Terence Flanagan
Question:183. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to increasing the respite care grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7821/15]
View answerRespite Care Grant Payments
Questions (183)
Written answers
The respite care grant (RCG) is an annual non means-tested payment made to all carers who provide full time care and attention to others and the grant forms part of a range of income supports for carers provided by the Department. Over €822 million is being provided this year for these direct supports, up nearly €17 million from that provided for in 2014. In 2014, more than 80,000 carers benefited from the respite care grant at an estimated cost of €122 million.
Any change to the rate of RCG can only be considered in the context of Budget preparations and I was not in a position to provide for an increase in the respite care grant in the 2015 Budget. However, I did announce a number of welfare initiatives which will benefit carers, pensioners, and people with disabilities who are in receipt of a welfare payment. These initiatives included the re-introduction of a Christmas Bonus, an increase in Child Benefit and an increase in the Living Alone Allowance.
The Christmas Bonus was abolished by the previous Government in 2009. I was in a position to partially restore the bonus last year. A bonus of 25% was paid in early December to all long-term welfare recipients including all pensioners and carers. This is in recognition of the position of vulnerable households. I should also point out that recipients of half-rate carer’s allowance also received a bonus.
Health and Safety
Questions (184, 216)
Pádraig MacLochlainn
Question:184. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on the concerns of staff in her Department of exposure to asbestos due to renovation works at the offices at High Road, Letterkenny, County Donegal. [7833/15]
View answer
Pearse Doherty
Question:216. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the measures taken to ensure that workers at a social welfare office in Letterkenny, County Donegal, were protected, amidst concerns about asbestos in their place of work, following recent renovations; the tests that were carried out before workers were allowed to return to the affected offices; the results of these tests; if she will provide assurances that workers were not exposed to asbestos material, upon returning to work; if the offices are now completely free from asbestos material; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8210/15]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 216 together.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) is currently undertaking works on behalf of DSP at Government Offices, High Road, Letterkenny. The works involve refurbishment to facilitate the introduction of an INTREO Office facility, a key element of the Government's Pathways to Work programme. The Office of Public Works and the Department of Social Protection staff are liaising with the main contractor and specialist sub-contractors to remove, contain and encapsulate low risk asbestos flooring material identified prior to and during the refurbishment works in the building, without posing any risk to our staff or our clients, in accordance with standard practice. The removal of asbestos will follow a strict ‘Method Statement’ that forms part of the Health and Safety procedures.
On 21/02/2015, some asbestos material was removed by a specialist company and a separate specialist company carried out 20 number reassurance air tests throughout the building. Tests were carried out on all floors in both the front and rear blocks and within the temporary prefabs. All of the air tests were negative for asbestos.
Based on clear air tests and the results of the material and dust samples, the offices can be re-occupied by staff. However in the light of staff concerns, staff are currently being accommodated in alternate accommodation in the Department’s Offices at Oliver Plunkett Road, and this is being kept under constant review. Prior to re-occupancy all areas will be tested again for further assurance that there is no risk to staff or clients.
Community Employment Schemes Operation
Questions (185)
Gabrielle McFadden
Question:185. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the opportunities available for persons who have completed their three year participation in a community employment scheme, especially those who are 60 years of age or over; if she is satisfied that there are plenty of opportunities for persons, especially those 60 years of age or over, when they finish these schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7842/15]
View answerWritten answers
For persons of 55 years of age and over, the maximum cumulative duration for participation on Community Employment (CE) is six years. Therefore, if they have only completed three years to date, they have the potential to participate for a further three years on the programme.
For persons who have exhausted their maximum duration on CE, and who are looking for other opportunities to progress, they should make contact their local Intreo Office for advice and assistance. There are opportunities for persons when they finish these schemes as the work experience and qualifications gained during their time on CE can greatly assist with securing employment or helping them to continue to further their education or training.
Further Education and Training Programmes Funding
Questions (186)
Willie O'Dea
Question:186. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the funding available from the case officers in the Intreo offices for all courses, for example, fork-lift training, Further Education and Training Awards Council, FETAC, courses and so on; and if any of this training, being funded, is subject to having a job secured, prior to funding being approved. [7843/15]
View answerWritten answers
The Training Support Grant (TSG) is designed to fund quick access to short-term training where this cannot be provided by a state provider within a reasonable time or where a intervention is identified that can support individual jobseekers to access work opportunities. It is important to note that the scheme is not designed to provide general training for jobseekers. Access to the scheme is via the Department’s case officers who are tasked with identifying support interventions for jobseekers, particularly where a job opportunity has been identified or where an intervention will enable an application for work to be made.
The scheme is activation focused and the jobseeker is required to provide reasonable evidence or grounds of need (for example in the form of a potential job offer) or a requirement to maintain or achieve accreditation, for example, safe pass, certain certification such as required for the catering sector (HACCP) or the security industry permit.
The maximum fund available to jobseekers under the scheme is €500 p.a. The training sought by the jobseeker, such as fork lift training and FETAC courses, must form part of the agreed personal progression or action plan for the individual to enter/re-enter the labour market.
Further Education and Training Programmes Provision
Questions (187)
Finian McGrath
Question:187. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if there is a training scheme or allowance available in respect of a person with a disability (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7863/15]
View answerWritten answers
The person concerned is in receipt of Disability Allowance since November 2011. To explore possibilities around appropriate training his family should contact the Intreo Centre in Parnell Street, Dublin 1 and arrange an appointment to meet with a Case Officer. At this meeting any options that are available to him with regard to training opportunities can be explored.
Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals
Questions (188)
Tom Fleming
Question:188. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an appeal for a domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7900/15]
View answerWritten answers
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 4th December 2014. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question 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 appeal 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.
Question No. 189 withdrawn.
One-Parent Family Payment Payments
Questions (190)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:190. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 11 of 5 February 2015, when she will conclude her deliberations on lone parents who are affected by a potential cut of €86, as this requires clarity as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7919/15]
View answerWritten answers
I am aware of the financial impact that the age reforms to the one-parent family payment (OFP) due to take effect on 2, July 2015, will have on customers who are also in receipt of a half-rate carer’s allowance payment in respect of another adult. That is why my officials and I are presently examining possible options in relation to this issue. I hope to conclude our deliberations on this aspect of the July reforms in the near future.
Social Welfare Code
Questions (191)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:191. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if there are persons still in receipt of dual social welfare payments; if so, if she will provide a breakdown of which payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7921/15]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm that there are persons still in receipt of dual social welfare payments (i.e. concurrent community employment (CE) allowances and certain social welfare payments).
Budget 2012 announced the disqualification from certain payments while participating on CE. Up until 16th January 2012, certain social welfare payments could be retained in part or in full while participating on CE. These retained social welfare payments were:
- One Parent Family Payment
- Deserted Wife’s Benefit
- Widow(er)s Pension
- Illness Benefit
- Disability Allowance
- Invalidity Pension
- Blind Pension
This cessation of dual payments did not apply to the above categories in receipt of welfare payments that were already on CE on commencement of the legislation.
The breakdown of payments includes those concurrently in receipt of disability allowance, invalidity pension and one parent family payment (all of whom commenced CE prior to 16th January 2012). The figure at the 1st of January 2015 was 778 concurrent payment recipients broken down as follows:
Concurrent payment recipients
|
Carers Allowance |
1 |
|
Disability Allowance |
292 |
|
Illness Benefit |
6 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
334 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
4 |
|
Widow(er)'s Contributory Pension |
141 |
|
Grand Total |
778 |
Social Welfare Appeals
Questions (192)
John McGuinness
Question:192. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a decision will be expedited on an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny, in view of the fact that the oral hearing took place in County Kilkenny on 4 January 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7925/15]
View answerWritten answers
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer having fully considered all of the available evidence, including that adduced at oral hearing, decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision on 16th February 2015.
The oral hearing of this case was held on the 04th February 2015 and not on 4th January 2015 as suggested by the Deputy.
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.
Child Benefit Eligibility
Questions (193)
Bernard Durkan
Question:193. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding payment of child benefit and a one-parent family allowance, and any arrears accruing therefrom, in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7934/15]
View answerWritten answers
Child benefit is payable in respect of children who are ordinarily resident in the state. In the case of the person concerned child benefit is in payment since November 2014.
Payment was suspended in June 2014 as she failed to provide relevant information that was requested in March 2014 in relation to her residency. She was written to on 21 November 2014 and has since received two further letters in relation to her residency in Ireland for the period from April 2014 to October 2014. To date she has not responded. If she is unable to provide the documents requested she must provide some form of evidence to confirm her residence for the period in question. On receipt of her response her claim will be reviewed.
The person concerned had a jobseekers transitional payment claim (JST) appointment on 12th January 2015 at Dun Laoghaire Intreo Centre. She attended, but did not bring any documentation or information required to support her JST claim. She was given a new JST appointment for 29th January 2015, but did not attend. She has not made any further appointments with the office. If she is still residing at the stated address, she should contact the Dun Laoghaire Intreo Centre as soon as possible to make a new appointment.
One-Parent Family Payment Payments
Questions (194)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:194. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of persons in receipt of one-parent family payments in 2012, 2013, 2014 and to date in 2015; the number of male recipients and female recipients. [7945/15]
View answerWritten answers
The numbers of persons in receipt of the One Parent Family Payment at December 31st of the years 2012, 2013 and 2014 and at 31st January 2015 are provided in the following table. The gender breakdown is also supplied.
Number of Recipients of One Parent Family Payment by Gender, 2012 to January 2015
|
Year |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
31st January 2015 |
1,001 |
68,772 |
69,773 |
|
2014 |
1,018 |
68,866 |
69,884 |
|
2013 |
1,463 |
76,783 |
78,246 |
|
2012 |
1,984 |
85,934 |
87,918 |
Local Employment Service
Questions (195)
Bernard Durkan
Question:195. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if and when adequate funding services will be made available to County Kildare Local Employment Service Network Limited, for the purpose of progressing its clients into agreed training options, to enable them to update their skills and acquire accreditation, to allow them to return to employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7954/15]
View answerWritten answers
There has been no reduction in the level of funding allocated for the Local Employment Service (LES) for 2015 and there has been no reduction in the funding allocation of any individual LES. The Deputy may be referring to a change to the funding of support grants that are provided to jobseekers to assist them with certain minor costs involved in getting back to work but the level of such funding in 2015 remains unchanged. Up until 31st December 2014, the LES had access to two funds i.e. the Technical Support Grant Fund and the Mediator Fund. From 1 January 2015, the LES has access to a single fund (Mediator Fund) but the level of funding provided has been increased to an amount equivalent to the combined LES expenditure in 2014 from both funds. The Mediator Fund has been allocated across LES contractors on the basis of the number of clients with whom they are contracted to engage in 2015.
Departmental Customer Charters
Questions (196)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:196. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of each step of the internal processes in her Department that take place, when a person wishes to make, and escalate, a complaint through the various levels, before going to the Ombudsman. [7960/15]
View answerWritten answers
The Department’s Customer Charter and Action Plan 2013-2015 sets out the level of service customers can except when dealing with the Department and its commitment to provide a professional, efficient, courteous and timely service to all customers. The Customer Charter is displayed in all public offices and is also available on the department’s website www.welfare.ie.
If a customer is dissatisfied with the standard of service they have received from the Department, they can contact the staff member or section involved to have the matter dealt with. All business areas within the Department have resources dedicated to the management of comments and complaints received.
If this does not resolve the issue to their satisfaction, they can make a formal complaint in person, on line, by telephone, by e-mail or in writing. The complaint will be dealt with promptly, fairly and impartially. Receipt of the complaint will be acknowledged and the complaint will be referred to a complaints officer for investigation. A response to the customer normally issues within 15 working days of the date of receipt of the complaint. If the complaint will take more than fifteen working days to resolve, the customer is contacted to explain the delay and given a timeframe for resolution of the complaint.
If the customer is not satisfied with the response they receive, they can seek to have the complaint reviewed. Following this further review by a manager, if the complaint remains unresolved to the customer’s satisfaction they are advised by the Department that they can refer the matter to the Office of the Ombudsman.
Pension Provisions
Questions (197)
Michael McGrath
Question:197. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding compensation payment to former staff of a company (details supplied) in respect of their pension scheme; when payments will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7962/15]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to advise that my officials are working with the Mediator, Unite, the trustees of the scheme and the scheme administrator to ensure that the terms of the agreement are implemented as soon as possible.
The scheme administrator wrote to the members of the scheme on 29th January seeking the consent of each member to the transfer of personal data to the Department of Social Protection to enable the terms of the agreement to be implemented. I am glad to say that in excess of 90% of the members have responded to this letter.
A further letter will be issued to members who have consented to the transfer of data to the Department to inform them of their entitlement under the terms of the agreement. At that stage, the member will be required to sign a “Deed of Release” to the effect that any payment issued under the agreement will be in full and final settlement of any claim a member may have under the scheme. A payment cannot be made until the member signs the “Deed of Release”.
I can assure you that every effort is being made to implement the terms of the agreement as soon as possible.
Pension Provisions
Questions (198)
Michael McGrath
Question:198. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to any other double insolvency pension schemes whereby compensation will be payable to former members; if she has estimated the potential liability to the State in such circumstances; her plans in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7963/15]
View answerWritten answers
Rulings of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on the Insolvency Directive (2008/94) have implications for any defined benefit pension scheme where on the date of the wind up both the scheme and the employer are insolvent (double insolvency) and where the date of wind-up was after the date of the ECJ ruling in the UK Robins case of 25th January 2007.
The Social Welfare and Pensions (No.2) Act 2013 amended the Pensions Act 1990 to address double insolvencies occurring after the 25th December 2013. No claim has been made in respect of any double insolvencies occurring since the enactment of the 2013 legislation.
The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2009 provided for the establishment by the Minister for Finance of a Pensions Insolvency Payments Scheme (PIPS) to provide for the payment of pensions, in the event of the wind up of a pension scheme where both the employer and the scheme are insolvent, at less cost than through traditional annuities, thereby making more scheme assets available for the pensions of those yet to retire.
Application for pension payments under this scheme would give an indication of the number of double insolvencies arising in the period since the ECJ ruling in the Robins case and prior to the 2013 legislation. Eleven schemes have been certified by the Pensions Authority as eligible schemes to apply to the Minister for Finance to pay pensions under PIPS. I understand that nine of the schemes have been accepted and one further scheme is being processed. An application to join PIPS has not been made to the Minster for Finance in respect of the remaining scheme. Any of these schemes which considers that the State has a liability for a shortfall in the funding in the scheme will need to establish the extent of any liability arising. No formal claim has been made in respect of any of these schemes.
Question No. 199 withdrawn.