Written Answers Nos. 461 - 481
461. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for disability allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12842/16]
View answerThe application for disability allowance (DA) from the person in question, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds and the person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 28 September 2015.
Further evidence was received on 21 April 2016 and this is currently being reviewed by a deciding officer. The person in question can expect a decision on the review of his DA application shortly.
462. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for domiciliary care allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12844/16]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 25 May 2016, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
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.
463. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for domiciliary care allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12846/16]
View answerThe person concerned applied for domiciliary care allowance in respect of her child on the 7 December 2015. The application was not allowed as it was considered that the child did not meet the eligibility criteria for the allowance. A decision letter issued to her on the 2 March 2016.
An appeal of this decision was registered on 23 March 2016 and additional information on her child’s condition/care needs has been supplied. The application together with the new information supplied has been forwarded to a Medical Assessor for their professional opinion. Upon receipt of the Medical Assessor’s opinion, the case will be further examined by a deciding officer, who will revise the original decision if warranted or alternatively, forward the case for consideration by the Appeals Office. Such reviews can take up to 12 weeks to complete at present.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
464. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection to clarify the position in relation to persons living in direct provision centres and who have residency, whereby a person is unable to access his Department without an address outside of a direct provision centre, but without the assistance of Social Protection and rent allowance, a person is unable to source an address; the number of persons in this position in each of the direct provision centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12867/16]
View answer515. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the position in relation to residents of direct provision centres who have residency, whereby a claimant is unable to access his Department without an address outside of a direct provision centre, but without the assistance of Social Protection and rent allowance a claimant is unable to source an address; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13530/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 464 and 515 together.
Protection seekers are offered accommodation under the system of direct provision operated by the Reception & Integration Agency (RIA) of the Department of Justice and Equality. Those who accept direct provision are provided with accommodation, food and health services together with other facilities and services designed to ensure their needs are met while seeking the protection of the State.
Once a person has been granted status, they may apply for Department of Social Protection payments appropriate to their circumstances on the same basis as Irish citizens such as basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA), Jobseekers Allowance or One-Parent Family Payment and Child Benefit, subject to meeting the rules of the particular scheme. Payment under these schemes can be made to a person while they continue to remain resident in a Direct Provision centre prior to moving into the community. Details of the number of persons who have been granted protection and are currently residing in Direct Provision centres would be a matter for the Reception & Integration Agency (RIA) of the Department of Justice and Equality.
It continues to be open to any person residing in a direct provision centre to seek assistance for a particular once-off need by way of an exceptional needs payment (ENP) under the SWA scheme. Applications for assistance with cost of a rent deposit for persons moving from direct provision to private rented accommodation (in both Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and Rent Supplement areas) can be considered. Each application is considered on the circumstances presented.
The Department was represented on the Taskforce for Transitional Support for Persons granted status in Direct Provision, which was established on foot of recommendation 5.169 of the Working Group on Improvements to the Protection Process (McMahon report). This Taskforce developed an information programme for persons granted status which is being rolled out by the Citizens Information Board and also an information booklet to support the transition from direct provision.
Persons who have been granted protection and are seeking to establish eligibility for a social welfare payment should contact their local Department of Social Protection Intreo Centre for information. Further information is also available on the Department’s website www.welfare.ie.
465. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection to clarify the policy with regard to paying jobseeker’s allowance to those persons living in direct provision centres, and who have residency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12868/16]
View answer516. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the policy with regard to paying jobseeker’s allowance to residents of direct provision centres, once they have achieved leave to remain status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13531/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 465 and 516 together.
The jobseeker’s allowance scheme provides income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative full-time employment. The 2016 Estimates for my Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseeker’s allowance scheme of €2.45 billion.
In order to qualify for a Jobseeker's Allowance payment a person must meet all the conditions for the scheme. Being habitually resident in the State is a requirement, among others, for receipt of certain social protection payments including jobseeker's allowance. It applies to all applicants for and recipients of such payments including those who have been granted leave to remain.
Asylum seekers only have permission to remain in the State until their applications for refugee status or subsidiary protection have been determined and cannot be considered to satisfy the habitual residence condition during this period. As they do not satisfy the habitual resident condition during this period they are not eligible for jobseeker’s allowance.
My Department’s published guidelines on the application of the habitual residence condition specifically address the issue of those who have been granted leave to remain.
Where someone has been granted residency and are available and seeking employment they can apply for jobseeker’s allowance. However, they must satisfy the means test and the habitual resident condition among others, which applies to all applicants in order to receive payment.
467. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application under the invalidity pension scheme by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12872/16]
View answerInvalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. The department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on 19 February 2016.
The person in question was refused IP on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. She was notified on the 20 May 2016 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
468. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of money spent by his Department on media advertising from March 2011 to February 2016, showing the media organisation, newspaper, radio, television, or any other forms of media to which advertisement fees were paid by his Department; and the amount of money paid per year to each individual media organisation in tabular form. [12892/16]
View answerThe amount of money spent on media advertising by my Department from March 2011 to February 2016 was €466,343.
Expenditure on media advertising falls into two main categories:
- routine newspaper advertising such as public notifications of permanent or temporary office closures and relocations, or recruitment to branch offices; and
- advertising used to promote awareness of specific schemes and services which may include campaigns on radio, television and print media, and attendance at large events.
A breakdown of all payments to media companies during the period March 2011 and February 2016 is set out in the table below. No television advertising was undertaken during this period.
MEDIA ADVERTISING EXPENDITURE 2016 (To End February ).
|
Organisation |
Print - € |
Radio - € |
Other - € |
Total 2016 |
|
MediaVest |
12,000 |
|
|
12,000 |
|
South East Radio |
|
1,500 |
|
1,500 |
|
Total |
12,000 |
1,500 |
0 |
13,500 |
MEDIA ADVERTISING EXPENDITURE 2015
|
Organisation |
Print - € |
Radio - € |
Other - € |
Total 2015 |
|
Athlone Community Radio |
|
70 |
|
70 |
|
The Department of Foreign Affairs ** |
1,500 |
|
|
1500 |
|
Galway Bay FM |
|
1,400 |
|
1400 |
|
Grey Robin Media |
500 |
|
|
500 |
|
Guerin Media |
500 |
|
|
500 |
|
MediaVest * |
175,000 |
|
|
175000 |
|
Midlands Radio |
|
1,200 |
|
1200 |
|
Highland Radio |
|
1,400 |
|
1400 |
|
IRadio |
|
2,000 |
|
2000 |
|
KCLR FM |
|
185 |
|
185 |
|
Radio Kerry |
|
2,000 |
|
2000 |
|
Hot Press (Osnovina Ltd) |
2,800 |
|
|
2800 |
|
Shannonside Radio |
|
1,500 |
|
1500 |
|
Tipp FM |
|
600 |
|
600 |
|
Total |
180,300 |
10,355 |
0 |
190,655 |
MEDIA ADVERTISING EXPENDITURE 2014
|
Organisation |
Print - € |
Radio - € |
Other - € |
Total 2014 |
|
Beat 102 - 103 |
|
1,200 |
|
1,200 |
|
Accountancy Ireland (Chartered Accountants Ireland) |
3,000 |
|
|
3,000 |
|
Clare FM |
|
900 |
|
900 |
|
The Department of Foreign Affairs ** |
1,400 |
|
|
1,400 |
|
Guerin Media |
615 |
|
|
615 |
|
Exterion Media |
|
|
2,400 |
2,400 |
|
Highland Radio |
|
1,400 |
|
1,400 |
|
iRadio |
|
1,300 |
|
1,300 |
|
JP Devlin Media |
2,762 |
|
|
2,762 |
|
Limerick Live 95 |
|
1,500 |
|
1,500 |
|
MediaVest |
41,000 |
|
|
41,000 |
|
Hot Press (Osnovina Ltd) |
3,000 |
|
|
3,000 |
|
Phoenix FM |
|
123 |
|
123 |
|
Shannonside FM |
|
2,400 |
|
2,400 |
|
South East Broadcasting |
|
1,400 |
|
1,400 |
|
South East Radio |
|
861 |
|
861 |
|
Spin South West |
|
1,400 |
|
1,400 |
|
Sunday Business Post |
1900 |
|
|
1,900 |
|
Total |
53,677 |
12,484 |
2,400 |
68,561 |
MEDIA ADVERTISING EXPENDITURE 2013
|
Organisation |
Print - € |
Radio - € |
Other - € |
Total 2013 |
|
Brindley Advertising |
38,262 |
|
|
38,262 |
|
Farm TV |
|
|
3,691 |
3,691 |
|
Guerin Media |
738 |
|
|
738 |
|
Total |
39,000 |
0 |
3,691 |
42,691 |
MEDIA ADVERTISING EXPENDITURE 2012
|
Organisation |
Print - € |
Radio - € |
Other - € |
Total 2012 |
|
Brindley Advertising |
87,515 |
|
|
87,515 |
|
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade ** |
1,307 |
|
|
1,307 |
|
Guerin Ltd. |
738 |
|
|
738 |
|
Total |
89,560 |
0 |
0 |
89,560 |
MEDIA ADVERTISING EXPENDITURE 2011 (from March)
|
Organisation |
Print - € |
Radio - € |
Other - € |
Total 2011 |
|
Brindley Advertising |
60,650 |
|
|
60,650 |
|
PG Print Media |
726 |
|
|
726 |
|
Total |
61,376 |
0 |
0 |
61,376 |
*€99,000 of this expenditure was recouped from the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government in respect of Water Conservation Grant advertising undertaken on its behalf.
** Relates to joint advertisement by a number of Departments setting out Christmas opening arrangements.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
470. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection to review the decision not to award invalidity pension to a person (details required); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12900/16]
View answerThe person concerned has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from the 15 October 2015. Payment will issue to her nominated bank account on the 16 June 2016. Any arrears due from the 15 October 2015 to the 15 June 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 31 May 2016.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
471. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in determination of application for invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12953/16]
View answerThe person concerned has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from the 17 March 2016. Payment will issue to his nominated bank account on the 16 June 2016. Any arrears due from the 17 March 2016 to the 15 June 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 27 May 2016.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
472. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will pay a disability allowance to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 17; the reason this person was previously refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12966/16]
View answerThe person concerned submitted an application for disability allowance on 22 October 2014.
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 28 February 2015 and of his rights of review and appeal. According to my department’s records, no appeal against that decision was lodged.
If the person in question believes they may qualify, it is open to him to reapply by completing and submitting to the Department the relevant application form (DA1).
474. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will examine the application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied) with a view to granting this allowance without further delay, as their application has been ongoing since October 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13129/16]
View answerThe application for carer’s allowance in respect of the person concerned was awarded on 26 May 2016 and the first payment is due to issue to the person’s nominated bank account on 2 June 2016.
Arrears of allowance due from 3 December 2015 have also issued to the nominated bank account. The person concerned was notified of these details on 26 May 2016.
I hope this clarified the matter for the Deputy.
475. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount his Department has recovered, due to the implementation of Social Protection fraud prevention measures, in the past three years; if it is possible to receive a breakdown of same, in tabular form across the spectrum of Social Protection payment types, and by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13159/16]
View answerThe Department’s Compliance and Anti-Fraud Strategy 2014-2018 provides for a range of measures to ensure that social welfare fraud and abuse is minimised and that control activity is appropriately focused. The 2015 Progress Report on the implementation of the Strategy was published at the end of April. The emphasis continues to be on preventing fraud and error from entering the system, improving detections and minimising error.
In recent years, a number of legislative provisions have been introduced to strengthen the Department’s capacity to recover debt. A new debt management system was also introduced at the end of 2014. The Department's policy is to pursue prosecutions in cases of fraud, where appropriate. Fraud prevention, detection and control systems are subject to continuing development to take account of new areas of fraud and technological advances.
The overall provisional level of overpayments recorded in 2015 amounted to €115.4m in respect of 81,600 individual overpayments. Overpayments attributable to fraud came to approx. €48.9m in respect of 21,407 individual cases.
Table 1 sets out the summary of overpayments and those resulting from suspected fraud for the years 2013-2015.
TABLE 1 – Recorded overpayments and those resulting from suspected fraud
|
- |
Year |
||
|
- |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Total number of overpayments recorded |
84,702 |
90,933 |
81,600 |
|
Total value of overpayments |
€127.2m |
€124.4m |
€115.4m |
|
Number of fraud overpayments recorded |
27,489 |
27,437 |
21,407 |
|
Value of fraud overpayments |
€61.9m |
€52.5m |
€48.9m |
The detailed information sought by the Deputy for recoveries of suspected fraud overpayments is only available for 2015 onwards (arising from the introduction of the new debt management system in late 2014) when an amount of approx. €26.7m was recovered.
Table 2 below gives a breakdown by scheme type of this figure and Table 3 breaks down the figure by county in which the customer is currently resident.
TABLE 2 – Recovery of suspected fraud overpayments by scheme type - 2015
|
Scheme/Programme |
Amount recovered in 2015 |
|
Back To Work Scheme |
€118,306.66 |
|
Basic Supplement Welfare |
€1,735,921.92 |
|
Bereavement Grant |
€390.00 |
|
Blind Persons Pension |
€11,332.69 |
|
Carers Allowance |
€322,017.51 |
|
Carers Benefit |
€2,021.00 |
|
Child Benefit |
€363,439.65 |
|
Death Benefit |
€1,438.20 |
|
Disability Allowance |
€1,576,558.66 |
|
Disablement Benefit |
€ 45,670.46 |
|
Domiciliary Care |
€1,894.70 |
|
Family Income Supplement |
€168,146.19 |
|
Farm Assist |
€368,926.52 |
|
Guardians Payment Contributory |
€2,647.60 |
|
Guardians Payment Non-Contributory |
€510.00 |
|
Illness Benefit |
€1,104,733.56 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
€175,104.13 |
|
Jobseekers Allowance |
€11,340,547.34 |
|
Jobseekers Benefit |
€2,411,669.81 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
€3,411.53 |
|
National Fuel Scheme |
€5,952.33 |
|
Occupational Injuries Benefit |
€7,766.49 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
€3,108,269.23 |
|
Pre-retirement Allowance |
€149,669.24 |
|
Respite Care |
€13,911.55 |
|
Rural Social Scheme |
€300.00 |
|
State Pension Contributory |
€66,097.68 |
|
State Pension Non Contributory |
€3,379,528.11 |
|
State Pension Transition |
€32,732.09 |
|
Treatment Benefit - Dental Benefit |
€466.27 |
|
Widow(er)s Pension Contributory |
€181,962.45 |
|
Widows Non Contributory Pension |
€12,585.27 |
|
Total |
€26,713,928.84 |
Table 3 - Recovery of suspected fraud overpayments by county - 2015
|
County |
Amount recovered in 2015 |
|
CARLOW |
€505,384.89 |
|
CAVAN |
€827,145.37 |
|
CLARE |
€517,119.83 |
|
CORK |
€3,021,178.09 |
|
DONEGAL |
€981,388.44 |
|
DUBLIN |
€7,751,032.52 |
|
GALWAY |
€1,113,772.00 |
|
KERRY |
€539,505.53 |
|
KILDARE |
€1,007,038.76 |
|
KILKENNY |
€393,855.17 |
|
LAOIS |
€382,145.13 |
|
LEITRIM |
€111,431.18 |
|
LIMERICK |
€1,453,183.53 |
|
LONGFORD |
€380,932.47 |
|
LOUTH |
€623,529.36 |
|
MAYO |
€599,699.39 |
|
MEATH |
€859,801.15 |
|
MONAGHAN |
€231,805.11 |
|
OFFALY |
€539,619.94 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
€295,591.43 |
|
SLIGO |
€328,257.24 |
|
TIPPERARY |
€1,208,025.55 |
|
WATERFORD |
€916,737.32 |
|
WESTMEATH |
€433,572.59 |
|
WEXFORD |
€896,701.18 |
|
WICKLOW |
€641,748.44 |
|
Other address |
€153,727.23 |
|
Total |
€26,713,928.84 |
476. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Social Protection the rules in respect of returning to work during the application, review or appeal process for carer's benefit, as it has been reported to this Deputy that the Social Protection Office in Longford and the Appeals Office are advising applicants and appellants that they can return to work during the aforementioned processes, and then they are rejected for payment for that very reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13162/16]
View answerCarer's benefit is a payment for insured people who have recently left the workforce and are providing full-time care and attention to certain people who require that level of care.
A person can be considered to be providing full-time care and attention where they are engaged in employment, self-employment or on training courses outside the home for a maximum of 15 hours per week, provided that they can show to the satisfaction of a deciding officer that adequate care has been provided for the care recipient in their absence.
This is the only advice which should be offered by my Department to applicants interested in working while claiming carer's benefit. I am unable to verify whether incorrect information in this regard has been given by staff members but I have arranged for a reminder to issue to all relevant staff as to the correct advice in relation to working while claiming or in receipt of carer’s benefit.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Question No. 477 withdrawn.
478. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider lowering the starting age of the State pension to 65 years of age to put it in line with the general age of retirement; if he accepts the unfairness of a person who has worked all their life and has paid full contributions should not have to claim jobseeker's allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13171/16]
View answerThe Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 provided for increases in the State pension age over a period of years. This process began in January 2014 with the abolition of the State pension (transition) previously available at 65, thereby currently standardising State pension age for all at 66 years. The changes introduced in 2011 were on foot of a Government commitment included in the National Recovery Plan published in 2010 and in the subsequent Memorandum of Understanding with the EU/ECB/IMF.
The purpose of these changes is to make the pension system sustainable in the context of increasing life expectancy. More people are living to pension age and living longer in retirement. Therefore, the duration for which an average pension will be paid will continue to increase. The number of pensions is increasing by approximately 17,000 annually as a result of this demographic change. This has significant implications for the future costs of State pension provision, resulting in an additional cost of some €1 billion every 5 years, before other matters, such as rate increases, are factored in.
In 2013, the cost of the State pension (transition) was €137 million. While its abolition would not realise that saving in full, as some people who were affected would alternatively claim working age payments such as Jobseekers Benefit (although at a lower rate than that of the State pension), and some may have claimed for Qualified Adults on their spouse’s pension, it is estimated that well over half of that cost may have been saved each year as a result of this measure.
The Deputy should note that there is no general 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. I would encourage employers, where possible, to recognise the contribution that older workers make to their businesses, and not to automatically end their employment on their 65th birthday, particularly given the fact that the State pension age is now 66.
In terms of financial supports, social welfare benefits will continue to be available up to the age of 66 for those who are contractually obliged to leave employment. People who have worked in the private sector until their 65th birthday will generally qualify for Jobseekers benefit (which is not means-tested) rather than Jobseekers allowance, if they are unemployed and seeking work.
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).
There are no plans to introduce legislation to change from the current position, as doing so would result in a significant cost to the Exchequer and further undermine the sustainability of the pension system, which already faces significant demographic challenges.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
479. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Social Protection the entitlements of a person in receipt of carer's allowance when they reach pension age and are also entitled to a contributory pension; and his plans to review the current arrangements. [13209/16]
View answerCarer's Allowance (CA) is a social assistance payment made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a relevant person/persons and whose income falls below certain limits.
If a person is in receipt of another social welfare payment in their own right (other than unemployment payments or Supplementary Welfare Allowance but including state pension (contributory)) or is being claimed as an adult dependent on their spouse/partner's social welfare payment, half-rate carer's allowance may be paid alongside this payment once the conditions for CA are satisfied.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
480. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider providing funding for the WALK Peer Project in County Louth (details supplied). [13218/16]
View answer481. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Social Protection the alternative supports which will be put in place for young persons exiting the WALK Peer Project in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13219/16]
View answer511. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection to respond to issues concerning the WALK disability project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13510/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 480, 481 and 511 together.
The Providing Equal Employment Routes (PEER) project was one of 14 disability activation projects (DACT), in the Border, Midlands & West region, jointly funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Department of Social Protection (DSP), from the end of 2012 to April 2015. The project was delivered by the Walkinstown Association for People with an Intellectual Disability (WALK).
The objective of the DACT programme was to explore a variety of routes towards ensuring that people with disabilities were enabled to avail of progression, education and development opportunities within the world of work. Similar to many other projects with EU funding, a key criterion used when selecting projects for the programme was that appropriate learning should be capable of being independently mainstreamed into the future. It was on this basis that each of the DACT projects was awarded funding with a specified end-date of 30 April 2015. It was not intended that the funding for the projects would continue in the long-run or that they would become ongoing service delivery organisations in their own right.
In the final phase of the programme, it was recognised that was a short-term need for some further funding so as to allow projects to ensure that their participants finished their involvement in an orderly manner. Therefore my Department decided to provide some further funding to seven of the DACT projects for the short period to the end of July 2015. On this basis, all DSP funding to WALK PEER project ceased at the end of July 2015. I understand that the WALK PEER project was subsequently successful in obtaining additional funding from a private-sector organisation. I also understand that this is the source of support that is referred to in the clarification to the question and that this support will end in July.
Given the objectives of previous support for this programme and the overall circumstances set out above, my Department has no plans to reinstate funding to the DACT pilot projects and accordingly there is no provision in the Department's estimates to provide funding to the WALK PEER project.
In relation to alternative supports, my Department provides a range of programmes designed to support the employment of people with disabilities, including the supported employment programme, EmployAbility, and the wage subsidy scheme. Participants exiting the WALK PEER project may seek to avail of these supports, where appropriate. Other supports available may be accessed through the health service executive. I should also stress that participants, where eligible, will continue to receive their weekly income support payment so that their income support needs continue to be met.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
