Written Answers Nos. 782-801
782. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason rent allowance has not been paid for the past seven months in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 16; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38470/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraRent supplement has not been paid to the person concerned because she failed to submit requested documentation in support of her claim. On receipt of the outstanding documentation her current claim will be processed.
783. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review to decision and/or restore one parent family payment which has been withdrawn on the basis of alleged cohabiting with their partner in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38474/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraA review of this case will be undertaken and the person concerned will be informed of the outcome once the review is completed.
784. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of money spent on an annual basis on education and training of staff in 2011 and to date in 2012; the number of staff that availed of each course; and if she will provide a list of the courses staff undertook and the cost of each course per person. [38491/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2011, the total spend on the education and training of staff was €553,572.49 while to date in 2012, the amount spent is €391,044. In 2011, a total of 138 different training courses and seminars of relevance were attended by 5,126 staff. In 2012 to date, a total of 113 courses and seminars of relevance have been attended by 3,347 staff. The full list of courses and seminars for 2011 and 2012 and the number of attendees at each course are listed below.
It is not possible to provide an individual cost breakdown per person as statistics are not maintained at an individual level. The Department is going through a major transformation programme to provide an integrated service for working age customers. The focused training programme that underpins the transformation agenda is critical to its success.
The tables are available in attachment Q784.docx at the top of the web page.
785. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when basic supplementary welfare allowance will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15 whose job seeker's allowance claim was terminated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38498/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned has been in receipt of a basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance payment since 19th July 2012. This is being paid on a weekly basis pending the completion of the investigation of a Jobseeker’s Allowance claim made on 3rd July 2012.
The person will be notified of the decision relating to the Jobseeker’s Allowance claim as soon as it is finalised.
786. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of participants engaged in community employment schemes nationwide on 1 August 2011; the numbers so engaged on 1 August 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38501/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the end of July 2011 there were 23,403 (participants and Supervisors) engaged on Community Employment (CE).
At the end of July 2012 there were 22,764 (participants and Supervisors).
As a result of the continuous recruitment onto CE schemes, the numbers on the CE programme will fluctuate over and under the approved 23,300 full time equivalent numbers for 2012. There has been no change to the number of approved places in 2012 compared to 2011.
Statistics for the CE are compiled at the end of each month.
787. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of community employment projects operational nationwide on 1 August 2011; the number of such projects operational on 1 August 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38502/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the end of July 2011 there were 1,143 Community Employment (CE) projects. At the end of July 2012 there were 1,114 CE projects.The reduction in the number of projects is due to a combination of factors including amalgamations of CE projects and CE Sponsors closing of their own volition (with the places being redistributed where applicable). Where projects are amalgamated there are overall savings to be made as a result of economies of scale (e.g. audit costs, insurance costs etc.).
788. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an appeal of a disability allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38536/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that the Department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the above named person. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
789. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage of applications for the domiciliary care allowance that were refused each year for the past five years; the number of refusals that were overturned following appeal; the main reason for refusal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38551/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department has been accepting new claims for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) since 1st April 2009. Statistics relating to the allowance for the period prior to April 2009 are a matter for the HSE, the previous administrators of the scheme.
The number of applicants for DCA that were received, awarded and refused in each year from April 2009 to August 2012 is set out in table 1.
Table 1 - Domiciliary Care Allowance applications – April 2009 to August 2012
|
Year |
Applications received |
Applications fully processed in year |
Applications allowed incl. on review* |
Applications disallowed |
|
2009 (from 1st April) |
3,389 |
2,823 |
1,220 |
1,603 |
|
2010 |
5,457 |
5,333 |
2,576 |
2,757 |
|
2011 |
5,525 |
5,396 |
2,502 |
2,894 |
|
2012 (to 31st August) |
3,022 |
3,421 |
1,511 |
1,910 |
|
Total |
17,393 |
16,973 |
7,809 |
9,164 |
(*Includes cases initially disallowed but allowed on review following receipt of additional information ).
Overall, some 54% of applications processed in the period April 2009 to August 2012 were disallowed, with 46% awarded.
The overall number of appeals received, awarded and refused in each year from April 2009 to August 2012 is set out in table 2.
Table 2 - Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals - April 2009 to August 2012*
|
Year |
Appeals registered |
Appeals revised/ withdrawn /cancelled |
Appeals allowed |
Appeals disallowed |
Appeals partially allowed |
|
2009 |
836 |
50 |
6 |
5 |
0 |
|
2010 |
1827 |
609 |
221 |
417 |
14 |
|
2011 |
2322 |
476 |
798 |
1109 |
37 |
|
2012 |
1455 |
418 |
577 |
587 |
19 |
|
Total |
6440 |
1553 |
1602 |
2118 |
70 |
*supplied by Social Welfare Appeals Office
The main reason that a parent/guardian does not qualify for payment of DCA is that the child does not satisfy the medical criteria for the allowance. In order to qualify for DCA, a child must have a disability so severe that it requires the child needing care and attention substantially in excess of another child of the same age without the disability and must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 months. Qualification for the scheme is not based on the particular disability of the child but on the level of additional care required because of the disability.
790. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a domiciliary care allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38554/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraApplications for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) in respect of two children were received from the person concerned on the 17th August 2012. These applications have been forwarded to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors for their medical opinion. Upon receipt of this opinion, a decision will issue to the customer.
It can currently take up to 8 weeks to process a DCA application.
791. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason invalidity pension has not been granted to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38555/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the invalidity pension claim of the person concerned was disallowed following an assessment by a Medical Assessor who expressed the opinion that she was medically unsuitable for this payment. An appeal was registered on 24 July 2012 and in accordance with the statutory procedures the relevant department papers and the comments of the Social Welfare services on the matter raised in the appeal have been sought. In that context, an assessment by another Medical Assessor will be carried out.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
792. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when a basic social welfare payment will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38569/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned has been advised on a number of occasions that his Garda National Immigration Bureau card is out of date since 30th January 2012. He has also been advised that holding of a currently valid card, indicating his status in the country, is one of the requirements, inter alia, to accessing Basic Supplementary Welfare payments as well as other schemes.
In the interim he has received a series of Exceptional Needs Payments through the Asylum Seekers/New Communities Unit within my Department.
793. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when payment will issue in respect of an appeal for jobseeker's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38570/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 27th March 2012. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 20th April 2012 and the case has been referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
794. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when payment in respect of an application for rent supplement will be paid in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38572/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe first payment of rent supplement issued on 14th September 2012 in respect of the period commencing on 23rd July, the date on which he was found to qualify for rent supplement.
795. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the correct rate of carer’s allowance due in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; if he will outline the amount of arrears due since 20 October 2011; if all such arrears have been paid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38573/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person in question was awarded carer’s allowance from 20th October 2011. The correct rate of €278.50 has been applied in this case. This comprises the basic rate of €204 plus €14.90 for each of her 5 children. The child dependent half rate has been correctly applied in this case as the person concerned is living with her spouse. There is no increase for a qualified adult payable with the carer’s allowance scheme.
The person in question was in receipt of an interim supplementary welfare allowance payment pending the award of carer’s allowance. Therefore the arrears payment comprised of the amount due to her for carer’s allowance for the period 20th October 2011 to the 8th of August 2012, minus the overlap amount received in the form of interim supplementary welfare allowance for the same period. Therefore a figure of €10,941.00 was deducted from the arrears leaving the person concerned with a net payment of €1,034.50 arrears, which issued on the 16th of August 2012. No further arrears are due in this case.
796. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15 may be considered a dependant on their spouse's carer’s allowance payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38574/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no increase for a qualified adult payable with the carer’s allowance scheme and therefore it is not possible to add the person concerned as a dependent on their spouse’s carer’s allowance claim.
797. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a refund of contributions in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38576/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe determination of the employment status and therefore PRSI Class applicable to working directors has been the subject of challenge, court judgments and legal advices. As a result, the Department has been examining the matters that determine the insurability status of working directors, having regard to the recent judgments and advices. In the meantime, I regret that decisions are suspended.
This is a difficult and complicated aspect of PRSI insurability and it is vital that this matter be fully examined. It is not possible to say how the outcome will impact on individual cases.
798. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the refund of rent supplement in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9. [38583/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned reported non-receipt of a rent supplement cheque in respect of a week in July. The cheque has now been replaced.
799. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38600/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person in question on the 2nd August 2012. This application has been forwarded to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors for their medical opinion. Upon receipt of this opinion, a decision will issue to the customer.
It can currently take up to 8 weeks to process a DCA application.
800. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of participants engaged in job initiative schemes nationwide on 1 August 2011; the numbers so engaged on 1 August 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38602/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere were 1,279 participants on the Job Initiative (JI) scheme at the end of July 2011. There were 1,201 participants at the end of July 2012. (Statistics are compiled at month end). As per the announcement by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on the 10th of November 2004, effective from that date, participants on the JI scheme continue to have their contracts renewed until retirement age (66). This also had the effect of ceasing recruitment onto the JI programme from that time. Subsequent exits from JI have primarily been as a result of retirement of the participant.
801. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of job initiative schemes operational nationwide on 1 August 2011; the number of such projects operational on 1 August 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38603/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the end of July 2012 there were 62 JI projects employing 1,201 (participants and Supervisors). The reduction in the number of schemes is primarily due to the non-recruitment of new entrants and the amalgamation of existing schemes.
