Thursday, 5 Feb 2015

Written Answers Nos. 74-84

Departmental Policy Reviews

Questions (75)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

75. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason citizens who avail of the services of her Department are referred to throughout departmental communications and publications as customers; her views that such nomenclature originates in an ideological mindset more disposed towards a vision of a market-oriented society and, as such, is perhaps unnecessary for a Department whose primary role is to maintain a social floor and more cohesive and equal society; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5303/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

Since the launch of the Strategic Management Initiative in February 1994, the provision of high quality customer service has been an essential element of the modern Public Service. Delivering Better Government published in May 1996, recommended the introduction of a Quality Service Initiative for the customers of the Civil Service and in 1997 the Quality Customer Service (QCS) Initiative was launched. Since 1997, public service organisations have been producing Customer Action Plans to assist them in improving the way in which services are delivered to their customers. In 2003, as part of a continuing drive to further promote Quality Customer Service, public service organisations additionally began to adopt Customer Charters.

It is generally accepted that there is a broad public understanding of the term ‘customer services’. It is not confined to specific genres of business that members of the public may from time to time engage in or require. It is entirely appropriate therefore to use such terminology when referencing the delivery of high quality public services to members of the public. Such services include the provision of information, financial and other support services, including more recently employers support, delivered on a daily basis by the Department of Social Protection to almost 1.5 million people, in a way that ensures they get the help and support they need, when they need it.

The Department’s Customer Charter, which is displayed in all public offices, sets out the standards of service that people can expect in their dealings with the Department. The Customer Action Plan 2013 – 2015, which is available on www.welfare.ie, outlines a range of commitments and actions to help deliver a high quality service during the lifetime of the Plan.

In achieving its overall aim of providing people with the timely and customer-friendly information, financial and other support services they require, the Department is committed to ensuring that a customer service ethos is embedded in everything it does and is embraced by everyone in the organisation.

One-Parent Family Payment Appeals

Questions (76, 85)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

76. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will re-open a claim for a one-parent family payment in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5314/15]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

85. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if all social welfare entitlements as requested are in payment in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5391/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 85 together.

The person concerned submitted an application for One Parent Family Payment on 30 October 2014. The One Parent Family Payment scheme is subject to a means test and in order to carry out a means test a customer must be available for interview or contactable at a given address. The person concerned was recently invited for interview with a Social Welfare Inspector but failed to attend. The Social Welfare Inspector had also tried on a number of occasions to contact the person concerned by telephone and by way of a house call but again was unable to contact her. The application was recently closed and the person concerned was notified of this decision in writing. To date, no contact or explanation has been received by the Inspector from the person concerned.

The person concerned has been in receipt of Supplementary Welfare Allowance from the local Community Welfare Services office while her One Parent Family Payment application was being processed. The designated person responsible for paying the person concerned a Supplementary Welfare Allowance payment, recently spoke with the person concerned and informed her that she will need to re-open her application for One Parent Family payment and be available for interview with the Social Welfare Inspector in order for a Supplementary Welfare Allowance payment to continue.

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Questions (77)

John McGuinness

Question:

77. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a claim for dental benefit in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will be reviewed; and if refused, whether a dental claim be made in future years, based on the existing contributions. [5316/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

Qualification for the dental benefit scheme is based on a person’s PRSI record. In order to qualify for dental benefit during 2015, the person must have 260 PRSI contributions paid (at Class A, E, H, or P) since first starting work, and 39 such contributions paid or credited in 2013, the relevant PRSI year.

While the person concerned meets the first condition listed, according to records held he does not have 39 qualifying contributions paid or credited in 2013. As a result, he does not currently qualify for dental benefit. If he has information to indicate that he has additional contributions or credits that have not been recorded, he should forward this to the Department and his application will be reconsidered.

Any similar claims made in the future will be based on different calendar years. The relevant PRSI year is two years before the year in which the claim is made. For example, a claim made in 2016 will be based on the 2014 PRSI record.

Social Welfare Schemes

Questions (78)

Brian Stanley

Question:

78. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on whether it is correct and acceptable that someone on the Gateway scheme can earn less than if that person (details supplied) in County Laois remained on social welfare benefits . [5317/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

Gateway is a Local Authority initiative which aims to provide short-term quality and suitable work opportunities to improve the employability and maintain the work readiness of those who have been unemployed for 24 months or more.

All employees who have income over €352 per week are liable for Class A PRSI contribution at a rate of 4% on the total earnings. Employees are also subject to normal income tax and payroll deductions if their level of earnings brings them into the tax net. This also applies to employees in the private and public sector and those engaged in other work placements initiatives such as Tús, community employment, gateway and the rural social scheme.

Participants on employment schemes, who pay Class A, can establish entitlement to the full range of short term benefits including jobseeker’s benefit, illness benefit, and maternity benefit and to long term benefits including state pension (contributory).

The Department continues to work with the Local Authorities to highlight the benefits of work placements to allow the person affected to remain on the scheme or to identify other activation opportunities.

The experience gained on work placements can greatly enhance a person’s ability to identify other work and development opportunities to access the jobs market. Additional benefits that must be considered in this context are the provision of participants with paid annual leave and the opportunity to engage in paid work in the hours they are not working on the scheme.

Social Welfare Appeals

Questions (79)

Sandra McLellan

Question:

79. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will approve and expedite an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5321/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned together with the relevant Departmental papers were received by that office on 2nd February 2015 and that the case 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 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.

Questions Nos. 80 and 81 withdrawn.

Water Conservation Grant

Questions (82, 92, 93, 94)

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

82. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the total expected cost for the extra resources needed to oversee and manage the payment of the water conservation grant for 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5348/15]

Barry Cowen

Question:

92. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the total number of staff expected to work on the administration of the water conservation grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5413/15]

Barry Cowen

Question:

93. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her Department has hired external consultants or other external bodies in the development and administration of the water conservation grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5414/15]

Barry Cowen

Question:

94. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the total estimated costs of administrating the new water conservation grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5415/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 92 to 94, inclusive, together.

The Department of Social Protection will administer, on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, a €100 water conservation grant for households that complete a valid response to Irish Water’s customer registration process. The grant will be paid to the registered householders annually, in respect of their primary dwellings. The first payment is to be made in September 2015.

The Department is in consultation with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with regard to the staffing and funding needed to administer the scheme. The administration and payment of this grant is a significant project for the Department as it will require the development and implementation of requisite IT systems and various customer support and communications services.

Any IT development is in the context of ongoing technology investment that improves the efficiency, delivery and customer focus of the Department's overall schemes and offering to customers.

The Department is currently carrying out a scoping exercise to explore the most effective and efficient approach to its implementation. This will include estimates of resources required to undertake the initial work involved and the ongoing administration of the grant. The Department has not hired any external consultants or other external bodies.

Carer's Allowance Eligibility

Questions (83)

John McGuinness

Question:

83. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a carer's allowance will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow, on the basis of the information that person has submitted in full; if she will review the letter of 5 January 2015 from her Department as all the information requested has already been submitted. [5354/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

It is a condition for receipt of Carer’s Allowance (CA) that a carer must not be employed outside the home in excess of 15 hours per week.

The person in question was awarded Carer’s Allowance (CA) from 30th March 2006. In 2014 a continuing eligibility review of the CA payment was carried out. Following this review and taking all available information into account a deciding officer (DO) decided that the person in question was working outside the home in excess of 15 hours per week. On the 9th September 2014 the person concerned was notified that her CA payment would be stopped. Furthermore, CA was disallowed for the period that the person in question was working in excess of 15 hours while in receipt of CA resulting in an overpayment being assessed.

The department received a new application for CA from the person in question on the 8th August 2014. An information request was made to the person in question on 26th November 2014 requesting statements from financial institutions, payslips from the 8th August 2014 to date, and to have a form regarding schedule of hours worked from 8th August 2014 completed by her employer. As the information requested was not received by the Department, a letter was issued on the 5th January 2015 notifying the person concerned that her claim for CA was withdrawn. No further correspondence has been received from the person in question to date.

Pension Provisions

Questions (84)

Michael McGrath

Question:

84. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the level of demand to date for amortising bonds used to underwrite sovereign annuities; her views on the operation of sovereign annuities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5374/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The Government’s introduction of the sovereign annuity initiative provided an option to the trustees of defined benefit pension schemes to reduce pension scheme liabilities and benefit from the premium available through sovereign annuities over traditional annuities. Sovereign Annuities were initially launched in 2012 and I am pleased to say that data from the industry would indicate that by quarter three 2013 sovereign annuity sales accounted for 75% of all annuity sales. The pensions industry currently holds some €1.2 billion in amortising bonds issued by the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA).