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Wednesday, 2 Jun 2021

Written Answers Nos. 152-171

Public Procurement Contracts

Questions (152)

Dara Calleary

Question:

152. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection further to previous Parliamentary Questions in relation to a potential RFT for local employment services in areas with existing providers and for those areas with no local employment services at present, the specific EU procurement rules she cites in her responses as necessary to issue a RFT; if she has sought a derogation from any potential requirement on the basis that the local employment services provides a vital social service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30080/21]

View answer

Written answers

My Department recently published a request for tender for employment services for seven counties in the North-west and Midlands. These new services, in areas of the State where no Local Employment Services currently operate, will constitute a significant expansion of employment services. My Department expects to have these new services up and running in the third quarter of this year.

This procurement process will be competitive in line with legal advice received by my Department both from the Chief State Solicitor's Office and the Attorney-General's Office that these employment services were not subject to exceptions from procurement regulations. As the Deputy is aware, the Government does not publish its legal advice so I am not in a position to discuss the specifics of that advice. However, I am satisfied that the legal advice is comprehensive and unambiguous and no derogation is allowable in these circumstances.

Social Welfare Payments

Questions (153)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

153. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to review of a jobseeker’s allowance payment for a person (details supplied); if they will receive back payment to the date when they reapplied for the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30083/21]

View answer

Written answers

The customer's application for Jobseekers Allowance is currently pending decision. A Social Welfare Inspector of this Department wrote to the customer in April 2021, requesting information deemed necessary in order for a Deciding Officer to make a determination on the claim.

The customer forwarded documentation to the Inspector, which was received on 27/05/2021; however, some of the information requested remains outstanding. The Inspector wrote to the customer again on 31/05/21 by registered post, requesting the outstanding information. A decision can be made on the claim upon receipt of this information.

If the customer is experiencing financial difficulty while awaiting the outcome of her claim, it is open to her to contact her local Community Welfare Service in order to seek assistance under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme.  Information for schemes administered by my Department can be viewed at the Department’s website, via www.gov.ie.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Social Welfare Appeals

Questions (154)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

154. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30088/21]

View answer

Written answers

Disability allowance (DA) is subject to periodic reviews.  The entitlement of the person concerned was reviewed and it was established that she no longer satisfied the medical condition for receipt of DA.  The person concerned was originally notified of this on 29 September 2020.

Further medical evidence was received and a review of this decision was carried out.  The original decision was upheld and the person concerned was notified in writing on 15 December 2020.  She was also advised of her right to appeal this decision to the independent social welfare appeals office (SWAO).

The person in question lodged an appeal with the independent SWAO and following a successful appeal their DA has been re-instated with effect from 21 October 2020. A letter issued to them on 19 May 2021 informing them of this decision. Payment will issue to their bank account on 9 June 2021.

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.

Social Welfare Payments

Questions (155, 156)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

155. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years who are in receipt of jobseeker's benefit, jobseeker's allowance and signing for credits by county in tabular form. [30108/21]

View answer

Thomas Pringle

Question:

156. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years who are in receipt of jobseeker's benefit, jobseeker's allowance and signing for credits for 12 months or more, in tabular form. [30109/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 156 together.

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the tables below.

Table 1 : Under 25 in receipt of Jobseeker's Benefit (JB), Jobseeker's Allowance (JA), Credits Only (JBCO) for 12 months or more

JA

JB

JBCO

7,640

37

24

Table 2 : Under 25 in receipt of JB, JB, JBCO by county

-

JA

JB

JBCO

Carlow

298

18

0

Cavan

308

15

1

Clare

421

25

1

Cork

1163

110

6

Donegal

859

65

1

Dublin

3888

391

14

Galway

775

51

5

Kerry

488

35

2

Kildare

669

65

10

Kilkenny

371

19

2

Laois

351

26

1

Leitrim

125

8

2

Limerick

734

54

1

Longford

290

11

0

Louth

722

52

2

Mayo

448

26

1

Meath

557

77

0

Monaghan

175

16

2

Offaly

354

17

1

Roscommon

202

14

1

Sligo

249

27

2

Tipperary

691

55

2

Waterford

665

46

2

Westmeath

376

20

1

Wexford

733

52

0

Wicklow

467

31

1

Unknown

5

3

0

Total

16384

1329

61

Question No. 156 answered with Question No. 155.

Social Welfare Payments

Questions (157)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

157. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years of age who are in receipt of the full rate of jobseeker's allowance of €203 per week. [30110/21]

View answer

Written answers

There were 16,384 young persons under 25 years in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance for the week ending 30/05/2021. Of these, 1,319 received a rate of €203.

Social Welfare Payments

Questions (158)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

158. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years who are in receipt of the lower rate of jobseeker's allowance of €112.70 per week. [30111/21]

View answer

Written answers

There were 16,384 young persons under 25 years in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance for the week ending 30/05/2021. Of these, 12,011 received a rate of €112.70.

Social Welfare Payments

Questions (159)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

159. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years who are in receipt of a rate of a jobseeker's allowance other than €112.70 and €203 per week. [30112/21]

View answer

Written answers

There were 16,384 young persons under 25 years in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance for the week ending 30/05/2021. Of these, 3,054 received a rate other than €112.70 or €203.

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Questions (160)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

160. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years who are in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment for six months or more by county in tabular form. [30113/21]

View answer

Written answers

The number of people aged under 25 who received a Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) as of 1st June 2021 who have received 26 or more concurrent PUP payments in total is set out in the table below.  

County 

Under 25s: 26 or more concurrent PUPs 

Carlow

394

Cavan

608

Clare

1,138

Cork

4,389

Donegal

1,981

Dublin

12,538

Galway

2,737

Kerry

1,999

Kildare

1,899

Kilkenny

858

Laois

536

Leitrim

330

Limerick

1,506

Longford

227

Louth

1,197

Mayo

1,491

Meath

1,705

Monaghan

538

Offaly

595

Roscommon

571

Sligo

772

Tipperary

1,087

Waterford

1,036

Westmeath

694

Wexford

1,221

Wicklow

1,269

Unknown

32

Total

43,348

Social Welfare Payments

Questions (161)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

161. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the jobseeker's allowance for those young persons under 25 years of age who are currently on the weekly rate of €112.70 by €45.15 per week to €157.85; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30114/21]

View answer

Written answers

The estimated full year cost of increasing the Jobseekers Allowance rate of €112.70 by €45.15 to €157.85 for recipients aged under 25 years is €33.8 million.  

It should be noted that this cost is subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients.

Social Welfare Payments

Questions (162)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

162. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years of age on the back to education allowance scheme in January 2020 and January 2021; the funding allocated to support young persons under 25 on the scheme in 2020 and 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30117/21]

View answer

Written 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. The main focus of the BTEA is to assist qualifying applicants to improve their educational qualifications and improve their prospects of gaining employment. 

There were 7,300 students in the 2019/2020 academic year pursuing education while supported with a weekly BTEA allowance, of which 1,500 or 20% are under the age of 25.  There are approximately 6,400 students supported through the BTEA for the 2020/2021 academic year, of which 1,500 or 24% are under the age of 25.

Government has provided €96.5 million for BTEA in 2021, increased from €57m in 2020. Funding for the scheme is not apportioned for those specifically under 25 years.  This represents a considerable investment in supporting unemployed individuals, including those under the age of 25, to acquire the necessary education and skills to re-enter the labour market.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Youth Work Supports

Questions (163)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

163. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years of age on the youth employment support scheme in January 2020 and January 2021; the funding allocated to support young persons under 25 on the scheme in 2020 and 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30118/21]

View answer

Written answers

The Youth Employment Support Scheme (YESS) was introduced on 1st October 2018 and has been open to applications since. YESS targeted young jobseekers aged between 18 and 24 who are long-term unemployed or who face barriers to employment. The scheme aimed to provide jobseekers with the opportunity to learn basic work and social skills in a supportive environment while on a work placement. The scheme provided a supportive structure for participants, including case worker support for both placement hosts and jobseekers.

Since the scheme's inception, a total of 990 people have commenced a placement, with 50 jobseekers currently on 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 severely affected by Covid-19 during 2020, with fewer hosts advertising vacancies due to temporary suspension of operations and social mobility and distancing requirements. 

While €2.44m was allocated to the scheme for 2020, provisional estimates of expenditure show an outturn of €1.7 million for the year.  The Budget allocation for the scheme this year is €3.35m.   

In the month of January 2020 there were 297 active participants on YESS with 59 closures and 46 new starts that month. By comparison, in January 2021 there were 131 active participants on YESS.

I intend to shortly launch a new work placement scheme to provide work experience for jobseekers who have been unemployed, including time spent on PUP, for more than six months regardless of age.  A particular objective is to provide a mechanism for those with recent work experience or with sector specific skills to pivot into new employment/jobs through additional learning with new and relevant work experience.

Existing YESS participants will be given the option to transfer onto the new programme prior to its launch, subject to the agreement of both the host and the participant. If either party wishes to maintain the existing arrangement, they will be able to complete their YESS scheme under the existing terms.   

The budget allocations for YESS in 2020 and 2021 are set out in tabular format below.

Budget Allocations for YESS

2021

2020

€000

€000

2,440

3,350

Youth Work Supports

Questions (164, 165)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

164. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years of age supported by the JobsPlus youth scheme in 2020 and to date in 2021; the funding allocated to support young persons under 25 on the scheme in 2020 and 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30119/21]

View answer

Thomas Pringle

Question:

165. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of employers who have applied for and received the enhanced JobsPlus youth scheme subsidy for employing young persons aged between 25 to 29 years since July 2020; and the total number of young persons aged 25 to 29 years supported on the jobsPlus scheme since July 2020. [30120/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 165 together.

JobsPlus provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers who recruit employees from the Live Register and those transitioning into employment.  It provides employers with two levels of payment - €7,500 or €10,000 over two years - paid in monthly instalments. 

 The scheme has an overall budget allocation of €28.3m for 2021.  Funding is not, however,  ring-fenced for any demographic over another.    

The number of people under 25 years of age supported in 2020 to end of May 2021 is provided in Table 1.   

The July Jobs Stimulus announced an increase to the numbers that could avail of the scheme and the number of JobsPlus places was increased by 2,000 places with effect from 1st August 2020.  

The JobsPlus Scheme guidelines were revised to cater for the changes announced, as follows: 

- The qualifying criteria were revised so that those under 30 can now avail of the support after 4 months on the Live Register in the previous 6 months. 

- Time spent in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment can be counted for the purposes of this eligibility 

The total number of Employers and the number of Employees aged 25-29 years who availed of JobsPlus since July 2020 is provided in Table 2. 

  Table 1.  

Age category

No. of Participants supported from Jan 2020 – end May 2021 

Under 25’s 

444 

Table 2.

Age category 

No. of participants supported from July 2020 to date 

Number of Employers who availed of Jobs Plus for 25-29 category from July 2020 

25-29 

39 

38 

Over the course of the last fifteen months, numbers on Jobsplus were impacted by COVID related public health restrictions , with the resultant limitations on business activity and employment levels.   With the continued gradual opening of the economy and business sectors over the coming months, my Department intends to further promote the value of Jobsplus both to employers and unemployed in order to ensure that the opportunities provided by the scheme are fully availed of.

Question No. 165 answered with Question No. 164.

Social Welfare Payments

Questions (166)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

166. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years in receipt of the carer’s allowance. [30121/21]

View answer

Written 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 results in them requiring that level of care.

At the end of April 2021, the number of persons who are under 25 years of age and who are in receipt of CA was 1,036.   

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Payments

Questions (167)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

167. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years in receipt of disability allowance; and the number under 25 years in receipt of the allowance for 12 months or more in tabular form. [30122/21]

View answer

Written answers

Disability allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance for people aged between 16 and 66 with a disability which is expected to last for at least one year, and who satisfy the medical condition, the means test and who are habitually resident in Ireland. 

At the end of April 2021 the number of persons who are under 25 years of age and who are in receipt of the payment from DA was 21,759. Of these 18,041 have been in receipt of DA for more than  12 months.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Payments

Questions (168)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

168. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of young persons under 25 years in receipt of the one parent family payment; and the number under 25 years in receipt of the payment for 12 months or more in tabular form. [30123/21]

View answer

Written answers

At the end of April 2021,  5,777 people aged under 25 were in receipt of the One Parent Family Payment.  Of these,  4,373 have been in receipt of the payment for 12 months or more. 

Social Welfare Payments

Questions (169)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

169. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the actions taken to date to implement the commitment in the programme for Government to improve jobseeker supports for persons aged under 24 over the lifetime of the Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30124/21]

View answer

Written answers

The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, published in October last year, committed to improve Jobseeker’s supports for people aged under 24 over the lifetime of the Government.

The Deputy is aware that age related rates were introduced for young recipients of Jobseekers Allowance to tackle high youth unemployment and to prevent long term welfare dependency. An age- related Jobseeker’s Allowance rate of €112.70 generally applies to young jobseekers aged 18-24, to incentivise them to engage in education or training in order to improve their chances of obtaining full time sustainable employment. Where a young jobseeker participates in education or training they can receive the maximum weekly personal rate of €203.  

The best way of improving supports for young people is to focus on employment supports. Given the severity of the impact of the pandemic on youth unemployment one of my key priorities as restrictions are gradually lifted is to focus on getting young people back to work and assisting those young jobseekers who are looking to obtain their first job.

Under the July Jobs Stimulus, my Department, along with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, is committed to:

- Expanding the caseload capacity of Intreo Centres, with the assignment of 100 job coaches to  provide enhanced employment services and supports;

- Increasing the benefit of the JobsPlus recruitment subsidy to employers who hire young people. Under this scheme an employer receives the JobsPlus subsidy of €7,500 once they employ a young person who is aged under 30, who has been unemployed for just 4 months;

- Providing access to additional full-time and part-time education opportunities, including targeted short-term courses, with over 35,000 new education and training places for  those currently unemployed;

- Providing incentives to employers to take on more apprentices, with the provision of a grant of  €3,000 to employers for each new apprentice recruited;

- Facilitating access to the Back to Education Allowance and Back to Work Enterprise Allowance to those displaced by the pandemic and in receipt of PUP, by waiving the usual qualifying period of 3-9 months.

The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 was launched last month by my colleague, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.  The Action Plan sets out a five-year strategy to deliver on the Programme for Government commitment of reaching 10,000 new apprentice registrations per year by 2025.  The plan provides a roadmap to a single apprenticeship system and new supports for employers and apprentices, which will prove attractive for many young people.

My Department is at an advanced stage in developing a new Work Placement Experience Programme for those out of work for at least six months, regardless of age. This programme will seek to encourage businesses to provide jobseekers with the necessary workplace skills to compete in the labour market and to help break the vicious circle of “no job without experience, no experience without a job.” The programme aims to incentivise the participation of young people through an attractive weekly uplift to their weekly payment entitlement. It is anticipated that those currently on the Youth Employment Support Scheme will be permitted to transfer across to the new programme providing the participant and host are both agreeable. I expect to bring the Programme to government shortly for consideration and anticipate a launch of the programme shortly thereafter.

Furthermore, the Pathways to Work 2021-2025, which is currently being finalised by my Department will set out how an expanded Public Employment Service will utilise its existing and expanded capacity to deliver effective services in a post-COVID labour market.  This whole-of-Government strategy will seek to build upon those support measures outlined above particularly for young jobseekers.

I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Questions (170, 171)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

170. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons on the €203, €250 and €300 rates of payment per week of the pandemic unemployment payment in tabular form. [30125/21]

View answer

Thomas Pringle

Question:

171. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under the age of 25 years who are on the €203, €250 and €300 rates of payment per week of the pandemic unemployment payment in tabular form. [30126/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 171 together.

The information requested by the Deputy is included in the attached tabular statements and includes weekly breakdowns by PUP rate since the start of the year. Statistics on the number and ages of persons receiving the various rates of payments are published each week by my Department at www.gov.ie/dsp/statistics.

PUP Payment Dates

Table 1 : Under 25s by Rate of Payment

PUP payment date

€203

€250

€300

€350

05/01/2021

23,166

24,598

20,663

21,968

12/01/2021

25,833

27,790

23,366

25,307

19/01/2021

26,875

29,070

24,952

29,018

26/01/2021

27,205

29,271

25,162

29,477

02/02/2021

27,311

29,285

25,152

29,517

09/02/2021

27,355

29,253

25,197

29,368

16/02/2021

27,237

29,130

24,971

28,852

23/02/2021

27,151

28,985

24,766

28,362

02/03/2021

27,177

28,854

24,621

27,945

09/03/2021

27,185

28,758

24,525

27,726

16/03/2021

27,028

28,517

24,270

27,260

23/03/2021

26,895

28,321

24,028

26,866

30/03/2021

26,768

28,074

23,817

26,497

06/04/2021

26,578

27,795

23,564

26,078

13/04/2021

26,250

27,308

23,152

25,523

20/04/2021

26,181

27,182

22,976

25,203

27/04/2021

25,726

26,562

22,405

24,121

04/05/2021

25,153

25,731

21,616

22,787

11/05/2021

24,889

25,387

21,288

22,302

18/05/2021

24,419

24,827

20,730

21,543

25/05/2021

23,294

23,569

19,464

20,041

01/06/2021

21,722

21,780

18,010

18,597

Table 2: PUP totals by Rate of Payment

PUP payment date

€203

€250

€300

€350

05/01/2021

72,153

65,508

66,347

170,836

12/01/2021

78,188

72,604

74,124

197,777

19/01/2021

82,138

76,984

80,086

237,923

26/01/2021

83,003

77,551

80,897

243,017

02/02/2021

83,379

77,678

81,091

243,313

09/02/2021

83,522

77,716

81,260

243,312

16/02/2021

83,263

77,336

80,660

239,359

23/02/2021

82,965

76,952

80,078

235,724

02/03/2021

82,873

76,526

79,567

231,689

09/03/2021

82,628

76,000

78,969

229,125

16/03/2021

81,698

74,948

77,614

223,842

23/03/2021

80,992

74,143

76,600

219,464

30/03/2021

80,327

73,296

75,710

215,344

06/04/2021

79,696

72,682

75,036

211,256

13/04/2021

78,197

70,672

73,103

205,107

20/04/2021

77,569

70,357

72,659

201,531

27/04/2021

75,905

68,136

70,199

188,861

04/05/2021

74,025

65,890

67,545

177,755

11/05/2021

73,037

64,861

66,370

172,403

18/05/2021

71,505

63,253

64,437

163,975

25/05/2021

66,876

58,562

59,054

149,714

01/06/2021

62,482

54,115

54,484

138,436

Question No. 171 answered with Question No. 170.
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