Tuesday, 16 Jun 2015

Written Answers Nos. 180-194

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Questions (180)

Joanna Tuffy

Question:

180. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the eligibility of school bus drivers to social welfare payments during the periods when they are unemployed, namely, school holidays; the obligations of their employers during these periods in relation to their accrual of entitlements to benefits, for example, stamps; the requirements of such drivers to be eligible for a full State pension (contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23193/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker’s allowance schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative full-time employment. The 2015 Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseekers’ schemes of €3.01 billion.

A jobseeker’s payment is paid for days of unemployment where the person is not in receipt of holiday pay and satisfies the conditions of the scheme. School bus drivers who are employed on a temporary basis and who have already been in contact with the Department are issued with a repeat jobseeker’s application form and holiday form in advance of the school holiday periods. This facilitates an efficient service to these customers. However, it is important to note that they are still required to sign on for each period of unemployment.

Initially when a person makes an application for jobseeker’s benefit, 3 waiting days apply and payment is from the 4th day of the claim where there is no accrued holiday entitlement. If a person makes a repeat claim for jobseeker’s benefit with 26 weeks of their previous claim, the repeat claim links to the earlier claim and no waiting days apply.

Employers are obliged to deduct employee and employer PRSI based on the employees’ earnings in respect of each week in which the employee is in insurable employment.

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.

For those with insufficient contributions to meet the requirements for a State pension (contributory), the State pension system provides alternative methods of support, 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).

Parliamentary Questions

Questions (181)

Ruth Coppinger

Question:

181. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will conduct a study on the number of staff hours in her Department that are spent on requesting Members of Dáil Éireann to withdraw parliamentary questions. [23205/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The Department of Social Protection (DSP) receives the highest number of Parliamentary Questions (PQs) of all Government departments. For example, since March 2011 to date,, approximately 41,000 PQs have been tabled to DSP. The vast majority, some 70% of those tabled, refer to the status of social welfare claims by individuals in relation to the variety of schemes administered by the Department.

A practice of withdrawing PQs has been in place for many years and has assisted the Department to cope with the large volume of PQs it receives annually. Under this process the Department provides the Deputy with the relevant information in relation to the individual query, in writing, and the TD then withdraws the question. The staff time involved depends on the nature of the query and how quickly contact can be made with the relevant TD's office.

This practice is in place in relation to PQs on individual social welfare claims and not policy matters.

The Department of Social Protection has always been committed to being as transparent and helpful as possible to all members of the Oireachtas. In this regard the Department has for many years operated dedicated enquiry telephone lines and specific email addresses for each section in the Department specifically for the purpose of dealing with queries from members of the Oireachtas in relation to individual cases/claims. Briefing sessions are also provided to Oireachtas members and their staff in relation to the schemes and services provided by the Department.

Social Welfare Appeals

Questions (182)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

182. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision on an appeal regarding a social welfare payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cavan will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23209/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an oral hearing of the appeal of the person concerned took place on 23 March 2015 and that the Appeals Officer is now considering the appeal in the light of all of the evidence submitted, including that adduced at the oral hearing. The person concerned will be notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision when the appeal has been determined.

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

Questions (183)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

183. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if the disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal, who has secured a paid internship, will be cut, given that persons who are on the back to education allowance retain their allowance while engaged on a paid internship; if this person will qualify for family income supplement during his internship; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23260/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The person in question is in receipt of disability allowance (DA) and not participating in the back to education programme. Entitlement to DA is based on satisfying medical, means and residency conditions. The person must be between the age 16 and 66.

As the person concerned is in receipt of DA, the income from employment will be assessed as means. If the person’s doctor recommends that the work is of a rehabilitative or therapeutic nature, recipients of DA can work and earn €120 per week without affecting the rate of DA being paid, while if the weekly earnings are between €120 and €350, fifty per cent of the earnings will be disregarded in the DA means test.

A person in receipt of DA can apply for Family income supplement (FIS). The qualifying conditions for both schemes are significantly different.

The FIS scheme is designed to provide support for employees on low earnings with families. To qualify for payment of FIS a person must be engaged in full time paid employment as an employee which is expected to last for at least 3 months and be working for a minimum of 19 hours per week or 38 hours per fortnight. Furthermore, the average family income must be below a specified amount which varies according to the number of qualified children in the family.

If the person concerned has secured paid employment, at a minimum level of 38 hours per fortnight, for the duration of their internship they should make an application for FIS and their entitlement will be assessed accordingly.

Question No. 184 withdrawn.

Rent Supplement Scheme Payments

Questions (185)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

185. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will facilitate an increase of rent support in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23282/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The client concerned should provide the Department with an up to date lease agreement and Rent Supplement application form confirming any increase in monthly rent. On receipt of this documentation the client's rate of Rent Supplement entitlement can be assessed.

Redundancy Payments

Questions (186)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

186. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a redundancy repayment request in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; the reason this money has been requested at this juncture; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23285/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

A redundancy payment made to the person concerned was disputed by his former employer. The person concerned acknowledged that his entitlement to a redundancy payment was under dispute and informed this Department that he had lodged an appeal with the Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) for adjudication. He subsequently withdrew his appeal.

As the matter was under dispute and the EAT appeal was withdrawn, a debt was raised in respect of the redundancy payment and this was notified to the person concerned and recovery sought.

Following correspondence in relation to the recovery of the debt the person concerned was informed by my Department that if he wished to establish his entitlement to the redundancy payment he should resubmit his appeal to the EAT. He has not done so and therefore my Department is seeking to recover the amount paid in redundancy to him.

Effective debt recovery is a key aspect of my Department’s control policy and periodic case reviews are undertaken. In this instance, a review was undertaken in May, 2015 and it was noted that no money had been repaid on this debt. The person concerned was issued with a debt statement reminder and offered the opportunity to enter into a debt recovery plan.

To date no debt repayment arrangement has been agreed.

Illness Benefit Eligibility

Questions (187)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

187. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if and when disability allowance or illness benefit will be awarded in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23290/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

Illness Benefit is a payment for people who cannot work due to illness and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. From my Department's records the person concerned does not satisfy the statutory contribution condition due to insufficient PRSI contributions in the 2013 governing contribution year.

To date a claim to disability allowance has not been received. An application form for disability allowance has been issued to the person concerned.

The person concerned is currently in receipt of Supplementary Welfare Allowance.

Back to Education Allowance Payments

Questions (188)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

188. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if and when a back to education allowance will be paid in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23293/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The Back to Education claim of the person concerned was briefly suspended pending the return of documentation necessary to process her claim for the coming academic year. These forms have now been returned and the payment has been restored. All payments due have been paid to the person concerned.

Disability Allowance Eligibility

Questions (189)

Noel Coonan

Question:

189. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when an application for a disability allowance will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23337/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The application, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds and the person in question was notified in writing of this decision on 20 March 2015.

In our letter mentioned above to the person in question, she was given the option of seeking a review or appealing our decision directly to the Social Welfare Appeals Office, within 21 days. To date, neither option has been exercised.

Work Placement Programmes

Questions (190)

David Stanton

Question:

190. Deputy David Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to have the Gateway programme independently evaluated; if such an evaluation has already occurred; if so, the findings of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23347/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

As the Deputy will be aware, Gateway is a work placement scheme with county and city councils that commenced in December 2013. It aims to provide short-term quality and suitable work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than 24 months.

To date, there are some 2,200 participants on the scheme and funding of the order of €22.4m is being provided by the Department in 2015 for Gateway.

The operation of all schemes funded, either in part or full, by this Department is monitored on an on-going basis and changes are introduced to facilitate more efficient and effective operation and/or to better address the needs of jobseekers. Given the relatively recent introduction of the Gateway initiative, I believe that it is too early to undertake a full evaluation of it and there are no plans to do so at present.

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Questions (191)

Michael Ring

Question:

191. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a carer's allowance file in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be forwarded to the Social Welfare Appeals Office, in view of the fact that an appeal was registered on 10 February 2015, and four months on, this file has still not been forwarded to the Social Welfare Appeals Office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23350/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The person concerned was refused carers allowance on the grounds that the care recipient is not so disabled as to require full time care and attention as prescribed in regulations. He was notified on the 16th of December 2014 of this decision, the reason for it and of his right of review and appeal.

The person concerned appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office and submitted further evidence. Following review of this evidence by a deciding officer the application was awarded on the 12th June 2015. The first payment is due to issue to the bank on 25th June 2015. Any arrears of allowance due (less any overlapping social welfare payment and/or outstanding overpayment) will issue in due course. The person in question was notified of this decision on the 12th June 2015.

Disability Allowance Payments

Questions (192)

Tony McLoughlin

Question:

192. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for a disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim; the reason for the delay; when a decision is expected to be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23365/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The person in question has been awarded a disability allowance payment with effect from 18 March 2015. First payment will be on 1 July 2015 and any arrears due will follow shortly thereafter.

EU Funding

Questions (193)

Joanna Tuffy

Question:

193. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on funding available to food banks (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23382/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) is worth €3.8 billion in real terms across all Member States. Ireland’s share is roughly €22.8m and with an Exchequer contribution of €4m will provide some €26.8m overall in support for the period to the end of December 2023.

The Department of Social Protection is the designated managing authority and is responsible for the implementation of the programme. The European Commission approved the Irish Operational Programme in December 2014 and preparations are being finalised to allow for roll-out of the programme nationally. The Irish programme provides that the Department can make cash grants to designated organisations to enable the purchase and distribution of both food and non-food material aid to persons deemed to be the most deprived. A call for proposals from eligible organisations will open in the coming weeks. In addition to the European funded programme, the Department has provided support for the development of national food recovery, storage and distribution infrastructure which will support the delivery of support under the FEAD programme.

Social Welfare Schemes

Questions (194)

Joanna Tuffy

Question:

194. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the impact of the various social protection measures on poverty and income inequality (details supplied), from 2008 to date in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23383/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The impact of social transfers (that is all welfare payments excluding pensions) on poverty and income inequality for the period 2008-2013 is set out in the following tables, using official EU indicators and data from Eurostat.

In 2013, social transfers reduced the at-risk-of-poverty rate from 38.5% to 14.1%; thereby lifting almost a quarter of the population out of income poverty. This is equivalent to a poverty reduction effect of 63%. Ireland is the best performing EU member state in reducing poverty through social transfers, higher even than the Scandinavian countries such as Denmark, Finland and Sweden.

Furthermore, Irish social transfers are almost twice as effective in preventing poverty as the EU average and up to three and a half times more effective than the member states worst affected by the economic crisis, such as Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain.

With regard to income inequality, in 2013, Irish social transfers reduced the Gini coefficient from 46 to 30, an inequality reduction effect of 35%. Ireland is the best performing EU member state, again ahead of the Scandinavian countries.

Social transfers in Ireland reduce income inequality by over twice the EU average and up to five times more than in the crisis countries of Italy, Greece and Cyprus.

Looking at the trends between 2008 and 2013, Ireland has improved the poverty reduction effect of social transfers from 54% to 63%. A similar improvement can be seen in regard to income inequality: 28% to 35%.

These data highlight the crucial role that Ireland’s social protection system has played in cushioning the effect of unemployment on household incomes and acting as an automatic stabiliser during the economic and fiscal crisis. It also belies the assertion that fiscal consolidation has impacted on the most vulnerable in society. Central to this significant social policy outcome is the Government’s commitment to maintain the value of the core welfare rates, while at the same time providing additional welfare funding to cater for an increase of 50% in the number of welfare recipients.

Annex

Comparative EU data for 2013	ARP before STs (ex-pensions)	ARP after STs	PREST	Rank
EU (28 countries)	25.9%	16.6%	35.9%
Ireland	38.5%	14.1%	63.4%	1
Denmark	28.1%	12.3%	56.2%	2
Finland	26.4%	11.8%	55.3%	3
Netherlands	20.8%	10.4%	50.0%	4
Czech Republic	16.6%	8.6%	48.2%	5
United Kingdom	30.1%	15.9%	47.2%	6
Luxembourg	29.4%	15.9%	45.9%	7
Hungary	26.3%	14.3%	45.6%	8
Sweden	27.1%	14.8%	45.4%	9
Austria	25.9%	14.4%	44.4%	10
France	24.2%	13.7%	43.4%	11
Slovenia	25.3%	14.5%	42.7%	12
Belgium	26.3%	15.1%	42.6%	13
Cyprus	24.3%	15.3%	37.0%	14
Slovakia	20.1%	12.8%	36.3%	15
Croatia	29.7%	19.5%	34.3%	16
Germany	24.4%	16.1%	34.0%	17
Malta	23.3%	15.7%	32.6%	18
Lithuania	30.3%	20.6%	32.0%	19
Spain	30.0%	20.4%	32.0%	20
Estonia	25.4%	18.6%	26.8%	21
Portugal	25.5%	18.7%	26.7%	22
Latvia	26.0%	19.4%	25.4%	23
Poland	23.0%	17.3%	24.8%	24
Italy	24.6%	19.1%	22.4%	25
Bulgaria	26.7%	21.0%	21.3%	26
Romania	27.8%	22.4%	19.4%	27
Greece	28.0%	23.1%	17.5%	28

Source: Eurostat, EU-Survey on Income and Living Conditions, 2013. Extracted: 13.02.2015

Comparative EU data for 2013	Gini before STs (ex-pensions)	Gini after STs	Income inequality reduction effect	Rank
EU (28 countries)	36.1	30.5	15.5%
Ireland	46.3	30.0	35.2%	1
Denmark	38.9	27.5	29.3%	2
Finland	33.6	25.4	24.4%	3
Sweden	32.9	24.9	24.3%	4
United Kingdom	39.8	30.2	24.1%	5
Belgium	34.0	25.9	23.8%	6
Slovenia	30.6	24.4	20.3%	7
Luxembourg	38.1	30.4	20.2%	8
Netherlands	31.4	25.1	20.1%	9
Hungary	34.8	28.0	19.5%	10
Austria	33.3	27.0	18.9%	11
Germany	36.2	29.7	18.0%	12
Croatia	37.3	30.9	17.2%	13
France	35.8	30.1	15.9%	14
Czech Republic	28.8	24.6	14.6%	15
Slovakia	28.3	24.2	14.5%	16
Malta	32.6	27.9	14.4%	17
Lithuania	40.2	34.6	13.9%	18
Spain	38.8	33.7	13.1%	19
Portugal	38.4	34.2	10.9%	20
Poland	33.9	30.7	9.4%	21
Estonia	36.3	32.9	9.4%	22
Cyprus	35.5	32.4	8.7%	23
Romania	37.0	34.0	8.1%	24
Latvia	38.3	35.2	8.1%	25
Bulgaria	38.1	35.4	7.1%	26
Greece	37.0	34.4	7.0%	27
Italy	34.8	32.5	6.6%	28

Source: Eurostat, EU-Survey on Income and Living Conditions, 2013. Extracted: 12.06.2015

Poverty reduction effect of social transfers (PREST), 2008 to 2013*

	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013
EU Average	34.4%	35.4%	36.9%	36.4%	34.6%	35.9%
IE	54.4%	60.0%	61.9%	61.6%	60.1%	63.4%

Source: Eurostat, EU-Survey on Income and Living Conditions, 2008-2013. Extracted: 12.06.2015

Income inequality reduction effect of social transfers, 2008 to 2013*

Gini coefficient	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013
EU Average	14.2%	15.0%	15.8%	15.6%	15.3%	15.5%
IE	28.5%	33.6%	34.4%	35.8%	35.0%	35.2%

Source: Eurostat, EU-Survey on Income and Living Conditions, 2008-2013. Extracted: 12.06.2015

* Figures for 2008 and 2009 refer to the EU-27, while those for 2010 to 2013 relate to the EU-28.

Definitions

At-risk-of-poverty: Persons are regarded as being at-risk-of-poverty if their equivalised income is below 60% of the median income.

Gini coefficient: is the relationship between cumulative shares of the population arranged according to the level of income and the cumulative share of total income received by them. If there was perfect equality (i.e. each person receives the same income) the Gini coefficient would be 0%. A Gini coefficient of 100% would indicate there was total inequality and the entire national income was in the hands of one person.