Michael Healy-Rae
Question:114. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14687/17]
View answerData Protection
Questions (114)
Written answers
The Department of Social Protection is registered as a data controller with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner
The Department takes its responsibilities in relation to data protection very seriously. Every effort is made to ensure that personal customer data are used solely for business purposes and that they are not compromised in any way. The Department has data protection and information security policies, standards, procedures and guidelines in place governing the use of its computer systems and customer data.
On entry to the Department all new staff, including Medical Assessors, are required to sign an undertaking regarding obligations in relation to Data Protection and since 2016 the Staff Development Unit of this Department has developed and delivers an induction and orientation course to all new entrants.
Staff are regularly reminded of their data protection obligations and the consequences of not adhering to policies such as loss of pay increment(s), loss of entitlement to enter promotional competitions and dismissal. Staff members are required to sign annual undertakings that they have read, and will act in accordance with, data protection policies and guidelines.
The Department ensures oversight in relation to data protection by keeping records of data accesses which are then subject to audit.
JobPath Implementation
Questions (115)
Kevin O'Keeffe
Question:115. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the fact that since the introduction of JobPath there has been a shortage of recipients of jobseeker's allowance to participate in CE schemes; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that those on JobPath often remain on the scheme for longer than 12 months; and if he will review the scheme in view of the difficulties that are evident. [14576/17]
View answerWritten answers
The aim of the JobPath service, which is provided for long term unemployed jobseekers only, is to assist them in finding sustainable full time paid employment by providing intensive individual support and assistance. The Community Employment schemes (CE) which provides part-time employment and training opportunities in local communities as a stepping stone back to employment for people on a range of Social Welfare payments including those on long term unemployment payments. CE does not, nor is it intended to, provide full-time sustainable employment.
The welcome reduction in the unemployment figures of 16% over the past year is a factor in recruitment to all programme and schemes like JobPath and CE. The number of people unemployed is dropping on average by 2,500 every month. However, there are still more people unemployed and looking for work than we would like so while the candidate pool may be diminishing my Department is satisfied that CE schemes can still fill places. The data shows that the number of people on CE schemes is in fact relatively stable.
Participants are referred to the JobPath service for one year only. If they undertake a course of training which is longer than four weeks during that year, their engagement with the JobPath service will be paused for up to 6 months to allow them complete the training and ensure they receive the full 52 weeks JobPath service. If they find full time sustainable employment whilst with JobPath, they will continue to receive in-work support for at least three months and up to twelve months while they remain in employment.
At the end of their 52 week engagement with JobPath, people who have not been successful in finding full time sustainable jobs are eligible to apply for placement on other activation supports and schemes such as CE and TÚS.
If there is a CE scheme experiencing particular difficulties in recruitment, they should contact their local DSP office so that the matter can be reviewed.
Carer's Allowance Appeals
Questions (116)
Brendan Griffin
Question:116. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a carer's allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14581/17]
View answerWritten answers
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 15th February 2017. 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
Free Travel Scheme Data
Questions (117)
Imelda Munster
Question:117. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of doubling the allocation for 2017 for the free travel pass. [14617/17]
View answerWritten answers
The free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators. There are currently approx. 874,000 customers with direct eligibility with an annual allocation of €80 million.
To double the allocation for free travel in 2017 would cost an additional €80 million per annum.
Any increase funding to the free travel pass scheme would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Free Travel Scheme Data
Questions (118, 119)
Imelda Munster
Question:118. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the subsidy to public bus operators for the free travel pass to the equivalent of that for private bus operators. [14618/17]
View answerImelda Munster
Question:119. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the subsidy for the free travel pass to ensure it pays for the entire cost of travel for free travel pass holders on each of the three CIE companies, Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, rather than the percentage of the fare that is currently covered by his Department. [14619/17]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 119 together.
Transport companies are paid on the basis of fares foregone and payments are not made on a per passenger basis. Fares foregone refers to excess or spare capacity an operator might have. These are paid at a reduced rate to take account of travel generated by the Free Travel scheme.
My Department currently makes a block payment to the CIÉ Group and the apportionment of payment between the three constituent companies, Bus Éireann, Bus Átha Cliath and Iarnród Éireann is a matter for the CIE Group to determine. This block payment to the CIE group is a service charge that has been negotiated over the years based on a range of factors including passenger numbers, fares levels, availability and frequency of services, peak time access, service improvements and enhancements. On the other hand, payments to private operators are based on surveys. Therefore the discount rates applied to the CIÉ Group and to private operators do not refer to the same calculation methods and, as a result, are not comparable.
My Department, the Department of Transport and the National Transport Authority are currently reviewing the funding level for the scheme which was set in 2010. We are also reviewing the payment mechanisms underpinning the free travel scheme. The outcome of these deliberations will help to inform future funding requirements for the scheme.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Carer's Allowance Appeals
Questions (120)
John McGuinness
Question:120. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) will be re-examined in view of the fact it would appear that some medical evidence was not considered; and if an oral hearing will be arranged in order that the details of the medical circumstances can be explained. [14655/17]
View answerWritten answers
Carer's Allowance (CA) is a social assistance payment made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person with a disability requiring that level of care and whose income falls below certain limits.
Where the carer and care recipient live apart from each other, it is a condition for receipt of CA that there must be a system of communication between their homes.
All of the evidence submitted in support of this application was examined by a deciding officer.
It was decided that the person concerned was not entitled to CA on the grounds that the evidence did not indicate that care recipient required full-time care and attention and on the grounds that the carer was not providing full time care and attention as required and that there was no system of communication between households.
The person concerned was notified on 8 July 2016 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.
The person concerned appealed this decision and the case was submitted to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) on 10 November 2016 for determination. An appeals officer (AO), having fully considered all of the available evidence, disallowed the appeal.
The person concerned was notified on 14 February 2017 of the AO's decision and was provided at that time with an explanation of the basis for this decision to disallow the appeal.
Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of an AO is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed in the light of additional evidence or new facts.
The file has since been recalled by the SWAO and was forwarded to that office on 10 March 2017.
The SWAO are an independent office and it is a matter for them as to whether an oral hearing is required. However the person concerned could contact that office in writing with their request.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Citizen Information Services
Questions (121)
Dara Calleary
Question:121. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will, by virtue of the powers vested in him by the Comhairle Act 2000 and the Citizens Information Act 2007, direct the Citizens Information Board to suspend implementation of the proposed defunding of the national network of independent countywide and area-wide citizens information services pending the completion by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Social Protection of its ongoing review of that strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14668/17]
View answerWritten answers
The Citizens Information Board (CIB), which has statutory responsibility for the Money Advice & Budgeting Service (MABS) and the Citizens Information Services (CIS) decided, on 15th February 2017, to restructure the governance arrangements of these services. The decision was communicated by the Board of CIB to all CIS and MABS Boards and to all staff on the same day. The CIB assures me that there will be no job losses, no closure of services, no change to service delivery locations and no change to the terms and conditions of serving staff during the lifetime of the restructuring programme. There will be no disruption to CIS and MABS services for those who use them.
The decision comes after a lengthy and extensive analysis of options and a detailed consultation period with all stakeholders on the need for a more streamlined governance model. The restructured governance arrangements are being implemented at local company board level only. The decision does not include any proposal to defund the local network of services. The services provided by CIS and MABS services are funded by the State, by way of an annual grant from the Citizens Information Board.
The decision taken simply reduces the number of individual local CIS and MABS company boards from ninety three (93) to sixteen (16). A new regional board structure will be put in place which will comprise eight (8) CIS boards and eight (8) MABS boards. The valuable work carried out by the employees and volunteers working in CIS services and the employees of MABS services will continue as heretofore.
A more streamlined governance structure will result in a more targeted use of valuable staff resources, re-directed to increased front line service delivery, made possible by reduction in the current significant administrative burden associated with maintaining ninety three (93) individual companies nationwide. The changes will bring the CIS and MABS organisations more into line with modern public service governance guidelines and requirements where significant State funding is involved.
In 2017, CIB is set to receive State funding of €54 million, of which €15 million is allocated to CIS services (including €13.1 million to the 42 local Citizens Information Services, €1.2 million to Citizens Information Phone services and, the balance, €0.7 million to central and other supports), and €24.6 million is allocated to the network of MABS services (including €15.4 million to the 51 local MABS, €0.3m to National Traveller MABS, €2.0 million to MABS National Development Company, €3.3 million to the MABS Dedicated Mortgage Arrears initiative, €3.5 million to the Abhaile service, and the remaining €0.1m to MABS central supports).
Following on from the decision of the Board, a Restructuring Implementation Group is being set up by CIB to examine all aspects of implementing the new sixteen (16) board model. This work will include examination of the establishment costs of the new structure and the potential for future savings derived from the reduction in the administrative burden associated with ninety three (93) individual local companies. Current costs are an aggregate of the costs incurred by each of the ninety three (93) local companies on items such as audit fees, professional fees (including legal services), payroll administration and board of director expenses. While cost is not the driver of the restructuring project, some efficiencies are likely to result from moving to a reduced sixteen (16) company model.
The aim of the project is to improve existing governance arrangements and optimise the benefits from operating a more modern, streamlined and customer focused service delivery model.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Departmental Expenditure
Questions (122)
Jack Chambers
Question:122. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of any payments made by his Department, its agencies or any bodies under his aegis to any broadcasters here in the years 2014, 2015 and 2016; the broadcaster to which the funds were provided; the reason for the payments; and if there are any reasons for payments to broadcasters in 2017. [14729/17]
View answerWritten answers
I understand that the Deputy's question relates to payments to broadcasting organisations.
The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of my Department are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council, the Pensions Ombudsman and the Social Welfare Tribunal. No payments were made by any of these bodies to broadcasting organisations in 2014, 2015 or 2016.
The Department placed a number of small scale advertisements with local and regional radio broadcasters over the period from 2014 to 2016. It is important to note that the sole purpose of the advertising was to promote awareness to customers of my Department's services and activities, including its participation in local events such as Jobs Fairs. A full breakdown of the expenditure is outlined in the following table.
Payments made to broadcasters here in the years 2014, 2015 and 2016:
|
Broadcasting Organisation |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
92.5 Phoenix FM |
€123.00 |
||
|
Athlone Community Radio Ltd |
€70.00 |
||
|
Beat 102 - 103 |
€1,163.58 |
€1,201.71 |
|
|
Clare FM |
€861.00 |
||
|
Dublin City FM |
€984.00 |
||
|
Galway Bay FM |
€1,414.50 |
||
|
Highland Radio |
€1,377.60 |
€1,446.48 |
€1,446.78 |
|
I Radio |
€1,419.42 |
€1,221.46 |
|
|
Iradio Northeast & Midlands |
€1,303.80 |
€619.92 |
|
|
KCLR FM |
€184.50 |
||
|
Limerick's Live 95FM |
€1,549.80 |
||
|
Midlands 103 |
€1,205.40 |
||
|
Ocean FM |
€1,225.08 |
||
|
Radio Kerry |
€2,397.02 |
€4,792.08 |
|
|
Shannonside FM |
€2,398.50 |
€1,452.38 |
|
|
South East Broadcasting Co Ltd |
€1,388.67 |
||
|
South East Radio |
€861.00 |
€1,414.50 |
|
|
Spin South West |
€1,353.00 |
||
|
Tipp FM |
€590.40 |
While there has been no expenditure of this nature to date in 2017, my Department will continue to communicate with customers during the year about forthcoming events, services and initiatives. Various media channels, including broadcast, will be used as appropriate.