Written Answers Nos. 142-152
142. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Social Protection when back payment that will be granted in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50217/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis application for carer’s allowance was awarded on 13th November 2012 at a rate of €204.00 per week. A letter with all details of payment issued to the person in question on 13th November 2012. Arrears are due from 22nd August 2011 to 21st November 2012. These arrears will issue shortly less any deductions in respect of other social welfare payments made during the period and any overpayment which may exist.
143. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the impact of rising rental properties in Dublin, as outlined by the recent survey carried out by a company referred to in the Minister's Rent Limit Review Report in 2011, will have on the allowable rent rates for rent supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50257/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra168. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form per county the number of persons who have sought rent supplement for the years 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; the number of these that have been refused specifically because the rent on the property has been over the cap set by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50409/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 168 together.
The 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 89,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided €436 million for the scheme in 2012.
The State plays a major role in the private rental market through the rent supplement scheme. As the Department currently funds approximately 30% of the private rented sector it is essential that State support for rents are kept under review and reflect current market conditions. Revised maximum rent limits came into force on 1 January 2012 and are in place until June 2013. 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 for private rented accommodation.
Statistics are not available in relation to the number of rent supplement applications received for the past 3 years and to date in 2012 or the outcome of those applications. However, the following tabular statement shows the number of rent supplement claims awarded in each of the past 3 years and to date in 2012.
There are currently over 32,700 rent supplement recipients in Dublin representing approximately 37% of the total customer base showing that customers of the scheme are being accommodated. The Department will continue to monitor rent levels in Dublin and throughout the country but at this point I have no immediate plans to revise the existing rent limits.
Details of claims awarded from 2009 to 2012:
|
Year |
Rent Supplement |
|
2009 |
87,802 |
|
2010 |
71,674 |
|
2011 |
63,878 |
|
2012 (1) |
42,873 |
(1) To 9 November 2012.
144. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 559 and 560 of 6 November 2012, if she will provide as requested the circumstances and number of occasions where the requirement for progression has been waived under the back to education allowance; if she will address the specific circumstances of the two individual cases highlighted in Parliamentary Question No. 560; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50270/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs previously outlined to the Deputy, the back to education allowance (BTEA) is a second chance education opportunities scheme designed to remove the barriers to participation in second and third level education by enabling those in receipt of certain social welfare payments to continue to receive a payment while pursuing an approved full-time education course that leads to a higher qualification than that already held.
BTEA guidelines are, in the main, in line with the mechanisms in place for student support type schemes administered by the Department of Education and Skills. Progression in education is a condition which is not unique to BTEA, indeed State support for education purposes is grounded on a student progressing from one qualification level to a higher one. This is necessary to ensure displacement does not occur, in that courses could be offered to students who are not progressing at the cost of students progressing from a lower education level.
BTEA is a non-statutory scheme with administrative operational guidelines. While BTEA policy and guidelines are developed centrally in the Department, the decision making function on individual claims is devolved to the local and branch office network of the Department. Determining officers are instructed to adhere to, and take account of the scheme guidelines in their entirety, when making all BTEA decisions and in cases where any conditions are not satisfied BTEA should not be awarded.
The Deputy is aware that the Department is currently reviewing a wide range of activation supports available to DSP customers, including BTEA, and it is the intention to canvass the views of stakeholders as part of the implementation process resulting from the review.
Officials are available to discuss specific cases and brief you on other supports that may be available to assist unemployed persons where BTEA conditions are not satisfied.
145. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on a carer's allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50272/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have been advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the appeal by the person concerned has been allowed by an Appeals Officer on a summary basis following consideration of the documentary evidence in the case. The person will be notified of the outcome in the coming days.
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.
146. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding full time opportunities for mediators within the local employment agencies; if such consideration will be given to a position (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50279/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department has a contract for 2012 with Kildare Local Employment Services Network for the provision of local employment services in county Kildare. In the case of Leixlip, the service is provided on a full-time basis by two part-time staff one of whom recently left. Approval to recruit a replacement was given by the Department. The composition of resources for next year will be considered as part of the contract process for 2013
147. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on an application for carer's allowance [50284/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis application was awarded on the 9th October 2012 at a rate of €204.00 per week.
148. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on an appeal for rent allowance. [50286/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that this case was referred to an Appeals Officer on 2nd October 2012, 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.
Question No. 149 withdrawn.
150. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on an appeal for illness benefit. [50291/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was assessed by a Medical Assessor of the Department of Social Protection who was of the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed this decision and in that context the appeal was assessed by another Medical Assessor who also expressed the opinion that he was capable of work.
In the light of this, it was decided to afford the person concerned an opportunity of setting out the complete and up to date grounds of his appeal and to furnish any further medical evidence that he wished to submit in support of his appeal. He did this and, at this stage, the Department of Social Protection have been requested to submit relevant documents to this office on his case.
On receipt of their response his appeal will be referred to an Appeals Officer for consideration.
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.
151. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on a non contributory pension in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50304/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that these cases were assigned to an Appeals Officer on 31st August 2012, 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.
Question No. 152 withdrawn.
