Written Answers Nos. 1-20
1. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach why a company (details supplied) was awarded the contract for census printing and data capture services for Census 2016, given that the company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of an American owned contractor associated with human rights abuses in Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq; and if any other companies tendered for this contract. [9174/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraCensus 2016 is being organised and carried out by the Central Statistics Office. Both the fieldwork and the processing of the collected forms are undertaken by CSO employees.
The census is a major undertaking for the CSO and contractors have been appointed to assist with specialised parts of the work. An outside contractor, CACI (UK) Ltd, was awarded the contract following a public procurement process to build and support an integrated forms processing system for CSO. The design and print of the Census forms was also required as part of this contract, and this has been sub-contracted to an Irish company.
The forms processing system will be managed and operated by CSO staff, with the technical support of a small number of CACI (UK) employees, and will be used to process the completed census forms in the second half of this year. The completed census forms, and any resultant databases of the returns created during the processing, will at all stages be completely under the control of the CSO and subject to the stringent confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act 1993.
The selection of the contractor was subject to, and complied fully with, EU open procurement rules. CACI (UK) Ltd has specialist skills in the area of high volume forms processing systems and won a similar contract in 2011. CACI (UK) Ltd was the only bidder for the contract tendered by CSO for the 2016 census.
As a public body the Central Statistics Office is fundamentally committed to ethical and proper conduct in all matters.
2. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Taoiseach the number of jobs created and lost in County Louth from 2013 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9184/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe exact information requested by the Deputy is not available. The Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) is the official source of estimates of employment in the State. The most recent figures available are for Q4 2015.
Estimates of employment are produced by NUTS 3 Regions.
The NUTS 3 Border region includes Counties Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Louth, Monaghan and Sligo. Due to methodology and sample size it is not possible to produce reliable Louth County estimates from the QNHS.
Table 1a shows the number of persons aged 15 years and over in employment classified by NUTS 3 Border region in Q4 of each year from 2012 to 2015.
Table 1b shows the annual change in the numbers of persons aged 15 years and over in employment classified by NUTS 3 Border region in Q4 of each year from 2013 to 2015.
As Table 1a shows the overall stock of persons employed at given points in time, the annual changes which are calculated using these stock figures depend both on the number of jobs lost and jobs created over the period in question.
The QNHS does not record whether a job is newly created.
Table 1a Persons aged 15 years and over in employment (ILO) classified by Border NUTS3 region, Q4 2012 - Q4 2015
'000
|
- |
Q4 12 |
Q4 13 |
Q4 14 |
Q4 15 |
|
In employment |
171.5 |
185.8 |
185.8 |
195.0 |
Table 1b Persons aged 15 years and over in employment (ILO) classified by Border NUTS3 region, Q4 2013 - Q4 2015 - Annual change
'000
|
- |
Q4 13 |
Q4 14 |
Q4 15 |
|
In employment |
14.3 |
0.0 |
9.2 |
Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.
Source: Quarterly National Household Survey, Central Statistics Office.';
Reference period: Q4=Oct-Dec.
3. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the details of the funding, from the Government and the European Union, allocated to the JobBridge scheme, in tabular form. [9106/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraJobBridge was introduced in July 2011 in 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.
One of the objectives of JobBridge was to address the situation whereby unemployed people in receipt of a jobseeker payment who took up an unpaid work experience opportunity lost entitlement to their jobseeker payment. Under JobBridge unemployed jobseekers who take up a work experience opportunity retain their jobseeker payment and, in addition, receive a sum of €52.50 per week towards the cost of taking up the opportunity.
Total expenditure on JobBridge is set out in Table 1. It should be noted that these amounts include, and consist primarily of, the underlying jobseeker payment.
As part of the EU Youth Guarantee initiative some expenditure relating to interns under 25 years of age may, in future, be reclaimed under the European Social Fund (ESF) and Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) as part of the ESF Operational Programme 2014-2020.
Table 1
|
- |
2011 '€000 |
2012 '€000 |
2013 '€000 |
2014 '€000 |
2015 '€000 |
|
Expenditure |
7,913 |
54,739 |
67,688 |
76,029 |
63,500 |
The estimated expenditure for 2016 is €51.98m.
4. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection for a progress report regarding the national implementation of the Youth Guarantee. [9107/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government’s primary strategy to tackle youth unemployment is to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting competitiveness and productivity. Economic recovery will underpin jobs growth and the availability of productive employment for young people.
The Government recognises that as the recovery takes hold, there is a need for additional measures to ensure that as many as possible of the jobs created are taken up by jobseekers and young jobseekers in particular. This is the rationale behind the Government’s Pathways to Work strategy and the Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan.
Within this framework, the Youth Guarantee sets a medium-term objective of ensuring that young people receive an offer of employment, education or training within four months of becoming unemployed.
As under services such as Intreo, Youthreach, VTOS, PLC programmes, JobsPlus and JobBridge, Ireland already had many of the recommended component parts of a Youth Guarantee, the main approach in Ireland is to prioritise access to these existing supports for young people, who become unemployed, with the objective of ensuring that they have an opportunity for employment, further education or work experience within the recommended period of four months as per the EU council recommendation.
The key objective is to help newly unemployed young people find and secure sustainable jobs. In this regard there is monthly engagement with young people by case officers to assist young people to prepare, review and, if appropriate, revise personal progression plans. As part of this process additional supports may be provided, both through existing schemes and through youth-specific measures. Most such offers (over 70%) are in existing further education or training programmes. Others are in existing community-based employment programmes such as CE, Gateway and Tús. Overall, over 19,100 opportunities were taken up on the relevant programmes in 2015.
Pathways to Work 2016 -2020, published in January 2016, commits to continuing to implement the actions set out in the Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan (YGIP). In addition, it commits to four additional actions:
- Increase the share of workplace-based interventions;
- Restructure First Steps (a work experience programme for particularly disadvantaged young people);
- Ensure monthly engagement with young unemployed, at a minimum, is consistently maintained; and
- Implement the Defence Forces Skills for Life employment support programme.
The operation and coverage of the Youth Guarantee will be reviewed in mid-2016, based on data on outcomes for young people who became unemployed up to the end of 2015, and in the light of developments in the economy and in the labour market in the context of the overall Pathways to Work strategy.
Implementation of the Youth Guarantee is reviewed independently by the EU. Ireland has been reviewed twice (in December 2014 and in December 2015) on its implementation of measures to tackle youth unemployment as part of the Youth Guarantee, through the EU Semester multi-lateral surveillance process within the EMCO (Employment Committee). For the December 2015 review, EMCO concluded:
- EMCO welcomes the efforts to implement the YG in Ireland and the positive results being experienced in relation to youth unemployment. These positive outcomes should be continued together with efforts to reduce the timespan within which the offer to young people is made.
- Ireland has introduced several new programmes in 2015, in addition to the pre-existing programmes, offering employment, work experience and training/developmental internship opportunities to the youth. Programmes are relevant to address youth labour market challenges and address the issues underlying the YG. EMCO is looking forward to overall evaluation results of the new initiatives. Substantial progress has been made in the FET/VET sector and apprenticeships, aimed at ensuring their relevance to labour market needs. Ireland has also taken important steps toward reforming the PES and providing a more effective PES engagement process. As regards the 2014 data collection exercise, data cover those aged 18-24 and in receipt of unemployment benefits.
The following table details the original expected full year intake on relevant programmes for 2015 as well the actual number of starters up to the most recent date for which data are available.
These data exclude an estimated 24,000 places provided for young people through PLC courses and apprenticeships. Although not reserved for unemployed jobseekers, these PLC and apprenticeship places, together with the wide range of vocational third-level courses provided for young people, nevertheless contribute to the spirit of the guarantee.
Programme take-up on Youth Guarantee-related programmes
End of Year 2015 (information available up to 11th February 2016)
|
Programme |
Expected full-year intake |
2015 information to date |
Note |
|
Youthreach |
3,300 |
1684 |
Expected full year intake combines Youthreach and Community Training Centres. Youthreach data to end September 2015 |
|
Community Training Centres |
1528 |
||
|
JobBridge |
5,000 |
2,296 |
|
|
Tús |
1,000 |
1,379 |
|
|
JobsPlus ( including JobPlus Youth) |
1,500 |
676 |
February -December 2015 |
|
Momentum |
2,000 |
1,066 |
|
|
BTEA (excl Momentum) |
3,300 |
2,900 |
|
|
BTWEA |
200 |
146 |
|
|
VTOS |
500 |
n/a |
Enrolment begins in September |
|
Former FÁS/SOLAS* |
9,500 |
6,629 |
Based on Specific Skills Training, Traineeship, Bridging & Local Training Initiative starters. |
|
County Enterprise Board Youth Entrepreneurship Training and Mentoring supports. |
700 |
This programme has been superseded by Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) 2014/5 competition1 |
|
|
Micro Finance Ireland (MFI) youth loans |
9 |
3 |
MFI defines ‘youth’ loans as loans for those aged 18-25. 14 have been advanced since MFI began operations, including 2 in 2016. |
|
International Work Experience and Training |
250 |
8 |
|
|
Gateway |
450 |
144 |
|
|
Community Employment |
500 |
715 |
|
|
Total |
28,350 |
19,171 |
Excluding where figures are not available |
1. The IBYE is an entrepreneurship support measure aimed at encouraging young people to start their own businesses and accordingly covers a wider age range (from 18-30). There were 1,398 applicants in 2015 and 1,018 in 2014.
5. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of farm assist, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8808/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the following tabular statement.
|
Recipients of Farm Assist by county at 31 March 2016 |
|
|
Carlow |
63 |
|
Cavan |
286 |
|
Clare |
429 |
|
Cork |
624 |
|
Donegal |
1,309 |
|
Dublin |
32 |
|
Galway |
785 |
|
Kerry |
572 |
|
Kildare |
21 |
|
Kilkenny |
95 |
|
Laois |
97 |
|
Leitrim |
343 |
|
Limerick |
150 |
|
Longford |
171 |
|
Louth |
69 |
|
Mayo |
1,259 |
|
Meath |
54 |
|
Monaghan |
372 |
|
Offaly |
80 |
|
Roscommon |
313 |
|
Sligo |
227 |
|
Tipperary |
280 |
|
Waterford |
66 |
|
Westmeath |
128 |
|
Wexford |
163 |
|
Wicklow |
51 |
|
Total |
8,039 |
6. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the progress of a review of an application by a person (details supplied) under the disability allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8820/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence, disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision on 2 February 2016.
Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of the Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by the Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new facts. I am advised that the person concerned subsequently submitted additional evidence and that the Appeals Officer agreed to review his decision on foot of this additional evidence. Regrettably the Appeals Officer did not find any new facts or fresh evidence which warranted a revision of his earlier decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s review of his decision.
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 on social welfare entitlements.
7. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 37 of 20 April 2016, if she will re-assess the eligibility of a person (details supplied) with particular reference to equality, as it appears the person was denied eligibility on grounds of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8840/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with section 142A of the Social Welfare Consolidation 2005, the person concerned was in receipt of an age related rate of jobseeker's allowance. The person concerned applied for the part-time job incentive scheme (PTJI) and one of the qualifying conditions is that the rate of the applicant’s jobseeker payment must be higher than the applicable rate of PTJI. The application of the person concerned was refused as she did not meet that condition. Departmental officials will arrange to meet with her to discuss her options.
8. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of her collaboration with the Irish League of Credit Unions on providing small loans to persons on lower incomes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8861/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraA Personal Micro Credit Scheme has been developed under the auspices of the Citizens Information Board and the Social Finance Foundation and supported by the Department of Social Protection. The Scheme, which is currently being piloted, provides for small scale loans by Credit Unions to borrowers who have difficulty accessing low cost credit. The loans under the scheme range from €100 to a maximum of €2,000.
The focus of the pilot scheme is social welfare recipients who avail of Personal Micro Credit loans from their Credit Union and are facilitated, with their consent, in the repayment of such loans through the Household Budgeting facility, operated by An Post. The deductions from their weekly social welfare payments are then transmitted on to the relevant Credit Union.
The pilot scheme is live in 30 Credit Unions, 28 of which have written loans. Almost 1,200 loans have been drawn down to date. The average value of loans drawn down is €500. From information gathered to date, sixty eight percent (68%) of loans are for amounts of €500 or less, twenty eight percent (28%) are in the €500 to €1,500 range, with the balance of four percent (4%) in the upper €1,500 to €2,000 range. The pilot is expected to be completed by the end of May 2016. The findings of an evaluation report to be completed on the pilot scheme will help to inform the final scheme model to be rolled out nationwide, if the pilot is successful.
9. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why on a voluntary training opportunities scheme course no longer counts towards the eligibility period for community employment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8875/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraTime spent on a VTOS course does count towards CE eligibility. The current eligibility criteria for Community Employment (CE) published on the welfare.ie public website includes the following clause, "Time spent on recognised training programmes (such as a SOLAS/ETB training course or VTOS Course) or in prison can also be counted towards eligibility."
10. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on social protection payments being paid through banks (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8879/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to the maintenance of the Post Office network and to the development of a Standard Bank Account by An Post. Mindful of the current and ongoing discussions on Government formation any further development of policy will be a matter for the incoming Government.
The current position is that the Department has a cohort of jobseeker customers who are classified as casual jobseekers. These are in-work customers who can claim a jobseeker's payment for 2 to 3 days per week or who work week on/week-off. These customers are paid by cheque each week. Not all customers will be paid every week due to their changeable work patterns.
I want to emphasise that these customers have been paid by cheque due to the changing nature of their work/claiming patterns and the short turn-around time to issue payments. It is important to note that they are not paid via post offices under the Department’s existing cash payments contract with An Post.
In line with the National Payments Plan, my Department is seeking to reduce its usage of cheques as a payment method; this is not only a matter of decreasing the significant costs associated with cheques in the Department and wider economy but also of moving to a more secure method of payment and enhancing customer convenience.
When paid by cheque, customers have the option of lodging them direct to their accounts or negotiating them at banks or the Post Office. The evidence available to the Department is that the majority of the Department’s customers paid by cheque choose to lodge them direct to their accounts.
The Department has developed its payment capacity in respect of changing work and claiming patterns and is able to offer payments direct to accounts in financial institutions for casual jobseeker customers thereby increasing customer convenience. This is in line with wider departmental policy where the focus is on ensuring that in-work customers are paid by the most convenient method possible.
Consequently the Department has written to its casual jobseeker customers asking them to provide their account details to enable direct payments to financial institutions.
I want to emphasise that the Department does not issue these cheque payments to Post Offices, they are issued directly to the Department’s customers. This process does not reduce the number of existing cash payments through Post Offices under the current contract between the Department and An Post.
I want to reiterate that what the Department is doing is moving customers from cheque payments to the much more secure, customer convenient and cost effective payment method of payment directly into accounts in financial institutions. This is entirely consistent with the National Payments Plan and in line with payment methods that now prevail across the economy. The Department must consider the most efficient payment method for our customers who are in employment most of whom get their salary payment into bank accounts. To have weekly income (work + welfare) payable in two different ways is a highly inappropriate and costly way of dealing with people in employment. The Department’s focus must be on our customers.
Customer choice will be maintained. Customers, if they wish, may continue to receive cheque payments in the medium term.
11. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when she will forward a file from the domiciliary care allowance section to the social protection appeals office for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8882/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraA review of the decision to disallow Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) was requested on 10th September 2015 and the person concerned was notified on 11th December 2015 that following an examination of the file the original decision was upheld.
Subsequently, the person concerned lodged an appeal on 6th January 2016. The application together with additional information supplied with the appeal, and further additional information received on 15th February 2016, have been forwarded to a medical assessor for their professional opinion. Upon receipt of the Medical Assessor’s opinion, the case will be further examined by a deciding officer, who will revise the original decision if warranted, or alternatively, forward the case for consideration by the Appeals Office. Such reviews can take up to 12 weeks to complete at present.
12. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on immigrants returning home and being precluded from receiving social protection payments (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8883/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraSocial welfare payments can be broadly divided into two main categories – contributory social insurance payments, which are based on the social insurance contributions paid by the claimant and non-contributory social assistance payments, which are subject to a means test.
The social welfare supports available to returned emigrants will therefore depend on the person’s particular circumstances, including whether the person has previously paid social insurance contributions in Ireland, the length of time spent working in Ireland before emigrating, the length of time spent abroad and whether the person worked in the EU or elsewhere.
For instance, a person who returns to Ireland after having spent a period working in another EU Member State may qualify for certain social insurance benefits from Ireland or from that other Member State, depending on the circumstances. Where a returned emigrant does not qualify for a social insurance payment, he or she may apply for a social assistance payment, such as jobseeker’s allowance.
In order to qualify for social welfare payments in Ireland an applicant must satisfy the eligibility criteria applicable to the scheme concerned. In all cases, decisions on the eligibility of persons are made following consideration of all the circumstances of the person concerned. In addition to having to satisfy a means test and other eligibility criteria directly relevant to the specific payment being claimed, applicants for most social assistance payments must also be determined as being habitually resident in the State in order to qualify.
The Department of Social Protection’s published guidelines on the application of the habitual residence condition specifically address the issue of returning emigrants. Returning emigrants who have previously been habitually resident in the State and who moved to live and work in another country and then resume their long-term residence in the State may be determined as habitually resident in the State immediately on their return to the State.
Arrangements are in place with Safe-Home Ltd, a registered charity, to assist with any difficulty experienced by a minority of returning emigrants in demonstrating their intention to live in the State permanently for the purposes of satisfying the habitual residence condition.
The current Intreo decision process is designed to speed up decisions. Persons applying for jobseeker’s allowance or one-parent family payment would normally be given an early appointment to discuss their application. Once the requested information is provided to support the application at the subsequent meeting with an official of the Department, there is usually minimal delay in processing the application to decision. The latest performance statistics available to the Department indicate that, on average, applications for jobseeker’s allowance take two weeks to process, while applications for one-parent family payment are processed within five weeks - reflecting the increased conditionality involved in qualifying for that payment.
It is open to anyone who is dissatisfied with a decision on the application of the habitual residence condition in relation to entitlement to a social welfare payment to appeal that decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
If the Deputy has information on a returned emigrant who is experiencing difficulty in accessing a social welfare payment, I will have the matter examined if he brings details of the case to my attention.
13. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on recruitment barriers in community employment schemes (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8886/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra14. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to introduce provisions on the minimum age and eligibility for community employment schemes (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8887/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra15. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to allow additional financial support for lone parents on community employment schemes (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8896/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra16. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to set the minimum time on community employment schemes at two years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8897/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra17. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to allow all persons over 62 years of age to stay on community employment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8898/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 13 to 17, inclusive, together.
Community Employment (CE) is a labour market activation programme which helps long-term unemployed people (those 12-months or more in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment) and other disadvantaged groups to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work routine. It is designed to be a temporary fixed-term activation intervention. The programme assists participants to enhance and develop both their technical and personal skills which can then be used in the workplace.
A number of persons who sign on to the Live Register generally exit it again within a short timeframe, without any recourse to employment schemes or intensive activation measures. Accordingly, it is considered appropriate that the CE scheme will remain focused on those who are long-term unemployed. There are other interventions and activation options operated by the Department for those who are short-term unemployed, for example, advice on job-search activities and the use of online job search tools.
In general participants can avail of 12 months participation on CE. There are no plans to extend the standard CE participation period up to two years minimum as this would result in a reduction in throughput from the scheme, thereby reducing the overall number of CE beneficiaries per year.
The standard minimum entry age for CE is 25 years of age. It is worth noting that the entry age for dedicated childcare and health and social care positions that involve working directly with service users was lowered to 21 years of age. There are no plans to further reduce the standard minimum entry for other positions.
With effect from 3rd April 2000, lifetime cumulative participation on CE by an individual is limited to 3 years (156 weeks) for persons under 55 years of age and 6 years (312 weeks) for persons of 55 years of age up to and including 65 years of age. Eligible persons in receipt of a qualifying disability-linked Social Welfare payment are eligible for one additional year on CE over the standard maximum participation caps. Participation on a CE scheme prior to 3rd April 2000 is not counted when calculating the length of time a person can participate. There are no plans to change this date as the duration allows for maximum utilisation of the CE placements amongst the greatest number of participants.
The CE programme provides funding for participants aged up to 65 years of age who meet the current eligibility criteria. The Tánaiste announced a pilot initiative in December 2015 to enable those aged 62 and over to extend their participation beyond the standard maximum participation limits (currently set at 6 years cumulative lifetime participation) providing the eligibility conditions are met. Participants are allowed to participate on a continuous basis up to the State Pension age, subject to satisfactory performance on the scheme and to annual approval by the Department. The places allocated for these participants within each individual CE scheme are limited to 7% of each scheme's overall budgeted places.
With respect to participation by lone parents on CE, in addition to the existing financial supports available, a number of other incentives are in place. This includes the Community Employment Childcare (CEC) programme. As childcare is a crucial element for parents embarking on CE or returning to the workforce, this programme ensures that CE participants get the childcare supports they need to have a better future for themselves and their families.
The eligibility criteria for CE places is kept under ongoing review to ensure they are effective in targeting long-term unemployed jobseekers and other specific disadvantaged groups. In the context of the Local Employment Service (LES) it is intended that they provide an intensive engagement with customers which includes a target of 30% of customers placed into full -time employment. This target does not include those placed into education and training. While CE schemes are intended to help long-term unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce, they are not full-time sustainable jobs and cannot be included in this target.
If a particular CE scheme is encountering difficulties in recruiting participants, additional assistance can be provided by the local departmental staff to resolve any local barriers or issues. The Department is committed to enhancing the effectiveness of the CE Programme whilst being conscious of the valuable contribution it is making in the provision of services to individuals and communities across Ireland.
18. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Sligo under the carer’s allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8909/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 14 January 2016. Unfortunately, the average time taken at present to decide a new application is running at 19 weeks. Additional resources have been provided to the CA section in order to improve the waiting times for new applications and they are working hard to make this happen.
Frequently, delays are outside the control of the Department and are caused by the customer failing to fully complete the claim form or failing to attach the supporting documentation that is requested on the application form.
This application will be processed as quickly as possible and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. In the meantime, both the person concerned and his spouse are in receipt of a weekly social welfare support.
19. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Sligo under the carer’s allowance scheme. [8911/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 27 January 2016. Unfortunately, the average time taken at present to decide a new application is running at 19 weeks. Additional resources have been provided to the CA section in order to improve the waiting times for new applications and they are working hard to make this happen.
Frequently, delays are outside the control of the Department and are caused by the customer failing to fully complete the claim form or failing to attach the supporting documentation that is requested on the application form.
This application will be processed as quickly as possible and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
In the meantime, if the means of the person concerned are insufficient to meet her needs she should apply for a means tested supplementary welfare allowance from her local community welfare service.
20. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of work placement schemes in relation to persons on social protection allowance (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8927/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraTús and Gateway are work placement initiatives which aim to provide work opportunities for those who are long-term unemployed and on the live register for a specific period. The eligibility criteria are in line with the Government’s policies to focus resources on maintaining the work readiness and employability of jobseekers on the live register. In order to maintain this focus, persons not in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment from the Department are not eligible for selection for these initiatives.
The Deputy should note, however, that persons in receipt of disability allowance (DA), and certain other payments from the Department, are eligible for a range of other activation initiatives. These include JobBridge, the rural social scheme, community employment, back to work and back to education allowances, as well as other education and training supports. Additionally, a range of supports designed specifically to support people with disabilities and employers (to offer and maintain job opportunities for people with disabilities) are funded and delivered by the Department. These include a wage subsidy scheme and resources to offset the costs of providing reasonable accommodation for the employment of a person with a disability or restricted mobility.
A person in receipt of DA is permitted and encouraged to work if their medical adviser recommends that such work is of a rehabilitative or therapeutic nature. They can earn up to €120 per week without it affecting their DA claim. Persons in receipt of DA also have the option of giving up their allowance in favour of jobseeker’s allowance if they wish to be considered for schemes such as Gateway and Tús, provided they meet the eligibility criteria.
