Thursday, 19 Feb 2015

Written Answers Nos. 50-57

Disability Activation Projects

Ceisteanna (51)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

51. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will review the decision to withdraw funding from a project (details supplied) in County Roscommon; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7455/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The project to which the Deputy refers is one of 14 Disability Activation Projects (DACT), which are being jointly funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the department. The DACT projects commenced at the end of 2012 and will end on 30 April 2015, as the ESF portion of the funding was provided under the Human Capital Investment Operational Programme 2007- 2013 and this programme has recently come to an end.

There is therefore no provision for ESF co-funding arrangements to continue beyond the end of April next. This position was recently communicated to the individual projects, and it was pointed out that the terms of the grant agreement with each DACT project stipulated that the project must be delivered and completed by the end of April this year.

I very much welcomed and supported the setting up of these projects as they set out to explore a variety of routes towards ensuring that people with disabilities are enabled to avail of progression, education and development opportunities within the world of work. However, the projects were not intended to become ongoing service delivery organisations.

The Department has now commissioned an independent evaluation of the projects and a key part of this evaluation will be to identify from the projects what works with regard to increasing the capacity and potential of people on disability/illness welfare payments to participate in the labour market, and which of those are capable, where appropriate, of being mainstreamed in the delivery of supports to people with disabilities in the future. In the meantime, the department is considering the position of those people who will still be participating in the projects at the end of April.

Social Welfare Benefits Data

Ceisteanna (52)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

52. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a detailed breakdown of reductions in the rates and the discontinuation of social protection payments issued by her Department in each year since 2007; if she will provide details of the amounts of expenditure reduced each year, in respect of each heading; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7490/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The following tables detail the Department's Budget measures over the period 2009 to 2014 inclusive, including reductions in rates and discontinuation of payments. There were no rate reductions or discontinuation of social protection payments in Budgets 2007, 2008 or 2015.

Table 1: Savings Measures - Budget 2009 and Supplementary Budget 2009

Summary description of adjustment	Effect of Measure 2009 €m	Effect of Measure 2010 €m	Full Year €m
1. (a) Reduce Jobseeker's Benefit entitlement from 15 to 12 months for recipients with 260 or more contributions and (b) Reduce duration of Jobseeker's Benefit from 12 months to 9 months where a person has less than 260 contributions paid.	53	86	86
2. Increase the current weekly earnings threshold for the payment of reduced rates of Illness Benefit, Jobseeker's Benefit and Health and Safety Benefit (known as graduated rates) from €150 to €300.	8	10	10
3. Increase underlying number of paid contributions for entitlement to Jobseeker's Benefit, Illness Benefit and Health & Safety Benefit, from 52 to 104 and introduce a condition whereby 13 paid contributions are required in the relevant tax year (and certain other tax years) for eligibility for Jobseeker's Benefit and Health and Safety Benefit.	11.7	23.1	23.1
4. Limit Illness Benefit to two years duration for new claimants.	0	0	101
5. Halve entitlement to Child Benefit for 18 year olds; Abolish in 2010 and recycle some CB savings for offsetting measures on children to protect social welfare families.	27.6	67.2	79
6. Discontinue provision for the Christmas Bonus.	156	171	171
7. Introduce a reduced personal rate of payment of €100 per week for new Jobseeker's Allowance claimants aged 18 and 19 years and new Basic SWA claimants aged under 20 years.	12	26	26
8. Rent/Mortgage Interest Supplement measures including: Increase minimum contribution for Rent and Mortgage Interest Supplement by €11 per week to €24 and Reduce maximum rent limits where appropriate by up to 10% for all new tenancies/renewals and reduce all existing Rent Supplements by 8%.	69	97	97
9. Additional Control Savings	82	125	125
Total	419	605	718

Table 2: Savings Measures - Budget 2010

Summary description of adjustment	Saving 2010 €m	Full Year €m
1. Child Income Support A reduction of €16 per month in both the Lower and Higher Child Benefit Rates, bringing the Lower Rate from €166 to €150 per month and the Higher Rate from €203 to €187 per month.	221.10	221.10
Less Compensatory measures: An increase of €3.80 per week in the rate of Qualified Child Increase, from €26 per week to €29.80.	-84.03	-84.03
An increase of €6 per week per child in all Family Income Supplement weekly earnings thresholds.	-14.54	-14.54
Child Income Support Total	122.53	122.53
2. Weekly Rates of Payment Weekly Personal Rates of Payment – A reduction of €8.30 in the weekly personal rate of Jobseeker's Benefit and Allowance, Invalidity Pension (under 65 years), Widow/er's (Contributory) Pension (aged under 66 years), Widow/er's Non-Contributory Pension, Deserted Wife's Benefit (under 66 years) and Allowance, Illness Benefit, Incapacity Supplement, Health and Safety Benefit, Injury Benefit, Pre Retirement Allowance, Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Farm Assist, One-Parent Family Payment, Supplementary Welfare Allowance, Back to Work Allowance and Back to Education Allowance. Lowest rate of €196 per week down from €204.30. Reduction of €8.20 per week in the rates of Death Benefit Pension (aged under 66) and Carer's Benefit. A reduction of €8.40 per week in Disablement Pension and a reduction of €8.50 per week in the rate of Carer's Allowance. A €7.50 (4.2%) reduction in the rate of Guardian's Payment (both Contributory and Non-Contributory).	395.97	395.97
Weekly Qualified Adult Rates of Payment – A reduction of €5.90 per week for Invalidity Pension qualified adults aged under 66, from €149.70 to €143.80 per week. A reduction of €5.50 per week for all other qualified adults of working age schemes. Proportionate reductions for all persons in receipt of reduced rates.	29.50	29.50
Reduction of €10 (3.6%) in the maximum rate of Maternity and Adoptive Benefit from €280 pw to €270 and a as well as an €4.50 reduction in the minimum rate, from €230.30 to €225.80 per week. Reduction in the minimum rate takes account of the increase in the QCI.	11.10	11.10
Weekly Rates of Payment Total	436.57	436.57
3. Activation Measures Introduce a new rate of €100 per week for new recipients of Jobseeker's Allowance & Supplementary Welfare Allowance for persons aged 20 and 21 years of age.	37.89	97.13
Introduce a new rate of €150 per week for new recipients of Jobseeker's Allowance & Supplementary Welfare Allowance for persons aged 22 to 24 years of age, inclusive.	15.70	58.90
Introduce a lower rate of €150 for Jobseeker's Allowance/SWA for persons who do not avail of labour activation measures and training courses.	40.00	40.00
Activation Measures Total	93.59	196.03
4. Rent Supplement - Savings from a review of maximum rent levels.	20.00	20.00
Rent Supplement Total	20.00	20.00
5. Limit entitlements under the Treatment Benefit scheme in 2010 to the Medical and Surgical Appliances Scheme and the free examination elements of Dental and Optical Benefits.	54.00	0.00
Treatment Benefit Total	54.00	0.00
6. Additional Control Savings.	33.31	33.31
Control Savings Total	33.31	33.31
6. Agencies Reduction in grant to the Family Support Agency.	2.00	2.00
Reduction in grant to the Citizen's Information Board.	0.33	0.33
Agencies Total	2.33	2.33
Overall Total	762	811

Table 3: Details of DSP Budget Package 2011

Budget Measure	2011 €m	2012 €m	2013 €m	2014 €m
1. €10 per month reduction on both lower and higher Child Benefit rates with an additional €10 per month reduction for 3rd child only. New rates of €140 (first and second child), €167 (third child only) and €177 (fourth and subsequent child).	149.38	149.38	149.38	149.38
2. Weekly Rates of Payment – a reduction of €8 per week in most payments to people aged under 66 with proportionate reductions for qualified adults. However, the rate of Supplementary Welfare Allowance was reduced by €10 per week and the rate of Jobseeker's Allowance for those aged 22 to 24 years was reduced by €6 per week. The rate of Jobseeker's Allowance for those aged 18 to 21 years was maintained at €100 per week.	384.51	384.51	384.51	384.51
3. The discontinuation of most elements of the Treatment Benefit scheme was extended over the period up to 2014.	76.75	76.75	76.75	76.75
4. Efficiency savings in the energy and communications elements of the Household Benefits Package.	30.00	30.00	30.00	30.00
5. Reform of the Rent Supplement scheme including €2 per week increase in the minimum contribution for all non SWA basic recipients - consequent on the extra €2 reduction in SWA.	60.00	60.00	60.00	60.00
6. Activation Measures – enhanced activation.	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
7. Other Measures – various other measures	49.36	68.05	76.61	81.04
8. Savings from efficiencies in administration	11.00	11.00	11.00	11.00
9. Savings on FÁS Employment Programmes. These savings are consequential on social welfare rates.	12.00	12.00	12.00	12.00
Overall Total	873	892	900	905
In addition, the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 included the provision that the State Pension Transition would be closed to new entrants from the 1st January 2014. Savings at the time were estimated at €30m in 2014 and €60m in 2015 and a full year.				30.00

Table 4: Details of DSP Budget Package 2012

BUDGET 2012 Measures	2012 €m	2013 €m	2014 €m	2015 €m	Full Year
1. Children & Families 1.1 Child Benefit: The grant of €635 paid at birth on all multiple births and further grants of €635 paid when the children are aged 4 and 12 was discontinued.	1.9	1.9	1.9	1.9	1.9
1.2 Child Benefit was maintained at €140 per month for the first two children. The rate for third and subsequent children was standardised at €140 per child per month from 2013. In 2012, the monthly rate for the third child is €148 and for the fourth and each subsequent child is €160.	42.75	68.75	68.75	68.75	68.75
1.3 The age at which a child is eligible for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance increased from 2 to 4 years of age.	9.3	9.3	9.3	9.3	9.3
1.4 The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance was reduced from €305 to €250 (children over 12) and from €200 to €150 (children aged 4-11 years).	17.0	17.0	17.0	17.0	17.0
1.5 The upper age limit of the youngest child for new claimants of the One-Parent Family Payment will be reduced to 7 years on a phased basis.	0.3	2.0	5.8	11.9	29.9
1.6 Where a person claiming Invalidity Pension, Carer's Benefit, State Pension (Contributory or Transition) or Incapacity Supplement has a spouse or partner with income of over €400 a week, payment of the half-rate increase in respect of a qualified child was discontinued.	0.4	3.1	4.9	5.5	8.0
Children & Families Total	71.65	102.05	107.65	114.35	134.85
2. Working Age Payments 2.1 Where a Jobseeker's Benefit recipient is working for part of a week, the payment entitlement is now based on a 5 day week rather than a 6 day week.	5.9	11.6	11.6	11.6	11.6
2.2 Sunday working will be taken into account when calculating the amount of Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker's Allowance to be paid, from 2013.	0.0	16.0	16.0	16.0	16.0
2.3 New applicants for Disablement Benefit must have a disability classified at > 15% to qualify for the payment.	2.6	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0
2.4 Restrict access to Exceptional Needs Payments.	8.5	8.5	8.5	8.5	8.5
2.5 New applicants for Carer's Allowance, who are not living with the person for whom they are providing care, are no longer entitled to the Household Benefits package.	1.0	2.2	3.7	5.2	5.9
2.6 The employer rebate of statutory Redundancy payments was reduced from 60% to 15%.	81.0	122.0	104.0	104.0	104.0
2.7 Fuel Allowance season was reduced from 32 to 26 weeks.	51.0	51.0	51.0	51.0	51.0
2.8 Treatment Benefit - the frequency of the grant for hearing aids increased from 2 years to 4 years. Also, the maximum grant available for one hearing aid was reduced from €760 to €500 and for two, from €1,520 to €1,000.	2.0	3.0	4.0	4.0	4.0
2.9 The training and materials grant for Community Employment participants reduced from €1,500 to €500 per participant per annum.	28.05	28.05	28.05	28.05	28.05
2.10 The Cost of Education Allowance, the annual grant which accompanies the Back to Education Allowance, was reduce from €500 to €300.	5.4	5.4	5.4	5.4	5.4
2.11 Discontinue payment of the training budget for participants of Jobs Initiative and reduce the materials allowance by 50%.	2.5	2.5	2.5	2.5	2.5
2.12 Farm Assist – the assessment of means from self-employment was raised from 70% to 85%. The deductions from income for children were halved to €127 per year for each of the first two dependent children and €190.50 per year for each subsequent child.	5.15	5.15	5.15	5.15	5.15
Working Age Payments Total	193.1	260.4	244.9	246.4	247.1
3. Securing Sustainable Pensions 3.1 A lower pension is payable to new applicants of State Pension (from Sept 2012) who have a yearly average of less than 48 PRSI cons.	0.50	2.80	5.50	8.20	25.0
3.2 Currently, late claims for certain contributory pensions can be backdated for more than 12 months provided the relevant qualifying conditions are fulfilled. The backdating period will be reduced to a max of 6 months.	18.50	27.20	27.20	27.20	27.2
3.3 The total number of paid PRSI contributions needed to qualify for Widow(er)'s Contributory Pension and Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension will increase from 156 to 260 contributions.	0.00	0.50	5.11	10.16	20.28
Securing Sustainable Pensions Total	19.0	30.5	45.56	72.48	72.48
4. Concurrent Payments 4.1 Currently, a person who gets a Widow(er)'s Pension, Surviving Civil Partner's Pension or One Family Parent Payment may be entitled to half rate Jobseeker's Benefit, Illness Benefit or Incapacity Supplement. These half rate payments will cease for new applicants.	12.0	22.6	22.6	22.6	22.6
4.2 New participants on Community Employment schemes will not be able to claim another social welfare payment at the same time.	9.0	26.3	43.7	61.2	61.2
4.3 Payment of two qualified child increases where the person is on a Community Employment Scheme and One Parent Family Payment, Deserted Wife's Allowance/Benefit or Widow(er)'s Pensions will be discontinued for new and existing recipients.	6.25	6.25	6.25	6.25	6.25
Concurrent Payments Total	27.25	55.15	72.55	90.05	90.05
5. Fraud & Control Measures	41.0	41.0	41.0	41.0	41.0
6. Rent & Mortgage Interest Supplements 6.1 The minimum contribution by single tenants for Rent Supplement scheme increased by €6 to €30 per week. The minimum contribution payable by couples increased to €35 per week. Rent limits also reviewed.	55.0	55.0	55.0	55.0	55.0
6.2 The minimum contribution for the purposes of the Mortgage Interest Supplement (MIS) scheme increased by €6 to €30 per week for a single person, and by €5 to €35 for couple. In addition, payment of MIS will be deferred for 12 months while the person engages with the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process.	22.5	22.5	22.5	22.5	22.5
Rent & Mortgage Interest Supplements Total	77.5	77.5	77.5	77.5	77.5
7. Means Testing 7.1 For new and existing claimants, income from employment as a home help funded by the HSE is now assessed in means tests for Social Assistance schemes.	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0
7.2 The amount of earnings disregarded for the purposes of the OPFP means test reduced from €146.50 to €130 per week in 2012 for all recipients. Further reductions will be introduced over the following 4 years.	14.2	32.0	50.0	63.0	76.1
7.3 Income from weekly carers payments is now included for the purposes of calculating entitlement to Family Income Supplement in line with other welfare payments.	0.5	1.06	1.06	1.06	1.06
7.4 Transitional payment where One Parent Family Payment recipient's earnings exceed €425 per week was discontinued. Existing recipients not affected.	0.8	1.03	1.03	1.03	1.03
Means Testing Total	20.5	39.09	57.09	70.09	83.19
8. Miscellaneous Savings 8.1 Savings will be achieved on the Electricity/Gas Allowance of the Household Benefits Package.	15.0	15.0	15.0	15.0	15.0
8.2 The Administration cost to the Dept. of medical certs for illness and disability related schemes reduced by 10%.	3.0	3.0	3.0	3.0	3.0
Miscellaneous Savings Total	18.0	18.0	18.0	18.0	18.0
OVERALL TOTAL	468	624	657	703	764

Table 5: Details of DSP Budget Package 2013

BUDGET 2013 Measures	2013 €m	2014 €m	2015 €m	Full Year €m
Expenditure Reduction Measures
1. Jobseeker's Benefit: The duration of Jobseeker's Benefit has been reduced from (a) 12 months to 9 months for recipients with 260 or more contributions paid and (b) 9 months to 6 months for recipients with less than 260 contributions paid.	33.00	81.50	81.50	81.50
2. Farm Assist: The rate assessment of means from self-employment, including farming, was raised from 85% to 100%. The deductions from income for children are being discontinued (currently €127 per year for each of the first two dependent children and €190.50 per year for each subsequent child).	3.75	5.00	5.00	5.00
3. Redundancy Payments Scheme: The employer rebate element (15%) of the statutory redundancy scheme has been discontinued.	25.00	30.00	30.00	30.00
4. Supplementary Welfare Allowance: Reductions in expenditure on Exceptional Needs Payments.	5.50	5.50	5.50	5.50
5. Back to Education Allowance: - The €300 Cost of Education Allowance payable to Back to Education Allowance participants has been discontinued for new and existing participants.	7.80	7.80	7.80	7.80
- The up-rating of the Back to Education Allowance payable rate where the person was on a reduced rate of a qualifying payment because of means has been discontinued for new participants.	2.00	6.40	10.90	11.60
- The up-rating of the Back to Education Allowance payable rate from €188 per week to €160 where the person was on a reduced age related rate of Jobseeker's Allowance (€100 or €144 per week) has been reduced for new participants.	0.80	2.50	4.20	4.54
6. Respite Care Grant: The Respite Care Grant has been reduced by €325, from €1,700 to €1,375 for new and existing recipients.	26.15	26.15	26.15	26.15
7. Child Benefit: The monthly rate of Child Benefit was reduced by €10 per child in respect of the first, second and third child. From January 2013, the monthly rate for each of the first three children was €130. The monthly rate will reduce by €10 per child, to €130, in respect of the fourth and each subsequent child from January 2014.	136.00	142.47	142.47	142.47
8. Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance: The rates of BSCFA reduced by €50, from €150 to €100 (children aged 4 to 11), and €250 to €200 (children aged 12 to 17 or aged 18 to 22 in full time education).	16.80	16.80	16.80	16.80
9. Household Benefits Package: Gas and Electricity Allowance - The value of the Electricity/Gas element of the Household Benefits package has been restructured based on the average best rate available for an unchanged 150 units per month from Airtricity, Bord Gáis and Electric Ireland. The Allowance no longer covers the PSO contribution and the differentiated rates of payment (urban/rural) will no longer apply.	20.00	22.60	22.60	22.60
- Telephone Allowance – the value of the Telephone Allowance element of the Household Benefits package was reduced for new and existing recipients.	61.00	61.00	61.00	61.00
Fraud Control and Overpayment Measures: Additional fraud, control and overpayment measures were introduced.	60.00	60.00	60.00	60.00
Administrative Savings: The cost to the Department of medical certificates for illness and disability related schemes has been reduced. This is an administrative saving in the Department.	5.00	5.00	5.00	5.00
Increased funding provision for activation programmes and school meal provision	-13	-28	-28	-28
Subtotal Expenditure Reduction Measures	390	445	451	452

Table 6: Details of DSP Budget Package 2014

BUDGET 2014 Measures	2014 €m	2015 €m	2016 €m	2017 €m	Full Year €m
1. Bereavement Grant Discontinue payment of the €850 Bereavement Grant in respect of deaths on or after 1 Jan 2014.	17	22	22	22	22
2. Jobseeker's Allowance and SWA Apply the reduced €100 rate of Jobseeker's Allowance and SWA (currently applicable to 18 to 21 year olds) to persons without children who reach the age of 22 from Jan 2014 and to new claimants aged 23 and 24 also from Jan 2014. AND Apply the reduced €144 rate of Jobseeker's Allowance and SWA (currently applicable to 22 to 24 year olds) to persons without children who reach the age of 25 from Jan 2014. BTEA maximum rate for 25 year olds to be reduced to €160 per week for relevant new entrants. The lower rates of JA will apply to persons aged 25 and under who have exhausted their entitlement to JB.	32	52	64	72	72
3. Activation Activation Savings.	10	10	10	10	10
4. Maternity & Adoptive Benefit Standardise the minimum and maximum rates of Maternity & Adoptive Benefit at €230 per week (this means an increase of up to €12.20 for those receiving the less than €230 per week and a reduction of up to €32 per week for all other claimants). Applies to new claimants only from Jan 2014. Existing claimants will not be affected.	30	36	36	36	36
5. Exceptional Needs Payments Reduce the expenditure on the exceptional needs payment scheme by €2.1m in 2014 and in each subsequent year by a general review of payments under the scheme to ensure consistency with regard to payment levels on a national basis.	2.1	2.1	2.1	2.1	2.1
6. Diet Supplement Discontinue the Diet Supplement Scheme for new recipients from 1 January 2014. Existing recipients are unaffected.	0.4	1	1.3	1.7	3.2
7. Employment Supports Efficiencies in employment supports schemes.	12	12	12	12	12
8. Recovery of Social Welfare Payments Provide that welfare benefits paid by the department to individual, arising from an accident or injury are repaid to the department (by insurers) in those cases where the insured person has also been compensated for the same via a settlement.	21	22	22	22	22
9. Illness Benefits Increase the number of waiting days for entitlement to Illness Benefit from 3 days to 6 days, from Jan 2014.	22	22	22	22	22
10. Invalidity Pension In line with the abolition of the State Pension Transition from Jan 2014, discontinue the personal weekly rate of €230.30 payable to Invalidity Pensioners at age 65 and align with the personal weekly rate of €193.50 currently payable to Invalidity Pensioners aged under 65. This measure to apply to persons reaching their 65th birthday from Jan 2014. AND Discontinue the qualified adult weekly rate of €206.30 payable to qualified adults who are aged 66 or over of Invalidity Pensioners and align with the qualified adult weekly rate of €138.10 currently payable to qualified adults who are aged under 66 of Invalidity Pensioners. This measure to apply to qualified adults reaching their 66th birthday from Jan 2014.	5	9	9	9	10
11. Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance The abolition of payment of the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) for children over the age of 18 years, other than those attending secondary school, for 2014 and subsequent years.	2.5	2.5	2.5	2.5	2.5
12. Rent & Mortgage Interest Supplement Increase the minimum contribution for couples by €5 from €35 to €40 further aligning Rent Supplement contributions with the Local Authority rents structure, for new and existing recipients. This also applies to Mortgage Interest Supplement, from Jan 2014.	6	7.1	7.1	7.1	7.1
13. Mortgage Interest Supplement Discontinue the Mortgage Interest Supplement scheme for new applicants and allow a winding down of the current MIS recipient base over a four year period, from Jan 2014.	12	16	20	24	30
14. Household Benefits - Telephone Allowance Discontinue the Telephone Allowance for all recipients, from Jan 2014. The current value of the Allowance is €9.50 per month.	44	46.7	46.9	47.1	47.1
15. Household Benefits - Free TV Licence Reduce the annual payment to RTÉ for the Free TV Licence from €59.17 million to €54.17 million.	5	5	5	5	5
16. Fraud and Control Additional Fraud and Control Measures.	30	30	30	30	30
17. Administrative Savings Additional administrative savings.	5	5	5	5	5
18. ELS Technical Adjustment ELS Technical Adjustment	34	34	34	34	34
BUDGET 2014 NET EXPENDITURE REDUCTION	290	334.4	350.9	363.50	372

Jobs Data

Ceisteanna (53)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

53. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, the current number of JobBridge participants working in each of the local authorities. [7534/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

The number of interns participating in the JobBridge scheme with each Local Authority is set out in the following Table:

Table 1. JobBridge Interns with Local Authorities

Local Authority	Current
Athlone Town Council	0
Bray Town Council	0
Carlow County Council	3
Cavan County Council	1
Clare County Council	2
Cork City Council	12
Cork County Council	3
Donegal County Council	11
Dublin City Council - Woodquay	10
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council	2
Dungarvan Town Council	0
Fingal County Council	1
Galway City Council	0
Galway County Council	13
Kerry County Council	3
Kildare County Council	0
Kilkenny County Council	1
Laois County Council	2
Leitrim County Council	2
Limerick City Council	16
Limerick County Council	0
Longford County Council	0
Louth County Council	3
Mayo County Council	16
Meath County Council	1
Monaghan County Council	6
North Tipperary County Council	0
Offaly County Council	2
Roscommon County Council	3
Sligo County Council	10
South Dublin County Council	0
South Tipperary County Council	3
Waterford City & County Council	7
Waterford City Council	3
Waterford County Council	1
Westmeath County Council	5
Wicklow County Council	1
Grand Total	143

Redundancy Payments

Ceisteanna (54)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

54. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if, and when, statutory redundancy is likely to be paid in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7553/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

There is no record of receipt of a redundancy lump sum application in my Department in respect of the person detailed.

Exceptional Needs Payments

Ceisteanna (55)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

55. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if an exceptional needs payment under the supplementary allowance scheme will be made in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare, in respect of that person's electricity arrears; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7556/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

According to the records of this Department a recent application for an exceptional needs payment has not been submitted by the person concerned. It is open to her to submit an application to her local Community Welfare Service.

Exceptional Needs Payments

Ceisteanna (56)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

56. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if an exceptional needs payment under the supplementary allowance scheme will be awarded in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7557/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

According to the records of this Department, a recent application for an exceptional needs payment has not been submitted by the person concerned. It is open to her to submit an application to her local Community Welfare Service.

Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare

Ceisteanna (57)

Joanna Tuffy

Ceist:

57. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the implementation of the third report of the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare, which makes recommendations in relation to the extension of social insurance cover for the self-employed; if her Department will liaise with the Department of Finance to ensure that if there are changes to income tax affecting the self-employed, the report's recommendations could be implemented alongside those changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7599/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

In September 2013, I published the Third Report of the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare on Extending Social Insurance Coverage for the self-employed. The Group was asked to examine and report on issues involved in extending social insurance coverage for self-employed people in order to establish whether or not such cover is technically feasible and financially sustainable, with the requirement that any proposals for change must be cost neutral.

The Group found that the current system of means tested jobseeker's allowance payments adequately provides cover to self-employed people for the risks associated with unemployment. In this context, the Group noted that almost 9 out of every 10 self-employed people who claimed the means tested jobseeker's allowance during the three-year period from 2009 to 2011 received payment. Consequently, the Group was not convinced that there was a need for the extension of social insurance for the self-employed to provide cover for jobseeker's benefit.

The Group found that extending social insurance for the self-employed was warranted in cases related to long term sickness or injuries. To this end, the Group recommended that class S benefits should be extended to provide cover for people who are permanently incapable of work, because of a long-term illness or incapacity, through the invalidity pension and the partial capacity benefit schemes. The Group further recommended that the extension of social insurance in this regard should be on a compulsory basis and that the rate of contribution for class S should be increased by at least 1.5 percentage points.

In addition to the above the Group identified a range of issues associated with the subject of social insurance for the self-employed that should be addressed and made a number of other recommendations in this regard. Among the issues identified by the Group was the simplification of the methodology for assessing means for jobseeker's allowance payments, credited PRSI contributions, modification of the eligibility criteria for non-income support based activation and training schemes to enable the self-employed to gain access to such schemes and the role that information campaigns might play in addressing information deficits, particularly with regard to entitlements to jobseeker's allowance and the importance of making voluntary contributions.

The position in relation to the means assessment applied to self-employed income is that income from the previous twelve months is used as an indicator of likely future earnings. Given the variety of self-employment situations, the means assessment procedures are applied in a flexible manner to ensure that any circumstances that would be likely to lead to a significant variation, either upward or downward, in the level of a person's income from one year to the next are taken into consideration. As in the case of a non-self-employed claimant for jobseeker's allowance or disability allowance, the means of husband/wife, civil partner or co-habitant are taken into account in deciding on entitlement to a payment.

The primary purpose of PRSI credits is to secure social welfare benefits and pensions of employees by covering gaps in insurance where they are not in a position to pay PRSI such as during periods of unemployment, illness, etc. The class at which a contributor paid his or her last PRSI contribution determines entitlement to credited contributions. Credits are usually awarded at the same rate as the person's last paid PRSI contribution. For example, class A PRSI contributions may entitle a person to all insured DSP benefits, provided they satisfy the qualifying conditions. Credits are not available to a person who has only class S contributions.

If income from self-employment falls below €5,000 in a contribution year or a person is unable to work, he or she may opt to pay voluntary contributions. To become a voluntary contributor a person must:

- have paid at least 468 weeks PRSI (since 6 April 2014) in either employment or self-employment,

- apply within 12 months of the end of the tax year during which he/she last paid compulsory insurance or were last awarded a credited contribution,

- agree to pay voluntary contributions from the start of the contribution week that follows the week in which he/she leaves compulsory insurance.

- To become a voluntary contributor on or after 6 April 2015 a person must have previously paid 520 weeks PRSI.

The annual voluntary contribution charge for the self-employed is a special flat rate payment of €500. The payment of voluntary contributions allows the self-employed to maintain their PRSI record and qualify for State pension (contributory), widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's contributory pension and guardian's payment (contributory).

Self-employed people in receipt of jobseeker's allowance have access to the full range of activation measures available through the State. Given the scale of unemployment levels, the key objective of activation policy and labour market initiatives is to offer assistance to those most in need of support in securing work and achieving financial self-sufficiency. This policy objective prioritises scarce resources to those in receipt of qualifying welfare payments. Accordingly the employment services and schemes provided by my Department are focused in the first instance on this cohort of unemployed people. However, many services are available to the formerly self-employed who are not in receipt of a social welfare payment.

Some employment services, such as assistance with job-search activities and the use of online job search tools, are available to people if they register with the Department's employment services offices, regardless of their social welfare status. Unemployed persons, including the previously self-employed, not in receipt of payments may also be eligible to avail of up-skilling opportunities but are not eligible to receive a training allowance while undertaking the course. Springboard courses are open to people who were previously self-employed, regardless of their social welfare status.

The Department undertakes advertising and awareness activities to ensure that all members of the public are made aware of their rights and entitlements and that they are kept informed of significant changes and improvements in schemes and services as they occur.

Information on the full range of social welfare schemes and services is available from the Department's INTREO/local office network and the nationwide network of Citizens Information Centres. In addition, many people access information on the Department's and Citizen Information Board's websites.

My colleagues in Government and I will continue to reflect on the findings of the Advisory Group on the various issues outlined above and will consider the recommendations contained in the report taking into account future developments in terms of the budgetary and fiscal situation.