Written Answers Nos. 47 to 59
47. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare is eligible for disability benefit, a disablement payment or an invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41078/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIllness benefit is a payment for people who cannot work due to illness and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. One of the PRSI conditions is that a person must have a minimum of 39 reckonable contributions paid or credited in the governing contribution year. Claims made in 2015 are governed by the 2013 tax year, and only PRSI classes A, E, H, and P contributions are reckonable for illness benefit purposes. The person concerned does not satisfy the above criteria.
Invalidity 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. To qualify for IP claimants must have at least 260 paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last complete contribution year before the date of their claim. Only PRSI classes A, E or H contributions are reckonable for IP purposes. From the information available to my Department, it appears that the person concerned does not satisfy the PRSI contribution criteria for IP.
However entitlement to IP can only be definitively determined on receipt of a completed claim form.
Disablement benefit is one of the benefits payable under the occupational injuries scheme to an insured person who suffers a loss of physical or mental faculty as a result of an occupational accident or prescribed occupational disease. The person must have been in insurable employment at the time the accident or the disease was contracted. The person concerned has made two applications for disablement benefit:
- The first application was received on 20 April 2007 in respect of an accident at work on 21 Sep 2006. The person concerned has been awarded disablement benefit from 23 March 2007 with a loss of faculty of 20% for life. This is currently in payment.
- The second alleged accident occurred on 23 May 2006 in respect of a commuter accident on his way to work. This application was received in the department on 2 April 2015. This claim is still under investigation. The person concerned will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible.
According to my Department’s records, the person concerned is currently in receipt of disability allowance at the maximum rate for their circumstances.
48. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a further review of an unsuccessful appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Laois under the disability allowance scheme will be undertaken given the strength of the medical information submitted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41080/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person in question appealed to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) a decision by a deciding officer to disallow her application for disability allowance (DA).
Following due consideration, the appeal of the person in question was disallowed by an appeals officer (AO) on 4 November 2015. She was notified of this decision in writing by the SWAO on the same date.
An AO’s decision is final and conclusive in absence of any fresh facts or evidence.
It is open to the person in question to reapply for DA.
49. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a basic social protection payment will be put in place for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41081/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no record that the client has applied for a Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance. She is currently in receipt of a One Parent Family Payment at the maximum rate for her family circumstances.
50. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if pay related social insurance contributions by self-employed persons count towards the cost of hearing aids; if not, the reason; if consideration will be given to amending this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41104/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe self-employed pay PRSI at the class S rate of 4%. These contributions provide cover for long-term social insurance benefits including the State pension (contributory) and the widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner’s contributory pension. They do not provide access to benefits such as treatment benefits which include a contribution towards the cost of hearing aids. In contrast a combined employer and employee rate of 14.75% is paid in respect of most employees, who can then access the full range of social insurance benefits, including treatment benefits.
The most recent Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund published in 2012 found that, in the case of the self-employed with earnings equivalent to national average earnings, a 15% contribution rate would be needed to provide the core full-rate State pension (contributory) to the self-employed. This compares very favourably with the 4% currently paid by the self-employed. The Review also showed highlighted that the self-employed at all income levels got better value for money for their contributions in relation to the State pension than employees generally.
While I am anxious to expand the level of social insurance entitlement for the self-employed, any such change would have to be funded by an appropriate level of contribution.
51. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she is aware of the Bara judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union delivered last month (details supplied); if the information in any of the databases assembled and processed by her Department towards public administration was gathered using personal data previously collected and held by the State towards a different purpose; if persons whose personal data was gathered in such manner have been notified of the transfer of their data in all such cases; if not, if it is her opinion that all such databases are now illegal, in view of the Bara judgment; the measures she proposes to address this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41111/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the Bara Judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union delivered last month and my Department is assessing its implications on data sharing arrangements, if any.
Social welfare legislation provides a legal basis for the sharing of data between DSP and other specified bodies. My Department shares information with these bodies for the control of social welfare schemes and other purposes in accordance with this legislation.
Data sharing is viewed as an efficient and effective mechanism to target control related activity. It is an important prevention and detection control measure. Data sharing is also used to streamline services particularly in doing away with the need to collect the same data multiple times and consequently to provide a better service to the citizen while reducing administration costs.
When sharing data, the Department is very mindful of its responsibilities to protect the rights and privacy of individuals in accordance with the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003. The data sharing arrangements operate in accordance with guidelines drawn up in consultation with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner. A list of bodies with which my Department shares data is available on welfare.ie.
52. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection for details of all instances where legislation introduced by her or on her behalf, which is enacted and still in force, contains a provision amending the Data Protection Acts to allow for the transfer of personal or other data collected, retained and processed by the State for a particular purpose, towards another specific purpose, from 1 January 2000 to 2015 to date, in tabular form; if she will indicate, for each such case, the financial cost of creating and administering such databases; the projected financial cost for databases not yet complete; the specific legislative provision which enabled such data transfers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41143/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraNeither I, nor my predecessors, have introduced any legislation containing a provision amending the Data Protection Acts at any time in the period 1 January 2000 to date. The primary responsibility for the Data Provision Acts rests with the Minister for Justice.
53. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath who is in receipt of disability allowance is entitled to the Christmas bonus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41146/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that the person concerned is in receipt of disability allowance (DA). All recipients of DA will receive their Christmas bonus of 75% of their weekly amount, subject to a minimum bonus payment of €20.00. The bonus payment will be included in the normal weekly payment due to be paid on 2 December 2015.
54. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of new State bodies and agencies under her remit that have been established since February 2011; the number of such bodies subject to a sunset clause; the number of new public bodies currently being planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41274/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council, the Pensions Ombudsman and the Social Welfare Tribunal.
Two new statutory bodies have been established since February 2011, namely;
- the Pensions Authority, formerly the Pensions Board, which was established on 7 March 2014, and
- the Pensions Council which was established on 3 February 2015.
Neither of these agencies are subject to a sunset clause.
There are no plans to establish any new public bodies in the Department at present.
55. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of defined benefit pension schemes currently listed for employees under her remit; the number that are in deficit; her plans to consolidate any of these schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41292/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Pensions Board, the Citizens Information Board and the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman come under the aegis of my Department. All schemes are unfunded statutory schemes with ultimate responsibility for benefits vesting with the Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform as part of overall Public Sector pension arrangements. Accordingly no deficit arises.
The following are details of the schemes for each of the bodies listed above:
|
BODY |
SCHEME |
COMMENTS |
|
Citizens Information Board |
- Citizens Information Board Employee Superannuation Scheme - Citizens information Board Spouses’, Civil Partnership and Children’s Contributory Pension Scheme - Single Public Service Pension Scheme (Single Scheme) |
Both of these schemes are in draft form and are being operated on an administrative basis pending formal consent from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform |
|
Pensions Board |
- The Pension Board Staff Superannuation Schemes (Main and Spouses’, Civil Partners and Children’s) - Single Public Service Pension Scheme (Single Scheme) |
|
|
Office of the Pensions Ombudsman (This scheme applies to Pensions Ombudsman only – the rest of the OPO staff are members of the Civil Service Pension Schemes) |
- Pensions Ombudsman Superannuation Scheme - Pensions Ombudsman Spouses’, Civil Partnership and Children’s Contribution Pension Scheme |
Spouses’, Civil Partnership and Children’s Contribution Scheme approved by DPER and Statutory Instrument in process of being finalised |
The civil servants in my Department are members of civil service pension schemes which are the responsibility of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
56. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the number of electric cars registered in each year since 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41060/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the number of electric cars registered in each year from 2010 to 2014 and January to October 2015 is as outlined in the following table.
|
Year |
New |
Used |
|
2010 |
19 |
0 |
|
2011 |
56 |
1 |
|
2012 |
139 |
2 |
|
2013 |
46 |
14 |
|
2014 |
218 |
52 |
|
Jan to Oct 2015 |
454 |
85 |
57. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which he expects incomes in the public and private sectors to grow over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41092/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with the projected pickup in economic activity over the medium term horizon, improvements in income are expected.
In relation to labour income, projections underpinning Budget 2016 indicate that on a whole-economy basis average wage rates are expected to grow by an average of 2.5 per cent per annum over the period to 2020. This increase is driven by positive contributions from both average hourly wages as well as the number of hours worked. Furthermore, employment volumes are also expected to rise in line with a strengthening of labour market conditions. As a result, the whole-economy total pay bill (i.e. incorporating total employment gains and increases in earnings per worker) is projected to grow by an average of approximately 4.5 per cent per annum over the medium term horizon.
Broad-based increases in income are expected, with positive contributions from both the public and private sectors. The public pay bill is projected to grow at over the medium-term horizon. This outlook incorporates provisions for the Lansdowne Road Agreement for the years to 2018.
In addition to labour income, the current medium term outlook for profit income remains positive. As is typical in a cyclical upturn, profit income, which includes self-employed profits, has lead wage growth. Profit income is also set to continue to record robust growth over the medium term. This is primarily driven by a pickup in domestic trading profits.
Increases in income are, of course, contingent upon achieving sustainable economic growth in the years ahead. This, in turn, is predicated on inter-alia continued gains in competitiveness and ensuring sustainable public finances.
58. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the cost to each of the State-backed banks of the financial advice scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40929/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe banks in which the State has a shareholding all include the cost of the Financial Advice Scheme as part of the wider costs of addressing mortgages in arrears. They do not disclose the cost of the scheme separately from Operating Costs, as listed in their respective financial reports. For further information on the implementation of the scheme the Deputy may wish to consult with the Department of Social Protection.
59. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the cost to the Exchequer of the proposal to allow 100% mortgage interest relief to some landlords, as per the Government announcement of 10 November 2015. [40952/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, an overall package of measures has been agreed by Government in relation to the rental sector.
As part of that package, an amendment to the tax code is to be introduced that will allow an increase in the deduction available to landlords in respect of interest paid on qualifying loans when calculating rental profits. In general, a landlord is allowed a deduction of 75% of the interest paid on borrowed money used to purchase, improve or repair rented residential premises when calculating rental income. It is proposed that the allowable deduction will be increased to 100% where the property is let to tenants in receipt of social housing supports, subject to certain conditions.
The details of this measure are still being finalised between officials from my Department, the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Department of Social Protection. I intend to bring forward an amendment at Report Stage of the Finance Bill 2015 with the final details of the measure, and at that point I will be in a position to provide an estimate of the cost of the measure.
