Tuesday, 26 Apr 2016

Written Answers Nos. 29-43

Pension Provisions

Questions (29)

Finian McGrath

Question:

29. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to support a matter (details supplied) regarding pensions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8193/16]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

I am very aware of the issues arising and very negative consequences caused by the problems in the Irish Airlines (General Employees) Superannuation Scheme (IASS) for all active, deferred and pensioner members and appreciate the difficulties presented to all stakeholders in addressing the significant deficit in this scheme. However, you will appreciate that the funding difficulties in this scheme are primarily a matter for the Trustees, the companies participating in the scheme, the scheme members and the Pensions Authority and I cannot comment on specific issues arising in a particular scheme or schemes.

The Principle of Equal Pension Treatment between men and women in occupational pension schemes is well established in Ireland. On 1 January 1993 the Government introduced Part VII of the Pensions Act which specifically provides for implementation of Council Directive 1986/378 EC and the principle of equal pension treatment. In 2004, the Pensions Act was amended by the insertion of a new Part VII which expands the grounds on which discrimination in an occupational benefit scheme is prohibited in accordance with the Principle of Equal Pension Treatment.

Defined benefit pension schemes in Ireland are, in general, set up under trust law. From a regulatory perspective the Trustees of pension schemes must comply with the provisions in the Pensions Act 1990 which, among other things, sets down the requirements in relation to equal pension treatment. Trustees have a fiduciary duty under trust law to act in the best interest of scheme members and beneficiaries. Should the Pensions Authority become aware that Trustees are not in compliance with the provisions of the Pensions Act, it has the power to investigate the state and conduct of a pension scheme.

Disability Allowance Appeals

Questions (30)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

30. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) under the disability allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8195/16]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 21st April 2016. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral appeal 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.

Social Welfare Schemes

Questions (31)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

31. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of farm assist, and under the rural social scheme, by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8199/16]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the following tabular statement.

Recipients of Farm Assist and Rural Social Scheme by County at 31 March 2016

County	Farm Assist	Rural Social Scheme
Carlow	63	17
Cavan	286	79
Clare	429	115
Cork	624	171
Donegal	1,309	222
Dublin	32	0
Galway	785	272
Kerry	572	269
Kildare	21	25
Kilkenny	95	18
Laois	97	21
Leitrim	343	95
Limerick	150	74
Longford	171	51
Louth	69	11
Mayo	1,259	559
Meath	54	15
Monaghan	372	39
Offaly	80	44
Roscommon	313	140
Sligo	227	121
Tipperary	280	59
Waterford	66	12
Westmeath	128	37
Wexford	163	40
Wicklow	51	19
Totals	8,039	2,525

National Internship Scheme

Questions (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)

Paul Murphy

Question:

32. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why companies which had been banned from the JobBridge scheme, have been readmitted to the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8205/16]

Paul Murphy

Question:

33. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she has produced new rules for the conduct of host companies under the JobBridge scheme, following the decision to readmit companies that had been previously banned from it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8206/16]

Paul Murphy

Question:

34. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of complaints she has received from interns on the JobBridge scheme; and the number of these that she investigated and upheld. [8207/16]

Paul Murphy

Question:

35. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of visits by JobBridge monitors to host companies in each of the years 2012 to 2015, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8208/16]

Paul Murphy

Question:

36. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of placement advertisements she has rejected, including the reason she rejected them, under the JobBridge scheme, by year, since the scheme began. [8209/16]

Paul Murphy

Question:

37. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of participants who finished a placement early under the JobBridge scheme, citing dissatisfaction with the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8210/16]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 to 37, inclusive, together.

JobBridge was introduced in July 2011 as a rapid response to the sharp increase in unemployment resulting from the unprecedented collapse in the economy. Since then over 18,500 Host Organisations have provided internship opportunities to over 46,500 unemployed jobseekers.

The aim of the scheme was to help unemployed people break the cycle whereby they could not get a job without experience but could not get experience without a job. It caters for a wide variety of jobseekers – those with no previous work experience and unemployed workers who might want to change career direction. Departmental records show that over 15,000 interns (36%) progressed directly into paid employment immediately following an internship and independent research indicates that this rises to circa 60% within a short period (5 months) of completing an internship. This compares very favourably with similar schemes across the EU where the average rate is 34%. The independent research also indicated that just 10% of participants rated the scheme negatively and that over two thirds of participants would recommend the scheme to a friend or family member.

Potential Host Organisations are required to meet specified terms and conditions in order to participate in the scheme. All applications are screened on receipt and those that fail to meet the requirements are rejected. Reasons include ineligibility (e.g. displacement, “cooling-off” period in place, requiring candidates to have experience, failure to meet the minimum number of paid employees required to be present or exceeding the quota permitted for the size of the organisation) or failure to supply all of the information (including in relation to the specific learning outcomes intended).

A total of 21,796 applications were rejected since 2012, as detailed in Table 1. The Department does not have details of rejections prior to 2012 as these were issued via FÁS.

JobBridge is entirely voluntary for both Host Organisations and participants and, as such, must appeal to both. In order to attract potential interns, host organisations must therefore provide opportunities that appeal to jobseekers. Jobseekers are not under any obligation to participate in JobBridge and those that commence an internship can finish their internship for any reason at any time with no penalty of any type.

JobBridge internships last for 6 or 9 months. Just under half (20,796) of all JobBridge internships finished early, almost half of these (45%) to take up paid employment. A further 7% went on to further education, training or another internship. Circa 30% of participants left for a variety of personal, domestic or health reasons. Approximately 11% left early because they did not find the internship suitable. Given the nature of the scheme as a first chance opportunity for many people to experience employment the figure is not surprising. The Department continues to work with such jobseekers to support them with a range of alternative pathways to work.

The requirement for monitoring was introduced in January 2012. A total of 12,711 monitoring visits were undertaken from 2012 to end 2015, as per Table 2. 98% of internships are found to be fully compliant with the terms and conditions of the scheme.

The Department takes all complaints about JobBridge very seriously and fully investigates any allegation of abuse or misuse of the scheme. A total of 672 complaints have been received since the scheme commenced, representing circa 1.4% of all internships. The Department does not distinguish between complaints made by interns and by others.

As the scheme is voluntary (there is no obligation on a jobseeker to take up or remain in an Internship and there is no penalty for leaving an internship) and as the host organisations received no remuneration for their participation in the scheme decisions to bar/suspend host organisations on the foot of complaints or inspection visits were taken on an administrative basis by individual inspectors and the Host Organisations concerned had no recourse to challenge the decision or to seek a review by a central authority. In such circumstances as the decisions to bar host organisations related to failure to comply with administrative rather than legal requirements and given that publication of a finding of non-compliance could have wider adverse consequences for a host organisation it was not intended that the names of the host organisations concerned would be published.

A ruling from the Information Commissioner issued on 2nd of October 2015 (Ref. 150104) upheld the Department’s decision not to disclose the names of the organisations concerned. The Commissioner, inter alia, accepted the Department’s position that as the decisions were taken on an administrative basis without recourse to notice or review or notice, and that as publication could result in adverse consequences for the organisations concerned (who did not have an opportunity to challenge the decision) it would be improper to release the names.

The Department has however since implemented revised procedures to place decisions to disbar host organisations on a more formal footing. Key changes are that decisions are now made by a Compliance Officer in the central JobBridge Unit, rather than by individual inspectors in the field and communicated to all of the parties concerned. This will ensure greater consistency and transparency in the decision-making process and will facilitate publication of host organisations names in cases where host organisations are barred from use of the scheme.

Table 1: Number of Reject Notifications Sent to Host Organisations 2012-2015

Year	Reject Notifications Sent
2012	6,742
2013	5,896
2014	3,600
2015	4,495
2016 (to 22nd April, 2016)	1,063

Table 2: Number of JobBridge Monitoring Visits by Year 2012-2015

Year	Number of Monitoring Visits
2012	992
2013	3,406
2014	4,662
2015	3,651

Labour Activation Measures

Questions (38, 39)

Paul Murphy

Question:

38. Deputy Paul Murphy 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 the Gateway scheme, by county. [8211/16]

Paul Murphy

Question:

39. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of participants who have left the Gateway scheme early, citing dissatisfaction with the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8212/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection (Deputy Kevin Humphreys)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 39 together.

As the Deputy is aware, Gateway is a County and City Council work scheme which aims to provide short-term quality and suitable work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than 24 months. Participants benefit by being involved in work. They improve their work readiness and are able to apply their existing skills and learn new ones. The scheme is also intended to assist the personal and social development of participants with the objective of bridging the gap between unemployment and re-entering the workforce.

As of 22nd April 2016, the number of participants who commenced on Gateway, since it was introduced in December 2013, is 2,845. To date, a total of 424 persons have left the Gateway scheme prior to completing their 22 month contract. This is due to a number of reasons, including taking-up employment, emigration and participation on the scheme not being financially viable. Detailed statistics on those who left specifically citing dissatisfaction with the scheme are not available. While penalty rates do not apply as a sanction under the Gateway scheme, a total of 48 people have, to date, had other sanctions applied for refusing to take part in Gateway.

JobPath Implementation

Questions (40, 41, 42, 43)

Paul Murphy

Question:

40. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have had a penalty applied to their social protection payments for refusing to take part in the JobPath scheme, by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8213/16]

Paul Murphy

Question:

41. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of complaints she has received from providers regarding participants whom they deemed to be not engaging under the JobPath scheme; the number of these participants who had penalties applied to their social protection payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8214/16]

Paul Murphy

Question:

42. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of reviews she has carried out into the operation of the JobPath scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8215/16]

Paul Murphy

Question:

43. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of participants under the JobPath scheme; the number who have secured full-time and part-time employment because of their participation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8216/16]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 to 43, inclusive, together.

JobPath 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.

Jobseekers, who are selected for JobPath, are invited to attend an initial information session at which the jobseekers’ rights and responsibilities are explained. Participants on JobPath receive intensive individual support to help them address barriers to employment and to find jobs. Each person is assigned a personal advisor who assesses their skills, experience, challenges and work goals and agrees a “personal progression plan” that includes a schedule of activities, actions and job focused targets. Participants are provided with a range of development supports and may also be referred for further education and training opportunities. They will spend a year on JobPath and if placed into a job they will continue to receive support for at least three months and up to twelve months while in employment.

If a client fails to take part or engage in JobPath, the companies will make several attempts to engage with that client. They will notify the Department only after these attempts have failed. Failure to engage may be due to the client’s contact information being out of date or the client has chosen not to respond. In such cases the Department will meet the client, remind them of the conditions of their jobseeker payment and make arrangements for them to take part in JobPath. The Department does not collate details of these local meetings. However, the Department’s records show that there are 92 jobseekers whose jobseeker payment is currently reduced for failure to comply with JobPath. These are broken down by county as follows:

County	Total
Carlow	1
Cork	12
Donegal	8
Dublin	12
Galway	2
Kerry	2
Kildare	9
Kilkenny	2
Limerick	7
Longford	3
Louth	10
Meath	7
Offaly	2
Tipperary	1
Waterford	1
Westmeath	3
Wexford	1
Wicklow	9
Total	92

The Department meets with the JobPath companies on a regular basis to review the operation of the service and has recently commenced a programme of on-site inspections. The roll-out of JobPath is not yet completed. It is expected to be finalised over the summer months. To date some 25,000 jobseekers have been referred to JobPath. Given that clients will spend 52 weeks on JobPath it is necessary to allow sufficient time to elapse before a meaningful assessment can be carried out. At the present time it is too early to undertake an evaluation of job placement performance. As indicated in “Pathways to Work 2016 – 2020” the Department intends to publish JobPath performance statistics from Q3 2016.