Written Answers Nos. 555-573
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Written Answers Nos. 555-573
555. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost of the wage subsidy scheme in each of the years 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018; the number of workers supported by the scheme in the same period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22104/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe wage subsidy scheme (WSS) is an employment support to private sector employers, the objective of which is to encourage employers to employ people with disabilities and thereby increase the numbers of people with disabilities participating in the open labour market. The scheme provides financial incentives to private sector employers to hire people with a disability for between 21 and 39 hours per week under a contract of employment.
Table 1 sets out the information requested for the years 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018.
Table 1: WSS Expenditure
|
2016 |
2017 |
2018 to date |
|
|
Wage Subsidy Scheme |
€19.4 million |
€20.8 million |
€7.4 million |
The WSS has been designed to provide on-going support for employers and their employees availing of the scheme, this is reflected in the participant numbers as shown in Table 2.
Table 2: WSS Participants
|
2016 (end year) |
2017 (end year) |
2018 (April) |
|
|
Participants Wage Subsidy Scheme |
2,482 |
2,669 |
2,595 |
I hope this clarifies the issue for the deputy.
556. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22110/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 6 April 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.
557. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an application by a person (details supplied) will be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22112/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing in this case on 1 June 2018. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the 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.
558. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); when a decision will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22113/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an oral hearing of the appeal of the person concerned took place on 27 March 2018 and that the Appeals Officer is now considering the appeal in the light of all of the evidence submitted, including that adduced at the oral hearing. It is expected that a decision will issue to the person concerned within the next week.
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.
559. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [22119/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to convene an oral hearing in this case.
Every effort will be made to hear the case as quickly as possible and the appellant will be informed when arrangements for the oral hearing have been made.
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.
560. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the breakdown of the training and development and incidental expenses incurred by her Department in the year ending 31 December 2017. [22139/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following table outlines the breakdown of expenditure on training and development and incidental expenses in the year ending 31 December 2017 for my Department. This expenditure is provisional and subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General.
|
Category |
Expenditure |
|
€’000 |
|
|
Bank Charges |
1,942 |
|
Legal Fees, investigations and awards |
1,709 |
|
Staff Training |
1,580 |
|
PeoplePoint |
1,197 |
|
Customer Communications and Advertising |
1,188 |
|
Translation Costs |
760 |
|
Miscellaneous |
520 |
|
Conference/Meeting Related Expenditure |
504 |
|
Research Supports |
463 |
|
Subscriptions/Publications |
420 |
|
Taxi/Carriage Costs |
253 |
|
Total Provisional Costs for 2017 |
€10,536 |
561. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the breakdown of the travel and subsistence expenses incurred by her Department in the year ending 31 December 2017. [22155/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following table outlines the breakdown of expenditure on travel and subsistence in the year ending 31 December 2017 for my Department. This expenditure is provisional and subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General.
|
Travel €000 |
Subsistence €000 |
Total €000 |
|
|
Home Travel |
2,936 |
1,407 |
4,343 |
|
EU/Foreign Travel |
94 |
138 |
232 |
All travel and subsistence costs are wholly and exclusively related to a person’s duties in carrying out Department business.
562. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the consultancy services, value for money and policy review expenses incurred by her Department in the year ending 31 December 2017. [22171/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is currently being compiled by my Department and will be provided to the Deputy as soon as possible.
563. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) was refused entry onto a community employment scheme; and if the decision will be reviewed. [22180/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommunity Employment is an employment programme which helps long-term unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work routine. The programme assists them to enhance and develop both their technical and personal skills which can then be used in the workplace.
The criteria for participating on the Community Employment programme are based on age and length of time in receipt of various social welfare payments. Persons who apply for a job in mainstream Community Employment Schemes must be aged 21 years or more and in receipt of a Jobseekers payment for at least 12 months. Another condition is that they cannot have worked more than 30 days in that 12 month period prior to application.
The person concerned was in in employment from 13 September 2017 to 16 November 2017. Regretfully, this period of employment was in excess of the 30 days allowable and he was advised that he could not be considered eligible for a Community Employment Scheme at this time.
The person concerned has been advised to contact his Case Officer to discuss what other services and supports may be available him into the future.
I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy
564. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an application for disability allowance by a person (details supplied) will be expedited. [22183/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned submitted an application for disability allowance (DA) on 5 March 2018. Their application, based upon all the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds as it was not found that this lady was substantially restricted in taking up employment.
The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 15 May 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.
565. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is entitled to draw six weeks carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22193/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly may I take this opportunity to extend my condolences to the person concerned and her family on their recent bereavement.
Carer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested payment, made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that they require that level of care. An increased payment can be made where full-time care is being provided to two people.
CA continues in payment for 12 weeks after the death of a care recipient.
In this case as the care recipient died on 20 April 2018, her current weekly entitlement of €352.80 will continue until 18 July 2018. As the person concerned is also in receipt of CA in respect of full-time care for her daughter, CA will continue from 19 July 2018 at a reduced personal rate of €214.00 weekly, which is the maximum rate payable to a person caring for one person. The person concerned will also continue to receive an increase for a qualified child of €31.80 weekly.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
566. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department has conducted an analysis of the impact increasing primary social welfare payments has on income thresholds for entitlement to secondary benefits and payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22222/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra567. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons who lost an entitlement to a secondary social welfare benefit or payment in 2018 as a result of income thresholds for secondary benefits not being adjusted to reflect the increase in a primary social welfare payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22223/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra568. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason her Department has not adjusted income thresholds for secondary benefits and payments to reflect increases in the rates of primary social welfare payments; her plans to adjust income thresholds for secondary benefits and payments in line with further increases in primary social welfare payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22224/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 566 to 568, inclusive, together.
I believe the secondary benefits the Deputy is referring to are the household benefits package (HHB) and the fuel allowance payment.
The household benefits package comprises the electricity or gas allowances and the free television licence. The package is generally available to people living in the State, aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or who satisfy a means test. The package is also available to carers and people with disabilities under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain social welfare type payments. The package is currently paid to over 436,000 customers and will cost an estimated €237 million in 2018. An applicant would only have to satisfy a means test for HHB if they are aged between 66 and 70 years and not receiving a social welfare type pension. Therefore an increase in the rate of primary social welfare payments would have no detrimental effect on this cohort of people.
The fuel allowance is a payment of €22.50 per week from October to April, to over 338,000 low income households, at an estimated cost of €227 million in 2018. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only one allowance is paid per household. A person applying for a fuel allowance must satisfy a means test. All qualifying non-contributory recipients are accepted as satisfying the means-test. Where a person on a contributory payment resides with household members in receipt of non-contributory payments, income from the non-contributory payments is disregarded for the purpose of calculating entitlement to Fuel Allowance.
The current income limit for fuel allowance is set at €100.00 a week above the appropriate maximum State Pension (Contributory) rate. The following assessable income limits therefore apply from 30 March 2018 when the rate of State Pension (Contributory) increased:
(i) €343.30 for a single person under 80 years (€100 plus €243.30), up from €338.30
(ii) €505.40 for a couple, where the qualified spouse/civil partner/cohabitant is under 66 years (€100 plus €243.30 plus €162.10), up from €497.10
(iii) €561.30 for a couple, where the qualified spouse/civil partner/cohabitant is 66 years or over (€100 plus €243.30 plus €218.00); up from €551.80
Therefore the income limits for HHB and fuel allowance automatically increase when the rates of State Pension (Contributory) increase. Accordingly it is not necessary for my Department to conduct an analysis of the impact increasing primary social welfare payments has on income thresholds for entitlement to HHB or fuel allowance payment.
Additionally, my Department would not have any figures on the number of people who lost entitlement to HHB or fuel allowance because of an increase in primary social welfare payments as the income threshold is automatically adjusted.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
569. 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 person's case and medical evidence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22241/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraPartial Capacity Benefit (PCB) is a social welfare scheme which allows a person return to employment if they have reduced capacity for work and to continue to receive a payment from my department. A person who applies for PCB will, in the first instance, be assessed by a Medical Assessor who expresses an opinion on the degree of partial capacity. A person assessed with a moderate restriction on capacity for work gets 50% of their personal rate of payment plus any increases due in respect of an adult dependant and children; a person assessed with a severe work restriction gets 75% and a person assessed with a profound level gets 100%.
This case was examined by a medical assessor who is of the opinion that the person concerned has a moderately reduced capacity for work. However, the case was sent for review and on receipt of a new opinion a decision was made on the case confirming the original decision and the person concerned was notified of the position.
If the person concerned disagrees with the assessment they have the right to appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
570. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an application for a carer’s allowance by a person (details supplied) will be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22283/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested payment, made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that they require that level of care. An increased payment can be made where full-time care is being provided to two people.
I confirm that my department received an application for CA from the person concerned on the 3 April 2018.
The application is currently being examined by a deciding officer and once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
571. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there are supports offered to allow a person to retrain (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22284/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Social Protection provides a wide range of second chance education opportunities for unemployed people, lone parents and people with disabilities under the back to education programme. The objective is to raise education and skills among the long term unemployed to meet the requirements of the modern labour market. The back to education programme provides a comprehensive range of options from which an unemployed person can choose the option appropriate to his/her needs.
A person wishing to pursue a course of study on the BTEA must be pursuing a full-time course of study leading to a recognised qualification and progressing in their level of education.
A person wishing to undertake a part-time course can apply for approval under the Education, Training and Development option (ET&D) or the Part-Time Education Option (PTEO) and may continue to receive, subject to satisfying certain conditions, his/her existing social welfare payment while attending recommended courses. The Department’s Intreo staff will be happy to advise an individual of the option that might best suit their needs.
572. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the supports available to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22289/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned made a claim for jobseekers allowance at their Intreo Centre on 1 May 2018 and supplied further requested documents on 4 May 2018 and 5 May 2018. The person concerned was asked to apply for a public service card but to date the person concerned has not returned to the Intreo Centre to follow up on this matter. Once this issue has been resolved an application for jobseeker allowance can be progressed. If the applicant qualifies for a Jobseekers payment, they will be offered support through this Department’s Employment Services by way of referral to a Case Officer who will work with them to access employment or training as appropriate to their needs. If they have a housing need, they should in the first instance, contact the County Council who can undertake a housing needs assessment (Housing Assistance Payment). Following the processing of their jobseekers claim, the individual may be eligible for Rent Supplement support from this Department. Rent Supplement is intended to address a short term housing need.
Should the person concerned have any urgent needs they can contact the community welfare officer for their area at 087 647 3528.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
573. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated amount it would cost in 2019 if the budget for the school meals programme was increased by 10%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22303/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,580 schools and organisations benefitting 250,000 children at a total cost of €54 million in 2018 representing an increase of €6.5 million over the previous year. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
Based on the 2018 allocation of €54 million, the estimated full year cost of increasing expenditure on the school meals programme by 10% is €5.4 million. Any such changes would have to be considered in a budgetary context and within the scope of the overall resources available for welfare improvements.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
