Written Answers Nos. 283-304
283. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 301 and 330 of 24 May 2016, the average waiting time for a person with a disability to meet a job coach in the employability services and how this compares to the average waiting time for a person without a disability getting a quality offer of a job, an apprenticeship or a placement. [15324/16]
View answer289. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of providing an additional 1,000 places to increase the capacity of the employability services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15382/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 283 and 289 together.
The EmployAbility programme is a national employment service dedicated to improving employment outcomes for job seekers with a disability. EmployAbility participants are people with a disability, which can range from physical to mental health, who are able to work a minimum of 8 hours per week and who need the support of a job coach to obtain employment in the open labour market. The duration of the service is 18 months. The budget for 2016 provides €9.6 million to run the service.
The EmployAbility service currently comprises 23 limited companies, each with a specific geographical remit, so the demand for the service varies from region to region. Data from 2015 shows that the average number of weeks that a person was waiting for a place on the service was 10 weeks.
The data requested by the Deputy in relation to persons without a disability are not collected by my Department. The Department’s mainstream employment support service is provided through Intreo, which delivers a personalised service to clients in accessing job opportunities and availing of supports to enable them to get back to work at the earliest possible opportunity. Persons on disability payments can avail of this service on a voluntary basis, where they may be referred to the EmployAbility service where appropriate.
The average cost of providing support through the EmployAbility service is €2,900 per customer, so if the service was expanded to support an additional 1,000 customers, the estimated additional annual cost would be €2.9 million.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
284. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection why persons who are long-time on JobPath with private companies and have not succeeded in getting employment are ineligible under the Tús work placement initiative; if he will review this rule to enable such persons to engage in meaningful work each day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15333/16]
View answerParticipants on JobPath receive intensive individual support to help them address barriers to employment and to assist them in finding jobs. Each person is assigned to a personal advisor who assesses a person’s skills, experience, challenges and work goals. A personal progression plan is developed for each individual and includes a schedule of activities, actions and job focused targets. Participants are also provided with a range of training and development supports including online modules, career advice, CV preparation and interview skills. They spend a year on JobPath and if they are placed into a job they will continue to receive support for at least three months and up to twelve months while in employment.
JobPath is one of the range of activation supports, including schemes such as Tús, catering for long-term unemployed jobseekers. Clients are not permitted to participate in Tús and JobPath concurrently. Given the need to manage the allocation of places effectively, my Department does not facilitate or encourage jobseekers to leave one scheme early in order to take up a place on another scheme. Participation in Tús is an option once the client’s period on JobPath is completed. There are no plans to change the current arrangements.
286. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) cannot be released from JobPath to pursue a child care course through a community employment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15354/16]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware JobPath is a new approach to employment activation that supports people who are long-term unemployed and those most distant from the labour market to secure and sustain full-time paid employment. JobPath is one of a range of activation supports, including schemes such as Community Employment, catering for long-term unemployed jobseekers.
The person concerned has been in receipt of a jobseeker payment for a number of years and has not had any meaningful activation engagement. She was referred to JobPath on 8 May 2016. Recently she contacted a local Community Employment provider. However, I understand that the Community Employment course in question is not currently available.
Participants on JobPath receive intensive individual support to help them tackle barriers to employment and to assist them in finding jobs. Each person is assigned to a personal advisor who assesses a person’s skills, experience, challenges and work goals. The personal advisor works with the job-seeker to agree a personal progression plan that includes a schedule of activities, actions and job focused targets. Job-seekers are also provided with a range of training and development supports including online modules, career advice, CV preparation and interview skills. They spend a year on JobPath and if they are placed into a job they will continue to receive support for at least three months and up to twelve months while in employment.
In general, and JobPath is not an exception, job-seekers are not allowed to participate in two separate schemes at the same time. Given the need to manage the allocation of places effectively, the Department does not facilitate or encourage jobseekers to leave one scheme early in order to take up a place on another scheme. Participation in other schemes and programmes remains an option once the client’s period on JobPath is completed.
In the case in question I understand that the person concerned has completed a personal progression plan and that her personal advisor is actively working with her to assist her in finding suitable full-time employment.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
287. 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. [15361/16]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence including that adduced at the oral hearing, has decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer's decision
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
288. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason he has suspended a payment to a person (details supplied) under the family income supplement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15371/16]
View answerA renewal application form for family income supplement (FIS) was issued to the person concerned on 28 April 2016. This form was returned, undelivered, to FIS section stating 'no access' and the FIS claim was suspended on 18 May 2016 as the department had not been notified of a change of address as is required.
The person concerned contacted FIS Section on 3 June 2016 and was asked to supply their new address and forward a copy of a utility bill to verify their change of address.
On 9 June 2016, FIS staff contacted the person concerned and they confirmed that they had forwarded a utility bill. Upon receipt, their address will be updated and another renewal form will issue to the person concerned.
Once the completed renewal form is received, it will be processed without delay and the person in question will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope the above clarifies the position fully for the Deputy.
290. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of money his Department spent on purchasing copies of the Public Sector Times magazine in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15422/16]
View answerMy Department incurred no cost in 2015 for the Public Sector Times Magazine.
The Public Services Time Magazine is free of charge to all public sector bodies.
291. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of money spent on daily newspapers in 2015; if this is an appropriate expenditure given the available and far cheaper online alternatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15438/16]
View answerThe expenditure on newspapers purchased by the Department in 2015 amounted to €8,335.33.
The Department monitors such expenditure closely at all times and keeps these costs to a minimum.
Some newspapers are not available or fully available online without subscription.
292. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff working in his human resources section. [15454/16]
View answerThe following table outlines the number of staff working in the Human Resources Division of the Department, incorporating HR and training (Staff Development Unit).
|
- |
PEOPLE |
POSTS |
|
HR DIVISION |
47 |
43.75 |
|
STAFF DEVELOPMENT UNIT |
26 |
24.33 |
|
TOTAL |
73 |
68.08 |
293. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff who work exclusively on constituency matters for him. [15470/16]
View answerThere are currently three staff members working on constituency matters, one of whom is my Personal Secretary employed by the Houses of the Oireachtas.
One of the staff members employed by the Department of Social Protection also works on Minister McGrath's Departmental Constituency matters that relate only to his area of responsibilities.
I hope the above clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
294. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the changes in the numbers employed in his human resources section following the introduction of PeoplePoint. [15486/16]
View answerHR Division comprises the HR and training functions. In February 2014, PeoplePoint took responsibility for the administrative elements of the HR processes in the Department. The training function was not impacted by the move to PeoplePoint.
In February 2014, there were 64.78 posts in HR. Following the move of the HR administrative functions to PeoplePoint, there were 45 posts.
295. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15515/16]
View answerI confirm that my Department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 15 February 2016. Unfortunately, there are currently delays in the processing of new applications. 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, the person concerned is in receipt of a weekly supplementary welfare allowance.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
296. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15516/16]
View answerI confirm that my Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 7 April 2016. Additional information in relation to the person’s application has been requested by a deciding officer. Once the information is received the application will be processed without delay and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
297. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15517/16]
View answerI confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 11 September 2015.
CA in respect of care recipients under 16 years of age may be considered only where domiciliary care allowance (DCA) is being paid in respect of that care recipient.
As DCA is not being paid in respect of the care recipient, the application for CA has been refused. The person concerned was notified on 5 March 2016 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
The person concerned has appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) on 18 May 2016. The department will prepare a submission, as required by the SWAO, as soon as possible and the file will be sent to the SWAO for determination.
If DCA is approved in the future, the person in question should contact CA section immediately in relation to their potential eligibility for that scheme which will then be reviewed.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
298. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15519/16]
View answerI confirm that my Department received an application for carer's allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 13 January 2016. The application was refused by a deciding officer (DO) on the grounds that the person concerned was working outside the home for more than 15 hours per week contrary to the conditions for receipt of CA.
She was notified on 6 May 2016 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
The person concerned has appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) on 31 May 2016. My department will prepare a submission, as required by the SWAO, as soon as possible and the file will be sent to the SWAO for determination.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
299. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when he will process an application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15528/16]
View answerI confirm that my Department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 24 February 2016. Unfortunately, there are currently delays in the processing of new applications. 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, the person concerned is in receipt of a weekly social welfare support.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
300. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when he will issue a decision to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15532/16]
View answerThe application for carer's allowance in respect of the person concerned was awarded on 6 May 2016 and the first payment issued to the person's nominated bank account on 12 May 2016.
Arrears of allowance due from 28 January 2016 were also issued to the bank on 12 May 2016. The person concerned was notified on 6 May 2016.
The person concerned requested a review of this decision and the deciding officer has decided to backdate the application to 22 October 2015. Any arrears of allowance due from the 22 October 2015 (less any overlapping social welfare payment and/or outstanding overpayment) will issue in due course. The person in question was notified on 10 June 2016 of these details.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
301. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of social protection payments (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15539/16]
View answerThe Department is committed to ensuring that claims are processed as expeditiously as possible. Processing times vary across schemes, depending on the differing qualification criteria. Schemes that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case of illness, disability and caring schemes, can take longer to process. Similarly, means-tested payments can also require more detailed investigation and interaction with the applicant, thereby lengthening the decision making process. Delays can also arise when the application form is not competed fully or supporting documentation is not provided at claim stage or where additional information has been requested from the applicant but remains outstanding.
My Department’s Intreo service integrates employment and income supports and provides for a streamlined and personalised service to clients in accessing job opportunities and availing of supports to enable them to get back to work at the earliest possible opportunity. The Intreo centres also include a single integrated decision-making team that integrate and streamline the processes formerly undertaken by the different agencies now amalgamated into my Department. Already clients are seeing the benefits of the integrated decisions process in the form of shorter decision times and in the reduced recourse to supplementary welfare payments. In April 2016, the average number of weeks taken to process a jobseeker's allowance application was 2 and a jobseeker's benefit claim was 1.
Disability allowance applications were processed in an average of 10 weeks in April 2016.
Carer’s allowance, which is a means-tested scheme, is experiencing delays presently, averaging 20 weeks in April 2016. Delays are also occurring in domiciliary care allowance, where claims were processed in an average of 13 weeks in April. This primarily is due to an ongoing increase in new claim intake over the past few years to all three of these schemes and the complexity attached to processing of these applications. In addition, there is sometimes a reluctance on the part of applicants to give full information at application stage thereby slowing down the processing of their application and in some cases necessitating a visit by an Departmental investigative officer.
The social welfare appeals office has supplied details in tabular form as follows of the processing time across all scheme types in 2016 up to the end of May.
Reducing these waiting times is a priority for my Department. As part of its programme of service delivery modernisation, a range of initiatives aimed at streamlining the processing of claims, supported by modern technology, have been implemented by my Department in recent years. Operational processes, procedures and the organisation of work are continually reviewed to ensure that processing capability is maximised.
In addition, staffing needs are regularly reviewed, having regard to workloads and the competing demands arising, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Appeal processing times by scheme 01/01/2016 – 31/05/2016
|
Average processing times (weeks) Summary Decisions |
Average processing times (weeks) Oral Hearings |
|
|
Blind Pension |
19.7 |
29.9 |
|
Carers Allowance |
18.2 |
22.4 |
|
Carers Benefit |
17.2 |
23.4 |
|
Child Benefit |
22.7 |
55.6 |
|
Disability Allowance |
15.2 |
20.5 |
|
Illness Benefit |
30.0 |
31.9 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
29.0 |
29.4 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
23.5 |
29.0 |
|
Deserted Wives Benefit |
- |
40.5 |
|
Farm Assist |
16.3 |
23.7 |
|
Bereavement Grant |
14.7 |
- |
|
Liable Relatives |
7.9 |
- |
|
Family Income Supplement |
16.3 |
26.0 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
28.4 |
32.1 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
17.5 |
28.1 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
21.3 |
25.9 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
27.8 |
37.5 |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
21.4 |
32.8 |
|
State Pension (Transition) |
67.7 |
40.5 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
22.4 |
17.1 |
|
Disablement Pension |
19.6 |
26.5 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
- |
55.6 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Con) |
16.9 |
24.9 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-Con) |
20.2 |
29.2 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance (Means) |
14.1 |
25.6 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
14.3 |
19.2 |
|
BTW Family Dividend |
21.3 |
- |
|
Jobseeker's Transitional |
19.6 |
12.7 |
|
Recoverable Benefits & Assistance |
33.6 |
41.7 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
13.7 |
17.5 |
|
Treatment Benefit |
22.2 |
- |
|
Respite Care Grant |
16.3 |
21.8 |
|
Insurability of Employment |
35.2 |
97.1 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
16.0 |
26.3 |
|
Survivor's Pension (Con) |
15.4 |
25.3 |
|
Survivor's Pension (Non-con) |
18.9 |
31.5 |
|
Widows Parent Grant |
21.4 |
- |
|
All Appeals |
17.2 |
23.9 |
302. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans regarding the JobBridge scheme and to stop new entrants to the scheme in September 2016; if any scheme which is introduced will continue to allow primary schools to provide internships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15548/16]
View answerJobBridge was launched in 2011 at a time of massive economic uncertainty and widespread unemployment. Companies were simply not hiring because they couldn't afford to recruit, and, in many cases, insisted on a minimum level of experience. But large numbers of new jobseekers and people who lost their jobs in the recession couldn't get the relevant workplace experience they needed to get a first or a new job.
That crisis is now over, the economy is growing and employers are hiring again. The labour market has changed and new graduates and other jobseekers are once again finding work. These changed circumstances mean that it is timely to consider whether or not a state- sponsored internship/work experience scheme is still required and, if so, what form such it should take.
While I acknowledge that JobBridge has been a successful scheme and served a useful purpose during the period of recession, I am also mindful of the criticisms that have been made of the scheme and I intend to replace it later this year with a scheme that is better suited to the changed economic circumstances.
JobBridge is currently the subject of an external independent evaluation and I will use the outcome of the review, due to be produced in September this year, to inform what changes should be made to improve outcomes for Jobseekers and value for money for the State.
All internships that commence before September 2016 will be honoured by the Department.
303. Deputy Pat Breen 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. [15580/16]
View answerI confirm that the Department received an application for Carer's Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 21 August 2015. It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have a disability whose effect is that they require full-time care and attention.
This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continuous supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.
The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied.
The person concerned was notified on 9 December 2015 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal. The person concerned has requested a review of this decision 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.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
304. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the domiciliary care allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15590/16]
View answerThe person concerned applied for domiciliary care allowance in respect of her child on 4 February 2016. 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 6 May 2016.
An appeal of this decision was registered on 26 May 2016 and additional information on her child's condition/care needs has been supplied. The application together with the new information supplied will now be 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 Social Welfare Appeals Office. Such reviews can take up to 12 weeks to complete at present.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
