Written Answers Nos. 604-623
604. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 491 of 11 December 2018, if he will engage with the commercial operators displaced by the not-for-profit company supported by the community service programme in respect of the further report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53383/18]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware my Department is currently examining a report on the matter referred to and as such, it would be inappropriate for me to meet with any organisations pending the outcome of that examination.
That said, officials from my Department and Pobal have met with representatives from the companies in question and there is also ongoing contact via phone calls and emails.
605. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he has received an application under the rural regeneration fund for a grant for a transport plan for a town (details supplied); if as part of the consideration of this application the retailers and residents of the town will be consulted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53397/18]
View answerThe first call for applications for the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund closed at the end of September. €1 billion is committed to the Fund over a 10 year period to support rural economic development and help build strong communities.
There was an excellent response to the first call, with nearly 300 applications received.
The applications are currently being examined by the Project Advisory Board, made up of representatives from key Government Departments and external experts, which was established to oversee the assessment process. Category 1 "shovel ready" projects were prioritised in the assessment process in the first instance and Category 2 projects - those which need development funding to become potential Category 1 applications in future calls for applications - are now being considered.
I can confirm that my Department received a Category 2 application from Cork County Council in relation to a project in Castletownbere and this project will be considered as part of the aforementioned process. Any questions relating to details of the proposed project should be raised directly with Cork County Council.
I announced the first set of successful Category 1 projects for funding on the 23rd November 2018 and further announcements of successful Category 1 and Category 2 projects will take place early in 2019. A further call under the Fund will take place later in 2019.
606. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount approved to date by each local action group under the current LEADER programme; the amount spent to date on the same basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53401/18]
View answerLEADER is a multi-annual programme which has a total budget of €250 million over the period to 2020. Funding to cover the full period of the programme has been allocated to each of the individual Local Action Groups (LAGs) who deliver LEADER.
Table 1 below provides a breakdown of the projects approved by each Local Action Group together with details of the project payments made to date.
Total expenditure on the LEADER programme since it commenced, effectively in 2016, has amounted to over €36.2 million. The level of project activity under the LEADER programme has increased significantly this year, and 1,565 projects have now been approved for funding of over €53.1 million. A further 393 project applications, requesting an additional €23.3 million, are at various stages in the approval process.
Table 1: Total LEADER Approvals and Project Payments by LAG as of 16 December 2018
|
Local Action Group |
No. of Approved Projects |
Value of Approved Projects |
Project Payments to date |
|
Carlow |
21 |
€1,197,148 |
€707,789 |
|
Cavan |
35 |
€2,171,737 |
€398,960 |
|
Clare |
104 |
€2,032,714 |
€439,768 |
|
Cork North |
41 |
€1,686,228 |
€424,701 |
|
Cork South |
20 |
€600,436 |
€208,113 |
|
Cork West |
25 |
€995,778 |
€146,440 |
|
Donegal |
103 |
€4,375,932 |
€1,634,102 |
|
Dublin Rural |
43 |
€1,349,327 |
€329,731 |
|
Galway East |
34 |
€1,315,484 |
€3,327 |
|
Galway West |
22 |
€381,245 |
€97,784 |
|
Kerry |
163 |
€3,146,512 |
€706,744 |
|
Kildare |
17 |
€612,926 |
€39,827 |
|
Kilkenny |
55 |
€1,498,732 |
€565,527 |
|
Laois |
41 |
€941,706 |
€398,690 |
|
Leitrim |
51 |
€1,819,686 |
€365,285 |
|
Limerick |
72 |
€3,132,671 |
€284,075 |
|
Longford |
40 |
€985,239 |
€44,881 |
|
Louth |
52 |
€1,164,088 |
€209,420 |
|
Mayo |
88 |
€3,689,625 |
€467,212 |
|
Meath |
24 |
€966,042 |
€37,301 |
|
Monaghan |
35 |
€1,620,727 |
€331,873 |
|
Offaly |
93 |
€2,333,738 |
€898,113 |
|
Roscommon |
35 |
€2,159,083 |
€173,547 |
|
Sligo |
66 |
€2,306,081 |
€611,397 |
|
Tipperary |
98 |
€3,012,956 |
€419,330 |
|
Waterford |
47 |
€3,066,662 |
€1,442,449 |
|
Westmeath |
34 |
€512,511 |
€199,705 |
|
Wexford |
76 |
€3,121,172 |
€467,624 |
|
Wicklow |
30 |
€935,937 |
€90,538 |
|
Grand Total |
1,565 |
€53,132,121 |
€12,144,253 |
607. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he has received an application for aid pursuant to the urban and rural development fund from Westmeath County Council in respect of projects at Kinnegad and Castlepollard, County Westmeath; when a decision will be given thereon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53423/18]
View answerThe first call for applications for the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund closed at the end of September. €1 billion is committed to the Fund over a 10 year period to support rural economic development and help build strong communities.
There was an excellent response to the first call, with nearly 300 applications received.
Applications for the Fund are currently being examined by the Project Advisory Board, made up of representatives from key Government Departments and external experts, which was established to oversee the assessment process. Category 1 "shovel ready" projects were prioritised in the assessment process in the first instance and Category 2 projects - those which need development funding to become potential Category 1 applications in future calls for applications - are now being considered.
In that regard, I can confirm that my Department received Category 2 applications from Westmeath County Council in respect of projects in Kinnegad and Castlepollard and these will be considered as part of the aforementioned process.
I announced the first set of successful Category 1 projects for funding on the 23rd November 2018 and further announcements of successful Category 1 and Category 2 projects will take place early in 2019. A further call under the Fund will take place later in 2019.
608. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the timing of the implementation of section 9 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53729/18]
View answer644. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the technical amendments to the Children and Family Relationships (Amendment) Act 2018 can be dealt with in a separate process with the agreement of the Cabinet and Opposition parties in order to facilitate Part 9 of the enactment of same in view of the length of time being taken to progress of the Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registration Bill 2017. [53391/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 608 and 644 together.
I am aware of the pressing need to make technical amendments to the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 including those sections in Part 9 that provide for the registration and re-registration of the birth of a donor-conceived child and, in particular, make possible the registration of details of “Parent”, as well as “Mother” and “Father”, where required.
I want to make these necessary amendments at the earliest possible opportunity.
It is my intention to bring these amendments forward in a stand-alone Bill in 2019.
Commencement of these amendments are also dependent on commencement of Parts 2 and 3 of the 2015 Act which is the responsibility of the Minister for Health. There are important administrative and operational arrangements to be put in place to facilitate the implementation of Parts 2 and 3, including the establishment of the National Donor-Conceived Person Register and the appointment of authorised persons under the Act. I understand that it is Minister for Health's intention that these provisions will be commenced as soon as possible.
Officials from my Department are working with the General Registration Service (GRS) and the Department of Health to ensure that the appropriate legislative, regulatory, and operational mechanisms are in place to allow for the earliest possible commencement of all of the relevant legislation that will allow for birth registrations of donor-conceived children.
609. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of social welfare appeals lodged in each of the years 2012 to 2017 and to date in 2018; the percentage of appeals which were successful; the average waiting time in these years in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52717/18]
View answerThe 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.
The tables below provide the details which have been requested by the Deputy for the years 2012 to 2017 and to the end of November 2018.
The figures provided in the tables for appeals which had a favourable outcome for the appellant relate to appeals which were either allowed in full or in part by an Appeals Office or were resolved by way of a revised decision in favour of the appellant by a Deciding Officer / Designated Person.
There are a number of reasons why a decision which was refused at first instance might be successful on appeal and it is not necessarily the case that the first decision was incorrect. It is often the case that new evidence is provided with an appeal and that, as a result, the original decision may be revised by the Deciding Officer or Designated Person. This was the case in 37.1% of favourable appeal outcomes in 2016, 37.6% of such outcomes in 2017 and 31.5% of such outcomes to the end of November 2018.
Where the decision was not revised by the Department in light of the appeal contentions, further evidence is often provided by the appellant as the appeal process proceeds and in addition, the Appeals Officer may gain insights when they meet the appellant in person at oral hearing which may influence the outcome of the appeal.
All claim decisions taken by the Department’s Deciding Officers and Designated Persons are appealable to the Chief Appeals Officer. In any year about 85% of all claims are awarded by the Department and just 1% are appealed. Nevertheless, the Department is concerned that these cases are dealt with as quickly as possible.
Accordingly, significant efforts and resources have been devoted to reforming the appeal process in recent years. As a result, appeal processing times in respect of all schemes improved between 2011 and 2017 from 52.5 weeks for an oral hearing in 2011 to 26.4 weeks in 2017 and from 25.1 weeks for a summary decision in 2011 to 19.8 weeks in 2017. The corresponding processing times for the period January to November 2018 are 30.1 weeks for an oral hearing and 25.1 weeks for a summary decision.
The time taken to process an appeal reflects a number of factors including that the appeals process is a quasi-judicial process with appeals officers being required to decide all appeals on a ‘de-novo’ basis. In addition, appeals decisions are themselves subject to review by the High Court and decisions have to be formally written up to quasi-judicial standards. Other factors that influence appeals processing times include the quality of the initial decision – in this respect the Department has changed the decisions process in respect of medical schemes, in order to provide more information to the claimant. I expect that this will help to reduce the number of appeals over time.
In addition, a number of new Appeals Officers have joined the Appeals Office over the past 12-18 months, to replace staff leaving on retirement. Given the complexity of the appeals process it takes some time for new staff to be trained up and develop expertise and this has led to somewhat longer processing times during this period. The Chief Appeals Officer has advised me that appeal processing times continue to be a priority for her Office.
Finally, it should be noted that an appellant can claim supplementary welfare allowance pending the outcome of their appeal.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Appeal Receipts and Percentage of Favourable Decisions of Appeals Finalised 2012 – 2018
|
- |
Appeal Receipts |
Appeals Finalised |
Favourable Decisions |
Appeals Disallowed |
Withdrawn |
|
2012 |
35,484 |
32,558 |
50.4% |
42.6% |
7.0% |
|
2013 |
32,777 |
38,421 |
55.0% |
39.0% |
6.0% |
|
2014 |
26,069 |
31,211 |
56.5% |
37.7% |
5.8% |
|
2015 |
24,475 |
25,406 |
58.8% |
36.1% |
5.1% |
|
2016 |
22,461 |
23,220 |
59.2% |
35.9% |
4.9% |
|
2017 |
19,658 |
18,980 |
60.1% |
33.9% |
6.0% |
|
2018 (to 30/11/2018) |
17,899 |
17,031 |
58.4% |
36.7% |
4.9% |
Appeal Processing Times 2012– 2018
|
Average processing times (weeks) Summary Decisions |
Average processing times (weeks) Oral Hearings |
|
|
2012 |
27.8 |
39.5 |
|
2013 |
25.8 |
33.9 |
|
2014 |
21.1 |
28.6 |
|
2015 |
18.1 |
25.5 |
|
2016 |
17.6 |
24.1 |
|
2017 |
19.8 |
26.4 |
|
2018 (to 30/11/2018) |
25.1 |
30.1 |
610. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount of money spent on external consultancy reports between May 2016 and to date in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52718/18]
View answerDetails of the amount spent on external consultancy reports between May 2016 to date in 2018 is as set out in the following table.
|
External Consultancy Report |
Amount spent (€) |
|
Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund as at 31st December 2015 |
€281,670 |
|
Assessment of Indoor Air Quality - Longford Headquarters |
€1,913 |
|
Back to Education Allowance Qualitative Study |
€50,670 |
|
Consultancy on Procurement Contract |
€4,244 |
|
Assistance with Compliance of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection with the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 |
€301,350 |
|
Data Protection – General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) Scoping exercise |
€3,444 |
|
Development of National Framework Qualifications (NFQ) Programme for training in the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection |
€29,900 |
|
Economic Analysis of Auto-Enrolment Options |
€25,000 |
|
External review of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection’s website |
€59,100 |
|
Fire Safety Audit on Con Colbert House |
€1,500 |
|
Health & Safety Risk Audit - Longford Headquarters and Intreo Office |
€1,224 |
|
Independent review of the amendments to the One-Parent Family payment since January 2012 by Indecon Consultancy |
€104,944 |
|
Jobseeker Customer Satisfaction Survey 2016 |
€124,550 |
|
Jobseeker Customer Satisfaction Survey 2017 |
€117,372 |
|
Joint Research Programme on Retirement |
€29,500 |
|
Joint Research Programme on Gender and Pensions |
€80,000 |
|
Measurement and Analysis of Household Income & Living Conditions 2017 Programme:1. Technical paper: examine the feasibility of conducting dynamic analysis to explore poverty and deprivation transitions over time and between different social risk groups2. Research report: examine the poverty and deprivation experience of the different risk groups, both dynamically and across a set of selected EU-countries |
€94,070 |
|
Pension Accounting Advice on Post-Employment Benefits |
€4,428 |
|
Provision of Security Partner Services |
€14,673 |
|
Research into Development of Pensions, Longer Working Hours and Retirement Policy |
€32,000 |
|
Review of the Local Employment Services and Job Club services |
€87,232 |
|
Review of the Predictive Analytic Modelling Solutions. |
€9,471 |
|
Standard Authentication Framework Environment (SAFE) – Expert Advice |
€61,194 |
|
Social Inclusion Forum 2016 – Conference Report |
€1,650 |
|
Social Inclusion Forum 2017 – Conference Report |
€1,750 |
|
Social Inclusion Forum 2018 – Conference Report |
€1,433 |
|
Social Protection Research Innovation Awards |
€10,558 |
|
Study to explore the drivers of negative employment outcomes of participants on the Back to Education Scheme |
€41,228 |
|
Survey of Employers (including JobsPlus employers) |
€30,750 |
|
Treatment Benefit Privacy Impact Assessment |
€7,749 |
|
TOTAL EXPENDITURE |
€1,614,567 |
611. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the allocation to Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived, FEAD, Ireland in each of the years 2014 to 2017 and to date in 2018; the distribution of this funding; if funding to FEAD Ireland has increased as a result of the homeless crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52719/18]
View answerThe Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) supports the actions of EU countries to provide material/food assistance to the most deprived. Funding of €3.8 billion is available via the Fund between 2014 and 2020. Each Member State has to match this with a minimum of 15% national funding.
The total value of the fund in Ireland for the period 2014 to 2020 is €26.7m, €4m of which will come from the Irish Exchequer.
The FEAD operation in Ireland began in July 2016. The delay was due to the need to ensure that suitable governance and distribution procedures were in place. Almost €900,000 was spent in 2016, increasing to over €2.5m in 2017 and at the end of November 2018, total funding of approx. €8.9m has been spent through FEAD.
In 2017, though a network of charitable partnership organisations, the Department distributed almost 1,000 tonnes of food to almost 96,000 people in communities throughout the country, either in the form of food parcels or as meals prepared by charitable organisation.
Currently there are 151 approved charities operating the programme, access to this operation remains open for the duration of the Fund. An organisation looking to access the food should send an email to fead@welfare.ie .
612. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the percentage of persons here considered to be in food poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52720/18]
View answerThe CSO publishes two items from the Survey of Income and Living Conditions relating specifically to the consumption of food. The first refers to the percentage of the population who were “unable to afford a meal with meat, chicken or fish every second day”. In 2017, the latest year for which data is available and which was released by the CSO earlier this week, this was 1.7%, down from 4.2% in 2013 when the effects of the recession were most felt. The second refers to the percentage of the population who were “unable to afford a roast once a week”. In 2017, this was 5.3%, a decrease from the 2013 figure of 8.1%.
The primary role of the social welfare income supports provided through my Department is to sustain an adequate standard of living and to prevent poverty, including food poverty. The Irish social welfare system is relatively successful in this role. The 2017 Survey on Income and Living Conditions data, released by the CSO this week, show that social transfers (excluding pensions) reduced the at-risk-of-poverty rate from 32.3 per cent to 15.7 per cent, representing a poverty reduction effect of 51 per cent. Ireland continues to be one the best performing EU member states in this regard, and this reflects the Government commitment to protect core weekly welfare rates during the recession.
Difficulty in meeting regular ongoing needs may result from a family encountering exceptional once-off expenditures. In this regard, under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income.
My Department also administers the Fund for European Aid for the Most Deprived (FEAD) which provides food and basic consumer products to people most at risk. In 2017, through a network of charitable partnership organisations, the Department distributed almost 1,000 tonnes of food to over 96,000 people in communities throughout the country, either in the form of food parcels or as meals prepared by charitable organisations. The Department's FEAD budget for 2018 is €8m, of which €4.5m is allocated to ongoing food distribution with the remainder allocated to the distribution of material assistance in the areas of homelessness, school kits and new migrants.
In addition, the School Meals programme provides funding for a breakfast for all children and lunch for up to 90% of children in DEIS schools for the entire school year from September to June. Breakfasts are also now available in some school outside DEIS. Funding towards school meals is being provided in over 1,580 schools and other organisations, supporting over 248,000 children at a cost of some €54 million in 2018. I was also pleased to announce, as part of the Budget 2019 package, the introduction of a pilot scheme to provide hot school meals. The pilot, which will run from September 2019, will fund up to 36 schools to provide hot school means to up to 7,200 children.
613. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will issue on an application by a person (details supplied) for a working family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52737/18]
View answerWorking Family Payment (WFP) is a weekly tax-free payment which provides additional income support to employees on low earnings with children.
An application for WFP was received from the person concerned on 12 October 2018.
WFP is not payable while an applicant is a Qualified Adult (QA) on their spouse's Jobseeker's Allowance. (JSA)
The applicant is a qualified adult on their spouse's current JSA claim.
It has been established that WFP is more beneficial for the family. The Department has written to the person concerned on 17 December 2018 advising them to have their spouse's JSA payment adjusted.
Once this has been completed their WFP application will be processed without delay.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
614. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to delays in processing the working family payment by which families can be waiting three months to have their applications processed; if additional resources have been provided to ensure working families do not have to suffer financial hardship pending payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52751/18]
View answerWorking Family Income (WFP ) is an in-work payment which provides additional income support to employees on low earnings with children. Once awarded, it is payable for 52 weeks, provided the employee does not lose or change their job.
My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible.
The average monthly processing time for new WFP applications is 8 weeks.
All possible steps are being taken to improve processing times in this area. All available staff are assigned to claims processing to ensure applications are dealt with as quickly as possible.
WFP renewal forms are issued to customers 8 weeks before the expiry of the 52-week period and these are generally processed within 2 weeks of expiry.
Anyone experiencing financial difficulties while awaiting a decision on any social welfare payment can contact their local Intreo Centre and enquire as to their entitlement to a payment under the Department's Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
615. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if all moneys due to a person (details supplied) will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52810/18]
View answerThe Illness Benefit claim for the person concerned is paid up to the 15th December 2018, including payment for all qualified children, and all arrears owing to him have been issued.
The claim is medically certified up to the 16th December 2018.
If the person concerned 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.
616. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when disability allowance arrears will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52862/18]
View answerThe person concerned was awarded disability allowance with effect from 30 May 2018.
A letter issued to this gentleman informing him of this decision on 22 August 2018. His first payment was issued on 29 August 2018.
Disability allowance arrears issued to this gentleman on 11 December 2018.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
617. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the working family payment for a person (details supplied); if payment will issue before Christmas 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52871/18]
View answerWorking Family Payment (WFP) is a weekly tax-free payment which provides additional income support to employees on low earnings with children.
An application for WFP was received from the person concerned on 15 November 2018.
The applicant has been awarded WFP with effect from 18 October 2018 to 16 October 2019.
The first weekly payment and all arrears owing will issue to their nominated bank account on 14 December 2018.
The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 12 December 2018 and of the right of review and appeal.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
618. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will issue in regard to a review of a carer's allowance application submitted in April 2018 by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52956/18]
View answerThe person concerned has been in receipt of a half-rate carer's allowance (CA) since 13 August 2009 as her husband had been claiming an increase in his jobseeker allowance (JA) in respect of her.
Her husband's JA ceased in 2011 and has been in receipt of a state pension contributory (SPC) since 2015 without claiming an increase in respect of his wife.
The person concerned sought an increase to full-rate CA in April 2018 for the period from 2011 to date. As the means of the person concerned and her husband changed in 2011 and this could have an effect on her entitlement, the matter was referred to Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) to ascertain her means for the period in question.
The SWI requested additional information from the person concerned on 3 December 2018 in order to finalise their report.
When the information as requested is submitted and the SWI has reported, a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
619. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in counties Cavan and Monaghan in receipt of carer's allowance, carer's benefit and respite grants between 2011 and 2018, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52966/18]
View answerThe information requested (where available) by the Deputy is detailed in the attached tabular statement.
Recipients of Carer's Benefit, Carer's Allowance and Carer's Support Grant (formerly Respite Care Grant) at the end of December in each of the years 2011 to 2017 and at 30 November 2018.
|
Cavan Recipients |
Carer’s Benefit |
Carer’s Allowance |
Carer's Support Grant* (Respite care Grant) |
|
Dec 2011 |
26 |
826 |
Not Available |
|
Dec 2012 |
17 |
825 |
Not Available |
|
Dec 2013 |
11 |
904 |
1,087 |
|
Dec 2014 |
39 |
947 |
1,136 |
|
Dec 2015 |
n/a |
1,030 |
1,253 |
|
Dec 2016 |
68 |
1,171 |
1,455 |
|
Dec 2017 |
57 |
1,237 |
1,532 |
|
Nov 2018 |
43 |
1,280 |
1,618 |
|
Monaghan Recipients |
Carer’s Benefit |
Carer’s Allowance |
Carer's Support Grant * (Respite care Grant) |
|
Dec 2011 |
25 |
735 |
Not Available |
|
Dec 2012 |
16 |
745 |
Not Available |
|
Dec 2013 |
9 |
814 |
957 |
|
Dec 2014 |
28 |
822 |
975 |
|
Dec 2015 |
n/a |
853 |
1,027 |
|
Dec 2016 |
39 |
960 |
1,156 |
|
Dec 2017 |
45 |
997 |
1,222 |
|
Nov 2018 |
37 |
1,029 |
1,295 |
* Statistics in respect of Carer's Support Grant are estimated based on the number of grants paid to scheme recipients whose claim was awarded and paying at the date of the query.
620. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the rules that apply in regard to the eligibility of persons who are retained firefighters for jobseeker’s benefit and allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52967/18]
View answerRetained fire-fighters who are otherwise unemployed are entitled to a jobseeker’s payment in respect of days that they are engaged in fire-fighting or training, subject to the usual qualification conditions in relation to means or social insurance contributions. They are also required to satisfy the statutory conditions for the receipt of a jobseeker’s payment of being available for and genuinely seeking full-time work. Any person who fails to satisfy these conditions is not entitled to a jobseeker’s payment.
Retained (part-time) fire-fighters, provide services which are vitally important to their communities. Typically, these workers provide services in rural and less densely populated areas but larger urban centres may also have a cohort of part-time workers.
Taking account of the unusual circumstances of retained fire personnel the Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013 carried amendments to both jobseeker’s benefit and jobseeker’s allowance that put the treatment of retained fire-fighters on a legislative basis. These amendments were introduced with particular regard to the vital service provided by this group, particularly in rural communities where the fire service is almost exclusively staffed by retained personnel.
This legislation provided that when a retained fire-fighter is on call this will not result in a disallowance for a jobseeker’s payment on grounds of availability. It also provides that retained fire-fighters are exempt from suffering a loss of a day of jobseeker’s payment for any day of firefighting employment. Finally, the legislation also provides an exemption for retained fire fighters from having to satisfy the substantial loss of employment condition under jobseeker’s benefit.
The legislation and associated regulations outlined above allow retained fire-fighters a reasonable and fair level of access to the jobseeker schemes given the unique circumstances of the service they provide their communities.
I trust that this information clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
621. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to re-examine the situation for women who lost out on their full State pensions (contributory) due to leaving the workforce to rear their children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52968/18]
View answerOn 23 January last, the Government agreed to allow pensioners, born on or after the 1st September 1946, affected by the 2012 changes in rate bands, to have their state pension (contributory) entitlement calculated under an interim “Total Contributions Approach” (TCA). The changes also provide for up to 20 years of home caring periods in the calculation of that entitlement for those who took time out of the workplace for parenting children under age 12, or individuals who needed increased levels of care.
The changes apply to those who reached pension age on or after 1st September 2012 and were awarded less than maximum rate, on post Budget 2012 rate bands. The changes do not apply to anyone already entitled to maximum rate state pension (contributory).
Approximately 79,000 pensioners (both men and women) have been identified for review. Information Letters have issued to each of these informing them that my Department will contact them directly with the outcome of their individual pension review, or a request for further information regarding gaps in their social insurance record, if required to complete their review. It is not necessary for anyone to contact the Department on this matter.
Work on examination of the social insurance records of the pensioners concerned commenced in September. As social insurance records are unique to individual pensioners, this manual examination phase is expected to continue to the end of the year. To date, over seventy temporary staff members have been recruited to work on this phase. Further recruitment will take place in January 2019 when the first pension reviews are expected to get under way, following enactment of enabling legislation. In line with this, it is anticipated that the first review outcomes will be notified to pensioners during Quarter 1 2019.
Payment of increases, where awarded, will be made immediately after an individual's review is completed. Given the numbers involved, it will take my Departments a number of months to work through all the reviews. In all cases, where the outcome of the review results in an increase in state pension (contributory) entitlement, the increase will be backdated to 30 March 2018 or the date of a person's 66th birthday if later, and arrears will be paid.
Personal pension entitlement rates will not be reduced as a result of this review. If a pensioner does not qualify for an increased rate, they will continue to receive their existing rate of entitlement.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
622. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years of age participating on a community employment scheme by county from January 2017 to end of November 2018, in tabular form. [52969/18]
View answerCommunity Employment (CE) schemes are typically sponsored by groups known as CE Sponsors wishing to benefit the local community. Such schemes provide a valuable service to local communities, while at the same time, providing training and educational opportunities to job seekers.
The following tables provide details of the number of persons under 25 years of age participating on CE schemes by county. Table 1 shows the numbers for the first and last quarter of 2017 while Table 2 shows the numbers in the first quarter of 2018 and the current date.
Table 1
|
County |
Jan-17 |
Feb-17 |
Mar-17 |
Oct-17 |
Nov-17 |
Dec-17 |
|
Carlow |
8 |
8 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
|
Cavan |
6 |
6 |
7 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
|
Clare |
4 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Cork |
91 |
88 |
84 |
82 |
82 |
82 |
|
Donegal |
16 |
18 |
20 |
28 |
28 |
28 |
|
Dublin |
514 |
488 |
495 |
478 |
479 |
463 |
|
Galway |
38 |
38 |
37 |
47 |
45 |
45 |
|
Kerry |
15 |
17 |
17 |
22 |
21 |
21 |
|
Kildare |
7 |
7 |
7 |
12 |
16 |
16 |
|
Kilkenny |
6 |
7 |
8 |
13 |
15 |
15 |
|
Laois |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
|
Leitrim |
3 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
6 |
6 |
|
Limerick |
20 |
21 |
19 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
|
Longford |
10 |
10 |
10 |
13 |
12 |
12 |
|
Louth |
15 |
14 |
19 |
23 |
22 |
22 |
|
Mayo |
0 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
|
Meath |
35 |
33 |
36 |
33 |
32 |
32 |
|
Monaghan |
5 |
5 |
6 |
8 |
9 |
9 |
|
Offaly |
4 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Roscommon |
6 |
5 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
|
Sligo |
8 |
7 |
7 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
|
Tipperary |
31 |
32 |
32 |
33 |
35 |
34 |
|
Waterford |
27 |
22 |
23 |
34 |
35 |
35 |
|
Westmeath |
14 |
15 |
18 |
25 |
23 |
23 |
|
Wexford |
36 |
33 |
33 |
45 |
50 |
51 |
|
Wicklow |
23 |
22 |
21 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
|
Total |
944 |
911 |
929 |
1005 |
1016 |
1001 |
Table 2
|
County |
Jan-18 |
Feb-18 |
Mar-18 |
Dec-18 |
|
CARLOW |
11 |
11 |
15 |
18 |
|
CAVAN |
11 |
13 |
14 |
22 |
|
CLARE |
4 |
6 |
5 |
8 |
|
CORK |
84 |
88 |
80 |
100 |
|
DONEGAL |
30 |
32 |
34 |
34 |
|
DUBLIN |
469 |
483 |
476 |
468 |
|
GALWAY |
46 |
50 |
49 |
52 |
|
KERRY |
22 |
22 |
25 |
27 |
|
KILDARE |
16 |
20 |
22 |
28 |
|
KILKENNY |
19 |
19 |
18 |
30 |
|
LAOIS |
4 |
4 |
4 |
7 |
|
LEITRIM |
6 |
6 |
7 |
5 |
|
LIMERICK |
37 |
36 |
39 |
43 |
|
LONGFORD |
10 |
10 |
10 |
9 |
|
LOUTH |
22 |
25 |
28 |
33 |
|
MAYO |
8 |
10 |
14 |
18 |
|
MEATH |
31 |
34 |
35 |
35 |
|
MONAGHAN |
10 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
|
OFFALY |
3 |
3 |
3 |
5 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
2 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
|
SLIGO |
15 |
15 |
14 |
12 |
|
TIPPERARY |
37 |
39 |
36 |
26 |
|
WATERFORD |
39 |
41 |
42 |
47 |
|
WESTMEATH |
28 |
29 |
30 |
25 |
|
WEXFORD |
54 |
56 |
54 |
53 |
|
WICKLOW |
24 |
25 |
27 |
25 |
|
Total |
1042 |
1090 |
1096 |
1151 |
623. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding the entitlement to optical benefit of a person (details supplied); the entitlements applicable under the scheme; the length of time for payment of optical benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53009/18]
View answerThe person concerned is qualified for optical benefit. Under the scheme a free eye examination can be received once every other year, together with either free or subsidised spectacles, depending on personal choice, and repairs to same. Alternatively contact lenses can be chosen instead of spectacles if preferred.
Qualified contributors can obtain the required services from opticians contracted to the department. Contracted opticians can check a persons eligibility and claim payment directly via an on-line portal provided by the Department called WelfarePartners. Payment issues directly to opticians once per calendar month for claims submitted in the previous period. There is no delay in issuing payments and all claims are paid promptly.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
