Written Answers Nos. 216-234
216. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for the respite care grant by a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31327/15]
View answerAn application for Respite Care Grant from the person concerned was received in my Department on 1st September 2015. A decision on this application will be made as soon as possible.
217. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to remove the maximum levels for jobseeker's allowance for those under 26 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31329/15]
View answerReduced rates for young jobseeker’s allowance (JA) recipients were first introduced in 2009. These measures were further extended in 2014. Reduced JA rates for jobseeker’s who are under 26 years of age is a targeted measure aimed at protecting young people from welfare dependency. It aims to incentivise young jobseeker’s allowance recipients to avail of education and training opportunities. If a jobseeker in receipt of the reduced jobseeker’s allowance rate participates on an education or training programme they will receive a higher weekly payment of €160.
To guard against the development of welfare dependency I believe that it is necessary to provide young jobseekers with a strong financial incentive to engage in education or training or to take up employment. If they do not improve their skills, it will be much more difficult for them to avail of job opportunities as the economy recovers and they are at risk of becoming long term unemployed from a young age.
The Government’s primary strategy to tackle youth unemployment is through policies to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting competitiveness and productivity. Economic recovery will underpin jobs growth and the availability of employment for young people. This strategy has been succeeding, with an increase of over 80,000 in employment over the last two years.
Reflecting the improvement in the labour market, youth unemployment continues to fall. For example the youth unemployment rate in Ireland as estimated by EUROSTAT was 20.7% in August 2015 as compared to 30.8% in December 2011. However, the Government recognises that there is a need for additional measures to ensure that as many as possible of the jobs created are taken up by jobseekers and young jobseekers in particular. This is the rationale behind the Government’s Pathways to Work strategy and the Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan.
Any change to the reduced rates of JA for people under 26 is a matter for Government to consider in a Budgetary context.
218. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will examine an application for carer's allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31338/15]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 5 June 2015. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
219. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an application for half-rate carer's allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Longford. [31347/15]
View answerWhen a person is in receipt of a social welfare payment (other than jobseeker payments or supplementary welfare allowance) or is being claimed as a qualified adult on their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant’s social welfare payment, and also qualifies for a carer's allowance (CA), CA is paid at half the normal rate. The person concerned was in receipt of one-parent family payment (OFP) up to 25 March 2015 and received half-rate CA as well.
When OFP stopped due to the youngest child reaching the OFP age threshold, CA was increased to full-rate with effect from 26 March 2015.
The person concerned has made an application in respect of a 2 care recipient on 7 July 2015. This application is being processed and once a decision is made the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
220. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a detailed reply will issue to a letter (details supplied) dated 6 July 2015; the policy of her Department on the expeditious dealing with correspondence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31364/15]
View answerThe representations to which the Deputy refers relate to the question of funding for the Irish Association of Supported Employment (IASE). This has been an ongoing issue since October 2014 when the Department received a proposal document from IASE seeking funding of on a long term basis. (IASE’s current source of funding is from the Department of the Environment under the Scheme to Support National Organisations and under this scheme, IASE were granted funding for a two year period from June 2014 to June 2016.)
In December 2014, IASE were advised that there was no provision in the Department's estimates to provide funding as set out in their proposal and that the Department already delivers a supported employment service for people with disabilities through the EmployAbility service.
Following further correspondence, a meeting between Department officials and IASE took place in April last. At this meeting, the Department reiterated the point made previously to IASE regarding funding but pointed out that the Department had identified their organisation to the consultants undertaking a review of the EmployAbility (supported employment) service as key stakeholders in this area. The consultants subsequently invited IASE to make a submission.
The EmployAbility review will be crucial in helping to inform the future policy direction for employment support services for people with disabilities delivered by the Department, and until that review is available – expected at the end of September – and its recommendations fully considered, no commitments can be made in relation to the possibility of the Department funding IASE.
I would like to assure the Deputy that the Department endeavours to respond to representations as expeditiously as feasible and deal with issues of concern to public representatives in a fair and equitable manner. I would point out that while there has been a delay in replying to this particular correspondence, the Department has been dealing with a number of representations in relation to this issue. However, the above sets out the current position on the matter.
221. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason the post office is not an option for persons to receive their water conservation grant as per information on her Department's website; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31381/15]
View answerThe 2015 Water Conservation Grant is being administered by the Department of Social Protection on behalf of the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government. It is an annual, once-off payment of €100 per principal private residence registered with Irish Water on 30 June 2015.
The current payment options for this once-off, annual payment are electronic fund transfer or cheque payment. The Department is conscious of the important role of the post office network 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. An Post has confirmed that Water Conservation Grant cheques can be cashed at Post Offices subject to the customer presenting the required identity documentation.
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.
222. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to make the water conservation grant payable at post offices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31393/15]
View answerThe 2015 Water Conservation Grant is being administered by the Department of Social Protection on behalf of the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government. It is an annual, once-off payment of €100 per principal private residence registered with Irish Water on 30 June 2015.
The current payment options for this once-off, annual payment are electronic fund transfer or cheque payment. 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. An Post has confirmed that Water Conservation Grant cheques can be cashed at Post Offices subject to the customer presenting the required identity documentation.
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.
223. Deputy Joe Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if TV listener devices for deaf persons are covered by her Department's treatment benefit scheme; if they are not covered, if the scheme could be extended to include them for deaf persons who do not have hearing aids; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31408/15]
View answerThe Department’s treatment benefit (audiology) scheme provides a grant towards the purchase of hearing aids at 50% of the cost up to a maximum of €500 per ear. TV listener devices are not currently covered under the scheme and there are no plans to extend the scheme further to include them.
224. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a decision regarding their disability allowance appeal; the reason for the delay in this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31423/15]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to convene an oral hearing in this case.
Every effort will be made to hear the case as quickly as possible and the appellant will be informed when arrangements for the oral hearing have been made.
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.
225. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision on an application for carer's allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Clare will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31429/15]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 26 August 2015. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
226. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will examine and expedite an application for carer's allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31443/15]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 20 August 2015. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
228. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if parents who are in receipt of child benefit in respect of their children are obliged to notify her Department in advance if they are outside the State for more than two weeks; if they fail to do so, the implications regarding the child benefit payable for that period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31466/15]
View answerChild benefit is payable in respect of children who are ordinarily resident in the State. There is no obligation on customers to notify the Department in advance that they will be absent from the State for short periods. While there is no provision within Social Welfare legislation covering entitlement to child benefit payment during an absence from the State, absence for a period of up to 2 months may be accepted as a holiday.
When a customer notifies the Department that they will be, or were absent for an extended period they are asked to provide documentation confirming their departure and return dates. Absences by families of up to 2 months are accepted without issue in relation to residence or entitlement. Where a customer is absent for a longer period the deciding officer considers all aspects of the absence, with each case decided on its own merits.
229. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of members of An Garda Síochána who have been seconded to her Department in the investigations unit. [31486/15]
View answer230. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the location of the offices to which the members of An Garda Síochána have been seconded to her Department. [31487/15]
View answer231. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on members of An Garda Síochána being present at routine interviews with recipients of payments. [31488/15]
View answer232. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the length of time the secondment of members of An Garda Síochána to her Department will continue. [31489/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 229 to 232, inclusive, together.
The secondment of 20 Gardaí to the Department to assist the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) with fraud investigation work took effect in early December 2014. The locations where Garda personnel have been assigned are set out below:
|
Location |
Location |
Location |
Location |
|
Coolock |
Blanchardstown |
Bishop’s Square |
Tallaght |
|
Kings Inn |
Clondalkin |
Ballyfermot |
Finglas |
|
Monaghan |
Dundalk (2) |
Navan |
Letterkenny |
|
Longford (2) |
Sligo |
Limerick |
Galway |
|
Cork (2) |
The function of any Gardaí assigned to the SIU is to investigate social welfare fraud. Garda officers who have been seconded to the Department have been duly appointed as Social Welfare Inspectors with powers provided under the Social Welfare Acts. They work with officers from the SIU and undertake a range of investigative duties that can, on occasion, include reviews of eligibility to entitlement. Their role is consistent with the functions already performed by Inspectors in the SIU.
Social welfare entitlements are based on statutory schemes and any withdrawal of these payments following any review has to be based on facts and evidence. In instances where a decision to disallow a social welfare claim occurs then that person has a right of appeal to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office. The seconded officers are actively engaged in the detection and prosecution of more serious cases of identity fraud or multiple claiming of social welfare payments. A number of successful prosecutions have already been secured through the courts.
The period of secondment is for 12 months. A review of this secondment is currently being undertaken by the Department, An Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice & Equality. This review will determine the future of the programme.
233. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision on an application for an invalidity pension will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31497/15]
View answerInvalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
The department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on the 23 June 2015. The person concerned was refused IP on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. He was notified on the 10 September 2015 of this decision, the reasons for it and of his right of review and appeal.
The person concerned requested a review of this decision and submitted further medical evidence on 17 September 2015 in support of his request. Following a review of all the information available it has been decided that there is no change to the original decision. The person concerned was notified on the 21 September 2015 of the outcome of the review and of his right to appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office within 21 days.
234. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision on a respite care grant appeal will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31498/15]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 11 May 2015. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers have been received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 17 August 2015 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral 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.
