Written Answers Nos. 1175-1203
1175. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45662/17]
View answerI confirm that my Department received an application for carer's allowance from the person concerned on 4 September 2017.
The application was awarded to the person concerned on 1 November 2017 and the first payment will issue to her nominated bank account on 9 November 2017.
Arrears of allowance due from 7 September 2017 to 8 November 2017 will also issue.
The person concerned was notified on 1 November 2017 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy .
1176. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the arrangement between her Department, JobPath, a company (details supplied) and Turas Nua; the mandate that these companies have regarding jobseekers; the details of the contracts with these companies; if there is a pay by result remuneration for each jobseeker that gains employment through the scheme, if so, their salary and the reason it is required that jobseekers must sign a contract with these private companies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45663/17]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, JobPath is a service that supports people who are long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. My Department has contracted two companies, Turas Nua Limited and Seetec Limited, to deliver JobPath services. The contracts are for six years comprising two consecutive phases, (phase one entails four years of client referrals while phase two entails a ‘run off’ period during which time no additional clients will be referred).
JobPath is a payment by results model with all costs are borne by the companies. JobPath is so structured that the contractors cannot recover their costs unless and until they assist jobseekers in securing sustainable jobs. Contractors are paid an initial registration fee and thereafter only receive a payment for periods of sustained full time paid employment up to a maximum of four payments i.e. at 13, 26, 39 and 52 weeks.
It is not intended to publish the individual fees agreed with the contractors as these are commercially sensitive and to do so would place the State at a disadvantage both in terms of the contracts now in place and any future procurement that may be undertaken.
Any person in receipt of a Jobseekers payment must satisfy the conditions of being available for and genuinely seeking employment, as provided in the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005 as amended. They are also required to engage with my Department’s activation service and this obligation applies irrespective of whether the service is provided by my Department’s own case officers or those advisors employed by contracted service providers; such as companies delivering the Local Employment Service and JobPath services.
Participants with the JobPath service are not required to sign a contract with the JobPath companies but they are in the same manner as all customers referred to any the Department’s activation services requested to agree and sign a personal progression plan (PPP). The PPP which is a joint agreement between the customer and their personal adviser, is an integral part of the activation process. The PPP includes an agreed schedule of job-focused activities, actions and targets, personalised to take account of the person’s specific qualifications and employment preferences. The contents of the PPP may change during the person’s engagement with the service as they develop new skills or experience which may broaden their employment preferences.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1177. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of staff by grade in the scope section of her Department; the details of these figures on a yearly basis in each of the years 2008 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45668/17]
View answerMy Department, like all Government departments and agencies is required to operate within a staff ceiling figure and a commensurate administrative staffing budget, which for this Department has involved reductions in staff.
The staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continuously reviewed, taking account of workloads, management priorities and the ongoing need to respond to new increasing demands in a wide range of services. This is to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources with a view to providing an efficient service to those who rely on the schemes operated by the Department.
The below table provides a breakdown by grade of the permanent staff (FTE) working in the Scope Section from 2008 to the end of September 2017.
|
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
Sep-17 |
|
|
Principal |
1.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
Assistant Principal |
1.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
1.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
0.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
Executive Officer |
4.00 |
5.00 |
4.80 |
4.80 |
4.80 |
4.00 |
4.00 |
4.00 |
4.00 |
4.80 |
|
Staff Officer |
1.00 |
1.00 |
0.80 |
0.80 |
0.80 |
0.80 |
0.80 |
0.80 |
0.80 |
0.00 |
|
Clerical Officer |
2.60 |
2.60 |
2.80 |
2.80 |
2.80 |
2.80 |
2.80 |
2.80 |
2.60 |
2.60 |
|
Total |
10.60 |
11.60 |
11.40 |
11.40 |
11.40 |
9.60 |
10.60 |
10.60 |
10.40 |
10.40 |
*Staff Officer grade amalgamated with Executive Officer grade in 2017.
(The Principal and Assistant Principal of the Scope Section also have responsibility for other business areas in the Department)
1178. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the timeframe for processing of claims relating to self-employment by scope section from submission of a claim to the issue of a determination; and the median time for processing of claims relating to self-employment from submission of a claim to the issue of a determination; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45670/17]
View answerThe Scope insurability section in my Department makes statutory decisions on the insurability of employment under the Social Welfare Acts. Employers, employees or the self-employed, may apply, where there is doubt, to have an employment or self-employment status investigated and the correct class of pay-related social insurance (PRSI) determined.
In 2016, the Department made 1,031 insurability decisions across three broad categories:
- working directors (including self-employed),
- family employment, and
- miscellaneous (including public servants, office holders and subsidiary employments).
The processing time for decisions, including decisions relating to self-employment, varies considerably depending on the complexity of the case. Straightforward cases may be processed in 2-3 weeks. Complex cases, particularly where there is a conflict of view between a worker and an employer, may take considerably longer, as both parties will have to be interviewed by social welfare inspectors and legal advice may be sought. The average length of time for complex cases is 13 weeks.
1179. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a person, (details supplied) will receive arrears of a disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45680/17]
View answerThis gentleman was in receipt of another social welfare payment, or an increase was paid to another for his benefit, during the period 21 June 2017 to 26 September 2017. Consequently, the amount of social welfare already paid required calculation and was deducted from any arrears due.
This process was completed by my department as quickly as possible. Disability allowance arrears issued to the person in question on 03 November 2017.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1180. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount of contributory State pension being paid to persons (details supplied); and the date in each case on which the pensions commenced. [45708/17]
View answerState pension (contributory) is in payment to the person concerned since 28 September 2006, upon transfer from state pension (transition). All state pension (transition) customers aged over 66 were automatically transferred to state pension (contributory) from this date. The person’s state pension (transition) had been in payment at the maximum rate from 12 February 1998, the Thursday following the customer’s 65th birthday.
The person concerned is in receipt of maximum weekly rate of state pension (contributory) payable, together with an over-80 increase of €10 per week payable since their 80th birthday.
The person concerned is also in receipt of a means tested increase for qualified adult on their state pension (contributory) in respect of their spouse. An increase for qualified adult had also been in payment on their state pension (transition) since 12 February 1998. The increase for qualified adult rate in payment is the maximum weekly rate payable, as the spouse of the person concerned is over 66 years of age, and their means have been assessed as nil. Any change in the qualified adult’s means should be notified to the Department in a timely manner.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1181. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason changes were made to the guidelines on exceptional needs payments whereby the legislation refers to exceptional need while her Department focuses on a need which is exceptional but also unforeseen; if the latter condition is mentioned in primary legislation or statutory instruments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45734/17]
View answer1278. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which community welfare services are readily available to meet the needs of those in society that may ordinarily have had no reason to call on the social services but that may due to circumstances outside their control have to rely on exceptional needs payments in order to get by in a crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47111/17]
View answer1282. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if provision will be made whereby emergency payments are made available in cases of extreme hardship by way of an exceptional needs payment or otherwise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47115/17]
View answer1290. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications for exceptional needs payments received by her Department in each of the past 12 months to date in 2017; the number approved, refused and pending, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47123/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1181, 1278, 1282 and 1290 together.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off and unforeseen expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. The Government has provided €31.5 million for exceptional and urgent needs payments in 2017.
The ENP scheme is demand led and provides assistance to those with exceptional needs taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
ENPs are provided for in Section 201 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005, as amended, which states that “a designated person or deciding officer may, in any case where the designated person or deciding officer considers it reasonable, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, so to do, determine or decide that supplementary welfare allowance shall be paid to a person by way of a single payment to meet an exceptional need.”
The legislation does not confer a statutory right or entitlement to ENPs. The principle consideration in making a payment under the ENP scheme is to address a particular once-off and exceptional need which is not of an expected or recurring nature and is therefore unforeseen.
The guidelines issued to staff administering the scheme assist them in the decision making process. However, they do not affect the discretion available to officers in issuing an ENP to assist an individual or household in any particular hardship situation which may arise. Any person who considers that they have an entitlement to an ENP should contact my Department.
The Deputies will be aware that my Department has re-engineered its business model to support the provision of integrated services across all business streams involved in the delivery of localised services. As part of this strategy, the Department is engaged in the delivery of integrated Intreo centres, which provide a full range of services, including the Community Welfare Service (CWS), generally available in one location.
People claiming supports under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme generally only interact with the Department on an occasional basis, for example, when seeking an exceptional needs payment or in claiming additional supports such as rent supplement, which are usually reviewed once to twice yearly. The availability of the CWS during normal office hours is therefore sufficient for general day to day requirements. In the event of emergency situations such as that in response to severe flooding, emergency clinics are established as required.
Statistics are maintained relating to payments under the ENP scheme, however they are not maintained on the number of applications or the outcome of those applications. The number of ENPs made on a monthly basis in each of the past twelve months to date is contained in the attached tabular statement. For reporting purposes this data includes numbers of urgent needs payments (UNP). A UNP is a once-off payment made to persons who would not normally qualify for SWA but who have an urgent need which they cannot meet from their own resources or an alternative is not available at that time.
I can assure the Deputies that the ENP scheme is kept under review to ensure that it continues to support those most in need of assistance. I trust this clarifies the matter.
Tabular Statement
Number of Exceptional Needs Payments and Urgent Needs Payments in each month for the past twelve months to date:
|
Month |
Number of Payments (Rounded) |
|
November 2016 |
9,400 |
|
December 2016 |
9,100 |
|
January 2017 |
7,700 |
|
February 2017 |
8,500 |
|
March 2017 |
9,200 |
|
April 2017 |
7,600 |
|
May 2017 |
9,000 |
|
June 2017 |
8,300 |
|
July 2017 |
8,000 |
|
August 2017 |
8,900 |
|
September 2017 |
8,900 |
|
October 2017 |
8,800 |
1182. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision on an application by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry for carer's benefit will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45764/17]
View answerI confirm that my Department received an application for carer's benefit from the person concerned on 31 August 2017.
The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1183. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if concerns have been raised with her office in regard to working conditions at a company (details supplied) contracted for security services by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45766/17]
View answerNo concerns have been raised with my Department in relation to the non-payment of holiday pay or breaches of the Organisation of Working Time Act by the SAR group.
SAR Group are obliged under their contract with my Department to comply with all Legislative requirements including the Organisation of Working Time Act.
My Department is aware that SAR Group underwent a WRC inspection last year. During the inspection SAR Group requested guidance and clarity from the WRC in relation to bank holiday payments under The Organisation of Working Time Act. Some discrepancies in the area of payments for bank holiday were discovered during the inspection. These resulted in back pay being required in some cases. SAR Group have confirmed to my Department that all of this back pay has been paid in full.
1184. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a new rule has been issued which requires persons designated by pensioners to collect pensions from post offices to produce a public services card as identification; the basis for this requirement; the reason personal data from the card is entered into An Post computers; the use to which the data is put; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45774/17]
View answer1225. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department has obliged An Post to request the public services card from welfare recipients when collecting payments; if her Department obliges An Post to request the production of identification from welfare recipients when collecting payments; if so, the identification documents which are accepted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46234/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1184 and 1225 together.
The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection operates its contract for cash payment services with An Post. The Department and An Post agreed a protocol in 2014 governing the forms of identification which claimants, or their agents, must produce in order to collect payments. There has been no change in this agreed protocol or in the forms of identification required of claimants to collect their social welfare payments.
Social welfare claimants must present one of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection payment cards when collecting payments. These cards are; the Public Services Card, the Social Services Card and the Temporary Payment Card.
The Public Services Card, or PSC, is an identity token, issued by the Department, following a face to face registration process which involves the capture of an individual’s photograph and signature plus the verification of identity data already held by the Department. No other identification is required of clients when a PSC is presented.
The Social Services Card, or SSC, is a payment token, used to collect DSP payments. The token is issued to claimants who have not yet been registered for and received a PSC. If presenting for payment with an SSC, a person must also provide additional identification. Ideally this should photographic. Acceptable forms of photographic ID are:
- Current Passport (For Irish and UK passport holders, a passport which has expired within the previous 12 months is acceptable)
- Current (in date) National ID card for EU citizens other than Ireland or UK
- Current (in date) Irish or UK Drivers Licence or Irish Driver Learner Permit
- Current (in date) Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) Card
- Emergency Photo ID produced by the Department.
If a claimant holds an SSC but does not have appropriate photographic ID then the following documents are acceptable:
- Medical Card and Proof of Address
- Bank Card and Proof of Address
- Recent work ID and Proof of Address
- Recent communication from Public Service body or Local Authority and Proof of Address
If a customer holds an SSC but is unable to present either acceptable Photo ID or alternative ID, An Post may make payment based on the personal validation of the Post Office staff on the basis that the customer is known to them by sight and name.
Finally the Temporary Payment Card is a paper document issued by the Department for short-term use by a claimant pending receipt of a PSC or SSC. A temporary payment card is valid for a specific period. An Post may not accept the Temporary Payment Card without the additional forms of identification listed above for the SSC.
In addition to the identity requirements for claimants collecting in person, post offices are obliged to apply the following controls in respect of payments collected by authorised agents. These agents are of two types; temporary and permanent.
Payment should only be made to a temporary agent on presentation of the following:
- A Temporary Agent form (TA1) signed by the claimant authorising the agent to collect their payments.
- The claimant’s PSC, SSC or Temporary Card
- The Agent’s own photo ID. Acceptable forms of photo ID are the same as set out for SSC card.
The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection also obliges An Post to further validate the identity of the person presenting for payment by carrying out a PPSN or date of birth check against the payment data on the post office counter screen. The post office teller is also required to record the date and time of the transaction, the post office reference number, the customer details contained in the payment record, the payment scheme and amount plus the type of identification presented.
This data is necessary for the reconciliation of the An Post cashed payment records against the Department’s issued payment records. It is also essential in order to investigate cases of suspected fraud.
An Post have recently begun the roll out of an automated system to allow tellers to more easily record this data. While it might appear to the person across the counter that new data is being collected, in fact it is simply a more automated method to record the same payment transaction details that have been captured by post office tellers since the commencement of the current contract in 2014. Such procedures are vital in safeguarding public funds against misleading claims for payment and in successfully reconciling the approximately 35 million payments made at post office annually.
1185. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the process for persons to receive a copy of information encoded on their public services card. [45783/17]
View answerSection 263(2) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act, as amended, provides that “A person may, on request in that behalf to the Minister, obtain within 28 days of that request, where practicable, information which is electronically encoded on his or her Public Services Card”.
Such a request should be sent to:
Card Management Section,
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection,
Shannon Lodge,
Carrick-on-Shannon,
Co. Leitrim
N41 KD81
The identity of the person making the request must be verified before data will be provided. The data may be provided either electronically or in paper format as preferred by the person requesting the data.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1186. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an appeal for disability allowance by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45788/17]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the disability allowance appeal of the person concerned was assigned to an Appeals Officer for consideration. However, following receipt of additional information the Appeals Officer referred the case to a Social Welfare Inspector for further investigation of the means of the person concerned.
Following these investigations the appeal is now back with the Appeals Officer who has decided to convene an oral hearing of this case.
Every effort will be made to hear the case as quickly as possible and the person concerned will be informed when arrangements for the oral hearing have been made.
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.
1189. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the PRSI on non-PAYE earnings of employed persons has been deemed as a new class K9 rather than class S which would qualify the persons for some benefits including maternity benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45822/17]
View answerAll workers pay PRSI on their earnings from employment or self-employment. In the case of individuals who more than one income source, PRSI is generally paid on all forms of income.
Prior to 2013, exemptions from PRSI applied to the self-employed income of specific groups. These exemptions have since been abolished.
In 2013, modified rate employees contributors (i.e. civil and public servants recruited prior to 1995) who also have earned self-employed income or unearned income over €5,000 became liable, for the first time, to pay PRSI on that income. This income is liable at the class K rate of 4% and recorded as K9. Entitlement to social insurance benefits does not accrue from the payment of this charge.
Since 2014, all employees (in the public and private sector) and occupational pensioners under 66 years, with unearned income only, are liable to pay Class K PRSI on that unearned income where it exceeds €5,000. Class K PRSI is charged at 4% and recorded as class K9 and does not give access to social insurance entitlements based on the payment of the charge. Prior to 2014 these employees were exempt from PRSI on such unearned income, which includes rental and investment income, dividends and interest on deposits. This provision applies to all employees, regardless of the PRSI class they pay on their employment income.
All workers pay PRSI on their earnings from employment. If an employee has income from self-employment e.g. taxi driver, farmer etc. he or she also pays PRSI as a self-employed contributor on the profits from, say, the taxi driving plus any other unearned income he or she might have e.g. rental income. The measure to charge class K PRSI on employees who were previously exempt was introduced to ensure equity by ensuring that PRSI is chargeable, regardless of the source of the employee’s additional income.
Employees paying class K PRSI on unearned income can generate entitlement to social insurance benefits based on PRSI they pay on their employment income. Class A employees with unearned income already have access to the full range of social insurance benefits, because of their PRSI class A status. Modified rate employees have access to a limited range of social insurance benefits but have entitlement to generous Exchequer-funded occupational pensions.
1190. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the processing time for payments (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45824/17]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the following table:
|
Number of Claims Pending and Average Time to Award by Scheme at 30 September 2017 |
|
|
Schemes |
Average time to award (weeks) |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
2 |
|
State Pension Contributory (Dom) |
4 |
|
Widow, Widower’s and Surviving Civil Partners Contributory Pension |
1 |
|
Widowed Parent Grant |
1 |
|
State Pension Non-Contributory |
13 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
19 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
15 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
10 |
|
Disability Allowance |
10 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
4 |
|
Illness Benefit |
1 |
1191. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications received in relation to the artist's social welfare pilot scheme; the number of persons in receipt of welfare payments in respect of the scheme; the number of applications refused; the reasons therefor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45833/17]
View answerThe jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker’s allowance schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative full-time employment. The 2017 Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseekers’ schemes of €2.5 billion.
It is accepted that periods of unemployment are a normal feature of the acting and artistic professions and people in these professions can qualify for a jobseeker’s payment when they are unemployed. The pilot initiative, which is a key commitment under the Creative Ireland Programme, assists self-employed visual artists and writers who apply to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection for jobseekers allowance.
Applicants must satisfy all of the usual qualifying conditions for jobseeker’s allowance. Under this new mechanism, the Department provides for the classification of self-employed professional artists and writers who are then not subject to the activation process for 12 months.
At the end of September 2017 there were 13 people in receipt of jobseeker allowance who have availed of the initiative. There are a number of reasons why any applicant might not qualify for jobseeker’s allowance, such as not satisfying the means test. It is not possible to identify the profession of those who applied for jobseeker’s allowance but who did not qualify for the scheme for whatever reason.
1192. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average time it takes for a domiciliary carer's allowance application to be processed; the number of applications that were processed in 2016 and to date in 2017; the number of applications awaiting a decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45835/17]
View answerThe Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers; this includes ensuring that applications are decided as quickly as possible.
A total of 7,434 applications for Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) were received in 2016. In 2017, to the end October, a total of 7,039 applications have been received, an increase of over 12.5% on the same period last year. The total number of new applications processed in 2016 was 6,703. By the end October 2017 some 6,849 applications have already been processed. There are currently 2,267 applications awaiting decision.
This ongoing increase in the number of applications received, together with the need to provide more detailed decision reasons in compliance with a High Court decision, has negatively impacted on the processing time for DCA applications since early 2017.
Reducing these waiting times is a priority for the Department and we are working hard to make this happen. A number of initiatives have been implemented and additional staff have been assigned to the section. This has led to a significant reduction in DCA processing times over recent months; reducing from an average of 21 weeks at the end of July 2017 to 17 weeks at the end of October 2017. It is projected that processing times will reduce further over the coming weeks, as recently assigned additional staff resources become more experienced.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1193. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons receiving jobseeker's allowance and jobseeker's benefit by age and gender in tabular form. [45838/17]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the following tables:
Recipients of Jobseeker’s Allowance and Jobseeker’s Benefit (including casual claimants) by age and sex at the end of September 2017
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
Jobseeker's Benefit |
|||||
|
Age |
Male |
Female |
Grand Total |
Male |
Female |
Grand Total |
|
18 |
1,007 |
792 |
1,799 |
|||
|
19 |
1,704 |
1,408 |
3,112 |
6 |
1 |
7 |
|
20 |
1,945 |
1,500 |
3,445 |
19 |
18 |
37 |
|
21 |
1,904 |
1,374 |
3,278 |
83 |
67 |
150 |
|
22 |
2,037 |
1,355 |
3,392 |
176 |
158 |
334 |
|
23 |
2,037 |
1,258 |
3,295 |
257 |
203 |
460 |
|
24 |
2,006 |
1,284 |
3,290 |
282 |
266 |
548 |
|
25 |
2,356 |
1,566 |
3,922 |
323 |
272 |
595 |
|
26 |
2,883 |
1,866 |
4,749 |
302 |
293 |
595 |
|
27 |
3,082 |
2,029 |
5,111 |
297 |
294 |
591 |
|
28 |
2,869 |
2,083 |
4,952 |
287 |
324 |
611 |
|
29 |
2,918 |
2,157 |
5,075 |
293 |
371 |
664 |
|
30 |
2,878 |
2,126 |
5,004 |
311 |
397 |
708 |
|
31 |
2,943 |
2,180 |
5,123 |
360 |
443 |
803 |
|
32 |
2,806 |
2,123 |
4,929 |
390 |
442 |
832 |
|
33 |
2,773 |
2,146 |
4,919 |
387 |
502 |
889 |
|
34 |
2,827 |
2,154 |
4,981 |
397 |
521 |
918 |
|
35 |
2,835 |
2,178 |
5,013 |
412 |
557 |
969 |
|
36 |
2,840 |
2,108 |
4,948 |
373 |
541 |
914 |
|
37 |
2,828 |
2,097 |
4,925 |
459 |
529 |
988 |
|
38 |
2,649 |
2,110 |
4,759 |
405 |
478 |
883 |
|
39 |
2,637 |
1,949 |
4,586 |
370 |
477 |
847 |
|
40 |
2,581 |
1,864 |
4,445 |
334 |
461 |
795 |
|
41 |
2,610 |
1,953 |
4,563 |
403 |
380 |
783 |
|
42 |
2,610 |
1,897 |
4,507 |
349 |
415 |
764 |
|
43 |
2,579 |
1,964 |
4,543 |
353 |
393 |
746 |
|
44 |
2,588 |
1,870 |
4,458 |
357 |
357 |
714 |
|
45 |
2,515 |
1,894 |
4,409 |
326 |
356 |
682 |
|
46 |
2,545 |
1,788 |
4,333 |
333 |
332 |
665 |
|
47 |
2,562 |
1,827 |
4,389 |
300 |
307 |
607 |
|
48 |
2,511 |
1,686 |
4,197 |
309 |
297 |
606 |
|
49 |
2,293 |
1,601 |
3,894 |
324 |
311 |
635 |
|
50 |
2,343 |
1,532 |
3,875 |
316 |
329 |
645 |
Recipients of Jobseeker’s Allowance and Jobseeker’s Benefit (including casual claimants) by age and sex at the end of September 2017
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
Jobseeker's Benefit |
|||||
|
Age |
Male |
Female |
Grand Total |
Male |
Female |
Grand Total |
|
51 |
2,299 |
1,435 |
3,734 |
252 |
309 |
561 |
|
52 |
2,249 |
1,334 |
3,583 |
255 |
313 |
568 |
|
53 |
2,188 |
1,345 |
3,533 |
291 |
290 |
581 |
|
54 |
2,196 |
1,256 |
3,452 |
247 |
320 |
567 |
|
55 |
2,092 |
1,126 |
3,218 |
229 |
263 |
492 |
|
56 |
1,963 |
1,062 |
3,025 |
233 |
299 |
532 |
|
57 |
1,768 |
1,057 |
2,825 |
246 |
272 |
518 |
|
58 |
1,773 |
962 |
2,735 |
271 |
263 |
534 |
|
59 |
1,749 |
927 |
2,676 |
249 |
281 |
530 |
|
60 |
1,695 |
823 |
2,518 |
309 |
339 |
648 |
|
61 |
1,633 |
767 |
2,400 |
256 |
240 |
496 |
|
62 |
1,783 |
828 |
2,611 |
272 |
254 |
526 |
|
63 |
1,987 |
885 |
2,872 |
245 |
265 |
510 |
|
64 |
2,135 |
892 |
3,027 |
230 |
251 |
481 |
|
65 |
1,954 |
805 |
2,759 |
1,261 |
1,436 |
2,697 |
|
66 |
29 |
15 |
44 |
30 |
32 |
62 |
|
Grand Total |
111,994 |
75,238 |
187,232 |
14,769 |
16,519 |
31,288 |
1194. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the work that has been done to date by her Department on the proposed total contributions approach for the State pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45839/17]
View answerIt is my intention to introduce a Total Contributions Approach to the calculation of the State Pension (Contributory) from 2020 onwards and I will be bringing forward proposals in this regard in the near future.
Officials in my Department have been working on the introduction of the scheme since 2015. The recent Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund has been used to explore the costs of various options and to inform the design of the Total Contributions Approach.
This Review was recently completed and published, and the costings produced are being considered, with a view to progressing to the next stage, which will include a consultation process. The final structure of the model, which will include the number of years required for a maximum rate of pension, and the treatment of credited contributions and homemaking periods, will be submitted to government. Subsequent to this, legislative proposals will be introduced to the Oireachtas.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1195. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the persons who will benefit from the total contributions approach; if it will apply to all persons that retire post 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45840/17]
View answerThe introduction of a Total Contributions Approach to the State Pension (contributory) is being examined by officials in my Department. I expect them to report to me shortly before bringing the matter to Government. Particular attention will be paid to people who have intermittent PRSI records as a result of taking time out of paid employment for caring duties.
The Total Contributions Approach will be a fairer way of calculating entitlement to the State Pension (contributory) and will more closely align that entitlement to a person’s contribution to the Social Insurance Fund throughout their working life.
The exact details of the proposal have to be finalised and the beneficiaries from the approach will depend on the structure of the scheme, notably the number of years required for a full pension and the treatment of credited contributions and homemaking periods. The scheme will apply to all new applicants from its introduction. Any potential transitional measures have not been considered at this juncture. I do not wish to pre-empt the outcome of the consultations that are ahead which may have an impact on the final model chosen.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1196. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she has considered the introduction of a universal State pension; if so, the work that has been done on this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45841/17]
View answerThe State pension is a valuable benefit and is the bedrock of the pension system. There are two State pensions. Firstly, the State pension non-contributory is a means-tested pension funded from taxation. Secondly, the State pension contributory, which is not means-tested, but is based on social insurance contributions, is paid from the Social Insurance Fund. Accordingly, it is important to ensure those qualifying for the State pension contributory have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund over their working lives. To ensure that the individual can maximise their entitlement to a State pension, all contributions, paid or credited, over their working life from when they first enter insurable employment until pension age are taken into account when assessing their entitlement and the level of that entitlement.
The idea of a universal State pension, paid at full rate to everyone over 66, regardless of their contributions or their means, has been proposed on a number of occasions, and officials in my Department have examined such proposals a number of times. There are significant issues regarding the scope such a pension would have, particularly in respect of its interaction with public service pensions, and with occupational pensions in companies that were previously part of the public service. Additionally, consideration would have to be given to the treatment of retirees who are not resident in the State, but who have built up a contributory pension entitlement over the years that they worked here and paid PRSI. There are also potential legal issues regarding treating occupational pensions differently when they are in the public or private sector.
These factors make precise costing of such a pension challenging. However, it is clear that regardless of decisions made regarding these factors, the cost would be very substantial, and officials in my Department believe that the additional cost could be expected to be over €1 billion per annum, and potentially substantially more depending on some factors.
Clearly, this would either be very expensive or, if introduced on a cost-neutral basis, require very significant diversion of funds from elsewhere, e.g. a 14% reduction in the current rate of the State pension, substantial increases in the rate of PRSI deductions, or equivalent measures reducing tax relief on occupational and private pensions, which would impact very significantly upon the take-home pay of the workers affected, and act as a disincentive to such pension provision.
This would be difficult to justify given that the biggest beneficiaries would be people who, not only contributed less to the Social Insurance Fund, but who have significant additional means, resulting in their not qualifying for a non-contributory pension. Those who contributed most to the system, including those with no additional means, and widows depending on a single pension from the state, would receive no benefit at all from the additional spending involved. However, such people could be significantly impacted by any subsequent restraint in increases in the rate of the pension caused by the larger state pension bill faced by the Exchequer.
As a result of these reasons, I have no plans to introduce such a pension.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1197. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the external company undertaking an audit of her departmental website; the cost of the audit; the timeframe for its completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45859/17]
View answerThe Department’s external website (www.welfare.ie) currently acts as the core information link between the Department and its customers and stakeholders.
With some 7.9m visits and 4.3m unique visits during the period from October 2016 to October 2017, it is a central source of up to date information on the schemes, programmes and initiatives provided by the Department.
It is important that the Department’s website keeps pace with changes in website and user interface design in order to provide a modern, responsive and accessible website that more fully meets a wide range of customer information needs and expectations.
The last independent strategic review of the website was undertaken in 2006 and the last design update of the Department’s current website took place in 2011. The Department issued a request for tender for a strategic review of the website in March 2017 and three tenders were received.
Upon evaluation of the three tenders, a winning tenderer was selected and the contract was awarded to Clickworks Limited and iReach. The total value of the tender is €59,100 (including VAT). The audit is currently underway; it is envisaged that it will take around 16 weeks to complete and is expected to be concluded by year end 2017.
The Strategic review includes;
- an in-depth review of the current website (design/layout/usability);
- in-depth analysis of customer/website user requirements;
- an in-depth understanding of internal and external customer and stakeholder requirements through interviews and focus groups;
- detailed mapping of customer personas and customer journeys and
- technical and architectural analysis and recommendations.
This strategic review will provide the Department with clear options and recommendations as to both the design requirements and architecture options for the development of a new website.
1200. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the verification code sent to mobile phones as part of the MyGovID two-factor authentication scheme is SMS based; if she is satisfied that an SMS two-factor authentication scheme is the most secure two-factor authentication scheme available to her; if she has given consideration to alternative two-factor authentication schemes that do not rely on SMS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45899/17]
View answerI can confirm that the verification code sent to mobile phones as part of the MyGovID two-factor authentication scheme is SMS based.
While there are various two-factor authentication methods available, many of these require the person being authenticated to have use of a smart phone. Given that not all persons have access to such a device, the currently used method is regarded as being sufficiently secure, while still being accessible to all persons who have use of a mobile phone.
The Department, working with the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and the Interdepartmental Implementation and Policy Group for Public Service Identity, continually reviews these services in order to maintain the highest level of security and accessibility while applying best practice in safeguarding data and services.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1201. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for domiciliary care allowance by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45903/17]
View answerThe Department is currently experiencing delays in the processing of Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) claims due to an increase in claim volumes and the need for more detailed decisions to be provided, following a High Court ruling. Corrective actions are in place, including additional deciding officers assigned to the scheme. As a result average processing times have reduced over recent weeks and at present it is taking on average 17 weeks to finalise an application.
Applications are processed in date of receipt order, having regard to the complexity of each individual case. An application for DCA was received in the Department from this lady on the 4th October 2017. While it is not feasible to provide an exact date for when a particular application will be finalised, the applications currently being finalised were received in early July 2017. This application will be considered by a Deciding Officer and the decision notified as soon as possible.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1202. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if it is standard practice for homeless persons units to restrict eligibility to register for their services to homeless persons who can produce a PPSN at the time of registration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45935/17]
View answerA PPSN is required to access all income support payments made by my Department. My Department has responsibility for PPSN registration and an appointment can be made to undertake this process. If the Deputy has a particular case where there was a problem in accessing the services of my Department, can she please provide the details for review.
If the Deputy’s query relates to the provision of other services to homeless people, such as placement in emergency accommodation, then that would be a matter for the Local Authority.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
1203. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the living alone allowance payment will be increased in view of the rising cost of living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45945/17]
View answerThe living alone increase is an additional payment of €9 per week made to people aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments, including State pensions, and who are living alone. It is also available to people who are less than 66 years of age, living alone and in receipt of disability allowance, invalidity pension, incapacity supplement or blind pension.
I was pleased to announce on Budget Day that the maximum weekly rates of payment of all social welfare schemes will increase by €5 per week from March 2018, with proportionate increases for qualified adults and those on reduced rates of payment. In this regard, all living alone increase recipients will benefit from this weekly rate increase in their primary payment.
In addition, from June 2018, a new Telephone Support Allowance will be introduced, aimed at those living alone and of limited means. The allowance, of €2.50 per week, will be paid to social welfare recipients who are in receipt of both the living alone increase and fuel allowance. Accordingly, all living alone increase recipients, who are also in receipt of the fuel allowance, will benefit from this new payment. It should be noted that eligible recipients will not have to make a specific application for this allowance; it will be paid automatically.
