Written Answers Nos. 120-134
120. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she is aware of the case of a person (details supplied) in County Meath who has made an application in respect of a child under the carer's allowance scheme and when she will make a decision on this application. [4120/16]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 3rd December 2015. 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.
121. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why a person (details supplied) in County Donegal is not being considered for a placement under the JobBridge scheme; why a farm assist payment is not seen as a qualifying payment under the JobBridge scheme, given that no further entitlements are being claimed in this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4147/16]
View answerThe Department’s JobBridge scheme is an activation measure targeting Exchequer funding at those jobseekers considered at greater risk of falling into longer term unemployment.
The range of Social Welfare payments considered for the purposes of eligibility has been broadened incrementally over the lifetime of the scheme. However, the Department currently has no plans to include Farm Assist payment as an eligible payment.
As the person concerned is in receipt of Farm Assist, he is not eligible for a JobBridge placement in this instance.
122. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on the research conducted by the Simon Communities, Locked Out of the Market III: The Gap Between Rent Supplement/HAP [Housing Assistance Payment] Limits and Market Rents, that indicates that 95% of properties advertised for rent are not available at the rent supplement limits. [4167/16]
View answer123. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to increase rent supplement levels, given the research by the Simon Communities showing a 32.3% rise in rents since April 2012, given that rent supplement levels have remained unchanged since June 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4168/16]
View answer129. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who applied for rent supplement and were refused, by county, over the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4248/16]
View answer130. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who were refused rent supplement on the grounds that their rent was over the rent supplement levels, by county, in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4249/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 122, 123, 129 and 130 together.
Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting approximately 60,000 people for which the Government has provided approximately €267 million for 2016. Properties are being secured under the scheme with over 20,100 rent supplement tenancies awarded during 2015.
I am fully aware of the difficulties people are experiencing in maintaining affordable rented accommodation in areas of high demand, and also of the contents of the recent Simon Community report “Locked out of the Market III – The Gap between Rent Supplement/HAP Limits and Market Rents – A Snapshot Study” which clearly tracks the reduction of supply in the private rented market over the course of their three reports.
A review of the rent limits undertaken by the Department found that the impact of increasing limits at a time of constrained supply will increase costs disproportionately for the Exchequer with little or no new housing available to recipients. Recent analysis shows that increasing the current rent limits by 8% would result in a full year cost in excess of €25 million, with a 35% increase costing approximately €124 million. If examined in the context of those counties with the highest number of rent supplement recipients; increasing rent limits by 8% in counties Dublin, Cork, Kildare and Galway would acquire fewer than 30 houses.
In view of the reduction of supply in the private rented market and increasing rents at this time, the Department has implemented a policy approach that allows for flexibility where landlords seek rents in excess of the limits for both existing customers and new applicants to the rent supplement scheme. The circumstances of tenants are considered on a case-by-case basis and rents are being increased above prescribed limits, as appropriate. In addition, the Department, in conjunction with Threshold, operates a special protocol in the Dublin and Cork areas where supply issues are particularly acute, with plans underway to extend this to Galway City.
This flexible approach has assisted over 6,200 rent supplement households nationwide to retain or acquire rented accommodation through increased rent payments. A county breakdown of this information and a county analysis of rent supplement recipients for the years 2011 to date are provided in the attached tabular statements. Statistics are not maintained on the number of rent supplement applications and their outcome. However, I can assure the Deputies that where Departmental staff are notified of a threat of tenancy loss these preventative measures are implemented as appropriate.
Persons in receipt of rent supplement who may be at risk of losing their tenancy as a result of increases in rent are urged to contact their local Community Welfare Service or the Threshold Tenancy Sustainment Service without delay.
I believe that these measures and the reforms to the private rental sector as recently announced by Government will provide increased stability in what has become a highly volatile rental market. I am continuing to keep this matter under close review.
Total Increased Rental Payments by County as at 01/02/2016
|
County |
Awards under National Tenancy Sustainment Framework |
Awards under protocol with Threshold |
Total no. of increased payments by County |
|
CARLOW |
26 |
26 |
|
|
CAVAN |
14 |
14 |
|
|
CLARE |
60 |
60 |
|
|
CORK |
252 |
71 |
323 |
|
DONEGAL |
- |
- |
|
|
DUBLIN |
2,435 |
1,724 |
4,159 |
|
GALWAY |
123 |
123 |
|
|
KERRY |
27 |
27 |
|
|
KILDARE |
256 |
256 |
|
|
KILKENNY |
115 |
115 |
|
|
LAOIS |
108 |
108 |
|
|
LEITRIM |
50 |
50 |
|
|
LIMERICK |
7 |
7 |
|
|
LONGFORD |
101 |
101 |
|
|
LOUTH |
88 |
88 |
|
|
MAYO |
3 |
3 |
|
|
MEATH |
267 |
267 |
|
|
MONAGHAN |
1 |
1 |
|
|
OFFALY |
52 |
52 |
|
|
ROSCOMMON |
18 |
18 |
|
|
SLIGO |
- |
- |
|
|
TIPPERARY |
165 |
165 |
|
|
WATERFORD |
31 |
31 |
|
|
WESTMEATH |
116 |
116 |
|
|
WEXFORD |
7 |
7 |
|
|
WICKLOW |
109 |
109 |
|
|
Total |
4,431 |
1,795 |
6,226 |
Rent Supplement Recipients by County, 2011 - End January 2016
|
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 End January |
|
|
Carlow |
1,440 |
1,239 |
1,108 |
1,086 |
962 |
932 |
|
Cavan |
843 |
519 |
455 |
414 |
403 |
409 |
|
Clare |
1,961 |
1,722 |
1,547 |
1,336 |
1,024 |
992 |
|
Cork |
10,732 |
9,878 |
9,020 |
8,273 |
6,822 |
6,655 |
|
Donegal |
2,977 |
2,411 |
2,047 |
1,812 |
1,202 |
1,097 |
|
Dublin |
34,423 |
32,584 |
29,541 |
26,453 |
23,758 |
23,428 |
|
Galway |
4,615 |
4,134 |
3,983 |
3,591 |
3,326 |
3,252 |
|
Kerry |
2,278 |
2,037 |
1,888 |
1,736 |
1,633 |
1,633 |
|
Kildare |
4,447 |
4,338 |
4,135 |
3,698 |
3,396 |
3,367 |
|
Kilkenny |
1,619 |
1,365 |
1,210 |
1,011 |
554 |
524 |
|
Laois |
1,178 |
1,097 |
1,085 |
1,008 |
978 |
968 |
|
Leitrim |
440 |
374 |
354 |
324 |
331 |
321 |
|
Limerick |
3,833 |
3,323 |
2,984 |
2,461 |
1,441 |
1,420 |
|
Longford |
623 |
511 |
507 |
476 |
384 |
392 |
|
Louth |
2,734 |
2,549 |
2,422 |
2,211 |
1,462 |
1,409 |
|
Mayo |
2,928 |
2,435 |
1,900 |
1,619 |
1,528 |
1,486 |
|
Meath |
2,723 |
2,143 |
1,941 |
1,726 |
1,528 |
1,473 |
|
Monaghan |
488 |
438 |
395 |
352 |
269 |
271 |
|
Offaly |
1,349 |
1,240 |
1,124 |
1,041 |
812 |
782 |
|
Roscommon |
1,275 |
997 |
802 |
687 |
611 |
615 |
|
Sligo |
698 |
591 |
542 |
451 |
478 |
461 |
|
Tipperary |
2,609 |
2,199 |
2,094 |
1,961 |
1,674 |
1,624 |
|
Waterford |
2,098 |
1,773 |
1,556 |
1,443 |
958 |
924 |
|
Westmeath |
1,671 |
1,592 |
1,588 |
1,533 |
1,426 |
1,408 |
|
Wexford |
4,102 |
3,700 |
3,179 |
2,700 |
2,296 |
2,261 |
|
Wicklow |
2,719 |
2,495 |
2,381 |
2,130 |
1,991 |
1,969 |
|
Total |
96,803 |
87,684 |
79,788 |
71,533 |
61,247 |
60,073 |
124. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have had a penalty applied to their social protection payment for refusing to take part in a labour activation scheme, including the schemes the refusal referred to, in tabular form. [4170/16]
View answerIn order to qualify for a jobseeker payment, a person must meet certain conditions, including the requirement to be available for, capable of and genuinely seeking full-time work. A range of sanctions, including disqualification, closure or disallowance of the jobseeker claim, may be imposed where a client fails to meet the stated conditions. A jobseeker claim may be reviewed at any time in order to establish continued entitlement.
Additionally, in relation to activation, legislation provides that further sanctions/penalties in the form of reduced payments may be imposed by a Deciding Officer where clients fail, without good cause, to comply with activation measures. Activation measures include the requirement to attend group or individual meetings, and/or avail of suitable education, training or development opportunities, or specified employment programmes, which are considered appropriate to a person’s circumstances.
Where a person continues to fail, without good cause, to comply with activation measures, while on a penalty rate, he/she may be disqualified from receiving the personal rate of payment. The normal rate of payment may be reinstated at any time, if the jobseeker complies, as requested, with activation measures.
Details of the penalty rates applied since their inception in 2011 to the end of 2015 are provided in tabular form below. Breakdown of scheme type is unavailable.
|
Year |
No of Penalty Rates Applied |
|
2011 |
359 |
|
2012 |
1,519 |
|
2013 |
3,395 |
|
2014 |
5,325 |
|
2015 |
6,743 |
|
TOTAL |
17,341 |
125. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of participants in the Dublin 15 and 24 areas who have been referred to the JobPath scheme. [4171/16]
View answerJobPath is a new approach to employment activation to support long-term unemployed people and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. In Dublin 15 the referral of jobseekers from the Blanchardstown Intreo Centre is about to commence. In Dublin 24 referrals began in December from the Tallaght Intreo Centre and some 280 jobseekers had been referred as at week-commencing 25 January.
Participants on JobPath will receive intensive individual support to help them address barriers to employment and to assist them in finding jobs. Each person is assigned to a personal advisor who will assess a person’s skills, experience, challenges and work goals. A “personal progression plan” will be drawn up that will include a schedule of activities, actions and job focused targets. Participants are also provided with a range of training and development supports including online modules, career advice, CV preparation and interview skills. They will spend a year on JobPath and if they are placed into a job they will continue to receive support for at least three months, and up to twelve months, while in employment.
126. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of companies that have been banned from the JobBridge scheme. [4172/16]
View answerJobBridge, the National Internship Scheme, was introduced in July 2011 in response to the unprecedented collapse in the economy – particularly the sharp increase in unemployment.
The primary aim of the scheme is to give unemployed people the opportunity to secure work experience and prove their competence to prospective employers. To date, JobBridge has attracted the voluntary participation of over 45,300 interns and encouraged over 18,000 Host Organisations to offer them a wide range of work experience opportunities. There are currently almost 4,400 people on internships.
There are strict terms and conditions which host organisations must comply with in order to participate in the scheme. Failure to comply with these terms and conditions can result in imposition of sanctions against the organisation – typically suspension from participation in the scheme for an appropriate duration having regard to the nature of the breach.
To date a total of 45 organisations were suspended from participation for a variety of infringements. This represents a tiny fraction of the over 18,000 organisations who have participated in the scheme. There are no organisations currently suspended from participation in the JobBridge scheme.
127. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why an application by a person (details supplied) in County Cork has been refused under the disability allowance scheme; if the person meets the medical or the financial requirements; if the person has lodged an appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4181/16]
View answerThe application for disability allowance (DA) from the person in question was disallowed by a deciding officer (DO) who decided that he satisfied neither the medical nor the means conditions for the scheme. Notification of this decision and the reason(s) for it issued to the person on 4 January 2016.
The person in question has lodged an appeal with the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). All the relevant papers requested by that Office are being prepared and will be submitted by the Department shortly. The SWAO will be in touch with the person in due course in relation to the progress of the appeal.
128. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will address a matter under the fuel allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4192/16]
View answerThe person concerned commenced on a Community Employment Scheme on the 20th of January 2014. At the date of commencement on CE the person concerned was not eligible to receive a fuel allowance payment due to household circumstances at that time. In accordance with the rules governing the free fuel schemes, participants on Community Employment schemes can only be paid Fuel Allowance where they had an entitlement at the point on which they commenced on the CE Scheme.
132. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if self-employed fathers will be entitled to paternity leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4258/16]
View answerAs part of Budget 2016, the Government announced its plan to introduce two weeks paid paternity leave from September 2016. The Department of Social Protection has responsibility for introducing the Paternity Benefit element and the Department of Justice and Equality has responsibility for introducing the legal entitlement for employees to avail of two weeks paternity leave.
Subject to being enacted by the Oireachtas the legislative proposals for the introduction of Paternity Leave and Benefit will provide for Paternity Benefit for self-employed fathers provided they have sufficient social insurance contributions.
It is intended that PRSI contributions from both employment and self-employment will be used to qualify for Paternity Benefit. It is proposed that the following PRSI classes will count towards eligibility for Paternity Benefit A, E, H and S (self-employed).
Eligible fathers who are employed and self-employed will qualify for 2 weeks Paternity Benefit to support their families around the time of the birth of a child.
133. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to expedite an appeal by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4289/16]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.
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.
134. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the application process under the invalidity pension scheme where a person (details supplied) lives in County Derry and is employed in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4293/16]
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.
To qualify for IP a claimant must, inter alia, have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last complete contribution year before the date of their claim. EU Regulations provide that insurance contributions made in any other EU Member State may be aggregated with Irish contributions in order to satisfy the contribution conditions. In addition to satisfying the contribution criteria for IP, claimants must also satisfy the medical criteria.
A claim for invalidity pension (IP) was received from the person concerned on the 29 October 2015. The person in question satisfies the contribution conditions for receipt of IP, having sufficient PRSI contributions paid in the State.
In order to determine her medical eligibility, the Department has issued a request to the Department for Social Development, Social Security Agency, Overseas Benefits Unit, Belfast, to have an in-person medical assessment conducted. On receipt of the completed medical report from Northern Ireland, the person’s medical eligibility for IP will be determined and a decision will be made on the claim. The person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
