Barry Cowen
Ceist:137. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on an appeal for invalidity pension. [39907/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraInvalidity Pension Appeals
Ceisteanna (137)
Freagraí scríofa
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. 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.
The person concerned has 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 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.
Farm Assist Scheme Appeals
Ceisteanna (138)
Barry Cowen
Ceist:138. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on an appeal for farm assist. [39910/14]
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 disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. 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.
Question No. 139 withdrawn.
Illness Benefit Appeals
Ceisteanna (140)
Barry Cowen
Ceist:140. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on an appeal for illness benefit. [39917/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing in this case on 21st October 2014. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
Question No. 141 withdrawn.
Carer's Allowance Appeals
Ceisteanna (142)
Barry Cowen
Ceist:142. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on an appeal for carer's allowance. [39928/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing in this case on 22nd October 2014. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
Carer's Allowance Appeals
Ceisteanna (143)
Barry Cowen
Ceist:143. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on an appeal for carer's allowance. [39930/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an oral hearing of the appeal of the person concerned took place on 02nd October 2014 and that the Appeals Officer is now considering the appeal in the light of all of the evidence submitted, including that adduced at the oral hearing. The person concerned will be notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision when the appeal has been determined.
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 (144)
Barry Cowen
Ceist:144. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on an appeal for invalidity pension. [39934/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an oral hearing of the appeal of the person concerned took place on 06th October 2014 and that the Appeals Officer is now considering the appeal in the light of all of the evidence submitted, including that adduced at the oral hearing. The person concerned will be notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision when the appeal has been determined.
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.
Question No. 145 withdrawn.
Community Welfare Services
Ceisteanna (146)
Maureen O'Sullivan
Ceist:146. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection whether she is satisfied that there is a sufficient number of community welfare officers and executive officers in her Department to deal with queries from the public; if there is enough cover for staff when they are on holidays or leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39995/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A key objective of the transfer of the Community Welfare Service (CWS) from the Health Service Executive to the Department on 1st October 2011 was to provide a streamlined and consistent service to the customer.
As part of this process and to support the Department’s activation commitments under the Pathways to Work Programme and the development of Intreo services nationally, it has been necessary to review the administration of all its services across its remit, including the CWS. Overall, this has resulted in a rebalancing of resources across the Department’s range of activities including the relocation of CWS staff to main centres, primarily Intreo offices, to play a vital role within the overall social welfare system in providing a responsive and flexible approach to meeting the needs of the disadvantaged.
People claiming supports under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme generally only interact with the Department on an occasional basis, for example, when seeking an exceptional needs payment or in claiming additional supports such as rent supplement, which are usually reviewed once to twice yearly.
The staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continuously reviewed, taking account of workloads, management priorities and the competing demands arising, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources with a view to providing an efficient service to those who rely on the schemes operated by the Department and that the services provided are reconstituted, where necessary, to meet the changing needs of Irish society.
As an exception to the current moratorium on recruitment, the Department has limited sanction to recruit temporary clerical officers to cover critical long-term staff absences, and some staff availing of the Shorter Working Year Scheme.
Departmental Staff Retirements
Ceisteanna (147)
Michael Creed
Ceist:147. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to set out the circumstances under which staff in her Department are entitled to retire on enhanced retirement packages; the number of staff from her Department who retired each year since 2010; the number of these staff in each year who received enhanced retirement packages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39997/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
All retirement benefits for staff retiring from the Department are awarded strictly in accordance with the rules of the Superannuation Schemes. No enhanced retirement packages are provided.
In the case of retirement on grounds of ill health, added years may be awarded in accordance with the rules of the Superannuation Schemes as set out in centralised circulars, on receipt of a recommendation from the Chief Medical Officer for the Civil Service that the staff member concerned is incapable, on medical grounds, of regular and effective service and that this medical incapacity is likely to be permanent.
Also, the award of added years can occur in cases where a staff member, within a professional grade, (e.g. accountants) is entitled to “professional added years”. These are awarded strictly in accordance with the rules of the Superannuation Schemes, as set out in centralised Circulars.
The number of retirements, ill health retirements and the number of cases where professional added years were awarded in the Department since 2010 are set out in the following table:
|
Year |
Number of retirements |
Number of Ill Health Retirements |
Number of retirements where Professional added Years awarded |
|
2010 |
100 |
16 |
1 |
|
2011 |
100 |
19 |
3 |
|
2012 |
302 |
28 |
2 |
|
2013 |
98 |
20 |
1 |
|
2014 to date |
138 |
20 |
Nil |
Illness Benefit Applications
Ceisteanna (148)
Joe Carey
Ceist:148. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to set out the position regarding an illness benefit claim in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40019/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The person concerned made a claim for Illness Benefit on 1 July 2008. On 20 January 2012, he attended at the medical review and assessment centre for a medical assessment and the medical assessor provided the opinion that this he was not medically eligible for Illness Benefit. The case was then referred to a Deciding Officer in the Department, who made the decision to disallow the payment of Illness Benefit. The person concerned appealed this decision and an appeal medical assessment was set up for 29 May 2012 to provide a medical opinion for the Appeals Officer. He was examined by a different medical assessor and considered not medically eligible for Illness Benefit. The appeal was then considered by an independent Appeals Officer at the Social Welfare Appeals Office and a letter issued from the Appeals Office on 20 December 2012 disallowing the appeal.
Question No. 149 withdrawn.
Social Welfare Appeals
Ceisteanna (150)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:150. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to set out the position regarding social welfare payments in respect of persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40026/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 08th October 2014. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 17th October 2014 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on 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.
Question No. 151 withdrawn.
Supplementary Welfare Allowance Eligibility
Ceisteanna (152)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:152. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to outline the procedure to be followed by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who is not in a position to work due to serious illness and who has been refused supplementary welfare allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40070/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The person concerned, who was self-employed at the time of his application, was refused supplementary welfare allowance because his means were in excess of the payment limits. Should he now re-apply for supplementary welfare allowance on the basis that his self-employment has ceased due to illness his circumstances will be re-examined.
Question No. 153 withdrawn.