Written Answers Nos. 150 - 164
150. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application by a person (details supplied) in County Longford under the carer's allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4440/16]
View answer152. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application by a person (details supplied) in County Longford under the carer's allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4442/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 150 and 152 together.
I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 21 January 2016. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
151. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application by a person (details supplied) in County Longford under the domiciliary care allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4441/16]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on 21 January 2016. This application has been forwarded to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors for their medical opinion. Following receipt of this opinion, a decision will be made by a Deciding Officer and notified to the person concerned. It can currently take 12 weeks to process an application for DCA.
153. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application by a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath under the illness benefit scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4443/16]
View answerThe person in question was receiving illness benefit (IB) up until 4 December 2015, when they reached the maximum duration of their entitlement to payment of IB.
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.
Disability allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged over 16 and under 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency test.
The department received on 21 January 2016 from the person concerned, claims in respect of both IP and DA. The claims will be processed as quickly as possible and the person in question will be notified directly of the outcome of each claim.
154. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Offaly under the invalidity pension scheme, including when the person will receive a decision. [4597/16]
View answerInvalidity 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.
A claim for IP was received from the person concerned on the 30 July 2015. A deciding officer (DO) refused IP to the person concerned on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. She was notified on the 20 November 2015 of the decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
The person concerned requested a review of the decision and submitted further medical evidence in support of her request. Following a review of all the information available, the DO revised his/her decision to confirm that the person concerned satisfies the medical conditions for the scheme.
In order to finalise the claim, the DO has requested from the person concerned some additional information necessary to decide eligibility. On receipt of that information, a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.
155. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Laois under the domiciliary care allowance, including when the person will receive a decision. [4598/16]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person concerned on 7 August 2015. This application was not allowed as the child was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for the allowance. A letter issued on 3 November 2015 outlining the decision of the deciding officer to refuse the allowance.
A request for a review of this decision was received on 14 December 2015 and additional information on this child’s condition/care needs has been supplied. The application together with the new information supplied has been forwarded to a medical assessor for their professional opinion. Once this opinion is received the application will be re-examined by a deciding officer and a revised decision will be made if warranted. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome of this review as soon as it is completed. Such reviews can take up to 12 weeks to complete at present.
157. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Offaly under the carer's allowance scheme, including when the person will receive a decision. [4600/16]
View answerCarer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has a disability such that they require that level of care.
I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 20 January 2015 in respect of her husband.
That application was refused on the grounds that the evidence submitted did not show that the person being cared for required full-time care and attention.
The person concerned appealed that decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office but that appeal was disallowed on 21 August 2015.
Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of an Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed in the light of relevant additional evidence or new facts.
The person concerned submitted a new application for CA on 30 October 2015 in respect of her husband and another care recipient.
The application was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 11 January 2016 to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied. Once the SWI has reported, a deciding officer will make a decision as quickly as possible. The person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
158. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath under the invalidity pension scheme, including when the person will receive a decision. [4601/16]
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 convene an oral hearing in this case.
Every effort will be made to hear the case as quickly as possible and the appellant will be informed when arrangements for the oral hearing have been made.
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.
159. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Offaly under the farm assist scheme, including when the person will receive a decision. [4602/16]
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 convene an oral hearing in this case.
Every effort will be made to hear the case as quickly as possible and the appellant will be informed when arrangements for the oral hearing have been made.
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.
160. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Offaly under the disability allowance scheme, including when the person will receive a decision. [4603/16]
View answerI confirm that an application from the person concerned for disability allowance (DA) was received by the Department on 16 November 2015. The application has been referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) for a report on the person’s means and circumstances. Once the SWI has submitted his/her report to the deciding officer, a decision will be made on the application and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
161. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the details of appointments to State boards, by name of appointee, date of appointment and appointment, through a public application process or otherwise, from 7 March 2011 to date; the number of vacancies on State boards under her remit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4623/16]
View answerThe statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council, the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a Board) and the Social Welfare Tribunal.
Details relating to the Boards, as requested by the Deputy, are outlined in the following tables.
Appointments to Boards from 7 March to Date
|
Name of Board or Agency |
Name of appointee |
Date of appointment |
Date of Re-appointment |
Appointed through public application or otherwise |
|
Citizens Information Board |
Eugene McErlean |
7 September 2011 |
27 April 2014 |
Public Appointments Service process |
|
Fiona Ward (Department of Social Protection) |
1 November 2011 |
1 September 2012 |
Ex-officio appointment. |
|
|
David Stratton |
5 November 2012 |
Staff representative |
||
|
Simonetta Ryan (Department of Social Protection) |
14 March 2014 |
Replaced by Tim Duggan (Department of Social Protection) |
Ex-officio appointment. |
|
|
Noeline Blackwell |
4 March 2015 |
Re-appointment. Initially appointed 4 March 2010. |
||
|
Josephine Henry |
4 March 2015 |
Re-appointment. Initially appointed 4 March 2010. |
||
|
Tim Duggan (Department of Social Protection) |
12 June 2015 |
Ex-officio appointment. |
||
|
Ita Mangan (Chairperson) |
12 June 2015 |
Appointed in line with section 9.1.4 of Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards. |
||
|
Anne Marie Cassidy (Department of Social Protection) |
21 September 2015 |
Ex-officio appointment. |
||
|
Sean Sheridan |
17 November 2015 |
Representative of the National Association of Citizens Information Services |
|
Name of Board or Agency |
Name of appointee |
Date of appointment |
Appointed through public application or otherwise |
|
Pensions Authority |
David Begg |
12 January 2016 |
Appointed in line with section 9.1.4 of Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards. |
|
Dr. Orlaigh Quinn (Department of Social Protection) |
7 March 2014 (Replaced by Anne Vaughan, Department of Social Protection |
Dr. Orlaigh Quinn (Department of Social Protection) |
|
|
Anne Vaughan (Department of Social Protection) |
14 May 2014 |
Ex-officio appointment replacing Dr. Orlaigh Quinn) |
|
|
Ann Nolan (Department of Finance) |
7 March 2014 |
Ex-officio appointment. |
|
|
Pensions Council |
Jim Murray |
3 February 2015 |
Appointment was announced on 6 March 2014. As this announcement pre dated the publication of the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards in November 2014, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform indicated that the appointment process could continue as announced. |
|
Roma Burke |
3 February 2015 |
Public Appointments Service process |
|
|
Kirsty Flynn |
3 February 2015 |
Public Appointments Service process |
|
|
Anthony Gilhawley |
3 February 2015 |
Public Appointments Service process |
|
|
Brendan Keenan |
3 February 2015 |
Public Appointments Service process |
|
|
Shane Whelan |
3 February 2015 |
Public Appointments Service process |
|
|
Sandra Rockett |
3 February 2015 |
Public Appointments Service process |
|
|
Sinead Ryan |
3 February 2015 |
Public Appointments Service process |
|
|
Brendan Kennedy (Pensions Regulator) |
3 February 2015 |
Ex-officio appointment. |
|
|
Peter Brazel (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform) |
3 February 2015 |
Ex-officio appointment. |
|
|
Marie Louise Delahunty (Central Bank) |
3 February 2015 |
Ex-officio appointment. |
|
|
Helen McDonald (Department of Social Protection) |
3 February 2015 |
Ex-officio appointment. |
|
Name of Board or Agency |
Name of appointee |
Date of appointment |
Date of re-appointment |
Appointed through public application process or otherwise |
|
Social Welfare Tribunal |
Colin Walker |
5 October 2012 |
5 October 2015 |
Appointed by the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection, by way of a recommendation from the Labour Court |
|
Michael Carr |
5 October 2012 |
Replaced by Mary Connaughton |
Nominated by IBEC |
|
|
Fergus Whelan |
5 October 2012 |
5 October 2015 |
Nominated by ICTU |
|
|
Chris Rowland |
24 October 2011 |
5 October 2012 & 5 October 2015 |
Nominated by ICTU |
|
|
Don O’Higgins |
5 October 2012 |
5 October 2015 |
Nominated by IBEC |
|
|
Mary Connaughton |
5 October 2015 |
Nominated by IBEC |
Board vacancies
There are currently 8 vacancies on the Citizens Information Board. There are none on the Boards of the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council or the Social Welfare Tribunal.
162. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if working fathers who do not work full-time hours will be entitled to paternity leave from September 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4638/16]
View answerIssues pertaining to Paternity Leave, including eligibility, are for my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, to answer in the first instance.
However, subject to being enacted by the Oireachtas, the legislative proposals for the introduction of Paternity Leave and Benefit will provide for Paternity Benefit for fathers who are in employment or self-employment provided they have sufficient social insurance contributions.
Provided that an employee is eligible for Paternity Leave and they have the required number of social insurance contributions, then they will be eligible to receive 2 weeks Paternity Benefit from the Department of Social Protection upon the birth of their child.
163. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Finance to review the changes made to the employment status of home tutors, which gave them pay-as-you-earn status in his Department; his views on the consequences of this move on their ability to claim tax relief on materials necessary for their role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4066/16]
View answerI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that, in the context of an audit over the last few years, it was determined by Revenue that the home tutors referred to by the Deputy are employed under a contract of service i.e. they are employees. They are engaged by the parent(s) subject to satisfying criteria specified by the Department of Education and Skills. Prior to September 2015, the home tutors were paid by the parent(s) from grants paid to them by the Department of Education and Skills.
As a consequence of the Revenue audit, the Department of Education and Skills agreed to operate the PAYE system on payments to the home tutors. This facilitates ease of administration, as the payments originate from the Department, and also avoids placing the obligation to register as employer, and administer the PAYE system, on each individual parent.
With regard to the tax treatment of expenses incurred by home tutors, such expenses are governed by section 114 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. That section provides that a tax deduction may be given where a tutor is necessarily obliged to incur travel expenses in the performance of the duties of employment or otherwise incurs expenses wholly, exclusively and necessarily in the performance of the duties of employment.
164. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Finance the amount collected from the local property tax, by local authority, in each year since 2012. [4119/16]
View answerI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that statistics relating to Local Property Tax (LPT) can be found on the statistics webpage of the Revenue website at http://www.revenue.ie/en/about/statistics/index.html. Specifically, the most recently available LPT information, including LPT collected by Local Authority, is available at http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/lpt/lpt-stats-1015.pdf. The most recent statistics relate to October 2015, and I understand from the Revenue Commissioners that updates to the statistics available will be published shortly.
