Written Answers Nos. 862-881
863. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps she is taking to ensure that State boards have at least 40% of each gender, as provided for in the programme for Government; the percentage at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39159/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe three statutory bodies under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Social Welfare Tribunal and the Pensions Board. In addition, the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a board) comes under the remit of the Department. When filling vacancies on the boards of these bodies, every effort is made to comply with the target of having at least 40% of each gender represented on a board.
The relevant legislative provisions governing the membership of the Citizens Information Board require that not less than 6 of the 15 members must be female, while not less than 6 must be male. This is 40% in each case. 42% of the current Citizens Information Board members are female, with three vacancies due to be filled.
While members of the Pensions Board are appointed by the Minister for Social Protection, there is also a requirement that the members appointed must be representative of various interests involved. For instance, appointments to the Pensions Board are subject to the conditions set out in Section 9 and the First Schedule of the Pensions Act 1990. These conditions specify that all members of the Board are appointed by the Minister for Social Protection under the provisions of the Act and must comprise representatives of trade unions, employers, consumer interests, pensioner interests, the Government, the pensions industry, member trustees and professional groups involved with pension arrangements. Within this selection process due regard has been paid to date to ensure that the target of 40% female representation on the Pensions Board is met. Currently, the gender breakdown of serving members on the Pensions Board is 47% female and 53% male.
The Social Welfare Tribunal deals with cases where entitlement to jobseeker's benefit or jobseeker's allowance is refused due to an involvement in a trade dispute and where claimants feel that they have been unreasonably deprived of employment because their employer has refused or failed to follow the negotiating machinery available for settling disputes. The Tribunal comprises a chairperson and four ordinary members who are representative of employees and employers. Accordingly, two of the members are nominated by ICTU and the other two members are nominated by IBEC.
When seeking nominations for the ordinary members of the Tribunal from both ICTU and IBEC every effort is made to ensure that the nominations adhere to the Government's gender balance policy. The current Tribunal has one female member (20%).
864. Deputy Paschal Donohoe asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to reform the sick certificate system and cut out the amount of defrauding of the system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39171/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe illness benefit system involves Medical Certifiers who are responsible for the certification of illness in relation to customers. Medical certifiers, who are in the main general practitioners or hospital doctors, enter into a contract with the Department that requires them to medically examine persons claiming illness or injury benefit and to certify as accurately as possible the specific disease or ailment that renders a person incapable of work. The contract requires them to refuse to issue a medical certificate if the person’s condition does not justify it. The terms of the GPs’ contract with the Department specifies that if a medical certifier fails to abide by the terms of the agreement, financial penalties may be applied, including termination of contract.
Medical evidence submitted in support of a claim, based on GP certification, is systematically reviewed by medical assessors within the Department. In all cases of incapacity, there is scope for individual medical interpretation based on the certifier's perception of the nature of the incapacity and the type of work the person is involved in. Thus, when a case is reviewed by the Department’s medical assessors, who are independent and impartial in their assessments, they may express a different opinion to that of the certifier. When conducting an assessment, the Medical Assessor does not dispute the existence of the certified cause of incapacity but rather s/he assesses the degree to which the loss of function in work-related activities resulting from the disease or injury, affects the person’s ability to perform either their own job or alternative types of work.
However, if it were to emerge that a disproportionate number of customers certified by any particular certifier were found capable of work by Medical Assessors, this would be investigated. No such unusual pattern of certification has come to attention to date.
865. Deputy Paschal Donohoe asked the Minister for Social Protection since the introduction of the pathways to work scheme, if she will outline the number of persons on lower social welfare payments as a result of failing to co-operate with reasonable offers of education, training or employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39172/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraPenalty rates are a means of encouraging jobseekers to engage with activation measures, including the National Employment Action Plan (EAP). A penalty rate may be imposed where the customer fails, without good cause, to engage in activation, including within the EAP process. Since the application of penalties for jobseekers became operational at the end of May 2011, some 1,332 penalty rates were applied to 7 September 2012.
866. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount paid retrospectively in 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012 for claims of jobseeker's allowance and one-parent family payment which were originally rejected but were then subject to a successful appeal. [39205/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is not available.
867. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline in tabular form the total number of jobseeker's allowance and one-parent family payment applications, rejections, appeals and subsequent rejection or acceptance of the appeal in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 to date. [39206/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tables.
Jobseeker's Allowance
|
- |
Claims Registered |
Claims Disallowed |
Appeals Lodged |
Appeals Allowed |
Appeals Partly Allowed |
Revised Deciding Officer’s Decision |
Appeals Disallowed |
|
2009 |
273,653 |
23,681 |
6,794 |
780 |
230 |
756 |
2,072 |
|
2010 |
263,942 |
27,884 |
9,488 |
855 |
299 |
1,259 |
5,275 |
|
2011 |
239,667 |
23,017 |
6,869 |
1,820 |
497 |
1,041 |
5,342 |
|
(ytd Aug 2012) |
152,045 |
13,433 |
4,413 |
709 |
219 |
256 |
1,853 |
One-Parent Family Payment
|
- |
Claims Registered |
Claims Disallowed |
Appeals Lodged |
Appeals Allowed |
Appeals Partly Allowed |
Revised Deciding Officer’s Decision |
Appeals Disallowed |
|
2009 |
18,769 |
1,907 |
810 |
102 |
20 |
202 |
324 |
|
2010 |
17,325 |
2,036 |
1,085 |
74 |
23 |
219 |
371 |
|
2011 |
16,943 |
2,032 |
1,079 |
231 |
66 |
230 |
617 |
|
(ytd Aug 2012) |
9,721 |
1,087 |
654 |
107 |
44 |
137 |
262 |
868. Deputy Paudie Coffey asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of new photo ID cards that have been issued to persons who are in receipt of social protection payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39210/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Social Protection has developed, in conjunction with a number of other Government Departments, a rules based standard for establishing and authenticating an individual’s identity for the purposes of access to public services. This programme of work, which is known as the Standard Authentication Framework Environment or SAFE for short, also provided for the introduction of a Public Services Card (PSC) to enable individuals to gain access to public services more efficiently and with a minimum of duplication of effort, while at the same time preserving their privacy to the maximum extent possible. A PSC is currently issued following a “face-to-face” registration process which involves the capture of an individual’s photograph and signature and the verification of identity data already held by the Department.
The roll-out of the SAFE registration functionality on a national basis began in June this year. The creation of a SAFE registration environment in a local office involves improving the technical connectivity, installing new equipment and training staff in these offices to support the registration process. To date, this process has been completed in 30 local offices and a total of approximately 25,000 PSC’s have been issued through these locations.
Work is continuing on developing the required bandwidth, installing the appropriate equipment and training staff across the remainder of the Departments local office network. In addition, a number of dedicated public service card registration centres are being progressed and will start to come on stream over the coming months.
In the meantime, production continues to ramp up across the offices where registration is operational and it is expected that the target of approx 100,000 face to face registrations will be achieved through this channel by the end of the year. The majority of cards issued to date have been issued to new claimants for Jobseekers Benefit/Allowance and applicants for a new PPS number in Local Offices that have been equipped to carry out SAFE registrations.
In addition to the above, a pilot for a reduced registration process using information already available has commenced and the Department has engaged with over 4,000 pensioners as part of this pilot with a view to testing and validating this reduced process. Subject to the outcome of this pilot, the Department will be introducing new registration methods which will allow for commencement of rollout of the card to customers for whom a reduced process is appropriate. With the range of registrations processes available, the numbers of PSC to be produced from 2013 onwards will be significantly increased.
869. Deputy Paudie Coffey asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of social welfare offices that have been fitted with the technology to process the data on the new photo ID cards; if she will provide a list of these offices in a tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39211/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra870. Deputy Paudie Coffey asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form the number of persons in each social welfare office that have been found to have been making fraudulent claims as a result of the new photo ID cards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39212/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 869 and 870 together.
In conjunction with a number of other Government Departments, my Department has developed a Public Services Card (PSC) under the Standard Authentication Framework Environment (SAFE) Programme, the main objective being to develop a common standard across public services for establishing and authenticating identity. The rollout of the Public Services Card has recently commenced and SAFE registration facilities are currently being implemented across the Department. To date, SAFE registration stations have been installed in 29 offices nationally. The details are set out in the following table. Some 25,000 PSCs have been issued to clients of the Department, mostly jobseeker clients who are the first cohort of DSP customers to use the PSC.
The registration process is being built into the standard claim taking process for a number of schemes and in addition, some clients with existing claims are being invited to register. Over time, client groups for SAFE registration will be expanded to encompass all DSP scheme clients, clients of other public sector organisations, and across the general population of Ireland. The establishment of client identity has always been a vital part of the Department’s claim processes and any issues that arise in relation to identity are fully investigated in establishing entitlement to social welfare services.
While figures on the number of SAFE registrations directly linked with incidences of fraudulent claiming are not readily available to date, it is important to point out that considerable emphasis is being placed on the introduction of the card as a strategic fraud prevention and detection tool. There are a number of areas where fraud prevention and detection will be enhanced through PSC roll-out and these are set out below:
Identity fraud: Combating and preventing the use of dual or multiple identities to fraudulently claim social welfare payments; preventing the use of a false or duplicate identity to engage in concurrent working and claiming; payment Instrument: preventing and assisting in detecting identity fraud or false encashment at post offices.
Non-residency: preventing and detecting incidences of non-residency from the State. The card will be a more secure payment token than existing Social Services Card and for Post Office payments, it will help mitigate this problem.
|
Offices with SAFE Stations |
DSP Region |
|
King's Inn Street Local Office |
Dublin Central |
|
Tullamore PPSN |
Midlands South |
|
Sligo PPSN |
North West |
|
Arklow Local Office |
Mid Leinster |
|
Kings Inn Street PPSN |
Dublin Central |
|
Coolock Local Office |
Dublin North |
|
Dun Laoghaire Local Office |
Dublin South |
|
Ballyfermot Local Office |
Dublin South |
|
Finglas LO |
Dublin North |
|
Navan Road LO |
Dublin North |
|
Ballymun Local Office |
Dublin North |
|
Bishop Square LO |
Dublin Central |
|
Kilkenny PPSN |
Midlands South |
|
Killarney Local Office |
South West |
|
Newcastlewest Local Office |
Mid West |
|
Ennis PPSN |
Mid West |
|
Buncrana LO |
North West |
|
Letterkenny PPSN |
North West |
|
Letterkenny PSC Centre (Decentralised Office) * |
North West |
|
Athlone PPSN |
Midlands North |
|
Castlebar PPSN |
Western |
|
Gandon House PSC Centre (pilot) |
Dublin Central |
|
Tralee PPSN |
South West |
|
Longford PPSN |
Midlands North |
|
Clonmel PPSN |
Midlands South |
|
Dundalk PPSN |
North East |
|
Wexford Local Office |
South East |
|
Waterford PPSN |
South East |
|
Carrick-on-Shannon Local Office |
North West |
871. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin. [39219/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraHaving reviewed the circumstances of this case I can confirm that the person concerned is in receipt of the maximum rate of State pension (non-contributory) of €219.00 per week along with Living Alone Allowance of €7.70 per week and Fuel Allowance (during the fuel season) of €20 per week. I can also confirm that the Department has been served with a Court order which it is legally obliged to comply with. Therefore, any meaningful review of the person’s circumstances would appear to be a matter for the Court that made the order in this case.
872. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that an urgent review is carried out in the case of an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39226/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis application for carer’s allowance was disallowed on 23/06/12. A request for review was made by the person in question. That review has been completed. The decision that full time care and attention is not being supplied in this case remains unchanged. She was notified of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of appeal in a letter that issued 12/09/12.
873. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on an application for carer's allowance will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow. [39231/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question. The medical assessment has been completed and the application is awaiting examination by a deciding officer for a means assessment and a full decision. The application will be processed as quickly as possible and when a decision is made the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
875. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection with regard to Tús - community work placement initiative, the number of letters of invitation that have been issued to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39270/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra876. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage of recipients that responded positively to the letters of invitation to participate in the Tús scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39271/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra877. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage that gave good cause for non-participation in Tús - community work placement initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39272/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra878. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify what constitutes good cause as per letter of invitation for not attending the interview to take part in Tús; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39273/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra879. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients that did not reply to the letter of invitation to participate in Tús - community work placement initiative; and of these, the number that signed-off jobseeker's payment; and, the number that have been referred on to her Department for follow-up action. [39274/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra880. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection of those who have completed Tús – community work placement initiative, the percentage that entered employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39275/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 875 to 880, inclusive, together.
Tús is a work placement initiative focussed on those people on the live register and receiving a job seekers payment for over a year. Selection is by a randomised process undertaken by my Department. The number of persons to be contacted is agreed at a local level between officials and staff of the implementation body based on the available work placements and future vacancies. Those agreeing to participate have their details forwarded to one of the 51 implementation bodies contracted to deliver Tús locally. Where a person responds and states that s/he is not willing to participate, the local office will examine the reasons, if any, outlined and determine whether the explanations provided are reasonable and provide grounds for a person to be excused or moved to a more appropriate social protection payment. Where information is not forthcoming or the person is uncooperative, a disqualification for failing or neglecting to avail of a reasonable opportunity of obtaining suitable employment can be applied as set out in Section 147(4)(d) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005.
In making his or her decision, a Department official must have regard to the personal and family circumstances of the person. A decision to disqualify can arise where the person invited does not respond, responds negatively or does not attend an interview without good cause. These reasons are wide ranging but mostly relate to non-delivery of invitation due to change of address, absence from the address, inability to work due to physical or mental illness, under medical care/injured, hospitalisation, attendance at a recognised training and/or educational course, engaged in another work placement, imminent birth of a child, plans to emigrate and caring obligations.
My Department is in the process of collating data on the first 12 months of the operation of Tús and is not yet in a position to provide precise numbers until this process is completed and the data verified.
881. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of new applications made for family income supplement in the past available 12-month period; the corresponding figure for renewal decisions; the number of renewal applications refused, granted with reduced rate, granted with existing rate, granted with increased rate; the plans if any to allow persons to remain on their existing rate until a determination is made on their renewal application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39278/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe statistics requested covering the period from September 2011 to August 2012 are as follows:
|
New applications received: |
22,097 |
|
Renewal applications received: |
30,366 |
|
Renewal applications refused: |
2,231 |
The number of decreased, increased and unchanged awards is only available from May 2012 onwards and is as follows:
|
Renewal applications awarded with reduced rate |
4810 |
|
Renewal applications awarded with increased rate |
3070 |
|
Renewal applications awarded with an unchanged rate |
888 |
There are no plans at present to permit FIS payment to continue at the existing rate while awaiting renewal.
