Written Answers Nos. 273-290
273. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons, divided into single people and parents, if possible, currently receiving additional income support under jobseeker's allowance while they work three days or less; the process of assessing a person's weekly income for the purposes of calculating a person's additional jobseeker's allowance payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31892/15]
View answerJobseeker’s allowance is a means tested payment and earnings are taken into account in determining means.
A disregard of €20 a day (up to a maximum of €60) applies up to a maximum of 3 days and the balance is assessed at 60%. In determining the assessable income from insurable employment, the following deductions are allowed: superannuation, additional voluntary contributions, PRSI, the pension levy and trade union subscriptions. The person's net average assessable weekly earnings are assessed by reference to the previous 13 weeks or another period if this is more representative of the person's normal working pattern. Jobseeker’s allowance is not payable where the average means are equal to or in excess of the relevant family rate of payment.
In the case of a couple, each person is assessed in exactly the same manner, assessable income less the relevant disregards and 60% of the balance is assessed as means.
As of the end of August 2015, approximately 32,800 casual/part-time workers were claiming a personal rate of jobseeker’s allowance and approximately 16,500 casual/part-time workers were claiming a child dependant allowance. These numbers do not include self-employed persons.
274. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in County Cork receiving each payment from her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31898/15]
View answer275. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in County Cork receiving payments from her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31899/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 274 and 275 together.
The information requested by the Deputy, where available, is collated annually at the end of December each year for inclusion in the Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services report the 2014 version of which will be shortly presented to the Cabinet and published on my Department’s website.
The number of persons in County Cork receiving payments from my Department is detailed in the following tabular statement for the Deputy’s information.
Recipients of Social Welfare Payments in County Cork at the end of December 2014
|
Scheme |
Number of Recipients |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
10,165 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
35,462 |
|
State Pension (Transition) |
24 |
|
Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension (Contributory) |
13,210 |
|
Death Benefit |
94 |
|
Total Pensions |
58,955 |
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance |
23,926 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
6,670 |
|
Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
2,278 |
|
Farm Assist |
788 |
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance |
252 |
|
Exceptional Needs Payments and Urgent Needs Payments |
9,693 |
|
Other Supplements |
988 |
|
Jobseeker’s Benefit |
4,371 |
|
Health and Safety Benefit/Adoptive Benefit |
10 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
2,662 |
|
Total Working Age Income Supports |
51,638 |
|
Community Employment Programme |
2,190 |
|
Rural Social Scheme |
171 |
|
Tús |
888 |
|
Back to Work Allowance Self-employed |
740 |
|
JobBridge |
517 |
|
Back to Education Allowance |
1,985 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
181 |
|
Short-Term Enterprise Allowance |
36 |
|
Part-Time Job Incentive |
36 |
|
Total Working Age Employment Supports |
6,744 |
Recipients of Social Welfare Payments in County Cork at the end of December 2014
|
Scheme |
Number of Recipients |
|
Disability Allowance |
13,752 |
|
Carer’s Allowance |
6,745 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
3,850 |
|
Respite Care Grant |
9,022 |
|
Illness Benefit |
7,386 |
|
Injury Benefit |
108 |
|
Interim Illness Benefit |
35 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
7,216 |
|
Disablement Benefit |
1,747 |
|
Carer’s Benefit |
235 |
|
Total Illness, Disability and Caring |
50,096 |
|
Child Benefit (Families) |
68,969 |
|
Family Income Supplement |
5,354 |
|
Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance |
16,102 |
|
Total Children |
90,425 |
|
Rent Supplement |
7,656 |
|
Mortgage Interest Supplement/Local Authority Mortgage Interest Supplement |
411 |
|
Total Supplementary Payments |
8,067 |
|
Grand Total |
265,925 |
277. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 37 of 2 April 2015, if she will consider a number of points and answer questions (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32038/15]
View answerThe legislative provisions pertaining to the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman (OPO) are contained in Part XI of the Pensions Act 1990, as amended. The functions of the Pensions Ombudsman, who is independent in the exercise of his functions, are set out in Section 131 of the Act.
The Pensions Ombudsman has authority to adjudicate on certain disputes arising under occupational pension schemes and Personal Retirement Savings Accounts (PRSAs). The legislation does not confer authority on the Pensions Ombudsman to adjudicate on employment or industrial relations issues, such as redundancy agreements. The determinations of the Pensions Ombudsman are legally binding on the parties to the complaint/dispute, subject to appeal to the High Court.
With regard to complaints referred to the Pensions Ombudsman it should be noted that the circumstances and complexity of each complaint can differ and contribute to the length of time taken to complete investigation and adjudication. It is also worth noting that the time taken to deal with a complaint runs from the date of first contact with the Office even where such contact was on the basis of a preliminary phone call or email query and a detailed submission from the complainant was not supplied until much later. In addition, it can happen that, in the course of an investigation, additional complaint issues are introduced or that the Office is asked to put its investigation on hold while alternate settlement or resolution proposals are being explored. Furthermore, cases appealed to the High Court are not considered closed by the Office until the date of judgement and the court process can take several years in some cases. Such delays, which are often outside the control of the Pensions Ombudsman, add to the time taken to complete the investigation into a complaint and can serve to distort the statistical data.
While it was recorded in the 2013 Annual Report that one case took more than 8 years to complete, it should be noted that from September 2003 to 31st December 2013 the Office has dealt with over 5,400 complaint cases.
In addition to providing formal adjudication on pension-related complaints, the Pensions Ombudsman has striven to be accessible and to provide assistance and guidance to members of the public experiencing difficulties with their pension.
The Office of the Pensions Ombudsman produces an annual report, which sets out relevant statistical details of the work undertaken by the Office, as well as examples of the cases dealt with and a commentary on pension difficulties experienced or potentially problematic issues that have come to its attention.
The Office operates an informative website and has produced several booklets and leaflets to assist the public in understanding the role and function of the Pensions Ombudsman in relation to pension-related complaints.
Following on from the publication of the Public Service Reform Plan in November 2011 which included measures to rationalise a number of state agencies, the Department of Social Protection was charged with undertaking a critical review of the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman.
The critical review was to consider merging the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman with the Financial Services Ombudsman. The Steering Group established to carry out the review concluded that a merger of the Pensions Ombudsman with the Financial Services Ombudsman was the appropriate measure to take thereby providing the consumer with a one-stop shop for queries on pensions and financial products.
Government approval has been given to the Minister for Finance for the draft Heads of a Bill to amalgamate the Financial Services Ombudsman and the Pensions Ombudsman and for the referring of the scheme of the Bill to the Office of the Attorney General for drafting.
As disputes relating to redundancy and other industrial relations issues come within the remit of workplace relations under the aegis of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, it is not proposed to extend the remit of the Pensions Ombudsman to such matters.
I have set out hereunder the age breakdown on cases on hands/dealt with.
Statistics
The annual report for 2013 shows 222 cases on hand at 31 December 2013. The age breakdown, in weeks, of these cases (i.e. the age at 31 December 2013) is below.
|
Weeks |
Cases open as of 31/12/2013 |
|
1 - 52 |
103 |
|
53 - 104 |
41 |
|
105 - 156 |
29 |
|
157 - 208 |
24 |
|
209 - 260 |
9 |
|
Over 260 |
16 |
|
222 |
1. The annual report for 2013 shows 75 cases were closed because they were outside the Terms of Reference (OTOR) of the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman. The age breakdown of these cases is as follows:
|
Weeks |
Cases open 31/12/2013 |
|
1 - 52 |
68 |
|
53 - 104 |
4 |
|
105 - 156 |
1 |
|
157 - 208 |
2 |
|
209 - 260 |
0 |
|
Over 260 |
0 |
|
75 |
2. The annual report for 2013 shows Final Determinations were issued in 70 cases. This is made up of 33 cases that were not upheld and 37 cases that were upheld. The age breakdown for these cases is as follows:
|
Weeks |
Cases open 31/12/2013 |
|
1 - 52 |
30 |
|
53 - 104 |
10 |
|
105 - 156 |
9 |
|
157 - 208 |
10 |
|
209 - 260 |
5 |
|
Over 260 |
6 |
|
70 |
278. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will approve and expedite an appeal for jobseeker's allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32055/15]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.
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.
279. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a community welfare officer has the right to enter someone's home without being invited in or when that person is not there. [32092/15]
View answerThe supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme is administered by designated persons formerly known as Community Welfare Officers.
As part of the process to determine a person’s entitlement to SWA, a designated person may carry out a home visit to the person’s place of residence, for example, to verify a tenancy for rent supplement purposes or to interview someone who is unable to visit his or her local social welfare office in person.
Designated persons making home visits adhere to Departmental guidelines on the making of such visits, including seeking permission to enter the house. If the Deputy has concerns regarding a specific home visit conducted by an official of the Department, I would ask that details would be forwarded for further consideration.
280. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the respite care grant by €200 from €1,325 to €1,525; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32123/15]
View answerThe estimated cost of increasing the Respite Care Grant by €200, from €1,375 to €1,575, is €18.55 million in a full year. Any change in the rate of Respite Care Grant would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
282. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the income disregards applicable to applicants for carer’s allowance and in particular in terms of spouse's employment income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32229/15]
View answerCarer's Allowance (CA) is a social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to people with disabilities who require full-time care and attention and whose income falls below certain limits.
The means test that applies to applicants for CA, assesses any income belonging to the carer and their spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant, including any property, (except their own home) or any asset that could bring in money or provide them with an income, for example occupational pensions, or pensions and benefits from another country.
In calculating means from employment for the carer and their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant, deductions are allowed for Employee PRSI, Superannuation, AVC, PRSA, Union dues and reasonable travel costs.
If a carer is married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting, the first €665.00 of the combined weekly income is disregarded, when assessing means. This is the most generous disregard in respect of spouse/partner income of any of the Department’s means tested schemes.
283. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of requests for payments under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme in 2015 to date in respect of requests for additional rental supplement over and above the standard rate approved in each local authority; the number of requests that have been approved for additional rent supplement payments; the number refused; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32275/15]
View answerRent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme currently supporting approximately 65,000 people at a cost of over €298 million in 2015.
Under the National Tenancy Sustainment Framework each tenant’s circumstances are considered on a case-by-case basis, and rents are being increased above prescribed limits as appropriate. Community Welfare Service staff have a statutory discretionary power to award or increase a supplement for rental purposes, for example, when dealing with applicants who are at risk of losing their tenancy or in danger of homelessness. In addition the Department, in conjunction with Threshold, operates a special Protocol in the Dublin and Cork areas where the supply issues are particularly acute, with plans underway to extend this protocol to Galway City.
This flexible approach has already assisted approximately 3,500 rent supplement households throughout the country to retain their rented accommodation. A county breakdown of this information is provided in the following tabular statement. Statistics are not available on the number of applications refused rent supplement increases.
I can assure the Deputy that where Departmental staff are notified of a threat of tenancy loss these preventative measures are implemented as appropriate.
Persons in receipt of rent supplement who may be at risk of losing their tenancy due to rising rents are advised to contact the Community Welfare Service dealing with their rent supplement claim as soon as possible. Persons in Dublin or Cork city are encouraged to avail of the Tenancy Protection Service operated by Threshold (available at 1800 454 454).
Tabular Statement - Total Increased Rental Payments by County at 30/08/2015
|
County |
Awards under National Tenancy Sustainment Framework |
Awards under Protocol with Threshold |
Awards under Rent Supplement Initiative |
Total no. of increased payments by County |
|
CARLOW |
7 |
|
|
7 |
|
CAVAN |
5 |
|
|
5 |
|
CLARE |
60 |
|
|
60 |
|
CORK |
92 |
34 |
|
126 |
|
DONEGAL |
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
DUBLIN |
1225 |
1075 |
84 |
2384 |
|
GALWAY |
53 |
|
|
53 |
|
KERRY |
15 |
|
|
15 |
|
KILDARE |
72 |
|
|
72 |
|
KILKENNY |
92 |
|
|
92 |
|
LAOIS |
76 |
|
|
76 |
|
LEITRIM |
30 |
|
|
30 |
|
LIMERICK |
6 |
|
|
6 |
|
LONGFORD |
53 |
|
|
53 |
|
LOUTH |
15 |
|
|
15 |
|
MAYO |
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
MEATH |
156 |
|
|
156 |
|
MONAGHAN |
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
OFFALY |
45 |
|
|
45 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
9 |
|
|
9 |
|
SLIGO |
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
TIPPERARY |
165 |
|
|
165 |
|
WATERFORD |
19 |
|
|
19 |
|
WESTMEATH |
66 |
|
|
66 |
|
WEXFORD |
6 |
|
|
6 |
|
WICKLOW |
36 |
|
|
36 |
|
Overall Total |
2304 |
1109 |
84 |
3497 |
284. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will examine and expedite a jobseeker's allowance appeal application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32276/15]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.
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.
285. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm that her Department's office will remain in Ballybay, County Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32314/15]
View answer286. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm that the proposed transfer of her Department's office from Ballybay, County Monaghan to Monaghan town will not proceed as planned, due to the much higher costs projected now in relation to the provision of appropriate accommodation in Monaghan town; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32315/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 285 and 286 together.
The proposed transfer of the Department of Social Protection’s Office from Ballybay, County Monaghan to Monaghan Town has not proceeded in the timeframe planned due to a complex property management issue.
Staff will remain in Ballybay for the foreseeable future and until this situation is resolved. The issue of costs, as suggested, is not a determining factor in this instance.
287. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when jobseeker's allowance will be payable in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32335/15]
View answerAccording to the records of this Departmental, the person concerned has not recently applied for a Jobseekers Allowance payment (JA). It is open to the person concerned to make an application for JA at her local Intreo Centre.
288. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of internal audit across her Department; internal audit's relationship with external auditors and audit committees, as well as internal audit's adherence to professional standards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32557/15]
View answerThe Department of Social Protection has an established Internal Audit Unit and an Audit Committee which operate under charters which were approved by the Department's Secretary General and Audit Committee. The Department's Audit Committee is part of its governance framework, tasked with providing independent advice to the Secretary General, as Accounting Officer, regarding the suitability and robustness of the Department's internal control systems and procedures. The Head of Internal Audit reports to the Audit Committee and Secretary General. Internal Audit management meet with the Audit Committee at least four times per annum and has full access to the Audit Committee and Secretary General as required.
The Office of the Comptroller & Auditor General (C&AG) is the Department's external auditor and conducts the audit of the Department’s Appropriation Account each year. Internal Audit provides copies of a) minutes of Audit Committee meetings; b) the Audit Committee Annual Report; c) audit plans and d) completed audit reports to his office, in respect of each year. Internal Audit management liaise with and meet with C&AG management on a regular basis. The Audit Committee meets with the C&AG annually to discuss their audit and other issues of common concern which may arise.
Internal Audit in my Department is guided by the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform determined that these standards should apply across all Departments and other Vote Holders and formally adopted them as DPER Central Government Internal Audit Standards 2012.
289. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide, in tabular form, by county, a list of the claimants of the coach tourism and transport scheme rebate for the use of green diesel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30449/15]
View answerI assume the Deputy is referring to the diesel rebate scheme. I introduced this scheme in 2013 to provide for repayments by the Revenue Commissioners to qualifying road transport operators of a part of the mineral oil tax paid on their purchases of auto-diesel for use in qualifying vehicles during the course of business. The scheme does not apply to marked gas oil, commonly called green diesel, and, in any case, the use of green diesel in the vehicles that qualify under the scheme is prohibited.
The Commissioners advise me that they are unable to provide a list of claimants under the scheme as the release of this information would breach taxpayer confidentiality and is prohibited under section 851A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. However, I am advised that 2,156 qualifying road transport operators currently avail of the scheme and €34.3m has been paid to date under the scheme since it was introduced.
290. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Finance in relation to agreements made with construction companies or developers in the National Asset Management Agency, who are remediating unsold houses damaged by pyritic heave, to enable sale of these houses, if this remediation complies, in all particulars, to Irish Standard 398 of 2013; and if he will put these agreements before Dáil Éireann. [30483/15]
View answerI am advised that NAMA has advanced substantial funding through its debtors and receivers for the remediation of structural defects, including pyritic heave, in properties securing its loans.
NAMA's debtors and receivers, like any other construction company or developer, are required to carry out all required works, including structural remediation, in accordance with statutory building and planning obligations.
NAMA does not have a role in the monitoring of these building standards, which is a matter for the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government and the relevant statutory regulatory bodies.
