James Lawless
Question:326. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection when the means test for non-contributory pensions was introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49426/21]
View answerPension Provisions
Questions (326)
Written answers
The original Old Age Non-Contributory pension was first introduced in Ireland in 1908 via the passing of the Non-contributory Old-Age Pensions Act in Parliament covering the United Kingdom & Ireland. Payment was made, subject to a means test, to those people over the then State Pension Age of 70.
There has thus always been an element of means testing for an old age pension in Ireland. When the Old Age Contributory Pension was introduced in 1961, the Old Age Non-Contributory Pension continued to be paid to those who qualified through lack of means. In 2006 the Old Age Non-Contributory Pension was renamed the State Pension (Non-Contributory) which continues to this day.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Pension Provisions
Questions (327)
Alan Dillon
Question:327. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will increase the old age pension in Budget 2022 in view of the rising cost of living and the pressure that the costs are putting pensioners under; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49427/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Deputy will be aware that I have been considering a range of options for Budget 2022 including increases in weekly rates of payment to all Social Welfare recipients, including those in receipt of pensions.
Details of the 2022 Budget package will be announced by the Minister for Finance today.
It is, I believe, important to emphasise that the Government takes a range of data, not just price data, into account in formulating its budget. For example, the last two Budgets have, in fact, seen a series of evidence-based increases in some social welfare payments targeted to improve the situation of the people who are most at risk of poverty and to ensure the most vulnerable were protected. While core rates for pensioners remained unchanged in Budgets 2020 and 2021, measures were introduced which sought to protect some of the most vulnerable groups, including many pensioners.In recognition of research which indicates that those who are aged 65 years and over are more likely to be at risk of poverty, deprivation and consistent poverty if they live alone, the Living Alone Allowance was increased by €10 per week over the course of Budgets 2020 and 2021. This brought the rate from €9 to €19 per week.To take account of increased costs arising as a result of increases to the carbon tax, the Fuel Allowance was increased by €2 per week in Budget 2020 and a further €3.50 per week in Budget 2021. This raised the weekly rate of payment from €22.50 in 2019 to €28 currently.As a result of these targeted measures, some of the most vulnerable social welfare recipients have already seen increases significantly above the rate of inflation over this period. For example, during the fuel season, a pensioner or person with a disability living alone is up to €15.50 per week better off. In addition, on a once-off basis in 2020, the fuel season was extended by four weeks, in recognition of the fact that many people were spending more time at home due to the Covid-19 lockdown. In considering options for the forthcoming Social Welfare Budget package, I will once again take careful account of evidence-based research produced by organisations such as the CSO, the ERSI and the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice. Taking an evidence-based approach ensures that available resources are used to deliver maximum impact in terms of reducing poverty and disadvantage.
Employment Support Services
Questions (328)
Seán Sherlock
Question:328. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if the arrangement between her Department and local employment service providers constitutes contracts of indefinite duration. [49428/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Local Employment Services (LES) provide a one-to-one employment assistance and advice service for the long-term unemployed.
My Department currently contracts with a range of providers for the provision of Local Employment Services. Each contract stipulates the duration of the contract which is for a period of 12 months. The current contracts are in place from 01 January 2021 and are due to expire on the 31 December 2021.
Employment Support Services
Questions (329)
Seán Sherlock
Question:329. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has considered whether a legitimate expectation has been established in its contractual relationship with local employment services and job clubs; and the exposure the State could face from the cessation of these contracts. [49429/21]
View answerWritten answers
I understand that the Deputy is referring to a position being adopted by an interested party in regard to
the ongoing procurement process for employment services. It would be inappropriate to comment on
any expectation attributable to a third party or the legitimacy or otherwise of such a position.
My Department is at an advanced stage in its first phase of a two-phase procurement for regionally based employment services. The procurement has two key goals.
First, it will see a significant expansion across the State of employment services for those furthest from the labour market. The regional employment services will have a strong focus on local and community linkages and will help to address the post-covid19 employment challenge.
Second, the procurement process will help to place the services on a proper contractual footing. The existing services were first contracted for over 20 years ago and there has been no formal procurement process in the intervening years. This is not in compliance with standards of proper governance or best practice. I have previously made clear that legal advice from the Attorney General's Office and the Chief State Solicitor’s Office states that contracts for employment services should be procured in an open and competitive manner.
Therefore, any potential risk of exposure to the State would more likely arise from the continuation rather than the cessation of previous practices, which are not in accordance with the State's legal obligations under public procurement law.
Pension Provisions
Questions (330)
Seán Canney
Question:330. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress that has been made in negotiations on the pension entitlements of community employment supervisors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49438/21]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors have been seeking for several years, through their union representatives, the allocation of Exchequer funding to implement a 2008 Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme for CE supervisors and assistant supervisors who are employed by CE scheme sponsors. This claim creates some difficulties because the State is not the employer of the supervisors.
Within this context, officials from my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform held discussions on proposals to progress and resolve this complex issue, while having regard to the wider budgetary framework. Department officials also held discussions with unions representing CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors.
At the start of April this year, agreement was reached with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on proposals to resolve the long-standing issue. These proposals include a financial package.
I am confident these proposals are a solid basis for progressing and resolving this complex issue. Discussions on these proposals are ongoing between my Department and the unions representing CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors. The unions have made a number of observations, and these are currently being examined by my officials in conjunction with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and other relevant Government Departments.
My officials are continuing to progress this matter as a priority, and I would hope that these discussions can reach a conclusion in the near future.
ENDS
Social Welfare Payments
Questions (331)
Bernard Durkan
Question:331. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for the back to education allowance can be reconsidered in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49439/21]
View answerWritten answers
The person concerned was awarded a Jobseeker's Allowance (JA) payment from 31/08/2021. He made an application for a Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) on 30/09/2021 to pursue the 4th year of a Computer Science degree which had commenced in Maynooth University on 22/09/2021.
There are a number of qualifying criteria for receipt of BTEA for the Third Level option. One of these is that the applicant must be in receipt of a qualifying payment for a minimum of 9 months and the applicant must also be entering the 1st year of a course of study. As the person concerned did not meet either of these qualifying conditions, his BTEA application was disallowed.
The person concerned was advised of this decision on 01/10/2021 and afforded the opportunity to request a review if he was dissatisfied with the decision.
The person concerned subsequently requested a review. In order to carry out this review supporting documentation has been requested from the person concerned. When this documentation has been received a review will be undertaken and he will be advised of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
Social Welfare Payments
Questions (332)
Bernard Durkan
Question:332. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a full review will take place into a jobseeker’s allowance application in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49441/21]
View answerWritten answers
The person concerned applied for a Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) payment with effect from 28/06/2021 after his entitlement to Jobseeker’s Benefit expired on 26/06/2021. JA is a means tested payment. A means test is an assessment of all household income, savings, shares, investments or property that a person owns, apart from their own home. The means test also includes any income that a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant has.
On 28/06/2021 a decision letter issued to the person concerned to advise that his claim for JA was disallowed. Following the means assessment undertaken by my officials, the person concerned was deemed to have weekly means of €990 which is in excess of the prescribed limit of €337.70 for a person with his family circumstances. Means were derived from land, a second property, spousal earnings, savings and shares. The property valuation was self-declared and when a requested auctioneer’s valuation for the land was not submitted the value was estimated by my officials.
The person concerned currently has a JA (means) appeal registered with the Social Welfare Appeals Office which operates independently of my Department. This appeal is currently assigned to an Appeals Officer for consideration and when the review has been completed he will be advised of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
Social Welfare Payments
Questions (333)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:333. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if a review will be carried out into an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49450/21]
View answerWritten answers
Following the submission of further medical evidence by the person concerned, their case has been reviewed and they have been awarded disability allowance with effect from 14 July 2021 as they were in receipt of a higher payment of illness benefit (IB) up to that date. The first payment will be made on 27 October 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.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy
Social Welfare Payments
Questions (334)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:334. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49452/21]
View answerWritten answers
An application for Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 23rd July 2021. Applications are processed in date of receipt order, and the processing of applications received in late July will be underway shortly. The Deciding Officer will notify the customer in writing as soon as the application has been finalised.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Departmental Data
Questions (335)
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:335. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons deemed eligible for the fuel allowance in Dublin 1, 3, 7 and 9 in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021 [49475/21]
View answerWritten answers
The data requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below. This data is based on the last known address, and is based an analysis of free-text address fields; there may be cases where a postcode is not recorded and so is excluded from the below
|
Year |
People |
|
2016 |
7,163 |
|
2017 |
7,362 |
|
2018 |
7,435 |
|
2019 |
7,673 |
|
2020 |
7,998 |
|
2021 (to September) |
7,902 |
Departmental Data
Questions (336)
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:336. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons deemed eligible for an exceptional needs payment, an urgent needs payment and supplementary welfare allowance payments in Dublin 1, 3, 7 and 9 in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [49476/21]
View answerWritten answers
The data requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below. This data is based on the last known address, and is based an analysis of free-text address fields; there may be cases where a postcode is not recorded and so is excluded from the below.
|
Exceptional & Urgent Needs Payments |
Supplementary Welfare Allowance Payments |
|
|
2016 |
6,667 |
3,117 |
|
2017 |
6,025 |
3,199 |
|
2018 |
6,510 |
3,410 |
|
2019 |
5,952 |
3,537 |
|
2020 |
4,899 |
2,876 |
|
2021 (to September) |
2,806 |
1,972 |
Fuel Poverty
Questions (337)
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:337. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps she is taking to protect vulnerable persons from the risk of fuel and energy poverty owing to the rising cost of fuel and electricity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49477/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Government is committed to protecting vulnerable households from the impact of energy costs through a combination of supports, energy efficiency awareness initiatives and investment in programmes to improve the energy efficiency of the housing stock.
With regard to income supports my Department provides a range of schemes to assist with energy costs. These include -
- The Fuel Allowance which is a payment of €28 per week for 28 weeks (giving a total per recipient of €784 each year) from October to April (estimated to cost €300 million in 2021).
- Electricity or gas allowances under the Household Benefits scheme (at an estimated cost in 2021 of €195 million).
- A special heating supplement under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme.
- Exceptional needs payments to help meet an essential once-off cost which an applicant is unable to meet out of his/her own resources.
In Budget 2021, the Government targeted one third of carbon tax revenues to go towards boosting the incomes of the poorest in our society. Based on ESRI research, three key DSP payments were targeted for increases in the budget as a result - the Fuel Allowance, the Qualified Child Allowance and the Living Alone Allowance. Accordingly, with effect from January 2021, I increased the Fuel Allowance by €3.50 per week to €28 for a period of 28 weeks.
The Deputy will appreciate that provision of income support is only part of the answer in terms of addressing energy costs. One of the best ways to tackle energy costs in the long term is to improve the energy efficiency of the dwelling through proper building and household insulation.
This year funds raised through the carbon tax will again support targeted social welfare and other initiatives to alleviate fuel poverty and ensure a just transition. In this regard, in budget 2022, the Government will be considering how it can support people on low incomes and those on social welfare payments. Any such measures can only be considered while taking account of the overall budgetary context and the availability of financial resources.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Pension Provisions
Questions (338)
Brendan Griffin
Question:338. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if the UK contributions of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry were considered in the assessment of their State pension (contributory) rate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49503/21]
View answerWritten answers
The person concerned reached pension age on 25 March 2011. According to the records of my Department, they had a total of 867 full-rate contributions and credits from their date of entry into insurable employment (25 March 1961) until end-December 2010 which gives a yearly average of 17. They were awarded a standard State Pension (contributory), based solely on their Irish contribution record, at 75% of the maximum rate of pension. They were notified of this decision in writing on 3 February 2011 and provided with a copy of the social insurance record on which this decision was based.
Under European Union regulations, the insurance records of other Member States can be combined to determine entitlement to a proportional or pro rata pension. The person’s entitlement to a pro rata State pension (contributory), based on their combined Irish and UK contribution records was also investigated. However, since they had been awarded a higher rate of standard State pension (contributory) with effect from their 66th birthday, that rate remained in payment.
Therefore, the person concerned is in receipt of the most financially beneficial rate of State pension (contributory) commensurate with their social insurance record.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Departmental Data
Questions (339)
Holly Cairns
Question:339. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of State boards under the remit of her Department or its agencies in tabular form; the number of members of each board; the number of women on each board; and the percentage of each board that is made up of women. [49567/21]
View answerWritten answers
There are four (4) statutory bodies operating under the aegis of my Department: the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council and the Social Welfare Tribunal. Details in relation to the total membership and gender balance of each of these is set out in tabular format below:
|
Statutory body |
Total Membership of Board |
No. of Women on Board |
Percentage of women on Board (%) |
|
Citizens Information Board |
13 |
8 |
62% |
|
Pensions Authority * |
3 |
0 |
0% |
|
Pensions Council |
9 |
4 |
44% |
|
Social Welfare Tribunal |
5 |
2 |
40% |
* The membership of the Pensions Authority consists of an independent Chairperson, appointed by the Minister for Social Protection and two ex-officio members representing the Department of Finance and the Department of Social Protection.
Employment Support Services
Questions (340)
Thomas Pringle
Question:340. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps that are being taken to address the staffing shortages in the Ballymun Intreo office (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49652/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Ballymun Intreo Centre is open to walk-in customers from 09:15-13:00 Monday to Friday. It remains open to customers to contact the Intreo Centre in person or by post at Main Street, Ballymun, Dublin 9, D09 K8W2.
Alternatively, customers can contact the Intreo Centre by phone or email for the following services:
|
Service |
Phone |
|
|
Payments |
(01) 894 0000 |
Ballymun@welfare.ie |
|
Community Welfare Service |
(01) 894 0000 |
CWSBallymun@welfare.ie |
|
Activation |
(01) 894 0000 |
ActivationBallymun@welfare.ie |
The operational hours for the phone lines listed above operate from 09:15-17:00 Monday to Friday.
Customers wishing to apply for a Jobseeker’s payment also have the option of applying online at www.MyWelfare.ie .
There are currently 26 staff working in Payments, Community Welfare Services and Activation functions in the Ballymun Intreo Centre.
Specific staff have been assigned to monitoring and answering communications that come through the mailboxes listed above as this method of customer contact has become increasingly popular since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Fuel Allowance is a means-tested payment to help with the cost of heating during the winter months. It is paid to people who are receiving certain long-term social welfare payments. A person who is in receipt of a Fuel Allowance does not need to reapply if their circumstances remain unchanged and they continue to receive the same social welfare payment. If a person is applying for Fuel Allowance for the first time, they must submit an application. This application is then assessed by my officials and the applicant is advised of the outcome.
At present there are currently 5 unprocessed Fuel Allowance applications in the Payments area and 11 unprocessed applications with the Community Welfare Service which my officials advise will be processed this week.
If the Deputy can provide details of specific cases where Fuel Allowance applications have been delayed, my officials can investigate these cases further.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Questions (341)
Robert Troy
Question:341. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to raise the income limits for the fuel allowance given the increasing cost of fuel. [49676/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €28.00 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €784 each year) from October to April, to 370,000 low income households, at an estimated cost of €300 million in 2021. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only one allowance is paid per household.
The criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my Department in as targeted a manner as possible. All recipients of non-contributory payments are accepted as satisfying the means-test for fuel. People who are in receipt of a qualifying contributory payment must also satisfy a means test.
A fuel applicant and members of his/her household may have a combined assessable income of up to €100.00 a week above the appropriate rate of State Pension Contributory and qualify for a payment. This ensures that the fuel allowance payment goes to those who are more vulnerable to fuel poverty including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own.
Any extension of the fuel allowance qualifying criteria, such as increasing the allowable means for fuel allowance purposes or only assessing the means of the fuel applicant, can only be considered while taking account of the overall budgetary context and the availability of financial resources.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme a special heating supplement may be paid to assist people in certain circumstances. Exceptional needs payments may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which an applicant is unable to meet from his / her own resources.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Questions (342)
Michael Creed
Question:342. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) who was self-employed is entitled to the carer’s benefit in respect of the care provided for their infant child who has life-long disabilities. [49684/21]
View answerWritten answers
Carer's benefit (CARB) is a PRSI based payment made to insured people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention.
There are a number of conditions that must be satisfied in order to qualify for CARB, including employment conditions and certain PRSI contribution conditions.
Only PRSI conditions paid in classes A, B, C, D, E and H are counted towards CARB. Contributions paid at class S (self employed contributions) no not count.
The person concerned applied for CARB on 15 January 2020. Having considered the evidence submitted in support of the application, a Deciding Officer determined that conditions for receipt of CARB were not met and the claim was disallowed. The person concerned was notified of the decision on 25 February 2020, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.
According to the records of this Department, the person concerned has not requested a review or appeal of this decision to date.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Questions (343)
Robert Troy
Question:343. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection the means test criteria for a disability allowance with respect to a self-employed farmer. [49703/21]
View answerWritten answers
Disability allowance (DA) is a means tested scheme and the way means are assessed is laid down in social welfare legislation. In summary, any income, with some exceptions, belonging to the person is assessable as means for DA purposes.
Where a person is in receipt of DA and is also a self employed farmer, then the Department assesses the prospective income from the farm in the next 12 months. In most cases the figures for the last 12 months can be used for this purpose. If there has been a major change in stock levels or in method of farming, estimation will need to be made on the best available evidence. The yearly value (or net profit) is calculated by deducting all necessary expenses from the gross income.
The first €140 of weekly income from that employment is disregarded for the purpose of the means test. 50% of their weekly earnings between €140 and €350 is then disregarded for the purpose of the means test. Any further earnings, over €350 per week, are fully assessed for the purpose of the means test.
There is no discretion allowed as deciding officers are obliged to follow the legislation when assessing means.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Departmental Contracts
Questions (344)
Catherine Connolly
Question:344. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number and value of all procurement contracts that took place by way of negotiated procedure without prior publication in 2020 and to date in 2021; and the date, value and purpose of each negotiated procedure contract in tabular form. [49737/21]
View answerWritten answers
The information requested by the Deputy is listed in tabular form below. The tables contain all contracts undertaken by way of negotiated procedure without prior publication under Regulation 32 of the European Union (Award of Public Authority Contracts) Regulations 2016, for 2020 and to date in 2021.
|
2020 |
|||
|
|
Purpose |
Value |
Date |
|
1 |
Provision of Local Employment Services *25 Contracts |
€19,615,199.00 |
January 2020 |
|
2 |
Provision of Employability Services *24 Contracts |
€9,932,955.00 |
January 2020 |
|
3 |
Provision of JobsClub Service *40 Contracts |
€4,924,813.00 |
January 2020 |
|
4 |
Provision of Security Services |
€1,916,000.00 |
April 2020 |
|
5 |
Microsoft Unified Support Agreement (MUSA) |
€273,927.00 |
April 2020 |
|
6 |
Supply of Face Masks |
€266,500.00 |
April 2020 |
|
7 |
Provision of Laptop Peripherals including Phone Headsets, Adapters, Privacy Filters, PC Headsets *6 Contracts |
€266,154.12 |
August 2020 |
|
8 |
Covid-19 PPE Equipment and Supplies |
€204,285.00 |
April 2020 |
|
9 |
The Supply of Call Centre Services in support of COVID-19 services and payments |
€139,000.00 |
April 2020 |
|
10 |
The Supply of Call Centre Services in support of COVID-19 services and payments |
€139,000.00 |
October 2020 |
|
11 |
Supply of Laptops |
€136,900.00 |
July 2020 |
|
12 |
Protection & Monitoring of the MyWelfare, MyGovID, WelfarePartners and JobsIreland domains. |
€101,700.00 |
July 2020 |
|
13 |
Emergency procurement of printing services |
€84,020.00 |
March 2020 |
|
14 |
Covid-19 PPE Equipment and Supplies |
€81,002.00 |
June 2020 |
|
15 |
Supply of Laptops |
€72,500.00 |
March 2020 |
|
16 |
WebEx Licences |
€71,763.95 |
June 2020 |
|
17 |
T&A Clocking Hardware Support |
€49,239.54 |
January 2020 |
|
18 |
Covid-19 PPE Equipment and Supplies |
€46,780.00 |
April 2020 |
|
19 |
Covid-19 Signage |
€36,552.00 |
May 2020 |
|
20 |
Purchase of two Folders/Inserters/Envelopers for Computer Control |
€32,838.00 |
April 2020 |
|
21 |
Purchase of two guillotines for Computer Control |
€31,570.00 |
May 2020 |
|
2021 to date |
|||
|
Purpose |
Value |
Date |
|
|
1 |
Provision of Local Employment Services *25 Contracts |
€21,468,408.08 |
January 2021 |
|
2 |
Provision of Employability Services *24 Contracts |
€10,005,268.55 |
January 2021 |
|
3 |
Provision of JobsClub Service *40 Contracts |
€5,042,631.22 |
January 2021 |
|
4 |
Microsoft Unified Support Agreement |
€305,227.73 |
April 2021 |
|
5 |
Oracle Financials Upgrade. |
€265,000.00 |
September 2021 |
|
6 |
Managed Detect and Response Services |
€250,000.00 |
July 2021 |
|
7 |
Enhancements to PARP/Oracle Financials for the new Sterling Account as part of Danske Bank migration |
€162,601.60 |
January 2021 |
|
8 |
Incident Response Services |
€95,000.00 |
February 2021 |
|
9 |
WebEx Licenses |
€77,000.00 |
July 2021 |
Departmental Functions
Questions (345)
Mattie McGrath
Question:345. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection when the phone service of her Department for queries for Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas will resume which was moved to email only during Covid 19; if phone services will be resumed without delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49923/21]
View answerWritten answers
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.
The provision of dedicated TD lines is being kept under ongoing review and I can confirm that some scheme areas have been able to reintroduce this service. However, it is not possible at present to provide the service in all scheme areas, due to the reduced numbers of staff working onsite and the ongoing social distancing restrictions, so it would be appreciated if TDs could continue to use the dedicated mailboxes for all queries.
When it becomes possible to reintroduce the TD enquiry lines the details will be made available to Deputies.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy at this time.