Tuesday, 10 Feb 2015

Written Answers Nos. 183-200

Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals

Questions (183)

Willie Penrose

Question:

183. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a social welfare appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath in relation to the refusal of their application for jobseeker's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5700/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s 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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.

State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility

Questions (184)

Denis Naughten

Question:

184. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the mechanism in place to exclude a period of time when a person was forced to live outside the EU due to the lack of employment here from contribution averaging for the purposes of a State pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5720/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The State pension contributory is a very valuable benefit and is the bedrock of the Irish pension system. Therefore, it is important to ensure that those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund over their working lives. To ensure that the individual can maximise their entitlement to a State pension, all contributions paid over their working life from when they first enter insurable employment until pension age are taken into account when assessing their entitlement and the level of that entitlement.

To qualify for a state pension (contributory) a person must:

- have at least 520 paid contributions, and

- satisfy a yearly average condition (a yearly average of 48 contributions paid or credited is required for a full rate State pension (contributory), and reduced rates of payment may be payable for pensioners with lower averages).

Once over 16 years of age, the date a person enters into insurable employment is the date used for averaging purposes.

Where an applicant has also been insurably employed in another EU Member State, or in a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement, their insured periods in those countries may be combined with their Irish insurance to assess their entitlement to a pro-rata State pension (contributory). In addition to the general provisions under EU legislation (which apply to all EU Member States, EEA state Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, and to Switzerland), Ireland has bilateral agreements with the UK which also cover the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, USA, Australia, Canada, Quebec (which has a separate system from the rest of Canada), New Zealand, Japan, and the Republic of Korea.

EU legislation and bilateral agreements provide that comparative pension assessments (for standard-rate State pension contributory under Irish legislation alone, and for pro-rata State pension contributory under EU or bilateral agreement provisions) be undertaken, and whichever is the most financially beneficial pension entitlement for that pensioner is awarded to them.

National Internship Scheme Data

Questions (185, 195, 196, 202)

Michael McCarthy

Question:

185. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the JobBridge education sector review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5733/15]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

195. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the application procedure for young persons for the new First Steps programme. [5980/15]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

196. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if there will be a financial consequence in respect of any failure to apply for, or refusal to agree to participate on the new First Steps programme. [5981/15]

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

202. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 184 of 3 February 2015, if she will provide, in tabular form, the dates on which all library and archiving related JobBridge positions in publicly funded bodies were advertised and the date on which employment in each of these positions commenced since the establishment of the JobBridge scheme. [6055/15]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 185, 195, 196 and 202 together.

JobBridge has made significant progress since its introduction in July 2011. At any one time, the scheme provides up to 8,500 work experience placements for jobseekers, in organisations in the private, public, community and voluntary sectors.

To date, over 37,000 internship placements having commenced, there are currently 6,194 interns on the programme and a further 1,386 positions are advertised on the JobBridge website.

In September 2014, the Department’s attention was drawn to an unusually large number of cleaner/caretaker posts being advertised by schools, which raised concerns regarding the potential displacement of paid employees in the Education Sector. In light of such concerns, I asked for a report to be prepared on the use of JobBridge by the Education Sector with a view to establishing a set of guidelines to prevent inappropriate use of the scheme, and in particular to prevent displacement by interns of positions which should be filled by paid staff. This report has been finalised by the review group, and is currently under consideration.

There is no application procedure for jobseekers for the First Steps programme. Jobseekers will be selected, brought into the activation process and referred to the programme by their case worker based upon circumstances, activation needs and meeting the eligibility criteria.

Participation of jobseekers on the First Steps programme, once referred, will be non-discretionary and subject to conditionality and penalty rate legislation should they fail without good cause to attend in accordance with the activation process.

Further to Parliamentary Question No. 184 of 3 February 2015, statistics matching commencement dates with advertisement dates is not routinely prepared by the Department and so is not available at present, however, on this occasion, I have asked officials to collate the data requested and send it on to the Deputy. The Department will forward a reply directly to the Deputy as soon as possible. In the meantime, I am providing a table setting out details of the host organisations, internship role, start date and current status.

Table

Host Organisation	As Advertised	Manco Code	Start Date	Status
Pearse College Of Further Education	Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2013-12-02	Finished - Early
Meath County Council	WPP Conversion Graduate Trainee Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2011-09-05	Finished - Full
Dept of Environment, Community & Local Government	WPP Conversion Archivist	ARCHIVIST	2011-10-10	Finished - Early
Oireachtas Library & Research Service	WPP Conversion Library & Research Services Historian	LIBRARIAN - PUBLIC SERVICE	2011-08-22	Finished - Full
Carlow County Council	WPP Conversion Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2011-07-18	Finished - Full
Cavan Local Authorities	WPP Conversion Library Website Developer	I.T.- WEB DESIGN	2011-08-08	Finished - Full
Donegal County Council	Accounts Officer / Book keeper - Clo & The Living Archive	CLERK - ACCOUNTS	2014-10-27	On Program
Monastery School	Administration/Library Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2014-09-08	On Program
Coláiste Pobail Setanta	Administrator / Library Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2012-11-12	Finished - Early
Royal Irish Academy	Archival Internships	ARCHIVIST	2014-07-21	Finished - Early
Limerick City Council	Archive Assistant	ARCHIVIST	2014-12-15	On Program
University College Dublin	Archive Assistant (In the Sound Archive of National Folklore Collection)	ARCHIVIST	2012-07-09	Finished - Full
Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht	Archives Assistant (Data Entry of Catalogue Information)	ARCHIVIST	2013-02-04	Finished - Early
Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht	Archives Assistant (Data Entry of Catalogue Information)	ARCHIVIST	2013-02-11	Finished - Early
Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht	Archives Assistant (Data Entry of Catalogue Information)	ARCHIVIST	2013-02-04	Finished - Full
Sligo County Council	Archives Assistants	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2014-09-08	On Program
Sligo County Council	Archives Assistants	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2014-09-08	On Program
Kerry County Council	Archives Cataloguer - Local History & Archives	ARCHIVIST	2014-01-20	Finished - Early
Clare County Council	Archives Preservation Assistant	ARCHIVIST	2012-11-12	Finished - Full
Donegal County Council	Archives Research Assistant	ARCHIVIST	2013-06-24	Finished - Full
Office of Public Works	Archivist	ARCHIVIST	2013-12-02	Finished - Early
Cork City Council	Archivist	ARCHIVIST	2011-11-14	Finished - Full
Centre for the Study of Historic Irish Houses and Estates	Archivist	ARCHITECT - BUILDINGS	2014-02-17	Finished - Full
Office of Public Works	Archivist	ARCHIVIST	2013-05-13	Finished - Full
National Museum of Ireland	Archivist	ARCHIVIST	2013-10-14	Finished - Full
Defence Forces Ireland	Archivist - Military Archives	ARCHIVIST	2013-12-23	Finished - Full
Defence Forces Ireland	Archivist - Military Archives	ARCHIVIST	2012-12-03	Finished - Full
Defence Forces Ireland	Archivist - Naval Service	ARCHIVIST	2012-12-03	Finished - Full
Dept of Environment, Community & Local Government	Archivist - Valentia Observatory	ARCHIVIST	2012-04-16	Finished - Full
Trinity College Dublin (Head Office)	Archivist (Engineering)	ARCHIVIST	2012-03-12	Finished - Full
Trinity College Dublin (Head Office)	Archivist (Engineering)	ARCHIVIST	2012-03-26	Finished - Full
Defence Forces Ireland	Archivist- Air Corps Museum	ARCHIVIST	2012-03-12	Finished - Full
Defence Forces Ireland	Archivist- Air Corps Museum	ARCHIVIST	2012-03-12	Finished - Full
Defence Forces Ireland	Archivist- Air Corps Museum	ARCHIVIST	2012-03-12	Finished - Full
Defence Forces Ireland	Archivist- Air Corps Museum	ARCHIVIST	2012-03-19	Finished - Full
Dublin City Council - Woodquay	Archivist Assistant	ARCHIVIST	2012-07-23	Finished - Full
Dublin City Council - Woodquay	Archivist Assistant	ARCHIVIST	2012-07-23	Finished - Full
Department of Justice and Equality	Archivist/Librarian - Irish Prison Service	LIBRARIAN	2013-05-27	Finished - Early
Department of Justice and Equality	Archivist/Librarian - Irish Prison Service	ARCHIVIST	2013-04-08	Finished - Early
Department of Justice and Equality	Archivist/Librarian - Irish Prison Service	LIBRARIAN	2013-05-27	Finished - Early
Department of Justice and Equality	Archivist/Librarian - Irish Prison Service	ARCHIVIST	2013-04-08	Finished - Early
Galway County Council	Archivist/Records Manager	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2014-01-20	Finished - Early
Galway County Council	Archivist/Records Manager	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2013-12-09	Finished - Full
Galway County Council	Archivist/Records Manager	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2014-05-12	On Program
Fingal County Council	Arts & Libraries Marketing Assistant	EXECUTIVE - MARKETING	2013-08-19	Finished - Early
Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht	Assistant Archivist	ARCHIVIST	2012-07-30	Finished - Early
University College Cork	Assistant Archivist	ARCHIVIST	2013-01-28	Finished - Early
The Kylemore Trust	Assistant Archivist	ARCHIVIST	2012-03-12	Finished - Early
Limerick City Council	Assistant Archivist	ARCHIVIST	2013-02-18	Finished - Early
Waterford County Council	Assistant Archivist	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2011-10-17	Finished - Full
Limerick City Council	Assistant Archivist	ARCHIVIST	2012-10-15	Finished - Full
Defence Forces Ireland	Assistant Archivist	ARCHIVIST	2014-07-28	On Program
University College Cork	Assistant Archivist - Folklore & Oral History	ARCHIVIST	2013-01-07	Finished - Early
University College Dublin	Assistant Audio Technician (Sound Archive of National Folklore Collection)	AUDIO / VIDEO TECHNICIAN	2014-01-13	Finished - Early
Holy Child Community School	Assistant Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2014-01-27	Finished - Early
Scoil Mhichi­l Naofa	Assistant Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2013-10-21	Finished - Early
Deansrath Community College	Assistant Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2013-01-28	Finished - Early
Department of Education & Skills	Assistant Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2012-07-23	Finished - Full
Cork Education and Training Board	Assistant Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2012-09-10	Finished - Full
Cork Education and Training Board	Assistant Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2012-09-10	Finished - Full
Food Safety Authority of Ireland	Assistant Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2012-09-03	Finished - Full
Holy Child Community School	Assistant Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2014-11-10	On Program
Institute of Technology Carlow	Assistant Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2014-05-26	On Program
Food Safety Authority of Ireland	Assistant Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2014-06-23	On Program
Revenue	Assistant Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2011-10-10	Finished - Full
Pearse College Of Further Education	Assistant Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2012-03-12	Finished - Full
Kildare Wicklow ETB	Assistant Librarian (Bray Institute of Further Education)	LIBRARIAN	2013-10-21	Finished - Early
Kildare Wicklow ETB	Assistant Librarian (Bray Institute of Further Education)	LIBRARIAN	2013-11-04	Finished - Full
Kildare Wicklow ETB	Assistant Librarian in Bray Institute of Further Education, Co. Wicklow	LIBRARIAN	2014-09-15	On Program
Boyne Community School	Assistant School Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2012-10-15	Finished - Early
St. Joseph's National School	Assistant School Librarian	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2014-09-29	On Program
St. Joseph's National School	Assistant School Librarian	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2014-09-01	On Program
Radio Telefis Eireann	Cataloguing Assistant - RTE Archives	ARCHIVIST	2014-08-18	On Program
Radio Telefis Eireann	Cataloguing Assistant - RTE Archives	ARCHIVIST	2014-08-11	On Program
St. Peter's National School	Classroom / Library Assistant	ASSISTANT - CLASSROOM	2013-10-14	Finished - Full
Dunboyne Junior Primary School	Clerical / Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2013-11-18	Finished - Early
Dunboyne Junior Primary School	Clerical / Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2013-10-21	Finished - Full
Waterford County Council	Community Project Assistants (Library Service)	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2011-10-03	Finished - Full
Waterford County Council	Computer Archiving Assistant -Housing Department Construction Contracts/Drawings	ARCHIVIST	2013-06-03	Finished - Full
Longford County Council	Coordinator - Library Service	LIBRARIAN	2014-01-13	Finished - Full
NUI Galway	Cúntóir(í) Cartlannaíochta/Archival Archivist(s)	ARCHIVIST	2014-02-03	Finished - Full
Dundalk Institute of Technology	Digital Archivist	ARCHIVIST	2012-03-12	Finished - Early
Dundalk Institute of Technology	Digital Archivist	ARCHIVIST	2012-03-12	Finished - Full
Dundalk Institute of Technology	Digital Archivist	ARCHIVIST	2012-03-12	Finished - Full
Kerry County Council	Digital Content Archivist	ARCHIVIST	2011-11-28	Finished - Full
Cavan County Council	Digital Content Library Support Officer	I.T.- NETWORK ADMINISTRATION	2013-02-11	Finished - Early
Cavan County Council	Digital Content Library Support Officer	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2013-09-30	Finished - Early
Cavan County Council	Digital Content Library Support Officer	I.T.- NETWORK ADMINISTRATION	2013-03-04	Finished - Full
Cavan County Council	Digital Content Library Support Officer	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2013-06-10	Finished - Full
University of Limerick (1)	Digital Librarian/Archivist (UL 40 Digital Library)	ARCHIVIST	2012-12-10	Finished - Early
University of Limerick (1)	Digital Librarian/Archivist (UL 40 Digital Library)	ARCHIVIST	2012-12-10	Finished - Early
Cork County Council	Genealogy Assistant (Library)	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2013-06-24	Finished - Early
Cork County Council	Genealogy Assistant (Library)	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2013-02-11	Finished - Early
Cork County Council	Genealogy Assistant (Library)	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2013-02-11	Finished - Full
St. Kevin's Boys School	Historian / Archivist	ARCHIVIST	2014-09-08	Finished - Early
Limerick City Council	History/Archive Person	ARCHIVIST	2011-09-05	Finished - Full
St Dominic's Secondary School	Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2013-10-07	Finished - Early
Waterford College of Further Education	Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2012-10-01	Finished - Early
Offaly County Council	Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2012-02-20	Finished - Early
Cork City Council	Librarian	LIBRARIAN - PUBLIC SERVICE	2012-01-16	Finished - Early
Beneavin De La Salle College	Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2013-11-11	Finished - Early
St. Joseph's Primary School	Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2013-12-02	Finished - Early
Kilkenny and Carlow ETB	Librarian	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2014-02-24	Finished - Early
St. Louis Secondary School Dundalk	Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2012-03-05	Finished - Full
Scoil Mhuire Community School, Clane	Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2013-10-07	Finished - Full
Naas CBS Secondary School	Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2012-12-17	Finished - Full
Offaly County Council	Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2012-02-20	Finished - Full
Firhouse Community College	Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2013-12-16	Finished - Full
St. Leo's College (Carlow)	Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2012-11-26	Finished - Full
Cork City Council	Librarian	LIBRARIAN - PUBLIC SERVICE	2011-09-12	Finished - Full
Cork City Council	Librarian	LIBRARIAN - PUBLIC SERVICE	2012-01-16	Finished - Full
Beneavin De La Salle College	Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2012-04-09	Finished - Full
Limerick College of Further Education	Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2013-09-23	Finished - Full
Limerick College of Further Education	Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2013-09-23	Finished - Full
Old Bawn Community School	Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2013-09-23	Finished - Full
Old Bawn Community School	Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2012-09-24	Finished - Full
St. Joseph's National School	Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2013-08-26	Finished - Full
Waterford College of Further Education	Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2014-09-22	On Program
Mount Bruis N.S.	Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2015-01-19	On Program
Donegal Education & Training Board	Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2014-12-15	On Program
Donegal Education & Training Board	Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2014-10-06	On Program
Donegal Education & Training Board	Librarian - Coláíste Ailigh	LIBRARIAN	2014-09-01	On Program
University College Cork	Librarian - Special Collections & Archives	LIBRARIAN	2012-10-01	Finished - Early
University College Cork	Librarian - Special Collections & Archives	LIBRARIAN	2012-10-01	Finished - Early
Wicklow County Council	Librarian (Bray)	LIBRARIAN - PUBLIC SERVICE	2011-10-03	Finished - Full
Wicklow County Council	Librarian (Wicklow Town)	LIBRARIAN - PUBLIC SERVICE	2011-09-26	Finished - Full

Tables continuing

Host Organisation	As Advertised	Manco Code	Start Date	Status
Gaelscoil na Cruaiche	Librarian Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2013-11-18	Finished - Early
CBS Secondary School Tralee	Librarian Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2013-09-09	Finished - Full
Gaelscoil na Cruaiche	Librarian Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2013-09-02	Finished - Full
Gaelscoil na Cruaiche	Librarian Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2013-09-02	Finished - Full
Liberties College	Librarian in Further Education	LIBRARIAN	2014-11-10	On Program
Donegal Education & Training Board	Librarian, Errigal College, Letterkenny	LIBRARIAN	2012-11-05	Finished - Early
Donegal Education & Training Board	Librarian, Errigal College, Letterkenny	LIBRARIAN	2013-09-30	Finished - Full
St. Josephs Primary School	Librarian/Assistant Secretary	LIBRARIAN	2011-10-10	Finished - Full
Donegal Education & Training Board	Librarian/Homework Club Supervisor	LIBRARIAN	2013-03-04	Finished - Early
Faithlegg N.S.	Librarian/Literacy Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2011-09-19	Finished - Full
Coláiste Pobail Setanta	Librarian/Literacy Leader	LIBRARIAN	2014-09-01	On Program
Scoil Chearbhaill Ui Dhalaigh	Librarian/Resources Administrator	LIBRARIAN	2013-09-02	Finished - Early
The Honorable Society of Kings Inns	Library & Conservation Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2014-11-10	On Program
The Honorable Society of Kings Inns	Library & Conservation Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2014-11-10	On Program
The Honorable Society of Kings Inns	Library & Conservation Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2014-12-08	On Program
Institute of Technology Blanchardstown	Library & Information Desk Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2011-11-14	Finished - Full
Clare County Council	Library & Theatre Attendant	AGENT - THEATRICAL	2012-02-20	Finished - Early
St Ultans	Library Administrator		2011-12-05	Finished - Full
St. Malachy s Girls School	Library and IT Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2014-09-01	On Program
Scoil Cholmcille	Library and Reading Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2014-10-20	On Program
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology	Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2012-02-06	Finished - Early
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology	Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2012-02-06	Finished - Early
Clare County Council	Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2012-01-16	Finished - Early
Scoil Thomais	Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2013-01-28	Finished - Early
South Tipperary VEC	Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2012-10-29	Finished - Early
Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine	Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2013-01-28	Finished - Early
County Tipperary Joint Libraries Committee	Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN - PUBLIC SERVICE	2013-08-26	Finished - Early
County Tipperary Joint Libraries Committee	Library Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2014-03-03	Finished - Early
Teagasc (Head Office) Carlow	Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2013-09-02	Finished - Early
Department of Social Protection	Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2013-02-25	Finished - Early
Dundalk Institute of Technology	Library Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2011-09-19	Finished - Early
Cork Education and Training Board	Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2014-11-24	Finished - Early
Co. Meath VEC	Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2013-01-14	Finished - Early
Irish Management Institute	Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2012-03-26	Finished - Early
Carlow County Council	Library Assistant	MANAGER - ADMINISTRATION	2011-12-19	Finished - Early
Tipperary ETB - Nenagh Office	Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2013-11-04	Finished - Full
Holy Child Secondary School	Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2012-03-12	Finished - Full
County Tipperary Joint Libraries Committee	Library Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2012-01-09	Finished - Full
County Tipperary Joint Libraries Committee	Library Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2012-02-13	Finished - Full
Department of Social Protection	Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2013-03-11	Finished - Full
Fingal Community College	Library Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2011-12-05	Finished - Full
University College Cork	Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN - PUBLIC SERVICE	2012-08-27	Finished - Full
Royal Irish Academy	Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2013-12-09	Finished - Full
Louth Meath ETB	Library Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2013-10-07	Finished - Full
Royal Irish Academy	Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2012-05-14	Finished - Full
Royal Irish Academy	Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2012-01-23	Finished - Full
Ratoath College	Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2013-09-09	Finished - Full
St. Wolstan s Community School	Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2012-09-10	Finished - Full
Carlow County Council	Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2012-05-21	Finished - Full
Tipperary ETB - Nenagh Office	Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2014-10-13	On Program
Tipperary ETB - Nenagh Office	Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2014-10-20	On Program
Naas CBS Secondary School	Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2014-11-10	On Program
Loreto Abbey Secondary School	Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN - PUBLIC SERVICE	2014-12-01	On Program
Cork Education and Training Board	Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2014-11-10	On Program
St. Senan s N.S.	Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2014-09-15	On Program
Cavan & Monaghan Education & Training Board	Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2015-01-05	On Program
St Malachys Infants School	Library Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2014-09-08	On Program
Kildare Wicklow ETB	Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2012-09-03	Finished - Early
Cork County Council	Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN - PUBLIC SERVICE	2012-02-06	Finished - Full
Scoil Eoghain Moville	Library Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2012-12-24	Finished - Full
Royal Irish Academy	Library Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2013-02-18	Finished - Full
Carlow County Council	Library Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2013-10-28	Finished - Full
Galway County Council	Library Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2014-06-30	On Program
Galway County Council	Library Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2014-05-19	On Program
Galway County Council	Library Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2014-05-19	On Program
Galway County Council	Library Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2014-05-12	On Program
Galway County Council	Library Assistant - Ballinasloe Branch Library	LIBRARIAN - PUBLIC SERVICE	2012-02-27	Finished - Full
Galway County Council	Library Assistant - Ballinasloe Branch Library	LIBRARIAN	2013-04-29	Finished - Full
Galway County Council	Library Assistant - Ballybane Library, Galway	LIBRARIAN	2012-10-08	Finished - Full
Kildare Wicklow ETB	Library Assistant - Bray	LIBRARIAN	2012-12-03	Finished - Early
Kildare Wicklow ETB	Library Assistant - Bray	LIBRARIAN	2012-12-03	Finished - Early
Galway County Council	Library Assistant - Carraroe Branch Library	LIBRARIAN	2012-01-23	Finished - Full
Limerick Institute of Technology	Library Assistant - Clare Street Campus	LIBRARIAN	2013-02-04	Finished - Early
Limerick Institute of Technology	Library Assistant - Clonmel Campus	LIBRARIAN	2013-02-04	Finished - Early
Cavan & Monaghan Education & Training Board	Library Assistant - Monaghan	LIBRARIAN	2013-09-30	Finished - Early
Cavan & Monaghan Education & Training Board	Library Assistant - Monaghan	LIBRARIAN	2013-11-18	Finished - Early
Limerick Institute of Technology	Library Assistant - Thurles Campus	LIBRARIAN	2013-02-04	Finished - Early
South Tipperary VEC	Library Assistant - Tipperary Town	LIBRARIAN - PUBLIC SERVICE	2014-10-06	On Program
Offaly County Council	Library Assistant - Tullamore Library	LIBRARIAN	2013-09-09	Finished - Early
Galway County Council	Library Assistant - Westside Library	LIBRARIAN	2011-09-12	Finished - Full
Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies	Library Assistant (Cataloguing)	LIBRARIAN	2012-07-30	Finished - Full
Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies	Library Assistant (Cataloguing)	LIBRARIAN	2012-07-30	Finished - Full
South Tipperary VEC	Library Assistant (Coláiste Dún Iascaigh, Cahir)	LIBRARIAN	2013-10-07	Finished - Early
Defence Forces Ireland	Library Assistant (Curragh)	LIBRARIAN	2013-01-28	Finished - Full
Laois & Offaly Education & Training Board	Library Assistant (Portlaoise)	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2013-09-30	Finished - Full
Offaly County Council	Library Assistant /Birr Library	LIBRARIAN	2013-09-23	Finished - Full
Lisboduff National School	Library Assistant /Primary School	LIBRARIAN	2014-10-06	On Program
Royal Irish Academy	Library Assistant -Cataloguing	LIBRARIAN	2014-10-27	On Program
Royal Irish Academy	Library Assistant -Cataloguing	LIBRARIAN	2014-10-20	On Program
Galway County Council	Library Assistant -Galway City Library	LIBRARIAN	2013-01-14	Finished - Full
Galway County Council	Library Assistant -Galway City Library	LIBRARIAN	2012-10-15	Finished - Full
Galway County Council	Library Assistant -Loughrea Library	LIBRARIAN	2011-08-29	Finished - Full
Galway County Council	Library Assistant -Tuam Library	LIBRARIAN	2012-04-23	Finished - Full
Saint Eunans College	Library Assistant/Archivist	LIBRARIAN	2014-09-22	Finished - Early
Saint Eunans College	Library Assistant/Archivist	LIBRARIAN	2014-09-22	Finished - Early
Saint Eunans College	Library Assistant/Archivist	LIBRARIAN	2014-11-17	On Program
Saint Eunans College	Library Assistant/Archivist	LIBRARIAN	2014-09-29	On Program
Saint Eunans College	Library Assistant/Archivist	LIBRARIAN	2014-11-17	On Program
Saint Eunans College	Library Assistant/Archivist	LIBRARIAN	2014-09-29	On Program
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology	Library Asssitant	LIBRARIAN	2012-04-09	Finished - Full
Waterford Adult Education Centre	Library Attendant	LIBRARIAN	2012-09-17	Finished - Full
Waterford City & County Council	Library Attendant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2014-11-10	On Program
Waterford City & County Council	Library Attendant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2014-11-17	On Program
Carlow County Council	Library Catalogue Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2012-11-26	Finished - Full
Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht	Library Cataloguer	LIBRARIAN	2012-08-20	Finished - Full
Westmeath County Council	Library Cataloguer (Aidan Heavey Public Library, Athlone)	LIBRARIAN	2011-11-21	Finished - Full
Waterford City Council	Library Cataloguing Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2013-01-07	Finished - Early
Sligo County Council	Library Children s Literature & Activities Programme Assistant - Sligo	GROUP FACILITATOR	2014-10-06	On Program
Sligo County Council	Library Children s Literature & Activities Programme Assistant - Sligo	GROUP FACILITATOR	2014-08-04	On Program
Monaghan County Council	Library Computerisation Project Phase 2 - Backstock Cataloguer	LIBRARIAN	2013-09-16	Finished - Early
Monaghan County Council	Library Computerisation Project Phase 2 - Backstock Cataloguer	LIBRARIAN	2013-09-30	Finished - Full
St Patricks College	Library Conversion / Cataloguing Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2013-11-18	Finished - Full
Carlow County Council	Library Desk Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2013-06-24	Finished - Full
Cavan County Council	Library Information Officer	OFFICER - INFORMATION	2013-06-24	Finished - Early
Leitrim County Council	Library IT Assistant.	I.T.- DATABASE ADMINISTRATOR	2014-04-14	Finished - Early
Carlow County Council	Library Office Manager	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2012-02-13	Finished - Full
St. Leos College (Carlow)	Library Organiser/Researcher	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2013-09-02	Finished - Early
Institute of Technology Tallaght	Library Postgraduate Trainee	LIBRARIAN - PUBLIC SERVICE	2011-09-26	Finished - Early
Carlow County Council	Library Processing Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2014-03-24	Finished - Full
Carlow County Council	Library Project Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2013-10-28	Finished - Full
Mayo County Council	Library Research Assistant	HISTORIAN	2014-09-22	On Program
Cork Education and Training Board	Library Resource Administrator	LIBRARIAN	2013-12-23	Finished - Full
Cork Education and Training Board	Library Resource Administrator	LIBRARIAN	2013-11-04	Finished - Full
The Honorable Society of Kings Inns	Library Services Officer	LIBRARIAN	2014-02-10	Finished - Early
The Honorable Society of Kings Inns	Library Services Officer	LIBRARIAN	2014-01-27	Finished - Early
The Honorable Society of Kings Inns	Library Services Officer	LIBRARIAN	2014-01-27	Finished - Full
St Vincents Secondary School	Library Supervisors Administrative Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2014-10-27	On Program
St Vincents Secondary School	Library Supervisors Administrative Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2014-10-27	On Program
Ballyfermot College of Further Education	Library Technical Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2014-02-24	Finished - Early

Table continuing

Host Organisation	As Advertised	Manco Code	Start Date	Status
Donegal County Council	Library Technology Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2012-07-09	Finished - Full
Donegal County Council	Library Technology Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2012-07-30	Finished - Full
Donegal County Council	Library Technology Assistant	I.T.- DATABASE ADMINISTRATOR	2013-02-25	Finished - Full
Donegal County Council	Library Technology Assistant	I.T.- DATABASE ADMINISTRATOR	2013-02-11	Finished - Full
Donegal County Council	Library Technology Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2012-06-18	Finished - Full
Donegal County Council	Library Technology Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2012-06-18	Finished - Full
Teagasc (Head Office) Carlow	Library Trainee (Ashtown, Dublin 15)	LIBRARIAN	2012-03-12	Finished - Full
Scoil Mhuire na nAingeal	Library/Administrative Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2013-10-07	Finished - Full
Scoil Mhuire na nAingeal	Library/Administrative Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2013-10-07	Finished - Full
Fingal County Council	Library/Arts Office Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2013-08-12	Finished - Early
Dun Laoghaire VEC	Library/Data Management Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2011-10-17	Finished - Early
Limerick City Council	Limerick Leader Photographic Archive Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2013-11-11	Finished - Full
Limerick City Council	Limerick Leader Photographic Archive Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2013-10-21	Finished - Full
Limerick City Council	Limerick Leader Photographic Archive Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2013-10-21	Finished - Full
University College Dublin	Manuscript - Photographic Archive Assistant (of National Folklore Collection)	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2013-09-30	Finished - Full
Monaghan County Council	Museum Digital Archivist	ARCHIVIST	2014-07-07	On Program
Mercy School	Office / Library Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2014-10-06	On Program
Dunshaughlin Community College	Office Administrator/Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2013-12-09	Finished - Early
St Ultan's	Office and Library Administrator	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2013-09-02	Finished - Full
Oireachtas Library & Research Service	Online Resource Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2013-11-25	Finished - Full
St. Michael's G.N.S.	Primary School Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2014-09-08	On Program
Killygarry National School	Primary School Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2014-09-08	On Program
Killygarry National School	Primary School Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2014-10-06	On Program
Donegal County Council	Project Coordinator - Clo and the Living Archive	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2014-09-08	On Program
University College Dublin	Project Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2012-06-04	Finished - Full
Cavan County Council	Research and Administrator Collection Archivist	ARCHIVIST	2013-02-25	Finished - Early
Cavan County Council	Research and Administrator Collection Archivist	ARCHIVIST	2012-04-30	Finished - Early
Cavan County Council	Research and Administrator Collection Archivist	ARCHIVIST	2012-04-30	Finished - Full
Donegal Education & Training Board	Research Archivist (SEE FOLLOW UP)	ANALYST - MARKETING RESEARCH	2012-01-16	Finished - Full
St. Macartan's College	School Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2013-11-04	Finished - Early
Tarbert Comprehensive School	School Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2013-11-04	Finished - Early
Rockford Manor Secondary School	School Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2011-11-14	Finished - Early
St. Macartan's College	School Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2013-12-09	Finished - Full
Presentation College, Headford	School Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2013-09-16	Finished - Full
St Patrick s NS	School Librarian	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2014-12-01	On Program
Rockford Manor Secondary School	School Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2014-09-29	On Program
St. Leos College (Carlow)	School Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2014-11-10	On Program
Burgess National School	School Librarian	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2014-10-06	On Program
Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine	School Librarian	LIBRARIAN - PUBLIC SERVICE	2012-01-02	Finished - Early
St. Michael's Junior Boys School	School Librarian	LIBRARIAN	2014-09-22	On Program
Scoil Oilibhéir	School Librarian / Leabharlannaí Scoile	LIBRARIAN	2014-04-28	Finished - Early
St. Colmcille's National School	School Librarian / Literacy Support	LIBRARIAN	2014-09-22	On Program
St. Colmcille's National School	School Librarian / Literacy Support	LIBRARIAN	2014-09-22	On Program
Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne	School Library Administrator	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2013-10-21	Finished - Full
Drogheda Grammar School	School Library Assistant	LIBRARIAN	2012-08-27	Finished - Full
St. Mary's National School - Ballygarrett	School Secretary/Librarian	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2014-10-20	On Program
St Edward's N.S.	School/Community Library & Learning Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2014-09-22	Finished - Early
St Edward's N.S.	School/Community Library & Learning Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2014-09-15	On Program
St Edward's N.S.	School/Community Library & Learning Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2014-09-15	On Program
Good Shepherd N.S.L	SNA/Librarian	ASSISTANT - CLASSROOM	2014-09-29	On Program
Wexford Local Authorities	Trainee Archivist	ARCHIVIST	2012-11-05	Finished - Full
Clare County Council	WPP Conversion Archives Assistant	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2011-07-18	Finished - Full
Cork County Council	WPP Conversion Data Processor - Computerisation of library records	CLERK - GENERAL ADMIN	2011-07-18	Finished - Full

Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications

Questions (186)

Billy Timmins

Question:

186. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will review a domiciliary care allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5759/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

An application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person concerned on the 22nd August 2014. This application was not allowed as the child was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for the allowance. A letter issued on the 11th November 2014 outlining the decision of the deciding officer to refuse the allowance.

A review of this decision was requested on 25th November 2014 and additional information on this child’s condition/care needs has been supplied. The application together with the new information supplied has been forwarded to another medical assessor for their professional opinion. Once this opinion is received the application will be re-examined by a deciding officer and a revised decision will be made if warranted. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome of this review as soon as it is completed.

Exceptional Needs Payment Applications

Questions (187)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

187. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will allow an exceptional needs payment in respect of a person (details supplied) to pay for an outstanding deposit for their current accommodation in order to ensure they are not made homeless. [5792/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The application for an exceptional needs payment from the person concerned is currently being considered by a designated person and a decision will issue to the person concerned shortly.

Question No. 188 withdrawn.

Fuel Allowance Eligibility

Questions (189)

Sean Conlan

Question:

189. Deputy Seán Conlan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person who is 70 years of age or older is entitled to fuel allowance regardless of their means; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5835/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The fuel allowance is a payment of €20 to low income households to assist them with their energy costs. The allowance is paid for 26 weeks from October to April, at cost of approximately €195 million in 2015. The payment represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only one allowance is paid per household.

The fuel allowance is a means tested payment, targeted at those who are more vulnerable to energy poverty, including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own. Age is not a qualifying factor for this scheme.

Social Welfare Code

Questions (190)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

190. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding means testing calculations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5894/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

In assessing means for social assistance payments, account is taken of the income and the value of capital and property of the claimant and their spouse/partner.

Social welfare legislation provides that the yearly value of property (including capital) owned but not personally used or enjoyed is assessable for means testing purposes for social assistance payments. Such property includes all monies held in financial institutions or otherwise, the market value of shares and houses and premises owned by a claimant which may or may not be put to commercial use. However, it does not include property such as the family home or, for example, a premises used by the claimant in carrying out a business.

For assessment purposes, the current market value of the property is established as well as the amount of any outstanding mortgages on that property. The balance (market value less outstanding mortgage) is assessed by reference to the following formula in the case of most schemes (including jobseeker’s allowance and one parent family payment), as follows:

Capital – Assessment Formula

AMOUNT OF CAPITAL	WEEKLY MEANS ASSESSED
Up to €20,000	Nil
€20,000 - €30,000	€1 per each €1,000
€30,000 - €40,000	€2 per each €1,000
Over €40,000	€4 per each €1,000

For the purposes of the State pension non-contributory and carer’s allowance the amounts above are doubled in the case of a couple. The amount disregarded in the case of disability allowance is €50,000 while €5,000 is disregarded in the case of supplementary welfare allowance.

The assessment formula is not designed to reflect interest or annuity rates available to investors and no account is taken of interest or dividend payments received in the means assessment. Similarly, the formula does not reflect rental or other income derived from the ownership of property.

The assessment formula reflects the fact that there is an expectation that persons with reasonable amounts of capital and property are in a position to use that capital or to realise the value of property to support themselves without having to rely solely on a means tested welfare payment.

Any changes to the current arrangements would have to be considered in a Budgetary context.

Questions Nos. 191 and 192 withdrawn.

Social Insurance

Questions (193)

John Lyons

Question:

193. Deputy John Lyons asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on further supports for self-employed persons who have lost their business and become unemployed; if an opt-in higher rate of pay related social insurance for self-employed persons will be considered so as to allow greater social welfare protection in the event the business fails; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5945/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

Self-employed persons are liable for PRSI at the class S rate of 4% which entitles them to access long-term benefits such as State pension (contributory) and widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's pension (contributory) as well as guardians payment (contributory), maternity benefit and adoptive benefit.

Self-employed workers who have lost their business and become unemployed may access social welfare supports by establishing eligibility to assistance-based payments such as jobseeker’s allowance. In the case of jobseeker’s allowance they can apply for the means-tested jobseeker’s allowance if their business ceases or if they are on low income as a result of a downturn in demand for their services. As in the case of a non-self-employed claimant for jobseeker’s allowance, the means of husband/wife, civil partner or co-habitant will be taken into account in deciding on entitlement to a payment.

Self-employed people in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance have access to the full range of activation measures available through the State. Given the scale of unemployment levels, the key objective of activation policy and labour market initiatives is to offer assistance to those most in need of support in securing work and achieving financial self-sufficiency. This policy objective prioritises scarce resources to those in receipt of qualifying welfare payments. Accordingly the employment services and schemes provided by the Department are focused in the first instance on this cohort of unemployed people. However, many services are available to the formerly self-employed who are not in receipt of a social welfare payment.

Some employment services, such as assistance with job-search activities and the use of online job search tools, are available to people if they register with the Department’s employment services offices, regardless of their social welfare status. Unemployed persons, including the previously self-employed, not in receipt of payments may also be eligible to avail of up-skilling opportunities but are not eligible to receive a training allowance while undertaking the course. Springboard courses are open to people who were previously self-employed, regardless of their social welfare status.

In September 2013, I published the report of the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare on Extending Social Insurance Coverage for the self-employed. The Group was asked to examine and report on issues involved in extending social insurance coverage for self-employed people in order to establish whether or not such cover is technically feasible and financially sustainable, with the requirement that any proposals for change must be cost neutral.

The Group found that the current system of means tested jobseeker’s allowance payments adequately provides cover to self-employed people for the risks associated with unemployment. In this context, the Group noted that almost 9 out of every 10 self-employed people who claimed the means tested jobseeker’s allowance during the three-year period from 2009 to 2011 received payment. Consequently, the Group was not convinced that there was a need for the extension of social insurance for the self-employed to provide cover for jobseeker’s benefit.

On the basis of the findings of the report of the Advisory Group I am satisfied that the self-employed have access to income support in the event of business failure and I do not propose to make any changes to the PRSI system at this time. I will keep the situation under review.

In general the current system of social insurance operates on a mandatory basis and therefore contributors pay PRSI contributions at the rate appropriate to their PRSI class. Allowing people a facility to opt in or opt out at their own discretion could lead to the selection of bad risks. The whole principle of social insurance is social solidarity where everybody pays in and, if needed, cover is available.

Pensions Council

Questions (194)

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

194. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if the newly established Pensions Council will be monitoring the implementation of the recommendations in the report on pension charges 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5971/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

I recently established the Pensions Council to help strengthen the pensions environment and give consumers greater input into pension policy. The function of the Pensions Council is to advise the Minister for Social Protection on matters of relevance to pensions, with a particular focus on policies to support the sustainability and adequacy of pension provision. It will ensure that the system has a far stronger consumer focus. Mr Jim Murray, former Director of the European Consumers Organisation (BEUC), who has a notable record as a consumer rights advocate, will chair the Pensions Council.

The work of the Pensions Council will be advanced through research on pensions policy development, either in terms of significant reports on the overall direction of pension policy, or more discrete pieces of work examining particular subject areas. Whilst the Pensions Council’s inaugural meeting has yet to take place, I have asked that the matter of pensions charges be a priority item for consideration. I have also asked that the pension gender gap and the gender-proofing of the pensions reform programme be considered.

Questions Nos. 195 and 196 answered with Question No. 185.

Household Benefits Scheme

Questions (197)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

197. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to re-introduce a type of payment to assist persons (details supplied) who are living in fear in their communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5989/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The Department will spend approximately €227 million this year on the household benefits package for approximately 415,000 customers.

The decision to discontinue the telephone allowance provided annual savings of €48 million and meant that the Department was able to retain the other elements of the household benefits package such as the electricity and gas allowance and the television licence. These are valuable supports for recipients. The fuel allowance scheme and the free travel pass were also protected for older people and people with disabilities. As the Deputy is aware, in Budget 2015, we partially restored the Christmas Bonus and increased the living alone allowance. In these circumstances, I have no plans to restore the telephone allowance, which would cost in the region of €48 million per year. Any decision to increase the household benefits package would have budgetary consequences and would have to be considered in the context of budget negotiations.

The Department of Environment, Community and Local Government operates the seniors alert scheme which provides grant support for the supply of equipment such as personal alarms, smoke detectors and security lighting to enable older people without sufficient means to continue to live securely in their homes. Funding for this scheme will continue in 2015.

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Questions (198)

Noel Coonan

Question:

198. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a carer's allowance application will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6007/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s 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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.

Disability Allowance Appeals

Questions (199)

Noel Coonan

Question:

199. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a disability allowance appeal will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary. [6008/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to convene an oral hearing in this case.

Every effort will be made to hear the case as quickly as possible and the person concerned will be informed when arrangements for the oral hearing have been made.

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.

State Pensions Payments

Questions (200)

Joe Carey

Question:

200. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the measures her Department are putting in place, with respect to the implementation of the increase in the statutory retirement age, as it pertains to current contracts issued to workers, whereby the retirement age is listed as 65 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6010/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

In relation to the issue of retirement age, I would like to clarify that there is no statutory compulsory retirement age for employees in Ireland. The setting of retirement age is a matter for agreement within the employer/employee relationship and the contract of employment.

In relation to the age at which a State pension may be payable, the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 provides that State pension age will be increased gradually to 68 years to make the pension system sustainable in the context of ever increasing life expectancy. This began in January 2014 with the abolition of the State pension (transition), thereby standardising State pension age for all at 66 years. State pension age will increase further to 67 in 2021 and 68 in 2028.

All short term social welfare schemes are payable to age 66. The main social welfare payment available to those who leave employment before pension age is jobseeker’s benefit. Persons aged between 65 and 66 years who qualify for a jobseeker’s benefit are generally entitled to receive payment up to the date on which they reach pensionable age (66 years).

I was happy to be able to introduce new arrangements in Budget 2014 for older jobseekers, i.e., those aged 62 and over who have left work before reaching the State pension age of 66 and who wish to claim a jobseeker’s payment. With effect from 1 January 2014, fully unemployed jobseekers aged 62 or over will be placed on yearly signing and will be given the option of transferring to EFT payments. Furthermore, they will not be subject to mandatory activation measures or activation-related sanctions but may avail of employment support.

Social welfare supports will continue to be available to those who need it most and where a person fails to meet the qualifying conditions of an insurance based scheme, a means tested assistance payment may be available provided they satisfy the qualifying conditions.