Written Answers Nos. 382-394
382. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) who was approved as qualified for disability allowance was subsequently disqualified. [44576/17]
View answerThe application for disability allowance (DA) from this lady was disallowed by a deciding officer (DO) who decided that she did not satisfy the medical conditions for the scheme.
This decision was appealed to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). The decision of the Appeals Officer deemed the person medically suitable for the scheme.
Subsequently the file was forwarded to the Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) for a means assessment. Based on the information provided to my Department, the person in question was deemed to have means in excess of the statutory limit for her circumstances. Notification of this decision issued on 19 September 2017.
The person in question has lodged an appeal with the SWAO and all the relevant papers requested by that Office recently were submitted by my Department. The SWAO will be in touch with the person in due course in relation to the progress of the appeal.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
383. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when persons with PRSI contributions will be entitled to avail of the previously announced free dental scale and polish treatments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44584/17]
View answerI am pleased to confirm that the changes to the dental benefit scheme will come into effect from 28 October 2017.
From that date the dental benefit scheme will provide for a payment towards either a scale and polish or, if clinically necessary, protracted periodontal treatment; in addition to the existing free dental exam. If the normal fee charged by the individual dental clinic for a scale and polish is €42 or less, the treatment will be free to the customer. However, if the normal fee is over €42, the customer will pay the balance up to a maximum amount of €15. The Department will make a payment of €42 in relation to protracted periodontal treatment, with the customer responsible for the balance of any fee over this amount. The dental exam and treatments outlined above will be available once per calendar year.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
384. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) dealing with Turas Nua cannot accept an offer of employment from north Tipperary Leader partnership in view of the fact they are on a job programme with Turas Nua; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44618/17]
View answerJobPath is one of a range of activation supports, including schemes such as Community Employment (CE) and Tús, catering for long-term unemployed jobseekers. Referral to JobPath is by random selection and is generally for a 52-week period. Jobseekers who are already participating with the JobPath service will not be referred to Tús as they can only participate with one activation scheme or service at a time. This allows the scheme and service providers sufficient time to work with the participants in order to develop their skills and competencies to pursue suitable job opportunities which may result in sustainable employment and also to ensure that the best use is made of the available places on all activation supports.
Where a Jobseeker has been referred to the JobPath programme, placement on CE, Tús or Gateway will only be permitted if there is written confirmation of an offer that predates the JobPath referral date and an agreed start date on the work scheme within four weeks of the JobPath referral date.
The person concerned was referred to the JobPath programme on 12 August 2017; was subsequently offered a place on the Tipperary Leader Partnership Tús programme on 23 August 2017 with a confirmed start date of 18 September 2017. As this offer did not pre-date the JobPath referral and the start date was not within four weeks of the referral, the offer does not meet the specific criteria required to allow them to take up this placement.
While Tús schemes provide long-term unemployed people with part-time experience as a stepping stone back to employment, they are not full-time sustainable jobs. Participation on a Tús scheme remains an option for Jobseekers if they continue to be unemployed at the end of their engagement with the JobPath service.
Participants with JobPath receive intensive individual support to help overcome barriers to employment and to find jobs. Each person is assigned a personal advisor who assesses their skills, experience, challenges and work goals and agrees a “personal progression plan” that includes a schedule of activities, including relevant training and educational programmes to assist them in finding full-time sustainable employment. There are no barriers to any participants pursuing training, including further education and training courses, providing they are relevant to the agreed personal progression plan.
I am confident that the person concerned will derive benefit from participation and would encourage them to continue to engage with the JobPath service to ensure progress on their journey back to full time employment.
I hope this clarifies matters.
385. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to change the criteria around the new working family payment; if the criteria will remain the same as it was under family income supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44635/17]
View answerThe qualification criteria for the new Working Family Payment (WFP) will remain the same as the current qualifying criteria under Family Income Supplement (FIS).
The Department’s approach to developing the Working Family Payment was guided by two principles. First, that it should ensure that work pays, and second, that it should have a positive effect on reducing child poverty. To advance the commitment contained in the Programme for Partnership Government, the Department established an internal working group and an Inter-Departmental Group of the relevant Government Departments to consider proposals.
As part of this process the Department carried out an extensive analysis of its existing range of supports that are aimed at assisting individuals to take up employment. The analysis showed the existing in-work supports are very 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, at 5.8%, is significantly below the EU 28 average of 11.2%. This is in large part due to the Department’s in-work supports such as Family Income Supplement and the Back to Work Family Dividend.
Consequently, the analysis carried out by the working group did not support the need for the establishment of a new scheme. In the context of Budget 2018 it was decided to re-designate the FIS scheme as the Working Family Payment, which will bring it more visibility as a payment aimed specifically at working families. The new name better reflects the nature of the payment and the Department would encourage families to look into seeing if they are eligible for the payment.
Given all of the above there are no plans to change the qualification criteria around the Working Family Payment.
386. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the work carried out by her Department in respect of the new youth employment support scheme for young jobseekers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44636/17]
View answerThe Youth Employment Support Scheme (YESS) is a new work experience programme targeted at young jobseekers who are long-term unemployed or who face significant barriers to gaining employment – people who even during the Celtic Tiger years would have found it difficult to get a foothold on the career ladder. The programme aims to provide them with the opportunity to learn basic work and social skills in a supportive environment while on a work placement.
YESS will be open to people aged between 18 and 24 who have been out of work and in receipt of a qualifying payment for at least 12 months or, if unemployed for less than 12 months, are considered by a case worker to face a significant barrier to work.
Candidates must be in receipt of one of the following qualifying payments: Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobseeker's Benefit, One Parent Family Payment, Jobseeker Transition Payment, Disability Allowance, Blind Person’s Pension, Supplementary Welfare Allowance; or signing for Credits.
Although people will be encouraged and supported to avail of suitable placements, participation on YESS will be entirely voluntary – there will be no financial penalties for jobseekers who do not wish to participate or who do not complete a placement.
There will be clear eligibility requirements for Host Organisations wishing to participate in the programme. They will be required to sign up to Terms and Conditions when they advertise a placement.
The standard duration of the work experience programme will be three months, with an option to extend the placement further to six or nine months following a review of progress by a Departmental case worker. The attendance requirement will be 30 hours per week. Participants will receive a weekly payment equivalent to the net minimum wage which represents a very significant increase on their underlying payment.
A designated case worker will liaise with the participant and the Host Organisation throughout the period of the placement, to monitor how well it is progressing for both parties and to provide appropriate advice and support.
Clearly defined learning and development outcomes for each placement will be identified, with a focus on ‘soft’ (employability) skills as well as any specific ‘hard’ skills that will be acquired and/or demonstrated during the placement. The Host Organisation will complete an assessment for the participant at the end of the placement.
Host Organisations will be encouraged to hire participants who have performed well (i.e. offer them paid employment) and will qualify for a financial subsidy under JobsPlus Youth.
Significant work has been undertaken by my Department in the development and design of the new scheme, including discussions with key stakeholders, and operational details are currently being finalised.
It is proposed to introduce YESS in Quarter 2, 2018 as it will take some time to promote the new scheme to employers and participants. A dedicated budget of €1 million has been allocated for 2018. The full-year cost of the scheme is expected to be €7.5 million, catering for up to 1,600 participants.
387. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if those in receipt of the non-contributory State pension will receive the full €5 increase in March 2018. [44637/17]
View answerI was pleased to announce on Budget Day that the maximum rates of all primary weekly social welfare rates will increase by €5 per week from the end of March 2018, with proportionate increases for qualified adults and those on reduced rates of payment. This includes the State Pension Non-Contributory, the personal rate for which will increase by €5 for all recipients from €227.00 to €232.00 per week.
Recipients of the State Pension Non-Contributory may also benefit from the extension of the Fuel Allowance season by one week to 27 weeks.
State Pension Non-Contributory recipients who are in receipt of both the Living Alone Increase and the Fuel Allowance will also benefit from the new Telephone Support Allowance, which will be introduced in June 2018. This new allowance of €2.50 per week will be paid automatically to eligible recipients.
388. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to extend new provisions announced for mothers of premature babies to mothers who were on leave having had their baby prematurely prior to the commencement date of 1 October 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44638/17]
View answerOn 3 October 2017 I, together with my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Charles Flanagan, announced increased maternity leave and maternity benefit for mothers whose babies are born prematurely.
Under the new arrangements, in addition to the current 26 weeks of paid maternity leave a mother will be entitled to an additional period of maternity leave and benefit where her baby is born prematurely, where she meets the ordinary qualifying criteria for the schemes. The additional period will commence at the end of the standard 26 week period of paid maternity leave. The extended period to be added will be the number of weeks from the baby's actual date of birth up to two weeks before the expected date of confinement which would have been the 37th week of the pregnancy, at which point the current entitlement to 26 weeks leave and benefit would normally begin.
The Government decided that the additional maternity leave and benefit would be available for mothers of premature babies born on or after 1 October 2017 and my Department is now working to make sure the necessary arrangements are put in place to meet that deadline. There are no plans to extend the new arrangements to mothers of premature babies born before that date.
389. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the €54 million announced in budget 2018 for the school meals programme will enable schools to be able to provide school meals for the entire school year from September to June; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44639/17]
View answerThe school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to schools and organisations at a total cost of some €47.5 million in 2017. As part of Budget 2017, the funding for the scheme was substantially increased by an additional €5.5 million which is benefitting up to 50,000 additional children from September 2017, bringing the total number of schools in the scheme to some 1,700 and the number of children supported up to 250,000.
As part of Budget 2018, funding for the scheme was substantially increased again by an additional €6.5 million (representing 13% over the 2017 allocation) which will benefit a further 18,400 children from September 2018.
The scheme provides funding for a breakfast for all children and lunch for up to 90% of children in DEIS schools for the entire school year from September to June. For the first time in many years, breakfasts are also now available to some schools outside DEIS. Schools are notified in writing of their allocation at the beginning of the academic year.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
390. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the actions her Department is taking in response to a report (details supplied) into the impact that changes to the one-parent family payment have had on lone parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44640/17]
View answerI have received the review referred to by the Deputy, which assessed the financial and social effects of the One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) changes, taking into account the effects on welfare dependency and the poverty rates of those affected. I welcome a number of positive findings in the Review:
- The policy changes introduced have been successful in increasing employment and in reducing welfare dependency – the reforms increased the probability of both employment and of higher employment income.
- Responses to the survey showed that the percentage of lone parents in full-time employment increased from 15% to 22%.
- Welfare dependency rates fell in the year after One-parent Family Payment was lost, and continued to fall in subsequent years.
I believe these findings indicate the broad policy intentions of the changes are having positive results and making real changes to the lives of lone parents, where they have been able to transition into employment.
I acknowledge, however, that the review has also raised a number of matters of concern:
- Many of those who lost the One-parent Family Payment remain unemployed, or are in low paid or part-time employment,
- The balance of evidence indicates that there is an increased probability of being at risk of poverty as a result of the changes,
- Further supports, aimed at assisting lone parents to obtain full-time employment or increased hours of work, need to be put in place.
The impacts on lone parents arose from the combination of the policy changes to the scheme, and from the imposition, simultaneously, of the financial cuts imposed to welfare schemes across the board, arising out of the economic downturn. I, and my predecessors, have already taken action in recent Budgets to improve the position of lone parents, for example by progressively increasing the income disregard for those on Jobseeker's Transition (JST) from a low of €60 a week to €110 euro a week, and by targeting improved, tailored activation measures towards this group, to assist them into training and employment.
Budget 2018 builds further on recent Budgets and the following measures will specifically benefit lone parents:
- Income disregard for parents getting OFP and JST to be increased from €110 a week to €130 a week with effect from 29 March 2018;
- The Increase for a Qualified Child (IQC) rate to be increased from €29.80 a week to €31.80 a week with effect from 29 March 2018;
A number of other budgetary measures will also benefit lone parents, including the €5 rate increase, the additional week to the fuel allowance and the Christmas bonus of 85% to be paid in early December.
On foot of the measures for lone parents contained in Budget 2018, a lone parent on OFP or the JST working 15 hours at the national minimum wage will see an increase in their overall income of over €19 per week (or €1,000 per annum) from approximately €347 in 2017 to €366 in 2018.
A lone parent on OFP working 15 hours at the national minimum wage will see an increase in their overall income of €19 per week (or €1,000 per annum), or approximately 5 to 5.5%, based on a combination of the increase in the National Minimum Wage, the increase to the income disregards on OFP and JST, the rate increase of €5 per week and the IQC increase of €2 a week.
Lone parents who choose to participate in education can continue to receive support from the Department either through the retention of their primary payment or Family Income Supplement or they can transfer to the Back to Education Allowance. Furthermore, to support lone parents participate in education, SUSI grants (both maintenance and fee grants) are payable concurrently with One-parent Family Payment and Jobseeker's Transition. Therefore a lone parent can participate in education and receive the dual support of the One-parent Family Payment or Jobseeker's Transition and the SUSI maintenance grants. Where the lone parent is on Jobseeker's Allowance they can, should they wish to participate in education, transfer to the Back to Education programme.
The additional childcare supports coming on-stream will also be of particular benefit to lone parents.
I consider that these measures are a step in the right direction, and I am working to ensure that there is no loss in the momentum to enhance the support for lone parents. The Review points to the need to intensify both the engagement with lone parents as they move off One-parent Family Payment, and the activation supports available, and I have requested my officials to prioritise this.
The Department’s employment services provide a case-managed approach to assist lone parents to avail of various opportunities within an ever-improving labour market. This case-managed approach will be developed further, specifically to offer more tailored and holistic progression plans for lone parents that better reflect their individual circumstances.
The move to more tailored progressions plans for lone parents will incorporate supports to access the child care, education and training and other appropriate supports that they require to, in turn, access the labour market. These changes should help to improve the living standards of, and reduce the risk of poverty faced by, lone parents.
I intend to continue to prioritise supports for lone parents, particularly those which incentivise work over welfare. I intend also to provide for the further review of the scheme. As there is a time lag before the benefits of labour market reforms appear I anticipate that this review will include data to the end of 2018.
391. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a date will be assigned by a medical assessor to meet a person (details supplied) who applied for invalidity pension in May 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44658/17]
View answerInvalidity Pension applications are medically assessed at desk, and not in person, by one of the Department’s team of Medical Assessors, based on medical reports/medical evidence and in accordance with evidence-based protocols.
The customer’s application for Invalidity Pension was medically assessed by a Medical Assessor in the Department on 19 October 2017. The medical opinion has been conveyed to a Deciding Officer in Invalidity Section who will notify the customer of the decision in due course.
392. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is receiving the maximum rate qualified adult allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44785/17]
View answerIncrease for qualified adult is a means-tested payment, based on the means of the person’s dependent spouse or partner. In addition to the age and means of the qualified adult claimed for, the rate payable is also directly linked to the weekly rate of State pension (contributory) entitlement of the claimant.
The person concerned is in receipt of reduced rate of State pension (contributory), as they have a yearly average of 19. As the rate of increase for qualified adult payable is commensurate with this weekly rate of pension entitlement, the person is receiving the correct rate of increase for their qualified adult. The person concerned is also in receipt of an over aged 80 weekly increase as part of their pension payment.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
393. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the statement of the former Secretary General of her Department addressing the Committee of Public Accounts on 28 May 2015 to the effect that changes to the future corporate governance arrangements for Citizens Information Services and MABS had not at that stage been considered by the Citizens Information Board, CIB; if she can reconcile this with her own recent statement in Dáil Éireann on 11 July 2017 (details supplied) that the board had decided the matter in November 2014; if she will report on whether her Department was consulted by the CIB on the corporate governance model for Citizens Information Services and MABS; if so, if she will publish her Department's contribution to the discussion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44795/17]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the statutory body responsible for providing information, advice (including money and budgeting advice service) and advocacy services on a wide range of public and social services. CIB delivers on this remit through a network of delivery partners, which includes 42 local Citizens Information Services (CIS) and 51 local Money Advice and Budgeting Services (MABS). In 2017, CIB is set to receive State funding of €54 million, of which €15 million is allocated to CIS services, and €24 million is allocated to the network of MABS services.
Successive CIB Strategic Plans have over the past number of years set out the need and intention of the Board to change structures and processes to enable more efficient use of resources, which are entirely publicly funded.
There is no inconsistency or conflict between information provided in the House by me and to the Committee of Public Accounts by the former Secretary General of the Department. The decision by the Board of CIB to restructure its delivery partners was done in three phases. The first phase was when the Board decided in late 2014 that change was needed in the structure of delivery partner companies. It did not, at that time, decide on the precise new structure. Rather, it agreed that a Design Group be tasked with presenting options on new organisational models for its consideration. When the former Secretary General met with the Committee of Public Accounts in May 2015, she advised it that the streamlining of governance arrangements was firmly on the agenda of the Board of CIB; that work was underway on identifying a new governance model; that options were identified in the Pathfinder report; and that more work needed to be done before a decision on the new structure would be made by the Board. The second phase was when the Board of CIB decided in October 2016, following the work of the Design Group, to proceed to restructure its governance arrangements on a regional model basis. Finally, the third phase was in February of this year when the Board decided that the regional company model should comprise 16 companies across eight regions, comprising eight CIS companies and eight MABS companies.
My Department was informed of incremental progression of the CIB process at relevant stages, but did not participate in the Board’s deliberative process of selecting its preferred corporate governance model for CIS and MABS networks.
As a statutory body, the Board has the sole right to make decisions on its day to day operations as it sees fit. The decision taken by the Board of CIB comes after a lengthy period of consultation and detailed consideration of options and views put forward at all stages.
The membership of the Board of CIB, which comprises experienced and competent individuals representative of a broad spectrum of interests and which includes representatives of the Citizens Information Service and Money Advice and Budgeting Service, has made this decision in the best interests of the citizens, whom the Board serves.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
394. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) signed up with Turas Nua cannot avail of funding to undertake a course that will help him or her to establish his or her own business; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44808/17]
View answerPeople engaged with the JobPath service receive intensive individual support to help overcome barriers on their journey back to full time sustainable work. Each person is assigned a personal adviser who assesses their skills, experience, challenges and work goals and agrees a personal progress plan (PPP) that includes a schedule of activities, including relevant training and educational programmes. There are no barriers to any participants pursuing training, including further education and training courses, providing they are relevant to the agreed PPP. Any jobseeker with the JobPath service who wishes to start their own business is eligible to apply for a Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) and they will be advised by their personal advisor to contact their local Intreo centre where additional related support and advice is available from an Intreo Case Officer and the local development company if appropriate.
For people who do not qualify for the BTWEA, the JobPath companies may provide the relevant support and training either in house or with an external training provider.
The provision of funding for such courses is determined on a case-by-case basis by all the activation services including the JobPath providers. A customer may receive financial assistance for job-related training should they demonstrate that it will lead to sustainable employment. In the case of the customer concerned, the training identified was not critical to her application for the BTWEA or her business start-up and therefore the funding was not approved.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
