Written Answers Nos. 70 - 80
70. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a file will be sent to the Social Welfare Appeals Office regarding a domiciliary care allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38764/15]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person concerned on the 20th April 2015. This application was not allowed as the child was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for the allowance. A letter issued on the 6th August 2015 outlining the decision of the deciding officer to refuse the allowance.
An appeal of this decision was registered on 25th August 2015 and additional information on this child’s condition/care needs has been supplied. The application together with the new information supplied has been forwarded to a Medical Assessor for their professional opinion. Upon receipt of the Medical Assessor’s opinion, the case will be further examined by a deciding officer, who will revise the original decision if warranted or alternatively, forward the case for consideration by the Appeals Office.
71. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if an intensive means test will be carried out for a family (details supplied) in County Kildare, given their need for social support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38767/15]
View answerThe client made an application for Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) on 19 October 2015. As JA is a means-tested payment, an assessment of the client’s means was required. Based on her husband’s income alone, after certain deductions and disregards were taken into account, she was found to be in excess of the maximum rate of JA for a family composed of two adults and three children. The claim was disallowed and the client was notified of this decision on 28th October 2015. The client has the option to appeal this decision up to the 17 November 2015.
72. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if there was an entitlement to family income supplement in the period during which a person (details supplied) in County Dublin received an overpayment of jobseeker's allowance when his spouse obtained employment and was in receipt of €350 per two-week period, thereby incurring an overpayment of €6,316.67 in the case of this person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38789/15]
View answerThe Family income supplement (FIS) is designed to provide support for employees on low earnings with families.
The person concerned has no current application for FIS and is not currently in receipt of a FIS payment.
The person concerned was assessed with a Jobseeker’s Allowance overpayment for the period 11 March 2011 to 25 June 2013, following a revised decision of his entitlement. The revised decision was made on the grounds that his wife had been working and her income hadn’t been declared and assessed. The decision was made under section 302(a) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005.
When considering if another possible Social Welfare entitlement (such as FIS) can be offset against this overpayment reference must be made to section 342(a) of the Social Welfare Consolidated Act 2005 (as inserted by Section 18 of the SW and Pensions Act 2011).
This section provides that the offsetting against a debt of other potential social welfare entitlements, during the period in which an overpayment occurred, will not be allowed in cases where the underlying revised decision was made under section 302(a) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005.
Consequently, in accordance with the legislation, the overpayment concerned cannot be reduced by any possible FIS entitlement during the period involved.
73. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 47 of 8 October 2015, the correct level of rent support applicable to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38791/15]
View answerThe client concerned has not, to date, provided the outstanding documentation previously detailed to the Deputy in reply to Parliamentary Questions No. 47 of 8th October and No. 5 of 14th October 2015. On receipt of this documentation the client's rate of Rent Supplement can be re-assessed.
74. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question Number 48 of 8 October 2015, if partial rent support will be offered in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38799/15]
View answerAs detailed to the Deputy in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 48 of 8th October 2015, the client concerned was found ineligible for Rent Supplement as he is in full time employment. Rent Supplement is not payable where a person or their spouse/partner is in full-time employment of 30 hours or more per week.
75. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if approval of a rent supplement increase will be arranged for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38801/15]
View answerThe client concerned should make an application to be re-assessed for entitlement to Rent Supplement to the Mid-Leinster Rent Unit, P.O. Box 11758, Dublin 24.
76. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if and when a payment under the disability allowance scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38802/15]
View answerThe application for disability allowance (DA) made by the person in question was disallowed by a deciding officer on 15 October 2015 on the grounds that, based on the information supplied in support of the application, she does not satisfy the medical conditionality for the scheme.
The person in question was notified of this decision, the reason for it and of the option to have the decision reviewed by a DO and of her right to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). If she requests that the decision be reviewed by a DO and that review confirms the original decision to disallow, she will retain the right to appeal the decision to the SWAO.
77. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason an exceptional needs payment for funeral expenses was not made to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38803/15]
View answerAs outlined in reply to the Deputy’s Questions Nos. 205 of 29 September 2015 and 53 of 8 October 2015, the person concerned undertook to provide written confirmation of the loan she received to pay the bill. This documentation remains outstanding to date. On receipt of same, a decision on the application can be made.
78. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to what extent the customer service charter operating in her Department extends to external contractors who carry out customer service elements and functions under her remit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38825/15]
View answerThe Department’s customer charter contains a commitment to deliver a high quality service to all customers. It outlines what the Department will do for its customer, what the Department expects from its customer, the rights and responsibilities of jobseekers and it also provides a mechanism for customer feedback.
The main contracted providers that deliver customer facing services on behalf of the Department are An Post, who make payments on behalf of the Department; the Local Employment Service (LES), Job Clubs and the JobPath companies (Seetec and Turas Nua), all of whom who provide employment activation services for jobseekers.
An Post has its own customer charter that mirrors the values set out in the department’s charter. LES and Job Clubs are required to adhere to a code of practice that is set out in the terms and conditions of their contracts while JobPath companies are obliged under their contracts to provide “service statements” that set out the minimum level of service that a jobseeker can expect to receive from the companies. The minimum elements to be included in these service statements were specified by the Department. All of our clients whether served directly by the Department or via a contracted service provider have access to the Department's own customer service complaint’s process.
79. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a former credit union (details supplied) building now that a new Intreo office has been established there; if her Department has identified space within the building that is surplus to its requirements; if this space will be made available for the use of the local community; if her Department has, or will, engage in public consultation on the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38828/15]
View answerThe development of the Newbridge Intreo Centre involved the relocation of staff and services from five locations which is now complete with 85 staff now in place. All office space in the building is occupied and additional customer service facilities such as Integrated Reception and Public Services Card stations have been developed. In addition, a training and conference space has been fully developed and equipped.
The Department is in regular contact with local groups and organisations and has to date facilitated a number of events for employers and is due to host a Kildare Leader Partnership event later this month. Local management continue to be open to working with local groups in hosting events subject to the Department’s business needs taking priority and ensuring that all security and data protection considerations are adequately addressed.
80. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare is entitled to an increased payment given her circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38855/15]
View answerFollowing a review of the entitlement of the person in question in 2014, she was awarded maximum rate disability allowance (DA) from 22 January 2014. An increase for living alone and a fuel allowance (when payable) is also included in her payment. Therefore, she is currently receiving the maximum level of DA to which she is entitled in accordance with her circumstances as notified.
The person concerned is advised to contact their local citizens information centre who may be able to advise them if there are any other forms of assistance appropriate to their specific circumstances.
