Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:116. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is considering the withdrawal of the free travel pass for persons with disabilities. [39882/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFree Travel Scheme Eligibility
Ceisteanna (116)
Freagraí scríofa
The free travel scheme is currently available to people who are in receipt of certain disability type payments, to all people living in the State aged 66 years or over, and to carers. There are currently in excess of 720,000 customers eligible for free travel and when spousal and companion passes are taken into account, there are over 1.1 million customers with some free travel eligibility. The cost of the free travel scheme has risen substantially over the last 10 years from €45.8 million for almost 608,000 customers in 2001 to over €75 million for 726,000 customers in 2011. My Department also provides some funding for the rural transport programme.
There are considerable challenges ahead to protect, as far as possible, the key income supports provided by my Department which impact in some way on the lives of almost every person in the State, including the disabled. As part of the deliberative process for the budget, my Department will analyse all schemes, and in so far as possible, the distributive and poverty impact of possible welfare changes. These impacts will be taken into account in arriving at the final decisions on the Budget to ensure that the scarce resources are targeted at those most in need.
To help ensure the future sustainability of the free travel scheme, a review is being carried out by officials from my Department, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the National Transport Authority. The review is in the early stages.
Disability Allowance Appeals
Ceisteanna (117)
Patrick O'Donovan
Ceist:117. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a disability allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; when they may expect to meet an inspector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39897/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing in this case on 26th September 2012. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the 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.
Carer's Allowance Applications
Ceisteanna (118)
Paschal Donohoe
Ceist:118. Deputy Paschal Donohoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7; when a decision will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39924/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I 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.
Carer's Allowance Appeals
Ceisteanna (119)
Paschal Donohoe
Ceist:119. Deputy Paschal Donohoe asked the Minister for Social Protection if the social welfare appeals office has indicated to her regarding a decision to uphold or reject an appeal against a carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39926/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal, by the person concerned, was registered in that office on 30th July 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. When received, the case will be 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.
Social Welfare Appeals Status
Ceisteanna (120)
Ciaran Lynch
Ceist:120. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Social Protection when a determination will be made on an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39928/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 24th January 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 29th February 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.
National Internship Scheme Data
Ceisteanna (121)
John Lyons
Ceist:121. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm that a person (details supplied) received all the payments they were entitled to under the JobBridge initiative. [39929/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In regards to the person's payments once commenced on an internship she is entitled to receive an internship allowance that is equal to her current social welfare allowance (at time of commencement on the scheme) plus an additional €50 per week top-up. As all payments of the Internship Allowance are made by the Department of Social Protection via Electronic Fund Transfer into the intern’s bank account; we have confirmed with the Regional Support Office that according to their records the person has received her full top-up allowance in addition to her social welfare entitlement for the duration of her internship.
Social Welfare Benefits Applications
Ceisteanna (122)
Billy Timmins
Ceist:122. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Social Protection the assistance available to a person on one parent family payment who is anxious to start their own business and work approximately two days a week; if they can still receive the payment; the assistance available to assist them to move into running a business and still retain all or part of their payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39943/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
An individual who has been in receipt of the one-parent family payment for at least 12 months and who wishes to become self-employed may qualify for the back-to-work enterprise allowance (BTWEA). The BTWEA scheme encourages people getting certain social welfare payments to become self-employed and it enables people to keep a percentage of their social welfare payment for up to 2 years, while they establish their business.
In addition, a former recipient of the one-parent family payment who is in receipt of BTWEA may also keep several of the secondary benefits they have, including Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance or Fuel Allowance, provided their household income is less than €317.43 gross per week. Income from the BTWEA is not taken into account for the purpose of the €317.43 weekly income limit but any income from work is taken into account. Former OFP recipients who transfer to the BTWEA will also retain their medical card for the duration of the scheme.
The Technical Assistance and Training (TAT) fund is designed to help people getting the BTWEA with certain costs involved in starting a business. Assistance from this fund must be approved by the Facilitator in the client’s Social Welfare Local Office. Individuals who are in receipt of the BTWEA may also qualify for a range of supports and services from their respective County Enterprise Board, which are under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.
Rent Supplement Scheme Applications
Ceisteanna (123)
Paschal Donohoe
Ceist:123. Deputy Paschal Donohoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for rent allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39949/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Rent Supplement has been awarded in the case of the person concerned.
Jobseeker's Allowance Applications
Ceisteanna (124)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:124. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when jobseeker's allowance will be paid in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39968/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The jobseekers allowance claim of the person concerned is currently being processed and she will be informed of the outcome as soon as a decision has been made.
Social Welfare Appeals Status
Ceisteanna (125)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:125. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason invalidity pension and disability allowance have been refused in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39969/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can confirm that the Department has received a claim for invalidity pension and an application for disability allowance from the person concerned. Both the invalidity pension claim and the disability allowance application have been refused on the grounds that the person concerned does not satisfy the respective medical criteria for the schemes.
Additional medical evidence submitted in support of the invalidity pension claim has been reviewed by a medical assessor. The deciding officer has decided, upon review, that the person still does not satisfy the medical criteria for the receipt of invalidity pension. The claim papers will now be forwarded to the Social Welfare Appeals Office who will process and make a determination on the appeal and notify the person concerned once a determination is made.
Additional medical evidence submitted in support of the disability allowance application has been referred to a medical assessor for an opinion. Upon receipt of the opinion, a deciding officer will review the application and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.
Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility
Ceisteanna (126)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:126. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason rent support has not been provided in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39970/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The person concerned has been refused higher rent supplement to cover accommodation for himself and his child as the child is primarily accommodated with his mother and his housing need has already been met. This refusal has been upheld by the HSE appeals office.
While the person concerned would qualify for rent supplement at the single rate for self-contained accommodation in Kildare, he has not provided any documentation to indicate that the rent has ever been reduced to that rate. Throughout the application process, the person concerned has only ever provided the Department with one lease which stated that the rent was €700.00 per month whereas the approved rent limit is €400.00 per month.
If the person concerned wishes to appeal this decision, he must appeal directly to the Chief Appeals Officer who functions independently of the Department. An appeal can be sent in writing to Social Welfare Appeals Office, D’Olier House, D’Olier St, Dublin 2.
One-Parent Family Payment Applications
Ceisteanna (127)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:127. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when she expects one parent family allowance to issue qualifying a person (details supplied) in County Kildare for the back to education programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39971/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A decision on the one parent family payment application of the person concerned will issue shortly. According to the records of this Department, the person concerned has not applied for a back to education allowance.