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Tuesday, 18 Oct 2016

Written Answers Nos. 310-334

Carer's Allowance Applications

Ceisteanna (310)

Thomas Byrne

Ceist:

310. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a claim for carer's allowance (details supplied). [30245/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Carer’s Allowance (CA) is in payment to the person concerned at the maximum rate for the provision of full-time care and attention to her son. It is in payment to him since 4 June 2015.

CA can be paid at a higher rate if the person concerned is caring for a second care recipient. However, my department informs me that to date, no application has been received from the person concerned for any additional care recipients.

Accordingly, I have arranged for an application form (CR2) to issue, which the person concerned should complete and return as soon as possible, in order that my Department may determine any further CA entitlements. If the person in question has already submitted an application in the past few days, there is no need to resubmit a new application and my Department will be in touch in relation to the application in due course.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Household Benefits Scheme

Ceisteanna (311)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

311. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider reinstating the telephone allowance in the household benefits package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30246/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The overall concern in recent years has been to protect the weekly social welfare rates. Expenditure on pensions at approx. €6.976 billion is the largest block of expenditure in the Department in the Estimate for 2016, representing approximately 35% of overall expenditure. Due to demographic changes, my Department’s spending on older people is increasing year on year. Maintaining the rate of the State pension and other core payments is critical in protecting people from poverty.

The decision to discontinue the telephone allowance was estimated to provide annual savings of €48 million. These savings meant that my Department was able to retain the other valuable elements of the household benefits package such as the electricity and gas allowance and the television licence. My Department will spend approximately €228 million this year on these elements of the household benefits package for over 420,000 customers.

The cost of the telephone allowance scheme had risen significantly each year, as the number of eligible customers grew, arising from the increased number of pension recipients. In 2007 there were some 316,000 people receiving the telephone allowance compared to almost 396,000 at the end of September 2013, an increase of 25%, or an average increase of nearly 4% per annum.

The Government is keenly aware of the impact of Budget decisions on the Department’s clients, and strives to ensure that the money available is targeted in the most effective way. In Budget 2016, the first increase in the basic rate of the State pension in seven years was given. This has increased the personal rate of the non-contributory pension to €222, and that of the contributory pension to €233.30. There was also a €2.50 increase in the rate of the Fuel Allowance, from €20 to €22.50 per week.

In Budget 2017, it was announced that there will be a further increase in the rate of State pensions, by €5, which will increase the maximum personal rate of the State pension (contributory) to €238.30 in March of next year.

Therefore, over the past two Budgets, the maximum weekly rate for State Pensions has increased by €8 per week, which is the equivalent of over €34 per month. The value of these increases is in excess of the value of the telephone allowance previously provided.

I am informed that, according to the most recent Consumer Price Index figures, there was slightly negative inflation in the 12 months to August 2016.

Any decision to restore the telephone allowance would have to be considered in the context of next year’s overall budgetary negotiations. On this occasion, the Government has concentrated resources on increasing the rate of the pension, rather than on the Household Benefits package.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Departmental Legal Services

Ceisteanna (312)

Mick Barry

Ceist:

312. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 446 of 27 September 2016, if he will reconcile the reply he provided with a claim subsequently made to this Deputy's office via social media, that Scope has been legally represented by the Chief State Solicitor's Office and a person (details supplied) in at least one previous appeal similar to the one described in the question, and that the reason for seeking this representation was because the appellants were like a case (details supplied) accompanied by legal representation. [30259/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

With appeals involving Scope decisions, the parties to the appeal are the employer, employee or self-employee. My Department outlines the decision made by its deciding officers and the basis for the decision, after which the parties to the appeal present evidence to the Appeals Officer who makes the final decision.

Legal advice is available to Scope decision makers from the Department’s legal advisory service.

In the case referred to the by the Deputy, my Department does not consider it necessary or appropriate to engage counsel for the appeal hearing.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Appeals

Ceisteanna (313)

Eugene Murphy

Ceist:

313. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); when the person can expect to receive a decision from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30260/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 28 July 2016. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral appeal 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.

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Ceisteanna (314)

Darragh O'Brien

Ceist:

314. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress of an appeal regarding his Department's decision on a carer's allowance for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30310/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Carer’s allowance (CA) was in payment to the person concerned up to 3 August 2016 in respect of two care recipients.

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.

Following a review, it was decided that the circumstances of the person concerned had changed and that she was no longer entitled to CA with effect from 1 January 2015, as she was working outside the home for more than 15 hours per week.

This decision created a debt owing to my department for the period from 1 January 2015 to 3 August 2016.

The person concerned was notified on 30 August 2016 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review or appeal.

The person concerned has requested a review. As part of that review, additional information was requested from the person concerned on 4 October 2016. Once the information is received, the review will be processed and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Respite Care Grant

Ceisteanna (315)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

315. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which respite care and respite care grants can be restored in the current year, with particular reference to the needs of parents and children throughout north Kildare and the rest of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30328/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

While the primary responsibility for providing respite care lies with the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive, my Department continues to empower and support carers in their caring role through its payment of the Carer’s Support Grant (CSG) formerly known as the Respite Care Grant (RCG). This grant has not ceased or been curtailed in any way.

The grant is paid automatically to people in receipt of Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, and Domiciliary Care Allowance. Other people who are not in receipt of a social welfare payment but who are providing full time care and attention are also eligible and can apply for the grant to a stand-alone CSG section. The stand-alone grant is not subject to a means test. The grant is paid annually on the first Thursday in June and it is expected that in excess of 90,000 grants will be paid in 2016 at an estimated cost of €157.6 million.

The name was changed from the Respite Care Grant to the Carer’s Support Grant in Budget 2016 to ensure that carers are empowered to use the grant in a manner that suits their individual circumstances, which may include providing for a respite from their caring duties. During the economic crisis this payment had been reduced by €325, in Budget 2013, in order to protect the core weekly welfare payments which people receive, including disability payments, pensions and Carer’s Allowance. The amount of the CSG was increased by €325 to €1,700 in Budget 2016.

Total Expenditure on grants to carers (Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and Carer’s Support Grant) increased from just under €752 million in 2010 to over €877 million in 2015. This represents an increase of €125 million or 16.6 %. The estimated expenditure on these schemes for 2016 is in excess of €911 million.

Just to make it clear to the Deputy the CSG grant has not ceased or been curtailed in any way.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy

Jobseeker's Allowance Payments

Ceisteanna (316)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

316. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the payments which remain outstanding in respect of jobseeker's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30340/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As advised in the reply to the Deputy’s most recent questions in this matter (Ref: 17871-16 & 25020-16), the person concerned received their jobseeker's allowance payment on the 21 June 2016, including any arrears that were due from the date of their claim. Child dependant allowances were not payable to the claimant for the period they were out of the family home as these payments had previously been paid to another customer of the department within the household.

If the person concerned wishes to make an application for payment for the period he was out of the family home, he will be required to provide clarification as to their residency and circumstances prior to the 23rd of May, in order to establish whether an entitlement to a jobseeker's payment existed for that period. If this requested clarification is provided we will be in a position to make a decision in respect of this earlier period.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Pension Provisions

Ceisteanna (317)

Jack Chambers

Ceist:

317. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to address the existing situation whereby some public sector workers must retire at 65 years of age but cannot qualify for the old age pension until 67 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30385/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The 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 to 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 legally mandated 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. The Department of Public Expenditure & Reform is responsible for the terms and conditions of employment and pensions of public servants, including the age at which they may be required to retire.

I am informed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform that the specific compulsory retirement age and minimum pension age provisions which affect individual public servants will reflect their particular employment sector and time of original recruitment. However, I understand that such public servants will, generally, be paid a public service pension upon reaching their respective retirement age, whether or not they have reached the age which applies for the State pension.

Whether someone will qualify for a State pension at age 66, or for an alternative social protection payment aged 65, will depend on a number of factors, including their personal circumstances. In particular, it will depend upon whether their PRSI contributions were at the full rate - which provides for State pension coverage - or at a modified rate which does not, and which would often be associated with public servants.

There are specific measures which apply to someone claiming jobseeker’s benefit from a date after their 65th birthday. Where qualified, these recipients may continue to be eligible for that payment until reaching pension age.

An interdepartmental group on fuller working lives was chaired this year by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and it reported in August. Any question regarding the retirement age of public servants, and their public service pension arrangements, may be addressed to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Ceisteanna (318)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

318. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will expedite a carer's allowance review for a person (details supplied). [30409/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 4 September 2015.

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.

It has been decided that this condition has not been satisfied.

The person concerned was notified on 14 August 2016 of this decision, the reason for it and of his right of review and appeal.

A review of this decision was requested and the outcome is that there is no change to the original decision. The person concerned was notified of this on 12 October 2016.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Invalidity Pension Applications

Ceisteanna (319)

Alan Kelly

Ceist:

319. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application in respect of a person (details supplied) under the invalidity pension scheme. [30410/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí 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.

The department received a claim for IP for the gentleman referred to on 03 August 2016. He was refused IP on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. He was notified on the 17 October 2016 of this decision, the reasons for it and of his right of review and appeal.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Carer's Allowance Applications

Ceisteanna (320)

Alan Kelly

Ceist:

320. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary under the carer’s allowance scheme. [30414/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

An application for carer's allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 5 August 2016.

The application was awarded to the person concerned on 14 October 2016 and the first payment will issue to their nominated post office on 20 October 2016.

Arrears of allowance due from 30 June 2016 to 19 October 2016 have also issued.

The person concerned was notified on 14 October 2016 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Invalidity Pension Applications

Ceisteanna (321)

Alan Kelly

Ceist:

321. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the invalidity pension scheme. [30428/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The lady referred to has been awarded the personal rate of invalidity pension (IP) with effect from 11 February 2016. Payment will issue to her nominated bank account on the 03 November 2016 and she was notified of this decision on the 14 October 2016.

She has claimed an increase for a qualified adult (IQA), qualified child(ren) (IQC) and the fuel allowance. On the 13 October 2016, further information was requested in order to assess eligibility for the IQA, IQC and fuel allowance. As soon as this information has been received, she will be notified with regard to her entitlement to these allowances.

Any arrears due from 11 February 2016 to 02 November 2016 (less any overlapping social welfare payment and/or outstanding overpayment) will issue in due course.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Disability Allowance Applications

Ceisteanna (322)

Alan Kelly

Ceist:

322. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the disability allowance scheme. [30435/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I confirm the department received an application for disability allowance (DA) on 6 July 2016. On 22 September 2016 the person concerned was requested to supply supporting documentation required by the deciding officer in order to make a decision on his eligibility.

In order to determine the circumstances of the person concerned, his file was forwarded to his local Social Welfare Inspector (SWI). The SWI will arrange to meet with the person in question as soon as possible.

A decision on his entitlement to DA will be made on receipt of the Social Welfare Inspector’s report. The person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Child Benefit Eligibility

Ceisteanna (323)

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

323. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has considered the position of children who were over five years of age when they started primary school and are therefore 19 years old in sixth year, assuming they have done transition year, and so are not eligible for children's allowance although they are not working and have no means to support themselves while at school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30443/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Child Benefit is currently paid to around 619,000 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.

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.

Personal Micro Credit Scheme

Ceisteanna (324)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

324. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to an issue with the It Makes Sense personal micro-credit loan scheme which is being run in conjunction with his Department (details supplied); the status of the nationwide roll-out of the scheme; if he will provide an updated list of participating credit unions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30516/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

A Personal Micro Credit Scheme providing for small scale loans by Credit Unions to borrowers who have difficulty accessing low cost credit has been piloted in 30 credit unions. The loans under the scheme range from €100 to a maximum of €2,000, and have a maximum interest rate of 12% per annum. Over 1,200 loans have been drawn down under the Scheme during the pilot with an overall value of over €720,000. The average individual loan value drawn down was €500. The focus of the pilot scheme was social welfare recipients who availed of the loans from their Credit Union and were 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 were then transmitted on to the relevant Credit Union.

The Programme for a Partnership Government provides for the roll-out and extension of the Personal Microcredit Scheme. Following an evaluation of the pilot, the Implementation Group, which is chaired by my Department and comprises all relevant stakeholders, is working towards this aim. Incremental progress is being made towards extending the geographical coverage of the loan scheme through efforts to recruit Credit Unions to participate in the scheme. To help advance this aim, I have written to all Credit Union Chairpersons and Managers, to encourage participation. A small number of credit unions previously involved in the pilot scheme, including the credit union concerned, have not progressed to national roll-out for a variety of reasons. Ultimately, participation in the scheme is a matter for each individual Credit Union to consider and decide upon.

The list of credit unions offering the scheme is updated regularly and is available at the attached link www.itmakessenseloan.ie/participating-credit-unions and on the It Makes Sense Facebook page.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Question No. 325 withdrawn.

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Ceisteanna (326)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

326. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal in respect of an application for carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and when the person can expect a decision. [30544/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I confirm that my department received an application for Carer’s Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 2 February 2016. It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have a disability whose effect is that they require full-time care and attention.

This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continuous supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.

The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied.

The person concerned was notified on 25 July 2016 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal. The person concerned has requested a review of this decision and submitted additional evidence in support of her application. The review is currently being processed and once completed, she will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Carer's Allowance Applications

Ceisteanna (327)

Peter Burke

Ceist:

327. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will expedite an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30599/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 1 September 2016. As carers allowance is subject to a medical, means and other criteria it takes some time to process these applications.

This application will be processed as quickly as possible and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. In the meantime, he is in receipt of another weekly social welfare support.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Departmental Funding

Ceisteanna (328)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

328. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection when funding will be made available to an organisation (details supplied); his views on the negative impact the uncertainty regarding funding is having on this organisation's ability to provide support to persons with disabilities to secure employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30611/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Government’s commitments to facilitating increased participation in employment for people with disabilities are reflected in the Comprehensive Employment Strategy (CES) for People with Disabilities. In support of these commitments, the Department of Social Protection provides a wide range of work related supports for people with disabilities. These include the EmployAbility service, the Wage Subsidy Scheme, workplace adaptation grants and specialist training courses that are specially designed for people with disabilities. These supports are estimated to cost almost €44 million in 2016.

The Irish Association of Supported Employment is one of a range of community and voluntary groups that advocate policies and proposals that seek to support people with disabilities find and keep paid employment of their own choosing. While I acknowledge the valuable contribution that IASE is making in this area, the Department of Social Protection does not have a programme that provides core funding to national community and voluntary bodies.

Funding of this nature is provided by the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government through the Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO). This scheme provides multi-annual funding towards core costs of national community and voluntary organisations, with a focus on organisations that provide supports to those who are disadvantaged. A new round of funding was advertised earlier this year for the period 2016-2019. However, I understand that IASE did not make an application for financial support under this round of funding.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Supplementary Welfare Allowance Applications

Ceisteanna (329)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

329. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if supplementary welfare will be facilitated while awaiting a decision for disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30736/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

According to the records of this department, no recent application for a supplementary welfare payment with regard to the above issue has been received from the person concerned. To facilitate this process an application form has been posted to the person concerned and includes the contact details for their local Community Welfare Service.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

JobPath Implementation

Ceisteanna (330)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

330. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons served by the JobPath programme, especially in the Coolock and Kilbarrack employment exchanges in the Dublin Bay North constituency; the success of these persons in securing employment; the supports provided to older workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30764/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

JobPath is an employment activation service that supports people who are long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment.

Participants on JobPath receive intensive individual support to help them tackle barriers to employment and to assist them in finding jobs. Each person is assigned to a personal adviser who assesses a person’s skills, experience, challenges and work goals. The personal adviser works with the jobseeker to agree a personal progression plan that includes a schedule of activities, actions and job focused targets.

Participants receive the JobPath service for a period of 12 months (which can be extended by up to six months to facilitate the jobseeker completing training programmes) or until such time as they find employment whichever is the sooner. If the jobseeker secures employment during this period they will continue to receive support for at least three months and up to twelve months while in employment.

To date, some 63,000 jobseekers have been referred to the JobPath service and of these c.800 are from the Coolock and Kilbarrack Intreo Centres. Initial JobPath performance statistics are expected to be finalised by the end of the year.

My Department has put in place some special administrative provisions for older jobseekers. These provisions aim to help people during the transition from the labour force into retirement. These provisions recognise that older jobseekers may have more difficulty re-training and re-entering the workplace if they lose their job when they are near to retirement age. People over 65 who are claiming jobseeker’s benefit (JB), and who have at least 156 PRSI contributions, can continue to receive JB until their 66th birthday even if their claim is due to end before that date. A person claiming jobseeker’s benefit or allowance and aged 62 or over, is not currently required to engage with the compulsory activation process and is not subject to penalty rates for non-engagement. However, such jobseekers can voluntarily avail of a range of supports (for example, training or employment support programmes) if they so desire. A person, who turns 62, is expected to complete the programme if already engaged in activation or currently taking part in an activation programme.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Questions Nos. 331 to 334, inclusive, answered with Question No. 303.
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