Written Answers Nos. 222-243
222. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the programme for Government commitment (details supplied); and the measures being introduced in 2017 to achieve these policy items. [40831/16]
View answerJobPath is a new service to support jobseekers whereby the Department of Social Protection has procured additional resources, under contract, to enable it to provide a high quality case managed employment support service to people who are long-term unemployed. JobPath supplements the internal case management capacity of the Department’s Intreo service and the Local Employment Service. Over the past year this additional capacity has enabled the Department to provide an intensive employment support and advisory service to over 60,000 long-term unemployed jobseekers who would otherwise not have received such a service. The JobPath service is provided by two companies, Seetec and Turas Nua, who have put in place a network of over 80 offices nationwide and who employ nearly 600 staff of whom some 400 are caseworkers. The JobPath companies will continue to engage with long-term unemployed jobseekers in 2017.
My Department’s online job vacancy service www.jobsireland.ie enables employers and jobseekers to search for prospective employees and jobs using skillsets and competencies as well as the traditional job type classifications. Jobseekers can also search jobs by location. Once a jobseeker is registered, the service automatically matches candidates to job specifications and can notify both the jobseeker and the employer when a match is found.
During 2017, all jobseekers will be required to register on www.jobsireland.ie. It is planned to integrate JobsIreland with my Department’s Activation Case-Management system to enable activation teams to offer enhanced supports to jobseekers and monitor their job search activity.
My Department has progressively rolled out its Intreo service to people with disabilities who wish to avail of the service on a voluntary basis. People with disabilities who present at INTREO Centres will be offered an interview by a case officer who will agree a personal plan with the individual. Officers in INTREO Centres have received additional training to assist them in supporting people with disabilities.
My Department will spend more than €1 billion in 2016 on work, training and education places in support of jobseekers. Expenditure and the number of schemes and participants increased significantly in recent years in a response to the high levels of unemployment which peaked at 15%.
Schemes such as Community Employment (CE), Tús and RSS play an important role in helping jobseekers maintain work skills. Erosion of jobseeker confidence and work skills, including soft skills related to team-working, communication, planning etc., is a significant issue over long periods of unemployment.
With the ongoing welcome reductions in the Live Register, issues such as the appropriate level of expenditure, the number of places and the criteria for participation on employment schemes are all being considered. I hope to be in a position to bring a Memorandum to Government on these matters in the coming weeks. If there are any changes to be made, consultations with stakeholders will be facilitated.
Finally, with regard to rural communities, the Farm Assist scheme provides support for farmers on low incomes and is similar to Jobseeker’s Allowance. As part of Budget 2017, farm income and other income from off-farm self-employment is to be assessed at 70%, down from 100%, for Farm Assist, with additional annual disregard of €254 for each of the first two children and €381 for the third and other children. There is also a €5 increase in maximum weekly rate of Farm Assist and €3.30 increase for adult dependants. Invalidity Pension is being extended to the self-employed including farmers. In addition entitlement to Dental and Optical Benefits is also being extended to this cohort. It is also worth noting that 500 additional places under the Rural Social Scheme were announced which will increase the overall number to 3,100. My Department intends allocating these places as early as possible in 2017 taking into account a number of factors. These include the number of places already allocated, the demand for new places in particular areas, work opportunities available in local areas and the numbers of farmers and fishermen and women in receipt of income support. In allocating the additional places, the Government recognises the benefits the RSS provides for participants and their families, as well as the valuable contribution the scheme is making to the provision of services in communities across Ireland.
223. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the programme for Government commitment to introduce a PRSI scheme for the self-employed; the number of such persons covered by this new scheme; and the new entitlements, the PRSI rate and PRSI class that eligible persons can avail of and if the scheme is voluntary. [40832/16]
View answerSelf-employed people who earn €5,000 or more in a contribution year, are liable for PRSI at the Class S rate of 4%, subject to a minimum annual payment of €500. This provides them with access to the following benefits: State pension (contributory) and Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension (contributory), Guardian’s Payment (contributory), Maternity Benefit and Adoptive Benefit and, since September 2016, the newly introduced Paternity Benefit.
Core to the Programme for Government is improving the position of the self-employed generally, including the commitment to introduce an enhanced PRSI scheme for the self-employed.
Making progress on this commitment has been one of my key priorities since becoming Minister in this Department. On Budget Day, I was pleased to announce a number of important measures which will benefit the self-employed.
From March 2017, the self-employed will have access to the treatment benefit scheme which includes free eye and dental exams, and contributions towards the cost of hearings aids. As you will be aware, these treatments are already available to Class P contributors; however, the Treatment benefit entitlements will also be extended from October 2017 providing further dental and optical benefits.
More significantly, self-employed contributors will be eligible for the Invalidity Pension from December 2017. For the first time, this will give the self-employed access to the safety-net of State income supports if they have a serious illness or injury that prevents them from working without having to go through a means test. This is a real advance in the level of cover available to the self-employed.
The self-employed will also benefit from the further increase in Earned Income Tax Credit announced by my colleague, the Minister for Finance, as well as the extension of entrepreneurship supports. These measures are all part of the Government’s policy of making work pay and encouraging self-employment and entrepreneurship
It is estimated that around 205,000 self-employed workers paying Class S PRSI are solely dependent on their self-employed contributions to access social insurance benefits. These contributors will now have access to the wider range of benefits outlined above as well as the new paternity benefit introduced last September. It will not be possible to obtain cover for the wider range of benefits on a voluntary basis. The self-employed will continue to pay PRSI at the 4% rate in 2017.
I plan to continue extending cover for the self-employed to other benefits on a phased basis in future Budgets. In this regard, in 2017, my Department will carry out detailed work to establish how to provide a better safety net for self-employed including, for example, access to jobseeker’s benefit.
224. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a carer’s allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40485/16]
View answerCarer’s benefit (CARB) can be paid for a maximum of 104 weeks for each care recipient. The person concerned was in receipt of CARB up to 30 November 2016 when the claim expired after 104 weeks. An application for carer's allowance (CA) was received from her on 24 November 2016.
CA was awarded to her on 12 December 2016 and the first payment for 15 December 2016 should be available at her nominated post office on or before 22 December 2016.
Arrears of allowance due from 1 December 2016 to 14 December 2016 have also issued.
The person concerned was notified of these details on 12 December 2016.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. If you need any further assistance with this particular query don’t hesitate to contact my office.
225. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40535/16]
View answerI can confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance (DA) from this man. On 19 October 2016 the application was referred by a deciding officer (DO) to a social welfare investigative officer (SWI) for a report on the person’s means and circumstances. Once the SWI has submitted his/her report to the DO, a decision will be made on the application and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
226. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of penalties applied by his Department each year from 2012 to date in 2016; the amount of penalties applied for failure in regard to interaction with both JobPath providers; the ages of those persons where a penalty was applied; and the financial penalty that was applied. [40555/16]
View answerIn addition to providing income support my Department also provides employment services and supports to unemployed jobseekers and expects them to engage with such services in order to improve their prospects of securing employment and achieving financial self-sufficiency. This approach is in line with the principle of ‘rights and responsibilities’ whereby an unemployed jobseeker has a right to receive income and employment supports from the State but also has a responsibility to engage with those State services if requested to do so. All jobseekers acknowledge this responsibility in writing when they claim a jobseeker’s payment.
Failure of a jobseeker to engage, without good cause, with the Department’s employment services can have consequences for the jobseeker’s payments. Legislation provides that a Department deciding officer can apply a reduced payment in such circumstances. It is important to note that the decision rules and process for application of a reduced rate of payment are the same across all of the Department’s employment services whether they are delivered directly by the Department’s own Intreo service or through its contracted services i.e. the Local Employment Service and JobPath. It should also be noted that the contracted providers cannot apply a reduced rate of payment. They can only refer a case for consideration by a Department deciding officer who will apply the standard rules and decisions process. This process includes written and verbal warnings and an opportunity for the jobseeker to re-engage with the services prior to the application of a reduced payment rate.
In the period from their inception in 2011 to 17 November 2016, a total of 27,769 penalty rates have been applied (see table below). The increase in the number of jobseekers referred to activation over this period (including Intreo, LES and JobPath) has given rise to an increase in the total number of jobseekers under activation. In this context, as the numbers selected for activation increased, so too has the number of penalty rates applied but the rates remain low relative to the overall number of people signing-on the Live Register.
Year Number
2011: 359
2012: 1,519
2013: 3,395
2014: 5,325
2015: 6,743
2016: 10,428 (To end November)
Total: 27,769
Departmental records show that there are at present some 500 JobPath clients on a reduced penalty rate of payment and that overall 2,593 people, who were referred to the JobPath service since its inception in July 2015, have had a penalty rate applied to them. Some of these may have had their penalty applied since their return from JobPath. A breakdown by age is set out in the table below.
Age Number
18 – 14 466
25 – 35 1,089
36 – 45 595
46 – 55 329
56 – 61 114
Total 2,593
The amount and duration of any individual penalty rate will depend on a variety of circumstances. It is not possible to provide details of the penalty applied in each case. However, the following sets out the rates of penalty which can be applied, as outlined in Section 65(2) of Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended):
Jobseeker’s Benefit:
- €84.50 rate reduced to €65
- €121.40 rate reduced to €93
- €147.30 rate reduced to €113
- €188 rate reduced to €144
Jobseeker’s Allowance:
- For those aged 26 and over, personal rate reduced by €44 e.g. from €188 to €144
- 25 years old - rate reduced from €144 to €111
- 18-24 years old - rate reduced from €100 to €75
Supplementary Welfare Allowance :
- For those aged 26 and over, personal rate reduced by €42 e.g. from €186 to €144
- 25 year-old rate reduced from €144 to €111
- 18-24 year-old rate reduced from €100 to €75
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
227. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of transfers in personnel between the social welfare appeals office and the rest of his Department or any other applicable Department each year from 2008 to 2016. [40556/16]
View answerTransfers are carried out in accordance with agreements reached with staff unions. The majority of transfers into and out of the Social Welfare Appeals Office during the period under review involved the movement of existing departmental staff. A number of personnel were redeployed into the Appeals Office when particular units of work were relocated outside Dublin under decentralisation. Staff also redeployed from other Departments in the context of Employment Control Framework targets set by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
The table below details the number of staff who transferred into and out of the Social Welfare Appeals Office in the period from 2008 to date.
|
Transfers into Appeals Office |
Transfers out of Appeals Office |
|||||
|
Year |
Internal transfer |
Redeployed within DSP |
Transfer from other Department |
Redeployed from other Department |
Internal Transfer |
Transfer to other Department |
|
2008 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
2009 |
0 |
7 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
2010 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2011 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
2012 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
2013 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
|
2014 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
2015 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2016 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
228. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of households by county currently in receipt of the rent supplement payment in tabular form; the number of households by county that have had their rent increased above the prescribed rent supplement limit for their area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40609/16]
View answerThe rent supplement scheme is supporting approximately 48,600 tenants at a total cost of €267 million this year. A breakdown of rent supplement recipients by county is provided in the attached tabular statement. In recognition of the ongoing supply difficulties, my Department continues to implement a targeted case-by-case policy approach that allows for flexibility where landlords seek rents in excess of the limits. To date, approximately 10,600 persons at imminent risk of homelessness have been supported through increased rent supplement payments. There has been a significant reduction in these cases following the introduction of the increased rent limits from 1 July this year. A county breakdown of these payments is provided in the tabular statement. The implementation of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a key Government priority and a major pillar of the Social Housing Strategy 2020 and the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness – Rebuilding Ireland – which has committed to an accelerated target of 12,000 HAP tenancies in 2016. Under HAP, responsibility for the provision of rental assistance to those with a long-term housing need transfers to local authorities, under the auspices of the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.
From 1st December 2016, the HAP scheme is now operational in 28 of the 31 local authority areas. It is expected that HAP will be fully rolled out to the remaining Dublin administrative areas from 1st March 2017.
The Deputy will be aware that HAP was first piloted in the Limerick area in early 2014 and there are now over 1,500 HAP supported tenancies in Limerick City and County. The number of HAP recipients in Limerick has exceeded the number of rent supplement recipients (973). In addition to the ongoing transfer of tenancies from rent supplement to HAP, the majority of new applicants in Limerick seeking State support towards their rent are being processed under HAP rather than rent supplement. This activity is reflected in the low number of increased payments provided under rent supplement in this area.
In tandem with the revised rental limits introduced in July 2016 and ongoing transfers to HAP, my Department continues to implement a targeted, flexible, case-by-case approach where rents may exceed the appropriate maximum limit ensuring where possible the threat of homelessness for tenants can be avoided.
Tabular Statement
Table 1: Rent Supplement Recipients by County as at end November 2016
|
County |
Recipients |
|
CARLOW |
624 |
|
CAVAN |
375 |
|
CLARE |
438 |
|
CORK |
5,032 |
|
DONEGAL |
445 |
|
DUBLIN |
20,619 |
|
GALWAY |
2,564 |
|
KERRY |
1,555 |
|
KILDARE |
2,631 |
|
KILKENNY |
329 |
|
LAOIS |
872 |
|
LEITRIM |
283 |
|
LIMERICK |
973 |
|
LONGFORD |
403 |
|
LOUTH |
902 |
|
MAYO |
1,102 |
|
MEATH |
1,023 |
|
MONAGHAN |
197 |
|
OFFALY |
582 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
570 |
|
SLIGO |
297 |
|
TIPPERARY |
947 |
|
WATERFORD |
615 |
|
WESTMEATH |
1,308 |
|
WEXFORD |
1,973 |
|
WICKLOW |
1,940 |
|
Total |
48,599 |
Table 2: Total Cumulative Increased Rental Payments by County as at 12th December 2016
|
County |
Awards under National Tenancy Sustainment Framework |
Awards under protocol with Threshold |
Total no. of increased payments by County |
|
CARLOW |
72 |
72 |
|
|
CAVAN |
57 |
57 |
|
|
CLARE |
60 |
60 |
|
|
CORK |
446 |
102 |
548 |
|
DONEGAL |
- |
- |
|
|
DUBLIN |
4,000 |
2,484 |
6,484 |
|
GALWAY |
204 |
2 |
206 |
|
KERRY |
181 |
181 |
|
|
KILDARE |
531 |
3 |
534 |
|
KILKENNY |
135 |
135 |
|
|
LAOIS |
119 |
119 |
|
|
LEITRIM |
97 |
97 |
|
|
LIMERICK |
8 |
8 |
|
|
LONGFORD |
307 |
307 |
|
|
LOUTH |
152 |
152 |
|
|
MAYO |
3 |
3 |
|
|
MEATH |
423 |
423 |
|
|
MONAGHAN |
1 |
1 |
|
|
OFFALY |
64 |
64 |
|
|
ROSCOMMON |
51 |
51 |
|
|
SLIGO |
1 |
1 |
|
|
TIPPERARY |
283 |
283 |
|
|
WATERFORD |
62 |
62 |
|
|
WESTMEATH |
355 |
355 |
|
|
WEXFORD |
20 |
20 |
|
|
WICKLOW |
359 |
3 |
362 |
|
Overall Total |
7,991 |
2,581 |
10,572 |
229. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection when a response will issue regarding an overpayment of widows non-contributory pension to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40610/16]
View answerWidow’s, widower’s and surviving civil partner’s non-contributory pension is a means-tested payment. The person concerned was assessed with an overpayment of widow’s non-contributory pension, arising from a failure to declare her means from employment. A decision letter issued to the person concerned on 10 January 2013 informing them of the overpayment.
If they are not satisfied with the decision of the Deciding Officer in this case, they should appeal that decision by writing to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office, stating the grounds of their appeal.
I want to apologise for the delay in issuing a reply to representations from the Minister of State in this instance. This is regretted and was due to staff involved relocating office and difficulties which arose in accessing systems as a result. These issues have now been resolved.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Minister. Please don’t hesitate to contact Philip in my office if you require any further assistance.
230. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection the reasons the number of women aged 25 and over on the live register is decreasing at a much slower rate than any other section of the population; the steps which have already been taken; his plans to improve the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40626/16]
View answerDuring the recession, unemployment rose much more rapidly for men and for young people than it did for women aged over 25. The peak unemployment rate during the recession was 9.9% for women aged over 25; 16.1% for men aged over 25; 25.0% for women aged under 25; and 37.5% for men aged under 25.
Inevitably, the recovery has seen the greatest falls in unemployment in those groups that were hardest hit in the recession. Despite this, unemployment remains lower among women aged over 25 than in other groups. The most recent available unemployment rate (November 2016) is 5.4% for women aged over 25; 7.4% for men aged over 25; 13.1% for women aged under 25; and 17.6% for men aged under 25.
In general, trends in the number of people on the Live Register in any given gender/age group depend on a number of other factors in addition to the unemployment rate. These include: movements in the size of the population in the group; movements in labour-force participation in the group; and the extent to which unemployed people in the group are receiving jobseekers payments rather than other welfare payments. In recent years, these factors have tended to increase the number of women aged over 25 on the Live Register relative to other groups, even as the underlying unemployment rate for such women has remained relatively low.
Government policy allocates activation resources to persons on the Live Register, and thus takes account of relative movements in the number of people on the Live Register in various age/gender groups.
231. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the total use his Department has made of the Government jet since coming into office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40687/16]
View answerI travelled on the Government jet on Wednesday 15 June 2016 from Dublin to Luxembourg with my Adviser and Private Secretary to attend a meeting of EPSCO.
The Minister for Finance was the requester on this occasion.
232. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the total use his Department has made of the Government jet per annum from March 2011 to February 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40704/16]
View answerThe Government Jet was used by Joan Burton TD as Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection during the dates March 2011 to February 2016 as follows:
|
Date of travel |
Destination |
|
3rd October 2012 |
Outwards to Brussels to meet with College of Commissioners travelled with Taoiseach |
|
27th February 2013 |
Outwards to Brussels to attend EPSCO |
|
19th June 2013 |
Outwards to Luxembourg to attend EPSCO |
|
3rd July 2013 |
Berlin return, travelled with Taoiseach to attend a conference on Youth Employment |
|
12th November 2013 |
Return from Paris with Taoiseach, meeting with President Hollande and conference on youth employment |
|
7th February 2014 |
Paris and return to Baldonnel, to attend OECD meeting |
|
17th & 18th July 2014 |
Milan and return to Baldonnel , to attend Informal Ministerial conference |
|
8th October 2014 |
Milan and return to Baldonnel, attend employment conference |
|
14th January 2016 |
Outwards to Paris to attend OECD Conference |
233. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for family income supplement (FIS) in respect of a person (details supplied); the reason a payment of one parent family payment has been taken into account in the assessment of means in respect of this family, despite the fact that the one parent family payment has ceased; if a review of FIS will be facilitated in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40716/16]
View answerThe person concerned was awarded family income supplement (FIS) effective from 22 September 2016 to 20 September 2017.
The one parent family (OFP) claim of the person concerned ceased on 12 October 2016 due to her youngest child reaching the age threshold for that payment. My Department advises that there is a system in place in FIS section where they are alerted in advance of cases where one parent family (OFP) is ceasing due to the age of the youngest child so that the FIS rate may be reviewed. Unfortunately, due to an oversight, this particular case was missed and my Department passes on its apologies to the person in question for the delay.
My Department advises that the FIS claim in question now has been reviewed and the new rate has been applied from 13 October 2016 to 20 September 2017. Arrears due have now issued to this persons nominated bank account.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
234. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40717/16]
View answerI confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from this lady on 23 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 hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
235. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection the gender balances on each of the State boards under his remit. [40732/16]
View answerThe statutory bodies operating under the aegis of my Department are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council, the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a board) and the Social Welfare Tribunal. The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table:
|
Name of Board or Agency |
Total No. of Board Members |
No. of Board Members who are men |
No. of Board Members who are women |
|
Citizens Information Board |
15 |
9 |
6 |
|
Pensions Authority |
3 |
1 |
2 |
|
Pensions Council |
12 |
6 |
6 |
|
Social Welfare Tribunal |
5 |
3 |
2 |
236. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and when the person can expect a decision on their case. [40737/16]
View answerI confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from this man. On 5 December 2016 the person concerned was requested to supply supporting documentation in order to finalise the claim. On receipt of this information a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly in writing of the outcome. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
237. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Social Protection the extra supports in addition to standard maternity and paternity leave that are available from his Department to parents of premature babies in view of the extra care needed in the early stages of those babies lives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40740/16]
View answerThe Department of Justice and Equality have responsibility for maternity and paternity leave which are provided for in the 1994 and 2004 Maternity Acts and the Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016. The Department of Social Protection has responsibility for maternity and paternity benefit payments provided for in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended).
As the Deputy will be aware the maternity leave legislation provides a 26 week period of statutory maternity leave. Subject to the provisions of social welfare legislation, the 26-week period of core statutory maternity leave attracts a social insurance payment of maternity benefit. A mother can take a further 16 weeks unpaid maternity leave which must be taken immediately after the end of her 26 weeks paid maternity benefit. This period is not covered by maternity benefit but a mother is entitled to a credited social insurance contribution for each week of unpaid leave that is taken (up to the maximum of 16).
In relation to the Deputy’s question maternity leave and maternity benefit can be postponed for up to six months at the discretion of the mother in cases where the child is hospitalised. In these cases entitlement to maternity leave and benefit continues after the period of postponement for a maximum of twelve weeks.
Eligible parents can also avail of paid paternity leave at any time within the first 26 weeks following the birth or date of placement of the child. Paternity benefit is available for employed and self-employed people who are on paternity leave from work and covered by social insurance (PRSI) contributions. Paternity leave and paternity benefit can also be postponed for up to six months in cases where the child is hospitalised.
A recipient of the one parent family payment can keep their main social welfare payment and receive a half-rate maternity benefit as well. A carer who was in receipt of a carer’s allowance payment and subsequently has an entitlement to maternity benefit is entitled to keep a half-rate carer’s allowance payment along with their maternity benefit. Parents are also entitled to child benefit which is paid from the date of birth of the child.
Where an individual has insufficient social insurance contributions to qualify for maternity benefit, they may be eligible for another social welfare payment provided they meet the relevant contingency conditions. For instance, new mothers who do not qualify for maternity benefit may be eligible for a payment under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme. This scheme is considered a "safety net" within the overall social welfare system for eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. The main purpose of the scheme is to provide immediate and flexible assistance for those in need who do not qualify for payment under other State schemes.
These measures facilitate parental choice by allowing parents decide what options are best suited to their circumstances.
I hope this information is useful.
238. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when restoration of rent allowance might occur in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40752/16]
View answerThe Department has not, to date, received an application for Rent Supplement from the client concerned. The client should forward an application to be assessed for entitlement to Rent Supplement to the Mid-Leinster Rents Unit, PO Box 11758, Dublin 24.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. If you require any further assistance with this query please do not hesitate to contact Philip in my office.
239. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the gap in social protection payments has not been restored in the case of a person (details supplied); when all outstanding arrears will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40764/16]
View answerThe details of this case have been explained in replies to several Parliamentary Questions; most recently in questions 36185 and 32749-16. The current question contains the assertion that the person concerned retained an entitlement to a jobseekers allowance payment following the decision of the Appeals Officer to disallow his claim.
However, there has been no claim made to the Department in respect of the period involved from when he was disallowed jobseekers allowance at an address in Kildare, subsequently upheld on Appeal, and him making a new claim for jobseekers allowance at the family home in Dublin 15.
Therefore, as there has been no claim to investigate for this period the question of a supposed continuing entitlement cannot be decided upon. However, as previously advised in earlier replies, he is free to present any additional or new evidence in relation to the decision to the decision of the Appeals Office whereupon the Department may consider a revised decision or referring the matter for the attention of the Appeals Office. Similarly, any additional or new evidence in respect of the decision to award him jobseekers allowance since May 2016 should be brought to the attention of the Department for appropriate consideration.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
240. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection when his Department's current contract with An Post will expire; when it will be renewed by the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40823/16]
View answerThe Department’s existing cash payments contract with An Post began on 1 January 2014 for an initial two years with an option for extension for a further four years on a yearly basis, a total of six years. The contract was renewed in late 2015 for a further year covering 2016 and will be renewed again in the coming days for a further year covering 2017.
241. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection when the Labour Court recommendation, LCR 19293, recommending that a pension scheme be introduced for community employment scheme supervisors will be implemented. [40862/16]
View answerThe matter of a pension for Community Employment Scheme Supervisors is currently being considered by a high level working group, set up under the auspices of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER).
This Group includes officials from the Departments of Public Expenditure, Social Protection and Environment, Community and Local Government, as well as from Pobal and the two unions representing CE supervisors - SIPTU and IMPACT. The work of the group is on-going.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
242. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for jobseekers allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40918/16]
View answerThe Jobseeker’s Allowance application of the person concerned has been referred for further investigation to a Social Welfare Inspector, who will be in touch with her if further information is required. A decision on the application will issue to the person concerned once the assessment has been completed.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
