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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 11 Oct 2000

Vol. 523 No. 5

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Appeals.

John Ellis

Ceist:

237 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when the appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim will be heard. [21667/00]

The person concerned was in receipt of disability benefit since June 1988. Payment was disallowed by a deciding officer from 31 August 2000 following an examination by a medical assessor who considered that he was capable of work.

The person has appealed this decision to the social welfare appeals office and in the context of his appeal he will be examined by another medical assessor. It is likely that this will take place in the week commencing 6 November 2000. He will be notified when this examination is arranged. The person concerned is currently in receipt of unemployment benefit at the weekly rate of £34.80.

Under social welfare legislation, decisions in relation to claims must be made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.

John Ellis

Ceist:

238 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will give a decision regarding the appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim. [21668/00]

The person concerned was in receipt of disability benefit from 14 July 1998. Payment was disallowed by a deciding officer from 25 April 2000 following an examination by a medical assessor who considered that he was capable of work.

The person concerned appealed this decision to the social welfare appeals office and, arising from this he was examined by another medical assessor who was also of the opinion that he was capable of work.

The appeals officer considers that an oral hearing of the appeal is necessary. This will be arranged as soon as possible.

The person concerned is currently in receipt of unemployment benefit at the weekly rate of £77.50.

Under social welfare legislation decisions on claims must be made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

239 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will list each appointment or nomination made by him to bodies, boards or organisations under the aegis of his Department since 1 July 2000; the method used by his Department in selecting people for such appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21701/00]

The statutory agencies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs are the Pensions Board, the Combat Poverty Agency, Comhairle and the Social Welfare Tribunal.

The Pensions Board was established in December 1990 under the Pensions Act, 1990, and comprises 15 members including the chairperson. The role of the board is to monitor and supervise the provisions of the Pensions Act, 1990, relating to occupational pensions; and to advise the Minister on all matters relating to its functions and on matters relating to pensions generally.
The legislation provides that nine members of the board will be appointed by the Minister on the nomination(s) by organisations representing trades unions, employers and other organisations involved in the pensions industry. It also provides for one representative each from the Department of Finance and my Department. The remaining members are representative of the general interests of the community. Regard is also had to the Government policy for a minimum representation, 40% of men and women on State boards.
No appointments have been made to the Pensions Board since 1 July 2000.
The Combat Poverty Agency was established in September 1986 under the Combat Poverty Agency Act, 1986. The main functions of the agency are to advise the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs on all aspects of economic and social planning in relation to poverty; to initiate and evaluate measures aimed at overcoming poverty; and to promote greater public understanding of the nature, causes and extent of poverty and the measures necessary to overcome poverty.
There are currently 16 board members. Ms Grace Maguire and Ms Margaret Sweeney were appointed to the board on 10 July 2000.
Persons are selected for appointment to the board on the basis of their interest and commitment in the area of poverty and social inclusion. Regard is also had to the Government's policy on minimum representation, 40% of men and women on State boards.
Comhairle was established on 12 June 2000 under the Comhairle Act, 2000, and comprises 20 members including a chairperson.
It is responsible for supporting the provision of independent information, advice and advocacy services for citizens, including people with disabilities. This new organisation combines the National Social Service Board with relevant functions of the National Rehabilitation Board.
The legislation provides that the board shall include five members representative of people with disabilities nominated by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, an elected member of staff and a representative from my Department. The remaining members, 13, are representative of the following interests – health boards, local authorities, local development, citizens information centres, independent information providers and general interests.
The legislation also provides that the Minister, when making appointments to the board, shall have regard to the objective of having a minimum of eight men and eight women on the board.
No appointments have been made to the board of Comhairle since 1 July 2000.
The Social Welfare Tribunal is a statutory body set up in 1982 to deal with cases where entitlement to unemployment benefit or assistance is refused due to an involvement in a trade dispute.
The tribunal is an independent agency. It is made up of a chairman and four ordinary members, two of whom are representative of workers and two representative of employers. The members are appointed by the Minister on foot of nominations by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the Irish Business Employers' Confederation. No appointments have been made to the board of Comhairle since 1 July 2000.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

240 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of appointments made by him to bodies, boards or organisations under the aegis of his Department since taking office; the number of these which were to full-time paid positions and positions in respect of which a fee is paid; the number in respect of which expenses are paid; if he has given consideration to any procedures for an independent system to examine or scrutinise appointments or nominations made by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21715/00]

The statutory agencies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs are the Pensions Board, the Combat Poverty Agency, Comhairle and the Social Welfare Tribunal.

The Pensions Board was established in December 1990 under the Pensions Act, 1990 and comprises 15 members including a chairperson. Since taking up office I have made four appointments to the board as follows:

Appointed

Mr. Pat Delaney*

Nominated by IBEC

01/02/98

Mr. Kevin Brabazon**

Nominated by IBEC

12/09/98

Ms Marie Daly***

Nominated by IBEC

02/12/98

Mr. Fergus Whelan****

Nominated by ICTU

25/03/99

*Mr. Pat Delaney replaced Mr. Donal McAleese as the IBEC representative on 1 February 1998.
**Mr. Kevin Brabazon replaced Ms Caroline Jenkinson as the IBEC nomination for an occupational pension scheme trustee.
***Ms Marie Daly, also nominated by IBEC, replaced Mr. Pat Delaney.
****Mr. Fergus Whelan replaces Mr. Stephen McCarthy, with effect from 25 March 1999, as an ICTU nominee.
The legislation provides for the payment of fees to members of the board. These amount to £2,000 per annum for the chairperson and £1,000 per annum for the ordinary members of the board, excluding the two civil servant members. Members are also entitled to travelling and subsistence allowances.
Since taking up office I have made 18 appointments to the board of the Combat Poverty Agency which comprises 16 members. Details of the membership of the board since 26 June 1997 are outlined below.

Name

Appointed

Term Expires

Anna Lee (Chairperson) Lecturer Community Work, TCD

21/06/98

20/06/2001

Bernadette Lacey Assistant Director-General, Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs

03/02/98

02/02/2001

Sr. Stanislaus Kennedy, Focus Ireland

05/11/97

04/11/2000

Pearse O'Hanrahan

05/11/97

04/11/2000

Frank Mulcahy Chairperson, Irish Council of People with Disabilities

05/11/97

04/11/2000

Mr. Hugh Frazer (Director)

14/09/99

13/09/2002

Mr. Fintan Farrell, Irish Traveller Movement

14/09/99

13/09/2002

Mr. Benny Devlin

14/09/99

13/09/2002

Mr. Niall O'Keeffe

14/09/99

13/09/2002

Ms Alice Robertson

14/09/99

13/09/2002

Ms Maria Corrigan

08/03/00

07/03/2003

Mr. Michael Waugh

08/03/00

07/03/2003

Ms Clare Farrell CPA staff rep

08/03/00

07/03/2003

Ms Christina Maguire

27/06/00

26/06/2003

Ms Grace Maguire

10/07/00

09/07/2003

Ms Margaret Sweeney

10/07/00

09/07/2003

Previous appointments:

Mr. Liam Barrett

26/6/1997

25/6/2000

Ms Rachel Farrell

14/9/1999

15/12/1999

Under the terms of the Combat Poverty Act, 1986, members of the board are entitled only to travelling and subsistence allowances.
In November 1998, I appointed a new board to the National Social Services Board comprising of 20 members – details as follows:
Dr. Donal de Buitléir (Chairperson)
Ms Marion Byrne
Ms Carol Brill
Mr. Tom Mulherin
Ms Clare Young
Ms Mary Fitzgerald
Ms Rosari Moylan
Ms Mary Murphy
Mr. Michael McLoone
Mr. Peter Sands
Mr. Billy Mahoney
Mr. Tom Doherty
Mr. Martin Naughton
Ms Anne Marie White * ( resigned 17/5/99)
Mrs. Kitty King
Mr. Terry O'Sullivan
Mr. John Hogan
Mr. Peter McLachlan * (deceased 3/8/1999)
Ms Olive Howlett
Mr. Alan O'Connor
*Ms Anne Marie White resigned her position on the board on 17 May 1999 and Mr Peter McLachlan died in August 1999.
Under the terms of the National Social Service Board Act, 1984, members of the board are entitled only to travelling and subsistence allowances.
Comhairle was established on 12 June 2000 under the Comhairle Act, 2000. This new organisation replaced the National Social Services Board and the information service provided by the
National Rehabilitation Board with a new mainstream information and support service.
On 12 June last, I appointed the members of the former NSSB Board to the board of Comhairle with the addition of Mr. Oliver Wilkinson and Mr. John Gallahue.
Members of the board are currently paid travelling and subsistence allowances.
I also appointed Ms Leonie Lunny, former Director of the National Social Services Board, as chief executive of Comhairle on 12 June 2000. This is a full-time paid position.
The Social Welfare Tribunal is a statutory body set up in 1982 to deal with cases where entitlement to unemployment benefit or assistance is refused due to an involvement in a trade dispute.
The tribunal is an independent agency. It is made up of a chairman and four ordinary members, two of whom are representative of workers and two representative of employers.
The members are appointed by the Minister on foot of nominations by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the Irish Business Employers Confederation.
Since taking up office I have appointed the following members to the tribunal:

Name

Date ofAppointment

Mr. Fergus Whelan, nominated by Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU)

1/01/1998

Mr. Aidan Bunyan, Chairman

15/11/1999

The chairman and members of the tribunal are entitled to remuneration and allowances per sitting day at rates determined by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance.
In addition, they are entitled to payment at half the sitting rate for time necessarily spent in travelling on tribunal business on days other than sitting days. They are also entitled to a conference fee and travelling expenses and subsistence allowances at the maximum Civil Service rates in respect of journeys undertaken to transact the business of the tribunal.
There are no proposals for procedures to set up an independent system to examine and scrutinise appointments or nominations to bodies or organisations under this Department.
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