Written Answers Nos. 56-80
58. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of data protection breaches reported in her Department this year; the action she has taken to address these breaches; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45935/15]
View answerTo date this year, there have been a total of 42 reports of data protection breaches and suspected breaches to the Department of Social Protection.
In 18 of the 42 cases investigations were/are being conducted into alleged deliberate unauthorised access and/or disclosure of customers' personal data by staff members. In 10 of these cases no evidence was found of a data breach and 8 cases are still under investigation.
In the remaining 24 cases, data breaches occurred where customer information was erroneously and inadvertently disclosed to third parties (e.g., letters incorrectly addressed). In each case, efforts were immediately made to secure the compromised data, and the affected customers were informed. They were issued with a letter of unreserved apology and informed of their entitlement to contact the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner if they so wished. Local management examined work practices that led to the error being made and put measures in place to prevent a recurrence.
In each of these incidents, the action taken to address the breach was consistent with the Data Protection Commissioner's Personal Data Security Breach Code of Practice.
While every data breach is a matter of great concern to the Department, the number of confirmed breaches should be viewed in the context of the scale of the Department's business; during 2014, a total of 1.9 million applications were processed by the Department, a similar figure to that which is expected to be returned for 2015.
The Department takes its responsibilities in relation to data protection very seriously. Every effort is made to ensure that personal customer data is used solely for business purposes and that it is not compromised in any way. The Department has data protection and information security policies, standards, procedures and guidelines in place governing the use of its computer systems and customer data.
All members of staff of the Department are regularly reminded of their data protection obligations and the consequences of not adhering to policies such as loss of pay increment(s), loss of entitlement to enter promotional competitions and dismissal. Staff members are required to sign annual undertakings that they have read, and will act in accordance with, data protection policies and guidelines.
A high-level working group is in place to examine, and progress, all aspects of data protection compliance in the Department.
In June the Department ran its annual Data Protection Awareness Week for staff. Activities this year included a very effective short video on social engineering which was developed in-house and made available to all staff; a data protection newsletter issued to all staff; presentations were made to hundreds of staff nationwide and posters were exhibited in headquarter and local offices drawing attention to the importance of securing customers' personal data.
59. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she is aware of any double insolvency pension schemes whereby compensation will be payable to former members; if she has estimated the potential liability to the State in such circumstances; the action she plans to take in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45962/15]
View answerThe Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2009 provided for the establishment by the Minister for Finance of a Pensions Insolvency Payments scheme (PIPS) to provide for the payment of pensions, in the event of the wind up of a pension scheme where both the employer and the scheme are insolvent, at less cost than through traditional annuities, thereby making more scheme assets available for the pensions of those yet to retire.
Application for pension payments under this scheme would give an indication of the number of double insolvencies arising in the period since the date of enactment and which may make a claim against the State. The following lists the schemes which have applied to the Pensions Authority for certification as an eligible scheme for payment under PIPs.
Application for Pension Insolvency Payments scheme
|
Date Wind Up |
Employer |
Pensioners |
Actives |
Deferred |
|
29/06/12 |
Protim Abrasives Ltd |
17 |
0 |
45 |
|
19/07/12 |
Glencullen Holdings Ltd |
18 |
17 |
71 |
|
01/12/10 |
Mc Cormick MacNaughton Limited |
3 |
8 |
12 |
|
31/03/12 |
BHT Group Ltd |
117 |
62 |
259 |
|
28/06/11 |
McConnell Group Ltd |
13 |
0 |
41 |
|
28/06/11 |
McConnell Group Ltd |
3 |
0 |
1 |
|
31/03/09 |
Waterford Crystal Ltd |
162 |
262 |
337 |
|
31/03/09 |
Waterford Crystal Ltd |
475 |
269 |
544 |
|
30/06/09 |
Waterford Wedgewood PLC |
22 |
1 |
5 |
|
15/01/2013 |
Curragh Tintawn Carpets |
40 |
77 |
37 |
|
22/10/2012 |
Co-Operative Poultry Products |
0 |
0 |
58 |
The Minister for Finance has made provision through the pension levy to meet any liability that might arise in a double insolvency occurring since the ECJ ruling in the Robins case.
The Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Act 2013 amended the Pensions Act 1990 to address double insolvencies occurring after the 25 December 2013. No claim has yet been made in respect of any double insolvencies occurring since the enactment of the 2013 legislation.
60. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of the implementation of the Youth Guarantee, including the number of participants; the number of these who have received employment through the guarantee; and the amount spent implementing the guarantee to date. [46006/15]
View answerThe Government's primary strategy to tackle youth unemployment is to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting competitiveness and productivity. Economic recovery will underpin jobs growth and the availability of productive employment for young people.
The Government recognises that as the recovery takes hold, 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.
Within this framework, the Youth Guarantee sets a medium-term objective of ensuring that young people receive an offer of employment, education or training within four months of becoming unemployed. The main plank of the guarantee is assistance to young people in finding and securing sustainable jobs. There is monthly engagement with all young jobseekers. For those who do not find employment, additional offers are provided for. Most such offers (over 70%) are in further education or training. Others are in community-based employment programmes such as CE, Gateway and Tus, or through the JobsPlus employment subsidy for private employment.
Overall, the Youth Guarantee provided nearly 25,000 places for young people in 2014. This figure excludes some 24,000 places provided for young people through PLC courses and apprenticeships. These PLC and apprenticeship places, together with the wide range of vocational third-level courses provided for the young, although not reserved for unemployed jobseekers, nevertheless contribute to the spirit of the guarantee.
The following table details the expected full year intake on relevant programmes for 2015 as well the actual number of starters up to the most recent date for which data are available.
Youth Guarantee Progress 2015 Starters
|
Programme |
Expected full-year intake |
2015 information to date |
Note |
|
Youthreach/Community Training Centres |
3,300 |
2,168 |
As of end November 2015 (CTCs), May 2015 (Youthreach) |
|
JobBridge |
5,000 |
2,120 |
As of mid December 2015 |
|
Tús |
1,000 |
1,070 |
As of end September 2015 |
|
JobsPlus (including JobPlus Youth) |
1,500 |
721 |
As of end October 2015 |
|
Momentum |
2,000 |
1,053 |
As of mid December 2015 |
|
BTEA (excl Momentum) |
3,300 |
N/A |
|
|
BTWEA |
200 |
151 |
As of end September 2015 |
|
VTOS |
500 |
N/A |
Enrolment begins in September |
|
Former FÁS/SOLAS* |
9500 |
6,409 |
Based on Specific Skills Training, Traineeship, Bridging and Local Training Initiative starters end November 2015. |
|
County Enterprise Board Youth Entrepreneurship Training and Mentoring supports. |
700 |
N/A |
This programme has been superseded by Ireland's Best Young Entrepreneur 2014/5 competition |
|
Micro Finance Ireland micro-loans for young people. |
150 |
N/A |
Age-specific breakdowns not yet available. |
|
International Work Experience and Training |
250 |
8 |
As of mid December 2015 |
|
Gateway |
450 |
272 |
As of end September 2015 |
|
Community Employment |
500 |
686 |
As of mid December 2015 |
|
Total |
28,350 |
14,650 |
Excluding where figures are not available |
*FÁS – Former Training and Employment Authority/SOLAS – Further Education and Training Authority
*NB The figures above refer to the cumulative starters under 25 upon entry to the programme, from 1st January 2015.
Direct measures of employment from the Youth Guarantee process are unavailable. However, of the 61,000 young people entering full unemployment in 2014, 26,200 had exited to employment by June 2015, while an additional 8,100 exits were to unknown destinations, of which a significant proportion are likely to be to employment. An additional 3,600 took up education while 8,800 took up training opportunities. The expectation is that most of those taking up education and training opportunities will find employment on completion of the programmes involved.
Annual expenditure on the core programmes identified in the Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan was estimated at approximately €336 million for 2014, with a further expenditure on other relevant programmes (Apprenticeship and PLC courses) of €192 million. Actual expenditure on participation by young people on this range of programmes in 2015 will depend on the ultimate take-up of places, and can be estimated only after the end of the financial year.
61. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost of introducing a derogation from the habitual residency clause for returning emigrants. [46011/15]
View answer62. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost of altering the habitual residence test for social protection eligibility for those returning to care for elderly relatives by applying the habitual residence test to the elderly relative as opposed to the returning emigrant. [46012/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 62 together.
My Department does not maintain data on the number of returning emigrants who claim a Social Welfare payment to which the statutory Habitual Residence Condition applies. Therefore it is not possible to estimate a cost of amending the provision as suggested by the Deputy.
63. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to consider the apparent anomaly raised by a person (details supplied) in County Cork regarding the State pension (contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46016/15]
View answerThe social welfare system is primarily a contingency-based system, with entitlement based on a number of defined contingencies such as sickness, unemployment, old age or widowhood.
There are two basic principles which underpin the Irish social insurance system. Firstly there is the contributory principle. Under this principle there is a link between the PRSI contributions that a person has paid and entitlement to a varying range of benefits and pensions. Where a person has sufficient PRSI contributions, then benefits and pensions may be paid, subject to legislative provisions, where a particular contingency arises and without a means test.
Secondly there is the solidarity principle. Under this principle the benefits and pensions that are paid are not directly related to the amount of PRSI contributions paid by insured persons. PRSI contribution income is instead redistributed to support contributors who are more vulnerable. In this regard, it should be noted that some PRSI contributors do not experience all of the contingencies during their life. For example, one contributor may never require access to Invalidity Pension whereas it may be a crucial support for another. It should also be noted that access to Widow's/Widower's/Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension is available to those who have been married or in a civil partnership only, and that scheme will not benefit someone who has been single all their life.
To qualify for a Widow's or Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension, either the person claiming or their late spouse or civil partner must have a certain number of PRSI contributions. All the PRSI requirements must be met on one person's record - one may not combine the contributions of either spouses or civil partners. All must have been made before the death of the spouse or civil partner. Virtually all PRSI contributions count towards this pension, including contributions paid by public servants and the self-employed.
The purpose of the pension system is to provide a person with an adequate income. The rate of payment is set with this objective in mind, and the fact that there are a number of ways one can qualify for such a pension does not mean someone may qualify for multiple pensions. There is, therefore, a principle of one person, one payment, which generally applies across the whole of the social welfare system. Given the contingency-based nature of this system, it can happen that a person may experience more than one contingency at the same time. For example, an unemployed person may become sick. As a consequence, if a person experiences more than one of these contingencies at the same time, he or she can receive only one of those payments. This principle is common to social security systems across the world.
While there may be other arrangements regarding private pensions, those pensions would not generally have the solidarity based provisions common to social welfare pensions, nor the high level of State subsidy which exists for schemes financed by the Social Insurance Fund.
Amending the State pensions system, to allow two pensions be paid to one person, would be a significant change to the system, providing one person with the pension income of two people, and would greatly increase the cost of the scheme. This extra cost would have to be financed from either an increase in the rate of PRSI contributions, an increase in the Exchequer subvention to the scheme, or a reduction in the rate of payments. I have no plans to introduce such a change.
64. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the per-client fee that Seetec or Turas Nua will receive at the different stages. [46030/15]
View answer65. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the per-client fee for the harder-to-place category and for the easier-to-place category. [46031/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 65 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 public procurement process, two companies were selected to provide the JobPath service - Turas Nua and Seetec.
It is not intended to publish the individual fees that are payable to the JobPath companies as these are commercially sensitive and to do so would place the State at a disadvantage both in terms of the contracts now in place and any future procurement that may be undertaken.
66. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on extending the Christmas bonus to recipients of illness benefit who have been on this payment on a long-term basis, having qualified under the pre-2009 rules; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46050/15]
View answer103. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why persons who are on short term jobseeker's allowance who were recently on JobBridge are not eligible for the Christmas bonus whereas persons who are on JobBridge and are coming off a jobseeker's payment are eligible for the Christmas bonus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46362/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 103 together.
The Christmas Bonus was abolished by the previous Government in 2009. Last year, I partially re-introduced a 25% bonus, and this year, I was pleased to announce a 75% bonus for over 1.2 million long-term social welfare recipients, such as pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and long-term jobseekers. Illness Benefit was never eligible for the bonus in the past and similar arrangements apply this year.
While the short-term Illness Benefit scheme is not eligible for the bonus, recipients of long-term disability payments are eligible. In this regard, persons who are permanently incapable of work may be eligible for the non-means tested Invalidity Pension (subject to satisfying the relevant medical criteria). Persons who are substantially restricted in undertaking suitable employment arising from a medical condition may be eligible for the means tested Disability Allowance (subject to the relevant medical criteria). All recipients of both of these payments are eligible for the Christmas Bonus.
The introduction of new employment and internship schemes such as JobBridge, Tús and Gateway has given rise to a number of complex issues in relation to the 15 months requirement for Jobseeker's Allowance recipients to qualify for the bonus. Any jobseeker who was previously on JobBridge and who has not received the bonus should contact the local office who will examine their entitlement.
67. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will increase rent support for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare whose landlord has increased the person's rent to €1,250 per calendar month; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46069/15]
View answerI refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 227 of 20 October 2015. The client concerned has not, to date, provided the Department with the required documentation outlined in response to the previous Parliamentary Question.
68. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure persons whose payment from social protection is subject to a review are given an opportunity to respond to the questions raised before having their payments terminated, which can result in considerable hardship for families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46072/15]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware all social welfare claims are subject to ongoing review to ensure that the conditions of the relevant schemes continue to be met and where relevant, that the customer continues to satisfy a means test. Reviews can be triggered in many ways such as by way of a change in circumstances notified to the Department by a customer, information received by the Department from a third party or by way of a general review after a certain amount of time.
Reviews can take many forms but would normally include a review of the basic conditions of the scheme and possibly a review of the customer's means. Where a general scheme review form issues to a customer, it would be normal practice for the Department to accept the information contained on the form, as completed by the customer.
It is not the practice of my Department to terminate any payment without first contacting the relevant customer and requesting all relevant information.
Where the outcome of a review is to increase, reduce or terminate a payment, the customer is given details of the decision in writing. At the request of the customer, this decision can be subject to review by another officer or may be appealed to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.
Anyone who is under financial pressure can apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance which is subject to a means test and other qualifying conditions.
69. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the locations at which community welfare officers attend in County Kildare and the duration of such attendance in each area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46073/15]
View answerDelivery of Community Welfare Services in South Kildare, supported by an Integrated Reception service in Newbridge Intreo Centre, is operated through a telephone, postal and appointments based service. All customer contacts are responded to within one working day. Home visits or appointments are facilitated where necessary. Telephone lines are open at all times and contact details are set out in the following table.
|
Area |
Contact Number |
|
Athy - Castledermot |
087 9138246 |
|
Dunlavin – Ballitore – Baltinglass |
086 0202997 |
|
Monasterevin – Rathangan - Kildare |
087 9638588 |
|
Newbridge – Curragh – Suncroft |
086 7810420 |
|
Clane – Kilmeague – Prosperous – Robertstown – Allenwood |
087 2950536 |
|
Naas – Caragh – Sallins – Johnstown – Kill – Kilcullen |
087 7806165 |
|
Persons awaiting Jobseeker's or One Parent Family Payment Claims at Newbridge Intreo Centre |
087 6473528 |
In North Kildare, Community Welfare Services are based in Maynooth and Celbridge Health Centres, with an outreach service available in Kilcock Health Centre. A phone service is available for the client to contact the Community Welfare Service and a home visit can be arranged where necessary. The phone number for the clinics and emergency appointments in the Celbridge/Kilcock area is 01-6303100 and the number for the Maynooth and Leixlip areas is 01-6106143. Clinic opening times are as set out in the following table.
|
Clinic Location |
Opening Times |
|
Celbridge Health Centre |
Monday 10.00am – 12.00 pm Thursday 10.00am – 12.00pm |
|
Maynooth Health Centre |
Tuesday 10.00am – 12.00 pm Wednesday 10.00am – 12.00pm Thursday 10.00 am – 12.00 pm |
|
Kilcock Medical Centre (Outreach Clinic) |
Tuesday 10.00am -12.00 pm |
70. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of applicants for the carer's allowance and the disability allowance; the number who were initially refused each of these allowances; the number who were granted the allowances on appeal; the administrative cost to her Department of the appeals process; the cost of processing each appeal in each year since 2011 to date in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46080/15]
View answerThe number of carer's allowance (CA) and disability allowance (DA) applications received and disallowed for the period from 2011 to the end of October 2015 as well as the number of appeals processed from 2011 to the end of November 2015 are shown in the following tables.
|
Year |
CA claims received |
CA claims Refused |
CA Appeals Fully Allowed |
CA Appeals Partially Allowed |
CA Appeals Disallowed |
|
2011 |
17,758 |
6,421 |
726 |
117 |
1,645 |
|
2012 |
15,493 |
8,603 |
651 |
135 |
786 |
|
2013 |
12,060 |
12,410 |
990 |
131 |
1,505 |
|
2014 |
15,171 |
8,688 |
1,240 |
177 |
1,451 |
|
2015 |
15,297 |
8,258 |
1,233 |
141 |
1,268 |
|
Year |
DA claims received |
DA claims Refused |
DA Appeals Fully Allowed |
DA Appeals Partially Allowed |
DA Appeals Disallowed |
|
2011 |
24,264 |
14,116 |
1,699 |
131 |
2,928 |
|
2012 |
25,887 |
14,519 |
2,114 |
95 |
2,101 |
|
2013 |
20,538 |
14,691 |
3,882 |
84 |
2,842 |
|
2014 |
21,071 |
12,621 |
3,860 |
100 |
2,010 |
|
2015 |
20,925 |
14,333 |
3,102 |
80 |
1,599 |
I have been in touch with the Social Welfare Appeals Office which is independent of my Department and they have indicated that the administrative cost of the appeals process is not readily available.
71. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the average payment under the family income supplement scheme in 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46081/15]
View answerThe family income supplement (FIS) is designed to provide support for employees, with families, who have low earnings.
The estimated expenditure on FIS in 2015 is €349.2 million and at the end of November 2015 FIS was being paid to 55,148 families. The estimated expenditure for 2016 is €410.3 million.
The current average weekly FIS payment is €131.50. While an average weekly payment figure for 2016 is not currently available it is expected that the average payment will increase on foot of the increased income thresholds introduced in budget 2016.
72. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she has examined the feasibility of extending the family income supplement to those who are self-employed; the cost of this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46082/15]
View answerThe family income supplement (FIS) is an in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. FIS is designed to prevent child and family poverty and to offer a financial incentive to take-up employment as compared to social welfare payments. There are currently some 54,000 families with some 119,000 children in receipt of FIS. Expenditure on FIS is estimated to be of the order of €349.2 million in 2015.
To qualify for payment of FIS, a person must be engaged in insurable employment which is expected to last for at least three months and be working for a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight or 19 hours per week. Therefore, self-employed people are not eligible for FIS.
There are a number of factors that would have to be taken in to account in any consideration of extending eligibility for FIS to include self-employed persons:
- the practical difficulties in defining and controlling an alternative to the hours worked condition;
- establishing satisfactorily a self-employed person's hours of employment and certifying this on an ongoing basis;
- existing arrangements to provide income support to self-employed people on low incomes, such as jobseeker's allowance and farm assist for low-income farmers;
- the cost of extending the scheme to the self-employed would be considerable.
Given the above, I have no plans to extend FIS to the self-employed.
I would bring the Deputy's attention to the Back to Work Family Dividend, for which self-employed people are eligible. The scheme, which the Department of Social Protection introduced in early 2015, helps families to move from social welfare into employment, including self-employment, by retaining their qualified child increase for up to two years.
73. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the financial implications in 2016 of changing the eligibility for jobseeker's benefit from days worked to number of hours worked over the course of a seven-day week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46083/15]
View answer74. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the financial implications of basing eligibility for jobseeker's benefit on having worked 14 hours or less, 21 hours or less and 28 hours or less per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46084/15]
View answer88. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the full-year cost of replacing the three-day rule for the payment of jobseeker’s benefits with a sliding scale system determined by hours worked; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46211/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 73, 74 and 88 together.
The 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.
It is a fundamental qualifying condition of both schemes that a person must be fully unemployed for four days in any period of seven consecutive days. A person working four or more days a week will not qualify for a jobseeker's payment, even if they work only a small number of hours on those days.
The Department does not collect data on the number of hours a jobseeker works as this information is not necessary to make a decision on an application for a jobseeker's payment. In this context the cost associated with moving the jobseeker's benefit scheme to an hours-based system, as outlined by the Deputy, cannot be ascertained.
It is recognised that a changing labour market has resulted in a move away from more traditional work patterns, resulting in an increase in the number of persons employed for less than a full week. However, any changes to the current criteria, such as moving to an hours based system, could result in significant numbers of individuals becoming eligible for a jobseeker's payment with substantial corresponding cost implications for the Exchequer.
75. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost in 2016 of increasing the disability allowance payment by €5, €6, €7, €9 and €12; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46085/15]
View answer78. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost in 2016 of increasing all working-age benefits and payments under the auspices of her Department by €3, €4, €5, €6, €7, €9 and €10 per week in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46088/15]
View answer99. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the fuel allowance from 26 to 32 weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46322/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 75, 78 and 99 together.
The estimated cost in 2016 of increasing the weekly rate of Disability Allowance by €5, €6, €7, €9 and €12 is detailed in the following table.
|
Increase in the weekly rate |
Estimated Cost in 2016 (full year) |
|
€5.00 |
€33.0 million |
|
€6.00 |
€39.6 million |
|
€7.00 |
€46.2 million |
|
€9.00 |
€59.4 million |
|
€12.00 |
€79.2 million |
The estimated cost in 2016 of increasing all weekly working age payments (i.e. payments to recipients under the age of 66) by €3, €4, €5, €6, €7, €9 and €10 is detailed in the following table.
|
Increase in the weekly rate |
Estimated Cost in 2016 (full year) |
|
€3.00 |
€130.8 million |
|
€4.00 |
€174.4 million |
|
€5.00 |
€218.0 million |
|
€6.00 |
€261.6 million |
|
€7.00 |
€305.2 million |
|
€9.00 |
€392.4 million |
|
€10.00 |
€436.0 million |
It should be noted that the costings that are listed in the tables above include, where relevant, proportionate increases for qualified adults and those on reduced rates of payments.
The estimated cost of increasing the fuel allowance by 6 weeks, from 26 to 32 weeks, in 2016 and in a full year is €45.7 million.
76. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost of extending jobseeker's benefit to self-employed pay-related social insurance contributors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46086/15]
View answer107. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost of extending social protection supports to the self-employed and permitting such persons to opt into the existing class A structure, paying the rate corresponding to their income level. [46422/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 107 together.
Self –employed persons who earn €5,000 or more in a contribution year are liable for PRSI at the class S rate of 4%, subject to a minimum payment of €500. These contributions entitle them to access social insurance benefits, including State pension (contributory), widow/widower or surviving civil partner's (contributory) pension, guardians payment (contributory), maternity benefit and adoptive benefit. In contrast, a combined employer and employee rate of 14.75% is paid in respect of class A employees, who can then access the full range of social insurance benefits, including jobseeker's benefit.
The most recent Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund published in 2012 found that the effective annual rate of contribution for those on national average earnings, needed to provide the core full-rate State Pension (Contributory), (which is the main benefit currently available to self-employed contributors), is approximately 15%. This compares favourably with the 4% rate currently paid by the self-employed. The Review also found that:
- An incremental increase in contribution rates from approximately 15% to 16% would be required if Jobseekers Benefit in addition to core State Pension (Contributory) is provided.
- The average contribution rate required for the core State Pension (Contributory) plus the Invalidity Pension is estimated to be in the region of 17%.
Using a number of assumptions based on the existing population of contributors and beneficiaries, the report estimated the full year incremental costs of extending Jobseekers Benefit and Invalidity Pension to the self-employed, stated in 2016 terms, to be €76m and €93m respectively. This was based on the assumption that the incidence rate of benefit is the same as that applying to the overall population and assuming the extended scheme reaches full “maturity” in terms of the numbers of additional beneficiaries with immediate effect. Access to these benefits, and accordingly the costs associated with these benefits, would not arise in Year 1 as entitlement to such benefits can only be established on the basis of contributions paid in prior years.
In its 2013 report, the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare considered issues related to extending social insurance coverage to the self-employed in order to establish whether or not such cover is technically feasible and financially sustainable, with the requirement that any proposals for change must be cost neutral.
The Group was not convinced that there was a need for the extension of social insurance for the self-employed to provide cover for Jobseeker's Benefit. It found that almost 9 out of every 10 self-employed persons who claimed the means tested jobseekers allowance during the three-year period from 2009-2011 received payment.
The Group did, however, find that extending social insurance for the self-employed was warranted in cases relating to long term sickness or injuries, through the invalidity pension and partial capacity benefit schemes. In this regard the Group recommended that the rate of contribution for class S should be increased by at least 1.5 percentage points, payable on a compulsory basis only.
The Advisory Group also examined the extension of social insurance benefits to the self-employed on an optional basis. It considered that allowing people a facility to opt in or out at their own discretion could lead to the selection of bad risks. The whole principle of social insurance is social solidarity where everybody pays in and, if needed, cover is available. Allowing people to opt in or out could result in a negation of the social solidarity and contributory principles which underline the social insurance system.
It is not possible to estimate the costs associated with those self-employed who might opt to pay Class A PRSI on a voluntary basis. While I am anxious to expand the level of social insurance entitlement for the self-employed, any such change would have to be funded by an appropriate level of contribution.
77. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the average cost of activating a person who is unemployed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46087/15]
View answerFor each client the Department of Social Protection uses a different combination of the key elements of the activation model, according to the age (under or over 25), probability of exiting the live register (low, medium or high PEX score), length of unemployment (long term or short term).
The first intervention occurs immediately after the client is selected for activation. This takes the form of a Group Engagement session where a number of clients are called to a meeting with DSP staff. Following this the client is called for a one to one discussion with a case officer and a personal progression plan (PPP) is agreed. After the one to one discussion the client progresses according to the PPP. The process will also include a series of activation review meetings for as long as the person remains wholly unemployed. Following up on the PPP may include participation in a training/education course or in an employment or work experience programme.
There are many permutations in terms of routes through the activation process, and a meaningful 'average cost' of activating a person who is unemployed cannot therefore be estimated.
Some indicative costs are however available for the Department of Social Protection activation programmes. The cost for International Work Experience and training is €2531.73 per person. The average payment per week for a JobBridge participant during 2015 is €233.33. This equates to €9,100 for a 9 month internship (39 weeks) or €6,067 for a 6 month internship (26 weeks). The average weekly cost is €250.70 for Gateway, €264.36 for the Rural Social Scheme is and €253.09 for Tús. The average cost for the Momentum 2 programme is expected to be €3,447 per participant.
Costs per participant on training and education programmes are a matter for the Department of Education and Skills.
79. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she has made a decision on an application for disability allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46126/15]
View answerI confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the above named person on 30 November 2015. The application will be processed as soon as possible. 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.
80. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the full-year cost of extending the Youth Guarantee to those under 25 years of age who are in receipt of disability allowance and are currently excluded from the guarantee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46134/15]
View answerThe Government recognises the importance of increasing participation in employment for persons with a disability. To this end, the Department provides a wide range of work related supports, which in 2015 will cost an estimated €37 million solely for persons with a disability.
The Government's commitments to facilitating increased participation in employment for persons with a disability are reflected in the Comprehensive Employment Strategy. In addition, under the Comprehensive Employment Strategy an interdepartmental group, under an independent chair, will review and make recommendations on 'making work pay' for people with disabilities through examination of the complex interactions between the benefit system, the additional costs associated with work for people with disabilities, and net income gains in employment.
In addition, a young person with a disability is at all times free to avail of the Intreo service on a voluntary basis and a complete range of activation supports for people with disabilities is available at Intreo Centres.
Under the Youth Guarantee the main innovation in dealing with young people on jobseekers' payments relates to earlier engagement with this group than is normal under the general activation arrangements for unemployed people through INTREO. This means that young people on jobseekers' payments are referred to a caseworker, are engaged with more systematically in terms of their rights and responsibilities, at an earlier date than older unemployed people. For such young jobseekers, engagement with activation measures through the Intreo service is mandatory.
The current situation in respect of young people with disabilities who present at a DSP office needing activation/intervention type supports is that they are they are referred immediately to a caseworker within Intreo or at the Local Employment Service (LES). For such young persons in receipt of disability/illness support payments, engagement with the Intreo service is on a voluntary basis.
A caseworker working with a young person with a disability can arrange access for that young client to the full range of services and programmes that are available to young people on jobseekers' payments. This includes access to programmes such as JobBridge, the Back to Education Allowance, and Solas training for unemployed people. The Department is also currently considering how people with disabilities might best be included in any future iteration of the Momentum programme.
Young people with a disability are thus not excluded from the programmes and services provided under the Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan.
In addition, a caseworker dealing with a young person with a disability can arrange access to a range of additional services and supports that are specific to people with disabilities and are not available to other young jobseekers. These services and supports are as follows.
EmployAbility
EmployAbility is an open labour market initiative providing disabled people with supports to help them access the open labour market. It is implemented by sponsor organisations (EmployAbility) on behalf of DSP who employ Job Coaches to provide a range of supports tailored to the individual needs of a jobseeker. The ultimate objective is that the employee becomes independent of Job Coach support.
The Supported Employment Service under EmployAbility is an employment and recruitment service to assist people with a disability to secure and maintain a job in the open labour market. This Supported Employment Service provides a range of supports to employers and people with a disability, through Job Coaches. The range of supports includes:
- Individual Needs Assessment
- Vocational Profiling and Career Planning
- Individual Employment Plan
- Job Sourcing and Job Matching
- On-the-Job Support and Coaching
- Advice and Support to Employers
- Follow-up Support and Mentoring to both Employers and Employees.
The Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS)
The purpose of this demand - led programme is to increase the numbers of people with disabilities participating in the open labour market. WSS provides financial incentives to employers, outside the public sector, to employ disabled people who work more than 20 hours per week. The Scheme is structured in three strands. The employer can benefit from one or all, simultaneously.
Strand I subsidy is a general subsidy for any perceived productivity shortfall in excess of 20% for a disabled person, in comparison to a non-disabled peer. An employee must work a minimum of 21 hours per week up to a maximum of 39 hours per week. The rate of subsidy is €5.30 per hour and is based on the number of hours worked, giving a total annual subsidy available of €10,748 per annum based on 39 hour week.
Strand II is based on the total number of disabled employees in a company, an employer can apply for a grant to cover additional costs ranging from an additional 10% for 3-6 employees to a maximum of 50% of the wage subsidy for 23+ disabled employees.
Strand III is where 30 or more disabled people are employed, employers can avail of a grant of €30,000 per annum to assist with the cost of employing an Employment Assistance Officer.
Unlike other recruitment subsidies such as JobsPlus, WSS is payable indefinitely as long as the disabled person remains in the employment concerned. New Applicants for WSS who are currently on Disability Allowance may apply for DA Disregard in conjunction with the WSS provided the minimum 21 working hours per week WSS threshold is maintained.
Disability Support/Awareness
A number of different employment supports for people with disabilities are provided for under this heading.
A. Workplace Equipment Adaptation Grant
B. Job Interview\Personal Reader Grant
C. Employee Retention Grant Scheme.
D. Disability Awareness Support Scheme
Community Employment
The CE eligibility requirements for people with disabilities are not as demanding as for other Job seeker groups so as to encourage participation. Those on job-seekers' payments generally must be aged over 25 and on a payment for a year or more. Effectively a person in receipt of DA who is aged 18 or over can be in receipt of their payment for 1 week and be eligible for CE.
Specialist Training Providers
Apart from having access to the full range of training programmes for unemployed people provided through Solas, people with disabilities also have access to Specialist Training Programme provision specific to their needs.
Key additional features of specialist vocational training, as compared with programmes for the generality of unemployed job-seekers, include:
- additional training duration
- adapted equipment
- transport arrangements
- enhanced programme content
- trainer-learner ratio
- qualifications of staff
- additional opportunities for assessment
- individualised approach.
Pathways to Work 2015 includes a commitment to develop and evaluate options for the further extension of employment services to people not on the live register and to improve the promotion/communication of existing activation options for this group, and young people with disabilities will be considered in that context, if necessary.
In the light of the enhanced existing arrangements already in place for young people with disabilities, and their current access to all relevant programmes and services, additional costs do not arise from giving young people with disabilities access to schemes and services to which they already have access.
