Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:320. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11688/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraSocial Welfare Appeals Status
Ceisteanna (320)
Freagraí scríofa
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence including that adduced at the oral hearing, has decided to disallow the appeals of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
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.
Carer's Allowance Applications
Ceisteanna (321)
Thomas Byrne
Ceist:321. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme. [11691/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 24 March 2016. Unfortunately, there are currently delays in the processing of new application. 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. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications
Ceisteanna (322)
Joe Carey
Ceist:322. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the domiciliary care allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11703/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 10th February 2016. The application was not allowed as it was considered that the child did not meet the eligibility criteria for the allowance. A decision letter issued to him on 23 May 2016.
In the case of an application which is refused, the applicant may submit additional information and ask for the decision to be reviewed, and/or they may appeal the decision directly to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. The person concerned has been advised of these options in the decision letter.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Disability Allowance Applications
Ceisteanna (323)
Peter Burke
Ceist:323. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application by a person (details supplied) under the disability allowance scheme. [11704/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I confirm that my department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the above named person on 6 April 2016. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
The processing time for individual disability allowance claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Household Benefits Scheme
Ceisteanna (324)
Declan Breathnach
Ceist:324. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Social Protection to permit older persons who accommodate immediate family members who would otherwise be homeless to retain the household benefits package given the current housing emergency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11712/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The household benefits package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. The package is generally available to people living in the State, aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or who satisfy a means test. The package is also available to carers and people with disabilities under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments. Widows and widowers aged from 60 to 65 whose late spouses had been in receipt of the household benefits package retain that entitlement. Therefore anyone aged under 70 years of age must be in receipt of a qualifying payment from the Department or satisfy a means test in order to qualify for HHB. They must also satisfy the household composition test meaning they must live alone or only with certain excepted people, who are:
- A qualified adult (a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is considered a qualified adult if a person is receiving an allowance for him/her with their payment, or would be receiving a payment for them but for the fact that they are in receipt of a payment in their own right);
- Dependent children under the age of 18, or under the age of 22 if in full-time education (a certificate from the school/college must be supplied for those aged 18 or over);
- A person who is so incapacitated as to require constant care and attention for at least 12 months (medical certification may be required);
- A person(s) who would qualify for the allowance in his/her own right (for example, a person getting a State pension);
- A person who is providing the claimant or someone in their household with constant care and attention, if they are so incapacitated as to require constant care and attention for at least 12 months (medical certification may be required).
Any decision to change the qualifying conditions for receipt of HHB would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
Illness Benefit Payments
Ceisteanna (325)
Michael Ring
Ceist:325. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is entitled to back pay for a certain period under the illness benefit scheme; why this person's payment was recently stopped; and when will he reinstate it. [11725/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Illness Benefit is a payment for persons who are incapable of work and who satisfy certain statutory pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. Claims made after January 2009 can only be paid for a maximum duration of two years (624 days) after which a further 13 contributions must be paid to re-qualify for payment.
The person concerned exhausted their two year entitlement to illness benefit on 17 September 2015 and is currently in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Invalidity Pension Applications
Ceisteanna (326)
Joan Collins
Ceist:326. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has received an application from a person (details supplied) under the invalidity pension scheme; when he will make a decision on it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11740/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
A claim for IP was received from the person in question on the 27 April 2016. My department is currently assessing the person’s medical eligibility and will be in touch with him shortly about this.
In the meantime, the person concerned is in receipt of a weekly illness benefit payment.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Rates
Ceisteanna (327)
Willie O'Dea
Ceist:327. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection to examine the adequacy of social protection rates, given that the deprivation rate for those who are unemployed is 53.4% while the consistent poverty rate for the same cohort is 22.6%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11754/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Analysis in the Social Inclusion Monitor 2014 shows the crucial role that Ireland’s social protection system plays in alleviating poverty, cushioning people from the worst effects of unemployment and ensuring an adequate standard of living.
Using Eurostat data for 2014, social transfers (excluding pensions) reduced the at-risk-of-poverty rate in Ireland from 37.2% to 15.6%, thereby lifting over a fifth of the population out of income poverty. Ireland is the best performing EU member state in reducing poverty through social transfers. The poverty reduction effect at 58.9% is the highest in Europe, almost twice the EU average.
The latest poverty data are for 2014 and do not fully reflect the impact of the recovery in economic growth and employment. The unemployment rate in 2014 was 11.3%, down from a peak of 15% in 2012. Since then, the unemployment rate has fallen further, to 8.4% in April 2016. As unemployment is strongly linked to poverty, we can expect to see further decreases in basic deprivation and consistent poverty.
The Pathways to Work Strategy 2016-2020 sets out comprehensive plans to increase labour market participation and make work pay. It continues to prioritise the activation of the long-term and young unemployed people, with supports provided through the network of Intreo offices.
A range of welfare and income tax measures were introduced in Budget 2016 to further incentivise work and improve living standards. The social impact assessment of the Budget shows greater rewards for working, with over 80% of the unemployed substantially better-off in work. The Government is committed to restoring living standards to ensure that everyone will benefit from the recovery.
Social Welfare Payments Administration
Ceisteanna (328)
Willie O'Dea
Ceist:328. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when he will consolidate all means-testing under a single national body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11755/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Programme for Government commitment in this area is to “consolidate all means testing under a single national body insuring a single application process for services or entitlements across all government agencies”.
This proposal would be a major project across a range of Government departments and agencies who operate schemes and services on a means/income tested basis of which my Department is just one. Significant operational, legislative and technical challenges would be involved. It is not possible to outline the timeline of this commitment as it will depend on the particular approach chosen to advance the proposal, within the resources that will be available. At this time, the lead Department for the implementation of this commitment has yet to be determined.
Question No. 329 withdrawn.
Question No. 330 answered with Question No. 301.
JobPath Implementation
Ceisteanna (331)
Jim Daly
Ceist:331. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection to assure those in receipt of a payment under the jobseeker's allowance scheme or any other payment who are eligible for supported employment due to illness, injury, mental ill health or disability that they will continue to have access to the additional support they need, by way of the employability services, to return to the labour force regardless of their referral to and while working with JobPath providers such as Turas Nua and Seetec; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11799/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
JobPath is a new approach to employment activation that supports people who are long-term unemployed and those most distant from the labour market to secure and sustain full-time paid employment. The EmployAbility Service is an employment and recruitment service to assist people with a disability to secure and maintain a job in the open labour market.
Only clients in receipt of a jobseeker payment are referred to JobPath. By contrast most clients assisted by EmployAbility are people with disabilities on long term disability payments such as Disability Allowance or Invalidity Pension. It is unlikely therefore that many JobPath clients will have recourse to the EmployAbility service.
Nevertheless, where it transpires that a Jobseeker’s Allowance recipient on JobPath requires additional supports that are not available on JobPath but such supports are available under the EmployAbility Service then arrangements may be made for the person to avail of the EmployAbility Service either in addition, or as an alternative to the JobPath service.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Offices
Ceisteanna (332)
John Brady
Ceist:332. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection how he is alleviating the difficulties facing persons in west County Wicklow accessing his Department's services, officials and payments since the closure of the social protection office in Blessington, County Wicklow. [11820/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department has not operated local office or inspectorate services from the Wicklow county council offices in Blessington since April 2014. Those customers who require inspectorate services are now interviewed at the Intreo Centre Tallaght or if required, a member of the inspectorate’s staff will arrange to visit a customer in their home.
New jobseeker and one parent family applications were always obliged to make such applications at the Intreo Centre Tallaght and can continue to do so.
The Community Welfare Service (CWS) similarly ceased to operate from that office in June 2014, when at that time a clinic was held one morning per week. Since that date customers can now access the CWS by appointment five days per week at the Intreo Centre in Tallaght. A customer can make an appointment in person, by telephoning 01-4629400, by email to CWSTallaght@welfare.ie, or by post. If required, a member of the CWS staff will arrange to visit a customer in their home.
The impact of these changes has been monitored on an ongoing basis with no issues raised to date.
Question No. 333 answered with Question No. 297.
Proposed Legislation
Ceisteanna (334)
John Brady
Ceist:334. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the legislation he will introduce in this term of Dáil Éireann. [11822/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Programme for Government sets out the key priorities for the Government for its term in office.
My Department’s normal legislative cycle involves the enactment of two or more Social Welfare Bills each year:
- a Bill, usually in December each year, whose primary focus is to implement the social welfare changes announced in the October Budget: and
- a Bill, usually early Summer each year, to provide a legal basis within the social welfare code for policy, administrative and operational changes (and Budget measures, if required).
My Department is also responsible for a number of other areas of legislation including civil registration and occupational and private pensions.
Currently, the most pressing legislative issue relates to the introduction of the legal underpinning for the planned introduction of paternity benefit and paternity leave. The Paternity Leave and Paternity Benefit Bill, which provides for the introduction of an entitlement of two weeks paternity leave and the associated social welfare payment of paternity benefit, is being brought forward as a priority Bill by the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality. My Department is working closely with the Department of Justice and Equality on this legislation. These provisions are due to be in place from September 2016, as announced in Budget 2016.
Departmental Reports
Ceisteanna (335)
John Brady
Ceist:335. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the reports his Department has commissioned at present; the stage they are at; and when he will complete and publish them. [11823/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The information requested is currently being compiled within the Department and will be made available to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Public Services Card
Ceisteanna (336)
John Brady
Ceist:336. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection his progress in completing the roll-out of the social security card. [11824/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Deputy is referring to the Public Services Card which issues to a person following a robust face-to-face identity registration process called SAFE registration. This process involves the capture of an individual’s photograph and signature, the verification of identity data already held by the Department through documentary and database checks, and facial image matching. Successful registration leads to the issue of a Public Services Card incorporating the captured photograph and signature. Accordingly, possession of a Public Services Card gives significant assurance as to the identity of the cardholder. SAFE registration is taking place in 100 Department of Social Protection locations nationwide.
There are currently over 1.98 million Public Services Cards issued and it is the Department’s intention to issue 3 million Public Services Cards by the end of 2017.
National Internship Scheme Eligibility
Ceisteanna (337)
John Brady
Ceist:337. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection if the position of first whipper in of an association (details supplied) is suitable as an internship for JobBridge. [11825/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department does not comment on individual host organisations or internships.
The purpose of the JobBridge scheme is to assist unemployed people to improve their employment prospects by providing them with the opportunity to develop skills and gain some experience in a working environment, in essence to break the cycle of no experience, no work; no work, no experience.
The position of ‘Whipper In’ with a Hunt requires the development over time of an ability to manage a large kennel of dogs including elements of animal husbandry and training. It is a legitimate job in the country sports sector and there are a number of full-time paid positions of ‘whipper in’ with hunts all over the country. Accordingly, the position advertised is legitimate insofar as it will provide any participant with an opportunity to develop experience in a role that provides paid employment potential.
I acknowledge that some people object to the hunt sports sector on the grounds of animal rights. Animal welfare objections are also raised from time to time with respect to the meat or fishing industry. Similar ‘moral value’ objections are also raised in the case of other sectors including gambling. The Department does not act as an arbiter in such matters. Its role is to determine whether proposed internships fully comply with all of the basic conditions of the JobBridge scheme.
As long as the occupation is valid, the activity is not illegal and the internship offered complies with the general terms and conditions of the JobBridge scheme the Department cannot preclude it from availing of the JobBridge Scheme.
Question No. 338 answered with Question No. 276.
JobsPlus Scheme
Ceisteanna (339)
John Brady
Ceist:339. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress of the JobsPlus scheme since its initiation. [11827/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
JobsPlus has been operational since July 2013. It provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers who recruit employees from the live register and those transitioning into employment. It provides employers with two levels of payment - €7,500 or €10,000 over two years - paid in monthly instalments provided the employment is maintained. The rate of payment depends on the length of time the person is unemployed.
Up to the end of April 2016 my Department has spent just under €42 million on the scheme since it began. Currently, there are just over 1,900 employers and nearly 2,600 employees being supported under the scheme.
An analysis undertaken by my Department in April 2016 showed that just over 66% of employees supported had previously been on the live register for at least 24 months. The scheme has, therefore, had a positive impact on the long-term unemployed in terms of how it is operating. Also, of the 973 people who completed 24 months on the scheme to date, 859 have remained with the same employer and a further 68 have moved into another employment.
JobPath Implementation
Ceisteanna (340)
John Brady
Ceist:340. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that the contract to outsource jobseeker's to private JobPath contractors is causing problems for local employment services and to many jobseekers. [11828/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The State’s employment activation service is delivered directly by the Department’s Intreo service and under contract arrangements by the JobPath service, the Local Employment Service (LES) and Job Clubs.
JobPath is a new approach to employment activation that supports people who are long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. The JobPath service is delivered by 2 companies - Turas Nua Limited and Seetec Limited. The companies deliver services directly and also engage with a range of local subcontractors, including training and employment service providers. JobPath is an addition to, not a substitute for, the services already provided by the Department. JobPath is thereby increasing the Department’s overall capacity to engage with, support and assist jobseekers to enter/re-enter and sustain employment.
In 2016 the Department agreed contracts with the LES to provide a more intensive level of engagement with jobseekers. In order to assist the LES to undertake a more intensive level of engagement the number of jobseeker referrals was correspondingly reduced. This would not have been possible without the benefit of JobPath. JobPath is thus assisting the LES to deliver a better service for jobseekers and also assisting jobseekers directly via its own range of services and supports.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.