Brendan Ryan
Question:126. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a domiciliary care allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21143/17]
View answerDomiciliary Care Allowance Applications
Questions (126)
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.
Public Sector Staff Retirements
Questions (127)
Clare Daly
Question:127. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the fact that a person (details supplied) who has worked as a community employment scheme supervisor for 24 years is being forced to take mandatory retirement at 66 years of age and will receive only the basic State pension of €230 per week upon retirement. [21147/17]
View answerWritten answers
Community Employment (CE) is a non-statutory scheme put in place to support persons who are long-term unemployed and other vulnerable groups to gain the confidence and skills to re-enter the labour market. Schemes are sponsored by local community and voluntary groups who provide valuable support services to local communities. These sponsoring organisations employ supervisory staff to administer the scheme and funding for this purpose is provided to the Sponsoring Organisations by the Department.
Community Employment Supervisors are employed by Sponsors until the working day before their birthday at which they reach State Pension Age (age 66).
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Maternity Benefit Data
Questions (128)
Kathleen Funchion
Question:128. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection the full combined cost of increasing maternity benefit by €20, €30, €40 and €50 per week while extending maternity benefit by two, three, four, five and six weeks, in tabular form. [21167/17]
View answerWritten answers
Maternity Benefit is a payment made for 26 weeks to employed and self-employed pregnant women who satisfy certain pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions in order to avoid the need for them to work pre and post-delivery of their baby. The original scheme was introduced in 1970 and was extended to include self-employed mothers with effect from June 1997.
It is currently estimated that next year my Department will spend approximately €266 million on Maternity Benefit in respect of an average of 22,000 recipients per week.
The following table estimates the additional cost, over and above the current estimated expenditure on Maternity Benefit in 2017. The additional costs include increasing the weekly rate of Maternity Benefit above the current weekly rate of €235 and simultaneously increasing the duration of Maternity Benefit above its current 26 week duration.
|
Increase the weekly rate of Maternity Benefit from €235 to: |
Additional 2 weeks €m |
Additional 3 weeks €m |
Additional 4 weeks €m |
Additional 5 weeks €m |
Additional 6 weeks €m |
|
€255.00 |
43 |
53 |
64 |
74 |
85 |
|
€265.00 |
55 |
65 |
76 |
86 |
96 |
|
€275.00 |
66 |
77 |
87 |
97 |
108 |
|
€285.00 |
78 |
88 |
99 |
109 |
119 |
Any changes to the rate or duration of Maternity Benefit could also have implications for Adoptive Benefit, Health & Safety Benefit and Paternity Benefit. Revised figures for these schemes are not included in the costings above.
These estimated costings are on a full year basis and assume that the increase is implemented from the beginning of January. It should be noted that these costings relate to a full year and are subject to change over the coming months in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2017.
Social Welfare Appeals Status
Questions (129)
Kevin O'Keeffe
Question:129. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied). [21168/17]
View answerWritten answers
This lady appealed to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) a decision by a deciding officer to disallow her application for disability allowance (DA).
Following due consideration, the appeal of the person in question was disallowed by an appeals officer (AO) on 18 January 2017. She was notified of this decision in writing by the SWAO on the same date. An AO’s decision is final and conclusive in absence of any fresh facts or evidence. It is open to the person in question to reapply for DA.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
JobPath Implementation
Questions (130)
Maurice Quinlivan
Question:130. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason an organisation (details supplied) which operates the JobPath programme in the Limerick area is requesting the details of a person's new employer when they had no input to securing the position for this person in the first place. [21173/17]
View answerWritten answers
JobPath is an approach to employment activation that will support people who are long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment.
While customers are participating with JobPath they receive intensive individual support to help them address barriers to employment and to assist them in finding jobs. Each person is assigned to a personal advisor who will assess a person’s skills, experience, challenges and work goals. A “personal progression plan” will be drawn up that will include a schedule of activities, actions and job focused targets. Participants are also provided with a range of training and development supports including online modules, career advice, CV preparation and interview skills. They may also be referred for further education and training opportunities.
The JobPath Providers are also contracted to provide in-work support to the customers for at least three months and up to twelve months while they remain in employment. The customer is not under any obligation to provide employment details to the JobPath provider but if they wish to do so and avail of the in-employment support offered, all information will be treated confidentially.
In regard to the particular circumstances of this case, if the Deputy would supply the individual details I will undertake to have the matter examined and provide a more comprehensive response.
Free Travel Scheme Payments
Questions (131)
Imelda Munster
Question:131. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 118 and 119 of 23 March 2017, the reason for the use of different calculation methods in calculating payments under the free travel scheme for CIE companies and private companies; the methodology used in both instances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21185/17]
View answerWritten answers
My Department currently makes a block payment to the CIÉ Group. The apportionment of that payment between the three constituent companies, Bus Éireann, Bus Átha Cliath and Iarnród Éireann is a matter for determination by CIÉ. A discount of 40% is applied to that payment to reflect fares foregone. In the early years of the free travel scheme surveys of passenger numbers were carried out and the rate of payment was increased to take account of the survey results, fare increases and increases in numbers qualified. My Department moved away from this approach with the CIÉ Group as it was no longer practicable to conduct such surveys. Instead, as the scheme evolved, negotiations took place when there were major changes or improvements to the transport infrastructure and/or the services which free travel customers could access. Payments to CIÉ would have been adjusted to reflect some of these.
The amount my Department pays to private operators participating in the free travel scheme is determined by way of survey of their passenger numbers at a given point in time either when they apply to participate in the scheme or when they are subsequently reviewed. An average fee, which takes account of the particular operator’s fare structure and includes a 30% discount, is agreed with the operator and paid on a monthly basis.
These discounting arrangements are historical and my Department, the Department of Transport and the National Transport Authority are now engaged in a process of reviewing the payment mechanisms underpinning the free travel scheme to ensure equity, consistency and transparency in payments to all commercial bus operators participating in the scheme. The outcome of these deliberations will help to inform future funding requirements.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Question No. 132 withdrawn.
State Pension (Non-Contributory)
Questions (133)
Anne Rabbitte
Question:133. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason family maintenance agreed through the court is not seen as a deductible allowance and not taken into consideration for pension assessment criteria (details supplied). [21208/17]
View answerWritten answers
My Department operates a range of means tested social assistance payments, including the State Pension Non-Contributory. Social welfare legislation provides that the means test takes account of the income and assets of the person (and spouse/partner, if applicable) applying for the relevant payment.
Social welfare legislation provides for the purposes of the State Pension Non Contributory, that “in calculating the means of a person who is one of a married couple living apart from his or her spouse, any sum paid by him or her to his or her spouse under a separation order shall be deducted in calculating his or her means”.
I understand from my officials that in the particular case raised by the Deputy, the maintenance payments were deducted in accordance with this legislative provision and, therefore, not counted as part of his income.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Maternity Benefit Data
Questions (134)
Noel Rock
Question:134. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons whose maternity benefit is delayed; the reason for the delay; the average waiting time for receiving maternity benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21219/17]
View answerWritten answers
Currently there are over 2,800 claims for maternity benefit waiting to be processed. Just over 1,200 of these (approximately 43%) have a leave commencement date of 1st May 2017 or earlier. Maternity benefit claims are processed in leave commencement date order. The average time to process a paper claim is 6 weeks. Processing claims by leave commencement date order ensures that those whose maternity leave is impending or has already started receive priority.
To alleviate delays, additional staff have been assigned and staff are working overtime. I want to assure customers that every effort is being made to ensure all claims are processed as quickly as possible.
The Department also facilitates online applications for maternity benefit and an automated decision is made where the customer submits all necessary information and where the detail provided can be validated. I would ask the Deputy to encourage women who are planning maternity leave to use this channel, if possible, as it provides the most effective method of applying for maternity benefit.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy. If you require any further assistance on this query please do not hesitate to contact my office.
Community Employment Schemes Eligibility
Questions (135, 136)
Eamon Scanlon
Question:135. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to remove the current time restrictions on all community employment schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21248/17]
View answerEamon Scanlon
Question:136. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to revisit the proposed changes to community employment schemes, in particular the 12-month eligibility rule, in view of the fact that it is too restrictive, particularly in areas of low population density; his views that community groups are finding it difficult to recruit participants and that there are fewer participants available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21249/17]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 136 together.
As the economic recovery takes hold and the overall level of unemployment continues to fall, the need to adapt employment programmes such as Community Employment (CE) to the changing circumstances, has become more apparent. With this in mind, my Department undertook an analysis of CE, which also looked at the other employment programmes. In this context, the Government recently approved the implementation of a number of changes to the terms and conditions of participation on CE. The main purpose of these changes is to broaden the availability of CE to a greater number of people on the live register and to standardise other conditions around the length of time a person can participate on the programme.
The changes I am planning to introduce will see the general qualifying age for CE for those on the live register reduced from 25 to 21 years. It will also be easier for previous participants, who have exhausted their CE entitlement, to re-qualify as participation prior to the year 2007 will be disregarded. While participants between 21 and 55 years of age on CE will be entitled to one year on the programme, this can be extended by up to 2 more years if they are engaged in a recognised training or education award that is helping them progress towards employment. All CE participants aged 55 and over will be able to avail of 3 consecutive years on a CE scheme up to the overall limit of 6 years from 2007 (7 years if on a disability payment). I have also agreed to review the current participation limits for older people on CE within the next three months. As the Deputy will be aware, participation limits are necessary to allow for the utilisation of places amongst qualifying persons to ensure the benefits of CE are available to the widest possible number of jobseekers.
The length of time a person must be in receipt of a social welfare payment to qualify for CE remains at 12 months and I have no plans to change that. This ensures that a person who becomes unemployed is, in the first instance, provided with the one-to-one intensive activation support of a DSP case officer to try to find employment before being considered for a placement on an employment programme.
The Department keeps all aspects of its activation programmes under review to ensure the best outcomes for participants. As part of the implementation of the new measures, my Department is currently consulting with key stakeholders across the country.
If a CE sponsor is experiencing particular recruitment difficulties, they should contact their local DSP Intreo office with any concerns they may have in that regard.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.