Written Answers Nos. 44-62
44. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to reform the pension system; her further plans to address the anomaly in the calculation of the contributory pension whereby those that took time out of the workforce for caring duties are being denied a full State pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39442/17]
View answerThe State pension contributory is one of a number of pensions the State pays to people over 66. The rate of payment to a person is related to the number of contributions made into the Social Insurance Fund by that person.
Entitlement levels are calculated by means of a ‘yearly average’ calculation, where the total contributions paid or credited are divided by the number of years of the working life. Payment rates are banded. For example, someone with a yearly average of 48 contributions will qualify for a full pension, whereas someone with a yearly average of 20 will qualify for a pension at 85% of the full rate.
The homemaker’s scheme makes qualification for State pension (contributory) easier for those who take time out of the workforce for caring duties.
The scheme, which was introduced in 1994 and is effective for periods from then, allows gaps of up to 20 years spent caring for children under 12 years of age or incapacitated people to be disregarded when a person’s social insurance record is being averaged for pension purposes.
Where someone does not qualify for a full rate contributory pension, they may qualify for an alternative payment. If their spouse has a contributory pension, they may qualify for an Increase for a Qualified Adult amounting to up to 90% of a full rate pension, which by default is paid directly to them. Alternatively, they may qualify for a means-tested State Pension (non-contributory), which amounts to up to 95% of the maximum contributory rate.
It is planned that a total contributions approach will replace the yearly average approach from around 2020, and the position of homemakers will be carefully considered in the context of that reform.
45. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the working family payment that the Government is committed to introducing as outlined in the programme for partnership Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39443/17]
View answerMy Department’s approach to developing the working family payment is being guided by two principles. First, that it should ensure that work pays, and second, and equally important, that it should have a positive effect on reducing child poverty.
To advance the commitment contained in the Programme for Partnership Government, my Department established an internal working group and an Inter-Departmental Group of the relevant Government Departments. The purpose of these groups is to consider proposals and to ensure that they are consistent with the two guiding principles of making work pay and tackling child poverty.
As part of this process my Department has carried out an extensive analysis of its existing range of supports that are aimed at assisting individuals take up employment. The analysis shows the existing in-work supports are effective, and work well in assisting individuals make the transition from unemployment into employment.
These findings are confirmed by the ESRI’s research into the Department’s existing in-work measures, and Eurostat figures, which show that the parental in-work poverty rate in Ireland is 5.8%, significantly below the EU 28 average of 11.2%. This is in large part due to the Department’s in-work supports such as FIS and the Back to Work Family Dividend.
My Department is working on proposals as to the most appropriate approach to fulfil the requirements of making work pay and tackling child poverty as outlined in the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government, whilst building on the effective measures already in place.
47. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on a submission (details supplied) from the MABS national management forum; her plans to deal with this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39656/17]
View answerIn February 2017, the Board of Citizens Information Board decided to restructure its governance arrangements to a regional model comprising sixteen companies, 8 CIS and 8 MABS companies. The aim of the change is to improve the effectiveness of the control environment, financial management, and governance of CIS and MABS service networks and service delivery standards and consistency. I know that CIB has not taken this operational decision lightly. It follows five years of analysis and consideration of options and extensive consultation with all stakeholders.
Since the Board’s decision, CIB has held regional consultations with representatives of the CIS and MABS networks. In May, 300 representatives of staff, management, and volunteers, as well as Chairpersons and representatives of local CIS and MABS services attended these sessions. Over the summer, 238 people attended 8 Focus Groups hosted by CIB, at which service delivery strategy, board structures, linkages and staff roles under the new sixteen company model were discussed. I understand the CIB plans to hold a further Focus Group on Volunteers in October.
Any suggestions regarding proposals for alternative governance models are a matter for the Board of CIB.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
48. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to tackle child poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39587/17]
View answerThe National Policy Framework for Children and Young People (Better Outcomes Brighter Futures) - BOBF - is the first overarching national policy framework for children and young people (aged 0-24 years), led by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. The purpose of this framework is to coordinate policy across Government to achieve better outcomes for children. Under the BOBF framework, child poverty was identified as a priority.
The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection in conjunction with partner Departments has produced a paper detailing the Whole of Government approach to Tackling Child Poverty. The paper includes input from relevant Government Departments (Department for Children and Youth Affairs, Department of Education and Skills, Department of Health and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government) in relation to on-going and planned activities.
The structure of the paper is informed by the European Commission’s Recommendation on ‘Investing in children: Breaking the cycle of disadvantage’, which sets out a robust framework to address child poverty and promote child well-being across three pillars:
- Access to adequate resources;
- Access to affordable quality services; and
- Children’s right to participate.
Social transfers play a crucial role in alleviating poverty and inequality and Ireland is among the best in the EU for reducing poverty through social transfers will be considering steps to further improve the poverty-alleviation effect of social transfers in the forthcoming Budget.
However, reducing child poverty is not just about income supports and welfare. Rather, it is also about supporting parents to make the transition into employment. The actions identified in the Action Plan for Jobless Households including the extension of employment supports to qualified adults will also contribute to the reduction of child poverty.
This is why the whole of Government approach emphasises the need for a combined approach to tackling child poverty levels in Ireland, involving both income supports and services.
49. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons who have been referred to JobPath since its inception; the number of persons that have received a sanction on their welfare payments due to non-engagement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39649/17]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, JobPath is an employment activation service that supports people who are long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. The service is delivered by two companies, Seetec and Turas Nua.
The service commenced operations in mid-2015, and reached full State-wide delivery of the service in July 2016. Almost 120,000 Jobseekers have commenced with the service to date.
It is important to note at the outset that the rules and processes for the application of a reduced rate of payment are the same across all of the Department’s employment services, whether they are delivered directly by the Department’s own Intreo service or through its contracted services.
It should also be noted that only a Departmental official - and not contractor’s staff - can make a decision to apply a reduced rate of payment.
The process with regards to such decisions includes written/verbal warnings and an opportunity for the jobseeker to re-engage with the services prior to the application of a reduced payment rate.
Of the 120,000 clients who engaged with the JobPath service, approximately 7000, or 5.8%, have had a penalty rate applied to their payment at some stage. Some of these clients may have had the penalty rate applied after finishing their engagement period with the JobPath service, so the actual number who have had a penalty rate applied while with the JobPath service is likely to be slightly lower.
50. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the specific legal basis for withholding or denying social welfare payments, including pensions and child benefit, in cases in which a person entitled to such payments fails to register for a public services card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39595/17]
View answer54. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the social protection payments that require the production of a public services card; the legislation that enables this requirement; the number of payments which have ceased due to non production of the card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39448/17]
View answer61. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if persons applying for social welfare payments including those applying for the State pension are required to first apply for a public services card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39585/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 50, 54 and 61 together.
In 2005, the Government agreed a standard for establishing and verifying an individual’s identity for the purposes of accessing public services. This standard is known as the Standard Authentication Framework Environment – or “SAFE”.
The SAFE standard has four levels:
Safe 0 = No assurance of identity.
Safe 1 = Balance of probabilities (the minimum authentication level for the allocation of a PPS Number).
Safe 2 = Substantial assurance (the minimum authentication level for issuing a Public Services Card).
Safe 3 = Beyond reasonable doubt.
The Department operates a number of methods to SAFE 2 register a person. The usual method involves a combination of all of the following –
- a face-to-face meeting,
- the collection and verification of the person’s Public Service Identity (PSI) data set,
- the examination/validation/verification of at least two documents supporting identity, and
- photo capture and matching.
As part of the verification process the person’s photo is run through software to check against other photos that have already been taken during other SAFE 2 registrations. This is to detect and/or prevent duplicate registrations.
Once a person completes a SAFE 2 registration they may be issued with a Public Services Card (PSC) as a physical token that proves they have had their identity verified to the SAFE 2 standard. Additionally, a person may be issued with a verified MyGovID account, which is a secure online account for accessing public services digitally, and again proves in the online environment that the person has had their identity verified to the SAFE 2 standard. The PSC and MyGovID, in turn, enable individuals gain access to high value and personalised public services, in person and electronically, more efficiently and with a minimum of duplication of effort, while preserving privacy and security. In the case of services provided by my Department, the PSC is being used to replace the Social Services Card and paper Free Travel pass and MyGovID is being used to provide access to an increasing number of welfare services online at www.mywelfare.ie .
Accordingly, SAFE Level 2 registration allows a person to verify their identity once for public service purposes because it is to a substantial level of assurance. Consequently, it eliminates the need for a person to repeatedly register their identity information when accessing public services. It makes it more difficult for someone else to claim to be a person and so helps to eliminate “identity theft” and fraudulent access to someone else’s data.
The primary legislative provisions for SAFE registration and identity verification are set out in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act, 2005 (as amended) as follows –
- Sections 262 and 263B provide for the verification of identity for issuance and use of a PPS Number.
- Sections 263, 263A and 263B provide for the verification of identity for issuance, use and cancellation of a PSC.
- Section 241 provides that a person must satisfy the Minister as to his/her identity when making a new claim.
- Section 247C provides that an existing claimant must satisfy the Minister as to his/her identity and provides for disqualification where an existing claimant fails to so do.
In other words, the legislation requires a person to satisfy the Minister as to their identity and allows for disallowance or disqualification from receipt of a benefit in the event that it is not done. It is not possible for a claimant to satisfy the Minister as to his or her identity without registering to SAFE 2. Given that my Department spends over €19bn p.a. on supports and services, we need to be sure that people who access these services are the people who are entitled to receive them and that they don’t access them multiple times under different identities. Accordingly, it is reasonable to ask people to verify their identity to a substantial level of assurance.
Where a customer is invited to satisfy the Minister as to their identity in the manner prescribed in law, the customer is required to engage with that process. The Department makes it clear to customers in receipt of social welfare payments or Free Travel entitlements that they do need to complete a SAFE 2 registration to access, or continue to access, payments and entitlements. In the main, customers are invited to a scheduled registration appointment, completion of which results in the issue of a PSC by post. The Department also issues reminder letters to customers, as required. Customers may also book a different time/date to suit them, either online via www.mywelfare.ie , by contacting the Department’s offices, or by walking in to ask for the next available appointment.
While the default SAFE 2 registration method is ‘face-to-face’ (as set out at Sections 263B, 241 and 247C (3) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended), the Department can and does make other arrangements with certain customers, where appropriate, to elevate their identity verification to the SAFE 2 standard. Combining high quality public service identity data with risk analysis and customer consent can, in some circumstances, allow the Department to complete the process by post rather than face-to-face. These alternative methods are further strengthened in that all photographs are subjected to facial image matching against previously held photographs. Additionally, the Department operates a mobile registration solution to cater for those persons incapable (for whatever reason) of attending a Department office. Although this approach works best in congregated environments, individual registrations (for example at a person’s residence) can be undertaken in exceptional circumstances. In this context, I want to make it clear that customers who face bona fide challenges to in-person attendance will not be disadvantaged, in terms of access to payments and/or availing of Free Travel entitlements.
The Department is in the process of completing SAFE 2 registration of its entire existing customer base. As the Department is in a roll-out phase and as its customer base is not static, this is an ongoing process. Accordingly, there are people in payment that have not yet been invited to SAFE 2 register and not all first time applicants are yet required to SAFE 2 register before being put in payment. However, over time, as the rollout phase completes, all customers of the Department’s schemes will be required to be SAFE 2 registered.
The Department does not collect data on the number of individuals who currently, or who, at any point in time, have had a payment stopped by reason of failing to complete the SAFE 2 registration process. This data is fluid in nature.
For example, a considerable number of customers who have a payment or entitlement suspended or stopped subsequently decide to complete the SAFE2 process and have their payment or entitlement reinstated. It should be noted that of the remainder, a considerable portion do not make any contact with the Department. The decision to stop a payment is never made lightly. However, where a customer does not “satisfy the Minister in relation to identity” as per the legislative requirements, a payment can be disqualified. In advance of any such disqualification, the Department makes every effort to engage with the customer to explain the legislative basis for the SAFE 2 registration process and the consequences of potential disqualification. Where a payment has been disqualified and the customer subsequently successfully completes the SAFE 2 registration process, their payment will be reinstated by the Department (assuming they continue to meet all qualifying criteria for that payment).
I hope this clarifies the matter for Deputies.
51. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department has investigated the development of social enterprise projects to create employment opportunities for persons from vulnerable groups (details supplied). [39550/17]
View answerThe Community Services Programme (CSP) provides financial support to community companies that provide revenue generating services of a socially inclusive nature. Many of these companies are also funded from other sources and generate revenue from the public use of their facilities and services.
In May 2017, my Department announced a call for proposals under strand 3 of CSP, which focuses on social enterprises that employ people who are most distant from the labour market. This includes stabilised and recovering drug misusers and people with convictions who are in contact with probationary services. This call was in response to the additional €1m in funding provided for the programme in budget 2017.
Applicants to this call are currently engaged in business planning with Pobal, who operate the scheme on behalf of my Department. It is envisaged that a number of new strand 3 projects will begin to receive CSP funding in 2018 as a result of this year’s call for proposals.
In addition to this, the Department of Justice and Equality recently published ‘A New Way Forward’ social enterprise strategy 2017-2019. One of the primary objectives of this is to explore the introduction of a specific funding stream for social enterprises that operate alongside the criminal justice sector.
Research and proposals relating to social enterprise and their impact on employment creation among vulnerable groups will also be considered as part of the social enterprise research steering group, which has been established by my colleague, the Minister for Community and Rural Affairs, Minister Michael Ring.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
52. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to review the JobPath programme in view of the ongoing decline in the live register and the level of unemployment declining rapidly below official projections; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39645/17]
View answerIreland’s Public Employment Service (PES) is managed by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) and delivered directly by its own Intreo service as well as by contracted private companies, such as JobPath, Local Employment Service (LES) and Job Club providers. With JobPath the Department has procured additional resources to enable it to provide a high quality case managed employment support service to people who are long term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed.
The JobPath service was designed to augment and complement the Department’s existing employment service capacity, including that provide by LES. The additional capacity provided through the JobPath service has allowed the Department to provide the type and intensity of services required by Jobseekers, particularly those most distant from the labour market.
Prior to the introduction of Intreo and JobPath the Department had a case officer to live register ratio of approximately 1,500:1 compared to international benchmarks of less than 200:1. Today with the reduction in the unemployment rate and the increase in capacity, both internally through Intreo and externally through JobPath, the ratio has reached the upper limit of the international norms and is continuing to trend downwards. JobPath continues to play a key role in the delivery of the services required by Jobseekers and is likely to do so for the next couple of years.
It will take time to accumulate a sufficient number of clients (who have completed their engagement period with the service) for complete and robust outcome data to be available. With this in mind, it is intended that an econometric evaluation of the service will commence at the end of 2017.
The Department has however commenced publishing reports on the performance of the service on a quarterly basis, with the most recent report having been published at the beginning of the month. The report can be accessed on the Department’s website.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
53. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will review the JobPath scheme in view of the numbers that have been sanctioned through the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39687/17]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the State’s Public Employment Service is managed by my Department and delivered directly by its own Intreo service as well as by contracted private companies, such as JobPath, Local Employment Service and Job Club providers. The Department has contracts in place with in excess of 60 companies for the provision of these services. This includes two contracts with JobPath service providers.
The JobPath service commenced operations in mid-2015, and reached full State-wide delivery of service in July 2016. Almost 120,000 Jobseekers have commenced with the service to date.
Of the 120,000 clients who engaged with the service, approximately 7000, or 5.8%, have had a penalty rate applied to their payment at some stage. It should be noted however that some of these clients may have had a penalty rate applied after finishing their engagement period with the JobPath service, so the actual number who have had a penalty rate applied while with the JobPath service is likely to be slightly lower.
It is important to note that the rules and processes for the application of a reduced rate of payment are the same across all of the Department’s employment services whether they are delivered directly by the Department’s own Intreo service or through its contracted services.
It should also be noted that only a Departmental official (not contractor’s staff) can make such a decision.
The process with regards to such decisions includes written/verbal warnings and an opportunity for the jobseeker to re-engage with the services prior to the application of a reduced payment rate.
55. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in County Wexford who do not receive a full contributory pension payment due to 2012 band changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39651/17]
View answerThe State pension contributory is one of a number of pensions the State pays to people over 66. The rate of payment to a person is related to the number of contributions made over the years into the Social Insurance Fund by the person.
Entitlement levels are calculated by means of a ‘yearly average’ calculation, where the total contributions paid or credited are divided by the number of years of the working life. Payment rates are banded. For example, someone with a yearly average of 48 contributions will qualify for a full pension, whereas someone with a yearly average of 20 will qualify for a pension at 85% of the full rate.
As provided for in Budget 2012, from September 2012, the current rate bands for State pension (contributory) claims were introduced. These did not change the rate of payment for those who would have qualified for a maximum rate pension under the old rate bands, nor those with a yearly average of 40-47 who continue to qualify at the 98% rate of payment.
Those affected, therefore, are all pensioners with a yearly average of less than 40 contributions. In response to the Deputy’s direct question, none of these would have qualified for a full contributory pension had they retired under the old rate bands.
I am informed that some 557 pensioners currently resident in Wexford are paid under the new rate-bands at a somewhat lower percentage rate than applied under claims made in 2000-2012. It is important to note that these pensioners would not have qualified for a full rate pension under the previous rate bands either.
The current rate bands replaced previous rates introduced in 2000 and more accurately reflect the social insurance contributions history of a person. Where people who were unattached to the labour market during most of their adult lives cannot qualify for a contributory pension in their own right as they have paid few or no contributions, or cannot qualify for a full rate as a result of an intermittent PRSI record, the social protection system provides alternative methods of supporting such pensioners in old age. If their spouse has a contributory pension, they may qualify for an Increase for a Qualified Adult amounting up to 90% of a full rate pension, which by default is paid directly to them. Alternatively, they may qualify for a means-tested State Pension (non-contributory), amounting up to 95% of the maximum contributory pension rate.
There are very significant income and capital disregards in respect of both of those payments, and the large majority of recipients of the non-contributory pension and the IQA payment on a contributory pension are paid at the maximum rate. Those who are alternatively paid lower amounts under the State pension (contributory), therefore, will generally be people with access to significant means (e.g. private pensions), for whom that payment remains more advantageous, and maximises their total income.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
56. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which she plans to address the unemployment blackspots in County Limerick as outlined by the recent Central Statistics Office, CSO, census data (details supplied). [30622/17]
View answerThe Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) is the official source of employment and unemployment statistics for the State. Reflecting the impact of Government policy, and the overall improvement in the labour market, the unemployment rate has fallen rapidly since it peaked at 15.1% in Q1 2012. The most recent figure is 6.8% in Q1 2017, and unemployment has fallen by more than half in every region of the country over this period. A strong downward trend continues.
In Q2 2016, the unemployment rate as measured by the QNHS was 8.6%. The Census of Population 2016 Summary Results - Part 2, published on 15 June 2017 (based on Census night 24th April 2016) provided an alternative measure of unemployment levels and indicated an unemployment rate of 12.7%.
The main difference in the unemployment rate between the two sources arises as the classifications used in the measurement of unemployment differ for both.
In the QNHS, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) classification is used and defines employment, unemployment and the inactive population. Unemployment is defined as persons who, in the week before the survey, were without work and available for work within the next two weeks, and had taken specific steps, in the preceding four weeks, to find work.
The Census uses the Principal Economic Status (PES) classification to establish the labour force situation of the respondent. The PES classification is based on how respondents would describe their present principal status including a status of being unemployed.
Notwithstanding these differences, a strength of the census-based data on employment and unemployment is the provision of data for small geographic areas, and analysis on the comparisons between areas. Based on this, the latest census report has identified the 79 District Electoral Divisions (DEDs) with the highest levels of unemployment as “unemployment blackspots”. The DEDs involved vary greatly in population size (ranging from about 490 to about 8,400) and other characteristics. They are, however, predominantly the DEDs of highest unemployment within larger urban areas; over half of the blackspots, and over half of the population resident in blackspots, is in the cities of Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Waterford.
Government policy to reduce unemployment is twofold. First, through policies set out in the Action Plan for Jobs, to create an environment in which business can succeed and create jobs; and second, through Pathways to Work to ensure that as many of these new jobs and other vacancies that arise in our economy are filled by people taken from the Live Register.
The Action Plan for Jobs 2017 includes actions aimed at stimulating regional growth, including the progression, monitoring and support of the eight Regional Action Plans for Jobs, which through public and private sector collaboration seek to build on existing strengths and assets and identify opportunities within each region, and realise the national Action Plan’s regional employment targets.
As an example of measures to support the regional jobs agenda, additional funds will be made available through the enterprise development agencies out to 2020. In this context, a competitive Regional Enterprise Development Fund 2017-2020 was launched in May 2017, providing funding of up to €60 million to co-finance the development and implementation of collaborative and innovative projects that can sustain and add to employment at a national, regional and county level. This regional competitive fund will support the ambition, goals and implementation of the Regional Action Plans for Jobs. In addition, additional funding of €150m is being made available to the IDA to support its Regional Property Programme and drive job creation in the multi-national sector.
The Pathways to Work 2016-2020 strategy continues to prioritise actions for the newly unemployed and also includes a range of measures for the long-term unemployed. This includes the payment-by-results services of JobPath to engage more systematically with the long-term unemployed; providing targeted wage subsidies under JobsPlus; and reserved places for long-term unemployed jobseekers on employment and training programmes.
In relation to ‘blackspots’ with a high concentration of unemployment, it is important to recognise that DEASP services through Intreo are focused on unemployed individuals rather than on areas.
This means, nonetheless, that those areas where unemployed individuals are most concentrated will also be the areas that receive a greater share of DEASP income support payments and activation and employment services.
Finally, the Census shows that the concentration of unemployment in ‘blackspots’ is related to issues such as low educational attainment; housing tenure; and other markers of disadvantage. Where there is a high spatial concentration of blackspots, such as in Limerick, there are overarching strategies in place. For example, the Limerick Regeneration Plan includes a range of measures to address the multitude of issues present in these areas. More generally, measures are in place across a range of policy fields, such as education and childcare, to focus enhanced support on areas of identified disadvantage.
57. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the actions being taken by her Department to tackle long waiting times for the processing of domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39583/17]
View answerThe Department is currently experiencing delays in the processing of Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) claims. We are extremely sorry for any worry or concern this may cause to parents/guardians of children with additional care needs. At present, it is taking 17 weeks on average to finalise an application. While this represents an improvement of some 3 weeks compared to the time taken in July and August, it is hoped that corrective actions in place will further reduce processing times over coming weeks. Applications are processed in date of receipt order allowing for the complexity of individual cases. A number of factors have contributed to the extended timeframe required to process claims at this time.
First, there is a significant increase in the volume of applications being received. The numbers applying for DCA have increased significantly since 2009, when the Department took over administration of the scheme from the HSE. The year on year increase in volumes over recent years has consistently been in the 15 to 20% range, due to an increase in population and more awareness of the scheme. Currently over 625 applications are received each month, whereas the average would have been 400 per month a few years ago.
Secondly, following a High Court ruling in 2016, there is now a need for the Department’s medical assessors to provide the deciding officer with a more detailed opinion on the child’s eligibility for the scheme and for the deciding officer in turn to provide more detailed reasons for their decision when communicating this to the customer. These factors have resulted in the time taken to finalise applications increasing significantly. As a result the numbers being processed have reduced and the timescale to finalise each application has increased.
Corrective actions are being taken, with significant new additional staff resources allocated to decision making since July. As these staff are now fully up to speed on decision making, it is anticipated that the improvement in the processing time currently being experienced will continue and it is hoped to reduce delays further over the coming weeks and months.
Applications once decided are back dated to the date of application and any arrears due are paid as soon as possible.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
58. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to address anomalies in the State pension which are leading to reduced State pension payments for those without the necessary PRSI contributions, namely the averaging calculation in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39584/17]
View answerThe State pension contributory is one of a number of pensions the State pays to people over 66. The rate of payment to a person is related to the number of contributions made over the years into the Social Insurance Fund by the person.
Entitlement levels are calculated by means of a ‘yearly average’ calculation, where the total contributions paid or credited are divided by the number of years of the working life. Payment rates are banded. For example, someone with a yearly average of 48 contributions will qualify for a full pension, whereas someone with a yearly average of 20 will qualify for a pension at 85% of the full rate.
The homemaker’s scheme was introduced in 1994 to make qualification easier for those who took time out of the workforce for caring duties. It allows up to 20 such years, in the period since its introduction, to be disregarded when their record is being averaged for pension purposes.
Where someone does not qualify for a full rate contributory pension, they may qualify for an alternative payment. If their spouse has a contributory pension, they may qualify for an Increase for a Qualified Adult amounting up to 90% of a full rate pension, which by default is paid directly to them. Alternatively, they may qualify for a means-tested State Pension (non-contributory), which amounts up to 95% of the maximum contributory rate.
Work is under way to replace the yearly average system with a Total Contributions Approach (TCA). Under this approach, the rate of pension paid will more closely reflect the total number of contributions made by people, not when they paid them. The position of homemakers is being carefully considered in developing this new system of calculating the State Pension (contributory).
It is hoped that this approach to pension qualification will replace the current one from 2020. Following completion of the actuarial review of the Social Insurance Fund this year, a refined proposal will be developed. My Department will conduct a period of consultation with relevant stakeholders, including interest groups, representative bodies and the Oireachtas. Following the consultation period, I will submit a proposal to Government seeking approval for the new approach, and then proceed to introduce legislation to give effect to this reform.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
59. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the timeframe for publishing an action plan on pension reform; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39644/17]
View answerI have previously highlighted that pensions reform will be a priority of my Department and can confirm my intention to publish and commence the implementation of a pensions reform plan before the end of this year.
Two of the most significant measures in the plan will be a road map for the reform of the State pension through the introduction of a “Total Contributions Approach” (TCA) for new pensioners, and the development of a new auto enrolment supplementary retirement savings system for employees without pensions coverage. The plan will also include measures to reform and simplify the current supplementary pension landscape and measures required to transpose the EU ‘IORP’ Pensions Directive.
The objective of these reforms will be to establish a sound and fit for purpose pension system for the coming decades, one that will shape the retirement landscape benefitting our retirees for generations to come. In developing key proposals, my Department will conduct a period of consultation with relevant stakeholders including interest groups, representative bodies and the Oireachtas.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
60. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she is satisfied that the introduction of the public services card will adhere to the highest standard of data protection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39618/17]
View answerSection 263 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended) provides for the data items that can be inscribed on the face or encoded on the chip of the Public Services Card. That data is part of the Public Service Identity (PSI) dataset as set out in section 262 of the Act. The PSI data set is stored in enterprise class databases maintained in my Department’s secure datacentres. My Department is committed to ensuring that customers’ personal data is securely held and used only for business purposes. Accordingly, access to the dataset is restricted to those members of staff who have a business need to reference the data and all accesses to the data are logged. All members of staff must, on an annual basis, sign undertakings that they have read, and will act in accordance with, data protection policies and guidelines. Failure to comply with these simple rules could leave them exposed to potentially serious allegations. Where such allegations are substantiated, staff could face disciplinary action (including possible dismissal) and potential legal action including possible claim for compensation for distress/damage caused to the customer. My Department ensures oversight in relation to data protection by keeping records of data accesses which are then subject to audit. Twenty eight security audits have been undertaken within the last five years, twenty two of these are completed, and six are in progress. Three Penetration tests, two Privacy Impact Assessments, and a Risk Assessment of the Information Systems environment were also carried out during this timeframe. The PSI data set is also stored by the Department of Public Enterprise and Reform as part of the Single Customer View. This system brings identity data together from a number of public bodies. The Single Customer View database is stored in a secure Government data centre. Access to the data is tightly controlled and restricted to the Government network. All data access is logged and regularly audited.
The PSC is produced in Ireland by an Irish-registered company called BCS. It was a condition of the award of contract that all data and related services provision and operation be provided on-site in Ireland and subject to the jurisdiction of the Irish courts. Once PSCs are personalised (i.e., the data is put on the card), the data used to so personalise them is not retained by BCS but is destroyed as an automatic part of the personalisation process in accordance with advice provided by the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner. In addition the systems used in the card production have been subjected to audit by external experts.
The Public Services Card itself has multiple protection mechanisms, all of the highest current international standards, to prevent and detect tampering with the physical card and its contents. As well as some hidden security features, there are visual measures such as the overall graphical design, branding, microprinting, the use of optical variable ink and a kinegram.
In addition, a PSC and a card reader communicate with each other by cryptographic means. Only card readers specifically programmed to accept PSCs can undertake this functionality.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
62. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will disregard means testing of maintenance payments with rent allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39684/17]
View answer64. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which her attention has been drawn to the serious dependency on rent support from her Department for persons on lower incomes from employment or social welfare, with particular reference to the need to ensure that the issues of homelessness are not exacerbated by reference to use of legislation or guidelines more applicable to a time when housing was not an issue; if she will pay particular attention to reduction or cessation of rent support which may have resulted in homelessness in the course of the past year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39647/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 64 together.
Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme currently supporting 38,600 recipients at a cost of €253 million in 2017.
I can assure the deputies every effort is made by my Department so that rent supplement tenants can remain in their homes. In view of the on-going rental market difficulties, my Department implements a targeted case-by-case policy approach that allows for flexibility where landlords seek rents in excess of the rent limits.
In addition, the Protocol arrangement in place with Threshold is operational in the areas where supply issues are particularly acute covering Kildare, Dublin, Cork, Meath, Wicklow and Galway City. To date in 2017, in excess of 1,370 recipients have been supported with increased rent payments.
Continued entitlement to rent supplement may be reviewed following a decision to suspend or disallow a primary social welfare payment as there may be a change to the claimant’s circumstances that could affect eligibility. Any person in this situation is encouraged to contact the Department’s office responsible for their rent supplement claim to discuss their situation, if there is a specific risk of homelessness this should be communicated at the earliest opportunity so that continued eligibility can be determined without delay.
Rent supplement is a statutory means tested scheme, payable at differentiated rates of payment according to the applicant’s means and accommodation requirements, and is normally calculated to ensure that a person, after the payment of rent, has an income equal to the rate of supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) appropriate to their family circumstances, less a weekly minimum contribution which recipients are required to pay from their own resources. For rent supplement, maintenance payments of up to €95.23 per week are assessable on the basis that vouched accommodation costs of up to this amount are disregarded in the assessment of weekly social assistance payments such as jobseeker’s allowance and one-parent family payment.
Any changes to the rent supplement scheme can only be considered in a budgetary context and within the scope of the overall resources available for welfare improvements.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputies.
