Written Answers Nos. 399-411
399. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection when the new rate for the back to education allowance of €193 per week for young persons under 26 years of age announced in budget 2017 will commence and be paid to recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34924/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra400. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection if the new rate for the back to education allowance, BTEA, of €193 per week for young persons under 26 years of age will apply to all BTEA participants, irrespective of when they commenced the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34925/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 399 and 400 together.
While the Social Welfare Bill 2016 has been published, until such time as it is enacted no changes will be made to increases in weekly welfare rates. Subject to enactment, all BTEA increases will come into effect in March 2017.
Rate increases will be payable to applicable BTEA participants, irrespective of their commencement date on the scheme.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
401. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons on the reduced rate of jobseeker’s allowance who will benefit from the decision in budget 2017 to reduce their contribution towards rent supplement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34926/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraRent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme currently supporting some 49,700 recipients for which the Government has provided €267 million in 2016.
The information requested by the Deputy is not collated by the Department but I am advised that the number of young persons on reduced rate of jobseekers allowance who receive rent supplement support is approximately 500 in total. The measure, which I announced as part of Budget 2017, effectively increases these young people’s after-rent income whilst on age-related social welfare payments by reducing their minimum contribution under rent supplement. For single persons under 25 years they will be €20 better off per week – paying a minimum contribution of €10 per week rather than the current €30, and for persons over 25 and under 26 they will be €10 better off per week, paying a minimum contribution of €20 per week.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
402. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide a breakdown of all the costs associated with the commissioning, production and launch of the evaluation of the JobBridge activation programme published in October 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34927/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraA commitment was given in Pathways to Work 2015 to develop and implement a robust evaluation programme to assess the impact of Pathways to Work initiatives and identify potential areas for future attention.
A formal Request for Tender for the Design and Implementation of an Evaluation of the Suitability, Effectiveness and Relevance of the JobBridge Activation Programme was issued via eTenders and OJEU. Following the assessment of tenders, the contract for the external evaluation was awarded to Indecon International Economic Consultants in association with London Economics for a total fixed price of €109,671 exclusive of taxes and VAT.
Costs incurred in relation to the launch of the report amounted to €250.
Total costs associated with the commissioning, production and launch of the evaluation, therefore, amounted to €109,921.
403. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for the family income supplement in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34941/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an initial review of this appeal indicated that an oral hearing might be helpful. However, having had an opportunity to examine the case more closely the Appeals Officer concluded that an oral hearing is not required.
The 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.
404. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for a back to enterprise allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) will be reopened and re-examined with particular reference to their eligibility and to the fact that their business is now open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34951/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe business proposal of the person concerned was for a franchise operation and she discussed the proposal with a case officer who advised her that she considered that the proposal did not meet the eligibility criteria for the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA). The proposal involved considerable financial exposure for the person concerned and the case officer advised that she was of the view that it was unlikely to succeed.
The person concerned was advised that she could apply for jobseekers allowance and there is a claim pending in Galway Intreo Centre.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
405. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the criteria in relation to entitlements and social protection payments when a person resides outside the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34957/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Social Protection operates a wide range of schemes and the criteria for paying these outside the State vary according to a number of factors such as the duration of absence from the state, whether it’s a contributory or non-contributory payment, nationality (EU v Non EU) and the other conditions of payment, such as whether the person is required to be available for work.
As the circumstances of each case vary so much, it would be impossible to cover all eventualities in this answer. However any customer considering going abroad should contact the area of the Department paying them for more detailed information specific to their case. Contact details for all Department of Social Protection schemes may be found at www.welfare.ie.
406. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the procedures in place to identify welfare fraud; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34958/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe majority of people in receipt of a payment from the Department of Social Protection receive what they are entitled to under the Social Welfare and Pensions Acts. Nevertheless, the Department recognises that abuse of the welfare system is an ongoing reality and must be tackled through a range of measures. These measures are governed by the Department’s Compliance and Anti-Fraud Strategy 2014 – 2018. The actions set out in the strategy are designed to prevent and detect fraud, to ensure effective oversight of schemes, to pursue prosecution of offenders and to ensure the recovery of any overpaid entitlements identified.
All Departmental staff exercise a control and compliance function in processing new applications and reviewing existing entitlements. The systems used to support schemes are designed to detect wrongful claiming and to highlight anomalies. In addition, the Department’s inspectorate undertakes detailed examination of claims on a risk assessed and random basis. In addition, at least three fraud and error surveys of Departmental schemes are conducted annually to assess the quality of claim processing and fraud detection. These surveys are published and subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General and their findings are used to tighten control measures around schemes, where this is found to be warranted.
My Department’s Special Investigation Unit comprises trained inspector and Garda officers and is tasked with undertaking targeted and systematic examination of claims to tackle fraud and to work with other enforcement agencies to identify more serious breaches of the law.
Cross-functional and targeted actions are undertaken - both internally and in joint operations with other national and international agencies - to ensure a strategic response to high risk sectors or where fraud is prevalent. In particular, actions are focused on sectors of the economy where there is a risk of concurrent working and claiming social welfare payments.
Overall, the Department conducts of the order of one million reviews annually comprising customer entitlement reviews, inspections and special investigations.
The Deputy should also note that the continued roll-out of the Public Services Card has considerably reduced the potential for identity fraud and the Department has deployed identity and analytics software and other intelligence systems to reinforce its fraud prevention work.
Members of the public play an important role in supporting these anti-fraud activities and some 17,000 reports from concerned citizens have been processed already in 2016.
The Compliance and Anti-Fraud Strategy 2014 – 2018 and annual updates on progress are published on the Department’s website: www.welfare.ie.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
407. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied); if he will request his officials to take a sympathetic approach, as in all probability a genuine mistake was made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34984/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIllness benefit is a payment to persons who are unable to work due to illness and who satisfy certain statutory PRSI contribution conditions.
Partial capacity benefit (PCB) is a scheme where a person who has been in receipt of the benefit for at least six months and who may have some capacity for employment may apply to take up work while still receiving payment. Written approval from my department must be obtained before taking up the employment. The person concerned was notified of this conditionality on the PCB application form and by means of form SW132 which issued in April 2015.
It came to attention that the person concerned was in receipt of illness benefit during the period from 15 April 2016 to 4 October 2016 while in employment. Approval for PCB had not been given. The claim to illness benefit was disallowed for this period resulting in an overpayment. There is a right of appeal to the independent Appeals Office on the decision.
As regards the method of recovery of an overpayment a person can have their circumstances taken into account and re-payment can be made by regular instalments.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
408. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for an illness benefit allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35003/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe lady referred to has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from the 5 May 2016. Payment will issue to her nominated bank account on the 1 December 2016. Any arrears due from 5 May 2016 to 30 November 2016 (less any overlapping social welfare payment and-or outstanding overpayment) will issue in due course. The lady in question was notified of this decision on the 14 November 2016.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
409. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal of an application for a carer's allowance in respect a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35004/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 11 November 2016 who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the 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 hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
410. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which rent has been paid in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35011/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department has not, to date, received an application for Rent Supplement from the clients concerned. The clients should provide same to the Mid-Leinster Rent Unit, PO Box 11758, Dublin 24, to be assessed for entitlement to Rent Supplement.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
411. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the correct level of payment in the case of a person (details supplied); if the case will be urgently reviewed with particular reference to the hardship being caused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35151/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned is currently in receipt of Jobseekers Transition payment. This is a means tested scheme. The calculation of means is based on a Social Welfare Inspector’s report.
The person concerned has appealed the decision of the Inspector and has submitted further evidence in support of her appeal, which the Inspector is now considering.
If there is no change to the Inspector decision, the file will be forwarded to the Social Welfare Appeals Office for a further review.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
