Written Answers Nos. 129-139
129. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider allowing other professions such as financial brokers to participate in the new advisory service for mortgage holders in advance on the June 2013 review. [42387/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recently announced a three-phased approach to establishing a comprehensive Mortgage Arrears Information and Advice Service to provide the necessary supports to assist people in mortgage distress. The approach differentiates between mortgage information and mortgage advice. The first two involve the enhancement of the website www.keepingyourhome.ie and the establishment of a Mortgage Arrears Information Helpline within the Citizens Information Board both of which focus on the provision of comprehensive mortgage arrears information in particular to people in arrears or pre-arrears.
The third element of the service is the provision of independent financial advice to mortgage holders who are being presented with long term mortgage resolution proposals by their lenders. This advice will be provided by a panel of accountants drawn from members of the main recognised accountancy institutes in Ireland who have agreed to participate and support this independent service. When a lender is proposing longer-term mortgage resolutions, the lender will advise the borrower to obtain independent financial advice on the proposed arrangement and that, if the borrower wishes to avail of this option, that the lender will pay €250 to an accountant of the borrower’s choosing for the provision of this advice. An operating protocol for the provision of this advice has been agreed between the main recognised accountancy bodies and the lenders. The general scope of the advice will be limited to the borrower’s principal private residence.
The advisory framework has commenced with practising accountants because they already operate within a regulatory regime which includes qualitative oversight by their regulating bodies and in these circumstances it was possible to establish the advisory framework for people with mortgage distress within a relatively short timeframe. There is nothing to inhibit other financial intermediaries from continuing to give advice on mortgages as requested by borrowers. The advisory framework will be monitored on an on-going basis. It is intended to review the operation of the framework in June 2013 at which point other interested parties who meet the criteria in terms of qualifications, experience, independence, professional indemnity insurance, etc., may be considered for inclusion. The accountancy bodies have notified their members about the new service and a panel is available on a county by county basis on the website www.keepingyourhome.ie.
130. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current unemployment figures for an area (details supplied) in County Limerick; the number of persons that are long-term unemployed and over 25; the break down between male and female.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42390/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is not possible to segregate information pertaining to the unemployment status of people in the specific areas referred to by the Deputy. However, the total number of people on the Live Register in Local and Branch Offices in County Limerick City and County at the end of August 2012 was 21,265. A total of 8,457 of these were aged 25 years or more and were long term unemployed. A detailed breakdown of this number by Office, Scheme and gender is contained in the following tabular statement.
Total Live Register for end of August 2012
|
Area |
Gender |
Jobseekers Assistance |
Jobseekers Benefit |
Jobseekers Benefit Credits Only |
TOTAL |
|
Male |
1,275 |
396 |
69 |
1,740 |
|
|
KILMALLOCK |
Female |
526 |
301 |
158 |
985 |
|
Male |
7,962 |
1,374 |
372 |
9,708 |
|
|
LIMERICK |
Female |
3,389 |
1,505 |
560 |
5,454 |
|
Male |
1,558 |
523 |
65 |
2,146 |
|
|
NEWCASTLE WEST |
Female |
726 |
375 |
131 |
1,232 |
|
Live Register Total |
15,436 |
4,474 |
1,355 |
21,265 |
Long Term unemployed (more than 1 Year) and over 25 end August 2012
|
Area |
Gender |
Jobseekers Assistance |
Jobseekers Benefit |
Jobseekers Benefit Credits Only |
TOTAL |
|
Male |
588 |
9 |
41 |
638 |
|
|
KILMALLOCK |
Female |
168 |
9 |
100 |
277 |
|
Male |
4,439 |
45 |
232 |
4,716 |
|
|
LIMERICK |
Female |
1,269 |
39 |
361 |
1,669 |
|
Male |
766 |
6 |
47 |
819 |
|
|
NEWCASTLE WEST |
Female |
242 |
3 |
93 |
338 |
|
Live Register Total |
7,472 |
111 |
874 |
8,457 |
131. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision on domiciliary care allowance appeal has been made in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42391/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person concerned on the 18th January 2012. This application was referred to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors who found that the child was not medically eligible for the allowance. A letter issued on the 22nd February 2012 advising of the decision. The person concerned subsequently lodged an appeal against this decision. As part of the appeal process, the case was reviewed by a second Medical Assessor on the 27th September 2012 who confirmed that the child was not medically eligible for the allowance. The file will now be sent to the Social Welfare Appeals Office for consideration of the appeal.
132. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Social Protection when an appeal was registered from a person (details supplied) in County Offaly following notification of refusal of supplementary welfare allowance; the date on which this appeal will be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42401/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 13th 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. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 27th August 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.
133. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that proposals to move costs for statutory sick pay to employers will impact negatively on businesses and lead to the possibility of jobs being lost. [42424/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is considering the introduction of a scheme of statutory sick pay at this time for a number of compelling reasons – as a measure to help in addressing the deficit in the social insurance fund; as a measure to limit progression from short-term illness to long-term illness or disability; and to bring Ireland into line with practice 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 compensatory 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.
134. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the decision to refuse back to school allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if she will take account of the circumstances of this family including the facts that the applicant is on job seekers allowance [42425/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance was received from the customer concerned on 27 June 2012. The application was processed on 18 July 2012 and the person concerned was notified that she did not qualify for the allowance as her means exceeded the income limit applicable to her family composition. She subsequently requested a review of this decision. The review was completed on 14 August and the original decision was upheld. The person concerned contacted the Department by phone last week and was provided with a full explanation of the decision and review process. As no further evidence has been provided in this case the decision stands and this case is now closed.
135. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people on a core social welfare payment who are also recipients of a child dependent payment; and if she will provide a breakdown of same [42442/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere were 263,515 families in receipt of qualified child increases across the various social welfare schemes administered by the Department of Social Protection on the 31st of December 2011. A breakdown by scheme is provided in the following tabular statement.
Scheme*
Families with Children
|
Social Welfare Payments |
Full Rate Qualified Child Increase |
Half Rate Qualified Child Increase |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
312 |
72 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
1,055 |
1,046 |
|
State Pension (Transition) |
121 |
134 |
|
Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension |
6,884 |
0 |
|
Death Benefit Pension |
78 |
0 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
52,129 |
19,336 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
90,177 |
0 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
10,420 |
0 |
|
Farm Assist |
3,389 |
970 |
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance |
177 |
46 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
7,803 |
8,308 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
815 |
0 |
|
Health and Safety Benefit |
2 |
5 |
|
Back to Work Allowance |
40 |
16 |
|
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance |
3,341 |
1,080 |
|
Back to Education Allowance |
3,855 |
1,481 |
|
Disability Allowance |
9,036 |
3,745 |
|
Blind Pension |
135 |
74 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
1,172 |
12,781 |
|
Illness Benefit |
5,166 |
8,222 |
|
Interim Illness Benefit |
24 |
17 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
2,668 |
5,850 |
|
Injury Benefit |
70 |
64 |
|
Disablement Pension |
140 |
286 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
40 |
933 |
|
Totals |
199,049 |
64,466 |
|
Grand Total |
263,515 |
* Community Employment, Tús and Rural Social Scheme are not included in this analysis.
136. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on an appeal in relation to the disallowance of invalidity benefit application will be decided in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13. [42474/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 25 September 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 appeal in question will be referred in 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.
137. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of placements on jobbridge which do not run for their full term. [42489/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe JobBridge Scheme has made significant progress since it came into operation on the 1st July 2011. 10,535 internships have commenced to date with 4,892 participants currently on an internship as at 27th September 2012 and over 2,300 opportunities presently advertised on www.jobbridge.ie. Internships are offered across a broad range of occupational sectors and geographic areas. Our records indicate that 37% or 2,091 of the 5,722 interns who have finished (including both early and full completions) their JobBridge internship placement have immediately progressed into employment, 1,117 of whom with their Host Organisation and 974 with another organisation. These progression rates compare very favourably with European averages in this area. Of the 5,722 finishers to date 3,388 or 59% are Early Completers and 2,334 or 41% are Full Completers. It is critical to highlight that 1,534 interns or 45% of those interns who leave their placements early do so to take up immediate employment either with their Host Organisation or another organisation. It is clear that a significant number of jobseekers are obtaining employment as a direct result of the experience and skills gained on their internship.
138. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No 193 of 25 September 2012, the average waiting period for such an appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42508/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current average time taken to process State Pension (Transition) appeals is 20.2 weeks for appeals decided by summary decision and 49.5 weeks for those requiring an oral hearing. The average for oral hearing excludes two protracted cases registered before 2011, and withdrawn and closed in 2012. Processing times are calculated from the registration date of the appeal to the date of its finalisation. They include all activities during this period including time spent in the Department for comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal put forward by the appellant, and any further investigation, examination or assessment by the Department's Inspectors that is deemed necessary. A considerable period of time is added to the process when an oral hearing is required because of the logistics involved in this process. By its nature and because it is a quasi-judicial nature, the processing of appeals takes time even at the best of times and reflects the fact that, by definition, the appeal process cannot be a quick one.
139. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has yet been made on a domiciliary care allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42510/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received on the 30th March 2012. 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 the 16th May 2012 refusing the allowance. The person concerned subsequently lodged an appeal against this decision. As part of the appeal process, the case has been forwarded to another of the Department’s Medical Assessors for further consideration, including a review of any new information supplied. Upon receipt of the Medical Assessor’s opinion, the case will be further examined and will be forwarded for consideration by the Appeals Office, if necessary.
