Written Answers Nos. 34-41
34. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her legislative plans to reform the Parole Board of Ireland, in view of recent criticism, particularly about the decision-making process and the extent of ministerial input into temporary release; her views on failures identified in a report (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7069/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 415 dated 14 January 2015, which dealt with the report referred to by the Deputy.
In relation to the Parole Board, proposals are being prepared to put it on a statutory footing. In September last year, I published the report of the Penal Policy Review Group which was tasked with carrying out a strategic review of penal policy. As an initial step, the Government agreed in principle last November to proceed with the implementation of a number of key recommendations, including the bringing forward of legislative proposals to establish the Parole Board on an independent statutory basis.
I believe this will help to strengthen the Board and improve its functions. My Department is currently considering the matter in more detail ahead of presenting proposals for legislation.
35. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding training options and employment opportunities for persons with a disability (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7507/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government recognises the importance of increasing participation of persons with a disability in training and employment and is committed to removing barriers that prevent persons with a disability from participating more fully in society. To this end, the Department provides a comprehensive range of employment supports for people with disabilities. These supports include:
- the EmployAbility service (formerly the Supported Employment Programme), which facilitates people with disabilities into paid employment in the open labour market; and
- a number of other supports specifically for employers, including the Wage Subsidy Scheme, which pays an employer a subsidy for employing a person with a disability; the Work Equipment Adaptation Grant, the Employee Retention Grant, and the Disability Awareness Scheme.
The national internship programme – Jobbridge – is also open to people with disabilities while the activation service managed by the Department – Intreo – is available to any person with a disability who wishes to avail of the service. People with disabilities may also be eligible to avail of wider social welfare schemes such as the Back to Education Allowance and the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance. It should also be noted that persons in receipt of disability allowance (DA) can take up employment and avail of an earnings disregard of up to €120 per week without affecting their rate of DA payment. In addition to these supports, the Department of Education and Skills, through Solas and the Education and Training Boards provides a range of vocational training programmes in their mainline and specialist training provision to assist people with disabilities access the open labour market.
36. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of recipients of the State contributory pension and the State non-contributory pension in each county on 31 December 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7425/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is published annually by my Department in the “Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services” report. The reports for years 2010 to 2013 are available at www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Annual-Statistical-Information-Reports.aspx or through the Oireachtas library. The corresponding data for 2014 are currently being collated by my Department, and will be published in the 2014 report as soon as they are finalised.
37. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of recipients of the widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner’s contributory pension and the widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner’s non-contributory pension in each county on 31 December 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7426/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is published annually by my Department in the “Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services” report. The reports for years 2010 to 2013 are available at www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Annual-Statistical-Information-Reports.aspx or through the Oireachtas library. The corresponding data for 2014 are currently being collated by my Department, and will be published in the 2014 report as soon as they are finalised.
38. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of recipients of the invalidity pension in each county on 31 December 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7427/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is published annually by my Department in the “Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services” report. The reports for years 2010 to 2013 are available at www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Annual-Statistical-Information-Reports.aspx or through the Oireachtas library. The corresponding data for 2014 are currently being collated by my Department, and will be published in the 2014 report as soon as they are finalised.
39. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of recipients of illness benefit in each county on 31 December 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7428/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is published annually by my Department in the “Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services” report. The reports for years 2010 to 2013 are available at www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Annual-Statistical-Information-Reports.aspx or through the Oireachtas library. The corresponding data for 2014 are currently being collated by my Department, and will be published in the 2014 report as soon as they are finalised.
40. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of recipients of disability allowance in each county on 31 December 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7429/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is published annually by my Department in the “Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services” report. The reports for years 2010 to 2013 are available at www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Annual-Statistical-Information-Reports.aspx or through the Oireachtas library. The corresponding data for 2014 are currently being collated by my Department, and will be published in the 2014 report as soon as they are finalised.
41. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of recipients of the blind person's pension in each county on 31 December 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7430/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is published annually by my Department in the “Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services” report. The reports for years 2010 to 2013 are available at www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Annual-Statistical-Information-Reports.aspx or through the Oireachtas library. The corresponding data for 2014 are currently being collated by my Department, and will be published in the 2014 report as soon as they are finalised.
