Written Answers Nos. 152-160
152. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a domiciliary care allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27574/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 10th June 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 on 26th September 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.
153. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will expedite a carer's allowance application for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27576/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 29 June 2016. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 15 September 2016 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
154. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27582/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 25 May 2016. Additional information in relation to the person’s application has been requested by a deciding officer. Once the information is received the application will be processed without delay and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
156. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection if Intreo offices are still directing jobseekers to JobBridge in view of the fact that it is to be abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27599/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince JobBridge started in 2011 it has helped about 19,000 mainly small employers to provide valuable work experience to nearly 48,000 unemployed jobseekers. The first independent evaluation of the scheme found that over 60% of participants progressed into paid employment within a short period of about completing their internship. This indicates that JobBridge has been instrumental in helping about 30,000 jobseekers to secure a job.
The economic and labour market conditions have very much changed for the better since the scheme was introduced and I have already announced that I believe that the time is now right to replace it. A second independent evaluation of JobBridge is nearing completion and its findings will inform the design of any new scheme. I have also asked the Labour Market Council for its views and expect a response shortly.
In the meantime JobBridge is still available to jobseekers who are looking for work experience. Participation is entirely voluntary – jobseekers choose whether JobBridge is right for them and choose the host organisation and work experience opportunity that they themselves feel will improve their employment prospects. Participants are also free to leave a JobBridge internship at any time and for any reason without facing any financial penalty.
157. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an increase in mortgage interest relief can be considered in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27606/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned has been in receipt of a Mortgage Interest Supplement since April 2013. The claim was last reviewed in May 2016. A further review will be conducted on this claim to determine the correct entitlement and the necessary papers will be sent to the person concerned immediately.
I hope that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
158. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if mortgage interest support will be payable in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27607/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs previously outlined in reply to the Deputy’s earlier questions, No. 47257/14 on 9th November 2014 and No. 2076/15 on 15th January 2015, the claim for Mortgage Interest Supplement in respect of the person concerned was disallowed on 23rd December 2011 and this decision was upheld by the Social Welfare Appeals Office in an appeal decision issued on 27 July, 2012. There is no recourse to a further review of this claim.
No new claim was made by the person concerned prior to the closure of the Mortgage Interest Supplement scheme on 1 January, 2014. As the scheme is now closed to new claims, this Department is not in a position to accept a further application for Mortgage Interest Supplement from the client concerned.
159. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if further assistance will be issued to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27608/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn the 27/04/16 an application for an exceptional needs payment in relation to a full central heating installation was submitted by the person concerned and refused taking into account her particular circumstances. The decision of the officer in this case was upheld by a review officer.
The person concerned however did receive a payment in relation to hot water system repairs on 20/06/16.
I am aware that my Parliamentary Advisor was in contact with your office on this particular case.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
160. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if actuaries have been appointed to date to carry out the actuarial review of the social insurance fund up to 31 December 2015 announced by the previous Minister on 22 March 2016; if appointed, whether he can supply details of the company carrying out the work and the date of publication; to undertake to produce actuarial reports on the fund on a more frequent basis, for example, every three years rather than the statutory maximum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27666/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Social Protection, I am required under legislation to carry out actuarial reviews of the financial position of the Social Insurance Fund “for the purpose of determining the extent to which the Fund may be expected, in the long term, to meet the demands in respect of payment of benefits and other payments, having regard, in particular, to the adequacy or otherwise of the contributions to support benefits and other payments”. The review may also cover other matters considered to be relevant as affecting the current and future financial condition of the Fund.
The Actuarial Review must be carried out at 5 yearly intervals and completed not later than 5 years after the date of completion of the immediately preceding review. The last actuarial review set out the position of the SIF for the year ending 31 December 2010 and was published in September 2012. The next review will relate to position of the SIF for the year ending 31 December 2015.
My department is currently in the process of finalising the request for tender to be advertised on the eTenders procurement website, to secure the most suitable actuaries to carry out the actuarial review.
The purpose of the actuarial reviews of the SIF is to assess the financial “health” of the Fund, taking account of changes in the intervening period, including changes in demographic and economic factors. Undertaking SIF actuarial reviews at 5 yearly intervals, as opposed to on a more frequent basis such as every 3 years, allows sufficient time for the impact of these changes to be assessed and incorporated into the long-term projections of the adequacy or otherwise of the contributions paid into the Fund to support benefits and other payments from it.
