Written Answers Nos. 42-52
42. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an appeal under the supplementary welfare allowance and jobseeker's allowance schemes in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24243/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that a Supplementary Welfare Allowance appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 10th June 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.
I have further been advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, to date, no appeal in respect of jobseeker’s allowance has been received from the person concerned.
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.
44. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her Department will desist from its policy of actively encouraging social welfare applicants from using the local post office service for the payment of benefits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24308/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra46. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will withdraw the recently-revised application forms from her Department and replace them with the previously-issued forms, in which payment at the post office is the first option and no recommendation is made on the application as to the best payment option; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24315/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra64. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will withdraw the revised forms from her Department and replace them with forms that offer payment at a post office as the first option; if she will prioritise this issue (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24465/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 44, 46 and 64 together.
Successive Governments and this one most notably have consistently stated their commitment to maintaining the post office network as set out in the Programme for Government. The post office is seen as a key piece of financial and social infrastructure for both urban and rural areas. Part of the strength of the post office brand and one of its chief selling points is that it reaches all parts of the country and can be accessed by anyone. It is Government policy that An Post remains a strong and viable company in a position to provide a high quality postal service and maintain a nationwide customer focussed network of post offices in the community.
My Department’s continuing support for An Post is apparent, both in terms of the cost of postage services and the value of the contract for welfare payments. In this regard, we anticipate this year that we will pay over €50 million to An Post under a contract for cash payment services to welfare customers. This contract is very substantial in terms of its reach, value and impact.
As you are aware my colleague the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Mr Alex White, T.D., formally launched the Post Office Network Business Development Group under the independent Chairmanship of Mr Bobby Kerr in February, 2015 to explore potential commercial opportunities available to the post office network. I look forward to viewing the report from this Group.
I understand An Post is anxious to grow its existing levels of services in the light of emerging market pressures which extend beyond the delivery of welfare payments. In this context I am pleased to note An Post has tendered for the provision of a new payment and transaction account. I look forward to that becoming available in the not too distant future as it will provide alternative payment opportunities for my Department’s customers. In order to recognise the general societal trend to electronic payments the Department has been changing some of its application forms. The option to be paid at the post office remains on the forms.
I want to emphasise that the amendments do not remove the option to be paid at the post office. This option will remain on the forms. Therefore, customers are free to opt to receive their payment at the post office if they wish. I also want to emphasise that the department continuously reviews its forms to ensure that they are amenable and relevant to all customers. I have asked the department to review forms and update them to ensure that a more neutral wording in relation to payment options is provided.
The Department is conscious of the important role of the post office around the country, not only in respect of social welfare payments but also in offering other financial services such as paying bills and carrying out a range of banking services. The Government has consistently stated its commitment to maintaining the post office network as set out in the Programme for Government.
45. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will examine an appeal under the jobseeker's allowance scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry in view of the person's circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24314/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 11th June 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.
47. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision on a review of a disability allowance will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24325/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe application, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds and the person in question was notified in writing of this decision on 24 April 2015. Further medical evidence was received in this case and is currently being reviewed. The person concerned can expect a decision on the review of her disability allowance application shortly.
49. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to permitting those participants on community employment schemes who are 60 years of age and over to remain on the schemes indefinitely until retirement age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24335/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe aim of Community Employment (CE) is to enhance the employability and mobility of disadvantaged and unemployed persons by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their communities on a temporary basis. The Department’s priority in supporting CE is having access to schemes that can provide jobseekers and other vulnerable groups with good quality work experience and training qualifications to support their progression into employment. The proportion of participants over 60 years of age is currently 10.9% (May 2015).
Persons of 60 years of age or over can participate for a cumulative maximum of 6 years on CE, with one additional year being available for persons who were in receipt of a disability-linked social welfare payment.
Participation on CE ranges from 1 year up to 6 years for participants depending on their eligibility and 7 years for people with a disability. I believe that this is extensive for an active labour market programme. However, I am currently examining this issue.
50. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection in a case where a social welfare applicant is applying for a means-tested payment and transfers property to a family member to outline the impact such a transfer has on the calculation of means; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24353/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe transfer of property or other assets by a social welfare claimant or a prospective social welfare claimant is entirely a matter for the persons concerned. However, social welfare legislation provides, in relation to a means tested payments, that where a claimant has directly or indirectly deprived himself or herself in order to qualify for such a payment or in order to qualify for a higher rate of payment, the value of the property or income concerned may be assessed as the means of the claimant.
It should be noted that transfers are examined on a case by case basis and the deciding officer must be satisfied that the transfer was for the purposes of receiving a welfare payment as distinct, for example, for another purpose such as a family settlement before assessing the value of any property or income transferred.
Social welfare legislation also provides that, in the case of the State Pension Non-Contributory, transfers made to the claimant’s children, or the transfer of a farm which was owned and/or occupied by the claimant, will not impact on the means test of a claimant and these transfers cannot be considered as depriving oneself of income or property.
51. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to set out the estimated full year cost of a €1 increase in the living alone allowance. [24396/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra52. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to set out the estimated full year cost of restoring the respite grant to the level it was prior to the 2013 budget. [24397/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 52 together.
The estimated full year cost of increasing the Living Alone Allowance by €1 per week is €9.9 million.
The estimated full year cost of increasing the Respite Care Grant to €1,700 per annum is €29.4 million.
It should be noted that these costings are subject to change over the coming months in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2016.
