Tuesday, 15 Jan 2019

Written Answers Nos. 1092-1111

Departmental Agencies Data

Ceisteanna (1092)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

1092. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent of the funding provided either directly or indirectly through agencies controlled by her Department for the provision of advocacy services during 2018; the proposed expenditure figures for 2019; the number of advocacy cases dealt with in 2018 by each of the advocacy organisations so funded; and the number of staff and volunteers in each advocacy organisation in December 2018. [1198/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of my Department are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council, the Low Pay Commission and the Social Welfare Tribunal.

The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the statutory body responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice (including money and budgeting advice) and advocacy services to citizens on a wide range of public and social services. The nationwide network of Citizens Information Services (CIS), funded and supported by CIB, provides free and impartial information to the public on a range of social and public services. The CIS also supports clients, including those who may have a disability, to act on their own behalf wherever possible (self-advocacy). CIS staff also advocate directly on behalf of clients, where required. The CIS has an overall staffing of approximately 300. The network is also supported by employment scheme workers and volunteers who are not assigned to advocacy casework. The CIS dealt with over 600,000 people in 2018. Of these, representative advocacy was delivered in approximately 2,600 cases, and almost 7,000 others required once-off advocacy intervention. In 2018, the overall allocation to cover services provided by the CIS was €14.9 million.

The CIB also funds and supports the National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities (NAS), which provides an independent confidential and free advocacy service that works exclusively for adults with disabilities. In 2018, the NAS dealt with a total of 3,915* cases, of which 914 required full representative advocacy casework and 3,001 who received information, advice and once-off interventions. The budget allocation to the NAS was €3.1million in 2018 and the allocation for 2019 is €3.25million.

The other organisations under the aegis of my Department - namely the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council, the Low Pay Commission and the Social Welfare Tribunal do not have a statutory advocacy role.

*provisional figure, annual statistics not yet finalised.

Jobseeker's Allowance Payments

Ceisteanna (1093)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

1093. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a primary payment, jobseeker's allowance was ceased in the case of a person (detail supplied); when payment will be reinstated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1238/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

A commencement of employment (COE1) form was automatically issued on 23/11/18 in which the person concerned was asked to sign and return the document to the Newbridge Intreo Centre within 14 days. As the document was not returned within the required timeframe the primary payment was automatically suspended. However all documentation has now been received and the primary payment, a jobseeker's allowance, reinstated. This matter has been resolved and all payments due to the person concerned have issued to date.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Job Initiatives

Ceisteanna (1094)

Marc MacSharry

Ceist:

1094. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 538 of 19 December 2018, if her attention has been drawn to the fact that talks for the agreement of a new contract have broken down and as such a company (details supplied) will not be the sponsor organisation in 2019; if her attention has been further drawn to an application from another potential sponsor organisation to secure a contract for the provision of job club services in County Sligo to her Department; if other applicant sponsor organisations will be considered to ensure the provision of continued job club services in County Sligo in 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1263/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

The company concerned has operated a Job Club service in Co Sligo for a number of years under a 12-month fixed term contract which was renewed annually with the Department.

Towards the end of 2018, the company submitted proposals to the Department to enter into a new contract for the provision of this service in 2019. Officials of my Department have met with the company to see if there was a basis for agreement on the matter, namely to allow the company to continue to operate the Job Club service, initially until the end of January 2019, on the same terms and conditions which applied in 2018. However, the company was unable to accept this offer. Despite intensive discussions, it has not been possible for both parties to agree terms which would enable the Job Club to operate in 2019 and the company felt it had no option but to withdraw from operating the service.

No application for the provision of a Job Club service in Co Sligo has been received from another sponsor organisation. However, in order to ensure that jobseekers are fully supported in their efforts to find employment, Department officials are due to meet shortly with management of the local Education and Training Board who have previously indicated that they can provide a broadly similar type service in 2019.

The Department has no plans at this time to invite other organisations to submit proposals to operate the service.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Back to Education Allowance Applications

Ceisteanna (1095)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

1095. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 271 of 6 December 2018, if the information provided or lack of appropriate information can be clarified with a view to the applicant providing the relevant and appropriate information; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1264/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

In September 2018 the person concerned attended a meeting with their Case Officer to discuss an application which they had made for Back To Education Allowance (BTEA).

Subsequent to the meeting with the Case Officer, a Deciding Officer in October 2018 informed the person concerned that their BTEA application was unsuccessful. The person concerned requested a review of this decision and a review was then conducted by another officer.

The review of the decision was unsuccessful as the reviewing officer agreed with the original decision which was made in October 2018.

The information attached to Parliamentary Question 51448/18 was reviewed in December 2018 by the original Case Officer who considered the application in the first instance from the person concerned. After careful consideration the Officer found no new grounds to recommend a change to the decision. There is no outstanding information required.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Domiciliary Care Allowance Review

Ceisteanna (1096)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

1096. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of eligibility for a domiciliary carers allowance following a review request in the case of a person (details supplied); when the review is likely to be concluded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1265/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

An application for domiciliary care allowance was received from this lady on the 27th August 2018. The application was not allowed as the child was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for the allowance. A letter issued on the 16th November 2018 setting out the decision of the deciding officer to refuse the allowance.

A review of this decision was requested on the 3rd December 2018. The claim will be re-examined by a deciding officer and a revised decision will be made if warranted. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome of the deciding officer's review as soon as possible.

Reviews are currently taking approximately 12 weeks to process.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Disability Allowance

Ceisteanna (1097)

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

1097. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full year cost of increasing disability allowance, disability benefit, blind pension, invalidity pension, carer's allowance and carer's benefit by €5, €10, €15, €20 and €25 respectively taking into account increases already committed to in Budget 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1266/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

The estimated full year cost of increasing the weekly rates of payment of disability allowance, illness benefit (formerly disability benefit), blind pension, invalidity pension, carer's allowance and carer's benefit by €5, €10, €15, €20 and €25 respectively is set out in the following table.

-	€5	€10	€15	€20	€25
Disability Allowance	€39.57m	€79.13m	€118.78m	€158.34m	€197.91m
Illness Benefit	€13.72m	€27.48m	€41.24m	€54.97m	€68.70m
Blind Pension	€0.33m	€0.67m	€1.00m	€1.33m	€1.66m
Invalidity Pension	€16.28m	€32.52m	€48.80m	€65.08m	€81.36m
Carer’s Allowance	€16.32m	€32.64m	€48.96m	€65.28m	€81.60m
Carer’s Benefit	€0.72m	€1.44m	€2.15m	€2.87m	€3.59m

The costs above include proportionate increases for qualified adults and those on reduced rates of payment. It should be noted that these costs are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2019 and are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients.

Child Benefit Eligibility

Ceisteanna (1098)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

1098. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to extend the payment of child benefit to include those children that have reached 18 years of age but are still in full-time secondary school education (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1287/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Child Benefit is a monthly payment made to families with children in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children up to their 18th birthday who are in full-time education, or who have a disability. Child Benefit is currently paid to almost 622,871 families in respect of almost 1.2 million children, with an estimated expenditure of more than €2 billion in 2018.

Given the universality of Child Benefit, extending entitlement to parents of full-time students in second level education who are over 18 years of age would not be a targeted approach. The adoption of such a proposal would have significant cost implications and would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.

Families on low incomes can avail of a number of social welfare schemes that support children in full-time education until the age of 22, including:

- Increase for a Qualified Child (IQCs) with primary social welfare payments;

- the Working Family Payment (formerly Family Income Supplement) for low-paid employees with children;

- the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance for low income families (paid at the full-time second-level education rate).

These schemes provide targeted assistance that is directly linked to household income and thereby support low-income families with older children participating in full-time education.

Any changes to the eligibility for Child Benefit to those children over 18 years of age that are still in full time secondary education would have to be considered in the overall budgetary context.

Invalidity Pension Applications

Ceisteanna (1099)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

1099. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an application for invalidity pension will be expedited in the case of a person (details supplied). [1289/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.

The department received a claim for IP from the lady referred to on 05 December 2018.

This application was disallowed on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. This lady was notified on the 09 January 2019 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Partial Capacity Benefit Scheme Payments

Ceisteanna (1100)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

1100. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the full rate of payment of invalidity pension over the Christmas 2018 period and subsequent reduced payment of partial capacity benefit will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1301/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Partial Capacity Benefit (PCB) allows a person who has been in receipt of Invalidity Pension and who may not have full capacity for work, to return to employment and continue to receive a partial or full payment from the Department.

The Person concerned is currently in receipt of Partial Capacity Benefit and was assessed with a "moderate" level of work incapacity meaning that they receive 50% of their personal rate of Invalidity Pension

They are currently paid up to date and any arrears including the Christmas Bonus owing to them have issued.

I trust this clarifies matters for the deputy.

Jobseeker's Allowance Payments

Ceisteanna (1101)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

1101. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when jobseeker's allowance will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); the documentation outstanding on their claim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1302/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

The person concerned withdrew an application for Jobseekers Allowance (JA) in favour of an application for Jobseekers Benefit (JB) therefore there is no outstanding documentation on the JA claim. The JB claim was awarded from the 30th October 2018 and the person has been informed.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Working Family Payment Payments

Ceisteanna (1102)

Tom Neville

Ceist:

1102. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1303/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Working Family Payment (formerly Family Income Supplement ) is a weekly in-work payment which provides additional income support to employees on low earnings with children.

An application for Working Family Payment (WFP) was received from the person concerned on 03 October 2018.

Their application was referred to a local Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) for further clarification on 14 December 2018. The relevant SWI office was contacted on 08 January 2019 in relation to this application and it has been confirmed that this case will be prioritised.

On receipt of the completed report from the SWI, their WFP application will be processed without delay and the person concerned will be notified of the decision.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Illness Benefit Payments

Ceisteanna (1103)

John Brady

Ceist:

1103. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the new automated system for illness benefit payments is fully functioning and working without issues with payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1391/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

My Department transferred administration of the Illness Benefit (IB) scheme to its core IT platform in August 2018. Although the system change has worked effectively for over 80% of IB customers, significant difficulties arose following implementation for a number of customers.

My Department took three main steps to resolve the issues impacting on payments. First, we have deployed additional staff to process works and respond to the customer enquiries. Second, we have developed new IT workarounds that address the payment gap issues and to ensure a faster flow-through to payments. Third, we are continuing to review the design rules in the system to afford greater flexibility in processing of claims and certificates.

Payment levels are now maintained at the expected norm,for the past two months. People who are due a payment and whose certificates and claims are in order now receive their payment entitlement promptly. In stating this it is important to note that there are always cases, and were always such cases under the old system, where people's payments are legitimately stopped or paused for a variety of reasons.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Illness Benefit Payments

Ceisteanna (1104)

John Brady

Ceist:

1104. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to use the same new automated system recently put in place for illness benefit for other social welfare payments; the payments in this regard; when this is planned for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1392/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

The Department has acknowledged that difficulties arose in delivery of Illness Benefit payments in Autumn 2018, when the Department transferred administration of the Illness Benefit scheme from an old ICT system to its strategic ICT platform on 4 August 2018.

The difficulties that arose were limited to the operation of Illness Benefit and have been addressed by the Department as a matter of priority. Other schemes supported by the same platform continued to operate as normal throughout the Autumn.

This ICT platform already manages most of the Department’s scheme payments and it processes approximately 1.3 million of the Department’s 1.6 million weekly scheme payments.

The Department continues to engage in an on-going programme of business process and ICT service delivery modernisation with the aim of improving both customer service and operational efficiency.

Disability Allowance Payments

Ceisteanna (1105)

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

1105. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will receive arrears of disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1395/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

The person concerned has been awarded disability allowance with effect from 8 August 2018. The first payment was made by her chosen payment method on 7 November 2018.

Arrears of payment due have issued to the person concerned on 10 January 2019.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Public Services Card

Ceisteanna (1106)

John McGuinness

Ceist:

1106. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she will take to allow the public services card to be used as identification for customers of credit unions who have no other means of identification. [1416/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Under current legislation, a Public Services Card (PSC) cannot be requested by any public or private body or person that is not designated 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 this legislation when conducting a public transaction with the person concerned.

One of the provisions set out in Section 5 of the Social Welfare, Pensions, and Civil Registration Bill 2017 would, if enacted, enable citizens 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. It simply gives individuals the option to use their PSC if they wish, as proof of identity and/or age, in transactions with non-specified bodies.

For the sake of clarity, therefore, the Deputy should note that this proposal in no way allows nor can a private sector body access the customer data on the card or on any Government database. It simply provides for the card be accepted as a form of identity verification by a private sector organisation or non-specified body - but only at the sole discretion of the card holder. It is believed that this approach gives power to the individual to control access to and use of their PSC.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Insurance Data

Ceisteanna (1107, 1108, 1109)

Joan Burton

Ceist:

1107. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons born in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 that had reckonable earnings for social insurance purposes within gross income groups (details supplied) based on P35 returns for 2017. [1502/19]

Joan Burton

Ceist:

1108. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons born in 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 that had reckonable earnings for social insurance purposes within gross income groups (details supplied) based on P35 returns for 2016. [1503/19]

Joan Burton

Ceist:

1109. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons born in 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999 that had reckonable earnings for social insurance purposes within gross income groups (details supplied) based on P35 returns for 2015. [1504/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1107, 1108 and 1109 together.

The following tables show the number of persons who had reckonable earnings for Social insurance purposes only within the bands requested by the Deputy. Reckonable earnings generally refers to income derived from insurable employment (i.e. employment income) which is taxed under PAYE. Those paying PRSI on reckonable earnings are referred to as employed contributors. PRSI contributions paid on reckonable earnings are recorded under one of the employment Classes A, B, C, D, E, H and J. The Department does not hold information on gross income.

2015 Reckonable Earnings

	People	.01-5,000	5,001 - 10,000	10,001 - 15,000	15,001 - 20,000	20,001 and higher
1996	38,907	20,953	10,994	4,553	1,716	691
1997	28,320	20,546	5,787	1,402	411	174
1998	17,143	13,981	2,473	457	160	72
1999	7,828	6,763	843	140	54	28
Total	92,198	62,243	20,097	6,552	2,341	965

2016 Reckonable Earnings

	People	.01-5,000	5,001 - 10,000	10,001 - 15,000	15,001 - 20,000	20,001 and higher
1997	43,691	21,828	12,552	5,925	2,406	980
1998	31,945	22,624	6,707	1,778	593	243
1999	19,848	16,071	2,992	532	162	91
2000	8,582	7,403	933	173	50	23
Total	104,066	67,926	23,184	8,408	3,211	1,337

2017 Reckonable Earnings

	People	.01-5,000	5,001 - 10,000	10,001 - 15,000	15,001 - 20,000	20,001 and higher
1998	46,532	22,076	13,747	6,661	2,821	1,227
1999	34,137	23,636	7,603	2,016	600	282
2000	21,374	17,120	3,367	626	188	73
2001	9,276	8,063	953	175	65	20
Total	111,319	70,895	25,670	9,478	3,674	1,602

2017 figures are based on the most up to date information provided by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners.

Parental Leave

Ceisteanna (1110)

Seán Barrett

Ceist:

1110. Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when she expects the Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017 to be presented in Dáil Éireann following its passing through Seanad Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1506/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

I am not in a position to provide an update on the progress of the Bill referred to by the Deputy which is a Private Members Bill on Parental Leave. The Deputy is advised that policy for Parental Leave is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality.

Carer's Allowance Applications

Ceisteanna (1111)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

1111. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an application by a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1525/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 8 October 2018.

The application was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 9 January 2019 to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied.

Once the SWI has reported, a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.