Burton, JoanWednesday, 10 December 2014 |
Dáil Éireann Debate |
Rent Supplement Scheme Administration
Was asked: her plans on increasing the threshold for rent supplements in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Was asked: her views on figures published by a newspaper (details supplied) on 30 November 2014 that the average gap between the rent supplement caps and actual rent prices now stands at 44% across the State,...
Was asked: the reforms she will introduce to the rent supplement scheme in response to the recent High Court ruling that the Department was wrong to discount the accommodation needs of a separated father's ch...
Was asked: the extent to which she might be prepared to extend the emergency housing alleviation measures to address short-term housing needs currently available in Dublin to County Kildare and adjoining coun...
Was asked: if she will provide the names of the persons or groups who lobbied her Department to cease rent supplement in the Ballymun, Dublin 11 area as she referred to in a Topical Issues debate on 8 May 2014.
Social Insurance
Was asked: if she will allow fishermen who own their own boats, who are sole traders or may have one or two crew members to pay class P PRSI contributions in order for them to avail of the limited benefits un...
I thank the Deputy for the question. The treatment of workers involved in the fishing industry depends on whether they are regarded as an employee or self-employed or, if self-employed, are a shar...
With the weather in Donegal recently everybody appreciates that the vagaries of the weather can be very tough on people in the fishing industry. I hope the current weather does not cause too many ...
-----and that he would like the boat owner to have access to the class P insurance. We can certainly examine that. In 2012, for instance, 16 individuals opted to pay class P contributions. I do ...
Yes.
I am certainly prepared to look at it because I know that people in the fishing industry work very hard, particularly the inshore fishermen. It is a tough occupation. There is not a vast amount o...
Was asked: if the social welfare scope section in the period 2000 to date made decisions whereby family members employed in the particular family company were insurable at class S or class M; and if she will ...
The Scope Section of my Department makes decisions on the insurability of employment on an ongoing basis, including the insurability of family members.
If the Deputy can supply...
Social Insurance (Continued)
I will ask my officials to look at it.
European Court of Justice Rulings
Was asked: when she will address the issues arising from the Dano judgment in the Court of Justice of the European Union; her views at the possibility of benefit tourism here; and if she will make a statement...
The freedom to move and reside freely within the territory of the member states of the EU is a fundamental right guaranteed under the EU treaties to all citizens. However, it is important that tho...
The Department has been considering the implications of the case carefully. In the context of the forthcoming election in the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom made a speech...
We keep the habitual residency condition under review constantly to ensure that only people who have established a strong link with the country can receive benefits. We continue to monitor that be...
Was asked: the implications of the European Court of Justice ruling that member states may refuse non-contributory benefits to economically inactive EU migrants; her views that this effectively excludes perso...
Under Article 20 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, every citizen has the right to move and reside freely within the territories of the member states. Those rights can be exer...
Under the directive, every EU citizen has an unqualified right of residence in another member state for up to 3 months. A right of residence for longer than 3 months is dependent on being employ...
In its judgment the court found that to accept that persons who do not have a right of residence under EU Directive No. 38 of 2004 may claim entitlement to social benefits under the same conditio...
The judgment of the court has not introduced any new restrictions on free movement but has clarified EU law in this area. Accordingly, the free movement rights of disabled people, or other migra...
Domiciliary Care Allowance Review
Was asked: her views on the findings of the domiciliary care allowance review reports; if she is committed to implementing all the recommendations; and the steps she has taken from April 2013 to date in 2014 ...
The domiciliary care allowance scheme transferred to the Department of Social Protection in 2009 and is now paid to over 27,100 parents or guardians in respect of some 29,100 children at a cost of ...
The recommendations contained in the review of the domiciliary care allowance scheme have been fully implemented in the period since April 2013. The recommendations included a revised applicatio...
Domiciliary Care Allowance Review (Continued)
The changes made also include improved feedback to customers on decisions. The implementation group continues to meet to monitor the impact of these changes and ensure they have a positive outcome...
We have discussed this before but, from talking to parents and guardians, I believe the changes have certainly improved the situation. The critical issue is to provide the required information o...
I am happy to that because co-operation exists on both sides of the House on the reviews of the domiciliary care allowance and there is a number of groups, including a stakeholder group, in the Dep...
The best way to address this issue might be for the committee to hold a hearing with the relevant officials. We have invested significantly in information technology, IT, and communications in t...
I am a strong supporter of plain English and plain Gaeilge forms. The forms we are discussing can have very significant income consequences for people but a certain amount of officialese is requir...
It is important to disseminate some procedural information on a topic we have discussed previously. If people have additional information they should have it reviewed rather than lodge an appeal...
European Court of Justice Rulings (Continued)
Yes.
No, Ireland intervened at the Court of Justice of the European Union along with several other countries in support of the German authorities since it was considered that the outcome of the case cou...
As I have often said to Deputy Ó Snodaigh, I have a responsibility to the people who pay PRSI and taxes. They are paying into a contributory system. For example, when they become older, they ma...
Deputy Ó Snodaigh gave an example of someone who might come to Ireland for medical treatment. The same would apply in the case of an Irish person, perhaps with a child, going for medical treatme...
Private Rented Accommodation Costs
Was asked: as an emergency measure, in the interests of preventing more persons moving into homeless services and to allow those currently in these services to secure private rented accommodation, whether she...
Was asked: in view of the welcomed partial return of the Christmas bonus for social welfare recipients if she will acknowledge the need for a similar gesture by legislating to stop the discriminating practice...
The reintroduction of the Christmas bonus, albeit on a partial basis, along with the other welfare measures announced in the Budget are real indicators of the economic recovery and the Government’s...
In relation to rent supplement, it is clearly my preference that a person should not be refused accommodation due to the fact that they are receiving financial support from the State. This positi...
However, the fact that approximately 71,800 people are in receipt of rent supplement, of which some 19,000 were awarded this year, shows that a significant number of persons are being accommodate...
It is open to any person who has been refused a private tenancy and who feels discriminated against on the basis of his or her gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, a...
Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (Continued)
It was done last week, Deputy.
In regard to the points made by Deputy Brendan Ryan, he expressed his concerns about the different people, including the 5,000 people at work who are affected by the different changes and who have ...
Two Deputies made quite valid comments. I believe I am answering those comments. Other Deputies made valid comments also and I am going to try to answer them. The power of the authority can be ex...
I ask Deputies Ryan and Daly to formally bring any concerns that either of them have in regard to the conduct of the trustees to the attention of the Pensions Authority. I think Deputy Broughan ...
The State pension contributory is paid from the Social Insurance Fund to any individual from the age of 66 who meets the qualifying criteria and has sufficient contribution. The rate of State pe...
I am addressing the specific Sinn Féin amendment in the name of Deputy Ó Snodaigh.
It is amendment No. 23.
Under the rules of the House, Deputy Ellis is entitled to speak about an amendment which has been ruled out of order and I am entitled to comment on the point he raised.
I am referring to the one to which Deputy Ellis referred.
The Deputies seem very reluctant to allow anybody's points to be addressed. That is a pity.
I am aware of the issues arising around the IAS Scheme and recently met, as have several people here, with representatives of the deferred members’ groups. They articulated very clearly their conc...
I do not propose to accept the amendments in the names of Deputies Willie O’Dea, Róisín Shortall, Joan Collins, Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Thomas P. Broughan and Clare Daly. They broadly entail plac...
I move amendment No. 22:
Amendment agreed to.
I repeat for the benefit of the House that the arrangements in the legislation are designed to get the maximum number pension funds, which for a variety of reasons have come into very serious defic...
Earlier I addressed the matters which Deputies Ryan and Clare Daly raised in relation to what happened to this particular pension fund. I listened carefully to everything Deputy Clare Daly state...
Between €12,000 and €60,000, it can be reduced by up to 10%. Up to €60,000 a year, and €60,000 is a significant pension, the reduction above the €12,000 is 10%. For those in excess of that, tho...
I addressed some of the comments of Deputies Ryan and Clare Daly in my earlier response. I do not propose to accept these amendments for the reasons I have set out.
The Deputies should bear in mind that what we are trying to do here - there is no disagreement between either side of the House - is to protect as far as possible persons of different categories ...
I move amendment No. 29:
Amendment No. 30 not moved.
Bill, as amended, received for final consideration.
Question proposed: "That the Bill do now pass."
I thank the Deputies. I understand that the issues we have debated in recent times are very difficult. There has been a very intense negotiation of mediation with the Waterford Crystal workers. ...
Departmental Expenditure
Was asked: if her Department has conducted a cost analysis of the additional 20 gardaí seconded to her Department to tackle social welfare fraud; the projected benefit to the Exchequer of the additional resou...
The secondment of 20 Gardaí to the Department to assist the SIU with fraud investigation work took effect from last Friday, 5 December having been agreed earlier this year with the Minister of Just...
Question No. 10 answered orally.
Community Employment Schemes Eligibility
Was asked: if she will confirm that community employment schemes are now means tested; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
There has been no change made to the entry requirements for Community Employment. The criteria for participating on CE are based on age and length of time in receipt of various qualifying social w...
The qualifying period is waived for Drug Rehabilitation clients where a separate referral process applies whereby medical practitioners and other agents can make the referral.
Once the entry qualifying criteria are satisfied, all Community Employment (CE) participants are guaranteed a minimum payment of €208 per week, regardless of means. Accordingly, if the weekly ra...
If the welfare payment was more than €188, the applicable rate of allowance is the rate of the qualifying payment which was payable before commencement of CE plus €20 per week.
The welfare rate of payment such as jobseeker’s allowance for example is determined by calculating the participant’s maximum entitlement, that is, the personal rate, and the adult dependent and c...
As CE placements last for at least one year, a change in family circumstances may occur during the placement (change in the number of dependants/change in household income, etc.). Participants a...
Farm Assist Scheme Eligibility
Was asked: if she will reverse the changes she made to farm assist with respect to income disregards in view of the fact that it has had a serious negative affect on the income levels of struggling farming fa...
This year the Department will spend approximately €91.6 million on the farm assist scheme benefitting around 9,900 farmers each week. The farm assist scheme provides support for farmers on low inc...
All recipients of farm assist have benefitted from the Christmas Bonus paid last week and all recipients with children will also benefit next month from the increase in child benefit I announced ...
Changes introduced in Budgets 2012 and 2013 have brought farm assist into closer alignment with the jobseeker’s allowance scheme’s treatment of self-employed persons. Farm assist is a flexible pa...
The assessment of means for the purpose of qualifying for farm assist is designed to reflect the actual net income from farming. Income and expenditure figures for the preceding year are general...
The scheme will be kept under ongoing review by my officials and there are no plans to change the current scheme criteria.
Was asked: if she has carried out an analysis on the impact her changes to farm assist with respect to income disregards have had on farmers; if she will reconsider the changes she has made; and if she will m...
This year the Department will spend approximately €91.6 million on the farm assist scheme and it is expected that 9,900 individuals will be in receipt of this payment each week. The farm assist sc...
Changes introduced in Budgets 2012 and 2013 have brought farm assist into closer alignment with the jobseeker’s allowance scheme’s treatment of self-employed persons.
Farm assist is a flexible payment and any farmer experiencing lower levels of income or cash-flow issues can ask their local social welfare / Intreo office to review the level of means applying t...
The assessment of means for the purpose of qualifying for farm assist is designed to reflect the actual net income from farming. Income and expenditure figures for the preceding year are general...
As part of the normal budget process, all potential budget measures, including any changes to the farm assist scheme, are assessed in terms of the impact they would have if introduced. The scheme...
Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility
Was asked: if her Department has conducted research on the impact the reduction in rent supplement levels has had on the level of homelessness in the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
There are approximately 71,800 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014.
The current rent limits came into effect from June 2013. Unlike the impression given in the question, there were no reductions applied to rent limits at that time. Importantly, rent limits in Du...
The current review of maximum rent limits undertaken by the Department is nearly finalised. In this regard, raising rent limits at this time may not be the solution to the problems in this area as...
The homelessness issue is about more than just funding and accommodation. A collaborative approach including all stakeholders including the government, local authorities, state agencies, volunta...
The Department of Social Protection has put measures in place to ensure that the housing needs of rent supplement customers who are in danger of becoming homeless are being addressed by providing...
A notice reminding all staff, of their statutory discretionary power to award, on a case by case basis, a supplement for rental purposes in exceptional cases for example, when dealing with applic...
The tenancy sustainment protocol with the Dublin local authorities and voluntary organisations is designed to protect families on rent supplement who are at risk of losing their accommodation fro...
Staff outside the Dublin region are also increasing rental payments as necessary and are actively engaging with the various organisations involved in homelessness. The Department is reviewing th...
Was asked: if she will review the eligibility for rent supplement to include issues such as the need not to participate in anti-social behaviour; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
There are currently approximately 71,800 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014.
In the case of private rented accommodation, tenancy arrangements involve a contract between the landlord and the tenant. The Department has no relationship with the landlord and tenant behaviou...
Under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 tenants are obliged not to behave within a dwelling, or in the vicinity of it, in a way that is anti-social. Landlords are obliged to enforce the tenant’...
The Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 provides the Department with the authority to refuse, suspend or terminate payment of a rent supplement in the case of a person who has been required to ...
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to review the operation of the rent supplement to ensure that tenants who are receiving long term support from the State under the rent suppleme...
Rent Supplement Scheme Payments
Was asked: if she is satisfied that current levels of rent supplement are adequate to meet the housing needs of recipients, particularly in view of increasing rental prices; and if she will make a statement o...
I am keeping the matter regarding rent limits under consideration and the review being undertaken by the Department will be finalised shortly. Raising rent limits may not be the solution to the cur...
The Department has put measures in place to ensure that the housing needs of rent supplement customers throughout the country who are in danger of becoming homeless are being addressed by providi...
Staff are increasing rent supplement payments as necessary and are actively engaging with the relevant local authorities and various local organisations involved in homelessness. The Department i...
Where a person in receipt of rent supplement is at risk of losing their tenancy they are advised to contact their local Community Welfare Service responsible for their claim as soon as possible.
Was asked: if she will increase the rent supplement levels; her views that such an increase will have an immediate effect on the reduction of homelessness; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
There are currently approximately 71,800 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014.
I am keeping the matter regarding rent limits under consideration and the review being undertaken by the Department will be finalised shortly.
The Department is in a position of both significant influence in the private rented market and responsibility. There is a real concern that increased rent limits may add to further rental inflat...
Increasing both public and private housing supply and the reactivation of the construction activity is a critical issue at this time and the resolution of the housing supply situation is a key el...
I can assure the Deputy that officers administering rent supplement throughout the country have considerable experience and make every effort to ensure that accommodation needs are met including ...
I strongly advise that where a person in receipt of rent supplement is at risk of losing their tenancy they should make contact with the Tenancy Protection Service provided by Threshold in Dublin...
Was asked: the reasons she has ruled out the raising of the caps on rent assistance when they are well below the market rents for houses and contributing to the ongoing housing crisis; and if she will make a ...
There are currently approximately 71,800 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014.
I am keeping the matter regarding rent limits under consideration and the review being undertaken by the Department will be finalised shortly.
The Department is in a position of both significant influence in the private rented market and responsibility. There is a concern that increased rent limits may add to further rental inflation a...
The Department has put measures in place to ensure that the housing needs of rent supplement customers who are in danger of becoming homeless are being addressed by providing for increased flexib...
I strongly advise that where a person in receipt of rent supplement is at risk of losing their tenancy they should make contact with the Tenancy Protection Service provided by Threshold on 1800 4...
Was asked: if she will increase rent supplement levels by 25% in the areas which have experienced the sharpest rise in homelessness as a result of rising rents.
There are currently approximately 71,800 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014.
I am keeping the matter regarding rent limits under consideration and the review being undertaken by the Department will be finalised shortly.
The Department is in a position of both significant influence in the private rented market and responsibility. There is a real concern that increased rent limits may add to further rental inflati...
The Department has put measures in place to ensure that the housing needs of rent supplement customers who are in danger of becoming homeless are being addressed by providing for increased flexib...
In light of a particular concentration of the homelessness problem in the Dublin area, the Department agreed a tenancy sustainment protocol with the Dublin local authorities and voluntary organis...
I strongly advise that where a person in receipt of rent supplement is at risk of losing their tenancy should make contact with the Tenancy Protection Service provided by Threshold in Dublin on 1...
Was asked: if she will determine a formula whereby tenants whose rent has increases substantially over the past 12 months may be offered partial rent support or increased rent support as may be necessary; an...
Was asked: if rent allowance will be increased in line with increasing rental prices; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Community Welfare Services Provision
Was asked: her plans for re-opening the nine community welfare clinics, including those closed in Clogheen, Ardfinnan, Newcastle and New Inn, County Tipperary in September 2013; if she will maintain that the ...
A key objective of the transfer of the Community Welfare Service (CWS) from the Health Service Executive to the Department on 1 October 2011 was to provide a streamlined and consistent service to t...
The Department has since re-engineered its business model to support the provision of integrated services across all business streams involved in the delivery of localised services and has examin...
Where the CWS has been re-structured, alternative arrangements have been put in place to ensure that customers are provided with on-going access to the supports provided by the service. If a per...
The Department’s services are continually monitored and kept under review by management to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources with a view to providing an efficient servic...
There are no plans to re-open the CWS clinics referred to and the level of service at the alternative clinics has not changed since September 2013. Customer feedback has indicated that the level ...
Carer's Allowance Eligibility
Was asked: her views on the current application process for carer's allowance being unsuitable with respect to those looking after persons with learning disabilities or autism; the reason for the delay in tak...
I should state at the outset that eligibility for Carer’s Allowance is not based on the type of impairment or disease but on the level of the care requirement consequent on the impairment.
Carers’ Allowance is payable to those providing full-time care and attention to a care recipient where the recipient of care is aged 16 or over and so incapacitated as to require full-time care a...
The person receiving care is regarded as requiring full-time care and attention where he or she is so incapacitated as to require continuous supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself...
However, the Department, in consultation with carers’ representatives has reviewed aspects of its communications with parents when a child reaches 16 and no longer qualifies for Domiciliary Care ...
The notification to parents that issues in advance of the child reaching 16 is now being revised to advise them of the importance of providing the Department with full and comprehensive informati...
Also, it is important to note that where CA claims for former DCA recipients are being reviewed upon a child reaching 16, the claims remain in payment while the review is underway, even if the ch...
Was asked: the criteria for granting the carers' allowance for persons who care for children with severe autism; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I should state at the outset that eligibility for Carer’s Benefit or Allowance is not based on the type of impairment or disease but on the level of the care requirement consequent on the impairment.
The criteria for receipt of Carer’s Benefit or Allowance is that the recipient of care must be aged 16 or over and is so incapacitated as to require full-time care and attention or aged under 16 ...
In relation to Domiciliary Care Allowance, the qualifying conditions for that scheme are that the child must be aged under 16, have a severe disability that is likely to last for at least 1 year,...
In a case where the child is 16 or over the child may apply for Disability Allowance in their own right and the person providing full-time care and attention may apply for Carer’s Benefit or Care...
The person receiving care, over 16 years of age, is regarded as requiring full-time care and attention where he or she is so incapacitated as to require continuous supervision in order to avoid d...
Social Welfare Code Reform
Was asked: if her attention has been drawn to the fact that where a young person who is having a domiciliary care allowance payment awarded in respect of them reaches 16 and applies for a welfare payment in t...
In 2014 the Department will spend a total of almost €2 billion in respect of the three schemes mentioned, domiciliary care allowance (DCA), disability allowance (DA) and carer’s allowance (CA).
The review of the continued entitlement of a former DCA recipient (parent/guardian) to CA is not dependent in any way on whether the child who turns 16 years either claims or is entitled to DA. ...
Upon the child reaching 16 years, DCA is no longer payable. It is open to the child to apply for disability allowance (DA). In respect of CA claims for children under 16, the care requirement f...
There has been a long-standing process to notify DCA recipients at least 6 months in advance that DCA will stop when the child reaches 16 and that continued entitlement to CA would be reviewed. ...
Recently, the Department decided to review its communications with parents who are in receipt of both domiciliary care allowance (DCA) and carer's allowance (CA) for children who are reaching 16 ...
In order to ensure that the parent supplies sufficiently detailed information from the child's doctor(s) and other healthcare professionals, schools etc., the notification to the parent that issu...
Community Employment Schemes Funding
Was asked: her Department's commitment to the future of the community employment schemes; and if she will review a matter (details supplied) regarding community employment supervisors; and if she will make a ...
Community employment (CE) is the largest employment programme of the Department. It aims to enhance the employability and mobility of disadvantaged and unemployed persons by providing work experien...
In 2013, the Department provided an additional 2,000 places bringing the number of CE places to 25,300 for 2014. There are approximately 1,000 CE schemes throughout the country at any one time pr...
With regard to a CE pension scheme, in July 2008, the Labour Court recommended that an agreed pension scheme should be introduced for CE supervisors and assistant supervisors and that such a sche...
Notwithstanding the position of this Department in rejecting that liability for these costs should be met from public funds, this matter has been the subject of discussions with the Department of...
Given the level of funding that would be required from the Department, the implementation of the claim is not considered sustainable in light of the current and on-going fiscal environment and th...
It should also be noted that this Department is not the employer of CE supervisors and such employees are not public servants but are employees of the sponsoring organisations. The responsibilit...
Employers (including CE Sponsoring Organisations) are legally obliged to offer access to at least one Standard Personal Retirement Savings Account (PRSA) under the Pension (Amendment) Act 2002. ...
It should also be noted that CE Supervisors may also qualify for the State Pension at 66 years of age. If they have accrued sufficient PRSI contributions (520 contributions @ full rate, equivale...
Exchequer Savings
Was asked: if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the reported budgetary savings made in her Department throughout her time as Minister that have had a real and adverse effect on the quality and eff...
The Department administers over 70 separate schemes and services and serves a wide and diverse group of customers including families, people in employment, unemployed people, people with disabiliti...
Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme
Was asked: if she will liaise with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to initiate an investigation into the sale of commercial property in 2013-14 by the trustees of the Irish Airlines Superannuat...
The Pensions Authority has the power under section 18 of the Pensions Act to investigate the state or conduct of a pension scheme. I would ask you to bring any concerns you have in relation to the...
Personal Insolvency Practitioners
Was asked: if she will explore with the Departments of Justice and Equality and Finance the possibility of putting together a financial assistance programme for social welfare recipients seeking bankruptcy de...
The reduction in the bankruptcy period from 12 to 3 years, and the reduction from €1,400 to approximately €700 in the official costs associated with bankruptcy have made bankruptcy a more viable op...
I am advised by my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality, with responsibility for the Insolvency Service of Ireland, that a number of personal insolvency practitioners do not charge an ...
Additionally, in order to remove any perceived barrier to seeking help, the Insolvency Service of Ireland has suspended all application fees for debt solutions until the end of 2015. Previously, ...
At my request, the Citizens Information Board, together with the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), established an approved intermediary service to assist individuals through the applicat...
I am satisfied that the combination of these measures makes the various services accessible.
Social Welfare Fraud Investigations
Was asked: her views to review the monitoring mechanisms employed to reduce fraudulent payment of child benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Child benefit is a payment to parents for the support of their children. It is paid to some 616,276 families in respect of 1.18 million children as at 30 November 2014, with an expenditure of appr...
Safeguarding the child benefit budget is a priority and, in this regard the Department has taken a proactive approach to ensuring that it is only paid to eligible families. A policy of issuing c...
The child benefit control programme is kept under regular review based on the outcomes achieved. The total savings from child benefit control activity was €74 million in 2013. The Department ha...
I am satisfied that appropriate controls are in place and implemented, ensuring child benefit is only paid to eligible families.
Employment Support Services
Was asked: if she will provide an update in respect of her Department's plans to require jobseekers to upload a copy of their CV to continue receiving social welfare payments; and if she will make a statement...
JobsIreland (www.jobsireland.ie) is a free vacancy advertising and job search service provided by the Department of Social Protection to support both employers and jobseekers.
Jobseekers may search for jobs opportunities by accessing the Jobs Ireland website, the Jobseeker app or by visiting their local Intreo/Employment Centre. To connect employers with prospective e...
In order to improve the job/candidate matching capability of JobsIreland, a tender process is currently underway for a new job matching system. Subject to the outcome of the tender process it is ...
This addresses one of the key pillars of Pathways to Work 2015 which is to ensure better engagement with people who are unemployed, so that in addition to the right of accessing efficient, work-f...
In order to populate the new job matching site with sufficiently detailed candidate profiles to enable employers match their job requirements with suitable candidates, jobseekers will be asked to...
First, the new Jobslreland service will itself automatically match candidate profiles with suitable jobs and will notify both the jobseeker and the employer of the match details.
Second, employers will have the ability to refine the search parameters and conduct an ‘advance’ search for job for candidates with specific skills, qualifications and/or experience.
Third, jobseekers will have a similar search capability and will, by examining matching results, be able to refine the presentation of their CV to maximise its likelihood of being identified as a...
It is important to note that, unless otherwise specified by the jobseeker, candidate personal information, such as name and address, will not be visible to employers or other users. Instead candi...
In addition jobseekers will only be requested to upload their CV in circumstances where their case worker is of the opinion that it is appropriate to do so. In particular it is not intended that ...
Labour Court Recommendations
Was asked: her plans to put a mechanism in place to implement the Labour Court recommendation of 2008 in regard to an agreed pension scheme proviso for community employment supervisors and assistant superviso...
The Department’s position remains as outlined in the previous answers to the Deputy’s question on this topic. I refer you to Questions 98 and 99 of 21 October 2014.
In July 2008, the Labour Court recommended that an agreed pension scheme should be introduced for Community Employment (CE) scheme supervisors and assistant supervisors and that such a scheme sho...
Notwithstanding the position of this Department in rejecting that liability for these costs should be met from public funds, this matter has been the subject of discussions with the Department of...
Given the level of funding that would be required from this Department, the implementation of the claim is not considered sustainable in light of the current and on-going fiscal environment and t...
It should also be noted that this Department is not the employer of CE supervisors and such employees are not public servants but are employees of the sponsoring organisations. The responsibiliti...
Social Welfare Benefits Data
Was asked: the number of applications for disability allowance and-or carer's allowance received in the past six months in respect of children whose parents were previously deemed eligible for domiciliary car...
The specific statistics requested by the Deputy are not routinely maintained by the Department. However, a recent query of system data shows that in the past 6 months (June to November 2014) 1,382...
Of these 1,382 children, 458 have applied for disability allowance (DA) up to the end of November 2014. Of these 458 applications, 127 have been awarded DA, 260 have been disallowed, while 71 are...
In relation to carer's allowance (CA), 270 of the 1,382 CA schemes in payment have been stopped following review. The remaining 1,112 cases remain in payment although the review process may be on...
The qualifying conditions for the respective schemes are set out in legislation and regulations specific to each scheme and are not the same. The Department must ensure that the relevant qualify...
The review of the continued entitlement of a former DCA recipient (parent/guardian) to CA is not dependent in any way on whether the child who turns 16 years either claims or is entitled to DA. ...
Upon the child reaching 16 years, DCA is no longer payable. It is open for the child to apply for disability allowance (DA). In respect of CA claims for children under 16, the care requirement ...
There has been a long-standing process to notify DCA recipients at least 6 months in advance that DCA will stop when the child reaches 16 and that continued entitlement to CA would be reviewed. ...
The Department is reviewing its communications with parents who are in receipt of both domiciliary care allowance (DCA) and carer's allowance (CA) for children who are reaching 16 years, to furt...
Was asked: the number of applications for carer’s allowance, ophthalmic benefit or dental benefit, invalidity pension and disability allowance received in the past six months; the number approved, refused or ...
The information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the following tabular statements. Please note that separate pending figures for dental benefit and optical benefit as requested are not availa...
Was asked: the number of children whose parents heretofore were in receipt of domiciliary care allowance who are reaching 16 years of age qualified for invalidity pension or disability allowance thereafter in...
In relation to disability allowance the number of children who qualified whose parents had previously been in receipt of domiciliary care allowance is 1064.
The number of appli...
Exceptional Needs Payment Data
Was asked: the capacity of the emergency needs payment scheme to meet the growing and future demands on it, from persons who are struggling due to cuts made to other social welfare schemes and rates and the i...
Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off and unforeseen expenditure which a person c...
In 2012 a Departmental working group made up of staff from the Community Welfare Service reviewed the existing ENP guidelines with a view to, in so far as possible, achieve standardisation and co...
While expenditure under the scheme has reduced in recent years, the scheme is demand led and continues to provide assistance to those with exceptional needs taking into account the requirements o...
Persons who consider that they have an entitlement to an ENP should contact the local officials in the Community Welfare Service administering the scheme.
Pensions Legislation
Was asked: the actions she will take to increase pension coverage here; if she will provide an update on the operation of the provisions contained in the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013; and if ...
I requested the OECD to carry out a review of the Irish pension system in 2012. The OECD released its report (OECD Reviews of Pensions Systems – Ireland) in April 2013. One of the key recommendat...
The constituent factors involved in constructing an efficient and effective universal pension system are complex and diverse and it is of critical importance that any system chosen is correctly de...
Therefore, development of the roadmap will involve detailed consideration of the range of models and options available and will include co-operation across a range of Government Departments and e...
In relation to the changes provided for in the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Act 2013, there was one scheme where the changes to section 50 of the Pensions Act were applied and I am glad to...
Child Poverty
Was asked: the actions she will take to address the increasing child poverty rates here; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Government policy around tackling poverty for children and families has recently been articulated in the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People: Better Outcomes, Brighter Future...
Domiciliary Care Allowance Eligibility
Was asked: her views on extending the period where a family can claim domiciliary care allowance for a child to 18 years rather than them going onto disability allowance at 16, as is currently the case; and i...
The Deputy will be aware that I commissioned two reports relating to the Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) scheme during 2012. One of these reports dealt specifically with the relationship between ...
The reports found that there was a strong rationale for raising the DCA age threshold to 18 years. The recommendation is that this change should be made from a specific date, with the age thresh...
However, the Deputy will be aware that there are differing views on the best way to proceed so as to provide support to the group of people in question. While the recommendations of the reports w...
Departmental Schemes
Was asked: if she has conducted an analysis of the cost and number of staff that will be required to administer the €100 water conservation grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The Department of Social Protection will administer, on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, a €100 water conservation grant for households that complete a v...
The water conservation grant replaces the tax rebate and social protection measures previously announced.
The Department of Social Protection is in consultation with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in regard to the ...
Homeless Accommodation Provision
Was asked: if she will provide Threshold with further power and resources to prevent homelessness, including in cases of repossessions.
The Department of Social Protection is actively engaging with Threshold in implementing measures to ensure that the housing needs of rent supplement customers who are in danger of becoming homeless...
I understand that the provision of resources for Threshold is a matter for the local authorities and the matter should be raised with my colleague, Mr. Alan Kelly T.D., Minister for the Environme...
Departmental Strategies
Was asked: her plans to transfer payments from her Department to an electronic system; if she has discussed this proposed change with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources; and if she...
Increasing the level of public service delivery to citizens through electronic channels is a key ingredient in creating a vibrant, modern and competitive Irish economy, offering scope to streamline...
Last year, the cost of 42.7 million cash payments to clients was almost €73 million gross. By comparison, 37 million payments were issued by EFT at a cost of only €9 million. Reducing levels of...
The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is fully briefed on the Department’s strategy. While matters relating to An Post are a matter for its Board to consider in consulta...
Unemployment Data
Was asked: the extent to which unemployment alleviation measures continue to make a positive impact in respect of long-term and youth unemployment; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Was asked: the extent to which the age profile of those on the live register continues to be monitored with a view to making any adjustments necessary to assist those most in need; and if she will make a stat...
Anti-Poverty Strategy
Was asked: the extent to which measures to alleviate poverty arising from budget 2015 continue to make positive impact; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
One of the key objectives of Budget 2015 was to assist unemployed families to return to work.
Through the new Back to Work Family Dividend scheme, long-term unemployed jobseekers with children who leave welfare to return to work can retain the child-related portion of their social welfare ...
The Dividend will help increase the pace of the progress we are making in helping people back to work, thereby reducing poverty. It will help boost the recovery, reduce welfare expenditure in th...
The Budget also provided for the expansion of JobsPlus to provide subsidies to employers to recruit and employ an additional 3,000 long-term unemployed jobseekers. This scheme has proven to be p...
I was also pleased to be in the position to increase Child Benefit from €130 to €135 per month, which will benefit over 611,000 households with children. This will help all families with children...
I also announced, on Budget Day, a number of welfare initiatives which will benefit pensioners, carers and people with disabilities who are in receipt of a welfare payment. These initiatives incl...
The Christmas Bonus was abolished by the previous Government in 2009. I am pleased to say that I am in a position to partially restore the Bonus this year. A bonus of 25% was paid last week to lo...
There will be an increase in the living alone allowance of €1.30 per week from January, bringing the rate up from €7.70 to €9 for pensioners and people with disabilities. The living alone allowa...
As well as the measures mentioned above, all existing welfare payments and supports for pensioners will be maintained in 2015 – there will be no reductions.
Throughout the crisis, this Government protected core weekly welfare rates and maintained a massively strong social welfare safety net. That was a political choice which this Government made very...
This is the first Budget where we have had the scope to make real positive improvement for welfare recipients. This is evidenced by the €65 million we are spending on the Bonus as well as €198 mi...
Social transfers play a crucial role in redistributing resources to those most in need. In 2012, social transfers (excluding pensions) reduced the at-risk-of poverty rate from 39 per cent to 16.5...
Ireland is amongst the best performing EU countries in reducing poverty through social transfers (excluding pensions). Using comparable data from Eurostat from 2012, Ireland’s performance in redu...
Social impact assessment is an evidence-based methodology to estimate the likely distributive effects of policy proposals on poverty and social inequality, including the impact on family types, l...
The Department published an integrated social impact assessments of Budgets 2013 and 2014 (using the ESRI SWITCH model) which included the main welfare and tax measures.
The Department is currently preparing a social impact assessment of the main welfare, tax and related measures for 2015. This will be finalised to take account of government decisions relating t...
Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times
Was asked: the extent to which she may continue to improve the time taken to process appeals in respect of various social protection payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The average appeal processing time for 2012, 2013 and 2014 broken down by all social welfare scheme types is outlined in the tables below.
Appeal processing times peaked in 20...
2013 - Appeals processing times by scheme 01/01/2013 – 31/12/2013
| &nb... Question No. 45 answered with Question No. 42. Back to Work Allowance Data Was asked: the extent to which back to work applications have been approved in each of the past three years to date; the extent to which those previously self-employed and PAYE workers continue to benefit fro... Work Placement Programmes Was asked: the number of applications for various unemployment reliefs such as JobBridge that continue to be awarded; the extent to which the schemes are proving successful; and if she will make a statement o... Was asked: her plans to make changes to the TÚS scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. Exceptional Needs Payments Was asked: the degree to which adequate resources continue to be made available to her Department to meet exceptional needs payment requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times Was asked: the extent to which backlogs have been addressed in respect of various headings and payments operated by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. All scheme areas will have claims pending decision ‘on hand’ at any point in time, with the number of pending claims being dependent on the number of pending claims on hand at the start of a perio... Pension Provisions Was asked: if persons who have worked up their contribution pensions over numerous years will be effected by the new pension system coming into effect; if she will confirm that workers who have built up their... The State pension is a very valuable benefit and is the bedrock of the Irish pension system. Therefore, it is important to ensure that those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the Soc... Since 1961, when contributory pensions were first introduced, the average contributions test has been used in calculating pension entitlement. Therefore, to qualify for a state pension a person ... - have at least 520 paid contributions and - satisfy a yearly average (a yearly average of 48 is required for a full rate pension). There have been significant changes to the PRSI system over the years which have increased social insurance coverage to most classes of working people. Accordingly, under the pension reform prog... The proposed date for the introduction of a move to a total contributions approach is 2020, but this may be subject to change as it is a very significant reform with considerable legal, administr... It should be noted that the pension system has evolved over decades, largely to the benefit of pensioners, and that it has generally been the case that the system at retirement is the one used to... Question No. 55 withdrawn. Question No. 56 answered with Question No. 40. Questions Nos. 57 and 58 withdrawn. Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility Was asked: if her attention has been drawn to the fact that long term sick claimants of illness benefit supports are not permitted to avail of the Christmas bonus announced recently for unemployed recipients;... The Christmas bonus was paid last week to over 1.2 million long-term social welfare recipients at a cost of €65 million. The Bonus was introduced in 1980 and paid annually (at varying rates) until ... I was pleased to be in the position to partially restore the bonus this year. A 25% bonus (subject to a minimum payment of €20) was paid to the beneficiaries of all schemes to which the bonus pr... Persons who are permanently incapable of work may be eligible for the non-means tested Invalidity Pension (subject to satisfying the relevant medical criteria). Persons who are substantially res... Furthermore, they may also be eligible for the fuel allowance (subject to satisfying the household composition conditions and the means test). Question No. 60 withdrawn. Was asked: if her attention has been drawn to the fact that persons who have been continuously unemployed for more than the 391 cumulative-paid total days are required to avail of the Christmas bonus, due to ... The Christmas Bonus was paid last week to over 1.2 million recipients at a cost of €65 million. The Bonus was originally introduced in 1980 for certain recipients and extended to long-term jobseeke... I was pleased to be in a position to partially restore the bonus this year. A 25% bonus (subject to a minimum payment of €20) was paid to the beneficiaries of all schemes to which the bonus prev... In order to receive the bonus, a person must have been in receipt of a jobseeker’s allowance payment for 391 days, including any time spent on jobseeker’s benefit. The 25% bonus applies to the r... Where both members of couple are individually in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance, eligibility for the bonus is based on the individual duration of each member of the couple on a jobseekers payme... Time spent as a qualified adult on another person’s jobseeker’s payment is not counted, for bonus purposes, in order to determine the duration on a jobseeker’s payment. These arrangements are unc... Jobseeker's Benefit Eligibility Was asked: her views on a matter regarding employment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. Social Welfare legislation provides that all claimants for jobseeker’s benefit who are employed on a part-time basis must suffer a substantial loss of employment. A substantial loss is sustained if...
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