Written Answers Nos. 161-182
161. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision on a carer's allowance will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25826/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 9th April 2015. The application is currently with a social welfare inspector to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied.
Once the inspector has completed and submitted the report, a deciding officer will make a decision on entitlement. The application will be processed as quickly as possible and when a decision is made the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
162. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) who has been pursued by her Department for an alleged overpayment of social welfare will be granted an oral hearing on appeal of this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25856/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 16th June 2015. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers have been received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 23 June 2015 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on 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.
163. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be approved for a disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25862/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to establish the person’s entitlement, the deciding officer wrote to the person in question on 12 May 2015 requesting information not already supplied. A decision will be made upon receipt of the requested information and the person will be notified directly of the outcome.
164. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be approved for an invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25863/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraInvalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
A claim for IP was received from the person concerned on 11 March 2015. In order to establish medical suitability two medical report forms for completion issued to the person concerned on 14 April 2015. As the completed medical report forms were not returned to the department within the given time frame, a reminder issued to the person concerned on 05 May, 2015. To date only one completed medical report form has been received by the department on 23 June 2015.
A duplicate medical report form issued to the person concerned on 29 June 2015. On receipt of the completed medical report form, the IP claim will be processed as quickly as possible and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
165. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 17; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25867/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraA child under 16 years is deemed medically eligible for carer's allowance (CA) once domiciliary care allowance (DCA) is in payment for that child.
Once the child reaches 16 years of age and entitlement to DCA ceases, a review of CA is undertaken to determine if there is continuing entitlement.
The child concerned reached 16 years on 18 May 2015.
On the 30 January 2015, a letter was issued to the person concerned outlining the Department’s intention to review the continuing eligibility for CA and enclosing a medical report for submission.
On the 29 April 2015, as a completed medical report had not been received, a reminder issued to the person concerned.
CA was stopped on 3 June 2015 as it was decided that, in the absence of any evidence from the applicant to the contrary, the medical criteria were no longer satisfied.
The person in question subsequently submitted medical evidence in support of their continuing eligibility for CA. This evidence is being reviewed and the application is with a deciding officer for a decision. Once the review is completed in this case the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. If this review is unsuccessful for the person concerned, she will be afforded the right of a further review or to appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
166. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form by county, the number of persons being impacted on by the changes being introduced to the one-parent family payment on 1 July 2015. [25883/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is anticipated that approximately 29,400 one-parent family payment recipients will be transitioning out of the one-parent family payment scheme on 2 July, 2015.
A breakdown by county basis of the number of persons who will be impacted by the changes is not available.
167. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if changes to the eligibility criteria for the one-parent family payment will be reversed in view of the hardship these changes will cause; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25918/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraExpenditure on the One Parent Family Payment (OFP) scheme is estimated to be €607 million in 2015 with almost 70,000 recipients.
However, despite committing extensive funding to lone parent payments since the 1970s, lone parents remain the most at-risk-of-poverty, and their children are at a high risk of poverty. For too long, significant numbers of lone parents have been typecast, and confined to social welfare dependency. The best route out of poverty and social exclusion is through paid employment. The purpose of the reform of the one parent family payment is to maximise the opportunities for lone parents to enter into and increase employment.
The reforms seek to address the long-term social welfare dependency and poverty experienced by many lone parents by providing them with improved access to the Department’s range of education, training, and employment supports, such as back to education allowance, back to work enterprise allowance and community employment. In addition, I was pleased to introduce the back to work family dividend in the last Budget. This provides a significant incentive for families with children to move into employment, as recently reported by the ESRI.
Access to these services and supports is imperative for lone parents, in order to ensure that their prospects of securing employment and financial independence are improved.
Any reversal of these reforms would delay this critical interaction between lone parents and the Department’s Intreo services and would potentially increase the barriers they face to entering employment in the future.
I therefore have no plans to reverse the forthcoming changes to the one parent family payment.
However, I look forward to examining the various supports available to all families, including single parent families, in the next Budget.
168. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the progress made to date in determining an application for a carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25922/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to qualify for carer’s allowance (CA), the person providing the care cannot be engaged in employment, self-employment, training or education courses outside the home for more than 15 hours a week.
The person concerned was refused CA by a deciding officer on the grounds that she was attending a course outside the home for more than 15 hours per week. She was notified on the 28th of May 2014 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
The person concerned appealed this decision and the case was submitted to the Social Welfare Appeals Office for determination. An appeals officer (AO), having fully considered all of the available evidence, disallowed the appeal.
The person concerned was notified on the 20th March 2015 of the AO’s decision and was provided at that time with a detailed explanation of the basis for this decision.
Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of an AO is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed in the light of relevant additional evidence or new facts. If there has been a change in circumstances, the person in question should submit a new application for CA and her eligibility will be determined.
169. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on the concern of the Irish Postmasters Union in respect of the recent issue of revised application forms from her Department; if she is aware that this has already impacted on some post offices' business; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25932/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra170. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update following her own request that her Department review social welfare forms; the timeframe for this review; and the suggested neutral wording in relation to payment options that is to be provided. [25933/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra171. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a commitment to withdraw the amended and contentious social welfare forms currently in circulation; her plans to cease distribution of these forms, being fully cognisant of the potential impact it may hold for smaller post offices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25934/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 169 to 171, inclusive, 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 focused 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 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 toward electronic payments the Department has been changing some of its application forms and I am aware of concerns that have been raised in regard to some of the amended 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. In order to ensure that the department’s forms present payment options equally, I have asked the department to update them to ensure that a neutral wording in relation to payment options is provided and to also ensure that one payment option is not favoured over another.
These amendments will be carried out over the next number of weeks. My officials have already commenced preparatory work on this process and I expect this work to be completed in a timely manner. However, given that the department’s forms are integrated into its automated systems the work must be done carefully and properly to ensure uninterrupted service to our customers. I do not wish to cause delays to our customers through loss of our automated systems due to improperly considered changes or modifications.
172. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the consultation or discussion that took place with postmasters in advance of the decision to issue new social welfare application forms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25935/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to recognise the general societal trend toward electronic payments the Department has been changing some of its application forms and I am aware of concerns that have been raised in regard to some of the amended 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. In order to ensure that the Department’s forms present payment options equally, I have asked the Department to update them to ensure that a neutral wording in relation to payment options is provided and to also ensure that one payment option is not favoured over another.
These amendments will be carried out over the next number of weeks. My officials have already commenced preparatory work on this process and I expect this work to be completed in a timely manner. However, given that the Department’s forms are integrated into its automated systems the work must be done carefully and properly to ensure uninterrupted service to our customers. I do not wish to cause delays to our customers through loss of our automated systems due to improperly considered changes or modifications.
The Department does not consult with postmasters in respect of the design of social welfare application forms.
173. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an appeal for a domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25958/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 29th May 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.
175. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the progress made to date in determining an application for disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who has submitted the requested documentation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25963/15]
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 25 June 2015.
In our letter mentioned above to the person concerned, he was given the option of seeking a review and/or appealing our decision directly to the Social Welfare Appeals Office, within 21 days.
176. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons under 25 years of age who have qualified for the JobsPlus initiative, by county, since the introduction of the initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25975/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra177. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons under 25 years of age who have qualified for the JobsPlus initiative under the revised criteria since January 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25976/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra178. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons under 25 years of age who currently qualify for the JobsPlus initiative on the basis that they meet the four-month criteria, by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25977/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 176 to 178, inclusive, together.
The JobsPlus incentive is designed to encourage employers and businesses to focus their recruitment efforts on those who have been out of work for long periods or on young people seeking work. JobsPlus provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers in the form of a monthly grant paid over two years with two levels of grant payable-€7,500 or €10,000 provided the employment is maintained. The level of payment depends on the length of time the person is unemployed.
Eligibility was broadened in 2015 to include young jobseekers (under 25s) unemployed for four months or more in the previous 6 months, jobseekers transitioning from a one parent family payment (OFP) and former OFP customers whose youngest child is 14 years of age or over who are currently in receipt of a jobseekers payment.
At the end of May 2015, the Department made payments of just over €1.886 million to 3,587 employers in respect of 4,901 employees. A total of 1,102 people were under 25 years when they commenced employment. Since January 2015, a total of 276 people under 25 years have qualified for JobsPlus. Of these, 138 (50%) have qualified under the revised criteria for young persons under 25 years.
The following table gives a county by county breakdown of all those who were under 25 years when they commenced employment under the Jobsplus initiative. It also contains a breakdown by county of those who qualified under the revised criteria for young persons under 25 years since January 2015.
|
County |
Total U/25 Years since Commencement of Scheme |
Total U/25 under Revised Criteria from Jan 15 |
|
Dublin |
235 |
35 |
|
Cork |
75 |
6 |
|
Tipperary |
63 |
6 |
|
Galway |
56 |
8 |
|
Kildare |
56 |
6 |
|
Louth |
56 |
6 |
|
Wexford |
54 |
4 |
|
Meath |
45 |
7 |
|
Waterford |
44 |
6 |
|
Wicklow |
44 |
6 |
|
Donegal |
43 |
1 |
|
Limerick |
39 |
9 |
|
Kerry |
30 |
6 |
|
Offaly |
30 |
5 |
|
Westmeath |
28 |
5 |
|
Mayo |
27 |
6 |
|
Carlow |
25 |
1 |
|
Clare |
25 |
4 |
|
Cavan |
24 |
2 |
|
Laois |
20 |
2 |
|
Monaghan |
20 |
1 |
|
Kilkenny |
16 |
0 |
|
Roscommon |
16 |
1 |
|
Leitrim |
13 |
2 |
|
Longford |
10 |
1 |
|
Sligo |
8 |
2 |
|
Total |
1,102 |
138 |
179. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a supplementary welfare allowance and associated arrears will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin whose application for disability allowance is being assessed further; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25991/15]
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 29 April 2015.
On the basis of your representations, a review of her application is currently being processed. A decision is expected to issue shortly.
The person in question is currently in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance.
180. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the proposals she has to increase rent supplement levels and to introduce more flexibility in limits for tenants who are at risk of homelessness, as requested by an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25995/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraRent supplement plays a vital role in supporting 68,000 families and individuals at a cost of €298 million. Over 5,600 rent supplement claims have been awarded in 2015.
The Department’s recent review of rent limits points out that the main cause of difficulty for persons renting and seeking to rent is the reduced availability of affordable private rented accommodation. In this regard, the Government will deliver significantly increased supply of social and affordable housing through the Construction 2020 Strategy and the Social Housing Strategy. My colleague, Alan Kelly T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, has also advised his intention to bring proposals on rent certainty to the Government before the summer recess.
In response to the difficulties experienced by persons renting or seeking to rent in the current market, the Department has implemented preventative measures to provide for flexibility in assessing customers’ accommodation needs through the National Tenancy Sustainment Framework. Under this approach, the circumstances of tenants are considered on a case-by-case basis and rents are being increased above prescribed limits. The Department also works with Threshold’s Tenancy Sustainment service in Dublin and Cork city where supply is most acute. This flexible approach has already assisted over 2,100 rent supplement households nationwide through increased rent payments.
Where Departmental staff are notified of a threat of tenancy loss, the preventative measures are implemented as appropriate. The Department has also undertaken a communications campaign to encourage people at risk to avail of these measures. I am continuing to keep this matter under review to ensure that the appropriate supports continue to be provided.
181. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the possible alternatives for payment in respect of the grandchild of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who no longer receives a guardianship payment in respect of the child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26005/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe guardians payment to the person concerned was payable to 2 July 2015. Due to an administrative error, the payment was inadvertently stopped on 4 June 2015. The child in respect of whom the guardians payment was payable is in receipt of jobseekers allowance since 15 June 2015. The person concerned will now be paid arrears of guardians payment covering the period from 4 June to 2 July 2015, less the amount of jobseekers allowance paid to the child during this period.
If the child returns to full-time education at a recognised school or college in or after September 2015, guardians payment will be re-instated with effect from 2 July 2015 for the 2015/16 academic year, and arrears due, less the amount of jobseekers allowance paid to the child, will be issued to the person concerned. The person concerned has been sent the relevant application form for completion if the child returns to full-time education.
182. Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in awarding an optical benefit in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [26015/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department has not received a claim for Optical Benefit from the customer concerned. However, eligibility to Treatment Benefit is dependent on a customer having paid sufficient PRSI at Classes A, E, H, or P only. The customer worked as a public servant and paid Class D PRSI (which does not count towards this Benefit) and therefore he does not qualify for the Benefit.
If the customer is the holder of a Medical Card, he should contact his local HSE office, who will be able to advise him of his entitlements under their parallel scheme.
