Written Answers Nos. 569-588
569. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on a matter regarding lollipop persons signing up with the JobPath scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17556/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a range of activation supports catering for long-term unemployed jobseekers and those most distant from the labour market to secure and sustain full-time paid employment. These supports include the JobPath service.
Certain groups of people are excluded from referral to JobPath, one such group being Education Sector Workers.
As a lollipop person the customer in question is an Education Sector Worker, however, due to a clerical error they were referred for activation support to JobPath but the person in question has been withdrawn with immediate effect. My officials have advised that their claim is now correctly categorised which will ensure that they is not selected again for referral to JobPath during periods of unemployment.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
570. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost of providing two weeks paid parental leave as recently proposed by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17627/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Partnership Government commits the Government to increase paid parental leave in the first year of a child's life. An inter-departmental working group, chaired by the Department of Justice and Equality, has been established to examine options for delivering on this commitment. It is expected that the working group will report next month.
Paid parental leave including maternity benefit and paternity benefit are paid by my Department and are based on payment of PRSI contributions while working. The current entitlement to paid maternity leave is 26 weeks and the current entitlement to paid paternity leave is 2 weeks. The 2018 Estimates for my Department provide for expenditure of approximately €264 million on maternity benefit and €16 million on paternity benefit.
The estimated cost of providing an additional 2 weeks of paid maternity leave is approximately €19.2 million and an additional 2 weeks of paid paternity leave is approximately €10.4 million. The total cost of providing an additional 2 weeks of paid parental leave for both parents is approximately €29.6m. These estimates are based on the cost for a full year and assume that any increase in duration is implemented from the beginning of the year.
This costing is subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2018. It should also be noted that there are additional costs to the Exchequer as these estimates do not include the costs of salary top-ups for public/civil servants.
571. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason agencies which refuse to accept the public services card as personal identification will accept a passport which cannot be obtained without the applicant producing a card (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17632/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSAFE Level 2 (SAFE2) registration allows a person to verify their identity once not just for access to services provided by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection but also for an increasing number of public services provided by other State agencies – for example the Passport office. Once a person is registered to SAFE2 they can be issued with a Public Services Card (PSC).
While it is a matter for each public service provider to determine the appropriate level of identity verification required for each of its services, it is Government policy that SAFE 2 registration is required for access to services that need substantial proof of a person’s identity.
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform recently published the eGovernment Strategy 2017 – 2020 which lists a number of public services for which SAFE 2 registration will be required. Others are likely to be listed in the future. The transition plans, including communications, will be developed by the Departments/agencies concerned working with the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
At present, a Public Services Card (PSC) cannot be requested by any public or private body or person not included as a specified body in Schedule 5 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended). The PSC can only be used by public bodies specified in the legislation in the context of conducting a public transaction with the person concerned. At this time there are no immediate plans to expand the range of specified bodies. Any increase in the number of specified bodies would have to be provided for in legislation and consequently would have to undergo Oireachtas scrutiny prior to enactment.
However, one of the provisions set out in Section 5 of the Social Welfare, Pensions, and Civil Registration Bill 2017 would, if enacted, enable customers to volunteer their PSC where they wish to use it as a form of proof of identity and/or age. However, it is important to note that a non-specified body could not request or demand the production of a PSC.
The proposed legislation would not change the number of specified bodies that can request the PSC. It would simply give individuals the option to use their PSC if they wished, as proof of identity and/or age, in transactions with non-specified bodies.
As the law currently stands, even if a card holder volunteers their PSC, a non-Specified Body such as a private sector organisation would be committing an offence by accepting it. Customer feedback is that they should be allowed to volunteer the card to non-Specified Bodies if it suits them to do so, for the purposes of ID verification such as when signing up to a utility company contract or opening an account with a financial institution. Customers often report that private companies insist on a State-issued photographic ID such as a Passport or Driver’s License which they might not have and which are costly. In contrast, the PSC is free of charge. Furthermore, and for the sake of absolute clarity - this proposal in no way allows a private sector body to access the customer data on the card chip or on any government database - simply to view/accept the card as a form of identity and to stop it being an offence for them to accept it. This measure would be beneficial to holders of the PSC, most especially those who do not hold a driving licence or a passport.
Additionally, this alternative approach would give power to the individual to control access to and use of their PSC rather than the organisation that they are dealing with.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
572. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if stamps earned in the UK for the purpose of a pension can be transferred to Ireland for the purpose of a review for a higher entitlement to State pension, contributory, in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17803/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned is in receipt of a reduced state pension (contributory) under EU regulations with effect from their 66th birthday, based on their combined Irish full-rate and modified contributions together with their UK contributions. The person concerned has also been awarded a reduced state pension (transition) from their 65th birthday until the date they reached age 66, based on the same social insurance record.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
573. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a partial capacity payment will be awarded to a person (details supplied) following a review of the case and medical evidence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17854/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraPartial Capacity Benefit (PCB) allows a person who has been in receipt of Illness Benefit for six months and who may not have full capacity for work, to return to employment and continue to receive a partial or full payment from my Department. An Illness Benefit customer who applies for PCB will, in the first instance, be assessed by a Medical Assessor who will review the restriction, if any, on their capacity for work. A person assessed with a moderate level of work incapacity will receive 50% of their current payment, a person assessed with a severe level will receive 75% of their payment and a person assessed with a profound level will get full payment.
The person concerned currently has a claim for Illness Benefit and made an application for PCB and was assessed as moderate by a Medical Assessor.
A request for review was received on 2 April 2018. A new assessment is being arranged urgently and a decision will be made on the case as quickly as possible. Following receipt of the medical decision, the person concerned will be notified of the position.
If there is no change in the assessment, the person concerned has the right to appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.
Every effort is being made to expedite the matter.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
574. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person has a right to refuse a place on JobPath in favour of a place on a community employment scheme; if there is an impediment that prevents a person from deciding to opt for a community employment scheme over a place on JobPath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17860/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe primary goal of my Department’s activation services is to move people from full time and part time unemployment to full-time and sustained employment. A jobseeker who already has an offer of a placement on a Community Employment Scheme (CE) or Tús when they are referred to the JobPath service will be facilitated to take up the offer.
I also announced last week that customers of my Department who are currently engaged with the JobPath service and those who may be referred in future will from 1 June have the option of applying for CE and Tús placement while continuing to engage with JobPath. This will ensure that jobseekers can benefit from the job-seeking support of JobPath while also availing of a part-time work placement provided by Tús, or a quality training and development opportunity provided by a CE scheme .
This change announced last week combines the strengths of the two programmes - by enabling those who are on JobPath to also avail of a Tús or CE placements, jobseekers can benefit from the jobseeking support of JobPath while also availing of a part-time work placement provided by Tús, or a quality training and development opportunity provided by a CE scheme.
This will have a number of benefits both for the vital services provided at a local level by participants on CE and Tús programmes and directly for the Department’s customers.
From a labour market activation policy perspective the implementation of this option is timely given the significant improvement in the labour market and the requirement to ensure that those people who are long-term unemployed continue to be case-managed having commenced on a labour market activation programme such as CE/ Tús.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
575. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the role her Department has in outlining progress on social inclusion under the National Reform Programme 2017. [17684/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is responsible for the management and monitoring of the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007-2016 (NAPinclusion) and the update which covers the period 2015-2017. The Plan identifies a wide range of targeted actions and interventions to achieve the overall objective of reducing consistent poverty.
The headline target, Ireland’s National Social Target for Poverty Reduction (NSTPR) is to reduce the number of people in consistent poverty to 4% by 2016 (interim target) and to 2% or less by 2020, from the 2010 baseline rate of 6.3%. In addition, the Irish contribution to the Europe 2020 poverty target is to reduce by a minimum of 200,000 the population in 'combined poverty' (i.e. consistent poverty, at-risk-of-poverty or basic deprivation) between 2010 and 2020. My Department is currently reviewing NAPinclusion, with a view to developing an updated plan for future periods. As part of this update, my Department is also reviewing the national social target for poverty reduction. This review is being undertaken in consultation with relevant stakeholders.
Under NAPinclusion, my Department engages in a number of activities to monitor progress on social inclusion and poverty reduction. These include ongoing monitoring through the biennial Social Inclusion Report and the annual Social Inclusion Monitor, and engagement in stakeholder consultation with the community and voluntary sector and people experiencing poverty and social exclusion at the annual Social Inclusion Forum.
Data from the CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC), which forms the basis for reporting in the Social Inclusion Monitor, indicate that consistent poverty rose sharply after 2010, to a peak of 9.1% in 2013. The latest SILC 2016 data, released by the CSO in December 2017, indicate that this had reduced to 8.3%. A reduction of 6 percentage points would therefore now be required to meet the 2020 poverty target. The rate of combined poverty fell from 33.7% in 2015 (and from a peak of 38% in 2013) to 29.2% in 2016.
The National Reform Programme (NRP) forms part of Ireland’s involvement in the European Semester process. It reports on a wide range of targeted policies and strategies in place to address the main challenges and imbalances Ireland faces including those identified in the annual Country Report published by the European Commission and Ireland’s country specific recommendations (covering public finances; public investment and labour market participation; and sustainable resolution of non-performing loans). The NRP also reports on progress towards meeting the targets for poverty reduction. This reporting draws on the ongoing monitoring activities for NAPinclusion described above.
576. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans for an exemption or a reduction in the household charge for family carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17870/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraPolicy with regard to the household charge is primarily the responsibility of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.
In 2012, a Household Charge of €100 was charged on residential property in order to fund local services. This charge was an interim measure. It was separate from, and in addition to, the Non-Principal Private Residence (NPPR) charge.
The Local Property Tax (LPT) was introduced in 2013 and replaced the Household Charge. It is collected by the Revenue Commissioners.
My Department provides a range of income supports for carers including carer’s allowance. Recipients of carer’s allowance may also qualify for free household benefits (if they are living with the person they are caring for) and a free travel pass.
There are two allowances in the household benefits package the electricity or gas allowance and the free television licence.
Carers who are in receipt of carer’s allowance, carer’s benefit or domiciliary care allowance on the first Thursday in June, automatically receive the non means tested carer’s support grant of €1,700. Other carers who are providing full-time care and attention to a recipient of care may also apply for the grant.
577. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the respite care grant and carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17872/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the end of March there were 76,097 persons in receipt of a carer’s allowance payment.
The carer’s support grant (formerly the respite care grant) is paid annually on the first Tuesday in June. Some 113,500 such payments were made in 2017.
578. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there was an increase in line with the social welfare increases in budget 2018 for persons in receipt of social welfare on the job initiative scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17883/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of Budget 2018 my Department increased the grant aid to Job Initiative participants by €10 per week, effective from 26 March 2018. This brings the participants personal payment rate to €441.00 per week.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
579. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost in 2019 of increasing the State pension, non-contributory, top rate to the State pension, contributory, top rate including pro rata increases for qualified adults. [17886/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra580. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost in 2021, 2028 and 2046 of increasing the State pension, non-contributory, top rate to the State pension, contributory, top rate including pro rata increases for qualified adults. [17887/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra581. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated additional cost of providing a pension payment of €243.30 to each recipient of a State pension payment including those who receive a qualified adult payment in cases in which the primary payment is a State pension. [17888/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 579 to 581, inclusive, together.
The cost of increasing the State Pension Non Contributory to the maximum rate of the State Pension Contributory is estimated to be €57 million in 2019.
With regard to the costs in 2021, 2028 and 2046, it is not possible to provide costs for these years as specified by the Deputy as the number of recipients of the State Pension Non-Contributory and the rates of payment for both State Pension Non Contributory and State Pension Contributory cannot be known or estimated at this stage. Without these figures, it is not possible to provide an estimated cost.
The additional cost of providing a payment of €243.30 to each recipient of a State pension payment, including those in receipt of a reduced rate of payment as well as those in receipt of a qualified adult payment, is estimated to be €540 million in 2019. This costing includes increases in the reduced rates of State Pension Contributory and Widows, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pension as well as the weekly rate of €232.00 payable to recipients of State Pension Non Contributory.
The costs shown above are on a full year basis and are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2018. It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2019. It should also be noted that all of these costings include proportionate increases for qualified adults and for those on reduced rates of payment, where relevant.
582. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the individual costs for all State pension payments in 2019 on a no-policy-change basis. [17889/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following table provides an early estimate of the additional costs of each State Pension scheme in 2019 over that published in the 2018 Revised Estimates on a no policy change basis. These estimates will change over the coming months as a more detailed analysis of trends is carried out in the run up to 2019 Budget in October 2018.
|
- |
2018 REV estimate |
2019 estimate on a no policy change basis |
Difference |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
€996.8m |
€1,006.8m |
+€10m |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
€5,086.5m |
€5,266.5m |
+€180m |
|
Widow(er)s’ and Surviving Civil Partners’ (Contributory) |
€1,478.8m |
€1,488.8m |
+€10m |
|
Widow(er)s’ and Surviving Civil Partners’ (Death Benefit) |
€9.3m |
€9.3m |
No change |
|
Total pensions |
€7,571.4m |
€7,771.4m |
+€200m |
583. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the difference between the State pension, non-contributory, payment rate and the latest minimum income standards as indicated by an organisation (details supplied). [17890/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice (VPSJ) developed a model of a minimum income standard (MIS). The MIS is defined by the VPSJ as “the gross income a household needs in order to reach their minimum essential standard of living”.
The VPSJ’s Minimum Essential Standard of Living 2017 (MESL) is derived from a negotiated consensus, based on focus groups with representative households, and discussions with policy-makers and experts. According to the VPSJ, it is a standard of living which meets an individual's / household's physical, psychological and social needs, calculated by identifying the goods and services required by different household types in order to meet these minimum needs. The costs incorporate factors such as food, clothing, personal care, health, household goods, household services, communications, social inclusion, education, fuel, transport, personal costs, insurance, savings and contingencies.
It should be noted that the MESL for welfare households assumes that households are eligible for a medical card, and as such, health and insurance costs are reduced accordingly, although the cost of over-the-counter medicines and prescription charges remain. The model for pensioners assumes that the pensioners have the Free Travel pass and the Household Benefits package.
The Minimum Income figures from the Minimum Essential Standard of Living 2017 (the latest publication available) finds that social welfare pensioners in urban areas have adequate levels of income. This is the case for contributory and non-contributory pensioners, living alone and in a couple (Appendix 6A).
For social welfare pensioners living in rural areas, the VPSJ finds adequate income levels for non-contributory and contributory pensioner couples. However, it reports inadequate income levels for social welfare pensioners living alone (Appendix 7A). Excluding housing costs (as housing supplements are separate to weekly social welfare payments), the weekly income gap is reported at €32.65 for non-contributory pensioners living alone.
It should be noted that, in Budget 2018, I announced a number of improvements for pensioners. The maximum weekly rate of the State Pension Non-Contributory (SPNC) increased by €5 per week in March, from €227 per week to €232 per week. The fuel allowance season was extended by one week, from 26 to 27 weeks. A Christmas Bonus of 85% was also paid in late 2017 – for a person on the maximum rate of SPNC, this was a payment of €193.
I am also introducing a new telephone support allowance of €2.50 per week, which is directly targeted at people in these circumstances. Payment of this allowance will commence in June and will be paid automatically to those who are in receipt of both the living alone increase and fuel allowance, i.e., pensioners and people with disabilities of limited means.
Accordingly, since the publication of the report, Budget improvements have likely reduced the identified gap. I look forward to the 2018 Minimum Essential Standard of Living report, which is due to be published in the coming months.
584. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the form, date and amount of all invoices issued to her Department by a company (details supplied) in each of the years 2007 to 2017, in tabular form. [17905/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere were no payments made by my Department to Heneghan PR in each of the years 2007 to 2017.
585. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to hire extra staff to alleviate the 17-week waiting time for the processing of carer's allowance applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17936/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraLike all Government departments and agencies, my Department is required to operate within a staff ceiling figure and a commensurate administrative staffing budget, which for this Department has involved reductions in staff.
The staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continuously reviewed, taking account of workloads, management priorities and the ongoing need to respond to new increasing demands in a wide range of services. This is to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources with a view to providing an efficient service to those who rely on the schemes operated by the Department.
At the end of March 2018 there were 77.96 full time equivalents (80 people) working in the Carer’s Allowance section. In March 2017 there were 73.50 full time equivalents (77 people) working in the section.
My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible.
Before a decision can be made on entitlement to carer’s allowance, evidence must be provided in respect of the care recipient’s care requirement, the level of care the carer provides and the carer’s means. In general, social welfare schemes with a number of complex qualifying conditions can take longer to process. This is compounded if the documentary evidence provided at initial application stage is incomplete or insufficient; this is often the case with carer’s allowance applications.
At the end of March 2018, the average waiting time for new carer's allowance (CA) applications was 19 weeks with 5,591 CA applications awaiting decision. The volume of CA applications on hands are also a consequence of a continued increased intake of claims with the number of applications for CA in 2017 26% higher than in 2015.
A redesigned application form will be published shortly; this new form will allow carers to provide more information on the type and level of care they provide, with an aim to providing Deciding Officers with the information they need to expedite decisions on entitlement.
My Department is constantly reviewing the staffing needs and the processes involved in Carer’s Allowance, to improve the service available to customers availing of this scheme.
586. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the illness benefit payment for a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17938/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIllness Benefit is a payment for people who cannot work due to illness and who satisfy the pay-related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. For illness benefit claims made in 2018, the governing PRSI contribution year is 2016.
The rate of payment depends on the person’s level of earnings in the governing contribution year. Where the average weekly earnings are €300 or more, the personal rate of payment is €198.00. A graduated rate applies where the average weekly earnings are less than €300.
The person concerned made a claim for illness benefit which was registered in my Department on 22 January 2018. Based on their earnings in the governing year 2016, the person concerned qualified for a graduated rate of illness benefit of €127.80.
Supplementary Welfare Allowance is payable where a person’s means are insufficient to meet their needs. Application may be made to the Community Welfare Services at the local Intreo Centre.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
587. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the review of entitlements for seasonal and part-time workers (details supplied); the proposals from the review which she is considering in the context of the 2019 budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17958/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra588. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the review conducted by her Department of the rights and entitlements of seasonal and part-time workers committed to on 24 November 2016 will be provided. [17959/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 587 and 588 together.
My Department’s main social welfare schemes for people who are unemployed are the jobseeker’s allowance and the jobseekers benefit schemes. Both schemes provide significant support to individuals so that they can work up to 3 days a week and still retain access to a reduced jobseeker’s payment. The 2018 Estimates for my Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseeker’s schemes of €2.17 billion.
An Taoiseach, in his previous role as Minister for Social Protection, gave a commitment at Dáil report stage of the Social Welfare Bill 2016 that he would ask officials to examine the issue of jobseeker’s benefit and the treatment of part-time and seasonal workers, including those categorised as having a subsidiary employment. My Department has completed a report on jobseekers benefit and the treatment of seasonal and part time workers which I am examining.
On 7th December 2017, I published the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017 The Bill delivers on the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government to tackle the problems caused by the increased casualisation of work and strengthen the regulation of precarious work. The Bill completed Second Stage in the Dáil on 15th February 2018 and Committee Stage is scheduled for 17th May next.
This very important piece of legislation will improve the security and predictability of working hours for employees on insecure contracts and those working variable hours in all sectors of employment.
My Department is currently collating data on jobseekers benefit recipients in subsidiary employment. We will have 12 months of data gathered by May 2018 at which point I will be in a better position to make an informed decision on this issue.
I intend to submit the report on jobseekers benefit and the treatment of seasonal and part time workers to the Joint Oireachtas Committee. The report will be published subsequently and will be made available to all members.
