Written Answers Nos. 620-641
620. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when all pensioners who are due an increase in pension due to the use of the contributions approach with homecare credits in calculating their pension benefits will receive the increase and back payments due to them. [8018/19]
View answerSince late September 2018, my Department has been examining the social insurance records of approximately 90,000 pensioners, born on or after 1 September 1946, who have a reduced rate State pension contributory entitlement on post Budget 2012 rate-bands. These payments are being reviewed under a new Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to pension calculation which includes provision for homecaring periods. My Department has already written to these pensioners to explain the process.
I have last week signed the necessary regulations, which together provisions in the Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registrations Act 2018, allows the increased payments to be made on foot of the reviews. My Department has already started issuing the outcome of reviews and the first increased payments will start to issue this week. These increased payments will include arrears to the 30th March 2018, or the pensioner’s 66th birthday if later than that. Where pension rates do not increase as a result of this review, they will continue to be paid at their existing rate of entitlement. No one will be worse off as a result of this review.
Where possible, my Department will use information already held to assist in the reviews. In some, but not all, cases additional information is required from pensioners about unexplained gaps in their social insurance record to complete their review. In January, almost 24,000 requests for additional information were issued. These requests included details on how to provide the required information using the Department’s online services. Provision has been made for those who do not have access to a personal computer, or the internet by providing a dedicated telephone number to request paper forms.
Given the numbers involved, it will take my Department a number of months to complete the reviews and approximately 120 additional temporary staff have been recruited to help with this work.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
621. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a payment for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8021/19]
View answerThe Illness Benefit claim for the person concerned overlapped with payment under another social welfare scheme. As a result, the monetary difference between this payment and his Illness Benefit payment had to be calculated.
The Illness Benefit claim has now been processed and any arrears due have been issued. The person concerned has been paid up to the 12th February 2019 which is the date on the most recent medical certificate received.
If the person concerned remains ill and unfit for work, a medical certificate should be submitted to the Department as early as possible each week in order for payments to issue.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
622. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on a universal basic income for all citizens; if such a proposal has been evaluated and costed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8056/19]
View answerThe concept of a universal basic income is of long-standing and argues for an unconditional transfer paid to everyone by the state, in place of large parts of the existing social protection system. Advocates of the approach argue that it would remove the need for complex means-testing for benefit receipts; allow for a greater flexibility in managing work, family and other responsibilities; provide a degree of income security in fast-moving labour markets; and address inequality.
However modelling research from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) warns that a universal basic income scheme would require large tax increases, provide less effective supports for the poor and result in a large number of people gaining and losing from its introduction.
There are different models of basic income so the cost of introducing a universal basic income for all citizens would vary significantly depending on the specific design.
The tax and social welfare system in Ireland is continually reviewed, in the budgetary process and otherwise, in terms of its impact in redistributing income while ensuring the maintenance of incentives for people to contribute to society through employment. In addition, the National Minimum Wage, which sets the legally-binding lowest average hourly rate that can be paid by an employer to an employee, applies to all employees, including full-time, part-time, temporary and casual employees (with some exceptions).
The Low Pay Commission takes an evidence based approach when considering its recommendation to the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection each year and the Government has consistently implemented these recommendations. Since the establishment of the Low Pay Commission in 2015 it has increased on an annual basis, rising from €8.65 per hour to the current rate of €9.80 per hour from 1 January 2019.
When considering the National Minimum Wage rate, the primary aim of the Low Pay Commission is to have a minimum wage that provides an incentive to work, is set at a rate that is both fair and sustainable, and helps as many people as possible, without a significant adverse effect on competitiveness or a significant negative effect on employment.
The Department is aware that limited experiments with what might be referred to as “partial” basic income approaches are underway or planned in other countries and we will follow the outcome of these experiments to see if they provide any lessons that might be applied to aspects of the Irish system.
623. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the first payments under the State pension review will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8074/19]
View answerSince late September 2018, my Department has been examining the social insurance records of approximately 80,000 pensioners, born on or after 1 September 1946, who have a reduced rate State pension contributory entitlement on post Budget 2012 rate-bands. These payments are being reviewed under a new Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to pension calculation which includes provision for homecaring periods. My Department has already written to these pensioners to explain the process.
I have last week signed the necessary regulations, which together provisions in the Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registrations Act 2018, allows the increased payments to be made on foot of the reviews. My Department has already started issuing the outcome of reviews and the first increased payments will start to issue this week. These increased payments will include arrears to the 30th March 2018, or the pensioner’s 66th birthday if later than that. Where pension rates do not increase as a result of this review, they will continue to be paid at their existing rate of entitlement. No one will be worse off as a result of this review.
Where possible, my Department will use information already held to assist in the reviews. In some, but not all, cases additional information is required from pensioners about unexplained gaps in their social insurance record to complete their review. In January, almost 24,000 requests for additional information were issued. These requests included details on how to provide the required information using the Department’s online services. Provision has been made for those who do not have access to a personal computer, or the internet by providing a dedicated telephone number to request paper forms which will issue over the next two weeks.
Given the numbers involved, it will take my Department a number of months to complete the reviews and approximately 120 additional temporary staff have been recruited to help with this work.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
624. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to reinstate the State transition pension to prevent persons forced to retire at 65 years of age from having to apply for jobseeker's allowance for one year until they reach the State pensionable age of 66 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8080/19]
View answerIt is well known that people are living for much longer. As a result of this demographic change, the number of State pension recipients is increasing year on year. This has significant implications for the future costs of State pension provision which are currently increasing by approximately €1 billion every 5 years. In the coming decades, the ratio of workers to pensioners is set to halve, which clearly has significant implications for any state pension system, based as it is on a pay-as-you-go basis.
The purpose of changes to the State pension age is to make the pension system more sustainable in the context of increasing life expectancy. This sustainability is vital, if the current workers, who fund State pension payments through their PRSI, are to receive a pension themselves when they reach retirement age. Therefore, the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 provided that State pension age will be increased gradually to 68 years. This began in January 2014 with the abolition of the State pension (transition) which was available to people aged 65 who satisfied the qualifying conditions. This measure standardised the State pension age for all at 66 years. This will increase to 67 in 2021 and to 68 in 2028. Reversing the 2014 change could be expected to cost a sum in the region of €100 million per annum, depending upon the impact it would have upon retirement patterns.
In most cases, it is hoped that workers will continue to work up to State pension age, and where this happens, they will have higher incomes, and possibly higher pensions, than if they retired on their 65th birthday. Where this is not possible and a person exits the workforce before reaching State pension age they may apply for either the jobseeker’s benefit or jobseeker’s allowance schemes. Jobseeker’s payments are currently paid to eligible jobseekers aged 18 to 66 years.
Jobseekers Benefit is payable subject to the person satisfying the general scheme conditions. This entitlement is normally paid for 9 months (234 days) for people with 260 or more PRSI contributions paid and for 6 months (156 days) for people with fewer than 260 PRSI contributions paid. Arrangements are in place to provide that jobseekers whose benefit expires in their 65th year can generally continue to be paid benefit up until pensionable age (66 years) provided they satisfy the necessary contribution conditions. The jobseekers schemes are kept under review and any further changes, including entitlement beyond the 66th year, will be considered in that context.
It is important to remember that there is no legally mandated retirement age in the State, and the age at which employees retire is a matter for the contract of employment between them and their employers. While such a contract may have been entered into with a retirement date of 65, in the context of the previous State pension arrangements, there is no legal impediment to the employer and employee agreeing to increase the duration of employment for one or more years, if both parties wish to do so. In this regard, the Workplace Relations Commission has produced a Code of Practice on Longer Working and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) has published guidance material for employers on the use of fixed-term contracts beyond normal retirement age.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
625. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a carer's benefit application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8118/19]
View answerCarer's benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention. An increased payment can be made where full-time care is being provided to two people.
An application for CARB was received from the person concerned on 23 October 2018.
The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer decided that although the person concerned is providing a certain level of care the time involved is not considered to be full time.
The person concerned was notified on 28 January 2018 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
A review of this decision was sought on 4 February 2019. The outcome of the review is that the original decision remains unchanged.
To date no further request for a review or appeal has been received from the person concerned. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
626. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a review of a disability allowance for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8132/19]
View answerThe person concerned applied for disability allowance (DA) on 30 August 2018. This application, based upon all the evidence submitted, was disallowed on medical grounds as it was not found that this lady was substantially restricted in taking up employment. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 22 November 2018.
They requested a review of the decision by a deciding officer (DO) and submitted additional medical evidence for consideration on 7 February 2019. Once the review is completed, they will be notified directly of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
627. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a social welfare payment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8142/19]
View answerWorking Family Payment (WFP) is an in-work payment which provides additional income support to employees on low earnings with children. In order to qualify for WFP, the applicant or the applicant and their spouse, partner or cohabitant must be engaged in full-time remunerative employment as an employee for not less than 38 hours per fortnight. This condition must be satisfied on an on-going basis.
An application for WFP was received from the person concerned on 24 August 2018.
Their application was disallowed on 12 December 2018 as they did not satisfy the condition of hours worked.
However, they have requested a review of the decision of 12 December 2018. Following their request for a review, their application was referred to a local Social Welfare Officer (SWI) for further clarification. The relevant SWI has been contacted and has confirmed that this case will be expedited.
On receipt of the completed report from the SWI, the decision of 12 December 2018 will be reviewed without delay and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
628. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an illness benefit claim will be reinstated in the case of a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay in processing same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8212/19]
View answerThe Illness Benefit payment to the person concerned was interrupted on the 4th February 2019 pending clarification of her employment status.
Payment was resumed from 14th February and the arrears of payment due to her will issue shortly.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
629. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the supports available for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8221/19]
View answerI can confirm that the above named person applied for disability allowance (DA) on 22 August 2018. In October 2018 the claim was sent to a Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) for investigation. As the SWI was unable to contact the customer or determine his place of residence, the claim was disallowed.
A completed application form for disability allowance must be submitted to the Department in order to have eligibility checked and a formal decision made on entitlement.
The person in question can apply to the Community Welfare Officer for the means tested Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) if he is in need of financial assistance.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
630. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) based in her Department in County Louth will be replaced after the official retires in two weeks' time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8227/19]
View answerMy Department, like all Government departments and agencies is required to operate within a staff ceiling figure and a commensurate administrative staffing budget, which for this Department has involved reductions in staff.
The staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continuously reviewed, taking account of workloads, management priorities and the ongoing need to respond to new increasing demands in a wide range of services. The objective is to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources with a view to providing an efficient service to those who rely on the schemes operated by the Department.
The vacancy in Louth is being examined and a decision will be made in due course.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
631. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of referrals to JobPath, community employment schemes and Tús in each of the years 2015 to 2018 and to date in 2019, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8230/19]
View answerThe Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection provides a range of activation supports catering for long-term unemployed jobseekers and those most distant from the labour market to secure and sustain full-time paid employment. These supports include the JobPath service, Tús and Community Employment (CE).
The Tús initiative is a community work placement scheme providing short-term working opportunities for unemployed people. These work opportunities benefit the community and are provided by community and voluntary organisations in both urban and rural areas. There are currently 6,500 budgeted places on Tús involved in the delivery of local services.
The aim of Community Employment is to enhance the employability and mobility of disadvantaged and unemployed persons by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their communities. Virtually all participants are engaged in some element of service support and delivery - e.g. amenities management, sports, tidy towns, childcare, etc.. There are currently 921 Community Employment schemes catering for 21,371 participants.
JobPath is a service that supports the long-term unemployed to obtain and sustain paid employment. Between its launch in July 2015 and February 2019, some 209,000 jobseekers have engaged with the service. The JobPath service is provided for jobseekers only and it's aim is to assist participants in finding sustainable full-time paid employment.
Since the first of June 2018 long term jobseekers engaged with the JobPath service can also apply for either Community Employment or Tús. This enables those people with the JobPath service to avail of a CE or Tús placement which provides valuable occupational activity and work experience. However, continued engagement with the JobPath service is a condition of opting to avail of both schemes.
Tús and Community Employment do not, nor are they intended to, provide full-time sustainable employment.
Table 1; People engaged with JobPath, Annually, by County, since its introduction in 2015
|
County |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 YTD |
|
Carlow |
219 |
1487 |
1620 |
1450 |
89 |
|
Cavan |
300 |
1419 |
1425 |
1509 |
90 |
|
Clare |
183 |
1630 |
1689 |
1424 |
93 |
|
Cork |
943 |
5965 |
6568 |
4641 |
253 |
|
Donegal |
268 |
3312 |
3787 |
3432 |
197 |
|
Dublin |
318 |
12100 |
16008 |
12928 |
760 |
|
Galway |
596 |
2856 |
3061 |
2733 |
173 |
|
Kerry |
113 |
2462 |
2665 |
1737 |
113 |
|
Kildare |
373 |
2933 |
3122 |
1923 |
111 |
|
Kilkenny |
198 |
1243 |
1511 |
1122 |
80 |
|
Laois |
8 |
1419 |
1890 |
1363 |
89 |
|
Leitrim |
4 |
635 |
698 |
623 |
26 |
|
Limerick |
397 |
3344 |
3451 |
2771 |
187 |
|
Longford |
497 |
1193 |
1350 |
1127 |
51 |
|
Louth |
327 |
2930 |
3013 |
2716 |
147 |
|
Mayo |
203 |
1837 |
2199 |
2052 |
118 |
|
Meath |
136 |
1262 |
1631 |
1439 |
60 |
|
Monaghan |
1 |
905 |
1086 |
730 |
33 |
|
Offaly |
105 |
2106 |
1842 |
1528 |
73 |
|
Roscommon |
5 |
496 |
730 |
698 |
41 |
|
Sligo |
2 |
1023 |
1137 |
1067 |
64 |
|
Tipperary |
171 |
2750 |
3423 |
2523 |
134 |
|
Waterford |
435 |
2442 |
2553 |
1743 |
116 |
|
Westmeath |
137 |
2286 |
2405 |
2030 |
132 |
|
Wexford |
239 |
3676 |
3756 |
2125 |
127 |
|
Wicklow |
410 |
1714 |
2060 |
1850 |
70 |
|
Total |
6588 |
65425 |
74680 |
59284 |
3427 |
Table 2; Tús Participants, Annually, by County, since 2015
|
County |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 YTD |
|
Carlow |
210 |
184 |
144 |
132 |
15 |
|
Cavan |
139 |
125 |
100 |
120 |
18 |
|
Clare |
170 |
130 |
111 |
152 |
14 |
|
Cork |
924 |
747 |
616 |
612 |
49 |
|
Donegal |
493 |
432 |
414 |
361 |
56 |
|
Dublin |
1764 |
1716 |
1435 |
1392 |
119 |
|
Galway |
503 |
446 |
430 |
432 |
45 |
|
Kerry |
249 |
243 |
209 |
243 |
15 |
|
Kildare |
277 |
329 |
228 |
206 |
20 |
|
Kilkenny |
111 |
131 |
105 |
98 |
5 |
|
Laois |
129 |
111 |
96 |
123 |
6 |
|
Leitrim |
90 |
84 |
86 |
91 |
3 |
|
Limerick |
346 |
315 |
279 |
273 |
14 |
|
Longford |
108 |
81 |
102 |
108 |
6 |
|
Louth |
249 |
200 |
197 |
201 |
25 |
|
Mayo |
334 |
290 |
339 |
293 |
33 |
|
Meath |
283 |
273 |
253 |
259 |
16 |
|
Monaghan |
115 |
120 |
97 |
100 |
15 |
|
Offaly |
181 |
174 |
132 |
160 |
10 |
|
Roscommon |
139 |
148 |
106 |
87 |
13 |
|
Sligo |
179 |
135 |
144 |
157 |
16 |
|
Tipperary |
417 |
412 |
380 |
368 |
24 |
|
Waterford |
364 |
320 |
315 |
303 |
36 |
|
Westmeath |
139 |
131 |
106 |
127 |
1 |
|
Wexford |
363 |
300 |
285 |
347 |
36 |
|
Wicklow |
289 |
279 |
288 |
275 |
33 |
|
Total |
8565 |
7856 |
6997 |
7020 |
643 |
Table 3; Community Employment Participants, Annually, by County, since 2015
|
County |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
To date 2019 |
|
Carlow |
136 |
186 |
191 |
161 |
10 |
|
CAVAN |
192 |
174 |
144 |
157 |
14 |
|
CLARE |
283 |
197 |
197 |
184 |
13 |
|
CORK |
1,052 |
1,016 |
849 |
788 |
90 |
|
DONEGAL |
651 |
567 |
532 |
385 |
27 |
|
DUBLIN |
2,847 |
2,690 |
2,481 |
2,303 |
185 |
|
GALWAY |
672 |
621 |
509 |
435 |
39 |
|
KERRY |
523 |
389 |
394 |
343 |
35 |
|
KILDARE |
376 |
358 |
333 |
357 |
23 |
|
KILKENNY |
255 |
205 |
235 |
250 |
28 |
|
LAOIS |
183 |
163 |
127 |
120 |
7 |
|
Leitrim |
66 |
70 |
76 |
61 |
1 |
|
LIMERICK |
718 |
497 |
541 |
550 |
42 |
|
LONGFORD |
123 |
97 |
96 |
100 |
13 |
|
LOUTH |
558 |
492 |
442 |
346 |
34 |
|
MAYO |
373 |
280 |
280 |
229 |
27 |
|
MEATH |
225 |
199 |
180 |
196 |
17 |
|
MONAGHAN |
242 |
213 |
202 |
177 |
8 |
|
OFFALY |
243 |
226 |
181 |
180 |
13 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
159 |
118 |
105 |
104 |
7 |
|
SLIGO |
224 |
187 |
156 |
164 |
9 |
|
TIPPERARY |
562 |
510 |
423 |
376 |
48 |
|
WATERFORD |
497 |
374 |
407 |
373 |
36 |
|
Westmeath |
280 |
211 |
254 |
241 |
15 |
|
Wexford |
489 |
395 |
406 |
409 |
48 |
|
WICKLOW |
267 |
277 |
243 |
224 |
22 |
|
Total |
12,196 |
10,712 |
9,984 |
9,213 |
811 |
632. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost of operating community employment schemes, JobPath, Tús and local employment services in each of the years 2015 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8231/19]
View answerMy Department provides a range of activation supports catering for long-term unemployed jobseekers and those most distant from the labour market to secure and sustain full-time paid employment. These supports include the Community Employment (CE), Tús, JobPath and Local Employment Schemes (LES).
The aim of CE is to enhance the employability and mobility of disadvantaged and unemployed persons by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their communities. It also helps long-term unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work routine. Schemes are typically sponsored by voluntary and community organisations wishing to benefit the local community and virtually all participants are engaged in some element of service support and delivery - e.g. amenities management, arts and culture, sports, tidy towns, childcare and health-related services.
The Tús initiative is a community work placement scheme providing short-term working opportunities for unemployed people. The work opportunities are to benefit the community and are provided by community and voluntary organisations in both urban and rural areas. The initiative is delivered through the network of local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta in Gaeltacht areas, collectively known as the Implementing Bodies (IBs). The purpose of the scheme is the provision of quality work for those who are unemployed in order to break the cycle of unemployment and to improve a person’s opportunities in returning to the labour market.
JobPath came into operation in July 2015. The roll-out of JobPath commenced in July 2015 on a “soft launch” basis and was completed in June 2016. JobPath is a case-managed employment service where jobseekers receive intensive individual support to help them address barriers to employment and to find jobs. The service supports people who are long-term unemployed to obtain and sustain paid employment. Between July 2015 and February 2019 some 209,000 jobseekers have engaged with the service.
JobPath is a payment by results model and all set-up and day-to-day operational costs are borne by the companies. The companies are paid on the basis of performance and with the exception of the initial registration fee, payments are made only when a client has achieved sustained employment. The overall cost of JobPath will be determined by the number of people who participate in the programme and the number who get sustainable jobs.
The Department contracts for the provision of the local employment service (LES) with 22 local development/community companies. The LES have been engaged to deliver services to two client groups: unemployed jobseekers referred for activation by the Department and ‘other’ client groups, who attend the service voluntarily. The ‘other’ client group include people who have a disability, lone parents, early school leavers, qualified adults, non-Live Register returners (previously women returners), ex-offenders, members of the travelling community, long term unemployed (LTU) refugees and low income small holders.
Table 1 - Annual expenditure 2015 to date by DEASP programme
|
Programme |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 (provisional) |
2019 to date |
|
Community Employment |
€364.99m |
€356.34m |
€350.48m |
€353.07m |
€44.36m |
|
JobPath |
€1.24m |
€25.19m |
€57.42m |
€71.70m |
€7.00m |
|
Tús |
€124.57m |
€118.60m |
€109.54m |
€110.54m |
€22.61m |
|
Local Employment Service |
€19.51m |
€18.43m |
€18.56m |
€18.49m |
€2.10m |
633. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a cost-benefit analysis of the impact that the proposed IORP II regulation would have on the operation of pension schemes with fewer than 100 members, in particular its application to one-person pension schemes, has been carried out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8254/19]
View answer634. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the consultation she plans to undertake with relevant stakeholders in respect of the regulation required to give effect to the transposition of IORP II into law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8255/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 633 and 634 together.
The Government's Roadmap for Pensions Reform 2018 -2023 launched in February 2018 detailed specific measures that will modernise our pension system. It includes plans for reform and simplification of occupational and private pensions. Transposition of the Directive is a key part of the Government’s Roadmap.
Transposition of the IORP II Directive will support positive reform of the Irish funded occupational pension sector. Transposition will raise governance standards, improve trustee qualification and suitability, and increase supervision through enhanced powers for the Pensions Authority.
In 2014, the Department undertook an open public consultation on the IORP II Directive. Further to that, the Pensions Authority undertook a consultation process on the reform and simplification of supplementary funded private pensions in 2016. In addition, officials of my Department have engaged on the provisions of the Directive with numerous representatives and stakeholders over a number of years.
My Department, supported by the Pensions Authority, conducted detailed analysis on the implementation of the Directive.
While the Directive provides for the possibility of derogation from specific Articles for smaller schemes, I believe that members of smaller schemes should get the same protections and oversight as members of large schemes. Money saved for pension purposes should be properly protected to ensure that people have adequate income for their retirement years. It should be noted that Member States must apply certain provisions concerning investment rules and the system of governance to schemes which have more than 15 members.
The Pension Authority advises that there are 100,000 single member schemes and that 98% of these schemes are already compliant with the investment rules of the IORP II Directive. Those not compliant will not be obliged to change existing investments and borrowings.
Article 19 of the Directive sets out the investment rules for occupational pension schemes. The underlying principle for capital investment is for schemes to invest in accordance with the 'prudent person' rule and the other specific rules set out in the Article. It is recognised that there should be an appropriate level of investment freedom for schemes within prudent limits and this is reflected in the rules. Assets must be predominantly invested on regulated markets, i.e., at least 50%. This allows adequate scope for investment in instruments with a long-term economic profile and non-listed undertakings such as property and infrastructure.
The value of investments held in many schemes fell substantially during the financial crisis. This emphasised the need for stricter regulation and greater protections, especially for small schemes investing in riskier unregulated markets. Concerns in relation to this sector are particularly around the protection of the consumer and the money they have invested, the riskiness of investments, the charges that apply, and the standard of governance. Accordingly, the Government has decided that the provisions of the Directive should apply to all funded occupational pension schemes.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
635. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 707 of 12 February 2019, if a community employment scheme supervisor can remain on the same wages if he or she is transferred to a different scheme due to a merger and is demoted in title to assistant supervisor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8343/19]
View answerSupervisors on CE schemes are employees of companies that receive public funding in the community and voluntary sector. They are not employees of my Department or public servants.
CE companies contract with my Department to provide suitable work and training opportunities for participants. A CE scheme may be considered no longer viable when the sponsor organisation is unable to fill the participant numbers as agreed in the contract with my Department. In these circumstances mergers may be considered.
As outlined in my earlier reply to the Deputy, if a merger occurs, a supervisor can transfer directly to the new scheme if there is a position of the same rank available. I have been assured that in the case referred to by the Deputy, the person in question will retain their position as a supervisor on transfer to the new scheme.
A business taken over by another employer as a result of a legal merger or transfer the rights of the employees are protected by the following legislation, the European Communities (Protection of Employees on Transfer of Undertakings) Regulations 2003.
636. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of rent supplement tenancies at the end of 2018; and the cost of the scheme in 2018, in tabular form. [8375/19]
View answerRent supplement continues its vital role in housing families and individuals for which the Government has provided €132.4 million for 2019.
Rent supplement recipients at year end and expenditure for 2018 is provided in the following tabular statement.
The strategic goal of returning rent supplement to its original purpose, that of a short-term income support, has been primarily facilitated by the introduction of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). The “Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness (July 2016), reiterated in the “Housing First National Implementation Plan 2018-2021” (September 2018), is to provide 87,000 flexible housing supports through the HAP and Rental Accommodation Scheme between 2016 and 2021.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Tabular Statement:
Rent Supplement: Recipient Numbers & Expenditure 2018
|
Year |
Recipients |
Cost €000 |
|
2018 |
24,303 |
175,024* |
* Provisional Year End Figure
637. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an illness benefit payment for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8380/19]
View answerThe Illness Benefit claim from the person concerned was interrupted on the 6th February 2019 pending confirmation of his employment status.
An officer from the Department has since contacted the person concerned and payment was resumed from the 14th February. The arrears of payment due to him will issue shortly.
Medical certificates of incapacity should continue to be submitted by the person concerned in a regular fashion to ensure continuity of payment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
638. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the revision of a case (details supplied) will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8393/19]
View answerCarer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
A person can be considered to be providing full-time care and attention where they are engaged in employment, self-employment or on training courses outside the home as long as the duration of these activities does not exceed 15 hours per week, provided that they can show to the satisfaction of a deciding officer that adequate care has been provided for the care recipient in their absence.
I confirm that my department received an application for CA from the person concerned on 8 October 2018.
The evidence before the deciding officer showed that the person concerned was engaged in employment outside the home and the duration of activity exceeded 15 hours per week. The person concerned was notified on 31 January 2019 that she was not entitled to CA, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
The person concerned requested a review of this decision and submitted additional evidence in support of her application. The outcome of the review was that the original decision was confirmed.
The person concerned then submitted documents stating that her hours had been reduced to under the statutory limit from 13 February 2019.
Accordingly the application was awarded to the person concerned on 15 February 2019 and first payment will issue to her nominated bank account on 28 February 2019.
Arrears of allowance due from 14 February 2019 to 27 February 2019 will also issue.
The person concerned was notified on 15 February 2019 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
639. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to cost overruns on contracts within her Department with a value in excess of €10 million that came in more than 10% over budget in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019; if so, the details of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8422/19]
View answerMy Department has a project governance committee which oversees all projects. This is a sub-committee of the management board and is chaired by the Secretary General. The Department has a strong governance structure and each project reports into a programme board which is normally chaired by a programme sponsor at Assistant Secretary level. The programme board in turn reports in the project governance committee, which meets on a regular basis. The committee also holds an annual project conference where each project, existing or new, needs to apply for funding for the following year.
Through the Department’s governance process, project proposals and initiatives are approved and prioritised; budgets and resources are assigned and implementation monitored. This structure ensures a robust monitoring of projects and provides a mechanism for early identifications of any issues that are emerging.
My Department stayed within its overall project governance committee funding allocation in each of the years in question, no project overruns have been reported to me and I am satisfied that effective project governance structures are in place.
640. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications awaiting a decision in respect of the various social welfare entitlements; the number on appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8434/19]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy (where available) is in the following tabular statements. The first table details both the number of claims pending at the end of the month and the number of appeals on hand for those schemes. The second table details the number of appeals on hand for additional schemes where, as a result of IT system limitations, the number of pending claims cannot be determined.
Tabular statement.
|
Scheme |
Pending 31 January 2019 |
Appeals on Hand at 31 January 2019 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
3,874 |
200 |
|
Widow(er)'s Contributory Pension |
689 |
25 |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
924 |
217 |
|
Jobseekers Allowance |
4,279 |
1,856 |
|
Jobseekers Benefit |
2,064 |
332 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
714 |
182 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance BASI |
594 |
395 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
1,390 |
21 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
2,015 |
7 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
3,911 |
1,527 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
789 |
74 |
|
Disability Allowance |
5,374 |
1,789 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
2,491 |
859 |
|
Illness Benefit |
959 |
273 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
1,723 |
33 |
|
Child Benefit |
1,598 |
300 |
|
Widowed Parent Grant |
18 |
2 |
|
Working Family Payment |
5,158 |
219 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
1,138 |
695 |
|
Household Benefits |
2,357 |
N/avail |
|
Free Travel |
6 |
N/avail |
|
Scheme |
Appeals on Hands at 31 January 2019 |
|
Blind Person’s Pension |
5 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
68 |
|
Deserted Wives Benefit |
6 |
|
Farm Assist |
53 |
|
Bereavement Grant |
1 |
|
Liable Relatives |
2 |
|
Disablement Pension |
206 |
|
Medical Care |
3 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
6 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Contributory) |
11 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory) |
4 |
|
BTW Family Dividend |
17 |
|
Carer’s Support Grant |
59 |
|
Widowed Parent Grant |
2 |
|
Widow(er)'s Pension Non-con |
14 |
|
Treatment Benefits |
1 |
641. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which original decisions are overturned on appeal in respect of the various categories of social welfare payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8435/19]
View answerThe following table provides details of the outcome of all appeals by scheme for 2018.
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.
18,507 appeals were finalised in 2018. Appeals which had a favourable outcome for the appellant consist of appeals which were either allowed in full or in part by an Appeals Officer (a total of 7,464 or 40.3%) or which were resolved by way of a revised decision in favour of the appellant by a Deciding Officer/Designated Person (a total of 3,425 or 18.5%). The 7,464 appeals which were either allowed in full or in part by an Appeals Officer constitute 52.8% of the 14,145 appeals finalised by Appeals Officers in 2018.
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.
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.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Outcome of Appeals by Category 2018
|
|
Allowed By Appeals Officers |
Partially Allowed By Appeals Officers |
Revised DO/DP Decision |
Disallowed By Appeals Officers |
Withdrawn |
Total |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
85 23.4% |
29 8.0% |
70 19.3% |
144 39.7% |
35 9.6% |
363 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
35 9.5% |
9 2.5% |
64 17.4% |
244 66.5% |
15 4.1% |
367 |
|
Widow’s/Widower’s Pension (Contributory) |
18 45.0% |
-
|
2 5.0% |
14 35.0% |
6 15.0% |
40 |
|
Death Benefit |
-
|
-
|
-
|
1 100.0% |
-
|
1 |
|
Bereavement Grant |
-
|
-
|
-
|
1 100.0% |
- |
1 |
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance - Payments |
280 18.0% |
99 6.4% |
251 16.1% |
785 50.4% |
141 9.1% |
1,556 |
|
Jobseeker’s Transitional |
9 19.1% |
5 10.6% |
9 19.1% |
18 38.3% |
6 12.8% |
47 |
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance -Means |
150 10.4% |
83 5.8% |
194 13.5% |
836 58.1% |
176 12.2% |
1,439 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
47 20.4% |
13 5.7% |
46 20.0% |
83 36.1% |
41 17.8% |
230 |
|
Widow’s/Widower’s Pension (Non-Contributory) |
4 23.5% |
2 11.8% |
- |
10 58.8% |
1 5.9% |
17 |
|
Deserted Wife’s Allowance |
1 100.0% |
-
|
- |
- |
- |
1 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
258 24.6% |
29 2.8% |
179 17.1% |
467 44.6% |
114 10.9% |
1,047 |
|
Farm Assist |
14 11.7% |
11 9.2% |
18 15.0% |
62 51.7% |
15 12.5% |
120 |
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance |
1 50.0% |
1 50.0% |
-
|
-
|
- |
2 |
|
Jobseeker’s Benefit |
109 18.3% |
33 5.5% |
129 21.6% |
270 45.3% |
55 9.2% |
596 |
|
Deserted Wife’s Benefit |
3 50.0% |
-
|
-
|
3 50.0% |
-
|
6 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
6 11.1% |
-
|
13 24.1% |
34 63.0% |
1 1.9% |
54 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
1 6.3% |
1 6.3% |
-
|
14 87.5% |
-
|
16 |
|
Treatment Benefits |
- |
- |
- |
|
2 100.0% |
2 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
16 50.0% |
-
|
2 6.3% |
13 40.6% |
1 3.1% |
32 |
|
Disability Allowance |
3,112 62.2% |
99 2.0% |
462 9.2% |
1,256 25.1% |
77 1.5% |
5,006 |
|
Blind Pension |
2 14.3% |
2 14.3% |
3 21.4% |
6 42.9% |
1 7.1% |
14 |
|
Carer’s Allowance |
1,047 38.6% |
144 5.3% |
440 16.2% |
989 36.5% |
90 3.3% |
2,710 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
686 43.6% |
13 0.8% |
590 37.5% |
258 16.4% |
25 1.6% |
1,572 |
|
Carer’s Support Grant |
28 20.0% |
5 3.6% |
35 25.0% |
68 48.6% |
4 2.9% |
140 |
|
Illness Benefit |
111 22.4% |
11 2.2% |
164 33.1% |
182 36.8% |
27 5.5% |
495 |
|
Injury Benefit |
10 21.3% |
-
|
6 12.8% |
29 61.7% |
2 4.3% |
47 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
458 41.9% |
8 0.7% |
322 29.4% |
273 25.0% |
33 3.0% |
1,094 |
|
Disablement Benefit |
116 35.3% |
18 5.5% |
32 9.7% |
158 48.0% |
5 1.5% |
329 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
4 80.0% |
-
|
-
|
1 20.0% |
-
|
5 |
|
Medical Care |
- |
-
|
-
|
1 100.0% |
-
|
1 |
|
Carer’s Benefit |
32 23.4% |
4 2.9% |
52 38.0% |
46 33.6% |
3 2.2% |
137 |
|
Child Benefit |
62 14.6% |
18 4.2% |
146 34.3% |
179 42.0% |
21 4.9% |
426 |
|
Working Family Payment* |
59 15.3% |
18 4.7% |
173 44.8% |
116 30.1% |
20 5.2% |
386 |
|
Back To Work Family Dividend |
4 8.5% |
-
|
12 25.5% |
26 55.3% |
5 10.6% |
47 |
|
Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory) |
1 11.1% |
1 11.1% |
2 22.2% |
5 55.6% |
-
|
9 |
|
Guardian’s Payment (Contributory) |
7 29.2% |
1 4.2% |
2 8.3% |
14 58.3% |
-
|
24 |
|
Widowed Parent Grant |
-
|
-
|
1 20.0% |
4 80.0% |
-
|
5 |
|
Insurability |
25 26.3% |
3 3.2% |
3 3.2% |
51 53.7% |
13 13.7% |
95 |
|
Liable Relatives |
-
|
-
|
1 20.0% |
2 40.0% |
2 40.0% |
5 |
|
Recoverable Benefits & Assistance |
1 4.3% |
2 8.7% |
2 8.7% |
18 78.3% |
-
|
23 |
|
TOTAL APPEALS |
6,802 36.8% |
662 3.6% |
3,425 18.5% |
6,681 36.1% |
937 5.1% |
18,507
|
* Previously known as Family Income Supplement
