Mattie McGrath
Question:21. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the total funding drawn down to assist victims of the recent flooding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6567/16]
View answerSevere Weather Events Expenditure
Questions (21)
Written answers
The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is the lead Department for severe weather emergencies and the Office of Public Works has responsibility for capital flood relief activities. However, the Department of Social Protection has an important role to play in assisting households in the immediate aftermath of emergency events such as flooding.
In early December 2015, the Department of Social Protection activated its humanitarian assistance scheme, administered by the local Community Welfare Service (CWS), to assist householders affected by flooding following the severe weather conditions.
Since December 2015, support has been provided under the scheme to 524 households with expenditure of over €888,000 with further claims being processed. The following tabular statement provides a breakdown of payments with details given for counties with 20 or more cases.
The scheme is demand led and there can be a time lag between the flooding event and actual claims for longer term financial support to cover works such as plastering, dry-lining, relaying of floors, electrical re-wiring and painting. The Department continues to provide assistance towards structural works to restore homes to a habitable condition.
Humanitarian Assistance Payments by County (4 December 2015 – 8 April 2016)
|
County |
Number of Households |
Amount |
|
GALWAY |
158 |
€155,063 |
|
CORK |
74 |
€198,800 |
|
WESTMEATH |
49 |
€75,421 |
|
TIPPERARY |
43 |
€53,142 |
|
MAYO |
38 |
€99,436 |
|
KILKENNY |
23 |
€28,369 |
|
CLARE |
20 |
€14,178 |
|
OTHER COUNTIES |
119 |
€263,962 |
|
Total |
524 |
€888,371 |
One-Parent Family Payment Payments
Questions (22)
Bernard Durkan
Question:22. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to restore the one-parent family payment whilst applications under the domiciliary care allowance and the carer's allowance are pending for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6574/16]
View answerWritten answers
The One Parent Family Payment for the person concerned has been awarded and payment will be available on Thursday, 14 April, 2016.
Partial Capacity Benefit Scheme Eligibility
Questions (23)
Billy Kelleher
Question:23. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork who has been awarded partial capacity benefit of 75% will not receive a top-up of the remaining 25%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6582/16]
View answerWritten answers
Partial Capacity Benefit (PCB) is a social welfare scheme which allows a person return to employment if they have a reduced capacity for work and to continue to receive a payment from my department. A person who applies for PCB will, in the first instance, be assessed by a Medical Assessor who assesses the degree of partial capacity.
Following a medical assessment the person concerned was assessed as having a severely reduced capacity for work. The corresponding personal rate of PCB is therefore 75% of the personal rate of invalidity pension which they are receiving. In accordance with the regulations of the scheme, the full personal rate of invalidity pension could not be paid in respect of the weeks when the person concerned is in employment.
Social Welfare Appeals
Questions (24)
Billy Kelleher
Question:24. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in forwarding the file of a person (details supplied) in County Cork to the appeals office to facilitate the case in proceeding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6583/16]
View answerWritten answers
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence including that adduced at the oral hearing, has decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned. 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.
Carer's Allowance Applications
Questions (25)
Pat Breen
Question:25. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when she will issue a decision to a person (details supplied) in County Clare under the carer's allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6597/16]
View answerWritten answers
I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 13 January 2016. The department regrets to say that the time taken at present to decide a new CA application is running at 19 weeks. Additional resources have been provided to the CA section in order to improve the waiting times for new applications and they are working hard to make this happen.
Frequently, delays are outside the control of the Department and are caused by the customer failing to fully complete the claim form or failing to attach the supporting documentation that is requested on the application form.
This application will be processed as quickly as possible and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. In the meantime, if the means of the person concerned are insufficient to meet her needs she should apply for a means-tested supplementary welfare allowance from her local community welfare service.
Carer's Allowance Applications
Questions (26)
Pat Breen
Question:26. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when she will issue a decision to a person (detail supplied) in County Clare under the carer's allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6599/16]
View answerWritten answers
I confirm that the department received an application for Carer’s Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 21 August 2015. It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have a disability whose effect is that they require full-time care and attention.
This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continuous supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.
The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied.
The person concerned was notified on 9 December 2015 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal. Subsequently, additional evidence in support of this application was received in the Department and the application is currently under review. The person in question will be notified of the outcome of this review as soon as it is completed.
Rent Supplement Scheme Administration
Questions (27, 66)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:27. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why Intreo is writing to recipients of long-tern rent supplement and stating that it will suspend their payments if they do not transfer across to the housing assistance payment scheme, HAPS; the action she will take against those recipients who cannot access HAP accommodation or who do not wish to take up HAP accommodation as it will lead to a longer period waiting for a council or an approved housing body allocation. [6600/16]
View answer
Willie O'Dea
Question:66. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of housing assistance payment recipients and households and the number of households she envisages transitioning from rent supplement to the HAP by the end of 2016, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7205/16]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 66 together.
The strategic policy direction of the Department is to return rent supplement to its original purpose of being a short-term income support scheme. Under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), responsibility for the provision of rental assistance to those with a long-term housing need transfers to the local authorities. Rent supplement will continue to play a vital role in housing families and individuals to those with a short term need, generally because of a temporary loss of employment.
The implementation of HAP is a key Government priority and a major pillar of the Social Housing Strategy 2020. HAP will contribute to providing a more integrated and streamlined system of social housing supports and has been designed to allow households that find full-time employment to remain in the scheme which is consistent with the Government’s commitments under the Pathways to Work programme. The Department is fully engaged in the roll-out of HAP and officials work closely with colleagues in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and local authorities to ensure the successful implementation of the scheme.
Social Welfare legislation provides that persons in receipt of long term rent supplement can be requested to apply to the local authority for social housing support for their household and for a social housing assessment. This ensures that the relevant local authorities are made aware of the long-term housing needs of rent supplement tenants living within their administrative area and reflects both the responsibility of local authorities in providing long term housing supports and the temporary income support nature of rent supplement. Payment of rent supplement can be suspended where persons do not comply with the request to apply for social housing support or who do not take up an offer of HAP as a form of social housing support.
HAP is currently operational in 19 of the 31 local authority areas and there are almost 8,300 households in receipt of HAP. Some 2,990 (36%) of the HAP cases have been transferred from rent supplement and 5,300 (64%) are new cases. There is an overall target to achieve 10,000 HAP cases in 2016, which includes new cases and transfers from rent supplement. The numbers of those expected to transfer from rent supplement on a county basis is not available. The management of the transfer of rent supplement cases to HAP is undertaken through close engagement between Department officials and the relevant local authority. As the scheme rolls out it is envisaged that the proportion of HAP households that transfer from rent supplement will increase.
Households benefitting from HAP can avail of a move to other forms of social housing support, should they wish to do so, through the transfer option. Policy in relation to housing allocations is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government.
Carer's Allowance Applications
Questions (28)
Pat Breen
Question:28. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when she will issue a decision to a person (details supplied) in County Clare under the carer's allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6603/16]
View answerWritten answers
I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person in question on 28 October 2015. The person concerned was refused CA on the grounds that, based on the evidence before the deciding officer, her means exceeded the statutory limit. She was notified on 18 March 2016 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
The person concerned has requested a review of this decision. The review is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
Carer's Allowance Applications
Questions (29)
Pat Breen
Question:29. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when she will issue a decision to a person (details supplied) in County Clare under the carer's allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6604/16]
View answerWritten answers
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 11 April 2016, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the 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.
Carer's Allowance Applications
Questions (30)
Pat Breen
Question:30. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when she will issue a decision to a person (details supplied) in County Clare under the carer's allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6606/16]
View answerWritten answers
The person concerned was in receipt of carer’s allowance (CA) at a reduced rate of payment. Following a review the person concerned has been awarded an increase in rate of payment of (CA) from 23 October 2010. Arrears of allowance due from 23 October 2010 have issued by cheque on 9 April 2016. The person concerned was notified on 9 April 2016 of these details.
Carer's Allowance Applications
Questions (31)
Pat Breen
Question:31. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when she will issue a decision to a person (details supplied) in County Clare under the carer's allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6607/16]
View answerWritten answers
I confirm that the department received an application for Carer’s Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 13 October 2015. It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have a disability whose effect is that they require full-time care and attention.
This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continuous supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.
The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied.
The person concerned was notified on 17 December 2015 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal. Subsequently, additional evidence in support of this application was received in the Department and the application is currently under review. The person in question will be notified of the outcome of this review as soon as it is completed.
Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications
Questions (32)
Pat Breen
Question:32. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when she will issue a decision to a person (details supplied) in County Clare under the domiciliary care allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6608/16]
View answerWritten answers
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence including that adduced at the oral hearing, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned. 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.
Invalidity Pension Applications
Questions (33)
Pat Breen
Question:33. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when she will issue a decision to a person (details supplied) in County Clare under the invalidity pension scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6613/16]
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.
A claim for IP was received from the person concerned on 15 March 2016. In order to assist with the assessment of the person’s medical suitability for IP, two forms for completion issued to the person concerned on the 01 April 2016. On receipt of the completed forms, the IP claim will be processed as quickly as possible and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
The Department advises the person concerned to ensure that full and up to date details of his/her medical condition(s), treatments, investigations, specialist reports etc. are furnished to ensure a good quality decision on his claim and to avoid unnecessary delay.
Invalidity Pension Applications
Questions (34)
Pat Breen
Question:34. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when she will issue a decision to a person (details supplied) in County Clare under the invalidity pension scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6614/16]
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 02 September 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 05 November 2015 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal. The person concerned requested a review of this decision and submitted further medical evidence in support of her request. Following a review of all the information available it was decided that there was no change to the original decision. The person concerned was notified on 28 January 2016 of the outcome of the review.
The person concerned has appealed the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) and a submission is being prepared by the Department which will be forwarded to the SWAO for determination.
The SWAO will be in touch with the person in question in due course in relation to the progress of their appeal.
Disability Allowance Applications
Questions (35)
Pat Breen
Question:35. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when she will issue a decision to a person (details supplied) in County Clare under the disability allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6618/16]
View answerWritten answers
I confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance (DA) from the above named person on 14 March 2016. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
The processing time for individual disability allowance claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim.
Disability Allowance Applications
Questions (36)
Pat Breen
Question:36. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when she will issue a decision to a person (details supplied) in County Clare under the disability allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6620/16]
View answerWritten answers
The person concerned submitted an application for disability allowance on 25 January 2016.
The application, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds and the person in question was notified in writing of this decision on 22 March 2016 and of his rights of review and appeal. No appeal or request for review was received.
It is open to the person in question to reapply for DA by completing and submitting to the department the relevant application form (DA1) along with the necessary supporting documentation in relation to his medical eligibility.
Disability Allowance Applications
Questions (37)
Pat Breen
Question:37. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when she will issue a decision to a person (details supplied) in County Clare under the disability allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6621/16]
View answerWritten answers
The person concerned submitted an application for disability allowance (DA) on 10 November 2015. The person concerned withdrew this application on 14 March 2016 as he is currently in receipt of an alternative social welfare payment at a higher rate than that which would be payable under the DA scheme.
Jobseeker's Allowance Data
Questions (38)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:38. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons aged between 18 and 25 years of age who are in receipt of jobseeker's allowance, by €100, €144 and €188, as of 1 April 2016, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6630/16]
View answerWritten answers
The information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the following tabular statement:
Recipients of Jobseeker’s Allowance aged 18 to 25 by age and payment rates (€100, €144 and €188) at 1 April 2016
|
Age |
€100 |
€144 |
€188 |
Totals |
|
18 |
2,517 |
2 |
98 |
2,617 |
|
19 |
4,134 |
3 |
269 |
4,406 |
|
20 |
4,086 |
8 |
390 |
4,484 |
|
21 |
3,942 |
6 |
574 |
4,522 |
|
22 |
3,758 |
35 |
694 |
4,487 |
|
23 |
3,712 |
58 |
799 |
4,569 |
|
24 |
1,919 |
1,821 |
1,291 |
5,031 |
|
25 |
12 |
2,995 |
3,068 |
6,075 |
|
Totals |
24,080 |
4,928 |
7,183 |
36,191 |
Departmental Contracts Data
Questions (39)
Catherine Murphy
Question:39. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the details of each statutory instrument signed; each contract entered into; each tender issued; each tender awarded; each State board appointment made by her or by an agency of her Department from 1 January 2016 to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6697/16]
View answerWritten answers
The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the Statutory Instruments signed by me and the appointments made to State Boards since 1 January 2016 is outlined in the following tables:
|
Statutory Instruments |
Date signed |
|
Social Welfare (Rent Allowance) (Amendment) (No.1) Regulations 2016, S.I. No. 5 of 2016 Occupational Pension Schemes (Revaluation) Regulations 2016, S.I. No. 152 of 2016 Occupational Pension Schemes (Section 48A) Regulations 2016, S.I. No. 155 of 2016 |
5 January 2016 7 April 2016 7 April 2016 |
|
State Board |
Name of Appointee |
Date of Appointment |
|
Pensions Authority |
Mr. David Begg (Chairperson) |
12 January 2016 |
The information requested relating to contracts and tenders is currently being compiled within the Department and will be made available to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Post Office Network
Questions (40)
Mary Butler
Question:40. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why she issued correspondence encouraging social protection recipients, especially jobseekers who work casually and part time, to use banks and financial institutions instead of post offices to receive payments; if this is undermining the post office network; if she will respond to concerns raised by persons who wish to continue to use their post office in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6707/16]
View answerWritten answers
The Government is committed to the maintenance of the Post Office network and to the development of the Standard Bank Account. Mindful of the current and ongoing discussions on Government formation any further development of policy will be a matter for the incoming Government.
The current position is that the department has a cohort of jobseeker customers who are classified as casual jobseekers. These are in-work customers who can claim a jobseekers payment for 2 to 3 days per week or who work week on/week-off. These customers are paid by cheque each week. Not all customers will be paid every week due to their changeable work patterns.
I want to emphasise that these customers have been paid by cheque due to the changing nature of their work/claiming patterns and the short turn-around time to issue payments. It is important to note that they are not paid via post offices under the department’s existing cash payments contract with An Post.
In line with the National Payments Plan, my department is seeking to reduce its usage of cheques as a payment method; this is not only a matter of decreasing the significant costs associated with cheques in the department and wider economy but also of moving to a more secure method of payment and enhancing customer convenience.
When paid by cheque, customers have the option of lodging them direct to their accounts or negotiating them at banks or the Post Office. The evidence available to the department is that the vast majority of the department’s customers paid by cheque choose to lodge them direct to their accounts.
The department has developed its payment capacity in respect of changing work and claiming patterns and is able to offer payments direct to accounts in financial institutions for casual Jobseeker customers thereby increasing customer convenience. This is in line with wider departmental policy where the focus is on ensuring that in-work customers are paid by the most convenient method possible.
Consequently the department has written to its casual Jobseeker customers asking them to provide their account details to enable direct payments to financial institutions.
I want to emphasise that the department does not issue these cheque payments to Post Offices. This process does not reduce the number of existing cash payments through Post Offices under the current contract between the department and An Post.
I want to reiterate that what the department is doing is moving customers from cheque payments to the much more secure, customer convenient and cost effective payment method of payment directly into accounts in financial institutions. This is entirely consistent with the National Payments Plan and in line with payment methods that now prevail across the economy. The department must consider the most efficient payment method for our customers who are in employment most of whom get their salary payment into bank accounts. To have weekly income (work + welfare) payable in two different ways is a highly inappropriate and costly way of dealing with people in employment. The department’s focus must be on our customers.
Customer choice will be maintained. Customers, if they wish, may continue to receive cheque payments in the medium term.
Disability Allowance Applications
Questions (41)
Tom Neville
Question:41. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick under the disability allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6765/16]
View answerWritten answers
On 4 September 2015, the person in question was awarded disability allowance (DA) with effect from 11 March 2015. They were in receipt of another social welfare payment during the period 28 May 2015 to 22 September 2015. Consequently, the amount of social welfare already paid in the period for which DA was now awarded had to be calculated and deducted from the total DA due. The department is satisfied that the correct amount of arrears were paid to the person in question.
Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility
Questions (42)
Denis Naughten
Question:42. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why a person in receipt of a widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's pension who falls ill is not entitled to illness benefit even though that person pays the required stamp; if this is a barrier to persons returning to work; the specific prohibition in the Social Welfare Acts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6821/16]
View answerWritten answers
The social welfare system is designed to support a range of contingencies such as illness, unemployment, old age and widowhood. While it can happen that a person may experience more than one contingency at the same time, a general principle applies whereby even if a person experiences more than one of the contingencies at any one time, he or she receives only one of those payments. This principle is common to social security systems across the world, and is reflected in social welfare legislation - covering the situation referenced by the deputy.
There is no evidence to suggest that this of itself acts as barrier to persons returning to work.