Tuesday, 23 Jun 2015

Job Creation Data

Questions (137)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

137. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Taoiseach the top five industries in which jobs have been created here in the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24654/15]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach

The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available. The Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) is the official source of estimates of employment in the State. The most recent figures available are for Q1 2015.

Table 1a below shows the number of persons aged 15 years and over in employment by NACE Rev. 2 Economic Sector in Q1 of each year from 2011 to 2015. Table 1b below shows the annual change in the number of persons aged 15 years and over in employment by NACE Rev. 2 Economic Sector in Q1 of the years 2012 to 2015 as well as the overall change from Q1 2011 to Q1 2015. Table 1c below shows the annual percentage change in the number of persons aged 15 years and over in employment by NACE Rev. 2 Economic Sector in Q1 of the years 2012 to 2015 as well as the overall percentage change from Q1 2011 to Q1 2015. As Table 1a shows the overall stock of persons employed at given points in time, the annual changes and Q1 2011 to Q1 2015 changes which are calculated using these stock figures and shown in Tables 1b and 1c depend both on the number of jobs lost and jobs created over the period in question. The QNHS does not record whether a job is newly created.

Table 1a Persons aged 15 years and over in employment (ILO) classified by NACE Rev. 2 Economic Sector, Q1 2011 - Q1 2015.

'000

-	Q1 11	Q1 12	Q1 13	Q1 14	Q1 15
Agriculture, forestry and fishing	83.2	80.5	96.2	110.5	107.8
Mining and Quarrying	5.3	5.8	7.1	5.7	7.2
Manufacturing	211.6	209.6	212.3	210.4	218.7
Electricity, Gas, Steam and Air Conditioning Supply	9.7	10.8	9.0	10.3	9.3
Water Supply: Sewerage, Waste Management and Remediation Activities	11.9	9.9	9.6	10.6	11.1
Construction	108.5	103.3	96.3	102.3	121.8
Wholesale & Retail trade; Repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles	271.3	271.3	274.1	268.2	270.5
Transportation & Storage	94.6	90.2	88.8	89.5	90.7
Accommodation & Food service Activities	110.7	117.6	120.3	133.8	132.3
Information & Communication	72.6	78.5	77.4	80.7	81.8
Financial and Insurance Activities	91.5	89.8	91.0	89.2	89.5
Real Estate Activities	8.3	11.2	8.7	8.5	12.8
Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities	103.6	98.0	103.9	115.7	109.3
Administrative & Support Service Activities	64.9	62.5	59.5	62.5	62.1
Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security	104.5	99.5	95.2	96.4	97.8
Education	148.2	146.6	147.5	150.3	154.2
Human Health and Social Work Activities	235.1	239.6	247.5	244.3	246.5
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation	44.6	42.0	41.9	40.0	43.0
Other Service Activities	46.0	44.5	45.8	45.0	47.9
Activities of Households as Employers; Undifferentiated Goods - and Service Producing Activities of Households for their own use	7.9	8.9	7.7	6.7	6.9
Activities of Extra-Territorial Organisations and Bodies	*	[3.1]	[4.3]	7.0	[5.2]
Not Stated	6.9	*	*	*	*
Total persons	1,841.8	1,825.0	1,845.6	1,888.2	1,929.5

Table 1b Persons aged 15 years and over in employment (ILO) classified by NACE Rev. 2 Economic Sector, Q1 2012 - Q1 2015.

Annual change and change from Q1 2011 to Q1 2015.

'000

-	Q1 12	Q1 13	Q1 14	Q1 15	Change from Q1 11 to Q1 15
Agriculture, forestry and fishing	-2.7	15.7	14.3	-2.7	24.6
Mining and Quarrying	0.5	1.3	-1.4	1.5	1.9
Manufacturing	-2.0	2.7	-1.9	8.3	7.1
Electricity, Gas, Steam and Air Conditioning Supply	1.1	-1.8	1.3	-1.0	-0.4
Water Supply: Sewerage, Waste Management and Remediation Activities	-2.0	-0.3	1.0	0.5	-0.8
Construction	-5.2	-7.0	6.0	19.6	13.3
Wholesale & Retail trade; Repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles	0.0	2.8	-5.9	2.3	-0.8
Transportation & Storage	-4.4	-1.4	0.7	1.2	-3.9
Accommodation & Food service Activities	6.9	2.7	13.5	-1.5	21.6
Information & Communication	5.9	-1.1	3.3	1.1	9.2
Financial and Insurance Activities	-1.7	1.2	-1.8	0.3	-2.0
Real Estate Activities	2.9	-2.5	-0.2	4.3	4.5
Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities	-5.6	5.9	11.8	-6.4	5.7
Administrative & Support Service Activities	-2.4	-3.0	3.0	-0.4	-2.8
Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security	-5.0	-4.3	1.2	1.4	-6.7
Education	-1.6	0.9	2.8	3.9	6.0
Human Health and Social Work Activities	4.5	7.9	-3.2	2.2	11.4
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation	-2.6	-0.1	-1.9	3.0	-1.6
Other Service Activities	-1.5	1.3	-0.8	2.9	1.9
Activities of Households as Employers; Undifferentiated Goods - and Service Producing Activities of Households for their own use	1.0	-1.2	-1.0	0.2	-1.0
Activities of Extra-Territorial Organisations and Bodies	*	*	*	*	*
Not Stated	*	*	*	*	*
Total persons	-16.8	20.6	42.6	41.3	87.7

Table 1c Persons aged 15 years and over in employment (ILO) classified by NACE Rev. 2 Economic Sector, Q1 2012 - Q1 2015.

Annual % change and % change from Q1 2011 to Q1 2015.

-	Q1 12	Q1 13	Q1 14	Q1 15	Change from Q1 11 to Q1 15
Agriculture, forestry and fishing	-3.2	19.5	14.9	-2.4	29.6
Mining and Quarrying	9.4	22.4	-19.7	26.3	35.8
Manufacturing	-0.9	1.3	-0.9	3.9	3.4
Electricity, Gas, Steam and Air Conditioning Supply	11.3	-16.7	14.4	-9.7	-4.1
Water Supply: Sewerage, Waste Management and Remediation Activities	-16.8	-3.0	10.4	4.7	-6.7
Construction	-4.8	-6.8	6.2	19.1	12.3
Wholesale & Retail trade; Repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles	0.0	1.0	-2.2	0.9	-0.3
Transportation & Storage	-4.7	-1.6	0.8	1.3	-4.1
Accommodation & Food service Activities	6.2	2.3	11.2	-1.1	19.5
Information & Communication	8.1	-1.4	4.3	1.4	12.7
Financial and Insurance Activities	-1.9	1.3	-2.0	0.3	-2.2
Real Estate Activities	34.9	-22.3	-2.3	50.6	54.2
Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities	-5.4	6.0	11.4	-5.5	5.5
Administrative & Support Service Activities	-3.7	-4.8	5.0	-0.6	-4.3
Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security	-4.8	-4.3	1.3	1.5	-6.4
Education	-1.1	0.6	1.9	2.6	4.0
Human Health and Social Work Activities	1.9	3.3	-1.3	0.9	4.8
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation	-5.8	-0.2	-4.5	7.5	-3.6
Other Service Activities	-3.3	2.9	-1.7	6.4	4.1
Activities of Households as Employers; Undifferentiated Goods - and Service Producing Activities of Households for their own use	12.7	-13.5	-13.0	3.0	-12.7
Activities of Extra-Territorial Organisations and Bodies	*	*	*	*	*
Not Stated	*	*	*	*	*
Total persons	-0.9	1.1	2.3	2.2	4.8

Source: Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS), Central Statistics Office.

* Estimates for numbers of persons or averages where there are less than 30 persons in a cell are not produced as estimates are too small to be considered reliable.

Parentheses [ ] indicate where there are 30-50 persons in a cell, estimates are considered to have a wider margin of error and should be treated with caution.

Data may be subject to future revision.

Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.

Reference period: q1=Jan-Mar.

Job Creation Data

Questions (138)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

138. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Taoiseach the number of jobs that have been created since 2011; the number of these that are labour activation jobs coming under such schemes as Tús – work placement initiative, the rural social scheme, the JobBridge scheme or the community employment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24013/15]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach

The Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) is the official source of estimates of employment in the State. The most recent figures available are for Q1 2015.

Table 1 shows the number of persons aged 15 years and over in employment in Q1 of each year from 2011 to 2015 along with the four year change. As Table 1 show the overall stock of persons employed at given points in time, the changes which are calculated using these stock figures depend both on the number of jobs lost and jobs created over the period in question. The QNHS does not record whether a job is newly created.

Table 1 Persons aged 15 years and over in employment (ILO) Q1 2011-Q1 2015

'000

	Q1 11	Q1 12	Q1 13	Q1 14	Q1 15	Four year change
In employment	1,841.8	1,825.0	1,845.6	1,888.2	1,929.5	87.7

Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.

Source: Quarterly National Household Survey, Central Statistics Office.

Reference period: Q1=Jan-Mar.

The Live Register is compiled from returns made for each local office to the Central Statistics Office by the Department of Social Protection. It should be noted that the Live Register is not designed to measure unemployment. It includes part-time workers (those who work up to three days a week), seasonal and casual workers entitled to Jobseeker's Benefit or Allowance.

There were 88,398 people in total engaged on activation schemes run by the Department of Social Protection in April 2015. This is the most recent data available. The people who are engaged in work based activation programmes do not fall under the definition of being unemployed and do not appear in the unemployment estimates as reported by the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) which is the official source of estimates of unemployment in the State.

The primary classification used for these QNHS results is the ILO (International Labour Office) labour force classification. Those engaged in education based activation programmes may or may not be classified as unemployed; depending upon their labour force situation they are classified based on the ILO labour force definition used in the QNHS. The classification for unemployed persons includes those persons who, in the week before the survey, were without work and available for work within the next two weeks, and had taken specific steps, in the preceding four weeks, to find work.

Table 2 shows the number of people engaged on activation schemes in April of each year from 2011 to 2015 along with the four year change.

Table 2 Live Register Activation Programmes April 2011-April 2015

	April 2011	April 2012	April 2013	April 2014	April 2015	Four year change
Back to Work Schemes
Back to Work allowance scheme - Employee strand (1)	572	80	13	7	0	-572
Back to Work Enterprise allowance scheme -self employed strand	9,148	11,065	10,485	10,406	11,490	2,342
Short-term Enterprise Allowance (2)	1,215	1,135	1,027	518	461	-754
Total Back to Work payments	10,935	12,280	11,525	10,931	11,951	1,016
Other Activation Programmes
DSP Part-time Job Incentive	161	193	256	322	401	240
TUS - Community Work Placement Initiative (2011)	0	3,697	4,837	7,419	7,979	7,979
JobBridge (From July 2011)	0	4,594	6,030	6,750	5,895	5,895
Gateway (2013) (3)	0	0	0	148	2,082	2,082
Total Other Activation Programmes	161	8,484	11,123	14,639	16,357	16,196
Community Employment Schemes (excluding Supervisors)	21,968	21,787	21,188	22,961	22,999	1,031
FAS Full Time Training for Unemployed People (4)	8,791	9,611	9,376	8,723	7,997	-794
Back to Education Courses
Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) (5)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) (6)	24,376	24,999	27,830	23,335	24,094	-282
Total Back to Education Courses	29,376	29,999	32,830	28,335	29,094	-282
Total Activation Programmes	71,231	82,161	86,042	85,589	88,398	17,167

(1) This scheme was closed to new applications from 1st May 2009.

(2)This scheme was introduced from 1st May 2009. It provides immediate support for someone in receipt of Jobseekers Benefit who wants to start a business.

(3) Gateway Scheme included from December 2013.

(4) Specific Skills Training/Local Training initiative/Traineeship/Return to Work.

(5) VTOS figures are estimated at 5,000 each year.

(6) BTEA figures include all schemes but participants from JA and JB are not entitled to BTEA during the summer holidays. Includes MOMENTUM participants from February 2013.

European Council Meetings

Questions (139)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

139. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Taoiseach if he will report to Dáil Éireann on the position he has taken at the European Council in relation to the Greek debt crisis and whether he has held bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister of Greece, Mr. Alexis Tsipras; if he has made any proposals to his European Union Heads of Government colleagues on possible write-downs of the massive Greek and Irish national debts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24498/15]

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Written answers

The Taoiseach

Last night, I attended a special Euro Summit which discussed the very fragile and difficult situation in Greece. The second Greek programme is due to expire next week; important repayments are due in the short and medium term; and outflows from the Greek banks have been very significant, leading to regular increases in the level of ELA support from the ECB.

The Greek government has forwarded new proposals which are now being intensively analysed by the institutions – the European Commission, ECB, IMF and Eurogroup – and being discussed with Greek Ministers and experts. First reactions have been generally to the effect that there has been an important step forward and there is a real basis on which to work.

The Euro Summit gave the Greek Prime Minister the chance to set out his approach directly to all partners and allowed him to appreciate the sense of purpose and determination among his colleagues.

I stressed the importance of developing trust and of implementing policies which can credibly meet the scale of the challenges. I outlined our own experiences, including of modifying aspects of our Programme which we sought to replace with others. These are also points I have made to Prime Minister Tsipras during our bilateral contacts in the margins of other European Council meetings.

The Eurogroup is now scheduled to meet again tomorrow evening with a view to reaching agreement by Thursday morning. I hope that at the European Council later that day we can salute an important breakthrough – even if much work will still remain to be done with Greece on longer-term issues.

In relation to the separate issue of Ireland’s debt, I would note that the Government has achieved significant improvements in the terms of our EU/IMF programme loans since they were initially agreed in late 2010.

The savings arising from these changes can be broken down into two elements, cash savings and a reduction in our borrowing requirement over a period of time.

In 2011, we reached agreement to reduce the cost of our EFSF loans. Similar reductions were subsequently agreed for our interest rates on the loans provided by the EFSM and by our three bilateral lenders. It is estimated that these interest rate reductions are worth around 9 billion euro over the initially envisaged 7½ year term.

These interest rate reductions, and more recently the early repayment of a large portion – up to 18.3 billion euro - of our IMF loans, mean that we have negotiated real cash savings of over 10 billion euro.

Also in 2011, the average maturity of our EFSM and the EFSF loans was extended to 12.5 and 15 years respectively, and a further extension of up to 7 years was agreed in 2013. This has smoothed our redemption profile, improving long-term debt sustainability, and has had a positive effect on the cost of Exchequer borrowing.

The extension of maturities and the subsequent replacement of the Promissory Notes issued to the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IBRC) with a series of longer term Government bonds reduce the State's borrowing requirement by over 40 billion euro over the next decade, thus significantly improving the viability of the State's finances.

EU Meetings

Questions (140, 141)

Micheál Martin

Question:

140. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if climate change was discussed at the recent meeting between the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States; if targets were agreed; the actions to tackle climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24499/15]

View answer

Micheál Martin

Question:

141. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if energy prices were discussed at the recent meeting between the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24500/15]

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Written answers

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 141 together.

The second EU-CELAC Summit took place in Brussels on 10 and 11 June. It brought together Heads of State and Government from the European Union, Latin American and the Caribbean under the headline theme ‘Shaping our common future: Working for prosperous, cohesive and sustainable societies for our citizens’.

Many of the contributors to the debate raised the question of climate change and energy. The joint declaration issued after the Summit reaffirms our collective commitment to protecting the global climate for future generations and our collective will to reach a binding agreement under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The declaration acknowledges the differentiated levels of responsibility and capability between countries and regions but notes that a shared responsibility to take action on climate change exists and that a concerted effort should be made to reach an agreement to reduce emissions so that global temperature increases are limited to below 2°C.

Energy was also discussed in the context of climate change. The Action Plan adopted at the Summit committed to improving energy efficiency, realising energy savings, improving accessibility, developing and deploying renewable energies and promoting increased energy interconnection.

Ireland has a strong track record on tackling climate change and we will continue to play our role, including as part of the EU contribution to the global effort to address climate change. In this regard, we are encouraging all countries to provide their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions to contribute to the success of the COP 21 meetings in Paris at the end of this year.

Attached are the Political Declaration of the Summit entitled “A Partnership for the Next Generation” and the Action Plan agreed at the Summit.

EU CELAC Action Plan

EU CELAC Political Decleration

Diaspora Centre Establishment

Questions (142)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

142. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Taoiseach the position regarding funding under the diaspora fund in respect of a community centre (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24542/15]

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Written answers

We discussed a number of relevant bilateral matters including economic issues, the current situation in Northern Ireland and European Union affairs.

In relation to Northern Ireland, we reaffirmed our commitment to the full implementation of the Stormont House Agreement. We recognised the difficulties to be faced by the Northern Ireland parties and they continue to have our support in seeking to resolve these issues.

The Prime Minister and I also discussed the importance of the provisions of the Stormont House Agreement for dealing with the past. In that context we discussed a number of legacy cases, including the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, Ballymurphy and the Pat Finucane case and I impressed upon the Prime Minister our desire to find a way forward on these. I outlined progress that we have made in provision of information to the Coroner's inquest into the Kingsmill massacre.

This Government continues to work with all parties on the development of a comprehensive framework for dealing with the legacy of the past as envisaged in the Stormont House Agreement.

National Lottery Funding Disbursement

Questions (146, 147)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

146. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will provide, in tabular form, the way moneys received from the national lottery fund in 2013 were spent on each project to which they were directed, including projects that were part-funded and wholly-funded from the fund; if he will indicate for each such part-funded project where the balance of funding was sourced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25034/15]

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Catherine Murphy

Question:

147. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will provide, in tabular form, the amount of money that was received by his Department from the national lottery fund in each of the years 2009 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; if he will provide a detailed breakdown indicating the way this money was spent, or otherwise directed, for each of these years; if any moneys are held in reserve arising from funds received over this period or before; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25050/15]

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Written answers

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 147 together.

My Department received no funding from the National Lottery in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and to date in 2015.

State Pensions Payments

Questions (148)

Anthony Lawlor

Question:

148. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost to the Exchequer if there was a budgetary increase to the State pension of €5 and €10 per week respectively. [24511/15]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The cost of increasing the State Pension Contributory (SPC) and the State Pension Non Contributory (SPNC) by €5 per week is €102.2 million and €25.4 million respectively in a full year.

The cost of increasing SPC and SPNC by €10 per week is €204.3 million and €50.8 million respectively in a full year.

The cost of increasing all pension rates – SPC, SPNC, Widow/er/Surviving Civil Partner Contributory Pension (aged 66 and over), Death Benefit (aged 66 and over) and Carer’s Allowance (aged 66 and over) – by €5 and €10 per week respectively is circa €151.1 million and €302.2 million respectively in a full year.

These costs also include proportionate increases for any qualified adults, where applicable.

It should be noted that these costings are subject to change over the coming months in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2016.

Redundancy Payments

Questions (149)

Dara Calleary

Question:

149. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection following the liquidation of a company (details supplied) in Dublin 1, her views on redundancy entitlements for staff; the actions being taken by the Government in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24742/15]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The purpose of the Redundancy Payments Scheme is to compensate workers, under the Redundancy Payments Acts 1967 to 2013, for the loss of their jobs by reason of redundancy. An eligible employee is entitled to two weeks statutory redundancy payment for every year of service, plus a bonus week. Compensation is based on the worker’s length of reckonable service and reckonable weekly remuneration, subject to a ceiling of €600 per week.

In order to qualify for a statutory redundancy payment, an employee must:

- have at least two years continuous service;

- be in employment which is insurable under the Social Welfare Acts;

- be over the age of 16 and

- have been made redundant as a result of a genuine redundancy situation meaning that the job no longer exists and he/she is not replaced.

In cases of liquidation, the statutory lump sum payment is paid in full to the employee(s) from the Social Insurance Fund. In such cases, the Department becomes a preferential creditor of the liquidation.

Insolvency Payments Scheme

The purpose of the Insolvency Payments Scheme, which operates under the Protection of Employees (Employers’ Insolvency) Act, 1984, which, in turn, derives from EU Council Directive 987/80, is to protect certain outstanding pay-related entitlements due to employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer, i.e. where the company enters liquidation or receivership.

These entitlements include wages, holiday pay, sick pay, payment in lieu of minimum notice due under the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act and certain pension contributions. Various other statutory awards, for example those made by the Employment Appeals Tribunal, Rights Commissioners are also covered by the Scheme.

Payments are calculated by reference to an employee’s wages and are subject to a maximum limit of €600 per week. Payments of arrears of wages, sick pay, holiday pay and minimum notice are limited to a maximum of 8 weeks.

All applications under the insolvency payments scheme must be made by the employer representative (normally a liquidator, receiver or administrator). Payments under the scheme will be paid through the employer representative of the company and any tax and PRSI deductions are usually made by them.

My Department will deal promptly with Redundancy and Insolvency applications in respect of the former employees of Clerys when they are received from the Liquidator KPMG.

Social Welfare Code

Questions (150)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

150. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans in the forthcoming budget to enhance the social insurance status and accessibility to re-training and educational and community employment courses for citizens, mainly women who were working in the home for many years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24928/15]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

There are currently no plans to change the eligibility criteria to allow persons who do not currently qualify for Community Employment to participate. Persons not in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment may be eligible for other interventions and can be advised of such by their local Intreo Office.

Pathways to Work 2015 includes targets for Quarter 3 2015, to develop options for extension of employment services options to cohorts other than jobseekers on the Live Register; and to develop resourcing options to support extension of employment services activity to cohorts other than those of the Live Register by 2016. My Department is currently examining these issues.

Rent Supplement Scheme Payments

Questions (151)

Dessie Ellis

Question:

151. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the average annual cost to the State of rent supplement for one recipient in Dublin. [25060/15]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

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 68,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €298 million for 2015.

In Dublin, there are approximately 25,400 tenancies supported by rent supplement at an average annual cost to the Department of €6,320. The recent review of the maximum rent limits profiled the different types of tenancies supported by the scheme which shows that approximately 58% of the Dublin customer base refers to families with children and the remaining 42% refers to single persons or couples without children living in shared or self-contained accommodation.

Rent supplement recipients are required to provide a minimum weekly contribution of €30 for a single person or €40 for a couple towards their rent. Where a person has additional income above the rate of Supplementary Welfare Allowance they are, in certain circumstances, required to provide an increased contribution to their rent.

Pension Provisions

Questions (152)

Robert Troy

Question:

152. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the pension rights for Community Employment Supervisors; and if she will acknowledge the need for negotiations with the sector regarding same. [24485/15]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

Employers (including CE Sponsoring Organisations) are legally obliged to offer access to at least one Standard Personal Retirement Savings Account (PRSA) under the Pension (Amendment) Act 2002. All CE Sponsoring Organisations were apprised of their responsibilities under this Act at that time.

CE Supervisors may also qualify for the State Pension at 66 years of age. If they have accrued sufficient PRSI contributions (520 contributions @ full rate, equivalent to 10 years contributions) they will qualify for the State Pension (Contributory), which is not means-tested. In the event that there are insufficient contributions, the person will qualify for the State Pension (Non-Contributory), provided they satisfy the means test.

The Deputy will be aware that CE supervisors are the employees of private companies. In the circumstances, it is not possible for the State to take over responsibility for funding pension arrangements for employees of private companies, even where those companies are reliant on State funding. This position was confirmed by the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform (D/PER) to this Department in March of this year.

The D/PER’s position is that private companies contracted by the State to provide a service, including those in the community sector, must manage their expenditure pressures, including labour and pension costs, from within existing funding levels.

It should be noted that the Department of Social Protection is not the employer of CE supervisors and such employees are not public servants. They are employees of limited companies that receive public funding. If this pension claim was to be funded by the State, it would have an impact on pay costs and would result in potential claims from employees of other companies that receive State funding and operate in the community and voluntary sectors.

Social Welfare Payments Administration

Bobby Aylward

Question:

189. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection with regard to the new forms for social welfare payments, which contain clear recommendations to use commercial banks in preference to using the post office, if she will withdraw and replace these forms with the previous issue of forms, where payment at the post office was given as the first option listed and no recommendation was made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24956/15]

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Clare Daly

Question:

193. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will withdraw the use of application forms which recommend the use of commercial banks in preference to the use of post offices in relation to social welfare payments. [24997/15]

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Sandra McLellan

Question:

194. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will withdraw forms issued by her Department, which recommend that persons opt to receive payments through commercial banks rather than through the post office, to implement the Irish Postmasters Union's six-point action plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25003/15]

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Áine Collins

Question:

195. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason her Department's recently issued new forms state that the best payment option is to a financial institution, that is, to a bank, and places the post office as the second option (details supplied). [25004/15]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 153, 173, 178, 181, 188, 189 and 193 to 195, inclusive, together.

Successive Governments and this one most notably, have consistently stated their commitment to maintaining the post office network as set out in the Programme for Government. The post office is seen as a key piece of financial and social infrastructure for both urban and rural areas. Part of the strength of the post office brand, and one of its chief selling points, is that it reaches all parts of the country and can be accessed by anyone. It is Government policy that An Post remains a strong and viable company in a position to provide a high quality postal service and maintain a nationwide customer focussed network of post offices in the community.

My Department’s continuing support for An Post is apparent, both in terms of the cost of postage services and the value of the contract for welfare payments. In this regard, we anticipate this year that we will pay over €50 million to An Post under a contract for cash payment services to welfare customers. This contract is very substantial in terms of its reach, value and impact.

As you are aware my colleague the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Mr Alex White, T.D., formally launched the Post Office Network Business Development Group under the independent Chairmanship of Mr Bobby Kerr in February, 2015 to explore potential commercial opportunities available to the post office network.

I understand An Post is anxious to grow its existing levels of services in the light of emerging market pressures which extend beyond the delivery of welfare payments. In this context I am pleased to note An Post has tendered for the provision of a new payment and transaction account. I look forward to that becoming available in the not too distant future as it will provide alternative payment opportunities for my Department’s customers.

In order to recognise the general societal trend to electronic payments the Department has been changing some of its application forms.

I want to emphasise that the amendments do not remove the option to be paid at the post office. This option will remain on the forms. Therefore, customers are free to opt to receive their payment at the post office if they wish. I also want to emphasise that the department continuously reviews its forms to ensure that they are amenable and relevant to all customers. In order to ensure that the department’s forms present payment options equally, I have asked the department to update them to ensure that a neutral wording in relation to payment options is provided and to also ensure that one payment option is not favoured over another.

The Department is conscious of the important role of the post office around the country, not only in respect of social welfare payments but also in offering other financial services such as paying bills and carrying out a range of banking services. The Government has consistently stated its commitment to maintaining the post office network as set out in the Programme for Government.

Invalidity Pension Applications

Questions (154)

Tom Fleming

Question:

154. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will examine and expedite an application for an invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24490/15]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The person concerned has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from the 07 May 2015. Payment will issue to her nominated bank account on the 02 July 2015. Any arrears due from 07 May 2015 to 01 July 2015 (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 17 June 2015.

Disability Allowance Appeals

Questions (155)

Tom Fleming

Question:

155. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will examine and expedite an appeal regarding a disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry, as all relevant information has been submitted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24514/15]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing in this case on 09 July 2015. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the 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. 156 withdrawn.

One-Parent Family Payment Payments

Questions (157)

Jack Wall

Question:

157. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive arrears under the one-parent family payment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24568/15]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

A review of means has been carried out in respect of this customer’s One-Parent Family Payment claim resulting in a decision of nil means applicable from 19 March 2015. The new higher rate of OFP will commence from 25 June 2015 and all arrears relating to the period 19 March 2015 to 24 June 2015, will issue with the payment.

Social Welfare Schemes Expenditure

Questions (158)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

158. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the amount of money that would be saved in each year if the Christmas bonus was discontinued; the cost of the partial restoration in 2014; the projected cost of a full restoration by December 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24618/15]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The Christmas bonus was abolished in 2009; it was estimated at the time that a 100% Bonus in 2009 would have cost in the order of €244 million. I was pleased to be in the position to partially restore the bonus last year. A 25% bonus was paid in the first week of December to social welfare recipients such as pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and the long-term unemployed, at a cost of €65 million.

It is estimated that it would cost at least €260 million for the payment of a 100% Christmas Bonus in 2015.