Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 185: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo did not receive jobseeker's benefit during a certain period of the year when previously they had received if for the same period. [13918/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Social Welfare legislation provides for the payment of jobseeker's benefit in respect of days of unemployment. Any day on which a person either receives or has an entitlement to holiday pay is not regarded as a day of unemployment and a person has no entitlement to jobseeker's benefit in respect of that day. Employees who are laid off temporarily (i.e. where they expect to return to the same employment at a later date) are not entitled to jobseeker's benefit in respect of any day for which there is an entitlement to holiday pay. This applies even if there is no definite date of resumption of work.

The Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act 2001, provides for the holiday pay entitlements of part-time Employees. In accordance with this act and as a result of agreement with relevant parties since 2003 certain school employees are entitled to a percentage pay increase in respect of holiday entitlement. Where there are unemployment claims from such employees, details of holiday pay entitlements must be forwarded by the Employer to the relevant Social Welfare Local Office. The number of days holiday pay due is then determined by dividing the total numbers of hours paid in respect of holiday pay by the average number of hours worked per day.

In the case of the person concerned she had been paid the equivalent of 8 days employment and consequently was not entitled to payment of jobseeker's benefit from the start of her claim on 23 December 2008 until return to employment on 7 January 2009. She has appealed this decision. Under Social Welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by Deciding Officers and Appeals Officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 186: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of people in receipt of rent supplement in Waterford city and county. [13922/09]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 187: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of people in receipt of mortgage interest supplement in Waterford city and county. [13923/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 187 together.

The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes rent supplement and mortgage interest supplement, is administered on behalf of the Department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive (HSE). There are currently 2,311 recipients of rent supplement and 330 recipients of mortgage interest supplement in Waterford. A breakdown of recipients by city and county is not available.

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 188: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she is aware that the most recent figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the south-east region has one of the lowest rates of household disposable income and one of the highest rates of long-term unemployment; the measures she proposes to remedy this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13924/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the CSO figures on regional income and unemployment rates. This Department's role is to mainly to provide income support to people who qualify for social welfare payments. The value of the lowest rate of welfare payment was fully maintained in Budget 2009 and now stands at €204.30 per week following an increase of €6.50 per week or over 3%. In the last six Budgets, the value of the lowest rate of payment has increased by a cumulative €79.50 per week or 64%. By any standards, the levels of increases in welfare payments generally over the period since 2003 have been substantial and are a demonstration of our continuing commitment to all those who are less well off.

The Department of Social and Family Affairs provides a range of supports to assist unemployed people, particularly the long-term unemployed, lone parents, and sickness related welfare recipients, to return to the active labour market either by taking up employment or becoming self-employed. The main welfare to work measure for the unemployed is the National Employment Action Plan (EAP). Under the EAP, people who are approaching 3 months on the Live Register are identified by the Department and referred to FÁS for interview with a view to job placement or an offer of training.

Other supports include the operation of the back to education and back to work allowance schemes, the technical assistance and training grants and the PRSI exemption scheme. The activation and family services programme and the second chance education opportunities scheme also offer supports to social welfare recipients and disadvantaged persons to assist them to improve their employability and personal and family situations.

The Department's facilitator network works with social welfare recipients to identify appropriate training or development programmes which will enhance the skills that individuals have and ultimately improve their employment chances as well as help them continue to develop personally. Facilitators are working closely with FÁS and other agencies at national and local level to identify and target appropriate education, training and development opportunities. The facilitator programme is designed to be a targeted approach, involving active case management and the development of an individualised progression plan. Twenty additional facilitators have recently been appointed under the Social and Economic Participation Programme provided for under the National Development Plan 2007-13. This brings the total in place to 60.

As part of the programme, three additional facilitator posts have been allocated to the south east region, bringing the total number of posts in that region to nine. These officers, located in counties Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny, Carlow, Kildare and Wicklow, work directly with those on Social Welfare in order to determine their needs. They arrange, through direct provision or jointly with other agencies, appropriate training and developmental programmes to equip them to progress to employment, enhance their parenting skills or improve their life opportunities. The enhanced facilitation service will build on the Department's existing experience and income maintenance relationship with the people concerned, in co-operation with other relevant service providers such as FÁS, VECs, HSE and other local agencies.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 189: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved and granted farm assist. [13954/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned has been awarded farm assist at the weekly rate of €158.90 with effect from 11 December, 2008. His first payment and arrears due will issue shortly. Under Social Welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by Deciding Officers and Appeals Officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.