Bernard Durkan
Question:327. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the recovery of debt in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37172/16]
View answerSocial Welfare Overpayments
Questions (327)
Written answers
My Department is in contact with this lady with regard to the recovery of the debt. On 16 November 2016, the debt recovery officer outlined a number of recovery options to this lady and is awaiting a response.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Disability Allowance Applications
Questions (328)
Alan Kelly
Question:328. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application under the disability allowance scheme in respect of a person (details supplied). [37184/16]
View answerWritten answers
I confirm that my Department received an application for disability allowance from this man on 7 November 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 trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Departmental Funding
Questions (329, 330, 331, 332, 333, 334)
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:329. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection the funding that has been provided to County Louth over the previous three years, 2014 to 2016, by project name, location and funding amount, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37228/16]
View answerFergus O'Dowd
Question:330. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection the applications submitted for funding projects from Louth County Council in each of the years 2014 to 2016 in tabular form; and if the applications were successful. [37244/16]
View answerFergus O'Dowd
Question:331. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection the funding for projects in 2017 in County Louth to be funded by his Department by project name, location and funding amount, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37260/16]
View answerFergus O'Dowd
Question:332. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection the funding that has been provided to County Meath over the previous three years, 2014 to 2016, by project name, location and funding amount, in tabular form. [37276/16]
View answerFergus O'Dowd
Question:333. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection the applications submitted for funding and projects from Meath County Council in each of the years 2014 to 2016, in tabular form; if the applications where successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37292/16]
View answerFergus O'Dowd
Question:334. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection the funding for projects in 2017 in County Meath to be funded by his Department by project name, location and funding amount, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37308/16]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 329 to 334, inclusive, together.
The information as requested by the Deputy is not readily available. A request to gather the information as requested by the Deputy has been made. The Department will contact the Deputy directly when the request for information has been completed.
JobPath Implementation
Questions (335)
Barry Cowen
Question:335. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason those referred to JobPath are no longer eligible for a community employment scheme; his views on the impact that this may be having on the viability of community employment schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37337/16]
View answerWritten answers
My Department provides a range of activation supports catering for long-term unemployed jobseekers and those most distant from the labour market. These supports include the JobPath service and employment programmes such as the Community Employment (CE) scheme.
The JobPath service is provided for jobseekers only, whereas CE schemes provide part time temporary work in communities for people in receipt of a range of social welfare payments including jobseekers.
JobPath aims to place people into full-time sustainable employment. The period of engagement with the service for any individual is typically 52 weeks. During that time they receive intensive individual support to help them to overcome barriers to employment. During the year if a person is placed into a job they will continue to receive support for at least three months and up to an additional twelve months while in employment.
CE schemes are a stepping stone back to employment but are not full time sustainable jobs. People who have completed their year long engagement with JobPath may, if eligible, apply to partake in a CE Scheme after they have been assessed by a departmental case officer.
In general, people are not allowed participate in two separate schemes at the same time. Given the need to manage the allocation of places to all schemes in an effective manner, the Department does not facilitate or encourage jobseekers to leave one scheme early in order to take up a place on another.
The welcome reduction in the unemployment rate to 7.5% (Oct 2016), which has fallen from a peak of 15% (Feb 2012) is a factor in recruitment to all programmes never the less despite this reduction, the table below shows the number of people on CE schemes is relatively stable. In addition, as participation on JobPath is limited in most cases to 12 months, people on JobPath are becoming available to other schemes as their period of engagement with JobPath comes to an end.
Number of CE participants and supervisors: for the period 2015 and 2016:
|
CE Participants |
CE supervisors |
|
|
Oct 2015 |
22,488 |
1,388 |
|
Oct 2016 |
22,040 |
1,387 |
It should be noted that CE Schemes are not restricted to those in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment. If there is a CE scheme experiencing particular difficulties in recruitment, the sponsor should contact their local DSP office so that the matter can be reviewed.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Labour Activation Measures
Questions (336)
Margaret Murphy O'Mahony
Question:336. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of the pre-activation supports announced in budget 2017 for persons with a disability; the way the money will be allocated; the schemes to which the money will be allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37363/16]
View answerWritten answers
Budget 2017 included a new measure for a “pre-activation” programme for people with disabilities. The programme will bring participants with a disability who are not ready for work without further assistance, closer to the labour market through engagement in training and personal development activities. Its focus will be on young people with disabilities (aged 16 – 26) who require that additional help to assist in their transition from school to post-school life. It is envisaged that the programme will support community and voluntary groups to deliver a range of activities such as the development of participant’s soft skills, (for example using public transport independently), work preparation, placements and sampling that are designed to assist people with disabilities to obtain and sustain employment.
The operational arrangements of this programme are currently being assessed and will take into account the recommendations of a working group established under the Comprehensive Employment Strategy chaired by the NDA and comprising of the Departments of Education and Skills, Health and Social Protection, together with the HSE. The group was established to develop an effective co-ordinated policy approach and interdepartmental protocols to assist individuals with disabilities, including those who require a high level of support, to obtain and retain employment. This working group is due to report by the end of the year and this will assist in determining decisions relating to the provision of services of this nature at a national level.
Disability Allowance Applications
Questions (337)
Brendan Ryan
Question:337. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a disability allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37431/16]
View answerWritten answers
I confirm my Department received an application for disability allowance (DA) on 24 May 2016. In order to determine the circumstances of this lady, her file was forwarded to her local Social Welfare Inspector (SWI). The SWI will arrange to meet with the person in question as soon as possible.
A decision on her 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.
Question No. 338 answered with Question No. 313.
Departmental Staff Recruitment
Questions (339)
Willie O'Dea
Question:339. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there has been no social protection inspector in Tuam since August 2016; if his attention has further been drawn to the difficulty this is causing for staff and customers (details supplied); the measures he will take to address this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37443/16]
View answerWritten answers
There are two Social Welfare Inspector posts in Tuam and they cover the whole North Galway area. A vacancy in one of the posts arose as a result of the transfer of an Inspector to Galway City in August 2016.
My Department, like all Government Departments and agencies, is required to operate within a staff ceiling figure and a commensurate administrative staffing budget.
Within these constraints, my Department is focusing on prioritising the filling of critical posts. The staffing needs for all offices of my Department are continuously reviewed, taking account of workloads, management priorities and the competing demands arising, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources with a view to providing an efficient service to those who rely on the schemes operated by the Department.
However, it has not been possible to date to fill all posts that have become vacant, including this post in Tuam. This position is under ongoing review.
The most urgent and longest outstanding claims in Tuam are being prioritised at present. If a customer is under financial pressure while awaiting a decision on a claim, it is open to them to contact the local Community Welfare Officer regarding Supplementary Welfare Allowance.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals
Questions (340)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:340. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal on a decision on a jobseeker's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37470/16]
View answerWritten answers
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 22 November 2016. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be 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 appeal 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.
Carer's Allowance Appeals
Questions (341)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:341. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal on an application for a carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37485/16]
View answerWritten answers
Carer’s allowance was awarded to the person concerned on 23 November 2016 and the first payment is due to issue to their nominated post office on 1 December 2016.
Arrears of allowance due from 11 February 2016 to 23 November 2016 have issued by cheque.
The person concerned was notified of these details on 23 November 2016.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.