Written Answers Nos. 191-220
191. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if jobseeker's allowance will be approved without delay in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if the request for a review will be expedited. [11423/15]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned together with the relevant Departmental papers were received by that office on 16th March 2015 and that the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
193. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if consideration has been given to the possibility of counting the years that parents spend in the home looking after their children as a contribution towards social insurance benefits, such as the contributory pension; if such a proposal has been suggested to her Department by other Departments in the context of the provision of child care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11440/15]
View answerThe 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. This is particularly important given the challenge that increased longevity is posing for the future sustainability of the State pension. Therefore, when assessing whether an individual is entitled to a State pension, and to ensure that they can maximise such entitlement, all contributions (paid or credited) from when they first enter insurable employment until pension age are taken into account.
The State already assists those with caring roles to qualify for a State pension (contributory). The homemaker's scheme makes qualification for State pension (contributory) easier for those who take time out of the workforce for caring duties. The scheme, which was introduced in 1994, allows up to 20 years spent caring for children under 12 years of age or incapacitated people to be disregarded when a person's social insurance record is being averaged for pension purposes. The effect of this is to reduce the number of years by which their contributions are divided, thereby increasing their yearly average contribution. Given the valuable nature of the State pension (contributory), those who qualify under the homemaker's scheme still need to fulfil the eligibility requirements for that scheme, and have at least 520 paid contributions over the course of their working lives.
For those with insufficient contributions to meet the requirements for a State pension (contributory), the State pension system provides alternative methods of support. If someone has been a carer for nearly all of their adult life and has paid little or no PRSI, they may qualify for a means tested State pension (non-contributory), the maximum personal rate for which is €219, which amounts to just over 95% of the maximum rate of the State pension (contributory). Alternatively, if their spouse or civil partner is in receipt of a State pension (contributory) they may instead qualify for an Increase for a Qualified Adult of up to €206.30, which is just under 90% of the maximum personal rate of the State pension (contributory).
It is expected that a total contributions approach to pension qualification will replace the current average contributions test for State pension (contributory) from 2020, although that date is subject to change. Issues such as equality of outcomes for women and men, including those who spend some years outside the labour market on caring duties, will be considered carefully in the context of that reform.
194. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will extend JobsPlus to those in receipt of the one-parent family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11450/15]
View answer195. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason persons on apprenticeships cannot qualify for JobsPlus; her views on relaxing this rule; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11451/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 194 and 195 together.
JobsPlus provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers who recruit employees from the Live Register and those transitioning into employment. The initiative provides employers with two levels of payment - €7,500 or €10,000 over two years - paid in monthly instalments provided the employment is maintained. Employment must be of a full-time nature of at least 30 hours per week over four days. The rate of payment depends on the length of time the person is unemployed. Given this requirement, the incentive is not suitable to support apprenticeships or traineeships or those employed for work experience. Jobs must be newly created or additional to the existing workforce or which arise from retirements and vacancies.
In line with the priorities set out in Pathways to Work, the Government's commitment is to those that are long-term unemployed and this is why JobsPlus has prioritised those jobseekers who have been out of work for protracted periods.
At the end of February 2015, JobsPlus is supporting 4,289 jobseekers in full-time employment with 3,185 employers nationally.
196. Deputy Joe Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the funding available through her Department for funeral services to families in need. [11465/15]
View answerUnder the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department of Social Protection may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off and unforeseen expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. The Government has provided €29 million for the ENP scheme in 2015.
An application can be made under the ENP scheme for assistance with funeral and burial expenses. In 2014, the Department supported approximately 3,000 applicants with financial assistance towards these costs, at a provisional cost of some €4.6 million.
An ENP is a means tested payment payable at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the applicant and that of the deceased person including any savings, property, insurance policies, etc. The Department official will also consider if a bereavement payment is available from any other source including former employer, credit union or trade union.
Any persons who consider that they have an entitlement to an ENP under the SWA scheme should contact the Department.
197. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on an appeal in respect of an invalidity pension for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11526/15]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned has been referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
198. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to make the death grant available again, including to families that have lost a loved one to suicide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11531/15]
View answerThe overall concern in recent Budgets has been to protect primary social welfare rates. Abolishing the bereavement grant provided an annual saving of €22 million. This allowed the Department to protect other more fundamental social welfare payments such as the State pension. I have no plans to reinstate the grant.
There are a range of supports available for people following bereavement which provide more significant support than the grant. The widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's (contributory and non-contributory) pension which is a weekly payment, based on contributions or a means test. The widowed or surviving civil partner grant is a once-off payment of €6,000 where there is a dependent child. A number of social welfare payments, including State pension and carer's allowance, continue in payment for six weeks following a death. There are guardian's payments where someone is looking after an orphaned child. If a person dies because of an accident at work or occupational disease, a special funeral grant of €850 is paid.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department of Social Protection may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off and unforeseen expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. An application can be made under the ENP scheme for assistance with funeral and burial expenses. The assistance is toward the costs of the necessary basic requirements for a dignified funeral. However, there is no automatic entitlement to such a payment. An ENP is a means tested payment payable at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the individual applicant and that of the deceased person including any savings, property, insurance policies, etc. that would render the applicant or anybody else liable for the burial costs. The Department official will also consider if a bereavement grant is available from any other source including former employer, credit union or trade union.
199. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will review the jobseeker's allowance case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24 in view of the fact that this person is suffering hardship; her views on the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11532/15]
View answerAccording to the records of this Department, the person concerned is currently in receipt of the correct rate of jobseekers allowance of €100 per week for a person of her age and circumstances. It is open to the person concerned to contact her local community welfare service to explore the options available to her if she is experiencing hardship at this time.
200. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13 is entitled to a one-parent family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11538/15]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned together with the relevant Departmental papers were received by that office on 10th March 2015 and that the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
203. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when an invalidity pension appeal will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11672/15]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 19th December 2014. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 10th March 2015 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
204. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm the continuation of the WALK PEER project in County Louth; if she will commit interim funding to this project in view of the fact that 119 young persons are currently availing of the project; her views on the benefits of the project to participants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11716/15]
View answerThe project to which the Deputy refers is one of 14 Disability Activation Projects (DACT), which commenced in 2012. Over 2,000 people have participated in the projects, which are being jointly funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Department.
ESF funding will cease on 30 April 2015 and as the ESF portion of the funding was provided under the Human Capital Investment Operational Programme 2007- 2013 and this programme has recently come to an end, there is no provision for ESF co-funding arrangements to continue beyond the end of April next.
This position has been communicated to the individual projects, and it was also pointed out that the terms of the grant agreement (contract) with each DACT project stipulated that the project must be delivered and completed by the end of April this year.
I should point out that these projects were set up to explore a variety of routes towards ensuring that people with disabilities are enabled to avail of progression, education and development opportunities within the world of work, and I very much welcomed and supported the work they were doing. However, I must stress that the projects were not set up to become service delivery mechanisms in their own right.
Rather their purpose was to identify what could work with regard to increasing the capacity and potential of people on disability/illness welfare payments to participate in the labour market, and what measures utilised in the projects could be mainstreamed to improve the delivery of supports to people with disabilities in the future.
In this context, the Department has commissioned an independent evaluation of the projects to enable the Department to build on the positive aspects identified and I expect the outcome of this evaluation exercise to be available at the end of June.
I am conscious of the fact that there will still be people actively participating on some of these projects at the end of April and I have asked the Department, in managing the winding-up process for the projects, to take into account the need for those people to transition to other available supports, where appropriate. I should stress that the people involved will continue to receive their weekly income support from the Department.
205. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views that the self-employed are the most neglected cohort of workers in the entire social protection system and deserve far greater recognition and practical assistance from the State in reward for their overall contribution to the economy and risk taking; her plans to ensure that this injustice is rectified in the next budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11722/15]
View answerSelf-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. Ordinary employees who have access to the full range of social insurance benefits pay class A PRSI at the rate of 4%. In addition, their employers make a PRSI contribution of 10.75% in respect of their employees, resulting in the payment of a combined 14.75% rate per employee under full-rate PRSI class A. (For employees earning less than €356 per week, the rate of employer's PRSI is 8.5%).
Self-employed workers who find themselves out of business and become unemployed or ill may access social welfare supports by establishing eligibility to assistance-based payments such as jobseeker's allowance and disability 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 or disability 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.
The Group found that extending social insurance for the self-employed was warranted in cases related to long term sickness or injuries. To this end, the Group recommended that class S benefits should be extended to provide cover for people who are permanently incapable of work, because of a long-term illness or incapacity, through the invalidity pension and the partial capacity benefit schemes. The Group further recommended that the extension of social insurance in this regard should be on a compulsory basis and that the rate of contribution for class S should be increased by at least 1.5 percentage points.
This recommendation will require further consideration in conjunction with the findings of the most recent Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund which indicated that the self-employed achieve better value for money compared to the employed when the comparison includes both employer and employee contributions in respect of the employed person. The Actuarial Review found that the effective annual rate of contribution needed to provide the full rate State pension (contributory), currently available to self-employed contributors, is approximately 15%.
My colleagues in Government and I will continue to reflect on the findings of the Advisory Group on this issue and will further consider the recommendations contained in the report taking into account future developments in terms of the budgetary and fiscal situation.
