Wednesday, 15 Jan 2014

Written Answers Nos. 374 - 389

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Ceisteanna (375)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

375. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in respect of an appeal for carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1296/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 5 December 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 have been received from the Department, the case 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 appeal 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.

Rural Social Scheme Application Numbers

Ceisteanna (376)

Tom Fleming

Ceist:

376. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection the number participating in rural social schemes up to end of 2013 and if she will provide details on a county basis in tabular form and if she will she provide additional places for this scheme in 2014 due to the demand by communities for the scheme and the huge waiting list of potential participants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1300/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The rural social scheme (RSS) currently provides work opportunities for around 2,600 participants and 130 supervisory staff. Overall responsibility for the RSS rests with the Department of Social Protection with for its day-to-day operations delivered by 35 local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta (implementing bodies). The sum of €45m has provisionally been allocated for 2014, which will allow the scheme to continue along the same lines as in previous years but does not allow for recruitment above the numbers stated above.

Table 1 gives details for the number of participant and supervisor placements to each Implementing Body and county/counties covered by that body. Table 2 gives a county breakdown of the 2,583 participants on the scheme at the end of December 2013.

Table 1 - Allocation of RSS Placements by Local Development Company - 2013

Implementing Body	Counties Covered	Participant	Supervisor
Breffni Integrated Limited	Cavan	80	4
Carlow County Development Partnership Ltd.	Carlow	18	1
Clare Local Development Co. Ltd.	Clare	117	6
Avondhu/Blackwater Partnership Ltd.	Cork	17	1
South and East Cork Area Development	Cork	8	1
West Cork Development Partnership Ltd.	Cork	68	3
Ballyhoura Development Limited	Cork/Limerick	47	2
IRD Duhallow Ltd.	Cork/Limerick/Kerry	58	3
Donegal Local Development Company Ltd	Donegal	76	4
Inishowen Development Partnership	Donegal	30	2
Comhar na nOileán Teoranta	Islands	20	0
FORUM Connemara Ltd.	Galway	14	1
Galway Rural Development Co. Ltd.	Galway	156	8
North and East Kerry LEADER Partnership Teoranta	Kerry	89	5
South Kerry Development Partnership Ltd.	Kerry	138	7
Cill Dara ar Aghaidh Teoranta	Kildare	22	1
County Kilkenny LEADER Partnership Co. Limited	Kilkenny	19	1
Laois Community and Enterprise Dev. Co. Ltd.	Laois	25	1
Leitrim Integrated Development Company Ltd.	Leitrim	100	5
West Limerick Resources	Limerick	36	2
Longford Community Resources	Longford	55	3
Louth LEADER Partnership	Louth	10	0
Mayo North East LEADER Partnership Co. Teo.	Mayo	221	11
South West Mayo Development Company Ltd.	Mayo	191	10
Meath Community Rural & Social Dev. Partnership	Meath	16	1
Monaghan Integrated Development Limited	Monaghan	40	2
Offaly Integrated Local Development Company Ltd.	Offaly	52	3
Roscommon Integrated Development Company Ltd.	Roscommon	149	7
County Sligo LEADER Partnership Co. Ltd.	Sligo	124	6
North Tipperary LEADER Partnership	Tipperary	37	2
South Tipperary Development Company Limited	Tipperary	26	1
Waterford LEADER Partnership Ltd.	Waterford	12	0
Westmeath Community Development Ltd.	Westmeath	33	2
Wexford Local Development	Wexford	39	2
Co. Wicklow Community Partnership	Wicklow	20	1
Údarás na Gaeltachta	Mayo/Kerry/ Galway/Donegal	437	21
Totals		2,600	130

Table 2 – Breakdown of RSS Participant Placements by county

RSS Participant Breakdown by County

County	Total Participants End 2013
Co. Carlow	18
Co. Cavan	82
Co. Clare	115
Co. Cork	171
Co. Donegal	226
Co. Galway	276
Co. Kerry	278
Co. Kildare	23
Co. Kilkenny	18
Co. Laois	23
Co. Leitrim	98
Co. Limerick	76
Co. Longford	51
Co. Louth	11
Co. Mayo	569
Co. Meath	14
Co. Monaghan	40
Co. Offaly	43
Co. Roscommon	150
Co. Sligo	127
Co. Tipperary	64
Co. Waterford	12
Co. Westmeath	39
Co. Wexford	40
Co. Wicklow	19
Total end December 2013	2583

Rent Supplement Scheme Payments

Ceisteanna (377)

John McGuinness

Ceist:

377. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the amount paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow in relation to their claim for rent allowance. [1342/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The rent supplement claim of the client has been reassessed resulting in an increased entitlement in payment from 1 January 2014. Arrears due have issued to the client.

Public Sector Pensions

Ceisteanna (378)

Mary Lou McDonald

Ceist:

378. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form and year on year, the occasions on which she has signed off on the awarding of added years to public sector workers between March 2011 and December 2013; the grade of the persons awarded the added years; and the number of added years awarded in each instance. [1366/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

In the case of ill health retirement, added years may be awarded on receipt of a recommendation from the Chief Medical Officer that the person concerned is incapable on medical grounds of regular and effective service and that this medical incapacity is likely to be permanent.

As Minister, I am the appropriate deciding authority for cases of grades at Principal level and above within the Department of Social Protection. During the period in question, there have been no cases that required me to make a decision regarding added years for retiring officers.

I have no decision role in the award of professional added years. These are awarded strictly in accordance with the rules of the superannuation schemes, as set out in centralised circulars.

The appropriate deciding authority for added years in the context of ill health retirements for officials at and below Assistant Principal level is the Secretary General of the Department.

For the information of the Deputy, details of all cases where added years was awarded in my Department between March 2011 and December 2013 are set out in the following tables:

PERIOD: 1/3/2011 to 31/12/2011

GRADE	AWARD	REASON
SVO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
CO	4 years 5 days	Ill health added years
CO	4 years 132 days	Ill health added years
CO	2 years 184 days	Ill health added years
CO	6 years 18 days	Ill health added years
CO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
SO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
SO	3 years 227 days	Ill health added years
SO	60.6 days	Ill health added years
EO	2 years 313 days	Ill health added years
EO	2 years 6 days	Ill health added years
EO	2 years 208 days	Ill health added years
HEO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
HEO	5 years 342 days	Ill health added years
AP	3 years 134 days	Professional added years
Medical Assessor	7 years 225 days	Professional added years
Accountant	259 days	Professional added years

PERIOD: 1/1/2012 to 31/12/2012

GRADE	AWARD	REASON
CO	2 years 55 days	Ill health added years
CO	2 years 35 days	Ill health added years
CO	4 years 228 days	Ill health added years
CO	5 years 1 day	Ill health added years
CO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
CO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
CO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
CO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
CO	8 years 347 days	Ill health added years
CO	7 years 149 days	Ill health added years
CO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
CO	6 years 11 days	Ill health added years
CO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
CO	8 years 54 days	Ill health added years
SO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
SO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
EO	4 years 205 days	Ill health added years
EO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
EO	2 years 261 days	Ill health added years
EO	1 year 328 days	Ill health added years
EO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
HEO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
HEO	3 years 40 days	Ill health added years
HEO	3 years 79 days	Ill health added years
HEO	3 years 79 days	Ill health added years
Medical Assessor	4 years 331 days	Professional added years
Medical Assessor	5 years 87 days	Professional added years

PERIOD: 1/1/2013 to 31/12/2013

GRADE	AWARD	REASON
CO	270 days	Ill health added years
CO	1 year 31 days	Ill health added years
CO	3 years 353.5 days	Ill health added years
CO	8 years 359 days	Ill health added years
CO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
CO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
CO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
CO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
CO	8 years 257 days	Ill health added years
CO	6 years 146.5 days	Ill health added years
CO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
EO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
EO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
EO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
HEO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
HEO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
HEO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
HEO	6 years 86.5 days	Ill health added years
HEO	4 years 46 days	Ill health added years
Medical Assessor	7 years	Professional added years

Appointments to State Boards

Ceisteanna (379)

Mary Lou McDonald

Ceist:

379. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form and year on year, the number of commercial and non-commercial State agency board positions under the aegis of her Department filled between March 2011 and December 2013; the number of these positions that were publicly advertised; and the number of female appointments. [1382/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Board, the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a board) and the Social Welfare Tribunal.

Details of Board positions filled since March 2011 are set out in the following table.

Agency/ Board	-	-	Number of Positions Filled	-	-	Number of Positions Publically Advertised	-	-	Number of Female Appointments
	2011 (from Mar)	2012	2013 (to Dec)	2011 (from Mar)	2012	2013 (to Dec)	2011 (from Mar)	2012	2013 (to Dec)
Citizens Information Board	2	1	Nil	1	Nil	2	1	Nil	Nil
Pensions Board	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Social Welfare Tribunal	Nil	5 (1 new appointment/ 4 re-appointments)	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	1	1 (re-appointment)	Nil

Citizen Information Board

One of the appointments in 2011 was made following an advertisement for expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced individuals. The other two appointments to the Board – one in 2011 and one in 2012 - did not require public advertisement. One was appointed as the Department’s representative to the Board on 1 November 2011 and the other was appointed as the Board’s staff representative on 5 November 2012.

There are currently two vacancies on the Citizens Information Board. Appointments to the Board will be made in accordance with the governing legislation on completion of the selection process.

Pensions Board

No position was filled on the Board since March 2011

Social Welfare Tribunal

The revised Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies does not apply to the Social Welfare Tribunal due to its structure and purpose.

National Internship Scheme Placements

Ceisteanna (380)

Mary Lou McDonald

Ceist:

380. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form year on year the number of JobBridge interns taken on in her Department in 2013. [1398/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

I understand the Deputy would like the data on the number of JobBridge interns in my Department between 2011 and 2013. This data is shown as follows:

Year	Number of JobBridge Interns
2011	2
2012	2
2013	4

Social Welfare Appeals

Ceisteanna (381)

John McGuinness

Ceist:

381. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [1347/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

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 11th October 2013. Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of the Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by the Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new facts.

I am advised that the person concerned has submitted additional evidence and that the Department was requested to return the file to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. This file was received on 3rd December 2013 and was reviewed by the Appeals Officer who sought clarification on certain issues from the Department of Social Protection on 3rd January 2014. The person concerned will be contacted when the review of his 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.

Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals

Ceisteanna (382)

Sandra McLellan

Ceist:

382. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will approve and expedite an appeal for jobseeker's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1408/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 13 November 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 November 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. In order to be fair to all appellants, appeals are assigned to appeals officer and are dealt with in chronological order.

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 (383)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

383. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in determination of an appeal for carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1417/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision on 10 January 2014.

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.

Disability Allowance Appeals

Ceisteanna (384)

Heather Humphreys

Ceist:

384. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan can expect a decision on a disability allowance appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1420/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that a reply will issue to the person concerned in respect of his appeal within two weeks.

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.

Employment Support Services

Ceisteanna (385, 386)

Robert Dowds

Ceist:

385. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection the type of work to be done under the new Intreo scheme. [1424/14]

Robert Dowds

Ceist:

386. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection the way the Intreo programme is being rolled out across the country. [1425/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 385 and 386 together.

The delivery of the Intreo service comprises a number of elements. The main elements being:

(i) The integration of the various welfare decision making processes to speed up decision making and minimise recourse to supplementary welfare payments.

(ii) The introduction of a profiling process to capture the unique characteristics and service requirements of each jobseeker.

(iii) The implementation of a systematic group activation engagement and one to one process based on clients’ profiles.

(iv) The delivery of a ‘one-stop-shop’ service from an integrated office location.

Elements (i) to (iii) are being rolled out, and are already in place in nearly all offices.

The delivery of over 60 One-Stop-Shop Intreo Offices is a major property project for the the Office of Public Works which is responsible for the provision of the Department’s property requirements, including refurbishment and fit out works.

The Intreo Project requires the acquisition and development of some new properties and the re-modelling and refurbishment of others. All of this also entails the re-accommodation of staff including the transfer and set-up of IT, furniture and other utilities across multiple locations.

Notwithstanding the complexity of such a large property programme, the Intreo service is fully operational in forty three offices and the Department is working with the OPW towards a target of completing the roll-out of the Intreo service to all offices by the end of 2014.

Disability Allowance Appeals

Ceisteanna (387)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

387. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in respect of a disability allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon. [1489/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

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 16th October 2013. Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of an Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed in the light of additional evidence or new facts.

I am advised that the person concerned submitted additional evidence and that the Appeals Officer agreed to review the case. This review is now complete and the Appeals Officer upheld his original decision to disallow the appeal. The person concerned was notified in writing on 8th January 2014 of the outcome of his review.

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 Allowance Appeals

Ceisteanna (388)

Heather Humphreys

Ceist:

388. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on a jobseeker's allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1500/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that a reply will issue to the person concerned in respect of her appeal within two weeks.

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.

Pension Provisions

Ceisteanna (389)

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

389. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if, in the event that the provisions of the Social Protection and Pensions (No. 2) Act 2013 result in a more favourable outcome for members of a scheme which previously had a section 50 approved by the Pensions Board, she envisages that the legislation can now be applied to those scheme members; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1522/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2013 amended section 50 of the Act to broaden the options available to the trustees of a pension scheme when considering a restructure of scheme benefits. Prior to this change, a restructure of pension benefits under section 50 applied to the benefits of current and former scheme members and to post retirement increases in benefits. The recent changes to the Pensions Act extend these categories of benefits to include a portion of pensioner benefits and will apply to a pension scheme which restructures scheme benefits after the 25th December 2013.

The provisions of section 50 of the Act only apply where a scheme fails to comply with pension scheme funding requirements. In those circumstances a scheme can apply to the Board to issue a notice to restructure scheme benefits once the trustees of the scheme comply with the requirements attaching to such an application.

The Board will assess any applications having regard to the requirements that include a comprehensive review of the scheme with a view to its long term stability and sustainability, engagement with the employer in relation to contributions to the scheme and the notification of all members, including pensioners, of the circumstances giving rise to the proposed application and the reasons why the trustees believe an application is in compliance with their fiduciary duties.