Written Answers Nos. 259-282
259. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for disability allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28063/16]
View answerI confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the above named person on 7 September 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.
260. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which fitness to work will be assessed under the fit for work scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28099/16]
View answerThe programme for a partnership government provides for a range of actions that are designed to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. One of these actions is a proposal for the Departments of Health and Social Protection to work together to pursue a “Fit for Work Programme” to support more people with an illness or disability to get back to work through early intervention. While specific proposals around the design and operation of a “Fit for Work Programme” require further development and examination, my Department has commenced engagement with the Department of Health and other stakeholders including the Department of Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the Health and Safety Authority. This engagement will continue into 2017.
I can assure the Deputy that the development of early interventions and return to work practices as part of the programme will be consistent with my Department’s approach to illness/disability income support, which aims to reduce the number of people progressing to chronic disability and long-term social welfare dependency.
261. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the eligibility for disability allowance or invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28112/16]
View answerThere is no record of an application for disability allowance (DA) from the person in question. If the person in question wishes to make an application, she should fully complete and submit an application form (DA1) so that her eligibility may be determined. A form has been posted to the person concerned. If the person in question has submitted an application for DA in the last few days, there is no need to reapply and the Department will be in touch with her in due course.
Invalidity 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.
To qualify for IP claimants must, inter-alia, have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last complete contribution year before the date of their claim. Only PRSI classes A, E or H contributions are reckonable for IP purposes.
According to the Department’s records, it appears that the person concerned does not satisfy the PRSI contribution criteria for IP. However entitlement to IP can be definitively determined if the person concerned provides a completed IP claim.
I hope that clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
262. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the decision not to continue paying illness benefit to a person (details supplied). [28114/16]
View answerIllness Benefit is a payment for persons who are unable to work and who satisfy certain statutory pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. Payment to persons with less than 260 paid contributions is limited to twelve months. The person concerned has a total of less than 260 paid contributions and received payment of illness benefit from 11 September 2015 to 8 September 2016. Entitlement to illness benefit has, therefore, ceased.
Supplementary Welfare Allowance is currently in payment at a reduced rate. As illness benefit entitlement has now ceased the person concerned can apply to have the weekly rate increased.
Disability Allowance is a means tested payment for persons with a disability which is expected to last for at least twelve months. The person concerned can make application for this payment to my Department. An application form will issue to him.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
263. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 793 of 16 September 2016, the reason the full payment of benefit of €183 per week paid to a person (details supplied) has not been restored as the person is now in receipt of €58 per week. [28115/16]
View answerDisability allowance (DA) is a means tested scheme and the way means are assessed is laid down in legislation. The rate of disability allowance awarded to the person in question is correct based on information provided to my Department. The information provided reflects income from self-employment and from farming. If her circumstances have changed, she should forward evidence to this effect and her entitlement will be reviewed.
264. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider the way in which the contributory State pension is calculated to avoid those who had absences from the workforce for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to child rearing, are not inadvertently discriminated against due to the low yearly average rate, while those who only entered the workforce late and had a full ten year record receive a full pension due to their high yearly average; his views on whether this policy discriminates against those who took time out to rear their families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28129/16]
View answerThe State pension (contributory) is a very valuable benefit and is the bedrock of the Irish pension system. Therefore, it is important to ensure that those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund over their working lives. To ensure that the individual can maximise their entitlement to a State pension, all contributions paid or credited over their working life from when they first enter insurable employment until pension age are taken into account when assessing their entitlement and the level of that entitlement. Since 1961, when contributory pensions were introduced, the average contributions test has been used in calculating pension entitlement. Once over 16 years of age, the date a person enters into insurable employment is the date used for averaging purposes. In this context, even if someone has only 10 years (520 weeks) of paid reckonable contributions between their 16th and 66th birthdays, they may qualify for a State pension (contributory), although the rate payable would vary depending on their circumstances.
A yearly average of 48-52 weeks contributions is required to qualify for a 100% rate pension of €233.30, and banded payments apply for those with lower yearly averages. For example, where someone entered insurable employment aged 16 and had 2,000 weekly contributions (38.5 years) paid and/or credited, they would have a yearly average of 40, and would receive a pension at 98% of the full rate (for those in the 40-47 band). People who qualify for lower band rates may, if they satisfy the means-test, qualify for the State pension (non-contributory), the maximum rate of which is 95% that of the State pension (contributory). Where their spouse is in receipt of a State pension (contributory), they may qualify for an Increase for a Qualified Adult, which maybe paid at up to 90% of the rate of a full pension (by default, this payment is made directly to the Qualified Adult).
The home-makers scheme makes qualification for a higher rate of State pension (contributory) easier for those who take time out of the workforce for caring duties. The scheme, which was introduced in and took effect from 1994, allows up to 20 years after that date spent caring for children under 12 years of age (or caring for incapacitated people over that age) to be disregarded when a person’s social insurance record is being averaged for pension purposes, subject to the standard qualifying conditions for State pension contributory also being satisfied. This has the effect of increasing the yearly average of the pensioner, which is used to set the rate of their pension.
It is worth noting that the Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund in 2012 confirmed that the Fund provides better value to female rather than male contributors. This is due to the distributive nature of the Fund. For example, those with a yearly average of only 20 contributions (38% of the maximum) may qualify for 85% of the maximum rate. The Review also examined the changes in the contribution rules and the associated rates of payment which were to be introduced in September 2012. The Review found that those with lower earnings and those with shorter contribution histories still obtain the best value from their contributions.
Work is underway to replace the ‘yearly average’ system with a ‘total contributions approach’. Under this approach, the number of contributions recorded over a working life will be more closely reflected in the rate of pension payment received. The position of women who were home-makers will be considered very carefully in developing these proposals. It is expected that the total contributions approach to pension qualification will replace the current average contributions test for State pension (contributory) for new pensioners from around 2020. This is a very significant reform with considerable legal, administrative, and technical components to be put in place prior its implementation.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
265. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which a person (details supplied) might be facilitated by way of a PPS number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28134/16]
View answerThe Personal Public Service (PPS) Number is the individual’s unique reference number for all dealings with Government Departments and public bodies. Before a PPS Number can be allocated, the person making the application must provide evidence of identity, and demonstrate the reason why s/he requires the allocation of a PPS Number. PPS Numbers are issued by the Department following checks on an individual’s identity. In addition, acceptable evidence of address must be provided. The process of allocating a PPS Number includes the capture of a photograph and signature. Photographs captured are compared with other photographs previously captured in order to detect any possible duplicates.
In order to have a PPS Number allocated, the person concerned should contact the PPS Number allocation centre for Kildare at Moorefield Road, Newbridge, Co Kildare at (045) 491500, and make an appointment for a PPS Number allocation.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
266. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a disability allowance will be awarded in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28153/16]
View answerThe person in question appealed to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) a decision by a deciding officer to disallow his application for disability allowance (DA). Following due consideration and taking all available evidence into account, the appeal of the person in question was disallowed by an appeals officer (AO) on 16 February 2016. He was notified of this decision in writing by the SWAO on the same date.
An AO’s decision is final and conclusive in the absence of any fresh facts or evidence.
If the person in question believes that he may qualify for DA, it is open to him to reapply and his eligibility will be determined.
267. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which an alleged overpayment has occurred in the case of a person (details supplied); the procedure for appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28166/16]
View answerThe person concerned had their FIS claim renewed in March 2016. When this claim was reviewed, it was brought to our attention that the person concerned was absent from the state between 15 October 2015 to 15 November 2015 and 8 December 2015 to 2 February 2016. As a consequence, FIS would not be payable during these periods.
The person concerned was given an opportunity to provide travel documentation but this information was not forthcoming.
Notification issued on 11th May 2016 advising the person concerned of a possible overpayment and giving the person 21 days to respond. Further correspondence issued to the person concerned on 20th June 2016 advising that an overpayment had been assessed against them and giving the opportunity to appeal.
The person concerned failed to reply to any correspondence issued and as a result, the period of appeal has now expired.
An overpayment was registered on 15 August 2016 and deductions commenced from 15th September 2016.
268. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an increase in rent support can be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28168/16]
View answerThe client concerned should provide the Department with an up to date Rent Supplement application form and lease agreement confirming any increase in their monthly rent. On receipt of this documentation, the client’s rate of Rent Supplement entitlement can be re-assessed.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
270. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a supplementary allowance appeal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28195/16]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 28 September 2016, 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 hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
271. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the home-makers scheme in relation to pensions has not been extended to home-makers pre-1994; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28207/16]
View answerThe State pension (contributory) is a very valuable benefit and is the bedrock of the Irish pension system. Therefore, it is important to ensure that those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund over their working lives. To ensure that the individual can maximise their entitlement to a State pension, all contributions paid or credited over their working life from when they first enter insurable employment until pension age are taken into account when assessing their entitlement and the level of that entitlement. Since 1961, when contributory pensions were introduced, the average contributions test has been used in calculating pension entitlement. Once over 16 years of age, the date a person enters into insurable employment is the date used for averaging purposes. In this context, even if someone has only 10 years (520 weeks) of paid reckonable contributions between their 16th and 66th birthdays, they may qualify for a State pension (contributory), although the rate payable would vary depending on their circumstances.
A yearly average of 48-52 weeks contributions is required to qualify for a 100% rate pension of €233.30, and banded payments apply for those with lower yearly averages. For example, where someone entered insurable employment aged 16 and had 2,000 weekly contributions (38.5 years) paid and/or credited, they would have a yearly average of 40, and would receive a pension at 98% of the full rate (for those in the 40-47 band). People who qualify for lower band rates may, if they satisfy the means-test, qualify for the State pension (non-contributory), the maximum rate of which is 95% that of the State pension (contributory). Where their spouse is in receipt of a State pension (contributory), they may qualify for an Increase for a Qualified Adult, which may be paid at up to 90% of the rate of a full pension (by default, this payment is made directly to the Qualified Adult).
The home-makers scheme makes qualification for a higher rate of State pension (contributory) easier for those who take time out of the workforce for caring duties. The scheme, which was introduced in and took effect from 1994, allows up to 20 years after that date spent caring for children under 12 years of age (or caring for incapacitated people over that age) to be disregarded when a person’s social insurance record is being averaged for pension purposes, subject to the standard qualifying conditions for State pension contributory also being satisfied. This has the effect of increasing the yearly average of the pensioner, which is used to set the rate of their pension.
When the home-makers scheme was introduced, it had no retrospective effect, i.e., it only applied to such periods following the introduction of the scheme. Had it been introduced for other periods, aside from administrative challenges in verifying such periods which pre-date computerised records, it would have carried a very significant cost, which would have been met by existing contributors through increases in contribution rates, by existing pensioners by reduced payment rates, and/or by the Exchequer, funded by higher taxes or lower spending elsewhere. This cost would be significantly greater now because the numbers of pensioners is much greater and the pension payment rate has increased.
It is worth noting that the Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund in 2012 confirmed that the Fund provides better value to female rather than male contributors. This is due to the distributive nature of the Fund. For example, those with a yearly average of only 20 contributions (38% of the maximum) may qualify for 85% of the maximum rate. The Review also examined the changes in the contribution rules and the associated rates of payment which were to be introduced in September 2012. The Review found that those with lower earnings and those with shorter contribution histories still obtain the best value from their contributions.
Work is underway to replace the ‘yearly average’ system with a ‘total contributions approach’. Under this approach, the number of contributions recorded over a working life will be more closely reflected in the rate of pension payment received. The position of women who were home-makers is being given specific and careful consideration in developing detailed proposals. It is expected that the total contributions approach to pension qualification will replace the current average contributions test for State pension (contributory) for new pensioners from around 2020. This is a very significant reform with considerable legal, administrative, and technical components to be put in place prior its implementation.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
272. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the legislation for calculating PRSI contributions in relation to contributory pensions to disregard short-term or summer employment at the time of entry into the system as this causes a large gap in contributions and hence lowers the yearly average of contributions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28215/16]
View answerThe State pension (contributory) SPC is a very valuable benefit and is the bedrock of the Irish pension system. Therefore, it is important to ensure that those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund over their working lives. To ensure that the individual can maximise their entitlement to a State pension, all contributions paid or credited over their working life from when they first enter insurable employment until pension age are taken into account when assessing their entitlement and the level of that entitlement. Since 1961, when contributory pensions were introduced, the average contributions test has been used in calculating pension entitlement. Once over 16 years of age, the date a person enters into insurable employment is the date used for averaging purposes. In this context, even if someone has only 10 years (520 weeks) of paid reckonable contributions between their 16th and 66th birthdays, they may qualify for a State pension (contributory), although the rate payable would vary depending on their circumstances.
A yearly average of 48-52 weeks contributions is required to qualify for a 100% rate pension of €233.30, and banded payments apply for those with lower yearly averages. For example, where someone entered insurable employment aged 16 and had 2,000 weekly contributions (38.5 years) paid and/or credited, they would have a yearly average of 40, and would receive a pension at 98% of the full rate (for those in the 40-47 band). People who qualify for lower band rates may, if they satisfy the means-test, qualify for the State pension (non-contributory), the maximum rate of which is 95% that of the State pension (contributory).
It is worth noting that the most recent Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund found that those with lower earnings and those with shorter contribution histories still obtain the best value from their contributions.
If the yearly averaging system was amended to allow people choose to have certain contributions disregarded, the effect could be expected, in most cases, to result in a full rate pension, even where people had contributed significantly less into the Social Insurance Fund, and where they had significant means. This would carry a significant cost to the Social Insurance Fund, and would have to be funded by higher PRSI contribution rates, lower rates of payment, or greater subvention to the system from the Exchequer, funded by higher taxes and/or lower spending elsewhere.
Work is underway to replace the ‘yearly average’ system with a ‘total contributions approach’. Under this approach, the number of contributions recorded over a working life will be more closely reflected in the rate of pension payment received. It is expected that the total contributions approach to pension qualification will replace the current average contributions test for State pension (contributory) for new pensioners from around 2020. This is a very significant reform with considerable legal, administrative, and technical components to be put in place prior its implementation. The position of people who have gaps in their contribution records for various reasons will be considered very carefully in developing this reform.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
273. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an exceptional needs payment can issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28225/16]
View answerAn application for funeral expenses was received by the Community Welfare Officer from the person concerned. However they were awaiting the invoice. The invoice was received on 30th September and the application will be progressed as soon as possible. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
274. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review and expedite the carer's allowance being paid to a person (details supplied) to ensure that the maximum benefit is being paid; and if the general practitioner's letter will be considered as a matter of urgency. [28237/16]
View answerCarer’s allowance (CA) is in payment to the person concerned from 2 February 2012 in respect of one care recipient. The person concerned applied for CA for a second care recipient on 5 August 2015.
The application was awarded on 30 June 2016. The first payment of CA at the higher rate of payment issued to his nominated post office on the 7 July 2016. Arrears of allowance due from the 6 August 2015 to 6 July 2016 have also issued to the post office. The person concerned was notified of these details on the 30 June 2016.
CA is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to a person who is providing full-time care and attention to a person who has a disability such that they require that level of care.
The Department periodically reviews claims in payment to ensure that there is continued entitlement and a review was recently carried out in this case.
As part of that review the matter was referred 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 continue to be satisfied.
The outcome of this review is that it appears that circumstances have changed and full-time care is no longer being provided to one care recipient. The person concerned was notified of this on 20 September 2016 and was afforded 21 days to reply before a decision is made. Payment of CA will continue while the review is ongoing and the GP’s letter will be considered as part of the review.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
275. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the action he will take in progressing the insolvency payment for a person (details supplied); if he can intervene or if there are sanctions to be put in place to compel them to do this when the liquidator is not carrying out their responsibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28249/16]
View answerMy Department administers the insolvency payments scheme. Payments can be made for Employment Appeals Tribunal awards under the scheme. However, a claim under the scheme has not been lodged in respect of the person referred to.
Under the Protection of Employees (Employers’ Insolvency) Acts, applications to the insolvency payments scheme must be submitted by the employer representative (normally a liquidator, receiver or administrator). The employer representative submits these claims based on the books and records of the company. The requirement to validate the claims is to protect the integrity of the Social Insurance Fund.
My Department has no powers to intervene in company liquidations. Liquidations are carried out in accordance with the Companies Acts, which is the responsibility of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation has advised that a creditor (such as a former employee) has the power to apply to the Court to have a liquidator removed and a new one appointed.
The Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority (IAASA) is responsible for monitoring the behaviour of liquidators.
I hope that this clarifies the matter.
276. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an invalidity pension application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28272/16]
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 person concerned has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from the 11 February 2016. Payment will issue to her nominated bank account on the 20 October 2016. Any arrears due from 11 February 2016 to 19 October 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 03 October 2016.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
277. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection when an invalidity pension payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [28275/16]
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. A claim for IP was received from the person in question on the 10 August 2016. The claim will be processed as quickly as possible and the person in question will be notified directly of the outcome. The person concerned is in receipt of a weekly illness benefit payment.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
278. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28281/16]
View answerAn application for carer's allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 7 March 2016.
Following the failure of the person concerned to attend for interview with a Social Welfare Inspector on two occasions, her entitlement to CA could not be determined and the application was disallowed.
The person concerned was notified on 22 July 2016 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 this is currently being processed. Further information was requested from the person concerned on 29 September 2016. Once the review is completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
279. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to reflect and deliver on a public duty (details supplied) in his Department's statement of strategy due to be published in October 2016; the way in which his Department is engaging with the programme for a partnership Government commitment to equality and gender proofing in the departmental and budgetary process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28309/16]
View answerThe Department has engaged in a consultation process to help inform the new Statement of Strategy 2016- 2019. A considerable number of submissions have been received from external organisations including a submission from the Equality Rights Alliance which focussed on the provisions of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014. All submissions have been considered as part of the development of the Statement of Strategy, which will be published when finalised.
The Department has regard to its public sector duty in its activities as provided for by Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act, 2014. The Department’s primary role is in the provision of social welfare payments and access to these are governed by social welfare legislation and guidelines. All individual’s applications for social welfare payments are examined on its own merits and assessed on a case by case basis in accordance with the relevant legislative provisions contained in social welfare legislation. Should an individual satisfy the relevant legislative provisions they will be awarded a payment. Individuals who are not satisfied with the decision in relation to their application for a social welfare payment are of course free to appeal the original decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
The Department undertakes ex-ante and ex-post social impact assessments (SIA) of the main welfare and direct tax budgetary measures. It uses the ESRI tax and welfare model, SWITCH, to simulate the impact of budgetary changes on a representative sample of households from the CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions.
SIA is an evidence-based methodology which estimates the likely distributive effects of these policies on household income. It also measures the poverty impacts of these policies on family types, life-cycle groups and gender.
The Department publishes the SIA of the main welfare and tax measures soon after Budget Day, in order to inform public understanding of the distributive impact of budgetary policy.
It should be noted that the papers prepared for the Tax Strategy Group were published on the Department of Finance’s website in July, at the following link: http://finance.gov.ie/what-we-do/tax-policy/tax-strategy-group/tsg-2016/publication-tax-strategy-group-papers-and-income. In this regard, the Social Protection Package paper includes social impact assessments of a range of illustrative social welfare Budget measures.
280. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection when it is proposed to extend the microloan scheme operated by the credit unions to the credit union in Rathmines. [28337/16]
View answerA Personal Micro Credit Scheme providing for small scale loans by Credit Unions to borrowers who have difficulty accessing low cost credit has been piloted in 30 credit unions. The loans under the scheme range from €100 to a maximum of €2,000, and have a maximum interest rate of 12% per annum. Over 1,200 loans have been drawn down under the Scheme to date with an overall value of over €720,000. The average individual loan value drawn down is €500. The focus of the pilot scheme was social welfare recipients who availed of the loans from their Credit Union and were facilitated, with their consent, in the repayment of such loans through the Household Budgeting facility, operated by An Post. The deductions from their weekly social welfare payments are then transmitted on to the relevant Credit Union.
The Programme for a Partnership Government provides for the rollout and extension of the Personal Microcredit Scheme. Following an evaluation of the pilot, the Implementation Group, which is chaired by my Department and comprises all relevant stakeholders, is working towards this aim. Incremental progress is being made towards extending the geographical coverage of the loan scheme through efforts to recruit Credit Unions to participate in the scheme. To help advance this aim, I have written to all Credit Union Chairpersons and Managers, to encourage participation in the scheme. Ultimately, participation in the scheme is a matter for each individual Credit Union to consider.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
281. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if, further to the enactment of the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014, all provisions and systems are in place to register the death of an Irish citizen who died abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28363/16]
View answerThe Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014 was signed into law in December 2014. The provisions of the Act are being commenced on a step by step basis dependent on factors including software development (which is well underway) and training of registrars. This work is being progressed as quickly as possible. Section 13 of the Act provides for a record of deaths of Irish citizens who die while abroad (referred to in the Act as the ‘record of deaths abroad’).
Section 13 has not yet been commenced. This delay is due to industrial action by staff in the Civil Registration Service.
Staffing and resolution of industrial relations issues in the Civil Registration Service are a matter for the HSE. However, I am concerned about the matter and my officials, while not directly involved in the dispute, have made the HSE aware of these concerns. I understand that discussions are ongoing and that good progress has been made. At this point I am not in a position to say when the provisions may be commenced.
It is important to note, that, whereas industrial action by employees of the Civil Registration Service of the Health Service Executive, while being a factor in the delay to the commencement of Section 13, this does not in any way prevent the relatives of a person who dies outside the State obtaining a Death Certificate in the country where that death occurred. When a person dies outside the State a Death Certificate is issued by the authorities in that jurisdiction. This certificate is the official Death Certificate.
On commencement of section 13 of the Amendment Act, the recording of a death on the ‘record of deaths abroad’ will be non-mandatory. A certificate of entry on the record of deaths abroad does not purport to replace the Death Certificate.
282. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when an application will be processed for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28405/16]
View answerI confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 3 August 2016.
Further information was requested from the person concerned on 27 September 2016.
Once received, this application will be processed as quickly as possible and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. In the meantime, both the person concerned and his spouse are in receipt of a weekly social welfare support.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
