Barry Cowen
Ceist:295. 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. [19853/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's Allowance Applications
Ceisteanna (295)
Freagraí scríofa
I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 1st December 2011. This application was referred to one of the Department’s medical assessors who was of the opinion that the caree in question was not medically eligible for carer’s allowance. A letter issued on the 1st of October 2012 refusing the allowance and informing her of the reasons for it and of her right of review or appeal. No further correspondence has been received from the person in question.
Carer's Allowance Appeals
Ceisteanna (296)
Barry Cowen
Ceist:296. 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 carer's allowance. [19855/13]
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 12 February 2013. 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.
Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility
Ceisteanna (297)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:297. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 613 of 16 April 2013, and previous parliamentary questions, if she will clarify whether an entitlement to jobseeker's allowance arises in respect of enforced unemployment arising from school holidays in view of the fact that a person had previously been informed that they were not required to sign on if a full contribution is acknowledged in respect of the period in question; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19892/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
According to the records of this department there is no current application from the person mentioned in Parliamentary Question No. 613 of 16 April 2013 for jobseeker’s allowance. It is open to the person concerned to make an application at their local office in order to establish if an entitlement under this scheme exists.
Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals
Ceisteanna (298)
Michael McNamara
Ceist:298. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on an appeal for domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19898/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The person concerned submitted an appeal in relation to domiciliary care allowance on the 14 December 2012. As part of the appeal process, the case was forwarded to another of the Department’s Medical Assessors for further consideration. Further information in support of the appeal was received in the Department on the 24 April 2013 and this information has also been forwarded for review by the Medical Assessor.
Upon receipt of the Medical Assessor’s opinion, the case will be further examined and forwarded for consideration by the Appeals Office, if necessary.
Invalidity Pension Appeals
Ceisteanna (299)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:299. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in respect of an appeal for invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19900/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the available evidence, has allowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.
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.
Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications
Ceisteanna (300)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:300. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a review of a domiciliary care allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19919/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
An application for domiciliary care allowance was received on the 11th June 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 23rd July 2012 advising of the decision.
The person concerned requested a review of the decision and the case was forwarded to another of the Department’s Medical Assessors who found the child to be medically eligible for the allowance. The person concerned was notified of the decision on the 26th April 2013 and the first payment will issue on 21st May 2013.
Back to Work Allowance Payments
Ceisteanna (301)
Luke 'Ming' Flanagan
Ceist:301. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is possible to have one year's payments for a back to work allowance participant (details supplied) paid up front so that they will be able to finance a new start-up business; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19937/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTEA) is payable to customers receiving certain social welfare payments, including Jobseeker's Allowance, who would like to become self-employed.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance. An application for BTEA from the person concerned has not been received to date.
In order to qualify, an applicant must be:
- Setting up a business that a Partnership Company has approved in writing in advance; and
- Getting one of the qualifying payments for at least 12 months
There is no provision in the existing scheme to pay one year’s payment in advance. The claimant is paid a portion of their previous social welfare entitlement for 2 years - 100% in Year 1 and 75% in Year 2. Payments are made on a weekly basis.
Official Engagements
Ceisteanna (302)
Andrew Doyle
Ceist:302. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection if the Secretary General of her Department, for the purpose of transparency and accountability, will publish her diary on the Department's website on a monthly basis. [19970/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am informed by the Secretary General of the Department that she has no difficulty in doing this.
Mortgage Arrears Proposals
Ceisteanna (303)
Andrew Doyle
Ceist:303. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection the professional qualifications and requirements that are required by those assisting persons in mortgage arrears through the mortgage arrears resolution process; if she has considered including financial brokers in the process; if she has met with the Professional Insurance Brokers Association regarding the mortgage advisory service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19978/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Mortgage Arrears Information and Advice Service was established to provide a comprehensive and coordinated approach to assist people in mortgage distress.
The approach differentiates between mortgage information and mortgage advice. The first two elements 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 is provided by a panel of accountants drawn from members of the main accountancy institutes in Ireland who have agreed to participate and support this independent service. This panel is available on a county by county basis on the website www.keepingyourhome.ie.
When a lender is proposing longer-term mortgage resolutions, the lender advises 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.
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 required by borrowers. The advisory framework is being monitored on an on-going basis and a full review of the service will be undertaken in June 2013. The review will be undertaken to ensure that it is meeting its objectives and will encompass all aspects of the service including if participation is extended to other interested parties, the criteria that would be required in terms of relevant qualifications, experience, independence, professional indemnity insurance, etc. I have had no meetings on this issue with the Professional Insurance Brokers Association to date. However, all interested organisations will have an opportunity to input to the review of the service in due course.
Invalidity Pension Appeals
Ceisteanna (304)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:304. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress made to date in respect of an outstanding appeal for invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; when the matter will be brought to a conclusion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19980/13]
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 17th 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. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 11th April 2013 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.
Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals
Ceisteanna (305)
Marcella Corcoran Kennedy
Ceist:305. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for a domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19986/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on 23 August 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 28 September 2012 advising of the decision not to allow the application. The person concerned subsequently lodged an appeal against this decision and she was informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 11 March 2013 that the appeal was disallowed.
The decision/appeal process for this application is now complete. If the person concerned has additional information which was not made available to the deciding and appeals officers when they made their decisions, or if circumstances have changed, it is open to her to re-apply for the allowance at any time.
Employment Support Services
Ceisteanna (306)
Willie O'Dea
Ceist:306. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress that has been made in relation to Pathways to Work, in particular point 42 where her Department is examining the potential of contracting with the private sector as a means of complementing its own resources where required to deliver services and build up or access new skills and competencies in areas such as case management of clients, employer engagement and job-matching and placement; if any research been undertaken; if any private sector companies have been approached to provide such services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20001/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Pathways to Work policy provides for more regular and on-going engagement with jobseekers to enable them to return to employment through the provision of the most appropriate support interventions.
Much of the initial focus of the policy has been on the development and roll-out of Intreo - the new integrated employment activation and supports service model that was launched last October. The Intreo model involves an enhanced engagement process involving individual profiling, group interviews and early one-to-one sessions between care managers and unemployed clients. The process also involves an accelerated claim decision process. All of these elements are being rolled out progressively across all offices. When all elements are in place in any one office, the office is rebranded as an Intreo office. To date, twelve full Intreo offices have now been opened and service performance has improved in all of these offices. It is intended to open about 30 Intreo offices during 2013 and complete the rollout during 2014.
Enhanced engagement with employers at local level is also part of the new process and this is progressing well. A dedicated Employer Engagement Unit has been established and an Employer Engagement Manager is available in each region to support and advise employers at each stage of the employment process including the advertisement of opportunities and sourcing potential candidates from the Live Register.
The Department currently contracts with external providers for the delivery of both the Local Employment Service (LES) and Job Clubs. These provide employment services, including career planning, CV preparation, engagement with employers and job search/matching assistance etc.
Following a procurement process, the Department engaged the Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion (Inclusion) in November 2012 to provide expert advice and assistance with the design and delivery of a commercial model for the contracted provision of employment services. The Department is currently considering the Inclusion report and any subsequent process of engagement with private providers will be undertaken in accordance with normal public procurement procedures.
Private Residential Tenancies Board Remit
Ceisteanna (307)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:307. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 586 of 16 April, 2013, if she will make available the file of data received from the Private Residential Tenancies Board, which she states do not give rise to data protection implications, but which presumably provide addresses, details of accommodation and rent costs. [20029/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As part of the review of rent limits, the Department has received information from the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) from its register of tenancies. This data exchange is provided for by legislation under Section 146 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 and Section 261 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005. The data snapshot provided contains details of registered tenancies and does not contain names of tenants or landlords.
There are no data protection implications from the use of this information by this Department. However, the data provided to the Department remains the property of the PRTB. If the Deputy wishes to access such data he should contact the PRTB directly.
Employment Support Services
Ceisteanna (308)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:308. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the Clondalkin jobs club is being taken out of the area; the reason funding from FÁS for this service was withdrawn; if the funding and services are to be transferred to another organisation or location via a transfer of undertakings and protection of employment; the reason the former worker at the jobs club has not received any payment for weeks worked prior to the termination of his employment; the reason FÁS did not provide enhanced redundancy to the worker in question as it has done in other similar situations; and her views on whether it is acceptable, in view of the level of unemployment in such an area as Clondalkin, for such an important service to be withdrawn from the area. [20052/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department has annual contracts for the provision of job club services with over 40 companies. Each contract is reviewed on an annual basis. As part of the review process the Department undertakes a structured appraisal of that provider’s performance with each element of provider performance being scored against a common rating scale used to assess all Job Clubs. Following an evaluation of Bawnogue Unemployed Group Limited, the Department did not believe that it could justify the renewal of the contract and notified Bawnogue Unemployment Group Ltd. of this decision in January 2013. The annual contract with Bawnogue Unemployed Group Limited subsequently expired on 29 March 2013 but was fully funded by the Department up to that date.
The Department is considering alternative arrangements for the provision of job club services in the area and is currently delivering employment services in the area through the Local Employment Service (Bawnogue office) and the Department’s employment services office in Clondalkin.
The question of the Protection of Employees on Transfer of Undertakings Regulations does not appear to arise in this case as there is no transfer of an undertaking or a defined economic entity to carry on the activities previously provided by Bawnogue.
With regard to salaries and redundancy payments, the Department is not the employer and therefore such matters are issues for the company itself to address. However, where a company/employer is unable to pay statutory redundancy to employees it is open to them to avail of the Department’s redundancy and insolvency payments’ scheme, details of which are available on the Department’s website.
The Department is committed to the provision of quality job club services and will continue to evaluate job clubs to ensure the funds disbursed to fund their services are properly and effectively discharged to provide effective services to jobseekers and to facilitate the continuous improvement of the service.
Social Insurance Yield
Ceisteanna (309)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:309. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount that could be raised for the Exchequer by introducing a new employers PRSI rate of 15.75% on the portion of salary paid in excess of €100,000 per annum. [20075/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The introduction of a new employers’ PRSI contribution rate of 15.75% on the portion of salary paid in excess of €100,000 is estimated to yield €91.5 million in additional funding in a full year for the Social Insurance Fund.
Carer's Allowance Appeals
Ceisteanna (310)
Barry Cowen
Ceist:310. 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 carer's allowance. [20078/13]
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 12th February 2013. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When received, the appeal in question 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.
Question No. 311 withdrawn.