Tuesday, 17 May 2016

Written Answers Nos. 502-529

Unemployment Data

Questions (502)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

502. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of unemployed persons who exited the live register to a long-term labour activation programme including community employment, Tús - the work placement initiative, back to work, back to education, JobBridge or a programme run by Solas; the programme to which they exited; and the percentages of those participants withdrawing who were short-term unemployed and who were long-term unemployed by programme and by quarter for 2014 and for 2015. [9815/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

In the first instance, the Government’s primary strategy to tackle unemployment is to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting competitiveness and productivity. Economic recovery will underpin jobs growth. However, the Government also recognises the need for additional measures to address unemployment in the interim while the economy recovers. This is the rationale behind the Government’s Pathways to Work Strategy which is being led by the Department of Social Protection.

Job activation programmes are an important part of these additional measures. Data on the number of participants in job activation programmes is reported monthly by programme by the Central Statistics Office. Table 1 shows quarterly average participation for 2014 and 2015.

Data on detailed movements from the Live Register to individual programmes are not readily available. However, “Took up Educational, Training or Employment Placement” is noted as a possible destination when a claim for Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseekers’ Assistance is closed. Table 2 shows the number of closures to this destination category by quarter for 2014 and 2015, as well as the percentage of short and long term registrants.

Table 1 Live Register Activation Programmes (average number of participants) by Type of Activation Programme and Quarter

-	Q1 2014	Q2 2014	Q3 2014	Q4 2014	Q1 2015	Q2 2015	Q3 2015	Q4 2015
Back to work allowance scheme - employee strand	9	6	5	4	2	0	0	0
Back to work enterprise allowance scheme - self employed strand	10214	10526	10707	11024	11271	11545	11767	11852
Short-term enterprise allowance	485	562	578	496	451	479	476	426
Total back to work payments	10708	11094	11290	11524	11723	12024	12243	12278
Other activation programmes - DSP part-time job incentive	299	322	326	391	397	393	379	431
Other activation programmes - TUS - community work placement initiative	7249	7373	7471	7807	7861	7974	7907	7880
Other activation programmes - JobBridge	6527	6697	6228	6571	6125	5670	4767	4798
Other activation programmes – Gateway	52	315	625	1429	1872	2150	2305	2358
Total other activation programmes	14126	14707	14649	16197	16255	16187	15359	15467
Community employment schemes (excluding supervisors)	22691	23141	23059	23033	23480	23558	22815	22675
FAS full time training for unemployed people	8490	8285	7200	8705	7764	7794	6285	7358
Back to education courses - vocational training opportunities scheme (VTOS)	5000	5000	5000	5000	5000	5000	5000	5000
Back to education courses - back to education allowance (BTEA)	24299	7219	6993	22427	23838	15222	7344	18284
Total back to education courses	29299	12219	11993	27427	28838	20222	12344	23617
Total	85314	69447	68190	86886	88060	79785	69045	81394

Table 2: Closures of jobseekers claims to Educational, Training or Employment Placements by quarter and duration

Quarter	Short term registrants	% Short term registrants	Long term registrants	% Long term registrants	Total
Qtr 1 2014	3212	43%	4222	57%	7434
Qtr 2 2014	3165	41%	4532	59%	7697
Qtr 3 2014	4637	46%	5346	54%	9983
Qtr 4 2014	4667	47%	5243	53%	9910
Qtr 1 2015	3614	47%	4016	53%	7630
Qtr 2 2015	3664	45%	4502	55%	8166
Qtr 3 2015	5858	47%	6534	53%	12392
Qtr 4 2015	4848	44%	6106	56%	10954

State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility

Questions (503)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

503. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the refusal of an application by a person (details supplied) for a contributory pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9792/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

A qualifying condition for state pension (contributory) is that a claimant must have a minimum of 520 paid social insurance contributions. According to the records of the Department, the person concerned has a total of 505 contributions, based on an aggregation of their Irish and EU social insurance records.

In certain cases, where a person under state pension age ceases to be covered by compulsory social insurance they may opt to become a voluntary contributor. The application must be made within the 12 month period immediately following the end of the contribution year in which the person ceased to be covered by compulsory insurance. In the case of the person concerned, the application to become a voluntary contributor would have to be made by 31 December 2013, as the last contribution year was 2012. There is no provision for the person concerned to pay a contribution shortfall at this stage.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Disability Allowance Applications

Questions (504)

John McGuinness

Question:

504. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the disability allowance scheme, including if he will expedite a positive outcome. [9851/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The person concerned submitted an application for disability allowance on 21 March 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 12 May 2016 and of her rights of review and appeal.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

National Internship Scheme Data

Questions (505, 506, 507)

Dara Calleary

Question:

505. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of companies that have been disqualified from the JobBridge scheme following investigations by his Department, the number of recipients who were participating in the scheme in companies that were subsequently disqualified, by year since the scheme was established, by employment sector, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9856/16]

Dara Calleary

Question:

506. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection the number and percentage of participants in the JobBridge scheme who have secured paid employment within three, six, nine and 12 months of completing an internship, by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9857/16]

Dara Calleary

Question:

507. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have participated in the JobBridge national internship programme and the number who dropped out before completion, by county, by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9858/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 505 to 507, inclusive, together.

JobBridge, 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 46,500 interns, with almost 4,000 people currently 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 random on-site inspections by Department staff found that the overwhelming majority of internships offered under JobBridge comply with the terms and conditions of the scheme with just 86 (less than 0.5%) of host organisations being suspended from participation for varying durations. This represents a tiny fraction of the almost 19,000 organisations who have participated in the scheme. There are no organisations currently suspended from participation in the JobBridge scheme.

The number of interns in organisations that were subsequently disqualified (by year and employment sector) since the scheme was established is set out in Table 1.

As at 1 April, 2016, 42,619 people had completed internships. 15,211 progressed immediately into employment on conclusion of the internship - 9,525 with the host organisation and 5,686 with a different organisation. This represents a progression rate of 36%. An annual breakdown of this is set out in Table 2.

Analysis of progression rates at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months post completion is not available; however, an independent evaluation conducted by Indecon Economic Consultants (Report 2013) indicated that progression to employment rate increased to 61% within 5 months or more of completion of an internship. This compares very favourably to similar schemes across the EU, where the average progression rate is 34%.

The number of persons who have participated in the JobBridge National Internship Scheme and the number who dropped out before completion, by county and by year, can be found in Tables 3, 4 and 5.

JobBridge internships last for 6 or 9 months. Just under half (46%) of all internships finish early - for a variety of reasons. Almost half (49%) of early-finishers say it is to take up employment and a further 7% go on to further education, training or another internship. About 30% leave for a variety of personal, domestic or health reasons. 14% leave early because they did not find the internship suitable, which is not surprising given that, for many, JobBridge is a first-chance opportunity and sometimes participants find that the particular career direction is not for them. The Department continues to work with them to support them with a range of alternative pathways to work.

Table 1. – The number of recipients which were participating on schemes in companies that were subsequently disqualified, by year and by employment sector since the scheme was established.

Year	Sector	No of interns	Total
2012	CHEMICALS MANUFACTURING	4	1
	CLOTHING & FOOTWEAR MANUFACTURING	2	1
	OTHER SERVICES	1	9
		2	2
		3	1
		6	1
		7	1
	OTHER SERVICES Total		14
	PRINTING & PAPER	5	1
	RETAIL/W'SALE/HOTEL/CATER	1	1
2012 Total			18
2013	INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY	45	1
	OTHER SERVICES	0	1
		1	7
		2	4
		3	2
		7	1
	OTHER SERVICES Total		15
	PRINTING & PAPER	1	1
		3	1
	PRINTING & PAPER Total		2
	RETAIL/W'SALE/HOTEL/CATER	0	1
		1	1
		2	1
		14	1
		RETAIL/W'SALE/HOTEL/CATER Total	4
2013 Total			22
2014	FINANCIAL SERVICES	1	1
	FOOD/DRINK/TOBACCO MANUFACTURING	5	1
	OTHER SERVICES	0	2
		1	11
		2	8
	OTHER SERVICES Total		21
	RETAIL/W'SALE/HOTEL/CATER	1	4
		3	2
		4	1
		RETAIL/W'SALE/HOTEL/CATER Total	7
	TRANSPORT/COMMUNICATIONS	1	1
2014 Total			31
2015	CLEANING	1	1
	CONSTRUCTION	1	1
	ENGINEERING	1	1
	FINANCIAL SERVICES	3	1
	INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY	1	1
	OTHER SERVICES	1	3
		2	1
		3	3
		29	1
	OTHER SERVICES Total		8
	RETAIL/W'SALE/HOTEL/CATER	1	1
		2	1
		RETAIL/W'SALE/HOTEL/CATER Total	2
2015 Total			15
Grand Total			86

Table 2. – JobBridge Interns who entered into employment immediately upon completion of their placement.

Year	Entered Employment
2011	188
2012	2675
2013	3543
2014	4189
2015	3821
2016	795
Total	15211

Table 3. – JobBridge Interns by County 2014

-	Finished Early	Completed in Full	Total
CARLOW	65	82	147
CAVAN	77	107	184
CLARE	130	125	255
CORK	517	525	1042
DONEGAL	164	239	403
DUBLIN	1993	1742	3735
GALWAY	356	385	741
KERRY	127	203	330
KILDARE	205	210	415
KILKENNY	70	91	161
LAOIS	78	87	165
LEITRIM	41	40	81
LIMERICK	300	328	628
LONGFORD	27	49	76
LOUTH	156	155	311
MAYO	170	194	364
MEATH	169	154	323
MONAGHAN	88	121	209
OFFALY	86	78	164
ROSCOMMON	41	58	99
SLIGO	105	132	237
TIPPERARY	165	225	390
WATERFORD	137	211	348
WESTMEATH	150	151	301
WEXFORD	145	176	321
WICKLOW	112	110	222
Total	5674	5978	11652

Table 4. – JobBridge Interns by County 2015

-	Finished Early	Completed in Full	Total
CARLOW	77	73	150
CAVAN	56	97	153
CLARE	76	132	208
CORK	422	474	896
DONEGAL	110	226	336
DUBLIN	1548	1571	3119
GALWAY	304	385	689
KERRY	153	234	387
KILDARE	209	216	425
KILKENNY	60	100	160
LAOIS	75	86	161
LEITRIM	30	47	77
LIMERICK	246	351	597
LONGFORD	37	53	90
LOUTH	143	183	326
MAYO	123	197	320
MEATH	130	163	293
MONAGHAN	74	123	197
OFFALY	70	104	174
ROSCOMMON	49	66	115
SLIGO	88	123	211
TIPPERARY	126	224	350
WATERFORD	135	214	349
WESTMEATH	117	167	284
WEXFORD	112	189	301
WICKLOW	90	131	221
Total	4660	5929	10589

JobBridge Interns by County 2016 to date - 25 March

-	Finished Early	Completed in Full	Total
CARLOW	15	12	27
CAVAN	11	15	26
CLARE	10	24	34
CORK	109	96	205
DONEGAL	25	49	74
DUBLIN	245	312	557
GALWAY	60	73	133
KERRY	31	60	91
KILDARE	42	46	88
KILKENNY	13	20	33
LAOIS	9	18	27
LEITRIM	5	12	17
LIMERICK	42	69	111
LONGFORD	7	4	11
LOUTH	38	33	71
MAYO	23	47	70
MEATH	18	25	43
MONAGHAN	10	23	33
OFFALY	11	15	26
ROSCOMMON	8	14	22
SLIGO	15	16	31
TIPPERARY	15	56	71
WATERFORD	27	53	80
WESTMEATH	32	37	69
WEXFORD	30	38	68
WICKLOW	8	26	34
Total	859	1193	2052

Family Income Supplement Data

Questions (508)

Brendan Ryan

Question:

508. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons transitioning from the one parent family payment scheme who successfully applied for the first time under the family income supplement scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9796/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

There were a total of 4,066 customers who commenced Family Income Supplement (FIS) after transitioning from One Parent Family payment at the end of 2015.

A person on OFP with one child would receive a payment of €217.80 per week if they have no means. If they are no longer entitled to OFP they would move to Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment (JST) and would receive the same rate as OFP. However, if the person concerned commenced employment and was working a minimum of 19 hours per week (or 38 hours per fortnight), they may qualify for FIS. If the person was working the required hours and receiving the minimum wage of €9.15, this would equate to €173.85 per week. They may also be entitled to 60 per cent of the difference between the weekly family income and a weekly income limit for the family size. In this example, the person would be entitled to an additional payment of €202.29, bringing the weekly income to €376.14.

Accordingly, it is more beneficial for the person concerned to be employed and claiming FIS rather than staying on JST.

Community Employment Schemes Eligibility

Questions (509)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

509. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection in respect of the community employment programme, to grant extensions to existing placements beyond the maximum duration entitlement in instances where a project sponsor is unable to recruit a suitable replacement participant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9898/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Department keeps the eligibility criteria for Community Employment (CE) places under on-going review to ensure that they are effective in targeting long-term unemployed jobseekers and other specific disadvantaged groups. The eligibility rules and maximum durations allowed for participants are strictly enforced to allow the maximum number of people to benefit from the opportunity of a CE placement.

If a particular CE scheme is encountering difficulties in recruiting participants, additional assistance can be provided by the local departmental staff to resolve any local barriers or issues, while remaining within the eligibility guidelines.

The Department is committed to continuing to enhance the effectiveness of the CE Programme whilst being conscious of the valuable contribution it is making in the provision of services to individuals and communities across Ireland.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Departmental Staff

Questions (510)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

510. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures in place to ensure officials comply with the customer charter; and the actions which can be taken when an official fails to comply with the customer charter. [9901/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Department’s Customer Charter and Action Plan 2013-2015 sets out the level of service customers can expect when dealing with the Department and its commitment to provide a professional, efficient, courteous and timely service to all of its customers. My Department is committed to ensuring that a customer service ethos is embedded in everything it does and is embraced by everyone in the organisation. Significant effort is made to ensure that the highest levels of customer service standards are achieved by both individual staff members and as an organisation. There is a strong focus on customer service training which is included in a range of courses made available to staff across the Department.

The Department employs a variety of mechanisms aimed at ensuring it delivers the highest levels of service to its customers. These mechanisms include customer surveys, consultation with customer representative groups, as well as seeking feedback from customers on ways in which service provision and delivery can be improved through the Department’s Comments and Complaints system.

If a customer is dissatisfied with the standard of service they have received from the Department, they can make a complaint to the Quality Customer Service Team. Their complaint will be dealt with promptly, fairly and impartially. If the complaint remains unresolved, the customer has the right of further appeal to the Office of the Ombudsman.

The Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour sets out the standards required of all civil servants in the discharge of their duties. These standards of behaviour and values support a high quality public service, based on high levels of personal performance and responsibility.

Where a member of staff of my Department is found to have breached the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour, Departmental policies, or engaged in inappropriate behaviour, the matter is dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Service Disciplinary Code.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Payments Administration

Questions (511)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

511. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of cases in which a late claim for a social protection payment was backdated due to incorrect information having been supplied by his Department, in each of the years 2010 to 2015. [9902/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Deciding officers can elect to backdate claims where considered appropriate, taking account of the specific circumstances of a claim. However, data on the types of decision sought by the Deputy is not available.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Payments Administration

Questions (512)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

512. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the maximum period of backdated payments which his Department will make where persons are unaware of their entitlements; and the amount of money which has been saved by his Department due to restrictions on backdating late claims under all schemes for each year from 2010 to 2015. [9903/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Deciding officers can elect to backdate claims where considered appropriate, taking account of the circumstances of the claim. Provided the relevant customer proves, to the satisfaction of the Deciding Officer, that there was good cause for the delay in making a claim and the customer was entitled to payment from the earlier date, the officer may backdate a claim for up to 6 months.

However, lack of knowledge by itself is not regarded as a sufficient reason for not claiming on time. The Department publishes information as widely as possible and advertises changes of legislation in the National Press. Information Offices are available throughout the country for people to make enquiries as to their entitlements.

Where there is a reasonable explanation for backdating a claim, this can be accepted by the relevant deciding officer. Statistics are not available on levels of savings to the Department where there are cases where a claim is not backdated.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Disability Allowance Applications

Questions (513)

Willie Penrose

Question:

513. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for disability allowance by a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9906/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I confirm that an application from the person concerned for disability allowance (DA) was received by the Department on 19 November 2015. The application has been referred to a Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) for a report on the person’s means and circumstances. Following a meeting with the SWI, the person in question has undertaken to provide further documentation in support of their claim. On receipt of the inspectors report, eligibility of the person in question will be determined. The person concerned will be notified in writing when a decision has been made. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Appeals

Questions (514)

Willie Penrose

Question:

514. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection to immediately pay a claim awarded to a person (details supplied) on appeal to the chief appeals officer under the invalidity pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9907/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I have been advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the Appeals Officer who allowed the appeal of the person concerned made an error in doing so as he failed to have regard to the grounds of the Deciding Officer’s disallowance i.e. the fact that the person concerned did not satisfy the PRSI conditionality of the invalidity pension scheme.

In order to qualify for invalidity pension a claimant must have a minimum of 260 reckonable PRSI contributions (Class A, E or H) since their date of entry into insurance and a minimum of 48 reckonable PRSI contributions or credits in the year immediately preceding the year of the claim which was 2014 in the case in question.

The error was brought to the attention of the Appeals Officer by the Department and he reconsidered the appeal. As the person concerned did not satisfy either element of the mandatory PRSI contribution test the Appeals Officer had no option but to disallow the appeal. I am sure the Deputy will understand that an Appeals Officer does not have discretion to allow an appeal where a claimant clearly does not satisfy the legislative conditionality of the scheme.

I am advised by the Appeals Office that a letter explaining the error and apologising sincerely for the confusion and any upset caused as a result has issued to the person concerned.

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.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Appeals

Questions (515)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

515. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9931/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

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. Applications for PCB are, in the first instance, assessed by a Medical Assessor who gives an opinion on the degree of capacity to work.

The deciding officer, having considered all the available information, decided that the person concerned has a moderately reduced capacity for work. The corresponding rate of PCB is 50% of the illness benefit which they were receiving. This is currently in payment.

A letter of appeal was received in my Department on 20 April 2016. The first step in the appeals process involves the claim papers being referred to a different medical assessor for review. The matter was referred for review on 12 May 2016.

On receipt of the medical assessor’s opinion, the matter will be considered further by the deciding officer. If it is decided that no change should be made in the level of capacity to work, the matter will then be referred to the independent Appeals Office for consideration.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (516)

Jack Chambers

Question:

516. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Social Protection if emergency or discretionary entitlements are available to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9961/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The person concerned is currently in receipt of a jobseekers transition payment for themselves and her three child dependants. If they are experiencing financial difficulties they should be advised to contact their local Community Welfare Service, based at the Intreo Centre in Blanchardstown, with a view making an appointment wherein details of her circumstances may be explored and appropriate advice and assistance offered.

Additionally, the option of meeting with a Case Officer in her Intreo Office, to examine training, education and job opportunities available, is also something that she may wish to consider.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Appeals Status

Questions (517)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

517. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) under the rent allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10028/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 11th May 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.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Carer's Allowance Applications

Questions (518)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

518. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10074/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned. Unfortunately, there are currently delays in the processing of new application. 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, both the person concerned and her spouse are in receipt of a weekly social welfare support.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Invalidity Pension Applications

Questions (519)

Peter Burke

Question:

519. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to expedite an invalidity pension for a person (details supplied). [10081/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The person concerned has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from the 17 March 2016. Payment will issue to her nominated bank account on the 26 May 2016. Any arrears due from 17 March 2016 to 25 May 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 the 12 May 2016.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Question No. 520 answered with Question No. 432.

Disability Allowance Applications

Questions (521)

Robert Troy

Question:

521. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application by a person (details supplied) under the disability allowance scheme. [10097/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the above named person on 31 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 complexity in terms of the qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim.

Every effort will be made to finalise this case as quickly as possible.

Departmental Funding

Questions (522)

Bríd Smith

Question:

522. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection to resource the community employment scheme in order that it can be implemented, such as by using the €10 million European Social Fund funding for the programme for employment inclusion and learning to develop programmes that cross departmental remits. [10123/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Community Employment is a labour market activation programme which helps long-term unemployed people (those 12-months or more in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment) and other disadvantaged groups to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work routine.

Overall, I am satisfied that the level of resources available to the Community Employment Scheme in 2016 which is set at €376.5m is adequate to support 25,300 places. Given this I have no plans to request additional funding under the European Social Fund funding for the Community Employment scheme.

Question No. 523 answered with Question No. 482.

Labour Activation Measures

Questions (524)

Bríd Smith

Question:

524. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection why Ireland is the only country in Europe to exclude persons with disabilities from mainstream activation programmes. [10125/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Government recognises the importance of increasing participation in employment for persons with a disability and provides a wide range of income and work related supports through the Department of Social Protection. These supports play an important role in supporting increased participation in the labour force by people with disabilities.

Work-related supports include:

- the EmployAbility service (formerly the Supported Employment Programme) which facilitates the integration of people with disabilities into paid employment in the open labour market; and

- a number of other supports specifically for employers; (the Wage Subsidy Scheme - which pays an employer a subsidy for employing a person with a disability; the Work Equipment Adaptation Grant, the Employee Retention Grant, and the Disability Awareness Scheme).

For those who are in receipt of invalidity pension or illness benefit (for at least six months) and who feel they now have some capacity for work, the partial capacity benefit (PCB) scheme allows them to work and retain a portion of their social welfare payment.

In line with its commitments in Pathways to Work 2016-2020, the Department has extended full activation support to people with disabilities who wish to avail of the service and has trained in excess of 60 employment support officers in the Intreo service in the provision of employment supports to people with disabilities. Any person with a disability is at all times free to contact the Intreo service.

Unlike job-seekers where participation in activation measures through the Intreo service is mandatory, in the case of persons in receipt of disability/illness support payments, engagement with the Intreo service is on a voluntary basis.

In terms of mainstream provision, people with a disability can access activation programmes - for example, SOLAS training courses, Community Employment schemes and JobBridge. For those previously receiving a social welfare payment, they will either retain that payment or move to a training allowance or temporary employment payment, depending on their individual circumstances.

Furthermore, the Department also funds the WAM (Willing Able Mentoring) project, the objective of which is to bring graduates and employers together to promote access to the labour market for graduates with disabilities.

In addition to access to its mainstream provision, Solas also funds customised training for people with disabilities provided by a range of Specialist Training Providers.

In short, the Government is committed to supporting as many people as possible to participate more fully in employment and to become more self-sufficient by providing supports that address barriers they may encounter in finding and sustaining work employment

Pensions Data

Questions (525)

Clare Daly

Question:

525. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of pensioners who have accumulated the required number of full PRSI contributions that should entitle them to a full State pension (contributory) within the required timeframe, but who are being paid reduced pensions as a result of the averaging tool being applied to their contributions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10160/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The rate of payment under the State pension (contributory) scheme is related to contributions paid over the years into the Social Insurance Fund, and credited contributions where applicable. As such, those with a stronger attachment to the workforce, who have paid more into that fund, are more likely to be paid at a higher rate under that scheme, than those with more intermittent contributions made during their working life.

There are a number of criteria which must be satisfied in order to qualify for a State pension contributory, whether at full or reduced level. These include that the person must be aged 66 or over, and that they have at least 520 paid contributions, i.e., a minimum of 10 years. Provided a person satisfies all the relevant conditions, they may qualify for a State pension contributory, the minimum personal rate of which is €93.20, and the maximum personal rate of which is €233.30.

The Deputy should note that there is no fixed amount of paid and/or credited contributions required which will qualify a person for a full-rate State pension (contributory). The total amount of contributions a person will require also depends upon the duration over which they made these contributions, as both of these figures are used to calculate a person’s ‘yearly average’ contributions, upon which their rate of entitlement is based. The payment of 520 contributions in itself does not, therefore, qualify someone for a 100% pension - rather it is the case that failure to have at least that many contributions paid will mean they will not qualify for a State pension (contributory) at any rate.

Since the contributory pension was introduced in 1961, the ‘yearly average’ contributions test has been used in calculating the level of pension entitlement, where the total contributions paid or credited are divided by the number of years of the working life (from their entry into insurable employment up to the year prior to their reaching State pension age).

Payment rates are banded. For example, someone with a yearly average of 48 contributions will qualify for a full pension, whereas someone with a lower yearly average of 40 will qualify for a pension at the 98% rate. Someone with a yearly average of only 10 may qualify for the minimum rate of €93.20. Averages are rounded up, e.g. where someone has a yearly average of 47.5, it is rounded up to 48.

It should also be noted that, where people cannot qualify for a full rate contributory pension as a result of an intermittent PRSI record, the social protection system provides alternative methods of supporting such people in old age. For example, if their spouse has a contributory pension, they may qualify for an Increase for a Qualified Adult amounting up to 90% of a full rate pension, which by default is paid directly to them. Alternatively, they may qualify for a means-tested State pension (non-contributory), amounting up to 95% of the maximum contributory pension rate.

It is expected that the total contributions approach to pension qualification will replace the yearly average contributions test for State pension (contributory) for new pensioners from 2020. This is a very significant reform with considerable legal, administrative, and technical elements in its implementation. When proposals are agreed, legislation will be brought forward to underpin the necessary changes. I believe that it is important that the changes be announced well in advance of introduction, to enable those affected to include the new factors into their retirement planning.

Social Welfare Overpayments

Questions (526)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

526. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) was eligible for an alternative payment at the same time an alleged overpayment accrued under the family income supplement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10170/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

As the customer was in full time remunerative employment, there would have been no entitlement to other income supports.

However, having reviewed the matter, my department has decided to cancel the overpayment, as the person concerned could not reasonably be expected to have known that she was being overpaid.

The person concerned will be notified in writing of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Family Income Supplement Payments

Questions (527)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

527. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a payment to a person (details supplied) under the family income supplement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10181/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The above person was contacted on 12 May regarding their Family Income Supplement (FIS) claim.

Their FIS claim will be processed when a completed declaration form is returned to FIS Section.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Appeals Status

Questions (528)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

528. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) under the carer’s allowance scheme and if a medical report was attached with the original application. [10192/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 20 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.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility

Questions (529)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

529. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of contributions paid by a person (details supplied) to date which he will take into account in determining eligibility for a State pension (contributory) upon that person reaching the necessary age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10211/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Entitlement to state pension (contributory) is assessed on the basis of an applicant’s completed social insurance record and the eligibility conditions applicable on the date they reach pension age.

According to the records of this Department, the person concerned will not reach pension age until 2023. The person concerned has been provided with a copy of the ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ relating to the current eligibility criteria for state pension (contributory) and directed to www.welfare.ie for more detailed information. In addition, a copy of the current social insurance record held for the person concerned has been sent to them for their information.

It is expected that a range of changes will be introduced to the state pension (contributory) eligibility conditions over the next few years. State pension age will be increased from 66 to 67 from 2021, and to 68 from 2028. The method by which pension entitlement is assessed may change to a ‘total contributions based model’, replacing the current yearly-averaging model, which divides your total contributions paid over your full working history period.

It is advisable that all contributors maintain their social insurance record as fully as possible throughout their working lives.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.