Written Answers Nos. 425-437
425. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost of increasing the weekly direct provision allowance for adults from €19.10 to €25, €30, €35 and €40; the cost of increasing the allowance paid in respect of children from €15.60 to €20, €25 and €30 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9808/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe direct provision allowance is a non-statutory payment administered by my Department on behalf of the Department of Justice and Equality to persons in the Direct Provision system. The Government has provided €3.7 million for the allowance in 2017.
There are approximately 2,800 adults and 900 children residing in the system of direct provision in respect of whom the direct provision allowance is being paid. The full-year costs, based on the current numbers, of increasing the weekly adult rate from €19.10 to €25.00, €30.00, €35.00, and €40.00; and of increasing the weekly child rate from €15.60 to €20.00, €25.00 and €30.00 is provided in the attached tabular statement.
Any increases to the rate of direct provision allowance would have to be approved by Government and considered in a budgetary context.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Tabular Statement:
Adult Rate Direct Provision Allowance and full-year cost of rate increase.
|
Adult Rate |
Additional full year cost to increase adult rate from €19.10 to amount |
|
Increase to €25.00 |
€859,000 |
|
Increase to €30.00 |
€1,587,000 |
|
Increase to €35.00 |
€2,315,000 |
|
Increase to €40.00 |
€3,043,000 |
Child Rate Direct Provision Allowance and full-year cost of rate increase.
|
Child Rate |
Additional full year cost to increase child rate from €15.60 to amount |
|
Increase to €20.00 |
€205,900 |
|
Increase to €25.00 |
€439,900 |
|
Increase to €30.00 |
€673,900 |
426. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the total amount in the social insurance fund at 31 December 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9814/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe surplus of income over expenditure at the end of 2016 was €460 million. The surplus in 2016 is the first such surplus on the Social Insurance Fund (SIF) since 2007. The SIF faces significant financial challenges in the years ahead in order to ensure adequate and sustainable social insurance pensions and benefits for a growing and ageing population as well as the reform and development of the system in line with commitments in the Programme for a Partnership Government.
An Actuarial Review of the SIF has recently commenced and is expected to be completed by mid-2017. The report from the review will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
The outcome of the review will inform the Government in its considerations of appropriate social insurance pension and benefit levels in the years ahead, the financing of such payments, the value for money received by PRSI contributors, the scope for extending and modernising social insurance cover as well as the demographic and other pressures facing the SIF.
427. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the other allowances a person in receipt of disability allowance, living alone allowance and fuel allowance may be entitled to; if he will address this in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10049/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe application for disability allowance (DA) from this lady was disallowed by a deciding officer (DO) who decided that she did not satisfy the medical conditions for the scheme. Notification of this decision issued on 13 October 2016.
The person in question has lodged an appeal with the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). All the relevant papers requested by that Office recently were submitted by my department and the SWAO will be in touch with the person in due course in relation to the progress of the appeal.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
428. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of participants in the JobPath scheme in 2016 that have been placed in permanent employment by each of the operators of the scheme, namely Turas Nua and Seetec, since the scheme was initiated. [10050/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra429. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the total amount paid in job sustainment fees to the operators of the JobPath scheme in 2016 since it was rolled out, namely Turas Nua and Seetec respectively. [10051/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra430. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the total amount paid in registration fees in 2016 to the operators of the JobPath scheme, namely Turas Nua and Seetec respectively, since the scheme was rolled out. [10052/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra431. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons that have been referred to the JobPath scheme in 2016 since it was introduced. [10053/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 428 to 431, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy will be aware, JobPath is a 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. The service is delivered by two companies, Seetec and Turas Nua.
To date, 78,000 people have started their engagement period with the service.
The service was rolled out on a phased basis over the period mid-2015 to July 2016, as a result the first groups of participants have only recently completed their engagement period with the service.
It is important to note that jobseekers may be supported through the service for up to 30 months - under the service jobseekers have access to a personal adviser (PA) who works with them over two phases. During the first phase, of 12 months duration, the PA provides practical assistance in searching, preparing for, securing and sustaining employment. The second phase starts if the jobseeker is successful in finding work. During this phase the PA continues to work with the jobseeker for a further period of at least three months, and up to 12 months. In addition to the two phases Jobseekers may also undertake training while with the service and this may extend the period the jobseeker is supported through the service. It will take time therefore to accumulate a sufficient number of clients (who have completed their engagement period with the service) for complete and robust outcome data to be available.
However from 2017, the Department will publish a report on the performance of the service on a quarterly basis, with the first such report having just been published recently (17th of January).
The initial data on the impact of the service is encouraging. Employment outcome data shows that compared to people who did not take part in the service, people who availed of the service were 23% more likely to have started a job (as of October 2016). The difference appears to be more marked for very long-term unemployed people, with those out of work for more than three years some 44% more likely to have found a job if they engaged with the service.
Given that only a small number of people have completed their full engagement period with the service these results can only be treated as indicative, nevertheless they are encouraging.
As the number of people who have completed their engagement period with the service increases the department will be in a position to provide greater granularity in the reports to be published each quarter this year.
The first report (with results together with a copy of the independent customer satisfaction survey findings for both companies) is available on the department’s website at – http://www.welfare.ie/en/downloads/JobPath-performance-report-January-2017.pdf.
The service is being delivered through a payment by results model and all initial costs are borne by the companies. The companies are paid an initial registration fee and thereafter job sustainment fees only. A registration fee may be claimed when a jobseeker has developed a personal progression plan. Job sustainment fees are payable only for each 13 week period of sustained employment, up to a maximum of 52 weeks (i.e. 4 payments). The Department was careful in designing the service to ensure that payments to contractors are conditional on people not just finding a job, but finding sustainable employment. The total payments to the companies amounted to €26.8m in 2016.
It is not intended to publish the individual payments to the companies as these are commercially sensitive and to do so would place the State at a disadvantage both in terms of the current contracts in place and any future procurement that may be undertaken.
432. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of implementing a living wage of €11.50 per hour for all employees directly employed or in agencies funded by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10106/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has undertaken no costing of the initiative outlined by the Deputy as the introduction of any such scheme would necessarily have to take place on a cross Governmental basis and costs determined centrally as part of the estimates budgetary process. Pre-determined salary scales negotiated at central level are applied to all staff in the department.
On a purely indicative basis it is not anticipated that the introduction of such a scheme in my own Department would incur significant cost as the majority of staff are on salary points above that mentioned by the Deputy.
433. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Social Protection when the results of the consultation process into the impact of bogus self employment arrangements will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10175/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn interdepartmental working group, comprising officials from the Department of Social Protection, Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners, has been examining the issue of disguised employment.
To inform the work of the group, a public consultation on the use of intermediary-type structures and self-employment arrangements, was undertaken in 2016. The consultation received 23 submissions from interested parties on possible measures to address the potential loss to the Exchequer under arrangements (i) where an individual, who would otherwise be an employee, establishes a company to provide his or her services, and (ii) where an individual, who is dependent on, and under the control of, a single employer in the same manner as an employee, is classified as self-employed.
The working group is finalising its report on the consultation, which I and my colleague the Minister for Finance will then consider for further action.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
434. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection if he plans to extend the basic 26 week maternity leave for families with multiple births; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10223/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Justice and Equality have responsibility for maternity leave which is provided for in the 1994 and 2004 Maternity Acts. Any decision to change the duration of maternity leave for families with multiple births would be the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality.
The Department of Social Protection has responsibility for the payment of maternity benefit which is provided for in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended). In 2017 it is estimated that my Department will spend approximately €266 million on maternity benefit, in respect of an average of 22,000 recipients per week.
As the Deputy will be aware the maternity leave legislation provides a 26 week period of statutory maternity leave. Subject to the provisions of social welfare legislation, the 26-week period of core statutory maternity leave attracts a social insurance payment of maternity benefit. A mother can take a further 16 weeks unpaid maternity leave which must be taken immediately after the end of her 26 weeks paid maternity benefit. This period is not covered by maternity benefit but a mother is entitled to a credited social insurance contribution for each week of unpaid leave that is taken (up to the maximum of 16).
Eligible parents can also avail of paid paternity leave at any time within the first 26 weeks following the birth or date of placement of the child. Paternity benefit is available for employed and self-employed people who are on paternity leave from work and covered by social insurance (PRSI) contributions. With the introduction of two weeks of paid paternity leave in addition to twenty-six weeks of paid maternity leave the State is offering parents potentially twenty-eight weeks of paid support.
There is a commitment in the Programme for Partnership Government (PfG) to increase paid leave for parents for the first year of a child’s life. Work has commenced to explore the options available with discussions taking place between officials from the Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Social Protection.
435. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide a detailed breakdown of recently implemented or proposed changes to the funding or operating terms and conditions of community employment schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10234/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe funding or operating terms and conditions of community employment (CE) schemes have not been changed recently. However, with the ongoing welcome reductions in the Live Register and the increasing number of job opportunities, the Deputy will appreciate that issues such as the appropriate level of expenditure, the number of places and the criteria for participation on employment schemes, including CE, all need to be considered. I will be bringing a Memorandum to Government in the coming weeks about these matters. If there are changes to be made, consultations with stakeholders will be facilitated.
I trust that clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
436. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a review in respect of eligibility for invalidity pension will be undertaken in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10246/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraInvalidity 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.
To qualify for IP a claimant must have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last complete contribution year before the date of their claim. Only PRSI classes A, E or H contributions are reckonable for IP purposes.
The department received a claim for IP for the lady concerned on 10 January 2017. She was refused IP on the grounds that the contribution conditions for the scheme are not satisfied. She was notified on 21 February 2017 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
The lady referred to is in receipt of disability allowance (DA) since 11 November 2015 at a reduced rate, because of her means. Where there is a gap of more than two complete tax years in a social insurance record, a person is not eligible for credited contributions until they have worked and paid PRSI contributions for another 26 weeks.
As the lady concerned does not have any contributions paid or credited in the years 2013 to date, she does not have an entitlement to credited PRSI contributions for the period that she has been on DA.
On foot of your representation a review of the decision of 21 February 2017 has been completed and it has been decided that there is no change to the original decision. The lady concerned was notified on 24 February 2017 of the outcome of the review and of her right to appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office within 21 days.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
437. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of jobseeker's allowance (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10264/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the following table:
Recipients of Jobseeker’s Allowance by age at 31 January 2017
|
Age |
Recipients |
|
18-25 |
29,903 |
|
26-30 |
29,246 |
|
31-35 |
29,013 |
|
36-40 |
27,029 |
|
41-45 |
25,611 |
|
46-50 |
23,459 |
|
51-55 |
19,910 |
|
56-60 |
15,620 |
|
61-66 |
14,526 |
|
Total |
214,317 |
