Written Answers Nos. 405 -421
405. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a training support grant application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26950/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is not aware of any application by the person concerned for a training support grant. My Department will contact the person directly to clarify the matter.
406. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to amend the provision to allow children who are ill or have special needs to be entitled to free travel (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26959/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are currently approximately 864,000 people in Ireland in receipt of free travel at an annual cost of €80 million per annum.
The free travel scheme is available to all people aged over 66 living permanently in the State. Applicants who are under age 66, including those with learning disabilities, must be in receipt of a qualifying payment in order to qualify for the scheme. The qualifying payments for those aged under 66 are invalidity pension, blind pension, disability allowance, carer’s allowance or an equivalent social security payment from a country covered by EC Regulations or one with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement. Free travel is provided for people in receipt of carer’s allowance to facilitate their caring role and support their social inclusion.
Children with disabilities may qualify for the domiciliary care allowance. This is a monthly payment of €309.50 to the carer of a child with a disability. The allowance may be used for the additional costs involved in caring for the child and this may include additional transport costs. On most transport services children under sixteen years of age are charged fares at special concessionary child rates.
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.
Any decision to extend the free travel scheme to persons who are not in receipt of a primary qualifying payment would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
407. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the total expenditure by his Department for each of the years 2011 to 2016 to date on rent supplement payments (details supplied) to landlords being paid rent through one or other of these schemes for, respectively, 50 to 100 units, 100 to 200 units and 200 plus units. [26964/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra414. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the total expenditure by his Department for each of the years 2011 to 2016 to date, inclusive, in tabular form of rent supplement payments inclusive of HAP, RAS and all other local authority private rental schemes to private landlords being paid rent through one or other of these schemes for ten or more properties. [26981/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 407 and 414 together.
The rent supplement scheme is currently supporting some 51,800 recipients for which the Government has provided €267 million for in 2016. Details of rent supplement recipients and expenditure under the scheme for the period from 2011 to date are provided in the tabular statement.
Under the legislative provisions governing rent supplement, the Department’s relationship is with the tenant; the tenant makes the application for rent supplement and payment is made to the tenant to assist them with their accommodation needs. There is no direct relationship between the landlord and the Department in the administration of the scheme. Statistics are not maintained on rent supplement expenditure in respect of individual landlords.
Recent analysis shows that there are approximately 39,200 landlords providing accommodation to rent supplement customers, with over 32,600 or 83% are single lettings under the scheme. Approximately 1,500 landlords or 4% of the total are providing four or more lettings under the rent supplement scheme, of which less than 10 landlords have in excess of 50 of these lettings of which a further 2 have in excess of 100.
Reporting on local authority sponsored housing initiatives, including the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) and Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.
Tabular Statement
Rent Supplement: Recipient Numbers & Expenditure: 2011 to Present
|
Year |
Recipients |
Cost €000 |
|
2011 |
96,803 |
502,7471 |
|
2012 |
87,684 |
422,536 |
|
2013 |
79,788 |
372,909 |
|
2014 |
71,533 |
338,208 |
|
2015 |
61,247 |
311,0592 |
|
2016 |
51,7953 |
1Changed from 502,748 on 28/04/2014
22015 Outturn
3As at end August 2016
408. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a carer's allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26970/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an oral hearing of the appeals of the person concerned took place on 14th September 2016 and that the Appeals Officer is now considering the appeals in the light of all of the evidence submitted, including that adduced at the oral hearing. The person concerned will be notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision when the appeals have been determined.
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.
409. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a carer's allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26971/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to convene an oral hearing in this case.
Every effort will be made to hear the case as quickly as possible and the appellant will be informed when arrangements for the oral hearing have been made.
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.
410. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26972/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned in respect of 2nd care recipient was awarded on 9 September 2016.
The first payment of CA at the higher rate of payment issued to his nominated post office on the 15 September 2016. Arrears of allowance due from the 17 March 2016 to 14 September 2016 have also issued to the post office. The person concerned was notified of these details on the 9 September 2016.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
411. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26973/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that my Department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 4 May 2016.
It is a condition for receipt of CA that the applicant must be habitually resident in Ireland.
As the person concerned only came Ireland on 26 April 2016, it must be determined whether he is habitually resident in the State.
Accordingly the application was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) to determine whether this condition is satisfied, 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 decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
412. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a carer's allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26974/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for Carer's Allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 14 April 2016.
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.
A person can be considered to be providing full-time care and attention where they are engaged in employment, self-employment or on training courses outside the home for a maximum of 15 hours per week, provided that they can show to the satisfaction of a deciding officer that adequate care has been provided for the care recipient in their absence.
When an applicant or their spouse is self-employed, they are required to submit their latest set of accounts with their application.
The person concerned was requested on 18 July 2016 to provide evidence to show that she was working outside the home for less than 15 hours per week and to provide her spouse’s latest set of accounts from his self-employment.
Social welfare legislation requires that every claimant shall furnish such certificates, documents, information and evidence as may be required for the purposes of deciding the claim and attend at such office or place as an officer may direct.
As the person concerned failed to provide the documents and evidence requested, the deciding officer decided that the person concerned was not entitled to CA.
The person concerned was notified on 5 September 2016 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
If the person concerned is prepared to provide the requested information, their entitlement to CA will be re-examined.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) has confirmed to me that they have no record of an appeal from the person concerned. Should she wish to appeal the decision, she should do so in writing to the SWAO, stating clearly the grounds of her appeal.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
413. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a carer's allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26975/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer’s allowance was awarded to the person concerned on 17 September 2016 and the first payment is due to issue to their nominated bank account on 6 October 2016.
Arrears of allowance due from 28 April 2016 to 5 October will issue shortly.
The person concerned was notified of these details on 17 September 2016.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
415. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason persons who are transitioning from jobseeker's transitional payment to jobseeker's allowance when their children turn 14 years of age are not assisted in making the transition smoothly (details supplied); his plans to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27001/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am not aware of any delay in the transitioning from Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment (JSTP) to Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) for customers when their child turns 14 years of age.
If the Deputy is aware of a particular case where a smooth transition from JSTP to JSA has not happened, I would ask that he forward me the details and my Department will be happy to examine the issue as soon as possible.
416. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if mortgage interest support can be offered in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27024/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are currently approximately 2,300 people in receipt of the mortgage interest supplement (MIS) scheme for which the Government has provided over €7 million in 2016.
The MIS scheme was discontinued for new applicants from 1 January 2014, with customers availing of this support prior to 1st January 2014 retaining entitlement until the closure of the scheme on 1st January 2018.
It is expected that over the remaining period existing customers will exit the scheme through sustainable solutions being put in place with their lenders; securing employment; or exit strategies sponsored by the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, such as the Mortgage to Rent Scheme.
The continued payment of mortgage interest supplement does little to assist recipients in improving the long term difficulty of addressing their mortgage problem.
The most appropriate way in which families experiencing mortgage difficulties can be supported is through on-going engagement with their lender to explore sustainable solutions.
The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABs) assists people who are over-indebted and need help and advice in coping with debt problems, in particular those on low incomes and people living on social welfare payments. In addition to its traditional core business, MABS has been developed to provide more targeted services to support mortgage holders in arrears. Since mid – 2015, a Dedicated Mortgage Arrears MABS (DMA MABS) service has been established across the MABS network of services. This service is focusing on post-Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP) cases and assisting mortgage holders to assess the extent to which the option on offer from the lender is the best and most sustainable option, and where required, negotiating with the lender on the client’s behalf. To date, 23 full-time and 3 part-time specialist advisors are in place in 25 locations across the country and over 2,500 clients have benefitted from the service.
MABS has established a national network of Court Mentors to attend relevant Courts nationwide, where repossessions hearings are listed, to provide support to distressed borrowers.
More recently a new Scheme of Aid and Advice for Borrowers in Home Mortgage Arrears has been put in place to assist people who are insolvent and in serious mortgage arrears on their home, to access independent expert financial and/or legal advice to help them find the best possible solutions, with the key priority being to support families to remain in their own homes.
MABS is the Government’s “one stop shop” point of information and guidance for homeowners in arrears and all applications for aid and advice under the scheme must go through MABS.
It is recommended that the person concerned contact their local MABS for advice and support.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
417. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an oral hearing will be facilitated in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27043/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned applied for domiciliary care allowance in respect of her child on the 1st 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 her on the 9th May 2016.
An appeal of this decision was registered on 16th June 2016, additional information on her child’s condition/care needs was supplied on the 5th September 2016. The application together with the new information supplied has 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 Social Welfare Appeals Office.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
418. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to commence discussions with a view to reaching agreement with the Irish Dental Association on the restoration of treatments under the dental benefit treatment scheme following the suspension of all treatments other than a dental examination in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27054/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraDepartment officials met with representatives of the Irish Dental Association recently to discuss matters outlined in the programme for Government.
Any changes to the scheme can only be considered within the overall budgetary context, taking account of available resources and competing demands.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
419. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which debt of almost €16,000 accrued in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27058/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned was in receipt of basic supplementary welfare allowance payment from 5th August 2010 pending the outcome of a jobseeker’s allowance appeal. She subsequently received her first payment of carer’s allowance on 26th August 2010. In 2011 following a review of her carer’s allowance it was realised that the person concerned was in receipt of two social welfare payments from the Department and an overpayment was assessed due to the overlap.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
420. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27107/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned has been awarded disability allowance with effect from 22 June 2016. The first payment will issue by her selected payment method on 5 October 2016. Arrears of payment due will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments or in respect of outstanding overpayments (if applicable).
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
421. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a disability allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27111/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned submitted an application for disability allowance (DA) on 18 March 2016. The application was refused on means grounds, the person failed to make himself available for interview with the social welfare inspector (SWI) and he was notified in writing of this decision on 22 September 2016. The person concerned was also notified of his right to a review of this decision or to appeal it to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
