Thursday, 7 Jul 2016

Written Answers Nos. 141-155

Rent Supplement Scheme

Questions (141)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

141. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has considered the omission of the N7 region from the amended rent supplement limits announced from 1 July 2015; if he will reconsider the assessment of such to include the N7 region where the road passes through the most deprived areas in Kildare, namely, Naas, Newbridge, County Kildare, Monasterevin and so on (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20161/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The increased rent limits under the rent supplement scheme, as announced last week, were introduced with effect from Friday, 1 July 2016. Supports in relation to housing and the provision of financial supports, including the rent supplement scheme currently supporting some 54,000 recipients at a cost of €267 million in 2016, are a key priority as evidenced by the early implementation of this Government commitment.

The rent limit review sets maximum rent limits in line with market rents which have generally been benchmarked at the 35th percentile of agreed rents as registered with the Residential Tenancies Board. Each county’s major urban area was used to establish an appropriate benchmark for the county’s prevailing maximum rent limit. In the case of Kildare, excluding the towns of: Maynooth; Leixlip; Celbridge; and Kilcock, the major urban centre selected for this county as the main benchmark in establishing maximum rent limits was Naas. The Deputy referred to other market areas in county Kildare namely, Newbridge, Monasterevin and by extension Kilcullen, which have lower rental pricing than Naas, and are covered under the county Kildare limits. The rent limits in county Kildare have increased by a weighted average of 19%.

Higher rent limits continue to be provided for the areas of Maynooth, Leixlip, Celbridge and Kilcock where the rental price differential remains. A weighted average increase was applied to the rents in these areas of 25%, reflecting the market conditions.

The combination of the increased rent limits and the ongoing flexibility and discretionary increases provided by my Department’s Community Welfare Service staff, in addition to the supports provided under Threshold’s Tenancy Protection Service (available in Kildare), will continue to provide stability for tenants.

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Questions (142)

Pat Deering

Question:

142. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) under the invalidity pension scheme. [20204/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an oral hearing of the appeal of the person concerned took place on 29 June 2016 and that the Appeals Officer is now considering the appeal in the light of all of the evidence submitted, including that adduced at the oral hearing. The person concerned will be notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision when the appeal has been determined.

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.

Disability Allowance

Questions (143)

Michael McGrath

Question:

143. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if the carer's benefit income of one spouse is reckonable in the means test in respect of the other spouse's disability allowance application. [20205/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

Disability allowance is a means-tested scheme and the way means are assessed is laid down in social welfare legislation. The assessment of income is dealt with under Part 2 of Schedule 3 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005. I can confirm that no statutory social welfare payment, including carer’s benefit, being received by a spouse/civil partner/ cohabitant is assessed as income.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Supplementary Welfare Allowance Eligibility

Questions (144)

Mick Barry

Question:

144. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will reconsider the decision not to grant a person (details supplied) assistance for crèche fees under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. [20206/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

In accordance with Departmental guidelines, Crèche Supplement applications can only be considered, in exceptional circumstances, in respect of children attending a community crèche.

This application for a Crèche Supplement was disallowed because the person concerned was applying for a payment for their child to attend a privately-run crèche and the scheme applies to community crèches only.

The person concerned appealed the disallowance and the decision was upheld on appeal. There is no reason to reconsider the application because the decision was upheld on appeal.

The Department has identified two community crèches in the vicinity that can reasonably be accessed by the person concerned from their present address. It is open to them to apply for a Crèche Supplement in respect of a local community crèche.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Back to Education Allowance

Questions (145)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

145. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding contributions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20223/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) is designed to support jobseekers to undertake second chance education. A person wishing to pursue a course of study under BTEA must satisfy a number of conditions such as age and in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for a specified period of time amongst others.

The period for which a person is required to be on a jobseeker’s payment is 234 days (which is equivalent to 9 months if signing full-time). However, a person who receives statutory redundancy - and who has an entitlement to a qualifying social welfare payment immediately prior to commencement of an approved course of study - may have immediate access to the BTEA.

BTEA is designed as one of the key State support to address the obstacles to re-entering the labour market for customers on long term social protection payments. It should not be considered as providing a universal form of support to engage in education - such supports are provided by SUSI under the Department of Education and Skills.

The conditions under which the BTEA operate are designed to ensure that they address the objective of supporting our longer term social welfare customers into employment and it is not envisaged that the current arrangements will be modified.

I hope this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.

Jobseeker's Allowance Applications

Questions (146)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

146. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures in place to ensure that all those normally employed in schools as secretaries, cleaners and caretakers with moneys from funding sources including the ancillary services grant are enabled to apply for and receive social protection payments and entitlements in a timely and swift manner during periods of temporary lay-off, such as during school holidays; if such workers must go through the normal application process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20231/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

A jobseeker’s payment is paid for days of unemployment where the person is not in receipt of holiday pay for those days and where they also satisfy the conditions of the scheme.

School educational sector workers, who are employed on a temporary basis and who have previously been in contact with the Department, are issued with a repeat jobseeker’s application form and holiday form in advance of the school holiday periods. This advance process facilitates an efficient service to these customers and allows for speedy processing of their claim when the period of unemployment actually arises. However, it is important to note that educational sector workers are still required to sign on for each period of unemployment.

In general, there is no delay in processing jobseeker benefit claims in Intreo Centres if the relevant claim application forms and supporting documentation are completed, as required by the customer in a timely manner. On average, a jobseeker’s benefit claim is decided within one week of application.

Disability Allowance Applications

Questions (147)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

147. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the disability allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20233/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the above named person on 23 June 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 relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Disability Allowance Applications

Questions (148)

John McGuinness

Question:

148. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a claim by a person (details supplied) under the disability allowance scheme was registered with his Department in May 2015. [20240/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I confirm the department received an application for disability allowance (DA) on 8 June 2015. In order to determine the circumstances of the person concerned, his file was forwarded to his local Social Welfare Inspector (SWI). A decision on his entitlement to DA will be made on receipt of the Social Welfare Inspector’s report.

The person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Pension Provisions

Questions (149)

Noel Rock

Question:

149. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will reinstate and backdate a pension to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20245/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The state pension transition and contributory claims of the person concerned have been reviewed. Based on this review, the person has been awarded a pro-rata state pension (transition) with effect from 1 September 2010, (on retirement) in accordance with EU legislation. The person concerned has also been awarded a pro rata state pension (contributory) with effect from their 66th birthday. These decisions are based on the person’s combined social insurance records comprising full-rate Irish contributions, modified rate Irish contributions and UK contributions.

A notification detailing the above decisions has issued to the person concerned, together with a copy of the insurance records relied upon by the Department. All due arrears of pension have been issued. If there are additional periods of insurable employment which are not shown on the record provided, the person concerned should contact the Department’s State pension (contributory) section, College Road, Sligo, providing documentary evidence of the employments concerned.

In addition, the Department is currently examining possible compensation entitlement due to any loss of purchasing power, arising from the delay in awarding the correct pension entitlement. On completion, the person concerned will be notified of the outcome without delay.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals

Questions (150)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

150. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when he will issue payment to a person (details supplied) under the jobseeker's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20270/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The person concerned is currently in receipt of a weekly jobseekers payment of €232.70. This is in payment with effect from the 23rd of May 2016 when he made his most recent claim for jobseekers allowance at Blanchardstown Intreo Centre. The amount payable includes his own personal rate of €188.00 weekly plus the appropriate child dependent payments for a person in his circumstances.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised that a jobseeker's allowance appeal by the person concerned, in relation to his previous jobseekers allowance claim, was referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral 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 trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Work Placement Programmes

Questions (151)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

151. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will extend the time a person may stay on the Tús work placement initiative scheme from one year, particularly where participants are unlikely to obtain work from private sector employers due to either social issues or other reasons; his views that forced unemployment has a very detrimental effect on a person’s health, leading him or her generally to visit the doctor more frequently, take more medicine and suffer from higher morbidity; his further views that it would be a positive step forward to assist persons who are unlikely to obtain employment to stay engaged with work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20279/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Tús, the community work placement initiative was set up to provide short-term, quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. Tús is designed to break the cycle of unemployment, and maintain work readiness, thereby improving a person’s opportunities of returning to the labour market. For this reason, eligibility is confined to those in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment. These provisions are to ensure a highly targeted approach for those in danger of falling into long-term unemployment. While Tús is intended to help long-term unemployed people re-enter the active workforce, they are not full-time sustainable jobs.

Tús was introduced and the numbers on other schemes expanded as a direct response to the growth in the level of unemployment during the financial crisis. As the economic recovery takes hold and the overall level of unemployment falls, the Department recognises the need to adapt these schemes to the changing circumstances, opportunities and needs of jobseekers and others.

International literature regularly questions the effectiveness of work programmes in general as effective activation tools, citing concerns regarding the duration of programmes, proximity to the labour market, absence of job search, possibility of lock-in effects and poor outcomes in terms of employment among others. In order to be effective, research points to the need for any such schemes to be temporary and should not become a disguised form of subsidised permanent employment.

Furthermore, extending the period of participation on Tús beyond one year for current participants would reduce the number of placements available to other people who are long-term unemployed. The existing 12-month placement period on Tús is consider adequate at present to meet the objectives of the initiative whilst also ensuring that as many unemployed people as possible are able to benefit from it.

With the ongoing welcome reductions in the live register, a review of work schemes, including Tús, will be necessary to ensure that the number and nature of schemes and the conditions governing participation continue to be appropriate. I will be considering all of these issues over the coming months.

I hope this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.

Carer's Allowance Applications

Questions (152)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

152. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20286/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The application for carer’s allowance in respect of the person concerned was awarded on 22 June 2016 and the first payment issued to the person’s nominated post office on 30 June 2016.

Arrears of allowance due from 10 March 2016 have also issued to the post office for payment.

The person concerned was notified of these details on 22 June 2016.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

UK Referendum on EU Membership

Questions (153)

Michael McGrath

Question:

153. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff dedicated to managing Ireland's response to the decision of the United Kingdom to exit the European Union; the structure of this team; how it will work with teams in other Departments; who has overall responsibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20308/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Staff in the EU and International section of the Department of Social Protection, in addition to their role in supporting the Department on EU and International matters generally, manages the social protection implications for Ireland of the decision of the United Kingdom to exit the European Union. This role involves liaising with colleagues both across the Department and in other departments as required. The Department is also a member of cross Departmental Group chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach on this matter.

The Department’s EU and International section is headed by an Assistant Secretary and is staffed by a Principal Officer, three Assistant Principal Officers including one based in the Permanent Representation in Brussels, three Higher Executive Officers, one Executive Officer and two Clerical Officers. A sub-group of the Department’s Management Board is in place to report on this matter to the Management Board and the Secretary General who has overall responsibility for the operations of the Department.

Consultancy Contracts Data

Questions (154)

Robert Troy

Question:

154. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide, per annum, all external consultant reports commissioned by his Department since March 2011, in tabular form; the costs per report; the company involved; the title of the report and the publication date. [20352/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in tabular form.

Reports commissioned by Department of Social Protection since March 2011

Report	Name of Consultants	Commissioned	Publication Date	Cost €
2011
Social Welfare Appeals Office – Research on Insurability Issues & Access to Legal Resources	Mel Cousins & Associates	2011	2011	€7,744
Report on electronic access to GRO Records for genealogy research	John Grenham	Apr-2011	Internal Management Report	€3,557
Investigation of odour/smells, Belmullet Local Office	Wright Environmental Services	Apr-2011	Internal Management Report	€1,699
Investigation of odour/smells, DSP Cobh	Employment Health Advisors Ltd	May-2011	Internal Management Report	€2,023
Development & implementation of the National Employment & Entitlements Service	Accenture	June-2011	Aug-2011	€186,563
Report on Pension Charges in Ireland	PWC	Oct-2011	Oct-2012	€61,500
Social Inclusion Forum – Conference Report	Aidan Lloyd	Nov-2011	Aug-2012	€1,500
2012
FÁS IS Applications Systems Review	Accenture	Jan-2012	Internal Management Report	€44,772
Analysis & Measurement of Poverty & Deprivation 2012: 1.Work & Poverty in Ireland: An Analysis of CSO Survey on Income & Living Conditions 2004-2010 (2012 annual report) 2. Technical Paper on Poverty Indicators – [Appendix C of Report of the Review of the National Poverty Target] 3. Implications of Income Pooling & Household Decision-Making for Poverty & Deprivation (2012 technical paper)	ESRI	Jan-2012	1. Dec-2012 2. Oct-2012 3. Oct- 2013	€81,230
Review of Irish Pensions Policy	OECD	Jan-2012	Apr-2013	€130,000
Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund	KPMG	Feb-2012	Jun-2012	€153,750
Evaluation of JobBridge (National Internship Scheme)	Indecon International Economic Consultants	Apr-2012	Apr-2013	€59,555
Developing system architecture for the National Employment & Entitlements Service	Compass Point	June-2012	Internal Management Report	€4,600
Risk assessments regarding reception areas [Arklow, Tallaght, & Kings Inn, Dublin Local Offices]	Nifast	June-2012	Internal Management Report	€1,845
Air Quality Investigation, Ballymun Local Office	Wright Environmental Services	Aug-2012	Internal Management Report	€3,644
Air Quality Investigation, Áras Mhic Dhiarmada	Wright Environmental Services	Aug-2012	Internal Management Report	€3,383
Report on Pension Priority Order	Mercer	Sep-2012	Feb-2013	€18,450
Contracted Employment Service Model	Centre for Economic & Social Inclusion	Nov-2012	Internal Management Report	€140,989
2013
Mobile Applications Opportunity Exploration	Accenture	Feb-2013	Internal Management Report	€33,388
Social Inclusion Forum – Conference Report	Aidan Lloyd	Mar-2013	Sep-2013	€1,500
Health & Safety Review of DSP premises, Upper Gardiner St, Dublin 1	CPL Training Ltd, trading as Nifast Health & Safety Training	Apr-2013	Internal Management Report	€1,100
Diet Supplement Diet Costings Update	Irish Nutrition & Dietetic Institute	Apr-2013	Sep-2013	€4,000
Analysis & Measurement of Poverty & Social Exclusion (AMPSE) 2013 programme: 1. Social Transfers & Poverty in Boom & Recession (for 2013 annual report) 2. Indicators of Economic Strain in the Great Recession (for 2013 technical paper)	ESRI	June-2013	1. Dec-2013 2. Apr-2014	€67,979
Auto Enrolment & Applicability to Ireland (Pensions)	TOR Financial Consulting Ltd.	Mid-2013	Internal Management Report	€9,900
A Review of In-work Supports for the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare	Mel Cousins & Associates	July-2013		€10,000
Delivery of Administrative Profiling Models to Identify those at Risk of Labour Market Disadvantage	ESRI	July-2013	June-2014	€33,745
Report on Organisation Development	Axiom Consultants	Sept- 2013	Internal Management Report	€122,692
Advisory report on implementation of European Youth Guarantee in Irish circumstances	Organisation for Economic co-operation & Development (OECD)	Sept- 2013	Jan-2014	€50,000
Evaluation of the Youth Guarantee Pilot	Franklin Research Ltd	Oct- 2013	Jan 2015	€20,000*
Evaluation Research (Back to Education Allowance)	ESRI	Nov-2013	Internal Management Report	€24,809
Survey Air quality in Nutgrove Local Office	Wright Environmental Services	Nov-2013	Internal Management Report	€2,900
Social Welfare Appeals Office – Research into Revising Decisions	Mel Cousins & Associates	Dec -2013	Internal Management Report	€2,400
2014
Social Inclusion Forum – Conference Report	Aidan Lloyd	Mar-2014	Dec-2014	€1,650
Analysis & Measurement of Poverty & Social Exclusion 2014 programme: 1. Transitions into and out of household joblessness using CSO SILC data 2. Measuring Irish joblessness: The SILC and LFS data sources	ESRI	Q1-2014	1. Sept-2015 2. May-2015	€80,000
Security Partner Services - IT Forensics	Deloitte	Mar-2014	Internal Management Report	€2,398
Confidential Forensic Services	Rits	Apr-2014	Internal Management Report	€2,340
Confidential Forensic Services	Rits	Apr-2014	Internal Management Report	€4,201
Identification & containment of malicious software	Deloitte	Apr-2014	Internal Management Report	€15,699
Assessment for Application Lifecycle Management	Microsoft Ireland	May-2014	Internal Management Report	€22,586
Ex-ante Evaluation to support the preparation of the Operational Programme for the European Fund for the Most Deprived 2014-2020	Mel Cousins & Associates	July-2014	Internal report required by EU Regulation (EU) No 223/2014	€16,000
Microfilm Condition Report	Martin Bradley, Archives and Records Management Consultant	Nov -2014	Internal Management Report	€1,691
Report on the effectiveness & efficiency of the guidance model used during Youth Guarantee Pilot	NUI Maynooth	Nov-2014	Internal Management Report	€14,145*
Survey Air quality in Waterford Intreo	Wright Environmental Services	Dec- 2014	Internal Management Report	€6,863
2015
Review of the EmployAbility (Supported Employment) Service	Indecon International Economic Consultants	Jan-2015	Review complete December; Publication date to be decided	€59,280
Policy and practice report: Key lessons learned from the Ballymun Youth Guarantee Project	NUI Maynooth	Jan-2015	March 2015	€11,135*
Evaluation of the Disability Activation Project	Indecon International Economic Consultants	Feb-2015	November 2015	€29,520
Confidential Forensic Services	Rits	Mar-2015	Internal Management Report	€11,480
Windows Tablet PC Hardening Review (Limited Scope) Windows Laptop PC Hardening Review (Limited Scope) Windows Phone Device Hardening Review (Limited Scope)	Deloitte	Mar-2015	Internal Management Report	€4,151
Project coordination of Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Work Positive Framework	Sharon Gallagher	Mar- 2015	To be determined following completion of the review	€3,000
Social Inclusion Forum – Conference Report	Aidan Lloyd	Mar-2015	Q3 2016	€1,650
Confidential Information Security Report	Deloitte	July-2015	Internal Management Report	€7,749
Technical review of rent supplement under the Equal Status Acts.	Mel Cousins & Associates	July -2015	Internal Management Report	€18,000
Jobseeker Customer Satisfaction Survey	W5 Marketing Intelligence Ltd	Aug-2015	Q1 2016	€71,463
Analysis & Measurement of Poverty & Social Exclusion 2015 Programme: 1. Changes in social risks by life-cycle group 2. Developing a multi-dimensional quality of life indicator	ESRI	Q3 2015 Q3 2015	Q3 2016 Q4 2016	€80,000
Evaluation of the Suitability, Effectiveness and Relevance of the JobBridge Activation Programme	Indecon International Economic Consultants	Sept - 2015	Q3 2016	€134,895
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Activation Reforms	ESRI	Oct - 2015	Q1 2017	€118,315
External quality assessment of DSP Internal Audit under the D/PER Internal Audit standards 2012	EisnerAmper Ireland	Nov-2015	Internal Management Report	€5,535
Confidential Information Security Reports	Grant Thornton	Dec- 2015	Internal Management Report	Not yet fully determined

* EU Funded Reports

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (155)

Robert Troy

Question:

155. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection the total photography costs per annum for his Department since coming to office, inclusive of costs incurred from use of the ministerial allowance, in tabular form; the list of occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; the breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; if there is a policy regarding the booking of photographers within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20382/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Photography services are used, in conjunction with some press releases and conferences, to communicate my Department’s initiatives, schemes and services to customers and to the regional and national media. In 2015 photography services were used for the occasions as set out in the following table.

The procurement of these photography services is carried out in accordance with national and EU procurement procedures and since March 2012, my Department has been procuring photography services under the Framework Agreement established by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in February 2012.

Full details of the Framework are available online via the National Procurement Services contract list at www.procurement.ie.

None of the costs incurred are from the use of the Ministerial Allowance.

Year: 2015	Details	Photographer	Cost (€)
24 Apr 2015	Tánaiste meeting with French Prime Minister in Leinster House	Mac Innes Photography	€246.32
28 Sep 2015	Launch of Jobs Week	Maxwell Photography	€413.28
11 Nov 2015	Launch of Intreo in Galway	Joe Travers Photography	€175.00
		2015 Total	€834.60