Tuesday, 26 Apr 2016

Written Answers Nos. 1-13

Census of Population Data

Ceisteanna (1)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

1. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Taoiseach if he is aware of the numerous incidents whereby the addresses assigned to individual households as listed on census forms, and which correspond with the property's designated Eircode, have been found to be incorrect, inaccurate or incomplete; his views on the impact such an error may have in terms of the accuracy and reliability of the data collected in Census 2016; if he will initiate a public information campaign to alert householders of this possible error prior to census night in order to give all those affected the opportunity to amend individual forms, as appropriate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8367/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach

The addresses used in the census have been extracted from the Geodirectory, the An Post national address database, by the CSO. These addresses are listed in record books for use by enumerators, who write the address on the front of the form before handing it over to the householder.

In a small number of instances the address in the record book may be different to that used by the householder. This can happen for a number of reasons but in all instances the enumerators are instructed to record the address as provided by the householder onto the form, and into their record book. A reminder circular issued to all 5,144 field staff with regards to this early on in the campaign.

All dwellings in the census are also identified by way of an x, y coordinate and it is these coordinates that are used to create census outputs, and place dwellings in the correct Electoral Divisions etc. for the compilation of census outputs. Addresses are not used in the creation of census outputs so any disparities that have been found in census addresses have no impact on the outputs census will produce.

As part of their delivery routine enumerators have also written the Eircode of the dwelling onto the census form. These Eircodes were extracted from the Geodirectory, along with the addresses, and in some instances may differ from those provided by Eircode.ie. Census enumerators have been instructed to advise the householder to check back with Eircode.ie if they have any queries regarding the correct Eircode for their particular dwelling.

National Internship Scheme Administration

Ceisteanna (2)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

2. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the companies which were banned from participating in JobBridge, and are now being permitted to take persons on, so that the persons who made formal complaints and were assured that their former employers were being excluded from the scheme have access to this information. [8365/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

JobBridge was introduced in July 2011 as a rapid response to the sharp increase in unemployment resulting from the unprecedented collapse in the economy. Since then over 18,500 Host Organisations have provided internship opportunities to over 46,500 unemployed jobseekers. Independent research indicates that circa 60% of jobseekers who participated in JobBridge progressed into paid employment within a short period (5 months) of completing the internship.

The Department makes every effort to ensure that the positive impact of JobBridge is not diminished by any exploitation of the scheme. There are a number of measures to minimise this risk and to respond to breaches of scheme conditionality.

Potential Host Organisations must meet strict terms and conditions in order to participate in the scheme. All applications are screened on receipt and those that fail to meet the requirements are rejected.

A Standard Agreement outlining the key duties and hours of the internship placement along with the associated skills, knowledge and learning development to be acquired by the intern forms the kernel of the whole internship placement. This must be agreed and signed by both the Host Organisation and intern at the outset of the internship, and should be available for inspection by Department staff. Monthly compliance reports/checks must be completed by the Host Organisation and submitted to the Department.

To ensure that Host Organisations are abiding by the terms the scheme, the Department has a very robust monitoring regime. This involves the regular review of monthly compliance reports and random monitoring visits to facilitate discussions with both parties to the internship. Over 12,500 monitoring visits have been conducted and 98% of these have been satisfactory. In addition, the Department takes all complaints by interns extremely seriously and fully investigates them. Remedial action is always taken in cases of non-compliance.

Investigations by Department staff found that the overwhelming majority of internships offered under JobBridge comply with the terms and conditions of the scheme. In a small number of cases (86) the Department was of the view that non-compliance by certain organisations warranted a decision to debar them from further participation in the scheme, or to suspend them participation for varying durations depending on the nature of the transgression. This represents less than 0.5% of Host Organisations participating in the scheme.

As the scheme is voluntary (there is no obligation on a jobseeker to take up or remain in an Internship and there is no penalty for leaving an internship) and as the host organisations received no remuneration for their participation in the scheme the decisions were taken on an administrative basis by individual inspectors and the Host Organisations concerned had no recourse to challenge the decision or to seek a review by a central authority. In such circumstances as the decisions to bar host organisations related to failure to comply with administrative rather than legal requirements and given that publication of a finding of non-compliance could have wider adverse consequences for a host organisation it was not intended that the names of the host organisations concerned would be published.

A ruling from the Information Commissioner issued on 2nd of October 2015 (Ref. 150104) upheld the Department’s decision not to disclose the names of the organisations concerned. The Commissioner, inter alia, accepted the Department’s position that as the decisions were taken on an administrative basis without recourse to notice or review or notice, and that as publication could result in adverse consequences for the organisations concerned (who did not have an opportunity to challenge the decision) it would be it would be improper to release the names.

The Department has, however, since implemented revised procedures to place decisions to disbar host organisation on a more formal footing. Key changes are that decisions are now made by a Compliance Officer in the central JobBridge Unit, rather than by individual inspectors in the field and communicated to all of the parties concerned. This will ensure greater consistency and transparency in the decision-making process and will facilitate publication of host organisations names in cases where host organisations are barred from use of the scheme.

Departmental Schemes

Ceisteanna (3)

Noel Rock

Ceist:

3. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the financial cost of restoring the telephone allowance, based on changed demographics and age profile. [8478/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The overall concern of Government in its Budgets has been to protect the primary social welfare rates. Expenditure on pensions at approx. €6.974 billion is the largest block of expenditure in the Department in the Estimate for 2016, representing approx. 35.5% of overall expenditure. Because of demographic changes, the Department’s spending on older people is increasing year on year. The Department had to make provision for an additional €84 million in 2016 for the increasing number of pensioners. Maintaining the rate of the State pension and other core payments is critical in protecting people from poverty.

The decision to discontinue the telephone allowance was estimated to provide annual savings of €48 million. These savings meant that the Department was able to retain the other valuable elements of the household benefits package such as the electricity and gas allowance and the television licence. The Department will spend approximately €227 million this year on these elements of the household benefits package for over 416,000 customers.

The cost of the telephone allowance scheme had risen each year with the number of eligible customers also increasing significantly. In 2007 there were some 316,000 people receiving the telephone allowance compared to almost 396,000 at the end of September 2013, an increase of 25%, or an average increase of nearly 4% per annum. Each year almost 10,000 extra customers became eligible for the allowance because of the increased number of pension recipients.

I am keenly aware of the impact of Budget decisions on the Department’s clients, and I have sought to ensure that the money available is targeted in the most effective way. In Budget 2016, I was able to announce the first increase in the basic rate of the State pension in seven years, by €3 per week. This will increase the personal rate of the non-contributory pension to €222, and that of the contributory pension to €233.30. I was also pleased to announce a €2.50 increase in the rate of the Fuel Allowance, from €20 to €22.50 per week. I believe that, taken together with other changes, such as increasing the Christmas Bonus to 75% of weekly rate, the impact of the last Budget has been very positive for older people.

Free Travel Scheme Eligibility

Ceisteanna (4)

Tony McLoughlin

Ceist:

4. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to change the ruling where there is no entitlement to a companion pass under the carer's allowance scheme and the free travel scheme to allow the carer to travel free of charge with the caree in certain instances, especially where the caree is severely disabled, has a primary medical certificate and needs to attend hospital appointments in Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8001/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The Free Travel Scheme permits customers to travel for free on most CIE public transport services, LUAS and a range of services offered by up to 80 private operators in various parts of the country. Free travel is also available on cross border journeys to and from Northern Ireland. Additionally, customers aged 66 years and over can travel for free on journeys within Northern Ireland. There are currently approximately 848,000 customers with direct eligibility for Free Travel.

Persons resident in Ireland who are over 66 years of age and persons in receipt of certain social welfare payments (including disability allowance, invalidity pension and carer’s allowance) are eligible for the scheme. While medical evidence will be required to determine eligibility for these schemes, such evidence of itself does not entitle anyone to free travel. It is the fact of being in receipt of a qualifying payment, rather than the fact of having a disability, that gives rise to the entitlement.

There are no plans to extend the scheme to persons who are not in receipt of a primary qualifying payment at this time.

Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) the Department of Social Protection may award a travel supplement in any case where the circumstances of the case so warrant. The supplement is intended to assist with ongoing or recurring travel costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary. Every decision is based on consideration of the circumstances of the case, taking account of the nature and extent of the need and of the resources of the person concerned.

Disability Allowance Appeals

Ceisteanna (5)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

5. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if and when an oral hearing will be held on an appeal by a person (details supplied) under the disability allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8021/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 19th April 2016, 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.

Invalidity Pension Applications

Ceisteanna (6)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

6. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she has made a decision on an application by a person (details supplied) under the invalidity pension scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8033/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

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.

The department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on the 23 February 2016. The file has been sent to a Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) to report on the circumstances of the person in question. On return of the SWI’s report, the IP claim will be processed further and a deciding officer of the Department will be in direct contact with the person concerned regarding the outcome.

Carer's Allowance Applications

Ceisteanna (7)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

7. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when she will make a decision on an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8059/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The person concerned has been getting a carer’s allowance (CA) since 3 July 2014 in respect of one care recipient.

I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned in respect of a second care recipient.

On 23 February 2016, the application was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) 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 SWI has reported, a deciding officer will make a decision without delay. The person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications

Ceisteanna (8)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

8. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when she will make a decision on an application by a person (details supplied) under the domiciliary care allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8060/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The person concerned was notified on the 21st April 2016 that her application for domiciliary care allowance was successful and that the allowance has been awarded from the 1st February 2016. The first payment of the allowance, along with arrears due, will issue on 17th May 2016.

Social Welfare Payments Administration

Ceisteanna (9)

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

9. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 48 of 6 April 2016, the number of casual workers and part-time jobseekers who use bank accounts and the number of social protection recipients who use post offices to withdraw payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8083/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

As at end of March 2016 the number of social welfare customers whose welfare payments were issued by my department through its current contract for cash payments with An Post was 784,260. These payments and customers are spread across a range of the department's schemes. Casual Jobseeker customers are not part of the above figure as they are paid directly by cheque and not through the department’s contract for cash payments with An Post. The department is currently migrating these cheque payments to payments direct to bank accounts as per previous PQ answers and for the reasons set out in this answers.

The department is unable to say how many of its casual jobseeker customers use bank accounts. However it is noted that most of this cohort of customers have selected payment direct to their bank account as a payment method for their social welfare payments. The department will have more detailed information on the numbers of these customers who receive payments direct to their bank accounts in the next number of weeks.

Labour Activation Measures

Ceisteanna (10)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

10. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who were engaged in activation measures as a direct result of referrals from the Pathways to Work strategy; the details and duration of these measures; the number of successful outcomes, by age group, and by county, in each of the years 2014 to 2016 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8089/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The Government’s primary strategy to tackle unemployment is to create the environment for a strong economic recovery, by promoting competitiveness and productivity. Economic recovery will underpin jobs growth. The Government’s Pathways to Work strategies and the Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan (YGIP), led by the Department of Social Protection, provide additional measures to ensure that as many of the new jobs as possible go to those who are on the Live Register, and for the YGIP in particular, young jobseekers 18 to 25. These measures include the initiation of or reforms to a range of activation programmes and supports.

Data on direct referrals to activation programmes initiated or reformed under the Pathways to Work and YGIP, linked to outcome data and disaggregated by county and age group, over the period 2014, 2015 and 2016, are not readily available. Each individual may move into and out of employment over the period, may participate in several programmes as a result and have multiple outcomes. This creates thousands of records for the population of jobseekers covered over the period.

However, the Central Statistics Office publish monthly statistics on those participating on certain activation programmes in a given month; the following table presents the relevant data for those activation programmes that are administered by the Department of Social Protection. Separately, the details and duration of these programmes is available from www.welfare.ie; this information is also provided below. Data are only available up to February 2016 so data at February 2014 and 2015 are given for comparative purposes.

DSP Live Register Activation Programmes (Number) Feb 2014-2016

-	Feb-14	Feb-15	Feb-16
Back to Work allowance scheme – Employee strand.*	9	2	0
Back to Work Enterprise allowance scheme – self-employed strand.	10,212	11,260	11,747
Short-term Enterprise Allowance.**	469	447	380
Part-time Job Incentive	285	397	412
TÚS - Community Work Placement Initiative	7,272	7,877	7,922
Gateway	59	1,856	2,252
Community Employment Schemes (excluding Supervisors)	22,729	23,034	22,730
JobBridge -National Internship Scheme	6,541	6,140	4,185
Back to Education Allowance.***	24,326	23,873	17,794
TOTAL	71,902	74,886	67,422

*This scheme is closed to new applications from 1st May 2009.

**This scheme was introduced from 1st May 2009. It provides immediate support for someone in receipt of Jobseekers Benefit who wants to start a business.

***BTEA figures include all schemes but participants from JA & JB are not entitled to BTEA during the summer holidays. This figure includes Momentum participants from February 2013.

Duration and other details of Activation Programmes

Back to work payments (self-employment)

Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA)

The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance is designed to provide a monetary incentive for people who are long term dependent on social welfare payments to make engagement in self-employment financially attractive and viable, while allowing them to retain a reducing proportion of their qualifying social welfare payment over two years (100% in year 1 and 75% in year 2). The enterprise officers of Local Development Companies and INTREO Case Officers work closely with applicants in developing business plans and projections, and providing continuing support to individual start-ups.

Short-term Enterprise Allowance

The Short-term enterprise allowance was introduced in 2009 and replaced the Back to Work allowance scheme – employee strand. It gives support to people who have lost their job and want to start their own business. To qualify you must be getting Jobseeker’s Benefit. There is no qualifying period, which means you do not need to have been getting Jobseeker’s Benefit for a certain period of time. However, you will not qualify if you are getting Jobseeker’s Benefit and working part-time. From 4 April 2013 the Short-Term Enterprise Allowance is paid instead of your Jobseeker’s Benefit for a maximum of 9 months. It ends when your entitlement to Jobseeker's Benefit ends (that is at either 9 or 6 months).

Other employment programmes

Temporary employment on works of value to the community is supported under three main programmes.

Community Employment is an employment programme which helps long-term unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work routine. The programme assists them to enhance and develop both their technical and personal skills which can then be used in the workplace. The CE programme is sponsored by groups wishing to benefit the local community, namely voluntary organisations and public bodies involved in not-for-profit activities. Community Employment is targeted on a wider range of welfare recipients aged 25 and over, but is open to certain particularly disadvantaged young people. Participation on the programme is initially for up to one year, but this may be extended in certain cases.

Tús is targeted at people of all ages who are out of work and on job-seekers’ payments for a year or more. Participants are generally employed by not-for-profit voluntary organisations. Duration of participation is one year.

Gateway is similar to Tús, but concentrated on employment, by local government authorities, of persons who had previously been more than two years unemployed. Duration of participation is one year.

The Part-Time Job Incentive Scheme (PTJI) is a scheme which allows persons who are long-term unemployed to take up part-time employment for less than 24 hours per week and receive a special weekly income supplement. Participants in this scheme are expected however to continue to make efforts to find full-time work.

Internships

JobBridge

JobBridge is the National Internship Scheme that provides work experience placements for interns for a 6 or 9 month period. The aim of the JobBridge is to assist in breaking the cycle where jobseekers are unable to get a job without experience, either as new entrants to the labour market after education or training or as unemployed workers wishing to learn new skills. The Scheme gives people a real opportunity to gain valuable experience to bridge the gap between study and their working lives, or between old and new jobs. The Scheme provides for work experience placements in the private, public, voluntary and community.

Support for unemployed people returning to education

Back to Education Allowance

The Department of Social Protection provides the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) payment. It is an educational opportunities scheme for persons in receipt of certain social welfare payments who wish to pursue an approved full-time second or third level course of education in an approved college leading to a recognised qualification. The duration of participation on BTEA is determined by the duration of the educational course being pursued by the participant – typically three years, for example, in the case of an undergraduate degree course, and usually one year in the case of a Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) course.

State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility

Ceisteanna (11)

Ruth Coppinger

Ceist:

11. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to alter the rules of the State pension (contributory) scheme to recognise J class pay related social insurance payments in certain circumstances (details supplied). [8090/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The State pension (contributory) is one of the State pension schemes, and its rate of payment is related to contributions made over years into the Social Insurance Fund. As such, those with a stronger attachment to the workforce, who have paid more into that fund, are more likely to be paid under that scheme. There are a number of criteria which must be satisfied in order to qualify for a State pension contributory. These include that the person must be aged 66 or over, and that they have at least 520 paid contributions at class A, E, F, G, H, N or S, i.e., a minimum of 10 years of paid contributions.

People with Class J contributions do not pay any contributions themselves, and their employer will generally make a contribution at a rate of 0.5%, essentially to cover occupational injuries benefit. Class J normally relates to people with reckonable pay of less than €38 per week (from all employments). However, a small number of employees are insurable at Class J, no matter how much they earn, such as employees aged 66 or over or people in subsidiary employment. This does not provide coverage for most contributory benefits, such as the State pension (contributory). If a person who is now liable to pay PRSI Class J was previously eligible for or satisfies the criteria for credits then he/she will receive those credits, and they may be of benefit in calculating the yearly average of that person when they reach pension age. These contributions will not, however, count as paid contributions, of which a contributory pensioner requires a minimum of 520.

The homemaker’s scheme makes qualification for State pension (contributory) easier for those who take time out of the workforce for caring duties. The scheme, which was introduced in 1994, allows up to 20 years spent caring for children under 12 years of age or incapacitated people to be disregarded when a person’s social insurance record is being averaged for pension purposes. However, those who qualify under the homemaker’s scheme still need to fulfil the eligibility requirements for the pension, and have paid at least 520 contributions over the course of their working lives.

It should be noted where people do not qualify for a full rate contributory pension as a result of an intermittent PRSI record, the social protection system provides alternative methods of supporting such people in old age. For example, if their spouse has a contributory pension, they may qualify for an Increase for a Qualified Adult amounting up to 90% of a full rate pension, which by default is paid directly to them. Alternatively, they may qualify for a means-tested State Pension (non-contributory), amounting up to 95% of the maximum contributory pension rate.

Carer's Allowance Applications

Ceisteanna (12)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

12. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of the review of the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8094/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has a disability such that they require that level of care.

I confirm that the department received three applications for CA from the person concerned on 7 September 2015, 17 September 2015 and 4 November 2015 in respect of three care recipients. The applications were refused on the grounds that she was not providing full-time care and attention as required. CA in respect of one of the applications was also refused on the grounds that the evidence submitted in support of this application, did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care and attention was satisfied in respect of her spouse.

The person concerned was notified on 19 November 2015 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.

The person concerned has requested a review on 15 December 2015 and submitted additional evidence in support.

The application was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 18 January 2016 to assess the level of care being provided, and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied. Once the SWI has reported, the review will be completed and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome of the review.

Partial Capacity Benefit Scheme Applications

Ceisteanna (13)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

13. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when she will make a decision on an application by a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8092/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

Partial capacity benefit (PCB) is a social welfare scheme which allows a person return to employment if they have reduced capacity for work, and to continue to receive a payment from my department.

A person who applies for PCB will, in the first instance, be assessed by a medical assessor who expresses an opinion on the degree of work capacity.

An application for PCB was received on 25 Sep 2015. The case was referred for a medical assessment on 01 Oct 2015. In this case it was found necessary for the person concerned to attend an in person medical assessment. This assessment was carried out on 16 February 2016. The medical assessor’s opinion was sent to the deciding officer (DO) on 25 Feb 2016.

The DO has decided based on all the information available that the person concerned has a moderately reduced capacity for work. This equates to an entitlement of 50% of the personal rate of Illness Benefit payable. The person concerned has been notified in writing of the decision and their right of appeal on 22 Apr 2016.

Arrears of PCB due in this case will issue in the coming week. My department apologises for the delay in processing this case.