Written Answers Nos. 55-70
56. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the activation options open to recipients of disability allowance; and if she will provide, in tabular form, the numbers of recipients who availed of each of these options, in each of the past five years. [14157/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra57. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the original expenditure estimate and actual outturn on the wage subsidy, the EmployAbility Service, the partial capacity benefit, the workplace equipment/adaptation grant, the employee retention grant, and the disability awareness training schemes, for each of the past five years. [14158/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra58. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of new people and the total number of persons supported by the wage subsidy, EmployAbility Service, partial capacity benefit, workplace equipment/adaptation grant, and employee retention grant schemes, for each of the past five years. [14159/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra59. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form the number of employers availing of the wage subsidy scheme, and the numbers of employees this relates to, as follows: one, five or more, ten or more, 20 or more, 30 or more, 50 or more, or 100 or more. [14160/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra60. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of employers availing of strand 1 of the wage subsidy scheme only, for each of the past five years. [14161/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra61. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of full-time equivalent job coaches engaged under the EmployAbility Service programme and its predecessor programme in each of the past five years; and the corresponding number of persons with disabilities who were supported into work. [14162/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 56 to 61, inclusive, together.
The Government recognises the importance of increasing participation in employment for persons with a disability, and to this end the Department provides a wide range of income and work related supports for people with disabilities, which play an important role in supporting increased participation in the labour force by people with disabilities.
Activation measures apply to jobseekers and are of a mandatory nature, whereas in the case of persons in receipt of disability/illness schemes, mandatory activation measures do not apply. The employment supports in place for people with a disability are of a voluntary nature and are tailored to the person’s capacity to engage with education, training or job-search programmes. These supports include the wage subsidy scheme (WSS), the EmployAbility (supported employment) service, the reasonable accommodation fund for the employment of people with disabilities and the disability awareness training scheme.
In addition, DA recipients are eligible to avail of up-skilling opportunities for example through schemes such as Community Employment and JobBridge. For those who are in receipt of invalidity pension or illness benefit (for at least six months) and who have some capacity for work, they can apply for the partial capacity benefit (PCB) scheme.
Furthermore, the INTREO service 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.
The data sought by the Deputy in the various questions, where available, are set out in the following tables with the latest available figures.
Not all of the data requested are specifically collated by the Department – in relation to the number of job coaches employed under the EmployAbility service, these are employed by independent companies contracted to provide the service which is supporting almost 3,000 people.
Data in respect of the workplace equipment adaptation grant scheme, the employee retention grant scheme and the disability awareness training scheme for 2010 and 2011 are not available. These three grants are demand led schemes that form part of the reasonable accommodation fund for the employment of people with disabilities. Given the small size of each of these grants, a separate estimate for each of these schemes is not set out in the revised estimates volume and only actual expenditure is recorded. Furthermore, information on the number of people that benefitted from these grants is not collated.
Table 1: Estimated Budgetary expenditure (€ million): Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS), EmployAbility, PCB
|
Year |
Wage subsidy scheme |
EmployAbility |
Partial capacity benefit* |
|
2010 |
11.61 |
8.98 |
0 |
|
2011 |
11.25 |
8.84 |
0 |
|
2012 |
10.85 |
8.84 |
13.10 |
|
2013 |
10.85 |
8.84 |
8.50 |
|
2014 |
10.85 |
9.24 |
12.67 |
*Partial Capacity Benefit was introduced in February, 2012
Table 2: Actual expenditure (€ million): WSS, EmployAbility, PCB
|
Year |
Wage subsidy scheme |
EmployAbility |
Partial capacity benefit* |
|
2010 |
10.87 |
8.5 |
0 |
|
2011 |
10.06 |
8.4 |
0 |
|
2012 |
10.57 |
8.10 |
2.11 |
|
2013 |
11.04 |
8.71 |
7.37 |
|
2014 |
12.59 |
8.43 |
9.97 |
*Partial Capacity Benefit was introduced in February, 2012
Table 3: Number of participants: WSS, EmployAbility, PCB
|
Year |
Wage subsidy scheme |
EmployAbility |
Partial capacity benefit* |
|
2010 |
833 |
2,550 |
0 |
|
2011 |
916 |
2,903 |
0 |
|
2012 |
1,006 |
2,762 |
733 |
|
2013 |
1,159 |
2,872 |
1,234 |
|
2014 |
1,548 |
2,936 |
1,432 |
*Partial Capacity Benefit was introduced in February, 2012
Table 4: Number of employers, WSS
|
Year |
Total No. of Employers |
No. of Employers – Strand 1 |
|
2010 |
530 |
499 |
|
2011 |
577 |
525 |
|
2012 |
663 |
608 |
|
2013 |
703 |
635 |
|
2014 |
1,022 |
881 |
Table 5: Distribution of WSS employers by number of WSS employees (Position as at mid-2013)
|
No. of Employees |
No. of Employers |
|
1 |
536 |
|
2 – 4 |
107 |
|
5 – 9 |
10 |
|
10 + |
3 |
Table 6: Expenditure: Other Grants/Schemes
|
Year |
Employee retention grant scheme |
Workplace equipment adaptation grant scheme |
Disability Awareness Training Scheme |
|
2012 |
€4,320 |
€71,176 |
€2,430 |
|
2013 |
€0 |
€81,724 |
€834 |
|
2014 |
€0 |
€61,776 |
€3,760 |
62. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the steps being taken to promote the use of Irish in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14177/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department is committed to providing a quality customer service in both Irish and English. To this end a range of forms, leaflets and other documents is available in both Irish and English on the Department’s website www.welfare.ie.
Where customers correspond with us in Irish, they are replied to in Irish. However, due to the large number of Departmental offices nationwide, it is not possible to have staff members (with sufficient fluency to deal with a customer through the medium of Irish) available at all times in every location. When this occurs, the procedure is that the customer be offered an appointment with a staff member who can deal with them through Irish. Alternatively an interpretive service, which is provided by means of a three way phone conversation, can be made available.
The Department is also committed to the continued development and training of staff to facilitate the provision of services through Irish. A range of supports is available to equip frontline staff with the necessary skills and confidence to deliver a quality customer service in Irish by phone, letter and in person. Supports available include funding for attendance at Irish language training courses; training resources such as language discs and books available; and funding through the Department’s Refund of Fees scheme, to encourage staff to pursue Irish Language education outside of work hours.
The Department of Social Protection’s Language Scheme 2015 – 2018, as required under the Official Languages Act 2003, is now in place. This Scheme has been developed within the policy context of the Government's '20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030' and has been informed by submissions received from our customers and staff. The objective of the Scheme is to maintain and enhance the level of quality service through Irish available to our customers.
63. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14207/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person concerned on the 8th July 2014. The application was not allowed as the child was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for the allowance. A letter issued on the 29th September 2014 advising of the decision.
A review of this decision was requested on the 11th November 2014. The application was examined by another medical assessor who did not consider that the child met the medical criteria for the allowance. Having reviewed the application in its entirety, the deciding officer considered that a revision of the original decision was not warranted and confirmed this in writing on the 29th January 2015. The person concerned has been advised of her right to appeal this decision with the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
66. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if computerised data on the medical conditions giving rise to claims for disability allowance are stored, as recommended by the value-for money-review of the scheme, in order to better inform the planning and delivery of employment and training supports; and if so, the main diagnosis types associated with claims, and any relevant trends identifiable from the data; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14264/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department collects information from a claimant’s medical practitioner on the nature of the illness giving rise to the claim for disability allowance (DA) in order to make a formal decision on entitlement. This information at present is not readily accessible to enable the Department to make use of that data to identify trends etc. However, the Department is pursuing relevant options in this regard.
In addition, the Department is currently planning to ask those in receipt of DA to supply information relating to educational attainment levels, employment history etc. This exercise will get underway in the latter half of this year. This information will better inform the planning and delivery of employment and training supports.
67. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will acknowledge that it is current Government policy to discourage lone parents from engaging with postgraduate education in view of the fact that it is virtually impossible to undertake a postgraduate course without a maintenance grant; her views on whether the provision for the special rate is in actual fact a smoke screen to convey that such an option is a possibility for some when in reality, under the current legislation, any support, scholarship or moneys granted for the purpose of completing a Master of Arts degree can result in the withdrawal of the provision of fees at the special rate; in view of the fact that 98% of lone parents are women, if she acknowledges that the reforms discriminate against lone parents on grounds of class and gender; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14268/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraProcedures have been agreed between the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Education and Skills (D/ES) that ensure that all one-parent family payment (OFP) recipients who are participating in full-time education on a qualified course, including on a post-graduate course, will be able to complete their course with income support – subject to the normal OFP scheme conditions.
OFP recipients who are in mid-course, and who are scheduled to transition out of the OFP scheme up to, and including on, 2 July, 2015, can remain on the OFP payment until their course finishes, and then transition to either the jobseeker’s allowance (JA) scheme or the JA transitional arrangement, as appropriate.
OFP recipients who are undertaking a qualified education course, and who are also in receipt of a SUSI grant from the D/ES, can retain both their OFP payment and their grant, including the maintenance portion of it, until their course finishes – subject to the normal D/ES conditions for the grant. The majority of OFP recipients who are eligible for a SUSI grant qualify for the special rate grant. This consists of a student maintenance portion of €5,915 per annum (or €113.75 per week) if the course is located over 45 kilometres from the student’s home, or €2,375 per annum (or €45.70 per week) if the course is located within 45 kilometres of the student’s home. They also receive tuition fees – the rate of which depends on their course.
All customers who will be transitioning out of the OFP scheme from 3 July, 2015, onwards, will have a youngest child who has just turned 7 years of age. For that reason, any of these customers who are in mid-course, including at post-graduate level, will be moved to the JA transitional arrangement, where they will have 7 years to complete their course before moving to the JA scheme, where the normal JA scheme rules in relation to education will apply. In addition, any SUSI grant recipients within this cohort will have their grant disregarded for means when moving to the JA transitional arrangement.
68. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the updated number of applicants for jobseeker's allowance and jobseeker's benefit; the average timeframe for processing new applications; and the arrangements that are being made to process these applications in a more timely manner. [14281/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn March 2015, my Department registered 14,880 claims for Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) and 11,373 for Jobseeker’s Benefit (JB). During the month the average times for the awarding of JA and JB claims were 2 weeks and 1 week, respectively.
My Department has measurable performance targets for the majority of schemes under its remit. The performance target for JA and JB is that 90% of claims are awarded within 6 weeks (JA) or 3 weeks (JB). During the month of March 2015, this performance target was achieved: 91% of JA claims and 90% of JB claims were awarded within 6 and 3 weeks respectively.
69. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form and by county, the number of carer's allowance and carer's benefit granted and refused from 1 January 2014 to date in 2015; the average waiting time for a decision on appeal; the number on appeals referred for independent oral appeal; and the percentages of these approved and refused. [14293/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy for carer’s benefit is not available on a county basis. Breakdown of the number of carer's benefit awarded/disallowed from 1 January 2014 to date in 2015; breakdown of the number of carer’s allowance awarded/disallowed from 1 January 2014 to date in 2015, with an indicative breakdown by County (*); the average waiting time for a decision on appeal; the number on appeal referred for appeal oral hearing; and the percentages of appeals allowed/disallowed is detailed in the attached tabular statements.
(**) Please note that the number awarded includes some cases shown in the refused column which were subsequently awarded following a review or an appeal.
Carer’s Benefit Decisions January 2014 to March 2015
|
**Awarded |
Disallowed |
Withdrawn |
|
2,906 |
732 |
231 |
Carer's Allowance decisions by County January 2014 to March 2015
|
*County |
**Awarded |
Disallowed |
Withdrawn |
|
CO CARLOW |
266 |
173 |
39 |
|
CO CAVAN |
295 |
163 |
33 |
|
CO CLARE |
369 |
211 |
48 |
|
CO CORK |
1,698 |
1,030 |
200 |
|
CO DONEGAL |
776 |
437 |
94 |
|
CO DUBLIN |
3,428 |
1,925 |
465 |
|
CO GALWAY |
935 |
535 |
123 |
|
CO KERRY |
677 |
345 |
79 |
|
CO KILDARE |
577 |
317 |
68 |
|
CO KILKENNY |
261 |
152 |
35 |
|
CO LAOIS |
339 |
175 |
45 |
|
CO LEITRIM |
144 |
67 |
14 |
|
CO LIMERICK |
810 |
520 |
109 |
|
CO LONGFORD |
241 |
161 |
26 |
|
CO LOUTH |
570 |
333 |
78 |
|
CO MAYO |
607 |
274 |
83 |
|
CO MEATH |
534 |
230 |
80 |
|
CO MONAGHAN |
234 |
133 |
31 |
|
CO OFFALY |
416 |
206 |
39 |
|
CO ROSCOMMON |
361 |
163 |
46 |
|
CO SLIGO |
284 |
149 |
38 |
|
CO TIPPERARY |
740 |
415 |
99 |
|
CO WATERFORD |
473 |
246 |
54 |
|
CO WESTMEATH |
380 |
240 |
70 |
|
CO WEXFORD |
656 |
384 |
72 |
|
CO WICKLOW |
473 |
257 |
55 |
|
OTHER |
8 |
4 |
3 |
|
TOTAL |
16,552(**) |
9,245(**) |
2,126 |
Processing times for Carer’s Allowance Appeals 2014-2015 Breakdown by summary decision and oral hearing
|
Average processing times (weeks) Summary Decisions |
Average processing times (weeks) Oral Hearings |
|
|
2014 |
30.1 |
34.4 |
|
2015 to end of March |
22.6 |
28.8 |
Carer’s Allowance Oral Hearings 2014-2015
|
Allowed |
Disallowed |
Total |
|
|
2014 |
734 (60.9%) |
472 (39.1%) |
1,206 |
|
2015 to end of March |
199 (64.8 %) |
108 (35.2%) |
307 |
Processing times for Carer’s Benefit Appeals 2014-2015 Breakdown by summary decision and oral hearing
|
Average processing times (weeks) Summary Decisions |
Average processing times (weeks) Oral Hearings |
|
|
2014 |
22.9 |
23.1 |
|
2015 to end of March |
25.8 |
29.0 |
Carer’s Benefit Oral Hearings 2014-2015
|
Allowed |
Disallowed |
Total |
|
|
2014 |
19 (59.4%) |
13 (40.6%) |
32 |
|
2015 to end of March |
5 (83.4 %) |
1 (16.6%) |
6 |
70. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the updated number of applicants for carer's allowance and carer's benefit; the average timeframe for processing new applications; and the arrangements that are being made to process these applications in a more timely manner. [14294/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the end of March 2014 there were approximately 4,200 carer’s allowance applications awaiting decision and approximately 345 carer’s benefit applications awaiting decision. The average time taken to award a new claim is currently 12 weeks for carer’s allowance, and 8 weeks for carer’s benefit. Where a request is made for a review of a decision on a new claim or where there is an appeal against a decision, this will take longer.
One way that claimants can assist the Department to made a timely decision on their claim is to ensure that the claim form is fully completed and signed and that all necessary accompanying documentation is enclosed.
The Department is committed to ensuring that claims are processed as expeditiously as possible and that backlogs in claims are kept to a minimum. Each scheme area is continuously monitored and reviewed to ensure customers are responded to as quickly as possible. The staffing needs of the Department are regularly reviewed, having regard to workloads and the competing demands arising, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources. Additional resources have been applied to help to deal with the significant increase in the number of carer’s allowance applications being received and to minimise processing times.
