Written Answers Nos. 1-79
69. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of the opening of the promised community welfare office for Naas, County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40144/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the context of the enhanced services provided nationally as part of Pathways to Work initiatives the Department re-engineered its business model to support the delivery of local services across all business streams, including the Community Welfare Service (CWS).
The model of service delivery for CWS in South Kildare was changed from local drop-in clinics where services were only available at designated times each week to a service accessible by telephone call at all times, followed up by appointments and home visits as required.
The service is supported by an Integrated Reception and Decisions service in the Newbridge Intreo Centre and a commitment that all customer contacts are responded to within one working day is being maintained. In addition, significant improvements in claim processing through the development of the Integrated Decisions model has considerably reduced dependence on Supplementary Welfare Allowance by people awaiting decisions on their claims.
The Naas area operates this CWS model which can facilitate home visits. A further enhancement to the welfare services provided in the Naas area will be made when some minor building works in the Rathasker Square office have been completed. The enhanced services will enable appointments to be facilitated in the in the Rathasker Square office, where necessary.
70. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that payments under the family income supplement scheme are not reckoned in any means testing within her Department; if she will contact the Department of Health and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to ensure these payments are not reckoned for medical cards or local authority rents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40153/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Family Income Supplement (FIS) is an in-work support which provides an income top-up for low paid employees with children. It is designed both to prevent in-work poverty and to offer a financial incentive to take-up employment. I was pleased to announce in the recent Budget that there will be an increase in the Family Income Supplement income thresholds of €5 for families with one child and €10 for families with two or more children.
For the purposes of weekly means tested social assistance payments, such as Jobseeker's Allowance, One Parent Family Payment and Disability Allowance Social Welfare legislation provides that any FIS payments to the relevant family are not assessable as means.
For the purposes of FIS assessment, weekly family income is net assessable earnings from employment, income from self-employment or any other source. Net assessable earnings are gross earnings less income tax, universal social charge, employee PRSI and pension contributions. Weekly social welfare payments (excluding the Back to Work Family Dividend) are taken into account as they constitute part of the family income. Similarly, income from all sources including weekly welfare payments is taken into account when determining entitlement to rent supplement.
I am advised by the Department of Health that income from FIS is not taken into account in the assessment for a medical card or GP card.
The types of income which are taken into account for differential rent purposes are a matter for the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government and individual local authorities.
71. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the training courses available for unemployed persons who had been self-employed and now wish to upskill; her views that every opportunity should be provided to all persons wishing to upskill in order to re-enter the workforce; if there are plans to allow greater access to training courses to all unemployed persons, irrespective of their previous occupation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40095/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe unemployed, including those who were formerly self-employed, have access to the full range of standard training courses. There are some exceptions in respect of special programmes developed and delivered specifically for long-term unemployed people, such as Momentum, or for people with disabilities but these represent just a small proportion of the overall number of places available.
In general the only difference between people unemployed and in receipt of a welfare payment and other unemployed people not in receipt of a welfare payment is that those people who were in receipt of a social welfare payment prior to commencing training will receive a training allowance, which is generally equivalent to the welfare payment they were receiving. People who were not in receipt of a welfare payment prior to commencing training will not, in most cases, qualify for a training allowance; however they may be eligible for payment towards travel and meals costs associated with their attendance at a training course.
It is important to note however that the vast majority of unemployed people who were formerly self-employed do in fact receive a welfare payment. The Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare found that almost 9 out of 10 of those previously self-employed who claimed the means tested jobseeker’s allowance during the three-year period from 2009 to 2011 received payment.
Finally, with regard to the range of courses provided, training courses for unemployed people wishing to upskill or reskill are delivered as part of the range of programmes provided by Education and Training Boards and funded by Solas. The range of training provided is a matter for the ETBs, Solas and the Department of Education and Skills, after consultation with the Department of Social Protection and other stakeholders, including employers. The range of courses that are currently available can be found on the SOLAS website.
72. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to address the respite needs of carers, despite the fact that the respite care grant was renamed as the carer's support grant in recent budget changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40143/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government recognises the significant contribution that carers make to society and provide a range of income supports to assist with the financial burden of caring. These supports include carer's allowance, carer's benefit, domiciliary care allowance and respite care grant which are administered by my Department. Expenditure on carers has increased significantly in recent years and it is estimated that the overall expenditure for 2015 will be €822 million.
The provision of respite services for the recipients of care is a matter for the Health Service Executive. However, my Department has, since 1999, paid an annual respite care grant, as an additional financial support, to carers. The intent of the grant is to support carers in their caring role and carers may use the grant in a manner that is appropriate to their needs. The annual respite care payment is a single lump sum with no requirement to satisfy a means test. There is no equivalent payment for carers in any other country in Europe. This year it is estimated that in excess of €123 m will be spent on approximately 90,000 grants.
I am pleased that I was in a position in Budget 2016 to increase the amount of the grant by €325 to €1,700, at an estimated cost of €30 million. The name of the grant has also been changed to the carer's support grant in recognition of its changing role. Furthermore, in the recent Budget, I doubled the period for which the carer can retain payment following the death of the care recipient from 6 weeks to 12 weeks in recognition of the adjustment needed following the death of the person for whom they were caring.
I am also pleased to say that funding of up to €1 million for training and supports for carers, is currently being finalised and I will shortly be in a position to announce the projects that will receive funding under the measure.
73. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she is aware that persons who are in receipt of family income supplement and the back to work dividend, and who are in work, are suffering serious income losses as a result of the change from the one-parent family payment to the back to work dividend and of the loss of the fuel allowance, as neither the family income supplement nor the back to work dividend are considered qualifying payments for the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40008/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe one-parent family payment reforms were introduced in order to address long-term social welfare dependency and poverty levels among lone parents.
Approximately 25,500 customers transitioned from the one-parent family payment scheme on 2 July, 2015, when the final phase of the reforms was implemented. The majority of these customers transitioned to jobseeker’s transitional payment, jobseeker’s allowance or the family income supplement. This latter group were also eligible to receive the back to work family dividend.
The family income supplement and the back to work family dividend do not qualify for fuel allowance. However, former one-parent family payment recipients who were also in receipt of the family income supplement received a re-rated family income supplement when they transitioned from the one-parent family payment. They also qualified for the back to work family dividend – worth up to €1,550 per child in the first year.
The family income supplement, which is provided tax-free, is the best financial option that is available to lone parents. This is evident from the increase in the number of new family income supplement recipients that occurred in 2013 and 2014, and also in July, 2015, when 2,400 lone parents joined the family income supplement scheme for the first time.
In regard to families with children, including lone parent families, I was pleased to introduce in Budget 2016 a number of important measures including:
- A €5 increase in Child Benefit, which increases the rate from €135 to €140 per month per child. This will benefit over 623,000 families in respect of almost 1.2 million children;
- Increased funding for the School Meals programme of €3 million, bringing the provision to €42 million in 2016; and
- An additional €18 million to increase the Family Income Supplement (FIS) thresholds - by €5 for a family with one child and by €10 for a family with two children or more. This measure will benefit nearly 60,000 families and over 131,000 children.
Last year, I reintroduced a Christmas Bonus payable at 25% of the weekly rate. This year I am in a position to provide a 75% Christmas Bonus payment for certain welfare recipients. Individuals who are in receipt of the back to work family dividend will receive this year’s Christmas Bonus in respect of their dividend payment.
74. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will review the requests her Department made for a person (details supplied) to be applying for 200 to 300 jobs a week; and her views on the other issues that are raised in the timeline. [40094/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraJobseeker's allowance provides means tested income support to persons subject to the contingency of involuntary unemployment. It is a fundamental qualifying condition of the scheme that a person must be available for and genuinely seeking full-time work.
In the case of the person concerned a determination was made by a Deciding Officer that he was not genuinely seeking work in accordance with statutory criteria. Determinations in respect of jobseeker’s allowance claims often require detailed interviews with customers. A number of such interviews were held with the person concerned but no requirement to apply for an excessive number of positions was advanced in respect of this case.
As advised in the reply to the Deputy’s previous question last week on this case (ref: 37231-15), the person concerned has lodged an appeal against the decision with the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office and consideration of the matter rests with that office.
The entitlement of the person concerned to rent supplement is currently under review.
75. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection given a dispute involving workers on the Gateway scheme in the Ballymount depot in south Dublin, the protections in place for Gateway workers; and the monitoring being undertaken to ensure training is taking place as part of the scheme. [40151/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, Gateway is a county and city council work scheme which aims to provide short-term quality and suitable work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than 24 months. Funding of the order of €22.4 m is being provided in the Department's Vote in 2015 to cover placements under the scheme.
The Department has made inquiries and has been unable to establish the nature of any dispute, as referenced by the Deputy. In any event, it is important to note that matters of this nature are for the employing county or city council to resolve and the Department of Social Protection has no role in relation to such issues.
76. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views that only two of 40 social protection cuts have been restored in full; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40067/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraBoth the last Government and the current Government have introduced a range of welfare expenditure reduction measures in order to restore the public finances to health and to reduce our debt to sustainable levels. During their time in office, the previous Government introduced a wide range of cost saving measures in the welfare area including:
- An 8% reduction in the weekly personal rates of payment for all welfare recipients aged under 66.
- The abolition of the Christmas Bonus.
- Various reductions in the rate of Child Benefit.
- The limitation of Illness Benefit to two years duration for new claimants.
The current Government have also had to make difficult choices in welfare and other areas. However, we now have been able to exit the bailout, reduce our debts and move into a real recovery. The top priority in the coming years is to safeguard and enhance that recovery and, at the same time, to provide enhanced social supports including welfare supports.
The recent Budget was designed to improve the lives and living standards of every person and every family in the country. It represents a picture of a country moving firmly in the right direction. In particular, I was pleased to be able to announce a significant social welfare package. This had four key aims, as follows:
- To increase supports for pensioners aged 66 and over.
- To strengthen supports for families with children.
- To increase the momentum to date in helping jobseekers back to work.
- To provide targeted assistance for vulnerable groups.
Last year, I reintroduced a Christmas Bonus payable at 25% of the weekly rate. This year, I am in a position to provide a 75% Christmas Bonus payment for all welfare recipients, including pensioners. A single young unemployed jobseeker in receipt of €100 rate of Jobseeker’s Allowance for 15 months will receive a Christmas bonus payment of €75, while a person in receipt of the €144 for 15 months will receive €108. A single person in receipt of Disability Allowance will receive a bonus payment of €141. A couple in receipt of the Blind Pension, with a qualified adult and no children will receive a bonus of €234.60. A couple in receipt of Invalidity Pension with a qualified adult and two qualified children will receive a bonus payment of €293.40.
More than 676,500 pensioners and their dependants will benefit from the above-inflation €3 increase in the weekly rate of payments to all social welfare recipients aged 66 and over. This is the first weekly rate increase for pensioners since 2009 and builds on the increase in the Living Alone Allowance last year. This is the first general rate increase for pensioners since 2009.
It should be noted that carers aged 66 and over will benefit from the €3 weekly rate increase. This rate increase will also benefit carers in receipt of the half-rate Carer’s Allowance aged 66 and over, who will gain by €1.50 per week.
The Respite Care Grant, to be renamed the Carer's Support Grant to better reflect the usage of the grant, will also be increased by €325, from €1,375 to €1,700 per annum. Furthermore, payment of Carer's Allowance will be extended by 6 weeks, from 6 weeks to 12 weeks, after the death of the care recipient.
In addition, those eligible for the Fuel Allowance will gain from the increase in January of €2.50 per week, from €20 to €22.50 per week over the fuel season.
Funding for the Free Travel scheme, which benefits a large number of pensioners, is being increased by €3 m, from €77 m to €80 m, to meet increased numbers eligible for the scheme and therefore fully protect entitlements under the scheme.
In regard to families with children, I am introducing a number of important measures including:
- A €5 increase in Child Benefit, which increases the rate from €135 to €140 per month per child. This will benefit over 623,000 families in respect of almost 1.2 million children.
- Increased funding for the School Meals programme of €3 million, bringing the provision to €42 million in 2016.
- The introduction of a new Paternity Benefit scheme whereby fathers will, for the first time, have the option of applying for 2 weeks’ leave in respect of births from September 2016. This measure recognises the important role of fathers in bringing up their children.
- An additional €18 million to increase the Family Income Supplement (FIS) thresholds - by €5 for a family with one child and by €10 for a family with two children or more. The measure will benefit nearly 60,000 families and over 131,000 children.
Finally, I am also introducing a PRSI Credit which will benefit over 88,000 lower earners with weekly income between €352.01 and €424, by reducing the amount of PRSI they pay in a week. This complements the increase in the minimum wage by ensuring that those on low earnings brought within the PRSI net will pay a significantly lower amount of PRSI per week, than would currently apply.
Because through the perseverance of our people, we now have a very strong recovery. This Budget will help in that process of spreading that recovery more widely. Maintaining a strong economy and sensibly managing the public finances is the priority while raising living standards across the board and investing in the services that a decent society requires.
We have not got to our destination yet but it is within sight and within reach. With this Budget, we took another firm step towards it.
77. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the progress made on the commitment in the Pathways to Work 2015 strategy to develop and evaluate actions to extend services to persons not on the live register; to improve the promotion and communications around existing activation options; and her plans for access for qualified adults to the back to education allowance. [40097/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe key objective of activation policy and labour market initiatives is to offer assistance to those most in need of support in securing work and achieving financial self-sufficiency. This policy objective prioritises scarce resources to those in receipt of qualifying welfare payments – Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Allowance – that are conditional on the recipient being actively seeking and available for employment, as well as, in the case of Jobseeker’s Allowance, meeting a means test. The employment services and schemes provided by the Department are focused in the first instance on this cohort of unemployed people.
Currently, in line with the commitment in Pathways to Work, a range of services are available to unemployed persons who are not in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment. For example, employment services, such as advice on job-search activities and the use of online job search tools, are available to people if they register with the Department’s employment services offices, regardless of their social welfare status. Further, unemployed persons not in receipt of qualifying payments may also be eligible to avail of up-skilling opportunities, for example through ETB (formerly FÁS) training for unemployed people, but are not eligible to receive a training allowance while undertaking the course. An unemployed person who does not qualify for a social welfare payment due to the assessment of their means may be eligible to sign for social insurance contribution credits. Persons who sign for credits for three months (78 days) of the last six months are eligible to participate in the JobBridge programme. Persons signing on for credits for 12 months or longer over the previous 18 months are entitled to participate on Momentum courses through Solas, provided that they have been actively seeking work, however they will not receive any payment. Persons signing for credits for six months or more are entitled to participate on ETB-run VTOS courses subject to availability. In the case of VTOS courses, participants do not receive a training allowance but may receive travel and lunch allowances. Springboard and Skillnets courses for unemployed people, funded through the Department of Education and Skills, are also open to people regardless of their social welfare status.
There is also a range of services provided specifically to assist people with disabilities participate in the labour market. These include advisory services provided through the EmployAbility companies, supported/subsidised employment, special training provision, and workplace adaptation grants. People with disabilities also have access to most of the Department’s general activation services. In order to improve access to these services the Department is arranging, with the National Disability Authority, to train its own case officers in the provision of advisory services to people with disabilities.
Activation services, including assignment of a case officer, have also been extended to people formerly classified as lone parents but have now migrated to the JobSeeker Transition Payment.
In short, the Government is committed to supporting as many people as possible to participate more fully in employment and to become more self-sufficient by providing supports that address barriers they may encounter in finding and sustaining employment.
However, it is also recognised that there is a need to improve the promotion of and communication around existing activation options. In this regard, for example, the DSP Employer Engagement Unit has conducted a number of career and job fairs in 2014 and 2015 at which information on activation options such as JobBridge, Experience your Europe, and JobPlus is made available.
An updated Pathways to Work 2016-2020 strategy is under development within the Department of Social Protection and it is intended to bring this strategy to Government for approval by the end of this year. While the new strategy is still being formulated I expect that it will reflect labour market changes in our economy. In particular whereas the existing strategy was formulated during a period of very high unemployment and focused on supporting people who are unemployed the new strategy is likely, given the reduction in unemployment and ongoing growth in employment, to augment this focus by, in addition, seeking to support an increased level of labour market participation in order to ensure that economic growth can be sustained. The strategy will therefore focus on consolidating previous reforms and on continued prioritisation of key cohorts, as well as considering the expansion of activation services to other cohorts.
With respect to eligibility of qualified adults for the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA), both partners can simultaneously qualify for a BTEA payment and can be supported to undertake courses of study. The Qualified Adult Dependant of a person in receipt of one of the qualifying payments for BTEA purposes may be approved for BTEA provided they establish an entitlement to a BTEA qualifying payment in their own right and subject to satisfying all other BTEA conditions. Periods spent in receipt of a Qualified Adult Allowance on qualifying payments should be counted in addition to any periods in receipt of a qualifying payment in their own right provided the claims are not broken by more than 12 months. This provision does not extend to provide eligibility for the Qualified Adult Dependant of the person made Statutory Redundant. Eligibility to BTEA does not extend to Qualified Adult Dependants of participants of activation schemes.
78. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why her Department has reversed the ban on 54 companies from participating in the JobBridge scheme, as recently reported by the media (details supplied), and the details of the companies that have been banned from the scheme. [40152/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the introduction of the JobBridge scheme in July 2011, over 18,200 Host Organisations have provided work experience opportunities to over 44,000 unemployed jobseekers. In order to try to ensure that the scheme provides a good basis for successful outcomes, the Department applies a number of conditions. These include the requirement on a Host Organisation to agree to adhere to the basic Terms and Conditions of the scheme before an application can be validated and for both parties to sign a Standard Agreement clearly stating the terms of the internship at the outset.
To ensure that a Host Organisation complies with these conditions and is abiding by the spirit of the scheme, the Department has a very robust monitoring regime. This involves the regular review of mandatory monthly compliance reports, random on-site inspections and the thorough investigation of all complaints received.
The vast majority of Host Organisations are fully compliant with all aspects of the scheme. In a small number of cases, however, the Department took the view that non-compliance by certain organisations warranted a decision to suspend them from access to the scheme for a period of time. These represent less than 0.5% of the total number of organisations that have participated in the scheme.
In that regard, it should be noted that when the scheme was introduced in 2011 it was initially envisaged to last for a two-year period. Accordingly, the practice when the scheme started was to debar offending host organisations for the remainder of the anticipated duration of the scheme - in other words, indefinitely. Subsequently the scheme, has been extended year-on-year and as a consequence, and on foot of a query from the office of the information commissioner, it was necessary to review the cases where an 'indefinite' bar was applied. It was as a result of this review that the decision was taken to lift the bar on 54 organisations. In addition a more sophisticated approach is now taken to restricting access to the scheme for non-compliant organisations. Unlike the previous regime, defined and proportionate periods of suspension are now applied, having regard to the nature and severity of the breach. This approach also reflects the fact that participation on the scheme is voluntary – both for the jobseeker and the host organisation.
The Department is fully aware of and committed to fulfilling its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act, but does not consider it appropriate to release of the details of the organisations concerned. Indeed, the Department is concerned that, pursuant to section 27(1)(b) of the Act, the identity of the organisations concerned is information the disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to result in a material financial loss or prejudice the competitive position of the companies in the conduct of their business. This is a mandatory exemption.
Moreover, given the voluntary nature of participation, both on the part of the Host Organisation and the ease with which a participant can end the internship, the Department is of the view that the suspension of an organisation for an appropriate period is an adequate and proportionate sanction for non-compliance with the provisions of the scheme. Disclosure of their names would amount to an additional sanction which the Department considers to be disproportionate and unjustly punitive, given the nature of the breach. In this regard the Department is also cognisant of threats that have been made against employers and host organisations that offer internships.
The success of the scheme is wholly dependent upon the voluntary participation of Host Organisations offering internships that appeal to unemployed people. Organisations are acutely aware of the potentially serious impact of any kind of reputational damage and there is evidence to suggest that some have not participated in JobBridge because of negative publicity surrounding the scheme. While the Department acknowledges the public interest in identifying any organisation that wilfully breaches the provisions of the scheme, and its value as a deterrent to those who might contemplate doing so, it is also concerned at the potential negative impact that such disclosure might have on the willingness of organisations to participate in the scheme, and, on balance, feels that the public interest is best served by not disclosing their details.
The Deputy is aware that the Information Commissioner affirmed the Department's refusal of access to the names of the companies concerned.
79. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of progress of the JobsPlus scheme; the number of positions and the companies participating, by county; and the total numbers who have availed of the scheme to date. [40102/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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. Two levels of grant are payable - €7,500 or €10,000 – depending on the length of time the person is unemployed and provided the employment is maintained. Eligibility was broadened during 2015 to include young jobseekers (under 25 year olds) unemployed for four months or more in the previous six months and jobseekers transitioning from a one parent family payment.
Since the incentive began in July 2013 up to end September 2015, the Department has made total payments of €29.4 m to just over 5,400 employers in respect of just over 7,900 employees. Payments totalling just under €2.1 m were made to 3,954 employers in respect of 5,403 employees in September 2015. Overall, in 2015, an amount of €25.5 m has been provided for JobsPlus, with payments to end September totalling €16.6 million in the year to date.
The distribution of payment by county made in September 2015 (latest figures available) is set out in the table below.
|
County |
Employer |
Employees |
|
Carlow |
64 |
94 |
|
Cavan |
73 |
102 |
|
Clare |
78 |
125 |
|
Cork |
350 |
478 |
|
Donegal |
137 |
195 |
|
Dublin |
1,047 |
1,127 |
|
Galway |
230 |
293 |
|
Kerry |
145 |
202 |
|
Kildare |
153 |
253 |
|
Kilkenny |
80 |
98 |
|
Laois |
84 |
130 |
|
Leitrim |
31 |
56 |
|
Limerick |
162 |
228 |
|
Longford |
47 |
53 |
|
Louth |
149 |
239 |
|
Mayo |
122 |
155 |
|
Meath |
139 |
227 |
|
Monaghan |
91 |
138 |
|
Offaly |
66 |
110 |
|
Roscommon |
55 |
94 |
|
Sligo |
69 |
95 |
|
Tipperary |
131 |
208 |
|
Waterford |
105 |
168 |
|
Westmeath |
92 |
130 |
|
Wexford |
137 |
213 |
|
Wicklow |
117 |
192 |
|
Total |
3,954 |
5,403 |
