Written Answers Nos. 208-226
208. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the contributions record for a person (details supplied) entitles them to benefit during serious illness; and the entitlements available to them as a self-employed person. [43796/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Person Concerned submitted an application for Illness Benefit from the 18th February 2019 but did not qualify as he did not satisfy the PRSI contribution conditions necessary for payment. Class S contributions paid by the self employed are not a reckonable contribution for Illness Benefit.
If the person concerned is ill and will be unfit for work for at least one year, he can apply for the long term scheme Invalidity Pension. Class S contributions are a qualifying contribution class for this scheme.
He can also apply for Disability Allowance, which is a means tested payment for those persons unable to work due to a long term illness or disability, and who expect to be out of work for at least one year.
Should the person concerned be in need of urgent financial assistance, it is open to him to contact the Community Welfare Service at his local Intreo Centre.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
209. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an illness benefit application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43820/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Illness Benefit claim from the person concerned has been processed and she has been awarded Illness Benefit at the graduated rate of €91.10.
The person concerned is medically certified as unfit for work until the 23rd October 2019, and all arrears due to her have issued to her bank account.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
210. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications for carer’s allowance refused on application and granted subsequently on appeal in each of the past four years to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43838/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the attached tabular statements.
Table 1: Total number of Carer's Allowance claims disallowed in each of the years 2015 to 2018 and to end September 2019.
|
|
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
September 2019 |
|
Claims disallowed |
7,920 |
11,144 |
8,599 |
9,291 |
6,499 |
Table 2: Appeal Receipts and Outcome of Carer’s Allowance Appeals Finalised
2015-2019 (to 30/09/2019)
|
|
Appeal Receipts |
Appeals Finalised |
Allowed By Appeals Officers |
Partially Allowed by Appeals Officers |
Revised Decisions By Deciding Officers |
Appeals Disallowed by Appeals Officers |
Withdrawn |
|
2015 |
3,188 |
3,491 |
1,352 |
155 |
579 |
1,355 |
50 |
|
2016 |
3,887 |
3,624 |
1,357 |
145 |
815 |
1,237 |
52 |
|
2017 |
3,200 |
3,416 |
1,204 |
161 |
780 |
1,199 |
72 |
|
2018 |
2,902 |
2,710 |
1,047 |
144 |
440 |
989 |
90 |
|
2019 |
2,328 |
2,518 |
822 |
125 |
496 |
1,002 |
73 |
211. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of non-contributory State pensions; the degree to which this number has fluctuated in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43839/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the attached tabular statement.
Recipients of a non-contributory state pension payment at the 31st of December 2013 to 2018 and to date together with the percentage variance year on year.
|
|
December 2013 |
December 2014 |
December 2015 |
December 2016 |
December 2017 |
December 2018 |
September 2019 |
|
Recipients |
95,801 |
95,570 |
95,179 |
95,221 |
95,140 |
95,263 |
94,798 |
|
Percentage variation |
- |
-0.24% |
-0.41% |
0.04% |
-0.09% |
0.13% |
-0.49% |
212. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons on a supplementary welfare payment other than rent support; the extent to which the number has fluctuated in the past four years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43840/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra215. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications for supplementary welfare allowance which have been refused on application and granted on appeal in each of the past four years to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43843/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 212 and 215 together.
The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. The main purpose of the scheme is to provide immediate and flexible assistance for those in need who do not qualify for payment under other State schemes. Supports provided under the SWA scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment and / or a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as single exceptional needs payments (ENPs) and urgent needs payments (UNPs).
The following tabular statement shows in table 1 the number of persons in receipt of a supplementary welfare allowance payment other than rent support as at the end of September 2019 and the end of December in 2015-2018. Table 2 provides statistics in relation to appeals of supplementary welfare decisions. Statistics on the number of applications for supplementary welfare allowance which have been refused on application are not maintained.
The figures provided for appeals which had a favourable outcome for the appellant relate to appeals which were either allowed in full or in part by an Appeals Officer, or which were resolved by way of a revised decision in favour of the appellant by a Deciding Officer / Designated Person.
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.
There are a number of reasons why a decision which was refused at first instance might be successful on appeal and it is not necessarily the case that the first decision was incorrect. It is often the case that new evidence is provided with an appeal and that, as a result, the original decision may be revised by the Deciding Officer or Designated Person. This was the case in 31.5% of all favourable appeal outcomes in 2018 and in 37.6% of all favourable outcomes to end of September 2019.
Where the decision was not revised by the Department in light of the appeal contentions, further evidence is often provided by the appellant as the appeal process proceeds and in addition, the Appeals Officer may gain insights when they meet the appellant in person at oral hearing which may influence the outcome of the appeal.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Tabular Statement
Table 1 - Supplementary Welfare Allowance Payments 2015-2019
|
Year |
Basic SWA (Recipient Numbers at year end) |
SWA Supplements excluding rent supplement (Recipient Numbers at year end) |
ENPs /UNPs (Number of payments Issued) |
|
2015 |
16,100 |
11,900 |
101,600 |
|
2016 |
16,200 |
9,600 |
100,100 |
|
2017 |
16,000 |
7,800 |
103,500 |
|
2018 |
17,500 |
6,700 |
112,500 |
|
2019 (end Sep) |
17,100 |
5,500 |
68,000 |
Table 2 - Appeal Receipts and Outcome of Supplementary Welfare Allowance Appeals Finalised 2015-2019 (to 30/09/2019)
|
|
Appeal Receipts |
Appeals Finalised |
Allowed By Appeals Officers |
Partially Allowed by Appeals Officers |
Revised Decisions By Deciding Officers |
Appeals Disallowed by Appeals Officers |
Withdrawn |
|
2015 |
2,125 |
2,330 |
634 |
77 |
373 |
1,069 |
177 |
|
2016 |
1,970 |
2,032 |
532 |
75 |
346 |
923 |
156 |
|
2017 |
1,302 |
1,349 |
304 |
34 |
229 |
602 |
180 |
|
2018 |
859 |
1,047 |
258 |
29 |
179 |
467 |
114 |
|
2019 |
740 |
751 |
129 |
18 |
112 |
350 |
142 |
213. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons who received dental benefit in each of the past four years to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43841/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of dental claims received in the last four years and to date in 2019 is as follows:
2015 - 312,659
2016 - 319,618
2017 - 417,336
2018 - 804,375
2019 - 719,233 to end September.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
214. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons who received ophthalmic benefit in each of the past four years to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43842/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of optical benefit claims paid in each of the last four years and to date in 2019 is shown below:
2015 - 163,974
2016 - 164,469
2017 - 229,240
2018 - 451,249
2019 - 372,237 to end Sept.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
216. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost of rent support in lieu of local authority housing in each of the past eight years to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43844/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraRent supplement plays a vital role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation, with the scheme supporting approximately 18,300 recipients for which the Government has provided €132.4 million for 2019.
The strategic goal of returning rent supplement to its original purpose: that of a short-term income support has been primarily facilitated by the introduction of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) in 2014. HAP has been fully rolled out nationally, available in all local authorities, since March 2017. It is expected that the vast majority of those who have long term housing needs and were receiving rent supplement support will have transferred to HAP by the end of December 2020.
The attached tabular statement shows the year on year reduction, from 2011 to date, for both rent supplement customer numbers and its associated outturn. During the eight year period requested, alongside the improving macro-economic environment, the rental accommodation scheme (RAS) has continued its operations, transferring those customers with long term social housing needs to its local authority sponsored solution. The improving economy, RAS and HAP have been the main drivers for Rent Supplement's declining customer base over the past eight years, with HAP being the main driver since its introduction in 2014.
Rent supplement’s role, post the HAP migration programme, will be to provide support to those who have become temporarily unemployed and require support paying their rent whilst seeking alternative employment.
Matters in relation to housing, and in particular for the opportunity costs or benefits in directing rent supplement expenditure to the building of local authority houses, and / or the allocation of capital spend for the provision of social housing versus rent supplement outturn, are a matter for my colleague the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Tabular Statement:
Rent Supplement: Recipient Numbers & Expenditure 2011 - 2019
|
Year |
Recipients |
Cost |
|
2011 |
96,803 |
€502.8m |
|
2012 |
87,684 |
€422.6m |
|
2013 |
79,788 |
€373.0m |
|
2014 |
71,533 |
€338.2m |
|
2015 |
61,247 |
€311.0m |
|
2016 |
48,041 |
€275.3m |
|
2017 |
34,378 |
€230.6m |
|
2018 |
24,303 |
€175.0m |
|
2019 (to end of September) |
18,265* |
€132.4m** |
* Recipient numbers as at end September 2019
** Estimated Outturn to December 2019
217. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the type of social welfare payment currently taking the longest to process; the degree to which the time taken to process all applications has fluctuated in the past five years to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43845/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe type of social welfare payment currently taking the longest to process is Child Benefit, EU Regulation Claims with an average time to award of 24 weeks at the end of September last. These claims require my Department to source information from other EU member states, which may take some time. I note, however, that the average number of such claims per year is approximately 4,000 - that represents roughly 3% of Child Benefit claims or 0.3% of all Social Welfare claims. The average processing time for other Child Benefit claims is two weeks.
A breakdown (where available) of the average time to award claims in each of the schemes under my Department's remit in each of years 2014 to 2018 and at the end of September 2019 is detailed in the attached tabular statement.
Average time to award claims (weeks) in each of the years 2014 to 2018 and at the end of September 2019.
|
Scheme |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
September 2019 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
5 |
6 |
7 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
|
Widow(er)'s Contributory Pension |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
8 |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
17 |
14 |
14 |
12 |
11 |
9 |
|
Jobseekers Allowance |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Jobseekers Benefit |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
11 |
9 |
6 |
6 |
5 |
3 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance (Basi) |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
N/Avail |
N/Avail |
N/Avail |
5 |
6 |
6 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
|
|
|
5 |
6 |
6 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
24 |
15 |
14 |
14 |
17 |
15 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
N/Avail |
N/Avail |
N/Avail |
9 |
12 |
10 |
|
Disability Allowance |
23 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
22 |
8 |
10 |
6 |
7 |
9 |
|
Illness Benefit |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
N/Avail |
N/Avail |
N/Avail |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Child Benefit (Domestic & FRA) |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
|
Child Benefit (EU Reg) |
26 |
28 |
33 |
34 |
28 |
24 |
|
Working Family Payment |
4 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
6 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
10 |
13 |
14 |
17 |
10 |
10 |
|
Household Benefits |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
Free Travel |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
218. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason jobseeker's allowance was terminated in the case of a person (details supplied) when they informed her Department they intended to do a training course in order to update their skills; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43846/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraPayment of jobseeker's allowance was suspended when the person concerned failed to sign on the scheduled signing day. On presenting to the Social Welfare Branch Office, a member of staff confirmed that the person concerned still satisfied the statutory conditions for receipt of jobseeker's allowance and payment was reinstated. The person concerned was advised that payment would be available in 3 working days and informed of her next signing day.
The person concerned informed the Social Welfare Branch Office of her intention to commence an unpaid training day for an upcoming employment opportunity. My Department operates a fast-tracking system for people who sign off a jobseeker's payment to take up work for a short period (up to 12 weeks) or to go on a short training course (up to 12 weeks). This ensures that payments are reinstated without delay.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of a jobseeker's allowance payment. It is important that the person concerned informs my Department in advance if she intends to avail of work or training opportunities.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
219. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which her Department, through Intreo, works to ensure that persons suffering from a mental or physical illness are treated sympathetically and encouraged to obtain appropriate assistance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43847/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a range of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability. Entitlement to these supports is not contingent on the nature of the illness or disability itself but on the extent to which a person’s capacity to work is restricted by illness or disability.
If a particular scheme is more appropriate to the individual's circumstances, they will be supported in making an application for that scheme. Staff in Intreo Centres provide assistance in this process.
Intreo Centres provide support for people including people with a disability or illness in reaching their employment ambitions and, in this regard, training has been delivered to over 60 Case Officers who can provide specialised support to people with disabilities. In addition some 390 Intreo staff members have
attended Disability Awareness training courses
The nationwide EmployAbility service, delivered under contract on behalf of my Department, is a specialist service designed to support persons with a disability in seeking and finding employment.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
220. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if transition from employment to unemployment payment and vice versa can be simplified with a view to eliminating possible hardship. [43848/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe jobseekers schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative full-time employment. Support is available under the jobseekers benefit scheme which is based on a person's PRSI contribution. People without sufficient contributions may be eligible for the means tested jobseekers allowance payment, depending on their circumstances. These schemes are designed to be flexible in order to include a wide range of employment situations as long as the condition of being fully unemployed for at least four in any seven consecutive days is satisfied.
The 2020 revised estimates for my Department provide for expenditure next year on the jobseekers schemes of almost €2 billion, which includes €13.7 million for the jobseekers benefit for self-employed people which is a new support being introduced from this November. This scheme will provide a safety net not currently available to people setting up business.
My Department also assists jobseekers through the activation process. A case officer is assigned to help a newly unemployed jobseeker find and secure a sustainable job. The case officer develops a personal progression tailored to the individual’s needs, which may include availing of further education and training opportunities.
If the jobseeker does not find employment through this process, additional offers are provided for through further education and training programmes or in existing community-based employment programmes / workplace-based interventions such as Community Employment and Tús; or in subsidies to employers, through JobsPlus. Long-term unemployed jobseekers are also referred to JobPath, a contracted, payment-by-results employment service that provides additional resources and case managed supports. Targeted supports are available for young people including the Youth Employment Support Scheme.
My Department continues to review its activation programmes to make sure that they remain aligned to labour market needs. The Pathways to Work strategy for 2020-2024, will complement the ambitions of Future Jobs Ireland, with a particular focus on increasing participation levels among under-represented groups and those most distant from the labour market, ensuring that all jobseekers have the opportunity to compete for available jobs. This assistance, along with the flexibility of the jobseekers schemes, provide that jobseekers can transition from employment to unemployment as smoothly as possible and that they will return to work quickly. In the case where a person has returned to work, they may be eligible for Supplementary Welfare Allowance for a period while they are waiting payment of wages.
I would advise the Deputy that any person experiencing hardship in the transition from employment to unemployment or vice versa to contact their local Intreo centre for advice.
221. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the allocations to local infrastructure housing activation fund, LIHAF, in 2018 and from 1 January to 31 August 2019; the amounts that were directed towards the various headings of the off-site infrastructures that were funded; the amount set for LIHAF in Budget 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43698/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs a key initiative of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) is designed to fund the provision of public off-site infrastructure to relieve critical blockages and enable housing developments to be built on key sites at scale. Infrastructure being funded under LIHAF includes access roads, distributor roads, link roads, road improvements, roundabouts, bridges and parks.
Funding of €200 million was originally made available under LIHAF, of which €150 million would be funded by the Exchequer with local authorities to match fund €50 million. 30 projects received final approval, at a total cost of €195.71 million, of which €146.69 million will be funded by the Exchequer with local authorities funding the balance. Details on all of the LIHAF projects by local authority area, budget allocation, project description, and housing delivery have been published on the Rebuilding Ireland website and are available at the following link:
www.rebuildingireland.ie/LIHAF
In terms of LIHAF expenditure, most projects have been at the design and planning stages, and this is reflected in the level of expenditure to date. However, more projects are now progressing to construction stage and it is expected that the expenditure will increase significantly towards the end of 2019 and into 2020 to reflect the increased construction activity.
Drawdown of LIHAF grant funding from the Department commenced with €1.603m in Exchequer funding provided in 2017, a further €6.814m in 2018 and €16.08m to date in 2019. Each of these Exchequer amounts was matched by 25% local authority funding. The allocation for 2020 for LIHAF is €60m.
222. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on a recent report that the Land Development Agency may be bound by EU state aid rules which may inhibit the agency responding to the housing and homelessness emergency. [43764/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s approach, based on advice to date, is that the economic functions of the Land Development Agency (LDA) do not give rise to an advantage either to the LDA or other parties under State Aid rules. The General Scheme of the Land Development Agency Bill 2019 was developed taking account of legal advice in relation to State Aid.
The European Commission was informed at the time of the establishment of the Land Development Agency in 2018. A structured engagement with the European Commission will take place in tandem with the legislative process, supported by necessary information on the LDA. This structured engagement is consistent with the approach taken in relation to other commercial state bodies and reflects the specific nature of the LDA.
223. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she received veterinary advice on the partial lifting of the ban on netting hares due to the rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus; her views on a possible spread of the virus among the hare population here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43683/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra226. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will require captured hares to be microchipped; if veterinarians and the National Parks and Wildlife Service will be involved in supervision of the netting and release of hares; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43798/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 223 and 226 together.
I recently made a decision to ease the suspension of the annual license for the capturing and tagging of hares for coursing meetings on a managed and restricted basis and only in areas unaffected by the Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD2) virus. In tandem with this measure, I have required a number of field studies to be undertaken at some coursing clubs, which will involve veterinary and virology expertise and input. These studies, which will be carried out to supplement existing knowledge of the prevalence and nature of RHD2, will be undertaken with co-operation between the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and the Irish Coursing Club. The field studies will involve the microchipping and swabbing of all captured hares and the testing of swabs in DAFM laboratories for RHD2. My decisions in this regard were taken following extensive liaison with DAFM officials and officials of my Department
224. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will meet with an organisation (details supplied) and others with an interest in animal welfare to discuss the issue of the rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus and the netting of hares. [43684/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recently made a decision to ease the suspension of the annual license for the capturing and tagging of hares for coursing meetings on a managed and restricted basis and only in areas unaffected by the Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD2) virus. I also have agreed that a number of field studies at some coursing clubs, which will involve veterinary and virology expertise and input, will be carried out to supplement existing knowledge of the prevalence and nature of RHD2 in hares.
I am keeping the matter under active review and I am considering a request from the organisation in question.
225. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department can compel local authorities to install cattle grids on roads to protect special areas of conservation under the various habitats and wildlife directives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43767/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraRegulation 27(9)(b) of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 provides that a Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht may request a public authority to take such steps as the Minister considers are necessary to ensure compliance with or enforcement of the Birds and Habitats Directives and the 2011 Regulations. There are no plans to compel local authorities to install cattle grids to protect Natura 2000 sites.
