Written Answers Nos. 567-583
567. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the programmes and schemes in place to assist persons with a disability to enter or stay in employment in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46918/18]
View answerMy department is committed to helping more people with disabilities take up and sustain employment where there is a capacity and desire to do so.
To this end, the Department provides a range of employment related supports. These supports include:
- The Wage Subsidy Scheme, which is targeted at private sector employers, to encourage the employment of people with disabilities through the provision of financial incentives.
- The EmployAbility service, which is a specialist service (delivered under a contract arrangement in 23 locations around the country on behalf of the department) that works with the Department’s Intreo service. The service supports people with disabilities through the provision of dedicated job coach support. This service provides both pre-employment and in employment supports and assistance.
- The ‘Ability’ programme provides funding (via Pobal) to 27 organisations being funded to support young people (aged 15-29) with disabilities to move closer to the labour market through the provision of a range of person-centred supports. The programme will see some 2,600 young people with disabilities being supported over the next three years.
- A range of other employment support grants for people with disabilities are also provided, under the Reasonable Accommodation Fund. The reasonable accommodation fund is a demand-led scheme, expenditure arises in response to applications received. The fund is comprised of the Workplace Equipment Adaptation Grant, the Personal Reader Grant, the Job Interview Interpreter Grant and the Employee Retention Grant.
- The department also funds two AHEAD (Association for Higher Education Access and Disability) programmes 1) the Willing Able Mentoring (WAM) programme and 2) the ‘Get Ahead’ programme which are designed as employment support programmes for graduates with disabilities.
- The Department also provides the Partial Capacity Benefit payment for those with a reduced capacity to work.
Under the Comprehensive Employment Strategy, the Department is progressively developing and improving its Intreo service for people with disabilities who wish to avail of the service on a voluntary basis. In such cases, the Jobseeker (person with a disability) who seeks support from their local Intreo Centre will have a meeting arranged with a case officer with a view to agreeing a suitable personal progression plan and in order to access the full range of supports available.
Expenditure in 2017 on these schemes and supports are set out in tabular form, below.
|
Support / Scheme |
Expenditure (estimate, 2017 unless otherwise stated) |
|
Wage Subsidy Scheme |
€25.9 million |
|
EmployAbility Service |
€9.8 million |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
€14.5 million |
|
Reasonable Accommodation Fund |
€0.1 million |
|
Ability Programme |
€16 million (from 2018, over three years) |
|
AHEAD (Association for Higher Education Access and Disability) incl. the Get Ahead and Willing Able Mentoring (WAM) programmes |
€0.3 million |
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
568. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made on an invalidity pension claim by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46931/18]
View answerInvalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
The department received a claim for IP from this lady on 19 April 2018. Her claim was disallowed on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. She was notified on 19 July 2018 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.
She requested a review of this decision and submitted further medical evidence on 25 July 2018 in support of her request. Following a review of all the information available it has been decided that there is no change to the original decision. She was notified on 9 November 2018 of the outcome of the review.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
569. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an invalidity pension appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46962/18]
View answerInvalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
Following an appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office, the person concerned has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from 2 February 2017 and payment will issue to her nominated bank account on 29 November 2018.
Any arrears due from 2 February 2017 to 28 November 2018 (less any overlapping social welfare payment) will issue in due course.
The person concerned was notified of this decision on 12 November 2018.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
570. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of senior positions held by both men and women, respectively, in her Department. [46999/18]
View answerThe table below sets out the number of senior positions held in my Department by both men and women at the end of October, 2018.
|
Gender |
Grade |
FTE |
Staff |
|
Male |
Secretary General |
1.00 |
1 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
5.00 |
5 |
|
|
Principal Officer |
37.60 |
38 |
|
|
Medical Assessor |
9.00 |
10 |
|
|
Assistant Principal |
155.35 |
156 |
|
|
Female |
Deputy Secretary |
1.00 |
1 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
5.00 |
5 |
|
|
Principal Officer |
18.80 |
19 |
|
|
Medical Assessor |
18.10 |
20 |
|
|
Assistant Principal |
121.03 |
125 |
571. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when arrears for a person (details supplied) will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47013/18]
View answerThe Illness Benefit claim for the person concerned is now paid up to 10th November and certified up to 11th November 2018.
If the customer remains ill and unfit for work, a further medical certificate should be submitted to the Department as soon as possible in order for further payments to issue.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
572. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person who does not require fuel allowance can apply for telephone allowance separately; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47017/18]
View answerThe Telephone Support Allowance (TSA) is a weekly payment of €2.50. People who are in receipt of a Living Alone Allowance (increasing their main DEASP payment) and a Fuel Allowance automatically qualify for the TSA. Approximately 128,000 customers are in receipt of the TSA payment. The estimated full year cost of the scheme is €16.14 million.
The primary objective of the TSA is to allow the most vulnerable people access to personal alarms or phones for security. The allowance will also encourage social contact and assist in the prevention of social isolation for those living alone.
Customers who qualify for the TSA automatically receive the payment. There is no application form and they do not have to apply to my Department to receive it. It cannot be claimed in isolation of the other qualifying payments.
If the Deputy is aware of anyone who would be entitled to the Fuel Allowance but who does not claim it, and who wishes to be paid the TSA, I would ask him to advise that person that they should claim the Fuel Allowance they are entitled to, in order to receive both payments. If, however, the person would not qualify for a Fuel Allowance (or if they do not qualify for a Living Alone Allowance), they will not have an entitlement to TSA.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
573. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 1149 of 6 November 2018, the date on which the review of YESS will begin; the timeframe in which it will be complete; the terms of reference of the review; the number of staff responsible for the review; and if the evaluations will be made available upon completion. [47035/18]
View answerThe Youth Employment Support Scheme (YESS) commenced on Monday 1st October 2018 and is only open to applications since that date.
The scheme is specifically targeted at young jobseekers aged 18-24 years of age who are long-term unemployed or who face barriers to employment.
The YESS aims to provide jobseekers with the opportunity to learn basic work and social skills in a supportive environment while on a work placement. The scheme will provide a supportive structure for participants, including case worker support for both placement hosts and jobseekers.
The YESS will be subject to a review 12 months after its commencement to determine the scheme’s effectiveness, and the full details of this review will be determined closer to that date.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
574. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 1149 of 6 November 2018, the date on which the evaluations of JobPath, JobsPlus and JobsPlus youth began; the date on which the evaluations will be completed; and if the evaluations will be made available upon completion. [47036/18]
View answerMy Department is currently undertaking an econometric review of the JobPath activation service and JobsPlus (which incorporates JobsPlus youth).
Preliminary data gathering commenced for JobsPlus in December 2017 and for JobPath in March this year.
Completion of these reviews is provisionally scheduled for the end of 2018. The findings of the reviews will be released as they become available.
575. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an entitlement to an invalidity pension following the submission of further medical evidence in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47056/18]
View answerThe person concerned has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from 31 May 2018 and payment will issue to her nominated bank account on 29 November 2018.
Any arrears due from 31 May 2018 to 28 November 2018 (less any overlapping social welfare payment) will issue in due course.
The person concerned was notified of this decision on 12 November 2018.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
576. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a regular payment of illness benefit will issue to a person (details supplied). [47064/18]
View answerThe Illness Benefit claim for the person concerned is certified and paid up to 15th November 2018.
If the customer remains ill and unfit for work, a further medical certificate should be submitted to the Department as soon as possible in order for further payments to issue.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
577. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a regular payment of illness benefit will issue to a person (details supplied). [47065/18]
View answerThe Illness Benefit claim for the person concerned is now certified and paid up until 17th November 2018.
If the customer remains ill and unfit for work, a further medical certificate should be submitted to the Department as soon as possible in order for further payments to issue.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
578. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will issue on a partial capacity benefit application by a person (details supplied). [47066/18]
View answerThe person concerned exhausted her entitlement to Illness Benefit (IB) on 28th April 2018. IB is paid for a maximum of 2 years (624 paid days).
She must have a minimum of 13 reckonable PRSI contributions paid after the date her benefit exhausted to re-qualify for IB and thus re-qualify for Partial Capacity Benefit.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
579. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the pension ages and available projected pension age increases in the EU. [47068/18]
View answerThe Deputy will understand that my Department does not have responsibility for collation and dissemination of the data or projections requested.
The European Commission publishes a Pensions Adequacy Report on a regular basis, available on its website ( the specific address is http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=738&langId=en&pubId=8084&furtherPubs=yes ) which provides information on the current State pension age in each Member State, and how it has increased over recent years. The most recent edition of this report was published in 2018, and it contained information on the position in 2017, and also contains details of some future changes that have already been announced, although this does not include likely changes that have not been decided upon or announced.
The Deputy will understand that it is not possible to state with certainty what the State pension age will be in any country in significant periods into the future, as in each state it is subject to a number of factors, including Government decisions and/or formal and informal links those countries have made between the State pension age and future changes in life expectancy. However, there is significant data in both the 2018 report, and in the 2015 edition, for someone to track the rate of change in various countries to date, and to make their own projections, based upon the trajectory to date.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
580. 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. [47076/18]
View answerBased on the evidence supplied in support of this person’s application, her application for disability allowance (DA) was disallowed on the grounds that the medical qualifying condition was not satisfied. The person in question was notified in writing of this decision on 4 October 2018.
This lady requested a review of the decision by a deciding officer (DO) and submitted additional medical evidence for consideration on 31 October 2018. The person concerned will be notified directly in writing once this review is complete.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
581. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an illness benefit claim by a person (details supplied); when payment and arrears will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47143/18]
View answerThe Illness Benefit claim for the person concerned is certified and paid up to 13th November 2018 and any arrears due have been paid.
If he remains ill and unfit for work, a further medical certificate should be submitted to the Department as soon as possible in order for further payments to issue.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
582. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she will take to ensure that a person (details supplied) will receive the correct and appropriate rate of illness benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47185/18]
View answerThe Illness Benefit (IB) claim for the person concerned is now paid up until 17th November 2018 and any arrears due have been processed.
IB is paid for a maximum of 2 years (624 paid days). The person concerned has already been paid for 622 days so she only has two days of payment remaining.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
583. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when illness benefit arrears owing to a person (details supplied) will issue; the reason these arrears arose in view of the fact that all medical certificates were submitted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47192/18]
View answerThe Illness Benefit claim for the person concerned is now certified and paid up to 12th November 2018 and any arrears due will issue to him shortly.
If the customer remains ill and unfit for work, a further medical certificate should be submitted to the Department as soon as possible in order for further payments to issue.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
