Written Answers Nos. 120-129
120. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of weeks' holiday persons with a disability who are on unemployment benefit are entitled to; if their benefit is deducted from them if they are abroad for five weeks or more; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38986/15]
View answerThe jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker’s allowance schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative full-time employment. The 2015 Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseekers’ schemes of €3.01 billion.
Jobseeker customers can take up to two weeks paid holidays per calendar year. Jobseekers are entitled to payment in respect of their claim (including dependants where applicable) for the holiday period without being subject to the normal conditions of the scheme. These holidays may be taken abroad.
The claimant is required to inform the Intreo Centre two weeks in advance of their departure and to complete relevant forms. The jobseeker schemes are paid weekly in arrears with the customer certifying that they did satisfy the conditions of the scheme. Where a customer avails of the holiday option, payment continues to be in arrears, with the customer presenting to their Intreo Centre on return from holidays to have their payment for the holiday period issued. If a person goes on holiday for longer than 2 weeks, they may be paid in respect of the first two weeks, but are disqualified for any payment for time spent abroad in excess of this.
Recipients of certain schemes, for example Illness Benefit and Carer’s Allowance can continue to receive their payment during an absence from the State for the purpose of receiving medical treatment (or accompanying a person receiving medical treatment). This however does not apply to jobseeker’s payments.
Recipients of some schemes, including jobseeker’s payments, are not disqualified for time spent abroad in excess of 2 weeks in respect of any period during which they are representing Ireland at an international sporting event in an amateur capacity. There is no limit on the amount of time that a person may spend abroad engaged in such a sporting activity, but only periods of actual competition are covered. Training abroad is not covered, except in respect of final preparation and acclimatisation immediately preceding the competition.
An international event in this context means a competition such as the Olympics, Special Olympics, Paralympics, World or European competitions where the participants are formally representing their countries.
121. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if an application for a domiciliary care allowance will be expedited for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39005/15]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 22nd October 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.
122. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the current roll-out of JobPath services; the status of JobPath offices; if they are fully operational and taking referrals; when she expects all offices to be operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39010/15]
View answerJobPath is a new approach to employment activation that will support people who are long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. Following the completion of a public procurement process, two companies were selected to provide the JobPath service - Turas Nua Limited and Seetec Limited.
The roll-out of JobPath began on 20 July 2015. Jobseekers from the following offices are currently being referred to JobPath: Arklow, Ballina, Bray, Carlow, Carrigaline, Castlebar, Cavan, Clonmel, Cobh, Cork Abbey Court, Cork Hanover Street, Dundalk, Ennis, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick, Longford, Mullingar, Navan, Newbridge, Thurles, Tullamore, Waterford, Westport and Wexford.
The following offices are planned to go live before the end of the year: Achill, Belmullet, Bishop Square, Buncrana, Cahirciveen, Drogheda, Dungloe, Finglas, Letterkenny, Listowel, Newcastlewest, Swords, Tallaght and Tralee. The remaining offices are expected to go live very early in 2016.
123. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if the inspector assigned to consider an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare, in respect of that person's child, will arrange a time with the applicant to call to the applicant's house, given the applicant and the applicant's spouse attend numerous medical appointments with their child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39030/15]
View answer140. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in determining an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39167/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 140 together.
I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 7 September 2015 in respect of one care recipient; another application on 17 September 2015 in respect of a second care recipient and a third application on 3 November 2015 in respect of care of a third care recipient.
The application has been referred to a social welfare inspector (SWI) for assessment of the level of care being provided, assessment of means and confirmation that all the conditions for receipt of CA are satisfied.
The SWI will be aware of the circumstances from the information provided to them at the time of referral and, as normal in these cases, will make appropriate arrangements to meet with the applicant and the care recipients as they deem necessary in order to investigate all relevant matters.
Once the SWI has reported, a deciding officer will make a decision on entitlement in respect of all three applications without delay. The person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
124. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will examine and expedite an application for a review of a disability allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry, as all relevant medical information has been submitted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39031/15]
View answerThe person in question has been and continues to be in receipt of disability allowance.
Following a routine review of entitlement, the Department remains satisfied that the conditions for the scheme continue to be met by the person in question.
125. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision on a carer's allowance will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39046/15]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned. The application was referred to a social welfare inspector (SWI) on 6 October 2015 to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of CA are satisfied.
Once the SWI has reported, a deciding officer will make a decision on the application and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
126. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision on a carer's allowance will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39049/15]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 25 September 2015. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
127. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of extending the payment of a carer's allowance for six weeks, 12 weeks and six months after the person being cared for has entered long-term residential care. [39059/15]
View answerCarer's Allowance (CA) is a payment made to people who satisfy means and habitual residency conditions and who are providing full-time care and attention to a person or persons who requires such care.
When a care recipient is undergoing medical or other treatment of a temporary nature, in a hospital, convalescent home or an establishment providing residence, maintenance and care for persons with physical or mental disabilities, payment of CA may continue for a period that does not exceed 13 weeks.
However, where the care recipient enters a nursing home on a permanent basis, the CA recipient is no longer providing full-time care and attention and their entitlement to CA ceases.
Where the care recipient dies, CA currently continues to be paid for a period of six weeks immediately following the date of death.
Acknowledging that former carers of working age require an additional period to assess the options open to them in terms of up-skilling and employment opportunities without a perceived threat of loss of payments and secondary benefits, I announced in the Budget an extension of this period to 12 weeks.
As this is a demand-led scheme, it is not possible to estimate the cost of an extension as outlined in the question.
128. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when an application for a carer's allowance will be finalised for a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary. [39060/15]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 17 July 2015. It is a condition for receipt of CA that the person being cared for must have a disability whose effect is that they require full-time care and attention.
This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continuous supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.
The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer (DO) decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied and the application was disallowed.
The person concerned was notified on 10 September 2015 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
129. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when an application for a domiciliary care allowance will be finalised for a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39061/15]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person concerned on the 23rd June 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 9th October 2015 outlining the decision of the deciding officer to refuse the allowance.
A review of this decision was requested on 25th October 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. Once this opinion is received the application will be re-examined by a deciding officer and a revised decision will be made if warranted. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome of this review as soon as it is completed. Such reviews can take up to 12 weeks to complete at present.
