Written Answers Nos. 118-135
118. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on the awarding of the JobPath contract to a company (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39864/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraJobPath is the Government’s new labour market activation service aimed specifically at the long-term unemployed and those most distant from the labour market, with the primary objective of assisting such persons to gain sustained employment. JobPath will augment and complement both the Department’s own employment services as well as the services contracted under existing arrangements with private registered companies that deliver the Local Employment Service (LES) and operate Job Clubs. JobPath will not replace any existing service provision, either that provided directly by staff within the Department or that provided under existing contract arrangements. In addition JobPath does not involve the outsourcing of any existing activities undertaken by staff of the Department.
Following the completion of a public procurement process, conducted in accordance with EU and national procurement rules, two preferred tenderers were selected. The two preferred tenderers are Turas Nua Ltd. and Seetec Business Technology Centre Ltd.
Turas Nua is a new business and is a joint venture between FRS Recruitment (a co-operative recruitment company based in Roscrea) and Working Links (a UK-based well-established provider of employment services to long-term unemployed people). Turas Nua Limited will operate in the southern half of the country including towns and cities such as Cork, Limerick, and Waterford.
Seetec is a private company delivering a wide range of employability and skills programmes across both urban and rural areas of England. Seetec will operate in the northern half of the country including towns and cities such as Dublin, Galway, Sligo and Dundalk.
Turas Nua and Seetec will work with a range of local subcontractors, including local training companies and existing LES and Job Club providers, in the delivery of JobPath.
Between them, the preferred tenderers will provide some 1,000 additional staff in approximately 100 outlets across the country to assist the long-term unemployed in finding suitable employment and training options.
Subject to successful finalisation of contracts, it is anticipated that JobPath will commence in the first half of 2015.
119. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the measures her Department are engaged upon to reduce the crisis in obtaining suitable accommodation caused by the reductions in supplementary welfare rent allowance payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39793/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are approximately 73,500 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014. There have been no reductions in rent supplement, administered under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, as part of Budget 2015. I am acutely aware of the difficulties people are experiencing in maintaining affordable rented accommodation, including those in receipt of rent supplement, in the current market. Raising rent limits may not be the solution to the problem as it is likely to add to further rental inflation and impact, not alone on rent supplement recipients, but also on many lower income workers, their families and students. I plan to keep the matter under close review.
I can assure the Deputy that officers administering rent supplement throughout the country have considerable experience in dealing with customers and make every effort to ensure that their accommodation needs are met including through the use of statutory discretionary powers. A notice reminding staff of this power was circulated earlier this year.
In view of the particular supply difficulties in Dublin, the Department agreed a tenancy sustainment protocol with the Dublin local authorities and voluntary organisations so that families at risk of losing their accommodation can have appropriate interventions made on their behalf. Since its launch in mid-June 2014, almost 140 families have had their rent supplement claims revised by the Department. I will continue to review the use of the protocol towards the end of the year and into 2015.
Increasing housing supply and the reactivation of the construction activity is a key issue for Government and is critical to restoring stability to the rental market. The Government has recently launched its Construction Strategy 2020.
As part of Budget 2015, Government has announced significant capital investment of over €2.2 billion for social housing for the next three years. In 2015, over €800 million will be invested in a range of housing programmes which represents the first major investment in housing since 2009. An additional €10.5 million will also be provided for accommodation and related services for homeless persons, increasing the annual expenditure for tackling homelessness to €55.5 million next year.
120. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she and her Department have monitored the most pressing issues dealt with in the context of welfare support over the past 12 months with a view to identification of and addressing the most salient issues such as youth unemployment, emergency housing, rent support and homelessness arising from rent market trends; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39848/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department continually monitors the operation of its welfare supports to ensure the provision of service which meets the changing needs of Irish society and the objectives set by the Government. To address the specific issues raised by the Deputy; the number of young people unemployed has fallen by 11,400 from 64,000 to 52,600 in the last year. Although youth unemployment has fallen, the rate remains high and the period of time young unemployed people are out of work for is a particular cause for concern. In this regard the Government, together with other governments around Europe, is committed to implementation of a Youth Guarantee to ensure that young people are supported and positioned to benefit from the recovery in employment. The Youth Guarantee will build on existing programmes and reserve places on existing programmes for young people who are already long-term unemployed, including the development of variants of these programmes/offers tailored specifically for young people. My colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly TD, has responsibility for housing and will shortly be publishing a Social Housing Strategy.
As part of Budget 2015, Government has announced significant capital investment of over €2.2 billion for social housing for the next three years. In 2015, over €800 million will be invested in a range of housing programmes which represents the first major investment in housing since 2009. An additional €10.5 million will be provided for accommodation and related services for homeless persons, increasing the annual expenditure for tackling homelessness to €55.5 million next year.
With regard to rent support, increasing housing supply and the reactivation of the construction activity is critical to restoring stability to the rental market.
I can assure the Deputy that officers administering rent supplement throughout the country have considerable experience in dealing with customers and make every effort to ensure that their accommodation needs are met including through the use of their discretionary statutory powers as necessary. In light of a particular concentration of the homelessness problem in the Dublin area, the Department has agreed a tenancy sustainment protocol with the Dublin local authorities and voluntary organisations so that families on rent supplement who are at risk of losing their accommodation can have more timely and appropriate interventions made on their behalf. Since the launch of this protocol in mid-June 2014, almost 140 families have had their rent supplement claims revised by the Department.
121. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 124 of 7 May 2014, in view of a person's (details supplied) rent allowance being withdrawn without the review mentioned; if the allowance will be reinstated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39800/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe rent supplement has been reinstated and all arrears due will be paid. The person concerned will be contacted in this regard and a review of the rent supplement will be undertaken.
122. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach the number of persons who were previously self-employed who currently remain unemployed and are on the live register. [40376/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Live Register series gives a monthly breakdown of the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Benefit, Jobseeker's Allowance and other registrants with the Department of Social Protection. However the series does not capture the previous employment status of claimants and therefore the requested breakdown is not available.
123. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Taoiseach if performance related pay has been paid to any of his staff or staff in his Department for the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if so, the number of staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40090/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraNo performance related pay has been paid to any of the staff in my Department for the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014.
124. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in tabular form, the number of civil servants in his Department who have designated a County Mayo venue as their preference for a transfer; the numbers who have moved to the county in each year since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40901/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 2011 to date, no civil servants in my Department designated a County Mayo venue as their preference for a transfer.
125. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the authority under which the Registrar General acted to set aside the powers vested by legislation in the Supreme Court to appoint a commissioner for oaths to take any affidavit, affirmation, statutory or other declaration, acknowledgment, examination and attestation, for the purpose of any court in this jurisdiction or for the registration of any instrument, when the Registrar General refuses to allow that commissioner for oaths to take a solemn declaration from both parties to a civil marriage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40203/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that this refers to the question of having a commissioner for oaths entered in the register of solemnisers provided for under section 53 of the Civil Registration Act 2004, as amended, in order that he/she may solemnise marriages.
Section 54 of the Act provides that a member of a religious body, a member of a secular body or a Health Service Executive (HSE) registrar may be registered in the register of solemnisers for the purpose of legally solemnising marriages in the State.
In December 2012 I championed a significant change to the Civil Registration Act, 2004 which provided that members of secular bodies can be included in the register of solemnisers. This amendment to the Act was approved by the Oireachtas. I made clear that in order to safeguard the institution of marriage any secular bodies that wish to apply to have one of its members solemnise a marriage must meet a number of criteria. Commissioners for Oaths were not covered by this amendment and there are no plans to amend the legislation accordingly.
127. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her Department is in a position to extend a community employment workers' position (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39760/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Community Employment Programme is a labour market intervention designed to assist the long term unemployed return to the work force. The term for participants on Community Employment has been set at three years maximum for those under 55 years of age by the Department.
The person concerned has been a participant on the Dublin 12 Centre for the Unemployed Community Employment (CE) scheme for the last year, having spent two years previously as a participant on the Vincent De Paul CE scheme. Our records show that as the person concerned has completed three years in total on CE, she will have exceeded the maximum duration entitlement at the end of her current contract. It is not therefore possible to grant the request from the Project Sponsor for a further extension on CE for the person concerned.
Our records also show that there was only limited engagement in training by the person concerned during her total time on CE. The course she now proposes to participate in would ideally take a further two years to complete fully, with no CE time to date used for this programme by her. Furthermore, this course is not directly specific to the nature of the service provided by the group she is placed with; Dublin 12 Domestic Violence Service. Admission to the course is open and is not linked to or dependent on CE participation; therefore on that basis the person concerned could enrol on the course and complete it in her own time, together with gaining any required work experience hours through relevant voluntary work or otherwise.
It is also open to the person concerned to contact her Intreo or Local Employment Service Office, where staff are available to provide information to her on other employment and training opportunities available to those in local communities exiting or ineligible for CE schemes.
128. 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 [39765/14]
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 19 September 2014 advising of the decision in each case.
The person concerned subsequently lodged appeals against these decisions. As part of the appeal process, the cases have been forwarded to another of the Department’s Medical Assessors for further consideration, including a review of any new information supplied. Upon receipt of the Medical Assessor’s opinions, the cases will be further examined by a deciding officer, who will revise the original decisions if warranted or alternatively, forward the cases for consideration by the Appeals Office.
129. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on changing the current system whereby the child benefit is cut at the age of 18, in view of the fact that many teenagers are over the age of 18 when they are sitting their leaving certificate; her views on whether child benefit should include the entire school term for students sitting their leaving certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39852/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraChild benefit is a monthly payment to assist with the costs associated with raising children. It is paid to around 604,000 families in respect of some 1.15 million children, with an estimated expenditure of around €1.9 billion in 2014. It is paid in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years in line with the statutory school attendance age. The payment continues to be paid for children up to their 18th birthday who are in full-time education, subject to certification from school or college of educational attendance for each of these years.
A Value for Money Review of Child Income Support Programmes found that the participation pattern in second-level education supports the 18-year age limit for child benefit. For families on low incomes there are a number of provisions to social welfare schemes that support children in full-time education until the age of 22, including:
- qualified child increases (QCIs) with primary social welfare payments
- family income supplement (FIS) for low-paid employees with children
- The back to school clothing and footwear allowance for low income families.
Therefore, I have no plans to make any changes to the age threshold for child benefit.
Budget 2015 increased child benefit by €5, from €130 to €135 per month, which will benefit over 611,000 households with children. In addition, the new back to work family dividend for long-term unemployed jobseekers with children and lone parents who return to work, will provide €29.80 per child in the first year and half that figure in the second year. In total over €2.4 billion will be provided for child income supports in 2015, up €125 million on this year.
These measures recognise the sacrifices that families made during the economic crisis and their continuing difficulties. They are in line with the commitment in the Statement of Government Priorities for a new deal on living standards for hard-pressed families. Strategically, the measures will increase the pace of the progress in helping people back to work, 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.
130. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the steps that have been taken to date to implement the Youth Guarantee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39867/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraImplementation of the Youth Guarantee is a medium-term policy of the Irish Government. It is envisaged that the guarantee as it affects those aged under 18 years will be implemented within 2 years, i.e. by the end of 2015. The guarantee of an offer of training, education or work experience for those aged 18-24 years after a four month period should be implemented on a phased basis.
The Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan was published in January. It provides for over 28,000 programme opportunities for unemployed young people in 2014. This figure excludes some 24,000 places provided for young people through PLC courses and apprenticeships. These PLC and apprenticeship places, together with the wide range of vocational third-level courses provided for the young, although not reserved for unemployed jobseekers, nevertheless contribute to the spirit of the guarantee.
Starting in 2014, and for completion by the end of 2014, processes and programmes are being progressively rolled out to ensure that all of those young unemployed people who need most support (i.e. are assessed as having a low probability of securing employment in the absence of support from the Public Employment Services) will receive a Youth Guarantee offer within four months.
In relation to the 28,000 plus places for unemployed young people, approximately 14,300 of these had been taken up at the end of September. This excludes a number of schemes where up-to-date figures are not currently available (as outlined in the table provided). The table supplied displays the total take-up for the year-to-date, together with the estimate for full-year intake provided in the Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan.
Take-up is expected to rise substantially by year-end, for several reasons.
First, the student intake on programmes such as the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) and Vocational Training Opportunity Scheme (VTOS) is concentrated in September/October in line with the academic calendar. In addition, the intake of young people to the 2014 iteration of the Momentum programme for long-term unemployed jobseekers has just begun (late September).
Second, some of the initiatives planned under the guarantee required primary legislation to allow positive discrimination on age grounds in the provision of employment services and supports. This legislation was enacted as part of the Social Welfare Bill over the summer. Two employment schemes in particular, the Youth Guarantee developmental internship programme and the JobsPlus variant for young people (supporting young unemployed at risk of becoming long-term unemployed who have been signing on the Live Register for 4 months), were dependent on this legislation being passed. These schemes will be in place shortly. The legislation also permits the introduction of earlier and more intensive engagement by INTREO with the young unemployed which should also translate increased placement on schemes covered by the Youth Guarantee processes to give effect to this engagement are currently being implemented by the Department.
|
Programme |
Expected full-year intake |
2014 - YTD |
Note |
|
Youthreach/CTC |
3,300 |
1,300 |
Only CTC starters -- Youthreach figures not yet available for 2014 |
|
JobBridge (including planned reserve) |
5,000 |
2,418 |
As of 14th October |
|
Tús |
1,000 |
1,223 |
As of 30th September |
|
JobsPlus |
1,500 |
265 |
As of 30th September |
|
Momentum |
2,000 |
13 |
2014 intake commencing September-October |
|
BTEA (excl Momentum) |
3,300 |
2319 |
As of 14th October |
|
BTWEA |
200 |
139 |
Including 5 persons on STEA |
|
VTOS |
500 |
Not available |
|
|
FAS/Solas |
9500 |
6,036 |
Based on SST, Traineeship, Bridging and LTI starters YTD (end September) |
|
CEB youth Entrepreneurship Training and Mentoring supports |
700 |
Not yet commenced |
|
|
CEB/MFI micro-loans for young people |
150 |
2 |
31st August |
|
International Work Experience and Training |
250 |
Not yet commenced |
|
|
Gateway |
450 |
122 |
26th September |
|
Community Employment |
500 |
438 |
30th September |
|
Total |
28,350 |
14,293 |
Excluding where figures are not available |
131. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding jobseeker's allowance. [39875/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraSelf-employed persons are liable for PRSI at the Class S rate of 4% which entitles them to access Maternity Benefit, Adoptive Benefit, Guardian’s Payment and long-term benefits such as State pension (contributory) and widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's pension (contributory). Ordinary employees who have access to the full range of social insurance benefits pay Class A PRSI at the rate of 4%. In addition, their employers make a PRSI contribution of 10.75% in respect of their employees, resulting in the payment of a combined 14.75% rate per employee under full-rate PRSI Class A. (For employees earning less than €356 per week, the rate of employer’s PRSI is 8.5%.)
The most recent Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund (published in 2012) indicated that the self-employed achieve better value for money compared to the employed when the comparison includes both employer and employee contributions in respect of the employed person.
Self-employed persons, including former self–employed, may be eligible for a jobseeker’s allowance payment. Jobseeker’s allowance is a means tested social assistance scheme. For means test purposes, account is taken of the income and assets of the claimant and their spouse or partner. No account is taken of outgoings such as rent or other financial commitments in calculating means for social assistance schemes generally, including jobseeker’s allowance.
A rent supplement payment can be paid to jobseekers who are in receipt of a jobseeker’s allowance or benefit payment. This supplement is in addition to their jobseeker’s payment and entitlement to jobseeker’s allowance or benefit (and the associated weekly rates of payment) does not have regard to whether a person qualifies for the supplement or not or whether the person was renting before becoming unemployed.
If the individual in question considers that they may now have an entitlement to jobseeker’s allowance as their income has declined (and they satisfy all of the other statutory conditions), he should reapply for that payment. In this regard, it should be noted that the assessment of income from self-employment is based on gross income less expenses necessarily incurred in carrying out that self-employment.
132. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection in the context of the CEDRA report what the justification is for closing the Government offices in Tubbercurry, County Sligo, and in the process, further undermining the social and economic fabric of the town; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39878/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Social Protection (DSP) currently has 10 staff based in Government Buildings on Teeling Street, Tubbercurry.
The DSP office in Teeling Street is not a public office. The staff based in the office are currently responsible for the nationwide administration of the Gateway Scheme, the Rural Social Scheme, Tús and the Community Services Programme.
With 20% occupancy, the Department of Social Protection is a minor tenant in the building on Teeling Street. The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (DECLG) is the major tenant.
DSP has recently been advised of DCELG plans to permanently relocate their staff from Tubbercurry in the short term.
DSP is examining potential alternative locations to which the work currently being undertaken by DSP staff in Tubbercurry can be relocated. Locations in Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim are being explored but no decision has yet been made. There will be no impact for customers as a result of the decision and every effort is being made to ensure that the staff currently located in Tubbercurry are accommodated with suitable alternative work locations.
135. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on their appeal for invalidity pension. [39903/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer having fully considered all of the available evidence, including that adduced at oral hearing, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned was advised of the Appeals Officers decision on 10th July 2013.
Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of the Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by the Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new facts.
Following receipt of additional evidence the Appeals Officer, dealing with this case, has reviewed his decision on two occasions. Having taken careful regard to all submissions the Appeals Officer did not consider that the evidence provided on each occasion was of a compelling nature which would allow for a revision of his original decision. The person concerned was informed of the result of Appeals Officers review on 14th January 2014 and 21st May 2014 respectively.
The person concerned has again submitted additional evidence and the Department has been requested to return the file to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. On receipt of this file, the Appeals Officer will again review the case. The person concerned will be contacted when the review of his appeal has been finalised.
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.
