Written Answers Nos. 289-301
289. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the allocation to FEAD Ireland in each of the years 2014 to 2018 and to date in 2019; 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. [18117/19]
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 €8.9m in 2018. At the end of March 2019, total funding of approx. €11m has been spent through FEAD.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
290. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her targets for poverty, including child poverty; if these targets are being met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18118/19]
View answerThe National Social Target for Poverty Reduction was agreed by Government in 2012 and aimed to reduce consistent poverty from 6.3% in 2010 to 4% by 2016 (interim target) and to 2% or less by 2020. This was an ambitious target, particularly during a time of economic recession, but one to which the Government remained committed.
Data from the CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) show that consistent poverty rose sharply from the 2010 level, to a peak of 9.0% in 2013. However the most recent SILC data from 2017 show that this had reduced to 6.7%. While this is a welcome decrease, a reduction of over 4 percentage points will now be required to meet the 2020 poverty target of 2%.
There are two other components of the National Social Target for Poverty Reduction:
(i) The Irish contribution to the Europe 2020 poverty target: to reduce by a minimum of 200,000 the population in 'combined poverty' (i.e. those in consistent poverty or at-risk-of-poverty or experiencing basic deprivation) between 2010 and 2020.
The population affected by ‘combined poverty’ was 27.8 per cent in 2017, compared to 29 per cent in 2016. Nominally, this equated to 1.33 million people and represents a decrease of 80,000 people on the 2010 baseline figure. Thus, over 120,000 people will have to be lifted out of combined poverty by 2020 to meet the Europe 2020 target. It should be noted that this rate increased to 1.74 million people in 2013 compared to the 1.4 million 2010 baseline figures and thus the current rate represents a decrease of nearly 400,000 people on the 2013 rate.
(ii) The child-specific poverty target: to lift over 70,000 children (aged 0-17 years) out of consistent poverty by 2020, a reduction of at least two-thirds on the 2011 level.
The number of children in consistent poverty rose significantly from the 2011 baseline figure of 107,000 to a high of 152,000 in 2014. The 2017 SILC data indicate that there were 105,000 children in consistent poverty in 2017, a decrease of 25,000 children on 2016. This means that a revised figure of 68,000 children have to be lifted out of consistent poverty to meet the target by 2020.
Given the continuing economic recovery and measures introduced in Budgets 2018 and 2019, I expect the figures for 2018 and 2019, when they become available, to show further improvement over the 2017 outcomes. I will continue to work with my Government colleagues to ensure that the economic recovery is experienced in all regions and by all families, households and individuals.
291. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the rate of severe material deprivation for lone parents here; the way in which this compares to the EU average; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18120/19]
View answerThe material deprivation rate is an indicator derived from Eurostat EU-SILC data that expresses the inability to afford some items considered by most people to be desirable, or even necessary, to lead an adequate life. The indicator distinguishes between individuals who cannot afford a certain good or service, and those who do not have this good or service for another reason e.g. because they do not want or do not need it.
The indicator adopted by the Social Protection Committee of the European Commission measures the percentage of the population that cannot afford at least three of the following nine items:
1. to pay their rent, mortgage or utility bills;
2. to keep their home adequately warm;
3. to face unexpected expenses;
4. to eat meat or proteins regularly;
5. to go on holiday;
6. a television set;
7. a washing machine;
8. a car; or
9. a telephone.
The severe material deprivation rate is defined as the enforced inability to pay for at least four of the above-mentioned items.
As the following table shows, the EU-SILC severe material deprivation figure for Irish single parents for 2017 was 17.9%, compared to the EU-28 figure of 13.3%. It is important to note, however, that there has been a steady reduction of the severe material deprivation rate for single parents in Ireland over the period from 2012 to 2017, and the rate has almost halved from its high point of 32.3% in 2013. With the social welfare improvements in Budgets 2018 and 2019, this rate of reduction should continue to bring it more in line with the EU average.
Budget 2019 raised the weekly rates of payment for working age schemes and also increased the income disregard for one-parent family payment and jobseeker’s transition payment recipients to €150 per week with effect from 25/03/19 (the highest disregard level to date). The weekly rates of the Qualified Child Allowance in 2019 also increased by €2.20 per week (from €31.80 to €34) for children under 12, and by €5.20 per week (from €31.80 to €37) for children 12 and over. This measure will benefit over 370,000 children and will help to further tackle child poverty.
With regard to increases introduced in Budget 2019 alone, for example, a lone parent working 15 hours per week at the National Minimum Wage is now better off by almost €1,000 per year.
The Department’s social impact assessments of the last five Budgets (2015 to 2019) are an indicator of the improvements over that time for lone parents. These show a cumulative increase of €43.75 in the average weekly household income of employed lone parents (and €45.00 for unemployed lone parents). This compares favourably with a weekly increase of €39.25 for the average household.
The Department is in the final stages of drafting the new Poverty and Social Inclusion Strategy, which will assemble in one place the range of policy measures across Government Departments that are designed to address the different aspects of poverty and social exclusion.
Severe Material deprivation rate: household type - Single Person with dependent children
|
|
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
EU-28 |
17.1 |
18.4 |
21.6 |
20.7 |
19.2 |
17.1 |
15.7 |
13.3 |
|
Ireland |
12.8 |
23.3 |
27.4 |
32.3 |
25.1 |
22.6 |
23.2 |
17.9 |
Source: EU-SILC Data
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
292. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance appeal by a person (details supplied). [18121/19]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 14 March 2019. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral appeal hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
293. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if Turas Nua will be contacted regarding a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18122/19]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware JobPath is an employment activation service that supports people who are long-term unemployed to secure and sustain full-time paid employment.
The JobPath providers are required to offer in-work support to the person for up to twelve months while they remain in employment. This includes scheduled contact with the person as well as ad-hoc contact should they need immediate support or advice, this may be particularly important for those in temporary or part-time employment to provide the specific support needed to progress to more sustainable permanent employment.
A person is not under any obligation to provide employment or employer details to the JobPath provider. If a client does not require support, they can advise Turas Nua of this and they will not make any contact but, if they wish to do so and avail of the in-employment support offered, all information will be treated confidentially.
The person concerned was referred to JobPath in September 2018, he subsequently found full time employment, Turas Nua have made attempts to contact him for the purpose of providing in-work support and they have acknowledged that the person does not wish to avail of this service. Turas Nua have confirmed that they will make no further contact with the person.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
294. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an application for disability benefit and or illness benefit was received from a person (details supplied); when the application will be processed; when a decision will be made on the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18199/19]
View answerThe Department has received an application for Occupational Injury Benefit from the person concerned.
This claim has been processed and awarded from the 25th January 2019 to date. All arrears due to the person concerned have issued directly to him by cheque.
He is currently paid and medically certified as unfit for work up to the 11th April 2019.
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.
295. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the State agencies and bodies under the remit of her Department; the location of each such body by county; and the number of full and part-time persons employed in each such body. [18231/19]
View answerThe statutory bodies operating under the aegis of my Department are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council, the Low Pay Commission and the Social Welfare Tribunal. The administrative headquarters for these bodies are located in Dublin.
There are no direct employees of the Pensions Council, the Low Pay Commission and the Social Welfare Tribunal. The administrative function of these bodies is absorbed by staff within the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. Details in relation to the current number of full-time and part-time employees in the Citizens Information Board and the Pensions Authority is set out in the following table:
Citizens Information Board:
|
Current number of full-time employees |
Current number of part-time employees |
|
56 |
28 |
Pensions Authority:
|
Current number of full-time employees |
Current number of part-time employees |
|
64 |
4 (this includes three employees who are currently on reduced working hour arrangements) |
296. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the full entitlement in respect of one-parent family allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18248/19]
View answerOne-Parent Family Payment (OFP) is a payment for men and women under 66 who are raising children without the support of a partner. To get this payment it is necessary to meet certain conditions and to satisfy a means test.
My Department is not in a position to determine entitlements prior to a claim application being submitted. The person concerned can complete an OFP application form and submit it, together with relevant supporting documentation, to their local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office. On receipt of the application a Deciding Officer will make and communicate the decision to the person concerned.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
297. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if all documentation requested in respect of a jobseeker's allowance application in the case of a person (details supplied) in order to determine their eligibility for the payment has been received; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18252/19]
View answerThe person concerned has not had an active claim with my Department since May 2017.
The person concerned made a new claim for Jobseekers Allowance (JA) in March 2018. At that time the Social Welfare Inspector requested information from the person concerned to support their application, but the information requested was not provided, and the application for JA was disallowed as the person concerned had failed to show that their means was less than the weekly rate of JA payable appropriate to their circumstances.
The person concerned was informed of this decision in June 2018 and there has been no further communication from them to my Department since.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
298. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position in regard to entitlement to a pro rata pension in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18258/19]
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 based on post Budget 2012 rate-bands. These payments are being reviewed under a new Total Contributions Approach (TCA) pension calculation which includes provision for HomeCaring periods.
An examination of the person's social insurance record shows some unexplained gaps. A request for information about time spend out of the workforce for parenting or caring reasons has been issued to the person concerned. Included in the letter are details of how to return the required information using the Department’s online services. This is the quickest and easiest way to provide the information required to complete the person's review. The letter also provides a dedicated helpline to provide support and assistance when making their online application, or to request a paper application if their difficulties using the online service cannot be resolved.
On receipt of the requested information, the person’s pension rate will be reviewed and they will be notified of the outcome in writing. Where an increase is due, it will be backdated to the person's 66th birthday. If no increase is due following the review, the person will continue to receive their existing rate of payment.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
299. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the entitlement to invalidity pension and-or disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18260/19]
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 for the lady concerned on 23 January 2019. This claim was disallowed on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. She was notified on 08 April 2019 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.
Disability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged over 16 and under 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency test.
To date the department has not received a completed DA application from the lady in question. Eligibility for DA can only be established on receipt of a completed application form.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
300. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an appeal in the case of a person (details supplied) will be concluded; when payment of arrears will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18263/19]
View answerThis lady was notified on the 14th March 2019 that her Domiciliary Care Allowance was awarded on appeal from 1st May 2018.
Arrears due for this period issued with her April 2019 payment on the 16th April 2019.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
301. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an exceptional needs payment will be made in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18265/19]
View answerThe Community Welfare Officer (CWO) with responsibility for the area in which the person concerned resides advises that no application for an exceptional needs payment (ENP) has been received from the person concerned.
An application form has issued to the person concerned today (16 April 2019).
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
