Written Answers Nos. 330-349
330. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons aged 18-24 years who have participated in the JobBridge programme to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18852/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra331. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons aged 18-24 years who have participated in the JobBridge programme to date and who did not complete the full duration on the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18853/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra332. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons aged 18-24 years who have participated in the JobBridge programme to date and who have completed the full duration on the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18854/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra333. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons aged 18-29 years who have participated in the JobBridge programme to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18855/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra334. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons aged 18-29 years who have participated in the JobBridge programme to date and who did not complete the full duration on the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18856/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra335. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons aged 18-29 years who have participated in the JobBridge programme to date and who have completed the full duration on the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18857/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 330 to 335, inclusive, together.
As at 28 April, 2014, 8,020 JobBridge interns were aged under 25 years, of whom 3,410 finished early, 2,751 finished in full, and 1,859 were currently on an internship.
Regarding those who finished early, it should be noted that a high proportion of each cohort finish early to move directly into employment.
According to the independent evaluation of JobBridge, participation in JobBridge by those under 25 and under 35 exceeds their proportion of the Live Register. The independent evaluation found that 28.4% of JobBridge interns were under 25, while they made up 17.1% of the Live Register and 45.1% of interns were between 25 and 34 years, while they made up 30.2% of the Live Register. This reflects the appeal of a JobBridge internship for those seeking to broaden their skills base, enhance their real workplace experience and add to their CV.
The Department does not keep records on the number of interns aged between 18-29 years as a separate cohort. However, as at 28 April, 2014, 12,304 JobBridge interns were aged between 25 and 34 years, of whom 4,978 finished early, 4,583 finished in full, and 2,747 were currently on an internship.
336. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details on jobBridge for disadvantaged youth referred to in the Irish youth guarantee plan published on 29 January 2014; the way this scheme will operate; when the scheme will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18858/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra342. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are any exemptions whereby a person can apply for employment through JobBridge without having the qualifying criteria of being in receipt of a social welfare payment; the reason for not being in receipt of a social welfare payment is due to the fact that the applicant is living at home with their parents, as all jobs they have applied for are either through internships or JobBridge, therefore ruling the applicant out of employment opportunities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19006/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra382. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons undertaking internships as part of the JobBridge programme in the years 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19534/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra383. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons undertaking internships as part of the work placement programme in the years 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014. [19535/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 336, 342, 382 and 383 together.
Under the Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan, the Department is developing a variant of the JobBridge scheme for the most disadvantaged young people in the 18-25 age bracket who have been identified as having significant barriers to gaining employment. Under this measure, employers will be asked to make work experience places available for young people aged 18 to 25 with low levels of educational attainment, long periods of unemployment and other barriers to employment. It is proposed that, at any one time, 1,500 young people will have access to this variant of the JobBridge internship.
Suitable candidates who would benefit most from this supported intervention will be selected and referred to the scheme by the Department. Young people who participate in the scheme will receive a €50 top-up to their welfare payment for the duration of their participation.
The participation of clients, once referred, will be non-discretionary and the penalty-rate process will be triggered in respect of any jobseeker who fails to participate in the scheme in accordance with the activation process applicable to them. It is envisaged that this measure will commence during Summer 2014. The existing JobBridge Scheme will remain as is with no change, and will continue to be voluntary.
Eligibility for JobBridge is restricted to those in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobseeker's Benefit, Single Parent Family Payment, Disability Allowance or who are signing for credits for 3 months (78 days) out of the previous 6 months.
13,232 individuals had commenced JobBridge internships by end 2012. A further 11,378 individuals commenced internships in 2013, and a further 3,638 individuals commenced internships in 2014 to 24 April, 2014.
363, 141 and 23 individuals commenced a work placement programme (WPP) in 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively. As at 28 April 2014, 60 participants were participating on the programme.
338. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow. [18871/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra369. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an appeal for invalidity pension will be expedited in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow. [19408/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 338 and 369 together.
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, including that adduced at the oral hearing has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned. 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.
339. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if one parent family allowance or equivalent by way of basic social welfare payment will be approved in the interim in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18949/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no record of an application from the person concerned for either One-Parent Family Payment or Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance. If the person concerned wishes to apply for either payment, she must complete the necessary application form and her application will be assessed in the normal manner.
340. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a domiciliary care allowance application will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18979/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing in this case on the 6 May 2014. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the 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.
341. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a domiciliary care allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18983/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 28 March 2014, 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.
343. Deputy Helen McEntee asked the Minister for Social Protection when she expects the pension charges working group, set up to initiate actions that followed up on the report on pension charges will be established; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19011/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Report on Pension Charges 2012 was undertaken by my Department, working with the Central Bank and the Pensions Authority, and with support from PWC. The primary objective of the report was to gather information on pension charges levied, to assess whether these charges are reasonable and transparent, to report on the findings and to make recommendations. The report highlights a wide range of issues in relation to pension charges and identifies that there are major challenges to be addressed in the two main areas of reasonableness and transparency of charges.
The launch of the Report on Pension Charges was followed by a three month consultation with stakeholders. There was a broad range of views expressed in the submissions received as well as a range of suggestions and proposals aimed at improving various aspects of the pension charging environment. Following the consultation period, it was agreed by Government in April 2013 that the recommendations contained in the report will be implemented.
A Pension Charges Working Group was established in April 2013 to initiate actions that follow up on the recommendations of the report. This group comprises the Department of Social Protection, the Pensions Authority and the Central Bank. Each has a core role to play in delivering on the recommendations contained within the Report on Pension Charges and work is progressing in this regard.
In addition, progress on the issue of pension charges will be supported by recent actions to restructure the Pensions Authority and strengthen governance and regulation of the country’s occupational pensions and give consumer representatives a greater input into pensions policy. I have highlighted that the first task of the new Pensions Council will be to monitor the implementation of the recommendations in the Report on Pension Charges and advise if further actions are needed.
345. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of the changes she has made to the means testing of the rural social scheme and farm assist schemes since coming in to office; the annual savings arising from these changes for each scheme; the extra incentive created by these changes for farmers to produce more produce, in line with Food Harvest 2020, as a result of these changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19032/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the rural social scheme (RSS) provides income support for farmers and those engaged in fishing who have an entitlement to specified social welfare payments. There has been no change in the qualifying criteria for eligibility to participate on the RSS. All new entrants to the scheme from 17 September 2012 are paid the equivalent of their existing rate of social welfare payment plus €20 per week, subject to a minimum weekly payment of €208. These changes bring the payment rates in line with other similar schemes, such as community employment and Tús, and removed the anomaly whereby a person with a low value of farm assist payment as a result of high means was remunerated disproportionally when engaged on the RSS. Since September 2012, approximately 240 positions on the RSS and have been filled with estimated savings of approximately €10,000 to date as a result of the changes outlined above.
In relation to Farm Assist, changes were introduced in Budget 2012. The amount of means from self-employment which is assessed against the claim was increased from 70% to 85%. In addition, the means testing disregards for child dependents of claimants was halved from €254.00 to €127.00 per year for each of the first two dependent children and from €381.00 to €190.50 per year for each subsequent child. The savings from both these measures were approximately €5.15m in 2012, and in each subsequent full year. In Budget 2013 the rate of assessment of means from self-employment, including farming, was raised from 85% to 100%. The deductions from income for children were discontinued. The expected savings were approximately €3.75m in 2013 and €5m in each subsequent full year.
My Department has no information regarding farming productivity. This is a matter for my colleague, Simon Coveney, T.D., Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
346. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the annual saving being achieved in 2014 arising from the reduction in payment of State pension to persons who do not have an average of 48 contributions per annum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19033/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State pension is a very valuable benefit and is the bedrock of the Irish pension system. Therefore, it is important to ensure that those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund over their working lives.
As provided for in Budget 2012, from September 2012, new rate bands for State pension were introduced. These additional payment rate bands more accurately reflect the social insurance history of a person and ensure that those who contribute more during a working life benefit more in retirement than those with lesser contributions.
The Exchequer savings arising are estimated to be in the region of €5 million for 2014. However, it is expected that this will increase over time, as the provisions are applied to new pensioners entering the system.
