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Wednesday, 3 May 2017

Written Replies Nos. 189 to 201

Free Travel Scheme

Questions (189)

Robert Troy

Question:

189. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection whether a person who holds a companion pass for a child with a disability can be issued with another companion pass to assist with other children who have to accompany them on public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20965/17]

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Written answers

The current 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. 880,000 customers with direct eligibility with an annual allocation of €80 million. The scheme is available to all people aged over 66 living permanently in the State. To qualify for the scheme, applicants who are under age 66 must be in receipt of a qualifying payment. These are invalidity pension, blind pension, disability allowance, carer’s allowance or an equivalent social security payment from a country covered by EC Regulations or one with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement.

A companion free travel pass entitles the pass holder to have any one person, aged 16 years or over, to accompany him/her free of charge when travelling. In addition to this, people in receipt of carer's allowance or benefit from my Department are also entitled to a free travel pass in their own right.

There are no plans at this time to increase the number of such companions that may travel without charge under the scheme.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Carer's Allowance Applications

Questions (190)

Pat Breen

Question:

190. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when an application for carer's allowance will be processed for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20988/17]

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Written answers

I confirm that my Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 2 March 2017. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

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.

Carer's Allowance Applications

Questions (191)

Pat Deering

Question:

191. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a review of a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied). [21000/17]

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Written answers

I confirm that my Department received an application for Carer’s Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 20 January 2017. It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have a disability whose effect is that they require full-time care and attention.

This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continuous supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.

The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied and on the grounds that she was not providing full-time care and attention as required. The person concerned was notified on 10 March 2017 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.

The person concerned has requested a review of this decision and submitted additional evidence in support of her application. The review is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

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.

Departmental Schemes

Questions (192)

Maurice Quinlivan

Question:

192. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons on schemes (details supplied) in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21002/17]

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Written answers

My Department provides a wide range of employment supports including employer incentives, income support and activation supports catering for long-term unemployed jobseekers and those most distant from the labour market. These schemes provide work experience and training but also benefit communities across Ireland by supporting community services in childcare, health and social care, outdoor works and local facilities.

The number of participants at the end of March 2017, on each of the schemes requested by the Deputy, is presented in tabular form.

Employment Programme

Total Participants to end March 2017

Community Employment

22,121

Job Initiative*

870

Gateway

399

JobBridge **

976

JobsPlus

5,738

Jobpath

20,700

Tus

7,262

Wage Subsidy Scheme

2,356

Rural Social Scheme

2,632

Total

64,349

*Jobs Initiative has been closed to new applicants since 2004

**JobBridge has been closed to new applicants since October 2016

The Local Training Initiative is not under the remit of my Department.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications

Questions (193)

Michael Ring

Question:

193. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved for and granted a domiciliary care allowance. [21011/17]

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Written answers

An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from this lady on the 23rd February 2017. The application will be considered by a Deciding Officer and the decision notified as soon as possible. Applications are processed in date of receipt order; it can currently take 15 weeks to process an application for DCA.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Carer's Allowance Applications

Questions (194)

Michael Ring

Question:

194. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved for and granted a carer's allowance. [21012/17]

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Written answers

I confirm that my Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 24 February 2017. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

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.

Disability Allowance Data

Questions (195)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

195. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of a disability allowance that are blind or have serious sight loss, that are deaf or blind and that have blindness or sight loss as a secondary disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21028/17]

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Written answers

At the end of March 2017 there were 128,090 persons in receipt of disability allowance (DA). The Department does not maintain a record of all persons in receipt of DA by type of disability or medical conditions.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Overpayments

Questions (196)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

196. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a one parent family overpayment occurred for a person (details supplied) in view of the fact that the person informed his Department prior to taking up new employment on 12 December 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21030/17]

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Written answers

The one-parent family payment (OFP) is a payment for both men and women aged under 66 years who are bringing up a child or children without the support of a partner. To qualify for an OFP payment a person must meet the conditions of the scheme as set down in legislation and they must satisfy a means test.

The OFP overpayment in this instance occurred due to an increase in the means of the person concerned who commenced a new employment with increased income on 12th December 2016. The Department was notified of this new employment by the Revenue Commissioners in February 2017. There is no record of an earlier notification of this new employment.

As the person concerned received monies in excess of those due to her, an overpayment arose and she was notified of this early March 2017. The overpayment was being recovered at the maximum amount of 15% of the weekly OFP personal rate. However, following discussions between the person concerned and the INTREO office in Buncrana an agreement has been made for a lower repayment rate with the recovery of the overpayment now spread over a longer period.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Poverty Data

Questions (197)

Willie O'Dea

Question:

197. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has conducted an analysis of the reason the latest Survey on Income and Living Conditions, SILC, figures show an increase in poverty and deprivation for persons not at work due to an illness and/or a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21067/17]

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Written answers

The latest CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) results for 2015 show that the consistent poverty rate, for people in households headed by a person who was unable to work due to illness or a disability, was 22.4% in 2015. This compared to 14.4% the year before. The at-risk-of-poverty rate increased from 25.2% to 34.8% and basic deprivation rose from 51.3% to 53.2% for this group in 2015.

These figures (like other statistics for very small groups in the survey) have been volatile in recent years. This is due to smaller sample sizes. It is not possible to say with certainty whether the changes over the year are statistically significant and indicative of a sustained trend. My Department has not therefore conducted any further analysis of the reason for the specific developments described for 2015.

Given the continuing economic recovery throughout 2016 and measures introduced in Budgets 2016 and 2017, it is reasonable to expect future figures to show improvements. I will continue to work with my Government colleagues to ensure that the economic recovery is experienced in all regions and by all families, households and individuals.

The Government’s strategy for addressing poverty and social exclusion is set out in the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion. The Plan identifies a wide range of targeted actions and interventions to achieve the overall objective of reducing consistent poverty. The Department will review the Plan this year, as it reaches the end of its current term, with a view to developing an updated plan for future periods. The Department will also review the national social target for poverty reduction. This review will be undertaken in consultation with relevant stakeholders.

The Government is committed to increasing the employment opportunities for people with a disability. The Comprehensive Employment Strategy for people with disabilities adopts a cross-government approach that brings together various measures, to be taken by different Departments and State agencies, in a concerted effort to ad dress the barriers and challenges that impact on the employment of people with disabilities. The six strategic priorities are to: build skills, capacity and independence; provide bridges and supports into work; make work pay; promote job retention and re-entry into work; provide co-ordinated and seamless support; and engage employers. These priorities are incorporated into the Pathways to Work Strategy and this ensures that there is an integrated focus on supports that enable people with disabilities to participate in employment where they have the capacity to do so.

My Department provides a range of specific income, activation and employment supports for people with a disability. For instance, the partial capacity benefit scheme enables recipients of invalidity pension and illness benefit to take-up employment, on a voluntary basis, while continuing to receive income support. The Department manages a supported employment service (EmployAbility) which provides a dedicated job-coaching service for people with disabilities.

Intreo services are also available to provide employment support services for people with disabilities who wish to engage with the service on a voluntary basis. There is also a focus on supports available to employers who employ people with disabilities such as the Wage Subsidy Scheme and the Workplace Equipment Adaption Grant Scheme.

The report of the Make Work Pay Interdepartmental Group was recently published. My Department is currently considering its recommendations and has already introduced a number of changes on foot of it. For example, people on a long-term disability payment, including disability allowance, can keep their Free Travel Pass for five years after taking-up work. My Department is also launching a protocol to allow people to return to Disability Allowance seamlessly if work doesn’t work out within a year.

Social Welfare Fraud Data

Questions (198, 199, 200, 201)

Willie O'Dea

Question:

198. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the expenditure on the campaign 'Welfare Cheats Cheat Us All' launched by his Department, including the expenditure on advertising, including online, print and broadcast advertising and the national poster campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21068/17]

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Willie O'Dea

Question:

199. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which anti-fraud measures saved his Department over €500 million in 2016; the areas in which savings were made, the payments or schemes where savings were made due to these measures and the savings made in each of these payments or schemes; if any of the €500 million was saved as a result of recouping overpayments made by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21069/17]

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Niamh Smyth

Question:

200. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons caught for social welfare fraud in the past ten years, by county; the action that was taken in these cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21094/17]

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Niamh Smyth

Question:

201. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of the new campaign to deal with social welfare fraud; the number of incidents that have been detected to date, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21095/17]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 198 to 201, inclusive, together.

The Department administers over 70 separate schemes and services, which affect the lives of almost every person in the State. In 2016, some 1.7 million applications for benefit, assistance and access to schemes were received and processed and over 82 million individual payments were made to people across all age groups and to employers. The scale of its operations and expenditure demand that a robust and integrated range of control and anti-fraud measures are in place. Measures to prevent and detect fraud and enhance controls across the Department’s various schemes are set out in the Compliance and Anti-Fraud Strategy which covers the period 2014 – 2018.

The “Welfare cheats cheat us all” publicity campaign is designed to:

- Promote discussion on the topic of social welfare fraud and challenge the perceptions of those who see it as a victimless crime;

- Encourage reporting of suspected/known social welfare fraud. The “direct marketing” element of the campaign appeals to the public to report fraud and makes is easier for them to do so. It also affords an opportunity to increase awareness of the Department’s fraud reporting contact numbers and online reporting options;

- Demonstrate that the Government and Department takes the issue of social welfare fraud very seriously and that it will investigate and prosecute, where this is found to be warranted; and

- Demonstrate that the Department is very conscious of its obligations, as one of the largest spending Departments in the State, and the importance of protecting the integrity of the social welfare system.

The delivery of the campaign will achieve a balance of coverage across all demographics and regions and incorporate print, national and regional radio stations, digital and outdoor advertising. The national and regional radio, print and outdoor advertising will run for a period of two weeks, with a longer timeframe of 4 to 6 weeks for digital/online advertising.

The cost of the advertising campaign is €165,988 excluding VAT. It includes all design and advertising costs associated with the campaign (print advertising, national and regional radio advertising, outdoor and online/digital advertising). No additional costs arise in staff resources, website development or the provision of the telephone reporting facility.

Nearly 950,000 entitlement reviews and investigations were conducted across the Department’s schemes in 2016. These reviews yielded €506 million in control savings for the year. Reviews and investigations of entitlements are conducted by social welfare staff, social welfare inspectors and inspectors assigned to the Special Investigations Unit and a combination of desk-based assessment of entitlements, direct enquiries with recipients of social welfare payments, and face to face interviews with customers are used to check and determine on-going entitlement. Details of savings recorded by DSP scheme are set out in table 1.

TABLE: Savings recorded by social welfare scheme 2016

Scheme

Savings Recorded

Scheme

Savings Recorded

Jobseekers Allowance & Benefit

€172m

Disability, Invalidity and Illness

€45m

Pensions and household benefits

€60m

One parent family payments

€77m

Carer’s Allowance & Benefit

€9m

Child Benefit

€69m

Family Income Supplement

€42m

Supplementary Welfare Allowance

€26m

Employer inspections/reviews

€6m

TOTAL

€506m

Savings are calculated when a social welfare claim is reduced in value or terminated following a review or investigation initiated by my Department. Control savings do not include any element where the customer voluntarily told the Department of changes in their means or circumstances which resulted in a reduction in the rate of payment or termination of the claim. Departmental error cases are also excluded from the savings figure.

The basis of the savings calculated is scheme specific. The nature of the scheme is taken into account - in particular whether it is short-term (e.g. jobseeker’s benefit or supplementary welfare allowance) or more long-term (e.g. State Pension Contributory/Non-Contributory). Also taken into account is the length of time a person who has a claim reduced or terminated is expected to remain off a particular scheme or at the reduced rate of payment.

The Department raised €110m in overpayments in 2016 of which €41m related to customer fraud – further information on this is set out in table 2. Total expenditure on the Department’s programmes and schemes in 2016 was €19.2 billion. Overpayments as a percentage of total programmes expenditure was of the order of 0.5%.

The Deputies should also note that in 2016, approx. €82m in overpayments were recovered by my Department. This relates to overpayments that were raised in 2016 and in previous years.

TABLE: Value and number of suspected fraud overpayments recorded: 2011 to 2016

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

€m

€m

€m

€m

€m

€m

Value of fraud overpayments raised

€41.0

€49.0

€52.5

€61.9

€41.0

€34.9

Number of overpayments raised

16,225

21,407

27,437

27,489

20,700

20,585

Data is not compiled in a manner that will allow for the number of suspected fraud cases to be reported by county without significant administrative effort.

As of 2 May, the number of reports received since the fraud campaign was launched is 1,434. An analysis of reports received has not yet commenced.

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