Written Answers Nos. 463-487
463. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a fuel allowance application by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39610/20]
View answerFree fuel (FF) allowance is a means tested payment, payable to people who either live alone or only with certain other qualified people. The person concerned was awarded FF with effect from 2 October 2019 and he continues to qualify for this allowance. On 29 October 2019 a letter issued informing him of this.
FF allowance is paid during the winter months only and the first payment for this FF season issued to the person concerned on 23 September 2020.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
464. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if the community employment scheme will be extended for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39611/20]
View answerEmployment Programmes such as Community Employment (CE) are labour market programmes that enable long-term unemployed to progress into employment and/or further education and training. Participation limits on these schemes are necessary to allow for the maximum utilisation of places amongst qualifying persons. It is important to note that participation is intended to be for a temporary fixed term and the positions offered are not full-time sustainable jobs. Instead, the placements are designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work readiness, thereby improving a person’s opportunities of returning to the open labour market.
Following 12 months in receipt of a qualifying Social Welfare payment, CE placements for those aged between 21 and 55 years will be for one year. However, if a CE participant is working towards a QQI Major Award or working towards a recognised industry standard, their time on CE can be extended up to a maximum of 3 years to complete the full award/qualification standard i.e. a total participation of 3 consecutive years in which to complete any outstanding modules.
The person concerned will have completed three years on CE in January 2021. During this period she has completed a number of modules towards a QQI major award. Funding for this participant will cease on 29th January 2021.
The Department's Activation service will support the person concerned to complete their QQI major award and ensure that the skills and experience they received during their time on CE are maximised. This process will help identify potential employment opportunities and offer support to them in overcoming any barriers to employment.
The Department strongly supports the work being done through Community Employment schemes and the vital roles they are playing in local communities. Community Employment vacancies are advertised on www.JobsIreland.ie and are promoted and supported locally by the Department's Activation service.
465. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the suitability of the rates and eligibility criteria attached to the widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's (contributory) pension; the date that the latest review of same was carried out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39612/20]
View answerThe maximum personal weekly rates for the Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension are €248.30 for those aged 66 and over and €208.50 for those under 66 years of age. It is a weekly payment to the husband, wife or civil partner of a deceased person. Increases for qualified children are also payable at a rate of €36 (for children under the age of 12) or €40 (for children over the age of 12). The Living Alone allowance the Island allowance and the over 80 increase are also payable depending on the person's circumstances. As with all payments made by my Department, the rates are kept under constant review and are considered in the context of the annual Budget.
Unlike other social insurance schemes, entitlement is based on either the claimant’s or the deceased partner’s social insurance contributions. Virtually all social insurance contributions count towards this pension, including contributions paid by the self-employed and by pre-1995 public servants. To qualify, either the claimant or their deceased partner must have a total of 260 contributions (five years contributions). This is half the number needed to qualify for the State Pension (Contributory).
The Government approved the establishment of the Commission on Pensions earlier this month, in fulfilment of a Programme for Government commitment. The Commission will examine sustainability and eligibility issues in respect of State pension arrangements and will outline options for the Government to address issues such as qualifying age, contribution rates, total contributions and eligibility requirements. In line with the Programme for Government, the Commission will report to me on its work, findings, options and recommendations by 30th June 2021. The Government intends to take action having regard to the recommendations of the Commission within six months.
The Government is acutely conscious of the need to consider the sustainability of the State’s finances. However, this is not the only consideration when thinking of the State pension system. It is important to ensure that the State Pension system continues to provide adequate support to people in retirement over the long term. The system, including the Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension, is extremely effective at ensuring that our pensioners do not experience poverty. This Government is committed to ensuring that this remains the case.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
466. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if a review of the suitability of the rates and the eligibility criteria attached to the widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's (contributory) pension will be included in the work programme of the newly established Commission on Pensions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39614/20]
View answerThe Government approved the establishment of the Commission on Pensions last month, in fulfilment of a Programme for Government commitment. The Commission will examine sustainability and eligibility issues in respect of State pension arrangements and will outline options for the Government to address issues such as qualifying age, contribution rates, total contributions and eligibility requirements. These issues will be considered from a perspective of fiscal and social sustainability, and intergenerational fairness. I was delighted to attend the Commission's virtual inaugural meeting last week.
The Commission's Terms of Reference specifically mentions the State Pension Contributory and the State Pension Non Contributory schemes. While the Terms of Reference do not explicitly mention the Widow/er's and Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension, if the Commission wishes to consider this scheme in the context of its remit to examine sustainability and eligibility issues related to the State Pension arrangements and the Social Insurance Fund, it is open to it to do so. The full Terms of Reference are available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/b1c64-minister-humphreys-announces-the-establishment-of-the-pensions-commission/
In line with the Programme for Government, the Commission will report to me on its work, findings, options and recommendations by 30th June 2021. The Government intends to take action having regard to the recommendations of the Commission within six months.
The Government is acutely conscious of the need to consider the sustainability of the State’s finances. However, this is not the only consideration when thinking of the State pension system. It is important to ensure that the State Pension system continues to provide adequate support to pensioners over the long term. The system, including the Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension, is extremely effective at ensuring that our pensioners do not experience poverty. This Government is committed to ensuring that this remains the case.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
467. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a personal public service number for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39615/20]
View answerI can confirm that my Department has allocated a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) to the individual referred to by the Deputy. A letter issued to the individual on 26th November 2020 with details of the PPSN.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
468. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection when phone lines (details supplied) will be reopened for queries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39629/20]
View answerI thank the Deputy for his kind words of appreciation for the work undertaken on an ongoing basis by the staff of my Department in administering all of our schemes, including the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, and in ensuring continuity of payment to customers throughout the ongoing pandemic. This remains the priority for my Department and resources allocated to claim processing are kept under review to ensure customers get their entitlements as quickly as possible.
My Department provides a dedicated mailbox for each of the main schemes whereby Teachtaí Dála can raise specific queries for their constituents directly with the relevant scheme area. These mailboxes are monitored every day and have been operating very quickly, efficiently and effectively.
With the onset of COVID-19, the imposition of social distancing meant that my Department had to reduce the number of staff working from within the traditional office environment. Large numbers of scheme administration staff are now successfully working from home. My Department has been able to redirect work to them electronically and overall productivity has been maintained at pre-COVID levels.
However, with the significant reduction in staff “onsite” the provision of some telephone services had to be reviewed. While the main Customer Call Centres were maintained, the operation of the scheme level TD Enquiry lines had to be suspended as there weren’t sufficient staff onsite to deal with them. This is being kept under ongoing review and as and when social distancing measures are eased and more staff can work safely in the Department's offices, I hope to be in a position to reintroduce these enquiry lines.
Some areas of my Department may be in a position to reintroduce the TD enquiry line sooner than others and as they are reintroduced details will be made available to Deputies.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
469. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a review of eligibility for an invalidity pension will be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied); the progress to date in the determination of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39632/20]
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 person concerned was refused IP on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme are not satisfied. She was notified on 16 November 2020 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.
Your representation will be treated as a review request from the person concerned. If the person concerned has any further medical evidence relevant to her application, she should submit it immediately. Otherwise her claim can only be reviewed on the information already provided. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome of the review as soon as it is completed.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
470. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a supplementary welfare allowance will be issued to a person (details supplied) who has appealed the decision to refuse an application for disability allowance and has no other income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39648/20]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered on 29 September 2020 and the file papers were received from the Department of Social Protection on 29 October 2020. The appeal was referred on 20 November 2020 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 hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for 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.
471. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a community employment scheme placement in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be extended; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39673/20]
View answerEmployment Programmes such as Community Employment (CE) are labour market programmes that enable the long-term unemployed to progress into employment and/or further education and training. Participation limits on these schemes are necessary to allow for the maximum utilisation of places amongst qualifying persons. It is important to note that participation is intended to be for a temporary fixed term and the positions offered are not full-time sustainable jobs. Instead, the placements are designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work readiness, thereby improving a person’s opportunities of returning to the open labour market.
Following 12 months in receipt of a qualifying Social Welfare payment CE placements for those aged between 21 and 55 years will be for one year. However, if a CE participant is working towards a QQI Major Award or working towards a recognised industry standard, their time on CE can be extended up to a maximum of 3 years to complete the full award/qualification standard i.e. a total participation of 3 consecutive years in which to complete any outstanding modules.
The person concerned will have completed three years on CE in January 2021. During this period the person concerned has completed a number of industry standard courses and some QQI modules. Therefore in line with the scheme criteria set out above funding for this participant will cease on 29th January 2021.
My Department's Activation service will work with the person concerned to ensure that the skills and experience they received during their time on CE are maximised. This process will help identify potential employment opportunities and offer support to them in overcoming any barriers to employment.
472. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection if pandemic unemployment payment recipients will receive all arrears in 2020; if assurances will be provided that if arrears are delayed until 2021 that it will not have an impact on the tax liability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39683/20]
View answerSince the introduction of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme in March, approximately 815,000 people have applied for payment and in some cases, they have done so on a number of occasions as they moved in and out of employment or where their employer availed of the Revenue Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme. Consequently, there are over 1.4 million applications to be examined to determine if arrears are due. To date, over 13 million individual payments have issued over a 36 week period.
Arrears in respect of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will arise under two broad headings. Firstly, there may have been an initial time lag in the commencement of payments. During the month of March, the Department of Social Protection received and processed jobseeker claims equivalent in number to a three year claim-load. Almost 59,000 people were paid in the first week of the scheme, increasing to 283,000 people in the following week and over 507,000 people in the third week of the scheme. The focus was on putting claims into payment as quickly as possible was and it was not possible to generate arrears payments at the time. Secondly, arrears may also arise in respect of individual weeks where claims could not be processed due to incomplete applications or data mismatches.
The Department is keenly aware that many people are due some arrears and that every case will be different. In order to address an issue of this scale, the Department has developed an automated process, which examines each case and looks at their overall entitlement to payment and matches this against their payment history. The work involved is complex as the Pandemic Unemployment Payment system itself evolved from a manual applications system to one where applications were submitted online and paid over two different payment platforms (one from March to July and the second from July to date). Final testing and implementation of the automated process is currently underway. It is intended that payments in respect of identified cases will issue on 1 December.
The tax treatment of any arrears of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners.
I hope that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
473. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason persons over 66 years of age are not considered for the Covid-19 crisis payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39688/20]
View answerThe Pandemic Unemployment Payment is a statutory support payable to people between the ages of 18 and 66 which is consistent with other social protection schemes payable to people of working age who have lost their employment.
People aged 66 years and over are provided for through the contributory State pension or the non-contributory State means tested pension.
A person aged over 66 who is in employment may retain their State pension and employment income.
If a person does not have the required number of contributions to receive the maximum rate of State pension contributory they may qualify for an increased rate of State non-contributory pension, depending on their circumstances. People receiving the non-contributory State pension who also have employment income may have their pension payment increased if they lose their employment income due to the pandemic or if their employment income is reduced.
People aged 66 and over may also be entitled to ancillary supports which include free travel, fuel allowance, household benefits package for gas or electricity costs and living alone allowance. The fuel allowance and living alone allowance were both increased in Budget 2021 to €28.00 and €19.00 per week respectively
A person of any age who is experiencing financial hardship may access assistance under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme including Exceptional and Urgent Needs Payments.
I trust that this clarifies the position.
474. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when a person (details supplied) will qualify for an invalidity pension given that his existing payment is due to expire and he is unable to work due to a heart condition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39692/20]
View answerInvalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of an Illness Benefit (IB) payment from this Department which is due to expire in February 2021. IB is payable for a maximum of 2 years. It is the policy of the Department to medically assess customers, who are in receipt of IB, for IP purposes approximately 6 months prior to the expiry date of their IB claim. In this case, a medical assessment commenced in August 2020 and, based on the medical reports submitted, a Department Medical Advisor expressed the opinion that the person in question would be medically suitable for IP. A claim form (INV2) for IP issued to the person concerned on 26 August 2020. To date this form has not been returned to the Department and a duplicate form was issued on 24 November 2020. On receipt of the completed form, the IP claim will be processed as quickly as possible and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome of his claim.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
475. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the meals provided for in each school meals programme meets the requirements set out in Healthy Ireland guides and the obesity policy and action plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39704/20]
View answerThe school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,557 schools and organisations, benefitting 227,000 children. The objective of the programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
In September 2017, under the auspices of Healthy Ireland, with the assistance of Safefood and the Health Service Executive, nutrition standards for school meals were launched. These nutrition standards were distributed to all schools participating in the scheme and access to healthy eating guidelines are available on the school meals website.
Schools and organisations must reapply for funding in advance of each school year and are required to submit detailed records at the end of each school year. Applicants to the scheme are directed to the Department’s website which clearly advises that funding is for healthy nutritious food only and provides examples of the food items. Expenditure on unhealthy food items is deducted from the following year’s funding allocation. In addition, the Department initiated an on-site inspection programme in 2012 in participating schools to ensure that the scheme rules are being adhered to. The inspection includes an assessment of the type of food provided.
I hope this clarifies the matter.
476. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection if those who are currently in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment as a result of their employment being closed due to level 5 restrictions will still have an entitlement to the payment if they return to the workforce as the country exits level 5 restrictions on 1 December 2020 and the business is forced to close again in the new year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39771/20]
View answerSince its introduction on the 15th March in response to the global covid-19 pandemic, expenditure on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment has amounted to some €4 billion.
I am happy to confirm to the Deputy that I have secured the agreement of Government to keep the scheme open for new applicants until the 31st March 2021. The Deputy will recall that following a Government decision in September, the scheme had been due to close for applications at the end of this year. The extension to the closing date means that workers will be able to apply for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment if they lose employment in January in the event that further Covid-19 restrictions have to be introduced.
I trust that clarifies the position for the Deputy.
477. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason Intreo will not provide a statement of the record of payments to a jobseeker (details supplied) in order to provide this statement to SUSI for the purpose of ensuring the person's child gains access to a grant for a third level college; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39782/20]
View answerPayment information with regard to my Departments' schemes is available to SUSI from 1 January 2014 over the Application Programme Interface (API). The API calls are embedded into the SUSI Grant application system. The information shared with SUSI is customer identity, claim/allowances, payments and means factors. SUSI access the API to request a statement of a person's payment record in order to support their application for a SUSI grant.
I am advised that, on 25 November 2020, the jobseeker concerned received a payments statement from the relevant Intreo Centre for the period from 1 January 2016 to 25 November 2020. In addition, statements for 2018 were issued to the person concerned on 26 March 2019 and on 23 July 2019. If there are no payment records provided on a statement it indicates that no payments were paid to the person concerned by my Department for that year.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
478. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will report on changes to the community employment scheme over the past three years; the improvements being made to the scheme; the number of participants on community employment schemes in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39863/20]
View answerThe Community Employment (CE) Scheme is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis.
The Department undertook a series of nationwide consultation workshops with a number of CE scheme sponsoring authorities during May and June of 2017. As part of these consultations, potential changes to the eligibility criteria were discussed and a number of viable changes were implemented thereafter.
A number of new conditions were introduced to the CE scheme in July 2017 in order to further support progression to employment, broaden CE access to a wider range of people and to standardise the conditions relating to the length of time a CE participant can remain on a CE scheme.
The general qualifying age for CE for those on the Live Register was reduced from 25 to 21 years.
It was also made easier for former CE participants, who had exhausted their CE entitlement, to re-qualify for CE as participation prior to the year 2007 was to be disregarded. There is an overall limit of 6 years participation from 2007 (7 years if on a disability payment).
While CE participants between 21 and 55 years are entitled to one year on the programme, this can be extended by up to 2 more years if they are engaged in a recognised training or education award that is helping them progress towards employment. All CE participants age 55 and over can avail of 3 consecutive years on a CE scheme.
In July 2017, the Department introduced a new Service Support Stream (SSS) which enabled those aged over 62 years to extend their participation beyond the normal participation limits on CE. CE participants aged over 62 years are allowed to participate on a continuous basis up to the State Pension age on SSS subject to the availability of places, satisfactory performance on the CE scheme and, annual approval by the Department.
Since the 1st June 2018, persons attending a JobPath provider can also take up a placement on CE, thus combining the strengths of the two programmes. In particular, it enables those people with the JobPath service to not only continue to receive the personalised employment counselling and job search support provided by their JobPath personal advisors but also, to avail of a CE placement which provides valuable occupational activity and work experience.
The annual budget provided to CE schemes includes an amount to cover consumable services and materials, necessary for the effective operation of the project. As part of Budget 2019, the materials budget available for CE was increased by €2 million and, as part of Budget 2020, additional funding of €2 million was made available for CE training purposes. The 2020 CE Budget is €364 million, an increase of almost €11 million above the 2019 expenditure of €353.36 million.
At the end of February 2020, prior to the outbreak of Covid-19, there were 21,131 participants on CE. At the end of October 2020 there were 19,244 CE participants on CE. Once Covid-19 restrictions begin to be lifted there will be a renewed focus, by my Department, on identifying long-term unemployed candidates for available CE vacancies and to make available the additional places provided for under the July Jobs Stimulus.
I am fully committed to the future of CE and will continue to support and improve CE for the benefit of the CE participants and the valuable contribution being made to local communities.
479. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection if the provision of pensions for community employment supervisors will be facilitated as per the recommendations of the 2008 Labour Court ruling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26410/20]
View answerAt the outset I wish to acknowledge the valuable service that CE supervisors provide in running CE schemes delivering local based community services while providing training and development opportunities to the long-term unemployed and to those often furthest removed from the labour market.
As the Deputy will be aware, although the State is not the employer in this instance, Community Employment (CE) supervisors have been seeking for several years, through their union representatives, the allocation of Exchequer funding to enable CE sponsors, who are their employers, contribute to the funding pension arrangements
This issue was examined by a Community Sector High Level Forum, chaired by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. A number of Departments, including my own Department, were represented on this group, as were the unions and Pobal.
As part of this process a detailed scoping exercise was carried out on the potential costs of providing Exchequer support for the establishment of such a pension scheme for employees across the Community and Voluntary sector in Ireland. This exercise estimated a potential cost to the State of between €188 million and €347 million per annum depending on the numbers involved. This excluded any provision for an immediate ex-gratia lump sum payment of pension as sought by CE supervisors, which could entail a further Exchequer cost of up to €318 million.
Nevertheless I, and my colleague the Minster for Public Expenditure and Reform are keen to find an approach that will resolve this issue.
The current position is that officials from my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the unions representing the CE Supervisors continue to engage in discussions and I am hopeful that, with goodwill and flexibility on all sides, a resolution can be found in the near future.
480. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection the guidelines that Intreo offices have been issued in relation to the sanitisation of electronic signing equipment used by the public. [39884/20]
View answerMy Department has continued to provide services to our customers, including the new pandemic unemployment payment, throughout the pandemic. We have, at all times, followed public health advice and the Return to Work Safely Protocol.
While we have kept our Intreo centres open we have implemented restricted opening hours and strict sanitation protocols and we have encouraged our clients, as far as possible, to use our online services.
Electronic signing equipment is currently only in use during the process of allocating a PPSN to a customer or when a customer is applying for a PSC card. In both of these situations the guidance which has been issued is to ensure that customers sanitise their hands on entering the public office and sanitise their hands again at the counter immediately before signing the electronic pad.
Sanitiser dispensing units are available at the entrance and at the counter. Customers are encouraged to wear face coverings and these are provided to customers who do not have them.
We have also contracted for additional cleaning services and cleaners in all our public offices and these services have been instructed to clean the public areas regularly during opening hours. This includes attending to the electronic signing equipment.
Signing for Social Protection payments was suspended on March 12th until further notice and this is still the case.
Weekly casual dockets are still required although customers now have the option to register to certify their unemployment via MyWelfare.ie or use a drop box.
481. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection the outcome of an application made for a contributory old age pension by a person (details supplied); when the person can expect to receive a first payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39893/20]
View answerThe person concerned reached pension age on 24 October 2020. They applied for State pension (contributory) on 24 July 2020. Since the person had a record of self-employment, their claim was referred to my Department’s Client Eligibility Service (CES) on 15 September 2020 to confirm their social insurance record, as is normal practice in self-employment cases.
The case was referred to Scope Section on 6 October 2020 to clarify the appropriate PRSI class due for the tax years 1994/95 to 2019.
The role of the Scope section is to make statutory decisions on insurability of employment under social welfare legislation. Scope decisions are based on all available evidence, including a report from a social welfare inspector where required.
The person’s file was referred to a social welfare inspector on 16 October 2020 and a report is awaited. Scope section has been requested to expedite the necessary enquiries. Once this information is received, the person’s social insurance record can be verified and their consequent eligibility for State pension (contributory) determined. The person concerned will be notified of a decision as soon as possible.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
482. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will receive a decision on a disability allowance review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39923/20]
View answerThe person concerned has been awarded disability allowance (DA) with effect from the future date of 16 December 2020 as they are currently in receipt of a higher rate of jobseeker's allowance (JA). The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 20 November 2020.
The first payment will be made by their chosen payment method on 16 December 2020.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
483. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the regions which will be prioritised for funding in relation to additional funding for new services in local employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39937/20]
View answer484. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe for the establishment for the recently announced new local employment services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39938/20]
View answer485. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the process for choosing the providers of the recently announced new local employment services. [39939/20]
View answer486. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection if the four new additional local employment services to be established will have the same operational basis as the existing community-led local employment services providers across the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39940/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 483 to 486, inclusive, together.
My Department is in the process of designing and drafting a request for tender for the provision of additional employment services. This additional provision will be in the areas of the country which currently do not have a Local Employment Service in operation and where the analysis of the Live Register indicates there are sufficient numbers of unemployed individuals to warrant an expansion of the Department's Public Employment Service.
This process is ongoing and it is intended that this request for tenders detailing the regional areas where additional employment service provision is being sought by my Department will be published by the end of the year.
The Department is in receipt of legal advice that the procurement for these services must be competitive and in accordance with public procurement policy. The procurement process will therefore be open to all interested parties.
It is envisioned that, unlike existing LES contracts, these new contracts will be multi-annual in nature and the new services will be in place in the first half of 2021.
487. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will backdate the award of an increase in qualified children benefit to March 2018 in the case of a person (details supplied). [39954/20]
View answerAn Increase for two qualified children was awarded to the person concerned with effect from 12 May 2020. The allowance was backdated six months from 11 November 2020. The person was notified of this decision on 19 November 2020.
Other aspects of this claim have been examined and it is possible to further backdate the allowance for one of the children. The person concerned will be notified of this. The Department needs further information before being able to decide on backdating the allowance for the second child and the person concerned is also being contacted about this.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
