Written Answers Nos. 130-139
130. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection whether a vetting process had been completed when assigning Seetec to support unemployed persons through JobPath given the allegations of human rights abuse and unprofessional conduct (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39063/15]
View answer131. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the inability of Seetec to provide an adequate and professional service to JobPath in County Longford; her views on the allegations of fraud; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39064/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 131 together.
JobPath 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 rigorous public procurement process, two companies were selected to provide the JobPath service - Turas Nua Limited and Seetec Limited. The companies will deliver services directly and will also engage a range of local subcontractors, including local training and employment service providers.
JobPath was designed having regard to international experience of contracted out employment services and taking account of inputs received at a number of open information fora and advice received from Irish and International experts. Significant safeguards have been built into JobPath. These include a service guarantee to ensure that all participants receive a baseline level of service as well as penalties for the companies if service performance or service quality does not meet standards. Both companies will be subject to regular on-site inspections and audits to ensure that JobPath is delivered in accordance with contractual obligations. It is also the case that decisions regarding a person’s welfare entitlements while on JobPath will be taken only by Department officials and not by the JobPath companies while the sanction process for clients on JobPath is exactly the same as the process for clients who engage with the Department’s own activation service.
In relation to the experience of the person in Longford, I have been advised that a letter was sent to the person concerned on 13 October inviting her to attend a JobPath group information session on 20 October.
The person concerned received a follow up phone call on 14 October to confirm the appointment but she said that was unable to attend the scheduled group information session. She was offered an alternative appointment on 27 October but again she said she was unable to attend. Arrangements were then made for her to attend an individual information session on 28 October which she duly attended.
In the meantime, the person concerned was interviewed on 19 October for a place on a local Community Employment (CE) Scheme following which she was provisionally offered a position for 19 ½ hours a week for one year.
While CE schemes are intended to help long-term unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce, by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work routine for a limited duration, they are not full-time sustainable jobs. A key objective of JobPath is however to assist jobseekers to secure full-time sustainable employment.
Participants on JobPath receive intensive individual support to help them address barriers to employment and to assist them in finding jobs. They will spend a year on the programme and if they are placed into a job they may continue to receive support for the first year of employment. During their time on JobPath they may also be referred for further education and training opportunities. Jobseekers retain their existing social welfare payment while on JobPath.
Given the circumstances of this case I have asked a senior official of the Department to review the person’s case with a view to assessing the validity of the complaint received and determining the best outcome for the person concerned. This review is currently underway.
132. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in determining an application for a disability allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39079/15]
View answerI confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the above named person on 17 September 2015. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
The processing time for individual disability allowance claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim.
133. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in determining the eligibility, for an increase in the payment of rent allowance from €750 to €900 per month, of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39080/15]
View answerThe client concerned provided relevant documentation to the Department confirming increased rent on 22/10/15. Subsequently the client's rate of Rent Supplement was increased as an exceptional measure due to extenuating family circumstances and will be subject to ongoing review by the Department.
134. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny, relative to that person's current means, will be expedited and approved. [39100/15]
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.
135. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when an application for a fuel allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary will be finalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39111/15]
View answerThe person in question is in receipt of an invalidity pension. An application for the fuel allowance was received from the person concerned on the 11/05/2015 and she has been assessed as eligible for the allowance for the 2015/2016 fuel season. Fuel allowance has been paid to the person concerned from the 08 October 2015.
136. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will examine and expedite an application for illness benefit by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39148/15]
View answerA claim from the person concerned was received in my department on 14 Oct 2015 seeking payment of illness benefit from 22 September 2015.
The claim could not be authorised immediately as the person concerned was being claimed for as a qualified adult on their spouse’s jobseekers allowance claim.
In view of this it was necessary to ascertain if the person concerned wished to claim illness benefit in their own right or remain as a qualified adult on their spouse’s jobseekers allowance claim.
An option form issued to the person concerned on 29 Oct 2015 for completion. This form was received in my department on 6 Nov 2015, and the person concerned signed a declaration requesting payment of illness benefit in their own right.
My department is making the necessary arrangements for the payment to issue to the person concerned.
137. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision on an appeal on a claim for a jobseeker's allowance will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39154/15]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 5th November 2015. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral appeal 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.
138. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Cork is entitled to illness benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39158/15]
View answerThe person concerned made a claim to illness benefit and this claim was received in my department on 21 Oct 2015. The claim was awarded on 2 Nov 2015 and the person concerned has entitlement to illness benefit at the maximum personal rate of €188.00. I am pleased to inform you that payment of illness benefit issued to the bank account of the person concerned on 4 Nov 2015.
The person concerned indicated that they have a spouse and child dependants residing abroad. My department is contacting the person concerned requesting further information regarding their dependents. On receipt of this information the case will be reviewed.
If the person concerned is unable to meet their needs or the needs of their household, they may be entitled to supplementary welfare allowance.
They may apply for supplementary welfare allowance to the department's community welfare service at their local Intreo office or local health centre.
139. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why a person (details supplied) with a disability has been discriminated against in respect of a disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39166/15]
View answerExcept in certain exceptional circumstances, disability allowance (DA) is not payable for any period in respect of which the claimant is resident outside of the state. On an administrative basis, DA allows for two weeks holiday entitlement in any twelve month period. In all circumstances, DA recipients must inform the department that they are intending to leave the state in advance of travel. No such notification was received from the person concerned.
Payment has been re-instated with effect from 11 November 2015. The department has requested travel itinerary from the person concerned in order to establish the person’s entitlement during that time. The person’s case will be reviewed on receipt of the relevant evidence requested.
