Written Answers Nos. 46 to 56
46. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the revenue that would be raised for the Exchequer by introducing a new employers' rate of pay-related social insurance of 15.75% on the portion of salary paid in excess of €100,000 per annum. [25265/15]
View answerThe estimated revenue that would be raised for the Social Insurance Fund by introducing a new Class A employers' rate of Pay Related Social Insurance of 15.75% on the portion of salary paid in excess of €100,000 per annum would be €267.4 million.
48. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her Department uses any system software for the auto deletion of e-mail messages; if so, her Department's guidelines on the use of such a system; and the length of time e-mails are stored before they are auto deleted. [25186/15]
View answerMy Department employs technology solutions to provide protection against possible threats that may be targeted at the Department through the use of email.
The Department’s email security gateway examines email for security threats. If a security threat is found in an email, the email is quarantined and then auto-deleted after a set period of time. Email containing a virus is deleted after 1 day and email containing SPAM is deleted after 30 days.
The Department’s email system does not use any software for the ‘auto-deletion’ of email messages. It does however utilise the available option to permanently remove, after 30 days, emails which members of staff have moved to their deleted items folder.
49. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will consider withdrawing the newly designed payments application form for her Department and continuing to have the older design used, which places the post office as the first option for payments to the recipient; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25189/15]
View answer55. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she is amending the wording of State benefit applications, where her Department recommends direct payment to a current, deposit or savings account in a financial institution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25217/15]
View answer58. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will seek to remove the revised application forms from her Department which include the clear recommendation by her Department to use commercial banks in preference to using the post office network, and replace these with the previous version of forms where payment at a post office was the first option listed and no recommendation was made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25320/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 49, 55 and 58 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 Deputies are aware my colleague the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Alex White, 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.
51. Deputy Catherine Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons currently on community employment schemes; the comparable figures for June 2012, 2013 and 2014; the associated costs to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25199/15]
View answerThe number of persons employed on a Community Employment (CE) Scheme as of end June in 2012, 2013, 2014 and at 22 June 2015 and the annual budget for each of those years are as follows:
|
Period |
Employees |
Annual CE Budget |
|
22 June 2015 |
24,330 |
2015: €373.3m |
|
End June 2014 |
24,553 |
2014: €357.5m |
|
End June 2013 |
22,515 |
2013: €351.5m |
|
End June 2012 |
22,948 |
2012: €335.2m |
These figures are inclusive of CE participants and supervisors.
52. Deputy Catherine Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of community employment schemes currently in operation in Dublin 8, 10, and 12; the locations of same; the number of participants in each scheme; the amount of money paid out by her Department for each of these schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25200/15]
View answerThere are currently 41 Community Employment schemes in Dublin 8, 10, & 12. The table contains the information that the Deputy has requested.
|
Sponsor |
Location |
Participants |
Annual Contract Value |
|
MERCHANT QUAY PROJECT |
4 MERCHANT'S QUAY, DUBLIN 8 |
88 |
€1,329,081.40 |
|
NCBI CHARITY SHOPS |
C/O 73 THOMAS STREET, DUBLIN 8 |
25 |
€373,352.08 |
|
IRISH AMATEUR BOXING ASS. |
NATIONAL STADIUM, DUBLIN 8 |
18 |
€282,084.48 |
|
FOUNTAIN RESOURCE GROUP |
THE PRESBYTERY, JAMES ST, DUBLIN 8 |
65 |
€704,118.56 |
|
CANAL COMMUNITIES TRAINING PRO |
BLUEBELL BUSINESS PARK, DUBLIN 12 |
50 |
€941,966.48 |
|
ST MICHAEL'S PARISH CE LIMITED |
C/O ST MICHAEL'S CC, DUBLIN 8 |
32 |
€461,490.32 |
|
DOVE |
370 SCR, DUBLIN 8 |
23 |
€349,243.60 |
|
LOURDES CELTIC |
OLD COUNTY ROAD, DUBLIN 12 |
38 |
€539,508.08 |
|
DRIMNAGH CASTLE RESTORATION |
LONG MILE ROAD, DUBLIN 12 |
18 |
€282,992.40 |
|
DUBLIN 12 CENTRE FOR THE UNEMPLOYED |
390 NEW GRANGE HOUSE, DUBLIN 12 |
25 |
€409,996.48 |
|
MERCY FAMILY CENTRE |
SOUTH BROWN STREET, DUBLIN 8 |
23 |
€349,064.20 |
|
OBLATE COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT LTD |
TYRCONNELL ROAD, DUBLIN 8 |
32 |
€509,397.92 |
|
THE COMMUNITY LINKS PROJECT |
TYRCONNELL ROAD, DUBLIN 8 |
50 |
€826,301.52 |
|
CASADH |
UNIT 13 IDA CENTRE, DUBLIN 8 |
54 |
€575,459.52 |
|
GUINNESS ATHLETIC UNION |
IVEAGH GROUNDS, DUBLIN 12 |
26 |
€295,669.60 |
|
LIBERTIES RECYCLING GROUP |
UNIT D1C BLUEBELL IND EST, DUBLIN 12 |
46 |
€809,784.36 |
|
DAISY CHAIN COMMUNITY PROJECT |
53 KEEPER ROAD, DUBLIN 12 |
19 |
€324,837.44 |
|
ADDICTION RESPONSE CRUMLIN LTD |
5A SUNSHINE IND. EST., DUBLIN 12 |
73 |
€1,245,411.36 |
|
DRIMNAGH DEVELOPMENT GROUP |
MOTHER MCCAULEY CENTRE, DUBLIN 12 |
26 |
€420,771.00 |
|
ENERGY ACTION |
UNIT 14, I.D.A. CENTRE, DUBLIN 8 |
38 |
€579,259.60 |
|
RIALTO DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION |
486 S.C.R., DUBLIN 8 |
24 |
€397,512.72 |
|
RADE |
CATHEDRAL VIEW COURT, DUBLIN 8 |
21 |
€411,719.28 |
|
S.I.C.C.D.A. |
81 THE COOMBE, DUBLIN 8 |
20 |
€301,840.04 |
|
MARIST DEVELOPMENT GROUP |
SUNDRIVE ROAD, DUBLIN 12 |
26 |
€417,904.16 |
|
ST MICHAEL'S PARISH CE LIMITED |
C/O ST MICHAEL'S C.C., DUBLIN 8 |
36 |
€492,752.72 |
|
SAINT JOHN OF GOD C.S. LTD |
MENNI SERVICES, DUBLIN 8 |
57 |
€844,239.84 |
|
DOLPHIN HOUSE COMM. DEV. ASS. LTD |
DOLPHIN HOUSE, S.C.R., DUBLIN 8 |
33 |
€518,019.12 |
|
FATIMA GROUPS UNITED |
F2 CENTRE, 3 RUEBEN PLAZA, DUBLIN 8 |
54 |
€831,469.56 |
|
SOPHIA HOUSING ASSOCIATION LTD |
25 CORK STREET, DUBLIN 8 |
90 |
€1,323,318.24 |
|
BALLYFERMOT RESOURCE CENTRE |
LYNCH'S LANE, DUBLIN 10 |
28 |
€441,457.36 |
|
BALLYFERMOT STAR LTD (AM) |
7 DRUMFINN PARK, DUBLIN 10 |
30 |
€502,696.96 |
|
MATT TALBOT COMMUNITY TRUST |
KYLEMORE ROAD, DUBLIN 10 |
14 |
€236,253.84 |
|
LONGMEADOWS PITCH & PUTT CO. |
SARSFIELD ROAD, DUBLIN 10 |
21 |
€315,383.04 |
|
MARKIEWICZ COMMUNITY CENTRE |
205 DECIES ROAD, DUBLIN 10 |
29 |
€462,787.96 |
|
BALLYFERMOT STAR LTD (PM) |
7 DRUMFINN PARK, DUBLIN 10 |
21 |
€357,357.96 |
|
GURTEEN YOUTH CLUB |
GURTEEN ROAD, DUBLIN 10 |
18 |
€282,992.40 |
|
CHILDCARE COMMUNITY BUSINESS |
3B LE FANU ROAD, DUBLIN 10 |
18 |
€285,510.24 |
|
FAMILIBASE |
BLACKDITCH ROAD, DUBLIN 10 |
15 |
€243,241.68 |
|
BALLYFERMOT THEATRE WORKSHOPS LTD. |
BALLYFERMOT ROAD, DUBLIN 10 |
22 |
€339,278.56 |
|
DTEN COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT PROJECT |
162 CHERRY ORCHARD AVE., DUBLIN 10 |
21 |
€320,679.24 |
|
ORCHARD COMMUNITY DEV. CENTRE LTD |
CHERRY ORCHARD GROVE, DUBLIN 10 |
21 |
€233,262.46 |
53. Deputy Catherine Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of community employment places that are currently vacant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25201/15]
View answerAccording to the JobsIreland website (where all Community Employment (CE) vacancies are advertised), there are currently 884 CE posts vacant on Monday 22 June 2015. This number is a snapshot in time and will change from day to day as places are filled and new vacancies arise as participants exit the programme.
54. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she is aware of concerns raised by the Electricity Supply Board Retired Staff Association and its demands for a change in the social welfare and pensions legislation to provide for the rights of pensioner organisations or associations to represent their members, so that pensioners have access to the State's industrial relations mechanisms, and to ensure employer responsibility for company pension schemes and that employers fund future pension protection schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25210/15]
View answerEarlier this year, I introduced regulations and approved an amendment to guidance issued by the Pensions Authority to provide for the recognition by the trustees of a pensions scheme of groups representing the interests of pensioner and deferred members of pension schemes. These changes mean that all groups representing the interests of the various categories of pension schemes membership are treated the same in the context of the provisions in the Pensions Act. These changes will facilitate engagement between groups representing the interests of pensioner and deferred scheme members and the Pension Authority and the trustees of a pension scheme.
In general, pension schemes in Ireland are set up under trust and, in that context the trustees of a pension scheme are required to act in the best interest of all scheme members.
The issue of engagement with the industrial relations machinery of the State falls within the remit of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. It is acknowledged that the industrial relations system in Ireland is voluntary in nature both as regards access to the Labour Relations Commission and the Labour Court. Any change to that principle which would put in place a mandated right to be part of the process would alter fundamentally the conduct of industrial relations.
56. Deputy Dinny McGinley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a disability allowance following a cancellation and reapplication in February 2015 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; when a decision will be made on this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25224/15]
View answerThe disability allowance (DA) payment is currently in the process of being reviewed and re-rated as a result of the spouse/partner of the person concerned having been awarded State pension contributory (SPC) in his own right. The person concerned was previously being paid an increase of DA in respect of her spouse/partner. DA will be payable to the person concerned at a reduced rate with effect from the date of award of the SPC to her spouse/partner and she will be notified shortly of the details.
The spouse/partner of the person concerned applied on 13 March 2015 to have an increase for the person in question (IQA) added to their SPC payment. The entitlement to IQA on SPC in respect of the person concerned is currently being investigated. If the IQA is awarded on SPC, it may be financially beneficial to the couple for DA to be stopped in favour of the IQA. Once the decision is made in respect of entitlement to IQA on SPC, the couple will be notified of the outcome and of the most financially beneficial option for them and the necessary adjustments to their payments will be made.
