Written Answers Nos. 198-217
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Written Answers Nos. 198-217
198. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the person or body that researched and composed the report by her Department, chronic fatigue syndrome version 5; the costs involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3752/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFifteen clinical protocols for use by Medical Assessors (MAs) of the Medical Review and Assessment Service (MRAS) were developed as part of the Medical Review and Case Management (MRCM) Project, 2010. This was part of the requirement to redefine the clinical work processes of the MAs and develop medical protocols taking into account evidence-based best practice in order to increase the consistency in conducting assessments.
The protocol, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Version 5. was produced by Atos Healthcare in association with BearingPoint Management and Technology Consultants, and the Department of Social and Family Affairs. The protocol was externally reviewed by Professor Sir Mansel Aylward.
The overall cost was €285,496.
199. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the social welfare services office is allowed to share the personal data of a person with the social welfare appeals office in circumstances in which no formal notice of an appeal has been lodged and in which the person has not given explicit consent for data sharing. [3762/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of my Department which, under social welfare legislation, is independent in its decision-making.
Under social welfare law, decisions on entitlement to payments are made by a Deciding Officer (DO), based on the evidence and information provided by the person applying for the payment.
Where a DO decides that a person is not entitled to a payment and further evidence is subsequently submitted to the Department, this evidence is normally accepted as being a request for a review or an appeal of the DO’s decision.
Legislation does provide that a Deciding Officer can refer a case directly to the Social Welfare Appeals Office and that, where such a referral is made, it should be treated by the Social Welfare Appeals Office as if it were an appeal by the applicant.
Where a DO accepts further evidence as being a request for an appeal, that evidence is forwarded to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. The intention in such cases is to ensure that the person’s entitlements are determined as efficiently as possible.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
200. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if grant assistance is available for a facility (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3709/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government is the lead Department for severe weather emergencies and the Office of Public Works has responsibility for capital flood relief activities. My Department has an important role to play in assisting households in the immediate aftermath of emergency events such as flooding.
The purpose of the humanitarian assistance scheme is to prevent hardship by providing income-tested financial support to people whose homes are damaged from flooding and severe weather events and who are not in a position to meet costs for essential needs, household items and in some instances structural repair. Since summer 2017 the scheme has provided financial support to households following flooding in counties Donegal, Laois and most recently in Galway.
The scheme does not provide assistance towards the funding of a generator in the event of a power loss due to severe weather.
I would suggest that the Deputy follows up with the appropriate authority responsible for funding the sheltered living housing facility.
201. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the scheme which allows self-employed persons to claim the invalidity pension can be backdated in circumstances (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3725/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to encouraging self-employment and entrepreneurship and this includes improving the level of PRSI based benefits available to self-employed people while ensuring the sustainability of the social insurance fund.
Self-employed contributors have been eligible for the invalidity pension from December 2017. For the first time, this has given the self-employed access to the safety-net of State income supports if they become permanently incapable of work as a result of an illness or disability without having to go through a means test. When deciding to extend access to this benefit to the self-employed, Government wanted to ensure that it was on a similar basis to that of those in employment. This is a real advance in the level of cover available to the self-employed.
To qualify for an Invalidity Pension from the Department, a self-employed person or employee must have 260 PRSI paid contributions (Class A, E, H or S) since they started paying social insurance and 48 PRSI paid or credited contributions (Class A, E, H or S) in the last complete contribution year or the second last contribution year before the date of their claim. This is a legislative requirement and contributions outside of the reference period cannot be assessed for the purposes of establishing the required 48 paid or credited contributions.
A person, with the required 260 paid PRSI contributions, applying for Invalidity Pension in 2018 must therefore have 48 paid or credited contributions in either 2016 or 2017 to meet the contribution conditions of the scheme.
In line with the original objective of this measure, any proposed changes to the current scheme conditions would have to be considered for other social insurance contributors including employed contributors. Therefore, any changes on the lines proposed would be expected to have significant financial implications and any decision to improve these provisions would be a matter for Government to consider in the context of the Budget.
I hope this clarifies the issue for the deputy.
202. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the conditions that must be met in order for self employed persons to receive the State pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3730/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraEntitlement to state pension (contributory) is assessed on the basis of an applicant’s social insurance record and satisfaction of the eligibility conditions applicable on the date they reach pension age.
Current social welfare legislation provides that, in order to qualify for state pension (contributory), an applicant must have entered insurable employment before attaining the age of 56 years, have at least 520 full rate paid contribution weeks since entry into insurance and have a yearly average of at least 10 paid and/or credited contributions from the applicant’s date of entry into insurable employment to the end of the tax year preceding their 66th birthday. Where an applicant becomes self-employed on 6 April 1988 and at any time before that date was an employed contributor, the more favourable date of their entry into insurance or 6 April 1988 is taken as their date of entry.
In addition to the qualifying conditions above, a self-employed applicant must have paid self-employment contributions in respect of at least one contribution year prior to reaching age 66 and all self-employment contributions payable must have been paid in full.
Legislation providing for a half rate state pension contributory for self employed persons came into effect from 9 April 1999 to benefit those already over 56 years of age when compulsory self-employed social insurance was introduced in 1988 and who had not paid other contribution types to satisfy the condition of having entered insurance 10 years before pension age. This pension requires a minimum of 5 years (260 full-rate) contributions and is payable at 50% of the standard rate.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
203. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons listed as self-employed that are in receipt of social welfare payments, in tabular form. [3731/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe distinction between ‘self-employed’ and ‘employed’ does not form part of the eligibility criteria for most social welfare payments.
Five schemes where self-employment status is directly relevant to payment eligibility are:
1. People with a previous or continuing self-employed status on Jobseeker’s Allowance;
2. Farm Assist, where it is a condition of payment that the recipient is actively engaged in farming on their own behalf;
3. Fish Assist, where the recipient must be engaged in fishing;
4. Short-term Enterprise Allowance;
5. Back to Work Enterprise Allowance.
In respect of those payments, the information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the attached tabular statement.
Recipient of an unemployment social welfare payment where self-employed status is relevant to eligibility, at the end of December 2017
|
Payment Type |
Recipients |
|
Jobseekers Allowance with previous or continuing self-employment |
7,614 |
|
Farm Assist |
7,234 |
|
Fish Assist |
66 |
|
Short-Term Enterprise Allowance |
351 |
|
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance |
9,655 |
204. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the legislation that was in place in 1984 regarding married women signing for unemployment assistance; if the case of a person (details supplied) will be investigated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3735/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe purpose of PRSI credited contributions (“credits”) is to secure the social welfare benefits and pensions of PRSI contributors by covering gaps in insurance on the occasions where they are not in a position to make contributions such as periods of unemployment, illness etc.
The Social Welfare (Contributions) Regulations 1953 (S.I. No. 5 of 1953) (as amended) was the relevant Statutory Instrument governing PRSI contributions in 1984. These Regulations were superseded by the Social Welfare (Consolidated Contributions and Insurability) Regulations 1996 (S.I.No.312 of 1996) (as amended).
The 1953 Regulations did not prevent married women from signing for credits for unemployment assistance. The same arrangements were in place for men and women whether married or single.
In cases where the Department has an incomplete record or no record of a person’s social insurance contribution history, including credits, the person can provide information in this regard to have the situation corrected. To do this they should submit their information and evidence to the Department for consideration to the address below.
PRSI Records,
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection,McCarter's Road,
Ardaravan,
Buncrana,
Donegal.
205. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an appeal for a disability allowance by a person (detail supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3745/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 11th January 2018. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral appeal hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and 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.
206. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the Castlepollard social welfare branch office is to be closed; her plans in relation to this office; and if services will be delivered to the population of north County Westmeath into the future. [3756/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department currently has 58 Social Welfare Branch Offices at various locations throughout the country. Each Branch Office is operated and managed, under a contract for services, by a Branch Manager who is required to act as an agent for the Department in the area served by the office.
The contract for the delivery of contracted Branch Office services in Castlepollard is due to expire on the 9th of February 2018, and the Department is considering options for the delivery of services in this area.
207. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a disability allowance payment has not been made to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3757/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraBased on the evidence supplied in support of their application for disability allowance (DA), this person’s application was disallowed on the grounds that the medical qualifying condition was not satisfied. They were notified in writing of this decision on 20 May 2017.
The person concerned requested an appeal of the decision and submitted additional medical evidence for consideration. The Social Welfare Appeals Office decided, based on this additional evidence, that the medical qualifying condition was satisfied.
DA is a means-tested payment. On 22 January 2018 the person concerned was asked to supply supporting documentation in relation to their means. This information is required by the deciding officer in order to make a decision on their eligibility. On receipt of this information a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
208. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the social welfare services office on receipt of additional documentation in support of a disability allowance claim (details supplied) treats the supply of additional supporting documentation as formal notice of an appeal of the decision and forward a person's file to the social welfare appeals office for a decision. [3763/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder social welfare law, decisions on entitlement to payments such as disability allowance are made by a Deciding Officer (DO), based on the evidence and information provided by the person applying for the payment.
The decision of a DO can only be revised in certain circumstances. Where a DO decides that a person is not entitled to a payment and further evidence is subsequently submitted to the Department, this evidence is normally accepted as being a request for a review or an appeal of the DO’s decision.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of my Department which, under social welfare legislation, is independent in its decision-making. However, Legislation does provide that a Deciding Officer can refer a case directly to the Social Welfare Appeals Office and that, where such a referral is made, it should be treated by the Social Welfare Appeals Office as if it were an appeal by the applicant.
Where a DO accepts further evidence as being a request for an appeal, that evidence is forwarded to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. The intention in such cases is to ensure that the person’s entitlements are determined as efficiently as possible.
The appeals process subsequently involves the preparation of a submission by the DO and this submission, along with the applicant’s file, is forwarded to the SWAO for their decision on the matter.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
209. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons referred to the local employment service in 2016 and 2017, by county. [3823/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe expansion of the department’s activation capacity with the introduction of JobPath and the welcome reduction in the live register has allowed the department over the last two years to develop the activation service provided by the Local Employment Services (LES) across 12 Counties.
In 2016, LES providers were asked to increase the frequency with which they engage with activation jobseekers to enhance the quality of the services they provide. To facilitate this more intensive engagement, the Department reduced the number of people referred to the LES for the purpose of reducing caseloads so as to maintain a maximum caseload 120:1 per case officer
The LES were also requested to increase the time they allocate to work with each individual jobseeker and in 2017 bands were introduced with set engagement patterns so that a LES case officer with 101-120 clients would be expected to have monthly meetings with the clients, 81-100 clients every three weeks and 80 or fewer client every two weeks.
Smaller caseloads are key to providing the one to one intensive type of engagement which long term unemployed clients benefit from most.
It is important to note that 2016 was a year of transition for the LES from the previous model of engagement to the new one; they were still in the process of reducing their caseload with some clients rolling over from 2015. In order to reduce the pressure at some LES locations to enable them to provide the more intensive service requested, a lower number of clients were registered in 2016 to meet the overall caseloads requirements. Following this transition period, the 2017 referral numbers are maintaining a maximum case load of 120 to each case officer.
The table lists the total new registrations for each County for 2016 and 2017.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
New Registrations (attended) All Clients
|
County |
2016 |
2017 |
|
Cork |
529 |
1162 |
|
Dublin |
10332 |
9812 |
|
Galway |
282 |
431 |
|
Kerry |
814 |
1005 |
|
Kildare |
1114 |
1469 |
|
Limerick |
672 |
1403 |
|
Louth |
915 |
1268 |
|
Mayo |
632 |
501 |
|
Monaghan |
505 |
368 |
|
Waterford |
327 |
1343 |
|
Wexford |
447 |
1255 |
|
Wicklow |
135 |
528 |
|
16704 |
20545 |
210. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount paid to JobPath providers in 2017. [3824/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra211. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons referred to JobPath since its commencement; the number that gained full-time and part-time employment as a direct result of JobPath; and the sectors in which employment was gained. [3825/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra212. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons that have been released from JobPath having not gained employment since its commencement. [3826/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra215. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons engaged in JobPath since its commencement that have had their jobseeker's payment either reduced or suspended. [3829/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra216. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of Turas Nua and Seetec offices here; the year each office began providing the JobPath service; and the corresponding number of times each office has been inspected since JobPath commenced. [3830/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 210 to 212, inclusive,, 215 and 216 together.
JobPath is a payment by results model and all set-up and day-to-day operational costs are borne by the companies. The companies are paid on the basis of performance and with the exception of the initial registration fee; payments are made only when a client has achieved sustained employment. The overall cost of JobPath will be determined by the number of people who participate in the programme and the number who get sustainable jobs.
It is not intended to publish the individual payments to the JobPath companies as these are commercially sensitive and to do so would place the State at a disadvantage both in terms of the contracts currently in place and in any future procurement that may be undertaken.
The total of fees claimed by the JobPath providers in 2017 was €58.5m.
JobPath has been designed to support persons who are long term unemployed and at the end of December 2017 some 141,000 jobseekers have commenced engagement with the service. Of these 52% were unemployed for more than three years and a further 12% have been unemployed for more than two years.
In relation to the number of participants to find employment and the number to complete their engagement period with the service without finding employment, it is important to note that jobseekers may be supported through the service for up to 30 months. During this time they have access to a Personal Advisor (PA) who works with them over two phases. In the first phase, of 12 months duration, the PA provides practical assistance in searching, preparing for, securing and sustaining employment. The second phase starts if the jobseeker is successful in finding work and the PA continues to work with the jobseeker for a further period of at least three months, and up to 12 months. In addition to these two phases jobseekers may also undertake training while on JobPath and this may extend the period for up to a further 6 months.
It will therefore take time to accumulate a sufficient number of clients (who have completed their engagement period with the service) for complete and robust outcome data to be available.
The Department has published initial cohort reports on the performance of the service, the most recent of which was published on the 5th of January 2018 and is available on the department's website welfare.ie. at http://www.welfare.ie/en/downloads/JobPath-Performance-Report2017.pdf.
This initial report, which is based on the first four cohorts of jobseekers to be referred only, indicates that of these Jobseekers, to date 18% have entered full time employment, 4% entered part time employment and 3% became self-employed, giving a total employment outcome figure of 25%. In addition, the report noted that participants have a higher chance of securing and remaining in employment compared to non-participants with a similar duration of unemployment.
An initial analysis of the sectors in which participants found employment suggests that some of the most popular types of employment are within the construction, manufacturing, sales, clerical/administrative, food service, cleaning and customer service sectors.
Given the above, the department is undertaking an econometric review of this strand of its activation services, completion of the review is provisionally scheduled for the end of Q3, following which more detailed and robust statistics will be available.
At the end of December 2017, circa 93,000 clients were engaged with JobPath, of which 483 or 0.5% have a penalty rate applied to their claim. This figure is consistent with the overall level of penalty rates applied across all Job Seekers. In total since the JobPath service commenced, approximately 6,500 or 4.6% of the 141,000 clients who had engaged with the JobPath service (between July 2015 and December 2017) have had, at some point during their engagement period, a penalty rate applied to their payment.
It is important to note that JobPath providers do not apply or recommend the application of a penalty rate. They simply advise the Department if a jobseeker is failing to attend activation meetings. Officials in the Department then contact the Jobseeker and seek to arrange a meeting to discuss the matter directly with them. The application of penalty rates is entirely a matter for the Department and officials involved will take all relevant factors into account.
In the interests of natural justice, a jobseeker who fails to participate in the activation process, whether that is provided directly by the Intreo service or via any contracted service provider, is given both written and verbal warnings and an opportunity to comply before a reduced rate of payment is applied. Furthermore, Jobseekers can, through co-operation with the activation service of my Department, benefit from early re-instatement of the full rate of Jobseeker’s payment. Jobseekers can also appeal the decision to apply a penalty rate through the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO).
The JobPath Agreements were signed with Turas Nua and Seetec on 5 June 2015 . The service is being delivered in two contract areas which were based on the Department’s divisional structure. The contract areas are as follows:
- Seetec - West; Midlands North; North East; North West, Dublin Central; Dublin North; Dublin South.
- Turas Nua - Cork Central; South East; Mid-Leinster, Mid-West; South West; Midlands South.
The roll-out of the service commenced on 20 July 2015 on a “soft-launch” basis and completed in mid- 2016. All of the Department’s Offices are referring clients to the service.
The total number of service delivery locations is eighty-nine (89), comprising the following:
|
Full-Time |
Part-Time |
Outreach |
Total |
|
56 |
13 |
20 |
89 |
Service delivery locations/Number of Inspections:
TURAS NUA- Full-time Offices
|
Office |
Year opened |
Number of inspections |
|
Bray |
2015 |
1 |
|
Carlow |
2015 |
1 |
|
Clonmel |
2015 |
1 |
|
Cork |
2015 |
1 |
|
Ennis |
2015 |
1 |
|
Kilkenny |
2015 |
1 |
|
Limerick |
2015 |
1 |
|
Listowel |
2015 |
1 |
|
Naas |
2015 |
1 |
|
Newcastlewest |
2015 |
1 |
|
Thurles |
2015 |
1 |
|
Tralee |
2015 |
1 |
|
Tullamore |
2015 |
1 |
|
Waterford City |
2015 |
1 |
|
Wexford |
2015 |
1 |
|
Athy |
2016 |
1 |
|
Dungarvan |
2016 |
0 |
|
Enniscorthy |
2016 |
0 |
|
Gorey |
2016 |
1 |
|
Killarney |
2016 |
1 |
|
Mallow |
2016 |
1 |
|
Midleton |
2016 |
1 |
|
Nenagh |
2016 |
0 |
|
New Ross |
2016 |
0 |
|
Portlaoise |
2016 |
1 |
|
Roscrea |
2016 |
1 |
|
Wicklow |
2016 |
0 |
|
Total |
22 |
TURAS NUA- Part-time Offices
|
Office |
Year opened |
Number of inspections |
|
Arklow |
2015 |
1 |
|
Cahirciveen |
2015 |
1 |
|
Bandon |
2016 |
0 |
|
Bantry |
2016 |
0 |
|
Clonakilty |
2016 |
0 |
|
Dingle |
2016 |
1 |
|
Fermoy |
2016 |
0 |
|
Kilrush |
2016 |
0 |
|
Kinsale |
2016 |
0 |
|
Macroom |
2016 |
1 |
|
Skibbereen |
2016 |
1 |
|
Thomastown |
2016 |
0 |
|
Tipperary Town |
2016 |
0 |
|
Total |
5 |
Seetec- Full-time Offices
|
Office |
Year opened |
Number of inspections |
|
Bishop Square |
2015 |
1 |
|
Buncrana |
2015 |
1 |
|
Cavan |
2015 |
1 |
|
Castlebar |
2015 |
1 |
|
Drogheda |
2015 |
1 |
|
Dundalk |
2015 |
1 |
|
Dungloe |
2015 |
0 |
|
Finglas |
2015 |
1 |
|
Galway |
2015 |
1 |
|
Letterkenny |
2015 |
1 |
|
Longford |
2015 |
1 |
|
Mullingar |
2015 |
1 |
|
Navan |
2015 |
1 |
|
Swords |
2015 |
1 |
|
Tallaght |
2015 |
1 |
|
Amiens Street |
2016 |
1 |
|
Athlone |
2016 |
1 |
|
Balbriggan |
2016 |
1 |
|
Blanchardstown |
2016 |
1 |
|
Birr |
2016 |
1 |
|
Carrick on Shannon |
2016 |
1 |
|
Clondalkin |
2016 |
0 |
|
Coolock |
2016 |
1 |
|
Dun Laoghaire |
2016 |
0 |
|
Edenderry |
2016 |
1 |
|
Maynooth |
2016 |
0 |
|
Monaghan |
2016 |
1 |
|
Navan Road |
2016 |
1 |
|
Sligo |
2016 |
0 |
|
Total |
24 |
Seetec- Outreach Offices
|
Office |
Year opened |
Number of inspections |
|
Ballina |
2015 |
0 |
|
Belmullet |
2015 |
0 |
|
Clifden |
2015 |
0 |
|
Loughrea |
2015 |
0 |
|
Ballinasloe |
2016 |
0 |
|
Ballyfermot |
2016 |
0 |
|
Ballymun |
2016 |
0 |
|
Ballyshannon |
2016 |
0 |
|
Carrickmacross |
2016 |
0 |
|
Castlerea |
2016 |
0 |
|
Carraroe |
2016 |
0 |
|
Donegal |
2016 |
0 |
|
Dunfanaghy |
2016 |
0 |
|
Kells |
2016 |
0 |
|
Killybegs |
2016 |
0 |
|
Manorhamilton |
2016 |
0 |
|
Roscommon |
2016 |
0 |
|
Trim |
2016 |
0 |
|
Tuam |
2016 |
0 |
|
Tubbercurry |
2016 |
0 |
|
Total |
0 |
A total of 51 Inspections have been carried out to-date. Inspections may be notified or un-notified.
I hope this clarifies the matters for the Deputy.
213. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the back to education allowance in each of the years 2015 to 2017. [3827/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of persons in receipt of Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) at the end of December in each of the years 2015 to 2017 is shown in Table 1 below:
Table 1: BETA recipients 2015 - 2017
|
Year |
Number of recipients (at end December) |
|
2015 |
18,345 |
|
2016 |
14,386 |
|
2017 |
11,336 |
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
214. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons engaged in community employment in each of the years 2015 to 2017. [3828/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table outlines the position in relation to the number of persons engaged in Community Employment as at the end of December for each year from 2015 to 2017.
|
Year |
Participants |
Supervisors |
Total |
|
2015 |
22,813 |
1,405 |
24,218 |
|
2016 |
22,356 |
1,377 |
23,733 |
|
2017 |
21,832 |
1,357 |
23,189 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
217. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when arrears of child benefit dating back to February 2017 will be issued in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3886/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned applied for child benefit for her 2 children on the 17th October 2017. The claim has been processed with payment was awarded from November 2017. She was notified of the decision on the 1st of December 2017 and payment, including payment in respect of any arrears due issued to her in January 2018.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
