Thursday, 5 Feb 2015

Written Answers Nos. 52-62

Pension Provisions

Questions (52)

Clare Daly

Question:

52. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on amending section 50 of the Pensions Act 1990, as amended by section 35 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2012, in order to offer more protection to employees against reductions in their pension entitlements, in view of the growing number of cases like IASS and Tara Mines pensioners experiencing pension cuts when their former employers are not in financial difficulty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4905/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

Defined benefit pension schemes in Ireland are, in general, set up under trust. The trustees of such pension schemes have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of all scheme members. Section 50 of the Pensions Act makes provision for the restructuring of a defined benefit pension scheme where the scheme fails to comply with the Funding Standard. The Pensions Authority can either unilaterally or on an application from the trustees of the scheme issue a direction to the trustees of a scheme to restructure scheme benefits. Such a direction by the Pensions Authority only facilitates a restructuring of benefits which is designed to enable the scheme satisfy the Funding Standard. All directions issued by the Pensions Authority to date have been as a result of an application to the Authority by the trustees of a scheme. Before the trustees make such an application, they must consult with the employer, with the scheme members, with any person receiving benefits from the scheme and with the authorised trade union representing scheme members in advance of an application to the Pensions Authority. The Pensions Authority has discretion as to whether or not to issue a direction following an application by the trustees of a scheme.

The changes made to section 50 of the Pensions Act in recent years essentially provide for the sharing of the risk of scheme underfunding across all scheme members. The issue of how these changes might be applied is a matter for the trustees of a scheme who are required under trust law to act in the best interests of all scheme beneficiaries.

At the end of 2013, the Annual Report of the Pensions Authority indicated that there were 933 defined benefit pension schemes subject to the Funding Standard. The Pensions Authority has issued a section 50 direction in respect of 11% of these schemes. In the majority of applications, the restructuring of scheme benefits related to an adjustment of future increases in benefit.

While I do not plan to bring forward amendments to section 50 of the Pensions Act at this time, I will continue to monitor its application.

Question No. 53 withdrawn.

Job Initiatives

Questions (54)

Jim Daly

Question:

54. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the progress of the Gateway scheme across the country; the number of participants currently on the scheme in each local authority area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5189/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

Funding of the order of €22.4m is being provided in the Department’s Vote in 2015 to cover the cost of work placements under the Gateway scheme. At the end of January, 1,781 persons were employed by county and city councils of which 85% were male (1,513) and 15% are female.

The majority of positions identified by councils as being suitable for Gateway placements relate to services of an environment or outdoor nature. Work in the main relates to the upkeep and repair to council facilities, including roads, parks, beaches, housing units, sporting and general community facilities. Litter and waste management also feature as important tasks undertaken. Work is also undertaken to support tourism and heritage sites and in the development and upkeep of walks and leisure trails. In addition, councils have engaged Gateway participants in supporting council administration, library, event management and visitor services.

The objective of Gateway is to maintain work readiness and keep jobseekers close to the labour market and in this regard, county and city councils offer excellent work opportunities. A table sets out the distribution of employment for each county and city council at the end of January 2015.

GATEWAY: Employment by Council – week ending 30 January 2015

County/City Council	Placements Allocated	Participants on Gateway for week ended 30/01/15	% of Total Allocations Filled
Carlow	55	42	76%
Cavan	55	28	51%
Clare	80	16	20%
Cork City	110	93	85%
Cork	215	130	60%
Donegal	80	26	33%
Fingal	215	143	67%
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown	110	50	45%
Dublin City	295	32	11%
Galway City	55	39	71%
Galway	80	56	70%
Kerry	80	70	88%
Kildare	110	33	30%
Kilkenny	80	46	58%
Laois	55	20	36%
Leitrim	55	47	85%
Limerick	110	107	97%
Longford	55	3	5%
Louth	80	74	93%
Meath	110	99	90%
Monaghan	55	33	60%
Mayo	80	80	100%
Offaly	55	45	82%
Roscommon	55	52	95%
Sligo	55	29	53%
South Dublin	215	108	50%
Tipperary	80	57	71%
Waterford	80	34	43%
Westmeath	80	80	100%
Wexford	80	32	40%
Wicklow	80	77	96%
	3,000	1,781	59%

Questions Nos. 55 and 56 withdrawn.

Momentum Programme

Questions (57)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

57. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of long-term jobseekers who were placed on a MOMENTUM programme free education and training project in 2014; and if these same jobseekers are categorised as employed for the purposes of the live register while participating in the programme. [5256/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

The MOMENTUM Programme 2014, launched in September 2014, is under the remit of the Department of Education and Skills (DES) and is managed on behalf of DES by SOLAS. The programmes include on-the job training in the form of work experience modules as well as the provision of accredited further education and training required to obtain and retain employment. One third of the 6,500 places have been ring-fenced for the under 25s. This forms part of the Government’s Pathways to Work and the Action Plan for Jobs strategies. The information “the number of long-term jobseekers who were placed on a momentum programme free education and training project in 2014” requested by the Deputy is not available within my Department.

Enquiries will be made with SOLAS (who manage MOMENTUM on behalf of the DES) to establish the number of persons who commenced on MOMENTUM from the 1st January 2014 to the 31st December 2014. My Department will contact the Deputy directly with the data when provided by SOLAS.

MOMENTUM participants are not categorised as employed. Eligible participants are supported through the Department of Social Protection Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) scheme and are categorised as on a BTEA-approved educational programme.

Job Initiatives

Questions (58)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

58. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form for 2014 a list of all education, training, internship and activation schemes for recipients of a jobseeker's payment; the number of persons attending each scheme; and if recipients of the jobseeker's allowance attending the scheme are categorised as employed for the purposes of the live register while participating in the programme. [5257/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

I have provided in tabular format (at end November 2014) a list of education, training, and internship and activation schemes for recipients of a jobseeker's payment, and the number of persons attending each scheme.

It is to be noted that the number of people involved in such programmes is largely unchanged over the period 2012-2015.

These participants are not necessarily all former recipients of jobseekers’ payments; a minority of those involved may have qualified to participate because of receipt of other payments (for example, Disability Allowance or a lone parents’ payment).

Participants on these programmes may be categorised as employed, or in education/training, or engaged in an internship, depending on the nature of the specific programme involved. All are, however, excluded from the Live Register whilst participating in the programme.

ACTIVATION PROGRAMMES

-	Number of participants**
Back to Work schemes
Back to work allowance scheme - employee strand	5
Back to work enterprise allowance scheme - self-employed strand	11009
Short-term enterprise allowance	492
Total	11506
Other Activation programmes
Other activation programmes - DSP part-time job incentive	393
Other activation programmes - TUS - community work placement initiative	7860
Other activation programmes - JobBridge	6742
Total	14995
Back to Education courses
Back to education courses - vocational training opportunities scheme (VTOS)	5000
Back to education courses - back to education allowance (BTEA)	22714
Total	27714
Other schemes/training
Community employment schemes (excluding supervisors)	23035
FAS full time training for unemployed people	8910
TOTAL ACTIVATION PROGRAMMES	86160

** As at end November 2014

Private Rented Accommodation Provision

Questions (59, 61, 95)

Joanna Tuffy

Question:

59. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her Department's proposals regarding landlords who, when advertising properties to let, state in the advertisements that rent allowance is not accepted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5259/15]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

61. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will extend the same support as is now available to local housing applicants in Dublin to local authority housing applicants in County Kildare who are living in private rental accommodation and who are unable to meet the market-related rent demands, having particular regard to the likelihood of accelerated homelessness in the absence of any action; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5282/15]

Barry Cowen

Question:

95. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form and on a county basis, the total number of persons in receipt of rent supplement payment per annum from 2010 to 2014 and to date in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5417/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 59, 61 and 95 together.

The rent supplement scheme provides support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. There are approximately 71,500 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €298 million for 2015. Rent supplement recipients by county from 2010 to 2014 are provided in the attached tabular statement.

I am acutely aware of the difficulties people are experiencing in maintaining affordable rented accommodation in areas of high demand in the current market, including areas of North Kildare. The Department has put measures in place to ensure that the housing needs of rent supplement customers throughout the country who are at risk of homelessness are addressed by providing for increased flexibility within the administration of the rent supplement scheme. Notices were circulated to all Community Welfare Service staff reminding them of their discretionary power to award, on a case by case basis, a supplement for rental purposes in such circumstances in July and December 2014. A National Framework has also been developed to ensure that appropriate supports continue to be provided throughout the country in a consistent manner. The Department continues to monitor the measures in place to ensure that the appropriate supports are in place for rent supplement recipients including the Interim Tenancy Sustainment Protocol operating in Dublin, which was extended to Cork city within the last week.

The Department is aware that some leading property websites ask potential landlords to indicate whether they will accept rent supplement tenancies. It is the Department’s expressed position that this practice should cease and the matter was raised with the leading websites. The Department is also engaging with the Department of Justice and Equality regarding this matter.

It open to any person who has been refused a private tenancy and who feels discriminated against on the basis of his or her gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race and membership of the Travelling community to refer a discrimination complaint to the Equality Tribunal under the Equal Status Acts.

Tabular Statement – Rent Supplement Recipients by County End of 2010 - 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

Rent Supplement Scheme Payments

Questions (60)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

60. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 175 of 27 January 2015, wherein it is affirmed that her Department had not made any contact with a person regarding an ongoing entitlement to rent supplement, when in fact the person was instructed to seek a reduction in rent from the person's landlord in line with the maximum on foot of which supplement in allowable, and as a result of which, on intimation to the landlord, the person was not informed to vacate the property or meet the increased rent; if, in such circumstances, any provision will be made to assist, as otherwise the tenant will be homeless in a very short time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5266/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

As detailed to the Deputy in reply to Parliamentary Question No 175 of 27th January 2015 and Parliamentary Question No 47 of 15th January 2015, there is no record of the Department having sought a rent reduction from the client. If the Deputy has information pertaining to the client and their rent situation he should contact the Department directly to discuss.

Question No. 61 answered with Question No. 59.

Mortgage Interest Supplement Scheme Appeals

Questions (62, 71)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

62. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be provided to individual circumstances wherein mortgage support was refused on the basis of lack of sustainability and failure to enter into an arrangement with lenders, given that a number of agreements have now been reached with lenders, which would be more valuable if mortgage support was made available, even for a short period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5283/15]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

71. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of applicants for mortgage support who were refused such payment in County Kildare in the past five years on the basis of the alleged unsustainability of their cases; if a review of such cases will be undertaken where viability has subsequently been proven; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5292/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 71 together.

The Government’s strategy to assist those in mortgage difficulty is built around the following measures, as recommended in the 2011 Interdepartmental Mortgage Arrears Working Group (Keane Group), in four main distinct areas:

- Lenders providing sustainable and durable resolution options to their borrower;

- A social housing response sponsored by local authorities;

- Comprehensive advice to borrowers; and

- Personal Insolvency Reform.

In the context of the overall strategy, the continued payment of mortgage interest supplement, the purpose of which was to provide short-term support to meet mortgage interest repayments, does little to assist recipients in improving the long term difficulty in addressing their mortgage problem. Discontinuation of entitlement to the mortgage interest supplement scheme came into effect for all new applicants from 1 January 2014. Customers availing of this support prior to 1st January 2014 have been able to retain entitlement to the scheme up to 1st January 2018. There are currently approximately 5,880 mortgage interest supplement recipients for which the Government has provided €11.9 million for in 2015. Statistics on the reasons customers are refused mortgage interest supplement are not available.

I have no plans to revise the conditionality of the scheme at this time which could only be considered in a budgetary context. I am satisfied that the most appropriate way in which customers experiencing mortgage difficulties can be supported is through on-going engagement with their lender.