Barry Cowen
Ceist:254. 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 companion free travel pass. [44316/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFree Travel Scheme Applications
Ceisteanna (254)
Freagraí scríofa
I wish to inform you that the customer's application for Companion Free Travel Pass was medically assessed by the Deputy Chief Medical Advisor on 16 September, 2013. The medical opinion was conveyed to Households Benefits Section, Sligo and the customer should have been contacted regarding the decision on his application.
Carer's Allowance Applications
Ceisteanna (255)
Barry Cowen
Ceist:255. 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. [44317/13]
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 16 April 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 13 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.
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.
Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme Applications
Ceisteanna (256)
Barry Cowen
Ceist:256. 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 back to school clothing and footwear allowance. [44318/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
An application for back to school clothing and footwear allowance was received from the person concerned on 3 September 2013. The application was processed on the 24 of September 2013 and payment of €300 issued to the nominated bank account on 26 September 2013.
Carer's Allowance Appeals
Ceisteanna (257)
Barry Cowen
Ceist:257. 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. [44319/13]
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 10 October 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 these papers have been received from the Department, 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.
Disability Allowance Appeals
Ceisteanna (258)
Barry Cowen
Ceist:258. 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 disability allowance. [44320/13]
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, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a 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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.
Jobs Ireland
Ceisteanna (259)
Dominic Hannigan
Ceist:259. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has carried out an audit of how easy it is for employers to post jobs on the FÁS website; if not, is this something that she will consider doing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44335/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The possibility for employers to post jobs on the Jobs Ireland service (formerly FÁS) is no longer available via the FÁS URL (i.e. www.fas.ie ). Since June 2012 employers can post jobs via the employer section of the Department of Social Protection's website (www.welfare.ie). This is also accessible using the www.jobsireland.ie url.
As part of its on-going assessment of customer service the Department conducts a twice yearly survey of employer satisfaction with the Jobs Ireland web service. The most recent survey for the six months to the end of June 2013 indicates a high level of satisfaction with an average score of 3.9 on a scale of 1 – 5 where 1 is poor satisfaction and 5 is very high satisfaction.
Notwithstanding this relatively positive feedback the Department is conscious that the website was developed some time ago and compares somewhat unfavourably with more modern websites including those used by peer organisations in other countries. Accordingly the Department is currently engaged in a project to evaluate the current Jobs Ireland service and identify the changes need to be made in order to provide a more sophisticated online service for employers and jobseekers.
I expect this process to lead to a redevelopment of the site in the coming year.
Question No. 260 withdrawn.
Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility
Ceisteanna (261)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:261. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the basis for the means test in order to determine eligibility for jobseeker's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; the extent to which capital has been assessed and at what rate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44350/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The person concerned had means assessed against his jobseeker's allowance claim arising from monies held in a financial institution as follows:
|
Capital Value |
Date applied |
Weekly Means |
|
€96,000.00 |
10/07/2013 |
€254.00 |
|
€90,000.00 |
18/07/2013 |
€230.00 |
|
€80,000.00 |
26/08/2013 |
€190.00 |
The means calculation on capital in the case of the person concerned is assessed as follows. The first €20,000 is disregarded, the next €20,000 to €30,000 is assessed at €1 per thousand per week, the next €30,000 to €40,000 is assessed at €2 per thousand per week, and the remaining amount is assessed at €4 per thousand per week.
Question No. 262 withdrawn.
Disability Allowance Appeals
Ceisteanna (263)
Finian McGrath
Ceist:263. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a disability allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [44359/13]
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, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a 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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.
Fuel Allowance Eligibility
Ceisteanna (264)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:264. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the fuel allowance scheme to persons in receipt of carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44376/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Carers who live with the person they are caring for are eligible for the household benefits package which currently includes the free electricity/gas allowance, the free television licence and the telephone allowance (which will be abolished from 1 January, 2014). They also receive free travel.
This year the Department will spend over €182 million on the free electricity/gas allowance for over 410,000 customers. In addition, some 410,000 customers will also receive the fuel allowance of €20 per week for the winter months (26 weeks) from October to April, at a cost of €223 million. I was very happy to be in a position to preserve the value of the fuel allowance and the electricity/gas allowance in last week's Budget. However, I am not in a position to extend the fuel allowance to carers at this time.
Carers receive significant income supports from my Department, among the highest rates of income support in Europe. A person getting certain qualifying payments and also providing full-time care and attention to another person can keep their main social welfare payment and receive a half-rate carer's allowance as well. The half-rate carer's allowance was protected in Budget 2014.
The respite care grant is available to all full-time carers regardless of their means while the income disregard and means test for carers allowance is the most generous in the social welfare system. A couple under 66 with two children, earning a joint annual income of up to €35,400 can qualify for the maximum rate of carer's allowance while a couple earning €59,300 will still qualify for the minimum rate. Carers are entitled to an extra half-rate carer's allowance if they care for more than one person and a respite care grant for each care recipient.
Carer's Allowance Appeals
Ceisteanna (265)
Tom Fleming
Ceist:265. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite and issue a final decision 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. [44377/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence, including that adduced at oral hearing, has allowed the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the 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.
Job Initiatives
Ceisteanna (266)
Andrew Doyle
Ceist:266. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a breakdown of employee applicants and successful employee applicants for the JobsPlus scheme in three counties (details supplied). [44395/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
JobsPlus is a new simplified scheme which replaced the Employer Job (PRSI) Exemption (effective from 20 June 2010) and Revenue Job Assist (which commenced on 6 April 1998) schemes and is more targeted at channelling full time job opportunities to the longer term unemployed. Table 1 shows details of application by county and the number of approved applicants in each county. Table 2 shows the breakdown by Dublin postcode area.
Table 1
|
County |
Applications from Jobseekers |
Eligible Jobseekers |
|
Carlow |
54 |
46 |
|
Wicklow |
66 |
51 |
|
Dublin |
655 |
518 |
Table 2
|
Dublin Postcode Area |
No of employees registered |
Approved Jobseekers |
|
Dublin 1 |
15 |
11 |
|
Dublin 2 |
5 |
5 |
|
Dublin 3 |
9 |
6 |
|
Dublin 4 |
6 |
3 |
|
Dublin 5 |
23 |
20 |
|
Dublin 6 |
9 |
6 |
|
Dublin 6W |
8 |
6 |
|
Dublin 7 |
18 |
18 |
|
Dublin 8 |
17 |
9 |
|
Dublin 9 |
15 |
15 |
|
Dublin 10 |
6 |
5 |
|
Dublin 11 |
13 |
10 |
|
Dublin 12 |
12 |
9 |
|
Dublin 13 |
15 |
11 |
|
Dublin 14 |
9 |
6 |
|
Dublin 15 |
50 |
36 |
|
Dublin 16 |
5 |
5 |
|
Dublin 17 |
9 |
6 |
|
Dublin 18 |
4 |
3 |
|
Dublin 20 |
4 |
3 |
|
Dublin 22 |
20 |
13 |
|
Dublin 24 |
48 |
38 |
|
Co Dublin |
335 |
274 |
|
TOTAL DUBLIN |
655 |
518 |
Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals
Ceisteanna (267)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Ceist:267. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue from the Social Welfare Appeals Board regarding the appeal lodged in respect of a person (details supplied) regarding the decision of the Department to refuse payment of domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44397/13]
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 4 July 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 17 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.
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.
Youth Guarantee
Ceisteanna (268, 269)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Ceist:268. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the youth guarantee implementation plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44399/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Ceist:269. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the evidence her Department is drawing upon for the youth guarantee models for best practice, the expert reports and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44400/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 268 and 269 together.
The EU Council recommended that Member States should provide a Youth Guarantee which would ensure that all young people under the age of 25 years receive a good quality offer of employment, continued education, an apprenticeship or a traineeship within a period of four months of becoming unemployed or leaving formal education.
While it is recommended that the Youth Guarantee should be implemented as soon as possible, it is recognised that implementation will be more gradual in the Member States experiencing the most severe budgetary difficulties and higher rates of youth unemployment.
The Department of Social Protection has set up an interdepartmental Youth Guarantee Implementation Group with officials and programme managers from the Department of Education and Skills, Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation, and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. The terms of reference for this group are to review the current range of youth employment policies in Ireland to assess what measures will need to be taken to commence the implementation of the Guarantee.
The Department held a stakeholders' consultation forum in relation to the Guarantee on October 14, and has also invited further submissions from the bodies that attended.
The Department of Social Protection has also requested the assistance of the OECD in developing the implantation plan. In particular the OECD has been asked to identify best international practice and how it might best be applied to implementation of the Youth Guarantee in Ireland. A delegation from the OECD has already met with stakeholders at the forum mentioned above as well as with a range of relevant public bodies.
The development of the plan will also draw on expert work already carried out by the European Commission over the last few years, and in particular the Commission Staff Working Document (SWD) Accompanying the Proposal for a Council Recommendation on Establishing a Youth Guarantee, published in December 2012. It is intended to produce a concrete plan for the implementation of the Guarantee for consideration by the Government in December before being transmitted to the European Commission by the end of 2013.
Farm Assist Scheme Appeals
Ceisteanna (270)
Paul Connaughton
Ceist:270. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Social Protection when a farm assist review will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44402/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned together with the relevant Departmental papers were received by that office on 16 October 2013 and that 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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.
Jobseeker's Schemes
Ceisteanna (271)
Billy Timmins
Ceist:271. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding jobseeker's payment (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44407/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker's allowance schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative full-time employment. The Revised Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure on the jobseeker's schemes of €3.66 billion in 2013.
It is a fundamental qualifying condition of both schemes that a person must be fully unemployed for 4 in any period of 7 consecutive days. Where a person takes up employment the part-time job incentive scheme may, subject to scheme criteria, support them in making such a transition to employment. The scheme allows persons who are long-term unemployed to take up part-time employment for less than 24 hours per week and receive a weekly income supplement. Participants in this scheme are expected to continue to make efforts to find full-time work.
It is recognised that a changing labour market has resulted in a move away from the more traditional work patterns, resulting in an increase in the number of persons employed for less than a full week. This is an important policy issue for the Department but any changes to the current criteria could have significant cost implications.
The Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare, which has already reported to me on a number of important policy areas, is now looking at the whole area of atypical work and I look forward to their recommendations on this issue later this year.