Written Answers Nos 2100-2118
2100. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons that the staff in the new communities unit have booked into emergency accommodation, by month, in 2016 and to date in 2017. [28810/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware from previous PQ responses on this matter, the New Communities Unit (NCU) of the Department of Social Protection offers assistance to families who are primarily non-Irish, homeless and generally without recourse to any weekly income. The main focus of the unit is to ensure that families who are entitled an income maintenance payment receive same, under the terms of the relevant legislation. In addition, non-Irish homeless families have been referred to this unit directly by the Central Placement Service, operated on behalf of the four local authorities by Dublin City Council, and the staff in the NCU facilitated booking these people into emergency accommodation. This accommodation is sourced and funded by Dublin City Council under Section 10 of the Housing Act (1988). The practice, whereby staff in the NCU act as booking agents in such circumstances, was a residual one from when the NCU was based in the HSE.
Information in relation to the number of persons booked to emergency accommodation by the NCU was neither collated nor retained by the NCU. In facilitating the booking of people to emergency accommodation, the NCU contacted the accommodation provider directly to make the booking. Notification in relation to those persons accommodated in emergency accommodation is part of the reporting relationship between the accommodation provider and its funder; the NCU did not have a role in this.
The booking function was transferred to the Central Placement Service on the 22nd May 2017. The NCU has had no housing placement function for homeless persons from that date.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy
2103. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost of increasing the contribution to the community services programme to match the national minimum wage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28868/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Community Services Programme (CSP) provides financial support to community companies that provide revenue generating services of a social inclusion nature. Many of these companies are also funded from other sources and generate revenue from the public use of their facilities and services.
The additional programme cost involved in increasing the CSP contribution to match the minimum wage would be approximately €1.9m over a full year.
The funding provided to service providers under the CSP is expressed as a fixed annual co-funding contribution towards the costs of employing a manager or a specified number of full-time equivalent positions. The rate of CSP contribution is not aligned to the minimum wage rate of payment.
A support fund was put in place in 2016 to assist existing funded companies who are not in a position to cover the increase in the minimum wage. Funded companies were invited to apply for this fund which operates on the basis of a reducing allocation over a 3 year period between 2016 and 2018.
I understand that approximately 84% of funded companies paid their staff above the minimum wage in 2016.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
2105. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the expenditure on the free travel scheme in 2017; the estimated cost of increasing expenditure by 10%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28870/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 over 80 private transport operators. There are currently approx. 882,000 customers with direct eligibility. 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.
In order to maintain service at existing levels, and to facilitate new entrants/services to the scheme, funding to the free travel scheme was increased by €3 million in budget 2016.
The estimated expenditure on free travel in 2017 is €80 million. To increase the cost by 10% would require an additional €8 million bringing the total expenditure for the scheme up to €88 million.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
2106. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has examined the feasibility of determining eligibility for jobseeker's allowance on hours worked rather than days worked; the estimated cost of implementing same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28871/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker’s allowance schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative full-time employment. The 2017 Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseekers’ schemes of €2.5 billion.
The Department does not collect data on the number of hours a jobseeker works as this information is not necessary to make a decision on an application for a jobseeker’s payment. In this context the cost associated with moving the jobseeker's allowance scheme to an hours-based system, as outlined by the Deputy, cannot be ascertained.
It is recognised that a changing labour market has resulted in a move away from more traditional work patterns, resulting in an increase in the number of persons employed for less than a full week. However, any changes to the current criteria, such as moving to an hours based system, could result in significant numbers of additional individuals becoming eligible for a jobseeker’s payment with substantial corresponding cost implications for the Exchequer.
Both the jobseeker’s benefit and the jobseeker’s allowance schemes provide significant support to individuals so that they can work up to 3 days a week and still retain access to a reduced jobseeker’s payment. The current days based system can provide significant income supports to jobseekers who are casually employed. For instance an individual can earn a little over €19,300 per year and still retain a small jobseeker's allowance payment, while the equivalent threshold for an individual with a qualified adult is almost €33,300 if they are both working.
The ESRI published a paper in June 2015 entitled “Making Work Pay More: Recent Initiatives”. The main findings of the ESRI paper is that the majority of jobseekers have a strong financial incentive to take up employment, with almost 8 out of 10 being at least 40% better off in employment than on welfare.
If there was a change from a days based to an hours based system, the design would have to take account of earnings. Furthermore, if an hour’s based system were introduced, existing casual jobseekers could lose out if their current hours worked over three days, exceeded the new hours threshold, thereby creating a disincentive to work longer.
2107. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue in relation to an application by a person (details supplied) for a domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28878/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from this lady on the 5th April 2017. The application will be considered by a Deciding Officer and the decision notified as soon as possible. Due to the volume of applications currently being received, it is taking approximately 18 weeks to process an application for DCA at this time.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
2108. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the procedure whereby only one week's notice is given to persons on partial capacity benefit that the payment is expiring as in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28914/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraPartial Capacity Benefit (PCB) is a social welfare scheme which allows a person in receipt of either illness benefit, for at least six months, or invalidity pension, who may not have full capacity for work, to return to employment and continue to receive a payment from my Department. Payment can continue while a person has an underlying entitlement to one of these qualifying payments.
The person concerned was in receipt of PCB from 23 November 2016 until 13 June 2017, having been previously in receipt of illness benefit from 12 June 2015 until 22 November 2016. Illness benefit is payable for a maximum of two years after which a further 13 reckonable PRSI contributions must be paid to re-qualify for payment. As the underlying entitlement to illness benefit ceased on 13 June 2017, payment of PCB also stopped from this date.
Recipients of either illness benefit or PCB are generally advised about twelve weeks before their benefit ceases and are advised at that time of other benefits for which they can apply. In this instance, the person concerned was not advised of the position until 9th June 2017 due to an administrative error. My Department sincerely regrets this error.
Given the fact that the person concerned has not currently requalified for illness benefit at this time, a claim form for Invalidity Pension, (for which they may qualify) has been issued to the person concerned. Furthermore, application forms for Medical Care and Disablement Benefit have been sent, for which they may also qualify by reason of a previous Occupational Injuries Benefit claim.
Meanwhile, should the person concerned find that their means are insufficient to meet their needs, they may qualify for assistance under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme. Application for this scheme may be made to the Community Welfare Service at their local Intreo centre.
On the return of the completed application form(s) every effort will be made to have the matter expedited.
2109. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a domiciliary care allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28916/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received in respect of this child on the 2nd June 2017. The application will be considered by a Deciding Officer and the decision notified as soon as possible. Due to the volume of applications currently being received, it is taking approximately 18 weeks to process an application for DCA at this time.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
2110. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) regarding a disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28928/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for domiciliary care allowance was received in respect of this child on the 20th October 2016. This application was not allowed as the child was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for the allowance. A letter issued on the 2nd February 2017 outlining the decision of the deciding officer to refuse the allowance.
An appeal of this decision was registered on 2nd March 2017 and additional information on the child’s condition/care needs was supplied. The application will be re-examined by a deciding officer and a revised decision will be made if warranted, or alternatively, the case will be referred for consideration by the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
The person concerned will be notified of the outcome of the deciding officer’s review as soon as it is completed. Currently, such reviews are taking approximately18 weeks to complete.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
2111. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to make changes to community employment schemes to disregard the time a person has been on the scheme prior to 2010 when calculating the total time a person has spent on the scheme. [28967/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the publication of my Department’s Report - An Analysis of the Community Employment Programme – earlier in the year, the Government approved a number of changes to the terms and conditions around participation on Community Employment (CE). The main purpose of these changes is to broaden the availability of CE to a greater number of people on the live register and to standardise other conditions around the length of time a person can participate on the programme.
The changes include making it easier for previous participants who have exhausted their CE entitlement to requalify, as participation on CE prior to the year 2007 will now be disregarded (currently the year 2000 applies).
My Department has been consulting with key stakeholders throughout the country during the last month regarding the changes, the implementation of which will commence very shortly.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
2114. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff under the remit of her Department who have applied to be transferred to Department or State agency offices located outside the Dublin region in each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; the estimated average cost incurred for each staff member that relocated outside the Dublin region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29044/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that where an application is made by a staff member to transfer to another public body the details of this application are held by the receiving public body. The numbers of Department staff seeking such transfers is not therefore readily available.
In accordance with protocols agreed centrally between the Civil and Public Services Union and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform the names of Clerical Officers seeking transfer to alternative locations in their own or another Government Department are recorded on the relevant transfer list. In this regard, each Department maintains lists in respect of their own locations. The lists reflect the current position and are not maintained in a way that allows historical details to be reported. It should also be noted that a single staff member may appear on many different transfer lists, and so the total number of applications will be greater than the number of staff concerned. The Department also maintains informal transfer lists for staff at Executive Officer and Higher Executive Officer grades, but the number of applications on these lists is not readily available. The estimated average cost incurred for each staff member that relocates on foot of a transfer is not recorded but would generally only involve some potential training costs, given that the staff member is transferring to fill an existing vacancy.
The following table shows the number of applications from Clerical Officers currently recorded on the transfer lists for the Department’s offices outside Dublin. Transfers are deemed to be voluntary moves which do not attract payment of any removal or travel expenses.
Number of applications from Clerical Officers seeking a transfer to offices of the Department of Social Protection offices which are outside Dublin
|
Location |
No. of applicants |
Location |
No. of applicants |
|
|
Achill |
147 |
Kilkenny |
54 |
|
|
Arklow |
29 |
Killarney |
25 |
|
|
Athlone |
74 |
Kilrush |
2 |
|
|
Athy |
9 |
Letterkenny |
47 |
|
|
Ballina |
238 |
Limerick |
12 |
|
|
Ballinasloe |
215 |
Listowel |
20 |
|
|
Bandon |
8 |
Longford |
8 |
|
|
Bantry |
12 |
Loughrea |
24 |
|
|
Belmullet |
147 |
Lucan |
4 |
|
|
Birr |
6 |
Malahide |
2 |
|
|
Bray |
9 |
Mallow |
142 |
|
|
Buncrana |
2 |
Manorhamilton |
69 |
|
|
Cahirciveen |
21 |
Monaghan |
81 |
|
|
Carlow |
63 |
Mullingar |
125 |
|
|
Carrick-on-Suir |
3 |
Naas |
14 |
|
|
Carrigaline |
13 |
Navan |
43 |
|
|
Castlebar |
246 |
Nenagh |
111 |
|
|
Cavan |
29 |
New Ross |
2 |
|
|
Carrick-on-Shannon |
54 |
Newbridge |
49 |
|
|
Clifden |
26 |
Newcastlewest |
44 |
|
|
Clonakilty |
9 |
Portlaoise |
146 |
|
|
Clonmel |
31 |
Roscommon |
191 |
|
|
Cobh |
44 |
Skibbereen |
9 |
|
|
Cork |
14 |
Sligo |
26 |
|
|
Donegal Town |
93 |
Templemore |
3 |
|
|
Drogheda |
79 |
Thurles |
58 |
|
|
Dundalk |
15 |
Tipperary |
11 |
|
|
Dunfanaghy |
75 |
Tralee |
52 |
|
|
Dungarvan |
3 |
Trim |
5 |
|
|
Dungloe |
103 |
Tuam |
8 |
|
|
Edenderry |
12 |
Tubbercurry |
10 |
|
|
Ennis |
84 |
Tullamore |
101 |
|
|
Enniscorthy |
118 |
Waterford |
8 |
|
|
Fermoy |
9 |
Westport |
148 |
|
|
Galway |
38 |
Wexford |
25 |
|
|
Kells |
3 |
Wicklow |
8 |
|
|
Kenmare |
50 |
Youghal |
6 |
2115. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to honour the commitment given by her predecessor concerning the review of part-time and seasonal workers' entitlements to social protection payments in view of the delay in issuing the report which was due in March or April 2017 but has yet to be published; when same will be made available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29065/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn Taoiseach, in his previous role as Minister for Social Protection, gave a commitment at Dáil report stage of the Social Welfare Bill 2016 that he would ask his officials to examine the issue of jobseeker’s benefit and the treatment of part-time and seasonal workers, including those categorised as having subsidiary employment. As a result, my Department is currently undertaking a report in relation to the subsidiary employment daily earnings limit of €12.70 and to the duration of jobseeker’s benefit.
My intention is to present these reports to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection for its consideration shortly. I am committed to producing the reports as quickly as possible so that they can inform Budget 2018 discussions.
2116. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the rate of fuel allowance by €6.50 which would restore purchasing power parity of 2010 levels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29106/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe fuel allowance is a payment of €22.50 per week for 26 weeks from October to April, to low income households, at an estimated cost of €229 million in 2017. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only one allowance is paid per household.
My Department also pays the household benefits package at an estimated cost of €232 million in 2017. €177 million of this cost relates to the electricity or gas allowance element of the household benefits package.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, exceptional needs payments may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which customers are unable to meet out of their own resources – this may include exceptional heating costs.
Given the 2017 estimated cost of fuel allowance is €229 million based on a weekly fuel allowance rate of €22.50, the estimated cost of increasing the fuel allowance by €6.50 a week to €29.00 per week would be expected to be over €66 million.
This would amount to an increase of 28.9% on the current rate which was most recently increased last year by 12.5%. I am advised that CPI inflation in the 7 years between May 2010 and May 2017 (the most recent figures available) has amounted to 5.2%.
Any decision to increase the fuel allowance payment would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
The best way to tackle fuel poverty in the long term is to improve the energy efficiency of the dwelling. My Department works closely with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment on these issues and in moving forward the actions agreed in the Energy Affordability Strategy. In that regard, the Better Energy Homes scheme provides support towards the installation of attic and wall insulation, and heating system upgrades.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
