Written Answers Nos. 1517-1535
1517. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason, under the Data Protection Act, information from her Department was provided to Turas Nua as in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35718/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s Public Employment Service (PES) is managed by my Department and delivered directly by its own Intreo service as well as by contracted private providers i.e. companies delivering the Local Employment Service (LES) , Job Club and JobPath services.
These providers act as agents of the Department for the purpose of delivering these services and are subject to strict obligations imposed by the Department in terms of data protection. The companies are, for example, contractually required to register with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner and are subject to the same provisions of data protection legislation as Departmental staff. The contracts in place are also governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Ireland and the courts of Ireland have exclusive jurisdiction over these contracts.
The Social Welfare (Consolidated) Act 2005, as amended, specifies that participation in activation meetings arranged by or on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection is mandatory for those in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance. Jobseekers are required to engage with my Department’s activation service and this obligation applies irrespective of whether the service is provided by the Department’s own case officers or those advisors employed by contracted companies, such as Local Employment Service, JobPath or Job Club providers.
In addition all persons, including the customer in question, who are in receipt of a Jobseeker's payment must satisfy the conditions of being available for and genuinely seeking employment. The application form for a jobseeker's payment advises the jobseeker that information may be exchanged with other organisations such as JobPath service providers.
The purpose of sharing this information is to assist in the development of a tailored plan for the individual jobseeker in order to support them back in to paid employment. Jobseekers who engage with the JobPath service receive intensive individual support to help them address barriers to employment and to assist them in finding sustainable jobs. Each person is assigned a personal advisor who will assess a person’s individual skills, experience, qualifications and work goals. A personal progression plan is put in place which sets out a schedule of activities; actions and job focused targets, taking into account a person’s individual circumstances.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1518. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person is deemed unavailable for work for the entire month rather than two days and a jobseeker's payment refused completely rather than for two days in a circumstance (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35731/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo qualify for a jobseeker's payment, a person must satisfy certain scheme conditions which include being available for and genuinely seeking full-time employment. If the Deputy provides further details of the case in question, I will ask my officials to follow it up.
1519. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the case of persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35735/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department is currently experiencing delays in the processing of Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) claims. We are extremely sorry for any worry or concern this may cause to parents/guardians of children with additional care needs. At present it is taking 20 weeks on average to finalise an application. Applications are processed in date of receipt order. There are a number of factors that have contributed to the extended time required to process claims.
First, there is a significant increase in the volume of applications being received. The numbers applying for DCA have increased significantly since 2009, when the Department took over administration of the scheme from the HSE. The year on year increase in volumes over recent years has consistently been in the 15-20% range due to an increase in population and more awareness of the scheme. Over 1,000 claims were received in May, along with a further 700 in June; whereas the average would have been 400 per month a few years ago.
Secondly, following a High Court ruling in 2016, there is now a need for the Department’s medical assessors to provide the deciding officer with a more detailed opinion on the child’s eligibility for the scheme and for the deciding officer in turn to provide more detailed reasons for their decision when communicating this to the customer. These factors have resulted in the time taken to finalise applications increasing significantly and as a result the numbers being processed have reduced and the timescale to finalise each application has increased.
Corrective actions are being taken, with additional deciding officers recently assigned to work on the scheme. Once these deciding officers become fully operational, the increase in claim processing capacity should allow for an improvement in processing times.
Applications for DCA in respect of both children were received in the Department on 27 February and 8 May respectively. While it is not feasible to provide an exact date of when a particular application will be decided, the applications currently being finalised were received in mid-February 2017. Each application will be considered by a Deciding Officer and a decision notified as soon as possible.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1520. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will issue guidelines that would allow staff members, such as classroom assistants and cleaners who work in schools but who claim social welfare over the summer holidays, to be able to resume their social welfare claim as soon as the school holidays start rather than putting them in a situation year on year that can force them to go without a payment while their claim is processing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35789/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn general, there is no delay in processing jobseeker benefit claims in Intreo Centres if the relevant claim application forms and supporting documentation are completed by the customer, in a timely manner.
Seasonal workers should apply for jobseeker’s benefit as soon as they become unemployed. Initially, when a person makes an application for jobseeker’s benefit, 3 waiting days apply and payment is made from the 4th day of the claim. If, however, a person makes a repeat claim for jobseeker's benefit within 26 weeks of their previous claim, the repeat claim links to the earlier claim and no waiting days apply.
School educational sector workers, who are employed on a temporary basis and who have previously been in contact with the Department, are issued with a repeat jobseeker’s application form and holiday form in advance of the school holiday periods. This advance process facilitates an efficient service to these customers and allows for speedy processing of their claim when the period of unemployment actually arises. However, it is important to note that educational sector workers are still required to sign on for each period of unemployment.
I want to assure the Deputy that prompt processing of all claims remains a priority for my Department. Scheme areas are monitored on an on-going basis and processing procedures are reviewed to ensure that claims are paid to customers as quickly as possible.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1524. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the net saving of closing JobBridge to new applicants from 1 January 2018. [35827/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraJobBridge was introduced in July 2011 in response to the sharp and dramatic increase in unemployment. Since then more than 49,000 participants commenced a work experience placement provided by over 19,000 host organisations.
Participants are paid an allowance equivalent to their underlying social welfare payment plus an additional 'top-up' of €52.50 per week for the duration of the placement. The cost of the scheme therefore depends on the number of participants. The net cost per 1,000 participants is €2.73 million per annum.
A robust external evaluation of the scheme was conducted by Indecon Economic Consultants in 2016. It included a cost benefit analysis that indicates that even taking account of deadweight effects and using a high estimate of potential job displacement, JobBridge breaks-even (tax gains and welfare savings) and yields a marginal positive return for the Exchequer over a two year period. A cost benefit analysis taking account of wider economic benefits and costs and conducted in accordance with Department of Finance and EU Commission guidelines indicates that the scheme yields a positive benefit to the economy within one year.
The evaluation found that JobBridge is one of the most effective labour market programmes – increasing participants’ employment outcomes by 32%. It also found that while participants rated the scheme positively on 18 out of 20 aspects measured, most were dissatisfied with the level of payment and a sizable minority rated the scheme negatively on some aspects, for example the quality of training offered.
Based on these findings, and taking account of the improvement in labour market conditions, Indecon recommended that JobBridge be discontinued in its current form and replaced with a new scheme. A copy of the full evaluation can be found at: http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/JobBridge-Evaluation.aspx.
The Labour Market Council welcomed the report and noted the positive employment impact of the scheme. A majority of the Council similarly recommended that JobBridge be replaced.
Having considered the evidence and the suggestions put forward by Indecon and the Labour Market Council, my predecessor as Minister for Social Protection announced his intention to replace JobBridge with a new work experience programme that would address criticisms of the scheme and would be better suited to the much-improved labour market.
JobBridge was closed to new applications from 27 October 2016 to allow for a period of consultation with key stakeholders on design principles for any proposed new work experience programme and to facilitate an orderly wind down of the current scheme. There are currently 350 participants on JobBridge.
The stakeholder consultation process is completed and I am currently considering options on how best to proceed.
1525. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the net saving if the Gateway scheme were abolished on 1 January 2018. [35828/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1546. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the projected underspend in the Gateway scheme in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36062/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1547. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the underspend in programmes to support persons that are unemployed such as Gateway will be reinvested in other schemes or measures to reduce unemployment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36063/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1525, 1546 and 1547 together.
The Gateway Initiative was introduced in 2013 at a time of high unemployment in Ireland. It is administered through the local authorities and is one of a number of work programmes that my Department operates. Given the capacity in the system at present through the other employment schemes such as Community Employment (CE), Tús and the Rural Social Scheme (RSS) and the continuing reduction in the numbers who are unemployed, the recruitment of participants under the Gateway scheme is currently on hold.
The 2017 budget for the Gateway scheme is €7.2 million. The expenditure in the current year to the end of June 2017 is €2.75 million. The estimated outturn in 2017 will be in the region of €4.0 million.
Based on current trends it is expected that the direct savings from abolishing the Gateway scheme in 2018 would be in the order of €350,000. In the event that Gateway was to cease and all current employees were to return to the live register at their former rates of payment, the estimated annual cost of jobseeker's allowance payments in 2018 would be €260,000. The full year net savings to the Department of Social Protection from the abolition of Gateway in 2018 is estimated at €90,000.
The figures above do not take account of the additional income the Exchequer receives in the form of income tax, PRSI and USC from those participating on the scheme.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
1526. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated saving to her Department of moving an additional 5,000 long-term unemployed into employment via JobsPlus in 2018. [35829/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, JobsPlus provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers who recruit employees who are long-term on the live register and those transitioning into employment. It provides employers with two levels of payment: €7,500 and €10,000. The €7,500 is paid primarily in respect of those who are 12 months or more on the live register with the higher grant paid in respect of those who have been unemployed for more than 24 months. The incentive is paid in monthly instalments over a two year period provided the employment is maintained.
The full year cost of the JobsPlus incentive to support an employee who has been unemployed for between 12 and 24 months is €3,750. The full year cost to support an employee who has been unemployed for longer than 24 months is €5,000. The JobsPlus incentive is paid at the higher rate in respect of approximately 72% of employees on the scheme. Therefore, the full year cost of 5,000 JobsPlus places is estimated at approximately €23.25 million.
The full year cost of the jobseeker's payment for 5,000 customers is estimated at €52.5 million. Therefore, the estimated net savings from moving 5,000 people who were long-term unemployed into employment, via the JobsPlus incentive, would be in the order of €29 million.
The above costings do not include the additional income that arises for the Exchequer from payment of income tax, PRSI and USC from employment or the additional cost from employees who may have an entitlement to receive family income supplement (FIS) or the back to work family dividend.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1527. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will change the current social welfare payment arrangements applying to residents of direct provision who have secured their leave to remain and who are unable to access permanent accommodation and effectively using direct provision as a form of emergency accommodation; and if they will receive their full social welfare payment. [35848/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraProtection seekers are offered accommodation under the system of direct provision operated by the Reception & Integration Agency (RIA) of the Department of Justice and Equality. Those who accept direct provision are provided with accommodation, food and health services together with other facilities and services designed to ensure their needs are met while seeking the protection of the State. My Department administers payment of the direct provision allowance to protection seekers residing in Direct Provision Centres on behalf of the Department of Justice and Equality.
Once a person has been granted status, they may apply for Department of Social Protection payments appropriate to their circumstances, on the same basis as Irish citizens, such as basic supplementary welfare allowance, jobseeker's allowance or one-parent family payment and child benefit, subject to meeting the rules of the particular scheme. Payment under these schemes can be made to a person while they continue to remain resident in a Direct Provision centre prior to moving into the community, with the value of the non-cash benefits which they receive, i.e. accommodation, food and other services, assessed in the means assessment, subject to the legislation governing the means test for each scheme. Once a person moves into the community, the rate of payment increases to reflect the change in circumstances.
Exceptional Needs Payments (ENPs) are made to persons in the direct provision system and are largely paid towards clothing costs, transport costs and the purchase of child related items such as prams/buggies. ENPs are also paid to support the move from direct provision accommodation into the community, including assistance towards rent deposits and items associated with setting up home. All applications are determined on a case by case basis having regard to the individual circumstances presented.
Housing and the provision of emergency accommodation are matters for my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1528. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which the Government will resolve the impact the new retirement age of 68 years of age will have on persons and businesses that had not anticipated this (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35909/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 provided that State pension age will be increased gradually to 68 years. This began in January 2014 with the abolition of the State pension (transition) available from 65 for those who satisfied the qualifying conditions, thereby standardising State pension age for all at 66 years, which is the current State pension age. This will increase to 67 in 2021 and to 68 in 2028.
The changes introduced in 2011 were on foot of a Government commitment included in the National Recovery Plan published in 2010, and in the subsequent Memorandum of Understanding with the EU/ECB/IMF. It is the case, therefore, that there will have been 17 years notice between the passing of this legislation and the increase of the pension age to 68.
Each year more people are living to pension age and living longer in retirement. As a result of this demographic change, the number of State pension recipients is increasing year on year. This has significant implications for the future costs of State pension provision, and demographic change alone is expected to increase spending on pensions by over €220 million this year, not including the impact of rate increases.
In most cases, it is hoped that workers will continue to work up to the new State pension age. Where this is not possible, there are specific measures which apply to someone claiming Jobseeker's Benefit from a date after their 65th birthday. Where qualified, these recipients may continue to be eligible for that payment until reaching pension age.
The purpose of changes to the State pension age is to make the pension system more sustainable in the context of increasing life expectancy. This sustainability is vital, if the current workers, who fund State pension payments through their PRSI on a Pay-As-You-Go basis, are to receive a pension themselves when they reach retirement age. Rowing back on these changes, which have already been legislated for, would undermine that sustainability, to the detriment of current workers.
It should also be borne in mind that these changes are modest in the context of increasing longevity among older people, and the duration of the average pension is still expected to increase based on current trends.
The Deputy should note that there is no legally mandated retirement age in the State, and the age at which employees retire is a matter for the contract of employment between them and their employers. While such a contract may have been entered into with a retirement date of 65, in the context of the previous State pension arrangements, there is no legal impediment to the employer and employee agreeing to increase the duration of employment for one or more years, if both parties wish to do so.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1529. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason an invalidity pension was refused to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35927/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraInvalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
The gentleman referred to was refused IP on the grounds that he is working a farm of land. He was notified on 30 June 2017 of this decision, the reasons for it and of his right of review and appeal. To date he has not requested a review or an appeal of the disallowance decision.
Your representation has been treated as a review request from the gentleman in question. This review will be processed as quickly as possible and when a decision is made, he will be notified directly of the outcome. If the outcome of the review is not in favour of the gentleman concerned, he will have the right of appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1530. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35991/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that my department received an application for carer’s benefit (CARB) from the person concerned on 31 May 2017.
Additional information was requested from the person concerned on 24 July 2017. Once the information is received the application will be processed without delay and she will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1531. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to provide for a Christmas bonus in 2017 to long-term social welfare recipients; the rate of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36005/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
As the Deputy would be aware, 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 and the rate of same 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.
1532. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have partaken or who are participating in each job activation scheme or employment support scheme in each of the years 2013 to 2016, and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36033/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is published monthly by the Central Statistics Office on the website and can be accessed at:
http://www.cso.ie/px/pxeirestat/Statire/SelectVarVal/Define.asp?maintable=LRM14&PLanguage=0.
1533. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount spent on each job activation scheme or employment support scheme in each of the years 2013 to 2016, and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36034/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1539. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection the expenditure on administration of job activation and employment support schemes in each of the years 2013 to 2016, and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36040/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1533 and 1539 together.
The following table details expenditure on the Working Age Employment Supports Programme operated by the Department in each of the years 2013 to 2016 and to end June of this year:
|
- |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
Jun-17 |
|
Programme |
€’000 |
€’000 |
€’000 |
€’000 |
€’000 |
€’000 |
|
Community Employment |
330,399 |
341,250 |
359,474 |
364,991 |
358,914 |
175,363 |
|
Rural Social Scheme |
45,242 |
44,203 |
43,762 |
44,105 |
42,652 |
21,937 |
|
Tús |
67,055 |
92,060 |
116,052 |
124,576 |
119,542 |
58,071 |
|
Job Initiative |
25,794 |
24,924 |
23,364 |
21,698 |
20,150 |
6,569 |
|
Community Services Programme |
45,390 |
44,853 |
43,028 |
42,730 |
43,977 |
30,747 |
|
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance |
127,203 |
119,505 |
118,825 |
129,037 |
124,382 |
58,325 |
|
JobBridge |
54,739 |
67,688 |
76,030 |
63,489 |
37,793 |
6,049 |
|
Back to Education Allowance |
199,567 |
186,879 |
162,450 |
143,965 |
114,248 |
56,458 |
|
Gateway |
0 |
255 |
6,169 |
29,543 |
21,298 |
2,752 |
|
Back To Work Family Dividend |
0 |
0 |
0 |
14,422 |
28,454 |
12,975 |
|
JobsPlus |
0 |
1,040 |
11,883 |
22,630 |
23,886 |
14,353 |
|
Wage Subsidy Scheme |
10,566 |
11,042 |
12,595 |
16,392 |
21,106 |
10,021 |
|
Other Employment Supports |
45,963 |
51,354 |
51,746 |
48,947 |
45,252 |
22,293 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
2,107 |
7,377 |
9,972 |
11,310 |
13,083 |
7,426 |
|
TOTAL |
954,025 |
992,430 |
1,035,350 |
1,077,835 |
1,014,737 |
483,339 |
JobsPlus and Gateway were introduced in 2013 while Back to Work Family Dividend was introduced in 2015.
The service fee provided to Pobal for administering the payroll for Tús, the Rural Social Scheme, Gateway and the Community Services Programme was €3.64 million in 2012, €4.27 million in 2013, €4.36 million in 2014, €4.46 million in 2015 and 2016. It was €2.7 million for the first 6 months of 2017.
It is not possible to disaggregate the internal Departmental costs of administrating the schemes in this Programme. This is because the salary costs of the staff administering these schemes on a countrywide basis and their associated corporate costs such as IT support, facilities etc. from just part of the overall costs of administering a wide range of other major schemes such as jobseeker’s allowance and benefit and one parent family payment.
Question No. 1534 withdrawn.
1535. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount spent on indirect job support initiatives, such as JobsPlus, in each of the years 2013 to 2016, and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36036/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraJobsPlus provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers who recruit employees who are long term on the live register and those transitioning into employment. It provides employers with two levels of payment: €7,500 and €10,000. The €7,500 is paid primarily in respect of those who are 12 months or more on the live register with the higher grant paid in respect of those who have been unemployed for more than 24 months. The incentive is paid in monthly instalments over a two year period provided the employment is maintained.
The expenditure on JobsPlus in each of the years 2013 to 2016 and to date in 2017 is shown as follows in Table 1:
Table 1: Expenditure on JobsPlus – 2013 to 2017
|
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 (to end June) |
|
€1.04m |
€11.88m |
€22.63m |
€23.99m |
€14.44m |
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
