Wednesday, 30 Apr 2014

Written Answers Nos. 314-29

Disability Allowance Appeals

Ceisteanna (314)

John McGuinness

Ceist:

314. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if disability allowance now under appeal will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [18789/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that there is no trace of an appeal in respect of the person concerned.

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

One-Parent Family Payment Eligibility

Ceisteanna (315)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

315. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the provision likely to be made for the payment of one-parent family allowance which has been discontinued in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18794/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The one parent family payment of the person concerned was suspended as the Department became aware that she was no longer at her address. The person concerned should provide proof of her current address or it is open to her to contact the Community Welfare Service of this Department to discuss her circumstances.

Rent Supplement Scheme Payments

Ceisteanna (316)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

316. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the maximum allowable rent and rent support in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare in view of the fact that their rent has been increased to €950 per month; if cognisance is taken of the fact that there is a dearth of suitable accommodation in such circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18795/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

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 80,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €403 million for 2013.

Revised rent limits under the rent supplement scheme came into force with effect from Monday 17 June 2013 and will be in place until 31 December 2014. These rent limits were determined following an extensive review of the private rental market based on the most up-to-date data available. The Department currently funds up to 30% of the private rented sector so it is essential that the rent limits are kept under review. The new rent limits have been set using the 35th percentile ensuring that sufficient housing is available for recipients of the scheme.

As existing claims come up for review, or when an existing lease expires, they are reassessed using the new limits. Where a rent is above the maximum limit the customer is asked to renegotiate the rent with their landlord. Departmental guidelines on rent supplement states that where negotiation with the landlord fails then rent supplement may continue to be paid for a period of up to thirteen weeks at the higher rate. Following this the tenant will be expected to find suitable accommodation at below the limits in force.

Based on this client’s personal circumstances and income, the maximum monthly rent limit applicable in this case is €750 per month in this area. The rent supplement in payment is at the rate of €611.40, which is this rate less the personal contribution applicable.

Question No. 317 answered with Question No. 307.

Social Welfare Payments Administration

Ceisteanna (318)

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

318. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details on the number of social welfare payments made through Lettermacaward Post Office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18822/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The volume of social welfare payments cashed by Lettermacaward, Post Office, Co. Donegal, for each of the last four years and for the first three months of this year are set out in the following table.

Period	PO code (Lettermacaward)	Volume of transactions
1 Jan to 31 Dec 2010	GROF 002447	9,376
1 Jan to 31 Dec 2011	GROF 002447	9,463
1 Jan to 31 Dec 2012	GROF 002447	9,516
1 Jan to 31 Dec 2013	GROF 002447	9,879
1 Jan to 31 Mar 2014	GROF 002447	2,465

Registration of Deaths

Ceisteanna (319)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

319. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of stillbirths recorded at the Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths in each year since 1995 and the number of stillbirths recorded in County Laois for each year since 1995. [18823/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The following information has been supplied by the General Register Office in relation to the number of stillbirths registered since 1995.

The number of stillbirths registered in the state from 1995 to 2013 is set out as follows:

Total No. of Stillbirths Registered since 1995	7,673
Year Registered	Total
2013	278
2012	281
2011	325
2010	320
2009	335
2008	350
2007	322
2006	271
2005	325
2004	390
2003	381
2002	423
2001	384
2000	432
1999	388
1998	446
1997	463
1996	502
1995	1,057

The number of stillbirths registered in Co. Laois from 1995 to 2013 is set out as follows:

Total No. of Stillbirths Registered in Co. Laois since 1995	190
Breakdown by Year Registered	Total
2013	4
2012	1
2011	8
2010	5
2009	11
2008	7
2007	3
2006	3
2005	7
2004	13
2003	10
2002	7
2001	19
2000	9
1999	10
1998	14
1997	15
1996	16
1995	28

Disability Allowance Appeals

Ceisteanna (320)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

320. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the specific date when an oral hearing will be scheduled in respect of a disability allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13. [18825/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to convene an oral hearing in this case.

While no date has been set for the oral hearing, I am advised that the person concerned will be notified of the arrangements for the oral hearing within the next week.

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. 321 withdrawn.

Disability Allowance Appeals

Ceisteanna (322)

John McGuinness

Ceist:

322. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a disability allowance will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow. [18833/14]

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 10 March 2014. 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 2 April 2014 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.

Question No. 323 withdrawn.

National Internship Scheme Funding

Ceisteanna (324, 325, 326, 327, 328, 329)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

324. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the annual budget of the JobBridge programme in 2011, 2012 and 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18846/14]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

325. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details on the number of JobBridge interns who have commenced their third internship since the recent rule changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18847/14]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

326. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the rules and timelines with regard to the cooling off period for host organisations participating in the JobBridge programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18848/14]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

327. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of the number of times the cooling off period has been reduced or waived since the commencement of the scheme; if she will provide a summary of the various reasons such action was taken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18849/14]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

328. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of online monthly compliance reports which were due in January 2014 from host organisations participating in the JobBridge scheme; the number of online monthly compliance reports which were received on time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18850/14]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

329. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the action her Department takes concerning host organisations which do not complete the online monthly compliance reports as required and on time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18851/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 324 to 329, inclusive, together.

The annual Budget for JobBridge in 2011, 2012 and 2013, as voted by the Oireachtas, was €20 million, €65.8 million, and €81.8 million, respectively.

54 individuals have started a third internship since the rules were changed last September. The change was made in response both to the recommendations of the independent evaluation of JobBridge and to the requests of individual jobseekers. The change facilitates a small number of jobseekers who consider that a further internship meets their own needs and improves their employability.

A host organisation may not, for a period of six months, take on another JobBridge intern in the same position as their previous JobBridge intern, except where the previous intern has moved directly into paid employment, either with the host organisation or another employer.

The Department will write directly to the Deputy as soon as possible with the following information which it is currently collating:

- details of the number of occasions on which the cooling-off period has been reduced or waived and summary of the reasons for such action; and

- the number of monthly online compliance reports due in January, 2014, and those that were submitted on time.

Where a host organisation does not complete the monthly online compliance on time a weekly reminder is sent to the host organisation. On the fourth week of non-compliance an e-mail is sent to the host organisation, and a text message is sent to the intern, to notify the host organisation that the compliance must be completed and that the internship may be ended if the report is not completed. Following the final reminder an officer of the Department contacts the host organisation to investigate the non-compliance. In cases of serious breach, the host organisation can be excluded from future participation in the scheme.