Wednesday, 16 Jul 2014

Written Answers Nos. 135 - 140

JobsPlus Scheme

Ceisteanna (135)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

135. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of participants on the JobBridge programme who have secured employment with the support of the JobsPlus scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31979/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

JobsPlus provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers who recruit employees from those who are long-term on the Live Register. The incentive is payable, on a monthly basis, over a two year period if the employee is retained in full-time employment for two years. JobsPlus is biased in favour of those who are longer term unemployed. The value of the aggregate monthly payments is €7,500 for employing a jobseeker 12 to 24 months on the Live Register and €10,000 if the jobseeker was on the Live Register for over 24 months.

Since its launch in July 2013 to the end of June 2014, JobsPlus has supported 2,634 jobseekers in full-time employment with 2,007 employers nationally. Some 60% of jobseekers being supported on JobsPlus had been on the Live Register for over 24 months at the time of recruitment. Of the 2,634 jobseekers supported at the end of June, approximately 280 or 10.5% had previously participated in JobBridge. Payments to employers in the six months to the end of June 2014 have amounted to just over €4.4 million. Overall, payments to employers have amounted to €5.5 million since the first payments were made in August 2013.

Youth Unemployment Data

Ceisteanna (136)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

136. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the breakdown of the percentage of young persons under 25 in the low, medium and high PEX, probability of exit, category since the introduction of the Intreo registration process arising from pathways to work in 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31980/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The following table shows a breakdown of the percentage of young persons under 25 in each PEX category since the commencement of profiling up to the end of June 2014.

PEX Categories	Low	Medium	High	Total
Percentage of clients Under 25	19%	71%	10%	100%

Unemployment Data

Ceisteanna (137)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

137. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the criteria used by her officials to determine the PEX, probability of exit, category for jobseekers; if the criteria is solely based on the details in the JCP-B form used by her Department; or if additional criteria such as interviews with jobseekers is used to determine the PEX score; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31981/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

My Department uses a customer profiling model, developed in conjunction with the ESRI, to estimate, at the time a jobseeker claim is made, a person’s likelihood of exiting the Live Register to employment within 12 months. This profiling model uses a range of characteristics and weightings applied to them. The characteristics include age, gender, marital status, education level, unemployment history, literacy and numeracy, perception of health, motivation, access to transport. Use of the model was rolled out to the Department’s offices in 2012 and 2013.

The data which makes up the characteristics is captured from a combination of information provided by the client to the Department (on UP1 – claim application form) and from a profiling questionnaire. Utilising this range of characteristics, a score or value known as a PEX (Probability of Exit) is calculated using total information from both data sources. Using the model allows the Department to engage with unemployed customers in a more focused way, targeting those who need most employment supports as early as possible. The potential benefits from this approach include reduction in the length of time a person is unemployed, improving the possibility of obtaining sustainable employment and not returning to unemployment in the future and preventing long-term unemployment, thus avoiding the social, financial, health and other associated impacts.

Departmental Staff Data

Ceisteanna (138)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

138. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the total number of case officers in the public employment service; the number of case officers attached to each social protection office or Intreo office here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31982/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

Case officers employed by my Department deliver activation and case management services through Intreo centres and through the network of Departmental offices which are currently transitioning to a full Intreo service. Case officers generally work in teams dedicated to activating clients and supporting them in various ways in their efforts to regain employment. The team-based approach helps to maximise efficiency and effectiveness and to ensure that a streamlined service is provided to jobseeker clients.

The total number of staff dedicated to providing activation and case management support services is currently 538 (Whole-Time Equivalents), not including clerical support. This number is subject to change over time as staff retire, are re-assigned, promoted etc. and is kept under review. In common with all Government Departments, this Department must operate within an Employment Control Framework target, set by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and, within this, activation and control functions are prioritised as resources allow.

The Local Employment Service, which the Department contracts annually, supplements its own employment service provision and provides vocational guidance, employment supports and mediation to jobseekers and others. In the region of 160 mediators are currently employed by 21 Local Development Companies and 1 Community Group as part of the contractual arrangements in place with the Department.

Social Welfare Benefits Data

Ceisteanna (139)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

139. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years who are signing on the live register for jobseeker's allowance; jobseeker's benefit and for credits only, on a county basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31983/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the following table.

County	Scheme	Under 25 years	25 years and Over	Totals
Carlow	Jobseeker’s Allowance	1,102	4,305	5,407
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit	50	742	792
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit Credits	8	432	440
-	Totals	1,160	5,479	6,639
Cavan	Jobseeker’s Allowance	1,135	4,337	5,472
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit	43	674	717
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit Credits	2	475	477
-	Totals	1,180	5,486	6,666
Clare	Jobseeker’s Allowance	1,176	5,394	6,570
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit	62	1,167	1,229
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit Credits	2	916	918
-	Totals	1,240	7,477	8,717
Cork	Jobseeker’s Allowance	4,777	23,591	28,368
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit	291	5,176	5,467
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit Credits	25	3,945	3,970
-	Totals	5,093	32,712	37,805
Donegal	Jobseeker’s Allowance	3,286	12,686	15,972
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit	174	2,254	2,428
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit Credits	7	1,401	1,408
-	Totals	3,467	16,341	19,808
Dublin	Jobseeker’s Allowance	4,085	60,585	74,670
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit	32	12,689	13,521
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit Credits	64	9,220	9,284
-	Totals	4,981	82,494	97,475
Galway	Jobseeker’s Allowance	2,666	13,082	15,748
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit	175	2,715	2,890
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit Credits	7	1,801	1,808
-	Totals	2,848	17,598	20,446
Kerry	Jobseeker’s Allowance	1,766	8,690	10,456
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit	96	2,010	2,106
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit Credits	2	1,048	1,050
-	Totals	1,864	11,748	13,612
Kildare	Jobseeker’s Allowance	2,393	10,318	12,711
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit	170	2,453	2,623
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit Credits	18	1,931	1,949
-	Totals	2,581	14,702	17,283
Kilkenny	Jobseeker’s Allowance	909	4,361	5,270
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit	51	850	901
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit Credits	2	585	587
-	Totals	962	5,796	6,758
Laois	Jobseeker’s Allowance	1,416	5,479	6,895
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit	74	1,011	1,085
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit Credits	5	702	707
-	Totals	1,495	7,192	8,687
Leitrim	Jobseeker’s Allowance	431	1,887	2,318
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit	35	469	504
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit Credits	0	295	295
-	Totals	466	2,651	3,117
Limerick	Jobseeker’s Allowance	2,614	11,022	13,636
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit	119	2,228	2,347
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit Credits	7	1,250	1,257
-	Totals	2,740	14,500	17,240
Longford	Jobseeker’s Allowance	769	3,252	4,021
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit	37	437	474
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit Credits	2	297	299
-	Totals	808	3,986	4,794
Louth	Jobseeker’s Allowance	2,508	10,493	13,001
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit	104	1,833	1,937
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit Credits	8	1,108	1,116
-	Totals	2,620	13,434	16,054
Mayo	Jobseeker’s Allowance	1,608	7,553	9,161
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit	107	1,484	1,591
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit Credits	10	1,167	1,177
-	Totals	1,725	10,204	11,929
Meath	Jobseeker’s Allowance	1,399	6,056	7,455
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit	70	1,347	1,417
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit Credits	14	921	935
-	Totals	1,483	8,324	9,807
Monaghan	Jobseeker’s Allowance	776	4,064	4,840
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit	47	1,034	1,081
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit Credits	5	430	435
-	Totals	828	5,528	6,356
Offaly	Jobseeker’s Allowance	1,484	5,370	6,854
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit	66	1,061	1,127
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit Credits	13	675	688
-	Totals	1,563	7,106	8,669
Roscommon	Jobseeker’s Allowance	573	2,367	2,940
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit	29	485	514
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit Credits	4	403	407
-	Totals	606	3,255	3,861
Sligo	Jobseeker’s Allowance	781	3,162	3,943
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit	57	718	775
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit Credits	2	479	481
-	Totals	840	4,359	5,199
Tipperary	Jobseeker’s Allowance	2,475	9,392	11,867
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit	116	2,053	2,169
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit Credits	26	1,501	1,527
-	Totals	2,617	12,946	15,563
Waterford	Jobseeker’s Allowance	1,854	8,301	10,155
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit	106	1,647	1,753
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit Credits	12	1,189	1,201
-	Totals	1,972	11,137	13,109
Westmeath	Jobseeker’s Allowance	1,581	6,112	7,693
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit	80	1,249	1,329
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit Credits	6	936	942
-	Totals	1,667	8,297	9,964
Wexford	Jobseeker’s Allowance	1,958	8,161	10,119
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit	106	1,618	1,724
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit Credits	7	1,097	1,104
-	Totals	2,071	10,876	12,947
Wicklow	Jobseeker’s Allowance	2,419	10,115	12,534
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit	134	2,089	2,223
-	Jobseeker’s Benefit Credits	18	1,533	1,551
	Totals	2,571	13,737	16,308

Commencement of Legislation

Ceisteanna (140)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Ceist:

140. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form those Acts currently in force for which she has lead responsibility that have parts or sections yet to be formally commenced; the details or purpose of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32009/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

A number of provisions of the Civil Registration Act 2004, as well as a number of amendments to the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 and the Pensions Act 1990, have still to be commenced. Details of these provisions and their current status are set out in the following tables.

Uncommenced Provisions of Enactments for which

Minister for Social Protection has responsibility

Amendments to Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (SWCA 2005)

Uncommenced Provision	Description	Status
Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 - Paragraph 1 of Schedule 6 to the SW Consolidation Act 2005 - Paragraph 2 of Schedule 6 to the SW Consolidation Act 2005	Amends section 249 of the SWCA 2005 which relates to disqualification for receipt of social welfare payments while absent from the State or undergoing imprisonment. Amends various provisions of the SWCA 2005 following the introduction of the divorce legislation to enable an increase for qualified adult to be paid to a social welfare recipient in the case of more than one adult in certain circumstances.	Following a review of both of these provisions it is considered that neither of these amendments is required. Provision has been made for the deletion of both of these paragraphs in section 21 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014, which passed all stages in the Dail and Seanad on 9 July 2014.
Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2007 - Section 21(a) - Section 27	Amends section 149 of the SWCA in relation to entitlement to the Pre-Retirement Allowance where a person had previously been in receipt of Carer’s Allowance. Amends section 220 of the SWCA 2005 to enable payment of Child Benefit to be split between the child’s parents.	The necessity for this provision is currently being examined and a decision on how best to proceed will be taken following the completion of this examination. This amendment is being reviewed in the light of more recent developments in this area and a decision will be taken on its continued necessity in the light of this review.
Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2008 - Section 5 - Sections 12 to 14 - Section 17(5)	Inserts new section 8A into the SWCA 2005 to enable the transfer of social welfare pension rights to the EU Institutions pension schemes. Inserts new Chapter 5A in Part 3 of the SWCA 2005 and makes consequential amendments to the provisions of that Act to provide for the transfer of the Blind Welfare Allowance from the HSE to the Department of Social Protection. Makes provision for the treatment of outstanding claims for Domiciliary Care Allowance held by the HSE on the transfer of administrative responsibility for that scheme to the Department of Social Protection.	The provisions of section 5 of the 2008 Act were not sufficient to enable all of the measures that were required to fully comply with the provisions of EU law to be provided for in the domestic regulations. The European Communities Act 1972 contains sufficient enabling powers and the required regulations - the European Union (Transfer of Pension Rights to and from Pension Scheme of European Union’s Institutions) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 153 of 2014) - were made under the powers contained in that Act. Section 5 of the 2008 Act is accordingly, being deleted by section 21 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014.    This provision will be commenced as soon as the necessary administrative arrangements have been agreed with the HSE and Department of Health. The necessity for this provision is currently being examined and a decision on how best to proceed will be taken following this review.
Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2010 - Section 3 - Section 6 - Section 14	Inserts new section 296A into the SWCA 2005 and makes consequential amendments to the provisions of that Act to clarify the rules relating to which parent a child will normally be regarded as residing with for social welfare payment purposes. Amends section 40 of the SWCA 2005 to enable claims for Illness Benefit to be processed in the event of the outbreak of a flu pandemic. Amends section 220 of the SWCA 2005 to clarify the rules relating to which parent a child will normally be regarded as residing with for Child Benefit purposes.	This amendment is being reviewed in the light of more recent developments in this area and a decision will be taken on its continued necessity in the light of this review. This provision will be commenced if the need arises. This amendment is being reviewed in the light of more recent developments in this area and a decision will be taken on its continued necessity in the light of this review.
Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 - Section 7(1) - Section 7(3)	Provides for an increase in pensionable age for State pension purposes from 66 to 67 years Provides for an increase in pensionable age for State pension purposes from 67 to 68 years	Comes into operation on 1 January 2021 Comes into operation on 1 January 2028
Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2013 - Section 13 - Section 14	Inserts new Part 11B into SWCA 2005 to provide for the recovery of the value of certain illness-related social welfare payments from compensation awards made to persons as a consequence of personal injuries claims. Provides for a related amendment to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board Act 2003.	Sections 13 and 14 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2013 to be commenced with effect from 1 August 2014 by the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2013 (Sections 13 and 14) (Commencement) Order 2014 (S.I. No. 308 of 2014).
Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014 - Section 6 - Section 9 - Section 10	Clarifies the powers contained in section 36 of the SWCA 2005 enabling the Minister for Social Protection to make regulations providing for refunds of employer PRSI contributions in the case of certain seafarers. Clarifies the provisions contained in Part 6 of the SWCA 2005 in relation to entitlement to family income supplement (FIS) in cases where the claimant is living apart from his or her spouse or civil partner and children. Clarifies the provisions contained in Part 6 of the SWCA 2005 relating to the impact of a change of circumstances on continuing entitlement to FIS during the 52 week entitlement period and on the weekly rate of FIS payable during that period.	Section 6 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014 is due to come into operation on 1 January 2015. It is expected that the provisions of sections 9 and 10 will be commenced in the coming months.

Amendments to Pensions Act 1990

Uncommenced Provision	Description	Status
Pensions (Amendment) Act 2002 - Section 3 - Section 39	Inserts new Part X (sections 91 to 125) into the Pensions Act 1990, which provides for the establishment of Personal Retirement Savings Accounts (PRSAs).  Part X has been commenced with the exception of section 122, which provides for the replacement of buy-out bonds with PRSAs. A buy-out-bond is a pension bond into which persons can transfer the value of their fund if they leave their employment/ pension scheme. Inserts new section 56A into the Pensions Act 1990 to provide for the consideration of index-linked increases in the rates payable in Defined Benefit pension schemes	Originally, the intention was that new buy-out bonds would cease when PRSAs became available. However, it is considered that buy-out bonds will be required in the short to medium term. The situation will be kept under review in consultation with the Pensions Authority. This provision does not require that indexation be introduced, only that it be examined. The situation will be kept under review in consultation with the Pensions Authority.

Uncommenced provisions of Civil Registration Act 2004

Uncommenced Provision	Description	Status
- Section 4 and the Second Schedule - Sections 13(1)(f) and (g) - Part 7 (section 59) - Section 73	Repeal various enactments dealing with civil registration matters prior to the enactment of the Civil Registration Act 2004 Provide for the establishment and maintenance of a register of all decrees of divorce and all decrees of nullity of marriage Provides for the registration of decrees of divorce and decrees of nullity of marriage Provides for the compilation and publication of statistics relating to events registered under the Act.	Section 4 and the Second Schedule have been commenced, except in so far as they relate to the repeal of the Vital Statistics and Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1952.  The repeal of the 1952 Act has been examined in the context of the commencement of section 73 of the Civil Registration Act 2004 – see section 73 below. Commencement of these provisions is not currently being proposed for financial and operational reasons. Commencement of this Part is not currently being proposed for financial and operational reasons. Section 73 of the Civil Registration Act 2004 mirrors the provisions contained in the Vital Statistics and Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1952.  In order to facilitate the commencement of section 73 it is necessary to strengthen certain data sharing provisions. This is provided for in section 24 of the Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014, which was published on 10 July 2014.  Section 73 and section 4, in so far as it relates to the repeal of the Vital Statistics and Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1952, will be commenced following the enactment of the Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014.