Paul Murphy
Ceist:36. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views regarding the ongoing displacement of Tamil people in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8301/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraHuman Rights Issues
Ceisteanna (36)
Freagraí scríofa
Three decades of civil war in Sri Lanka which ended in 2009 caused the internal displacement of tens of thousands of Sri Lankans, many of whom are members of the Tamil population. This remains an issue to the present day. There has been a change in Government in Sri Lanka following the presidential election last month, and I welcome the stated commitment of the new President, Maithripala Sirisena, to re-establish democracy, freedom, good governance and respect for human rights. Through our Embassy in New Delhi, which is accredited to Sri Lanka, we are in regular contact with the EU Delegation in Colombo which reports that the new Government has already made some positive steps to deal with resettlement issues, including returning some military land (used for commercial purposes), nomination of a civilian governor in the Northern Province, cancelling the foreign travel restrictions in the North and welcoming Tamil refugees from India.
This year, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) plans to enhance its capacity to conduct refugee status determination and resettlement submissions in Sri Lanka. I understand that they will also facilitate the voluntary return of Sri Lankan refugees and those internally displaced, in safety and dignity, and will assist them to reintegrate through community mobilization projects.
At the UN Human Rights Council session in March 2014 Ireland supported a resolution promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka. One aspect of that resolution was a request for an investigation by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights into alleged serious violations of human rights in Sri Lanka. The report of that investigation is scheduled to be published and considered by the Human Rights Council in September 2015.
Respite Care Grant Eligibility
Ceisteanna (37)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:37. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if respite grant-care will be offered in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8562/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The respite care grant (RCG) is an annual payment made to full-time carers who satisfy certain conditions. The grant is payable automatically to carers who are in receipt of carer’s allowance on the first Thursday in June of the relevant year.
The person in question was not paid an RCG for 2014 automatically because their carer’s allowance was awarded from 11th September 2014 and they were not in receipt of carer’s allowance on the relevant date in 2014.
A carer who does not qualify for automatic payment of RCG may apply for it by completing the application form RCG 1 and sending it to the Respite Care Grant Section PO Box 10085, Dublin 2. Their eligibility will be assessed and they will be notified directly of the outcome.
Job Initiatives
Ceisteanna (38)
Colm Keaveney
Ceist:38. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons within the Tuam area, County Galway, who are currently on job activation schemes, detailed by type of scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8478/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In the first instance, the Government’s primary strategy to tackle unemployment in Tuam, as with the rest of the country, is to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting competitiveness and productivity. Economic recovery will underpin jobs growth.
However, the Government also recognises the need for additional measures to address unemployment in the interim while the economy recovers. This is the rationale behind the Government’s Pathways to Work Strategy which is being led by the Department of Social Protection.
Job activation programmes are an important part of these additional measures. Data on the number of participants in job activation programmes is not readily available for the Tuam area, but are available at the County level for most programmes. Table 1 provides a breakdown of participants as at end December 2014 for County Galway.
Table 1 Job Activation Programmes for County Galway
|
Programme |
As at end December 2014 |
Notes |
|
Back to work enterprise allowance (BTWEA) |
721 |
In receipt of payment as at end December 2014 |
|
Short-term enterprise allowance (STEA) |
25 |
In receipt of payment as at end December 2014 |
|
Part-time Job Incentive (PTJI) |
N/A |
Data is not available for county or local office level. 373 recipients nationally as at end Dec. 2014 |
|
TÚS |
496 |
|
|
JobBridge |
817 |
Total number from inception of scheme in July 2011. Includes 158 current placements and 659 finished placements. |
|
Community employment schemes (excluding supervisors) |
127 |
Covering 6 CE projects in Tuam. |
|
SOLAS (formerly FAS) full time training for unemployed people |
434 |
|
|
Back to education allowance (BTEA) |
1,453 |
Number of participants as at end Dec. 2014 |
|
Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) |
N/A |
National estimates for VTOS are 5,000 per year. |
Question No. 39 withdrawn.
Back to Education Allowance Eligibility
Ceisteanna (40)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:40. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the payment a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6 may qualify for while on a back-to-education course in view of the fact that the person was refused a back-to-education allowance and jobseeker's allowance, but was on jobseeker's allowance for three months before commencing a course, which would qualify her for a back-to-education allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8490/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As explained in the previous answer to the Deputy’s question (PQ 6583-15), because the person concerned was not in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment immediately prior to the commencement date of her course in September 2014, her application for BTEA cannot be approved. There is no new information available apparent that would give rise to a reconsideration of this decision, should such information become available the person concerned should contact the Department with same for consideration.
Magdalen Laundries
Ceisteanna (41)
Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:41. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if all social welfare offices have received a directive that the payments to Magdalen laundry survivors, made under the restorative justice scheme, are not to be considered income under any means test. [8492/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Details of the Social Welfare Regulations Statutory Instruments 155, 156 and 157 of 2014 were circulated to all staff of the Department of Social Protection in April 2014 through a number of information channels. These Regulations extend the list of compensation payments that are to be disregarded for the purposes of the means test applying to social assistance payments and also the supplementary welfare and rent allowance schemes and include those women who fall within the terms of the Magdalen Commission Report.
I am very anxious to assist these women as much as possible. Accordingly, if the Deputy is aware of any particular case with issues in this regard it would be helpful if she could supply the details and my officials will investigate the matter further.
Disability Allowance Payments
Ceisteanna (42)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:42. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8506/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
There are arrears due to the person concerned. However, as the person has an overpayment outstanding, on 23 February 2015 the Department has written to him with proposals for the recovery of the overpayment and the releasing of his arrears. His comments have been invited and will be considered before any decisions are made by the Department.
Living Alone Allowance
Ceisteanna (43)
Patrick O'Donovan
Ceist:43. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to the decision to backdate the living alone allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford, if a review of this decision will be carried out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8533/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
According to the records of the Department, the application from the person concerned for invalidity pension was disallowed as the qualifying conditions were not satisfied.
Instead, the person concerned qualified for disability allowance including an increase for living alone.
In 2007, while in receipt of disability allowance, the person concerned applied for and was awarded state pension (transition) with effect from his 65th birthday. Recipients of state pension (transition) are not eligible to receive an increase for living alone. State pension (transition) recipients are automatically transferred to state pension (contributory) on reaching 66 years of age. Recipients of state pension (contributory) who live alone are eligible to apply for an increase for living alone.
The person concerned submitted a claim for increase for living alone on 15 December 2014. The deciding officer awarded the increase, backdated for 6 months to 15 June 2014, in line with current legislative provisions. The application is now being reviewed by another deciding officer and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome without delay.
Social Welfare Benefits Applications
Ceisteanna (44)
Tom Fleming
Ceist:44. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will examine, and expedite, applications for a domiciliary care allowance and a carer's allowance, in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8547/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 17th February 2015. This application has been forwarded to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors for their medical opinion. Following receipt of this opinion, a decision will be made by a Deciding Officer and notified to the person concerned. It can currently take 10 weeks to process an application for DCA.
The department also received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 20th January 2015. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.