Written Answers Nos. 172-189
172. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the review of the free travel pass scheme; the annual expenditure on the scheme since 2011; those in possession of free travel passes since 2011 broken down in tabular form under categories FT-P, FT+S and FT+C; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40234/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for approximately 800,000 people, elderly, disabled and carers. Funding for the free travel scheme was capped by the previous Government in the National Recovery Plan 2011-2014. Given the increasing number of recipients and the funding pressures, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and I established an interdepartmental working group to examine and report on the current operation and future development of the free travel scheme. I expect to receive the final draft of the review shortly. The Government made clear in the “Statement of Government Priorities, 2014-2016” that it is committed to the full retention of the Free Travel Scheme.
The data requested is set out as follows:
|
Year |
Free Travel Expenditure (€000) |
|
2011 |
75,597 |
|
2012 |
75,518 |
|
2013 |
75,477 |
|
- |
2014 (September) |
|
FT Pass type |
|
|
Married |
394,426 |
|
Companion |
103,519 |
|
Single |
307,737 |
|
Total |
805,682 |
|
- |
2013 |
|
FT Pass type |
- |
|
Married |
383,332 |
|
Companion |
95,357 |
|
Single |
303,840 |
|
Total |
782,529 |
|
- |
2012 |
|
FT Pass type |
- |
|
Married |
366,536 |
|
Companion |
88,202 |
|
Single |
299,993 |
|
Total |
754,731 |
|
- |
2011 |
|
FT Pass type |
- |
|
Married |
347,388 |
|
Companion |
84,745 |
|
Single |
294,279 |
|
Total |
726,412 |
173. Deputy John Halligan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on making a provision for the backdating of credits for women who took time out from the workforce prior to 1994 - when the homemaker scheme was introduced - to raise their families in order to enable those women to accumulate the required 520 contributions to qualify for the full State pension; the number of women that would be affected by this backdating; her views that this will have a very serious impact on these women's retirement income; the cost to the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40252/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe homemaker’s scheme was introduced in 1994 to make qualification for SPC easier for those who take time out of the workforce for caring duties. The scheme allows up to 20 years spent caring for children under 12 years of age, or incapacitated people, to be disregarded when a person’s social insurance record is being calculated for pension purposes. The effect of this is to reduce the number of years by which the person’s contributions are divided, thereby increasing their yearly average, making it easier for them to qualify for a maximum rate SPC. It does not involve the award of credits for the duration of the period spent on caring duties.
To be eligible for the homemaker’s scheme, a person must:
- Permanently live in the State (exception may be made where EU regulations apply),
- Be aged under 66,
- Have started insurable employment or self-employment before the age of 56,
- Not work full-time, although for the purposes of this scheme, a person can work and earn less than €38 gross per week,
- Care for a child (under 12) or an incapacitated person on a full-time basis.
It is important to note that the homemaker’s scheme will not, of itself, qualify a person for a SPC. The standard qualifying conditions for the SPC must also be satisfied. These require a person to enter insurable employment at least ten years before pension age, pay a minimum of 520 contributions at the correct rate (credited contributions do not satisfy this condition) and achieve a yearly average of at least 10 contributions paid or credited on their record. The requirement to have 520 paid contributions (an increase from 260) has been provided for in legislation since 1997, and took effect from April 2012.
The 2007 Green Paper on Pensions indicated that to back-date the homemakers scheme to 1953, the year when the unified system of social insurance was introduced, would cost the Exchequer some €160 million per annum. Costs in relation to this scheme, under the current rules, are expected to increase in the coming years due to the increase in female employment rates since 1994.
Where someone age 66 or over does not satisfy the conditions to qualify for a SPC, or qualifies for less than the maximum rate, they may instead qualify for one the following:
- The means-tested State pension (non-contributory). The maximum personal rate of this pension is €219, which may be payable if their means are no more than €30 per week. A reduced rate may be payable if their means are no more than €245 per week. A living alone allowance may also be paid, where applicable.
- If a spouse receives the SPC, the other spouse may receive a payment, known as an increase for qualified adult (IQA), which may be up to €206.30 per week.
- If widowed, they may qualify for a widow's contributory pension, which they may claim either based on their spouse’s or their own social insurance record. The qualifying conditions for this require fewer contributions paid (260) than the SPC, and the maximum personal rate for those aged 66 or over is €230.30.
Where a person qualifies for more than one of the above payments, they are paid under the pension that is most advantageous to them.
People over 66 may be eligible for household benefits (worth €680 per year from 2015) and fuel allowance (worth €520 per year). They may also qualify for free travel and assistance with their rent, depending on their circumstances.
Under the pension reform programme, it is planned to adopt a total contributions approach where the number of contributions paid over a work life will closely reflect the rate of payment received. This approach was endorsed by the OECD Review of the Irish Pension System, which was published in April 2013. It has been planned to introduce this change in 2020, although this date may change. The position of women, including those who qualify for the homemaker’s scheme, will be considered carefully in the context of this reform.
174. Deputy John Halligan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the progress that has been made to date in the recovery of social welfare payments which have been found to have been fraudulently procured from her Department; the moneys that have been recovered since she took office; her views on the effectiveness of the introduction of biometric public service cards in stamping out fraudulent claims; the inroads that have been made with regard to the setting up of the new Garda unit within her Department; if this unit is now fully operational; the level of access to public service records this unit will be afforded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40253/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department’s policy is to ensure that every effort is made to prevent overpayments, but if they occur, they are regarded as a debt to the Exchequer and every effort must be made to recover the amounts due. It is the Department’s policy to investigate and pursue all overpayments so as to protect public monies to the greatest extent possible. The Department has a responsibility to ensure that all overpayments are refunded in full. People who have received an overpayment from the Department have a liability under law to refund the amounts involved. (Section 338 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 2005 (as amended) refers). They have received monies to which they were not entitled. In that regard, the Department is fully committed to recovering 100% of all overpayments arising, whether as a result of fraud or error. The Department does not apply interest or penalties on the amounts owing.
Debt recoveries are not categorised by whether the original overpayment was fraud or error. In 2011, the total value of recoveries was €51.5m while €53.5m was recovered in 2012 and, in 2013, recoveries were made to the value of €70.7m.
Until the introduction of recent legislation, the Department was limited in its capacity to recover overpayments without the person’s agreement. For this reason, overpayments often remained outstanding for a long period of time. Since these legislative changes, the Department can now recover levels of up to 15% from the personal rate of a person’s social welfare payment without consent. In addition, in order to improve the capacity to recover overpayments from persons no longer dependent on social welfare, legislation was introduced that provides for the Notice of Attachment powers for the recovery of overpayments directly from a person’s earnings or from monies held by them in financial institutions or other state payments.
These amendments mean that the Department is now in a position to ensure, as far as practical, that all debt-holders are repaying their debt. The rate a debt is recovered differs from case to case.
The Public Services Card (PSC) has been introduced to enable individuals gain access to public services more efficiently and with a minimum of duplication of effort, while at the same time preserving their privacy to the maximum extent possible. The enhanced identity authentication requirements mainly involve applicants having to attend at a designated office in order to provide appropriate documentary evidence and have their photograph and a sample of their signature recorded electronically. Since the project commenced, 973,500 persons have been registered for a PSC to date, 260,000 of which are the Free Travel variant.
The PSC also provides a higher and enhanced level of assurance as to identity. It acts as a key tool in the prevention and detection of identity fraud. Identity fraud and identity theft are issues which public bodies are rightly concerned about, both in terms of prevention and detection. It represents a robust identity registration process involving the capture of an individual’s photograph and signature and the verification of identity data already held by the Department. Provision has not been made for any further biometrics and currently there are no plans to change that.
It is anticipated that the secondment of 20 Gardaí to the Department to assist its Special Investigation Unit with fraud investigation work will come into effect in November 2014.
Seconded Gardaí will undertake the full range of investigative duties in detecting and combating social welfare fraud. They will retain their powers as Gardaí for the duration of their secondment. They will also have powers under the Social Welfare Acts to enable them to work with officers from the Department’s SIU and will perform all relevant social welfare fraud investigation functions. Protocols have been agreed between the Department and An Garda Síochána on the usage and protection of data. In addition, the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner has been consulted on these protocols and the arrangements that will apply.
175. Deputy John Halligan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views that the introduction of the JobBridge scheme is an exercise in reducing the numbers on the live register to imply a marked decrease in the level of social welfare assistance being provided by the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40254/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra191. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the extent to which JobBridge and-or other employment supports continue to meet their targets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40377/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 191 together.
I refer the Deputy to the recent CSO Live Register Statistical Release giving data up to the end of August 2014 on the number of people availing of a range of programmes targeted primarily at the long-term unemployed (over 12 months) and other welfare recipients (including Lone Parents). There were 62,937 people availing of these programmes in August 2014, which is an increase of 551 (0.9%) from the previous year, when there were 62,386 people in activation programmes. At end August, 2014, JobBridge had 6,053 participants compared to approximately 5,300 at the same time last year.
During the same period, August 2013 – August 2014, the number of people on the Live Register (seasonally adjusted) fell from 415,600 to 380,100 – a reduction of 35,500. Given that the reduction in numbers of people on the Live Register is about 35,000 greater than the increase in the number of people on employment schemes it cannot be said, as is implied in the question, that the reduction in the numbers of people on the Live Register is due to a marked increase in the number of people on employment schemes, including JobBridge.
JobBridge was introduced in 2011 in order to break the vicious cycle whereby unemployed people are unable to get a job without experience but are unable to get experience without a job. At the time JobBridge was introduced many people were expressing frustration that jobseekers could not take up unpaid work experience opportunities either because they could not afford the expenses associated with going to work or, worse still, because they could lose their entitlement to their jobseeker payment if they were no longer considered available for or to be genuinely seeking work. JobBridge was developed to overcome these obstacles. As of 16th October, 2014, approximately 36,149 individual internships have voluntarily been undertaken by jobseekers.
An independent evaluation of JobBridge found that 61% of former interns move into employment 5 months or more after completion. JobBridge interns are exiting the Live Register in significant numbers to move into employment. The independent evaluation found that JobBridge would achieve a positive net benefit to the exchequer if participants secure employment and remain off the Live Register for a minimum period of about 5 ½ months.
I am satisfied that recent reductions in the number of unemployed jobseekers and a rise in the number of those entering employment show that Pathways to Work , and the Department’s activation measures including JobBridge, are achieving significant beneficial results for jobseekers and the wider community.
TÚS Community Work Placement Initiative had 7,477 participants and Community Employment Schemes had 23,124 participants.
176. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the State supports available in respect of a person (details supplied), who is studying abroad without any Irish State assistance or support but who returns here during the summer months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40264/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraSocial welfare legislation provides that a person must satisfy the conditions of being available for and genuinely seeking work in order to be entitled to jobseeker’s benefit or jobseeker’s allowance. Any person who fails to satisfy these conditions is not entitled to a jobseeker’s payment.
A student undergoing a full-time course of study, instruction or training is disqualified from receiving jobseekers allowance or benefit. This disqualification also extends to the holiday periods, including the summer holidays. The disqualification for receipt of jobseeker’s benefit or allowance does not apply in the case of mature students during the period between two academic years. During this period a mature student can apply for jobseeker’s benefit or allowance, subject to satisfying the standard qualifying conditions, including that of being available for full-time work.
There are no plans to change these aspects of the jobseeker’s schemes.
177. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 3 of 15 October 2014, when a decision will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40305/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned was notified on the 11th October 2014 that her domiciliary care allowance application was successful and that the allowance has been awarded from August 1st 2014.
Payment of the allowance, along with arrears due, will be available for collection in the nominated post office on the 21st October 2014 and on the third Tuesday of each month thereafter.
178. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40345/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned applied for domiciliary care allowance in respect of two children. The applications were not allowed as it was considered that the children did not meet the eligibility criteria for the allowance. A decision letter issued to the customer on the 9th October 2014 advising of the decision in each case.
In the case of an application which is refused on medical grounds the applicant may submit additional information and/or ask for the decision to be reviewed or they may appeal the decision directly to the Social Welfare Appeals Office within twenty one days. To date there has been no request for a review and no record of an appeal having been registered in this case.
181. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her Department will verify when a person (details supplied) first commenced making reckonable contributions for State contributory pension purposes and if, in the case of S class contributions, the period counted for pension calculation purposes starts with the year in which the person made their first such contribution. [40366/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAccording to the records of the Department, the person concerned commenced paying full-rate social insurance in 2001, as a self-employed contributor.
The person concerned will reach pension age, 66, on 27 March 2015. A claim form for State pension (contributory) has been sent to him. On receipt of the completed claim form, his entitlement to pension will be fully examined and he will be notified of the outcome.
182. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she expects to be in a position to address various social issues in the context of budget 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40367/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI announced, on Budget Day, a number of welfare initiatives costing €198 million. These measures have four key objectives, as follows:
- Assisting unemployed families to return to work by providing continued financial support;
- Helping all families in the State with the cost of raising children;
- Recognising the additional pressures on pensioners and people with disabilities who are living alone, and
- Helping vulnerable welfare households to meet the costs associated with water services.
The measures included the introduction of a new Back to Work Family Dividend. Through this scheme, long-term unemployed jobseekers with children who leave welfare to return to work can retain the child-related portion of their social welfare payment on a tapered basis over two years. This includes those who move to self-employment, such as the construction sector. It will also apply to One Parent Family Payment recipients who similarly go back into the workforce.
The scheme will be worth €1,550 per child in the first year of employment or self-employment and half that amount again in the second year. The Dividend will help increase the pace of the progress we are making in helping people back to work. It will help boost the recovery, reduce welfare expenditure in the long-run, and, most importantly, help the families in question to build a better financial future for themselves.
In addition, I also doubled the number of JobsPlus places, from 3,000 to 6,000, to incentivise employers to hire long-term unemployed from the Live Register.
Turning to supports for families generally, I also provided for an increase in the Child Benefit rate of €5, bringing the monthly rate from €130 to €135 per child. This recognises the sacrifices that families made during the economic crisis and the fact that families are continuing to face difficulties. In the Statement of Priorities published earlier this year, the Government promised a new deal on living standards for hard-pressed families, and this increase is in line with that commitment. I have also provided an additional €2 million for the School Meals scheme in 2015.
Looking now at pensioners and people with disabilities, there will be an increase in the Living Alone Allowance of €1.30 per week, bringing the rate up from €7.70 to €9. The Living Alone Allowance is a payment made to pensioners and people with disabilities who live alone, and was last increased in 1996.
In line with the Statement of Priorities, I am introducing a Water Support payment of €100 to recipients of the Household Benefit Package, to help older people and other vulnerable groups meet the cost of water services. In addition, I am introducing a payment of €100 per annum to Fuel Allowance recipients who are not in receipt of the Household Benefits Package. This measure will also work to alleviate the impact of water costs.
As you know, the Christmas Bonus was abolished by the previous Government in 2009 . I am pleased to say that I am in a position to partially restore the Bonus this year. A bonus of 25% will be paid in early December to all long-term welfare recipients including pensioners, lone parents, jobseekers, carers and people with disabilities. This will cost over €63 million and is in recognition of the position of vulnerable households.
In conclusion, this Budget will:
- help more people return to work, particularly families with children;
- support all families with children as well as pensioners and people with disabilities living alone, and
- assist low-income families on welfare to meet the costs associated with water services.
Throughout the crisis, this Government protected core welfare rates and maintained a massively strong social welfare safety net. This is acknowledged by the ESRI, among others, which has pointed out that, unlike in other countries, income inequality has fallen in Ireland in recent years, largely because of the overall maintenance of the welfare system.
But we did not just maintain the system throughout the crisis; we transformed it in order to help people back to work. And in so doing, we have created the room to announce enhanced support for those who need it most, while continuing our unrelenting focus on reducing unemployment.
Question No. 183 answered with Question No. 170.
184. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the degree to which adequate resources remain available to her Department to meet exceptional needs payment requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40370/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off and unforeseen expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. The Government has provided €31.3 million for the scheme in 2014.
ENPs are payable at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case. This is to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance. Departmental guidelines outline recommended maximum amounts payable for a variety of household and personal items.
These guidelines assist staff administering the scheme and do not affect the discretion available to officers in issuing an ENP to assist an individual or household in any particular hardship situation which may arise.
I am satisfied that the Government provision is adequate to meet the exceptional needs of persons under this scheme. Expenditure under the scheme is kept under review by the Department.
185. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the extent to which backlogs have been addressed in respect of various headings and payments operated by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40371/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department is committed to ensuring that claims are processed as expeditiously as possible and that backlogs of claims are kept to a minimum. Each scheme area is continuously monitored and reviewed to ensure customers are responded to as quickly as possible. In this regard, the Department has had major success in clearing backlogs, notably in the disability and caring schemes. The following Table provides details of processing times for each of the Department’s schemes in September 2014 and the current number of claims pending in each scheme.
Processing times vary across schemes, depending on the differing qualification criteria. Schemes that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case of illness-related schemes, can take longer to process. Similarly, means-tested payments can also require more detailed investigation and interaction with the applicant, thereby lengthening the decision making process.
As part of the Department’s programme of service delivery modernisation, a range of initiatives aimed at streamlining the processing of claims, supported by modern technology, have been implemented in recent years. Operational processes, procedures and the organisation of work are continually reviewed to ensure that processing capability is maximised.
In addition, the staffing needs of the Department are regularly reviewed, having regard to workloads and the competing demands arising, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources.
Table: Claim processing times – September 2014
|
Scheme |
Average weeks to award |
No. Pending Claims at end September 2014 |
|
State Pension (contributory) |
5 |
2,446 |
|
State Pension (transition) |
12 |
851 |
|
Widow(er)’s Pension (contributory) |
2 |
469 |
|
One Parent Family |
9 |
1,857 |
|
Household Benefits |
2 |
3,113 |
|
Bereavement Grant |
10 |
856 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
8 (Est. average weeks to award a new claim, excluding claims which are awarded following a review and/or appeal process following initial disallowance). |
2,161 |
|
Family Income Supplement - New Claims |
3 (In general, renewal FIS claims are currently processed in advance of previous claim expiry and new FIS claims are processed within 3 weeks of receipt) |
2,037 |
|
Disability Allowance |
11 (Est. average weeks to award a new claim excluding claims which are awarded following a review and/or appeal process following initial disallowance.) |
6,485 |
|
Carer’s Allowance |
12 (Est. average weeks to award a new claim, excluding claims which are awarded following a review and/or appeal process following initial disallowance.) |
4,902 |
|
Jobseeker’s Benefit |
1 |
2,642 |
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance |
2 |
10,334 |
|
Illness Benefit |
1 |
1,828 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
2 (In July 97% of Maternity Benefit claims were awarded 2 weeks prior to the commencement of maternity leave) |
6,079 |
|
Child Benefit |
- |
1,686 |
|
- Domestic |
2 |
- |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
13 |
1,194 |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
Back to Education Allowance |
Applicants for BTEA are already in receipt of another social welfare payment before a decision is made on their entitlement to the Allowance. |
- |
188. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she expects back-to-work incentives to address the issue of the long-term unemployed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40374/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government’s policy direction on labour market activation and stimulating employment growth is set out in Pathways to Work and the Action Plan for Jobs respectively. These policies are at the core of the Government’s strategies to get Ireland working again. The strategy outlined in Pathways is devised to ensure new job opportunities are made available to people on the live register with particular focus on the longer-term unemployed and that jobseekers are prepared to avail of work opportunities. Since the introduction of Pathways to Work, a significant transformation has already been delivered in the way the Department works with jobseekers and in its engagement with employers. This has resulted in the revision of a range of services and schemes and the provision of new incentives to jobseekers and employers.
The Department has rolled out new services through Intreo centres, 44 of which are now operational nationally, which provide for improved engagement with jobseekers and employers. Intreo centres offer one-to-one assistance to jobseekers by dedicated case officers. This includes the preparation of individual progression plans to identify opportunities and where skills need to be improved which will ultimately improve a jobseeker’s employment chances. Additionally, greater targeting of activation places, work placement schemes and other opportunities have been put in place for jobseekers allied to incentivising the take-up of employment opportunities.
The Department operates a range of employment support measures designed to encourage and support jobseekers to return to and remain at work, establish self-employment opportunities and engage in reskilling and upskilling. With respect to returning to work and upskilling, the Department along with the Department of Education and Skills under the back to education programme together provide a broad range of access and income support for jobseekers wishing to re-skill or take up a course of education and training. For jobseekers entering work, financial supports are provided in the form of family income supplement (FIS) for employees with families, including lone parents, to supplement income from work where this is low. Allied to this, an important new measure was announced in Budget 2015, called the back to work family dividend, which will help long-term jobseekers and lone parents with children return to work by allowing them to retain an element of the welfare payment previously paid in respect of dependent children. A part-time job incentive scheme is also available which allows long-term jobseekers to take up part-time employment for less than 24 hours per week and to continue to receive a weekly income supplement.
Those jobseekers wishing to pursue a self-employment option can retain all or part of their jobseekers payment for up to two years under the back to work enterprise allowance. An enterprise support grant was introduced during 2014 designed to provide small scale financial support to underpin the business start-up.
The Department continues to deepen its engagement with employers and to work with them to identify opportunities and what future skills needs will be required. JobsPlus is a targeted financial incentive designed to encourage employers to focus their recruitment activities on the long-term unemployed. At the end of September 2014, 3,000 longer-term jobseekers were being supported in work. A further expansion of JobsPlus was announced in Budget 2015 which will allow for double the number of jobseekers to be supported.
I will be announcing further enhancements to a range of schemes in the coming weeks to underpin the commitment to support young people who are unemployed. The Deputy should note that a significant range of supports are provided to people with disabilities and members of the Travelling community and to community enterprises to support employment.
Details of all schemes are available on the Department’s website www.welfare.ie , at any Intreo Centre or by contacting the information section on 01 704 3000 or 1890 66 22 44.
