Minister of State`s Briefing

Transcription

Department of Social Protection
Briefing Material
for
Minister Kevin Humphreys T.D
August 2014
1
Table of Contents
Section 1: Overview of Department ....................................................................................... 5
Section 2: Management and Organisation of the Department .......................................... 11
Section 3: Organisation Charts............................................................................................. 13
Section 4: Key Issues .............................................................................................................. 15
Section 5: Key Statistical Information ................................................................................. 16
Overview of main DSP Activation / Employment Supports................................................ 16
SWA Expenditure / Recipients ............................................................................................ 17
All DSP Scheme Expenditure / Recipients .......................................................................... 18
Section 6: Pathways to Work ................................................................................................ 22
Labour Market Activation Policy ......................................................................................... 23
Employer Engagement & Client Services Unit .................................................................... 24
National Contact Centre (NCC) ........................................................................................... 25
European Job Mobility Portal (EURES) .............................................................................. 25
JobBridge ............................................................................................................................. 26
JobsPlus ................................................................................................................................ 26
European Social Fund (ESF) within the Department ........................................................... 27
Youth Guarantee .................................................................................................................. 29
Labour Market Council ........................................................................................................ 30
Section 7: Delivery of Pathways to Work ............................................................................ 33
Intreo Programme ................................................................................................................. 33
Contracted Public Employment Services ............................................................................. 34
JobPath ............................................................................................................................. 34
Local Employment Services Network .............................................................................. 35
Job Clubs .......................................................................................................................... 36
Section 8: Employment Schemes .......................................................................................... 37
Community Employment (CE) ............................................................................................ 37
Tús ........................................................................................................................................ 39
Rural Social Scheme (RSS).................................................................................................. 40
Gateway Funding: €19.1m provided in 2014 ...................................................................... 40
Community Services Programme (CSP) .............................................................................. 41
2
Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) ................................................................................ 42
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance Scheme (BTWEA) .................................................... 42
Enterprise Support Grant (ESG) .......................................................................................... 43
Technical Employment Support Grant (TESG) ................................................................... 43
Activation & Family Support Programme (AFSP) .............................................................. 44
Special Initiative for Travellers ............................................................................................ 44
Section 9: Regions and Divisions .......................................................................................... 45
Regional Support Unit .......................................................................................................... 45
Regional Services Development (RSD) ............................................................................... 48
Section 10: Supplementary Welfare Allowance .................................................................. 50
SWA Operational/Policy/Legislative Issues ........................................................................ 50
Administration – Community Welfare Service .................................................................... 51
Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance ............................................................................ 52
Rent Supplement/Housing Assistance Payment .................................................................. 52
Homelessness ....................................................................................................................... 53
Mortgage Interest Supplement ............................................................................................. 55
Exceptional Needs Payment ................................................................................................. 56
Other Supplements ............................................................................................................... 56
Direct Provision Allowance ................................................................................................. 58
Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme ................................................ 58
School Meals Programme .................................................................................................... 59
Humanitarian Assistance Scheme ........................................................................................ 60
Section 11: Legislation ........................................................................................................... 62
Social Welfare and Pension Bill 2014.................................................................................. 62
Pensions Acts 1990 to 2014 ................................................................................................. 63
Comhairle Acts 2000 to 2011............................................................................................... 63
Section 12:General Register Office ...................................................................................... 64
General Register Office ........................................................................................................ 64
GRO Liaison Unit ................................................................................................................ 65
Legislation ............................................................................................................................ 65
Civil Registration Amendment Bill, 2014 ........................................................................ 65
Gender Recognition Bill, 2014 ......................................................................................... 66
Legal Issues .......................................................................................................................... 68
3
Other Issues .......................................................................................................................... 69
Outdoor Marriage Ceremonies ......................................................................................... 69
Surrogacy.......................................................................................................................... 69
Section 13: Citizens Information Board/MABS .................................................................. 71
Citizens Information Board .................................................................................................. 71
Money and Budgeting Service (MABS) .............................................................................. 73
Section 14: Finance and Budget ........................................................................................... 77
Finance, Budget & Estimates Process .................................................................................. 77
Administration Budget ......................................................................................................... 84
Budget 2014 measures ......................................................................................................... 86
Appendix 1: Links to Useful Documents ............................................................................. 88
4
Section 1: Overview of Department
Mission and Functions
Our Mission:
“To promote active participation in society through the provision of income supports,
employment services and other services.”
The Department supports the Minister for Social Protection in the discharge of governmental,
parliamentary and departmental duties.
Our main functions are to:
1. advise Government and formulate appropriate social protection and social inclusion
policies;
2. design, develop and deliver effective and cost efficient income supports, activation
and employment services, advice to customers and other related services;
3. work towards providing seamless delivery of services in conjunction with other
departments, agencies and bodies; and
4. control fraud and abuse.
Scale of the Department’s Business
The Department serves a wide and diverse group of clients including families, people in
employment, unemployed people, people with disabilities, carers, and older people. The
Department also provides a range of services to employers who are an important client group.
The Department administers over 70 separate schemes and services which impact on the lives
of almost every person in the State. Services include:

Through the Intreo service, the integration of employment services and benefit
payment services, to ensure that the payment of income supports to people who do not
have a job is directly linked to the equally important task of supporting such people in
their pursuit of employment and related opportunities and improving their life
chances;
5

A wide range of social insurance and social assistance income support schemes such
as child benefit payments, jobseeker payments, illness benefits payments and
pensions;

A range of employment supports, guidance and placement services to help jobseekers
find and secure employment;

A range of employer services including recruitment services, online vacancy
publication, employment supports (e.g. wage subsidy schemes for people with
disabilities) and redundancy and insolvency services;

A range of community services to promote social inclusion and provide a pathway to
employment for people who are unemployed;

The development of appropriate social policies in areas such as pensions, child
income support, activation and job seekers; and

Co-ordinate the implementation of government strategies for social inclusion under
the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion and the Europe 2020 Strategy.
Each week, nearly 1.5 million people receive a social welfare payment and, when qualified
adults and children are included, almost 2.3 million people benefit from these payments.
Some 600,000 families receive child benefit payments in respect of almost 1.2 million
children each month.
In 2013, the activities of the Department included:

2.1 million applications processed;

88.5 million scheme payments made;

more than 1.1 million control reviews carried out;

8.3 million telephone calls answered;

38, 500 social welfare appeals finalised;

over 135,000 job opportunities advertised, nationally;

over 164,000 PPS numbers allocated to clients from over 174 countries; and

over half a million Public Services Cards issued to clients.
6
Expenditure on schemes and services provided by the Department accounts for almost
one third of gross voted Government current expenditure. In 2013, the total expenditure
by the Department was €20.24 billion.
The Department is committed to providing a top quality service to our customers within the
overall context of the need to drive down costs. This requires us to continuously develop our
operational capabilities, modernise and be innovative.
Our Strategic Objectives
In our Statement of Strategy 2011-2014 the Department’s overall objective is for the
transformation of the Department into an integrated, activation focused service provider
which puts our clients at the centre of all our operations.
7
Three strategic objectives for the Department are identified in order to achieve our overall
objective.
Objective 1: Put the Client at the Centre of Services and Policies
Objective 2: Drive Cost Efficiency and Effectiveness
Objective 3: Develop Staff, Structures and Processes
The Statement of Strategy sets out high-level strategies for these objectives and identifies the
performance indicators which are used to measure their achievement.
Department Services and Policies
Objective 1: Put the Client at the Centre of Services and Policies
High-level strategy:

Place the client at the centre of all the Department’s activities in line with
commitments in the Programme for Government.

Ensure speedy access to decisions, payments and reviews for all schemes and
services.

Focus on maximising employability by providing targeted income support, training
referral, development and employment services, based on individual needs and
circumstances.

Attain better outcomes in tackling poverty for children and families, people of
working age and older people.

Achieve a more inclusive society through the provision of income and other support
services and co-ordinating implementation of Government strategies for social
inclusion.

Work with other Departments/Offices, agencies (both national and international),
employers and stakeholders in providing client centred services.
Key outcomes:

Client centred services.

Reduced poverty rates.

Improvement in employability and engagement with employers.

Reduction in welfare dependency.
8
High-level indicators:

Adherence to processing standards and achievement of processing targets.

Reduction in consistent poverty rates.

EU social inclusion indicators (as set out in the National Action Plan for Social
Inclusion).

Numbers being referred to employment, training or work experience and
improvement in employability measures.

Numbers who leave the Live Register after activation interventions.

Numbers who remain off the Live Register for more than one year after activation.

Level of progress in the implementation of the commitments in the Programme for
Government
Efficiency and Effectiveness
Objective 2: Drive Cost Efficiency and Effectiveness
 Improve cost-effectiveness in all areas of expenditure in line with commitments in the
Programme for Government.

Improve control across all schemes and reduce fraud.

Enhance corporate governance and maintain robust financial management and
reporting systems.

Develop and implement a programme of reform to underpin the sustainability of the
welfare system into the future.

Exchange information with other agencies to minimise duplication and delay and to
enhance control measures.

Work with other Departments/Offices, agencies (both national and international),
employers and stakeholders to address cross-cutting issues for the benefit of all
stakeholders.
Key outcomes:
 Achieving value for money.

Improved processes and procedures.

Reduction of fraud.

Appropriate sanctions and penalties in place where fraud is detected.

Timely recovery of overpayments.
9

Enhanced corporate governance.

Greater public confidence in social welfare system.
High-level indicators
 Level of progress in the implementation of the commitments in the Programme for
Government, including adherence to the Government’s fiscal consolidation targets.

Level of control activity against targets.
Operational Capabilities
Objective 3: Develop Staff, Structures and Processes
 Develop the appropriate capacity to deliver on the Department’s mandate from
Government including implementing the commitments of the Programme for
Government

Implement the commitments of the Public Service Reform Programme, including the
Action Plan under the Public Services Agreement

Work with other Departments on the implementation of shared commitments in the
Programme for Government.

Foster an environment that will encourage motivation, flexibility and up-skilling of
staff.

Deliver seamless services to clients by streamlining processes and procedures.

Engage staff in the transformation programme, developing a shared corporate culture.

Provide high quality training tailored to role requirements and providing appropriate
technological and organisational supports.
Key outcomes:
 An organisation that can deliver seamless services to clients in a pro-active, efficient
and effective manner.
High-level indicators
 Level of progress in the implementation of the commitments in the Programme for
Government in relation to the development of operational capabilities.

Level of progress in the achievement of the Public Service Reform Programme

Implementation of structural, technological and organisational changes.

Establishment of the National Employment and Entitlement Service within
timeframes agreed by Government.
10
Section 2: Management and Organisation of the Department
In recent years the Department has gone through an intensive period of integration, which
resulted in almost 3,000 new staff members joining the organisation. Currently the
Department has 6,259 full-time equivalent posts serving and 559 temporary clerical officers.
The headquarters offices of the Department are located in Buncrana, Carrick-on-Shannon,
Dublin, Dundalk, Letterkenny, Longford, Roscommon, Sligo, Tubbercurry and Waterford.
The delivery of services locally is organised on a divisional basis with offices in Cork,
Dublin, Limerick, Galway, Longford, Tullamore, Dundalk, Kildare, Sligo and Waterford.
Services are delivered through a nationwide network of 453 offices.
In order to position the Department to meet the challenges ahead, the “One DSP” Changing
Together programme was initiated in 2013; a wide-ranging programme of organisational
development which is designed to deepen integration, to support staff and to build
organisational and staff capability to successfully manage change and provide excellent
services to our clients.
In addition to headquarters offices located throughout the country, developing policy and
administering the Department’s schemes and services, a new regional structure is in place
since 2012. This consists of 3 regions with responsibility assigned at Assistant Secretary level
and comprising 13 divisional areas. Each division is headed up by a divisional manager who
has responsibility for all of the day-to-day operational issues in the division across the three
streams of the Department – social protection services, Community Welfare Services and
former FÁS Community and Employment Services.
Intreo, the new integrated employment service, community programmes and income support
service model was launched in October 2012 and is now in place in 44 offices located
throughout the country.
The General Register Office (GRO) based in Roscommon manages the Civil Registration
Service which provides for the registration of births, stillbirths, adoptions, marriages, civil
partnerships and deaths in the State. Registration services are provided by Registrars
appointed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) at various locations across the State. The
GRO also operates a genealogical research facility.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office is independently responsible for determining appeals
against decisions on social welfare entitlements and insurability of employment.
11
The Social Welfare Tribunal is a statutory body set up in 1982 to deal with cases
where entitlement to jobseeker's benefit or jobseeker's allowance is refused due to an
involvement in a trade dispute.
A number of Agencies operate under the aegis of the Department, namely:
The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the national agency responsible for supporting the
provision of information, advice and advocacy on social services through the Citizens
Information Services (CIS) and for the provision of the Money Advice and Budgeting
Service (MABS).
The Pensions Authority is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the
Pensions Act which provides for the regulation of occupational pensions and Personal
Retirement Savings Accounts. The Authority also advises the Minister in relation to
pension policy. The Pensions Council is currently being established. Its purpose will
also be to advise the Minister on pensions policy.
The Office of the Pensions Ombudsman investigates complaints of financial losses
due to maladministration and disputes of fact or law, in relation to occupational pension
schemes and Personal Retirement Savings Accounts. The Pensions Ombudsman is a
statutory officer and exercises his functions independently.
12
Section 3: Organisation Charts
Department of Social Protection Organisation Structure – August 2014
Secretary General
Geraldine Gleeson
Niamh O’Donoghue
Internal Audit
Seamus Quinn
Chief Appeals Officer
Deputy Secretary
Deputy Chief Appeals Officer
Cathy Barron
Anne Vaughan
Dr Clem Leech
John Conlon
Patricia Murphy
Tim Duggan
Niall Barry
Kathleen Stack
Helen Faughnan
Oliver Egan
John McKeon
Simonetta Ryan
Teresa Leonard
Chief Medical Adviser
Assistant Secretary
Assistant Secretary
Assistant Secretary
Assistant Secretary
Assistant Secretary
Assistant Secretary
Assistant Secretary
Assistant Secretary
Assistant Secretary
Assistant Secretary
Payments Stretegy
Siobhan Lawlor
Enterprise
Architect
Alan Flynn
Control / SIU
Deirdre Shanley
Phil Cox
Midlands North
Des Henry
Dublin North
Paul Carroll
Activation &
Employment Policy
Terry Corcoran
JA/JB/OPFP Reform
Equality
Niall Egan
Benefits / MCRM
Eamonn Rossi
CIS
Richard Shine
Software Engineer
John Bohan
Mid West
Jim Lynch
Dublin South
Fiona Ward
IR & Intreo
Anne Tynan
Social Inclusion &
Child Income Policy
Jim Walsh
DA / Carers / FIS
Catherine
Kellaghan
Pensions / HBB
Policy
Vacancy
Infrastructure
Kevin Coady
South West
Neil Kelly
Dublin Central
Dave Dillon
Employer
Engagement
Joan Gordon
Working Age Policy
GRO Policy
Vacancy
CB / DCA / TB /
CES / MAT
Tony Kieran
Cork Central
Maria Hurley
Mid Leinster
Donal Spellman
External Service
Delivery
Brendan Friel
GRO
Kieran Feely
Disability/Carer
Policy
Liam Walsh
South East
Liam Daly
North West
Kieran O’Dwyer
Business
Intelligence
Paul Morrin
Midlands South
Veronica O’Brien
North East
Joe McGuinness
Regional Process
Modernisation
Philip O’Donohoe
SWA
Jackie Harrington
West
Eoin Brown
Deputy Chief Medical
Adviser
Devesh Singh
Finance
Sean Reilly
Jim McDonnell
Budget
Denis Moynihan
PRSI / Scope / R&I
Mary Kennedy
Legislation /
Planning
Helen McDonald
DAO / FOI
Anne McManus
HR Policy &
Services
Celine Moore
Lucy Fallon-Byrne
Ciaran Lawler
Facilities
Eoghan Ryan
EU / International
Mary O’Sullivan
Con Pensions /
CIB / Info / MABS
Anne Marie
Cassidy
Non Con Pensions /
HHB
Miriam Finnegan
Ops Policy – FEAD
Work Age Schemes
Employment
Supports
Noel Hand
Barry Kennedy
TJ Fleming
Mary Donnelly
Service Delivery
Victor Galvin
DRIM / PS Reform
/ ICT Project
Planning
Daragh O’Connor
Corporate Services
Joan McMahon
13
Assistant Secretaries/PO's & AP's Chart - July 2014
John Conlon
Orlaigh Quinn
Tim Duggan
Niall Barry
Kathleen Stack
Denis Moynihan
Celine Moore
Siobhan Lawlor
Alan Flynn
Deirdre Shanley
Roshin Sen
Claire Conway
Vacancy
John Dosu
Eilis Hamilton
Paul O'Meara
Sean Gaffney
Tony Crean
Dympna Lynch
Jim O'Hara
Des Henry
(Midlands North)
Ronan Harney
Catherine Connellan Eamonn Guilfoyle
Paul Carroll
(Dublin North)
Catherine O' Flaherty
Stephen O'Neill Brian Harte
Richard Shine
Mairin Haran
Helen McDonald
Lucy Fallon Byrne Edel McGloin
Liam Walsh
Sean O'Boyle
Eileen Scanlan
Seamus O'Farrell
Linda O'Connor
John Bohan
Tommy O’Friel
Enda Flynn
Brian Duff
Conor Ryan
Stephen Coughlan
Kieran Lea
Suzanne Ryan
Brian Kearney
Brian Doherty
Orla Fanthom
Sean Lyons
Patricia Molloy
Ben Dunne
Leona Hackett
Ray Lehane
Ciaran Lawler
Legal Adivsors
Pat Delanay
Patricia Murphy
John Kinsella
Paul Peake
Finbarr Hickey
Caroline O'Connor
[Only Divisional Office APs shown for space purposes]
Helen Faughnan Oliver Egan
John McKeon
Simonetta Ryan
Anne Tynan
Padraig O'Conaill
Wally Bruton
Ann Gilton
Fidelma Cotter
Brian Duff (Gen Reg)
Damien O'Brien
Jim Lynch
(Mid West)
Fiona Ward
(Dublin South)
Frank McGlynn
Henry Fottrell
Neil Kelly
(South West)
Paddy Kelly
Dave Dillon
(Dublin Central)
Kieran Dunne
Maria Hurley
(Cork Central)
Donal Spellman
(Mid Leinster)
Paddy Kelly
Myriam Scanlon
Liam Daly
(South East)
Frances Dunne
Kieran O'Dwyer
(North West)
Benny Swinburne
Celine Valentine
Noel Hand
Therese O'Reilly
Mary Kennedy
Eoghan Ryan
Aideen Mooney
Dearbhail
NicGiollaMhicil
Sean Treanor
Declan Ryan
Ciaran Lawless
Niall Harrington John Shannon
Michelle O'Donnell
Noreen Mulligan
Ruth Langan
Anne Marie Cassidy
Noel McHugh
Willie Whelan
Vacancy
Deirdre McAndrew
Anne Dowling
Brendan Walker
Helena Lynch
Karen Usher
Aidan Mullally
Caitriona Bracken
Paul Dowling
Ken Kelly
Adele Ryan
Muriel Cleary
Clement Leech
CMA
Jim Walsh
Michael Cunningham
Paul Kelly
Tony Kieran
Kasey Treadwell Shine Roy
Baldrick
Seamus
Georgina Hamill
O'Fearghail
Brendan Friel
Karen Keating
Paul Hill
Pat O'Hanlon
Tina Burns
James Wallis
Pat Collins
Fidelma McKeogh
Kieran Feely
Sean Reilly
(North East)
Paddy Mc Keever
John Muldowney
Pat Canning
Bernadette Smith
Jackie Harrington
Victor Galvin
Sean Gillard
Brian McCormick
Jim McDonnell
Mary O'Sullivan
Barry Kennedy
Pat Macken
Paul Cunnigham
Richie Neville
Grainne McBride
Mary Pracht
Brendan Smith
Margaret Burns
John Blaney
Brian O'Malley
Neil Kavanagh
Joe Meehan
Brian King
Catherine
Kellaghan
Eoin Power
Marie Cullen
Annette Conroy
Ronny Rice
Miriam Finnegan
Edna Dowling
Philip O'Donohoe
Chris Kane
Aidan O'Reilly
Kieran Conway TJ Fleming
Lisa Doyle
Patricia Conlon
Tony Corcoran
Pat Boyle
Aodhnait Doyle
Declan Doherty
Leona Hackett
Tina Stallard
Miriam Conway
Dave Keogh
Michael Thompson
Anne McManus
Myra McKeon
Eamonn Rossi
Joan Gordon
Eoin Brown (West)
Josephine Monaghan Regina Higgins
Paul Morrin
Joan McMahon
Vincent Kennedy
Niall Egan
Terry Corcoran
Martin Keville
Peter Scully
Sally O'Donohue
Veronica O'Brien
(Midlands South)
Olivia Clarke
Christy Grogan
Erika Klein
Pat McDonnell
Darragh Doherty
Christopher McCamley Kevin Coady
Terry Reddy
Alan Chapman
Stephen McDonnell
Phil Cox
Robert Nicholson
Teresa Leonard Geraldine Gleeson
Liam Walsh
CAO
Eoin O'Seaghdha Cathy Barron
Pat Dolan
Seamus Quinn
Eimear Murphy
Jim Graham
Gerry Walsh
Rea Woods
14
Devesh Singh
Section 4: Key Issues
List of key issues for the Department in 2014

Budget 2015 and implementation of Budget changes

Illness scheme reform

Continued rollout of Intreo Offices

Continued rollout of Public Services Card

Employer engagement

Implementation of the Youth Guarantee

Roadmap for implementation of a universal occupational pension scheme

Final report of the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare Working Age
Incentives

Selection and engagement of JobPath providers

Rent Supplement limit review and the transfer of responsibility for those with a longterm housing need from rent supplement to the Housing Assistance Payment

General Register Office
o The Gender Recognition Bill will provide for the legal recognition of the
acquired gender of transgender persons.
o An amendment is underway to the Civil Registration Bill to further modernise
the Civil Registration Service to better reflect the needs of today’s society
15
Section 5: Key Statistical Information
Overview of main DSP Activation Programmes\Employment Supports
Activation Scheme
Community
Employment
Programme
Estimate
2014
(€000s)
Total
Participants
as of July
Inflow
YTD
Est. Ave
Cost Per
Participant
357,500
5,336
23,111
13,800
45,000
89
2,569
N/A
120,100
4,492
7,775
14,250
13,468
0
1,017
N/A
46,060
N/A
N/A
N/A
112,600
N/A
10,643
10,290
82,250
7,276
5,575
12,190
182,900
3,348
3,348
6,940
Gateway
1,371
508
491
10,460
JobsPlus**
5,467
775
2,634
4,400
57,163
N/A
72,330
Rural Social Scheme
TUS - Community
Work Placement
Job Initiative
Community Support
Programme
Back to Work
Enterprise Allowance
JobBridge
Back to Education
Allowance*
Other Employment
Support Schemes
Total
98,664
1,065,380
N/A N/A
21,824
*Back to Education Allowance inflows and Back to Work Enterprise Allowance figures
were not available. The numbers on BTEA as of July is used as an estimate for starts in
the year
**JobsPlus and FAS\SOLAS figures are to the end of June
*** VTOS participation figures are estimated at 5,000 per annum
16
Summary of SWA Expenditure and Recipients
2013
Recipients
Scheme
2014 REV
(million)
Basic SWA (1)
23,127
109.6
Rent Supplement
79,788
344.1
9,768
17.9
11,030
9.8
Exceptional / Urgent Needs Payments (3)
133,155
31.3
Humanitarian Aid (4)
166
340,000
2.2
Mortgage Interest Supplement
Other Supplements (2)
BSCFA (5)
School Meals (6)
Children
Familes
Organisations
Schools
Pupils
180,779
1,058
1,600
205,380
(1) Includes Direct Provision allowance
(2) Includes Diet, Other, Travel, etc.
(3) Number of Payments made
(4) Number of claims
(5) Approximate Recipients
(6) Approximate Recipients (December 2013)
17
46.3
39.0
DSP: DETAILED PROGRAMME EXPENDITURE BY SCHEME/SERVICE
[VOTE 37 + SIF]
Expenditure Breakdown
A1
A2
A3
SE2
SE3
SE4
SE5
SE6
A4
A5
A6
A7
A8
A9
A10
A11
A11.1
A11.2
A.11.3
A11
SE7
SE8
SE9
ADMINISTRATION
Administration - Pay
Administration - Non-Pay
Administration - Community Welfare Service
Administration - FAS
Social Insurance Fund non-DSP administration
TOTAL - ADMINISTRATION
PENSIONS
State Pension (Non-Contributory)
State Pension (Contributory)
State Pension (Transition)
Widows', Widowers' / Surviving Civil Partners'
Pension (Contributory)
Widows', Widowers' / Surviving Civil Partners'
Pension (Death Benefit)
Bereavement Grant
TOTAL PENSIONS
WORKING AGE INCOME SUPPORTS
Jobseeker's Allowance
One Parent Family Payment
Widows' Widowers' / Surviving Civil Partners
Pension (Non-Contributory)
Deserted Wife's Allowance
Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance
Payments
Farm Assist
Pre-Retirement Allowance
Other Working Age Supports
Exceptional and Urgent Needs
Other Supplements (including heating and
light)
Humanitarian Aid
Total Other Working Age Supports
Jobseeker's Benefit
Deserted Wife's Benefit
Maternity Benefit
18
2014 REV
€'000
2013
Participants
290,611
188,529
0
0
95,810
574,950
940,000
4,142,000
68,000
99,448
400,630
14,924
1,344,400
128,484
7,860
753
5,000
6,507,260
644,239
2,820,000
863,000
541,761
210,412
16,350
1,781
2,300
274
109,600
41,655
91,600
24,000
23,704
3,412
31,300
9,800
2,220
43,320
456,600
77,800
263,530
76,841
8,109
22,812
SE10
SE11
SE12
SE13
SE13.1
SE13.2
SE13.3
SE13
A12
A13
A14
A15
A16
A17
A18
A19
A.20
A.20.1
A.20.2
A.20.3
A.20.4
A.20.5
A.20.6
A.20.7
A.20.8
A.20.9
A.20.10
A.20.11
A.20.12
A.20.13
A.20.14
A.20.15
A.20.16
Adoptive Benefit
Health and Safety Benefit
Redundancy and Insolvency Payments
Treatment Benefits
Treatment Benefits - Dental
Treatment Benefits - Optical Benefit
Treatment Benefits - Medical & Surgical
Devices
Total Treatment Benefits
TOTAL WORKING AGE - INCOME SUPPORTS
WORKING AGE - EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS
Community Employment Programme
Rural Social Scheme
Tús - Community Work Placement
Job Initiative
Community Services Programme
Back to Work Allowance
National Internship Scheme - JobBridge
Back to Education Allowance
Other Employment Supports
Assistance towards training for BTW participants
Technical Employment Support Grant (funded
from National Training Fund)
Credit Union loan guarantee scheme
Part Time Job Incentive
Activation and Family Support Programme
(AFSP)
330
500
86,330
15,900
6,200
5,200
27,300
4,882,560
357,500
45,000
120,100
21,500
45,110
112,600
82,250
182,900
45,102
5,381
13,348
8,685
36,801
2,500
4,000
20
1,900
2,300
Special payments to long term unemployed
and lone parents
Gateway
JobsPlus
Special initiatives for Travellers programme
Drugs Task Force
European and Other Initiatives
Local Employment Service
Local Employment Service Jobs Clubs
Wage Subsidy Scheme
EmployAbility Service
Disability Activation and Employment Supports
*
19,100
13,500
550
1,800
2,740
19,100
6,000
10,850
9,240
Centres of Support for the Unemployed Special
Projects
0
Employment Support Unit (ESU) policy
initiatives
0
19
15
66
30
4,790
290
A22
SE14
Unallocated Funding
Total Other Employment supports
Partial Capacity Benefit
TOTAL WORKING AGE - EMPLOYMENT
SUPPORTS
0
98,420
12,670
1,849
1,078,050
ILLNESS, DISABILITY AND CARERS
Disability Allowance
Blind Pension
Carer's Allowance
Domiciliary Care Allowance
Respite Care Grant
Illness Benefit
Injury Benefit
Invalidity Pension
Disablement Benefit
Medical Care
Carer's Benefit
TOTAL - ILLNESS, DISABILITY AND CARERS
1,162,960
14,500
557,200
105,100
122,000
580,500
15,500
678,010
76,620
240
21,500
3,334,130
144,728
1,875
91,050
A26
A27
CHILDREN
Child Benefit
Family Income Supplement
1,913,300
281,700
1,168,852
142,509
A28
Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance
46,300
180,779
A29
A30
A30.1
School Meals
Other Child Supports
Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory)
Widowed Parent / Surviving Civil Partner Grant
(NON-CONTRIBUTORY)
Other Vote 37 funded Child Related Payments
SIF Funded Child Related Payments
Guardian's Payment (Contributory)
Widowed Parent / Surviving Civil Partner Grant
(Contributory)
Total SIF Funded Child Related Payments
TOTAL - CHILDREN
37,000
A21
A22
A23
A24
A25
SE15
SE16
SE17
SE18
SE19
SE20
A30.2
A30
SE21
SE21.1
SE21.2
SE21
A31
A32
SUPPLEMENTARY PAYMENTS, AGENCIES AND
MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES
Rent Supplement
Household Benefits Package [Vote 37 + SIF]
Electricity Allowance
20
5,200
85,324
1,171
76,248
14,598
2,610
1,011
360
5,560
10,900
2,133
6,300
17,200
2,301,060
344,100
17,920
153,210
79,788
9,768
Gas Allowance
Telephone Allowance
Free Television Licence
A34
A36
A37
A38.
A38.1
A38.2
A38.3
A38.4
A38.5
A38.6
A38.7
A38.8
A38.8
A38
20,000
2,500
54,170
Total Household Benefits Package [Vote 37 + SIF]
229,880
Free Travel
Fuel Allowance [Vote 37 + SIF]
Grant to the Citizens Information Board
Office of the Pensions Ombudsman
Miscellaneous Services
77,000
208,000
46,000
1,080
Rent allowance (de-control of rents legislation)
Recoupment of superannuation expenses to
The Pensions Board
Expenses incurred by Social Welfare Tribunal
Grants - Information & Welfare rights
EU Community Action Programme for
Employment and Social Solidarity (Progress) 2007
to 2013
Social Inclusion Initiatives
Ex gratia payments to women from Magdalen
Laundries and other Institution
Food Aid
National Pensions Awareness Campaign
Dormant Accounts - Economic & Social
Disadvantage
EU Year for Combating Poverty and Social
Exclusion
Grant to INOU
Miscellaneous Services Funded By Vote 37
TOTAL - SUPPLEMENTARY PAYMENTS, AGENCIES
AND MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES
DSP EXPENDITURE ON SCHEMES, SERVICES AND
ADMINISTRATION
21
655
180
1
687
75
80
1
1
0
0
0
0
1,680
925,660
19,603,500
Section 6: Pathways to Work
Assistant Secretary Responsible: John McKeon
Overarching Objective: - The continued implementation of the Pathways to Work/Intreo approach
comprising


Intreo office rollout continuing to end 2014 / early 2015
Overall programme of change continuing to end 2015
Specific Issues/Priorities:

Finalisation and implementation of JobPath contracting model - contingent on
Government approval.

Implementation of Youth Guarantee initiatives including a revised Intreo process for
young people, a new Internship scheme and a revised version of JobsPlus

Implementation of a new Intreo process for dealing with long-term unemployed clients
pending implementation of JobPath.

Implementation of a new employer engagement approach – requires significant resource
commitment to be supported by D/PER.

Publication of 2014/15 edition of Pathways to Work (PTW). Strategy drafted and agreed
at ‘official’ level. – To be ‘settled’ at political level for publication in September 2014

Development and implementation of an evaluation programme to assess impact of PTW
initiatives and other employment supports.
Development and implementation of new systems capability specifically:



A new activation/case management system to replace legacy FÁS system
A new JobsIreland website to replace existing ‘end-of-life’ system and to integrate with the
new ACM
A range of new Intreo centre/local office system capabilities including appointment setting,
means assessment, and scanning capabilities.
Continue to support, contribute and guide a range of governance/oversight groups including:


Labour Market Council (Minister of State to attend)
Senior Officials Group on Labour Market Issues/Cabinet Committee on PTW (Minister of
State to attend)
22
Labour Market/Activation Policy

The Government’s primary strategy to reduce long-term unemployment has been through
policies to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting
competitiveness and productivity, as set out in the Action Plan for Jobs.

The Government recognises the need for additional activation measures in the interim
while the economy recovers, and to ensure that as many as possible of the additional jobs
are taken up by unemployed welfare recipients. This is the rationale behind the
Government’s Pathways to Work strategy.

Pathways to Work includes a wide range of programmes and services to help
jobseekers back to employment. This has involved, in particular, the development of
systematic engagement with the newly unemployed through INTREO. This process is
being extended to the existing long-term unemployed commencing in mid-2014.

The Pathways processes are also now being adapted for younger people who become
unemployed – with earlier engagement for this group, and earlier targeting of
interventions. This is in line with the Government’s plan for the gradual implementation
of the EU recommendation on a Youth Guarantee – which envisages young people
receiving a relevant offer of employment, training, education or work experience within
four months of becoming unemployed

In addition to the engagement process, the Department operates four main schemes
whose purpose is to provide a pathway to employment.
 JobsPlus is targeted specifically at encouraging employers to recruit people who
are long-term unemployed. Over 2,300 long-term unemployed people have been
placed in employment as a result of JobsPlus and over 60% of these had been
unemployed for 2 years or more.
 Community Employment and Tús provide work experience opportunities for
long term unemployed jobseekers mainly within the community and voluntary
sector. The numbers of participants on Community Employment and Tús as of
April 2014 were 23,000 and 7,400 respectively up from 21,200 and 4,800 in April
2013.
 The JobBridge scheme provides a stepping stone for unemployed people to
employment in the wider economy. As of the end of April there were over 6,700
participants on the Scheme, up 12% from 6,000 in April 2013. To date nearly
30,000 people have participated in the scheme. Evaluation results indicate that 61%
of leavers from JobBridge find employment within 5 months of leaving their
internship.
23
Employer Engagement & Client Services Unit
Note: Under the Delegation of Functions Order the Minister of State has a secondary
(operational) role in relation to employer engagement, in particular JobsPlus and JobBridge.
The Tánaiste retains policy and primary responsibility for Employment Engagement.
Background
One of the strands identified by the Government’s Pathways to Work Strategy is more
intensive and professional engagement with employers in order to encourage greater use of
the Departments services and increased levels of recruitment from the Live Register.
In line with that strategy a dedicated Employer Engagement Unit was established in 2012 to
coordinate the Department’s engagement with employers. There are over 35 staff working in
the Employer Engagement & Client Services Unit which consists of the following areas:
- Employer Engagement
- National Contact Centre
- European Job Mobility Portal (EURES)
- JobBridge
- Client Services
In addition there are dedicated managers leading the engagement process with employers at a
divisional level.
Employer Engagement
The employer engagement unit engages in a range of activities to support employers
including:
a. Supporting recruitment needs for employers through tailored supports and matching
b. Working with Enterprise Agencies such as the IDA identify candidates for IDA client
companies.
c. Jobs Fairs and recruitment events
d. Participation at and hosting of employer briefings and breakfast meetings for
employers and employer groups
The unit is also responsible for the Employer Information Pack, which contains information
about the range of supports and services provided by the Department for Employers. The
Employer Packs is available to download on the Department’s website.
24
Client Services
The Benefit of Work Ready Reckoner provides job seekers with a rough calculation of the
benefit to them in returning to work. The Ready Reckoner does not incorporate all costs of
returning to work such as child care but does include details about rent supplement and
provides information about Family Income Supplement.
Client Services maintain the Jobseeker information pack which includes details on the range
of supports and services provided by the Department. The Jobseeker Pack is available to
download on the Department’s website.
Protocol for Co-operation – DSP & Enterprise Agencies
Following commitments made in Pathways to Work 2013 a Protocol for Cooperation was
signed in November 2013 between DSP, DJEI, and the Enterprise Agencies (IDA Ireland,
Enterprise Ireland, the County Enterprise Boards and Forfás). The protocol is to ensure that
the DSP and Enterprise Agencies work together in reducing unemployment.
National Contact Centre (NCC)
The NCC is responsible for the Jobs Ireland website. Jobs-Ireland is a free vacancy
advertising and job search service provide by the Department to support employers and
jobseekers. In 2013 www.jobsireland.ie advertised more than 105,897 Irish based jobs. An
RFT is currently being prepared for a new Jobs Ireland website.
European Job Mobility Portal (EURES)
EURES is the European Employment Services, a European-wide initiative which assists
jobseekers to take up employment in other EU countries and provides information, advice
and job-matching services for the benefit of workers and employers as well as any citizen
wishing to benefit from the principle of free movement. The EURES network has over 900
specially trained advisers across Europe with 18 spread across Ireland. Any employment
opportunities brought to the attention of jobseekers in Ireland that are outside Ireland are
completely voluntary and there is no impact on an individual’s welfare payment if they do
not take the job.
25
JobBridge
The JobBridge intership scheme was launched on 1 July 2011. As at 10th July 2014:






30,801 internships have commenced to-date;
6,480 jobseekers are currently undertaking an internship;
2,196 internship opportunities are advertised on the JobBridge website;
Over 6,600 monitoring visits have been conducted to-date and very encouragingly
98% of all visits have been satisfactory;
Over 13,000 companies have participated in JobBridge and the vast majority abide by
the terms and conditions of the scheme;
The independent evaluation conducted by Indecon found that 61% of interns progress
to paid employment after completing their internship. This progression rate is among
the best in Europe, where progression rates for similar internship schemes average
just 34%.
Pilot Postgraduate Programme in Professional Practice (PGPP)
In June this year, the Department of Social Protection (DSP), in partnership with the Higher
Education Authority (HEA), introduced a pilot Postgraduate Programme of Professional
Practice (PGPP) as part of JobBridge, the National Internship Scheme. The pilot programme
is directed at unemployed level 8 graduates in the Science Technology Engineering and
Maths (STEM) disciplines and facilities JobBridge internships within organisations broadly
in these sectors.
JobsPlus
Funding: €13.5m provided in 2014
Number of places: 2,500 up to end of June 2014, this has been extended by 500 in recent
weeks.
Number of participants currently engaged: 2,634 employees with 2,006 employers
JobsPlus has been designed to provide a simple, easily understood, accessible and attractive
cash-based incentive to employers to encourage recruitment from the cohort of the long-term
unemployed. The level of payment is increased for the recruitment of those out of work for
more than two years. Two levels of subsidy are available to employers who recruit long-term
jobseekers: €7,500 in respect of jobseekers unemployed for 12 to 24 months, and €10,000 in
respect of jobseekers 24 months or more on the live register. In both cases, the subsidy is paid
to the employer over a two year period monthly in arrears for each month that the employee
26
remains in employment. .JobsPlus was launched in July 2013 with an initial target of
supporting employer to employ 2,500 jobseekers.
Key issues: An internal review of the operation of JobsPlus for the initial period of
implementation is being finalised (due mid-July). Demand for JobsPlus continues to be
strong with the budget for 2014 likely to be sufficient to meet the 3,000 figure approved by
D/PER.
European Social Fund (ESF) within the Department
1. Overview of the Departments ESF and Youth Employment Initiative (YEI)
involvement
The ESF is the European Union's financial instrument for investing in people. Its mission is,
to help prevent and fight unemployment, to make Europe's workforce and companies better
equipped to face new challenges and to prevent people losing touch with the labour market.
The YEI is the European Union's financial instrument specifically aimed at tackling
unemployment for those under 25. Within the Department this is being used to fund some of
the activities that are outlined within the Youth Guarantee.
The Department have agreed with the Department of Education and Skills (DES) to submit
claims to aid the drawdown of the ESF and YEI from the European Commission as part of
the 2014-2020 ESF Operational Programme (OP). The Department has proposed to claim
€41.4m ESF and €35m YEI (mostly in respect of expenditure in 2014 to 2016).
To do this the expenditure relating to the operations of Tús, JobBridge, JobsPlus and Back to
Work Enterprise Allowance Schemes covering under 25s will be claimed for both the ESF
and YEI. For these schemes for every €300 of eligible expenditure submitted, €100 ESF and
€100 YEI (i.e. ⅔) will refunded by the European Commission.
EURES and some Disability operations will be claimed for under the ESF only. For these
schemes for every €200 of eligible submitted, €100 ESF (i.e. 50%) will be refunded by the
commission.
Currently the Department also runs 14 Disability related projects under the 2007-2013 OP.
In order to help meet the Departments requirements a new unit is being established.
27
2. Responsibilities of the new unit
Acting as the intermediate body the DSP ESF Unit is responsible for:





Providing guidance and instructions within the Department to ensure the processes
and procedures involving the relevant schemes meet ESF/YEI requirements
(including publicity, document retention and data collection).
Constructing and implementing an ESF/YEI claim process.
Carrying out monitoring and verification checks aimed to ensure that all expenditure
submitting meets the relevant requirements.
Co-ordinating monitoring visits and audits carried out by several groups including the
DES Financial Control Unit and the European Commission.
Co-ordinating information requests to and from the ESF Managing and Certifying
Authorities within DES.
3. Key Challenges




Getting the unit established with a level of authority and recognition that will allow it
to carry out its responsibilities.
Putting in place systems and procedures that allow the Department to claim the
ESF/YEI in the most efficient manner possible.
Communicating the ESF/YEI requirements around the relevant sections in the
Department with a view to ensuring compliance.
Obtaining relevant information and documentation from various sections and systems
within the department
4. Key Documents



The ESF Operational Programme 2014-2020 not finalised at present.
The EU Regulations for 2014 – 2020 covering the ESF/YEI funded schemes.
The Youth Guarantee
28
Youth Guarantee
Background
The Youth Guarantee asks member states to ensure that those aged 18-24 receive an offer of
training, education or work experience within four months of leaving becoming unemployed.
The implementation in Ireland will be on a phased basis.
Note: Under the Delegation of Functions Order the Minister of State has a secondary
(operational) role in relation to the Youth Guarantee, that is the outreach and public
communication elements. The Tánaiste retains policy and primary responsibility for the
Youth Guarantee.
Youth Guarantee Actions
The Youth Guarantee in Ireland will include
-
-
Modifying the Intreo Process to ensure more intensive engagement with young people
Increasing the number of places on schemes available to, and accessed by, young
people
Earmarking a quota of places on existing schemes for young people;
Improving the JobsPlus subsidy arrangements for employing young people by
reducing the qualifying time for those aged under 25 from 12 months to four months;
and
Introducing a developmental Internship programme for young people in the 18-25 age
bracket
Youth Guarantee Developmental Internship
One of the specific actions outlined in the Irish Pathways to Work document to implement
the EU council recommendation is to introduce, in addition to the existing JobBridge
internship scheme an additional ‘developmental internship variant’ for the most
disadvantaged young people.
The target cohort for the Youth Guarantee Developmental Internship are people aged 18-25,
with low levels of education and, who may have experienced long periods of unemployment
and possibly have additional barriers to employment. The Department is developing this
JobBridge variant as a means of activating and supporting young unemployed people who are
the most disadvantaged and most distant from the active labour market. Suitable candidates
will be selected by the Department and referred to this intervention.
Greater supports will be provided in the form of pre-internship preparation training, closer
support for the intern from Department case officers, and compulsory training delivered by
the host organisation during the internship. Interns will receive the standard JobBridge €50
29
weekly top in addition to the existing social welfare entitlement. Internships will be sourced
via an Expression of Interest process where organisations in the public, private a, community
an voluntary sectors will be canvassed. These internships will not be advertised for general
availability but will be ring-fenced for the most disadvantaged young people.
Labour Market Council
The Labour Market Council was established in September 2013 to support and advise the
Minister for Social Protection on the Implementation of the Pathways to Work strategy.
The Council advises the Minister for Social Protection and Government on wider policy
issues relevant to the employment agenda of supporting long term unemployed people return
to work.
Governance
The membership and terms of reference for the Council will be determined from time to time
by the Minister for Social Protection. The initial terms of reference are set out below. The
Council will present its views on a periodic basis (but at least twice yearly) to the Cabinet
sub-committee on Pathways to Work. The Group will be supported in its work by the Dept.
of Social Protection and other relevant departments responsible for the Pathways to Work
strategy (including Dept. of Education and Dept. of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation). Access
to labour market research across Government will be made available to the Council.
The Council will meet every six weeks for a half day.
Members will be asked for a 12 month commitment to the Labour Market Council but it is
expected that the Council will continue to operate beyond this period.
Terms of Reference
Over an initial 12 month period to Sept. 2014, the group will be tasked with advising the
Minister by;

Monitoring the implementation of the Pathways to Work 2013 strategy.

Identifying key issues arising from the implementation of the strategy and suggesting
possible policy and/or operational responses.

Providing input to and feedback on strategies to increase employer and jobseeker
awareness of, and engagement with, the various initiatives identified in the strategy.

Providing input to and feedback on the design and implementation of the Youth
Guarantee for Ireland.

Providing input to and feedback on the development of the JobPath contracting
model.
30

Providing insights and experience relating to wider policy issues relevant to
developments in the labour market generally, including employment trends, skills,
training and workforce developments.

Contributing to developing the wider public awareness of the Pathways to Work
strategy.

Providing the Minister for Social Protection and the Government with input to and
feedback on revisions to and further development of the Pathways to Work strategy
during 2014.

Publishing an annual statement outlining the Council’s findings.
Work to Date:

The
launch
Interim
Report
of
the
Labour
Market
(http://www.welfare.ie/en/downloads/interim-report-of-the-labour-marketcouncil.pdf) on Wednesday 30th April.

Establishment of Employer-Sub-group: The sub-group will build on very positive
engagement with employers in recent months and harness the undoubted goodwill of
many employers towards hiring from the Live Register. Key to this will be the
establishment of an employer charter which will commit employers to hire from the
Live Register.

Establishment of Economic Evaluation Sub-group: The sub-group will focus on the
rigorous evaluation of activation programmes in order to ensure that the limited
resources available are being put to best use and delivering the best outcomes for all.
Members:
 Chair: Martin Murphy CEO HP Ireland
 Martin Costello, Group HR Manager, Glanbia
 Tony Donohoe, Head of Education, Social & Innovation Policy, IBEC
 Kevin Empey, Director of HR Consulting Practice, Tower Watson Ireland
 Alan Gray, Managing Director, Indecon Economic Consultants
 Tony Keohane, Chairman Tesco
 John Martin, former Director of Employment and Social Affairs, OECD
 Bríd O’Brien, Head of Policy & Media, INOU
 Philip O’Connell, Director of the Geary Institute, UCD
 Heather Reynolds, CEO Eishtec
 Frank Ryan, Chairman of IDA
 Marie Sherlock, Researcher, Policy Department, SIPTU
31
Council
Official Attendees (As required)
 John McKeon, Assistant Secretary (DSP)
 Terry Corcoran Principal Officer (DSP)
 Senior officials from D/ES and DJEI (A/sec or PO level)
 Anna Doody, Corporate Affairs for HP Ireland
 Ed Brophy, Senior Advisor to Minister Burton
 Karen O’Connell, Advisor to Minister Burton
Secretary

Brian McCormick, Assistant Principal Officer (DSP)
32
Section 7: Delivery of Pathways to Work
Assistant Secretary Responsible: John McKeon
Intreo Programme
The Government has set the OPW and Department of Social Protection (DSP) very ambitious
targets for the delivery of the new Intreo Service which brings together the services
previously delivered by the Department at its Local Offices, the Community Welfare Service
formerly administered on behalf of the Department by the Health Service Executive and the
Employment Support Services formerly managed by FAS.
Intreo is the new integrated income support, employment and support service which is
provided by the Department of Social Protection. Intreo, which was launched in 2012, is now
in place in 44 offices located across the country and the service will be extended to all other
remaining Social Welfare Local Offices by the end of 2014 / early 2015.
Intreo centres currently providing a full range of services are as follows:
King’s Inn, Sligo, Arklow, Tallaght, Buncrana, Ballymun, Coolock, Killarney, Dundalk,
Blanchardstown, Newcastlewest, Clifden, Achill, Belmullet, Listowel, Tullamore, Kilkenny,
Ballyfermot, Caherciveen, Navan Road, DunLaoghaire, Bray, Longford, Limerick, Cavan,
Ballina, Kenmare, Carlow, Drogheda, Manorhamilton, Waterford, Cobh, Tralee, Finglas,
Wexford, Clonmel, Dunfanaghy, Dungloe, Kilbarrack, Athlone, Carrick-on-Shannon,
Loughrea, Ennis, Castlebar,.
The following offices are scheduled for completion by the end of the year / early 2015:
Westport, Bishop’s Square, Clondalkin, Nutgrove, Cork (Hanover Quay), Newbridge,
Swords, Cork St (Dublin 8), Navan, Galway, Carrigaline, Letterkenny, Cork (new 2nd
office), Mullingar, Thurles, Balbriggan, and a new office in Lucan/Adamstown.
The timeline is extremely tight and there are risks to delivery outside the control of the OPW
and DSP (e.g. planning permission, lease issues).
Despite the delays in providing the changed infrastructure required for the full delivery of
Intreo at some locations, almost all offices are providing a range of integrated services to our
customers including integrated decisions, profiling, group engagement and one to one
activation with a Case Officer.
The Intreo centre is a one-stop shop for all income and employment support services where
customers can access job-seeking advice, information on vacancies and income support
services all in the one place.
The local Intreo Centre provides expert help and advice on employment, training and
personal development opportunities with a focus on customer needs to help them enter the
33
workforce. Self-service kiosks are available to provide information and case officers offer
advice and guidance on employment and training opportunities. The individualised supports
which are available to jobseekers assist them in getting back to work and increasing their
employability.
There are a number of key elements which make up the Intreo service including:

Integrated reception providing a one-stop shop incorporating all strands of the
Department’s income support and employment services.

Provision of information and access to income supports, including jobseekers'
payments, back to work and back to education payments, one-parent family payments
and community welfare services.

Integrated decision-making process leading to quicker payment decisions.

Intreo has introduced a new approach to engagement with people who are
unemployed. It aims to transform the nature and level of engagement between
employment services and people on the Live Register with the objective of helping
people on the pathway back to employment. The aim is that the first day a client
enters an Intreo Centre and engages with the service, that day is the start of the
journey back to work. See below for further details in relation to the group
engagement and one-to-one interview process.
Contracted Public Employment Services
JobPath
JobPath is a new approach to resourcing employment service provision via ‘payment by
results’ contracts with third parties.
1. Background and Approach
Although the Department has doubled the number of its own staff involved in activation roles (to c
600) and has maximised client referrals under the existing contract arrangements with LES the
increased capacity still falls of the estimated number of caseworkers required to address peak
demand. JobPath provides a means of resourcing this peak in demand for caseworker capacity.
Under the “payment by results” approach most of the financial risk of resourcing the activation
effort is transferred to the contracted providers with the initial set-up and on-going operational
costs of JobPath to be borne by contractors not the State.
A Request For Tenders for JobPath services was issued in December 2013. An evaluation board
has assessed tenders received and submitted a recommendation which to the Management Board
34
of the Department. A paper is currently being prepared for the consideration of the Minister with
the intention that a memorandum is brought to Government by the end of July.
2. JobPath: Key Features
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
Referrals under contracts will made over a period of 4 years with a 2 year ‘work-out’
The period of engagement on the programme for any individual jobseeker will be is 52
weeks and participation will be mandatory for those who are referred
On average it is expected that c 110,000 people will be referred to JobPath p.a.
Every participant on the programme is guaranteed a baseline level of service – a
service guarantee.
Providers will be paid by means of a ‘referral fee’ and job sustainment fees. The
referral fee will be paid when each client referred has produced a ‘personal progression
plan’. Sustainment fees will be paid in respect of each period of 13 weeks of sustained
employment (minimum of 30 hrs per week) up to a maximum of 52 weeks. Referral
fees are c 10% of the value of the maximum sustainment fees.
All providers will use local sub-contractors to help provide services.
Local Employment Services (LES)
1. Introduction
LES are provided under contract by local community organisations to provide employment
services to help jobseekers, in particular long term unemployed jobseekers, to enter or return
to employment.
2. Budget
The budget for 2014 is €19.1m. It has been at this level since 2011.
3. Contracts
In 2014, the Department contracted for the provision of LES in 25 locations with 22 different
contractors (21 local development companies (LDCs) and 1 community organisation).
Contracts are valid for one year only (January to December) or to finish on 31 st December of
a particular year if an LES commences mid-year.
There are 292.19 full-time equivalent posts in the LES of which 157.26 are Mediator posts. It
is the role of these Mediators to provide career / vocational guidance and support to clients of
the service .
4. Activity
The LES are contracted to provide services for two strands of clients. For 2014 the
Department contracted with LES Providers for the referral of some 65,000 unemployed
35
jobseeker clients. In addition, the Department also funds the provision, via LES, of
employment services for a number of other target groups (e.g. lone parents, people with
disabilities etc.) deemed to be most distant from the labour market. In this regard the LES
were contracted to provide services for a further 21,000 clients in 2014.
Job Clubs
1. Introduction
Job Clubs provide structured support (e.g. Cv development, interview skills, job-serarching
skills) to job ready1 jobseekers to help them to secure and retain paid employment in the open
labour market
This is delivered through the provision of:



Formal workshops which can vary from 1 to 4 weeks depending on the need of
the jobseekers. (Jobseekers are referred by both Intreo and LES to these formal
workshops).
Individualised support which allows jobseekers to avail of practical and personal
support on a one to one basis e.g. pre-interview support.
Drop-in service which allows jobseekers to avail of the facilities of the Job Club
(e.g. internet, telephone, photocopying) at their own convenience.
2. Budget
The budget for 2014 is €6m. (Increased from €5.7 in 2012).
3. Contracts
In 2014, the Department contracted for the provision of 50 Job Clubs with 46 different
contractors (Local Development Companies and other organisations). Contracts are valid for
one year only (January to December) or to finish on 31st December of a particular year if a
Job Club commences mid-year.
There are a combined total of 99.8 full-time equivalent posts in Job Clubs nationally.
4. Activity
For 2014 the Department contracted with Job Club Providers for the referral of some 11,000
clients to formal workshops. In addition, Job Clubs nationally were contracted to engage and
provide services for some 8,400 clients on a one to one basis.
1
‘Job Ready’ is defined as “a person who has the necessary training, education, motivation to pursue work in
the open labour market”
36
Section 8: Employment Schemes
Assistant Secretary Responsible: Kathleen Stack
Community Employment (CE)
Scale of Community Employment (CE)
There are currently 1,056 Projects in operation with 24,553 CE places filled (June, 2014).
The 2014 Budget target is 25,300 CE places. CE has an annual budget of €357.5m for 2014
and the programme is currently on target in terms of place occupancy and budget
expenditure.
Policy Issues:
The aim of CE is to enhance the employability and mobility of disadvantaged and
unemployed persons by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within
their communities. In addition it helps long-term unemployed people to re-enter the active
workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work routine.
CE projects are typically sponsored by groups wishing to benefit the local community,
namely voluntary and community organisations and, to a lesser extent, public bodies involved
in not-for-profit activities. Such projects provide a valuable service to local communities
while at the same time providing training and educational opportunities to Job seekers.
The Department’s priority in supporting CE is having access to schemes that can provide job
seekers and other vulnerable groups with good quality work experience and training
qualifications to support their progression into employment.
Volume of Client Population:
The main factors impacting on the CE programme is the level of long-term unemployed
which in Q1, 2014 represented 60.5% of total unemployment (CSO QNHS Q1 2014). Added
to this is the activation of Lone Parents, particularly those transitioning from OFP to LR and
provision for people with disabilities. Given the Pathways to Work focus for 2014, the
provision of sufficient development opportunities for long-term unemployed who are referred
by the Intreo Services is a key component of the Government response to the activation of
these groups. In addition, there is the social inclusion value of employment programmes,
particularly CE in this context for example, Drug Rehabilitation clients.
In 2012 a root and branch examination of all projects funded under Community Employment
took place as part of the CE Financial Review. This has led to significant re-structuring of
CE, in the operation of these schemes and improving the programme offered to the client.
These are outlined further on in this document. The Department of Social Protection is
committed to the on-going reform of CE to ensure delivery of service, value for money and
progression of the individual.
37
Operational Issues: Improvements in the Operation of CE in 2013/14:
Management and Administration:
Significant savings have been achieved:
 CE Materials costs have been reduced from €20m in 2011 to €13m in 2013 and
supervisory costs have been reduced from €58.1m in 2011 to €56.8m in 2013. This is
at a time when the CE places were increased in the 2013 budget;
 Staff costs associated with CE have reduced by over €2m per annum with agreed
staffing reductions of 30 HEOs and 10 COs.
Strengthening of Corporate Governance of CE Schemes:
 The process used to support financial monitoring has been strengthened. A new
Financial Monitoring system was rolled-out in 2013; each scheme is monitored on an
annual basis for compliance with the CE Operational Procedures. Non-compliant
schemes will not go forward for renewal;
 An annual target of 5% of all CE schemes for central monitoring and control visits is
in place. The outcomes from these visits are sent to Divisions and Schemes for
follow-up and for information;
 Improvements have been made to the administration of schemes; a 3 year application
system has been introduced in 2014 to replace annual applications;
 A Programme and Training Monitoring system was designed in 2013 and will be fully
implemented for all schemes by the end of 2014. Each scheme will be monitored for
compliance with Operational Procedures and non-compliant schemes will not go
forward for renewal;
 The CE Operational Procedures are revised and updated in line with the findings from
monitoring visits.
Programme Development:
 For CE participants who work directly with children, a dedicated programme
comprising formal learning and supervised work experience has been introduced. This
leads to a FETAC Level 5 Major Award (which is the required entry level to childcare
occupations) and is a mandatory part of CE participation in the childcare strand;
 The development of further occupational strands continues in 2014 e.g. health &
social care, Drug Rehabilitation;
 An Additional 2,000 places were allocated to CE in 2013. This gave more job seekers
an opportunity to participate on CE and gain relevant skills and qualifications. It also
gave additional support to the service element of CE.
38
Progression into Employment and Further Education:
 At June 2014 progression for all participants who completed CE (4,840) was 25.7 per
cent; 22.9 per cent into employment/self-employment and 2.8 into education/training;
 Progression for participants (for the same period) from the Live Register was 31 per
cent. Progression includes progression to employment/self-employment (28.1%) and
progression into further education/training (2.9%);
 There is a renewed focus on the progression of participants and the important role the
scheme sponsor plays in this area. The follow-up of CE participants on leaving the
scheme and helping them to make connections into the job market are key functions
for schemes.
Community Employment 2014: Current Developments
The future strategy of the Department is to have an integrated set of programme options for
long-term unemployed and other vulnerable groups under the two “strands” of an activation
programme and a social inclusion programme. In 2014, the priority is to develop and roll out
this approach on CE, the largest of the employment programmes.
As a result of this proposed work, participant places will be classified as being either
activation or social inclusion focused and this will bring clarity to determining the
appropriate referral and expected outcomes for participants referred from Intreo and from
sponsoring organisations acting as providers. It is planned that in time, this approach with the
case officer playing a central role in placement of participants on employment programmes,
will become the common framework for all Departmental employment programmes i.e. CE,
Tús, Rural Social Scheme, Gateway, Job Initiative and, over time, all activities will be
subsumed under these two headings. This process is at the early stages of being put in place
by divisional and policy staff.
Tús
Number of places: 7,500 currently rising to 8,000 plus supervisors from September.
Number of participants engaged w/e 11/07/14: 7,368 participants & 392 supervisors.
Tús is a work placement scheme providing short-term work opportunities which commenced
operation in 2011. To be eligible to participate on Tús, a person must have been continuously
unemployed for at least 12 months, been receiving a Jobseeker's payment for at least 12
months and be currently in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance. Participation is mandatory and
is by random selection only. Participants work for an average of 19 ½ hours a week and the
placement which lasts for 12 months will be with a local community or voluntary group. The
39
rate of payment relates to the customer’s current Jobseeker’s Allowance rate with a minimum
payment of €208 p.w.
Key issues: The initiative is operating well. Concerns mainly relate to the duration of the
placement (12 months) and the absence of resources for training/development of participants.
Rural Social Scheme (RSS)
Funding: €45m provided in 2014
Number of places: 2,600 participants & 130 supervisors
Number of participants engaged w/e 11/07/14: 2,564 participants & 130 supervisors.
The RSS commenced in 2004. To be eligible to participate on RSS a person must be actively
farming/ fishing and have an income level from this activity that qualifies them for one of a
range of DSP payments. Participation is by self-selection and is dependent on the availability
of vacancies in the relevant locale. Participants will work for an average of 19 ½ hours a
week and there is no maximum time duration on the RSS provided eligibility is maintained.
The rate of payment is linked to the customer’s DSP payment with a minimum total weekly
payment of €208.
Key issues: The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform published a focused policy
review of the RSS earlier in 2014. The review called for the re-orientation of the RSS to
support activation efforts and for improved monitoring of the services being delivered.
Gateway
Number of places sanctioned: 3,000
Number of participants engaged w/e 11/07/14: 395
Gateway is a work placement scheme designed to provide short-term work opportunities for
unemployed people.
Gateway commenced operation in December 2013. To be eligible to participate on Gateway,
a person must have been continuously unemployed for at least 24 months, been receiving a
Jobseeker's payment for at least 24 months and be currently in receipt of Jobseeker's
Allowance. Participation is mandatory and 80% of participants are randomly selected with
20% open to referral by a DSP case officer. Participants work for an average of 19 ½ hours a
week and the placement which lasts for 22 months will be with their Local Authorities. The
rate of payment relates to the customer’s current Jobseeker’s Allowance rate plus €20 per
week. The minimum Gateway weekly rate is therefore €208.
40
Key issues: Recruitment by local authorities is slower than anticipated. The mid-year target
of 1,200 was not achieved. Reasons for delay relate to IR issues in some councils, speed of
recruitment, sourcing suitable placements, internal resources, and application of standard
recruitment practices.
Community Services Programme (CSP)
Number of Community Services funded: 401
Number of FTEs positions funded: 1708.5 (this equated to roughly 2,300 people in
employment, including part-time).
Number of manager positions funded: 292
The CSP has operated since 2006 and is designed to address locally identified gaps in the
provision of community services. It focuses on communities where public and private sector
services are lacking. Projects are required to provide employment opportunities with an
emphasis on employing people with disabilities, those that are long-term unemployed,
members of the Traveller community, people who are recovering from drug misuse and exprisoners. The contribution towards employing a stated number of full-time equivalent
positions (“FTEs”) is €19,033, while the contribution towards a manager’s position is
€32,000 (both inclusive of the employer’s PRSI contribution). Service providers are expected
to pay the local labour market rate to employees with the costs being met by the employing
service provider from the income generated from its activities.
Contracts with service providers are of up to three year duration and can be rolled over for a
further three year period subject to completing a re-contracting review at least once every
three years. Pobal have been engaged by the Department to manage the day-to-day
contracting and monitoring arrangements for the programme.
Between 150-170 contracts are subject to a re-contracting process annually. The last open call
for applications was in 2008. Since 2008, a few new contracts are offered annually and these
have mainly related to services that were in train or where other sources of public funding
have diminished or facilities have come on stream without staffing resources.
Key issues: No particular issues arise in respect of the CSP. Around 150 contracts are subject
to renewal in 2014.
41
Back to Education Allowance (BTEA)
No of participants for the academic year 2013/14: 24,996
The back to education allowance (BTEA) scheme is a broadly targeted second chance
education opportunities scheme for eligible people on certain social welfare payments who
wish to participate in full time education. It is in existence since 1986. A person wishing to
pursue the back to education allowance has to satisfy a number of conditions such as being a
certain age, in receipt of a prescribed social welfare payment for a specified time period,
commencing first year of a full time course of study leading to a recognised qualification in a
recognised college and in general progressing in the level of education held by the client with
reference to the national framework of qualifications among others. In general, a person must
be commencing the first year of a course of study and be in receipt of a relevant social
welfare payment for 3 months (78 days) if pursuing a second level course, 9 months (234
days) for third level study and 12 months (312 days) for the Professional Masters of
Education.
Total number of participants engaged with BTEA for the academic year 2013/14 was 24,996.
BTEA is not paid to jobseekers during the summer holiday period between academic years.
Key issues: A number of changes were introduced in May to the application process to make
it more proactive and to bring it into line with current activation practices. All new
applications for the future academic year must be mediated by a DSP case officer. These new
processes will take some time to embed.
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance Scheme (BTWEA)
Funding: €112.6m is provided for BTWEA & STEA in 2014
No of participants engaged w/e 27 June 2014: 11,075
The main purpose of the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) is to encourage the
long-term unemployed on a social welfare payment to develop a business while allowing
them to retain a reducing proportion of their qualifying social welfare payment, plus they
may retain secondary benefits, over two years. The business must be approved in advance by
a Case Officer or an Integrated Development Company and should be deemed viable and not
displace an existing business. In assessing viability, cognisance is taken of the demand for,
and supply of, the particular service at local level. In general a person must be 12 months on a
qualifying social welfare payment. This Scheme was established in March 1999. Since May
2009, the duration of the BTWEA is 2 years at 100% of existing social welfare entitlement in
the first year and 75% in the second year.
42
The short-term enterprise allowance (STEA) was introduced from May 2009 and it
encourages persons in receipt of jobseekers’ benefit to take up self-employment opportunities
by allowing them to retain a payment equivalent to the jobseekers’ benefit. This allowance is
payable for the duration and rate of their jobseekers’ benefit entitlement. The amount of time
a person can participate on the STEA is directly related to the amount of time left on the
jobseekers benefit.
Key issues: The operations of the Scheme are to be reviewed to ensure they are aligned with
changes in enterprise supports under the new local enterprise offices and to broaden the range
of delivery structures (the scheme is currently focused on the very long term unemployed).
Enterprise Support Grant (ESG)
Funding: €2.5m is provided in 2014 (for both ESG and TATS)
No of participants supported: 2,303 (under both schemes – numbers in future will be lower
due to focus on BTWEA/STEA).
The Enterprise Support Grant replaced the Training and Technical Support scheme from 16
April 2014. This scheme provides financial support, in addition to income support under
BTWEA & STEA, to jobseekers that are approved for those schemes. The business plan
submitted as part of the Enterprise Allowance application must set out the rationale and
requirement for the financial support. The level of funding that is granted, if any, is at the
discretion of the Department’s Case Officers. This is a discretionary fund and a jobseeker
does not have an entitlement to access this programme other than by way of meeting the
eligibility criteria, meeting quality requirements, and subject to the provision of sufficient
funds to meet costs arising.
Key issues: None identified - scheme has been in operation for only a few months.
Technical Employment Support Grant (TESG)
Number of participants at end June 2014.: 7,069 applications completed
The technical employment support grant (TESG) can be made available to jobseekers who
have registered with the Employment Service and undertaken a guidance process leading to
an agreed career plan, and who are in receipt of certain specified welfare payments, primarily
jobseekers’ and lone parent payments as well as payments related to disability and long-term
illness.
TESG is designed to support a person to overcome identified barriers in progressing from
unemployment to employment. The grant can be used to purchase training (where this cannot
be provided by a State provider within a reasonable time) or for certain other expenditures
43
such as purchase of tools, travel costs to job interviews. Training, with limited exceptions,
must be on certified courses. TESG meets the full costs of these supports up to €500 per
jobseeker.
Key issues: It is proposed to put a revised scheme in place by September 2014.
Activation & Family Support Programme (AFSP)
Number of participants at end June 2014: 1,126 participants supported.
This Programme allows DSP to provide funding to enable partnership and interagency work
in respect of training and education initiatives for jobseekers. DSP can co-fund or part-fund
on a reactive or proactive basis (i.e. it will fund proposals or may seek proposals).
Participants must be in receipt of social welfare payments to enhance their employability
through education, training and personal development opportunities and to improve their
quality of life.
The application of the funding is largely responsive to demand identified by local
organisations who apply for funding for a project via the DSP divisional activation
teams/case officers. Funding applications come from a wide range of organisations including
community development and family resource centres, local development companies, and
advocacy groups, education and training boards and local enterprise offices.
Key issues: It is proposed to put a revised scheme in place by September 2014.
Special Initiative for Travellers
Number of contracts funded: 10
The Special Initiative for Travellers is a small fund that supports local inter-agency work to
bring Travellers into the workforce and to support enterprise ideas put forward for or by
Travellers. Activation work is funded through a number of JobsClubs where specific
positions are funded to work exclusively with member of the Traveller community. Two
contracts are funded to support enterprise activities (Clondalkin and North Fingal).
Key issues: The level of local Traveller interagency work being undertaken across the
country has diminished in recent years with reduced demand on this scheme. Changes in
other activation work by the Department and how services are organized have also impacted
on the effectiveness of the programme.
44
Section 9: Regions and Divisions
Assistant Secretary Responsible: Kathleen Stack
The Department of Social Protection delivers services locally through a nationwide network
of 123 Intreo, Local and Branch Offices Services throughout the Country are managed in the
Department through a Regional and Divisional management structure, which is organised
into 2 Regions with responsibility assigned at Assistant Secretary level and 13 Divisional
areas.
Each Division is headed up by a Divisional Manager at Principal Officer level who in turn
has responsibility for the delivery of localised services and all of the day-to-day operational
issues for the provision of income support and employment services in a number of Intreo,
Local and Branch Offices.
Regional Support Unit
The Regional Support Unit (RSU) is the central support unit responsible for the development
and implementation of operational policy for the regions and divisions. As part of its role, the
Unit acts as a liaison point between the various Departmental policy areas and the regions.
The RSU also provides an administrative support role on divisional activity including
business plans, risk monitoring, admin budgets, performance statistics, Irish language liaison
and seasonal customer payment arrangements. The area also has responsibility for the coordination of branch office services.
Operational Issues in the Divisions
Live Register and Claimloads
The increase in the Live Register and claim-loads has been the main challenge for DSP
service delivery in recent years.
As a consequence of the increase in the live register, the administrative effort required in all
offices nationwide was significant in order to register, authorise claims and then to maintain
payments on an ongoing week to week basis.
The increase in the numbers signing also contributed to pressure in offices but the associated
challenges continue to be successfully managed by managers and staff.
Whilst the Live Register has stabilised and is now decreasing, the maintenance of existing
very substantial claim-loads coupled with the deepening of service levels and the
implementation of cost saving initiatives serve to maintain pressure on administrative
45
capacity. The main issues and initiatives, other than claim volume, driving such pressures
include:



Intreo office rollout;
Implementation of activation process; and
OFP reform.
Profiling of Jobseekers on the Live Register
The Department uses a customer profiling model, developed in conjunction with the ESRI, to
estimate, at the time a jobseeker claim is made, a person’s likelihood of exiting the Live
Register to employment within 12 months. This profiling model uses a range of
characteristics and weightings applied to them. The characteristics include age, gender,
marital status, education level, unemployment history, literacy and numeracy, perception of
health, motivation, access to transport. Use of the model was rolled out to the Department’s
offices in 2012 and 2013.
The data which makes up the characteristics is captured from a combination of information
provided by the client to the Department and from a profiling questionnaire. Utilising this
range of characteristics, a score or value known as a PEX (Probability of Exit) is calculated
using total information from both data sources.
Using the model allows the Department to engage with unemployed customers in a more
focused way, targeting those who need most employment supports as early as possible. The
potential benefits from this approach include reduction in the length of time a person is
unemployed, improving the possibility of obtaining sustainable employment and not
returning to unemployment in the future and preventing long-term unemployment, thus
avoiding the social, financial, health and other associated impacts.
Focus on Activation measures
The Pathways to Work (PTW) programme is primarily focused on those who have been out
of work for a year or more. The aim is to get 75,000 people who are currently long-term
unemployed back into the workforce and to reduce the average time spent on the live register
from 21 months currently to less than 12 months by the end of 2015.
The delivery of PTW, through the Intreo service, has been a major undertaking for the
Divisions and it has involved:

The introduction of a record of mutual commitments centred on social contract
– rights and responsibilities.
46

The implementation of a new activation process based on:
- Profiling of all new clients to determine their probability of exit from the
Live Register
- The roll-out of a Group Engagement process for all new clients to provide
information on the supports available.
- The scheduling of initial one-to-one interviews with case officers based on
client profiles.
- The implementation of a new personal progression plan - involving detailed
actions and periodic one-to one reviews based on client profiles.
- Youth Guarantee phased implementation to ensure that all young people
under the age of 25 years receive a good-quality offer of employment,
continued education, an apprenticeship or a traineeship within a period of
four months of becoming unemployed or leaving formal education.
Employment Services - Case Officers
Case officers employed by the Department deliver activation and case management services
through Intreo centres and through the network of Departmental offices which are currently
transitioning to a full Intreo service. Case Officers generally work in teams dedicated to
activating clients and supporting them in various ways in their efforts to regain employment.
The team-based approach helps to maximise efficiency and effectiveness and to ensure that a
streamlined service is provided to jobseeker clients.
The total number of staff dedicated to providing activation and case management support
services is currently 538 (Whole-Time Equivalents), not including clerical support. This
number is subject to change over time as staff retire, are re-assigned, promoted etc. and is
kept under review.
In common with all Government Departments, this Department must operate within an
Employment Control Framework target, set by the Department of Public Expenditure and
Reform and, within this, activation and control functions are prioritised as resources allow.
The Local Employment Service, which the Department contracts annually, supplements its
own employment service provision and provides vocational guidance, employment supports
and mediation to jobseekers and others. In the region of 160 mediators are currently
employed by 21 Local Development Companies and 1 Community Group as part of the
contractual arrangements in place with the Department.
47
Modernisation, Change Management & Business Process Improvement
A significant programme of systems modernisation, change management and business
process improvement is underway in the Divisions as a consequence of the integration of
services, and this has posed a challenge for Divisional Managers and staff as essential
services must be maintained at all times.
This modernisation and change management programme is leading to continuous
improvements in customer service and satisfaction.
Regional Services Development (RSD)
RSD is developing and rolling out new IT systems aimed at improving information services
to front line staff located in the Department’s public offices and Intreo Centres throughout the
country. The overall goal of RSD is to deliver an integrated set of services for all aspects of
work from the taking of jobseeker claims through to activation including support for referrals
to training and education and for job search activities through the JobsIreland online service.
The new systems are being developed using the Department’s Business Objects Model
approach - known as BOMi2 and BOMi4. The status of key projects underway is summarised
in the table below.
Project
Status
Rollout of Customer
Summary,
Profiling
and Appointments
Training of Divisional nominees complete. Roll-out ongoing
through Divisional Change Management teams.
Casual
rollout
Rollout to Local Offices almost complete: 55 of 61 LO’s.
Scanning
Facilities for Outdoor
staff
Tablet devices to be rolled out from October.
Online Services
Identity and Access Management project underway. Proposed
client registration processes devised. Web Online Services
sprint 1 completed.
Means/Habitual
Residence Condition
(HRC)
BOMi4
July release contains - HRC and means. Allowing the
capturing of means and HRC factors on BOMi 4. Supported
roll out in three divisions commencing 18th July. With roll-out
48
conversion
to all divisions from 18th August.
Claim
Registration,
task
and
scanned
documents on BOMi4
Next release on BOMi4 due October will include the ability to
register a claim, create a task and scan supporting documents.
ERIN
(Inspection/Control)
Exploratory project commenced and ongoing. Prototype
should be available end July.
Savings Object
Exploratory project commencing 14th July.
Activation
Management
Case
Project scope and timelines being finalised. Steering
committee formed. Next planning game 16 July.
Support for activation
of LTU
Work being undertaken on BOMi2 to enable activation of
selected LTU based on LMD score
One Parent Family
Payment Bulk means
assessment
Requirement to generate bulk means assessment for approx.
23,000 OFP customers as they transition to JST. Project
overview complete, planning games starting July 2014.
49
Section 10: Supplementary Welfare Allowance
Assistant Secretary Responsible: Helen Faughnan
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. SWA can consist of a basic
primary weekly payment and/or a weekly/monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses
a person may not be able to meet (e.g. rent or mortgage interest payments).
There is a provision under SWA to make a once-off payment to help with the cost of any
exceptional needs of a once-off nature (e.g. purchase of a household appliance) and urgent
needs (e.g. need arising from a flood or fire in a person’s home). Supplements may also be
paid in respect of other needs such as diet and heating.
Gross expenditure on SWA in 2013 amounted to approximately €610.7 million. The
Government has provided over €561.2 million for SWA schemes in 2014.
SWA Operational/Policy/Legislative Issues
Operational issues
 A pilot of the new Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) arrangements commenced
earlier this year in Limerick local authority. On enactment of the necessary legislation
later this month, HAP will be rolled out to a further 6 selected local authorities during
2014. These are: Monaghan, Louth, Waterford, Dublin city, Cork and Kilkenny.
There will also be a special pilot focusing on homeless people run by Dublin City
Council.
 The Department is working with the Department of Environment, Community &
Local Government, local authorities and the HSE on the Homelessness
Implementation Plan with a view to ending long term homelessness. In view of the
current supply difficulties in Dublin, the Department with the Dublin local authorities,
in conjunction with voluntary organisations led by Threshold, agreed a protocol last
month so that families at risk of losing existing private rented accommodation can
have more timely and appropriate interventions made on their behalf, including
increased rent supplement payments.
 A matching process across the Department’s IT Systems has been completed which
has identified clients who will be eligible to receive payment of the Back to School
Clothing & Footwear Allowance with no application form required. Payment will be
made to approximately 128,000 families during the week ending 18 July 2014.
Customers who have not received notification of an automated payment will be
50
required to complete an application form. Some 23,000 families have applied for the
scheme to date (11 July 2014) of which over 13,000 have now been processed.
Policy issues
 A review of the maximum rent limits payable under the rent supplement scheme has
commenced and will feed into the budgetary process.
Administration – Community Welfare Service
The SWA scheme is administered by Community Welfare Service (CWS) staff in the
Department. Responsibility for the CWS transferred from the Health Service Executive to the
Department on 1st October 2011. A key objective of the transfer was to provide a streamlined
and consistent service to the customer.
The Department is currently examining the operation of all its services in the context of the
Pathways to Work commitments and the development of Intreo services nationally. The
Pathways to Work Programme represents a significant reform in the social welfare system
and highlighted the need for the Department to focus its resources on the provision of
opportunities, supports and assistance to unemployed people.
The Department is progressing a number of elements to integrate services not only to
improve customer service but also to deliver cost efficiencies. The rollout of Intreo ‘one-stopshop’ services facilitates the rationalisation of the Department’s offices, extended opening
hours, and the integration of staff.
As part of this programme 429 community welfare service satellite clinics were closed over
the last 3 year period facilitating the redeployment of some 300 staff to provide activation
and case management support services across the country.
This is resulting in a rebalancing of resources across the Department’s range of activities
including the relocation of some staff to main centres, primarily Intreo offices, which will
provide a full range of services, including the CWS and these will, in general, be available in
one location.
Where the community welfare service 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. In general, this means that the frequency of available public clinics
has increased, an improved phone service is available and alternative arrangements are in
place for those who cannot travel, for example due to illness, including arranging a visit to
the client’s home if necessary.
51
Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance

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The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme is the safety net within the
overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the
State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants.
The Government has provided €109.6 million for basic supplementary welfare
allowance (BASI) in 2014. There are currently2 approximately 20,500 BASI
recipients (including direct provision allowance).
Apart from a number of excluded categories, anyone in the State who satisfies a
habitual residence condition (HRC) and a means test, has registered for employment,
unless they have a physical or mental disability, and can prove unemployment may
qualify for SWA.
BASI may be payable to customers awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal for a
primary social welfare payment. The practice is that payments issued under the SWA
scheme are fully recouped, where possible, from the primary social welfare scheme
on award.
The new unified service, Intreo, is in the process of being rolled out across all 60 of
the Department’s local offices. A significant feature of the Intreo service is an
integrated decisions team comprising deciding officers, community welfare service
staff and investigators which has enabled decisions on primary payments for
jobseekers to be made within a short time and thereby reducing the recourse to an
interim payment of BASI.
Rent Supplement/Housing Assistance Payment

The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term income support to
assist with reasonable accommodation costs of eligible people living in private rented
accommodation. The overall aim is to provide short term assistance, and not to act as an
alternative to the other social housing schemes operated by the Exchequer.

The Government has provided over €344 million for rent supplement in 2014. There are
currently approximately 76,000 recipients of rent supplement, of which approximately
50,000 - or 66% - of the total have now been in payment for more than 18 months. At the
end of May 2014, approximately 33,100 rent recipients were on the live register –
representing 8.6% of the total live register. Numbers on Rent Supplement have declined
by 4,078 (5.1%) from 79,788 at end December 2013 to 75,710 at end June.

Rent supplement is subject to a statutory limit on the amount of rent that an applicant
may incur. Regulations prescribing the current limits were introduced in June 2013 and
are valid until end December 2014. A new rent limit review has commenced and will
feed into the budgetary process. This review will involve a comprehensive analysis of
information from a range of sources including rental tenancies registered with the Private
Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB), the Central Statistics Office rental indices and
2
End June 2014
52
websites advertising rental properties. The Department will also be seeking the views of
a number of stakeholders in this area including the Department of the Environment,
Community and Local Government, the Health Services Executive and other NonGovernment Organisations.

In view of the current supply difficulties, the Department with the Dublin local
authorities, in conjunction with voluntary organisations, agreed a protocol last month so
that families at risk of losing existing private rented accommodation can have more
timely and appropriate interventions made on their behalf. To date 20 cases have been
sent to the Department: in 7 cases an increased rent supplement has been provided, 1 was
rejected (agreed with by Threshold) and 12 cases are currently been processed.

The Department’s strategic policy direction is to return rent supplement to its original
purpose of a short-term income support. In July 2013 the Government approved the
introduction of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). Under HAP, responsibility for
recipients of rent supplement with a long-term housing need will transfer from the
Department of Social Protection to local authorities. The Department is working with the
Department of Environment, Community and Local Government (DECLG), who are
leading the project, in developing the necessary legal, policy and operational
requirements to give effect to this transfer.

The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014, which was enacted at the end of July,
contains the necessary statutory provisions to give effect to this transfer.

A pilot of the HAP arrangements commenced earlier this year in Limerick local authority
and this pilot is progressing well with almost 120 tenants transferred to HAP. HAP will
be rolled out to a further 6 selected local authorities during 2014. These are: Monaghan,
Louth, Waterford, South Dublin, Cork and Kilkenny. There will also be a special pilot
focusing on homeless people run by Dublin City Council.
Homelessness

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The Department’s role with regard to persons who are homeless is mainly income
maintenance. Under the social welfare system, homeless people have entitlements to the
full range of social welfare schemes, including supplementary welfare allowance (SWA)
and associated supplements, subject to the normal qualifying conditions.
The Department is represented on the National Cross Departmental Team on
Homelessness, which is chaired by the Minister for Housing, on the Dublin Joint
Homelessness Consultative Forum and on various regional Homelessness fora.
The First Report of the Homelessness Oversight Group, which was recently published,
has recommended the establishment of a Homelessness Policy Implementation Team and
an Implementation Unit in the Department of Environment, Community & Local
Government. These will provide the necessary input to and subsequent delivery of the
practical plan for the period up to 2016 – the target date to end long term homelessness.
DSP is represented at assistant secretary level on the Implementation Team and is
53
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providing the necessary support to the Implementation Unit which will ensure greater
integration between the key agencies involved in the area of homelessness.
The Implementation Unit prepared a structured, practical plan to make the transition from
a shelter-led to a sustainable housing-led response to homelessness and to achieve the
2016 goals for homelessness. This Plan was approved by Government and published in
May.
The Community Welfare Service in the Department, including through its work in the
Homeless Persons Unit (HPU) and the Asylum Seekers & New Communities Unit, works
closely with local authorities and other stakeholders to facilitate homeless persons to
access private rented accommodation. This ensures that where possible, people are
diverted away from homeless services and towards community-based supports.
Ongoing lack of supply of available housing in Dublin allied with strong market demand
means that cheaper alternative accommodation is not always available affecting both
working and social welfare dependent families alike.
Prospective tenants particularly in Dublin, including those seeking to access rent
supplement, are finding it increasingly difficult to secure appropriate accommodation due
to the reduced availability of rental properties.
In view of the current supply difficulties, the Department with the Dublin local
authorities, in conjunction with voluntary organisations led by Threshold, agreed a
protocol in June so that families at risk of losing existing private rented accommodation
can have more timely and appropriate interventions made on their behalf.
Officers administering rent supplement throughout the country have considerable
experience in dealing with customers and make every effort to ensure that their
accommodation needs are met. A notice reminding all staff of their statutory discretionary
power to award a supplement for rental purposes in exceptional cases, for example, when
dealing with applicants who at risk of losing their tenancy, has recently been circulated.
Reduction in payment rates for young jobseekers

Concerns have been raised by groups including Focus Ireland, Society of St. Vincent De
Paul, Novas Initiatives regarding the reduced rates of jobseeker’s allowance for younger
persons and homelessness. The reduced rates encourage young jobseekers to improve
their skills and remain active in the labour market in order to avoid the risk of becoming
long-term unemployed and will help them to progress into sustainable employment.
Where a person is in receipt of a reduced rate of jobseeker's allowance and he or she
participates in a course of education or training a higher rate of €160 applies.

Having regard to the concerns raised by the NGOs, the Department is engaging with them
to review the approach particularly with regard to young persons in emergency homeless
accommodation.
Rent deposits

Under the Exceptional Needs Payments (ENPs) assistance may be provided towards rent
deposits. This form of assistance is very important to those on low incomes who are at
54
risk of, or who are homeless, or who rely on the private rented market to meet their
housing needs. In 2013, some 4,300 people were assisted with rent deposits at a cost of
€2.1m.

The purpose of the mortgage interest supplement scheme is to provide short term support
to eligible people who are unable to meet their mortgage interest repayments in respect of
a house which is their sole place of residence. The supplement assists with the interest
portion of the mortgage repayments only.

There are currently approximately 7,500 people in receipt of mortgage interest
supplement with €17.9 million provided in 2014.

Budget 2014 discontinued the mortgage interest supplement scheme to new applicants
from 1 January 2014 and provides for a winding down of the scheme for existing
recipients over 4 years.

This period will allow for a natural winding down of the scheme as persons exit either
through securing employment, the putting in place of sustainable solutions or through the
use of exit strategies sponsored by the Department of Environment, Community and
Local Government namely the Mortgage to Rent Scheme.

The Government’s strategy to assist those in mortgage difficulty is built around the
following measures, as recommended in the 2011 Keane Report, in four distinct areas:
 Lenders providing sustainable and durable resolution options to their borrowers
 A social housing response (Mortgage to Rent)
 Comprehensive advice to borrowers
 Personal Insolvency Reform.

The underlying principle of the cessation of the MIS scheme was that the payment of MIS
did little to assist recipients in addressing their long term difficulty in respect of their
mortgage debt and provided little incentive for the lender to provide sustainable longer
term solutions as the lender was receiving the interest portion.

The most appropriate way for customers experiencing mortgage difficulties is to be
supported through their engagement with their lender under the Mortgage Arrears
Resolution Process (MARP). MARP explores the various options available to the person
with an emphasis on the provision of a sustainable solution for the borrower.
55
Exceptional Needs Payment

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

Under the SWA scheme, the Department can make a single exceptional needs payment
(ENP) to help meet essential, once-off, expenditure, which a person could not reasonably
be expected to meet out of their weekly income. Those who qualify for an ENP are
normally in receipt of a social welfare payment.
The Department issued a total of some 133,000 ENPs in 2013 at a cost of €35.7m. The
Government has provided €31.3m for exceptional and urgent needs payments in 2014.
There is no automatic entitlement to a payment or pre-determined amounts under the
scheme. ENPs are payable at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme
taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances
of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
The main items eligible for assistance under the scheme include household appliances,
house “kit out” items, bedding, clothing, travel and child related items such as cots and
prams and assistance with funerals and burial costs.
Urgent Needs Payments (UNPs)
 In addition to the payment of ENPs, SWA legislation also provides for assistance in the
form of an urgent needs payment (UNP). In certain circumstances, this payment can be
made to persons who would not normally be entitled to SWA. The Department issued a
total of 360 UNPs in 2013 at a cost in excess of €100,000.
 The person can be required to pay the money back in respect of a UNP at a later date, for
example, if the person had significant capital or income or was later compensated by an
insurance company.
Other Supplements
Under the SWA scheme, supplements may be paid to assist people in certain circumstances.
The main types of supplements are:
- Diet supplement (covered in a separate note)
- Heating supplement
- Travel supplement and
- Crèche supplement
The Government has provided €9.8 million for these schemes in 2014.
Heating Supplement - This may be paid to a person who lives alone or only with a qualified
adult or child(ren) and must have exceptional heating needs due to ill health or infirmity.
There are currently (end June 2014) approximately 2,000 people in receipt of this payment.
Travel Supplement - May be paid in exceptional situations where the circumstances
warrant. There are currently approximately 670 people in receipt of this payment.
56
Crèche Supplement - available to assist with the cost of child-care where there is a proven
and verified on-going need due to individual circumstances, usually where a child may be in
difficult circumstances, and would benefit by attending a community crèche. There are
currently approximately 540 people in receipt of this payment.
Diet Supplement

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3
Diet supplement, administered under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA)
scheme, is payable to qualifying persons who have been prescribed a special diet as a
result of a specified medical condition at a cost of approximately €3.5 million in 2013.
The numbers in receipt of the scheme have been declining in recent years from 12,000 in
2006 to a current figure of some 5,400.
The scheme is now closed to new applicants from 1 February 2014. This will affect
approximately 850 new customers per year and will achieve savings of c €400,000 in
2014.
Existing recipients as at end January will continue to receive the diet supplement at the
current rate of payment for as long as they continue to have an entitlement to the scheme
or until their circumstances change. This ensures that nobody is immediately worse off
by the closure of the scheme.
The background to the closure of the scheme is that in 2013 the Department
commissioned a review of the prescribed diets and diet costs available under the scheme.
This was carried out by the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute (INDI). Pricing for a
selection of foods based on branded and own label foods was surveyed in a sample of
retail outlets for each diet. These outlets included large stores, large low cost stores,
medium sized stores and convenience stores.
The research shows that the range of costs associated with a specialised diet is influenced
mainly by the shopping location with the lowest costs being the large discount store and
the highest cost the convenience store. In general choice was found to be limited in
convenience stores with regard to healthier options.
Based on the data contained in the review it was decided that there is no longer a
requirement for the scheme. The average costs of the 4 diets3 supplemented under the
scheme can be met from one third of the lowest social welfare personal rate of payment
(SWA €186).
Payment of the supplement will continue to be made to the existing recipients for as long
as they continue to be entitled to the payment.
In cases of hardship that may present, officials have the legislative power to award a
payment under the SWA scheme in cases of exceptional need.
Low-lactose milk-free, Gluten-free, High-protein high-calorie and Altered consistencies (liquidised) diets
57
Direct Provision Allowance

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Asylum seekers accommodated under the system of Direct Provision operated by the
Reception & Integration Agency (RIA) of the Department of Justice and Equality are
provided with full board accommodation and other facilities/services.
Asylum seekers in Direct Provision do not satisfy the Habitual Residence Condition
and therefore have no entitlement to Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance.
A weekly allowance, known as the Direct Provision Allowance (DPA), is paid to
asylum seekers who reside within the system of direct provision – paid by DSP on an
administrative basis on behalf of the Department of Justice and Equality.
DPA is payable at the weekly rate of €19.10 per adult and €9.60 per child in respect
of personal requisites. The amount of the direct provision allowance is determined by
the Department of Justice and Equality.
Latest figures from RIA (June 2014) show that there are currently over 4,300 persons
residing in Direct Provision centres.
It continues to be open to any asylum seeker to seek assistance for a particular onceoff need by way of an exceptional needs payment under the supplementary welfare
allowance scheme as contained in Section 201 of the Social Welfare Consolidation
Act 2005. There is no automatic entitlement to an exceptional needs payment as e ach
application is determined based on the particular circumstances of the case .
Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme
The back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme provides a one-off payment to
eligible families to assist with the extra costs when children start school each autumn. The
allowance is not intended to meet the full cost of school clothing and footwear but only to
provide assistance towards these costs.
Qualifying Condition:
A person may qualify for payment of an allowance if they are in receipt of a social welfare
payment (including family income supplement), or Health Service Executive payment, are
participating in an approved employment scheme or attending a recognised education and
training course and have household income at or below certain set levels.
The rates of back to school clothing and footwear allowance are €100 in respect of qualified
children aged from 4 to 11 years and from €200 in respect of qualified children between the
ages of 12 and 17 and €200 in respect of children aged 18 to 22 who are in second level
education. (The allowance was payable up to 2013 in respect of children in this age category
who were in third level education).
58
Recipients and Expenditure:
In 2013, a total of 175,000 families received the allowance in respect of 310,000 children at a
cost of €48 million. The financial provision for 2014 is €46.3million.
Some 65% of claims are auto awarded, with the Department undertaking a data matching
exercise to identify qualifying customers, who then receive a communication confirming
entitlement and the date on which payment will issue. The remaining claims are received
direct from customers and processed manually. All such claims were processed within 5
weeks of receipt in summer 2013, with a similar level of customer service planned for 2014
An initial payment run on the 2014 scheme to 128,000 families totalling some €32 million
issued in week ending 18th. July 2014.
School Meals Programme
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The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food services
to some 1,600 schools and organisations which benefits approximately 205,000
children through two schemes for the current academic year, at a total cost of €37
million. The first is the statutory urban school meals scheme, operated by local
authorities and part-financed by the Department. The second is the school meals local
projects scheme through which funding is provided directly to participating schools
and local and voluntary community groups who run their own school meals projects.
Details of the various food clubs available under the scheme and the maximum rate
per pupil is provided in the attached tabular statement.
Despite pressure on the social protection budget, the Government allocated an
additional €2 million for the school meals programme in 2013, increasing the total
allocation to €37 million. The additional €2 million was used to extend the school
meals local projects scheme to some 100 additional DEIS and special schools
benefiting over 9,700 children.
The school meals scheme is in place to provide support to disadvantaged children and
priority is given to schools which are part of the Department of Education and Skills’
initiative for disadvantaged schools, ‘Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools’
(DEIS). Analysis undertaken with the Department of Education and Skills shows that
there are currently 850 DEIS schools of which 715 are participating in the school
meals programme. Applications from DEIS schools not currently participating in the
scheme will continue to be accepted by the Department.
Budget 2014 announced the provision of breakfast clubs to support school going
children in disadvantaged areas. Correspondence has issued to 12 DEIS schools
currently participating in the scheme which have applied for funding towards a
breakfast club for the forthcoming academic year.
A School Meals inspection programme is undertaken every year which involves the
Department’s inspectorate visiting around 100 participating schools/organisations.
Since the inspections began in 2012 results have shown that the majority of
59
schools/organisations were fully compliant and operating within the criteria of the
scheme. A small number of schools were not compliant and are under investigation by
the Department.
School Meals Food Clubs
Maximum
Meal
Rate of Payment
Examples of Food to be Provided
(per child per day)
Cereal, Toast, Scone, Fruit, Yogurt, Milk,
Breakfast/Snack €0.60
Unsweetened
Juice
-2 Items must be provided
Filled Sandwich/Roll or Soup & Roll or Salad
Lunch
€1.40
Plate, plus 2 other items (e.g. Milk, Unsweetened
Juice, Fruit, Yogurt)
Meat, Potatoes & Vegetables or Chicken Curry or
Dinner
€1.90
Spaghetti Bolognaise, plus a drink (Milk,
Unsweetened Juice, Water)
Humanitarian Assistance Scheme
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The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is the lead
Department for severe weather emergencies and the Office of Public Works has
responsibility for capital flood relief activities. However, DSP has an important role to
play in assisting households in the immediate aftermath of emergency events.
The Humanitarian Assistance scheme was approved by Government in November
2009. The Government authorized the spending of up to €10 million. An additional
sum of some €15 million has been approved in line with the recent Government
commitment to ensure that there are adequate resources to meet the required
responses
The Humanitarian Assistance scheme is activated when the level of support required
is greater than can be coped with by the usual assistance mechanisms under the
Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, e.g. Exceptional Needs Payments.
The Humanitarian Assistance scheme, which is means tested, provides assistance to
people whose homes are damaged by flooding or severe weather conditions and who
are not in a position to meet costs for essential needs, household items and in some
instances structural repair. Assistance will not be given for losses which are covered
by insurance or for commercial and business losses.
In dealing with emergency events of this nature, the DSP generally adopts a three
stage approach with;
60
o stage 1 covering emergency payments in the immediate aftermath of the event
(for food, clothing, toiletries and accommodation),
o stage 2 involves the replacement of white goods, basic furniture and other
essential household items and
o stage 3 identifies what longer term financial support/works are required (e.g.
plastering, dry-lining, relaying of floors, electrical re-wiring and painting).

Departmental officials in the Community Welfare Service make every effort to ensure
that support is provided to those affected as swiftly as possible and engages with other
stakeholders.

The Government has not set a limit on the amount that can be paid to an individual
household under this scheme. Levels of payment depend on the relative severity of
damage experienced and the household’s ability to meet these costs ensuring that the
funding is appropriately targeted. The income test for Humanitarian Assistance is fair
and the means assessment is more generous that that applied under the SWA scheme
in general.
Over €1 million has issued this year under the scheme in respect of 853 claims.

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Section 11 – Legislation
Legislation
Current Legislative Issues
The Department of Social Protection has responsibility for a number of areas of legislation as
follows:
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the Social Welfare Acts,
the Pensions Acts 1990 to 2014
the Civil Registration Acts 2004 to 2013,
the Comhairle Acts 2000 to 2011, and
gender recognition legislation.
Social Welfare Acts
The normal legislative cycle involves the enactment of 2 Social Welfare Bills each year –
(a) a Bill to implement the annual social welfare changes announced in the October Budget,
and
(b) a Bill in spring/early summer to implement miscellaneous amendments to the social
welfare code arising from policy, administrative and operational matters.
Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014
This Bill passed all stages in the Oireachtas on 9th July 2014 and is awaiting the signature of
the President. It provides for the transposition of certain aspects of Directive 2010/41/EU on
equal treatment between men and women engaged in a self-employment in so far as they
relate to ensuring that the spouse or civil partner of a self-employed worker can benefit from
social protection in accordance with national law. The Bill also strengthens the residence
requirements relating to entitlement to social assistance payments and child benefit;
strengthens the control of social welfare expenditure by extending the powers to recover
social welfare overpayments; and provides for positive age-based discrimination in the
provision of employment schemes and programmes to facilitate the implementation of the
Youth Guarantee.
In addition, this Bill provides for amendments to the Pensions Act 1990, including further
changes to the regulatory framework for occupational pension schemes.
62
Social Welfare Bill 2014
This Bill, which is expected to be published around the end of October/early November 2014,
will provide for the social welfare changes that will be announced in Budget 2015 (on 14th
October 2014).
Pensions Acts 1990 to 2014
The Pensions Acts 1990 to 2014 provide for the regulation of occupational and private
pension schemes, trust RACs and Personal Retirement Savings Accounts (PRSAs) and
provide the statutory basis for the Pensions Authority (formerly Pensions Board), the
Pensions Council and the Pensions Ombudsman.
The Pensions Act 1990 has been amended on a regular basis to provide for changes in the
regulatory and supervisory structures to reflect developments in pensions and financial
environments. Amendments to the Pensions Act 1990 are normally carried in the Social
Welfare Bills (which are known as Social Welfare and Pensions Bills).
The recent Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014 amended the Pensions Act 1990 to clarify
certain provisions in that Act in relation to the notification of members of a defined benefit
scheme regarding the restructure of scheme benefits under section 50 or the wind up of a
pension scheme under section 50B of that Act.
Comhairle Acts 2000 to 2011
The Comhairle Act 2000 provided for the establishment of Comhairle as the national agency
responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice and advocacy on social
services. The Citizens Information Act 2007 changed the name of this agency to the Citizens
Information Board and conferred an additional function of providing personal advocacy
services to certain persons with disabilities. The Comhairle Act 2000 was further amended in
2008 to extend the functions of the Citizens Information Board to include the provision of the
Money Advice and Budgeting Service.
63
Section 12 – General Register Office
Assistant Secretary Responsible: Simonetta Ryan
General Register Office
Structure of the Civil Registration Service
The Civil Registration Service was formally established under the provisions of the Civil
Registration Act 2004. The Act provides for the reorganisation, modernisation and naming of
the system of registration of births, stillbirths, adoptions, marriages, civil partnerships and
deaths. The 2004 Act replaced the old civil registration legislation dating back to 1844. The
General Register Office (GRO) was established in 1845 under the provisions of the
Marriages (Ireland) Act 1844.
Functions of the Civil Registration Service
Árd Chláraitheoir (Registrar General)
The main functions of an tÁrd Chláraitheoir under the 2004 Act are to maintain, manage and
control the system of civil registration in the State and to maintain the registers, indexes and
other records required to ensure an effective and efficient system. Other functions are
assigned under individual provisions of the Act.
Health Service Executive
The HSE is required, through each Superintendent Registrar, to manage, control and
administer the Civil Registration Service, under the overall management, control and
supervision of an tÁrd Chláraitheoir. The HSE is required by the 2004 Act to appoint a
Superintendent Registrar and registrars to each of the registration areas. (These areas equate
to the geographic areas covered by the former health boards.)
Staffing
The GRO has an approved complement of 60 whole-time equivalent staff. Of these, 52 are
based in the Roscommon headquarters and 8 in the dedicated Research Room in Dublin. In
addition, there are approximately 190 HSE staff assigned to registration duties across the
country. Each county has at least one local registrar’s office with Superintendent Registrar’s
offices located at Drogheda, Sligo, Dublin, Galway, Limerick, Kilkenny, Tullamore and
Cork.
64
GRO Liaison Unit
Overview
The GRO Liaison Unit was established in August 2012 to develop policy with regard to the
General Register Office and in particular to progress legislation in the area of Civil
Registration. There are two pieces of legislation being progressed at present. The first is the
Civil Registration (Amendment Bill) 2014 and the second is the Gender Recognition Bill
2014.
Legislation
Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2014
The purpose of this Bill is to amend the provisions of the Civil Registration Act 2004 so as to
further modernise the Civil Registration Service to better reflect the needs of today’s society
while providing a more streamlined service to the citizens of Ireland in the administration of
the registration of life events.
At its meeting on 8 July 2014 (Reference S180/20/1777) the Government approved the
publication of the Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014.
The Bill will be introduced to the Seanad by the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection,
Ms. Joan Burton on Tuesday 15 July 2014.
The four principal amendments that will be provided for in the Bill are as follows:
Compulsory registration of father’s name of birth certificates
Where the parents of a child are not married to each other, current legislation does not require
the mother or the father to provide the father’s details when registering the birth. This
amendment seeks to address the current position by making the provision of such information
compulsory other than in exceptional circumstances;
Marriages of Convenience/Civil Partnerships of Convenience
This amendment aims to introduce provisions that will make such marriages more difficult to
contract in the future. This is to be achieved by making a marriage of convenience an
impediment to marriage and allowing a registrar the right to investigate and if he/she forms
the opinion that a proposed marriage is such then they can refuse to issue a marriage
registration form and inform the relevant immigration authorities. The Bill also provides for
better co-operation between the Department of Social Protection and the Department of
Justice and Equality in dealing with marriages of convenience. There are similar provisions in
the Bill for civil partnerships of convenience;
Record of deaths of Irish persons abroad
This amendment will introduce a record of the deaths of Irish persons who are normally
resident in the State who die while on short term absences abroad. A copy of the record of the
65
death may be furnished on request. The document will have no legal standing and will not
replace the original foreign death certificate but will give comfort to families who have lost
loved ones;
Embassy Marriages and Civil Partnerships
These amendments will allow for the validation of foreign embassy marriages and civil
partnerships that have already taken place in Ireland and which are still in existence.
Other Provisions
The Bill also provides for a significant number of amendments to the 2004 Act which will
streamline line the procedures of the civil registration service to provide an improved modern
service to the public. These amendments include changes to the registration and reregistration processes. There is also an extension of the definition of qualified informants to
include co-habitants, next of kin, personal representatives and religious superiors.
The Bill provides for increased sharing of information with Government Departments and
their agencies so as to improve and better streamline the Government’s interaction with the
citizen.
Finally the Bill will provide for access to historical registers of life events to allow on line
access via the Department of Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht’s genealogical website to
important information regarding our heritage.
Gender Recognition Bill, 2014
The second piece of legislation is the Gender Recognition Bill, 2014.
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to introduce gender recognition
legislation.
A High Court Order of March 10, 2008 (Foy v An tÁrd Chláraitheoir) declared that certain
sections of the Civil Registration Act, 2004, are incompatible with the obligations of the State
under the European Convention on Human Rights by reason of their failure to respect the
private life of transgender persons in not having a process to legally recognise the acquired
gender of these persons.
Ms Lydia Foy has once again initiated High Court proceedings again against the Registrar
General, the Attorney General and the Minister for Social Protection under the European
Convention of Human Rights. A provisional hearing date of 4 November 2014 has been set.
At its meeting on 12 July 2011 the Government approved the drafting of Heads of a Bill to
provide for the legal recognition of the acquired gender of transgender persons on the basis of
the recommendations contained in the GRAG Report.
66
Following Government approval the General Scheme of the Gender Recognition Bill was
published on 17 July 2013. This legislation will give legal recognition to the acquired gender
of transgender persons who are not married or in a civil partnership. The legislation will also
facilitate persons with intersex conditions should they wish to apply.
In July 2013 the General Scheme of the Bill was referred for pre-legislative scrutiny to the
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection. The Committee held
hearings in October 2013 in which officials from the Department of Social Protection,
representative groups and legal and medical experts participated. The Committee welcomed
the legislation as a positive development aimed at addressing a long-standing issue. A
number of matters were raised at the hearings including the requirement that applicants be
single, the minimum age of 18 years and the necessity for the application to be accompanied
by a supporting statement from a doctor. The Committee’s Report was published on 16
January 2014.Under the Government decision of 16 July 2013 it was agreed that, in the event
of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection proposing significant
changes to the Bill, the Minister for Social Protection would revert to Government with those
proposed changes.
On 17 June 2014 the Minister for Social Protection published the Revised General Scheme of
the Gender Recognition Bill 2014, following Cabinet approval. The main difference between
the Revised General Scheme and the version published in July 2013 is that it includes a
provision that the requirement for an applicant for gender recognition to be 18 years or more
will be amended to provide that:


a person aged 16 or 17 years may, with parent/guardian consent, apply for a Court
order exempting them from that requirement;
the application by that 16 or 17 year old will be accompanied by confirmation from
the treating physician and an independent physician that the person is sufficiently
mature to make the application.
The Revised General Scheme of the Bill has now been referred to the Office of the
Parliamentary Counsel for drafting with the aim of the legislation being published later in the
year and enacted as soon as possible after that.
Copies of the Revised General Scheme of the Bill and the Explanatory Memorandum are
available at http://www.welfare.ie/en/pressoffice/Pages/pr180614.aspx
67
Current Issues – Legislative/Legal
Foy –v- Registrar General
1. This case concerns the right of a person who has undergone transgender surgery to have
her acquired gender recognised by the State, especially as it concerns the entry in the
register of births. The case involved a number of High Court hearings. In its second
judgment, the High Court granted a declaration that the failure by the State to provide for
the recognition of a person’s acquired gender contravened the European Convention on
Human Rights. An interdepartmental committee submitted a report to the Minister in
2010 containing recommendations for legislation to provide for the recognition of the
acquired gender of transgender persons. The requisite legislation in in course of
preparation. Separately, the person concerned initiated further litigation in February 2013
seeking declarations that the State is in breach of rights under the Constitution and the
European Convention on Human Rights and damages. A provisional hearing date of 4
November 2014 has been set.
Zappone & Gilligan v Ireland & AG
2. In June 2012 K Zappone & A L Gilligan, who are parties to a same-sex marriage
contracted abroad, initiated High Court proceedings seeking a declaration that section
2(2)(e) of the Civil Registration Act 2004 is unconstitutional as it denies the plaintiffs the
right to marry each other. Section 2(2)(e) of the Act states that there is an impediment to a
marriage if the parties are of the same sex.
Haugh v Haugh
3. In Haugh v Haugh one of the parties to a marriage obtained a divorce in England prior to
the introduction of divorce in Ireland. The case concerns whether a divorce obtained
abroad is to be recognised on the basis of residency or domicile in the foreign jurisdiction.
Currently, non-EU divorces are recognised on the basis of domicile. The outcome of this
case may have significant implications for the rules governing recognition of foreign
divorces in the State.
IDC on Mother & Baby Homes
4. The Registrar General is a member of the Interdepartmental Committee set up to advise
on terms of reference for a Commission of Investigation into mother & baby homes. The
GRO played an important role in compiling statistics relating to births at specified mother
& baby homes since 1922.
68
Other Issues
Outdoor Marriage Ceremonies
5. In recent times a significant number of representations have been received concerning
locations for the solemnisation of marriages, particularly whether marriages may be
legally solemnised outdoors. The AG has given legal advice on the matter and the
Registrar General intends to issue a letter of clarification to religious and secular bodies
shortly.
Surrogacy
6. A number of cases involving births to surrogate mothers as a result of assisted human
reproduction (AHR), both in Ireland and abroad, have come to attention in recent years.
Civil registration legislation only applies to such births occurring within the State. The
policy of the GRO is that only the woman who gave birth in such cases can be registered
as the mother in the register of births. This policy is based on the Roman law principle
mater semper certa est (motherhood is always certain). The father can be registered in
accordance with the provisions of section 22 of the Civil Registration Act 2004. Under
this provision, a man can be registered as father of a child if he is not married to the
mother and (a) the father and mother make a joint request to a registrar, (b) the mother
makes a request to a registrar and produces a statutory declaration of the father that he is
the father of the child, (c) the father makes a request to a registrar and produces a
statutory declaration of the mother that he is the father of the child, or (d) either of them
requests the registrar to register the father and produces a court order naming the father of
the child.
7. The policy of the GRO relating to the registration of the mother in surrogacy cases was
challenged in the High Court. In its judgment delivered on 5 March 2013 the High Court
decided that motherhood was to be determined on the basis of genetics alone, and that the
mater semper certa est principle did not survive the enactment of the Constitution once in
vitro fertilisation treatments became available. The judgment raises important questions
as to how motherhood may be determined under Irish law and may have the effect of
tying the hands of the Oireachtas in how it may legislate in the areas of surrogacy and
AHR. The decision of the High Court was appealed to the Supreme Court. The appeal
was heard by the Supreme Court in February 2014 and a judgment is awaited.
8. The position relating to foreign surrogacy is that such births are not registered in the
State. Significant issues arise in relation to these births including parenthood and
citizenship. A protocol on foreign surrogacy was issued by the Department of Justice &
Equality in February 2012. The protocol deals with (a) the legal status of children born
abroad through surrogacy, (b) citizenship and passports, (c) emergency travel certificates,
69
(d) practical requirements for applications for travel documents, and advises couples to
seek legal and medical advice before proceeding.
9. The only existing mechanism for resolving issues relating to parentage and guardianship
in foreign surrogacy cases is through the courts. The most common way of resolving the
issues is to for the Circuit Family Court to grant a declaration that the commissioning
father is a parent of the child, provided he has a genetic link with the child. Guardianship
orders can also be granted appointing the father as guardian in such circumstances. The
GRO was involved in a significant number of such cases during 2013.
70
Section 13 - Citizens Information Board/MABS
Assistant Secretary Responsible: Tim Duggan
Citizens Information Board
1. Overview
The Citizens Information Board (CIB) supports the provision of information, advice (including money
advice and budgeting) and advocacy services on a wide range of public and social services. It has a
budget allocation of €46m in 2014. It provides some services directly to the public through the
www.citzensinformation.ie website which has a number of microsites and a prominent link on the
www.gov.ie and www.welfare.ie homepage. It also produces a range of publications and periodicals.
It provides core developmental supports and directly funds and supports an extensive range of
services through its delivery partners namely:






Citizens Information Services (CISs) (42 centres)
Citizens Information Phone Service
Money Advice and Budgeting Services (MABS) (53 companies)
MABS helpline
National Advocacy Service (NAS) for People with Disabilities
Sign Language Interpreting Service (SLIS)
The main functions of CIB, defined in the Comhairle Act 2000, the Citizens Information Act 2007
and the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008 are to:





Ensure that individuals have access to accurate, comprehensive and clear information relating
to social services
Assist and support individuals, in particular those with disabilities, in identifying and
understanding their needs and options
Promote greater accessibility, coordination and public awareness of social services
Support, promote and develop the provision of information on the effectiveness of current
social policy and services and to highlight issues which are of concern to users of those
services
Support the provision of, or directly provide, advocacy services for people with disabilities
Details of current Board membership are set out below.
2. Strategic Plan 2012 – 2015
The CIB Strategic Plan 2012 - 2015 aims to provide an over-arching plan for CIB and its service
delivery partner organisations. The overall aim of the plan is to set a clear direction for all the services
under the CIB remit, to coordinate their on-going development and to make the most efficient use of
their collective resources working together to meet citizens’ needs.
71
3. State Funding
State funding of €46m has been made available to CIB in 2014. From this allocation €18.6m is made
available to MABS, €14m to Citizens Information Services (CIS’s) and Citizens Information Phone
Service (CIPS) and €3.8m to advocacy services. Expenditure on salaries and pensions amounts to
€5.3m (which includes expenditure of €66,000 in respect of board members fees).
Summary of total funding provided to CIB since 2010:
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
-
€44.986m
€46.640m
€45.743m
€46.387m
allocation is €46.000m
4. Service Delivery Partners:
The CIB funds and supports a range of key delivery partners to ensure that the public has access to
information , advice , advocacy and budgeting services in a way that best suits them. Service
agreements were introduced between CIB and each of its delivery partners during 201. These
agreements cover items such as service delivery, governance, financial controls, HR practices,
reporting, evaluation and monitoring.

Citizen Information Services ( CIS’s)
A network of 42 Citizens Information Services (CISs) operate from 266 locations nationwide
comprising 113 centres and 153 outreach services (located in community centres, hospitals
etc.) Each CIS has a full time manager and at least one information officer. There are 274
paid staff ( 189 whole time equivalents), 234 employment scheme workers and over 1,000
volunteers across the network.
Three channels of information advice and advocacy services are supported by:
 the Citizens Information Website (www.citizensinformation.ie)
 the Citizens Information Phone Service (CIPS) (Tel No. 0761 07 4000) which operates
Mon-Fri 9am to 9pm, and
 the national network of 42 Citizens Information Services (CIS) which provides face- to face service to the public.
The CIS’s handled 998,540 queries from over 637,849 people in 2013. The Citizens
Information Phone Service (CIPS) responded to just over 162,000 callers. The
www.citizensinformation.ie website had an average of 720,000 unique users per month in
2013, while the microsites www.losingyourjob.ie, www.keepingyourhome.ie and
www.selfemployedsupports.ie had an average of 9.000, 7,700 and 8,200 unique users per
month respectively.
72
Money Advice and Budgeting Service
The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) provides assistance to people who are overindebted and need help and advice in dealing with debt problems.
There are 52 independent MABS companies operating the local MABS services from 65 locations
throughout the country. In addition, the MABS National Telephone Helpline is available from 9am to
8pm Monday to Friday and the MABS website, www.mabs.ie can be accessed 24 hours a day. MABS
National Development Limited was established in 2004 to support and develop the Money Advice
and Budgeting Service throughout the country. The National Traveller MABS advocates for the
financial inclusion of Travellers to help them access legal and affordable savings and credit. There are
277 people employed across the MABS network (in 235 fulltime equivalent posts).
The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) had 20,552 new clients in 2013 and 23,127
clients contacted the MABS telephone helpline. The average national waiting time for an appointment
with a money adviser in 2013 was 4.6 weeks. Based on the latest information available, at the end of
June 2014, the average waiting time from first point of contact to first appointment with a money
adviser is 3.1 weeks. This is the average nationally and there are fluctuations between offices.
At the request of the Minister, CIB/MABS has established an Approved Intermediary Service to
implement the provisions of the Personal Insolvency Act 2012 in relation to the processing of Debt
Relief Notices . The aim is to provide an accessible, competent Approved Intermediary Service to the
public via the 51 local MABS companies. In 2013, 16 additional temporary staff were assigned to
MABS for the establishment of the Approved Intermediary Service. An Approved Intermediary
Transition Unit is in place and will be mainstreamed across the network of MABS local services in
due course. 138 Debt Relief Notices have been issued by the Circuit Courts to mid - August 2014.
The National Advocacy Service
The National Advocacy Service (NAS) was officially launched in 2011 to work with more vulnerable
people with disabilities in care settings and in the community. The NAS has recently been restructured into a national service provided through four regions (detailed below) and a national office
based in Dublin.
Greater Dublin
Dublin, Fingal and Wicklow
Northeast &
Midlands Region
Cavan, Laois, Longford, Louth, Kildare, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly,
Westmeath
Western Region
Clare, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Limerick, Mayo, Roscommon, and
Sligo
Southern Region
Carlow, Cork, Kerry, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford
In 2013 NAS had total client numbers of 1,062 of which 398 were new clients.
73
Sign Language interpreting Service
The Sign Language Interpreting Service (SLIS) was established in 2007 to provide a booking service
for public service providers through sign language interpreters, who are independent subcontractors.
SLIS booking staff source interpreters for booking clients and puts them in touch with one another. In
2013 SLIS handled a total of 1258 requests.
SLIS has collaborated with the DeafHear organisation and The Irish Deaf Society to develop the Irish
Remote Interpreting Service (IRIS) which provides a live video - link service to a remote Irish Sign
Language Interpreter. In 2013 there were 404 bookings for this service. The service is being piloted in
the Navan Road local office of DSP and the pilot is being extended to four other DSP local offices in
2014.
Other recent developments

Mortgage Arrears Information and Advice Service ( MAIAS)
The Mortgage Arrears Information and Advice Service (MAIAS) The service was
launched in September 2012, as part of the Government’s response to the
Interdepartmental Mortgage Arrears Working Group (referred to as the Keane
group) report, published in September 2011. The service has three elements:
(i)
A website www.keepingyourhome.ie was developed as the key online access portal
for general mortgage arrears information and advice. There have been in excess of
270,700 visits to the website since June 2012.
(ii)
A mortgage arrears information helpline which provides general mortgage arrears
information and signposting in relation to the Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears
and other supports available for those in mortgage arrears or pre-arrears. In excess of
11,900 people have contacted the helpline since Aug 2012. Integration of Mortgage
Arrears Information Helpline with MABS Helpline is in place since 12th May, 2014.
(iii)
The provision of independent financial advice to mortgage holders, by a panel of
accountants, at the point where a lender presents a borrower with long term
forbearance proposals relating to a mortgage secured on the borrower’s primary
residence. Borrowers are free to choose their own advisor from the panel of over
2,000 accountants and the lender will pay €250 to the accountant of the borrower’s
choice for the provision of this advice. Details of participating accountants on a
county by county basis are available on www.keepingyourhome.ie. To the end of Qtr
2 2014, circa 916 borrowers had availed of this service.
(iv)
A review of the independent financial advice service was carried out in 2013, which
makes a number of recommendations to ensure the service is fully optimized to assist
74
homeowners with distressed mortgages. Progression of the Implementation plan of
actions, based on the 2013 review recommendations, with relevant stakeholders is
ongoing. A copy of the review can be found at
www.welfare.ie/en/downloads/MAIAS-Review-Report.pdf

MABSlink / The Lough Credit union
There are a number of (MABS) companies which have been assisting and supporting their
clients with a facility to make direct deductions from their social welfare payments for bill
paying purposes through historical arrangements put in place by Cork MABS and the Lough
Credit Union, using the Household Budget facility operated by An Post. This arrangement is
known as the Lough Payment Scheme or MABSlink.
The purpose of the Household Budget facility is to facilitate deductions from social
welfare payments for specified creditors. The Lough Payment Scheme catered for a
variety of creditors, some outside those specified for the Household Budget facility. In
order to regularise these arrangements, the local MABS companies which have clients
currently availing of the Lough Payment Scheme are working with these clients to
explore alternative arrangements for paying their bills.
The Citizens Information Board, is liaising with the local MABS companies concerned.
Particular effort is being made to ensure that suitable alternative options are made
available and that clients will be fully supported through the transition to the alternative
arrangement. Current arrangements will continue for the remaining clients on an
administrative basis in the interim.

Personal Micro Credit Proposal from CIB / MABS
A proposal has been made by the Citizens Information Board (CIB) and MABS National
Development Ltd. to develop a personal micro credit scheme to assist those who may be
precluded from accessing mainstream credit. Minister Burton met with CIB / MABS and is
keen to progress the proposal.
A number of meetings have been held at official level involving DSP, Department of Public
Expenditure & Reform and Department of Finance, to examine how the proposal might be
progressed and funding secured. Consideration of the proposal is ongoing.
75
Citizens Information Board Members
(August 2014)
Name of Member
Term of Office
Ms Sylda Langford
(Chairperson)
Ms Josephine Henry
04/03/2010 – 03/03/2015
Ms Noeline Blackwell
04/03/2010 – 03/03/2015
Mr Martin Naughton
04/03/2010 – 03/03/2015
Mr Michael McGuane
04/03/2010 – 03/03/2015
Mr John Sheehy
04/03/2010 – 03/03/2015
Mr Michael Butler
04/03/2010 – 03/03/2015
Ms Sandra Ronayne
04/03/2010 – 03/03/2015
Mr Sean Sweeney
16/12/2010 – 15/12/2015
Ms Simonetta Ryan
14/03/2014 – 31/08/2017
Mr David Stratton
05/11/2012 – 04/11/2017
Mr Eugene McErlean
27/04/2014 – 26/04/2019
04/03/2010 – 03/03/2015
Note: There are currently three vacancies on the Citizens Information Board.
76
Section 14 – Finance and Budget
Assistant Secretary Responsible: John Conlon
Finance, Budget and Estimates process
1. Responsibilities of Budget & Finance Unit
The Budget and Finance Unit is responsible for:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
The preparation, co-ordination and monitoring of Estimates for the Department’s
schemes, services and administration;
The preparation and co-ordination of the Department’s Budget proposals;
Directly assisting and briefing the Minister in the Estimates/Budget process, and
Means Testing Policy;
2. Overview of the Department’s estimates
The Department’s expenditure is funded from two sources:


The Exchequer via Vote 37;
The Social Insurance Fund (SIF) – funded mainly by PRSI contributions.
Expenditure on Vote 37 schemes and services in 2014 will account for 57% of total Departmental
expenditure while expenditure on SIF schemes and administration accounts for 43% of Department
expenditure.
The draw - down of expenditure is mainly incurred on payments to individual recipients based on predetermined qualifying conditions and rates of payment set out in legislation. The expenditure, which
is demand-led, is driven by economic, social and demographic factors.
In 2014, the top 10 schemes will account for just over 75% of the Department’s expenditure. Of these,
6 scheme areas account for over 65% of all expenditure, as follows:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
State Pension Transition & Contributory (€4.2 billion),
Jobseeker’s Benefit/Allowance (€3.3 billion),
Child Benefit (€1.9 billion),
Widows’ / Widowers’ / Surviving Civil Partners’ Contributory Pension (€1.35
billion),
Disability Allowance (€1.1 billion);
State Pension - Non-Contributory (€940 million).
Details of expenditure by scheme are shown in the chart below. Administration accounts for 2.9% of
overall expenditure – further detail is contained in the chart below.
3. Monitoring financial performance
77
Social Insurance Fund Income (from PRSI receipts) and expenditure on all the Department’s
schemes, services and administration is monitored against profile and scheme trends versus
previous year, variances are analysed and the year-end outturn is estimated.
Each month, an estimate of expenditure is prepared and provided to the Department of Public
Expenditure on the 3rd last working day. This estimate the overall expenditure is published by
the Department of Finance in the monthly Exchequer Statement on the 2nd working day of the
next calendar month. The monthly Exchequer Statement attracts considerable media
attention.
Five working days after the end of the month, detailed financial data is provided to the Department of
Public Expenditure and Reform. This data is also made available to the Minister along with a short
report detailing expenditure against profile and highlighting variations (under-spends and overspends) and the background to same.
The Minister submits an Expenditure Management Report (EMR) to Government at the end of
each quarter. The reports give an update on expenditure and SIF income in the year to date and
provide forecast outturns as to likely end-year outturns. The reports are submitted in January, April,
July and October. The most recent report is on the Cabinet agenda for Tuesday, July 14.
The year to date financial position to end June 2014 was as follows:



Expenditure on schemes, services and administration was €24 million or 0.2% below profile;
The under-spend, while welcome, is small in relation to overall expenditure.
SIF income was €114 million or 3.1% ahead of profile.
78
4. Department expenditure by programme 2011 to 2014
Department Expenditure by Programme, 2011 to 2014
2011
Outturn
2012
Outturn
2013
Outturn
2014
REV
% of
2014
REV
total
€'m
€'m
€'m
€'m
%
Administration
580
575
564
575
2.9%
Pensions
6,092
6,283
6,451
6,507
33.2%
Working Age Income Supports
6,182
5,994
5,504
4,883
24.9%
Working Age Employment Supports
861
954
994
1,078
5.5%
Illness, Disability and Carers
3,443
3,346
3,405
3,334
17.0%
Children
2,430
2,393
2,269
2,301
11.7%
Supplementary Payments, Miscellaneous
Services and agencies
1,330
1,182
1,051
926
4.7%
Total expenditure
20,729
20,238
19,604
-189
-491
-634
20,918
Change
79
5. Social Insurance Fund
Social Insurance Fund, 2011 to 2014
2011 Outturn
2012
Outturn
2013 Outturn
2014
REV
€000
€000
€000
€000
Social Insurance Fund Income
7,543,883
6,781,137
7,305,941
7,681,860
Social Insurance Fund Expenditure
8,984,291
8,869,567
8,620,878
8,367,330
Deficit
-1,440,408
-2,088,430
-1,314,937
-685,470
Social insurance spending has traditionally been funded on a tripartite basis – with contributions
coming from the Exchequer, employers and employees. No Exchequer contribution was required over
the period 1997 to 2007 inclusive when social insurance income exceeded Fund expenditure. In 2008,
the current operating balance of the SIF moved into deficit with expenditure exceeding income by
€255m. This deficit accelerated in 2009 when it reached €2.49 billion and further rose to €2.75 billion
in 2010. This resulted in the requirement for an Exchequer subvention in 2010 as the accumulated
surplus was exhausted and this requirement has continued (albeit at a somewhat lower level). .
Revised Estimates provides for a subvention of €0.69 billion from voted expenditure to fund the
deficit on the SIF in 2014.
6. Live Register
The Live Register at end of December 2013 was 395,411, a fall of 28,311 year on year. The average
live register underlying the 2014 REV Estimates is 390,000.
The LR was 398,813 at end of June, a fall of 36,544 year on year. The year to date average is 393,400.
The Live Register is subject to significant seasonal variations. The outturn for 2014 will be dependent
upon performance in the second half of the year.
Average Live Register, 2011 to 2014
2011
2012
2013
2014
Outturn
Outturn
Outturn
REV
444,900
437,300
419,800
390,000
Average Live
Register
80
7. Pensions – Key Expenditure Pressure.
Future Expenditure Projections
Year
Projected expenditure
2014
Estimate
2015
Estimate
2016
Estimate
2017
Estimate
2018
Estimate
€m
€m
€m
€m
€m
6,507
6,702
7,070
7,195
7,425
195
368
125
230
y-on-y variation
Cumulative
variance
expenditure 2018 vs. 2014
on
Payment numbers
Cumulative
variance
payments 2018 vs. 2014
918
574,380
582,675
on
602,875
622,554
644,000
69,620
As can be seen from the table above, there will be a considerable additional expenditure requirement
in this programme over the period to 2018. The increase in expenditure is due solely to an increase in
the number of pensioners over the coming years. The table does not include any provision for
increases in payment levels in the years in question.
Expenditure on pensions increased from €5.5 billion in 2008 to €6.5 billion in 2014, an increase of €1
billion. It is estimated that expenditure on pensions will increase by over €0.9 billion by 2018. This
will represent a cumulative €1.9 billion or 35% since 2008.
The state pension age was increased from 65 to 66 on 1st January 2014. State Pension Transition was
closed to new entrants reaching pension age from 1st January 2014. The full year impact will occur in
2015.
The yearly increase in expenditure varies in the years outlined in the table above. This arises
principally as most pensioners are paid on a Friday. There will be 53 Fridays in 2016, resulting in
higher pension related expenditure in 2016 (the exceptional costs are estimated at around €130
million). Expenditure on pensions spikes in 2016, with compensating lower expenditure variance
versus the previous year in 2017.
81
8. Budgets, 2009 - 2014
The table below outlines the cost and savings measures introduced by social welfare packages in
Budgets 2009 to 2014. Budget measures over this period have had the cumulative impact of €4 billion
in full year savings. Welfare savings have contributed significantly to the fiscal consolidation effort
over the crisis and will continue to do so as some of the measures announced continue to yield
additional savings in the years ahead. An example is the curtailment in the duration of illness benefit
to two years. This was announced in 2009 for new claimants only, has it first impact at the beginning
of 2011 and this impact will continue to increase for many years ahead.
Cost / Savings Budgets 2009 – 2014
Year
Budget
€m
Year
Cost/Savings
Full
€m
2009 – Cost Measures
515
515
2009 – Savings Measures4
-119
-318
Supplementary Budget 2009
-300
-400
2010
-762
-811
2011
-873
-905
2012
-468
-764
2013
-390
-452
2014
-290
-372
Total Savings
-3,202
-4,022
Year
Cost/Savings
The social welfare package in Budget 2014 was designed to achieve total savings of €290 million in
2014. The main savings measures introduced included the abolition of the telephone allowance
component of the household benefits package (€44 million), reduction in the weekly rates payable to
younger jobseekers (€32 million), additional fraud and control measures (€30 million) and a
standardisation in the rate of payment of maternity benefit (€30 million). The balance (€154 million)
was to be achieved through a range of other measures, including some technical adjustments. A full
list of all the 2014 measures is set out in the chart below.
4
The savings/costs shown do not include PRSI measures.
82
2015 Estimates and Budget
The 2015 Estimates and Budget will be prepared later this year, having regard to the commitments in
the new programme for Government.
The Expenditure Report, 2014, published by DPER on Budget Day provides for a current expenditure
ceiling for DSP in 2015 of €19,365 million or €266 million less than the amount provided for in 2014.
While the 2014 Budget Day allocation was reduced by €47 million in the 2014 REV DPER, a revised
expenditure ceiling for 2015 has not been published. Furthermore, an additional unallocated €750
million of current expenditure savings is required across all Votes in 2015 in order to meet current
expenditure ceilings (plus a further €400 million in 2016).
The Department’s Comprehensive Review of Expenditure for 2015-2017 was approved by the
Minister and forwarded to DPER for consideration in June 2014.
9. Estimates and Budgetary Timeline in 2014










18th December 2013 – 2014 REV Estimates were published;
26th January 2014 – Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection considered the 2014
Estimates for the Department.
30th January 2014 – Dáil approved the 2014 REV Estimates for the Department.
Mid-June 2014 – Comprehensive Review of Expenditure 2015 – 2017 submitted to the
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
4th July 2014 - Pre-Budget 2015 Forum – attended by 37 welfare organisations.
17th Sept 2014 – Joint Oireachtas Committee meets to review mid-year 2014 financial
position and proposals for 2015.
11th Oct 2014 (weekend before the Budget): Publication of White Paper on Receipts &
Expenditure showing pre-Budget position for 2015.
14th October 2014 – 2015 Budget Day.
Late October / November / December - Social Welfare Act (to implement DSP Budget
changes).
Mid December 2014 – Publication of 2015 REV Estimates.
83
Administration Budget
The total Administration budget consists of the administration costs (€479m) funded by the
Departmental Vote and the administration payments made by the SIF (€95m). The Vote costs are
divided into 10 subheads (see below).
Vote and SIF Administration Costs - Vote 37, 2012- 2014
Vote Expenditure Breakdown
2012
Outturn
2013
Provisional
Outturn
2014 REV
€000
€000
€000
(i)
Salaries, Wages and Allowances
303,369
301,091
290,611
(ii)
Travel and Subsistence
5,088
4,897
5,150
(iii)
Training and Development and Incidental Expenses
14,489
4,278
11,815
(iv)
Postal and Telecommunications Services
21,690
20,137
20,500
(v)
Office Equipment and External IT Services
25,413
25,585
32,628
(vi)
Office Premises Expenses
18,548
27,365
35,965
(vii)
Consultancy Services
1,085
1,323
1,508
(viii)
Payments for Agency Services
83,358
76,901
74,814
(ix)
eGovernment Related Projects
2,938
6,371
6,149
(x)
EU Presidency
22
328
0
Total VOTE Administration Budget
476,000
468,276
479,140
of which Capital Expenditure
5,109
9,412
18,500
An Post
23,533
19,936
20,163
Office of the Revenue Commissioners
37,437
37,437
37,437
Superannuation and Retired Allowances
28,000
28,000
28,000
Office of Public Works
8,127
7,685
8,308
741
741
SIF Expenditure Breakdown
Department of Environment, Community and Local
741
Government
84
Comptroller and Auditor General
133
133
140
Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
1,083
987
800
Total SIF Administration Budget
99,054
94,919
95,589
GRAND TOTAL
575,054
563,195
574,729
85
Budget 2014 Measures
2014
BUDGET 2014 Measures
€m
1. Bereavement Grant
The €850 Bereavement Grant was discontinued in respect of deaths on or after
1 Jan 2014.
Full
Year
€m
17
22
2. Jobseeker's Allowance and SWA
Apply the reduced €100 rate of Jobseeker's Allowance and SWA (currently
applicable to 18 to 21 year olds) to persons without children who reach the age
of 22 from Jan 2014 and to new claimants aged 23 and 24 also from Jan 2014.
AND
Apply the reduced €144 rate of JA and SWA
32
(currently applicable to 22 to 24 year olds) to persons without children who
reach the age of 25 from Jan 2014.
BTEA maximum rate for 25
year olds to be reduced to €160 per week for relevant new entrants. The lower
rates of JA will apply to persons aged 25 and under who have exhausted their
entitlement to JB.
72
3. Activation - Savings.
10
10
4. Maternity & Adoptive Benefit
Standardise the minimum and maximum rates of Maternity & Adoptive
30
Benefit at €230 per week (a reduction of up to €32 per week for most new
claimants).
36
5. Exceptional Needs Payments
Reduce the expenditure on the exceptional needs payment scheme by €2.1m in
2014 and in each subsequent year by a general review of payments under the 2.1
scheme to ensure consistency with regard to payment levels on a national
basis.
2.1
6. Diet Supplement
Discontinue the Diet Supplement Scheme for new recipients from January 0.4
2014. Existing recipients unaffected.
3.2
7. Employment Supports
Efficiencies in employment supports schemes.
12
12
8. Recovery of Social Welfare Payments
Provide that welfare benefits paid to individuals, arising from an accident or
injury are repaid by insurers in those cases where the insured person has also
been compensated for the same via a settlement.
21
22
9. Illness Benefits
Increase the number of waiting days for entitlement to Illness Benefit from 3
22
22
86
days to 6 days, from Jan 2014.
10. Invalidity Pension
In line with the abolition of the State Pension Transition from Jan 2014,
discontinue the personal weekly rate of €230.30 payable to Invalidity
Pensioners at age 65 and align with the personal weekly rate of €193.50
currently payable to Invalidity Pensioners aged under 65. This measure to
apply to persons reaching their 65th birthday from Jan 2014.
5
AND
Discontinue the qualified adult
weekly rate of €206.30 payable to qualified adults who are aged 66 or over of
Invalidity Pensioners and align with the qualified adult weekly rate of €138.10
currently payable to qualified adults who are aged under 66 of Invalidity
Pensioners. This measure to apply to qualified adults reaching their 66th
birthday from Jan 2014.
10
11. Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance
Abolition of payment of the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance
2.5
(BSCFA) for children over the age of 18 years, other than those attending
secondary school, for 2014 and subsequent years.
2.5
12. Rent & Mortgage Interest Supplement
Increase in the minimum contribution for couples by €5 from €35 to €40 for
new and existing recipients. Also applies to Mortgage Interest Supplement,
from Jan 2014.
7.1
6
13. Mortgage Interest Supplement
Discontinuation of the Mortgage Interest Supplement scheme for new
12
applicants and a winding down of the current MIS recipient base over a four
year period, from Jan 2014.
30
14. Household Benefits - Telephone Allowance
Abolition of the Telephone Allowance for all recipients, from Jan 2014. Value: 44
€9.50 per month.
47.1
15. Household Benefits - Free TV Licence
Reduce the annual payment to RTÉ for the Free TV Licence by €5 million to
€54.17 million.
5
5
16. Fraud and Control
Additional Fraud and Control Measures.
30
30
17. Administrative Savings
Additional administrative savings.
5
5
18. ELS Technical Adjustment
ELS Technical Adjustment
34
34
BUDGET 2014 NET EXPENDITURE REDUCTION
290
372
87
Appendix 1 - Links to Useful Documents
ESRI Report on “Welfare Targeting and Work Incentives” – June 2014
https://www.esri.ie/UserFiles/publications/JACB201239/BP201503.pdf
AGTSW 1st Report on Child and Family Income Support
https://www.welfare.ie/en/downloads/Advisory-Group-on-Tax-and-Social-Welfare-FirstReport-Child-and-Family-Income-Support.pdf
Customer Charter and Customer Action Plan 2013 – 2015
http://www.welfare.ie/en/downloads/CustomerCharterActionPlan2013-2015.pdf
Statement of Strategy
http://www.welfare.ie/en/downloads/strat1114.pdf
Annual Reports
http://www.socialwelfareappeals.ie/pubs/annreps/annrep13.pdf
88

Minister of State`s Briefing

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