Written Answers Nos. 169-184
169. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if financial assistance is available from her Department in respect of a community initiative (details supplied) in County Wicklow. [10127/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy understanding from the details provided by the Deputy is what is being sought are the costs associated with the setting up of a food bank. Unfortunately, the Department does not operate any scheme which would be able to provide funding of this nature.
The Department supports community initiatives through community work placement programmes such as community employment, Tús and the rural social scheme. These programmes are delivery locally through sponsor organisations or local development companies. The Deputy should note that the additional resources provided through these programmes are mainly geared towards the provision of materials and to cover input and operating costs associated with work placements and training.
170. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the outcome of an oral hearing in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if any payment has been made to the person. [10130/15]
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 the oral hearing, has decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned. 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.
171. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason the new application forms for the farm assist income support scheme do not include space for applicants to outline their farm outgoings; if farm outgoings are still included in the assessment process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10211/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFarm Assist is a means-tested income support scheme for farmers. To qualify for the payment, a customer must be a farmer farming land in the State, aged between 18 and 66 and satisfy a means test.
The means test for Farm Assist takes account of virtually every form of income but assesses it in different ways and disregards various amounts. Different rules apply to income from farming and other forms of self-employment, income from certain schemes such as the Rural Environmental Protection Scheme (REPS) and Agri-Environmental Options Scheme (AEOS), income from employment and income from property and capital.
The application form for the Farm Assist scheme asks the customer to supply farm receipts and invoices in date order to confirm income, sales, purchases and expenses covering the last 12 months.
This form does not have space to outline their farm outgoings as it would typically not be feasible for customers to list the entire farm operating costs for the previous 12 month period on an application form. However, a customer can supply details of outgoings with the completed application form if they so wish.
An examination of farm outgoings is included in the assessment process and the Social Welfare Inspector takes a detailed account of all operating costs when interviewing the customer. This usually gives the customer a good opportunity to explain both the income generated and the operating costs associated with the farm directly with an Inspector.
172. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10342/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 25 February 2015, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the 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.
174. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when the Waterford Crystal pensions will be issued to the relevant employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10380/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials of the Department are working actively with the Mediator, Unite, the trustees of the scheme and the scheme administrator on the implementation of the agreement. While discussions are continuing on elements of the implementation, it is my intention to ensure that the terms of the agreement are implemented as soon as possible.
The scheme administrator wrote to the members of the scheme on 29 January seeking the consent of each member to the transfer of personal data to the Department of Social Protection, to enable the terms of the agreement to be implemented. I am glad to say that, to date, in excess of 95% of the members have responded to this letter.
When the particulars of the implementation of the agreement are determined and agreed, a further letter will be issued to members who have consented to the transfer of data to the Department to inform them of their entitlement under the agreement. At that stage, the member will be required to sign a "Deed of Release" to the effect that any payment issued under the agreement will be in full and final settlement of any claim a member may have under the scheme. A payment cannot be made until the member signs and returns the "Deed of Release".
I can assure you that every effort is being made by my officials to implement the terms of the agreement as soon as possible.
175. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons to whom each advocacy service provided a service; the issues that were addressed by each advocacy service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10385/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra176. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a list of every organisation funded by her Department or agencies under her Department that provides advocacy services; the total funding to each organisation for year ended 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10388/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 176 together.
The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the statutory body responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice (including money and budgeting advice) and advocacy services to all citizens on a wide range of public and social services.
One of the functions of the CIB, as defined in the Comhairle Act 2000 and the Citizens Information Act 2007, is to directly provide or support the provision of advocacy services to individuals and in particular to assist those with a disability, to identify and understand their needs and options, in order to secure their entitlement to social services.
One of the main ways in which the Citizens Information Board supports advocacy services to the general public is through its network of 42 Citizens Information Services (CIS), where information providers advocate on behalf of their clients mainly in relation to access to public and social services such as social welfare, housing, health and employment. Information providers support their clients to act on their own behalf wherever possible (self-advocacy). They also advocate directly on behalf of their clients through contacting and negotiating with third parties or attending meetings, hearings or appeals.
In 2014, the nationwide network of CIS was allocated funding of some €12.5 million from CIB’s overall budget allocation of €46 million. During 2014, CIS provided an advocacy service to over 2,500 people. Overall, 56% of advocacy issues related to social welfare, 22% related to employment issues, 8% to housing issues with the balance relating to health, consumer affairs and moving country. In addition, during the same period, the CIS assisted over 7,000 clients with once-off advocacy requirements.
In 2011, the National Advocacy Service (NAS) was established under the Citizens Information Board to provide an independent, confidential, and free representative advocacy service to vulnerable people with disabilities who cannot self-advocate, while supporting others to use mainstream services. The National Advocacy Service has its national office in Dublin, and provides services through its four regions. Funding of €3.07 million was made available to NAS in 2014 from the CIB.
During 2014, NAS provided an advocacy service to some 1,012 people. This number includes over 340 new cases. Overall, 28% of advocacy cases related to housing issues, 19% related to health issues, 13% related to social welfare and 11% to justice issues, while a further 7% related to court cases regarding children. The remainder involved birth, family and relationship, finance, taxation, education, employment, travel and recreation and bereavement related cases.
177. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in respect of an appeal for disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10408/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 6 February 2015. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral appeal 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.
179. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the correct amount of social welfare pension, along with departmental pension, payable in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10426/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned is in receipt of state pension (contributory), with effect from 20 June 2011, at the correct weekly rate of payment. The qualifying conditions for state pension (transition), to which the person concerned originally qualified from June 2010, his 65th birthday, required the applicant to:
- have entered insurable employment before attaining the age of 55 years;
- have at least 260 paid contribution weeks, from employment or self-employment, since entry into insurance; and
- satisfy the yearly average condition.
The person concerned has an overall total of 1,404 reckonable (paid and credited) social insurance contributions. When this total is divided by 49, (the number of years from his date of entry into insurance to the end of the last tax year prior to reaching age 65), his yearly average of 29 contributions gave him an entitlement to a state pension (transition) at 98% of the maximum weekly rate. In order to qualify for a maximum rate pension, a yearly average of 48 or more would be required. The person concerned automatically transferred to state pension (contributory) from his 66th birthday on 20 June 2011, at the same weekly rate of payment.
180. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 213 of 24 February 2015, the reason she suggests that the officer in question may submit further medical evidence to the chief medical officer, when she stated the chief medical officer had no role in advising on the location of a post; in view of the fact that she stated this was a matter for management the criteria used by management in deciding on a request for relocation based on disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10467/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn instances where a staff member seeks a transfer on medical grounds the case is referred for advice to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) who advises Departments on medical matters. At the time of the original referral, the CMO in her response did not state that there were medical grounds to accede to the request for an alternate location to that of the planned relocation of the Department’s Office. In the circumstances, HR Division was not in a position to facilitate the request for relocation outside the standard transfer protocols.
Following a recent meeting with the officer in question, HR Division has sought and is awaiting further advice from the CMO in this matter. The staff member involved was also afforded the opportunity to attend a further appointment with the CMO or to submit further medical evidence.
181. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason participants in the Tús work placement initiative are not entitled to claim family income supplement; and her plans to review this situation. [10474/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra182. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if some participants in the Tús work placement initiative will be considered for an extension of the current maximum 12-month contract to become more employable, even on a case-by-case basis, in the area of social care and other areas where the length of time it takes to become familiar with the working environment leaves very little time to gain real work place experience. [10475/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra183. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on permitting persons to self-refer for participation in the Tús work placement initiative, especially qualified young persons who are trying to gain some experience in their specialised area and who are unable to be accepted because of the Department's current referral system. [10476/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 181 to 183, inclusive, together.
Tús, the community work placement initiative, provides up to 8,000 short-term, quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. This initiative is designed to break the cycle of unemployment and to improve a person’s opportunities in returning to the labour market. I consider the existing 12-month period on Tús to be adequate to meet the objectives of the initiative whilst also ensuring that as many unemployed people as possible are able to benefit from it.
There are no circumstances under which a person’s term on Tús will be extended beyond 12 months and it is not in the interest of any participant that such work placements extend for prolonged periods of time.
Selection for Tús is currently undertaken by random selection conducted at local level by the Department. The selection is focused on those on the Live Register for a year or more and in receipt of a jobseeker's’ payment who have more limited job or work placement opportunities. From 1 April, the opportunity for voluntary or self-selection will be made available, with selection based on a combination of random selection and referrals for recruitment where a jobseeker has asked to participate.
Given the nature of Tús as a work placement initiative, participants on Tús are disqualified from receiving Family Income Supplement (FIS) under Article 175(2) of Statutory Instrument No. 142 of 2007. This disqualification also applies to others programmes such as community employment, rural social scheme, and JobBridge. There are no plans to review FIS to include Tús or the other programmes.
Article 175(2) of Statutory Instrument No. 142 of 2007
Persons regarded as being in remunerative full-time employment.
175.(1) A person shall be regarded as being engaged in remunerative full time employment as an employee for the purposes of Part 6 of the Principal Act where he or she is engaged in remunerative employment which is expected to continue for a period of a minimum of 3 months, and where -
(a) the number of hours worked by him or her per fortnight is not less than 38, or
(b) the aggregate number of hours worked by him or her and his or her spouse, civil partner or cohabitant, as the case may be, is not less than 38 per fortnight.
(2) Notwithstanding sub-article (1), remunerative full-time employment shall not include participation on -
(a) the work placement programme within the meaning of section 142B(3),
(b) a scheme provided by the Minister and known as Community Employment, or
(d) a scheme administered by the Minister and known as -
(i) the Rural Social Scheme,
(ii) the national internship scheme,
(iii) Tús.
184. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm the figures on the discontinuation of the one-parent family payment are correct, as this would affect lone parents in work at present (details supplied). [10490/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe figures submitted by the Deputy were also provided to the Department at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection on 18 February 2015. At that time, my Departmental officials confirmed that while they are not 100% accurate, they are in the ball park.
I am happy to again confirm while there is a small discrepancy for the July 2015 figures, it is not significant.
In relation to the projected figures quoted by the Deputy for 2016 and 2017 it is not possible to confirm these figures as the economy is improving and circumstances may change that would alter these figures by that time. There has been a recovery in economic growth and employment, with the unemployment rate falling from 13.1% in 2013 and to 11.3% in 2014. This indicates that employment opportunities are becoming available. As the economy improves wages may also increase which would affect any future potential losses as outlined in the tables provided.
