Written Answers Nos. 458-483
458. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40600/19]
View answerThe lady referred to has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from 20 June 2019. Her first payment will issue to her nominated bank account on 10 October 2019. Arrears due from 20 June 2019 to 09 October 2019, less any overlapping social welfare payment, will issue to her nominated bank account on 17 October 2019.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
459. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans for social welfare payments for persons obliged to retire at 65 years of age as the State pension age increases to 67 years of age and over. [40610/19]
View answerIncreasing pension age, to moderate the increase in pension duration, is a means by which pensions can be made sustainable in the context of increasing longevity. In order to provide for sustainable pensions and to facilitate a longer working life, legislation passed in 2011 provides for an increase in the State pension age in three separate stages. In 2014, the State pension age was standardised at 66. This will be increased to 67 in 2021 and 68 in 2028. The Roadmap for Pensions Reform 2018-2023 has stated that future changes in State pension age after 2035 will be decided on research into 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. It is the only feasible solution which does not involve reducing pension rates to pensioners (which would result in poverty among older people), or reducing other significant areas of Government expenditure (such as other payments made by my Department).
In most cases, it is hoped that workers will continue to work up to State pension age, and so the question of claiming a social protection payment would not arise. Where this is not possible and a person loses their employment 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 subject to the person satisfying the general scheme conditions. Social Welfare legislation states that jobseeker payments may be made until the person reaches pensionable age provided they satisfy the necessary contribution conditions.
It is important to note 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 age 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.
460. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons referred to Turas Nua and Seetec for JobPath to date; the number of persons to date that have gained employment through the JobPath service; the number of persons that have been employed for over a year on JobPath; the number employed after two years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40629/19]
View answerThe primary purpose of JobPath is to provide a case management based, employment advice and counselling service to long term unemployed jobseekers. Between July 2015 and September 2019, some 241,346 jobseekers had commenced their engagement period with the JobPath service. Of this number, 52% were unemployed for over three years. This group, in particular, faces significant barriers when seeking to enter or return to employment in the labour market.
To date, some 55,490 jobseekers have commenced employment during their engagement period with Jobpath. Of this number 49,660 had commenced full-time employment and 5,830 had commenced part-time employment. Of those almost 17,000 have sustained full time employment for a period of 12 months or more. It should be noted that many clients who are currently engaged with JobPath are still in the first phase of the service. They have not had sufficient time with the service to have gained employment nor sustain that employment for up to 52 weeks.
Furthermore, as many clients who have commenced employment did so less than 12 months the numbers sustaining employment for over 12 months is expected to increase over time.
The econometric review of JobPath undertaken by my Department in partnership with the OECD noted that the weekly employment earnings of people who secured employment with the JobPath service are 17% higher than the weekly employment earnings of people who secured employment without the support of JobPath in 2018. Taken with the 26% improvement in employment outcomes in the same period, it means the overall positive employment/earnings impact is 37% in 2018 for those supported by the JobPath service. These findings indicate that jobseekers who engage with JobPath are significantly more likely to get a positive employment outcome than those not supported by the service.
In regard to continuous employment lasting longer than 52 weeks, the JobPath programme specifically requires follow up and in-work support from the contractor and sustained employment during this period is recorded. I am advised that currently, the activation services of the Department do not track continuous employment for customers who would have ended a Jobseekers claim over 12 months previously.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
461. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an invalidity pension payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and the amount of arrears due. [40630/19]
View answerThe lady referred to has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from 29 November 2018. First payment will issue to her nominated bank account on 10 October 2019. Arrears due from 29 November 2018 to 09 October 2019, less any overlapping social welfare payment will issue to her nominated bank account on 17 October 2019.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
464. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when arrears will issue in the case of a person (details supplied). [40648/19]
View answerThe person concerned has been awarded disability allowance with effect from 15 May 2019. The first payment will be made by her chosen payment method on 16 October 2019.
This lady was in receipt of another social welfare payment, or an increase was paid to another for her benefit, during the period 15 May 2019 to 15 October 2019. Consequently, the amount of social welfare already paid requires calculation. Arrears of payment due will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is applied.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
465. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a domiciliary care allowance for a person (details supplied); and when a decision will be made in relation to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40662/19]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person concerned on the 9th May 2019. The application was not allowed as the child was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for the allowance. A letter issued on the 12th July 2019 setting out the decision of the deciding officer to refuse the allowance and outlining the entitlement to seek a review of the decision or appeal it.
An appeal was registered by the Social Welfare Appeals Office on the 31st July 2019. As part of the appeals process, the application including any additional material provided will be re-examined by a departmental Medical Assessor and a deciding officer. The person concerned will be notified in writing once the review has been finalised. Appeal reviews are currently taking approximately 12 weeks to process.
If the review is unsuccessful, a submission will be prepared and forwarded to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office for consideration by an Appeals Officer. In that case, the Social Welfare Appeals Office will contact her directly about the outcome of the appeal.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
466. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the working family payment for a person (details supplied); when a decision will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40694/19]
View answerWorking Family Payment (formerly Family Income Supplement) is a weekly tax free payment which provides additional income support to employees on low earnings with children. In order to qualify for WFP, an applicant must have a qualified child and be engaged in full-time paid employment as an employee for not less than 38 hours per fortnight.
Working family payment for the person concerned was awarded on the 29th August 2019. This decision was appealed by the person concerned on the 19th September 2019.
As part of this appeal, a review was carried out and the Deciding Officer’s decision of the 14th August 2019 still stands. The file has been sent to the Appeals Office for full appeal.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
467. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will meet with this Deputy and a person (details supplied) to discuss older workers and community employment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40714/19]
View answerThe aim of the Community Employment (CE) programme is to enhance the employability of disadvantaged and unemployed people by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their communities. The programme helps break the cycle of unemployment and improve a person’s chances of returning to the labour market. CE is generally open to applicants aged between 21 and 66 years.
A number of new conditions were introduced on CE in July 2017 to further support progression and broaden access to CE to a wider range of people. In general all CE placements for new entrants aged between 21 and 55 years are for 1 year – however CE participants, working towards a major educational award, can seek to extend participation by up to two years to enable them to reach the required standard of qualification. In addition, those over 55 years of age can remain on CE for three years.
Participants over age 62 are allowed to participate on a continuous basis up to the State Pension age on the CE Service Support Stream (SSS), subject to availability of places on the SSS, satisfactory performance by them on the scheme and, subject to annual approval by the Department. The places allocated for these participants within each individual CE scheme are subject to certain limitation criteria.
If the Deputy could provide more information on the matters raised, and the particular concerns of the person whose details were provided, I will have my officials look at the case in question in light of the request for a meeting.
468. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there is an effective efficient and fair distribution of funds by the Citizens Information Board to various MABS companies to ensure that counties such as County Clare are not disadvantaged; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40718/19]
View answerThe Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), under the aegis of the Citizens Information Board, (CIB) provides assistance to people, in particular those on low incomes or living on social welfare payments, who are over-indebted and need help and advice with debt problems. As part of its free services, MABS also provides help and advice to those in mortgage arrears.
The governance arrangements of what had been 51 local MABS services providing a face to face services from 60 offices nationwide, were restructured into 8 Regional MABS companies during 2018. Clare MABS together with West Waterford, Limerick, Waterford, Tipperary North and South MABS formed a new regional company - North Munster MABS. Prior to the establishment of this new company, MABS in the counties of North Munster, comprised six separate and distinct companies, all competing for resources and funding from the Citizens Information Board.
North Munster MABS, a new company funded and supported by the Citizens Information Board, is responsible for providing a Money Advice and Budgeting Service extending across the four counties of Clare, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford. The service operates eight offices across this geographical region and employs 44 staff, part time and full time including a Regional Manager who oversees the operation of the service.
North Munster MABS, is overseen by a voluntary Board which aims to ensure that the provision of and access to MABS is consistent and fair across the entire region. Since its establishment in 2018, the Board of North Munster MABS has become more familiar with the needs of each area in its catchment and is making plans to develop a staffing strategy to best meet those identified needs. Equity of access and provision of service across all four counties will be a primary driver of that strategy and the aim is to make effective and efficient use of taxpayers money to develop quality services for MABS clients in the North Munster region.
CIB is working closely with all newly established Regional Boards and staff of the services to develop the future plans to further improve services across the country and to ensure a greater level of consistency, quality and accessibility.
I trusty this clarifies the matter for the Deputy
469. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding CP 116 and IORP II; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40724/19]
View answerCP 116 is a Consultation Paper issued by the Central Bank in November 2017 on "Intermediary Inducements - Enhanced Consumer Protection Measures". I understand that the Consultation Paper sought views from stakeholders on a series of proposed consumer protection measures in the area of commission payments. Matters relating to the Central Bank come under the remit of my colleague, Mr. Paschal Donohoe T.D., Minister for Finance, and the Deputy may wish to address his query on this matter directly to him.
The IORP II Directive is a substantial Directive and the transposition of the Directive will result in significant improvements to the regulation and governance of funded occupational pension schemes in Ireland. Officials in my Department, supported by the Pensions Authority, are managing this transposition process. The IORP II Directive has been cast in the light of consumer protection rights, including the right to a high level of consumer protection, in particular by ensuring a higher level of transparency of retirement provisioning and informed personal financial and retirement planning.
As the Deputy may be aware, an application has been granted for a judicial review for a set of reliefs and a stay in relation to the transposition into Irish law of the IORP II Directive. As such, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on matters that are currently before the Courts.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
470. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress on the changes to calculating PRSI entitlements for the State pension (contributory); and the effects of the changes. [40743/19]
View answerThe introduction of a Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to establishing the level of entitlement for all new state pension contributory claims was signalled by the then Government in the National Pensions Framework in 2010. At that time it set a target date of 2020 for the implementation of TCA. More recently, the Roadmap for Pensions Reform 2018-2023 targeted implementation of the TCA from Q3 of 2020. This is subject to the necessary legislation being enacted and supporting structures being in place.
Consultation is a very important part of the development and design of the new pension. With this in mind, I launched a public consultation on the design of the TCA on the 28th of May 2018 to which a wide variety of stakeholder groups were invited. A number of workshops were also held on the day to elicit views and feedback.
Shortly afterwards, Oireachtas members were invited to a detailed briefing by my officials in Leinster House. The consultation was open for over three months and the Department received almost 300 responses from individuals and organisations. Those submissions outlined the views of respondents on the issues of most interest to them.
Having carefully examined the outputs of the consultation process, my Department is now designing the scheme and I intend to bring a proposal to Government setting out that design in the near future. When the Government has agreed the approach to be taken, I will initiate the work required to introduce this reform.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
471. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the contingency in place in the event of a crash out and-or no-deal Brexit in respect of contracts in place with a service provider engaged by her Department (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40805/19]
View answerMy Department has contracts with two companies for the provision of the JobPath service, Turas Nua Limited and Seetec Limited. Both of the current JobPath contracts are subject to Irish law and the services provided by the companies are delivered in Ireland. Both companies have established a network of offices throughout the country and have recruited staff locally.
It is anticipated that both JobPath providers will be in a position to fully discharge their contractual obligations in providing a comprehensive service to the long-term unemployed following an exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
472. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the number of hours that can be worked by home carers employed directly or indirectly by the HSE in respect of the various means tested schemes including the carers allowance will be increased in view of the difficulties being experienced recruiting sufficient home carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40833/19]
View answerThe Department of Health has responsibility for the National Carers’ Strategy which sets out the strategic direction for future policies, supports and services provided by Government Departments and agencies for carers. The primary responsibility for providing services such as the Home Support Service (formerly the Home Help Service or Home Care Package Scheme) rests with the Health Service Executive.
My Department provides a range of supports to those who are caring for family members, friends or neighbours. These measures aim to recognise the needs of carers through the provision of appropriate income supports, to enable carers to remain in touch with the labour market to the greatest extent possible and to empower carers to participate fully in economic and social life. These income supports include Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant.
A primary qualifying condition for the Carer’s Allowance payment is that the applicant provides full-time care and attention to a person in need of such care. However, in order to support a carer’s continued attachment to the workforce and broader social inclusion, carers may engage in some limited employment, education or training, while still being regarded as being in a position to provide full-time care. During this time of employment, education or training, adequate provision must be made for the care of the relevant person. Both the full-time care and attention requirement and the current 15-hour limitation are contained in the respective legislative provisions of the Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and Carer’s Support Grant schemes.
As part of Budget 2006, the number of hours per week that carers could engage in employment, education or training outside the home was increased from 10 to 15 hours per week.
Carer's Allowance is a means-tested payment for carers who look after certain people in need of full-time care and attention on a full time basis. As of end of July 2019, there were 82,015 people in receipt of Carer's Allowance. The projected expenditure on Carer's Allowance in 2019 is almost €840 million.
Any further changes to the hours condition would need to be considered in a budgetary context and would also need to maintain a reasonable balance between the requirement to provide full-time care for the care recipient and the needs of the carer.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
473. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications received over the past five years and the number of grants awarded for the workplace adaptation grant; and the amount of funding given to the grant in the same period by county in tabular form. [40895/19]
View answerThe aim of the Workplace Equipment/Adaptation Grant (WEAG) is to increase the job opportunities for people with a disability by supporting additional costs related to the disability, which are incurred by:
- private sector employers employing or retaining an employee with a disability;
- self-employed people with a disability.
It is important to note that the WEAG is a demand-led scheme and that is funding is provided by the Department in response to the number of applications received.
As WEAG is applied for through local INTREO Services around the country it is not possible to give the actual number of applications received, however the following table shows expenditure for all successful applications.
Table 1: Number of grants and expenditure by county for the last 5 years.
|
Year |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 (Oct) |
|||||
|
County |
No |
Amount |
No. |
Amount |
No. |
Amount |
No. |
Amount |
No. |
Amount |
|
Carlow |
1 |
€850.00 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
€5,432.39 |
0 |
|||
|
Cavan |
2 |
€668.00 |
0 |
2 |
€7,065.00 |
1 |
€4,890.00 |
0 |
||
|
Clare |
1 |
€400.00 |
1 |
€269.72 |
1 |
€392.09 |
3 |
€2,785.92 |
1 |
€752.89 |
|
Cork |
6 |
€10,770.04 |
2 |
€3,066.95 |
6 |
€4,952.93 |
3 |
€2,165.89 |
5 |
€9,272.27 |
|
Donegal |
1 |
€589.00 |
1 |
€416.00 |
2 |
€3,356.00 |
1 |
€540.00 |
1 |
€955.00 |
|
Dublin |
8 |
€23,054.98 |
9 |
€19,178.77 |
9 |
€25,396.82 |
17 |
€38,859.35 |
6 |
€18,307.48 |
|
Galway |
1 |
€914.50 |
2 |
€892.68 |
2 |
€1,607.74 |
1 |
€289.00 |
1 |
€3,340.00 |
|
Kerry |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
€16,881.27 |
0 |
||||
|
Kildare |
1 |
€1,965.00 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
€5,250.80 |
|||
|
Kilkenny |
0 |
1 |
€6,348.70 |
1 |
€5,880.00 |
0 |
1 |
€505.96 |
||
|
Laois |
2 |
€1,599.00 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||||
|
Leitrim |
0 |
2 |
€854.74 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||||
|
Limerick |
0 |
2 |
€4,564.31 |
1 |
€1,170.00 |
0 |
2 |
€1,877.09 |
||
|
Longford |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
€3,610.00 |
||||
|
Louth |
1 |
€2,130.00 |
1 |
€2,375.00 |
1 |
€557.38 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
Mayo |
2 |
€389.42 |
0 |
1 |
€69.33 |
0 |
0 |
|||
|
Meath |
1 |
€2,240.00 |
2 |
€3,470.92 |
1 |
€6,350.00 |
0 |
1 |
€2,113.59 |
|
|
Monaghan |
2 |
€3,143.00 |
2 |
€2,650.00 |
1 |
€395.00 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
Offaly |
1 |
€535.00 |
1 |
€2,182.00 |
0 |
1 |
€1,336.00 |
|||
|
Roscommon |
3 |
€1,545.48 |
3 |
€3,048.77 |
2 |
€1,148.00 |
1 |
€825.00 |
0 |
|
|
Sligo |
0 |
3 |
€1,439.00 |
3 |
€10,807.27 |
1 |
€84.00 |
0 |
||
|
Tipperary |
0 |
0 |
2 |
€16,435.88 |
0 |
0 |
||||
|
Waterford |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|||||
|
Westmeath |
1 |
€6,350.00 |
3 |
€563.45 |
1 |
€535.00 |
1 |
€6,100.00 |
0 |
|
|
Wexford |
1 |
€965.00 |
0 |
2 |
€2,963.46 |
5 |
€18,825.97 |
2 |
€3,560.00 |
|
|
Wicklow |
0 |
1 |
€2,719.65 |
1 |
€631.20 |
3 |
€2,344.00 |
0 |
||
|
Total |
35 |
€58,108.42 |
36 |
€54,040.66 |
39 |
€89,713.10 |
44 |
€100,022.79 |
24 |
€50,881.08 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
474. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a UK record for a pension application by a person (details supplied) will be expedited; the status of the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40903/19]
View answerA minimum of 520 full-rate paid contributions is required for entitlement to standard state pension (contributory), with a minimum of 260 full-rate paid contributions required for entitlement to a mixed insurance pro rata pension. According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has a total of 181 full-rate paid Irish contributions. Based on their Irish contribution history only, the person does not qualify for an Irish state pension (contributory).
Under European Union Regulations, a person’s social insurance record in one or more EU countries can be combined with their Irish social insurance record, to determine entitlement to a proportional or pro rata pension. As the person concerned has a UK social insurance record, details of their UK contribution history have been requested from the UK pensions authority.
While the person has provided details of UK employment and their addresses while living in the UK, they have not provided their UK National Insurance Number. The absence of this number greatly hampers the Department of Work and Pension in the UK from locating details of the persons UK record. Similar to an Irish Personal Public Service Number (PPSN), a National Insurance Number is a unique identifier which would facilitate tracing this person’s UK record.
If the person in question can assist in the provision of this number it will be of great assistance in locating their UK record.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
475. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason for the delays issuing a decision on the review of an invalidity pension application by a person (details supplied) which commenced over two months ago; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40911/19]
View answerFollowing a review of her application, the lady referred to has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from 24 January 2019. Payment will issue to her nominated bank account on 24 October 2019 Any arrears due from 24 January 2019 to 23 October 2019 (less any overlapping social welfare payment) will issue as soon as possible. The lady in question was notified of this decision on 04 October 2019.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
476. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 650 of 2 July 2019, if the necessary documentation required has been received in the relevant section in order to facilitate payment of rent support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40916/19]
View answerAccording to the records of my Department the most recent rent supplement claim in respect of the person concerned was closed in October 2017 and there has been no record of any application for rent supplement since that date.
It is open to the person concerned to submit an application for a rent supplement payment. A form SWARS 1 has been issued to the person concerned and should be returned with relevant supporting documentation to Newbridge Intreo Centre. When the necessary documentation has been received an Officer of my Department will assess the application and contact the person concerned with a decision.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
477. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a decision has been made on a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40939/19]
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.
I confirm that my department received an application for Carer's allowance from the person concerned on 29 July 2019. A letter was issued by a deciding officer on 21 September 2019 seeking clarification from the person concerned.
Once a response is received the application will be processed without delay and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy .
478. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding the provision of a pension scheme for community employment scheme supervisors; when the issue will be resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40940/19]
View answerI am currently engaging with representatives of Community Employment supervisors and assistant supervisors to discuss issues arising following the 2008 Labour Court Recommendation. All parties to the engagement process have agreed that the detail of the discussions should remain confidential while the engagement is ongoing and I would ask Deputies to respect these wishes and allow the talks to continue free from speculation which might prove unhelpful. I expect that it will take a number of weeks to reach a conclusion.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
479. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for a disability allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40944/19]
View answerThe person concerned has been awarded disability allowance with effect from 8 May 2019. The first payment will be made by her chosen payment method on 16 October 2019.
Arrears of payment due will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments (if applicable).
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
480. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the interdepartmental review of community employment schemes; when the review is expected to be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40945/19]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Government agreed to establish an Interdepartmental Group (IDG) to explore how social inclusion schemes might be organised going forward.
A number of meetings of the IDG have taken place and a number of bilateral meetings with relevant Departments have also been undertaken. There was a consultative process with stakeholders and the associated submissions were considered as part of the wider deliberations. I expect to have the final report shortly.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
482. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 159 of 29 May 2019, the progress in relation to the commencement of section 13 of the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014; the position that pertains to the recognition and recording here of death certificates issued in other jurisdictions in respect of Irish citizens that died abroad; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40968/19]
View answerThe commencement of section 13 of the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014 is subject to engagement by Civil Registration Service staff in the HSE with training that has been developed by the General Register Office of my Department. Officials from my Department are continuing to engage with their counterparts from the Department of Health and the HSE, with a view to them expediting the matter and facilitating the commencement of the legislation necessary for implementation of the record of deaths abroad.
483. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40981/19]
View answerI am currently engaging with representatives of the Community Employment supervisors and assistant supervisors to discuss issues arising following the 2008 Labour Court Recommendation. All parties to the this process have agreed that the detail of the discussions should remain confidential while discussions are ongoing. I would ask Deputies to respect these wishes and allow the talks to continue free from speculation which might prove unhelpful at this stage. I anticipate that it will take a number of weeks to bring these discussions to a conclusion.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
