Louise O'Reilly
Question:1181. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons that undertook a programme (details supplied) during its existence; and the cost of the programme. [20065/21]
View answerWork Placement Programmes
Questions (1181)
Written answers
The programme referred to was a work placement programme delivered by FÁS which started in June 2009. The programme provided up to nine months work experience for unemployed people who were in receipt of a qualifying payment from the department.
There were two streams in the programme, Stream 1 was for graduates and Stream 2 was for unemployed people generally, with places reserved for those aged under 25. While on the programme participants continued to be paid their basic social welfare payment so there was no separate, additional costs for the scheme. The Department had no function in the administration of the programme at that time.
The responsibility for running the programme was transferred to the Department from FÁS in 2011. When JobBridge was launched in June 2011 those on the Work Placement Programme were offered the opportunity to transfer. The financial incentive associated with JobBridge made it a more attractive option. When JobBridge ended the Youth Employment Support Scheme was developed to offer work experience for jobseekers aged under 25. The work placement programme ended in 2016.
At the end of 2016 the total number of Work Placement Participants was 1,785, of these 1,234 were on the graduate stream and 551 were on the ordinary level stream.
Employment Support Services
Questions (1182)
Claire Kerrane
Question:1182. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the youth employment support scheme budget for 2021 including increased training allowances as provided for under the July stimulus in 2020. [20121/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Youth Employment Support Scheme (YESS) was introduced on 1st October 2018 and was open to applications from that date.
YESS targets at young jobseekers aged between 18 and 24 who are long-term unemployed or who face barriers to employment. The scheme aims to provide jobseekers with the opportunity to learn basic work and social skills in a supportive environment while on a work placement. The scheme provides a supportive structure for participants, including case worker support for both placement hosts and jobseekers.
Since the scheme's inception, a total of 969 people have commenced a placement, while there are currently 46 participants on the YESS. To date, a total of 792 employers have provided YESS placements.
The type of work experience undertaken by participants involved roles across a number of different sectors including - community and voluntary, hospitality and food, ICT and telecoms, manufacturing, retail, sales and marketing, science and healthcare and construction. Recruitment to the scheme in the scheme was affected by Covid-19 during 2020, with fewer participants than anticipated and an associated reduction in scheme expenditure with an estimated outturn of €1.7 million for the year.
In the July Jobs Stimulus the Government committed to a €200 million investment in training, education, skill development, work placement schemes, recruitment subsidies and jobs search and assistance measures aimed to help those who have lost their jobs find a new one, retrain or develop new skills, in particular for emerging growth sectors. Included in this is provision for a funded work placement scheme to provide work experience for jobseekers who have been unemployed for more than six months regardless of age. I intend to launch this work placement programme, once public health restrictions begin to ease further and economic activity starts to return to more normal levels.
It is anticipated that existing YESS participants will be given the option to transfer onto the new programme prior to its launch. Those who do not wish to transfer can complete their YESS scheme as usual. The budget allocations for YESS in 2021 is 2.44 million.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
Employment Support Services
Questions (1183)
Claire Kerrane
Question:1183. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons employed through the JobPlus scheme from January 2020 to date; the number of employers involved in the scheme from January 2020 to date; and the number of payments across the two applicable rates for this timeframe in tabular form. [20122/21]
View answerWritten answers
JobsPlus is a subsidy paid to employers who recruit long-term unemployed people for new positions in their workplace. Employers can avail of JobsPlus when filling new positions or positions that arise as a consequence of natural turnover and they can receive a subsidy of €7,500 or €10,000 per employee. The value of the grant is dependent on the age of the new employee and their duration of unemployment, over the two-year period of employment.
Below is the number of Employers and Employees employed through the JobsPlus scheme from January 2020 to date and the breakdown of the two grants in tabular form.
|
Total number of Employers |
Total number of Employees |
|
2350 |
2881 |
|
Grant amount |
Number of Employees |
|
€10,000 |
1656 |
|
€7,500 |
1225 |
|
Total |
2881 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy
Departmental Contracts
Questions (1184)
Mairéad Farrell
Question:1184. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 139 of 25 November 2020, if further information will be provided in relation to the value of the contract and a description of the contract work referenced. [20166/21]
View answerWritten answers
My Department published a Request for Tender (RfT) on eTenders and OJEU for a Publications Dispatch Service in July 2019. A contract was awarded to Rehab Logistics Ltd under Article 20 of DIRECTIVE 2014/24/EU on public procurement, which used reserved tendering procedures for companies that promote the integration of disadvantaged persons. The work involved is primarily related to, but not limited to, customer application forms and information leaflets, the acceptance and fulfilment of telephone, SMS text or email requests for Department forms, leaflets and other publications.
The contract has a value of €80,000 per annum (excl. VAT), was awarded in September 2019 and is due to end in September 2021.I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Question No. 1185 answered with Question No. 1140.
Back to Education Allowance
Questions (1186)
Maurice Quinlivan
Question:1186. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of students that availed of the back to education allowance in 2019 and 2020. [20179/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Back to Education Allowance Scheme (BTEA) is designed to support second chance education. It enables eligible persons to pursue education and to continue to receive income support for the duration of a course of study.
There were 7,300 students in the 2019/2020 academic year pursuing education while supported with a weekly BTEA allowance. There are currently approximately 6,400 students supported through the BTEA.
Government has provided €96.5 million for BTEA in 2021. This represents a considerable investment in supporting participants to acquire the necessary education and skills to re-enter the labour market.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Departmental Staff
Questions (1187)
Marc MacSharry
Question:1187. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of the process that is followed in her Department following receipt of a report from the occupational health unit of the Civil Service; if there is a policy to disagree with reports that state that there is nothing medically wrong with an employee (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20207/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Department's HR unit, in dealing with individual illness-related cases, consult with the Office of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and the medical reports and advice are considered in addition to all other relevant information pertaining to each case.
The person concerned retired from the Civil Service in October 2001 on the grounds of ill health. An application for reinstatement to Higher Executive Officer was considered in August, 2007. The advice of the CMO was sought in relation to this request and the CMO's report was not to recommend resumption in the Civil Service on the basis of the medical advice available at that time.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
Social Welfare Code
Questions (1188)
Claire Kerrane
Question:1188. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the actions that have been taken to gender and equality-proof social welfare provisions as set out in the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20216/21]
View answerWritten answers
Every year, the Department carries out a range of social impact assessments on the welfare measures contained in the Budget, using the ESRI’s SWITCH tax-benefit microsimulation model. The Social Impact Assessment is an evidence-based methodology which estimates the likely distributive effects of policies on household incomes, families and poverty. This informs decision-making leading up to the Budget and ensures that the most vulnerable are protected. The assessment of the last budget showed an overall progressive nature in the budget package, with lower income deciles gaining proportionately more than higher income deciles.
The Department is represented on the Equality Budgeting Steering Group and has engaged with an OECD review of Ireland's approach to equality budgeting. The Department has included appropriate equality metrics in the 2021 Revised Estimates Volume.
In terms of specific Programme for Government commitments, the Terms of Reference for the Pensions Commission include a review of the current State Pension arrangements taking account, where relevant, of socio-demographic characteristics (for example, gender).
In conjunction with my colleague, Roderic O'Gorman TD Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, parent's leave and benefit has been extended from two weeks to five weeks. This can be taken by both parents and is an important equality measure contained in the Programme for Government.
Widow's Pension
Questions (1189)
Bernard Durkan
Question:1189. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which a person (details supplied) is entitled to a widow’s pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20239/21]
View answerWritten answers
The person concerned has been provisionally awarded a widow(er)'s & surviving civil partner's contributory pension, with effect from 09/04/2021. Letters, including a short questionnaire requesting bank account details for the person concerned; and a request for their original marriage certificate have issued on 12/03/2021 and 13/03/2021.
In light of the pandemic, if the letters have not been received by the person concerned, they can be forwarded by email if she provides her email address. The person concerned can contact my Department by email at widows.con@welfare.ie.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Question No. 1190 answered with Question No. 1112.
Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
Questions (1191)
Denis Naughten
Question:1191. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of students accessing the pandemic unemployment payment as a result of Covid-19 in August 2020, December 2020 and March 2021, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20327/21]
View answerWritten answers
The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below, and refers to students in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment in the last calendar week of the month.
It should be noted that these figures are based on a combination of self-certified information provided by the claimants and checks performed against administrative files from the HEA, and should therefore be considered as estimated numbers.
|
- |
Aug-20 |
Dec-20 |
Mar-21 |
|
Students in Receipt of PUP |
19,766 |
31,981 |
46,906 |
Question No. 1192 answered with Question No. 1140.
One-Parent Family Payment
Questions (1193)
Jackie Cahill
Question:1193. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of capital a person can have without it affecting their lone parent family income payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20363/21]
View answerWritten answers
The assessment of a person’s capital is just one element of the means test for One-Parent Family Payment (OFP), and other social assistance payments. Calculating the amount of capital that a person can have and still qualify for an OFP payment is complex and the value of a person’s capital for this purpose depends on a range of factors.
For the purposes of OFP, capital (which includes savings and investments) and the value of property owned but not personally used or enjoyed are assessed as means. Where capital or property is assessed on this basis, any income received from its use (for example interest on savings, dividends from shares, or rent from property let) is not assessed as cash income.
There are provisions within the capital assessment to take account of a range of other scenarios which can arise, such as second properties, the assessment of land let, the letting of farms, and property offered for sale.
The house in which a person resides, together with furniture and personal effects, is not assessed.
The following formula which came into operation on 2ndJune 2005 is used to calculate the weekly value of capital in the means test for certain social welfare schemes, including OFP:
- The first €20,000 is assessed with a nil value
- Amounts between €20,000 and €30,000 are assessed at €1 per €1,000
- Amounts between €30,000 and €40,000 are assessed at €2 per €1,000
- Amounts in excess of €40,000 are assessed at €4 per €1,000.
Full details of how means are assessed for social welfare schemes are available on my Department’s website.
I trust that clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Exceptional Needs Payment
Questions (1194)
Bernard Durkan
Question:1194. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an exceptional needs payment will be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20371/21]
View answerWritten answers
Departmental records reflect that an application for an Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) has not been received from the person concerned.
My officials have advised that an ENP pack was issued by post on 15/04/2021. On receipt of a completed application form and any relevant supporting documentation, the application will be assessed and a decision will issue to the person concerned.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
Rural Social Scheme
Questions (1195)
Alan Dillon
Question:1195. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to extend the means test for those who wish to participate on the rural social scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20430/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Rural Social Scheme (RSS) is an income support scheme which provides part-time employment opportunities in community and voluntary organisations for farmers or fishermen and women who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are underemployed in their primary occupation. In return, people participating in the RSS provide valuable services that benefit their rural communities. There are 3,088 people participating on RSS at present; the 2020 RSS budget was €52.74m.
RSS is specifically designed for participants whose income falls below certain limits. To be eligible to participate on the scheme, participants must be actively farming or fishing and also satisfy the means test assessment required to qualify for the Farm Assist payment.
The means test is based on the net income from farming. Farm income is assessed on the gross income that a participant may be expected to receive from available sources, minus necessary expenditure incurred. The period of assessment is based on the previous 12 months and account is also taken of any exceptional circumstances that may have occurred to ensure that the assessment is accurate.
In Budget 2017, improvements to the Farm Assist means assessment included a provision that only 70% of the farm income would be assessed as means, this was down from the previous percentage of 100% and represents a 30% income disregard. There were additional annual means disregards of €254 for each of the first two children, and €381 for the third and subsequent children.
Any further changes proposed in relation to the means test assessment, for the purpose of qualifying for Farm Assist and subsequent participation on the Rural Social Scheme, would have significant budgetary implications and would need to be considered in the wider context of overall resources available to the Department. There are no further related changes being considered at this time.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
JobPath Programme
Questions (1196)
Thomas Pringle
Question:1196. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection if JobPath will be coming to an end soon; if so, the date it be will be finishing; if she plans to replace the scheme with another scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20439/21]
View answerWritten answers
JobPath provides employment assistance and advice to the long-term unemployed on behalf of my Department.
On 22 October 2020, I announced an extension of referrals to the JobPath service for a further twelve months until the end of 2021. There will be a run out period for the contract after new referrals have ceased. At that time I also announced similar extensions to the Local Employment Services, Job Clubs and EmployAbility to ensure their services extended into 2021. These measures were taken in order to ensure the Public Employment Service had sufficient capacity to support those impacted by the pandemic with access to employment services during 2021. In light of these circumstances, it was deemed prudent to not only retain, but to expand, the existing capacity of our public employment services.
My Department is continuing to examine procurement options for the provision of all contracted employment services to ensure that the Public Employment Service has sufficient capacity in 2022 to support all those who need our assistance and help in securing new employment.
I trust that clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Disability Allowance
Questions (1197)
Seán Fleming
Question:1197. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is receiving the correct amount of disability payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20503/21]
View answerWritten answers
Following a review of the entitlement of the person concerned, it was found that she had a decrease in her means from 3 February 2021. Based on the information provided to my Department, a maximum rate of disability allowance (DA) was awarded from that date.
A letter issued to the person concerned informing them of this on 13 April 2021. Their first payment at maximum rate will be made on 21 April 2021. Arrears of payment due have issued to the person concerned.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Child Support Payments
Questions (1198)
Michael Creed
Question:1198. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is an entitlement to an increase in child dependent payments in the case of a person (details supplied) in view of the reduced level of maintenance payments. [20585/21]
View answerWritten answers
Carer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
A recipient of full rate CA is entitled to claim an Increase for a Qualified Child (IQC) at the following rates:
- A full-rate IQC is paid with CA where the applicant is parenting alone.
- A half-rate IQC is paid with CA if the applicant has a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant.
The person concerned is in receipt of a full rate CA of €219 base rate, plus an additional €67.50 half rate IQC, which is paid for three children at €22.50 per child per week.
According to the Department's records, the person concerned is married and living with her spouse and therefore IQCs have been rated at 50%.
A letter issued to the person concerned outlining the details of her payment on 8 April 2021. This letter also informed her if there has been any change in circumstances, the person concerned should notify the Department immediately. It also provided details of the documentary evidence required in order to enable the Department to re-rate her IQC payments.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Tax Credits
Questions (1199)
Joan Collins
Question:1199. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if credits are automatically awarded in cases in which a person received the pandemic unemployment payment as with other social welfare payments as in the case of a person (details supplied). [20656/21]
View answerWritten answers
In order to establish a person’s entitlement to the State Pension (Contributory), a completed pension application form must be lodged with the Department and the social insurance record of the person concerned examined by a deciding officer.
According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has not, to date, lodged a pension application form with the Department and will reach pension age on 29 June 2021. I have arranged for a copy of the person’s social insurance contribution record to issue to her together with an application form for the State Pension (Contributory).
Following the enactment of the Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Act 2020, social welfare legislation provides for the attribution of social insurance contributions, for a prescribed period, to insured persons who were beneficiaries of certain Covid-19 income support payments. These payments include the pandemic unemployment payment.
This provision will ensure that persons entitled to and in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment will have social insurance contributions attributed to them at the same value as they were paying while employed immediately before going on the payment.
The measure means that people who lost their jobs arising from the Covid-19 pandemic will not be disadvantaged in accessing social insurance benefits in the future.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.