Written Answers Nos. 51-68
51. 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. [16239/15]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 3rd February 2015. The application is currently with a social welfare investigative officer for assessment of means and confirmation that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied. Once the investigative officer has completed and submitted the report a deciding officer will make a decision on entitlement. The application will be processed as quickly as possible and when a decision is made the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
52. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision on a respite care grant appeal will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16251/15]
View answerThe respite care grant (RCG) is an annual payment made to full-time carers who satisfy certain conditions. The grant is payable automatically to carers who are in receipt of carer’s allowance on the first Thursday in June of the relevant year, and the person in question received the grant in 2014 in respect of two care recipients.
The person in question applied for the RCG for a third care recipient but the medical criteria was not satisfied for receipt of the grant and therefore no payment was made for the third care recipient in 2014. No appeal on this decision was received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
I can confirm that the department received a further application/medical report for RCG for the third care recipient on 4 February 2015. The application is currently being processed and once completed the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
54. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a disability allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16268/15]
View answerI confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the above named person on 11 March 2015. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
The processing time for individual disability allowance claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim.
55. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an appeal of a decision on a disability allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16272/15]
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.
56. Deputy David Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 41 of 22 January 2015, the further progress that has been made in enacting all sections of the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014, in particular the sections relating to holding weddings outdoors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16274/15]
View answerThe Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014 was enacted on 4 December 2014.
The Act includes provisions to clarify what constitutes a “place that is open to the public”. This is to ensure that the public policy objectives with regard to the solemnisation of marriages in both outdoor and indoor venues are upheld.
The Act contains a wide range of provisions and these will be commenced, where required, on a step by step basis. The provisions of the Act will be put into operation on the basis of an implementation plan involving both procedural and system changes. This work is being progressed as quickly as possible in order that the various provisions of the Act can be commenced. The provisions in relation to venues for solemnisation of marriages are being prioritised for commencement.
57. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason payment has ceased in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if supplementary welfare can issue as soon as possible, in view of the extreme hardship caused in this instance and the fact that the person has two dependent children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16307/15]
View answerThe jobseeker’s allowance payment of the person concerned was suspended on the grounds that her Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) card expired on 16 April 2015. She had been advised on 3 April 2015 that her GNIB card was about to expire.
Following a phone enquiry from the person concerned to the local Community Welfare Service, an application form for supplementary welfare allowance was issued by post on 22 April 2014. A decision on her eligibility will be made on receipt of the completed form.
58. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if rent supplement can be extended in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare, who are currently being considered for rent accommodation scheme housing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16312/15]
View answerThe customer was previously granted an extension of 13 weeks up to the 31 March 2015 to facilitate their transfer to the RAS scheme with the Local Authority. A further extension may be considered subject to confirmation of acceptance to RAS. The customer should forward this information to the Mid Leinster Rents Unit, PO Box 11758, Dublin 24 or LoCall 1890 800 698 without delay to ensure continued payment of their Rent Supplement in the interim.
59. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Cork is entitled to fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16326/15]
View answerThe person in question is in receipt of invalidity pension. On foot of his application of 7 April 2015, he has been assessed as eligible for fuel allowance with effect from October 2015 - the start of the next fuel season. The person in question was notified on the 27 April, 2015 of this decision.
60. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the extent to which persons move from JobBridge to full-time employment; and in view of the upturn in employment her plans to gradually phase out the JobBridge programme. [16330/15]
View answerAs of 23 April, 2015, approximately 36% of JobBridge interns went directly into employment on completion of their internship. The independent evaluation of JobBridge carried out by Indecon showed that progression into employment rose to 61% within 5 or more months of completing a JobBridge internship.
The Department will undertake a comprehensive econometric evaluation of JobBridge during 2015. This evaluation will inform any changes to the scheme.
61. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision on a disability allowance application will be made in respect of a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay in same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16333/15]
View answerI confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the above named person on 26 March 2015. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
The processing time for individual disability allowance claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim.
62. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the total funds paid in rent supplement in 2014; the amount paid directly to landlords; the amount of money paid where a refund is sought; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16337/15]
View answer103. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form the number of new rent supplement tenancies created; the total number of rent supplement recipients in the first quarter of each of the years 2011 to 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16787/15]
View answer107. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the efforts her Department is making to alleviate the difficulties that are being caused by rental caps under the rent supplement scheme which are now out of touch with market rates in County Kildare making it very difficult for applicants to the scheme to access suitable housing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16834/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 62, 103 and 107 together.
The rent supplement scheme provides support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. There are approximately 70,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €298 million for in 2015. The total paid in respect of rent supplement in 2014 was €338 million. Data in relation to the number of rent supplement tenancies and new tenancies created for the first quarter in each of the last five years is provided in the following tabular statement.
The Department recently published a review of the maximum rent limits, “Maximum Rent Limit Analysis and Findings” and it is available on www.welfare.ie. The review finds that increasing rent limits at this time could potentially add to further rental inflation in an already distressed market, affecting not alone rent supplement recipients, but lower-income workers and students. Between the rent supplement scheme and the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) administered by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, the State accounts for a third of the private rented market. The State is therefore a very significant player in the sector which has a responsibility not alone to rent supplement recipients but also to the market as a whole, including all those in private accommodation.
In light of the review’s findings, the Department will instead continue to allow for flexibility in assessing customers’ accommodation needs through the National Tenancy Sustainment Framework. Under this approach, each tenant’s circumstances throughout the country, including those in the Kildare area, are considered on a case-by-case basis and rents can be increased above prescribed limits as appropriate. I am satisfied that this is the appropriate response at this time which has assisted in excess of 1,000 rent supplement recipients throughout the country to retain their rented accommodation.
In addition, the Department in conjunction with Threshold operates a Tenancy Sustainment Protocol in the Dublin and Cork areas where supply is most acute. The primary objective of the Protocol is to ensure a speedy intervention to ensure that families at immediate risk of losing their tenancy get rapid assistance. Of the 1,000 recipients mentioned above, over 530 households in Dublin and some 14 in Cork city have been provided assistance through increased rent limits under the Protocol.
The review clearly points out that the main cause of difficulty for persons renting or seeking to rent at this time is the much reduced availability of affordable private rented accommodation. The issue of supply is being addressed by Government through the Construction 2020 Strategy and the Social Housing Strategy. My Government colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, is also considering a number of policy options in relation to achieving greater rent certainty. I can assure the Deputies that I am keeping this matter under close review to ensure that the appropriate supports continue to be provided for rent supplement recipients.
Under the legislative provisions governing rent supplement, the Department’s relationship is with the tenant; the tenant makes the application for rent supplement and payment is made to the tenant to assist them with their accommodation needs. There is no direct contractual relationship between the landlord and the Department in the administration of the scheme. However, social welfare legislation provides for the payment of a rent supplement to a nominated payee such as a landlord on behalf of the tenant. This arrangement is entered at the tenant’s request and subject to the consent of the Department. Recent figures shows that payments direct to nominated payees are made in approximately 20% of cases. A breakdown of expenditure data under rent supplement for nominated payments is not available.
It is open to the landlord to bring to the attention of the Department any instance where they suspect that a tenant is receiving rent supplement and is not paying their rent. Where the Department becomes aware that a person is not using rent supplement to meet the accommodation costs, payment of the supplement is suspended and the matter investigated. The Department’s policy is to ensure that every effort is made to prevent overpayments, but if they occur, they are regarded as a debt to the Exchequer and every effort is made to recover the amounts due.
Tabular Statement
Rent Supplement Tenancies
|
Year |
Tenancies at End 1st Quarter |
New Tenancies 1 1st Quarter |
|
2011 |
97,288 |
10,311 |
|
2012 |
94,990 |
7,607 |
|
2013 |
86,375 |
6,571 |
|
2014 |
77,731 |
5,188 |
|
2015 |
69,793 |
3,723 |
1Refers to cases that were not awarded at the end of the previous quarter.
64. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if and when carer's allowance will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare in respect of that person's child who has ongoing special needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16345/15]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the spouse of the person in question on 5th March 2013. The application was disallowed on the grounds that their means exceeded the statutory limit. The applicant was notified on 15 May 2013 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her rights of review or appeal. No request for a review or appeal was received. If the person in question or his spouse believe they are entitled to carer’s allowance they should complete and return an application form (CR1) to carer’s allowance section as soon as possible so a fresh decision on entitlement can be made.
Question No. 65 answered with Question No. 43.
66. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite a domiciliary care allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry, in view of the fact that additional relevant medical information has been submitted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16350/15]
View answerAdditional medical information in support of this application for domiciliary care allowance was received on the 24th April 2015. The application together with the new information supplied has been forwarded to a Medical Assessor for their professional opinion. Upon receipt of the Medical Assessor’s opinion, the case will be further examined by a deciding officer, who will revise the original decision if warranted or alternatively, forward the case for consideration by the Appeals Office.
67. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the implications for social protection recipients of the single euro payments area euro payments clearing and settlement system being closed on 1 May 2015; if arrangements are being made to ensure that persons receive their entitlements on the due date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16379/15]
View answerThe European Banking Association clearing and Target settlement systems are closed on Friday 1 May 2015. This means that no payments with a value date of Friday 1 May can be made through the SEPA system. As a result of this all social welfare payments due to be paid to bank accounts on Friday 1 May will be brought forward to Thursday 30 April.
Payments made through An Post will be as normal on Friday 1 May.
Monday 4 May is an Irish Public Holiday and thus payments due to bank accounts on Mon 4 May will be brought forward to Thursday 30 April and payments due on Monday 4 May through An Post will be available from Fri 1 May.
68. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a determination will be made on an appeal for an invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16394/15]
View answerI 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.
