Written Answers Nos 982-999
982. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department's internal audit into the activation and family support programme will be published; if not, the reason therefor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12646/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Internal Audit work of my Department conforms to the standards of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s Audit Standards and to the Standards and Ethics of the Institute of Internal Auditors.
Internal audit reports are regularly subject to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests. Internal audit reports which have been released under FOI are regarded as being in the public domain and can be issued to a subsequent enquirer on request, without the need to use FOI.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
983. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on the findings of her Department's audit into the activation and family support programme as leaked in the media; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12648/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe role of Internal Audit is to review the Department’s operations on a scheduled basis and to report to senior management on any issues arising. This is an ongoing part of corporate governance within the Department to ensure that internal controls are in place and are working.
When internal audit reports identify issues and make recommendations to correct deficiencies or improve processes, these are considered by senior management and appropriate actions are taken. In this case we can confirm that the recommendations made in the report have been implemented. The review of the AFSP does not give rise to concerns in respect of other programmes.
I wish to correct the Deputy’s statement that the report was leaked. The report was provided to the media in the normal course following a Freedom of Information request.
Internal audit reports are regularly subject to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
984. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the types of expenses awarded under the activation and family support programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12649/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe objective of the Activation and Family Support Programme (AFSP) is to provide for funding to enable the development of training and education initiatives, mainly in conjunction with other organisations and agencies, to assist people who are in receipt of social welfare payments to enhance their employability through education, training and personal development opportunities and to improve their quality of life. The application of the funding is largely responsive to demand identified by local organisations who apply for funding for a project via the DEASP Case Officer. Funding applications come from a wide range of organisations including family resource centres, Partnership and Community development companies and advocacy groups.
Expenditure on the Programme will be deemed eligible where the course being delivered is targeted at jobseekers, in particular those who are long-term unemployed. The course should be restricted to customers of a working age and their adult dependants, considered to be outside the scope of mainstream activation activity. All courses/training must assist the jobseeker’s progression to the labour market. Training should be delivered by trainers who are fully qualified with formally credited qualifications.
AFSP endeavours to develop quick and innovative responses to meet customer needs. Programmes covered can include Pre-Employment Courses, Return to Education courses, Personal Development Programmes etc.
Payments under AFSP are only to be made to a group/organisation following a review of an application by the Case Officer, Area/Divisional Manager and once they are confident that the course has commenced as outlined. No additional allowances or payments for expenses are paid to individual participants of training through AFSP.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
985. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications made under the activation and family support programme since its introduction; the percentage of those accepted and declined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12650/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Family Services Project (FSP) and Special Projects Fund (SPF) were amalgamated in January 2008 to form the Activation and Family Support Programme (AFSP). The AFSP is delivered regionally by Divisional Case Officers. The Department works alongside other State agencies to deliver training to those most distant from the labour market through the AFSP. The AFSP represents one of a number programmes comprising the Department’s overall implementation of activation policies.
The objective of the AFSP is to provide funding for programmes to assist individuals and families to enhance their employability through education, training and personal development opportunities and to improve their quality of life. Payments under AFSP are only made to an organisation following a approval of an application by the Case Officer and Area/Divisional Manager. No additional allowances or payments for expenses are paid to individual participants of training through AFSP.
In broad terms Case Officers are involved in promoting awareness of the AFSP, assisting applicant organisations to access funds from the programme, and in monitoring the effectiveness of the funding provided and ongoing liaison with recipients of funding.
The following table details the volume of courses delivered, in communities, through AFSP since 2008:
|
Year |
No. AFSP Applications |
No. participants* |
Expenditure |
|
€m |
|||
|
2008 |
268 |
16,381 |
5.485 |
|
2009 |
394 |
15,165 |
4.812 |
|
2010 |
265 |
8,716 |
3.954 |
|
2011 |
288 |
9,122 |
2.823 |
|
2012 |
274 |
5,952 |
2.538 |
|
2013 |
224 |
7,904 |
3.176 |
|
2014 |
142 |
3,377 |
1.391 |
|
2015 |
149 |
4,186 |
1.324 |
|
2016 |
106 |
1,540 |
0.843 |
|
2017 |
73 |
1,102 |
0.590 |
|
2018 (to end Feb.) |
7 |
98 |
0.068 |
*It should be noted that up to 2013 AFSP would have assisted in funding of Jobs Fairs accounting for the higher volumes of participants.
The application of the funds is largely responsive, in that as needs are identified by local Case Officers and agencies a course may be considered. There are no records maintained on rejected proposals as many of these will not make an application following the initial assessment by a Case Officer working with other agencies to evaluate the options available to assist those with a training need.
986. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 602 of 8 March 2018, the number of persons in receipt of the State pension (non-contributory) who have seen a cut in their payment following the recent review of 1,000 pensioners in receipt of this payment under a fraud and error survey; if the review is not complete, the number of persons who have seen a cut to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12651/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll schemes operated by my Department, including State Pension (non-contributory), are subject to ongoing control reviews and continuing eligibility checks. This includes conducting fraud and error surveys which serve to reaffirm the entitlement of randomly selected recipients to their ongoing social welfare payments.
Fraud and error surveys are an integral part of my Department’s overall approach to control. The results provide an indicator of the risk of non-compliance with scheme rules at a point in time. They also provide evidence on where control activities should be focused and inform risk assessment models for schemes.
As the Deputy is aware, my Department is currently conducting a fraud and error survey of the State Pension (non-contributory) scheme. Work has been ongoing for some months and results are not expected to be available for publication until April/May 2018 at the earliest. As this work remains in progress and has not yet finalised, I am not in a position to provide the information sought by the Deputy.
The results of all such surveys are published by my Department and available on the website www.welfare.ie and are made available to the Comptroller and Auditor General.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
987. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons directed from Intreo to the community employment, Tús and JobPath schemes in the past 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12658/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is not readily available and is currently being compiled by my Department. The information will be provided to the Deputy as soon as possible.
988. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the financial assistance that will be given to older persons who are not in receipt of fuel allowance to help towards the increase in fuel costs during the recent cold weather as a result of Storm Emma. [12693/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that in view of the recent severity weather conditions, I announced that all people in receipt of the fuel allowance would receive an extra payment of €22.50. The fuel allowance is a payment payable at €22.50 per week for 27 weeks (a total of €607.50) from October to April, to over 368,000 low income households. I believe that increasing this allowance is the fairest and best way of ensuring that those in most need will receive this additional support.
In addition to the fuel allowance my Department can provide supports under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme which includes a heating supplement. This supplement may be paid to a person who lives alone or only with a qualified adult or child(ren) and who has exceptional heating needs due to ill-health or infirmity. There is no standard rate for a heating supplement and each payment is awarded taking into account the individual circumstances of the case, therefore providing for flexibility in its administration. There are currently 1,500 recipients of this payment.
In addition, under the SWA scheme, exceptional needs payments (ENPs) may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which customers are unable to meet out of their own resources and this may include exceptional heating costs. My Department may also make an Urgent Needs Payment (UNP) to a person who may not normally qualify for social welfare support but who have an urgent need which they cannot meet from their own resources. In the two weeks ending 9 March 2018 there were 290 payments made at a cost of approximately €51,000 under the ENP/UNP schemes for assistance towards heating related costs, which includes fuel and essential repairs to equipment.
Any persons who are unable to meet increased heating costs as a result of the recent cold weather should contact my Department’s Community Welfare Service at their local Intreo centre for assistance.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
989. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason contributions made in good faith from 2002 and 2004 towards a pension were returned and not used for the purposes of calculation of rate of pension in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12778/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to pay self employed PRSI contributions an individual must make an annual return of income to the Revenue Commissioners under the self-assessment system and must have earnings in excess of the threshold applicable in the relevant year. In the case of the person concerned, he filed the relevant returns and paid preliminary tax in respect of the years concerned; 2002 and 2004.
However, he claimed a PRSI exemption in respect of 2002 and so no PRSI was charged, while in 2004 his total reckonable income was under the limit for payment of PRSI. In both years, it should be noted that the Revenue Commissioners refunded the preliminary tax that had been paid. Given that no compulsory PRSI charges were due in either year, no additional PRSI contributions arise for inclusion in the calculation of his State Pension (Contributory) entitlement.
The Deputy may also wish to note that the person concerned is not eligible to make Voluntary Contributions for those same years, because he is considerably outside the time frame over which such an application can be accepted.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
990. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an appeal for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12810/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.
An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 6 September 2017.
The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer decided that although a certain level of care was being provided the level involved did not amount to full-time care.
The person concerned requested a review of that decision on 10 February 2018.
This review is currently underway and once complete the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
991. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of homeless non-Irish citizens from the European Economic Area or a country outside Europe who have been seen by the new communities unit, by month, since January 2015; the number of these who have been provided with emergency accommodation; and the form this accommodation takes. [12817/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
With regard to the numbers of homeless non-Irish citizens from the European Economic Area or a country outside Europe that have been seen by the new communities unit by month since January 2015, the Department is unable to provide such statistics as its systems do not differentiate between homeless non-Irish citizens and those individuals who may have been placed in Direct Provision as part of the Asylum Process.
That being said I can advise the Deputy that in the period June 2015, the date from which data is available, to 15 March 2018 the New Communities Unit dealt with a total of 14,160 individuals.
The main focus of the NCU is to ensure that families who are entitled to an income support payment receive same, under the terms of the relevant legislation. Emergency accommodation is sourced and funded by Dublin City Council under Section 10 of the Housing Act (1988) and the Department has no role in this regard.
The practice, whereby staff in the NCU acted as booking agents for emergency accommodation, was a residual one from when the NCU was based in the HSE. This booking function was however 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.
Information in relation to the number of persons booked to emergency accommodation by the NCU prior to 22 May 2017 was not collated. In facilitating the booking of people to emergency accommodation, the NCU only contacted the accommodation provider directly to make the booking. Notification in relation to those persons accommodated in emergency accommodation was part of the reporting relationship between the accommodation provider and its funder and the NCU did not have a role in this.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
992. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which an overpayment will be recouped in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12835/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraA review of this lady’s disability allowance (DA) was carried out and it was established that the person concerned had means not previously disclosed to the Department. This resulted in the disallowance of her DA and in an overpayment being raised against her.
The person in question has recently lodged an appeal with the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) on the basis that the overpayment was not calculated correctly. All the relevant papers requested by that Office will be submitted by the Department and the SWAO will be in touch with the person in due course in relation to the progress of the appeal.
The Department is obliged to recoup any debt owing to it in an appropriate and timely manner. The method of recovery of an overpayment and negotiations regarding the amount recoverable are dealt with under the Department’s code of practice for overpayments and are not appealable to the SWAO. No further action will be taken to recoup the debt until the appeal regarding its calculation is heard.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
993. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 572 and 580 of 8 March 2018, if she will address the specific issue on whether her Departmental officials are liaising with a number of Tús scheme management bodies with a view to making a number of supervisors redundant; if so, the redundancy package that will be made available to those supervisors; if the offer that was made is confined to two weeks statutory redundancy; if the offer that was previously made available to those made redundant on the rural transport scheme of two weeks statutory and two weeks additional per year worked will be offered to Tús supervisors; if not, the reason therefor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12845/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTús is one of a range of supports provided by my Department to cater for long-term unemployed jobseekers and those most distant from the labour market. It provides part-time temporary work in local communities, as a stepping-stone back to employment. However, it is important to note that these placements are not full-time sustainable jobs and are designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work readiness, thereby improving a person’s opportunities of returning to the labour market or getting a job for the first time. The scheme commenced operation in 2011 as a response to the high level of unemployment and the large numbers on the Live Register at that time. There are 47 Local Development Companies (LDCs), as well as Údarás na Gaeltachta, involved in the delivery of the Tús programme - known as Implementing bodies (IBs).
The Deputy will appreciate that the reduction in the unemployment rate is a factor in recruitment to all programmes. Long-term unemployment is expected to fall further this year in line with the continuing forecasted fall in overall unemployment.
The Deputy will appreciate that given the welcome improvements in the labour market in recent years with reducing numbers of long-term unemployed on the Live Register, which is the target cohort for Tús, it is proving difficult to fill the number of places available nationwide. However, changes were introduced recently to the selection criteria for Tús which should broaden the availability of Tús to a greater number of people on the live register. This includes an increase in the percentage of assisted referrals from 20% to 30%, as well as permitting someone who has had a break of up to 30 days on the Live Register in the past 12 months to be considered eligible for Tús selection.
In the five years since the end of December 2012, there has been a 48% fall in the numbers on the Live Register who are more than 1 year unemployed. In this context the Department is currently engaging with the Irish Local Development Network – the representative body for the IBs.
The Department keeps all aspects of its activation programmes under review to ensure the best outcomes for participants and communities.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
994. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the correct level of State pension payable in the case of persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12855/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAccording to the records of my Department, the person concerned is in receipt of the maximum rate of state pension (contributory). The person was also awarded an increase for qualified adult in respect of their spouse from December 2008 to August 2016.
Increase for qualified adult is a means-tested payment, based on the means of the qualified adult themselves. A person’s qualified adult can have a weekly income of up to €100.00 and still be eligible for the maximum rate of increase in respect of their spouse. A weekly income of between €100.01 and €310.00 entitles a claimant to a tapered rate of payment. No entitlement exists where the weekly income is above €310.00. Following a review of the qualified adult’s means, it was determined that their weekly means exceeded the current statutory limit of €310.00 and payment of increase for qualified adult ceased from August 2016.
According to the records held by my Department, the spouse of the person concerned has a social insurance record of 520 reckonable paid and credited contributions, for the period from July 1963 to end-December 2008 inclusive. Accordingly, the spouse is in receipt of a reduced state pension (contributory) in their own right, based on an assessed yearly average of 11 contributions. This is the correct rate of contributory pension entitlement based on the record held.
The Deputy will be aware that the Government recently announced proposals for those who qualified for state pension (contributory) since September 2012, whose rate of entitlement was impacted by the 2012 rate band changes. The case referred to by the Deputy is outside this category as they reached pension age before September 2012.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
995. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the review of the Gender Recognition Act, 2015. [12865/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 7 of the Gender Recognition Act 2015 provides for the Minister to undertake a review of the Act. The Deputy may be aware that, in November 2017, I established a group to review the operation of the Gender Recognition Review Act 2015.
The group is chaired by Moninne Griffith, Executive Director of BeLonG To, the national organisation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) young people, aged between 14 and 23.
It also includes a child participation expert, a law lecturer and representatives from Transgender Equality Network of Ireland (TENI); IndividualiTy (BeLonG To’s youth group for Transgender young people in Dublin); the Health Services Executive (HSE); the Departments of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Children and Youth Affairs, Justice and Equality, Education and Science, and Foreign Affairs and Trade. The secretariat is provided by my Department.
Central to the review is a public consultation process and in early January, I announced a public call for submissions. I am pleased to say that it attracted a significant level of response with almost 90 submissions being received. The Review Group is continuing its work which includes considering the submissions received in response to the consultation process.
It is intended that the review will be completed by end May 2018.
996. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and 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. [12882/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's benefit (CARB) is a PRSI based payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.
An application for CARB was received from the person concerned on 28 February 2018. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
997. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that persons in receipt of carer's allowance who were self-employed at the time their carer duty commenced are denied a credited contribution; her views on whether this means that effectively two persons in receipt of carer's allowance are being treated differently by the contributions system; her further views on whether some persons are being penalised as a result of their prior employment history; if this anomaly will be rectified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12900/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe social insurance system currently provides recognition of the contribution of recipients of carer’s allowance and full-time carers generally, through the system of credited contributions and the homemaker’s scheme.
Credited contributions (credits) are awarded to recipients of carer’s allowance where they have an underlying entitlement to credits. Recipients of this payment qualify for credits where they have at least one paid contribution in the two years prior to commencement of caring or have had credited contributions in that period. Credits are also awarded to workers who take unpaid carer’s leave from work.
Credits protect social insurance entitlements by bridging gaps in an employee’s social insurance record, where they are not in a position to pay PRSI, such as during periods spent caring. In combination with paid PRSI contributions, credits can assist employees in qualifying for short-term schemes such as jobseeker’s benefit and enhance the level of benefit for long-term schemes such as the State pension contributory (SPC). In the latter case, once someone has 520 paid contributions over the course of their working life – the first condition for eligibility for the SPC, credits have the same value as paid contributions when the calculation to determine the yearly average number of contributions paid or credited is applied. The yearly average determines the rate of pension payable.
In addition, all carers, including those who are not on a welfare payment or who do not qualify for credits, may qualify for the homemaker’s scheme. The homemaker’s scheme is designed to help homemakers and carers qualify for the SPC and applies to homemaking periods since 6 April 1994. It equally applies to both men and women.
The scheme provides that years spent working in the home while caring on a full-time basis for a child up to 12 years of age or an incapacitated person age 12 or over will be disregarded in calculating a person's yearly average number of contributions.
998. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to emails from a person (details supplied) regarding JobPath and a sanction applied to their payments; if the case will be reviewed and a response issued directly to the person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12937/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis case is being reviewed by my department and a response will issue directly to the person in question.
999. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the projects mentioned in the National Development Plan 2018-2027 that come under her Department's remit or bodies under its aegis; and the estimated completion dates for each project in tabular form. [12989/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are two projects mentioned in the National Development Plan 2018 to 2027 that come under my Department's remit. These are additional ICT modernisation and the refurbishment of my Department’s Áras Mhic Dhiarmada building.
In relation to ICT modernisation, my Department continues to invest in projects to modernise its business systems and ICT infrastructure. This involves the continued migration of business functionality to the Department’s strategic ICT platform and the development of a digital services platform. It also includes continued investment in datacentres, physical ICT infrastructure, security systems, and ensuring that the complex ICT environment remains fit for purpose. This work will be ongoing.
With regard to my Department’s Aras Mhic Dhiarmada building, this building was completed in 1953. In addition to being the headquarters of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, it is a building of significant architectural interest. Given its age, it is now in need of significant refurbishment. My Department is engaging with the Office of Public Works in order to identify the necessary works and to agree a timeframe for their completion. Until all requisite surveys have been completed and a programme of works has been agreed I am not in a position to indicate an estimated completion date for the project.
