Terence Flanagan
Ceist:108. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to extend the fuel allowance scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21908/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFuel Allowance Eligibility
Ceisteanna (108)
Freagraí scríofa
Some 410,000 customers have received the fuel allowance of €20 per week for 26 weeks from October to April, at an estimated cost of €208 million in 2014. The allowance is subject to a means test and is paid only to those who live alone or with certain exempted people.
The electricity or gas allowance of €35 per month is also paid to 410,000 customers at an estimated cost of €230 million in 2014. This allowance is subject to a means test for those aged under 70 and is also paid only to those who live alone or with certain exempted people.
In addition, a person living alone and in receipt of a pension, a widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner’s payment or a disability payment from the Department may be entitled to the living alone allowance of €7.70 per week.
The person referred to by the Deputy is in receipt of the household benefits package and living alone allowance. She is not eligible for the fuel allowance as her means are in excess of the qualifying limits provided.
I am not in a position to extend the criteria for these schemes or the current value of the allowances.
It is recognised in the Government’s Energy Affordability Strategy that the best way to tackle fuel poverty in the long term is to improve the energy efficiency of the dwelling. The Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to low income households vulnerable to energy poverty. Measures available include draught proofing, attic insulation, lagging jackets for hot water tanks, low energy light bulbs and cavity wall insulation, and are free of charge to the customer.
After-School Support Services
Ceisteanna (109)
Thomas P. Broughan
Ceist:109. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the way officials in her Department identify persons suitable for the after school childcare initiative; the way the initiative is promoted to those potentially suitable for the scheme; and the reason there has been a very low take up of the initiative with only 42 children currently availing of the initiative despite 6,000 places potentially having been made available by her Department in conjunction with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. [21922/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The after-school child care scheme (ASCC) is a self-selecting scheme and is available nationwide in all the Intreo and Social Welfare Local Offices. Information on ASCC is provided in advance to jobseekers at various points during their engagement with the Department and other organisations. Examples include the following;
- Group Engagement;
- Signing or making new claim (e.g. posters/leaflets in the office);
- Meeting with Case Officers (activation or walk-in);
- On request from client;
- Childcare providers;
- County Childcare Committees.
All staff in the Department’s local offices are aware of the supports available through this scheme and there are designated officers within each office to advise customers of their eligibility for the scheme and to take them through the application process. The Department is also in regular contact with lone parent and unemployed advocacy groups, all of whom have been informed of the scheme.
There are a number of possible reasons for the low take up of the scheme to date. The scheme is still a pilot and is the first scheme of its type provided by the Department in conjunction with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA). It is being continuously reviewed based on feedback from the local offices, customers and childcare providers. One of the original drivers for the introduction of the scheme was to assist lone parents, who were due to lose entitlement to one parent family payment on foot of the age reduction reforms, to make the transition to a jobseeker’s scheme and hopefully to employment. In order to address the caring responsibilities of this group of customers the jobseeker’s transition arrangement was introduced. This in effect allows these customers to work part time while their children are in school and still receive a jobseeker’s payment subject to them satisfying the jobseeker’s allowance means. The introduction of this arrangement is likely to have significantly reduced the need for childcare from this cohort thereby reducing the demand for the ASCC childcare places.
Many parents may have a preference for other family members or for friends to provide childcare to their children rather than seeking to place their children into the care of a community or private crèche.
Finally, the scheme is aimed at supporting customers into employment and so take-up is directly linked to the availability of suitable employment opportunities.
The scheme was funded from savings of €14 million from the Department. Due to the low take up of places the €14 million funding has been re-focused for 2014 to support customers on community employment (CE) programmes via the childcare education and training scheme (CETS).
The €14 million budget has been re-allocated in 2014 as follows:
|
Expansion of CETS to CE participants |
€7.5m (approx. 1,800 places) |
|
Afterschool childcare scheme |
€2m (approx. 800 places) |
|
Quality improvements initiatives – Dept. of Children and Youth Affairs |
€4.5m |
|
Total |
€14m |
The afterschool childcare scheme is available nationally in 2014 with funding of €2 million ring-fenced for these customers. The scheme including the allocation of places and funding, will continue be monitored and reviewed during 2014.
Social Welfare Appeals Delays
Ceisteanna (110)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:110. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) who has been refused unemployment assistance on the basis that their parents income has been repeatedly incorrectly assessed and on that basis the application has been rejected, the waiting time for an appeal of this decision could take up to a full year; if his attention has been drawn to such cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21928/14]
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.
With regard to the waiting time involved in determining the appeal of the person concerned, I am advised that the Deciding Officer, in making the appeal submission to the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 16 April 2013, explained that the Department had made significant ongoing efforts between December 2012 and March 2014 to obtain information from the person concerned relating to his father’s income from self-employment and that this information was eventually provided on 7 April 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.
Invalidity Pension Appeals
Ceisteanna (111)
Michael McCarthy
Ceist:111. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an invalidity pension appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; when a decision will issue on same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21956/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 15 April 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.
Disability Allowance Payments
Ceisteanna (112)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:112. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when payment will be approved in respect of appeal for disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21982/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 15 April 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.
Rent Supplement Scheme Payments
Ceisteanna (113, 120, 122)
Dara Calleary
Ceist:113. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider increasing the rate of rent supplement to reflect the rising cost of rents; her views that families are struggling to meet their accommodation costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21984/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:120. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to review the rent allowance limits for rent supplement in view of the increasing level of rents nationwide and, in particular, in and adjacent to Galway, and the difficulty tenants are facing renting suitable accommodation within the rent allowance guidelines; when this review will take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22042/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Brendan Smith
Ceist:122. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the proposals she has to increase the level of rent supplement where particular difficulties are arising for families due to increased rents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22048/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 113, 120 and 122 together.
The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term income support to assist with reasonable accommodation costs of eligible people living in private rented accommodation who are unable to provide for their accommodation costs from their own resources. The overall aim is to provide short term assistance, and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes operated by the Exchequer. There are currently approximately 77,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014. The Department continues to monitor trends in the private rental market to determine the impact on rent supplement recipients. Following the most recent review of the private rental market revised maximum rent limits were introduced from Monday 17 June 2013 until 31 December 2014. Despite the overall pressures on the social protection budget, there were increases in the rent limits in Dublin, Galway, North Kildare and Bray areas.
Any further changes to the rent limits would have to be considered in a budgetary context. A full rent limit review will be commenced shortly and will be completed in time to feed into the budgetary process.
All prospective tenants, including those seeking to access rent supplement, are now finding it increasingly difficult to secure appropriate accommodation due to the reduced availability of rental properties. The market shows no sign of stabilising and increasing the maximum rent limits for rent supplement will not resolve the current difficulties, due to the reduced level of supply, and would result in further increases in rental costs for all persons renting including those on reduced incomes and students.
The Community Welfare Service of the Department, including through its work in the Homeless Persons Unit and the Asylum Seekers & New Communities Unit, works closely with local authorities and other stakeholders to facilitate homeless persons to access private rented accommodation. This ensures that where possible, people are diverted away from homeless services and towards community-based supports. Department officials have discretionary powers to award a supplement where it appears that the circumstances of the case so warrant and is of an exceptional nature.
In addition and in view of the current supply difficulties, the Dublin local authorities are currently engaging with the Department in finalising a further interagency intervention system to identify vulnerable families who are in receipt of rent supplement and at risk of becoming homeless due to the imminent loss of their tenancy to ensure that the necessary supports can be put in place. These cases will be assessed on an individual basis having regard to the individual circumstances and families requiring additional support will receive the necessary assistance, financial or otherwise.
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 are working closely with those in the lead Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, in piloting HAP in Limerick City and County Council with further roll out to a further six selected local authorities during the year.
Disability Allowance Appeals
Ceisteanna (114)
Michael Ring
Ceist:114. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be informed of the outcome of their disability allowance appeal in view of the fact that they attended an oral hearing on 4 April 2014. [21985/14]
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 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.
Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility
Ceisteanna (115)
Michael Ring
Ceist:115. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons in voluntary-sheltered housing may qualify for rent supplement from her Department under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. [21986/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term income support to assist with reasonable accommodation costs of eligible people living in private rented accommodation who are unable to provide for their accommodation costs from their own resources. The overall aim is to provide short term assistance, and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes operated by the Exchequer. There are currently approximately 77,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014.
Persons in voluntary or sheltered housing are not excluded from rent supplement.
At the time of application for a rent supplement, the claimant must:
- have been residing in private rented accommodation (where at the commencement of the tenancy the person could have reasonably afforded the rent and has experienced a substantial change in his or her circumstances where they are now unable to pay the rent) or accommodation for homeless persons or in an institution (or any combination of these) for a period of 183 days within the preceding 12 months of the date of claim for rent supplement; or
- have had an assessment of housing need carried out within the 12 months preceding the date of claim and have been deemed to be eligible for and in need of social housing support.
In all other cases, a person who wishes to apply for rent supplement will be referred, in the first instance, for an assessment of eligibility for social housing support by a housing authority. Only when the person has been assessed as being eligible for and in need of social housing support, does the person become eligible for consideration for rent supplement.
Under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS), voluntary housing bodies provide accommodation to meet special housing needs such as those of the elderly, people with a disability or homeless. The approved voluntary housing bodies are responsible for tenancy allocations in consultation with the local authorities. Where the person beneficially entitled to the rent payable under the tenancy is an approved body in receipt of assistance under the CAS scheme, the maximum weekly amount of rent supplement payable is €55 in respect of a single person and €60 in respect of a couple.
Question No. 116 withdrawn.
Back to Education Allowance Eligibility
Ceisteanna (117)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:117. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the back to education allowance is not available to mature students who have become unemployed and who seek to reskill by doing a primary degree and then wish to continue to a masters; if there is any other support available for such students from her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22008/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Post-graduate courses that lead to a higher diploma in any discipline or the professional diploma in education (PDE) are the only eligible post-graduate courses supported under the back to education allowance programme (BTE). The professional masters in education (PME) will replace the current PDE from September 2014 and eligibility will be extended to this.
Other postgraduate qualifications (level 9 or level 10) including a masters qualification are not currently included. The focus of BTE is on providing income support to jobseekers in improving their education qualifications to access the labour market, meeting emerging skill needs and supporting those who have poor levels of educational attainment. Some €183m will be expended under BTEA in 2014 supporting around 25,000 jobseekers.
BTE is not intended to be an alternative form of funding for people entering or re-entering the third level education system. This Department does not offer specific supports for students pursuing third level qualifications outside of the BTE. The principal support towards full-time courses, in financial terms, is provided for under the student grant scheme administered by the Department of Education & Skills, which makes available means-tested financial assistance to eligible students in both further and higher education.
Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications
Ceisteanna (118, 128)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:118. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has ordered a review into all cases where domiciliary care allowance has been refused in view of the recent High Court judgment by Mr. Justice Barrett; if she has made contact with all persons refused informing them that they may reapply for the allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22026/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraCatherine Murphy
Ceist:128. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the manner by which departmental medical assessors make determinations for illness-based or other similar allowances in view of the recent Barrett judgment; if she will take steps to make it easier for medical practitioners to communicate the exact details of a case to medical assessors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22103/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 128 together.
The Judgement to which the Deputy refers, involved a challenge by a claimant in regard to the process involved in determining eligibility on her claim for domiciliary care allowance (DCA). The Department has decided to appeal the Judgement to the Supreme Court.
The Department is examining the issues arising from the Judgement and is reviewing its decision making procedures on schemes where there are medical or care requirements and have sought legal advice in relation to this.