Written Answers Nos. 140-151
140. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 795 of 18 of September 2012, further arrears are due in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42545/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe spouse of the person in question is in receipt of carer’s allowance at a rate of €204 basic rate and €14.90 per child for five children. This amounts to a rate of €278.50 weekly rate. She was in receipt of a supplementary welfare allowance whilst awaiting a decision on the carer’s allowance application. She received supplementary welfare allowance at a rate of €186 basic rate and €14.90 per child for five children, which totalled to a weekly rate of €260.50. This was her portion of the supplementary welfare allowance. Supplementary welfare allowance payments were deducted from the carer’s allowance arrears payment due. The spouse of the person concerned was due carer’s allowance arrears at a rate of €18.00 per week for 42 weeks from the period 20/10/12 - 8/8/12. This amount was the difference between the personal rate on carer’s allowance and supplementary welfare allowance as outlined above. This totalled €756.00. Arrears issued on the 9/8/12 for €1034.50, which was arrears due plus one week’s payment for the week of 9/8/12.
Carer’s Allowance for period 20/10/11 to 16/8/12
|
Type |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Total in |
- |
|
Code |
Start |
End |
Weeks |
Euro |
Euro |
|
|
20/10/2011 |
08/08/2012 |
42 |
204.00 |
8568.00 |
||
|
20/10/2011 |
08/08/2012 |
42 |
74.50 |
3129.00 |
||
|
09/08/2012 |
15/08/2012 |
1 |
204.00 |
204.00 |
||
|
09/08/2012 |
15/08/2012 |
1 |
74.50 |
74.50 |
14.90 x 5 CHILDREN |
|
|
GROSS ARREARS DUE |
€11,975.50 |
Less Supplementary Welfare (Carer’s Portion) Allowance received for 20/10/11 to 8/8/12
|
Type |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Total in |
- |
|
Code |
Start |
End |
Weeks |
Euro |
Euro |
|
|
20/10/2011 |
08/08/2012 |
42 |
186.00 |
7812.00 |
||
|
20/10/2011 |
08/08/2012 |
42 |
74.50 |
3129.00 |
||
|
Total Overlaps Amounts |
€10,941.00 |
|||||
|
NETT ARREARS & CHEQUE AMOUNT |
€1,034.50 |
141. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the full scale of entitlements outstanding arising from a social welfare claim made on 09 July 2010 in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42546/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned applied for Jobseeker Benefit on the 28th of June 2010 and was requested to submit documentation in support of her claim. The person concerned failed to submit the documentation requested and to date has made no further claims with the Department.
142. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the correct level of rent supplement payable in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42547/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe rent limit applicable to the person concerned is €790.00 per month which applies to one parent families with three or more children in Co. Kildare.
143. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review further entitlements in respect of old age pension increases due in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42548/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe qualifying conditions for a State pension (contributory) which applied on the date that the person concerned reached pension age (66) required an applicant to:
- have entered into insurable employment before the age of 56 years
- have at least 260 weeks full-rate contributions paid, from employment or self-employment, since entry into insurance
- satisfy the yearly average condition.
The person concerned satisfies the above conditions. He has a yearly average of 19 PRSI contributions from his date of entry into insurance in July 1962 to the end of 2010, the last complete tax year before his 66th birthday. He has been awarded a State pension (contributory) at the weekly rate of €172.70 (75% of maximum rate) plus €14.90 increase for a qualified child (in order to qualify for the maximum rate a yearly average of 48 contributions would be required). The Department wrote to the person concerned on 24th May 2011, and 12th September 2011 requesting him to supply further details of his employment history. A response has not been received to date. A further communication has issued to him requesting these details. When the Department receives this information, his claim will be reviewed and he will be notified of the outcome without delay.
144. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for delay in awarding disability allowance or invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42549/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned applied for disability allowance on 4 April 2011. The medical evidence supplied with his claim was referred to one of the Department’s medical assessors who was of the opinion, based on the information supplied, that the person was not medically suitable for disability allowance. The deciding officer accepted this opinion and the claim was refused and the person was notified in writing of this decision on 19 September 2011.
The person submitted further medical evidence which was referred to a second medical assessor who was also of the opinion that the person was not medically suitable for disability allowance. The deciding officer accepted this opinion and there was no change to the decision to refuse disability allowance and the person was notified of this on 20 February 2012.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the person appealed this decision on 12 March 2012 and submitted further medical evidence in support of the appeal. The Department was notified of this appeal on 10 April 2012.
As part of the appeals process, the Department referred all the medical evidence received including the evidence received by the Appeals office to a third medical assessor for review. The medical assessor was of the opinion, based on all the information supplied, that the person was medically suitable for disability allowance.
A decision on the person’s application has been made on 3rd October, awarding him from the 6th April 2011, a notification has issued to the person concerned.
145. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the maximum income, gross or net, allowable to a spouse before such income affects all or part of old age pension payable to the other spouse in respect of noncontributory OAP; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42550/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe maximum net income allowable to a spouse before such income affects all or part of the State Pension (non-contributory) is €200 per week from insurable employment. Net earnings are gross earnings less PRSI, superannuation/PRSA contributions, and union dues.
My Department endeavours to ensure that customers are fully aware of their maximum possible entitlements in relation to earnings disregards. All information in relation to the State Pension (non-contributory) scheme can be found in the operational guidelines on the Department's website www.welfare.ie.
146. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the maximum rent of €725 per month by her Department in Leixlip, Maynooth and Celbridge, County Kildare is not realistic given the location which is affected by student rented accommodation and rental accommodation for local major employers notwithstanding her previous indication to the effect that it is possible to source accommodation at that level in County Kildare in general where rents vary greatly in accordance with the economic situation; if she will review this position; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42551/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The overall aim is to provide short term assistance, and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes operated by the Exchequer. There are currently approximately 90,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided €436 million for 2012.
The emphasis of the rent limit review was to ensure that maximum value for money for tenants and the taxpayer was achieved whilst at the same time ensuring that people on rent supplement are not priced out of the market.
Analysis shows that for County Kildare, there are properties available within the maximum rent limits for rent supplement recipients. The maximum rent limit for a couple or one parent family with two children in County Kildare is €725.
The number of rental properties available in North Kildare, including Leixlip, Maynooth and Celbridge, is somewhat lower than the numbers available in the rest of the county and therefore impacts on the number of accommodation units available for rent supplement. Latest figures show that there are over 900 rent supplement recipients in the Leixlip, Maynooth and Celbridge areas, indicating that it is possible to secure accommodation in these locations within the rent limits.
The Department will continue to monitor rent levels throughout the country but at this point I have no plans to revise the existing rent limits.
147. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the maximum rent of €725 applicable in the case of a person (detaisl supplied) in County Kildare in view of the shortage of accommodation locally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42552/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe maximum rent limit for a one parent family with two children in Co Kildare is €725.00 per calendar month. Analysis shows that there are properties available within the maximum rent limits for rent supplement recipients in Kildare. There are no plans for a review of these limits at this time.
148. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department works with local authorities in the delivery of services; and if so, the details of same. [42568/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra149. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department engage with local authorities in the provision of services and if so the details of same. [42589/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 149 together.
My Department engages with local authorities and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in ensuring that customer’s accommodation needs are met. Examples where the Department and local authorities work together in this context include:
- Officers administering exceptional needs payments under the supplementary welfare allowance may engage with the local authorities in providing assistance to applicants towards the cost of furnishing accommodation provided by local authorities.
- Departmental officers, in determining eligibility for rent supplement, refer applicants to the local authority for an assessment of eligibility for social housing where appropriate. My Department also engages with local authorities in relation to housing standards in supporting the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government in their aim to promote further improvement in private rented accommodation standards.
- The Department has an important role to play in assisting households in the immediate aftermath of emergency events such as the floods experienced in Cork in July last. While the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is the lead Department for severe weather emergencies and the Office of Public Works has responsibility for capital flood relief activities, the Department’s response to flooding situations, involves departmental officers liaising with the local authority with responsibility for the areas affected and other parties who may offer assistance to those affected. Through this cross-disciplinary approach, appropriate supports are made available to those in need as swiftly as possible.
- The Department, through its work in the Homeless Persons Unit and the Asylum Seekers & New Communities Unit, provides assistance to people and assists in sourcing the most appropriate accommodation available. In addition, prison and hospital in-reach services are provided in exploring accommodation options and, where necessary, liaising with the local authority to identify and source the most appropriate accommodation available for those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. This ensures that, where possible, people are diverted away from homeless services and towards community-based supports.
- In order to streamline their processes and consequently provide better service to the public while reducing administration costs, staff in external agencies, including local authorities, have been given access to the Department’s customer information systems.
In addition, the Department has had previous engagement with some local authorities regarding the operation of the Household Budgeting Scheme which is operated by An Post on behalf of the Department.
The Government has effectively two initiatives to ensure that persons do not rely on rent supplement for their long term housing needs. The Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) is in operation since 2004 and the new Housing Policy Initiative, as announced by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Minister for Housing & Planning on 16th June 2011. Both initiatives provide the local authorities with the specific responsibility for meeting the long term housing needs of people receiving rent supplement.
A multi-agency steering group has been established to develop proposals to give effect to this transfer. The group is chaired by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and consists of representatives from the Departments of Social Protection; Public Expenditure and Reform; Office of the Revenue Commissioners; the County and City Managers Association; and the Housing Agency.
Latest figures from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government indicate that, to date, local authorities had transferred a total of over 41,200 households from rent supplement. The Department continues to work closely with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in ensuring that RAS meets its objective of catering for those on long term rent supplement whilst ensuring that rent supplement returns to its original role of a short-term income support.
150. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his Department works with local authorities in the delivery of services; and if so, the details of same. [42556/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra151. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his Department engage with local authorities in the provision of services and if so the details of same. [42577/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 150 and 151 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, my Department was established on 2 June 2011. It oversees and has policy responsibility for the conservation, preservation, protection, development and presentation of Ireland’s heritage and culture. My Department also seeks to promote the Irish language, to support the Gaeltacht and to assist the sustainable development of island communities. Information in relation to the wide-ranging functions of my Department, as well as the programmes and schemes operated by it, can be found on my Department's website www.ahg.gov.ie.
I should say that in delivering on this broad mandate, my Department seeks to promote a coherent and coordinated approach in the delivery of services and engages with local authorities, as appropriate, to achieve this end. This includes engagement with local authorities in relation to Ireland's built and natural heritage, arts and culture matters, the Gaeltacht and the offshore islands.
Given the complexity of these interactions, the Deputy will appreciate the difficulty with setting out the details of my Department's engagement with local authorities within the timeframe of a Parliamentary Question. If, however, the Deputy wishes to indicate the particular areas in which he has an interest, I will seek to provide the relevant information to him.
