Wednesday, 15 Jun 2016

Written Answers Nos. 134-139

JobPath Implementation

Questions (134, 135)

Jim Daly

Question:

134. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the level of expertise and experience in the JobPath programme that will enable payment-by-results providers to identify issues around illness, injury, mental ill health or disability that might require additional support of the kind traditionally provided by EmployAbility Services nationwide for jobseekers; the level of provision in the programme to address the additional supports required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16281/16]

Jim Daly

Question:

135. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the protocol in place and how he will operate referrals from JobPath to the EmployAbility Services where it transpires that a recipient under the jobseeker's allowance scheme and the JobPath scheme requires additional supports that are not available under the latter but are available under the EmployAbility Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16283/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 134 and 135 together.

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. The EmployAbility Service is an employment and recruitment service to assist people with a disability to secure and maintain a job in the open labour market.

Only clients in receipt of a jobseeker payment are referred to JobPath. By contrast most clients assisted by the EmployAbility Service are people with disabilities on long term disability payments such as disability allowance or invalidity pension. It is unlikely therefore that many JobPath clients will have recourse to the EmployAbility service.

JobPath staff receive awareness training in relation to a range of conditions, including mental health and addictions. JobPath providers seek to direct clients to the most appropriate service to best support their needs and to complement the JobPath service. Where it transpires that a person on JobPath requires additional supports that are not available on JobPath but such supports are available under the EmployAbility Service then the JobPath provider will contact the Department so arrangements may be made for the person to avail of the EmployAbility Service either in addition, or as an alternative, to the JobPath service.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Family Income Supplement Appeals

Questions (136)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

136. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the family income supplement appeals office is adequately staffed given that it is not uncommon for appeals to take a number of months (details supplied); if he will provide more resources to enable it to respond to applicants within a reasonable time given the importance of this payment to parents trying to excel in employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16352/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The person concerned applied for Family Income Supplement (FIS) on the 4th December 2015 and was awarded FIS with effect from 26th November 2015. They were awarded FIS at a weekly rate of €38.00 from 26 November 2015 and €41.00 from 7th January 2016 (increase due to budgetary changes in FIS income limits).

The person concerned had her employment contract terminated at the end of 2015 and she then transferred to jobseekers allowance (JA) in January 2016. In February 2016, she recommenced employment and re-claimed and was reinstated on FIS at the original weekly rate of €41.00. In accordance with the rules governing eligibility for FIS, where a person loses but then re-gains eligibility for FIS within the 52 week period from the awarding of the original claim, they requalify at the same rate of FIS for the remainder of the original 52 week period.

On 13 April 2016 the person in question, being dissatisfied, appealed this decision to the independent social welfare appeals office (SWAO). On the 1st June 2016 the claim and a submission from the deciding officer was sent to the SWAO. The SWAO will be in touch with the person in question in relation to the progress of the appeal in due course.

The delay in sending the file and submission to the SWAO in this case is regretted. There is, necessarily, some delay in processing a request for appeal in FIS section which may include a review of the decision by a FIS DO and/or a clarification letter to the claimant. Carrying out this review/clarification work often removes the need for an appeal to go ahead as the customer understands better the reason(s) for the decision.

The position regarding processing of FIS appeals is monitored on a regular basis to ensure that any delays are minimised.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Carer's Allowance Applications

Questions (137)

Pat Deering

Question:

137. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Social Protection when he will return a file from an inspector regarding an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme. [16321/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 3 December 2015.

The application was referred by a deciding officer (DO) to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied. I understand that the SWI is carrying out his/her enquiries at present. Once the SWI has reported, a DO will make a full decision and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Consular Services Staff

Questions (138)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

138. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the additional personnel and resources he will deploy to the Irish Embassy and Consulate General office in Brazil during the Olympic and Paralympics Games; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16131/16]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games will take place in Rio de Janeiro between 5 August, and 18 September 2016.

Based on estimates from the Olympic Council of Ireland and elsewhere, we expect relatively modest numbers of Irish citizens to travel to Brazil for the Games – perhaps a few hundred in total. My Department’s current travel advice for Brazil advises Irish citizens to exercise normal precautions. Particular risks highlighted include high crime levels, road safety issues and mosquito-borne diseases.

The Embassy of Ireland in Brasilia and Consulate General in São Paulo have been actively engaging with the Brazilian authorities in relation to all aspects of planning for the tournament, including ensuring that visiting Irish citizens attending Rio 2016 stay safe. A full operational plan will be disclosed in due course, when all logistical issues have been taken into consideration, and a more accurate estimate of the numbers of Irish citizens travelling is available.

Consular Services Provision

Questions (139)

Peter Fitzpatrick

Question:

139. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide assistance to persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16248/16]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I am aware of this tragic case, and wish to offer my heartfelt condolences to the family of this young man. I also wish to assure them of the continued support and assistance of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and our Embassy in Vietnam.

My Department has been providing consular assistance to the family of the Irish citizen in question through our Embassy in Hanoi and the Consular Assistance Unit in Dublin, and is in ongoing contact with the family through the appointed Garda Liaison Officer.

My Department has assisted the family in a number of ways, mainly focused on liaison with the local Vietnamese authorities, including in relation to arrangements for the formal identification of the deceased; the carrying-out of the post-mortem and arrangements for the repatriation of the citizen’s remains. I can confirm that the autopsy report on the deceased was sent via the Consular Assistance Unit in Dublin to the family’s Garda Liaison Officer in March 2016 and has been received by the family. Continuing engagement between our Embassy and local authorities has also confirmed that the police report was sent by local police to Gardaí via Interpol in May 2016.

Let me assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to offer all possible consular assistance to the family and continue to keep them updated on developments, while also remaining engaged with the relevant local authorities on this matter.