Written Answers Nos. 289-310
289. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider extending child benefit to students who are in full-time secondary education even though they have reached 18 years of age, given that it is a very expensive time for parents and families when the students are coming up to leaving certificate to withdraw this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16867/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraChild Benefit is a monthly payment made to families with children in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children up to their 18th birthday who are in full-time education, or who have a disability.
Child Benefit is currently paid to around 624,000 families in respect of some 1.2 million children, with an estimated expenditure in the order of over €2 billion in 2016. Child Benefit is an important source of income for all families and in Budget 2016 the Government increased Child Benefit by €5 per month, at a cost of €72 million.
Budget 2009 reduced the age for eligibility for Child Benefit from 19 years to less than 18 years. A value for money review of child income supports, published by the Department of Social Protection in 2010, found that the participation pattern of children in education supports the current age limit for Child Benefit.
Families on low incomes can avail of a number of provisions to social welfare schemes that support children in full-time education until the age of 22, including:
- qualified child increases (IQCs) with primary social welfare payments;
- family income supplement (FIS) for low-paid employees with children;
- the back to school clothing and footwear allowance for low income families (paid at the full-time second level education rate).
These schemes provide targeted assistance that is directly linked with household income and thereby supports low-income families with older children participating in full-time education.
Extending Child Benefit to students who are in full-time secondary education who are over 18 years of age can be examined between now and the budget with the caveat that there are potentially other areas of need that also have to be accounted for.
Any changes to the eligibility criteria for Child Benefit, therefore, would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
290. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the retirement age for persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16905/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 provided that State pension age will be increased gradually to 68 years. This began in January 2014 with the abolition of the State pension (transition) available from 65 for those who satisfied the qualifying conditions, thereby standardising State pension age for all at 66 years, which is the current State pension age. This will increase to 67 in 2021 and 68 in 2028. The changes introduced in 2011 were on foot of a Government commitment included in the National Recovery Plan published in 2010, and in the subsequent Memorandum of Understanding with the EU/ECB/IMF
Each year more people are living to pension age and living longer in retirement. As a result of this demographic change, the number of State pension recipients is increasing by approximately 17,000 annually. This has significant implications for the future costs of State pension provision which are currently increasing by close to €1 billion every 5 years. The purpose of changes to the State pension age is to make the pension system more sustainable in the context of increasing life expectancy.
The Deputy should note that there is no general retirement age in the State, and the age at which employees retire is a matter for the contract of employment between them and their employers.
In terms of financial supports, social welfare benefits will continue to be available to the age of 66 for those who are required to leave employment. Jobseekers whose benefit expires in their 65th year will continue to be paid benefit up until the age of 66. Where a jobseeker’s benefit claim spans two benefit years, a new Governing Contribution Year requirement is not applied to the second benefit year of a claimant aged 65 (effectively this means that they may receive payment in both years based upon eligibility in the first year).
291. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection when he will issue a decision on an application by a person (details supplied) under the invalidity pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16906/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned has been awarded IP with effect from the 21 April 2016. Payment will issue to his nominated bank account on the 07 July 2016. Any arrears due from the 21 April 2016 to the 06 July 2016 (less any overlapping social welfare payment and/or outstanding overpayment) will issue in due course. The person in question was notified of this decision on the 17 June 2016.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
292. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection why a person (details supplied) was awarded the jobseeker's allowance from December 2015, rather than the date of application, which was September 2015. [16909/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned applied for a jobseeker's payment on 30 September 2015, 5 November 2015 and 22 December 2015, and at the time of making each application they were requested to submit proof of residency. As this documentation was not submitted, each application closed without going into payment. Proof of residency was submitted to the Intreo Office concerned on 19 February and jobseeker's allowance was awarded from 22 December 2015 to 20 February 2016 when the applicant commenced employment.
The person concerned has been advised by their Intreo Office to provide clarification as to his ore her residency and circumstances prior to 22 December in order to establish whether an entitlement to a jobseeker's payment existed for that period. When this requested clarification is provided we will be in a position to make a decision in respect of the earlier periods.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
293. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the current waiting times of processing all social protection applications at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16951/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested (where available) by the Deputy is detailed in the following tabular statement.
Social Welfare claims by average waiting times - 31 May 2016
|
Scheme |
Average Waiting Time (weeks) |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
1 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
2 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
5 |
|
State Pension Contributory (Dom) |
6 |
|
Widow’s, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pension |
1 |
|
Widowed Parent Grant |
1 |
|
Living Alone/Island Allowances |
N/a |
|
State Pension Non-Contributory |
14 |
|
Household Benefits |
2 |
|
Free Travel |
2 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
14 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
1 |
|
Child Benefit (Domestic & FRA) |
2 |
|
Child Benefit (EU Regulation) |
32 |
|
Treatment Benefit |
N/a |
|
Maternity Benefit |
N/a |
|
Family Income Supplement (New) |
3 |
|
Family Income Supplement (Renew) |
N/a |
|
Carer's Allowance |
22 |
|
Disability Allowance |
10 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
12 |
|
Illness Benefit |
1 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
N/a |
294. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16956/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s 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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
295. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Social Protection to reverse the cuts to the community employment scheme at a community programme (details supplied) introduced in 2012 in respect of the training and materials budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16960/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraEach Community Employment (CE) scheme has an individually-set weekly materials rate per participant based on a detailed appraisal of their actual annual expenditure levels in previous years.
Similarly a training grant is allocated to schemes in respect of all approved places on a “per-place per annum” basis. Training is in accordance with a tailored individual learning plan compiled by the CE supervisor with the participant, given the participant’s training requirements and employment goals. Any proposed training that exceeds the budget allocated is assessed based on the value of the training provided to furthering the employment prospects of the individual. There is flexibility that can be applied in approval of training rates, particularly when the training is leading to a major award e.g. in childcare.
All expenditure must be accounted and vouched for by way of receipts. It is the responsibility of the scheme to ensure that they have obtained the best price and that they have achieved value for money. While the Department is not in a position to allocate additional monies to the 2016 budget, if there is a CE scheme experiencing particular difficulties the sponsor should contact their local DSP office and the matter will be reviewed on a case by case basis.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
296. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16987/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe application for carer’s allowance in respect of the person concerned was awarded on 15 June 2016 and the first payment is due to issue to the person’s nominated bank account on 23 June 2016.
Arrears of allowance due from 31 March 2016 have issued to the bank for payment on 23 June 2016.
The person concerned was notified of these details on 15 June 2016.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
297. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection why he has refused a person's (details supplied) request to have a carer's allowance payment backdated to the date that the caring commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16997/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 15 May 2015. The application was awarded from 21 May 2015 which was the first Thursday after the date of receipt of the application.
The person concerned requested a review of the date of award of this decision but no grounds for the request were submitted. A deciding officer (DO) refused this request for back-dating and the person in question was notified of this decision on 4 April 2016.
In order for back-dating to be considered, it is important for an applicant to supply the DO with the reasons for the late submission of their CA application and the grounds upon which they wish the application to be back-dated. If the person in question wishes the decision on back-dating of his CA application to be reviewed by the Department, he should submit as soon as possible the reasons and grounds for the late submission of his application for CA so a DO may reconsider the back-dating request.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy .
298. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of allowing lone parents in employment whose children are between seven and 14 years of age to receive the jobseeker's transition payment and the family income supplement if they meet the qualifying criteria. [16999/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe jobseeker’s transitional payment (JST) is available to lone parents (both former one-parent family payment recipients and new lone parents), who have a youngest child aged 7 to 13 years inclusive. These customers are exempt from the jobseeker’s allowance conditions that require them to be available for, and genuinely seeking, full-time work.
While it is a condition of the JST scheme that recipients must continue to parent alone, this is not a qualifying condition of the family income supplement (FIS) and so this information is not maintained for FIS recipients. From the data currently available on household composition within the FIS scheme, it is not possible to determine which FIS recipients, who are also lone parents, would be eligible for JST, given the specific conditionality, which applies to the JST scheme.
299. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of making the jobseeker's transitional payment and the Student Universal Support Ireland grant payable to lone parents who are undertaking an educational or training course for the duration of the course regardless of the age of the youngest child in the family or whether the family is in receipt under the rent supplement scheme. [17000/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to provide the costings requested by the Deputy it would require my Department to anticipate the number of lone parents who intend to undertake a course of education where the course will continue beyond their youngest child reaching 14 years of age. My Department would not have access to these projections and therefore cannot provide these costings.
However, the Deputy should note that the current supports provided, outlined below, ensure that lone parents can complete a course of education with support from my Department regardless of the age of their youngest child.
Former one-parent family payment (OFP) recipients who transitioned from the scheme on 2 July 2015 and who were in the middle of a course of education were allowed to complete their course on OFP and then transition to an appropriate payment.
From 2 July 2015 onwards lone parents who transition to the jobseeker’s transitional payment (JST) have a youngest child of 7 years of age. These customers then have two options if they wish to complete a course of education while on JST. Where the course can be completed within the 7 years that they have access to JST (i.e. until their youngest child is 14 years of age), these customers can avail of the SUSI grant and a JST payment subject to the conditions of both schemes (eligibility for a SUSI grant is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills).
Where the course cannot be completed within the potentially 7 years available on JST, for example if the course is over 3 years and the youngest child is now 12, the customer can instead avail of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) when s/he commences the course. This allowance will continue to be paid, subject to the conditions of the BTEA scheme, until the course is completed even when the customer’s youngest child reaches 14 years of age.
All lone parents on a jobseeker’s allowance or JST payment have access to activation supports from my Department.
JST recipients receive for the first time a one to one meeting with a case officer from my Department who will assist them to produce a personal development plan and guide them towards appropriate education, training and employment opportunities. While the customer is on the JST payment this support is available and is not limited to the 12 month engagement that applies for other jobseekers from their one to one meeting.
Through the JST payment, lone parents with children aged between 7 and 13 years are provided with a very long transition period of seven years within which to engage with the Department’s Intreo service. The aim of this broader support is to improve the individual’s education and employment prospects.
With regard to rent supplement, in general, persons engaged in full-time education are excluded from receiving rent supplement. However, those participating in approved courses under the back-to-education allowance (BTEA) or the vocational training opportunities scheme (VTOS) may retain entitlement to rent supplement, subject to meeting all other conditions of the scheme.
300. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which he has implemented the comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities; the resources he has allocated to it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17008/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Comprehensive Employment Strategy for people with disabilities (CES) sets out the Government’s commitment to increasing the employment opportunities for people with a disability.
The strategy reflects a cross-government approach that brings together various measures and actions to be taken by different Departments and state agencies in a concerted effort to address the barriers and challenges that impact on the employment of people with disabilities. The overall CES is being coordinated by the Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform (DJELR).
The aim of the strategy is to increase the proportion of people with disabilities in a job. The measures contained in the strategy seek to address the barriers to employment and improve pathways to work, with the impact on employment building up over time.
The specific DSP commitments in the CES include: enhanced engagement with people with disabilities (drawing on profiling analysis etc.); provision of employment support services (Wage Subsidy Scheme, EmployAbility service etc.); engagement with employers to highlight benefits of employing people with disabilities; early intervention strategies to address drift into ill-health; the establishment of an interdepartmental group, to be led by DSP, under an independent chair, to review and make recommendations on 'making work pay' for people with disabilities.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department is making progress in delivering on its commitments under the CES, for example, my Department is progressively rolling out its full Intreo service to people with disabilities who wish to avail of the service on a voluntary basis. People with disabilities who present at INTREO Centres offices will be offered an interview by a case officer who will agree suitable personal progression plan with the individual and record the action plan for the person on the case management system. In addition, relevant officers in INTREO Centres have received training, to enable them to interact effectively with people with disabilities.
This service is being provided across 58 Intreo Centres. Training of over 60 Employment Support officers and other INTREO support staff was completed in March 2016. Training included inputs from the National Disability Authority and Epilepsy Ireland.
Other actions completed include, the review, by Indecon, of the EmployAbility and DACT services. A survey, conducted by my Department, of a random sample 12,000 people in receipt of disability allowance. The survey is to inform the design of supports and interventions which will assist people with disabilities in receipt of Disability Allowance to participate in the labour force according to their capacity.
In addition my Department has established an interdepartmental expert group, with an independent chair to examine the complex interaction between the benefits system, including the medical card, and the net income gains in employment. The interdepartmental group will also identify any significant disincentives for people with disabilities in taking up or returning to work. The interdepartmental group will report to Government by the end 2016.
Finally, my Department promotes workplace supports for people with disabilities and engages with employers on an ongoing basis. The Employer Information Pack contains information on supports available to people with disabilities and employers and the range of supports and services available to employers are highlighted at DSP employer road shows and Job fairs.
I hope this gives the Deputy an indication of the progress being made by my Department in meeting its CES commitments.
301. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the nature of work competency assessment in respect of the fit for work programme, including by whom such assessments will be carried out; the criteria for such assessments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17009/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra302. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe for the introduction of the fit for work programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17010/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra303. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the penalties or sanctions he will apply to persons who do not engage with the fit for work programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17011/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra304. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the Department or agency or private sector operator, that will have responsibility for the implementation of the fit for work programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17012/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 301 to 304, inclusive, together.
The recently agreed programme for a partnership government provides for a range of actions that are designed to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. One of these actions is a proposal for the Departments of Health and Social Protection to work together to pursue a “Fit for Work Programme” to support more people with an illness or disability to get back to work through early intervention.
The “Fit for Work” proposal is based on the findings of a pan European study, which examined the impact of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) on an individual’s ability to work. The Irish module of this study was progressed by a coalition of key stakeholders and was led by Arthritis Ireland. The Irish College of General Practitioners, ICTU, IBEC and the Health & Safety Authority also contributed to the study.
Early interventions and developing return to work practices in the case of people with musculoskeletal incapacities is consistent with my Department’s approach to illness/disability income support, which aims to reduce the number of people progressing to chronic disability and long-term social welfare dependency. To this end, my Department has in 2015, issued a set of certification guidelines for GPs, which sets out defined periods of recovery for common medical conditions, including MSDs.
The certification guidelines build on the “Renaissance project”, which is an initiative of my Department since 2003. This has shown that early intervention reduced the incidence of progression from the acute simple low back pain to chronic disability in 64% of claimants.
While specific proposals around the design and operation of a “Fit for Work Programme” require further development and scoping out so at this time it is not possible to answer all your question, I would like to assure the Deputy that any such proposals will be in line with the wealth of evidence which shows that generally employment is good for one’s mental and physical health and wellbeing and, conversely, that unemployment is damaging.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
305. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection when he will issue correspondence confirming the payment rate to a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17029/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department has issued a statement on 8 June 2016 which gives details of carer’s allowance payments made to the person concerned for the year ended 2015.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
306. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for carer's allowance for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17051/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 6 April 2016. Unfortunately, there are currently delays in the processing of new applications. 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, the spouse of the person concerned is in receipt of a weekly social welfare support for both of them.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
307. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Social Protection why there has been a delay of over three months in assessing the carer's allowance application for a person (details supplied) and if he can ensure a response is issued as soon as possible. [17165/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's Allowance (CA) is a social assistance payment made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a relevant person/persons and whose income falls below certain limits.
My department informs me that, to date, no application by the person concerned for CA has been received/registered and that they have been in touch with your office directly to clarify to whom this question relates so that you may receive an update.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
308. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection when he will reach a decision on a carer’s allowance application for a person (details supplied). [17172/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 11 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 full decision and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
309. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Social Protection why a person (details supplied) who has been offered a job on a community employment scheme is unable to accept it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17174/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned participated in a TÚS Scheme following which he was selected for referral to the JobPath service and he completed the initial engagement process with JobPath. He also applied to participate in a Community Employment (CE) scheme.
While TÚS and CE schemes are intended to help long-term unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce, by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work routine for a limited duration, they are not full-time sustainable jobs.
Participation on a CE scheme immediately on completion of a TÚS scheme is subject to review and approval of a Department case officer. In such cases, the case officer must be satisfied that participation on the CE scheme will improve the client’s employment prospects. In making this assessment, the case officer takes account of other options, including JobPath, available to support the client progress into employment.
I have asked my officials to review the case in question so as to ensure that the person concerned is provided with the most appropriate opportunity of securing full-time sustainable employment.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
310. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has invited any organisations to make an application to the community services programme; if not, when he expects to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17188/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe community services programme (CSP) is designed to address gaps in the delivery of key local services, to tackle disadvantage and to ensure that community facilities are utilised. It provides valuable resourcing for service delivery undertaken by not-for-profit companies and cooperatives in communities around the country. There are some 3,000 people in full and part time posts which are supported in employment by the programme across approximately 400 not-for-profit companies. Funding of just over €45m has been provided for the programme in 2016 which will maintain the current level of activity.
Service providers must operate community or social enterprises that deliver tangible services and are capable of generating non-public revenues from their operations by way of charging fees, sales and/or fundraising. The programme is not intended to represent full funding for any operation.
Given the level of resources available and the number of companies currently supported the Department has been unable to make an open call for new proposals to the programme for a number of years. However, from time to time as resources allow, the Department does process new applications received from organisations that have expressed an interest in and are considered eligible under the programme. Any not-for-profit company wishing to be considered for the programme can send an expression of interest to the Department by email to cspinfo@welfare.ie.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
