abused by employers; if she will also provide any available figures on the numbers of complaints, infringements, checks, penalties or investigations relating to the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2783/15]
View answerJobBridge has made very significant progress since it came into operation on 1 July 2011. As at 15 January 2015, a total of 36,603 internships have commenced with 6,291 participants currently on a JobBridge placement, and 816 internship posts currently advertised on the JobBridge website. To date, almost 16,000 host organisations have participated in the scheme.
A rigorous monitoring system is in place to ensure that the JobBridge Scheme is not abused. All internships are subject to monthly compliance checks, and more than 9,000 on-site monitoring visits have been conducted since the scheme was introduced. These on-site monitoring visits are to host organisations either chosen at random or in response to concerns raised by interns or others. These on-site visits indicate that 97% of internships are proceeding satisfactorily and in line with the established criteria, and the vast majority of host organisations have been found to be compliant with the scheme rules.
Since the introduction of JobBridge, a total of 520 complaints have been received regarding the scheme. All complaints are taken seriously and are investigated as a matter of urgency.
At present, a total of 43 host organisations are excluded indefinitely from participation, and a number of others are excluded for shorter periods of time. The reasons for exclusion from participation in the scheme vary and include issues such as poor quality internships, that there is evidence of employment displacement, that the internship as operated did not reflect that which was advertised and that the Standard Agreement was not completed as required.
220. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if there is a travel allowance available to participants on the MOMENTUM scheme; the steps taken by her Department to ensure participants are not placed under undue financial hardship due to their engagement with this initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2798/15]
View answerWhen designing the MOMENTUM initiative, consideration was given to the question of additional payments to participants. However, in the prevailing economic circumstances and in order to ensure the best use of limited resources, a decision was reached to provide income support to eligible participants through my Department’s Back to Education Allowance scheme which does not cover travel expenses.
MOMENTUM programmes assist unemployed jobseekers to gain in-demand skills and to access work in sectors of the economy where there are job opportunities. Access to MOMENTUM is exclusively through Case Officers in my Department’s INTREO Centres and Mediators in the Local Employment Services under contract to my Department. Eligible clients are supported to access the most appropriate programme, taking account of their personal requirements and circumstances, including training needs and geographical location. An initial induction module on each programme provides an opportunity to reaffirm course suitability or exploration of alternative options where appropriate.
