Finian McGrath
Question:11. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs what is being done for Traveller children in our society; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3215/16]
View answerTraveller Community
Questions (11)
Written answers
The Programme for Government commits the Government to promoting greater co-ordination and integration of delivery of services to the Traveller community across Government, using available resources more effectively to deliver on principles of social inclusion, particularly in area of Traveller education through the DEIS programme.
My colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality has primary responsibility for Traveller and Roma policy. The Department of Justice and Equality is currently leading a consultation process to develop a new National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy. This process will result in a new Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy 2016-2020 and a set of actions to bring about a real improvement in the quality of life for Travellers and Roma, including children.
Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, our major framework in relation to children and young people, contains a range of commitments to Traveller and Roma children, addressing issues such as health, education, and social inclusion. The State of the Nation’s Children Report (2014) includes a specific section on children in the Traveller Community on areas including nutrition, self-esteem, drug and alcohol use, family relationships, and feelings of safeness within community. The National Strategy on Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-making (2015-2020) contains specific actions to strengthen participation in decision-making by Traveller children and young people.
Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has a statutory responsibility to ensure each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education. Tusla's education welfare service, comprising the statutory Education Welfare Service, the School Completion Programme and the Home School Community Liaison scheme, are key supports for children who are vulnerable to early school-leaving and educational disadvantage including Traveller children.
Children and families from the Traveller Community who require additional support or are identified as vulnerable also avail of other mainstream services within Tusla. Tusla works in partnership with local authorities, the Health Service Executive and schools to ensure an integrated response to the needs of children and families from the Traveller community including public health nursing, disability services and other relevant services. Tusla funds a number of Traveller specific projects and provides counselling grants to organisations serving the Traveller community.
My Department also provides annual funding to support specific projects which are targeted at young Travellers and offer a wide range of programmes and services aimed at young people at risk and who are disadvantaged due to a combination of factors such as social isolation, substance misuse, involvement in crime, homelessness, early school-leaving and unemployment.
Preschool Services
Questions (12)
Robert Troy
Question:12. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when he will publish the implementation plan for the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 for children with special needs; and the arrangements in place to support children with disabilities in preschool services, given that the new disability support scheme will not commence until September 2016 at the earliest. [3206/16]
View answerWritten answers
I have been conscious for some time of the difficulty experienced by some children with a disability in accessing and benefiting fully from the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme. With this in mind, I requested that an Interdepartmental Group, led by this Department, be established with a brief to bring forward recommendations to address this issue.
The Group has concluded its work and its recommendations were fully accepted and funded by Government. I announced, as part of Budget 2016, the necessary funding to implement the new model with costs estimated to be €17.7 m in 2016 and with full year cost estimated to be €33 m from 2017 onwards. This Group has identified a practical, workable model for meeting the needs of children with a disability and the allocation of funding is clear evidence of the Government's commitment to supporting vulnerable children.
When established, the new model will focus on the developmental level of children with disabilities, their functional ability and their needs. It will not focus on diagnosis, recognising that many children may not have a formal diagnosis at the time of presenting to preschool.
The model, when fully operational, will deliver seven levels of support to enable the full inclusion and meaningful participation of children with disabilities in the ECCE Programme. These supports, which move from universal to highly targeted supports based on the needs of the child, include: enhanced continuing professional development for early years practitioners; grants for equipment, appliances and minor alterations, increased capitation for children with very complex needs, as well as access to therapeutic intervention.
Two groups have been established to oversee and implement the new model; a Cross Sectoral Implementation Group will oversee and monitor implementation, and a Project Group, which will implement the model for roll-out by September 2016. Further details in relation to this measure are expected to be available in June this year.
Until the new model is available in September 2016, my Department, the Department of Education and Skills and the HSE will continue to make a range of supports available to children with disabilities in ECCE.
Publication of the EPSEN Act Implementation Plan is a matter for the Minister for Education and Skills.
Child Poverty
Questions (13)
Mick Wallace
Question:13. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the specific measures he is taking to tackle child poverty; the targets he on his own and in conjunction with other Departments has set for reducing child poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3209/16]
View answerWritten answers
In recognition of the higher risks and life-long consequences of child poverty, the Government set a child-specific poverty target in Better Outcomes, Better Future: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People to reduce consistent child poverty by at least two thirds on the 2011 level, a figure of 70,000 children. Based on more recent (2014) data, this target has been updated to 100,000 children.
The Department of Social Protection has the lead role in co-ordinating Government strategies on child poverty and is the Sponsor of Outcome 4 of Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures - economic security and opportunity. It also has lead responsibility for the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion, and it has identified child poverty as a key cross-sectoral priority to be addressed in 2015 and 2016 under the Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures structures.
My Department is actively contributing to this multi-dimensional approach to address child poverty. Key to this is the importance accorded to the development of effective and quality focused services and support for children and young people. In this regard my Department, in collaboration with the Department of Social Protection, will hold an EU Peer Review next month to explore innovative responses in prevention and early intervention to improve outcomes for children - in particular those experiencing child poverty and disadvantage. This event will involve ten Member States and the European Commission and a number of key Irish Stakeholders.
Within my Department, there are also a number of specific areas of focus that support our response to child poverty. These include:
- Provision of €260 million annually on early childhood care and education and after-school support programmes which provide care to 100,000 children. This will increase to €345m in 2016.
- Provision of €29.7 million through the Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme (2013-2017) which is co-funded by my Department and The Atlantic Philanthropies.
- Provision of €51 million in the area of youth work services and supports.
Finally, as part of my Department's response, Tusla is responsible for the delivery of a range of services focusing on the welfare, protection and support for children, young people and their families which are key to supporting outcomes which assist in actively reducing the impact of child poverty.
Community Employment Schemes Operation
Questions (14)
Robert Troy
Question:14. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the discussions and agreement between his Department and the Department of Social Protection on changes and reforms to the community employment programme. [3204/16]
View answerWritten answers
Under new qualification requirements announced by my Department as part of the Early Years Quality Agenda all staff employed to work directly with children in preschool settings will be required to hold, as a minimum, a Level 5 qualification (or equivalent) in early childhood care and education. This new requirement will apply to all new services registering with the Child and Family Agency after the commencement of new Regulations in this area, and to existing services from 31st December this year. Following the introduction of these changes, only those staff who hold the necessary qualification will be in position to meet the adult:child ratio requirements in early years settings.
Officials from my Department have met with officials from the Department of Social Protection on a number of occasions to consider any impact the qualifications requirement would have on the scheme and on services. We all agree that quality in childcare services is of priority and that the Early Years Quality Agenda must remain the key focus in childcare services. The Community Employment Childcare Programme helps participants to upskill in a supervised environment. Community Childcare Services also benefit from the extra support in the early years setting. However, utilising CE participants as core staff within childcare services adult:child ratios is not best practice for either the Childcare or Community Employment areas.
I am aware that some Community Childcare Services have traditionally relied on Community Employment participants as core staff in their settings and that the new Regulations with the minimum qualification requirement will bring challenges for those services, once commenced. At the request of my Department, City and County Childcare Committees have established a project to examine the impact of these changes on the sustainability of community childcare services that are currently dependent on Community Employment workers to meet the ratio requirements. My Department has advised childcare providers who consider that the sustainability of their service is at risk as a result of this measure to contact their local City or County Childcare Committee immediately to discuss this matter.
There is no issue with Community Employment participants obtaining placement within the childcare services as long as they are not considered core staff members/part of the adult:child ratio.
Children and Family Services
Questions (15)
Bernard Durkan
Question:15. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he has evaluated the psychological impact on young persons arising from the economic downturn; how this is most regularly represented; if he has taken specific measures to offset such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3199/16]
View answerWritten answers
The National Longitudinal Study Growing Up in Ireland provides us with valuable information on a wide range of issues affecting children, including a better understanding of how they were affected by the economic recession.
A study that used data from Growing Up in Ireland examined the impact of economic vulnerability on the socio-emotional development of children. The data indicated a substantial increase in economic vulnerability for children over the period of the recent recession, and demonstrated that it had negative consequences for children’s social and emotional development.
Unsurprisingly, the study found higher risks of economic vulnerability among groups such as lone parents, families where the primary caregiver had lower levels of education, and families where the primary caregiver was very young at the time of the child’s birth.
The analysis points to the need for a continuing emphasis on education and skills, especially for early school leavers. It also demonstrates the need for the right mix of income support and services such as training and childcare, so that families can be supported through both immediate financial protection and enhanced labour market prospects.
My Department has a key role to play in promoting positive parenting and supporting families in difficulty. It also plays an important role in supporting high quality and affordable childcare, an area for which I secured an increase of €85m, or 33% of our existing investment, in 2016.
For parenting and family support, my Department published the High Level Policy Statement on Supporting Parents and Families last April, which provides the context for considerable work being done in this area by Tusla. In addition to its important child protection and welfare functions, Tusla also works to support all families in universal programmes such as Parenting24seven.
For families in difficulty, Tusla's Meitheal programme is a valuable national practice model for assessing the needs of children and families that come to the attention of practitioners and communities. It focuses on early responses to help prevent family problems from reaching a stage where they might otherwise require more specialised supports.
There is no doubt that the recent recession was an extremely difficult time for all children and families, but particularly those in vulnerable situations. The Growing up in Ireland data provide us with an important insight into the nature of the challenges they have faced, and it is vital that all Government policies are appropriately tailored to meet their needs.
Preschool Services
Questions (16)
Robert Troy
Question:16. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his negotiations and discussions with the preschool sector regarding the capacity within existing preschools to handle the extension to the preschool year commencing in September 2016, including if there are any gaps in capacity and in what counties these are. [3207/16]
View answerWritten answers
Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the considerable support of the childcare sector and the flexibility of childcare providers and staff in ensuring that the range of childcare support programmes administered by my Department are implemented.
At present, the Early Childhood Care and Education Programme covers children who have reached the age of 3 years and 2 months by 1st September of the relevant year. From September 2016, I am expanding this Programme to allow children enrol in free pre-school from the time they are 3 years of age and to remain there until they start primary school.
Following the Budget announcement, I met with senior representatives from the early years sector to discuss the measures that were announced as part of the Budget package. The meeting was positive and constructive, with all parties expressing commitment to work together on the issues of capacity and high quality pre-school provision.
As a result of the Budget extension, the number of children benefiting from the Programme is expected to rise from around 67,000 to 127,000 in a given programme year. For the 2016/17 programme year, it is estimated that 89,500 children will be eligible to enrol in the Programme from September 2016, an additional 22,000 from January 2017 and a further 15,500 from April 2017.
I decided to introduce this new measure from September 2016 in order to provide the early years sector with the time to build capacity to meet the increased demand. As the increased demand for the Programme is not expected to peak until April 2017, this timeframe should allow preschool providers to make any necessary infrastructural or service changes and to put in place extra staff resources to accommodate the additional demand.
I am satisfied that there is already additional capacity in the early years sector to cope with some of the increased demand. The Annual Survey of Early Years Services, which was conducted in December 2014, estimates that there are more than 24,000 vacancies in early years services across the country with almost 13,000 of these vacancies in sessional services.
I am also aware that every year a significant number of new preschool providers apply to participate in this Programme. This increased demand for, and additional investment in, free preschool provision should encourage a greater numbers of applicants.
It is clear that more capacity will be required. Officials in my Department are working closely with the City and County Childcare Committees and the Voluntary Childcare Organisations to identify measures to help increase capacity.
Ombudsman for Children Remit
Questions (17)
Mick Wallace
Question:17. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will extend the mandate of the Office of the Ombudsman for Children in order that it can receive complaints from children in direct provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3210/16]
View answerWritten answers
The direct provision system is under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality.
The Minister for Justice and Equality has previously addressed, among other issues, the question of the Ombudsman for Children being given jurisdiction in the direct provision system and for the Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) to be allowed inspect direct provision hostels. In replying, the Minister made reference to provisions in both the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002 and Ombudsman Act 1980 which excludes either Ombudsman from investigating any action taken by or on behalf of a person in the administration of law relating to asylum.
The Department of Justice and Equality established a working group to review a range of issues pertaining to asylum seekers and direct provision. The Working Group on the Protection Process was chaired by Judge Bryan McMahon and consisted of children's rights advocates, organisations engaged with asylum groups and representatives from a range of relevant Government departments, including a representative from my own Department. The Report of the Working Group on the Protection Process was published in June 2015. It included a recommendation that the remit of the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children should be extended to complaints relating to services to residents of direct provision accommodation centres and to transfer decisions following breach of rules. The report and its recommendations are currently being considered by my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald.
The Deputy may wish to note that the Ombudsman for Children identified the lengthy period of time that families spend in direct provision as a key concern, and it is one which would help to address many of the problems experienced in the system. The recent enactment of the International Protection Act 2015 greatly simplifies the process for those in direct provision, and aims to reduce the time spent there significantly.
Early Childhood Care Education
Questions (18)
Robert Troy
Question:18. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the assurances he will provide that services will be able to extend the provision offered under the early childhood care and education scheme, given the concern expressed by preschool services regarding their unsustainability under the current 38-week capitation system. [3208/16]
View answerWritten answers
Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the considerable support of the childcare sector and the flexibility of childcare providers and staff in ensuring that the range of childcare support programmes administered by my Department are implemented.
At present, the Early Childhood Care and Education Programme covers children who have reached the age of 3 years and 2 months by 1st September of the relevant year. From September 2016, I am expanding this Programme to allow children enrol in free preschool from the time they are 3 years of age and to remain there until they start primary school. As a result of this extension, the number of children benefiting from the Programme is expected to rise from around 67,000 to 127,000 in a given programme year, which represents an opportunity for the sector to increase income by 60% on average.
I decided to introduce this new measure from September 2016. As the increased demand for the Programme is not expected to peak until April 2017, this timeframe should allow preschool providers to make any necessary infrastructural or service changes and to put in place extra staff resources to accommodate the additional demand. I am satisfied that there is already additional capacity in the early years sector to cope with some of the increased demand.
I am also aware that every year a significant number of new preschool providers apply to participate in this Programme. This increased demand for, and additional investment in, free preschool provision should encourage a greater numbers of applicants, although clearly additional capacity will be required.
I am restoring capitation rates to pre-2012 levels from September 2016. This increase, which will bring capitation to as much as €2,850 per year for each eligible child, is a guaranteed source of income and a major support for preschool providers. This was particularly evident in the difficult economic climate that prevailed in recent years when many parents would not have been in a position to avail of preschool for their children. Additional capitation for preschool providers, announced as part of the suite of Government-funded supports for children with a disability accessing the ECCE Programme, is another measure that will assist in addressing issues of sustainability for preschool providers.
I met with senior representatives from the early years sector to discuss, among other issues, the measures that were announced as part of the Budget 2016 package. The meeting was positive and constructive, with all parties expressing commitment to work together on the issues of capacity and high quality preschool provision. My Department will be working closely with the early years sector to build capacity in time for the first intake in September 2016, and for subsequent increased availability in January and April 2017.
Child Protection
Questions (19)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:19. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if there are child protection issues for homeless children and children living in emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3200/16]
View answerWritten answers
I am keenly aware that homelessness is very disruptive to normal family life and is a major issue that this Government is intent on tackling. Homelessness can have a negative impact on a child's education and welfare including their sense of security. My colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, with the local authorities, is working hard to address this problem.
Homelessness as part of a family group is not, in of itself, a basis for receiving a child into care. Parents remain their children’s primary carer. Tusla's main role is to provide family support, in the same way as it does for families in the general community, by providing guidance and parenting supports through its locally based services.
Where Tusla identifies underlying problems such as parental mental health, addiction or parenting problems, it can refer the family to the appropriate service or provide the support and oversight needed to ensure the welfare and protection of the children. Tusla has regular meetings with Focus Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and Dublin City Council to identify vulnerable families in order to support them as best they can.
Where there are child protection concerns, these should be reported immediately to Tusla for appropriate response. The reporting of these concerns to Tusla is governed by Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2011).
Children who are not in the care of their parent/s or guardians and present as out of home to emergency services have their needs assessed and, if appropriate, are received into care under the Child Care Act 1991.
Social Insurance Yield
Questions (20)
Dara Calleary
Question:20. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the projected increase in the yield from employer's pay related social insurance, further to the increase in the minimum wage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3467/16]
View answerWritten answers
The minimum wage was restored to €8.65 per hour shortly after this Government came into office. Employer PRSI was payable at the lower 8.5% rate where, for example, an employee worked a 39 hour week at the minimum wage.
The Low Pay Commission was established by this Government in early 2015 and was a key commitment in the Statement of Priorities agreed by the Taoiseach and myself in 2014. In particular, the Commission makes recommendations to the relevant Minister regarding the level of the national minimum hourly rate of pay without, inter alia, creating significant adverse consequences for employment or competitiveness.
The Commission reported last July on this issue and the Government was pleased to implement its recommendation of an increase in the hourly minimum wage to €9.15 with effect from this January. In making this recommendation the Commission was concerned that, without an adjustment in employer PRSI, an increase in the minimum wage rate would have a major impact, particularly on small business costs as the employment of a minimum wage worker for a 39 hour week would now attract the higher Employer PRSI rate of 10.75% (the higher rate commenced at earnings of €356 per week).
In Budget 2016, it was announced that, from 1 January this year, the upper threshold for paying the 8.5% Class A rate of employer PRSI would be increased from €356 to €376 per week and this was provided for in the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2015 enacted in December 2015. The increase in this threshold addresses the concerns highlighted by the Low Pay Commission on this issue and ensures that employers with employees benefiting from the increased minimum wage continue to attract the lower 8.5% rate of employer PRSI.
This measure is estimated to cost circa €17 million in a full year and will benefit employers by between €8.01 to €8.46 per week in respect some 88,000 employments. It is important to note that the measure benefits all employers with employees currently earning between €356 and €376 per week including those who are not necessarily on the minimum wage e.g. employees working for less than a full week but at hourly rates in excess of the minimum wage.
It is not possible to estimate the projected increase in the yield from Employers PRSI in respect of those benefiting from the minimum wage as PRSI and earnings data reported by employers does not include the number of hours worked by, or the hourly wage of, an individual employee.
In addition to the above changes to Employer PRSI, the Government also decreased the PRSI liability for employees earning between €352 and €424 per week through the introduction of a new PRSI credit. This can benefit some employees by up to €12 per week.
The employer and employee PRSI changes outlined above were enacted by the Oireachtas in December and came into effect in January.
State Pensions Payments
Questions (21)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:21. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of State pensions (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3479/16]
View answerWritten answers
On Budget Day, I was pleased to announce a €3 weekly rate increase for pensioners aged 66 and over, which represents the first increase in weekly rates in seven years. This increase applied to those on the maximum personal rate of payment e.g. the State Pension Contributory (SPC) rate increased from €230.30 to €233.30 per week, and the State Pension Non Contributory rate increased from €219 to €222 per week.
Proportionate increases applied for qualified adults and for those on reduced rates of pensions. In this regard, qualified adults on SPC aged 66 or over gain €2.70 per week (from €206.30 to €209 per week), while qualified adults aged under 66 in receipt of SPC or SPNC gain by €2 per week. The policy adopted in this regard is the long-standing practice for rate increases.
It should also be noted that the rate of the qualified adult payment payable where the qualified adult is aged 66 or over is equivalent to over 88% of the personal rate of payment or far higher than the proportion which apples to other qualified adult rates of payment (normally around 66%). In addition, all persons aged 66 and over (including those who are qualified adults) are eligible to apply for the means-tested State pension non-contributory and, depending on the means of the couple, may be eligible to receive a rate of this pension higher than the qualified adult weekly rate the State pension contributory.
Budget 2016 contained a number of other welfare measures of benefit to pensioners. A pensioner couple in receipt of the maximum rate of the State Pension Contributory would have received a 75% Christmas Bonus of €327.50 in the first week of December 2015. In addition, pensioners may also have benefited from the increase in Fuel Allowance from €20 to €22.50 per week for the duration of the fuel season.
Invalidity Pension Eligibility
Questions (22)
Robert Troy
Question:22. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application by a person (details supplied) under the invalidity pension scheme. [3497/16]
View answerWritten answers
Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
The Department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on the16 November 2015. The person concerned was refused IP on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. She was notified on the 26 January 2016 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.
Carer's Allowance Applications
Questions (23)
Robert Troy
Question:23. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme. [3500/16]
View answerWritten answers
Carer's Allowance (CA) is a social assistance payment made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a relevant person/persons and whose income falls below certain limits.
The Department informs me that to date, no application by the person concerned for CA has been received.
Accordingly, I have arranged for an application form (CR1) to issue, which the person concerned should complete and return as soon as possible, in order that the Department may determine their entitlement to CA. If the person in question has already submitted an application in the past few days, there is no need to resubmit a new application and the Department will be in touch in relation to the application in due course.
Carer's Allowance Applications
Questions (24)
Robert Troy
Question:24. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme. [3501/16]
View answerWritten answers
I confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 8 July 2015.
The application was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of CA are satisfied. The inspector interviewed the person concerned in December 2015 but the investigation could not be completed as the carer was going on holidays. Once the SWI has reported, a DO will make a decision and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
Invalidity Pension Eligibility
Questions (25)
Robert Troy
Question:25. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application by a person (details supplied) under the invalidity pension scheme. [3503/16]
View answerWritten answers
Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
The Department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on 9 December 2015. The person concerned was refused IP on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. She was notified on the 25 January 2016 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.
Carer's Allowance Applications
Questions (26)
Robert Troy
Question:26. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme. [3504/16]
View answerWritten answers
I confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 4 December 2015. The application is currently being examined by a deciding officer and the Department will be in touch with the person concerned in due course.
Carer's Allowance Applications
Questions (27)
Robert Troy
Question:27. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme. [3505/16]
View answerWritten answers
I confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 11 November 2015.
Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
Carer's Allowance Applications
Questions (28)
Robert Troy
Question:28. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme. [3506/16]
View answerWritten answers
I confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 4 November 2015. The application is currently being examined by a deciding officer who will be in contact with the person in question in relation to the application in due course.
Carer's Allowance Applications
Questions (29)
Robert Troy
Question:29. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme. [3507/16]
View answerWritten answers
I confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 16 October 2015. Additional information necessary to decide upon eligibility but which was omitted from the application was requested by a deciding officer on 15 January 2016. Once the information is received the application will be processed without delay and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
Carer's Allowance Appeals
Questions (30)
Robert Troy
Question:30. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme. [3508/16]
View answerWritten answers
I confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 28 July 2015. The person concerned was refused CA on the grounds that she was not providing full-time care and attention as required.
The person concerned was notified on 24 September 2015 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
The person concerned requested a review of this decision. Additional information in relation to the person’s circumstances has been requested by the deciding officer. Once the information is received the application will be processed and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome of the review.
Carer's Allowance Applications
Questions (31)
Robert Troy
Question:31. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme. [3509/16]
View answerWritten answers
The application for carer’s allowance in respect of the person concerned was awarded on 18 January 2016 and the first payment is due to issue to the person’s nominated post office account on 4 February 2016.
Any arrears of allowance due (less any overlapping social welfare payment and/or outstanding overpayment) will issue shortly.
Social Welfare Appeals
Questions (32)
Noel Harrington
Question:32. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when she will submit the file to the social welfare appeals office, as requested on 15 December 2015, in respect of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3521/16]
View answerWritten answers
The person concerned appealed the means decision on 25 November 2015. The letter accompanying the appeal contained information which conflicted with previous information provided. The papers of the person concerned have been forwarded to the Social Welfare Inspector for further investigation.
On completion of the inspector investigation the report will be forwarded to the Deciding Officer for further consideration. The Deciding Officer will revise the decision or refer the matter to the Social Welfare Appeals Office as soon as possible.