Tuesday, 20 Jun 2017

Written Answers Nos 2021-2041

Invalidity Pension Eligibility

Ceisteanna (2021)

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

2021. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe for the self-employed to be able to make claims for invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27388/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

Self-employed workers will be eligible for invalidity pension from December 2017. This is a major reform as, for the first time, self-employed people will have access to the safety-net of State income supports, without having to go through a means test, if they become permanently incapable of work as a result of an illness or disability.

Furthermore, since March 2017, self-employed people have access to the treatment benefit scheme which includes free eye and dental exams, and contributions towards the cost of hearings aids. It is estimated that some 450,000 self-employed contributors including their dependant spouses will be eligible for treatment benefit for the first time as a result of this change.

Treatment benefit entitlements will also be extended from October 2017 to provide further dental and optical benefits for both the self-employed and employees. Over 3 million insured customers, including their adult dependants, will benefit from these additional benefits.

Disability Allowance Appeals

Ceisteanna (2022)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

2022. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) of a decision to refuse a disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27398/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 17 February 2017. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 19 May 2017 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Appeals

Ceisteanna (2023)

Anne Rabbitte

Ceist:

2023. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason persons (details supplied) have not received a result to date regarding their jobseeker's allowance application. [27413/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeals from the persons concerned were referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to convene an oral hearing in both cases.

Every effort will be made to hear the cases as quickly as possible and the persons concerned will be informed shortly of the arrangements for the oral hearing.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Dietary Allowance Administration

Ceisteanna (2024)

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

2024. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to reinstate dietary supplements for persons with coeliac disease and throat cancer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27416/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

Diet supplement, administered under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, is payable to qualifying persons, in receipt of the supplement prior to February 2014, who have been prescribed a special diet as a result of a specified medical condition. There are currently over 3,100 persons in receipt of the diet supplement at a cost of €4.6 million in 2017.

Following the outcome of a review of the costs of healthy eating and specialised diets by the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute commissioned by the Department during 2013, the scheme has been closed to new applicants from 1 February 2014. This independent research showed that the average costs across all of the retail outlets of the diets supplemented under the scheme can be met from within one third of the minimum personal rate of social welfare payment, i.e. the SWA rate which was then paid at €186 per week. The weekly rate of SWA has recently increased to €191 further to Budget 2017. The diet supplement scheme was discontinued for new applicants on the basis of this evidence and I have no plans to reverse this decision.

Existing recipients continue to receive the diet supplement at the current rate of payment for as long as they continue to have an entitlement to the scheme or until their circumstances change. This measure ensured that nobody was immediately worse off by the closure of the scheme.

In cases of particular hardship, officials continue to have the legislative power to award a SWA payment in cases of exceptional need. Any person who considers that they may have an entitlement to financial support should contact their local Community Welfare Service who may be able to offer assistance.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme

Ceisteanna (2025, 2077, 2118, 2134)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

2025. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to increase the back to school clothing and footwear allowance; the estimated amount a 50% increase in both the primary school payment of €100 and the secondary school payment of €200 would cost the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27427/17]

John Brady

Ceist:

2077. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the full year estimated cost of restoring the back to school clothing and footwear allowance to the 2011 levels of €305 for children over 12 years of age and to €200 for those under 12 years of age. [28513/17]

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

2118. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider restoring the back to school clothing and footwear allowance to the 2011 level of €305 for children over 12 years of age and €200 for children under 12 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29108/17]

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

2134. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the back to school clothing and footwear allowance for under 12s to €200 back to 2011 levels and to €305 for over 12s; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28990/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2025, 2077, 2118 and 2134 together.

The back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn. The allowance will be paid from mid-July to allow parents sufficient time to prepare for back to school.

The rates of the payment for the 2017 scheme are being increased from €100 to €125 for children aged 4 to 11 and from €200 to €250 for children aged 12 years and over. This brings the total allocation for the allowance this year to €47.4 million, an increase of €10 million on what was originally proposed for 2017.

A 50% increase in the 2016 rates would bring the rates to €150 for children aged 4 to 11 and to €300 for children aged 12 years and over. The annual cost to increase the payments to €150 and €300 from the recently announced 2017 rates would be €10 million over and above the €47.4 million now allocated to the scheme for 2017.

On the same basis, the additional cost of restoring the rates to the 2011 levels, i.e. to €200 for children aged 4 to 11 and to €305 for children aged 12 years and older, would be an additional €18.9 million over and above the €47.4 million now allocated to the scheme for 2017.

In addition to the increases in the rates for 2017, the household income limits for the scheme have also been increased to ensure that increases in social welfare announced in Budget 2017 will not affect people’s entitlement to the allowance.

Any further changes to the rates of the allowance would have to be considered within a budgetary context and the scope of the overall resources available for welfare improvements.

The Deputies may be aware that my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, has recently published a new circular on the measures to be adopted by schools to reduce the cost of school uniforms and other costs, as part of a range of measures to take greater account of the needs of parents and students in the school system.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.

Departmental Contracts

Ceisteanna (2026)

Mick Wallace

Ceist:

2026. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Social Protection the contracts awarded to a company (details supplied) per annum since March 2011, in tabular form by her Department or any agency or body under the aegis of her Department; the cost per contract; the basis for each contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27456/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The information requested is currently being compiled within my Department and will be made available to the Deputy as soon as possible.

The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.

Bereavement Grant

Ceisteanna (2027)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

2027. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to restore the bereavement grant; the estimated annual cost of restoring this grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27460/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

In 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. If there were 28,858 such grants made in 2018, at a rate of €850 each, the cost would be €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 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.

Free Travel Scheme

Ceisteanna (2028)

Imelda Munster

Ceist:

2028. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to increase funding for the free travel pass in 2018. [27478/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The current free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by almost 80 private transport operators. There are currently approximately 882,000 customers with direct eligibility to free travel with an annual allocation of €80 million. The scheme is available to all people aged over 66 living permanently in the State. To qualify for the scheme, applicants who are under age 66 must be in receipt of a qualifying payment. These are invalidity pension, blind pension, disability allowance, carer’s allowance or an equivalent social security payment from a country covered by EC Regulations or one with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement.

Allocation of funding for the free travel scheme is dependent on a number of factors, including the number of people in receipt of qualifying benefits, the number of participating companies and routes, and fare levels. Other factors that can affect the overall cost include the number of operators who participate in the scheme and potential future fare increases by those operators.

Consequently, the funding for the subsequent 12 months is agreed in the context of the Budget process each year and as such no decision has been made yet to increase funding to the free travel scheme.

My Department is now in a process with Department of Transport and the National Transport Authority with a view to determining appropriate funding arrangements for the scheme but the amount of funding made available for the scheme in any year is still ultimately a matter for Government to decide.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Pension Provisions

Ceisteanna (2029, 2030, 2031)

Mary Butler

Ceist:

2029. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Social Protection if the former workers of a company (details supplied) have been written to; when they can expect their payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27532/17]

Mary Butler

Ceist:

2030. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are outstanding issues relating to the pension schemes of a company (details supplied) to which former employees may still have a claim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27533/17]

Mary Butler

Ceist:

2031. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to former members of a company (details supplied) who still have claims outstanding relating to their pension entitlements under pension schemes. [27534/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2029 to 2031, inclusive, together.

The mediated agreement for former Waterford Crystal workers, covers members of the Waterford Crystal Limited Contributory Pension Plan for Staff and the Waterford Crystal Limited Contributory Pension Scheme for Factory Employees, and provides for the payment of –

(a) a tax-free once-off lump sum of €1,200 for every year of pension scheme service (not company service), not exceeding 40 years, plus

(b) payment of monies in respect of pension scheme service which is payable from the normal retirement date of the scheme members (on a fortnightly basis).

During the mediated process, which was facilitated by Mr. Kieran Mulvey, it was agreed by the parties that disputes in relation to individual cases would be referred to an independent dispute resolution process.

I understand that the dispute resolution officer concerned has already sent a final determination to the majority of members who made appeals in relation to contract service and pre-91 service and intends to write to the other remaining appellants shortly. My Department subsequently issued letters to those who were awarded ex-gratia payments in relation to contract service. In respect of this group, payments will be made before the end of the month for those who have returned the necessary documentation and in respect of whom all necessary legal matters have been completed.

Former workers who left the service of Waterford Crystal in the early 1990s received their full pension entitlements in relation to pre-1991 service under the schemes at that point. The payments made at that time were in full and final settlement of their entitlements under the schemes and were paid in accordance with Pension Regulations then in force. There are no settlements or payments due under the mediated settlement in respect of pre-1991 service.

The finalisation of all aspects of the mediated agreement is a matter of priority, both for me and for the Department. I can assure the Deputy that every effort is being made to progress payments as quickly as possible.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Carer's Allowance Applications

Ceisteanna (2032)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

2032. 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 she will make a statement on the matter. [27543/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 15 February 2017.

The application was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 6 May 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.

Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications

Ceisteanna (2033)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

2033. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for domiciliary allowance will be expedited for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27544/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from this lady on the 31st May 2017. The application will be considered by a Deciding Officer and the decision notified as soon as possible. Applications are processed in date of receipt order. Due to the volume of applications currently being received, it can take up to 18 weeks to process an application for DCA at this time.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Appeals Data

Ceisteanna (2034, 2035)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

2034. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current waiting time for domiciliary care allowance appeals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27687/17]

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

2035. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current waiting time for all social welfare appeals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27688/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2034 and 2035 together.

The current processing times for all social welfare appeals, including domiciliary care allowance appeals, are outlined in the following table below.

The time taken to process an appeal reflects all aspects of the appeal process including the time spent in the Department preparing the appeal submission. The quasi-judicial nature of the system impacts on appeal processing times which are proportionate to the complexity of many of the issues under appeal which often require a high level of judgement, in addition to the need to ensure due process and natural justice.

Overall appeal processing times peaked in 2011/2012 and have improved year on year since then. For example, the average time taken to determine an appeal requiring an oral hearing reduced from 52.5 weeks in 2011 to 28.6 weeks in 2014, 25.5 weeks in 2015 and 24.1 weeks in 2016. The average time taken to finalise an appeal decided by way of a summary decision reduced from 25.1 weeks in 2011 to 21.1 weeks in 2014, 18.1 weeks in 2015 and 17.6 weeks in 2016.

Notwithstanding these improvements, the Chief Appeals Officer has advised me that appeal processing times will continue to be a priority for her office and will continue to be monitored on an ongoing basis.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Appeal processing times by Scheme 01 January 2017- 31 May 2017

	Average processing times (weeks) Summary Decisions	Average processing times (weeks) Oral Hearings
Blind Person’s Pension	16.2	30.1
Carers Allowance	20.5	22.8
Carers Benefit	16.3	21.3
Child Benefit	20.5	26.6
Disability Allowance	16.3	21.2
Illness Benefit	27.5	31.0
Partial Capacity Benefit	38.8	29.6
Domiciliary Care Allowance	24.1	30.4
Deserted Wifes Benefit	-	13.7
Farm Assist	22.9	23.3
Bereavement Grant	15.1	-
Death Benefit (Pension)	102.1	-
Family Income Supplement	16.2	29.2
Invalidity Pension	15.8	20.3
Liable Relatives	18.0	24.1
Maternity Benefit	16.8	19.4
One Parent Family Payment	24.4	31.0
State Pension (Contributory)	24.9	37.3
State Pension (Non-Contributory)	21.6	34.3
State Pension (Transition)	-	81.4
Occupational Injury Benefit	14.5	28.4
Disablement Pension	19.7	27.3
Incapacity Supplement	54.2	51.5
Guardian's Payment (Con)	26.0	21.5
Guardian's Payment (Non-Con)	12.9	-
Jobseeker's Allowance (Means)	16.3	24.6
Jobseeker's Allowance	15.7	24.3
BTW Family Dividend	17.7	41.1
Jobseeker's Transitional	13.7	29.4
Recoverable Benefits & Assistance	30.1	-
Jobseeker's Benefit	15.6	17.9
Carer’s Support Grant *	17.0	23.0
Treatment Benefit	14.0	-
Insurability of Employment	34.8	95.2
Supplementary Welfare Allowance	17.1	23.8
Survivor's Pension (Con)	21.8	35.6
Survivor's Pension (Non-con)	18.2	20.6
Widowed Parent Grant	14.1	-
All Appeals	18.2	24.8

* Previously called Respite Care Grant

Social Welfare Benefits

Ceisteanna (2036)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

2036. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the full year cost of increasing the 85% Christmas welfare bonus to 100%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27689/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The Christmas Bonus was abolished in 2009, partially reintroduced in 2014 with the payment of a 25% Bonus, and increased to a 75% Bonus payment in 2015. Last December, an 85% Bonus was paid to some 1.2 million long-term social welfare recipients, including pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and the long-term unemployed, in recognition of their financial dependence on their social welfare payments for all or most of their income.

The 85% Bonus paid last year cost €221 million. The cost of a 100% Bonus is estimated to cost approximately €267 million in 2017. It should be noted that this cost is subject to change over the coming months in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for December 2017.

There is no provision in the 2017 Revised Estimates for the payment of a Christmas Bonus. Any decision taken regarding the payment of a Bonus in 2017 will have to be consistent with the legal requirements set out in the Fiscal Responsibility Acts 2012 and 2013, and within the context of achieving the targets set for Ireland by the EU rules.

Departmental Expenditure

Ceisteanna (2037)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

2037. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount her Department or a body under its aegis has paid to a company (details supplied) for advice, the use of intellectual property and other services. [27715/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

A total of €1,785.00 was paid by my Department to the consultancy firm in question during the period 2000 – 2001. No payments have been made by my Department to this firm since then.

The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of my Department are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council, the Pensions Ombudsman and the Social Welfare Tribunal. No payments have been made by any of these bodies to the consultancy firm in question.

Social Welfare Appeals Status

Ceisteanna (2038)

Michael Ring

Ceist:

2038. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection when an appeal by a person (details supplied) will be finalised in view of the fact that it was lodged on 11 January 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27789/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Payments Waiting Times

Ceisteanna (2039)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

2039. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the processing times for social protection payment applications (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27839/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the following table.

Processing Times at 31 May 2017 – average time to award

Schemes	Average time to award (weeks)
Jobseeker's Benefit	1
Jobseeker's Allowance	2
State Pension Contributory (Dom)	5
State Pension Non-Contributory	11*
Domiciliary Care Allowance	18
Carer's Allowance	13
Carer's Benefit	7
Disability Allowance	12
Invalidity Pension	7

*As at end April 2017

Appointments to State Boards

Ceisteanna (2040)

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

2040. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection if any former Deputies have been appointed to State boards under her remit by the Public Appointments Service; if so, the names and positions of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28219/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

I understand that the Deputy’s question relates to the period 1 November 2014 to date. The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of my Department are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council, the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a board) and the Social Welfare Tribunal.

Under the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards (November 2014), appointments to State Boards are advertised on www.stateboards.ie which is operated by the Public Appointments Service. I can confirm that no former TDs have been appointed through this process to the Boards of any of these statutory bodies during the period in question.

Labour Activation Programmes

Ceisteanna (2041)

Eamon Scanlon

Ceist:

2041. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 35 of 31 May 2017, the details of the exceptional cases referred to by which a person could move from JobPath to a community employment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27955/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

Further to parliamentary question number 35 of 31 May 2017, I wish to reiterate the aim of the JobPath service, which is provided for jobseekers only, is to assist them in finding sustainable full time paid employment whereas the Community Employment schemes provide part-time work experience and training 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.

Customers who are already participating with the JobPath service will not be referred to Community Employment Schemes as they can only participate with one activation scheme or service at a time.

However, customers who on the date of their referral to JobPath have a written offer with a start date within four weeks for CE, TÚS or Gateway will be facilitated to take up the placement. Additionally, customers who have been referred to a CE Scheme specifically for rehabilitation purposes and have a letter of recommendation from either a HSE relevant addiction service or other relevant statutory, community based or voluntary drugs support service within the last year may commence on that CE Scheme irrespective of their referral date to JobPath.

Finally, in a small number of exceptional cases, which are assessed on a case by case basis, taking into account the unique circumstances exceptional to the above which an individual customer may present with, my Department may facilitate a customer to commence on a CE scheme irrespective of their referral date, upon the recommendation of a senior official in the customer’s Intreo Office.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.