Written Answers Nos. 1390-1407
1390. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a disability allowance for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15047/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned submitted an application for disability allowance (DA) on 9 October 2017. Their application, based upon all the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds as it was not found that this gentleman was substantially restricted in taking up employment.
The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 19 February 2018 and was also notified of their right to request a review of this decision or to appeal it to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). No request for an appeal or review has been received.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
1391. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a disability allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15048/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my department received an application for disability allowance (DA) from this gentleman on 26 January 2018.
On 10 April 2018 the person concerned was requested to supply supporting documentation required by the deciding officer in order to make a decision on his eligibility.
On receipt of this information a decision will be made on his DA application and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1392. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a disability allowance for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15049/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 11 January 2018. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection These papers have been received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 12 February 2018 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral 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.
1393. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a disability allowance for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15050/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned submitted an application for disability allowance (DA) on 4 September 2017. Their application, based upon all the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds as it was not found that this gentleman was substantially restricted in taking up employment. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 16 November 2017.
Further medical evidence was received and a review of this decision was carried out. The original decision was upheld and the person concerned was notified in writing on 8 March 2018. He was also advised of his right to appeal this decision to the independent social welfare appeals office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1394. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a carer’s allowance appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15051/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence including that adduced at the oral hearing, has decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision on 3 April 2018.
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 trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1395. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15052/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 16 March 2018, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral 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.
1396. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) has been paying class B PRSI contributions as opposed to class A from 1998-99; if the PRSI record will be amended should the original classification be incorrect; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15053/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Scope insurability section in my Department is responsible for decisions on the insurability of employment under the Social Welfare Acts. Employers, employees or the self-employed may apply to the section to have an employment or self-employment status investigated and the correct class of pay-related social insurance (PRSI) determined.
No application for a decision has been received from the individual referred to by the Deputy.
The person concerned may apply to Scope section to have the circumstances of their employment established with a view to determining the correct class of PRSI. If the wrong class of PRSI has been returned, the employer would be required to pay the correct contribution for the period in question. The individual’s record would be amended accordingly.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1397. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 544 of 8 March 2018 and 972 of 20 March 2018, the way in which customers with passports who collect their payments on a weekly basis in the post office authenticate identity to SAFE 2 standard for the purposes of enabling the collection of PSI data by post; and the location in which the existing photos utilised to complete the SAFE 2 process are obtained. [15068/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has operated a number of methods to SAFE register a person. One of these was via post where the customer had already successfully applied for and held a passport.
In the case of the Passport Office data, the photograph is verified in a face-to-face interaction at the passport application stage.
The postal method of registration was offered in the following circumstances
1. The customer was in receipt of a payment from the Department;
2. The customer was over 66 years of age and had a Free Travel entitlement; and
3. The Public Service Identity (PSI) data provided to the passport office exactly matched the data held on the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) system.
In these circumstances the customer was issued a form (PSC1) offering them the facility to complete the SAFE registration process by post. It was highlighted in the communication that this would only take place with the clear consent of the customer. Thereafter my Department would utilise the passport photograph to complete the SAFE 2 process. This eliminated the need to attend at an Intreo Centre or a dedicated SAFE registration centre specifically for the purpose of registering to SAFE 2.
If and only if the customer consented to completing SAFE registration via this method, the photograph supplied to the passport office was securely uploaded to the DEASP system.
As 76% of the adult population, including 91% of all free travel customers, are now SAFE registered, this Department is no longer offering this method of registration.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1398. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15069/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence including that adduced at the oral hearing, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.
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.
1399. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15070/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 27 March 2018, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral 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.
1400. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an oral hearing will be considered in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15071/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 27 March 2018, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Deputy’s request for an oral hearing of this case will be brought to the attention of the Appeals Officer.
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.
1401. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15072/18]
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.
My Department received an application for CA from the person concerned on 6 December 2017.
It is a condition for receipt of CA that every claimant shall furnish such certificates, documents, information and evidence as may be required for the purposes of deciding their claim.
This application was disallowed on the grounds that the carer was not providing full-time care and attention as required and that she failed to furnish information requested by the deciding officer on 28 February 2018.
The person concerned was notified on 9 April 2018 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1402. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made on a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15142/18]
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.
I confirm that my Department received an application for CA from the person concerned on the 16 January 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.
1403. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if payments will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15145/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned has been awarded Living Alone Allowance (LAA) with effect from 21 February 2018. A letter issued to this gentleman informing him of this on 15 March 2018.
Arrears of payment due issued to the person concerned on 15 March 2018.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy
1404. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the measures taken by her Department to ensure that the attention of those on community employment schemes is drawn to their holiday pay entitlement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15167/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhen Community Employment (CE) applicants are appointed, the Sponsor, as the employer, is fully responsible for all aspects concerning the management and welfare of participants. An employment contract and description of work tasks must be drawn up between the Sponsor and each participant.
A CE participant engaged for the full duration of a 52-week project is entitled to 81 hours holidays per project year (or on a pro-rata basis 8% of time worked). Where a lesser period is worked, holidays should be calculated on a pro rata basis. CE participants are entitled, without loss of pay, to all public holidays that fall on days they would normally work. Holidays must be taken within the 52-week project period. Holiday pay/time off is earned against time worked and CE participants have an entitlement to pay in lieu of any untaken holidays at the end of their CE placement under Section 23 of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, similar to other workers.
A CE Supervisor qualifies for the statutory holiday entitlement, which is 8% of the hours an employee works in a leave year (but subject to a maximum of 4 working weeks) plus public holidays. Holidays must be taken within the 52-week period of the project.
A formal process of recording annual leave is required for the Supervisor(s) and participants. A leave sheet for each Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) funded employee (Supervisors, Assistant Supervisors and participants) signed by the Sponsor should be made available to the DEASP Officer.
Since 1 August 2015, an employee can accumulate statutory annual leave entitlement during a period of certified sick leave. Employees on long-term sick leave can retain annual leave they could not take due to illness for up to 15 months after the end of the year in which it is accrued.
It is a matter for the Sponsor/Supervisor to ensure that all holiday entitlements are taken as leave before the end of the participant’s contract. Holiday arrangements are a matter of agreement between the Sponsor and the participant.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1405. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of qualified adults over 66 years of age to whom the primary payment is the State pension; and the gender breakdown in this regard. [15172/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1406. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of men and women in receipt of the State pension (contributory). [15173/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1407. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of men and women in receipt of the State pension (non-contributory). [15174/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1405 to 1407, inclusive, together.
The information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the following table.
|
Scheme |
Increase for Qualified Adult age over 66 |
Recipients |
Total Number of Beneficiaries aged over 66 years |
||
|
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
|
State Pension Contributory |
1,184 |
48,405 |
249,569 |
147,806 |
446,964 |
|
State Pension Non Contributory |
4 |
1 |
36,675 |
57,774 |
94,454 |
|
Totals |
1,185 |
48,406 |
286,244 |
205,580 |
541,418 |
