Tuesday, 16 May 2017

Written Answers Nos. 250 - 267

Disability Allowance Appeals

Questions (250)

Pat Breen

Question:

250. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on a disability allowance appeal will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22809/17]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 20 April 2017, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral 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.

School Meals Programme

Questions (251, 252)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

251. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of the free school meals programme for each of the past five years; the current rates of payment per meal, child and day, respectively; the number of students availing of each meal option, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22812/17]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

252. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the way the free school meals programme is assessed or audited in terms of the provision of suitable quality and nutritional value; the way the free school meals programme is assessed or audited in terms of the way in which meals are prepared and consumed; if his attention has been drawn to instances in which the lack of access to appropriate infrastructure has hindered the ability of a school to avail of the scheme or a particular meal option; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22813/17]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 251 and 252 together.

The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,460 schools and organisations benefitting over 200,000 children at a total cost of some €47.7 million in 2017. The funding for the scheme was increased this year, as part of Budget 2017, by an additional €5.7 million (almost 14% over the previous year’s allocation) which will benefit over 50,000 children. The funding allocated for the school meals programme for the last five years is provided in the tabular statement. Funding is based on a rate of payment per meal, per child, per day. The maximum rates of payment and the number of students availing of each meal option is also provided in the tabular statement.

The objective of the scheme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them. Applicants to the scheme are directed to the Department’s website which clearly advises that funding is for healthy nutritious food only and examples of food items are provided. Access to healthy eating documents and guidelines are available on the school meals site including a link to the most recently launched ‘Healthy Food for Life – the Healthy Eating Guidelines and Food Pyramid'’ by the Department of Health. The Department is engaging with Safefood and the Department of Health in the development of technical standards for food provided in schools, which will include that provided under the school meals programme.

Schools and organisations must reapply for funding in advance of each school year and are required to submit detailed records at the end of each school year. Expenditure on unhealthy food items is deducted from the following year’s funding allocation. In addition, the Department initiated an on-site inspection programme in 2012 in participating schools to ensure that the scheme rules are being adhered to. The inspection process is being rolled out across all schools and includes an assessment of the type of food provided.

The operation of school meals projects is the responsibility of the school or group including the delivery model and choice of supplier to be used. The scheme can be delivered in a variety of ways and depends on the needs, capabilities and resources, including infrastructure, of the schools or groups. Delivery models can range from the provision of full canteen services to the purchase of pre-prepared meals from specialist school meals suppliers or local suppliers which ensures that the supports available under the scheme can be provided across all schools. The physical infrastructure in schools is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Table 1: Allocation under the School Meals Scheme 2012 – 2016

Allocation
Year	€m
2012	35
2013	37
2014	39
2015	39
2016	42

Table 2: Rates of Payment for school meals scheme and number of pupils availing in the 2016/17 Academic Year

Meal	Max Rate of Payment (per child per day)	Examples of Food to be Provided	No. of Pupils
Breakfast/Snack	€0.60	Cereal, Toast, Scone, Fruit, Yogurt, Milk, Unsweetened Juice - 2 Items must be provided	125,260
Lunch/Afterschool	€1.40	Filled Sandwich/Roll or Soup & Roll or Salad Plate, plus2 other items (e.g. Water, Milk, Unsweetened Juice, Fruit, Yogurt)	142,220
Dinner	€1.90	Meat, Potatoes & Vegetables or Chicken Curry or Spaghetti Bolognaise, plusa drink (Milk, Water, Unsweetened Juice)	20,420

Departmental Schemes

Questions (253)

John Brady

Question:

253. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of desk-based assessments of entitlements further to reviews of his Department's schemes; the number of direct inquiries with social welfare recipients; the number of site and employer visits; the number of face-to-face interviews conducted in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22819/17]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

My Department administers over 70 schemes and services. It processes in excess of 1.7 million applications per annum; issues 81 million payments per year to 2.1 million customers and their families and provides over 300,000 direct engagements in support of labour market participation.

Staff in the Department are engaged with customers throughout the entire lifecycle of their claim, including on regular reviews for all schemes on an ongoing basis. Reviews vary from desk assessments to written and verbal enquiries, site and employer visits and face to face interviews with customers depending on the nature of the review.

In order to deliver our services effectively staff may engage with each and every customer multiple times in various ways over the course of their claim.

It is not possible to give a definitive breakdown of the numbers of interactions which take place between staff and customers, given the range of services and activities carried out by Departmental staff across the schemes.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Departmental Staff Training

Questions (254)

John Brady

Question:

254. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the training persons working on the anti-fraud campaign have received; the number of persons working on this campaign, including those on the telephone service and the online service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22829/17]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

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 current 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. 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.

In all, some 12 staff, including management staff, dealt with increase in reports and support the press office and communications unit during the campaign. All staff members were in place in advance of the campaign and had extensive experience in handling telephone, webservice and written communication under the Department’s good citizen reporting service. The campaign was managed by the Department’s communications unit.

At 14 May, a total of 2,517 reports had been received. The number of reports received in the same period in 2016 was 1,559. Work has commenced on the examination of the reports and where credible information has been received, the reports will be referred to the relevant scheme areas for further examination and possible investigation.

Maternity Benefit

Questions (255)

Jack Chambers

Question:

255. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the delays of up to a month for maternity benefit payments; the reason for such delays; the number of persons affected; his plans to resolve this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22831/17]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Currently there are 2,850 claims for Maternity Benefit waiting to be processed. Some 1,450 of these have a maternity leave commencement date of 15 May 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. Once a decision is made and the claim has been awarded and where the leave has already commenced, payment issues on the following Monday and this payment will also include any arrears due to the customer at that point.

To alleviate delays, additional staff have been assigned and staff are working overtime. Further additional staff have been assigned this week and will commence processing claims immediately. 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 applicant submits all necessary information and where the detail provided can be validated. I would ask the Deputy to encourage woman 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.

Carer's Allowance Delays

Questions (256)

Bobby Aylward

Question:

256. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in sending the file of a person (details supplied) relating to a carer's allowance claim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22832/17]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Carer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has a disability such that they require that level of care.

A person can be considered to be providing full-time care and attention where the care recipient is in non-residential place of day care. As the care recipient of the person concerned is in day care for 4 nights and 5 days a week, the person concerned was not deemed to be providing full-time care and attention.

In reply to a previous question from the Deputy, my Department undertook to prepare a submission in support of the decision to disallow the application and forward it along with the file to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) for determination.

However, it was then brought to the attention of the Department that the care recipient was no longer in day care and was under the full-time care of the person concerned during the holidays.

It was decided that, as the person concerned would be entitled to CA during holiday periods, it would be more beneficial to issue the payment for these periods first and then refer the paperwork to the SWAO.

Officers in my Department have been in touch with the person concerned and once the holiday dates have been confirmed, payment of CA will issue for these periods.

Immediately after this, the paperwork will be referred to the SWAO.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Fraud Data

Questions (257, 258)

John Brady

Question:

257. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of the 20,800 cases of alleged social welfare fraud dealt with by his Department in 2016 which were reduced or stopped while his Department examined these cases; the number that were found to be fraudulent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22836/17]

John Brady

Question:

258. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons with regard to the 20,800 cases of alleged social welfare fraud dealt with by his Department in 2016 whose details were passed to the Director of Public Prosecutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22837/17]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 257 and 258 together.

Reports from members of the public on their suspicions of social welfare fraud or wrongdoing are an important element in my Department’s overall efforts to prevent and detect fraudulent activity. Welfare fraud can be reported in a variety of ways. The Department provides a dedicated service on its website to enable reports to be made. A concerned member of the public can also write to the Department or telephone with information.

The Department examines all reports of suspected fraud and abuse received from the public. The initial examination focuses on identifying the person(s) who was reported and if they are in receipt of a social welfare payment. Where there appears to be sufficient grounds for concern, a request for a claim review is issued to the appropriate scheme area for investigation.

A payment is not suspended or stopped solely on the basis of a report received but on evidence garnered following a formal review/investigation. The report received provides a ‘trigger’ for the instigation of a review of a specific entitlement and further investigation if that is considered to be warranted. Given the hearsay nature of the reports, they are excluded from the statutory decision making process and do not form part of any evidence when the case is considered for prosecution. Accordingly, the Department does not track the outcome of reviews or investigations that are initiated following receipt of a Good Citizen Report.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

TABLE: Reports of suspected social welfare fraud from members of the public received and referred for investigation 2006-2016

Year	Reports Received	Of reports received – number referred for investigation
2006*	580
2007*	604
2008*	1,044
2009	6,429	Data not compiled
2010	12,648	9,958
2011	16,917	12,881
2012	23,868	18,306
2013	20,120	15,431
2014	18,866	14,882
2015	16,456	11,685
2016	18,744	15,162

* Data for 2006 to 2008 was not compiled in the same manner as in later years.

Each report receives a preliminary examination for relevance and to identify the persons concerned and if they are in receipt of a social welfare payment. Where a person can be identified and sufficient information is provided to warrant a further examination, the report is referred to the relevant scheme area in the Department, to a Social Welfare Inspector for further investigation or to the Special Investigations Unit for more serious allegations. A payment is not suspended or stopped on the basis of the report received – instead this happens when evidence of wrong-doing has been ascertained by the appropriate scheme area.

All reports are received on an anonymous and confidential basis. To preserve the integrity of the public’s reporting system, the Department does not track the outcome of the individual allegations of wrongdoing received. However, internal assurance checks by the Department indicates that around 1 in 3 reports received results in the payments being made to individuals being reduced or terminated.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Fraud Investigations

Questions (259)

John Brady

Question:

259. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of the anti-fraud and control measures with the savings for each totalling €500 million used by his Department in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22838/17]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Department of Social Protection uses a wide range of control measures as part of its strategy to combat fraud and improve compliance in the social welfare system. The control strategy is set out in the Department Compliance and Anti-fraud Strategy 2014 to 2018. The Department publishes an annual report on the implementation of the main actions plans and progress against targets – the strategy document and the annual reports are published on the Department’s website www.welfare.ie. I plan to publish the annual report for 2016 in the coming weeks.

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, site and employer visits and face-to-face interviews are used. In 2016, 950,000 such reviews were undertaken across the Department’s schemes. The nature of the review/investigation is not recorded in a manner that allows for the separate breakdown of the savings to be reported. I have set out the savings reported for each scheme in 2016 in the following table.

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

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Jobs Initiative

Questions (260)

Niall Collins

Question:

260. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of nationally accredited internships in 2015 and 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22864/17]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The only internship programme that my Department has responsibility for is JobBridge. It was introduced to offer jobseekers a wide variety of work experience opportunities, so JobBridge placements are not formally accredited. The number of people who commenced a JobBridge placement in 2015 and 2016 is listed in Table 1. JobBridge closed to new entrants in October 2016, so there were no new entrants in 2017. Over 700 participants remain on the scheme.

A robust external evaluation of the scheme conducted by Indecon Economic Consultants in 2016 found that it is one of the most effective labour market programmes – increasing participants’ employment outcomes by 32%. It also found that while participants rated the scheme positively on 18 out of 20 aspects measured, most were dissatisfied with the level of payment and a sizable minority rated the scheme negatively on some aspects, for example the quality of training offered. Based on the findings, and taking account of the improvement in labour market conditions, Indecon recommended that JobBridge be discontinued in its current form and replaced with a new scheme. A copy of the full evaluation can be found at: www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/JobBridge-Evaluation.aspx.

The Labour Market Council welcomed the report and noted the positive employment impact of the scheme. A majority of the Council similarly recommended that JobBridge be replaced.

Having considered the evidence and the suggestions put forward by Indecon and the Labour Market Council, I announced the closure of JobBridge to new applications from 27 October 2016 and my intention to replace it later this year with a new work experience programme better suited to the much-improved labour market and that addresses criticisms of the scheme.

I am very conscious that any new scheme would need the support, trust and confidence of employers, jobseekers and the public. That is why I instructed my officials to consult with key stakeholders before making a final decision on any potential replacement scheme. That process has recently concluded and I will make an announcement after I have a chance to consider the feedback.

Table 1

Year	Number of JobBridge starts
2015	8708
2016	4167
2017	N/A

Disability Allowance Applications

Questions (261)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

261. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for disability allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22868/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

I can confirm that my department received an application for disability allowance from this man on 20 March 2017.

On 11 May 2017 the person concerned was requested to supply supporting documentation required by the deciding officer in order to make a decision on his eligibility. 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.

Disability Allowance Appeals

Questions (262)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

262. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22882/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from this lady on the 25th August 2016. The application was not allowed as it was considered that the child did not meet the eligibility criteria for the allowance. A letter issued on 15th November 2016 outlining the decision in this case and the right to seek a review of the decision and/or to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

An appeal was registered against the decision on 5th January 2017. As part of the appeal process, the application was re-examined. Notification issued to this lady on the 10th May 2017 advising that following the review, the original decision was upheld and the file will now be forwarded to the Social Welfare Appeals Office for further consideration by an Appeals Officer.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Carer's Allowance Payments

Questions (263)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

263. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which an overpayment occurred in the case of a person (details supplied) receiving domiciliary care allowance; and when the overpayment occurred. [22887/17]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The person concerned had been in receipt of carer’s allowance (CA) up to 8 December 1999 when her late father, who was one of her two care recipients, died. She was no longer entitled to CA from 9 December 1999 as her means were not less than the statutory limit.

An overpayment of (CA) occurred from 10 April 2000 to 12 June 2002 when a Personalised Payable Order book was given to the person concerned in error by her local Post Office.

Her case was reviewed and a revised decision was made, on the grounds that the person concerned could not reasonably have been aware that she was being overpaid. As a result of this revised decision, the debt was cancelled. The person concerned was notified on the 1 March 2017.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Jobseeker's Benefit Payments

Questions (264)

Jack Chambers

Question:

264. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason persons on certain work schemes (details supplied) which are seasonal receive a reduced rate of jobseeker's payment during summer, Christmas and Easter breaks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22913/17]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The amount of the person's average reckonable weekly earnings in the Governing Contribution Year (GCY) determines the rate of jobseeker’s benefit payable. The GCY is the second last complete contribution year before the benefit year in which the claim is made.

To qualify for the full rate of jobseeker’s benefit the weekly earnings in the GCY must be €300.00 or greater. If the average weekly earnings are less than €300 then a lesser rate is payable.

The jobseeker’s benefit rates are graduated according to the person’s average reckonable weekly earnings in the relevant tax year as follows:

Average weekly earnings	Personal rate	Increase for Qualified Adult
less than €150.00	€86.70	€83.00
€150.00 and less the €220.00	€124.60	€83.00
€220.00 and less than €300.00	€151.20	€83.00
€300.00 or more	€193.00	€128.10

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Disability Allowance Appeals

Questions (265)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

265. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) regarding disability allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22925/17]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 5 April 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.

Community Employment Schemes Data

Questions (266)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

266. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of community employment scheme placements in Dublin 5, 13 and 17, respectively, that are vacant and waiting to be filled; the number of placements that have been vacant for more than two months, six months, nine months and more than a year, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22937/17]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

It is not possible to identity how long individual posts in particular Community Employment Schemes have been vacant. CE Participants are employees of the Sponsor Board of the particular CE scheme and the deployment of CE participants to a particular post is the function of that employer. Please see the table detailing the vacancies from July 2016 to March 2017. Ongoing efforts are made to fill vacant posts across the Dublin North area notably through recruitment at local CE Fairs and also the weekly notification of vacancies to Activation Case Offices and other staff in Intreo Centres.

These Community Employment programme is one of a number the government funded schemes that provide part-time temporary work in local communities, as a stepping-stone back to employment. These placements are designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work readiness, thereby improving a person’s opportunities of returning to the labour market or getting a job for the first time. While the live register has fallen support for work programmes has been maintained.

Recently the Government 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 scheme.

Table 1

County Dublin	Sum of Approved Participants	Sum of Current Participants	Vacancies	Variance%
Mar-17
Area	Participant No.s Approved	Sum of Current Participants
Dublin 13	68	54	14	20.59
Dublin 17	451	352	99	21.95
Dublin 5	259	197	62	23.94
Grand Total	778	603	175	22.49
Feb-17
Area	Participant No.s Approved	Sum of Current participants	Vacancies	Variance%
Dublin 13	68	56	12	17.65
Dublin 17	451	352	99	21.95
Dublin 5	259	200	59	22.78
Grand Total	778	608	170	21.85
Jan-17
Area	Participant No.s Approved	Sum of Current participants	Vacancies	Variance%
Dublin 13	68	54	14	20.59
Dublin 17	451	345	106	23.50
Dublin 5	259	206	53	20.46
Grand Total	778	605	173	22.24
Dec-16
Area	Participant No.s Approved	Sum of Current participants	Vacancies	Variance%
Dublin 13	68	53	15	22.06
Dublin 17	451	357	94	20.84
Dublin 5	268	211	57	21.27
Grand Total	787	621	166	21.09
Nov-16
Area	Participant No.s Approved	Sum of Current participants	Vacancies	Variance%
Dublin 13	68	52	16	23.53
Dublin 17	451	353	98	21.73
Dublin 5	268	218	50	18.66
Grand Total	787	623	164	20.84
Oct-16
Area	Participant No.s Approved	Sum of Current participants	Vacancies	Variance%
Dublin 13	68	54	14	20.59
Dublin 17	451	351	100	22.17
Dublin 5	268	212	56	20.90
Grand Total	787	617	170	21.60
Sep-16
Area	Participant No.s Approved	Sum of Current participants	Vacancies	Variance%
Dublin 13	68	57	11	16.18
Dublin 17	451	366	85	18.85
Dublin 5	268	212	56	20.90
Grand Total	787	635	152	19.31
Aug-16
Area	Participant No.s Approved	Sum of Current participants	Vacancies	Variance%
Dublin 13	68	57	11	16.18
Dublin 17	451	380	71	15.74
Dublin 5	268	221	47	17.54
Grand Total	787	658	129	16.39
Jul-16
Area	Participant No.s Approved	Sum of Current participants	Vacancies	Variance %
Dublin 13	68	59	9	13.24
Dublin 17	451	391	60	13.30
Dublin 5	268	221	47	17.54
Grand Total	787	671	116	14.74

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Community Employment Schemes Operation

Questions (267)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

267. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans for the community employment programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22938/17]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

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, it is should also be borne in mind that the Government strongly supports the work being done through CE and the other employment programmes.

I have seen first-hand myself, over recent months, the vital role such schemes are playing in local communities, including supporting social services, across the entire country.

Recently the Government 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 requalify as participation prior to the year 2007 will be disregarded. While participants between 21 and 55 years 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 age 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.

My 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.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.