Robert Troy
Ceist:337. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an invalidity appeal in respect of a person (details supplied). [40459/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraInvalidity Pension Appeals
Ceisteanna (337)
Freagraí scríofa
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 27 August 2013. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 18 September 2013 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
If the means of the person concerned are insufficient to meet her needs she should contact Community Welfare Services regarding her entitlement to supplementary welfare allowance pending the determination of her appeal. 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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.
Carer's Allowance Appeals
Ceisteanna (338)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:338. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on the review of further medical evidence on a carer's allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40462/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision on 8 July 2013. Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of an Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed in the light of new evidence or new facts. As the person concerned has submitted additional evidence, the Appeals Officer has agreed to review the case. The person concerned will be contacted when the review of her appeal has been finalised. 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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.
Intreo Services Provision
Ceisteanna (339)
Ciara Conway
Ceist:339. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide an update on the progress being made in establishing Intreo services in County Waterford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40463/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
It is expected that a total of 43 offices will be delivering the full Intreo service by the end of 2013 including Waterford city.
Disability Allowance Appeals
Ceisteanna (340)
Pat Breen
Ceist:340. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on an application for disability allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40469/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 12 September 2013, 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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.
Carer's Allowance Appeals
Ceisteanna (341)
Pat Breen
Ceist:341. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on an application for a carer's allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40470/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 12 September 2013, 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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.
Question No. 342 withdrawn.
National Internship Scheme Eligibility
Ceisteanna (343)
Paul Connaughton
Ceist:343. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is a mechanism whereby a person who is unemployed, but not in receipt of any payment due to a partner's earnings, may access a JobBridge position working with elderly persons as the position has been advertised as a JobBridge position for three weeks now without any applicants; her views on whether jobs in petrol station forecourts are suitable for JobBridge; the steps being taken to ensure that the JobBridge programme is not being abused by some employers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40486/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
JobBridge provides internship opportunities of either 6 or 9 months for unemployed individuals who are in receipt of a Live claim (Jobseekers Allowance/Jobseekers Benefit/One Parent Family Payment/Disability Allowance) or are signing on for credits for at least 3 of the last 6 months (78 Days). Given the large number of people on the live register and the requirement to priorities the allocation of scarce exchequer resources the Department does not allow for any exceptions in relation to the eligibility.
JobBridge is a voluntary scheme. Jobseekers are free to choose to participate or not, and to choose the type of internship and host organisation for which they wish to apply. The success of the scheme is entirely dependent upon host organisations offering internships and jobseekers making themselves available to take-up internships. As a voluntary scheme, JobBridge is not designed to be elitist or to cater only for the needs of specific types of jobseeker and in this respect the wide range of internships available ensures that the needs of people on the Live Register who wish to gain work experience and prove their abilities with an employer, including people with relatively little in the way of formal skills or experience, are met. Accordingly, if all scheme criteria are met, internships in petrol station forecourts can provide such opportunities.
In order to protect the intern and to ensure the integrity of JobBridge, a variety of control measures and criteria have been introduced. These ensure that the internship does not displace an existing position; that it provides appropriate training and development experience; and that appropriate mentoring and support is provided to the intern. In addition to the initial vetting of advertisements and the requirement for the host organisation to participate in monthly compliance reporting, the Department conducts site visits to facilitate discussions with both parties to the internship. These monitoring visits comprise a combination of randomised visits/inspections with host organisations and of the investigation of complaints received from interns or concerned individuals. The Department treats such complaints very seriously. In this regard, over 3,000 monitoring visits have been conducted to-date with encouragingly 98% of these visits of a satisfactory nature. Remedial action is taken in cases of non-compliance.
Any allegations of abuse are investigated by the Department as a matter of priority and, where such allegations are substantiated those organisations are disqualified from any future participation in JobBridge. The overwhelming majority of host organisations are abiding by the terms and conditions of the JobBridge scheme. Over 9,000 host organisations have commenced interns and as at September 2013, only 26 host organisations have been excluded from further participation in JobBridge for breaches of the terms and conditions of the Scheme.
Question No. 344 withdrawn.
Social Welfare Appeals Status
Ceisteanna (345)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:345. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question 561 of 18 September 2013, if an oral hearing can be arranged in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40524/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Further to my response to Parliamentary Questions Ref. No. 37064/13 and 39306/13 for answer on 18 September 2013 and 24 September 2013 respectively, I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the position in relation to the person concerned as outlined in those replies is unchanged. The person concerned was invited, by means of a letter to his home address, to attend an oral hearing on two separate occasions and failed to attend on both occasions. The Appeals Officer then decided that he would determine the appeal summarily taking account of the documentary evidence presented by the person concerned and by the Department and the appeal was disallowed. 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.
Official Languages Act 2003 Compliance
Ceisteanna (346)
Gerry Adams
Ceist:346. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Social Protection the arrangements put in place by her Department to ensure compliance with the Official Languages Act, specifically requirements for signage in departmental offices, schools, third level institutions; details of any assessments undertaken by departmental staff to assess requirements; the number of signs assessed; when any corrective actions were put in place; if any or all of the actions taken by her Department were within the designated timeframes set out in legislation, and if not the reasoning for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40552/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department is committed to providing a quality service in both Irish and English and to implementing the requirements of the Official Languages Act. To achieve these aims a range of measures have been put in place including responding to correspondence in the official language in which it is written and publishing certain documents simultaneously in both official languages. Significant material, including forms, leaflets and other documents, are available in both languages on the Departments website www.welfare.ie. There is a dedicated Official Languages Act site on Stór (the Departments Intranet site) which gives guidance on the implementation of the Act. Staff induction courses include a module on the Official Languages Act and a range of supports are in place to equip staff with the necessary skills to deliver a quality customer service in Irish by phone, letter or in person.
The Department is committed to achieving the requirements of the Official Languages Act within the designated timeframes set out in legislation. With regard to the implementation of the Regulations on signage, a range of measures are in place including:
- There is a clear policy that all new permanent signage erected is to be compliant with the Regulations and the Facilities Management Unit of my Department are responsible for ensuring that this is implemented. When an office is being transformed into an Intreo Centre (the principal public facing offices of the Department) all permanent signage is reviewed and replaced with the new corporate identity signage which is bi-lingual;
- Business areas are kept informed of their obligations under the Act and, in advance of each of the signage implementation dates, there was an information campaign to remind business areas to implement the signage Regulations. Information campaigns have included: office notices, notices on Stór, articles in the staff magazine and briefing sessions (including a session given by an official from Oifig An Coimisinéir Teanga);
- Guidance material on compliant signage is distributed to all business areas and is also available on Stór. A database and templates of common signs have been developed and are available on Stór. There is also advice and support available from the Corporate Services Unit of the Department;
- In late 2012/ early 2013 all Business Areas were requested to carry out a review of all signage to check whether it was compliant. Arrangements have been put in place to remedy any deficiencies recorded.