Written Answers Nos. 240-251
240. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection if a family income supplement payment has been suspended from any person for engaging in industrial action since the introduction of the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16945/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no provision in social welfare legislation which allows for the suspension or termination of FIS in the event that the recipient is involved in industrial action. However, the existence of erroneous information on this topic on a subpage of the Department’s website, based on a misinterpretation of secondary legislation, recently came to light.
The Department took immediate steps to remove this erroneous information when it was discovered.
While there was no formal procedure in place for staff to proactively review FIS recipients who may have been involved in trade disputes, my Department recently reviewed available records dating back ten years and can confirm that, from 2007 to date, no FIS recipient has had their payment suspended due to their being involved in an industrial dispute.
The Department is of the view that it is unlikely that anyone has had their FIS payment suspended for this reason but will continue to review available pre-2007 records.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
241. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the average waiting time for a decision on an appeal for social protection payments paid on a weekly basis in cases where there is no oral hearing and in cases where there is an oral hearing in 2017; the number of persons awaiting a decision in each instance, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16960/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe average appeal processing times to date in 2017 for social protection payments which are paid on a weekly basis, broken down by oral hearing and summary decision, are set out in the following table. In addition, a table showing the number of appeals relating to those schemes which are currently on hand is also provided.
Appeal processing times are kept under constant scrutiny by the Chief Appeals Officer and significant effort and resources have been devoted in recent years to reducing the length of time taken to finalise an appeal. This has resulted in a marked improvement in processing times.
The overall average processing time, across all schemes, for appeals requiring an oral hearing reduced from 52.5 weeks in 2011 to 25.5 weeks in 2015, 24.1 weeks in 2016 and 24.5 weeks to date in 2017. The overall average time taken to finalise appeals decided by way of a summary decision has also improved in recent years from a peak of 25.1 weeks in 2011 to 18.1 weeks in 2015, 17.6 weeks in 2016 and 18.3 weeks to date in 2017.
The quasi-judicial nature of the appeals system means that there are inevitable time-lags involved. However the system is designed to be flexible and fair and allows for review and submission of further information at all stages. The time taken is proportionate to the complexity of many of the issues under appeal which require a high level of judgment, and the need to ensure due process and natural justice.
The Chief Appeals Officer has advised me that appeal processing times will continue to be a priority for her office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Appeal processing times for Social Protection payments paid on a weekly basis
1 January 2017- 31 March 2017
|
Average processing times (weeks) Summary Decisions |
Average processing times (weeks) Oral Hearings |
|
|
Blind Person’s Pension |
16.2 |
30.1 |
|
Carers Allowance |
19.4 |
22.3 |
|
Carers Benefit |
16.3 |
21.1 |
|
Disability Allowance |
15.3 |
20.9 |
|
Illness Benefit |
23.8 |
30.4 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
40.9 |
35.4 |
|
Deserted Wife’s Benefit |
- |
13.7 |
|
Farm Assist |
18.8 |
21.4 |
|
Family Income Supplement |
17.5 |
43.8 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
32.4 |
22.1 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
17.2 |
- |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
23.7 |
30.5 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
27.5 |
39.3 |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
22.2 |
37.0 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
14.1 |
32.4 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
54.2 |
56.9 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Con) |
19.1 |
19.1 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-Con) |
12.9 |
- |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance (Means) |
16.2 |
25.4 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
16.1 |
24.1 |
|
BTW Family Dividend |
19.0 |
- |
|
Jobseeker's Transitional |
11.5 |
38.8 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
16.5 |
18.1 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
20.6 |
24.1 |
|
Survivor's Pension (Con) |
17.8 |
21.6 |
|
Survivor's Pension (Non-con) |
28.5 |
17.7 |
Appeals on hand for Social Protection payments paid on a weekly basis
1 January 2017- 31 March 2017
|
Appeals on hand |
|
|
Blind Pension |
4 |
|
Carers Allowance |
1,455 |
|
Carers Benefit |
31 |
|
Disability Allowance |
1,911 |
|
Illness Benefit |
212 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
23 |
|
Deserted Wives Benefit |
2 |
|
Farm Assist |
89 |
|
Family Income Supplement |
278 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
404 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
32 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
151 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
3 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
238 |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
180 |
|
State Pension (Transition) |
2 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
18 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
3 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Con) |
12 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-Con) |
6 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance (Means) |
789 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
776 |
|
BTW Family Dividend |
22 |
|
Jobseeker's Transitional |
22 |
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance |
2 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
229 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
621 |
|
Survivor's Pension (Con) |
15 |
|
Survivor's Pension (Non-con) |
14 |
242. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons awaiting a decision on their entitlement to social welfare payments and the average waiting time for an initial decision to be made, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16961/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested (where available) by the Deputy is detailed in the following table.
Social Welfare claims by average waiting times and number of claims pending 28 February 2017
|
Scheme |
Average Waiting time (weeks) |
Claims Pending |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
1 |
2,847 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
2 |
6,795 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
6 |
1,117 |
|
State Pension Contributory |
5 |
4,260 |
|
Widow’s, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pension |
1 |
316 |
|
Widowed Parent Grant |
1 |
17 |
|
Living Alone/Island Allowances |
N/a |
488 |
|
State Pension Non-Contributory |
N/a |
2,108 |
|
Household Benefits |
1 |
2,350 |
|
Free Travel |
2 |
13 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
15 |
2,148 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
1 |
3,443 |
|
Child Benefit (Domestic & FRA) |
3 |
1,670 |
|
Child Benefit (EU Regulation) |
31 |
1,100 |
|
Treatment Benefit |
N/a |
26,748 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
N/a |
4,813 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
N/a |
1,695 |
|
Family Income Supplement (New) |
3 |
2,921 |
|
Family Income Supplement (Renew) |
N/a |
1,047 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
N/a |
3,468 |
|
Carer’s Benefit |
N/a |
439 |
|
Disability Allowance |
N/a |
5,828 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
N/a |
1,966 |
|
Illness Benefit |
N/a |
5,020 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
N/a |
127 |
243. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of private investigation firms hired by statutory agencies and or semi-State bodies under the aegis of his Department in the past five years to date in 2017; the names of the firms; the amount they were paid; if they supplied his Department with a report on completion of their work; if he will provide copies of reports submitted to him from these firms as a result of his engagement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16990/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised that no private investigation firms have been hired by statutory agencies or semi-states, under the aegis of my Department, in the past five years to date in 2017.
244. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is a senior official with designated responsibility for Brexit matters in his Department; if so, the grade of the designated official; the funding allocated to the said Brexit unit; the cost to date; the anticipated cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17008/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra245. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff deployed full time in his Department in respect of Brexit; if there is a designated section or unit to deal with Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17024/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 244 and 245 together.
The Department’s EU and International section [including Irish-UK Relations] is led by an Assistant Secretary. The Irish-UK Relations unit has, at present, three additional staff assigned to it, two Assistant Principals and one Executive Officer on a four-day per week basis due to worksharing.
In addition to the salary costs for the three extra staff referenced above, additional budgetary resources have been assigned to this unit under the Department’s Administrative Budget to cover travel and subsistence and the cost, where necessary, of facilitating the Department’s Brexit consultative process with key stakeholders. Both staffing and funding requirements are being kept under continuous review.
More generally, the Management Board of the Department of Social Protection has been fully engaged with the social protection implications of the vote by the UK to leave the EU and, indeed, the earlier negotiations on the UK’s relationship with the EU; a sub-group of the Management Board is in place and the Board also receives regular updates on the key developments relating to Brexit.
246. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated annual cost of increasing disability allowance in line with inflation plus €4 in each of the years 2018 to 2022. [17027/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra247. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing disability allowance by €20 and index linking it to inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17063/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 247 together.
The Department of Finance’s 2017 Budget Day book provides forecasts for inflation for the five years 2017 to 2021 inclusive. The projected inflation for 2018 as measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) is 1.8% and 1.9% for the years 2019 to 2021, inclusive. A projection for 2022 is not available.
The following tables outline the rate increases by year and associated costs. These costings are based on 2017 recipient numbers and do not take into account changing trends in recipient numbers from 2018 onwards. In addition, the costs are based on increases to the personal rate of disability allowance (DA) only, currently €193 per week.
Table 1: Increase personal weekly rate of disability allowance by HICP inflation plus €4 each year
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
|
Total rate increase (inflation plus €4 each year) |
€7.50 |
€7.80 |
€8.00 |
€8.10 |
|
Weekly rate of DA (2017 = €193.00) |
€200.50 |
€208.30 |
€216.30 |
€224.40 |
|
Full year cost of increase (€m) |
49.9 |
51.8 |
53.1 |
53.8 |
Table 2: Increase personal weekly rate of disability allowance by €20 and inflation
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
|
Total rate increase |
€23.80 |
€4.10 |
€4.20 |
€4.20 |
|
Weekly rate of DA (2017 = €193.00) |
€216.80 |
€220.90 |
€225.10 |
€229.40 |
|
Full year cost of increase (€m) |
158.0 |
27.2 |
27.9 |
27.9 |
There is an analogous social insurance payment, Invalidity Pension (€198.50 per week), which is paid to people who are permanently incapable of work (subject to satisfying the relevant medical criteria and a minimum number of paid qualifying PRSI contributions). Each €1 increase in the weekly rate of Invalidity Pension would cost €2.9 million in a full year.
In addition, Blind pension is available for those aged 18 to 66 who are blind or visually impaired. The cost of a €1 weekly personal increase in the Blind Pension is €0.07 million in 2017 and a full year.
It should be noted that (i) in the event of the Disability Allowance weekly rate exceeding the Invalidity Pension rate, some Invalidity pensioners (number not determinable) would transfer to the means tested Disability Allowance scheme to avail of the higher rate on that scheme; (ii) the costs shown above do not include the cost of proportionate increases for qualified adults; (iii) any additional costs which might arise as some persons in receipt of other welfare schemes might potentially apply for and qualify for Disability Allowance thereby also benefitting from a higher rate of payment than that which applies to their current scheme or (iv) offsetting savings on the Rent Supplement scheme as the additional weekly increase would reduce the level of entitlement under that scheme.
248. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a carer’s allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17122/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that my Department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 10 January 2017.
The application was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 20 March 2017 to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied. Once the SWI has reported, a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
249. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there has been progress in negotiating with the Crown Estates about Lough Swilly to provide for the regulation of aquaculture in the lough; if he will expedite a conclusion to the negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16883/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile I do not have lead responsibility for the Loughs Agency or aquaculture I am very conscious of the current difficulties arising from unlicensed activity in Lough Foyle.
Following discussions in 2011 between the then Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the British Foreign Secretary, the British and Irish Governments agreed to seek to address and resolve jurisdictional issues relating to both Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough.
Since that time a series of meetings have taken place at official level between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and my own Department, the most recent of which was in February this year. The issues involved are complex and involve a range of different actors, including the Crown Estates, but I am satisfied that progress is being made and that all sides are committed to reaching a positive resolution as soon as possible.
250. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) in the West Bank city of Hebron, who has been engaged in non-violent activities against the Israeli occupation for over a decade; and if he will raise the case with his Israeli counterpart. [16970/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the case in question. Irish representatives have discussed the case with this person, and attended his most recent court hearing, along with other EU colleagues. It is my understanding that he wishes his case to proceed to a full trial in order to demonstrate injustices in the system applied to Palestinian activists like himself.
More broadly, the increasing use of legal measures to hinder and prevent peaceful protests against occupation policies is a matter of growing concern, which we have raised both in EU level discussions and directly with Israeli authorities.
251. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied), the leader of the non-violent Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, was arrested by the Israeli authorities only days before travelling to the USA to receive the Gandhi Peace Award; that his arrest includes a travel ban (details supplied); and if he will raise this case with the Israeli authorities. [16971/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe difficulties experienced by this person have been discussed on a number of occasions here in the Dáil, and the European Union has previously made representations on his behalf with the Israeli authorities.
On this occasion he has been arrested on suspicion of tax evasion, and it is a condition of his bail that he remain in the country.
There is growing concern about the increasing use of political and legal pressure in Israel to hinder the work of activists and NGOs who are critical of occupation policies, and in particular advocates of BDS. However, I have no basis on which to query the accusation made in this case. My Department will nonetheless remain alert to the case as it proceeds.
