Written Answers Nos. 267-291
267. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of persons on the housing lists for the Dublin local authorities in each of the years 2010 to 2016, inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7429/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority area are available from the results of the summaries of social housing assessments (formerly housing needs assessments) undertaken in 2011, 2013 and 2016. The most recent statutory summary of social housing assessments, carried out in 2016, details the number of households on all local authority waiting lists as at 21 September 2016.
The results are available on my Department’s website at the link and include breakdowns by each local authority across a range of categories:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/search/sub-topic/needs-assessment.
It is important to note that only the results of the 2013 and 2016 summaries are directly comparable with each other. These summaries were carried out using a standardised methodology as specified by the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011. Previous summaries were not carried out under the current standardised assessment regime for social housing support which came into effect on 1 April 2011.
In line with a commitment given in the Social Housing Strategy 2020 future summaries will now be carried out an annual basis. I expect the results of the 2017 summary to be available for publication in the latter half of this year.
268. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the amount of funding allocated to Fingal County Council in 2016 and 2017; the sources of this funding; the way in which this funding is spent by the local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7434/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has a wide and diverse business agenda, including providing necessary housing supports and fostering communities in partnership with local government and other local development bodies. In order to deliver on this broad agenda, my Department allocates significant resources to a wide range of organisations, including local authorities. The total funding provided by my Department directly to Fingal County Council in 2016 was €53.3m. To date in 2017 €4.6m has been provided.
If the Deputy wishes to put down a more specific question concerning funding for a specific purpose from my Department, I will endeavour to provide the information sought.
269. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the details of representations made in the past year to his Department regarding the funding crisis in Galway County Council; the response of the Department to these representations; if there is ongoing dialogue between the county council and his Department in relation to this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7451/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is a matter for each local authority to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources. The elected members of a local authority are responsible for all reserved functions of the authority, which include adopting the annual budget and authorising borrowing, and are democratically accountable for all expenditure by the local authority.
At a recent meeting, the Chief Executive of Galway County Council raised the issue of the councils’ funding position with me. He also provided me with a submission on the matter, which is being examined by my Department.
My Department has worked closely with the local government sector in recent months through the County and City Management Association in the preparation of a consistent and evidence based approach to the various funding pressures, on a sector wide basis. This work helped inform decisions concerning the distribution of resources within the parameters of the national and fiscal budgetary position and the competing priorities presenting themselves at Governmental level. Notwithstanding these competing priorities I ensured, in the approach to Budget 2017, that funding for the sector was secured in a number of areas, including in respect of pay costs and water related costs.
270. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the recently published survey on income and living conditions by the Central Statistics Office, which showed a consistent poverty rate of above 26.2% for lone parents; and the steps his Department will take to tackle child poverty in lone-parent families. [6780/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe latest CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) for 2015 shows that the consistent poverty rate for lone parent households is 26.2%, up from 25% in 2014. The deprivation rate for lone parent households fell from 58.7 per cent in 2014 to 57.9% in 2015. The at-risk-of-poverty rate for lone parent households is largely unchanged in 2015 at 36.2%, compared to 36.5% in 2014. The data also shows that the consistent poverty rate for children fell from 12.7% in 2014 to 11.5% in 2015.
The full impact of the recovery is not reflected in these 2015 figures. Macro-economic and labour market indicators have shown continued economic and employment growth since then. Unemployment has fallen from 9.5% in mid-2015 to 7.1% in January 2017. The number of people in receipt of working-age income and employment supports continues to fall. The full impact of the reforms to the one-parent family payment (OFP) and the positive impact of recent Budgets on lone parents are also not reflected in these figures.
In Budget 2016 lone parents benefitted from a number of measures including increases in child benefit, changes to the means test on the jobseeker’s transitional payment to align it with the more generous means test on the one-parent family payment, and increases in the family income supplement thresholds. In Budget 2017 all lone parents on OFP, the jobseeker’s transitional payment (JST) and jobseeker’s allowance (JA) will benefit from the €5 increase in the weekly rates of payment from March. A new €500 annual Cost of Education Allowance will be made available to Back to Education Allowance participants with children from the next academic year in September. In addition, the income disregards for OFP and JST have risen by €20 from January this year, from €90 to €110 per week, reversing in part previous reductions, to encourage one parent families to stay in, and return to, work. During that time the national minimum wage was increased from €8.65 to €9.25 per hour.
The Department of Social Protection’s social impact assessment of Budget 2017 showed that average household incomes increase by 1%. Non-earning lone parents were the biggest beneficiary of Budget 2017 with gains of 4.5%. Working lone parents also experienced above average gains at almost 1.2%. This represents a cumulative increase across Budgets 2015, 2016 and 2017 almost €27 per week for working lone parents and of over €24 per week for lone parents who are not working.
One of the most important measures contained in Budget 2017 for tackling child poverty was the announcement that the Department of Children and Youth Affairs will implement next year the new Single Affordable Childcare Scheme. This scheme is a step change in State support for childcare in Ireland. It is an important scheme as it will significantly reduce the cost of childcare for low income parents and will provide further substantial support for families to lift themselves out of poverty by taking up employment.
Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: the national policy framework for children and young people, published by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in 2014, includes a target to reduce child poverty by two-thirds by 2020. Meeting this target means lifting 102,000 children out of poverty. Under this Framework, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in collaboration with the Department of Social Protection and other relevant Departments is taking a whole-of-government approach to tackling child poverty.
Eurostat data shows that social transfers (excluding pensions) reduced the at-risk-of-poverty rate from 34.9% to 16.9%, an absolute reduction of 18 percentage points. In relative terms, this represents a poverty reduction effect of 52%. Ireland continues to be consistently among the best performing EU countries in reducing poverty through social transfers. But we also know that, reducing poverty for lone parents is not just about income support. It is also about supporting lone parents to make the transition into employment and assisting these families through the provision of quality services in areas such as activation including education, training and employment supports, and childcare.
As part of the OFP reforms the Department has begun engaging with lone parents whose youngest child is seven years and older, on a proactive and supported basis. To date over 9,000 lone parents, of the 14,500 lone parents who are on the jobseeker’s transitional payment, have been selected for engagement. It will take time to see the full impact of these activation engagements as it will take time for lone parents to complete the education, training or employment support programmes.
Initial indicative data from the latest Quarterly National Household Survey also shows that there has been a significant increase in the percentage of lone parents in employment in the year since the end of June 2016. This increase relates to all lone parents in the State and reflects the increase in economic and employment growth generally. The magnitude of the increase for lone parents specifically, however, is clearly significant.
Continued economic recovery, together with the actions outlined above will support further reductions in poverty over the coming years. The independent review of the one-parent family payment reforms, once completed, will also assist with discussions in my Department on measures for lone parents in Budget 2018.
271. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a programme provider (details supplied) in County Donegal has been informed by Pobal that its previous funding levels, which had provided for 39 hours towards the cost of salaries for members of staff, will no longer be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6838/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe community services programme (CSP) provides financial support to community companies that provide revenue generating services of a social inclusion nature. The CSP works on a social-enterprise model. This means that it does not fully fund contract holders but requires that they generate revenue by charging fees or raising funds. All CSP recipients are obliged to meet these criteria. These social enterprises also remain responsible for their own budgets and financial liabilities. Pobal manage the programme on behalf of my Department and as part of this process undertake on-going reviews of service providers in the programme.
The service referred to by the Deputy has been in receipt of funding towards a manager and 6 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions. As part of the review of the 2017-2019 business plan, it was considered that the organisation did not adequately provide a robust business case for one of the positions. The duties involved in this position had changed significantly and, therefore, did not meet the rationale for support and satisfy the value for money requirement. As a result, it was decided to reduce funding from a manager and 6 FTEs to a manager and 5 FTEs.
The service provider appealed the decision to Pobal and an independent review was conducted. The original decision was upheld. This outcome was communicated to the organisation in January 2017 and will come into effect from the end of June 2017. The service will continue to be funded under the programme for a manager and 5 FTEs for the period from July 2017 onwards.
I hope this clarifies the matter of the Deputy.
272. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for funding in respect of a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6858/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to schools and organisations benefitting over 210,000 children at a total cost of some €47.7 million in 2017. The funding for the scheme was increased this year, as part of Budget 2017, by an additional €5.7 million which will benefit over 50,000 extra children.
Priority for new applications for funding has been given to schools which are part of the Department of Education and Skills initiative for disadvantaged schools “Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools” (DEIS) in line with the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People, Better Outcomes Brighter Futures. From September 2016 additional funding is being provided to DEIS schools already participating in the scheme to provide breakfast and lunch to pupils. Also, some 21 new DEIS schools have joined the scheme for the current academic year and a further 3 have expressed an interest in joining.
The school referred to by the Deputy previously applied to join the scheme and was informed that no provision could be provided at that time as they were not designated DEIS status.
The additional funding allocated in Budget 2017 also provides for the inclusion in the scheme, from September 2017, of some additional schools not currently part of DEIS and deemed to be disadvantaged following the recently launched review of DEIS carried out by the Department of Education and Skills. There is also some provision towards the extension of the scheme to breakfast clubs in non-DEIS schools from September 2017 which is the first time in many years that increased payments will be provided to schools outside of DEIS
Officials in the Department are engaging with colleagues in the Department of Education and Skills regarding options for the provision of the additional funding to both DEIS and non-DEIS schools for the next school year, commencing in September 2017. Priority will be provided to those schools where there is most need.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
273. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of Gateway participants in Kilkenny County Council for each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; the number that progressed to employment within the council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7128/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraGateway is a work placement scheme designed to provide short-term work opportunities for unemployed people in Local Authorities. The scheme commenced in December 2013. To be eligible to participate on Gateway, a person must have been continuously unemployed for at least 24 months. The initiative aims to improve the employability and maintain the work readiness of the long term unemployed.
The following table sets out the number of Gateway participants who commenced employment with Kilkenny County Council in 2014, 2015, 2016 and to date 2017.
Table 1
|
Year |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
To date in 2017 |
|
Number of Participants |
49 |
17 |
6 |
1 |
Gateway participants work for an average of 19 ½ hours a week and the placement lasts for 22 months. In general therefore, those who commence a placement in 2014 will only complete the placement in 2016. It is worth noting that, of the 73 Gateway participants who commenced with Kilkenny County Council since 2014, a total of 13 people have progressed to temporary employment in Kilkenny County Council and one person has now progressed to permanent employment with the Council.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
274. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Social Protection if private bus operators can now request a review of their existing free travel pass allocation relative to their current fare structure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6658/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra275. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Social Protection the average percentage payment of the free travel pass to bus operators, excluding Bus Éireann, with regard to fare income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6659/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 274 and 275 together.
Transport companies participating in the free travel scheme are paid on the basis of fares foregone. This is the spare capacity an operator might have were it not for their participation in the free travel scheme.
The amount my Department pays to private operators is determined by way of survey of their passenger numbers at a given point in time. Following the survey an average fee is agreed with the operator, discounted by 30% to reflect the fares foregone nature of the scheme and paid on a monthly basis. Given that this approach is very specific to an individual company’s operation, these arrangements do not lend themselves to direct comparisons between operators. It is open to any of the private operators in the free travel scheme to apply for a review of their rate of payment and the operator will then be asked to complete a six month survey of passenger numbers.
The payment to private operators participating in the free travel scheme in 2016 was €8.5m.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
276. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the purpose of reckonable credits if they are not taken into account when calculating eligibility for various social welfare payments. [6671/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraPRSI credited contributions (credits) are social insurance contributions designed to protect the social insurance entitlement record of insured workers who are not in a position to make PRSI contributions. Credits are awarded in circumstances such as unemployment or illness, and their purpose is to help protect the social insurance entitlements of insured persons by covering gaps in insurance during periods when they may not be in a position to pay contributions.
Credits do not, on their own, give an individual entitlement to social insurance benefits. They may, however, assist insured workers to qualify for various benefits. While the contribution conditions applying to the various social insurance schemes can vary, a claimant must, in general have:
(a) paid a minimum number of weekly contributions, and
(b) a certain number of contributions or credits over a specified period. For short term benefits, the number of contributions or credits relates to the relevant tax year. In the case of long-term benefits (e.g. pensions) this is on the basis of the yearly average number of contributions and/or credits over the person’s working life.
Credits cannot be used to satisfy the requirements relating to the minimum number of paid contributions. Credits are, however, of value to a person who has already satisfied the “paid contribution” test, by contributing to access for short-term schemes where the credits are awarded in the relevant tax year, or by increasing the yearly average number of contributions for long-term schemes.
277. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection the guidelines regarding the circumstances considered by his Department when a person on disability allowance applies to work for a number of hours each week whereby it is deemed to be therapeutic for the person. [6747/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraA condition for receipt of Disability Allowance (DA) is that a person has an injury, disease or physical or mental disability that has continued (or may be expected to continue for at least one year) and that as a result of this disability, is substantially restricted in undertaking work that would otherwise be suitable for a person of his/her age, experience and qualifications.
The DA scheme is structured to encourage recipients to avail of opportunities to engage in rehabilitative work where this is appropriate. When an individual engages in rehabilitative work, he/she can avail of the income disregard of €120 per week and 50% of earnings between €120 and €350 is also disregarded in the DA means test.
Approval is sought in the first instance from my Department in order for the work to be considered as rehabilitative. The term ‘rehabilitative’ is not defined in legislation and is broadly interpreted in administrative practice as including appropriate work that would be regarded as good for the person and would be expected to result in more positive outcomes in symptom levels, self-esteem, quality of life and social functioning.
The claimant must forward a letter from his/her own doctor indicating that the work is rehabilitative and must outline the proposed employment, number of hours to be worked and the level of remuneration. A deciding officer, who may seek the opinion of a Medical Assessor, decides, having assessed all the evidence, on whether the work is rehabilitative. In the majority of cases, the medical and other evidence supplied by the client, is sufficient to establish whether the work is rehabilitative in nature.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
278. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost in 2017 of all schemes under the remit of his Department in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6762/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information that the deputy has requested for 2017 is provided in the following tables.
|
ADMINISTRATION |
€000 |
|
Administration - Pay |
294,703 |
|
Administration - Non-Pay |
254,910 |
|
Social Insurance Fund non-DSP administration |
93,000 |
|
TOTAL - ADMINISTRATION |
642,613 |
|
PENSIONS |
|
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
971,980 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
4,844,500 |
|
Widows', Widowers' / Surviving Civil Partners' Pension (Contributory) |
1,444,400 |
|
Widows', Widowers' / Surviving Civil Partners' Pension (Death Benefit) |
8,230 |
|
TOTAL PENSIONS |
7,269,110 |
|
WORKING AGE INCOME SUPPORTS |
€000 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
2,161,670 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
501,980 |
|
Widows' Widowers' / Surviving Civil Partners Pension (Non-Contributory) |
13,690 |
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance |
1,290 |
|
Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance Payments |
85,420 |
|
Farm Assist |
82,800 |
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance |
2,660 |
|
Other Working Age Income Supports |
|
|
Exceptional and Urgent Needs |
31,500 |
|
Other Supplements (including heating and light) |
4,560 |
|
Humanitarian Aid |
500 |
|
Direct Provision Allowance |
3,700 |
|
Total Other Working Age Supports |
40,260 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
342,910 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
71,150 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
266,400 |
|
Adoptive Benefit |
270 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
16,000 |
|
Health and Safety Benefit |
420 |
|
Redundancy Payments |
24,000 |
|
Insolvency Payments |
6,500 |
|
Treatment Benefits |
|
|
Treatment Benefits - Dental |
30,335 |
|
Treatment Benefits - Optical Benefit |
10,025 |
|
Treatment Benefits - Medical & Surgical Devices |
8,000 |
|
Total Treatment Benefits |
48,360 |
|
TOTAL WORKING AGE - INCOME SUPPORTS |
3,665,780 |
|
WORKING AGE - EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS |
€000 |
|
Community Employment Programme |
353,000 |
|
Rural Social Scheme |
47,660 |
|
Tús - Community Work Placement |
124,820 |
|
Job Initiative |
19,270 |
|
Community Services Programme |
46,190 |
|
Back to Work Allowance |
119,560 |
|
National Internship Scheme - JobBridge |
15,000 |
|
Back to Education Allowance |
105,000 |
|
Gateway |
7,250 |
|
Back to Work Family Dividend |
14,400 |
|
JobsPlus |
20,400 |
|
Wage Subsidy Scheme |
25,900 |
|
Other Employment Supports |
€000 |
|
Enterprise Support Grant |
4,300 |
|
Technical Employment Support Grant (funded from National Training Fund) |
2,800 |
|
Credit Union loan guarantee scheme |
20 |
|
Part Time Job Incentive |
2,800 |
|
Activation and Family Support Programme (AFSP) |
790 |
|
Special payments to long term unemployed and lone parents |
10 |
|
Drugs Task Force |
660 |
|
European and Other Initiatives |
1,250 |
|
Local Employment Service |
20,300 |
|
Jobs Clubs |
6,000 |
|
EmployAbility Service |
9,740 |
|
Pre-Activation for people with Disabilities |
2,000 |
|
Disability Activation and Employment Supports * |
2,400 |
|
Total Other Employment supports |
53,070 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
14,500 |
|
TOTAL WORKING AGE - EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS |
966,020 |
|
ILLNESS, DISABILITY AND CARERS |
€000 |
|
Disability Allowance |
1,416,170 |
|
Blind Pension |
13,480 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
694,000 |
|
Domicilliary Care Allowance |
138,000 |
|
Carer's Support Grant |
180,900 |
|
Illness Benefit |
589,700 |
|
Injury Benefit |
19,580 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
661,580 |
|
Disablement Benefit |
75,270 |
|
Medical Care |
350 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
33,970 |
|
TOTAL - ILLNESS, DISABILITY AND CARERS |
3,823,000 |
|
SUPPLEMENTARY PAYMENTS, AGENCIES AND MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES |
€000 |
|
Rent Supplement |
252,600 |
|
Mortgage Interest Supplement |
4,120 |
|
Household Benefits Package [Vote 37 + SIF] |
|
|
Electricity Allowance |
157,540 |
|
Gas Allowance |
19,500 |
|
Free Television Licence |
55,170 |
|
Total Household Benefits Package [Vote 37 + SIF] |
232,210 |
|
Free Travel |
80,000 |
|
Fuel Allowance [Vote 37 + SIF] |
229,060 |
|
Grant to the Citizens Information Board |
54,050 |
|
Office of the Pensions Ombudsman |
950 |
|
Miscellaneous Services |
|
|
Rent allowance (de-control of rents legislation) |
430 |
|
Recoupment of superannuation expenses to The Pensions Board |
173 |
|
Expenses incurred by Social Welfare Tribunal |
1 |
|
Grants - Information & Welfare rights |
686 |
|
EU Community Action Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity (Progress) 2007 to 2013 |
0 |
|
Social Inclusion Initiatives |
80 |
|
Ex gratia payments to women from Magdalen Laundries and other Institution |
3,100 |
|
Food Aid |
4,000 |
|
Training for Carers in areas of economic and social disadvantage (funded from the Dormant Accounts Fund) |
1,500 |
|
Miscellaneous Services Funded By Vote 37 |
9,970 |
|
TOTAL - SUPPLEMENTARY PAYMENTS, AGENCIES AND MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES |
862,960 |
279. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has conducted any recent analysis of traps, such as poverty traps and unemployment traps, within the social welfare system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6763/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently analysing incentives to work in the social welfare system for jobseekers with children with a view to developing the Working Family Payment. The two main principles guiding the development of the Working Family Payment are to make work pay and to reduce child poverty.
This analysis is supplemented by research from the ESRI, which shows that people are better off in work than on welfare. The ESRI research, based on an analysis of current incomes, benefits and taxes, demonstrates that more than eight out of ten unemployed jobseekers would see their income increase by at least 40 per cent upon taking up employment. Fewer than 3 per cent would, in the short-term, be financially better off not in work.
The risk of facing weak financial incentives to work is higher for unemployed persons with a spouse and children, as the income support goal of the welfare system means that they tend to have higher welfare payments. However, even among that group, less than 1 in 15 would be financially better off not working. With the addition of the Back to Work Family Dividend, that figure drops to one in twenty.
Regarding people with disabilities, the Make Work Pay interDepartmental group was established to address strategic priority 3 of the Government's Comprehensive Employment Strategy for people with disabilities. The Group is considering the complex interaction of the benefit system, including the Medical Card, the additional costs of work associated with disability, and the net income gains in employment, and is examining recommendations to address issues identified.
280. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when his Department expects to complete the review of changes to the one-parent family payment, as committed to during passage of the Social Welfare Bill 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6764/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraDuring the debate on the Social Welfare (SW) Bill 2016, I agreed that my Department would commission an independent report on the OFP reforms, which requires a tender process, to examine the financial and social effects of the amendments to the scheme made since 1 January 2012, taking into account the poverty rates and welfare dependency of those impacted by the reforms. This is now in legislation. I am committed to producing the report as quickly as possible, so that it can inform Budget 2018 discussions.
Under procurement rules it is not yet possible to provide further information on the nature of the report. However, I can confirm that my Department is liaising with the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) on the most efficient way forward. On their advice an outline of the Request for Tender (RFT) was issued in December 2016 to potential providers seeking expressions of interest by 11th January 2017. The responses received confirmed that the RFT can issue under an existing OGP framework, which is the most efficient and quickest way of procuring this evaluation.
The drafting of the RFT is well underway within my Department. It is critical that the RFT fully reflects the nature and scope of the report required and so it is important to dedicate the necessary time and effort to this step. This is to ensure that the resultant tenders are of a high quality and that the end result is an effective and comprehensive evaluation. My Departmental officials met with officials the OGP on 6th February 2017 to discuss further the RFT and the procurement process. Once the RFT is finalised it will be issued by the OGP to relevant providers under their framework for response.
The timeframe for this report is ambitious but my Department is making every effort to progress this quickly taking account of the procurement rules.
281. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the recently published survey on income and living conditions data; his further views on the fact that there has been a considerable rise in the consistent poverty rate for those not at work due to illness or disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6765/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI welcome the latest CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) results for 2015, showing improvements in living conditions and at tackling poverty. In 2015, incomes rose by 6.2% mainly due to rising employment, the deprivation rate fell for the second year running, and 13,000 children were lifted out of consistent poverty. Ireland was more equal in terms of the income distribution than at any time this decade.
However, the results also show that we have a long way to go to achieve the national social target for poverty reduction. Given the continuing economic recovery throughout 2016 and measures introduced in Budgets 2016 and 2017, it is reasonable to expect future figures to show further improvement. I will continue to work with my Government colleagues to ensure that the economic recovery is experienced in all regions and by all families, households and individuals.
The Survey indicates that the consistent poverty rate, for people in households headed by a person who was unable to work due to illness or a disability, was 22.4% in 2015. This compared to 14.4% the year before. However, this figure (like other statistics for very small groups in the survey) has been volatile in recent years. This is due to smaller sample sizes. It is not possible to say with certainty whether the change over the year is statistically significant and indicative of a sustained trend. It is worth noting, moreover, that there was no change if the level of deprivation reported for this group of households in 2015.
The Government’s strategy for addressing poverty and social exclusion is set out in the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion. The Plan identifies a wide range of targeted actions and interventions to achieve the overall objective of reducing consistent poverty. The Department will review the Plan this year, as it reaches the end of its current term, with a view to developing an updated plan for future periods. The Department will also review the national social target for poverty reduction. This review will be undertaken in consultation with relevant stakeholders.
The Government is committed to increasing the employment opportunities for people with a disability. The Comprehensive Employment Strategy for people with disabilities adopts a cross-government approach that brings together various measures, 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 six strategic priorities are to: build skills, capacity and independence; provide bridges and supports into work; make work pay; promote job retention and re-entry into work; provide co-ordinated and seamless support; and engage employers. These priorities are incorporated into the Pathways to Work Strategy and this ensures that there is an integrated focus on supports that enable people with disabilities to participate in employment where they have the capacity to do so.
My Department provides a range of specific income, activation and employment supports for people with a disability. For instance, the partial capacity benefit scheme enables recipients of invalidity pension and illness benefit to take-up employment, on a voluntary basis, while continuing to receive income support. The Department manages a supported employment service (EmployAbility) which provides a dedicated job-coaching service for people with disabilities. Intreo services are also available to provide employment support services for people with disabilities who wish to engage with the service on a voluntary basis. There is also a focus on supports available to employers who employ people with disabilities such as the Wage Subsidy Scheme and the Workplace Adaption Grant Scheme.
282. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the JobsIreland website is the only online vacancy and job matching service available to local employment services and Intreo, and the only method of advertising for vacancies in employment programmes, such as community employment schemes, permitted by his Department (details supplied). [6766/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraJobsireland.ie is a free online jobs site that enables employers to post job opportunities and jobseekers to search and apply for these opportunities online. At 20 years old, the original site was showing its age. For example, although it enabled jobseekers to search for job opportunities based on job type and location, it wasn’t possible for employers to search for suitable jobseekers on the site – they had to rely on candidates finding and applying for a job from among the many thousands hosted on the system.
Accordingly, the Department issued a tender for the development and implementation of a new service that would enable both employers and jobseekers to search for each other using competencies and skillsets as well as the traditional job-type classifications. As part of the new service, candidate profiles are automatically matched to job specifications posted by employers. Candidates can use the site to apply for the jobs advertised. The system will also integrate with the Department of Social Protection’s Intreo service.
Following the procurement process, the contract was awarded to a firm that is now building and delivering the new service. The new service was introduced on a phased basis on 28th July 2016. Since then employers have access to a wide variety of features including the creation and advertising of vacancies, and the ability to search for candidates who meet the specified requirements. Anybody who logs onto the site can view the vacancies and can apply for them online once they register. There are currently over 3,200 vacancies advertised on the site.
As the service is being implemented on a phased basis, this unfortunately results in some service disruption while work is ongoing. Every effort is made to minimise the impact on users. There have also been some teething problems with the first phase implementation, particularly in relation to performance, but these have largely been resolved. My Department continues to work with the supplier to resolve all outstanding issues and add additional functionality on an agreed phased basis.
I am aware of complaints from sponsors about the filling of CE vacancies, but am assured by my officials that there is no problem posting vacancies on JobsIreland. The process of posting vacancies is relatively straightforward and a tailored video is available online to assist sponsors. There are currently over 1,200 CE vacancies advertised on the site. These are visible to anyone who logs onto the site and users can narrow the search by location.
CE vacancies cannot be applied for online as they are only available to jobseekers who meet the eligibility criteria. Enhancements are planned to clearly denote this up front on the advertisement. Referrals are made by case officers. The referral process will be greatly facilitated following the planned integration of JobsIreland with my Department’s Activation Case Management System.
My Department apologises to users for any inconvenience caused pending full implementation of the new Jobsireland service. It will ultimately to give them a much better service than the original website. Anyone experiencing difficulties with the website can contact the National Contact Centre on 1890 800 024 or email for assistance.
It is reasonable to assume that the difficulties in filling CE vacancies are also related to the significant drop in the Live Register arising from the much improved labour market. Any sponsor who has any recruitment concerns should contact the nearest Intreo Centre which will be happy to help.
283. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6779/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for carer's allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 16 June 2016.
As a result of an appeals officer’s decision, CA was awarded to the person concerned on 10 February 2017 and the first payment will issue to her nominated post office on 16 February 2017. Arrears for the period 16 June 2016 to 15 February 2017 have also issued.
The person concerned was notified on 10 February 2017 of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
284. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of participants in the rural social scheme, RSS, over the period 2014 to 2016 by county in tabular form; the total number of new places allocated to date in 2017 in each county or to each company and Údarás na Gaeltachta delivering the RSS, as committed under budget 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6814/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the purpose of the rural social scheme (RSS) is to provide income support to farmers and fishermen who have an entitlement to specified social welfare payments. The Government, as part of the budget package for 2017, announced 500 additional places on the scheme. This increased the overall number of places to 3,100.
In allocating the additional places, the Government recognises the benefits the RSS provides for participants and their families, as well as the valuable contribution the scheme is making to the provision of services in communities across Ireland.
The following table gives the allocated number of places on the RSS over the period 2014 to 2016 by county and the total number of RSS places available to each county with effect from 1st February, 2017, following the allocation of the additional 500 places.
Table 1
RSS Breakdown by County
|
County |
Allocation 2014-2016 |
New Allocation 2017 |
|
Carlow |
18 |
22 |
|
Cavan |
80 |
97 |
|
Clare |
117 |
143 |
|
Cork |
171 |
210 |
|
Donegal |
227 |
308 |
|
Galway |
275 |
325 |
|
Kerry |
267 |
304 |
|
Kildare |
22 |
25 |
|
Kilkenny |
19 |
24 |
|
Laois |
25 |
29 |
|
Leitrim |
100 |
121 |
|
Limerick |
83 |
93 |
|
Longford |
55 |
65 |
|
Louth |
10 |
14 |
|
Mayo |
562 |
641 |
|
Meath |
17 |
21 |
|
Monaghan |
40 |
62 |
|
Offaly |
52 |
57 |
|
Roscommon |
149 |
167 |
|
Sligo |
124 |
138 |
|
Tipperary |
63 |
81 |
|
Waterford |
12 |
15 |
|
Westmeath |
33 |
40 |
|
Wexford |
39 |
50 |
|
Wicklow |
20 |
23 |
|
Islands |
20 |
25 |
|
Total |
2600 |
3100 |
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
285. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider reviewing the new duration limits introduced for new participants in the rural social scheme in 2017 in the interest of equity to all participants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6815/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the rural social scheme (RSS) provides income support to farmers and fishermen who have an entitlement to specified social welfare payments. Participants are engaged for 19½ hours per week to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities.
A six year maximum participation limit on the scheme has been introduced for new participants commencing on or after 1st February, 2017. The six years can be continuous, provided the participant remains eligible for the underlying social welfare payment. The Deputy should note that existing RSS participants will remain on the scheme as long as they continue to satisfy the eligibility conditions of the scheme.
Almost 50% of current RSS participants have been on the scheme for over 10 years. As a result, opportunities for new people to go on the scheme are very limited. The six year limit will ensure that there will be a throughput of places available, so more people can participate on the scheme.
In addition, income support will still be available to eligible farmers and fishermen who are not on RSS in the form of farm or fish assist.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
286. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Social Protection the actions his Department is taking to strengthen against cyber attacks after the National Treasury Management Agency website was temporarily down for several hours after a suspected hacking attack; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6887/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department invests on an ongoing basis in traditional, defence-in-depth deployments of preventative controls like firewalls and endpoint protection and advanced threat detection tools. My Department also employs security technology that, together with a dedicated ICT security team and well defined processes, continually monitors the Department’s network and services.
My Department was notified of the attack against the NTMA shortly after the NTMA service was taken offline. The ICT Security team examined the nature of the vulnerability and reviewed all relevant assets to assess the Department’s exposure to the threat. The result of the assessment was that the asset that gave rise to the vulnerability for the NTMA is not in use by any of the Department’s systems and that the Department was and is not at risk from this vulnerability.
My Department will continue to take a proactive approach to securing its network and assets.
287. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on concerns regarding a service provider (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6896/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s Public Employment Service (PES) is managed by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) and delivered directly by its own Intreo service as well as by contracted private companies, such as JobPath providers, Local Employment Services (LES) and Job Club providers. The activation supports and services which are available to those who are long term unemployed include JobPath, Community Employment Scheme (CE) and TÚS. The JobPath service procured by the Department provides additional resources to enable it to provide a high quality, case managed employment support service for people who are long term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed.
Following a public procurement process, two preferred tenderers were selected. Turas Nua Ltd. and Seetec Ltd. Turas Nua provide the service in the southern half of the country and Seetec in the northern half of the country.
The aim of the JobPath service is to assist such Jobseekers to obtain and sustain full time paid employment. The Community Employment scheme provides part time employment opportunities in local communities as a stepping stone back to employment for people on a range of Social Welfare payments including those on long term unemployment payments; it does not provide full-time sustainable employment.
Jobseekers can only participate with one activation scheme or service at a time; this is to ensure that the best use is made of the available places and to allow the scheme and service providers’ time to work with the participants. However, in a small number of exceptional cases, which are assessed on a case by case basis, my Department may facilitate a person to move from one activation support to another.
The JobPath service is provided for jobseekers only, the referral period is typically for a year and when engaging with the JobPath service, they remain on their jobseeker’s payment and on the live register until such time as they are successful in finding employment. During that time they receive intensive personal support to find a sustainable full time job. At the end of the 52 weeks, Jobseekers who have not been successful in finding suitable employment may, subject to an assessment by an Intreo case officer, apply for other activation supports such as CE.
Under the contracts for the provision of the service, there are strict obligations placed on the providers by the Department with regard to data protection, including that data cannot be shared with third parties. Both companies are also contractually required to register with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner and are subject to the same provisions of data protection legislation as Departmental staff. Data protection legislation requires that personal data shall be kept only for one or more specified and lawful purposes and that personal data shall be used and disclosed only in ways compatible with these purposes. Any breach or suspected breach of the data protection legislation, in addition to being investigated by the Department, will also be a matter for the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
288. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the decision not to award financial assistance for cost of flooring under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6963/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned was refused an Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) on the grounds that she failed to provide information that was requested and she did not show that she had a need for such assistance. The client was advised that if she wished to have this decision reviewed, she should send a request in writing to the Review Officer. To date, no request for a review has been received by this Department.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
289. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of the eligibility requirements and conditions that apply to participate on the rural social scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6967/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the rural social scheme (RSS) provides income support for farmers and fishermen who are underemployed in their primary activity, either farming or fishing, and have earnings that are insufficient to support their family.
In general to be eligible to participate on the RSS, an individual must be in receipt of Farm/Fish Assist or one of the qualifying social welfare payments. The individual must also meet the criteria for either a self-employed farmer or a fisherman who is actively farming or fishing. Eligible farmers must also hold a herd number from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine.
From 1 February 2017, all participants commencing on the RSS must be over 25 years of age and satisfy the other eligibility criteria. In addition a six year maximum participation limit on the scheme has been introduced for new participants commencing on or after 1st February, 2017. The six years can be continuous, provided the participant remains eligible for the underlying social welfare payment. The Deputy should note that existing RSS participants can remain on the scheme as long as they continue to satisfy the eligibility conditions of the scheme.
Almost 50% of current RSS participants have been on the scheme for over 10 years. As a result, opportunities for new people to go on the scheme are very limited. The six year limit will ensure that there will be a throughput of places available, so more people can participate on the scheme, which I’m sure the Deputy will welcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter.
290. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is putting any protections in place for employees on a defined benefit pension scheme whose employers are trying to move to a defined contribution scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7109/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that over the last number of decades and especially during the financial crisis the decline of defined benefit pension sector has accelerated significantly. In fact most employers that currently have a defined benefit scheme also operate a parallel defined contribution scheme.
Neither I as Minister for Social Protection nor the Pensions Authority are empowered under legislation to interfere either in the scenario of a defined benefit scheme being wound up or to compel an employer to make pension contributions to a scheme. Occupational pension schemes are generally set up under trust and are contributed to by an employer on a voluntary basis. In almost all Irish defined benefit schemes employers are not prohibited from ceasing contributions, usually after a notice period.
It has to be said that many employers have made great efforts to support their pension schemes and have tried to make good the promises made to scheme members. Of course there are employers who have not.
Sometimes sponsoring employers can no longer afford to pay for the level of pensions expected by members of defined benefit schemes. In some cases defined benefit schemes have been frozen and employers have opened up defined contribution schemes for their employees. They continue to pay into these schemes for their employees.
This process is usually managed through dialogue and negotiation between employers, employee representatives, trustees and members. Enhanced transfer values may be offered to encourage members to move to defined contribution schemes.
It’s worth noting that this position is not unique to Ireland. In the UK 85% of defined benefit schemes are closed to new members.
The introduction of increased employer obligations has recently been generating much discussion but it should be remembered that such unilateral modifications to a sector could yield unwanted side effects. Any changes to the Pensions Act that legislatively alters the relationship between a pension scheme and its sponsoring employer could have far-reaching implications for pensioners and the pension sector as a whole, as well as the employers. These could include prompting well-funded schemes to wind up to avoid new obligations; threatening a company’s financial stability; rendering some employers insolvent; and/or giving a competitive advantage to employers who either never provided a pension and/or put defined contribution schemes in place.
My Department and I are not just keeping a watching brief on the defined benefit sector but are very much involved in the development of proposals for the reform of pensions within the current economic climate.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
291. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of households in receipt of rent supplement, with a breakdown according to the reason for the reduction in the numbers on rent supplement since January 2015 and including the numbers moved on to housing assistance payment, HAP, and rental accommodation scheme, RAS; the number coming off rent supplement due to being permanently housed in local authority or approved housing body housing; the number coming off rent supplement as a result of becoming homeless; the number coming off rent supplement as a result of moving in with family members; and the number coming off rent supplement as a result of no longer needing any social housing support. [7164/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe rent supplement scheme plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme currently supporting approximately 47,100 tenants for which the Government has provided €253 million for in 2017.
Rent supplement customer numbers have declined by some 23,700 during the two years commencing January, 2015 (70,800) and ending January, 2017 (47,100) representing a 33% decline over the period under consideration.
Since January 2015 there have been approximately 18,000 housing assistance payment (HAP) recipients brought onto the scheme of which 6,000 (33%) have been accredited as direct transfers from rent supplement. The rental accommodation scheme (RAS) which continues its operations has during the same period transferred approximately 5,800 households from rent supplement, of which 2,800 were transferred to traditional local authority social housing stock, with the remainder transferred to private landlord or voluntary housing arrangements.
In addition with the on-going transfer of long term rent supplement cases to local authority sponsored solutions, rent supplement’s recipient numbers also reflect the overall decline in the live register numbers for the period under review. As at January 2015 there were 360,200 persons on the live register, as at January 2017 there are some 278,600 persons, representing a 23% decline during the two year period. The continuing improvement in the economy means less people seeking support due to temporary unemployment and more exiting the scheme securing employment.
Statistics are not generally maintained for those exiting the rent supplement scheme, i.e., those entering homeless; moving in with family members; and those no longer requiring social housing support. In view of the on-going supply side difficulties within the housing market, my Department continues to implement a targeted case-by-case policy approach that allows for flexibility where landlords seek rents in excess of the rent supplement maximum limits. Since the introduction of this flexible approach, in excess of 11,000 persons at imminent risk of homelessness have been supported through increased rent supplement payments.
In tandem with the increased rental limits introduced in July 2016 and on-going transfers to the HAP scheme, my Department continues to implement a targeted, flexible, case-by-case approach where rents may exceed the appropriate maximum limit ensuring where possible that tenants can remain in their homes.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
