Written Answers Nos. 340-351
340. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if the normal qualifying conditions for a Tús scheme can be waived for persons who have been referred through a drug treatment programme such as is the case with a community employment scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16001/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommunity Employment (CE) drugs rehabilitation places provide opportunities for people in recovery from substance misuse to re-engage in active community and working life. The CE rehabilitation places reflect the Department’s commitment to the National Drugs Strategy with a specific focus on opportunities for the training and development for participants in recovery and working towards rehabilitation.
As the Deputy will be aware, the purpose of Tús is to provide short-term work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. It is designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work readiness, thereby improving a person’s opportunities of returning to the labour market.
The selection and eligibility conditions for Tús are focused on those on the live register for a year or more and in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment. I consider the current selection process effective and I currently have no proposals to alter these arrangements to include a specific waiver of eligibility conditions for individuals recovering from substance misuse.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
341. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social Protection when the proposed rules governing community employment schemes will be enforced in order that the period of assessment commences in January 2007 compared to April 2000 as it currently stands (details supplied). [16049/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, I brought a Memo to Government in March and obtained approval to publish my Department’s report on the review of Community Employment and the other work schemes and to progress the various changes that were recommended. I will be publishing the review report in the coming days.
My Department will be consulting with key stakeholders in the coming weeks about the new measures and they will be commenced shortly thereafter.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
342. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will extend community employment eligibility to self-employed jobseekers in view of the fact that persons in receipt of farm assist are permitted to take up community employment places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16130/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe pattern of participation on the Community Employment (CE) programme is dependent on the individual circumstances of each person and the length of time he or she has been in receipt of a CE-qualifying social welfare payment. CE is intended for the long-term unemployed and other specified disadvantaged groups, including those who are in receipt of Farm Assist, a means-tested payment which is aimed at low income farmers.
The aim of CE remains as an active labour market programme with the emphasis on progression into employment and/or further education and training. The main cohort of CE participants is made up of the long-term unemployed in receipt of jobseekers allowance.
While it is possible for a self-employed person to meet the basic criteria of receipt of a CE-qualifying payment (specifically jobseekers allowance) for the requisite period of time (12 months), they may not meet the criteria of being unemployed during that qualifying period. For CE, the maximum amount of days worked permissible for a jobseeker is 30 days within the 12-month qualifying period. If a self-employed person is in receipt of jobseekers allowance and meets the criteria outlined above, they can be considered for CE on a case-by-case basis.
Those who do not meet the CE eligibility criteria are advised to contact their local DSP Intreo Office where a case officer will be happy to discuss the other employment and training options that are open to them.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
343. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has approved the creation of 16 new senior manager posts in the context of the Citizens Information Board planned restructuring of MABS and the dissolution of the network of independent countrywide Citizens Information Services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16136/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the outset, it is important to note that there are no plans for the dissolution of the network of independent countrywide Citizens Information Services.
The Citizens Information Board (CIB), which has statutory responsibility for the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) and the Citizens Information Services (CIS), decided on 15 February 2017, to restructure the governance arrangements of both services. CIB assures me that there will be no job losses, no closure of services, no change to service delivery locations and no change to the terms and conditions of serving staff during the lifetime of the restructuring programme. Most importantly, there will be no disruption to CIS and MABS services for those who use them.
The decision taken will simply reduce the number of individual local CIS and MABS company boards from ninety three (93) to sixteen (16). A new regional board structure will be put in place which will comprise eight (8) CIS boards and eight (8) MABS boards. The restructured governance arrangements are being implemented at local company board level only and will bring both the CIS and MABS organisations more into line with modern public service governance guidelines and requirements where significant State funding is involved.
In 2017, CIB is set to receive State funding of €54 million, of which €15 million is allocated to CIS services (including €13.1 million to the 42 local Citizens Information Services, €1.2 million to Citizens Information Phone services and, the balance, €0.7 million to central and other supports), and €24.6 million is allocated to the network of MABS services (including €15.4 million to the 51 local MABS, €0.3m to National Traveller MABS, €2.0 million to MABS National Development Company, €3.3million to the MABS Dedicated Mortgage Arrears initiative, €3.5 million to the Abhaile Scheme and the remaining €0.1m to MABS central supports).
Following on from the decision of the Board, a Restructuring Implementation Group is being set up by CIB to examine all aspects of implementing the new sixteen (16) board model.
My Department has not received a proposal from CIB in relation to senior manager posts to date.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
345. Deputy Michael D'Arcy asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount spent on legal and other fees helping workers of a company (details supplied) take their case to the European courts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16161/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe European Court of Justice (ECJ) delivered a judgement on 25 April 2013 arising from an investigation of complaints under Directive 2008/94/EC on the protection of employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer and the resultant contractual obligations that derive under the transposition of that Directive by the Irish Government.
The ECJ found in favour of the plaintiffs who were 10 former Waterford Crystal workers. The ECJ ruled that the Irish Government had failed to transpose the Directive in such a manner as to protect the rights of the plaintiffs to old-age benefits under a supplementary pension scheme established by their employer.
This case was taken by the plaintiffs against the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, and the Attorney General. It would not be normal practice for my Department to spend money to assist people in taking a case against the State. Therefore, in this case, I can confirm that my Department did not spend any money to assist the Waterford Crystal workers to take their case to the ECJ.
I hope that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
346. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a disability allowance for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16174/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt has been established that this man has an entitlement to disability allowance (DA) with effect from 16 November 2016. However, as he is currently participating in a training course and in receipt of a training allowance, payment of DA will not commence until completion of the course. He should forward the relevant notification to my department when his course is completed in order that his payment of DA can commence.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
347. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a carer can continue to receive the full allowance if she is on maternity leave and in receipt of maternity benefit but still fulfilling her carer's role. [16179/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs is common with social security systems across the world, the Irish social welfare system generally applies the principle of one person, one payment. It can happen that a person may experience more than one contingency at the same time such as being on maternity leave, while providing full-time care and attention to a person, who consequent on an illness or disability, requires such care.
In these circumstances full-rate carer’s allowance is not payable with maternity benefit, however a person may qualify for half-rate carer’s allowance in addition to maternity benefit and may continue to qualify for additional supports such as the carer’s support grant, free travel and (if the person is residing with the care recipient) the household benefits package.
348. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Social Protection the detail of the proposed changes to the structure and function of the Money Advice and Budgeting Service; the reason this restructuring is being undertaken; the way this restructuring benefits clients of the service; the research that was undertaken that supports the proposed changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16183/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Citizens Information Board (CIB), which has statutory responsibility for the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) and the Citizens Information Services (CIS) decided, on 15 February 2017, to restructure the governance arrangements of these services. The decision was communicated by the Board of CIB to all CIS and MABS Boards and to all staff on the same day.
The decision comes after a lengthy and extensive analysis of options for organisational restructure of CIB’s service delivery partners, including detailed consultation with all stakeholders on the need for a more streamlined governance model. This process followed in the wake of a feasibility study, conducted as part of the implementation of CIB’s Strategic Plan 2012 – 2015.
The restructured governance arrangements are being implemented at local company board level only. The decision taken reduces the number of individual local CIS and MABS company boards from ninety three (93) to sixteen (16). A new regional board structure will be put in place which will comprise eight (8) CIS boards and eight (8) MABS boards.
The CIB assures me that there will be no job losses, no closure of services, no change to service delivery locations and no change to the terms and conditions of serving staff during the lifetime of the restructuring programme. There will be no disruption to CIS and MABS services for those who use them.
The valuable work carried out by the employees and volunteers working in CIS services and the employees of MABS services will continue as heretofore. A more streamlined governance structure will result in a more targeted use of valuable staff resources, re-directed to increased front line service delivery, made possible by reduction in the current significant administrative burden associated with maintaining ninety three (93) individual companies nationwide. The changes will bring the CIS and MABS organisations more into line with modern public service governance guidelines and requirements where significant State funding is involved.
In 2017, CIB is set to receive State funding of €54 million, of which €15 million is allocated to CIS services (including €13.1 million to the 42 local Citizens Information Services, €1.2 million to Citizens Information Phone Services and, the balance, €0.7 million to central and other supports), and €24.6 million is allocated to the network of MABS services (including €15.4 million to the 51 local MABS, €0.3m to National Traveller MABS, €2.0 million to MABS National Development Company, €3.3million to the MABS Dedicated Mortgage Arrears initiative, €3.5 million to the Abhaile service, and the remaining €0.1m to MABS central supports).
Following on from the Board’s February decision, a Restructuring Implementation Group is being set up by CIB to examine all aspects of implementing the new sixteen (16) board model. This work will include examination of the establishment costs of the new structure and the potential for future savings derived from the reduction in the administrative burden associated with ninety three (93) individual local companies. Current costs are an aggregate of the costs incurred by each of the ninety three (93) local companies on items such as audit fees, professional fees (including legal services), payroll administration and board of director expenses. While cost is not the driver of the restructuring project, some efficiencies are likely to result from moving to a reduced sixteen (16) company model.
The aim of the project is to improve existing governance arrangements and optimise the benefits from operating a more modern, streamlined and customer focused service delivery model.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
349. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of schools that have applied for school meals funding since 2009; the number of these that have been refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16201/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to schools and organisations benefiting over 200,000 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 (almost 14% over the previous year’s allocation) which will benefit over 50,000 children. For the current academic year, 2016 / 2017, some €44 million has been allocated to schools under the scheme.
There are currently a total of 1,460 schools and organisations participating in the scheme. A breakdown of the number of schools and organisations benefitting from the scheme per year since 2009 is provided in the following tabular statement. Statistics are not maintained by the Department on the number of unsuccessful applications for the scheme.
During this period priority for new applications for funding had been given to schools which are part of the DEIS programme. From September 2016 additional funding is being provided to DEIS schools already participating in the scheme to provide breakfast and lunch to the majority of pupils. A further 21 DEIS schools have joined the scheme this academic year.
Budget 2017 funding also provides for the inclusion in the scheme, from September 2017, of up to 245 new schools and 47,000 children. This includes support to schools being brought into DEIS for the first time and the extension of the scheme to breakfast clubs in non-DEIS schools, which is the first time in many years that increased payments will be provided outside of DEIS. Priority will be provided to schools where there is most need and officials in my Department are in the process of contacting these schools inviting them to join the scheme.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Number of schools/organisations benefiting from the School Meal Programme per year
|
School Meals Local Project Scheme |
Urban School Meals Scheme |
||
|
School Year |
Schools /Organisations |
Year |
Schools |
|
2009/2010 |
1,250 |
2009 |
360 |
|
2010/2011 |
1,250 |
2010 |
320 |
|
2011/2012 |
1,190 |
2011 |
330 |
|
2012/2013 |
1,220 |
2012 |
310 |
|
2013/2014 |
1,310 |
2013 |
310 |
|
2014/2015 |
1,340 |
2014 |
330 |
|
2015/2016 |
1,350 |
2015 |
300 |
*The Urban School Meals Scheme is administered and operated by the Local Authorities with the Department of Social Protection providing funding of 50% of the food costs. Some overlap exists in relation to the schools and pupils in both schemes. For example, a school may operate a breakfast club under one scheme and a lunch club under another.
350. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated annual cost of the reinstatement of the bereavement grant; if he will consider the reinstatement of this grant in the context of the 2018 budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16221/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn recent Budgets my Department has protected primary social welfare rates. Abolishing the bereavement grant provided a significant annual saving and allowed my Department to protect other core social welfare payments such as the State pension.
The number of bereavement grant claims in 2013 was 23,716, and this represented an increase of approximately 4% on 2012. Based on a similar yearly increase each year since 2013, it is estimated that the number of bereavement grant claims that might arise in 2018, were the scheme to be re-introduced, would be in the region of 28,858, and this number would likely increase in future years. The following table sets out the estimated cost of re-introducing the grant at a rate of €850.
|
Estimate cost of introducing a Bereavement Grant in 2018 |
||
|
Amount |
Estimated number of grants to be paid |
Cost per annum |
|
€850 |
28,858 |
€24.53 million |
Any decision to reinstate the Bereavement Grant would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
It’s worth noting that there are a range of supports available for people following bereavement which provide more significant support than the grant. These include a weekly paid widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner’s (contributory and non-contributory) pensions, which are based on contributions or a means test, and a once-off widowed or surviving civil partner grant of €6,000 where there is a dependent child. A number of social welfare payments, including State pension, continue in payment for six weeks following a death. In Budget 2016, the Government increased the payment after death period to 12 weeks for carer’s allowance. Guardian payments are available where someone cares for an orphaned child. A special funeral grant of €850 is paid where a person dies because of an accident at work or occupational disease.
Additionally, the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. Under the SWA scheme, the Department of Social Protection may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off and unforeseen expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income, which may include help with funeral and burial expenses. The Government has provided €31.5 million for exceptional and urgent needs payments in 2017.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
351. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an invalidity pension application in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16232/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe gentleman referred to has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from 16 February 2017. Payment will issue to his nominated bank account on the 13 April 2017. Any arrears due from 16 February 2017 to 12 April 2017 (less any overlapping social welfare payment and/or outstanding overpayment) will issue in due course. The gentleman in question was notified of this decision on 30 March 2017.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
