Written Answers Nos. 151-162
151. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of referrals made to the local employment service network in 2015 and in 2016, in tabular form, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27835/16]
View answer152. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of mediators employed by his Department in the local employment service network across the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27836/16]
View answer153. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the criteria in place when referring jobseekers to the local employment service network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27837/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 151 to 153, inclusive, together.
Ireland’s Public Employment Service (PES) is managed by my Department and delivered directly by its own Intreo service as well as by contracted private companies i.e. the JobPath companies, the Local Employment Service (LES) and Job Clubs.
The Local Employment Service engages primarily with long-term unemployed jobseekers but may also engage with short-term unemployed jobseekers where a local need arises. Jobseekers are referred directly to the LES by Intreo offices. Jobseekers may also request services from the LES on a “walk-in” basis. Other groups, to whom the LES may offer services, include people who have a disability, lone parents, early school leavers, qualified adults, ex-offenders, members of the travelling community and refugees. Where these people initially present at an Intreo office they may be sent to the LES for activation services.
The following table sets out the number of LES clients at the end of 2015 and the most recent figures for 2016.
|
2015 |
Dec-15 |
Aug-16 |
|
Dublin |
13,115 |
10,742 |
|
Kildare |
952 |
887 |
|
Wicklow |
974 |
315 |
|
Monaghan |
431 |
443 |
|
Louth |
1,728 |
991 |
|
Mayo |
1,439 |
849 |
|
Galway |
1,077 |
540 |
|
Limerick |
2,650 |
1,298 |
|
Cork |
1,373 |
1,028 |
|
Kerry |
1,233 |
820 |
|
Waterford |
2,443 |
797 |
|
Wexford |
2,906 |
1,157 |
|
30,321 |
19,867 |
In line with a commitment in Pathways to Work 2016 - 2020 my Department began to reduce the number of LES clients in 2016 so as to enable the LES to provide a more intensive level of engagement to jobseekers. LES providers were asked to engage on a more intensive basis (at least once a month) with clients to assist their progress to employment. To facilitate this more intensive engagement, case loads were reduced during the year. This was made possible by the additional activation capacity provided by the JobPath service which also provides activation services to the long-term unemployed.
There are currently some 300 full-time equivalent posts in the LES and of these 170 are full-time equivalent mediator posts.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
154. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of application for carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and when they will receive a decision on their case. [27844/16]
View answerI confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 15 June 2016. The application is current in processed and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
In the meantime, if the means of the person concerned are insufficient to meet his needs he should apply for a means-tested supplementary welfare allowance from his local community welfare service.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
156. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the procedure to be followed in the case of a person (details supplied) who is anxious to ascertain the extent to which the current participant in a social employment scheme may be retained in view of the strong support for their retention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27856/16]
View answerThe person concerned has been participating on a Tús scheme since November 2016. Tús placements are for one year only and cannot be renewed or extended.
There is, however, a facility whereby Tús participants can be referred by a Case Officer to transfer to Community Employment. If the person concerned is interested in availing of this option, he should make contact with our Newbridge office.
I hope that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
157. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in determination of an appeal for carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); when a conclusion will be reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27899/16]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 24 June 2016. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers have been received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 19 September 2016 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on 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.
159. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when an application for disability allowance will be processed for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27975/16]
View answerI confirm that an application from the person concerned for disability allowance (DA) was received by the Department on 6 July 2016.
The application has been referred to a Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) for a report on the person’s means and circumstances. Once the SWI has submitted his/her report to DA section, a decision will be made on the application and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
160. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when an application for carer's allowance will be processed for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27976/16]
View answerI confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 30 August 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, if the means of the person concerned are insufficient to meet her needs she should apply for a means-tested supplementary welfare allowance from her local community welfare service.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
161. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when an application for a review of disability allowance will be processed for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27978/16]
View answerThe person in question has been and continues to be in receipt of disability allowance.
Following a routine review of entitlement, the department remains satisfied that the conditions for the scheme continue to be met by the person in question.
162. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) is deemed to require the permission of their spouse to have their portion of jobseeker's allowance paid directly to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27982/16]
View answerThe application of the person concerned will be reviewed as soon as possible in accordance with the Department’s guidelines and she will be contacted upon completion of this review.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
