Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 308: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will amend the rules regarding the application procedure for the back to work allowance scheme in order to allow a qualifying unemployed person, who finds himself or herself in the position of being offered employment at short notice, to immediately take up that employment, and subsequently apply retrospectively for the back to work allowance, in the situation where said individual would ordinarily have qualified for back to work allowance under the rules had they been in a position to apply in advance of taking up that employment. [18438/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In order to respond effectively to the growing numbers on the Live Register and the current employment situation, it was decided in the context of the recent supplementary budget to refocus resources on the enterprise strand of the back to work allowance which supports people into self employment. The changes provide for:

• A reduction in qualifying period required for access to back to work enterprise allowance (BTWEA) from 2 years to 12 months provided a person has an underlying entitlement to jobseeker's allowance. This is in conjunction with a reduction in the period for which the BTWEA is payable from 4 years to 2 years, at 100% of existing social welfare entitlement in the first year and 75% in the second.

• Immediate access to a shorter BTWEA, to be called Short Term Enterprise Allowance, for someone who qualifies for Jobseeker's Benefit (with 104 contributions paid) or who qualifies for statutory redundancy. It will be paid for the duration of the Jobseeker's Benefit claim entitlement.

• Allow persons who previously participated in the BTWEA scheme and exhausted their entitlement after completion of the scheme, to participate a second time after a period of at least 5 years has elapsed.

These changes will come into effect from 1st May 2009. The changes will not affect participants who are already on either strand of the back to work allowance at that date. These changes significantly strengthen the support for jobseeker's wishing to move to self employment and in this context the employee strand of the back to work allowance has been closed to new applicants from the 1st May 2009. Persons who qualified for the back to work employee strand prior to this date will continue to be paid their entitlements.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 309: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if new or revised rules, guidelines or instructions have been issued by her Department regarding rent supplement; if her Department has advised local authorities of such revisions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18444/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The recent Supplementary Budget provided that payments currently being made to existing rent supplement tenants be reduced by 8%. The weekly minimum contribution payable towards rent is also being increased from €18 to €24 a week, with effect from 1 June 2009. While tenants may be contractually obliged to pay the rent agreed to in their lease, it is expected that landlords will decrease the rent in recognition of the fact that rents have fallen generally and that there is now a large number of vacant rental properties nationally.

Other changes in the Supplementary Budget provide for new maximum rent limits to be prescribed in regulations to take effect from 1 June 2009 to reflect the general reductions in private sector rent levels. Rent supplement will also be restricted to individuals who have been an existing tenant for six months. Individuals forming new households must have been placed on a Local Authority housing list following a full housing needs assessment before they are eligible for rent supplement.

Existing recipients of rent supplement will be advised by letter in advance of the change being made to their rent payment and this communication can be shown to landlords as evidence of the revised rent supplement in payment in individual cases. Landlords will be advised through advertising in the print media of the general reduction in rent supplement payments.

The Department has already issued briefing to the community welfare service outlining the measures announced in the Budget which impact the rent supplement scheme. Guidelines on the operational arrangements for the new measures, due for implementation on 1 June 2009, will issue to the community welfare service within the next two weeks when all of the relevant legislative provisions are in place.

The Department is also in discussions with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government regarding the role of local authorities who are responsible for providing a wide range of social housing supports for those with a long-term housing need and for carrying out a housing needs assessment for those seeking a rent supplement payment. The two Departments intend to coordinate the release of guidelines to the community welfare service and local authorities, as appropriate.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 310: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will review the decision to abolish the Christmas bonus; if her attention has been drawn to the implications that this decision will have on families and the elderly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18510/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that in the context of the current economic circumstances, it has been necessary for the Government to take steps to reduce overall public expenditure in order to restore order and stability in the public finances. This has involved reviewing all public expenditure programmes, including social welfare programmes, which at some €21.3 billion in 2009 form a substantial portion of overall public expenditure.

In order to avoid cutting all the weekly social welfare payment rates while trying to keep the welfare budget at a level the State can afford it has been necessary to discontinue funding for the Christmas bonus that is usually paid to certain welfare recipients. The payment of a 100% Christmas bonus in 2009 would cost an estimated €223 million, the net savings to be achieved in the decision not to pay the Christmas bonus could not be effected by any other measure. This was the most difficult decision the Government had to make in framing the supplementary Budget. While very difficult decisions have been taken in order to restore order and stability in the public finances, I have been successful in keeping expenditure control measures in the social welfare area to an absolute minimum and in ensuring that the most vulnerable in society have been protected from their effects.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 311: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved for and granted the one-parent family payment. [18517/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned applied for one-parent family payment on 5 March 2009. Her claim is currently with the Social Welfare Inspector. On completion of enquiries a decision will be made and she will be notified of the outcome. 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.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 312: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if, in view of the fact that the back to work scheme was closed for all new applicants on 1 May 2009, she will be introducing a replacement scheme for those looking to re-enter the workplace; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18519/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In order to respond effectively to the growing numbers on the Live Register and the current employment situation, it was decided in the context of the recent supplementary budget to refocus resources on the enterprise strand of the back to work allowance which supports people into self employment. The changes provide for:

• A reduction in qualifying period required for access to back to work enterprise allowance (BTWEA) from 2 years to 12 months provided a person has an underlying entitlement to jobseeker's allowance. This is in conjunction with a reduction in the period for which the BTWEA is payable from 4 years to 2 years, at 100% of existing social welfare entitlement in the first year and 75% in the second.

• Immediate access to a shorter BTWEA, to be called Short Term Enterprise Allowance, for someone who qualifies for Jobseeker's Benefit (with 104 contributions paid) or who qualifies for statutory redundancy. It will be paid for the duration of the Jobseeker's Benefit claim entitlement.

• Allow persons who previously participated in the BTWEA scheme and exhausted their entitlement after completion of the scheme, to participate a second time after a period of at least 5 years has elapsed.

These changes will come into effect from 1st May 2009. The changes will not affect participants who are already on either strand of the back to work allowance at that date. These changes significantly strengthen the support for jobseeker's wishing to move to self employment and in this context the employee strand of the back to work allowance has been closed to new applicants from the 1st May 2009. Persons who qualified for the back to work employee strand prior to this date will continue to be paid their entitlements. It is not intended to replace this scheme at present.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 313: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her views on giving carers social welfare stamps in recognition of the work they do; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18542/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Persons in receipt of carer's allowance, carer's benefit and the respite care grant may engage in employment, self employment, training or education outside the home for up to 15 hours per week and still be considered to be providing full-time care and attention for the purposes of the schemes. This means that where a carer remains in employment he or she will continue to pay the appropriate social insurance contribution. Also, any person, including a carer, may pay voluntary contributions once they satisfy certain qualifying conditions.

The social welfare pension rights of those who take time out of the workforce for caring duties are protected by the homemaker's scheme which was introduced in and took effect from 1994. The scheme allows up to 20 years spent caring for children or incapacitated adults to be disregarded when a person's social insurance record is being averaged for pension purposes. However, the home-maker's scheme will not of itself qualify a person for a pension. The standard qualifying conditions, which require a person to enter insurance 10 years before pension age, pay a minimum of 260 contributions at the correct rate, and achieve a yearly average of at least 10 contributions on their record from the time they enter insurance until they reach pension age, must also be satisfied.

People who qualify for payments such as carer's allowance or carer's benefit may, subject to conditions, qualify for credited contributions for the period they are receiving the payment. There are, of course, people caring who cannot benefit from these measures. The Green Paper on Pensions considered a number of issues related to the qualifying conditions for a social welfare contributory pension. A framework for future pensions policy is being developed and the issue of contribution conditions will be further addressed in that context.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 314: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amount of jobseeker's benefit a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive when they are made redundant over the next few months; and if their entitlement will be reduced by the fact that their spouse is in receipt of jobseeker's benefit. [18551/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned has not made an application for jobseeker's benefit. Until an application is received no determination can be made as regards the rate of payment a person may be entitled to.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 315: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved and granted jobseeker's benefit. [18561/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned has been awarded jobseeker's benefit at the maximum weekly rate of €204.30 with effect from 23 March, 2009. His first payment and arrears due will issue shortly.