Written Answers Nos. 283-306
283. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the detail of all services, including the name of the provider in each case and also those provided by private operators, for which holders are entitled to free travel as part of a scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28410/16]
View answerSince 1995 Northern Ireland Senior Citizens aged 65+ have been eligible for restricted cross border free travel from any point in Northern Ireland to any destination in the Republic of Ireland (ROI).
The provision was further expanded in 2007, to allow Northern Ireland 65+ Senior Smart Pass holders, with passes marked with the specific codes 031 and 035, to travel for free not only to a destination across the border but also on internal public transport services when they arrive in the Republic of Ireland. For example, they are able to use Dublin bus services, Bus Éireann services, Luas, Dart and all private bus operators in the Department of Social Protection’s free travel scheme. All operators were advised of these conditions at the time of the introduction of the scheme. The full list of private operators obliged to carry Northern Ireland travel pass holders, and a sample of Department of Rural Development (DRD) Smart Pass cards which are acceptable under the free travel scheme have been forwarded to the Deputy for his information.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
284. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28412/16]
View answerCarer's Allowance (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.
CA is in payment to the person concerned since 16 May 2002 and a review is currently being carried out. Payment of CA will continue throughout the review.
Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
285. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the detail of the proposals to require those of a pensionable age make a claim for jobseeker's benefit before receiving the State pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28419/16]
View answerThe Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 provided that State pension age will be increased gradually to 68 years. This began in January 2014 with the abolition of the State pension (transition) available from 65 for those who satisfied the qualifying conditions, thereby standardising State pension age for all at 66 years, which is the current State pension age. This will increase to 67 in 2021 and 68 in 2028. The changes introduced in 2011 were on foot of a Government commitment included in the National Recovery Plan published in 2010, and in the subsequent Memorandum of Understanding with the EU/ECB/IMF.
Each year more people are living to pension age and living longer in retirement. As a result of this demographic change, the number of State pension recipients is increasing by approximately 17,000 annually. This has significant implications for the future costs of State pension provision which are currently increasing by close to €1 billion every 5 years. The purpose of changes to the State pension age is to make the pension system more sustainable in the context of increasing life expectancy.
The Deputy should note that there is no general retirement age in the State, and in the private sector the age at which employees retire is a matter for the contract of employment between them and their employers.
There is no requirement to claim Jobseekers benefit before receiving a State pension, nor is there any proposal to introduce such a requirement. However, if someone who was required to leave employment has yet to reach the State pension age of 66, he or she may make such a claim, if they satisfy the conditions of the scheme.
In terms of financial supports, social welfare benefits will continue to be available to the age of 66 for those who are required to leave employment. Jobseekers whose benefit expires in their 65th year will continue to be paid benefit up until the age of 66. Where a jobseeker’s benefit claim spans two benefit years, a new Governing Contribution Year requirement is not applied to the second benefit year of a claimant aged 65 (which effectively means that they may receive payment in both years based upon eligibility in the first year).
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
286. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of referrals to JobPath providers that have subsequently been referred to an employability supported employment service since the programme began; if he can publish the written departmental protocol that facilitates such a referral; if any person already with an employability service will be denied access to that supported employment service due to referral to a JobPath provider; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28435/16]
View answerTo date, 31 people have been withdrawn from JobPath for the purpose of engaging with Employability Services. These include both people who had engaged with Employability Services but had not been designated as such on the Department’s IT system at the time of selection for JobPath as well as people selected for JobPath and who were subsequently identified as having needs that were better served by Employability Services.
Only clients in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment are referred to JobPath. Most clients engaged with Employability Services are people with disabilities on long term payments such as disability allowance or invalidity pension and will not be referred to JobPath.
Where a person on JobPath requires additional supports that are not available with JobPath but are available with the EmployAbility Service, the JobPath provider will contact my Department so that the person may be withdrawn from JobPath and referred to Employability Services. Referrals from JobPath to Employability Services are dealt with on a case by case basis. There is no written protocol in place.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
287. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in receipt of carer's allowance has received a significant reduction of payment following a review; if the person can be reassessed with a view of restoring the full payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28459/16]
View answerCarer's Allowance (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.
CA is in payment to the person concerned since 7 October 1999 and a review was carried out in 2014. As part of that review the matter was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 26 March 2014 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 her weekly means, from her husband’s self-employment, were found to have increased from when she originally applied for CA.
Accordingly, her weekly payment was reduced from 6 November 2014.
The person concerned was notified on 6 November 2014 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
The person concerned requested a review of this decision and the outcome was that there was no change. The person concerned was notified of this on 7 September 2015.
If the person concerned wants her entitlement reviewed, she should submit her husband’s latest set of accounts. A review will then be initiated and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
288. 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. [28464/16]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence has allowed the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the 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 on social welfare entitlements.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
289. 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. [28470/16]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 15 September 2016 in respect of a second care recipient.
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, 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.
290. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pearse Doherty den Aire Coimirce Sóisialaí cad chuige nach bhfuil scoil i gcontae Dhún na nGall (sonraí curtha ar fáil) páirteach i scéim na mbéilí scoile; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [28472/16]
View answerThe school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to schools and organisations benefitting over 200,000 children at a total cost of €42 million in 2016. The objective of the scheme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them.
Priority for new applications for funding has been given to schools which are part of the Department of Education and Skills initiative for disadvantaged schools “Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools” (DEIS) in line with the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People, Better Outcomes Brighter Futures.
The school referred to by the Deputy is not designated DEIS status and I regret that no provision for funding can be provided at this time. An extension to any scheme administered by my Department can only be considered in a budgetary context.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
291. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of schools that participate in the school meals programme but are not included as part of the existing DEIS programme, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28491/16]
View answerThe school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to schools and organisations benefitting over 200,000 children at a total cost of €42 million in 2016. The objective of the scheme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them.
Priority for new applications for funding is given to schools which are part of the Department of Education and Skills initiative for disadvantaged schools “Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools” (DEIS) in line with the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People, Better Outcomes Brighter Futures.
The schools and organisations that joined the scheme prior to the introduction of DEIS would have done so under the various educational disadvantaged programmes in place at the time. These schemes included School Completion Programmes, Giving Children an Even Break, Home School Community Liaison Scheme, Designated Disadvantaged, Early Start and Breaking the Cycle. The number of these schools which participated in the school meals programme in the 2015/2016 academic year is provided on a county basis in the tabular statement. Details for the current academic year 2016/2017 are not yet available as applications for funding continue to be processed at this time.
Number of Non DEIS Schools in School Meals Local Projects Scheme in 2015/2016 by county
|
County |
Total |
|
Carlow |
22 |
|
Cavan |
6 |
|
Clare |
4 |
|
Cork |
16 |
|
Donegal |
29 |
|
Dublin |
40 |
|
Galway |
6 |
|
Kerry |
32 |
|
Kildare |
6 |
|
Kilkenny |
12 |
|
Laois |
4 |
|
Leitrim |
5 |
|
Limerick |
12 |
|
Longford |
2 |
|
Louth |
2 |
|
Mayo |
18 |
|
Meath |
5 |
|
Monaghan |
10 |
|
Offaly |
6 |
|
Roscommon |
5 |
|
Sligo |
8 |
|
Tipperary |
17 |
|
Waterford |
10 |
|
Westmeath |
8 |
|
Wexford |
14 |
|
Wicklow |
2 |
|
Grand Total |
301 |
292. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for carer's allowance (details supplied) will be expedited and approved for the period up to the date of the death of a person. [28501/16]
View answerMy department has accepted an application from the person concerned submitted by email from you. The application is being processed and the person concerned will shortly be notified of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
293. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when an exceptional needs payment will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28514/16]
View answerAccording to the records of the department, the person concerned has not made an application for funeral expenses. It is open to the person concerned to make an application with their local community welfare office.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
294. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to end the inequitable age segregation in respect of jobseeker's allowance payments whereby persons under the age of 26 years are paid less then those aged over 26; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28539/16]
View answerReduced rates for younger jobseeker’s allowance recipients were first introduced in 2009 and were further extended in subsequent budgets. Reduced rates of jobseeker’s allowance apply to jobseekers under 26 years of age.
This measure aims at protecting young people from welfare dependency by providing young jobseekers with a strong financial incentive to engage in education or training or to take up employment. If a young jobseeker in receipt of the reduced jobseeker’s allowance rate participates on an education or training programme they will receive a higher weekly payment of €160.
Youth unemployment rose rapidly in the recession to over 30% in 2012. According to the Quarterly National Household Survey for Quarter 2 2016, youth unemployment fell by 3.4% to 19% compared to Quarter 2 2015.
The Youth Guarantee sets a medium-term objective of ensuring that all young people receive an offer of employment within four months of becoming unemployed. The main plank of the guarantee is assistance to young people in finding and securing sustainable jobs, through earlier and enhanced engagement processes.
Reserved places on a number of programmes and youth-oriented variants of existing schemes have also been rolled out. Overall, young people took up just over 19,000 Youth Guarantee-related programme places in 2015. These numbers exclude an estimated 24,000 places provided for young people through PLC courses and apprenticeships.
Other EU and OECD countries adopt a similar targeted approach in terms of young jobseekers receiving a reduced social welfare payment. Unless every effort is made to encourage and support our young people to engage in education and training there is a risk that they may drift into welfare dependency.
295. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will fully restore the Christmas bonus to those in receipt of social protection payments; if he will consider changing the eligibility criteria from 15 months to 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28540/16]
View answerThe Christmas Bonus was abolished in 2009. It was partially reintroduced in 2014 with a 25% Bonus payment. A 75% Bonus was paid in December 2015 to some 1.2 million long-term social welfare recipients such as pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and the long-term unemployed at a cost of €197 million.
It is estimated that the cost of a 75% bonus would be approximately €200 million in December 2016, while a 100% bonus would cost €267 million. Extending eligibility for the bonus to jobseekers with an unemployment duration of 12 months, instead of 15 months, would further increase this cost.
I will shortly be seeking approval from my Government colleagues for the payment of a Bonus this year. Any decision taken regarding the payment of a Bonus will have to be consistent with the legal requirements set out in the Fiscal Responsibility Acts 2012 and 2013, and within the context of achieving the targets set for Ireland by the EU rules.
296. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if social protection inspectors are required to keep a record of unnotified or notified home visits, namely, the number of unnotified or notified home visits, the date of unnotified or notified home visits to the homes of applicants or recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28551/16]
View answer297. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if social protection inspectors are required to make a report of the outcome of notified or unnotified home visits to the homes of applicants or recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28552/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 296 and 297 together.
The information requested by the Deputy in respect of a record of un-notified or notified home visits undertaken by Social Welfare Inspectors (SWIs) is not available in my Department.
The approach taken in each investigation is determined by the Inspector and if home visits, be they un-notified or notified, are deemed to be necessary to determine a person’s eligibility for a particular social welfare scheme, they form part of the overall investigation. An Inspector’s report is then submitted to a Deciding Officer in the Department for decision on the individual claim.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
298. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the guidelines and protocols which exist to guide social protection inspectors on the use and application of notified or unnotified home visits to the homes of applicants or recipients. [28553/16]
View answerSocial Welfare Inspectors (SWIs) operate under a code of practice which sets out the manner in which they are required to deal with the public. Inspectors are appointed under Section 250 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended) and are required to investigate and report on customer’s claims. As part of their investigations, SWIs may need to make notified or un-notified home visits. Such visits to a customer’s home are an operational control measure and it is solely at the discretion of the Inspector as to whether a home visit is necessary and whether they are notified or not.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
299. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) can expect a decision on an application for disability allowance. [28560/16]
View answerI confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the above named person on 5 August 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.
300. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the full year cost of increasing the back to school clothing and footwear allowance for children aged between four and 11 years from €100 to €130 and for children aged between 12 and 18 from €200 to €230; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28586/16]
View answerThe back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the extra costs when children start school each autumn. The BSCFA is not intended to meet the full cost of school clothing and footwear but to provide assistance towards these costs. The Government has provided €38.8 million for the scheme in 2016.
The BSCFA rates are currently €100 for children aged 4-11 and €200 for children aged 12 -22 (children aged 18 years and over must be attending second level education to qualify).
End of year records show that under the 2015 BSCFA scheme, payments were made to over 153,000 families in respect of some 281,000 children.
Using the number of children covered by the scheme in 2015 as a basis, the additional cost to increase the BSCFA payment by €30 for each eligible child would be approximately €8.4 million.
Changes to increase the rate of payment to any scheme administered by my Department would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
301. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will reintroduce the phone allowance in the upcoming budget in view of the high reliance our senior citizens place on their personal alarms and given that a landline is a requirement for an alarm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28605/16]
View answer305. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to reintroduce the telephone allowance; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many persons, particularity the elderly, were reliant on this allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28627/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 301 and 305 together.
The overall concern in recent years has been to protect the primary social welfare rates. Expenditure on pensions at approx. €6.976 billion is the largest block of expenditure in the Department in the Estimate for 2016, representing approximately 35% of overall expenditure. Due to demographic changes, my Department’s spending on older people is increasing year on year. Maintaining the rate of the State pension and other core payments is critical in protecting people from poverty.
The decision to discontinue the telephone allowance was estimated to provide annual savings of €48 million. These savings meant that my Department was able to retain the other valuable elements of the household benefits package such as the electricity and gas allowance and the television licence. My Department will spend approximately €228 million this year on these elements of the household benefits package for over 420,000 customers.
The cost of the telephone allowance scheme had risen significantly each year, as the number of eligible customers grew, arising from the increased number of pension recipients. In 2007 there were some 316,000 people receiving the telephone allowance compared to almost 396,000 at the end of September 2013, an increase of 25%, or an average increase of nearly 4% per annum.
The Department of the Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government has responsibility for the Seniors Alert Scheme which provides grant support for the supply of equipment such as personal alarms, smoke detectors and security lighting to enable older people without sufficient means to continue to live securely in their homes. The grant assistance is made available through community and voluntary groups registered with that Department and the equipment supplied under the scheme remains the property of the community group.
The Government is keenly aware of the impact of Budget decisions on the Department’s clients, and strives to ensure that the money available is targeted in the most effective way. In Budget 2016, the first increase in the basic rate of the State pension in seven years was given. This has increased the personal rate of the non-contributory pension to €222, and that of the contributory pension to €233.30. There was also a €2.50 increase in the rate of the Fuel Allowance, from €20 to €22.50 per week. I believe that, taken together with other changes, such as increasing the Christmas Bonus to 75% of weekly rate, the impact of the last Budget has been very positive for older people.
Any decision to restore the telephone allowance would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
302. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on matters concerning post offices (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28615/16]
View answerImplementation of the recommendations of the Kerr Report, including the introduction of a basic payment account, is the responsibility of the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
The corporate governance of An Post is a matter for the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment.
My Department’s continuing support for An Post is apparent, both in terms of the cost of postage services and the value of the contract for welfare payments. In this regard, I anticipate this year that we will pay over €50 million to An Post under a contract for cash payment services to welfare customers. This contract is very substantial in terms of its reach, value and impact.
The Programme for Government commits to actively encourage payment at post offices.
Department of Social Protection staff have been advised that, when dealing with customers who are making new claims or seeking to change their payment arrangements, customers can choose between payment at the post office or by electronic funds transfer. Customer wishes should be facilitated where they choose to receive their social welfare payment at their local post office.
There is no change to schemes where customer choice is not currently available for control or other specified purpose.
303. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is satisfied that waiting periods for persons seeking the lone parent benefit are satisfactory; and his views on whether a review of the waiting period is needed (details supplied). [28625/16]
View answerThe average processing time for One-Parent Family claims awarded in August was 5 weeks. This compares with 7 weeks in August 2015. The target for the scheme is that 90% of claims are awarded within 10 weeks.
The One-Parent Family scheme is a means-tested payment and can also require more detailed investigation and interaction with the applicant, thereby lengthening the decision-making process.
My Department is committed to ensuring that claims are processed as expeditiously as possible. Operational processes, procedures and the organisation of work are continually reviewed to ensure that processing capability is maximised.
In addition, the staffing needs of my Department 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.
304. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current number of unemployed young people aged 18-24 years in Dublin, with a breakdown by the various areas of Dublin. [28626/16]
View answerThe Live Register, which is not a measure of unemployment, is published monthly by the Central Statistics Office. I am however informed that there were 9,128 persons aged 18 to 24 on the Live Register at the end of August in Dublin INTREO/Social Welfare Local Offices.
A breakdown of this number by age and Office is detailed in a tabular statement.
|
Number of Persons aged 18 to 24 on the Live Register in Dublin INTREO/Social Welfare Local Office at the end of August 2016 |
||||||||
|
Office |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
Totals |
|
Balbriggan |
33 |
51 |
61 |
68 |
53 |
62 |
67 |
395 |
|
Ballyfermot |
26 |
70 |
71 |
52 |
66 |
64 |
67 |
416 |
|
Ballymun |
52 |
84 |
67 |
72 |
70 |
60 |
53 |
458 |
|
Bishop Square |
49 |
95 |
76 |
88 |
80 |
93 |
136 |
617 |
|
Blanchardstown |
72 |
95 |
97 |
124 |
121 |
113 |
124 |
746 |
|
Clondalkin |
49 |
118 |
129 |
158 |
114 |
121 |
136 |
825 |
|
Coolock |
45 |
81 |
110 |
76 |
96 |
84 |
99 |
591 |
|
Cork Street |
41 |
76 |
77 |
89 |
95 |
101 |
138 |
617 |
|
Dun Laoghaire |
19 |
49 |
47 |
45 |
56 |
66 |
68 |
350 |
|
Finglas |
76 |
130 |
107 |
124 |
132 |
118 |
123 |
810 |
|
Kilbarrack |
16 |
38 |
61 |
51 |
65 |
60 |
72 |
363 |
|
Kings Inn Street |
22 |
53 |
62 |
68 |
87 |
91 |
116 |
499 |
|
Navan Road |
34 |
53 |
62 |
87 |
83 |
83 |
92 |
494 |
|
Nutgrove (Rathfarnham) |
14 |
22 |
40 |
38 |
46 |
40 |
67 |
267 |
|
Swords |
18 |
36 |
50 |
47 |
62 |
59 |
51 |
323 |
|
Tallaght |
150 |
212 |
210 |
197 |
201 |
179 |
208 |
1357 |
|
Totals |
716 |
1,263 |
1,327 |
1,384 |
1,427 |
1,394 |
1,617 |
9128 |
306. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for carer's benefit can be expedited for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28650/16]
View answerAn application for carer's benefit (CARB) was received from the person concerned on 8 September 2016.
The application is currently being examined and once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
