Written Answers Nos 43-64
43. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason for an overpayment to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6840/16]
View answerThe person concerned was in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance in respect of the periods from 9 March 2009 to 19 Oct 2009, from 7 April 2011 to 31 Jan 2012 and from 19 March 2012 to 8 Jan 2013. He was also in receipt of Supplementary Welfare Allowance from 31 Jan 2013 to 18 June 2014. As a result of a review in June 2014, it was found that certain income from capital had not been disclosed and, subsequently, overpayments were assessed in respect of these periods. Current legislation requires the Department to assess means from the capital value, less any outstanding mortgage, of any property owned by a client apart from the family home.
The person concerned also claimed Jobseeker’s Allowance in respect of the period from 9 November 2015 to 24 November 2015 while being engaged in employment for the same period. An overpayment was also assessed for this period.
44. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why a person (details given) in County Carlow was not eligible for more than 14 months employment on a community employment scheme. [6856/16]
View answerThe criteria for participating on the Community Employment (CE) scheme are based on age and length of time in receipt of certain social welfare payments. At the time the person concerned commenced on the CE scheme, he was eligible to participate for a period of 52 weeks. This period was extended by a further 28 weeks which allowed him to participate for an overall period of 80 weeks. Regrettably, a further extension cannot be considered.
45. Deputy Brid Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8 has lost an entitlement to a rent allowance; why this person cannot receive support from a community welfare officer; and why, if this person and a partner were aged 26 years plus and in receipt of social protection payments and rent allowance, they would have a greater income than they have at present. [6887/16]
View answerThe person concerned is currently participating in the part-time job initiative (PTJI) scheme. The PTJI scheme is intended as a stepping stone to full-time work. It allows certain long-term unemployed people to take up part-time work and get a special weekly allowance instead of their jobseeker’s payment. A person is not placed on PTJI by the Department. They secure the part-time work themselves and then contact their local Intreo Centre in order to apply to participate in the PTJI scheme.
On 6 January 2016, a rent supplement review was carried out which showed the combined weekly income of the person, less income disregards, less supplementary welfare rate for a couple and with the addition of the minimum contribution yielded a weekly contribution of €197.25 per week towards the rent. The rent charged equated to €115.30 per week and therefore their weekly contribution exceeded that of the rent thus giving a nil entitlement to rent supplement.
A further review carried out on 26 February 2016 confirmed that the person’s contribution still exceeded the weekly rent and that there was no entitlement to rent supplement. It remains open for the person concerned to submit an appeal against this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
A Designated Person administers supplementary welfare allowance including exceptional needs payments (ENP's). An ENP covers essential, once-off exceptional spending that one could not reasonably be expected to meet out of weekly income.
ENP's cannot be used to replace another social welfare payment in this case rent supplement. Rent supplement is administered by centralised unit in the Department and not through Intreo Centres.
The reduced rates for younger jobseeker’s allowance recipients were first introduced in 2009, and extended in subsequent Budgets. A weekly jobseeker’s allowance rate of €100 applies to jobseekers aged 18-24 and a weekly rate of €144 applies to jobseekers who are 25 years of age.
These measures are targeted activation measures, aimed at protecting young people from welfare dependency by incentivising them to avail of education and training opportunities. If a jobseeker in receipt of the reduced jobseeker’s allowance rate participates on an education or training programme they will receive a higher weekly payment of €160.
47. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the details of vacant State properties and land, including car parks not in use, owned by her Department or by bodies and agencies under the aegis of her Department by square footage, by location, by local authority, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6920/16]
View answerThere are no vacant state properties or land, including car parks not in use, owned by my Department or by bodies and agencies under the aegis of my Department.
48. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the policy changes she has initiated in respect of community employment schemes in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6948/16]
View answerResponsibility for the Community Employment (CE) programme transferred to the Department of Social Protection in January 2012. Since then, significant improvements have been made to the operation and governance of CE. These improvements have taken place in the context of a changing profile of participants on CE in a challenging economic environment.
The following is a summary of the main policy changes initiated in relation to CE since that date:
- Cessation of dual payments (CE allowances and certain social welfare payments) for new entrants to CE from January 2012;
- 2,000 additional CE places made available in Budget 2013;
- Revised and streamlined participant referral process put in place. All referrals are now made through the Department’s Intreo offices (September 2014);
- Christmas Bonus reinstated for CE participants (from December 2014);
- CE Childcare (CEC) programme brought in to allow CE applicants requiring childcare provision to avail of a CE place (Budget 2014);
- Provision has been made on a pilot basis for persons aged 62 years of age and over to remain on CE until State Pension age if they have exhausted other activation options. (January 2016); and
- The minimum age limit for CE childcare places and health & social care-related places has been reduced to 21 years of age for those working directly with service users (February 2016).
The Department keeps the operations of CE under on-going review and, where necessary, it updates the programme to comply with legislation changes and Government policy, such as Pathways to Work.
49. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why some members of the public who are over 55 years of age have been granted extensions to their participation in community employment schemes while others who are also over 55 years of age have had their community employment schemes terminated, given that they believe this is below the five years that they expected when they signed up; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6949/16]
View answerThe pattern of participation on the Community Employment (CE) programme is dependent on the individual circumstance of each person and the length of time she has been in receipt of a CE-qualifying social welfare payment.
In general, cumulative lifetime participation on CE by an individual will be limited to:
- 3 years (156 weeks) for persons under 55 years of age; or
- 6 years (312 weeks) for persons of 55 years of age up to State Pension age.
This means that a CE-eligible person of 55 or over, who had not participated on CE prior to their 55th birthday, could potentially participate on CE up to the cumulative maximum of 6 years. However, if a person has already participated on CE when they were under 55, they can only avail of the balance of the CE time up to the cumulative maximum of 6 years participation, once they reach the age of 55.
The Deputy should note that I recently launched a pilot scheme under CE whereby people who are 62 years and over will have the option of participating on the scheme on a continuous basis, until they reach the State Pension age.
The participation limits that have been set allow for the utilisation of places amongst qualifying persons, to ensure the benefit of CE is available to the widest possible number of jobseekers. The Department keeps all aspects of its activation programmes under review to ensure the best outcomes for participants.
Any CE participant with a query regarding their participation duration can contact their local Intreo Office for further information.
50. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in, and the location of, community employment schemes in Dublin 15 in each of the past five years in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6950/16]
View answerPlease find attached a table showing the number of persons in and the location of Community Employment (CE) Schemes in Dublin 15 for each of the past five years:
Community Employment projects located in Dublin 15 Current numbers at month-end March in each of the last 5 years
|
Sponsor |
Year |
Location |
Project No |
Total Current |
|
Barnardos |
Mar-14 |
Dublin 15 |
741341139 |
32 |
|
Mar-15 |
Dublin 15 |
741442301 |
33 |
|
|
Mar-16 |
Dublin 15 |
741543249 |
34 |
|
|
Blakestown CE Project Ltd |
Mar-12 |
Blakestown/Mulhuddart |
831139114 |
21 |
|
Mar-13 |
Blakestown/Mulhuddart |
831340529 |
20 |
|
|
Mar-14 |
Blakestown/Mulhuddart |
831340529 |
24 |
|
|
Mar-15 |
Blakestown/Mulhuddart |
831441726 |
17 |
|
|
Mar-16 |
Blakestown/Mulhuddart |
831542926 |
23 |
|
|
Mar-12 |
Blanchardstown |
831139133 |
23 |
|
|
Blanchardstown Amalgamated Sports Clubs |
Mar-13 |
Blanchardstown |
831340517 |
23 |
|
Mar-14 |
Blanchardstown |
831340517 |
23 |
|
|
Mar-15 |
Blanchardstown |
831441737 |
25 |
|
|
Mar-16 |
Blanchardstown |
831542927 |
21 |
|
|
Mar-12 |
Corduff - Dublin 15 |
831139129 |
26 |
|
|
Blanchardstown Centre For Unemployed |
Mar-13 |
Corduff - Dublin 15 |
831340526 |
28 |
|
Mar-14 |
Corduff - Dublin 15 |
831340526 |
27 |
|
|
Mar-15 |
Corduff - Dublin 15 |
831441724 |
26 |
|
|
Mar-16 |
Corduff - Dublin 15 |
831542924 |
27 |
|
|
Mar-12 |
Dublin 15 |
831239964 |
13 |
|
|
Blanchardstown Centre For Independent Living |
Mar-13 |
Dublin 15 |
831239964 |
17 |
|
Mar-14 |
Dublin 15 |
831341114 |
19 |
|
|
Mar-15 |
Dublin 15 |
831442456 |
21 |
|
|
Mar-16 |
Dublin 15 |
831543449 |
18 |
|
|
Clonsilla Training Ltd |
Mar-12 |
Clonsilla |
831239645 |
23 |
|
Mar-13 |
Clonsilla |
831239645 |
17 |
|
|
Mar-14 |
Clonsilla |
831341165 |
15 |
|
|
Mar-15 |
Clonsilla |
831442509 |
19 |
|
|
Mar-16 |
Clonsilla |
831543592 |
16 |
|
|
Mar-12 |
Blanchardstown |
831239975 |
38 |
|
|
Community Support Services Blanchardstown |
Mar-13 |
Blanchardstown |
831239975 |
37 |
|
Mar-14 |
Blanchardstown |
831341077 |
40 |
|
|
Mar-15 |
Blanchardstown |
831442430 |
40 |
|
|
Mar-16 |
Blanchardstown |
831543237 |
34 |
|
|
Mar-12 |
Mulhuddart |
831239280 |
16 |
|
|
Coolmine Therapeutic Community |
Mar-13 |
Blanchardstown |
831340487 |
13 |
|
Mar-14 |
Clonee - Dublin 15 |
831441791 |
25 |
|
|
Mar-15 |
Clonee - Dublin 15 |
831542691 |
20 |
|
|
Mar-16 |
Clonee - Dublin 15 |
831643730 |
23 |
|
|
Mar-12 |
Corduff - Dublin 15 |
831139108 |
17 |
|
|
Corduff Childcare Services Ltd * |
Mar-13 |
Corduff - Dublin 15 |
831240026 |
10 |
|
Mar-14 |
Corduff - Dublin 15 |
831240026 |
10 |
|
|
Mar-12 |
Corduff - Dublin 15 |
831139136 |
23 |
|
|
Corduff Community Resource Centre Ltd |
Mar-13 |
Corduff - Dublin 15 |
831240337 |
22 |
|
Mar-14 |
Corduff - Dublin 15 |
831341505 |
23 |
|
|
Mar-15 |
Corduff - Dublin 15 |
831442566 |
24 |
|
|
Mar-16 |
Corduff - Dublin 15 |
831543593 |
21 |
|
|
Mar-15 |
Blanchardstown |
831442667 |
30 |
|
|
D15 Early Years Training Programme * |
Mar-16 |
Blanchardstown |
831543616 |
34 |
|
Mar-12 |
Clonsilla |
831239655 |
21 |
|
|
Mountview Community Network Ltd |
Mar-13 |
Clonsilla |
831239655 |
18 |
|
Mar-14 |
Clonsilla |
831340806 |
20 |
|
|
Mar-15 |
Clonsilla |
831441959 |
20 |
|
|
Mar-16 |
Clonsilla |
831542925 |
21 |
|
|
Networking Dublin 15 |
Mar-12 |
Corduff - Dublin 15 |
841105135 |
39 |
|
Mar-13 |
Mulhuddart |
831239818 |
36 |
|
|
Mar-14 |
Mulhuddart |
831341461 |
33 |
|
|
Mar-15 |
Mulhuddart |
831442562 |
28 |
|
|
Mar-16 |
Mulhuddart |
831543595 |
28 |
|
|
Mar-12 |
Mulhuddart |
841105126 |
23 |
|
|
Parslickstown House Management Ltd |
Mar-13 |
Mulhuddart |
831240296 |
23 |
|
Mar-14 |
Mulhuddart |
831341448 |
22 |
|
|
Mar-15 |
Mulhuddart |
831442514 |
19 |
|
|
Mar-16 |
Mulhuddart |
831543596 |
18 |
|
|
Tolka River Project |
Mar-12 |
Mulhuddart |
831239282 |
16 |
|
Mar-13 |
Mulhuddart |
831340543 |
11 |
|
|
Mar-14 |
Mulhuddart |
831340543 |
16 |
|
|
Mar-15 |
Mulhuddart |
831441793 |
16 |
|
|
Mar-16 |
Mulhuddart |
831542996 |
18 |
|
|
Mar-12 |
Blakestown/Mulhuddart |
831139121 |
15 |
|
|
Travellers Support Group Blanchardstown |
Mar-13 |
Mulhuddart |
831240336 |
14 |
|
Mar-14 |
Mulhuddart |
831341395 |
18 |
|
|
Mar-15 |
Blanchardstown |
831442510 |
18 |
|
|
Mar-16 |
Blanchardstown |
831543690 |
16 |
|
|
Verona Football Club CE Ltd |
Mar-12 |
Coolmine |
831139135 |
17 |
|
Mar-13 |
Coolmine |
831340520 |
15 |
|
|
Mar-14 |
Coolmine |
831340520 |
21 |
|
|
Mar-15 |
Coolmine |
831441790 |
23 |
|
|
Mar-16 |
Coolmine |
831542917 |
17 |
* D15 Early Years Training Programme provides Childcare Training for CE participants in the area. It was created from the merger of Childcare places from all the Dublin 15 Projects with Childcare participants, including Corduff Childcare Services Ltd, in 2014.
51. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to address the anomaly whereby those who must retire from the public sector at 65 years of age do not receive a pension until they reach 66 years of age and instead receive dole payments in the intervening months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6951/16]
View answerThere is no legally mandated retirement age in the State, and the age at which employees retire is a matter for the contract of employment between them and their employers, whether they are in the public or private sector.
The Department of Public Expenditure & Reform is responsible for the terms and conditions of employment and pensions of public servants, including the age at which they may be required to retire. I am informed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform that the specific compulsory retirement age and minimum pension age provisions which affect individual public servants will reflect their particular employment sector and time of original recruitment.
The Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2011 provides that State pension age will be increased gradually to 68 years. This began in January 2014 with the standardising of State pension age for all at 66 years and the cessation of State pension transition. The State pension age will increase to 67 years in 2021 and to 68 years in 2028. The changes introduced in 2011 were on foot of a Government commitment included in the National Recovery Plan published in 2010.
While it is hoped that, where appropriate, workers will choose and be able to work to pension age and beyond if that is there choice, it is recognised that for some this is not viable and there are measure to support them in such circumstances. All short term social welfare schemes are payable to age 66, where people satisfy the criteria for qualification. Specifically, in relation to jobseekers benefit and jobseekers allowance, there are a number of transitioning provisions applying in the case of people who are aged between 65 and 66. Social welfare benefits will continue to be available to the age of 66 for those who are required to leave employment. Jobseekers whose benefit expires in their 65th year will continue to be paid benefit up until the age of 66. Where a jobseeker’s benefit claim spans two benefit years, a new Governing Contribution Year requirement is not applied to the second benefit year of a claimant aged 65 (effectively this means that they may receive payment in both years based upon eligibility in the first year).
An interdepartmental group on fuller working lives has been set up by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. This group will examine the issues related to longer working in private and public sectors.
52. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when she will issue a decision on a claim by a person (details supplied) in County Clare under the disability allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6954/16]
View answerI confirm that an application from the person concerned for disability allowance (DA) was received by the department on 27 January 2016. The application was referred by a deciding officer (DO) to a Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) for a report on the person’s means and circumstances. Once the SWI has submitted his/her report to DA section, a decision will be made on the application and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
53. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for an invalidity pension by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6976/16]
View answerThe person concerned has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from 21 January 2016. Payment will issue to her nominated bank account on the 28 April 2016. Any arrears due from 21 January 2016 to 27 April 2016 (less any overlapping social welfare payment and/or outstanding overpayment) will issue in due course. The person in question was notified of this decision on 12 April 2016.
54. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [7000/16]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 29 March 2016. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers have been received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 30 March 2016 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on 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.
55. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if persons on illness benefit from before 2009 prior to changes in criteria and who are on long-term illness benefit will be assessed under new guidelines and only be awarded benefit for a maximum of two years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7039/16]
View answerIllness benefit is an income support payment for people of working age who are unable to work due to illness and who satisfy certain social insurance conditions.
Since 5 January 2009 new claims for illness benefit were limited to two years (or 624 days) duration. Prior to the introduction of these changes there was no limit on the amount of time for which illness benefit could be paid to people who had more than 260 social insurance contributions. These provisions continue to apply where a claim for illness benefit arose prior to 5 January 2009.
There are no plans to amend these provisions.
56. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection how she will assess the impact on the changes in service provision arising from the withdrawal of Community Welfare Service access to customers; when such impact assessments will be available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7065/16]
View answerFollowing the transfer of the Community Welfare Service (CWS) from the Health Service Executive to the Department in 2011, the Department has re-engineered its business model to support the provision of integrated services across all business streams involved in the delivery of localised services. As part of this strategy, the Department is engaged in the delivery of integrated Intreo centres, which provide a full range of services, including the CWS, generally available in one location.
Significant improvements in claim processing through the development of the Integrated Decisions model has considerably reduced dependence on supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) by people awaiting decisions on their claims.
Where the CWS has been restructured alternative arrangements have been put in place to ensure that customers are provided with on-going access to the supports provided by the service. For example, where a customer is unable to travel to a clinic, alternative arrangements are available including improved phone services and if necessary arranging a visit to the client’s home.
People claiming supports under the SWA scheme generally only interact with the Department on an occasional basis, for example, when seeking an exceptional needs payment or in claiming additional supports such as rent supplement. In County Kildare the numbers relying on support under rent supplement will further reduce with the introduction of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).
The staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continually reviewed, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources with a view to providing an efficient service to those who rely on the schemes operated by the Department.
57. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will implement a homeless persons support unit in Counties Kildare, Meath and Wicklow to cope with the increasing number of homeless persons presenting; how the service will accommodate the interim support needs of this cohort; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7066/16]
View answerThe Department of Social Protection, through the Community Welfare Service (CWS) provides assistance with income maintenance to homeless persons. The first point of contact for homeless clients to access this service is their local community welfare service.
Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting approximately 57,600 people for which the Government has provided approximately €267 million for 2016.
The Department introduced a Divisional Framework on preventing Tenancy Loss for Rent Supplement Recipients in January 2015 to provide for a targeted 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. Each household’s circumstances are considered on a case-by-case basis and Rent Supplement is paid to them at rates above the prescribed maximum rent limits where homelessness or the threat of homelessness is a factor. This targeted approach has assisted over 7,450 households nationwide to retain their rented accommodation through increased rent payments, with approximately 790 households assisted in Kildare, Meath and Wicklow. A detailed breakdown for the relevant Counties is provided.
The Rent Supplement Unit for Mid-Leinster administers this framework for Counties Kildare, Wicklow and Carlow. It has a number of Designated Officers who deal with the issue of threatened homelessness and they liaise with homeless agencies and homeless representatives to provide immediate support by way of the Rent Supplement scheme to prevent homelessness.
The Department’s strategic policy direction is to return rent supplement to its original purpose of being a short-term income support scheme. In July 2013, the Government approved the introduction of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). Under HAP, the responsibility for the provision of rent support to those with long-term housing needs transferred from the Department of Social Protection (DSP) to Local Authorities. This applies both to existing and new customers of the Rent Supplement scheme, who have already been assessed by their Local Authority as having a housing need. There are now over 8,300 persons in receipt of HAP of which over 280 are in the Kildare and Meath areas. Both Kildare and Meath Local Authorities introduced HAP as part of their suite of supports available on 2 November 2015.
Support is also available to assist persons under the Exceptional Needs Payments (ENPs) scheme towards rent deposits or rent in advance for both rent supplement and HAP recipients. In 2015, DSP made a total of some 2,500 rent deposit payments at a cost of €1.4 million.
Persons in danger of becoming homeless should make immediate contact with the Community Welfare Service of the Department of Social Protection or the Threshold Tenancy Sustainment Service.
Total Increased Rental Payments by County as at 11/04/2016
|
County |
Awards under National Tenancy Sustainment Framework |
Awards under protocol with Threshold |
Total no. of increased payments by County |
|
KILDARE |
338 |
338 |
|
|
MEATH |
292 |
292 |
|
|
WICKLOW |
158 |
158 |
58. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application by a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath under the carer's allowance scheme. [7171/16]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application for Carer’s Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 10 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 30 November 2015 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal. The person concerned has requested a review and submitted additional evidence in support of her application. The review is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
The Department expects to be in a position to complete the review shortly.
59. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when she will restore a carer's allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7180/16]
View answerCarer’s allowance (CA) was in payment to the person concerned from 15 April 2010 to 27 January 2016.
It is a condition for receipt of CA that the carer must remain resident in the State and must co-operate with a Social Welfare Inspector investigating continued entitlement. CA for the person concerned was suspended from 27 January 2016 due to evidence that the carer had left the State. Notice of this suspension issued to her last known address on 22 January 2016.
The matter was then referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) to determine what period the carer may have been absent from the State and to determine whether all the conditions for receipt of CA were satisfied.
The person concerned was notified on 24 March 2016 that her payment had been disallowed as she had failed to co-operate with the SWI as required by legislation and she was notified of her right of appeal.
60. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare under the invalidity pension scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7182/16]
View answerThe person concerned has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from 11 June 2015. Payment will issue to his nominated bank account on the 28 April 2016. Any arrears due from 11 June 2015 to 27 April 2016 (less any overlapping social welfare payment and/or outstanding overpayment) will issue in due course. The person in question was notified of this decision on 14 April 2016.
61. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when she will increase rent support in line with market trends for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7183/16]
View answerAs detailed to the Deputy in response to Parliamentary Question No 50 of 24 September 2015, the rate of Rent Supplement for the client concerned was increased as an exceptional measure due to extenuating family circumstances in September 2015. The client concerned is in receipt of their maximum entitlement to Rent Supplement based on their weekly means and family composition. As also detailed in that response, the client's Rent Supplement claim will be subject to ongoing review by the Department.
62. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if rent support remains available or outstanding to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7184/16]
View answerThe client concerned provided documentation to the Department confirming that she is in full time employment. Rent Supplement is not payable where a person or their spouse/partner is in full time employment of 30 hours or more per week. If there has been a change in circumstances, the client should reapply for Rent Supplement.
63. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to make changes to the free travel scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7202/16]
View answerThe Free Travel Scheme permits customers to travel for free on most CIE public transport services, LUAS and a range of services offered by up to 80 private operators in various parts of the country. Free travel is also available on cross border journeys to and from Northern Ireland. Additionally, customers aged 66 years and over can travel for free on journeys within Northern Ireland.
The Free Travel Scheme is currently available to all people living in the State aged 66 years or over, to carers and to customers under 66 who are in receipt of certain disability type payments. There are currently approximately 848,000 customers with direct eligibility for Free Travel.
I have no plans to make any changes to the free travel scheme at this time and I have stated on a number of occasions that I believe that this is a very good scheme which should remain in place. I am committed to its retention and in order to maintain service at existing levels, an additional funding of €3 million was provided for in Budget 2016, increasing the scheme’s annual funding to €80 million.
64. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of lone parents who are no longer eligible for the one-parent family payment and who are in receipt of the jobseeker's transition payment as a result of changes to the one-parent family payment and who are in receipt of the family income supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7203/16]
View answerThe final phase of the one-parent family payment age reforms was introduced on 2 July 2015, when the age of the youngest child for receipt of this payment was reduced to 7 years of age. Approximately 25,500 customers transitioned from the one-parent family payment scheme on that day. Between July 2015 and December 2015, a further 3,000 customers transitioned from the one-parent family payment scheme, which is a cumulative total of 28,500 customers.
Of the 25,500 customers who exited the one-parent family payment on 2 July 2015, approximately 13,600 of them moved to the jobseeker’s transitional payment and 8,100 of them moved to the family income supplement.
Of the additional 3,000 customers who exited the one-parent family payment between 2 July 2015 and 31 December 2015 approximately 1,580 moved to the jobseeker’s transitional payment and 750 moved to the family income supplement when their entitlement to that payment ended.
All of the customers who moved to the family income supplement are also eligible for the back to work family dividend.
Of the 8,100 former one-parent family payment recipients who transitioned to the family income supplement on 2 July 2015, 2,400 were new family income supplement recipients. This indicates that these customers entered or increased their employment as a result of the reforms. Between July and December 2015 this figure increased to approximately 3,000 new family income supplement recipients. These new recipients are also eligible for the back to work family dividend and gain an increase in their overall income when they transition from the one-parent family payment to family income supplement and the back to work family dividend.
