Written Answers Nos. 753-769
753. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if the report carried out by external consultants to review all current contracted public employment services has been finalised; if she has received the report; if and when the report will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22426/20]
View answerMy Department's focus is on ensuring that the State provides the appropriate employment services to assist in attaining sustainable employment.
Prior to the outbreak of COVID-19 my Department engaged external consultants to review all current contracted public employment services. The consultant's review of contracted Public Employment Services is currently being finalised.
In accordance with normal Departmental processes, the review will be considered by my officials prior to submission to me for consideration. It will inform the broader process whereby the importance of ensuring our labour market activation services are fit-for-purpose and provide value for money is balanced with the pressing need to ensure services are in situ when needed by those who have lost their jobs.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
754. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if airport checkpoints are still in operation that are staffed by her officials. [22433/20]
View answer755. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the criteria used to identify which flights in and or out are to be checked by her officials. [22434/20]
View answer756. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of criminal investigations or prosecutions that have commenced as a result of airport control checks from March 2020 to date regarding airport checkpoints; the number of these that relate to the pandemic unemployment payment ; and the number of same that relate to other social protection payments. [22435/20]
View answer757. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention or that of her predecessor was drawn to the nature of social protection checks at airports; and if she or her predecessor had a role in their authorisation. [22436/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 754 to 757, inclusive, together.
All social welfare schemes are subject to control and compliance checks in order to ensure that the Exchequer resources provided for those schemes are protected. The pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) scheme is subject to conditionality, in particular the requirement to be resident in Ireland to receive the payment under the scheme.
Under the provisions of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended, social welfare inspectors have powers to attend at ports and airports and make enquiries for the purposes of the control and compliance of social welfare schemes. In recent months, against the backdrop of the Covid19 pandemic, inspectors made enquiries of persons who were leaving the State. The nature of these enquiries was very limited and the information collected was also limited to that which was necessary to determine if the person was in receipt of a payment that they were not entitled to receive if they were leaving the State.
Given the employment effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the high proportion of people in receipt of a jobseeker/PUP payments and the general travel advice issued by Governments around the world, the Department believes that it was entirely reasonable during that short period of time, that an inspector would form the view, in accordance with the provisions of the 2005 Act, that passengers embarking on a flight could include persons who were in receipt of social welfare payments. It is important to note that the nature of the enquiries was in relation to payments that 825,000 people (33% of all working age adults or more than 50% of all private sector workers) were then receiving.
In carrying out this work, the Department’s overriding focus has been to ensure compliance with the provisions and rules of social welfare schemes. Payments were, therefore, stopped where recipients no longer had an entitlement because they were leaving the State. Over €10m in savings has been generated by this work.
While there are a number of criminal prosecutions underway in relation to the PUP, no criminal prosecutions have been initiated by the Department directly arising from the checks at the airport.
The last compliance check conducted by the Department in Dublin airport was on 16 July. The last checks at ports took place on 28 July. This reflects a number of factors including the significant reduction in the numbers receiving the pandemic payment over recent months and the operational experience of the Department in carrying out this work. It also reflects the Department’s evolving approach in light of the Government’s advice around travel abroad.
Finally, the Deputy should note that the Department’s inspectors have been undertaking control checks at airports and ports since 2012. The work being done in recent months was, therefore, part of the ongoing control work that the Department is engaged in and was done in the context of the Covid19 pandemic where people were leaving the State in large numbers, many with open PUP claims.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
758. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection if the reason a decision has not yet issued on a carer’s allowance application by a person (details supplied) received on 18 July 2019 will be investigated; when the application will be finalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22463/20]
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 CA from the person concerned on 8 July 2019.
The application was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 22 October 2019 to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied.
The SWI spoke to the person concerned by phone on 27 August 2020 and set out the outstanding information required to process his application. The person concerned advised the SWI that he no longer wished to pursue his application for CA and provided written confirmation that he wished to have his application for CA withdrawn.
A letter issued on 31 August 2020 to the person concerned confirming that CA application had been withdrawn as requested.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
759. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if the case of a person (details supplied) will be reassessed in view of the circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22465/20]
View answerThe person concerned is in receipt of disability allowance (DA) since 15 October 2002. Following a review of his entitlement in August 2018 it was found that he had means from employment not previously disclosed to the Department.
Based on his earnings, it was decided that this gentleman was entitled to a lower rate of DA than the rate he had received resulting in an overpayment. Accordingly, his weekly rate of entitlement was reduced. A review was carried out on 4 September 2020 and the person concerned has been assessed with nil means from 18 March 2020.
On 30 November 2018, the person concerned was notified that an overpayment was assessed against him and he was given the right to request a review or to appeal to the independent social welfare appeals office (SWAO). He requested a review of the decision. However after re-examining his case it was decided that a review was not warranted based on the information supplied. He was notified accordingly on 16 January 2019.
The decision was appealed to the SWAO. The question under appeal was whether the rate of entitlement to DA had been properly calculated and whether it was correct to raise an overpayment in his case. The Appeal was disallowed. The Appeal’s Officer’s decision is final and may only be reviewed in light of new facts or fresh evidence being submitted that was not to hand at the time of the appeal.
When determining the rate of debt recovery, the Department must ensure it does not cause undue hardship to the person having regard to their circumstances and their overall ability to pay. The debt recovery unit (DRU) in the Department will engage with the person concerned and will take into consideration any financial burden they are experiencing. DRU will consider all circumstances and tailor a new repayment plan that is reasonable both for the person concerned and for the Department. As with all debts owed to the Department, the Minister must make every effort to recover debts in full and debts will remain until fully recovered.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
760. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to granting a request by a person (details supplied) to travel to Romania to visit their gravely ill parent without ceasing their pandemic unemployment payment on compassionate grounds. [22467/20]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, I have asked my officials to amend the regulations so that people on jobseeker's payments who wish to travel to any of the countries on the green list can do so and continue to receive their payment. For countries that are not on the green list, persons can travel for essential reasons only. For example, if someone is going to a non-green list country, it must be for essential reasons such as a bereavement or health reasons. If such people inform their Intreo office in advance, their payment will not be impacted. As the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is now on a statutory basis as a benefit, it is also intended that these regulations will also apply to recipients of the pandemic unemployment payment who are travelling abroad.
While the person concerned is travelling to a non-green list country, it is accepted that the proposed travel is for essential reasons and their payment will not be impacted.
I hope that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
761. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of vacant desk spaces available in accommodation allocated to her Department in civil service accommodation outside Dublin city; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22488/20]
View answerThe State property portfolio is managed by the OPW, with accommodation allocated to Departments based on business and operational needs. I am advised that the vacancy rate across OPW's office portfolio, including this Department, is of the order of 1%.
My Department has more than 6,500 staff operating in 221 locations, including 13 main offices and 75 Intreo Centres.
Although all of our offices have continued to operate, the Deputy will appreciate that during the current Covid19 pandemic a large number of staff have been working from home. More than 1,500 staff have been accessing their work computers remotely, while others have been using Department laptops. This has allowed us to continue providing services with staff in offices being socially distanced.
763. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a schedule of advisers, special advisers and seconded civil servants working in her Department appointed and or recruited and or in an acting capacity; the roles and responsibilities attributed to each; and the salary scale for each role in tabular form. [22536/20]
View answerThe appointment of Special Advisors is as provided under Section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997.
Guidelines for the Appointment of Ministerial Staff of the 33rd Dáil, including the relevant terms and conditions of appointment of Special Advisers, were approved by Government on 4th August 2020 and have been published by the Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform on the gov.ie website.
Under these guidelines, my Department may appoint up to two Special Advisors. I intend to appoint one advisor in the Department of Social Protection and their formal appointment is presently subject to the approval of Government and the signature of contracts. In line with the decision of Government, once the formal appointment of all Special Advisors to the 33rd Dáil has fully concluded, details of all Special Advisors appointed to the 33rd Dáil, including their rates of pay, will be published by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform as has been the practice of recent Governments.
765. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of every €1 and €5 increase in weekly social protection payments for 2021; the cost by individual payment in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22570/20]
View answerThe estimated full year cost of increasing each weekly social welfare scheme by €1 and €5 per week is as follows;
|
Scheme |
Full year cost of a €1 increase (€m) |
Full year cost of a €5 increase (€m) |
|
Social Insurance Schemes |
||
|
Pension Payments |
||
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
24.01 |
118.69 |
|
Widow/er's Contributory Pension (Aged 66 and over) |
4.61 |
23.00 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit (Aged 66 and over) |
0.16 |
0.77 |
|
Death Benefit Pension (Aged 66 and over) |
0.04 |
0.20 |
|
Working Age Payments |
||
|
Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Con) Pension |
1.52 |
7.54 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
0.14 |
0.71 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
3.25 |
16.30 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
0.11 |
0.53 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Contributory) |
0.06 |
0.31 |
|
Disablement Pension |
0.27 |
1.31 |
|
Illness Benefit |
2.64 |
13.22 |
|
Injury Benefit |
0.05 |
0.23 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
0.05 |
0.24 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
2.90 |
14.48 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
0.15 |
0.74 |
|
Maternity & Adoptive Benefit |
1.08 |
5.42 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
0.06 |
0.30 |
|
Parent’s Benefit |
0.09 |
0.44 |
|
*Total Social Insurance Schemes |
41.19 |
204.49 |
|
Scheme |
Full year cost of a €1 increase (€m) |
Full year cost of a €5 increase (€m) |
|
Social Assistance Schemes |
||
|
Pension Payments |
||
|
State Pension (Non Con) |
5.07 |
25.34 |
|
Carer's Allowance (Aged 66 and over) |
0.10 |
0.50 |
|
Half-Rate Carer's Allowance (Aged 66 and over) |
0.37 |
1.84 |
|
Working Age Payments |
||
|
Blind Pension |
0.06 |
0.31 |
|
Widow/ers or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Con) Pension |
0.07 |
0.33 |
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance |
0.00 |
0.02 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
2.05 |
10.24 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
2.34 |
11.72 |
|
Half-Rate Carer's Allowance |
0.64 |
3.18 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory) |
0.03 |
0.14 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
13.73 |
68.06 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance - for those aged 18 to 24 years of age |
1.33 |
6.66 |
|
Disability Allowance |
8.22 |
40.92 |
|
Farm Assist |
0.36 |
1.80 |
|
Back to Education Allowance |
0.25 |
1.26 |
|
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance |
0.19 |
0.91 |
|
Community Employment |
1.31 |
6.51 |
|
TÚS |
0.34 |
1.71 |
|
Rural Social Scheme |
0.22 |
1.07 |
|
Part-Time Job Incentive |
0.01 |
0.03 |
|
Jobs Initiative |
0.06 |
0.31 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
0.95 |
4.72 |
|
*Total Social Assistance Schemes |
37.70 |
187.58 |
|
*Overall Total |
78.89 |
392.07 |
*Rounding may impact totals
The costs shown above are on a full-year basis and are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2020 for all schemes except Jobseeker's Allowance and Jobseeker's Benefit, which are based on initial estimates for 2021. The Department is currently finalising the estimates for 2021 and as such, these costings are subject to change.
It should also be noted that these costings include proportionate increases for qualified adults, where relevant.
766. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the projected cost of the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment in 2020; the projected cost for 2021 based on the current scheme arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22571/20]
View answer767. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the projection of the average number of expected recipients of the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment for each month remaining in 2020; the projections for 2021 up to1 April, in tabular form; the basis for the financial modelling of the cost of the scheme for the rest of the year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22572/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 766 and 767 together.
As part of a suite of measures announced in the July Stimulus, the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will now be extended to April 2021.
By week-ending Friday, 11th September 2020, the PUP scheme will have cost an estimated €3.44 billion.
The cost of PUP in the period between September and December 2020, and up to April 2021, will depend on the ongoing suppression of the Covid-19 virus and on progress in reopening the economy and society. The performance of the labour market in the weeks and months ahead, including the capacity of employers to respond to the phased return to work following the Covid-19 lockdown, and the level of any resulting residual unemployment, remains uncertain. These factors will determine the extent of labour market recovery between now and the year-end and into 2021. These are matters that will be considered during the coming weeks and the estimated cost of PUP to the year-end and the allocation for 2021 will be determined as part of that process.
768. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons currently on the full €350 rate of the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment; the number on the lower rate; the number of persons that have had their payment reduced since the rule change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22573/20]
View answerThe COVID 19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was introduced in March 2020 as a time-limited emergency measure to meet the surge in unemployment which resulted from the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic. To be eligible for this payment a person must have been in employment /self-employment immediately prior to 13th March 2020 and have become fully unemployed or suffered a collapse of income if they are self -employed, due to the downturn in economic activity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and are not being paid by their employer. At its peak, in early May, almost 600,000 people were in receipt of the payment. This number has fallen in the interim as people are enabled to return to work.
The latest data indicates that some 110,730 people who received a payment of €350 before the implementation of the 2-tier structure have received at least one €203 payment. The two-tiered payment structure for the pandemic unemployment payment was implemented by my Department on July 7th 2020.
The latest data available from September 1st 2020 indicates that 166,841 people are now in receipt of the higher payment of €350 while 58,115 people are in receipt of the lower payment of €203.
769. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of new recipients of the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment in each week since 29 June 2020; the number of closed claims in each week; the net decrease or increase in each week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22574/20]
View answerInformation on Inflows and Outflows for the pandemic unemployment payment each week since June 29th 2020 are set out in the table below
|
PUP payment date |
Inflow |
Outflow |
Net |
|
30 June |
4,423 |
31,368 |
- 26,945 |
|
07 July |
5,326 |
31,400 |
-26,074 |
|
14 July |
3,606 |
70,812 |
-67,206 |
|
21 July |
3,436 |
35,253 |
-31,817 |
|
28 July |
3,632 |
30,619 |
-26,987 |
|
04 August |
6,514 |
18,786 |
-12,272 |
|
11 August |
3,669 |
15,768 |
-12,099 |
|
18 August |
4,798 |
34,904 |
-30,106 |
|
25 August |
7,085 |
9,022 |
-1,937 |
|
01 September |
5,015 |
10,493 |
-5,478 |
