Results 3,201-3,220 of 3,444 for speaker:Shane Cassells

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (25 Oct 2016)

Shane Cassells: 333. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will change the way his Department calculates contributory pension contributions in order that the calculation will be based on actual years worked and not solely on the date when a person enters the workforce for the first time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31999/16]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disability Support Services Provision (25 Oct 2016)

Shane Cassells: 484. To ask the Minister for Health the alternative services he plans to provide for persons and service users in a unit (details supplied) to replace a much needed hydrotherapy pool; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31998/16]

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection
Chapter 9 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 10 - Roll-out of the Public Services Card
Social Insurance Fund 2015 (20 Oct 2016)

Shane Cassells: I thank Ms O'Donoghue. It has been an interesting morning hearing about the vast scope of work for which her Department is responsible and the significant impact it has on the country. In Ms O'Donoghue's opening statement, she spoke of the functions of the Department. Naturally, most associate the Department with income support but Ms O'Donoghue went on to speak about, in particular, the...

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection
Chapter 9 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 10 - Roll-out of the Public Services Card
Social Insurance Fund 2015 (20 Oct 2016)

Shane Cassells: In terms of profile, where are those seeking employment and what are the demographic factors involved?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection
Chapter 9 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 10 - Roll-out of the Public Services Card
Social Insurance Fund 2015 (20 Oct 2016)

Shane Cassells: In terms of areas of concern I asked about, does youth employment remain stubbornly high, and by geographical area? There is an upturn in the economy and we have seen the unemployment figures come down, especially in this part of the country. Looking at other parts of the country, where are the black spots and is youth unemployment remaining stubbornly high?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection
Chapter 9 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 10 - Roll-out of the Public Services Card
Social Insurance Fund 2015 (20 Oct 2016)

Shane Cassells: That was the national average.

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection
Chapter 9 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 10 - Roll-out of the Public Services Card
Social Insurance Fund 2015 (20 Oct 2016)

Shane Cassells: What of the geographical spread? I keep stressing this point because the national framework plan is currently being devised. It will set out objectives in terms of infrastructure, housing and employment zones. The previous spatial strategy got things wrong on a number of levels. In terms of her statistics, could Ms O'Donoghue speak about whether she has identified specific areas of...

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection
Chapter 9 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 10 - Roll-out of the Public Services Card
Social Insurance Fund 2015 (20 Oct 2016)

Shane Cassells: I am sorry for interjecting, but is that quite noticeable? Are rural areas suffering more than urban areas?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection
Chapter 9 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 10 - Roll-out of the Public Services Card
Social Insurance Fund 2015 (20 Oct 2016)

Shane Cassells: Did Ms O'Donoghue feed that into her submission to the national framework plan? Did she perceive that there is a definite trend in rural areas where unemployment is persistently high? She spoke about engaging with people in terms of the skill sets they have and feeding that into the national framework plan. Having gone to the briefing, it is evident that there is a very big problem there.

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection
Chapter 9 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 10 - Roll-out of the Public Services Card
Social Insurance Fund 2015 (20 Oct 2016)

Shane Cassells: In terms of skills shortages that have been identified, is there a noticeable difference from a geographical point of view in terms of skills shortages of people presenting to the Department, or is there a contrast between urban areas and other rural areas or between the east coast versus the west coast?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection
Chapter 9 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 10 - Roll-out of the Public Services Card
Social Insurance Fund 2015 (20 Oct 2016)

Shane Cassells: In terms of payments, the National Youth Council last week described the increase to young people of €2.70 as opposed to €5 as miserly, mean spirited and further discrimination against young people. In response to Deputy Connolly, Ms O'Donoghue said the Department did advise on policy. Did she advise on that policy and did she endorse it? Could she also speak about the impact...

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection
Chapter 9 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 10 - Roll-out of the Public Services Card
Social Insurance Fund 2015 (20 Oct 2016)

Shane Cassells: That is fine, but I am just asking whether Ms O'Donoghue had any input in that regard as she said she did advise on policy. We are talking about job activation and so forth. Did she advise on that?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection
Chapter 9 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 10 - Roll-out of the Public Services Card
Social Insurance Fund 2015 (20 Oct 2016)

Shane Cassells: I appreciate that, Chairman, but in a previous reply to Deputy Connolly, Ms O'Donoghue did say the Department did advise on policy and I am only asking in terms of the impact on job activation whether there was advice from the Department on it. I think I phrased the question correctly, Chairman.

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection
Chapter 9 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 10 - Roll-out of the Public Services Card
Social Insurance Fund 2015 (20 Oct 2016)

Shane Cassells: On that, because it was done for a very specific reason, in terms of the social impact, is it the case that it will drive young people further into poverty or into taking up cash-in-hand jobs to supplement their payment which is already lower than the higher payments?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection
Chapter 9 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 10 - Roll-out of the Public Services Card
Social Insurance Fund 2015 (20 Oct 2016)

Shane Cassells: I appreciate that but I am just talking about the impact of the measure. Does Ms O'Donoghue feel that the impact is to drive a further wedge or have a detrimental impact because the National Youth Council has come out and spoken on behalf of young people? Is it driving young people further into poverty rather than helping them?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection
Chapter 9 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 10 - Roll-out of the Public Services Card
Social Insurance Fund 2015 (20 Oct 2016)

Shane Cassells: In terms of the crackdown on fraud, Ms O'Donoghue spoke about the work of the Garda within the Department as well. I would like to hear about the measures taken because when there is an upturn, small business people who are operating legitimately are paying their taxes, expenses, VAT and rates but if people in the black economy are undercutting or undermining them and also claiming benefits,...

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection
Chapter 9 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 10 - Roll-out of the Public Services Card
Social Insurance Fund 2015 (20 Oct 2016)

Shane Cassells: You are very hard on me on time, Chairman. It is shocking. I think you have favourites. Could Ms O'Donoghue speak to the figures relating to farm assist payments? It was stated that 10.4% of the total payment of €88 million was in excess of entitlement. Could she tell me what type of fraudulent behaviour was involved?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection
Chapter 9 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 10 - Roll-out of the Public Services Card
Social Insurance Fund 2015 (20 Oct 2016)

Shane Cassells: So they were not necessarily engaging in fraudulent behaviour.

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection
Chapter 9 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 10 - Roll-out of the Public Services Card
Social Insurance Fund 2015 (20 Oct 2016)

Shane Cassells: From the IFA briefings I notice a reluctance on the part of some farmers to engage, due to a stigma or whatever. The IFA told us there was a stigma attached to availing of it. It would be terrible if a statement were put out or there were a feeling that it was knowingly done. Ms O'Donoghue is saying it is not the case.

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection
Chapter 9 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 10 - Roll-out of the Public Services Card
Social Insurance Fund 2015 (20 Oct 2016)

Shane Cassells: I would like to ask the Comptroller and Auditor General, looking at the other figures for the other categories, if it is quite a high figure in terms of the range of schemes.