Written Answers Nos 2119-2134
2119. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will reverse the decision to means test income derived from part-time work for those in receipt of the back to education allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29112/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Back to Education Allowance Scheme (BTEA) is designed to support second chance education. It enables eligible persons to pursue approved education courses and to continue to receive income support for the duration of a course of study, subject to meeting certain conditions.
The BTEA is not intended as an alternative form of funding for people entering or re-entering the third-level education system. The Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) Grant, payable by the Department of Education and Skills, represents the primary support for persons pursuing education. The eligibility rules that govern the payment of a student maintenance grant are a matter for that Department.
To qualify for BTEA, a person must be in receipt of one of the following social welfare payments for a minimum period - 3 months if pursuing a second level course, or 9 months if pursuing a third level course.
- Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit;
- One-parent Family Payment;
- Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension;
- Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pension;
- Disability Allowance;
- Carer’s Allowance
- Deserted Wife’s Benefit or Allowance;
- Blind Pension;
- Invalidity Pension;
- Illness Benefit (2 years) for both second and third level courses;
- Incapacity Supplement (based on a life Disablement Pension).
From the start of 2016/17 academic year, all new BTEA participants who engage in part-time work while on the Allowance are being means assessed in accordance with the primary payment. This measure was introduced to ensure equity, from a means perspective, between BTEA recipients and recipients of the primary payment upon which their entitlement to the Allowance is based. I have no plans to change these procedures.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
2122. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address the anomaly by which lone parents in receipt of rent supplement and the one parent family payment or jobseeker's transition payment that want to take up education or training are not eligible for SUSI maintenance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29116/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Back to Education Allowance Scheme (BTEA), operated by my Department, is designed to support second-chance education. It enables eligible persons to pursue approved education courses and to continue to receive income support for the duration of a course of study, subject to meeting certain conditions.
The BTEA is not intended to be an alternative form of funding for people entering or re-entering the third-level education system. The Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) Grant, payable by the Department of Education and Skills, represents the primary support for persons pursuing education. The eligibility rules that govern the payment of a student maintenance grant are a matter for that Department.
The Deputy should note that applicants approved for BTEA (or VTOS for those pursuing post-leaving certificate courses) are not eligible for the student support grants operated by SUSI. BTEA participants are, however, eligible for support to offset the cost of the student registration fee, including other fees payable to access courses, if the BTEA participant satisfies the eligibility criteria for both.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
2125. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection further to an article (details supplied), if the right to full social welfare payments while residing in direct provision will also be granted to other nationalities with status; if not, if her attention has been drawn to the fact that this could be classified as discrimination within the asylum process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28549/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe decision of the Social Welfare Appeals Office is being examined in the Department to determine, among other things, if it has wider application. Once this examination is complete the Department will arrange to implement the necessary changes, if any, to arrangements in respect of other refuges with status.
2126. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social Protection the first and full-year cost of increasing paid maternity leave by one week to 16 weeks, respectively. [28590/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe estimated additional cost of extending the duration of maternity benefit is approximately €10 million for each extra week. The following table estimates the additional cost of increasing the duration of maternity benefit above its current 26 week duration at the current weekly rate of €235.
These estimates are based on the cost for a full year and assume that any increase in duration is implemented from the beginning of the year. The cost for the first year would depend on the implementation date that the increase in duration would take effect. This cost would be proportional to the full year cost.
Estimated annual cost of increasing the duration of maternity benefit based on 2017 rates
|
No. of additional weeks |
Estimated cost (€m) |
|
1 |
10 |
|
2 |
20 |
|
3 |
30 |
|
4 |
40 |
|
5 |
50 |
|
6 |
60 |
|
7 |
70 |
|
8 |
80 |
|
9 |
90 |
|
10 |
100 |
|
11 |
110 |
|
12 |
120 |
|
13 |
130 |
|
14 |
140 |
|
15 |
150 |
|
16 |
160 |
It should be noted that this costing is subject to change over the coming months in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2017. It should also be noted that there are also costs to the Exchequer as these estimates do not include the costs of salary top-ups for public/civil servants.
2127. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social Protection the first and full year cost of increasing paid paternity leave by one week to 16 weeks, respectively. [28591/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016 which was enacted in July 2016 introduced a new scheme of paternity leave and an associated social welfare payment of paternity benefit from the 1st September 2016.
Approximately 12,750 paternity benefit claims have been awarded since the commencement of the scheme in September. This would indicate a take up of around approximately 19,000 in a full year. However there were approximately 7,500 paternity benefit claims awarded in the first four months of this year. This would indicate a take up of approximately 22,500 in a full year. However neither figure takes account of the fact that fathers can take their paternity leave up to 6 months after their child is born. For example, fathers whose child was born on the 28th February 2017 can take their leave at any time up to 1st September 2017. As such, current figures for paternity benefit claims awarded do not include fathers who will apply and take their leave in the remaining months available to them.
Given the flexibility afforded to fathers and the scheme cycle it will be 18 months from the commencement of the scheme before the Department will have an accurate figure for the take-up of paternity benefit in a full year. The estimates below are based on this proviso.
The estimated additional cost of extending the duration of paternity benefit is approximately €5.5 million for each extra week. The following table estimates the additional cost of increasing the duration of paternity benefit above its current 2 week duration at the current weekly rate of €235.
Estimated annual cost of increasing the duration of Paternity Benefit based on 2017 rates
|
No. of additional weeks |
Estimated cost (€m) |
|
1 |
5.5 |
|
2 |
11.0 |
|
3 |
16.5 |
|
4 |
22.0 |
|
5 |
27.5 |
|
6 |
33.0 |
|
7 |
38.5 |
|
8 |
44.0 |
|
9 |
49.5 |
|
10 |
55.0 |
|
11 |
60.5 |
|
12 |
66.0 |
|
13 |
71.5 |
|
14 |
77.0 |
|
15 |
82.5 |
|
16 |
88.0 |
These estimates are based on the cost for a full year and assume that any increase in duration is implemented from the beginning of the year. The cost in the first year would depend on the implementation date that the increase in duration would take effect. This cost would be proportional to the full year cost.
It should be noted that this costing is subject to change over the coming months in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2017. It should also be noted that there are also costs to the Exchequer as these estimates do not include the costs of salary top-ups for public/civil servants.
2128. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of incentivising job creation via headcount growth (details supplied), in tabular form. [28732/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe JobsPlus programme operated by my Department replaced the previous PRSI exemption scheme and incentivises job creation by providing subsidies paid to employers who offer full-time work of over 30 hours per week and spanning at least a 4 day week to targeted jobseekers.
In the case of a jobseeker out of the labour market for over 24 months, a subsidy of €10,000 is paid to the employer over two years, in respect of each such additional employee engaged. A subsidy of €7,500 over two years is available to employers who recruit a jobseeker who is between 12 and 24 months unemployed. Payment is made directly to the employer on a monthly basis.
In 2015, eligibility was broadened to include young jobseekers (under 25 years) unemployed for four months or more in the previous 6 months and jobseekers transitioning from a one parent family payment. A subsidy of €7,500 is payable in both instances. This incentive was further extended in 2016 to include Programme Refugees in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance and no qualifying period applies.
JobsPlus is available to all employers offering full time work to additional new employees in the private sector (including commercial semi-state) as well as the community, not-for-profit and voluntary sectors. There is no limit on the number of new recruits per employer. Start-up employers may also avail of the scheme where the business has commenced operations. In May 2017, the Department made payments totalling over €2.4 million to 3,816 employers in respect of 5,077 employees.
It is not clear if the Deputy is proposing that the PRSI exemption scheme outlined would apply in respect of all new additional employees recruited by employers, including new employees who were not registered with my Department as jobseekers or who were not on an analogous welfare payment. If this is the case, it is not possible to quantify the reduction in PRSI income that would arise but it is likely that there would be significant deadweight costs.
The current JobsPlus scheme offers a significant incentive to recruit long-term jobseekers. For example, the €10,000 JobsPlus payment outlined above is more financially advantageous to an employer than an Employer PRSI exemption over two years where an employee’s annual earnings are less than €46,400. The equivalent annual earnings in respect of the €7,500 payment is just under €35,000.
2131. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons that have been referred to a company (details supplied) each year since it started delivering JobPath programmes on behalf of her Department; the number of persons that have progressed to full and part time employment within 12 weeks and 26 weeks following completion of their JobPath course, by timeframe and age group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26988/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraJobPath is an employment activation 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 was rolled out on a phased basis over the period mid-2015 to July 2016. To date circa 51,000 jobseekers have commenced their engagement period with Seetec. The figures per year are shown in the table below –
|
Referral Year |
Number |
|
2015 |
2,777 |
|
2016 |
32,979 |
|
2017 |
14,970 |
|
Total |
50,726 |
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 potentially over two phases.
During the first phase, of 12 months duration, the PA provides practical assistance in searching, preparing for, securing and sustaining employment. It should be noted that the aim of the JobPath service is to find sustainable employment for clients during this phase. The second phase only starts if the jobseeker is successful in finding work (during phase one). 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, providing in employment supports. 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 for up to a further 6 months.
Jobseekers who find employment after completing their engagement period (phase one) with the JobPath service are not counted towards the service provider’s outcomes and the providers cannot claim fees in respect of these clients. As such, the Department does not specifically record the numbers of clients to find work after completing their engagement period with the JobPath service.
It is intended that a full econometric evaluation of the service will commence towards the end of 2017. My Department has however commenced publishing a performance report for the service on a quarterly basis. The most recent report was published on the Department’s website last week and can be accessed at -
http://www.welfare.ie/en/downloads/JobPath_Performance_Report2017.pdf.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
2132. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department is conducting a review regarding the appropriate type of contribution payable by employees of Coillte which is presently the subject of an appeal (details supplied) with the Chief Appeals Officer; the status of this review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28940/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Scope insurability section in the Department of Social Protection makes statutory decisions on insurability of employment under the Social Welfare Act. Employers, employees and the self-employed may apply to Scope for an investigation of an employment status and a determination of the correct class of PRSI. Scope decisions are based on all available evidence, including a report from a social welfare inspector where appropriate, and the case law from previous court judgements.
Coillte has appealed the decision of a deciding officer in Scope section concerning the insurability of employment of 39 employees in Coillte, to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. The Social Welfare Appeals office performs its statutory functions independently of the Minister for Employment and Social Protection and it would be inappropriate to comment on the matter under appeal.
Separately, the Department has received a submission from Coillte in respect to one aspect of the cases considered by Scope section. The Department has sought legal advice on the submission and will revert to Coillte and, if necessary, the employees concerned in due course.
