Written Answers Nos. 61-69
62. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she has sought the advice of the Attorney General as to whether the division of the unemployed population into the registered unemployed, who are on the live register, and the unregistered unemployed, who are not on the live register, is constitutional or in breach of the European Convention of Human Rights; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10862/15]
View answerI have not sought such advice from the Attorney General.
The official measure of unemployment is sourced from the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS). Measures of unemployment from the QNHS are based on International Labour Office (ILO) definitions. To be ‘ILO unemployed’ a person must in the week before the survey be without work but available for work and have recently taken specific job-search steps. These classifications are based on self-declaration by the individual respondent, rather than his/her situation in respect of welfare payments.
The Live Register, which captures those registering for unemployment benefits (including those working part-time and in casual work who draw partial unemployment payments), is an administrative record. It is not the official measure of unemployment, but can give indicative trends.
There are no plans to change these measures, and I do not see any reason to seek advice from the Attorney General on this matter.
63. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, regarding jobseekers benefit and allowance, details for any recent period of the number of claimants; the number of claimants claiming for an adult dependant; if the status or category of adult dependant will be explained; if numbers or percentages of husband, wife, adult, child, sibling and other will be provided; if numbers are available for same-sex adult dependant or if such data are known or irrelevant and the relationships it could be taken to include; if the management and control of the same-sex adult dependant data could be expected to change following the referendum in May 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10864/15]
View answerAt the end of February there were 553,003 beneficiaries of jobseeker’s assistance (JA) or jobseeker’s benefit (JB). A breakdown of this figure by scheme, recipient, qualified adult dependent and qualified child increase (full or half rate) is detailed in the tabular statement.
A claimant of either JA or JB can claim for the payment of a qualified adult dependant allowance in respect of a spouse, a civil partner, a common law partner or a person with whom they are cohabiting.
Data on the gender of qualified adult dependents in receipt of payment under these schemes is not readily available from Department systems therefore I am not in a position to provide a breakdown of the number of qualified adults by reference to whether or not they share the same gender as the primary claimant.
I do not anticipate any requirement to introduce a gender based categorisation of adult dependants for statistical purposes if the proposition being put before the people in the thirty fourth amendment to the Constitution is accepted by the people.
However, as you are aware, the recording and provision of statistical information is kept under on-going review to ensure that it meets the requirements of organisations such as the CSO and EUROSTAT and that it provides appropriate insights in support of policy decisions.
Accordingly a gender based categorisation may be introduced in the future.
With regard to control processes the department takes the relationship status of adults living at a single address into consideration when assessing their eligibility for receipt of payments including eligibility for either individual or qualified adult dependent payments.
In this regard the marriage status, irrespective of gender, is a factor that is and, will continue to be, considered when assessing and/or reviewing claims.
Recipients and beneficiaries of jobseeker’s allowance and jobseeker’s benefit at the end of
February 2015
|
Scheme |
Number of Recipients |
Qualified Adults |
Qualified Child Full Rate |
Qualified Child Half Rate |
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance |
262,469 |
65,549 |
121,581 |
39,528 |
|
Jobseeker’s Benefit |
46,285 |
4,729 |
6,660 |
6,232 |
65. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding reviews under the farm assist scheme which are taking place at present; if these reviews will take a person’s expenditure and outgoings into consideration; if not, the reason why; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10880/15]
View answerFarm Assist is a means-tested income support scheme for farmers. To qualify for the payment, a customer must be a farmer, farming land in the State, aged between 18 and 66 and satisfy a means test
The means test for Farm Assist takes account of virtually every form of income but assesses it in different ways and disregards various amounts.
Different rules apply to income from farming and other forms of self-employment, income from certain schemes such as the Rural Environmental Protection Scheme (REPS) and Agri-Environmental Options Scheme (AEOS), income from employment and income from property and capital.
The review form does not have space to outline farm outgoings as it would typically not be feasible for customers to list the entire farm operating costs for the previous 12 month period on the form.
However, a customer can supply details of outgoings with the completed review form if they so wish.
An examination of farm outgoings is included in the assessment process and the Social Welfare Inspector takes a detailed account of all operating costs when interviewing the customer. This usually gives the customer a good opportunity to explain both the income generated and the operating costs associated with the farm directly with an Inspector.
67. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection notwithstanding that €1,500 has been paid, if she will again examine an application for an exceptional needs payment in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10898/15]
View answerThe person concerned recently received an exceptional needs payment of €1500 towards the cost of funeral expenses.
A review of this decision was conducted by the Designated Person and the decision has remained unchanged. It is open to the person concerned to seek a review of this decision by writing to the SWA Review Officer, Social Welfare Local Office, 9th Lock Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, who will conduct an independent examination of the circumstances of the case and the decision, and determine if any further assistance may be given.
The contact information of the SWA Review Officer has also been forwarded by post to the person concerned.
68. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if partial rent support will be offered in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10900/15]
View answerThe client concerned is in receipt of Rent Supplement and all payments are up to date.
69. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the procedure to facilitate an application for a personal public service number in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10901/15]
View answerThe Personal Public Service (PPS) Number is the individual’s unique reference number for all dealings with Government Departments and public bodies.
Before a PPS Number can be allocated, the person making the application must provide evidence of identity, and demonstrate the reason why s/he requires the allocation of a PPS Number. PPS Numbers are issued by the Department following checks on an individual’s identity. In addition, acceptable evidence of address must be provided. The process of allocating a PPS Number includes the capture of a photograph and signature. Photographs captured are compared with other photographs previously captured in order to detect any possible duplicates.
The PPS Number allocation centre for Kildare is at the Department’s Employment Services Office at Main Street, Newbridge, Co. Kildare.
Alternatively, the person concerned may wish to consider calling to the Dublin PPS Number allocation centre at King’s Inns Street, Dublin 1 if this would be more convenient.
