Written Answers Nos. 97 - 104
97. Deputy Catherine Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in issuing rent supplement payments in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8; when this will be rectified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41095/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned was in receipt of both jobseekers allowance and rent supplement from my Department whilst also being employed on a casual basis. In August last, his jobseekers allowance was suspended as requested documentation had not been provided. This meant that his rent supplement entitlement was also suspended pending review.
The necessary documents have been supplied and both jobseekers allowance and rent supplement has been reinstated to the person concerned including any arrears due.
98. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Social Protection when an invalidity pension appeal will be processed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41102/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer having fully considered all the available evidence allowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision on 24th September 2012.
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.
99. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in expediting a decision on a disability allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41110/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 12th April 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 9th May 2012 and 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.
100. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the support available to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41111/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned is currently in receipt of Disability Allowance at maximum personal rate for a person in her circumstances; she will also shortly receive the Free Fuel Allowance along with this. In addition Rent Supplement is payable to the person concerned, again at the maximum rate for a person in her circumstances.
She has also received payments in the past from the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme. Should the person have any other financial needs of an emergency nature she should again contact her local office at North Strand.
101. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41112/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on 20th June 2011. This application was referred to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors who found that the child was not medically eligible for DCA. A letter issued on 21st September 2011 refusing the allowance. The person concerned subsequently lodged an appeal against this decision and she was informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 5th May 2012 that the appeal had not been allowed.
The decision/appeal process for this application is now complete. If the person concerned has additional information which was not available to the deciding and appeals officers when they made their decisions, it is open to her to re-apply for the payment.
102. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a carer's allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41121/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question. Additional medical evidence has been received and forwarded to the Department’s medical assessor for further consideration. Once the medical review has been concluded a deciding officer will make 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.
103. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the savings that will be made by an obligatory return of child benefit by households with incomes of over €100,000; if the Revenue Commissioners will be in a position to enforce this policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41125/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraChild benefit is a universal payment that assists parents with the cost of raising children and it contributes towards alleviating child poverty. The estimated expenditure on child benefit for 2012 is around €2 billion. Child benefit is paid to around 600,000 families in respect of some 1.15 million children. The Government is conscious that child benefit, as a universal payment, can be an important source of income for all families, especially during a time of recession and high unemployment. The social protection system also provides assistance to low income families with children through the payment of qualified child increases on primary social welfare payments and through the family income supplement payment. Both of these provide a level of assistance to low-income families.
I am conscious that achieving a better design of the overall system of child income supports, including child benefit, raises complex issues about the effectiveness of the full range of income supports currently provided to families and their children. In this context and in line with a commitment in the Programme for Government, I established an Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare last year, which has been tasked with recommending cost-effective solutions as to how employment disincentives can be improved and better poverty outcomes achieved, particularly child poverty outcomes. The Advisory Group prioritised the area of family and child income supports and has completed its work on this area. Their report is currently receiving my consideration and will assist the Government in setting out a pathway towards a more appropriate system of child income supports.
Given the universal nature of child benefit, claimants are not asked to make a declaration of their income or that of other members in their family. It is not possible therefore to make a reliable estimate on the basis of available data of any savings that might accrue through the non-payment of child benefit to persons in households with incomes of over €100,000 per annum. A detailed estimate of this nature would not only require current household income data but also detailed specifications of the definition of income, whose income was to be included, what time period was to be considered etc. Issues regarding compliance procedures of the Revenue Commissioners do not therefore arise and in any event would be a matter for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Finance.
104. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding statutory sick pay in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41145/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is considering the introduction of a scheme of statutory sick pay at this time for a number of compelling reasons – firstly as a measure to help in addressing the deficit in the social insurance fund; secondly, as a measure to limit progression from short-term illness to long-term illness or disability; and thirdly, to bring Ireland into line with practices in other countries in this area.
In considering the matter, I am acutely conscious of the pressures facing employers in the current economic climate, and in particular, the pressures facing smaller and medium-sized enterprises.
There is a range of complex issues that need to be addressed before any decision could be taken by Government on the possible introduction of such a scheme – the extent of coverage; the rate of payment; possible compensation mechanisms for employers where appropriate and how a scheme would be enforced and policed – and these will be discussed in the course of the wider process associated with the preparation of Budget 2013. The views of stakeholder groups, including small and medium-sized business owners, will be taken into account in that process.
