Tuesday, 14 Jul 2015

Written Answers Nos. 143-158

Census of Population Data

Questions (143)

Anthony Lawlor

Question:

143. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Taoiseach with regard to next year's census, if he is satisfied that the question on the religion of each citizen ought not to be changed to a question on the practising of a religion, if any, given the growing disparity between stated religion and actual life practice; if the question on religion ought to be asked of each citizen above a certain age, for example 15 years, and should it be answered directly by that citizen, rather than by the head of household, hotel, or school manager, etc; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28916/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach

The next census of population will take place on 24th April next year. This is a major undertaking for the Central Statistics Office and requires detailed forward planning in order for census enumerators to call at every home in Ireland to deliver in the region of 1.8 million census forms.

The CSO works hard to ensure that the information collected and provided from the census remains current, relevant and of maximum use to the public. It has been common practice in advance of each census to conduct a public consultation on possible new questions and changes to existing questions, which are then considered by a specially convened Census Advisory Group in advance of testing in the field in the form of a pilot survey of some 12,000 dwellings. Unfortunately given the very tight budget circumstances in 2013 and 2014, with constraints on resources right across the public sector, it was not possible to pursue this route for census 2016. Accordingly the 2016 census is being run as a ‘no-change’ census with the questions (including the religion question) on the 2016 questionnaire remaining unchanged from those used in the 2011 census, with the exception of the question on marital status.

The format of the question on religion used in 2011, and being repeated in 2016, was agreed by the Census Advisory Group which was established to assist the CSO in developing the 2011 questionnaire. This group comprised representatives of central and local government, the social partners, universities, research bodies and other users of census data, along with the relevant CSO personnel. The group reviewed over 90 submissions for new questions or changes to existing questions during the course of their work.

In private households the head of household is asked to complete the form for the entire household. However in all non-private establishments each individual completes their own form.

As censuses of population are traditionally held at five-yearly intervals in Ireland it is intended that should there be a census in 2021 a full public consultation on the questions to be asked will be conducted in advance.

Departmental Staff Data

Questions (144)

Seán Fleming

Question:

144. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach the current average age of permanent staff employed in his Department and in the agencies under his Department's remit; the way this varied between the end of 2008 and 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29204/15]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The current average age of staff employed in my Department is 45 years. At the end of 2008, the average age of staff in my Department was 42 years. This compares with an average staff age of 44 years at the end of 2011.

The current average age of staff employed in the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) is 45 years. At the end of 2011, the estimated average age of staff in NESDO was 42 years.

Community Employment Schemes Funding

Questions (145)

Barry Cowen

Question:

145. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on the Government's previous commitment to provide gratuity payments to Foras Áiseanna Saothair, the Irish national training and employment authority, community employment supervisors and assistant supervisors. [28730/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

The Government gave no commitment to provide gratuity payments to Community Employment Supervisors and Assistant Supervisors.

In July 2008, the Labour Court recommended that an agreed pension scheme should be introduced for CE Supervisors and assistant supervisors and that such a scheme should be adequately funded by FÁS, the funding agency responsible for CE at that time. The Department of Social Protection (DSP) is now responsible for CE. Neither FÁS nor DSP were parties to the LCR19293 (although FÁS did make a submission to the Court). The unions took the case under Section 20(1) of the Industrial Relations Act, 1969. The rulings for such a case are binding upon the claimant to the Labour Court, but are not legally binding upon the respondents (i.e. the employers).

Notwithstanding the position of this Department in rejecting that liability for these costs should be met from public funds, this matter was the subject of discussions between the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (D/PER) and the unions representing CE Supervisors. The D/PER’s position, as outlined to the unions, is that companies contracted by the State to provide a service, including in the community sector, have to manage their expenditure pressures, including labour and pension costs, from within existing funding levels.

It should be noted that this Department is not the employer of CE supervisors and such employees are not public servants, but are employees of the sponsoring organisations. The responsibilities of the sponsoring organisations as employers and the individuals concerned as employees must also be considered.

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 informed of their responsibilities under this Act at that time.

It should also be noted that 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 may qualify for the State Pension (Non-Contributory), provided they satisfy the means test.

Registration of Marriages

Questions (146)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

146. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding marriage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28980/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The administration of the marriage registration system is a matter for an tArd-Chláraitheoir (the Registrar-General). An enquiry into the case referred to was carried out in the General Register Office in 1999.

Section 32 of the Family Law Act 1995, the legislation which was in place at the time of the case referred to, required that each party to an intended marriage notify the appropriate registrar of their intention to marry not less than three months in advance of the solemnisation of the marriage. The 3 months’ notice was declared to be a substantive requirement for a valid marriage. This means that if 3 months’ notice was not given (or an exemption to the 3 months requirement was not granted by the Courts under section 33 of that Act) a marriage would not be deemed to be a valid marriage and cannot be registered.

In the case referred to, the required notification was not received nor was an exemption granted by the Courts. The marriage, therefore, could not be deemed to be a valid civil marriage and could not be registered.

The Civil Registration Act 2004 is now the governing legislation for the registration of marriages. The Act retains (in section 46) the requirement that, for a marriage to be considered valid, not less than 3 months’ notice of the intended marriage shall be given to a registrar.

The Act also provides (in section 47) that an application for an exemption to the 3 months’ notice can be made to the Circuit Family Court or the High Court and this exemption may be granted if it is justified by serious reasons and if it is in the interests of the couple. Therefore, there is no requirement to amend the legislation.

Exceptional Needs Payments

Questions (147)

Dan Neville

Question:

147. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on an application for a death grant by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [28211/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department of Social Protection may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off and unforeseen expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. The Government has provided €29 million for the ENP scheme in 2015.

An application can be made under the ENP scheme for assistance with funeral and burial expenses. In 2014, the Department supported approximately 3,000 applicants with financial assistance towards these costs, at a provisional cost of some €4.6 million.

An ENP is a means tested payment payable at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the applicant and that of the deceased person including any savings, property, insurance policies, etc. The Department official will also consider if a bereavement payment is available from any other source including former employer, credit union or trade union.

Any persons who consider that they have an entitlement to an ENP under the SWA scheme should contact the Department.

According to the records of the Department the person concerned has not made an application for an ENP.

Farm Assist Scheme Data

Questions (148)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

148. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form the expenditure on the farm assist scheme over the past four years; the number of persons in receipt of this payment over the same period; if she anticipates any changes to the qualification criteria for the scheme or a reduction in the weekly amount of the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28231/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The farm assist scheme provides support for farmers on low incomes and is similar to jobseeker’s allowance. The 2015 Revised Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure this year on the farm assist scheme of €88.7 million. Figures for expenditure and recipient numbers for the previous four years are attached in tabular format below.

Recent changes have brought farm assist into closer alignment with the jobseeker’s allowance scheme’s treatment of self-employed persons but the headline rates of farm assist have been maintained. This means that farm families with the lowest income have been the least affected by these changes.

As part of the normal budget process, all potential budget measures, including any changes to the farm assist scheme, are assessed in terms of the impact they would have if introduced. The scheme is kept under ongoing review, including regular discussions with the IFA, by my officials. There are no plans to change the current scheme criteria.

Year	Expenditure on Farm Assist €m	Farm Assist Recipient Numbers
2010	110,931	10,714
2011	113,724	11,333
2012	108,170	11,162
2013	99,450	10,303
2014	93,650	9,809

One-Parent Family Payment

Questions (149)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

149. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will consider introducing a six-month review of the recent changes to the one-parent family payment scheme to ensure that significant numbers of the estimated 30,000 affected families do not fall into increasing financial poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28232/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The Department monitors all the social welfare schemes that it administers including the one-parent family payment scheme.

One of the key aims of the one-parent family payment reform is to improve and enhance lone parents access to the supports and services available from the State to facilitate their progression out of welfare dependency and into sustainable employment.

As part of the one-parent family payment reforms that took place, all former one-parent family payment recipients who transition to the jobseeker’s transitional payment will receive a one to one meeting with a case officer from the Department who will assist them to produce a personal development plan and guide them towards appropriate education, training and employment opportunities. While the customer is on the jobseeker’s transitional payment this support is available and is not limited to the 12 month engagement that applies for other jobseekers from the date of their one to one meeting. The aim of this broader support is to improve the individual’s employment prospects and will be tailored to meet the person’s individual needs.

The Department will commence engaging with this cohort of customers from September of this year when the school term recommences.

Customers who transition to a jobseeker’s allowance payment will gain access to the same activation supports as are currently provided to all jobseekers.

In addition, in cases where lone parents affected by the reforms lose financially and are having difficulty increasing their hours of employment in order to be able to claim the family income supplement and the back to work family dividend, the Department will work with these customers directly to offer every possible assistance.

As I have stated previously in the Dáil, I am also looking forward to examining the various supports available to all families with children, including single parent families, in the next Budget. In particular, I will look at the scope for improvements in the child benefit scheme, as well as other supports for families in part-time or full-time employment.

Job Initiatives

Questions (150)

Paul Murphy

Question:

150. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have been employed nationally; and by South Dublin County Council, through the gateway scheme. [28244/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

Gateway is a work placement initiative delivered by county and city councils which aims to provide short-term work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than 24 months. Participants will benefit by being involved in work, they will improve their work readiness and will be able to apply their skills and learn new ones. The scheme was introduced in December 2013 and selected participants are required to attend for a duration of 22 months. Participants are selected by the Department on a random basis or where an application is received from a jobseeker meeting the criteria and where a work placement of this type is considered suitable.

The number participating nationally on Gateway at 3rd July 2015 was 2,267 of which 206 participants were employed by South Dublin County council.

National Internship Scheme Data

Questions (151, 152, 153, 155)

Paul Murphy

Question:

151. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons and companies in the South Dublin County Council area who have taken part in the JobBridge scheme. [28245/15]

Paul Murphy

Question:

152. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of companies which have received an orange flag on the JobBridge scheme. [28246/15]

Paul Murphy

Question:

153. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of companies which have been banned from the JobBridge scheme. [28247/15]

Paul Murphy

Question:

155. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of investigations which have been launched into the JobBridge scheme; and the number of these which were initiated because of a complaint by an intern. [28249/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 151 to 153, inclusive, and 155 together.

I include tables giving numbers of individuals and host organisations who participated in JobBridge in the postal districts approximating to the South Dublin Local Authority area.

The Department operates an internal monitoring list for host organisations that commit minor breaches of the scheme. Organisations placed on this ‘orange flag’ list are subject to more regular monitoring. As of 8th July 2015, a total of 162 host organisations have been orange flagged.

To date, some 17,000 Host Organisation have participated in the scheme. Of these, a total of 84 (0.5%) have been banned from participation in the scheme for varying durations depending on the nature of the transgression. The appropriate duration of the sanction is determined by the Department. There are currently 34 companies barred from participation for varying durations.

As at 8th July 2015, a total of 583 complaints have been received since the commencement of the scheme. This represents 1.4% of the total number of participants. The Department does not distinguish between complaints received from interns and other individuals. All complaints are treated seriously and are investigated as a matter of urgency.

Table 1. – Interns in Postal Districts Dublin 10, 18, 20, 22 and 24

Figures as at 8 th July, 2015

Postal District	Finished	Current	Total
DUBLIN 10	132	16	148
DUBLIN 18	483	43	526
DUBLIN 20	74	8	82
DUBLIN 22	392	72	464
DUBLIN 24	607	70	677
Total	1688	209	1897

Table 2. – Host Organisations in Postal Districts Dublin 10, 18, 20, 22 and 24

Figures as at 8 th July, 2015

Postal District	Host Organisations
DUBLIN 10	61
DUBLIN 18	266
DUBLIN 20	31
DUBLIN 22	228
DUBLIN 24	332
Total	918

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (154)

Paul Murphy

Question:

154. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have had a penalty applied to their social welfare payments for refusing to take part in an activation scheme. [28248/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

In order to qualify for a Jobseeker payment, a person must meet certain conditions, including the requirement to be available for, capable of and genuinely seeking full-time work. A range of sanctions, including partial disqualification, closure or disallowance of the jobseeker claim, may be imposed where a client fails to meet the stated conditions. A Jobseeker claim may be reviewed at any time in order to establish continued entitlement.

Additionally, in relation to activation, legislation provides that penalties in the form of reduced payments may be imposed by a Deciding Officer where clients fail, without good cause, to comply with activation measures. Activation measures include the requirement to attend group or individual meetings, and/or avail of suitable education, training or development opportunities, or specified employment programmes, which are considered appropriate to a person’s circumstances.

Where a person continues to fail, without good cause, to comply with activation measures, while on a penalty rate, he/she may be disqualified from receiving the personal rate of payment. The normal rate of payment may be reinstated at any time, if the jobseeker complies, as requested, with activation measures.

The total numbers of penalty rates applied, since their inception in 2011 to end June, 2015, are indicated in the table.

Year	No. Applied
2011	359
2012	1,519
2013	3,395
2014	5,325
2015	3,550
Total	14,148

Question no. 155 answered with Question No. 151.

Unemployment Data

Questions (156)

Paul Murphy

Question:

156. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of long-term unemployed persons in the South Dublin County Council area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28250/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

Information relating to a claimant’s address is not currently coded to the geographical location of the address. As such it is not possible to accurately report numbers of people on the live register living in a particular area at present.

In the meantime I note that the number of people in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment and registered in the Department’s offices in the South Dublin Local Authority area (Clondalkin, Nutgrove and Tallaght) was 20,946 as at the end of June 2015. 9,969 of these people had a current claim duration of in excess of 1 year and would therefore be considered long-term unemployed.

As these figures relate to the office of registration, rather than the jobseeker’s address, they will include jobseekers living outside of the South Dublin Local Authority area, for example in other Dublin Local Authority areas and parts of Counties Kildare and Wicklow.

Disability Allowance Payments

Questions (157)

Barry Cowen

Question:

157. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and when the person may expect a decision on an application under the disability allowance scheme. [28252/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The person in question has been awarded a disability allowance payment with effect from 5 November 2014. First payment was made to him on 10 June 2015 and any arrears due will follow shortly.

Disability Allowance Payments

Questions (158)

Barry Cowen

Question:

158. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and when the person may expect a decision on an application under the disability allowance scheme. [28253/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The person in question has been awarded a disability allowance payment with effect from 22 April 2015. First payment was made to her on 9 July 2015 and any arrears due will follow shortly.