Written Answers Nos. 1668-1690
1668. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the proportion of employees in her Department or in organisations under its remit registered as disabled. [1856/18]
View answerPart 5 of the Disability Act 2005 sets out the legal obligations of public service bodies to promote and support the employment of people with disabilities, comply with any statutory Code of Practice, meet a target of 3% of employees with disabilities and report every year on achievement of these obligations. The National Disability Authority (NDA) reports on compliance with the 3% target.
The figures for 2017 are not yet available. These figures are required to be provided to the NDA by the end of March 2018.
The last figures available on the proportion of employees who had disclosed a disability and registered disabled in my Department, as reported to the NDA for 2016, was 5.1%.
These figures were based on a Staff Census taken at end of 2016 and based on a voluntarily declaration of disability status by all new employees joining the Department. The nature of the disability is not disclosed.
In relation to the three agencies under the aegis of my Department, the last figures available on the proportion of employees registered disabled, as reported to the NDA for 2016, were:
- Citizens Information Board - 9.64%,
- Office of the Pensions Ombudsman - 16.67%, and
- Pensions Authority - 3.92%.
1669. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications for carer's allowance received in each of the past five years to date in 2018; the number approved initially; the number refused and/or referred for appeal; the number on appeal subsequently granted and/or refused in the same period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1873/18]
View answerThe information requested (where available) by the Deputy is detailed in the tabular statements.
Carer’s Allowance claims registered and awarded or rejected in each year 2013 to 2017
|
Registered |
Awarded |
Rejected |
|
|
2013 |
12,060 |
16,011 |
9,881 |
|
2014 |
17,759 |
12,560 |
7,708 |
|
2015 |
18,929 |
14,378 |
7,920 |
|
2016 |
22,722 |
19,308 |
11,144 |
|
2017 |
23,800 |
17,292 |
8,599 |
Outcome of Carer’s Allowance Appeals 2013– 2017
|
Favourable Decisions |
||||||
|
Appeal Receipts |
Revised Deciding Officers Decisions |
Appeals Allowed |
Appeals Partly Allowed |
Appeals Disallowed |
Withdrawn |
|
|
2013 |
3,869 |
1,040 |
990 |
131 |
1,505 |
56 |
|
2014 |
2,907 |
463 |
1,240 |
177 |
1,451 |
55 |
|
2015 |
3,188 |
579 |
1,352 |
155 |
1,355 |
50 |
|
2016 |
3,887 |
815 |
1,375 |
145 |
1,237 |
52 |
|
2017 |
3,200 |
780 |
1,204 |
161 |
1,199 |
72 |
1670. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the appropriate level of jobseeker's allowance payable in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1874/18]
View answerThe person concerned is currently in receipt of a jobseeker's payment and is also working on a part time basis. The weekly rate of payment she receives from the Department is calculated with regard to the number of days per week she is employed coupled with the level of income she receives from that employment.
Based on the current information provided to the Department, by the person concerned, her weekly payment is correct and in accordance with Social Welfare guidelines.
However, if there have been any changes in her circumstances, that she has not yet advised the Department of, that may affect the rate of payment she is receiving, the person concerned should present to her local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office and provide the relevant information that would allow a review of her claim entitlement to be completed.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy
1671. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she has taken to correct the anomaly whereby the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, which gives the State the right to demand a contribution from the other parent, refers only to the lone parent allowance and no other social welfare payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1886/18]
View answerThe Family Law Acts, which are under the remit of the Department of Justice and Equality (D/JE), place a legal obligation on parents to maintain their children. In cases where the family unit has broken down these obligations continue to apply and relevant maintenance payments can be arranged either directly between the couple or through supports like the Family Mediation Service, the Legal Aid Board and the Courts. The arrangement of maintenance is therefore a matter between both parents regardless of whether or not either parent is in receipt of a social welfare payment.
The liability to maintain family provisions contained in social welfare legislation are separate to, and do not negate or supersede, parents’ obligations under Family Law. Where a lone parent is in receipt of the One-Parent Family Payment (OFP), the liability to maintain family provisions provide my Department with a legislative basis to carry out an assessment against the other parent and issue a Determination Order for them to pay a contribution either to the Department or the lone parent.
My Department has previously indicated its intention to review the current maintenance and liable relative procedures in light of the changes to the one-parent family payment scheme, and work had commenced on this review. Since April 2017, however, work on the review of the one-parent family payment, which was required to be completed over a short timeframe, took priority given the statutory nature of the review.
That review (the Indecon Report) was completed in October 2017 and the Report was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. Work has now re-commenced on the review of maintenance as it relates to my Department.
This review will necessitate my Department liaising with the Department of Justice and Equality as the Family Law Acts, which place a legal obligation on parents to maintain their children, are under the remit of that Department.
This is a complex area however I expect to have a paper from my officials on this shortly.
1672. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the time limits for backdating all social welfare payments under the remit of her Department, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1923/18]
View answerThe primary legislation governing claims and late claims is set out in Sections 241, 342 and 342A of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended. The legislation requires that persons must claim their entitlements within a specific period from the date their entitlement arises - this is referred to as the 'prescribed time'. The prescribed times for each payment are set out in the table. Once a claim is made within the prescribed time for that particular payment, it is automatically backdated to the date of entitlement.
Where a claim is made after the prescribed time, a statutory disqualification or disallowance is incurred. However, the legislation gives the deciding officer some discretion to backdate the payment, where the claim is received after the prescribed time, in exceptional circumstances and where the relevant regulations allow. These regulations allow for circumstances where the claimant establishes there was ‘good cause’ for delay, or that they were inadvertently misinformed by an officer of the Department, or incapacitated and unable to make the claim on time.
The table sets out the prescribed times for making a claim for each scheme and the provisions to backdate payments where appropriate.
Each late claim is assessed by Deciding Officers and is based on the contentions put forward by the applicant and evaluating the available evidence. The deciding officer may decide to backdate the payment, within the limits set out in the table, depending on the circumstances and according to legislative provisions pertaining to each scheme.
The legislation allows a Deciding Officer the discretion to back date the payment for up to 6 months where he/she is satisfied that the claimant had ‘good cause’ for failing to apply within the prescribed time, provided of course that the claimant was eligible during the 6 months. This limitation does not apply in the case of Child Benefit.
Backdating of a late claim beyond 6 months can be considered only in specific circumstances whereby the failure to claim arose as the result of either incorrect information being supplied by the Department or the claimant’s incapacity due to illness or infirmity.
Where the failure to claim within the prescribed time arose as a result of erroneous information supplied by staff of the Department, the claim may be backdated to the date of commencement of entitlement.
All decisions with regard to entitlement under these provisions are made by deciding officers, and can therefore be appealed to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO).
The Department has published information on Claims and Late Claims on www.welfare.ie.
Table: Prescribed time for making a claim and possible period(s) for backdating payments in specified conditions, for each scheme
|
Type of claim |
Prescribed time for making a claim |
Max possible period of backdate |
|
Adoptive Benefit |
First date of entitlement |
Backdate max. 6 months |
|
Back to Work Family Dividend |
Within 3 months of first date of entitlement |
Backdate max. 6 months |
|
Bereavement Grant |
Within 3 months of death of deceased |
Backdate max. 6 months |
|
Blind Pension |
First date of entitlement |
Backdate max. 6 months |
|
Carer's Allowance |
First date of entitlement |
Backdate max. 6 months |
|
Carer's Benefit |
8 weeks before & after first date of entitlement |
Backdate max. 6 months |
|
Carers Support Grant |
8 weeks before the date grant payable ending on 31 Dec. of the year immediately following the year in which the grant is payable |
|
|
Child Benefit ** |
Within 12 months of first date of entitlement |
** Back payment from date entitlement would have first existed if the claim had been made at the correct time. |
|
Constant Attendance Allowance (OIB) |
Within 3 months of first date of entitlement |
Backdate max. 6 months |
|
Continued Payment for Qualified children |
Within 13 weeks of commencing employment |
Backdate max. 6 months |
|
Death Benefit (OIB) |
Within 3 months of death of deceased |
Backdate max. 6 months |
|
Disability Allowance |
Within 7 days of first date entitlement |
Backdate max. 6 months |
|
Disablement Benefit (OIB) |
Within 3 months of first date of entitlement |
Backdate max. 6 months |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
First date of entitlement |
Backdate max. 6 months |
|
Family Income Supplement |
Within 3 months of first date of entitlement |
Backdate max. 6 months |
|
Farm Assist |
First date of entitlement |
Backdate max. 6 months |
|
Guardian's Payment (Contributory) |
Within 3 months of first date of entitlement |
Backdate max. 6 months |
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory) |
Within 3 months of first date of entitlement |
Backdate max. 6 months |
|
Health and Safety Benefit |
First date of entitlement |
Backdate max. 6 months |
|
Illness Benefit |
Within 7 days of becoming unable to work |
Backdate max. 6 months |
|
Incapacity Supplement (OIB) |
Within 3 months of first date of entitlement |
Backdate max. 6 months |
|
Invalidity Pension |
Within 3 months of first entitlement |
Backdate max. 6 months |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
First date of entitlement |
Backdate max. 6 months |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
First date of entitlement |
Backdate max. 6 months |
|
Maternity Benefit |
First date of entitlement |
Backdate max. 6 months |
|
Medical Care |
Within 6 wks of commencement of such care |
Backdate max. 12 months |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit (OIB) |
Within 21 days of first day of entitlement |
Backdate max. 6 months |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
Within 3 months of first date of entitlement |
Backdate max. 6 months |
|
Paternity Benefit |
First date of entitlement |
Backdate max. 6 months |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
Within 3 months of first date of entitlement |
Backdate max. 6 months |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
First date of entitlement |
Backdate max. 6 months |
|
Widow's Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partners (Contributory) |
Within 3 months of first date of entitlement |
Backdate max. 6 months |
|
Widow's Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partners (Non-Contributory) |
First date of entitlement |
Backdate max. 6 months |
1673. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of sanctions issued by her Department in each of the years 2012 to 2017 as a result of non-compliance or non-engagement, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1924/18]
View answerPenalty rates were introduced as a means of encouraging jobseekers to engage with activation measures and co-operate with efforts of the Department to assist them in securing employment. The Department is committed, under Pathways to Work, to incentivise the take-up of activation opportunities, including implementing sanctions for failure to engage.
The legislation underpinning the application of penalty rates is provided for in Social Welfare legislation. The application of the penalty provisions can only be applied in specific circumstances and the decision to impose a penalty can only be made by a Deciding Officer of the Department. If dissatisfied with that decision it is open to the Jobseeker to appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
Details of the numbers of penalty rates applied in the specific years up to end 2017, as sought by the Deputy, can be found below.
|
Year |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
Total: |
|
PR |
359 |
1,519 |
3,395 |
5,325 |
6,743 |
10,867 |
16,451 |
45,013 |
1674. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons, by age and length of unemployment, who have participated in JobPath in each year since it commenced in 2013, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1925/18]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, JobPath is an employment 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 was rolled out on a phased basis over the period mid-2015 to July 2016. The numbers referred initially were low but this has increased with almost 141,000 Jobseekers having commenced with the service by the end of December 2017.
For the purposes of the JobPath service all long-term unemployed jobseekers on the Live Register are categorised into groups based on their duration of unemployment (e.g. 1- 2 years, 2 – 3 years, 3 years plus etc.).
The duration of a person's Jobseeker's Allowance claim is recorded in terms of days of unemployment. Jobseeker Allowance claims are made up of continuous periods of unemployment. Any two such periods not separated by more than 52 weeks is considered to be the same continuous period of unemployment - this is known as linking the claims. Long-term jobseekers that may have left the live register to go into employment for less than a year are still considered to be long-term if they reopen their claim within that period: as a result, Jobseekers retain certain entitlements (for example, no waiting days and other supplemental benefits) and are available for selection for support through the departments activation services.
The table shows the age and length of unemployment of the circa 141,000 jobseekers who have engaged with the service as of the end of December 2017, of these in excess of 52% were over 3 years unemployed.
|
Client age at Referral |
|||||||
|
Year |
Duration on LR |
18-25 |
26-35 |
36-45 |
46-55 |
55+ |
Total |
|
1-2 Years on LR |
298 |
531 |
436 |
312 |
134 |
1711 |
|
|
2-3 Years on LR |
130 |
365 |
336 |
294 |
129 |
1254 |
|
|
2015 |
> 3 Years on LR |
200 |
1006 |
958 |
969 |
490 |
3623 |
|
2015 Total |
628 |
1902 |
1730 |
1575 |
753 |
6588 |
|
|
Passing 12 Months on LR |
466 |
562 |
445 |
306 |
124 |
1903 |
|
|
1-2 Years on LR |
3112 |
4290 |
3515 |
2841 |
1201 |
14959 |
|
|
2-3 Years on LR |
1529 |
2497 |
2160 |
1978 |
889 |
9053 |
|
|
> 3 Years on LR |
2774 |
10395 |
10139 |
9734 |
5249 |
38291 |
|
|
2016 |
Working Part Time on LR (>1 year) |
21 |
235 |
295 |
271 |
162 |
984 |
|
2016 Total |
7902 |
17979 |
16554 |
15130 |
7625 |
65190 |
|
|
Passing 12 Months on LR |
412 |
397 |
290 |
228 |
96 |
1423 |
|
|
1-2 Years on LR |
4315 |
4434 |
3499 |
2576 |
961 |
15785 |
|
|
2-3 Years on LR |
1683 |
1986 |
1613 |
1234 |
469 |
6985 |
|
|
> 3 Years on LR |
3254 |
9711 |
8187 |
7554 |
3321 |
32027 |
|
|
2017 |
Working Part Time on LR (>1 year) |
628 |
3467 |
3691 |
3475 |
1612 |
12873 |
|
2017 Total |
10292 |
19995 |
17280 |
15067 |
6459 |
69093 |
|
|
Grand Total |
18822 |
39876 |
35564 |
31772 |
14837 |
140871 |
|
1675. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons aged 45 years of age and above in receipt of jobseeker's payments, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1926/18]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the tabular statement.
Recipients of a Jobseeker’s Payment or signing for Jobseeker’s Credits aged 45 years or over at 31 December 2017
|
- |
Amount |
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance |
69,785 |
|
Jobseeker’s Benefit |
16,309 |
|
Jobseeker’s Credits Only |
25,472 |
|
Total |
111,836 |
1676. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the wage subsidy scheme can be offered to a person (details supplied); if there are other supports available to the employer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1940/18]
View answerThe wage subsidy scheme (WSS) is a targeted wage support designed to incentivise the employment of people with disabilities in the private sector. The objective of this programme is to encourage private sector employers to employ people with disabilities and so increase the numbers of people with disabilities participating in the open labour market. This is achieved by compensating employers through grant assistance where a person’s disability restricts their productivity to 80% or less when compared to their peers.
The participation of potential employees on the scheme is contingent on a person having a disability and who has the capacity to work from 21 hours to 39 hours per week. For those individuals who are already in employment, the WSS may only be considered where the individual is less than 12 months in that employment. When the employee is over 12 months in the job and where a productivity shortfall on their part is putting that particular employment in jeopardy, the employee retention grant scheme (ERGS) should be applied for.
The purpose of the ERGS is to assist employers to retain employees who acquire an illness, condition or impairment which impacts on their ability to carry out their job. The scheme is structured in two stages, comprising the development and implementation of a retention strategy. The total amount available under this grant scheme is €15,000 per applicant.
The ERGS is one of the grants provided by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection under the reasonable accommodation fund. This fund assists private sector employers to take appropriate measures to enable a person with a disability/impairment to have access to employment. The scheme’s other grants include:
- Workplace Equipment/Adaptation Grant
- Personal Reader Grant
- Job Interview Interpreter Grant
Further information on the range of employment supports for people with disabilities, including application forms, can be found on the Department’s website: https://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Workplace-Supports_holder.aspx
If the Deputy can provide details directly to the Department on the individual referred to a more tailored response can be provided.
1677. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when she will publish the report into access to social welfare payments by seasonal workers in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1942/18]
View answerMy Department’s main social welfare schemes for unemployed persons are the jobseeker’s allowance and the jobseekers benefit schemes. Both schemes provide significant support to individuals so that they can work up to 3 days a week and still retain access to a reduced jobseeker’s payment. The 2018 Estimates for my Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseeker’s schemes of €2.17 billion.
At present an individual can earn a little over €19,760 per year and still retain a small jobseeker's allowance payment, while the equivalent threshold for an individual with a qualified adult is almost €33,975 if they are both working. Where a person’s part time employment ceases they can apply for jobseekers allowance which is a means tested payment or if they have the required number of contributions they may have an entitlement to jobseekers benefit.
An Taoiseach, in his previous role as Minister for Social Protection, gave a commitment at Dáil report stage of the Social Welfare Bill 2016 that he would ask officials to examine the issue of jobseeker’s benefit and the treatment of part-time and seasonal workers, including those categorised as having subsidiary employment. My officials have recently completed this report on these issues which I will consider in detail.
My Department is currently collating data in relation to those who qualify for Jobseekers Benefit and who are in subsidiary employment. We will have 12 months of data gathered by May 2018 at which point I will be in a better position to make an informed decision on this issue.
1678. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if all employees on rural social schemes are entitled to fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1954/18]
View answerThe fuel allowance is a payment of €22.50 per week from October to April each year to low income households to assist them with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full and only one allowance is paid per household.
Participants on the Rural Social Scheme (RSS) can be paid the fuel allowance where they applied for, and were awarded, the fuel allowance prior to commencing on the scheme and where they satisfy or continue to satisfy the conditions. Entitlement to the fuel allowance cannot be established after a person commences on the RSS. Not all participants on the RSS have an entitlement to the fuel allowance as they may not satisfy the fuel scheme conditions.
Where an RSS participant has an underlying entitlement to the fuel allowance - but is not in receipt of the allowance because another member of the household is receiving it - and if there is a change in circumstances e.g. the fuel allowance recipient is no longer residing at the address, then it is open to the RSS participant to apply for the fuel allowance. In these circumstances, the fuel entitlement can be reviewed and awarded provided the participant satisfies all conditions for receipt of fuel allowance.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1679. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if persons previously self-employed who become carers do not receive credited contributions towards their pension entitlements, unlike PAYE employees; if she will address this anomaly, which may be affecting many self-employed persons and others who become carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1959/18]
View answerThe purpose of credited contributions (credits) is to protect social insurance entitlements by bridging gaps in an employee’s social insurance record, where they are not in a position to pay PRSI, such as for period of unemployment, illness or in receipt of certain payments, including carer’s allowance.
In isolation, credits do not give entitlement to social insurance benefits. In combination with paid PRSI contributions, credits can assist employees qualifying for short-term schemes such as jobseeker’s benefit. Credits may also enhance the level of benefit for long-term schemes such as the level of payment of State pension contributory (SPC), but only where the individual has already met the condition relating to the minimum number of paid contributions.
To qualify for credits an individual must satisfy entitlement to the credits scheme. While there are no self-employed credits, individuals who were previously employed can access the scheme in the same manner as other workers, subject to meeting the conditions of the scheme. In general credits can only be awarded where an individual has had a recent attachment to the workforce as an employee i.e. within the last 2 years. Therefore credits are not automatically awarded to all recipients of carer’s allowance.
Individuals who are caring on a full-time basis, including those in receipt of carer’s allowance may, however, qualify for the homemaker’s scheme. The homemaker’s scheme is designed to help homemakers and carers to protect their SPC entitlement, and applies to homemaking periods since 6 April 1994. It applies to the self-employed on the same basis as it does to other workers.
The homemaker’s scheme provides that years spent working in the home while caring on a full-time basis for a child up to 12 years of age or an incapacitated person age 12 or over will be disregarded in calculating a person's yearly average number of contributions for the purposes of determining the rate of their entitlement to SPC. In this way the homemaker’s scheme ensures that an individual’s entitlement to SPC is protected during periods spent caring.
1680. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied). [1974/18]
View answerCarer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.
My department received an application for CA from the person concerned on the 24 November 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.
1681. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for a disability allowance by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1978/18]
View answerFollowing a decision of a Social Welfare Appeals Officer, the person concerned has been awarded disability allowance (DA) with effect from 4 May 2016. The first payment will be made on 31 January 2018.
Arrears of payment due will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustments are calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments or in respect of outstanding overpayments (if applicable).
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1682. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for a disability allowance by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1980/18]
View answerI confirm that an application from this lady for disability allowance (DA) was received by the Department in June 2017.
The application has been referred to a Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) for a report on the person’s means and circumstances. Once the SWI has submitted his/her report to DA section, a decision will be made on the application and this lady will be notified directly of the outcome. It is expected this report will be submitted in the coming days and a decision will made as soon as possible on this case.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1683. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a disability allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1982/18]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and 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.
1684. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of requests made by her Department to the Revenue Commissioners in each of the past five years in respect of self-employed persons applying for the contributory old age pension regarding their payment of PRSI and taxation liabilities; the number of contributory old age pensions that have not been approved as a result of the information in the same time period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1985/18]
View answerEntitlement to state pension (contributory) is assessed on the basis of an applicant’s complete social insurance record and satisfaction of the eligibility conditions for the scheme applicable on the date the applicant reaches pension age.
Social welfare legislation provides that a self-employed contributor shall not be regarded as satisfying the qualifying conditions for state pension (contributory) unless all outstanding self-employment contributions have been paid. Where outstanding self-employment contributions are paid subsequent to an applicant’s reaching pension age, state pension (contributory) entitlement is payable from the date on which self-employment liability has been fully discharged.
At applicant stage, the contribution records of all applicants are examined. Where there are gaps in the record of a self-employed contributor, investigation is required to ensure that all liabilities have been paid in full to the Revenue Commissioners and the date from which outstanding liabilities have been paid in full.
The following table shows the number of cases referred to Client Eligibility Services for investigation:
|
Year |
Number of SPC enquiries [Class S cases] |
|
2013 |
7,863 |
|
2014 |
8,267 |
|
2015 |
9,874 |
|
2016 |
10,295 |
|
2017 |
6,999 |
The most recent available figures for the number of state pension (contributory) applications disallowed for outstanding liability reasons in each of the past five years is shown in the table below. The table also shows the number of applicants who remain disallowed to date. (These figures may include applicants who have subsequently died.)
|
Year |
Disallowed: outstanding liability for contributory pension |
Remains disallowed (not subsequently awarded) |
|
2013 |
983 |
57 |
|
2014 |
758 |
38 |
|
2015 |
744 |
51 |
|
2016 |
642 |
74 |
|
2017 |
521 |
104 (as at end October 2017) |
|
Total |
3,648 |
324 |
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1685. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department uses anti-profanity software on its email systems and online contact forms; if so, the level of human oversight that is applied to the monitoring of these softwares and their effectiveness; her views on whether persons' legitimate right to petition the Government may be blocked unintentionally by errors in the use of such softwares in determining that which qualifies as profanity being communicated in email and/or online contact forms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2085/18]
View answerMy Department invests on an ongoing basis in traditional, defence-in-depth deployments of preventative controls like firewalls, email gateways, endpoint protection and advanced threat detection tools. My Department employs security technology that, together with a dedicated ICT security team and well defined processes, continually monitors the Department’s network and services. My Department uses a number of different security systems and technologies to protect the ICT systems and data. This includes filtering systems to detect and block malware and virus attack. None of these security systems blocks or hinders communications between my Department’s customers and officers of my Department. My Department does not specifically use anti-profanity software or intentionally carry out automated profanity checking on its online systems or online contact forms.
1686. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the Government's initiatives in her Department in 2017 that promoted State services or welfare payments, public awareness on regulatory changes and public consultations that involved advertising and promotion on television, radio, newspapers and online, in tabular form; and the level of expenditure for each such initiative. [2261/18]
View answerDetails of the Department’s expenditure on public awareness campaigns in 2017 are set out in the following table.
Public Awareness Campaign Costs 2017 (Includes Design)
|
Date |
Campaign Name |
Cost (VAT Inclusive) |
|
March |
MyGovID |
€83,674 |
|
April |
Welfare Cheats |
€201,625 |
|
April |
Treatment Benefit: Open to self employed |
€107,889 |
|
July |
Back to School Clothing & Footwear |
€68,152 |
|
July |
Paternity Benefit |
€131,392 |
|
September |
Jobsweek 2017 |
€3,871 |
|
September |
Fuel Allowance – New Lump Sum option (Part 1) |
€51,876 |
|
October |
Treatment Benefit : Extension of dental, optical etc benefits |
€97,031 |
|
November |
Fuel Allowance – Part 2 |
€65,083 |
|
November |
Invalidity Pension – extension to the self employed |
€92,422 |
|
December |
National Minimum Wage |
€57,192 |
1687. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of foreshore licences issued in each of the years 2012 to 2017 for Lough Foyle; the persons or bodies they were issued to; the geographical location of the licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54463/17]
View answerMy Department issued a licence to Donegal County Council in 2012, 2013 and 2014 approving the installation of temporary pontoons in Greencastle Harbour.
1688. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if an analysis has been conducted as to the impact of the commercial rates revaluation that occurred in County Waterford in 2013 on businesses in the county; and if rates collection levels by the combined Waterford local authority have improved as a result. [54614/17]
View answerThe Commissioner of Valuation is independent in carrying out his functions under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015 and my Department has no role in this regard.
The revaluation provisions in the Valuation Acts 2001-2015 provide for the revaluation of all rateable property within a rating authority area so as to reflect changes in value due to economic factors such as business turnover, differential movements in property values or other external factors and changes in the local business environment. Revaluation is an important instrument in addressing historical anomalies in relation to commercial rates for both urban and rural properties and between particular classes of property within a local authority area.
The general outcome of the revaluations conducted to date by the Valuation Office has been that about 60% of ratepayers have had their liability for rates reduced following a revaluation and about 40% had an increase.
The amount of rates payable in any calendar year is a product of the valuation set by the Commissioner of Valuation, multiplied by the Annual Rate on Valuation (ARV) decided annually by the elected members of each local authority.
It is not the purpose of a revaluation to increase or decrease the total amount of commercial rates collected by local authorities but rather to ensure that the valuations used for rating purposes are up-to-date and reflect current market conditions. Section 56 of the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015, as amended by section 8 of the Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Act 2006, provides that I, as Minister, can make an order directing a rating authority to limit the overall amount of income it could raise through rates in the year following a revaluation to the total amount of rates liable to be paid to it in the previous year, adjusted for inflation. Rate Limitation Orders were made for the 2014 financial year in respect of the revaluation of Waterford local authorities.
Rates income data are published by local authorities in their Annual Financial Statements, which are published as a matter of course on local authority websites. As with all local charges, the invoicing and collection of due amounts is a matter for the local authority concerned to manage in light of prevailing circumstances and in accordance with normal accountancy procedures.
Information in respect of percentage of rates collected in Waterford in the years 2013 to 2016 is set out in the following table. 2016 is the latest year for which audited local authority Annual Financial Statement data are available.
|
Year |
Local Authority |
Percentage of Rates Collected |
|
2013 |
Waterford City Council |
75% |
|
Waterford County Council |
67% |
|
|
Dungarvan Town Council |
47% |
|
|
2014 |
Waterford City and County Council |
72% |
|
2015 |
Waterford City and County Council |
79% |
|
2016 |
Waterford City and County Council |
81% |
1689. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to introduce an exemption for water charges for sports clubs, community groups and registered charities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54776/17]
View answerWith effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013, as amended, provides that Irish Water shall collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it. The Act also provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) and the CRU has been given statutory responsibility for protecting the interests of customers. All non-domestic customers, including sports clubs, community groups and charities, were transferred to Irish Water under the existing charging regime of each local authority with no changes, as instructed by the CRU.
From 2001, national water pricing policy required local authorities to recover the costs of providing water services from all non-domestic users of these services, which includes sports clubs, community groups and charities. This policy provided for charges based on actual metered consumption and is consistent with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive. The existing arrangements for all non-domestic customers are remaining in place with no changes for the time being.
I understand that the CRU is progressing a review of all aspects of non-domestic water tariffs and in conjunction with Irish Water will establish an enduring non-domestic tariff framework. Information Notes are published by the CRU from time to time to inform and update stakeholders on the broad approach being pursued and setting out the proposed timeframe for the overall project and outlining details of papers to be published by the CRU for public consultation and corresponding timelines.
1690. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54909/17]
View answerSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Contracts with Irish Water are an operational matter for the utility and I have no function in such matters.
Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email at oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
