Written Answers Nos. 84-99
84. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the correct amount of jobseeker's allowance, family income supplement or alternative payable to persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; if the case will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29976/15]
View answerJobseekers Allowance (JA) is a means tested scheme. The person concerned is in receipt of JA at the appropriate rate (for the client, her partner and one child dependant). Means are assessed against this payment in respect her partner’s income.
The client’s partner is not in receipt of Family Income Supplement (FIS). Should he wish to apply and be assessed for eligibility subject to satisfying the conditions, he should make application at his local Social Welfare/Intreo office.
85. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number and percentage of claims under the child benefit scheme that are reviewed yearly; if the claims for review are selected randomly or on a targeted basis; if targeted, how is this determined; the number of claimants who have had more than one review in the past five years; the number of claims that have been withdrawn and reinstated in the past two years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29979/15]
View answerChild benefit is a payment to parents for the support of their children. It is paid to some 615,000 families in respect of 1.18 million children, with an expenditure of approximately €1.9 billion in 2014.
Safeguarding the child benefit budget is a priority and in this regard, the Department has taken a very strong approach to ensuring that it is only paid to eligible families. A control strategy has been adopted and operated by the Department which includes risk assessment, surveys of the levels of fraud and error, scheme specific review policies, data matching initiatives with both external and internal parties and investigation of anonymous reports.
A policy of issuing continuing eligibility certificates to parents commenced in 2008 and is still in operation. The child benefit control programme is kept under regular review based on the outcomes achieved. The continuing eligibility certificate programme forms part of the overall child benefit control programme and is included and described in the control policy for the scheme. The control policy is reviewed and updated regularly to ensure that controls in place to prevent fraud and abuse continue to be effective and relevant.
The Department undertook approximately 400,000 continuing eligibility reviews of child benefit EFT customers in 2014, representing some two thirds of all child benefit customers. This control activity generated some €70 million in savings in respect of expenditure that would otherwise have occurred.
During 2013 and 2014, the number of child benefit claims stopped as a result of the continuing eligibility reviews was 8,500. In the past five years all customers paid by EFT have received more than one continuing eligibility certificate, while those paid at a post office have received one certificate.
In 2015, a continuing eligibility certificate will issue to all Irish, including naturalised Irish, customers, to EU customers who are paid by EFT and based on their residency in Ireland and to all customers from outside of the EU. Two certificates will issue to all customers, including Irish, who are paid or part paid child benefit in Ireland on the basis of their continued employment within the EU. It is not proposed to issue continuing eligibility certificates to customers paid at their local post office, representing some 168,000 customers, during 2015 as these confirm their identity and ongoing eligibility when collecting payment.
86. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will review the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who wishes to avail of the back to work enterprise scheme; how this can be progressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29980/15]
View answerThe client has been working with an Enterprise Officer with Kildare County Leader Partnership since April 2014, in order to develop a business plan. The application should be sent to the Department once the business plan is complete.
87. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of fraudulent payment claims identified in each of the past four years; the monetary value of these; the percentage of these that were claimed, through the post office; through electronic funds transfer. [29981/15]
View answerThe only reliable measure of excess payments by the Department through fraudulent claiming is by way of fraud overpayments raised. To prove fraud requires careful investigation of the case, establishment of the facts often under a cautioned interview, a disallowance of payment by the deciding officer and the setting up of an overpayment in respect of the historical period, where that is possible.
Overpayments generally arise as a result of revised decisions on entitlement made by deciding officers. These officers decide the effective date of a revised decision having regard to the new facts or new evidence and the circumstances of the case. An overpayment is assessed for the period that a person was not entitled to a payment.
Information on overpayments categorised as fraud for the years 2011-2014 is as follows:
|
Year |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
Number of fraud overpayments |
20,585 |
20,720 |
27,489 |
27,437 |
|
Total value of fraud overpayments |
€34.9m |
€40.9m |
€61.9m |
€52.5m |
In 2014, the total value of overpayments raised amounted to €124.4m which represents 0.6% of total Departmental expenditure. Overpayments arising from activity suspected of being fraudulent represent 0.3% of total Departmental expenditure in 2014.
The Department does not maintain records of overpayments by the original method of payment.
88. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the interactions her Department has had with representatives from the Irish Postmasters' Union; and its plans to continue to engage with the union regarding the potential enhanced use of the post office network; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29982/15]
View answerOver the past two years, both I and Minister Humphreys have met with representatives of the Irish Postmasters Union. Most recently, Minister Humphreys met with IPU General Secretary in April of this year. In addition, officials from my department would have had a number of contacts with the IPU over this period.
My colleague the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Mr Alex White TD, established 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. The group has issued its interim report and is seeking submissions on its initial proposals.
As I have previously stated, this Government has consistently stated its 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 rural and urban areas. 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 that this year we will pay over €50 million to An Post under a contract for cash payment services for welfare customers. This contract is very substantial in terms of its reach, value and impact.
89. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form for 2013 and 2014 and for 2015 to date, the number of persons to whom her Department provided data relating to the Health Service Executive under section 8 of the Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2013. [30007/15]
View answerCompilation of the detailed figures requested covering a multi annual period will take a number of day’s work. A full answer to the question will follow within the next two weeks when the necessary work has been completed.
90. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the total cost of public advertising, statutory and non-statutory, funded by her Department in 2013 and 2014; the corresponding figure for agencies under the control of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30031/15]
View answerThe total cost of advertising for my Department was €220,865.39 and €162,660.58, for 2014 and 2013 respectively.
With regard to agencies under the aegis of the Department, the total cost of advertising was €74,900.83 and €201,067.03, for 2014 and 2013 respectively.
91. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost in 2013 and 2014 of printing reports by her Department and agencies under the control of her Department; the corresponding figure for annual reports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30046/15]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is currently being compiled in my Department and will be provided to the Deputy as soon as it becomes available.
92. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost in 2013 and 2014 of issuing hard copy payslips to staff or retired staff by her Department and agencies under the control of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30061/15]
View answerThe costs associated with issuing hardcopy payslips for the Department and agencies are set out for the years 2013 and 2014 in a table.
From the 7th July 2011 salary payments to staff in the Department are no longer paid by PMG payable orders (cheques). All staff since then are paid by electronic funds transfer. In conjunction with this change payslips for staff are now accessible online eliminating the need to produce hard copy/printed payslips.
In some instances where a member of staff for a period of time is unable to access his/her payslip electronically a request can be made to salaries section to issue a hard copy/printed payslip. In 2013 there were 5,420 such payslips issued in respect of 7,001 staff and in 2014 approximately 5,492 were issued in respect of 6,781 staff. The payslips are self-sealing when printed and cost associated with issuing is the Department franking rate of €0.66c.
Retirees of the Department are paid through the Paymaster General.
|
Description/Year |
2013 |
2014 |
|
Payslips |
€1,875.75 |
|
|
Postage |
€3,577.22 |
€3,624.72 |
|
Total |
€5,452.97 |
€3,624.72 |
The payslips purchased in December 2013 cost €1,875.75 for a batch of ten thousand. No costs for payslips were incurred in 2014 as there was a sufficient stock to deal with staff requests. Payslips are prepared automatically by the payroll system for individuals flagged or identified on the system as requiring a hardcopy payslip and produced as part of a regular print job from the payroll system.
93. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will outline and itemise all expenditure undertaken by her Department on private travel for her and-or for her private office, on legal fees, on consultancy fees and on hotel accommodation, during the 12-month period to 30 June 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30076/15]
View answerGiven the detail required it is not possible to provide the information within the required timeframe. The information requested is being compiled by my officials and will be sent to the Deputy when finalised.
94. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite a review under the carer's allowance scheme in respect of a person (details supplied). [30095/15]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application from the person in question for carer’s allowance (CA) in respect of two care recipients on 15 January 2015. The person concerned was refused CA in respect of both care recipients on the grounds that neither is so disabled as to require full-time care and attention as prescribed in regulations and, furthermore, that full-time care and attention was not being provided as required.
She was notified on 5 June 2015 of the decisions, the reasons for them and of her right of review and appeal. The person concerned requested a review of these decisions on 25 June 2015 and submitted further medical evidence in support of the review. The review is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
95. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath. [30096/15]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 23 June 2015. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
96. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath. [30097/15]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 2 July 2015. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
97. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an application under the domiciliary care allowance scheme by a person (details supplied). [30098/15]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 19th June 2015. This application has been forwarded to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors for their medical opinion. Following receipt of this opinion, a decision will be made by a Deciding Officer and notified to the person concerned. It can currently take 12 weeks to process an application for DCA.
98. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an appeal under the carer's allowance scheme by a person (details supplied). [30099/15]
View answerThe appeal of the person concerned against a refusal of carer’s allowance (CA) has been allowed and the application was awarded on 9 July 2015.
The first payment of CA is due to issue to the nominated bank on 16 July 2015. The arrears of allowance due from 3 April 2014 to 15 July 2015 will also issue on that date.
The person in question was notified of these details on 9 July 2015.
99. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she is responsible for all board appointments where such power to appoint persons to State boards is vested in her by statute; if any politically appointed State employee outside of her Department is involved in decision-making concerning such appointments, in particular, if, during the lifetime of the Government, a named person (details supplied) has had any influence over any appointments made by her; if she or officials from her Department have corresponded with that person regarding the composition of and appointments to State boards to which she has statutory power to make appointments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30116/15]
View answerFor the Deputy's information, in accordance with Government policy, my Department, through the Public Appointments Service (PAS), advertises for board vacancies as they arise where I as Minister for Social Protection have nominating rights. Applications are made through the dedicated website www.stateboards.ie and an assessment process is undertaken by PAS leading to the creation of a list of candidates deemed suitable for appointment to boards.
Guidelines for Appointments to State Boards, can be viewed on the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's website www.per.gov.ie.
Comprehensive information in relation to the composition of the boards of non-commercial State bodies under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills, which includes information on the board appointments where I as Minister have power to appoint can be downloaded from my Department's website at http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Process-and-Procedures-for-Appointment-of-Members-to-Boards.aspx.
No correspondence has been received in the Department of Social Protection in relation to the appointment of any state bodies from the individual concerned.
The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council, the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a Board) and the Social Welfare Tribunal.
Citizens Information Board
The legislative provisions governing appointments to the Citizens Information Board are contained in the Comhairle Act 2000, the Citizens Information Act 2007 and the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011.
The procedures followed when appointing members to the Citizens Information Board (CIB) are in accordance with the Revised Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies where Departments invite expressions of interest from members of the public for vacancies on the boards or bodies under their aegis. These arrangements involve using a centralised application service provided by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) to manage the expressions of interest received.
In accordance with the legislation, I also appoint a representative from the CIB and from the Department to the Board.
Pensions Council
I have used the Public Appointments Service to obtain appropriate and suitable nominees for the Pensions Council. People interested in serving as members (unpaid) of the Pensions Council were invited to make expressions of interest to the Public Appointments Service, and applications were received from 56 individuals. The information was collated by them and forwarded to my officials who assessed each applicant in terms of their qualifications, skills and experience. A list of candidates who satisfied the requirements was submitted to me for consideration form which 7 people were selected.
Pensions Authority
The Pensions Authority is a three person oversight board composed of a Chair (the outgoing Chair from the Pensions Board has continued in the role) and representatives from the Department of Finance and my Department. It was not appropriate to use the PAS process in this regard.
The Social Welfare Tribunal
The Social Welfare Tribunal consists of a Chairperson and four ordinary members, two on the nomination of Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and two nominated by Irish Business and Employers' Confederation (IBEC). Legislation provides that the four ordinary members of the Tribunal are appointed by the Minister on the recommendation of the two relevant bodies. The Chairperson is sourced by my Department by way of a recommendation from the Labour Court with regard to a particular candidate’s suitability.
All positions are filled in line with the relevant governing legislation, which varies from body to body, and with the objective of providing the best possible advice and expertise for the bodies concerned. There are no plans to review the manner in which appointments are made to State Boards under the remit of my Department.
