Written Answers Nos. 322-339
322. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on a person (details supplied) who has appealed a decision made by the domiciliary care department. [3796/17]
View answerThis lady applied for domiciliary care allowance in respect of her child on the 21st July 2016. The application was not allowed as it was considered that the child did not meet the eligibility criteria for the allowance. A decision letter issued to her on the 7th November 2016.
An appeal of this decision was registered on 28th November 2016 and additional information on her child’s condition/care needs was supplied. The application together with the new information supplied has been forwarded to a Medical Assessor for their professional opinion. Upon receipt of the Medical Assessor’s opinion, the case will be further examined by a deciding officer, who will revise the original decision if warranted or alternatively, forward the case for consideration by the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
323. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on a disability allowance claim (details supplied) in view of the fact that the application was submitted in August 2016. [3806/17]
View answerI can confirm that my Department received an application for disability allowance from this man on 22 August 2016.
On 21 October 2016 the person concerned was requested to supply supporting documentation required by the deciding officer in order to make a decision on his eligibility. As we have not received a response to date, my Department has issued a reminder. On receipt of this information a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
324. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a rent allowance payment will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3809/17]
View answerThe Rent Supplement payment for the client concerned is due to issue overnight in regards her rent increase.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
325. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if rent support will issue in the case of a pending application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3845/17]
View answerThe client concerned was requested to provide the Department with further documentation regarding her rent application on 6th January 2017. On receipt of same, the claim will be assessed with regard to entitlement.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
326. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for illness benefit in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3909/17]
View answerIllness Benefit is a payment for people who cannot work due to illness and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. It is payable for a maximum of two years after which a person has to have paid a further 13 reckonable contributions to re-qualify for payment.
The person concerned was in receipt of illness benefit previously and their entitlement exhausted on 3 December 2014. As there have been no further paid contributions since then, illness benefit cannot be awarded at present.
A further certificate of work incapacity was received on 24 November 2016. As some sections of the certificate were not completed, it was found necessary to return it to the person concerned for completion. When it is returned, the question of the award of credited contributions will be considered and they will be notified of the position. Such contributions can be used to qualify for social welfare benefits in the future.
I hope that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
327. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3951/17]
View answerAs a result of an appeals officer’s decision, carer's allowance was awarded to the person concerned on 26 January 2017 and the first payment will issue to her nominated Post Office on 2 February 2017. Arrears due for the period 3 September 2015 to 1 February 2017 will issue shortly.
The person concerned was notified on 26 January 2017 of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
328. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when an application for a disability allowance will be processed for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3965/17]
View answerThis man has been awarded disability allowance with effect from 2 November 2016. The first payment will be made by his chosen payment method on 8 February 2017.
Arrears of payment due will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments or in respect of outstanding overpayments (if applicable).
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
329. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Social Protection the guidelines for allocation of the respite care grant; the allowable working hours for a person in receipt of the grant; his views on whether a couple in which a parent is only working 15 hours per week and is available at all other times to provide full-time care to their child who has an intellectual disability and who, in addition, presents with complex and chronic behavioural issues is not deserving of the respite care grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3985/17]
View answerThe carer’s support grant (CSG) is an annual, non means tested payment, made by my Department to full-time carers. It is paid automatically to carers who are already in receipt of carer’s allowance, carer’s benefit and domiciliary care allowance. Payment is made on the 1st Thursday in June. Other people who are not in receipt of a social welfare payment but who are providing full time care and attention are also eligible and can apply for the grant to my Department.
The primary conditions to be satisfied are that the carer; be aged 16 or over; be ordinarily resident in the State and provide full-time care for the person for at least six months (this period of care must include the first Thursday in June).
In addition, the carer must live with the recipient of care or if not resident must be contactable quickly by a direct system of communication (for example, a telephone or alarm) between their home and the home of the person to whom they are providing care.
Carers may engage in employment and/or education and training for a maximum aggregate of 15 hours per week and still be regarded as providing full-time care and attention. This strikes a reasonable balance between giving carers the opportunity to engage with wider society and to maintain, where possible, a connection with the world of work and education, and meeting the requirement that carers are required to be providing full-time care and attention to a recipient of care.
I hope this addresses the issues raised by the Deputy.
330. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if invalidity benefit will be approved for a person (details supplied). [3989/17]
View answerIllness benefit is a payment for people who cannot work due to illness and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. The rate of payment depends on the person’s level of earnings in the governing contribution year. If the average weekly earnings in that year are €300.00 or more weekly, the personal rate of €188.00 is payable. If the earnings are less than that, a graduated rate applies.
The person concerned claimed Illness Benefit from 2 December 2016 and it has been awarded at the graduated weekly rate of €84.50 having regard to the level of earnings in the 2014 governing contribution year. A top up payment under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme is also being paid.
I hope that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
331. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will rule out any introduction of a fee for the free travel pass (details supplied); if he will ease concerns regarding this charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4010/17]
View answerThere are no plans to introduce a surcharge on the free travel pass and I am fully committed to its retention as a service provided without charge to passholders.
The free travel scheme provides free travel for those with eligibility on the main public and private transport services which includes road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann, Iarnród Éireann, Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators. There are currently approximately 873,000 customers with direct eligibility with an annual allocation of €80 million.
I am aware that the free travel pass is a valuable support for older people and people with disabilities, and that it has a significant role in promoting social inclusion and preventing their isolation.
In order to maintain service at existing levels funding to the free travel scheme was increased by €3 million in budget 2016.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
332. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Social Protection the provisions he has made in budget 2017 to compensate persons (details supplied) who have unpurchased pensionable years and are awaiting compensation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4017/17]
View answer333. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Social Protection if any recommendation has been made to his Department by a third party to make an ex gratia payment to persons (details supplied) with unpurchased pensionable years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4018/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 332 and 333 together.
The mediated agreement for former Waterford Crystal workers covers 1,774 members of the Waterford Crystal Pension Factory and Staff Schemes. As the Deputy is aware, the vast majority of former workers have agreed full and final settlements and are in receipt of their payments.
During the mediation process it was agreed by the parties that disputes in relation to individual cases would be referred to a dispute resolution process. The dispute resolution procedure is solely and exclusively for individual disputes concerning personal employment information particular to the individual used for the calculation of lump sums and monies in respect of pensionable service as set out in the letter of offer and/or deed of release including scheme service dates and calculations.
A number of the former workers referred to in the question did make an appeal concerning the calculation of their offer vis-à-vis contract service. While the matter has been examined by the mediator involved, the appeal has raised complex legal and precedential issues which are important to resolve in order to ensure a fair settlement.
I would like to assure the Deputy that my Department is working actively with the Mediator to bring the matter to a resolution as quickly as possible.
I hope that clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
334. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason jobseeker's allowance has been suspended pending review in the case of a person (details supplied); when the review will be complete with particular reference to the hardship being caused to this person; the reason supplementary welfare payment did not issue in the interim when the person presented in the local social welfare office following non-payment of jobseeker's payment; if jobseeker's allowance will be reinstated as matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4034/17]
View answerFollowing a review of entitlement, jobseeker’s payment in respect of the person concerned has been reinstated and all payment due to her is available for collection at her nominated post office on 31 January 2017.
Application forms for Supplementary Welfare Allowance were issued by post to the person concerned on 24/01/2017. These forms were not returned to the Community Welfare Service for processing in the interim.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
335. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will expedite an appeal for a person (details supplied). [4138/17]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s 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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
336. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the defunding of the mid-Ireland tourism group which is funded through Pobal under the community services programme; and if he will review the case in view of the fact that the group contributes to local employment through tourism promotion. [4293/17]
View answerThe community services programme (CSP) provides financial support to community companies that provide revenue generating services of a social inclusion nature. The CSP works on a social-enterprise model. This means that it does not fully fund contract holders but requires that they generate revenue by charging fees or raising funds. All CSP recipients are obliged to meet these criteria. These social enterprises also remain responsible for their own budgets and financial liabilities. Pobal manage the programme on behalf of my Department.
Pobal has undertaken on-going reviews of the service referred to by the Deputy over the past number of years. As part of the review of the 2017-2019 business plan, it was considered that the organisation did not adequately provide a robust business case for continued funding under CSP when assessed under the criteria of value for money, need and strategic fit with the programme. The organisation was advised of this decision in October 2016.
The service provider appealed the decision to Pobal and an independent review was conducted. The original decision to cease the CSP funding was upheld. This was communicated to the organisation in December 2016. The service will be funded under the programme until end of June 2017.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
337. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the limits in place in regard to personal savings for an applicant subject to a review of their dietary supplement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4339/17]
View answerDiet supplement, administered under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, is payable to qualifying persons, in receipt of the supplement prior to February 2014, who have been prescribed a special diet as a result of a specified medical condition. There are currently 3,400 people in receipt of the diet supplement at a cost of €4.6 million in 2017.
Following the outcome of a review of the costs of healthy eating and specialised diets by the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute commissioned by the Department during 2013, the scheme has been closed to new applicants from 1 February 2014. Existing recipients continue to receive the diet supplement at the current rate of payment for as long as they continue to have an entitlement to the scheme or until their circumstances change. This measure ensured that nobody was immediately worse off by the closure of the scheme.
In reviewing a person’s continued entitlement to diet supplement, both medical and financial need must be established. In terms of savings, the first €5,000 of the capital value of savings is disregarded. The next €10,000 is assessed at €1 per €1,000. The next €25,000 is assessed at €2 per €1,000 and the remaining capital over €40,000 is assessed at €4 per €1,000. Where the applicant and their spouse/partner have separate savings then the combined value of both parties are taken into account.
The weekly rate of diet supplement is adjusted by the corresponding adjustment in the weekly means assessed. This formula reflects the policy of ensuring that those with little or no capital receive the greater share of available support, while those with larger amounts avail of it to contribute, at least partially, towards meeting their needs.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
338. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to make changes to current legislation that deters rent supplement recipients from returning to full-time education in order to improve their skills and therefore their chances of securing stable employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4374/17]
View answerThe rent supplement scheme, the purpose of which is to provide short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation, is currently supporting approximately 47,100 tenants at a total cost of €253 million in 2017.
Under Social Welfare legislation, people engaged in full-time education are generally excluded from receiving rent supplement. Those participating in approved courses under the back-to-education allowance (BTEA) or the vocational training opportunities scheme (VTOS) can retain entitlement to rent supplement, subject to meeting all other conditions of the scheme.
I have no plans to amend the conditions for the rent supplement scheme at this time. The strategic policy direction of the Department is to return rent supplement to its original purpose of being a short-term income support scheme. Under the new Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), responsibility for the provision of rental assistance to those with a long-term housing need transfers from my Department to the local authorities. Under HAP, people can return to full time education and generally continue to receive housing support.
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.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
339. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application by a person (details supplied) for a disability allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4378/17]
View answerI confirm that my Department received an application for disability allowance from this lady on 9 January 2017. 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.
