Written Answers Nos. 113 - 126
113. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if medical evidence identifies that a child with severe disabilities is in need of two full-time carers, why both carers are not entitled to a full carer's allowance, as that is what the child needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1224/16]
View answerCarer’s allowance is an income support payable where a person requires full-time care and attention. It is typically paid to a person, but where the caring duties are shared on a part-time basis in an established pattern, it can be paid to two people. In the case of the latter, the annual carer’s support grant will also be shared.
I should point out that there is also provision, where a person has an entitlement to carer’s allowance and their spouse, co-habiting or civil partner has an entitlement to another social welfare payment, for half-rate carer’s allowance to be paid in addition to the primary income support, and I have no plans to introduce any change along the lines proposed in the question.
115. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to approve and expedite an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Cork under the carer's allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1235/16]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 6 January 2016. 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.
116. Deputy David Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if all arrears due in respect of disability payments have been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1246/16]
View answerArrears of disability allowance which were due to the person in question issued on 21 December 2015. The amount of DA arrears due was reduced to reflect the amount of another social welfare payment which was made to the person concerned in the period in question.
117. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal under the carer's allowance scheme by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1247/16]
View answerThe person concerned is in receipt of Carer’s Allowance (CA). Periodically, entitlement to the allowance is reviewed to ensure that the conditions for receipt are still satisfied.
The continuing entitlement of the person concerned is currently under review. As part of this review, the person concerned was asked to submit evidence to show that the care recipient still required full-time care and attention and that evidence is being reviewed. It is important that all relevant evidence in relation to the care requirement of the care recipient is provided to the Department at the outset, in order to assist the Department to make a decision. Payment of CA will continue while the review is ongoing.
Once the review is completed the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
118. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the level of rent allowance payable to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare on foot of additional information supplied on 17 December 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1281/16]
View answerThe client concerned provided relevant documentation to the Department confirming their income from employment on 21/12/15. Subsequently the client's rate of Rent Supplement was re-assessed and increased accordingly.
119. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to grant a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 an extension to a community employment placement. [1292/16]
View answerThe Community Employment Programme is a labour market intervention designed to assist the long-term unemployed return to the work force. The term for participants on Community Employment has been set at 156 weeks (three years) maximum for those under 55 years of age by the Department.
The person concerned has been a participant on the Rialto Development Association (CE) scheme for almost one year, having spent almost two years previously as a participant on the Oblate CE scheme. Our records show that the person concerned will have completed 148 weeks in total on CE on 15 January. An extension request form has been sought from her employer so that her participation may be extended to 11 March 2016. As of that date she would have reached the maximum duration entitlement on CE. It is not therefore possible to grant a request from the Project Sponsor for a further extension on CE for the person concerned.
120. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if arrears in respect of an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick under the disability allowance scheme will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1307/16]
View answerThe arrears of disability allowance due to the person in question have been calculated. These arrears are currently being held by the department as the person in question owes a debt to the department. The department is in contact with the person concerned with proposals for the recovery of the debt. The recovery plan that will be agreed with the person concerned will include appropriate arrangements in relation to the arrears due.
121. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when an application for a person (details supplied) in County Clare under the carer's allowance scheme will be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1311/16]
View answerThe person concerned is in receipt of carer’s allowance (CA) in respect of one care recipient since 22 January 2015.
I confirm that the department received an application from the person concerned in respect of a second care recipient on 29 July 2015. The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer (DO) decided that this evidence did not indicate that the full-time care requirement was satisfied.
The person concerned was notified on 26 November 2015 of this decision, the reason for it and of his right of review and appeal.
The additional evidence in this case which was submitted by you is currently under review by a DO. The person concerned will be notified shortly of the outcome of that review.
122. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry under the disability allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1333/16]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 8 January 2016. 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.
123. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will urgently examine and expedite an appeal under the disability allowance scheme by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry, given that all relevant information has been submitted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1347/16]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 7 October 2015. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers have been received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 14 December 2015 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral 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.
124. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the discussions her Department has had with suppliers or service contractors to her Department or to agencies of her Department to ensure that employees of such suppliers and contractors are paid the living wage of €11.50 per hour; the cost of implementing this wage for these employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1378/16]
View answerThe Living Wage is a voluntary societal initiative centred on the social, business and economic case to ensure that, wherever it can be afforded, employers will pay a rate of pay that provides an income that is sufficient to meet an individual’s basic needs, such as housing, food, clothing, transport and healthcare. The Living Wage is voluntary and has no legislative basis and is therefore not a statutory entitlement and cannot be imposed on suppliers or contractors.
The National Minimum Wage is a statutory entitlement and has a legislative basis. This Government established the Low Pay Commission to annually assess the appropriate level of the National Minimum Wage. The national minimum hourly rate of pay increased to €9.15 per hour on January 1st following Government acceptance of the Low Pay Commission recommendation to increase the rate from €8.65 per hour.
Separately, wage rates and other conditions of employment are provided for in Employment Regulation Orders for the Contract Cleaning and Security sectors. These statutory Orders came into effect on October 1st 2015 and provide for minimum rates in excess of the National Minimum Wage, with €10.75 per hour payable to workers in the Security sector and €9.75 per hour payable to workers in the Contract Cleaning sector.
Statutory minimum rates of pay may also be supplemented by social transfers such as Child Benefit, Family Income Supplement or health, education or housing assistance payments where the need arises and to reflect family circumstances.
Companies tendering to supply goods or services to Government Departments are legally obliged to provide a statement confirming that they have taken account of their legal obligations relating to employment protection and working conditions relating to the provision of the services sought.
125. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when an application by a person (details supplied) in County Clare under the domiciliary care allowance scheme will be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1381/16]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person concerned on 28 July 2015. This application was not allowed as the child was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for the allowance. A letter issued on 27 October 2015 outlining the decision of the deciding officer to refuse the allowance.
A review of this decision was requested on 12 November 2015 and an appeal was registered on 16 November 2015. The application together with the new information supplied with the appeal 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. Such reviews can take up to 12 weeks to complete at present.
126. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when an application by a person (details supplied) in County Clare under the disability allowance scheme will be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1382/16]
View answerI can confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the above named person on 10 November 2015. When the application was examined by a deciding officer (DO), it was found that the application form was partially incomplete and that there was some other required documentation outstanding. The person concerned recently has been requested to supply the additional information required by the DO to make a decision on his eligibility. On receipt of this information a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.
