Written Answers Nos. 52 - 60
52. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to provide a front-line service for those living in towns where no community welfare officer is in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3182/15]
View answerFollowing the transfer of the transfer of the Community Welfare Service (CWS) from the Health Service Executive to the Department in 2011, the Department has re-engineered its business model to support the provision of integrated services across all business streams involved in the delivery of localised services. As part of this strategy, the Department is engaged in the delivery of integrated Intreo centres, which provide a full range of services, including the CWS, generally available in one location.
Where the CWS has been restructured alternative arrangements have been put in place to ensure that customers are provided with on-going access to the supports provided by the service. For example, where a customer is unable to travel to a clinic, alternative arrangements are available including improved phone services and if necessary arranging a visit to the client’s home.
People claiming supports under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme generally only interact with the Department on an occasional basis, for example, when seeking an exceptional needs payment or in claiming additional supports such as rent supplement, which are usually reviewed once to twice yearly.
The staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continuously reviewed, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources with a view to providing an efficient service to those who rely on the schemes operated by the Department.
53. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to enable front-line staff to triage applications for benefit related schemes made by the public, ensuring applicants do not spend months waiting on a decision for a scheme for which they should not have made application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3183/15]
View answerOver the last number of years, the Department has developed a new integrated income support, employment and support service called ‘Intreo’, and has been transforming its nationwide network of Local Offices into ‘Intreo Centres’.
The Intreo Centre is a one-stop shop for all income and employment support services where customers can access job-seeking advice, information on vacancies and income support services all in the one place. Utilising an integrated reception area, the Intreo Centre provides information and access to income supports, including jobseekers' payments, back to work and back to education payments, one-parent family payments and community welfare services. In effect, this is the ‘triage’ service to which the Deputy refers.
Across the nationwide network of Intreo Centres and remaining Social Welfare Local Offices, staff continue to be available to provide information, to explain the Department’s schemes and services and, generally, to provide assistance to customers in order to enable them to access their full entitlements.
Information services in my Department are also complimented by over 200 Citizens Information Centres countrywide who also offer a drop in service, where customers can receive information and advice and help with the completion of application forms.
The Departments website www.welfare.ie has also been redesigned to incorporate information on the full range of services and customers can access information on all schemes and services.
54. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to manage community staff resources where staff move to other areas internally or externally through job progression, retirement or ill health; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3184/15]
View answerThe staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continuously reviewed within the context of the Department’s pay budget, taking account of workloads, management priorities and the competing demands arising. This is to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources and that an efficient service can be provided to those who rely on the schemes operated by the Department.
56. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if mortgage support is available in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3221/15]
View answerBudget 2014 provided for the closure of the mortgage interest supplement scheme to new applicants with effect from 01/01/2014, and for the winding down of the scheme for existing recipients over a four year period. According to the records of this Department the person concerned did not submit an application for a mortgage interest supplement prior to the closure of the scheme and therefore this support is not available to the person concerned.
The most appropriate way in which customers experiencing short term mortgage difficulties can be supported, is through engagement with their lender under the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP).
57. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if increased rent support is warranted in view of the fact that the landlord has increased the rent to €800 per month and a property at a lower rate of rent is not available in the area in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3223/15]
View answerAs detailed to the Deputy in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 63 of 27th November 2014, an up to date Rent Supplement application form and lease agreement confirming any increase in rent was requested by the Department on 19 November 2014. This documentation remains outstanding. On receipt of same the client's rate of Rent Supplement entitlement can be assessed.
58. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason for cessation of a disability allowance-basic social welfare payment in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3232/15]
View answerThe person concerned did not apply for a disability allowance. Rather, in 2013 he applied for and was disallowed a State pension (non-contributory) on the grounds that he was deemed not to be habitually resident in the State. He was advised of this in writing in December 2013 and of his right to appeal or tender any additional information to the Deciding Officer as he may feel is relevant. Additionally he was advised that he should apply again in the future if his circumstances changed. There has been no response to date to this letter.
He was in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance during this time and a review of this commenced in March 2014. As part of this he was asked to furnish documentation from Department of Justice that detailed his status in the State. This was not forthcoming and as a consequence his supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) was suspended pending receipt of the said documentation. He has not been in contact with the Department since.
However, on foot of this query the officer will seek to arrange to meet with him again and outline what possible avenues may be open to him and what requirements by way of documentary evidence there are. The Deputy will be informed of the outcome of these enquiries.
59. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if increase in rent support will be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3240/15]
View answerThe Department has not been informed of any change of circumstance for this client. The client's entitlement to Rent Supplement can be assessed if an up to date Rent Supplement application form and lease agreement is forwarded.
60. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Finance the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kildare is paying such a high level of tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3064/15]
View answerI have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that as the person concerned paid no tax for the first two pay days in 2015, the employer deducted the tax payable to date for 2015 from the person's pay on the third pay day in 2015. The amount of tax payable was based on the tax credits as notified to the employer on 9 January 2015.
Since that date the taxpayer has requested that his tax credits and rate band be allocated differently between him and his spouse. An amended tax credit certificate issued to the person concerned on 15 January 2015 and details of the increased tax credits issued to the employer at the same time. When the amended certificate is received the tax over deducted will be repaid by the employer.
