Written Answers Nos. 97-113
97. 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. [2880/16]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing in this case on 10th February 2016. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the 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.
98. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will issue a decision on an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare under the carer's allowance scheme as soon as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2885/16]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing in this case on 3rd February 2016. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the 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.
99. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare under the domiciliary care allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2889/16]
View answerThe person concerned applied for domiciliary care allowance in respect of her child on the 23rd October 2015. The application was not allowed as it was considered that the child did not meet the eligibility criteria for the allowance. A decision letter issued to her on the 19th January 2016.
In the case of an application which is refused, the applicant may submit additional information and ask for the decision to be reviewed, or they may appeal the decision directly to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. The person concerned has been advised of these options in the decision letter.
100. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of a pension for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10. [2915/16]
View answerResolution of any funding difficulties in pension schemes is primarily a matter for the scheme trustees, the companies participating in the scheme, the scheme members and the Pensions Authority. In terms of supervision and oversight, the Pensions Act provides the framework for the regulation of occupational pension schemes. The Act requires that trustees of pension schemes carry out the duties imposed on them by all law (including the Pensions Act) including the schemes trust deed and rules. Therefore, the trustees of occupational pension schemes hold overall responsibility for the correct payment of pension benefits and for member communication regarding benefit entitlements (and any change thereof). Accordingly, scheme members with queries should contact their scheme trustees in the first instance.
In order to seek recourse for any perceived breach of entitlement, the nature of any breach must first be identified. Any matters relating to compliance with the provisions of the Pensions Act can be referred to the Pensions Authority for investigation. Complaints appropriate to the Pensions Authority will be investigated by the Authority where there is evidence that a breach of the Pensions Act has occurred and the extent of such a breach.
This responsibility does not extend to the supervision of the trust deed or scheme rules. Remedies exist within trust law for any breach of the trust deed. A breach of the rules of the scheme resulting in a loss for the member would typically be handled by the Pension Ombudsman. Pension schemes are required to establish internal procedures for the resolution of disputes. These procedures must be exhausted before a complaint can be referred to the Pensions Ombudsman for investigation.
In relation to the State pension, to safeguard the sustainability of the pension system in the context of increasing life expectancy, the age at which a State pension may become available was raised from 65 to 66 from January 1st 2014. Whilst the State pension is not available before the age of 66, subject to the normal qualifying criteria, where people leave paid employment prior to reaching State pension age, they are entitled to apply for another social welfare payments (such as a jobseekers payment), which may be available until they become eligible for a State pension.
102. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision on an application under the carer's allowance scheme for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2940/16]
View answerI confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 9 November 2015. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
103. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if persons can backdate a payment under the domiciliary care allowance schemes for longer than six months if they can prove that they have been the sole care provider to the child in question for a time exceeding six months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2968/16]
View answerSocial Welfare legislation provides for the backdating of domiciliary care allowance (DCA) applications by a maximum of 6 months if a deciding officer or appeals officer considers that it has been shown that there was good cause for the delay in making the application. There is no legislative provision to allow for the backdating of a DCA award to exceed 6 months.
104. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare regarding a companion travel pass; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2981/16]
View answerThe additional medical evidence submitted in relation to an appeal for a Companion Free Travel Pass from the customer named above was medically assessed by a Medical Assessor on 22 January 2016. The medical opinion has been conveyed to Household Benefits Section, Sligo and the customer will be contacted in due course regarding the decision on his appeal.
105. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Louth under the carer's allowance scheme including when a decision will issue. [2996/16]
View answerCarer’s allowance (CA) is in payment to the person concerned since 13 September 2012 in respect of one care recipient.
An application in respect of a second care recipient was received on 9 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 5 November 2015 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
The additional evidence which was submitted with this question is currently under review by a DO. The person concerned will be notified shortly of the outcome of that review.
106. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a review will be completed for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo under the disability allowance scheme. [2997/16]
View answerI can confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the above named person. On 22 January 2016 the person concerned was requested to supply supporting documentation in order to finalise their claim. On receipt of this information a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified.
108. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding a community services programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3010/16]
View answerThe company referred to by the Deputy is supported by the Community Services Programme. Following a full examination of its operations in 2013, a number of concerns were raised relating to the outputs being achieved by the company when compared with similar operations nationally. The company was informed that the Department could not sustain the level of financial support should the level of outputs not increase. The funding contract included conditions relating to the need for the company to generate additional income and diversify its services to improve performance. Improved financial monitoring, risk strategy, structures, policies and procedures were also recommended to the board to improve the company’s operations. Pobal provided supports and feedback subsequently to staff to assist in meeting these conditions, including the offer of training.
Regrettably, there has been no noticeable improvement in the level of outputs achieved. The company will participate in a re-contracting process in spring 2016 for consideration of a further three year contract to cover the period 2017-2019. They will be invited to a regional support session in February 2016 and will receive a site visit from a development co-ordinator in the coming weeks.
109. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to confirm any proposed changes to the number of contributions required to qualify for a State pension (contributory) up to and including the year 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3058/16]
View answerThe State pension contributory is a very valuable benefit and is the bedrock of the Irish pension system. Therefore, it is important to ensure that those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund over their working lives. To allow the individual to maximise their entitlement to a State pension, all contributions paid or credited over their working life from when they first enter insurable employment until pension age are taken into account when assessing their entitlement and the level of that entitlement. Since 1961, when contributory pensions were first introduced, the average contributions test has been used in calculating pension entitlement. Once over 16 years of age, the date a person enters into insurable employment is the date used for averaging purposes.
To qualify for a state pension (contributory) a person must:
- have at least 520 paid contributions, and
- satisfy a yearly average condition (a yearly average of 48 contributions paid or credited is required for a full rate State pension (contributory), and reduced rates of payment may be payable for pensioners with lower averages).
There are no legislative provisions which are in place, or which are proposed, to change these rules before 2020.
Work is underway to replace the ‘yearly average’ system with a ‘total contributions approach’. Under this approach, the number of contributions recorded over a working life will more closely reflect the rate of pension payment received. It is expected that the total contributions approach to pension qualification will replace the current average contributions test for State pension (contributory) for new pensioners from 2020, although that date is subject to change, as this is a very significant reform with considerable legal, administrative, and technical components to be put in place prior to its implementation. There has been no decision on the number of contributions that will be required for a contributory pension under such a system. Any changes proposed will be subject to substantial discussion and consultation.
110. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of a review of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Laois under the carer's allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3093/16]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application for Carer's Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 24 July 2015.
It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the carer must be providing full-time care and attention. It is a further condition that the person being cared for must require full-time care and attention.
The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and a deciding officer (DO) decided that the person in question was not entitled to CA on the grounds that neither of these conditions was satisfied.
The person concerned was notified on 2 December 2015 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.
The person concerned has requested a review and submitted additional evidence in support of her application. The review is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
111. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons accommodated by the new communities unit at Gardiner Street, Dublin 1 during the years 2014 and 2015. [3095/16]
View answerThe New Communities Unit (NCU) of the Department of Social Protection offers assistance to families who are primarily non-Irish, homeless and generally without recourse to any weekly income. The main focus of this unit is to ensure that families entitled to same receive an income maintenance payment, under the terms of the relevant legislation, from the Department. In addition non-Irish homeless families have been referred to this unit directly by the Central Placement Service, operated on behalf of the four local authorities by Dublin City Council, and the staff in the NCU have facilitated booking these people into accommodation sourced and funded by Dublin City Council under Section 10 of the Housing Act (1988).
Information in relation to the number of individuals presenting to the NCU seeking emergency accommodation, and whether or not they are provided with or refused accommodation, is not retained.
With regard to details of customers accommodated however, the managers of the accommodations file returns with a Dublin City Council official and these returns would contain some details of the families concerned.
112. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if an alternative personal public service number will be issued to a new baby delivered to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick who is unhappy with the number provided on religious grounds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3104/16]
View answerThe Personal Public Service (PPS) Number is the individual’s unique reference number for all dealings with Government Departments and public bodies.
PPS Numbers are automatically allocated to children born in the State once the birth is registered within three months of the date of birth. The number allocated is randomly selected from the series of numbers available. In general, PPS Numbers are only changed where a person’s number has been compromised.
I understand the Department has written to the person concerned requesting further information.
113. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she is holding and if she will consider an application from an organisation (details supplied) in Dublin 24 for a new community employment scheme based solely with this organisation; if she is aware of the tremendous service this organisation provides; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3114/16]
View answerIn 2014, the organisation concerned made an application for a new Community Employment (CE) Scheme. At subsequent meetings with Departmental officials it was agreed that rather than establish a new CE scheme the organisation would benefit from the allocation of additional CE places under the management of another local CE scheme. This process was put in place with agreement from all parties and has been in operation since April 2014. No further application has been forwarded to the Department for consideration from the organisation concerned.
