Written Answers Nos. 83-96
83. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form and by county, the number of State pensions (contributory) and (non-contributory) granted and refused from 1 January 2014 to date in 2015; the average waiting time for decisions on appeals; the number of appeals referred to an independent oral appeal; and the percentages of these approved and refused. [14485/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is not available in my Department. I am however informed that during the period specified there were 67,159 applications for state pensions of which 45,121 (67.2%) were awarded and 16,193 (24.1%) were disallowed and the remainder were either withdrawn by the applicant or are pending a decision. A breakdown of these figures is detailed in the tabular statements.
The average time taken to process State Pension (non-contributory) appeals decided by summary decision in 2014 was 20.3 weeks and 29.4 weeks for those requiring an oral hearing. The average time for 2015 to the end of March was 18.0 weeks for summary decision and 31.8 weeks for oral hearing.
The number of State Pension (non-contributory) appeals decided by oral hearing in 2014 was 81 of which 50 (61.8 %) had a successful outcome for the appellant. In 2015 to the end of March the number decided by oral hearing was 22 of which 11 (50.0 %) had a successful outcome.
The average time taken to process State Pension (contributory) appeals decided by summary decision in 2014 was 25.2 weeks and 41.9 weeks for those requiring an oral hearing. The average time for 2015 to the end of March was 22.8 weeks for summary decision and 45.4 weeks for oral hearing.
The number of State Pension (contributory) appeals decided by oral hearing in 2014 was 35 of which 19 (54.3 %) had a successful outcome for the appellant. In 2015 to the end of March the number decided by oral hearing was 13 of which 4 (30.8 %) had a successful outcome.
State Pensions Registered, Awarded or Disallowed 2014
|
State Pension Contributory |
State Pension Transition State Pension Non-Contributory |
|||||||
|
Registered |
Awarded |
Rejected |
Registered |
Awarded |
Rejected |
Registered |
Awarded Rejected |
|
|
Jan |
3,699 |
2,275 |
759 |
753 |
343 |
399 |
885 |
678214 |
|
Feb |
3,646 |
2,363 |
759 |
569 |
233 |
381 |
916 |
594165 |
|
Mar |
4,272 |
2,986 |
774 |
487 |
190 |
300 |
882 |
561190 |
|
Apr |
3,443 |
2,575 |
707 |
472 |
175 |
281 |
672 |
581147 |
|
May |
3,957 |
2,899 |
863 |
503 |
173 |
296 |
807 |
677157 |
|
Jun |
2,578 |
1,912 |
510 |
241 |
99 |
106 |
689 |
532177 |
|
Jul |
3,043 |
2,218 |
666 |
367 |
120 |
190 |
890 |
703185 |
|
Aug |
2,947 |
2,173 |
473 |
123 |
85 |
81 |
643 |
567188 |
|
Sep |
3,167 |
2,034 |
637 |
120 |
64 |
78 |
778 |
773225 |
|
Oct |
3,530 |
2,411 |
886 |
127 |
70 |
87 |
681 |
787245 |
|
Nov |
3,663 |
2,428 |
645 |
87 |
42 |
47 |
760 |
665266 |
|
Dec |
2,267 |
1,317 |
526 |
36 |
29 |
50 |
395 |
632191 |
State Pensions Registered, Awarded or Disallowed 2015
|
State Pension Contributory |
State Pension Transition State Pension Non-Contributory |
|||||||
|
Registered |
Awarded |
Rejected |
Registered |
Awarded |
Rejected |
Registered |
Awarded Rejected |
|
|
Jan |
3,654 |
1,610 |
779 |
77 |
29 |
54 |
1,094 |
561 236 |
|
Feb |
3,875 |
2,391 |
944 |
73 |
31 |
46 |
1,016 |
614 186 |
|
Mar |
3,266 |
2,298 |
849 |
81 |
29 |
84 |
928 |
594 164 |
84. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form and by county, the number of invalidity pensions granted and refused from 1 January 2014 to date in 2015; the average waiting time for decisions on appeals; the number on appeals referred for independent oral appeal; and the percentage of these approved and refused. [14487/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following table relates to the number of invalidity pension decisions that were awarded and disallowed from the start of January 2014 to the end of March 2015. (*)Please note that the statistics in relation to awarded cases include cases in the disallowed category which were subsequently awarded following a review or a successful appeal. While these statistics are not collated by County, an indicative breakdown by County is included.
|
2014 |
2015* |
|||
|
County |
Allow |
Disallow |
Allow |
Disallow |
|
Carlow |
85 |
86 |
33 |
28 |
|
Cavan |
129 |
100 |
41 |
33 |
|
Clare |
160 |
94 |
45 |
26 |
|
Cork |
895 |
668 |
254 |
188 |
|
Donegal |
178 |
130 |
33 |
41 |
|
Dublin |
1599 |
1164 |
456 |
309 |
|
Galway |
281 |
195 |
84 |
49 |
|
Kerry |
206 |
161 |
64 |
49 |
|
Kildare |
342 |
233 |
91 |
57 |
|
Kilkenny |
123 |
103 |
48 |
26 |
|
Laois |
120 |
94 |
30 |
22 |
|
Leitrim |
63 |
33 |
22 |
12 |
|
Limerick |
381 |
290 |
106 |
79 |
|
Longford |
59 |
60 |
25 |
20 |
|
Louth |
183 |
172 |
61 |
45 |
|
Mayo |
209 |
126 |
59 |
32 |
|
Meath |
243 |
167 |
60 |
46 |
|
Monaghan |
76 |
42 |
12 |
17 |
|
Offaly |
133 |
119 |
41 |
32 |
|
Roscommon |
111 |
71 |
23 |
23 |
|
Sligo |
110 |
83 |
25 |
15 |
|
Tipperary |
290 |
189 |
74 |
56 |
|
Waterford |
225 |
121 |
50 |
31 |
|
Westmeath |
170 |
138 |
37 |
26 |
|
Wexford |
255 |
188 |
47 |
43 |
|
Wicklow |
186 |
104 |
47 |
33 |
|
Total |
6812 |
4931 |
1868 |
1338 |
* to 31.3.2015
Social welfare appeals office statistics are not maintained on a county by county basis. Data requested for the period in question is contained in the following tabular statements:
Processing times for Invalidity Pension Appeals 2014-2015 Breakdown by summary decision and oral hearing
|
Average processing times (weeks) Summary Decisions |
Average processing times (weeks) Oral Hearings |
|
|
2014 |
25.9 |
31.2 |
|
2015 to end of March |
25.8 |
31.3 |
Oral Hearings 2014-2015
|
Allowed |
Disallowed |
Total |
|
|
2014 |
720 (77.7%) |
207 (22.3%) |
927 |
|
2015 to end of March |
97 (75.8 %) |
31 (24.2%) |
128 |
85. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, by county, the number of recipients of illness benefit granted and refused from 1 January 2014 to date in 2015; the average waiting time for decisions on appeals; the number of appeals referred for independent oral appeal; and the percentage of these approved and refused. [14488/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is as follows:
Illness benefit claims from 1 January 2014 to 31 March 2015
|
Claims allowed |
Claims disallowed |
|
203,155 |
76,319 |
For illness benefit statistical purposes - allowed/granted means claims awarded with a payment rate greater than zero. Claims that are disallowed/refused can come under a number of categories the most common being cases where a customer has no entitlement to payment on the basis of submitting a medical certificate for less than 7 days or insufficient PRSI contributions paid. The breakdown of illness benefit claims by county is as follows:
Illness Benefit claims Allowed (granted) between 01/01/2014 and 31/03/2015 by County
|
County |
Count |
% |
|
Dublin |
56,191 |
27.66% |
|
Cork |
24,570 |
12.09% |
|
Galway |
11,412 |
5.62% |
|
Kildare |
9,866 |
4.86% |
|
Limerick |
9,194 |
4.53% |
|
Meath |
8,544 |
4.21% |
|
Tipperary |
7,063 |
3.48% |
|
Louth |
6,367 |
3.13% |
|
Kerry |
5,871 |
2.89% |
|
Mayo |
5,705 |
2.81% |
|
Wicklow |
5,524 |
2.72% |
|
Wexford |
5,447 |
2.68% |
|
Donegal |
4,986 |
2.45% |
|
Waterford |
4,955 |
2.44% |
|
Clare |
4,519 |
2.22% |
|
Westmeath |
3,966 |
1.95% |
|
Laois |
3,438 |
1.69% |
|
Offaly |
3,395 |
1.67% |
|
Kilkenny |
3,379 |
1.66% |
|
Sligo |
3,191 |
1.57% |
|
Cavan |
3,088 |
1.52% |
|
Carlow |
3,020 |
1.49% |
|
Roscommon |
2,672 |
1.32% |
|
Monaghan |
2,324 |
1.14% |
|
Longford |
1,658 |
0.82% |
|
Ex-State |
1,425 |
0.70% |
|
Leitrim |
1,387 |
0.68% |
|
Total |
203,155 |
100.00% |
Illness Benefit claims disallowed (refused) between 01/01/2014 and 31/03/2015 by County
|
- |
Count |
% |
|
Dublin |
23,563 |
30.87% |
|
Cork |
8,449 |
11.07% |
|
Galway |
4,200 |
5.50% |
|
Kildare |
3,750 |
4.91% |
|
Limerick |
3,216 |
4.21% |
|
Meath |
3,137 |
4.11% |
|
Tipperary |
2,659 |
3.48% |
|
Louth |
2,527 |
3.31% |
|
Mayo |
2,065 |
2.71% |
|
Kerry |
2,043 |
2.68% |
|
Wexford |
2,042 |
2.68% |
|
Wicklow |
2,016 |
2.64% |
|
Donegal |
1,845 |
2.42% |
|
Clare |
1,512 |
1.98% |
|
Waterford |
1,504 |
1.97% |
|
Westmeath |
1,365 |
1.79% |
|
Laois |
1,229 |
1.61% |
|
Carlow |
1,210 |
1.59% |
|
Sligo |
1,168 |
1.53% |
|
Kilkenny |
1,155 |
1.51% |
|
Cavan |
1,129 |
1.48% |
|
Offaly |
1,059 |
1.39% |
|
Roscommon |
979 |
1.28% |
|
Monaghan |
807 |
1.06% |
|
Longford |
631 |
0.83% |
|
Leitrim |
609 |
0.80% |
|
Ex-State |
450 |
0.59% |
|
Total |
76,319 |
100.00% |
The average time taken to process illness benefit appeals decided by summary decision in 2014 was 29.5 weeks and 34.8 weeks for those requiring an oral hearing. The average time for 2015 to the end of March was 24.4 weeks for summary decision and 32.0 weeks for oral hearing. The number of illness benefit appeals decided by oral hearing in 2014 was 242 of which 138 ( 57%) had a successful outcome for the appellant. In 2015 to the end of March the number decided by oral hearing was 47 of which 24 ( 51.1 %) had a successful outcome.
Tabular format as follows:
Processing times for illness benefit appeals 2014-2015 Breakdown by summary decision and oral hearing
|
- |
Average processing times (weeks) Summary Decisions |
Average processing times (weeks) Oral Hearings |
|
2014 |
29.5 |
34.8 |
|
2015 to end of March |
24.4 |
32.0 |
Oral hearings 2014-2015
|
- |
Favourable |
Unfavourable |
Total |
|
2014 |
138 (57.0%) |
104 (43%) |
242 |
|
2015 to end March |
24 (51.1%) |
23 (48.9%) |
47 |
86. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on an issue (details supplied) regarding voluntary work while in receipt of a jobseeker's payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14489/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker’s allowance schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative full-time employment. The 2015 Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseekers’ schemes of €3.01 billion.
Legislation provides that a person must satisfy the conditions of being available for and genuinely seeking work in order to be entitled to jobseeker’s benefit or jobseeker’s allowance. Any person who fails to satisfy these conditions is not entitled to a jobseeker’s payment.
However, the Department does encourage people to engage in voluntary work within the State. Any person who engages in voluntary work may continue to be entitled to Jobseeker’s Benefit or Allowance provided that, in engaging in the voluntary work, the customer continues to satisfy the statutory conditions of being available for and genuinely seeking work.
Examples of voluntary work in which jobseekers may engage include:
- helping the sick, elderly or persons with a disability;
- assisting youth clubs, church groups, sports groups, cultural organisations, local resident associations.
The groups involved may be nationally organised groups or local voluntary or community groups. The aim of the Voluntary Work Option is twofold, namely – to encourage voluntary organisations to involve jobseekers to the greatest extent possible in their existing activities by creating new opportunities for voluntary work and to inform jobseekers of their freedom to involve themselves in voluntary work and to encourage them to do so. In addition, the existing Community Employment Scheme offers the opportunity to unemployed persons to participate in paid employment in the social economy.
87. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form and by county, the number of recipients of disability allowance granted and refused from 1 January 2014 to date in 2015; the average waiting time for decisions on appeals; the number of appeals referred for independent oral appeal; and the percentage of these approved and refused. [14490/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following table relates to the number of disability allowance decisions that were awarded and disallowed from the start of January 2014 to the end of March 2015. (*)Please note that the statistics in relation to awarded cases include cases in the disallowed category which were subsequently awarded following a review or a successful appeal. While these statistics are not collated by County, an indicative breakdown by County is included. The “other” column refers to cases which could not be attributed to a County.
|
- |
Awarded |
Disallowed |
|
Dublin |
4572 |
4343 |
|
Carlow |
292 |
302 |
|
Cavan |
300 |
265 |
|
Clare |
441 |
371 |
|
Kerry |
608 |
583 |
|
Cork |
2171 |
2107 |
|
Donegal |
691 |
644 |
|
Galway |
952 |
945 |
|
Kildare |
660 |
617 |
|
Kilkenny |
292 |
295 |
|
Laois |
310 |
287 |
|
Leitrim |
134 |
95 |
|
Limerick |
1026 |
848 |
|
Louth |
495 |
528 |
|
Mayo |
514 |
420 |
|
Meath |
551 |
564 |
|
Monaghan |
177 |
164 |
|
Offaly |
313 |
333 |
|
Roscommon |
241 |
242 |
|
Sligo |
260 |
247 |
|
Tipperary |
754 |
679 |
|
Waterford |
539 |
519 |
|
Westmeath |
368 |
381 |
|
Wicklow |
493 |
408 |
|
Wexford |
609 |
659 |
|
Longford |
222 |
225 |
|
Other |
2 |
14 |
|
Total |
17987 (*) |
17085(*) |
The following table relate to disability allowance appeal processing times.
Processing times for Disability Allowance Appeals 2014-2015 Breakdown by summary decision and oral hearing
|
Average processing times (weeks) Summary Decisions |
Average processing times (weeks) Oral Hearings |
|
|
2014 |
20.8 |
26.7 |
|
2015 to end of March |
15.9 |
21.6 |
The following table relates to the outcomes of disability allowance appeal oral hearings. There is no available data relating to the breakdown of oral hearings by county.
Oral Hearings 2014-2015
|
Allowed |
Disallowed |
Total |
|
|
2014 |
1,380 |
569 |
1,949 |
|
2015 to end of March |
353 |
149 |
502 |
88. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form and by county, the number of recipients of the domiciliary care allowance granted and refused from 1 January 2014 to date in 2015; the average waiting times for decisions on appeal; the number of appeals referred for independent oral appeal; and the percentage of these approved and refused. [14491/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe numbers of domiciliary care allowance (DCA) applications that were received, processed and awarded in 2014 and to date in 2015 are detailed in the table below. This information is not collated or held on a county basis, so it is not possible to provide the more detailed information requested.
Table: Domiciliary Care Allowance applications
|
Year |
Applications received |
Applications processed |
Allowed by Deciding Officer |
Allowed on Appeal |
Total allowed and as % of processed |
|
|
2014 |
5,743 |
5,166 |
3,797 |
648 |
4,445 (86%) |
|
|
2015 to end March |
1,427 |
1,232 |
811 |
107 |
918 (74%) |
The average time taken to process DCA appeals is currently 18.4 weeks for summary decision and 24.5 weeks for oral hearing. The number of DCA appeals decided by way of oral hearing in 2014 was 420, of which 314 (74.8 %) had a successful outcome for the appellant.
89. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, by county, the number of recipients of family income supplement granted and refused from 1 January 2014 to date in 2015; the average waiting time for decisions on appeal; the number of appeals referred for independent oral appeal; and the percentage of these approved and refused. [14492/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the end of 2014 Family Income Supplement (FIS) was awarded to 50,306 people and had been refused to 12,436. The County breakdown was as follows:
|
Awards |
Refusals |
|
|
Carlow |
859 |
220 |
|
Cavan |
1,153 |
275 |
|
Clare |
1,181 |
302 |
|
Cork |
5,354 |
1,347 |
|
Donegal |
2,307 |
473 |
|
Dublin |
11,917 |
2,961 |
|
Galway |
2,357 |
668 |
|
Kerry |
1,433 |
342 |
|
Kildare |
2,205 |
522 |
|
Kilkenny |
798 |
204 |
|
Laois |
870 |
217 |
|
Leitrim |
339 |
90 |
|
Limerick |
2,095 |
511 |
|
Longford |
666 |
161 |
|
Louth |
1,872 |
445 |
|
Mayo |
1,486 |
348 |
|
Meath |
2,044 |
546 |
|
Monaghan |
956 |
221 |
|
Offaly |
935 |
258 |
|
Roscommon |
665 |
171 |
|
Sligo |
674 |
158 |
|
Tipperary |
1,969 |
426 |
|
Waterford |
1,641 |
398 |
|
Westmeath |
1,094 |
266 |
|
Wexford |
2,029 |
506 |
|
Wicklow |
1,282 |
339 |
|
Others |
125 |
61 |
|
Total |
50,306 |
12,436 |
At the 31 March 2015, FIS was in payment to 50,452 people.
The number of Family Income Supplement appeals decided by oral hearing in 2014 was 44 of which 29 ( 65.9%) had a successful outcome for the appellant. In 2015 to the end of March the number decided by oral hearing was 13 of which 5 (38.5 %) had a successful outcome.
The average time taken to process Family Income Supplement appeals decided by summary decision in 2014 was 26.0 weeks and 32.6 weeks for those requiring an oral hearing. The average time for 2015 to the end of March was 20.7 weeks for summary decision and 25.5 weeks for oral hearing.
Processing times for Family Income Supplement Appeals 2014-2015 Breakdown by summary decision and oral hearing
|
- |
Average processing times (weeks) Summary Decisions |
Average processing times (weeks) Oral Hearings |
|
2014 |
26.0 |
32.6 |
|
2015 to end of March |
20.7 |
25.5 |
Oral Hearings 2014-2015
|
- |
Favourable |
Unfavourable |
Total |
|
2014 |
29 (65.9%) |
15 (34.1%) |
44 |
|
2015 to end of March |
5 (38.5 %) |
8 (61.5%) |
13 |
90. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form and by county, the number of recipients of farm assist granted and refused from 1 January 2014 to date in 2015; the average waiting time for decisions on appeals; the number of appeals referred for independent oral appeal; and the percentage of these approved and refused. [14493/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy in respect of a per-county breakdown of the number of farm assist claims awarded or refused from 1 January 2014 to date in 2015 is not available in my Department. I am however informed that there was an average of 9,854 monthly recipients during this period. A breakdown of the number of recipients in each of the months by county is detailed in the tabular statements.
The average time taken to process Farm Assist appeals by summary decision in 2014 was 23.2 weeks and 28.3 weeks for those requiring an oral hearing. The average time for 2015 to the end of March was 16.2 weeks for summary decision and 24.6 weeks for oral hearing.
The number of Farm Assist appeals decided by oral hearing in 2014 was 112 of which 70 (62.5 %) had a successful outcome for the appellant. In 2015 to the end of March the number decided by oral hearing was 20 of which 13 (65.0 %) had a successful outcome.
Farm Assist Recipients 2014
|
County |
Jan |
Feb |
March |
April |
May |
June |
July |
Aug |
Sept |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Carlow |
74 |
75 |
76 |
104 |
76 |
72 |
73 |
73 |
75 |
74 |
74 |
76 |
|
Cavan |
340 |
332 |
332 |
329 |
330 |
327 |
326 |
326 |
330 |
328 |
324 |
326 |
|
Clare |
555 |
555 |
539 |
540 |
527 |
529 |
573 |
189 |
524 |
526 |
522 |
521 |
|
Cork |
833 |
825 |
806 |
795 |
810 |
811 |
720 |
884 |
797 |
793 |
787 |
788 |
|
Donegal |
1,486 |
1,386 |
1,453 |
1,469 |
1,470 |
1,465 |
1,464 |
1,257 |
1,443 |
1,456 |
1,452 |
1,458 |
|
Dublin |
28 |
29 |
27 |
27 |
26 |
26 |
222 |
348 |
30 |
32 |
32 |
32 |
|
Galway |
1,036 |
1,027 |
1,012 |
1,023 |
1,018 |
1,019 |
765 |
787 |
1,012 |
999 |
1,005 |
1,000 |
|
Kerry |
752 |
27 |
726 |
733 |
729 |
722 |
632 |
714 |
719 |
713 |
714 |
721 |
|
Kildare |
38 |
39 |
40 |
39 |
40 |
41 |
38 |
38 |
39 |
38 |
38 |
37 |
|
Kilkenny |
126 |
124 |
120 |
121 |
122 |
121 |
79 |
96 |
116 |
119 |
120 |
120 |
|
Laois |
129 |
122 |
122 |
120 |
118 |
117 |
82 |
118 |
116 |
115 |
117 |
116 |
|
Leitrim |
388 |
389 |
382 |
377 |
379 |
383 |
381 |
387 |
382 |
375 |
374 |
377 |
|
Limerick |
232 |
232 |
224 |
229 |
229 |
229 |
227 |
390 |
215 |
221 |
217 |
216 |
|
Longford |
233 |
228 |
225 |
219 |
216 |
208 |
213 |
107 |
205 |
207 |
204 |
205 |
|
Louth |
80 |
77 |
73 |
74 |
74 |
77 |
81 |
83 |
83 |
82 |
82 |
82 |
|
Mayo |
1,686 |
1,685 |
1,639 |
1,199 |
1,484 |
1,653 |
1,332 |
1641 |
1,629 |
1,627 |
1,615 |
1,614 |
|
Meath |
82 |
80 |
77 |
82 |
84 |
86 |
203 |
130 |
86 |
84 |
82 |
81 |
|
Monaghan |
461 |
455 |
440 |
454 |
452 |
454 |
454 |
453 |
453 |
450 |
450 |
446 |
|
Offaly |
105 |
101 |
93 |
117 |
94 |
90 |
136 |
183 |
94 |
95 |
98 |
97 |
|
Roscommon |
387 |
383 |
381 |
556 |
552 |
370 |
344 |
359 |
358 |
351 |
356 |
356 |
|
Sligo |
285 |
285 |
278 |
284 |
282 |
284 |
415 |
279 |
277 |
276 |
280 |
283 |
|
Tipperary |
361 |
359 |
356 |
356 |
357 |
353 |
343 |
344 |
344 |
340 |
339 |
336 |
|
Waterford |
80 |
84 |
82 |
372 |
81 |
81 |
49 |
80 |
78 |
78 |
77 |
78 |
|
Westmeath |
164 |
160 |
155 |
158 |
156 |
157 |
153 |
154 |
153 |
153 |
152 |
153 |
|
Wexford |
223 |
221 |
216 |
167 |
225 |
156 |
515 |
423 |
231 |
229 |
226 |
223 |
|
Wicklow |
71 |
65 |
66 |
79 |
67 |
138 |
121 |
65 |
64 |
64 |
66 |
67 |
|
Grand Total |
10,235 |
10,145 |
9,940 |
10,023 |
9,998 |
9,969 |
9,941 |
9908 |
9,853 |
9,825 |
9,803 |
9,809 |
Farm Assist Recipients 2015
|
County |
Jan |
Feb |
March |
|
Carlow |
75 |
73 |
73 |
|
Cavan |
322 |
337 |
321 |
|
Clare |
519 |
511 |
483 |
|
Cork |
794 |
790 |
699 |
|
Donegal |
1,440 |
1,436 |
1,359 |
|
Dublin |
33 |
33 |
33 |
|
Galway |
1,000 |
981 |
900 |
|
Kerry |
720 |
717 |
637 |
|
Kildare |
37 |
37 |
30 |
|
Kilkenny |
119 |
118 |
113 |
|
Laois |
112 |
109 |
112 |
|
Leitrim |
373 |
378 |
344 |
|
Limerick |
214 |
212 |
178 |
|
Longford |
199 |
190 |
183 |
|
Louth |
82 |
83 |
75 |
|
Mayo |
1,608 |
1,589 |
1,439 |
|
Meath |
80 |
79 |
66 |
|
Monaghan |
442 |
425 |
416 |
|
Offaly |
96 |
98 |
95 |
|
Roscommon |
353 |
355 |
337 |
|
Sligo |
281 |
277 |
253 |
|
Tipperary |
338 |
336 |
309 |
|
Waterford |
78 |
74 |
72 |
|
Westmeath |
150 |
150 |
149 |
|
Wexford |
218 |
218 |
190 |
|
Wicklow |
68 |
70 |
62 |
|
Grand Total |
9,751 |
9,676 |
8,928 |
91. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will examine a disability allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry, in view of the fact that it has been pending for some time and all relevant information has been submitted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14494/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 12th March 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.
92. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form and by county, the number of recipients of the rural social scheme granted and refused from 1 January 2014 to date in 2015; the average waiting time for decisions on appeals; the number of appeals referred for independent oral appeal; and the percentage of these approved and refused. [14495/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe rural social scheme (RSS) provides income support for low income farmers and those engaged in fishing who have an entitlement to specified social welfare payments. Participants are engaged for 19½ hours per week to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities. The Department has engaged 35 local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta, known as implementing bodies, to deliver the scheme.
The scheme currently provides work opportunities for 2,600 participants and 130 supervisory staff. Those interested in participating apply directly to their local implementing body which have overall responsibility for recruiting participants and supervisors, in line with the terms and conditions of the scheme. The Department has no role in the recruitment process.
The table below outlines the allocation of participants and supervisors to each implementing body.
|
Implementing Body |
Participant Quota |
Supervisors Quota |
|
Avondhu/Blackwater Partnership Ltd. |
17 |
1 |
|
Ballyhoura Development Limited |
47 |
2 |
|
Breffni Integrated Ltd. |
80 |
4 |
|
Carlow County Development Partnership Ltd. |
18 |
1 |
|
Cill Dara ar Aghaidh Teoranta |
22 |
1 |
|
Clare Local Development Co. ltd. |
117 |
6 |
|
Comhar na nOilean Teoranta |
20 |
0 |
|
County Kilkenny LEADER Part. Co. Ltd. |
19 |
1 |
|
County Sligo LEADER Partnership Co. Ltd. |
124 |
6 |
|
County Wicklow Partnership |
20 |
1 |
|
Donegal Local Development Co. Ltd. |
76 |
4 |
|
Forum Connemara Ltd. |
14 |
1 |
|
Galway Rural Development Co. Ltd. |
156 |
8 |
|
Inishowen Development Partnership |
30 |
2 |
|
IRD Duhallow Ltd. |
58 |
3 |
|
Laois Community & Enerprise Dev. Co. Ltd. |
25 |
1 |
|
Leitrim Integrated Development Co. Ltd. |
100 |
5 |
|
Longford Community Resources |
55 |
3 |
|
Louth LEADER Partnership |
10 |
0 |
|
Meath Community Rural & Social Dev. Part. |
16 |
1 |
|
Monaghan Integrated Development |
40 |
2 |
|
North & East Kerry LEADER Part. Teo. |
89 |
5 |
|
Mayo North East LEADER Part. Co. Teo. |
221 |
11 |
|
North Tipperary LEADER Partnership |
37 |
2 |
|
Offaly Integrated Local Dev. Co. Ltd. |
52 |
3 |
|
Roscommon Integrated Dev. Co. Ltd. |
149 |
7 |
|
South & East Cork Area Dev. |
8 |
1 |
|
South Kerry Development Partnership Ltd. |
138 |
7 |
|
South Tipperary Development Co. Ltd. |
26 |
1 |
|
South West Mayo Dev. Co. Ltd. |
191 |
10 |
|
Údarás na Gaeltachta |
437 |
21 |
|
Waterford LEADER Partnership Ltd. |
12 |
0 |
|
West Cork Development Partnership Ltd. |
68 |
3 |
|
West Limerick Resources |
36 |
2 |
|
Westmeath Community Dev. Ltd. |
33 |
2 |
|
Wexford Local Development |
39 |
2 |
|
Total number of Participants |
2600 |
130 |
93. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to increase the rate of jobseeker's allowance payments for young persons who are most at risk of homelessness, in line with those young persons who were in the care of the Child and Family Agency, and are assessed using the jobseeker's allowance rate for persons of 26 years of age or over when they leave care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14503/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra107. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views that a payment of €144 under the jobseeker's scheme is sufficient to meet the basic cost of living needs of a person who lives independently; if she will provide the differing basic cost of living expenses between an average 24 year old and an average 26 year old, who live independently; and if she will provide the data and-or evidence upon which she based her decision to cut payments under the scheme to those under 25 years of age. [14728/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 107 together.
The jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker’s allowance schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative full-time employment. The 2015 Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseekers’ schemes of €3.01 billion.
In line with other EU and OECD jurisdictions where such measures are common, reduced rates for younger jobseeker’s allowance recipients were first introduced in 2009. Budget 2014 further extended the reduced rates of jobseeker’s allowance to recipients under 26 years of age. These measures are targeted measures aimed at protecting young people from welfare dependency by incentivising them to avail of education and training opportunities. If a jobseeker in receipt of the reduced jobseeker’s allowance rate participates on an education or training programme they will receive a higher weekly payment of €160.
To guard against the development of welfare dependency I believe that it is necessary to provide young jobseekers with a strong financial incentive to engage in education or training or to take up employment. If they do not improve their skills, it will be much more difficult for them to avail of job opportunities as the economy recovers and they are at risk of becoming long term unemployed from a young age.
The reduced rates do not apply to a person aged under 25 where such persons were in the care of the Health Service Executive during the year prior to their 18th birthday. There are no plans to extend this condition to any other group.
The Department is actively engaging with Tusla and non-Government organisations in providing the necessary support to vulnerable young people leaving care who are experiencing homelessness or in insecure situations. These cases are managed on a case by case basis and the payment of deposits and rent in advance is considered. This form of assistance is very important to those on low incomes who are at risk of, or who are homeless, or who rely on the private rented market to meet their housing needs.
The Government’s primary strategy to tackle youth unemployment is through policies to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting competitiveness and productivity. Economic recovery will underpin jobs growth and the availability of productive employment for young people. This strategy has been succeeding, with an increase of over 80,000 in employment over the last two years.
Reflecting the improvement in the labour market, youth unemployment continues to fall. For example the youth unemployment rate in Ireland as estimated by Eurostat was 21.6% in December 2014 as compared to 30.8% in December 2011. However, the Government recognises that as the recovery takes hold, there is a need for additional measures to ensure that as many as possible of the jobs created are taken up by jobseekers and young jobseekers in particular. This is the rationale behind the Government’s Pathways to Work strategy and the Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan.
96. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when an appeal under the invalidity pension will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14519/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 25th March 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.
