Written Answers Nos. 96-105
96. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he will make an appointment to the office of the regulator of the national lottery; the selection criteria and terms and conditions to be applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43934/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is envisaged that the Regulator of the National Lottery will be appointed and the Regulator's office established in early 2014. The functions of the Regulator and the terms on which he or she shall hold office are provided for in part 3 of the National Lottery Act 2013. The selection criteria for the appointment of the Regulator will be determined by my Department in consultation with the Public Appointments Service.
97. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the PEACE IV programme, the total funding to be allocated to this programme both North and South, the likely timescale for commencement of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44055/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe SEUPB is currently involved in drafting the Operational Programme for the PEACE IV Programme in close consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in Ireland and the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland. It is anticipated that the draft Operational Programme for PEACE IV will be presented to the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government in 2014. Formal submission to the EU Commission will take place following the agreement of the two Governments and the conclusion of negotiations on the Cohesion Legislative Package with the European Parliament. While significant progress was made by the Irish Presidency on the Cohesion Legislative Package, negotiations are continuing with the Council and European Parliament to finalise the package. Until such time as agreement is reached, operational programmes cannot be agreed with the European Commission.
On 8 February 2013 the European Council agreement on the MFF included provision for funding of €150 million towards a new PEACE Programme as part of the EU Cohesion package. I also welcome the inclusion of an additional €50m UK funding for PEACE IV which the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland announced in the context of the Building a Prosperous and United Community pact signed in Downing Street on 14 June. The total contributions from Ireland and the United Kingdom to the PEACE programme will be determined in the context of the programme planning and the final outcome of the negotiations on the Cohesion Legislative Package with the European Parliament.
98. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of applications received by his Department in the years 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013 for regional or investment aid in each of the eligible regions; and the rate of approval in respect of these applications across all regions. [43925/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe question posed by the Deputy requires a significant volume of information to be gathered and collated. It has not been possible to collate the information within the timeframe given. Consequently, my Department will provide the information to the Deputy as soon as possible in written format.
99. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the means by which his Action Plan for Jobs is addressing youth unemployment in County Kerry; the number of jobs that have been created through this action plan in the county; the areas they have been created in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44027/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis Government is committed to addressing the problem of youth unemployment. Our primary strategy is to create the environment for economic recovery through competitiveness, enterprise and job creation through the Action Plan for Jobs. In addition, the Government recognises the need for measures to support the unemployed and keep jobseekers close to the labour market. In this context, the major elements of the Government's response are set out in Pathways to Work, which is aimed at ensuring that as many as possible of the job vacancies that are created as the economy recovers are filled by people from the Live Register - with a particular focus on those who are long-term unemployed or at risk of long-term unemployment.
Pathways to Work programmes such as JobBridge, Springboard, Momentum, JobsPlus and the ICT Action Plan, are delivered by the Departments of Social Protection and Education and Skills. The Department of Social Protection is also working with relevant Departments, including my own, to produce a concrete plan for implementation of the Youth Guarantee in Ireland, for consideration by the Government before being transmitted to the European Commission by the end of the year. My Department is also keen to support young entrepreneurs and, in this context, current initiatives such as Enterprise Ireland's Competitive Start Fund and New Frontiers Programme, along with the Microenterprise Loan Fund, all contribute to supporting young entrepreneurs.
More than 48,000 jobs will be created in 2014 through supports from my Department as a result of the measures announced in this week's Budget. Some of the specific measures announced include:
- A package of new initiatives to support start-ups and growing businesses, including Start Your Own Business Scheme – a 2-year income tax exemption for long-term unemployed people who start their own business,
- €3.5million in additional funding for CEBs/LEOs, and
- Continued provision for a total of over €2billion in non-bank credit schemes for business.
Earlier this year, I established the Entrepreneurs Forum. I am pleased that so many of the ideas that they have championed have also been addressed in the Budget. The Government will also publish a Policy Statement on Entrepreneurship, including youth entrepreneurship, this year.
In relation to the number of jobs created in Co Kerry, and the areas they have been created in, I refer the Deputy to my reply of 10 October 2013 to Dáil Question No. 93 (Reference No: 42799/13), tabled by him.
100. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if in the case of the deduction at source of PRSI contributions by an employer in the public or the private sector where such deductions were not in order due to age or other regulation, if full refund of such deductions may be made retrospectively in line with the entitlement of the Revenue Commissioners to retrospectively apply tax liability for previous years without restriction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44065/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraA four year limit on the return of PRSI contributions was introduced in the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Act 2009 and has been in effect since 1 January 2010. The time limit governing the refund of PRSI contributions is in line with the arrangements of the Revenue Commissioners governing the refund of tax.
101. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm receipt of an application form for rent supplement in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare and all supporting documentation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43889/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe customer was awarded her full entitlement to rent supplement and arrears on 9 October based on her household composition and circumstances.
102. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if appendix 8 of the medical eligibility guidelines for domiciliary care allowance, on medical conditions, is still in force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43892/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe review of the Domiciliary Care Allowance scheme (DCA), which was published in April 2013, makes a number of recommendations in relation to the medical eligibility guidelines pertaining to the scheme. Amongst these recommendations is the deletion of the advisory list of conditions more likely or less likely to be considered to qualify a child for DCA, (Appendix 8). In practice, the section of the guidelines referred to, is no longer referred to by medical assessors as part of the assessment process and has not been for some time.
The necessary changes to implement the medical eligibility guidelines and recommendations have been drafted and will be implemented after the implementation group, which has been established to action the recommendations in the report, has finalised arrangements. This work is progressing well and it is hoped to have the recommendations implemented in the near future.
103. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total annual costs of rent support in each of the past three years to date; the extent to which she has examined the possibility of replacing such a process with permanent housing of a traditional nature; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43893/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra106. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which her Department has monitored sharp increases in rent, which are affecting those on rent support; if she has in mind any provision to address the issue in view of the fact that many persons on rent support are being forced to vacate their accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43896/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 106 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. There are approximately 82,000 rent supplement recipients of whom over 51,000 are in receipt for over 18 months. The Government has provided over €403 million for the scheme in 2013. Expenditure on rent supplement for the last 3 years is provided in the following tabular statement.
New revised rent limits came into force on 17 June 2013. The new rent limits were determined following an extensive review of the private rental market which showed rising rents for urban centres, particularly Dublin and Galway, and reduction in rents for the majority of counties. The new limits continue to ensure that value for money is achieved while, at the same time, people on rent supplement are not priced out of the market for private rented accommodation. The Department currently funds approximately 30% of the total supply of private rented sector properties so it is essential that the rent limits are kept under review and do not distort the natural supply and demand conditions that prevail. Officials in the Department continue to examine the impact of the new rent limits on those who claim rent supplement and ensure that their accommodation needs are met.
The Department's strategic policy direction is to return rent supplement to its original purpose of a short term income support. In July 2013 the Government approved the introduction of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). Under HAP, responsibility for recipients of rent supplement with a long-term housing need will transfer from the Department of Social Protection to local authorities. Officials in the Department of Social protection are working with those in the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, who are leading the project, in developing proposals to give effect to this transfer. Under HAP, customers with assessments of a long term housing need who would otherwise receive rent supplement will be taken directly into HAP.
This summer, DECLG undertook a Business Processing Design exercise to determine the business processes required to support the implementation of HAP roll out. This exercise will assist DECLG in the drafting of the necessary legislation and feed into the development of implementation plans and the necessary IT infrastructure to support the roll-out of the new scheme in selected test authorities. The Department is advised that following the enactment of the relevant legislation, a HAP testing phase will be carried out in the selected local authorities in 2014 with full roll out of the scheme to follow once the test phase is complete.
Rent Supplement Expenditure: 2010 to 2012
|
Year |
Cost €000 |
|
2010 |
516,500 |
|
2011 |
502,700 |
|
2012 |
422,500 |
104. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the average waiting period for decision in respect of disability allowance on appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43894/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra107. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the average time taken to deal with appeals in respect of invalidity pension; the extent to which the waiting period has fluctuated in each of the past three years to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43897/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 107 together.
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the current average time taken to process disability allowance appeals decided by summary decision is 31.5 weeks and 40 weeks for those requiring an oral hearing. The current average time taken to process invalidity pension appeals decided by summary decision is 35.1 weeks and 41.7 weeks for those requiring an oral hearing. Processing times of invalidity pension appeals from 2010 to 2012 and to date in 2013 are listed in the following table.
There has been a rapid and sustained increase in the number of appeals received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office since 2009 which has placed extraordinary pressure on the office. Up to 2009, the average number of appeals received was 15,000 per annum whereas in 2012, the office received 35,484 appeals. In order to manage this increasing workload, significant resources and efforts have been put into reducing backlogs and improving appeals processing times for appellants, including the assignment of 15 additional Appeals Officers, in addition to 10 former Community Welfare Service Appeals Officers who joined the appeals office in 2011, bringing the total number of serving Appeals Officers to 41; reviewing and improving business processes; and implementing a new operating model within the appeals office.
In addition, a major programme of process redesign and modernisation is under way in the Department in relation to many of its scheme areas, aimed at reducing backlogs and reducing the time taken by the Department to respond to requests from the appeals office for submissions in relation to appeals. These measures have led to improvements in processing times and a significant increase in the number of appeals finalised from 17,787 in 2009 to 32,558 in 2012. The Chief Appeals Officer expects to finalise 6,000 more cases in 2013 than in 2012. Good progress is also now being made in reducing the number of appeals on hand from 20,414 at 1 January 2013 to 16,420 at 14 October 2013.
The average waiting time for appeals peaked in 2011 when the average time for an oral hearing was 52.5 weeks and for a summary decision was 25.1 weeks. In 2012 these times improved by 10.3 weeks when the average time for an oral hearing dropped to 39.5 weeks while the time for a summary decision increased slightly to 27.8 weeks. This improvement has continued with the average processing time up to September 2013 reducing to 35.2 weeks for an oral hearing and 26.7 weeks for a summary decision. A similar trend is reflected in processing times for invalidity pension appeals. In 2010 the average processing time for an invalidity pension oral hearing was 59.7 weeks while a decision requiring a summary decision took an average of 40 weeks. This had improved to 48.7 and 38.8 weeks respectively in 2012 and has further improved (up to September 2013) to 41.7 and 35.1 weeks respectively.
These 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 awaiting any clarification from the appellant, time 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 and Medical Assessors 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. While this process carries an inherent delay in terms of finalising an appeal, it also crystalises the flexibility and accessibility of the appeals system.
By its nature and because it is a quasi-judicial function, the processing of appeals takes time and reflects the fact that, by definition, the appeal process cannot be a quick one.
Processing times for Invalidity Pension Appeals 2010-2013 (to 30/9/2013)
|
- |
Average processing times (weeks) Summary Decisions |
Average processing times (weeks) Oral Hearings |
|
2010 |
40.0 |
59.7 |
|
2011 |
36.4 |
58.9 |
|
2012 |
38.8 |
48.7 |
|
2013 (to 30/9/2013) |
35.1 |
41.7 |
105. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of applications for non-contributory old age pension received in each of the past two years to date; the number approved, refused and-or pending; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43895/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like in the first instance to refer the Deputy to the Annual Social Welfare Services Statistical Information Report, 2012 which provides most of the information requested by him and is available on www.welfare.ie. For convenience, I have set it out in the following tabular statement.
|
State pension (non-contributory) |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 – to date |
|
Registered |
7,344 |
9,035 |
7,409 |
|
Awarded |
5,730 |
7,243 |
5,550 |
|
Rejected |
1,998 |
2,453 |
1,715 |
|
Withdrawn |
1,009 |
1,149 |
739 |
|
Claims Cleared |
8,737 |
10,845 |
8,004 |
|
Pending |
1,869 |
1,432 |
2,084 |
