Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Annual Report 2017

Transcription

1 An Roinn Gn6thai Fostafochta agus Coimirce S6isialai Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Annual Report 2017

2 Contents CHAPTER 1: The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection 5 The Department: Its Business and Organisation 6 Functions of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection 6 The Department s Mission 6 Scale of The Department s Business 6 Organisation of the Department 7 CHAPTER 2: 2017 Performance 9 Expenditure Organisation 11 Organisations and Key Activities Recipients by Scheme Customer Satisfaction 14 Compliance and Anti-Fraud 15 Changes to Welfare Payments 16 Impact Assessment 17 Social Impact Assessment 17 National Social Target for Poverty Reduction 18 Distributive Impact of Social Transfers 20 Key Employment Statistics (2017) 20 Live Register Data: December Youth Unemployment Data December Other Developments Expansion of Remit 21 Changes in National Minimum Wage in 2017 (September to December) 22 Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund 22 CHAPTER 3: 23 The Department s Strategic Objectives 2017 to Objective 1 - Put the Client at the Centre of Policy and Service Delivery 25 Children 26 People of Working Age 30 Working Age - Income Supports 32 Working Age - Employment Supports 33 Illness, Disability and Carers 40 European Union (EU)/International Unit 55 Objective 2 - Drive Cost, Efficiency and Effectiveness 63 MyWelfare.ie 66 Financial Management 67 Objective 3 Develop Staff, Structures and Processes 69 APPENDICES 77 Appendix 1 Organisation Structure 78 Appendix 2 Legislation Enacted in Appendix 3 Publications in Appendix 4 Ministers of the Department Since Appendix 5 Minister of States of the Department Since

3 Foreword Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection Regina Doherty T.D. I welcome the publication of the Annual Report 2017 of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. Since being appointed Minister in 2017, I am constantly reminded of the Department s significant and varied role. It is the largest Department in Government with over 6,000 civil servants. Each week, nearly 1.6 million people receive a social welfare payment. These payments benefit almost 2.1 million people, when qualified adults and children are included. Our Department spends approximately 20 billion a year on schemes and benefits for families and individuals in our society. We have a lot to be proud of. To that end, through the wide range of services it provides, the Department impacts on the lives of almost every citizen in the State in the course of their life; from child benefit to the State pension and every contingency in between such as maternity, paternity, illness, unemployment and redundancy. As a Government, our top priority for the next few years is to remain prudent in our approach to the economy and public spending. As a Department, our priority is to use our improved public finances for the betterment of our people particularly those who need it most. Or, to use the words of our mission statement, we promote active participation and inclusion in society through the framework of employment rights and the provision of income supports, employment services and other services. This report shows the wide range of service and policy reforms implemented by the Department in the last year. We have extended Treatment Benefits to the self-employed. We are working to modernise our pension system while continuing to target resources at the most in need. We made progress on all of our priorities in Budget We increased the rate of weekly payments for 1.47 million beneficiaries including pensioners, lone parents, jobseekers, carers, people with disabilities and widows. We increased the national minimum wage. We enhanced the JobsPlus Recruitment Incentive to encourage employers to hire older workers. We extended the Fuel Allowance to 27 weeks and offered our customers the option of lump sum payments for the first time. My focus is firmly on employment, pension reform, and reducing child poverty. I want to ensure that families are better off in work than on welfare. My goal is to ensure that people are rewarded for working by reforming the PRSI system and reinforcing the contributory principle. My specific goals for the coming year include pensions reform, enhanced working conditions for unsecure workers, more benefits for the self-employed, and reform of the Gender Recognition Act. Since my appointment as Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, I have been consistently impressed by the calibre and commitment of Departmental staff. I thank them for their commitment, on behalf of the millions who benefit from their great work. Regina Doherty T.D. Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection 3

4 Foreword Secretary General John McKeon This is the first Annual Report on the Department s Statement of Strategy 2017 to 2020 and sets out the progress made during The role of the Department and the demand for its services continues to evolve. Most notably, during 2017, the Department was entrusted with the additional responsibility for employment affairs including ten Acts of primary legislation relating to protection of employment, minimum wages (the Low Pay Commission) and the organisation of working time. This transfer of policy responsibility for employment affairs reflects the close relationship which exists between welfare and work, builds on the Department s existing role in the provision of employment services and is in line with how many States around the world allocate responsibility for the development and administration of welfare and labour laws and services. While our policy brief was expanded the heart of the Department s business is still the provision of customer services. In 2017 we developed and rolled out new services to make it easier for customers to transact business with us. The new Paternity Benefit scheme, a modified Treatment Benefit scheme and the provision of customer statements are now delivered largely through our online Portal MyWelfare. ie. This portal has at the time of writing supported over 5,000 paternity claims, over 1,000 maternity claims, and over 16,000 customer contribution statements. These developments were recognised at the Civil Service Excellence awards where the provision of online customer statements won the overall prize for Excellence in Customer Service. These new and improved services rely in turn on the rollout of the MyGovID system. This is a system that was developed by the Department on a whole of Government basis to support the safe and secure authentication of a person s identity when accessing valuable State services. A notable landmark in helping to secure and assure a person s identity for access to public services was the issue over 3 million Public Service Cards by year end With this established customer base the Department can now move on to developing and offering online options for all of its other services. This will be a major focus of the Department s service agenda in the years ahead. Although online services are becoming an increasing part of our business operations, personal service, delivered by frontline staff, will always be core to what we do. We are very fortunate in the calibre and experience of our staff but we want to do more to help our staff not just to adapt to new technology and ways of working but to enhance their existing service skills. I am very pleased therefore, at the significant progress that has been made in developing and delivering an accredited programme of education and development in association with the National College of Ireland. 50 graduates two programmes received a certificate in Professional Practice (special purpose award level 8), and Irish Institute of Training and Development (IITD) Certificate in Training and Development (level 6) on the National Framework of Qualifications in the provision of employment services. It is our intention to make this programme of education available to all of our staff over the next five to seven years. This is my first report as Secretary General having been appointed into the role at the end of July I would like to extend my thanks to all of the staff, and Department stakeholders, who have supported me over the past few months. I would in particular like to acknowledge the excellent leadership of my predecessor, Niamh O Donoghue. The progress outlined in this report is a testament to her vision and leadership over the past seven years. Finally, to include a message I have shared with all staff over the past few months. I joined the Department nearly eight years ago having worked for many years in the private sector. I was immediately impressed not just by the quality of the staff but by their commitment to customer service, by their personal investment, as public servants, in the work with which they were entrusted and their sense of ownership of the organisation in which they served. It was this staff commitment that sustained the Department during a period of ever increasing workloads and expenditure reductions. It was this public service ethos that informed how the staff took on the major service and organisation challenges for example the development of the Intreo service that were essential not just to ensuring service continuity but ensuring that the State could respond with agility to the challenges of the recession years. This commitment is at least part of the reason why the levels of unemployment have fallen faster than anyone could have anticipated why the Irish economic recovery has been jobs-led rather than jobless. The staff of the Department can be proud of their work, as I am of them, and together we can look forward with confidence to the challenges that lie ahead. John McKeon, Secretary General 4

5 Chapter 1 The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection 5

6 Chapter 1 The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection The Department: Its Business and Organisation Functions of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection The Department supports the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection in the discharge of governmental, parliamentary and departmental duties. The main functions of the Department are to: advise the Government and formulate appropriate social protection and social inclusion policies; design, develop and deliver effective and cost-efficient income supports, activation and employment services and provide comprehensive, accurate information to all of its customers; work towards providing seamless delivery of services in conjunction with other Departments, agencies and bodies; develop employment law and labour affairs policy and; control suspected fraud and abuse in relation to social welfare payments. Responsibility for employment affairs and labour law, including the Low Pay Commission, was transferred to the Department with effect from September 2017 and subsequently, the Department s name changed from the Department of Social Protection to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. The Department's Mission To promote active participation and inclusion in society through a framework of employment rights and the provision of income supports, employment services and other services. 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 illnesses and disabilities, carers and older people. In more recent times, the Department has expanded its remit to provide a range of services to employers, and it has invested significantly in developing relationships with employers to position the Department as their partner of first choice in relation to recruitment and employment support services. The Department administers over 70 separate schemes and services, which affect the lives of almost every person in the State. Key services include: payment of a wide range of social insurance and social assistance income supports such as jobseeker payments, illness benefit and disability payments, pensions and supplementary welfare allowances, in addition to the universal payment of child benefit; integration through Intreo, employment 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 important task of supporting people in their pursuit of employment, training and education opportunities, in order to improve their life chances; provision of a range of employment supports, internship opportunities, guidance and placement services to help jobseekers find and secure employment; delivery of a range of employer services including recruitment services, online publication of job vacancies, employment supports (e.g. wage subsidy schemes available to people with disabilities) and redundancy and insolvency services; a range of community services to promote social inclusion and provide a pathway to employment for those who are unemployed; the development of appropriate and robust policy in areas such as pensions, disability, child income support, jobseekers and activation; and co-ordination of the implementation of Government strategies for social inclusion under the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion and the Europe 2020 Strategy for Jobs and Growth. 6

7 Chapter 1 The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Management Board of the Department of Social Protection Pictured back row, left to right are Joan Gordon, Kathleen Stack, John McKeon, John Conlon, Mick Bunyan, Oliver Egan, Tim Duggan, Teresa Leonard and Simonetta Ryan. Pictured front row, left to right are Helen Faughnan, Anne Vaughan, Níamh O Donoghue and Patricia Murphy. Organisation of the Department At the end of 2017, the Department had a total of 6,730 staff serving (6,391 whole time equivalent posts) which includes both permanent and temporary staff. The Departments Organisation Structure is set out in Appendix 1. From a customer perspective services are provided through: The Department managed a network of 62 Intreo Centres. These provide services primarily to Jobseekers and single parents. A range of service partners including Branch Office providers, Local employment Services, Jobclubs, Jobpath providers, Community Employment and Tús providers and EmployAbility companies. Centralised offices at various locations countrywide. These offices administer the Department s long-term schemes, many of its short-term schemes, and also have a range of policy responsibilities. These include offices in Buncrana, Carrick-on-Shannon, Dublin, Dundalk, Letterkenny, Longford, Roscommon, Sligo, and Waterford. 7

8 Chapter 1 The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Offices and statutory bodies under the aegis of the Department include; The General Register Office (GRO) The GRO is responsible for the registration of births, stillbirths, adoptions, marriages, civil partnerships and deaths in the State. Day-to-day delivery of the Civil Registration Service is largely provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE), through a network of local Civil Registration Service offices across the State. The GRO also operates a genealogical research facility. The Social Welfare Appeals Office This organisation is independently responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlement and insurability of employment. The Social Welfare Tribunal This organisation is a statutory body that deals with cases where entitlement to Jobseeker s Benefit or Jobseeker s Allowance is refused due to an involvement in a trade dispute. Where a person feels that he/she has been unreasonably deprived of employment because his/her employer refused or failed to follow the negotiating machinery available for settling disputes, he/she may apply to the Tribunal for an adjudication on the matter. The Pensions Council This organisation provides advice to the Minister on matters of relevance to pensions, with a particular focus on policies to support the future sustainability and adequacy of pension provision. The Citizens Information Board (CIB) Funded by the Department, the CIB is the national agency responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice and advocacy on social and public services through the Citizens Information Services (CIS), and for the provision of the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS). The MABS service, in turn, provides Abhaile - a service to help homeowners find a resolution to their home mortgage arrears. The Pensions Authority This organisation provides information, regulation and governance in relation to occupational and private pensions. The Office of the Pensions Ombudsman This organisation independently investigates and rules on complaints and disputes from individuals about their occupational and private pension schemes in cases of maladministration and financial loss. The Low Pay Commission The principal function of the Low Pay Commission is, on an annual basis, to examine and make recommendations to the Minister on the appropriate level of the national minimum wage and related matters. 8

9 Chapter Performance 9

10 Chapter Performance Expenditure 2017 The provisional outturn or total expenditure for 2017 is billion. The 2018 Revised Estimates Volume (REV) provides for expenditure of billion on all departmental schemes, services and administration. This allocation reflects projected trends in recipient numbers and payment values in 2018, as well as the impact of improvements announced as part of Budget The Department s expenditure is spread across seven programme areas, as follows: TABLE 1: Total Department Expenditure by Programme in 2017 and Provisional Outturn 2018 REV Estimate Percentage of Total Expenditure in 2018 REV Administration 617,680, ,200, % Pensions 7,386,723,000 7,571,360, % Working Age Income Supports 3,598,328,000 3,365,825, % Working Age Employment Supports 920,523, ,485, % Illness, Disability and Carers 3,962,215,000 4,163,220, % Children 2,621,329,000 2,644,190, % Supplementary Payments, Agencies and Miscellaneous Services 835,595, ,031, % Total DEASP expenditure 19,942,393,000 20,011,311, % CHART 1: Percentage of Total Expenditure in 2018 Rev Estimate 13.2% 3.1% 4.1% Administration Pensions Working Age Income Supports 20.8% Working Age Employment Supports Illness, Disability and Carers 4.1% 37.8% Children Supplementary Payments, Agencies and Miscellaneous Services 16.8% 10

11 Chapter Performance Organisation TABLE 2: Staff Numbers - Full Time Equivalents All Permanent Staff - by Grade Dec-15 Dec-16 Dec-17 Secretary General Deputy Secretary Assistant Secretary Principal Officer Medical Assessor Assistant Principal Administrative Officer Higher Executive Officer Executive Officer Staff Officer * Clerical Officer Service Grades Total Permanent Staff * In 2017, the Staff Officer grade was amalgamated with the Executive Officer grade. 11

12 Chapter Performance Organisations and Key Activities 2017 TABLE 3: 2017 at a Glance Budget Staff & Services 2017 allocation figure 19,942 million No. of phone enquiries dealt with 8,300,000 No. of Intreo centres and branch offices 122 % of gross voted public expenditure 37% No. of PSCs issued 680,000 No. of staff 6,391 Admin figure million No. of Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) allocated 180,000 No. of separate schemes and services Over 70 Activation Payment Control Job opportunities advertised 124,000 Applications processed 1,700,000 Control reviews 754,525 No. of events for Jobsweek Weekly payment recipients 1,600,000 Special Investigations Unit (SIU) case investigation number 21,576 Individual payments made 82,200,000 Money saved 530 million Monthly child benefit recipients 619,000 12

13 Chapter Performance Recipients by Scheme 2017 TABLE 4: Number of Recipients by Scheme Pensions - Social Assistance 95,140 Pensions - Social Insurance 516,255 Total Pensions 611,395 Working Age Income Supports - Social Assistance 256,697 Working Age Income Supports - Social Insurance 57,066 Total Working Age Income Supports 313,763 Working Age on Employment Supports - Social Assistance 55,342 Working Age on Employment Supports - Social Insurance 394 Total Working Age on Employment Supports 55,736 Illness, Disability, and Caring - Social Assistance 246,033 Illness, Disability, and Caring - Social Insurance 129,404 Total Illness, Disability, and Caring 375,437 Child Related Payments - Social Assistance 682,924 Child Related Payments - Social Insurance 1,036 Total Child Related Payments 683,960 Supplementary Payments, Agencies and Miscellaneous Services - Social Assistance 33,399 Total - Supplementary Payments, Agencies and Miscellaneous Services 33,399 Total - Social Assistance 1,369,535 Total - Social insurance 704,155 Total Recipients 2,073,690 13

14 Chapter Performance Customer Satisfaction Having undertaken customer satisfaction surveys in 2015 and 2016, the Department also conducted a customer satisfaction survey in Overall, satisfaction levels improved on those reported in Of particular note for Jobseekers was the positive rating of staff, with an average score of 4.7 out of 5. In 2017, Jobseekers were also more confident that their interactions with Intreo Centres/ Branch Offices would improve their employment prospects into the future. The results were also positive for JobPath clients. Their overall satisfaction with their JobPath provider improved on 2016, to an average score of 4.3 out of 5, and 68% of JobPath clients strongly agree that JobPath has improved their employment prospects. JobPath clients also reported greater levels of satisfaction with the services offered by JobPath in 2017 than 2016, with particularly high levels of satisfaction reported for the one-on-one meetings with personal advisors. FIGURE 1: Jobseeker Overall Satisfaction FIGURE 2: Jobpath Overall Satisfaction % 41% 57% 35% 56% 83% 79% 87% 79% 82% 23% 38% 30% 44% 26% 13% 16% 10% 3% 2% 2% 1% 2% 1% 15% 11% 4% 4% 2% 3% Mean score Very Satisfied (5) Fairly Satisfied (4) Neutral (3) Moderately Dissatisfied (2) Very Dissatisfied (1) 14

15 Chapter Performance Compliance and Anti-Fraud Prevention of Fraud and Error First, the Department attempts to prevent situations arising where a person can gain access to a benefit by making a fraudulent claim for support. Such claims may be supported by false and/or misleading information or documentation. The actions we take require that all applicants verify their identity to our satisfaction and be issued with a Public Services Card (PSC). The Public Services Card establishes and fully authenticates a person s identity and allows them to access a range of services from the Department and other public services in an easy and safe manner. The PSC is used to prevent multiple identities being used to access schemes and payments. The next step is to validate and verify the information provided by an applicant. A range of processes are employed across the Department, including requiring original documentation to be provided, cross-checking information submitted with information already within the Department or with another public body. the Department is obliged to report any change in their lives or circumstances which could result in a reduction in their level of payment. Sometimes customers do not realise that they need to report such changes or are reluctant to do so. The consequence can be an accumulated overpayment that will have to be recovered over a protracted period of time. Individual scheme areas have policies in place that ensure that frequent enquiries are made of customers requiring them to provide an update of their circumstances. These are referred to as control reviews. The third aspect of our prevention approach is to help customers avoid making mistakes. This is achieved through the provision of clear and understandable information in publicity campaigns, information leaflets, on the Department s web site and through the assistance provided by our staff. Mistakes are also made, on occasion, by staff in determining the correct level or rate of payment to be made. These are addressed through on-going training, mentoring and review as well as internal information briefings and awareness programmes. Second, a person who is receiving a payment from FIGURE 3: Outputs for 2017 Nearly 755,000 reviews of claims, inspections and investigations were undertaken Control savings, which includes some element of overpayments, are recorded at 530 million the annual target of 510 million was exceeded. Overpayments of benefit and assistance on individual cases amounted to 111 million over the course of the year. Repayments of 81 million were made in respect of overpayments raised during 2017 and previous years. The target was to recover 90 million in the year. Over 300 cases referred to the Courts or to the Gardaí for prosecution during the year. At the end of the year, the Department had 589 cases in the court system at various stages of the prosecution process. The public awareness campaign Welfare Cheats Cheat Us All ran from April to July The campaign was designed to raise awareness of social welfare fraud and encourage members of the public to report potential cases of welfare fraud. The results of three fraud and error surveys were published during the year and work continues on a number of surveys which will be published during

16 Annual Report 2017 Department of of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Chapter Performance Changes to Welfare Payments A wide range of changes were introduced in March 2017 as a result of the Budget. There was a 5 increase in all maximum weekly pension payments including State Pension Contributory and Non-Contributory, Widow s, Widower s, Surviving Civil Partner s and Disablement Pension with proportionate increases for those on reduced rates of payment. The income assessment for Farm Assist was improved. In addition, new treatments were provided for, as part of the Treatment Benefit scheme from October Access to Invalidity Pension for self-employed people was introduced in December The Minister also improved the terms of the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme (increased by 25%), announced in June 2017 with effect from the new school year, to assist families and children, in particular, lone parent families. Budget 2018 continued the process of improving welfare payments and introduced some targeted changes. The main measures announced in Budget 2018 costing an additional 343 million, are as follows: Christmas Bonus In December 2017, an 85 per cent bonus was paid to over 1.2 million long-term social welfare recipients, including pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents and the long-term unemployed. Weekly Rates of Payment From the last week of March 2018, the maximum weekly rate of all social welfare payments increased by 5 per week, with proportionate increases for qualified adults and those on reduced rates. This builds on the similar weekly rate increase in Budget The Programme for Partnership Government committed to an above-inflation rate increase for pensioners and supported rate increased for people with disabilities and carers. This measure fulfils this commitment and, moreover, will also benefit the full range of working age social welfare recipients, such as those in receipt of maternity and paternity benefit, lone parents, jobseekers and employment programme participants. 16

17 Chapter Performance Families and Children The payment in respect of qualified children increased from to per week. This was the first increase in this weekly rate of payment since The measure is targeted at low-income families, such as lone parents and their children, who have relatively high rates of poverty. The income disregards for the One Parent Family payment and Jobseeker s Transition payment increased by 20, from 110 to 130 per week, to encourage one parent families to stay in, and return to, work. The thresholds for the Family Income Supplement (now renamed the Working Family Payment, to better reflect that it is a payment aimed specifically at working families) increased by 10 per week for families with up to three children. Additional funding of 3.2 million was also allocated to the Department s School Meals Programme in This will enable the extension of school breakfasts to newly designated DEIS schools. School breakfasts have been shown to increase attendance and improve concentration levels in children. Total School Meals funding allocated for 2017 was 47.5 million and expenditure was 46.6 million. Allocation for 2018 is 54 million. Other Payments Budget 2018 provided for the introduction of a new Telephone Support Allowance, designed to provide additional financial support to pensioners and people with disabilities with limited means, living on their own. Eligible customers (who are in receipt of both the Living Alone Increased and the Fuel Allowance) will automatically receive payments of 2.50 per week from June Impact Assessment Social Impact Assessment In February 2018, the Department published its social impact assessment of the welfare and income tax measures in Budget The assessment builds on prior analyses prepared by the Department to inform ministerial deliberations on the Budget. The publication is intended to contribute to public understanding of the impact of budgetary policy. Social impact assessment is an evidence-based methodology which estimates the likely effects of policies on household incomes, families, poverty and access to employment. It uses the ESRI (Economic and Social Research Institute) tax/welfare model, SWITCH (Simulating Welfare and Income Tax Changes), to simulate the impact of budgetary changes on a representative sample of households drawn from the Central Statistics Office s (CSO) Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) As well as the main welfare and income tax measures in Budget 2018, the assessment took account of the increase in the national minimum wage. The principal finding was that average household incomes increased by 1.1 per cent ( per week) as a result of Budget The bottom two income quintiles gained most, with smaller gains among the middle and top quintiles. The bottom quintile gained over twice that of the top quintile (1.9 per cent compared to 0.8 per cent). The Fuel Allowance season was extended by an additional week, from 26 weeks to 27 weeks. Funding for the Free Travel scheme increased by 10 million to 90 million in 2018, in line with the Programme for Government commitment to fully protect the scheme. 1 Central Statistics Office (CSO) (2016). Survey on Income and Living Conditions Retrieved December 12, 2017, from 17

18 Chapter Performance The welfare measures primarily benefitted lowerincome households. The income tax measures, though spread across all quintiles, were most beneficial to those in the second and fourth quintiles. The assessment found that non-earning households (lone parents, couples with and without children and singles) gain most from Budget 2018 (up to 3 per cent more). Some other family types with above average earnings gained including earning lone parents, singleearner couples with children and retired singles. The assessment shows that social transfers continued to perform strongly in reducing poverty with an estimated 0.6 percentage point reduction in the population at-risk-of-poverty. National Social Target for Poverty Reduction Progress towards reaching the national social target for poverty reduction is reported annually in the Social Inclusion Monitor (SIM). The latest Monitor is based on the CSO s SILC for Aligned with Ireland s continued economic and employment growth during that year, the 2016 survey results show continued signs of social recovery across the income distribution. This general improvement in living conditions is evident in the growth of 3.1 per cent in real median disposable income and reductions in basic deprivation and income inequality. The full research briefing is available on the Department s website, FIGURE 4: Poverty and Deprivation Rates by Year Consistent Poverty Basic Deprivation At-risk-of-poverty 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0%

19 Chapter Performance FIGURE 5: Trend in the Poverty Reduction Effect of Social Transfers in % 70% At-risk-of-poverty-rate 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% Poverty reduction effect 0% Absolute reduction in the at-riskof-poverty rate due to social transfers (excl pensions) (left hand side) At-risk-of-poverty rate after social transfers (left hand side) % reduction ( poverty reduction effect ) in at-risk-of-poverty rate (excl pensions) (right hand side) % 13.6% 15.2% 16.6% 20.2% 21.9% 24.4% 23.8% 21.8% 21.6% 19.3% 18.0% 17.1% 19.4% 18.3% 17.0% 16.5% 14.4% 14.1% 14.7% 16.0% 17.3% 16.5% 17.2% 16.9% 16.5% 40.7% 42.6% 47.2% 50.2% 58.4% 60.8% 62.4% 59.8% 55.8% 56.7% 52.9% 51.6% 50.9% 0% The main changes include: Consistent poverty a measure that combines relatively low income and deprivation having fallen from 9.1 per cent in 2013 to 8.7 per cent in 2015, continued to trend downwards to 8.3 per cent in Consistent poverty among children fell to 11.1 per cent in This equates to 132,000 children in 2015, down from 152,000 in There was also an improvement in the Irish contribution to the Europe 2020 poverty target. Combined poverty persons who are either at-risk-of-poverty or deprived fell from 33.7 per cent in 2015 to 29.2 per cent. Basic deprivation fell by 4.5 percentage points to 21 per cent in This is a continuation of the yearly decline in deprivation rates since the peak level of 30.5 per cent in The at-risk-of-poverty rate fell from 16.9 per cent to 16.5 per cent in 2016, not a statistically significant change on the 2015 rate. The at-risk-of-poverty threshold increased slightly from 230 to 237 per week for a single person in The Gini coefficient a measure of inequality reduced from 30.8 in 2015 to 30.6 in This is the lowest it has been since 2009 (29.3). 19

20 Chapter Performance The full impact of the recovery is not yet reflected in these 2016 figures. Macro-economic and labour market indicators have shown continued economic and employment growth since then. The improvement in the economy, together with new welfare measures, is likely to have supported a reduction in poverty since the period in 2016 to which the SILC publication refers. This improvement is expected to continue with further rises in incomes and living standards. Distributive Impact of Social Transfers Analysis, based on data from the CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions 2016, shows that social transfers play an important income distribution role for low and middle income groups. In 2016, social transfers represented a share of 22.5 per cent of total gross income while direct income accounted for the remainder. As a proportion of gross income, the impact of social transfers was highest for those in the bottom two income deciles (78 per cent to 69 per cent). The proportion then fell across the other deciles. Social transfers in 2016 continued to perform strongly in reducing the at-risk-of-poverty rate. Social transfers (excluding pensions) reduced the at-risk-of-poverty rate from 33.6 per cent to 16.5 per cent, a reduction of 17.1 percentage points. In relative terms, this represents a poverty reduction effect of 51 per cent. 3 Ireland is amongst the best performing EU member States in reducing poverty through social transfers. Key Employment Statistics (2017) In 2017, Ireland s strong economic recovery continued. After a prolonged and steep decline between 2008 and 2012, employment has seen a substantial increase for over five years. FIGURE 6: Distributive Effect of Social Transfers in % 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Decile 1 Decile 2 Decile 3 Decile 4 Decile 5 Decile 6 Decile 7 Decile 8 Decile 9 Decile 10 Source: CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) If pensions are included, the reduction is from 44.9 per cent to 16.5 per cent, or 63 per cent in relative terms. 20

21 Chapter Performance Ireland's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by an estimated +4.8 per cent in real terms, making it the fastest-growing economy in the Euro-zone for the fourth successive year. In employment terms; Employment increased by 2.2 per cent in the year to the third quarter of 2017, bringing total employment to 2,206,800 persons. Full-time employment was up 113,900 (+6.9 per cent), and part-time employment was down 65,800 (-13.1 per cent) over the year. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in December 2017 was 6.2 per cent, down from 7.4 per cent in January 2017 and a peak of 15 per cent in The total number of persons in the labour force was 2,370,400 in quarter , an increase of 10,700 (+0.1 per cent) over the year. The Irish labour market continued to perform strongly. Unemployment levels at the end of 2017 were nearing rates that pertained in the pre-crisis period. The unemployment rate is forecast to average 5.4 per cent in The tightening of the labour market and projections for inflation are also likely to result in moderate rises in wages over the period. As the labour market approaches full employment levels, wage growth has intensified, rising four times faster in the period between quarter and quarter compared to the same period in the previous year. Live Register Data December ,300 people (seasonally-adjusted) 236,268 nonseasonally adjusted on the live register. This represents an annual decrease of 40,234 (-14.6 per cent). Youth Unemployment Data December 2017 Irish youth unemployment has fallen from a peak of 31.2 per cent in 2012 to 13.7 per cent in December Irish youth unemployment has thus fallen from well above the EU average in 2012 (23 per cent) to well below the current figure of 16.2 per cent in the European Union (EU) 28 and 20.5 per cent in the euro region. Youth unemployment can be expected to fall further in 2018, in line with the continuing forecast fall in overall unemployment. Additionally, Ireland is on course to bring youth unemployment below 12 per cent and longterm unemployment below 2.5 per cent in accordance with Pathways to Work Other Developments in 2017 Expansion of Remit Following a Government decision, on Saturday, 2nd of September, 2017, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection took over some of the work which had previously been carried out by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. The new functions are largely concerned with employment policy and labour law at both national and EU/international level. On Saturday, 2nd September 2017 the Department came to be known as the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection or, An Roinn Gnóthaí Fostaíochta agus Coimirce Sóisialaí. The Low Pay Commission (LPC) was established by the National Minimum Wage (Low Pay Commission) Act Its principal remit is to recommend levels for the national minimum wage so that: (a) It is designed to assist as many low paid workers as is reasonably practicable; (b) It is set at a rate that is both fair and sustainable; (c) Where adjustment is appropriate, it is adjusted incrementally; and (d) Over time, it is progressively increased, without creating significant adverse consequences for employment or competitiveness. As well as making recommendations regarding the national minimum wage, the Commission was requested to examine the appropriateness of the sub-minima rates as currently provided for in the National Minimum Wage Acts with regard, in particular, to their impact on youth unemployment rates and participation in education. The Commission was also requested to examine the issues surrounding the preponderance of women on the national minimum wage, and to report its views in relation to the underlying causes

22 Chapter Performance The Commission submitted its Reports on both issues to the Minister at the end of October. In relation to the appropriateness of the sub-minima rates, the Commission did not consider it appropriate to make recommendations in the absence of up-to-date data from the Central Statistics Office which is pending validation. The Commission undertook to submit its recommendations in a supplementary report as soon as the data is validated. With regard to its report on women on the national minimum wage, preliminary findings of the research carried out by the ESRI on this matter indicated that the predominant issues which affect the risk of being on the minimum wage are the sector in which one works and whether one is part-time or fulltime. Women, if working part-time, are much more likely to be doing so for reasons related to caring responsibilities than men (one-in-five women as opposed to just one-in-twenty men). The Commission noted the measures being put in place around the affordability of childcare, which it might be expected should be of assistance to women in this area. Changes in NMW in 2017 (September to December) The annual recommendation from the LPC on the rate of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) was accepted by Government and the Minister made an Order in October introducing the new rate of 9.55 (an increase of 30c) with effect from 1st January Again on the basis of LPC recommendations, the Order also adjusted the payments for board and lodgings (which had not been adjusted since it was introduced in 2000), increasing the rates by 2.4 per cent, and moving to an hourly rather than a daily/weekly rate for board, which will benefit those working part-time. reviews in relation to social insurance benefits and pensions. The Review considers the adequacy or otherwise of the current contribution rates to finance social insurance benefits. The Review projects the contribution income to and expenditure from the SIF, calculates the break-even contribution rates as a percentage of current contribution rates and calculated the net contingent assets/liabilities of the Fund discounted to present values. The Review considered the effects of various policy options including options for: indexation of payments; reform of State pension by moving from the current Yearly Average method of calculating pension entitlements to a Total Contribution Approach as described in the 2010 National Pensions Framework; and the PRSI contribution rates required for provision of additional social insurance benefits to Class S self-employed contributors on a cost neutral basis. It is anticipated that the Review will play an important role in informing debate about the scope of the social insurance system and how it can be funded - including the appropriate level of social insurance contribution rates and benefit. Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund The Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund (SIF) as at 31st December 2015 was published in October The Actuarial Review relates to social insurance payments only. The key objective of the Review is to inform both short/medium term and long term policy development in relation to the social insurance system generally and builds on the findings of the previous 22

23 23

24 The Department s Strategic Objectives The Statement of Strategy was published during the year and is the Department s eleventh Statement of Strategy. The Department sets out its mission, high-level objectives and key actions that it will pursue in delivering the policies and priorities as set down by the Minister for Employment Affairs Social Protection and the Government. The Department s overall objective for 2017 to 2010 is to promote active participation and inclusion in society through the framework of employment rights and the provision of income supports, employment services and other services. It identifies three Strategic Objectives for the Department for the period in order to achieve its overall mission: OBJECTIVE Put the client at the centre of policy and service delivery OBJECTIVE Drive cost, efficiency and effectiveness OBJECTIVE Develop staff, structures and processes

25 OBJECTIVE Put the client at the centre of policy and service delivery Put the Client at the Centre of Policy and Service Delivery Objective 1 of the Department s Statement of Strategy 2017 to 2020 is a commitment to put the client at the centre of its services and policies. High-level strategies identified to deliver on this objective include: Delivering client focused commitments in the Programme for a Partnership Government and broader Government policy. Contributing to Government social protection and employment policy formulation through economic analysis and evaluation. This will be supported by the Department s participation in the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service s Medium Term Strategy 2016 to 2019, as appropriate. Ensuring speedy access to accurate decisions, payment and reviews for all schemes and services. Focusing on maximising employability by providing income support, targeted activation and training referral, development and employment services. Working with other Departments, offices, agencies, employers and stakeholders in providing client-centred services. Attaining better outcomes by tackling poverty for children and families, people of working age, people with disabilities and older people by providing appropriate income supports. Ensuring that the Department s services and information resources are accessible to people with disabilities. Identifying client service requirements and establishing client satisfaction levels through regular surveys and the provision of feedback mechanisms. 25

26 Children Maternity Benefit - Premature Births From 1st October 2017, the period for which maternity leave is paid was extended in cases where a baby is born prematurely. This new measure was introduced jointly by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan T.D. who has responsibility for maternity leave and the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty T.D. who has responsibility for maternity benefit. Under the new arrangements, in addition to the current 26 weeks of paid maternity leave, a mother will be entitled to an additional period of paid maternity leave. The additional period will commence at the end of the standard 26 week period of paid maternity leave. The additional period to be added will be the number of weeks from the baby s actual date of birth up to two weeks before the expected date of confinement which would have been the 37th week of the pregnancy, at which point the current entitlement to 26 weeks leave and benefit would normally begin. So, for example where a baby is born in the 30th week of gestation, the mother would have an additional entitlement of approximately 7 weeks of maternity leave and benefit i.e. from the date of birth in the 30th week to the two weeks before the expected date of confinement. 26

27 Maternity, Paternity and Adoptive Benefit - Holiday Period Generally, a person is disqualified from receiving a payment while outside the state unless there are exemptions provided for in the legislation or, in situations covered by EU regulations concerning payments. Maternity, Adoptive and Paternity Benefit are exportable benefits under EU social security regulations and as such Irish/EU citizens can be paid Maternity/Paternity and Adoptive Benefit within the EU member states. Before this measure, people who are non EU nationals residing in Ireland could only be paid Maternity/Adoptive and Paternity Benefit within Ireland. The measure allows new mothers to continue receiving Maternity Benefit and Adoptive Benefit for up to six weeks while they are out of the country, so long as their primary place of work is Ireland. The Regulation also allows the standard two weeks of Paternity Benefit to be paid in similar situations. Continued payment of these benefits is also being extended to Irish and EU citizens who travel outside of the EU for a maximum of six weeks. Paternity Benefit The Paternity Benefit Scheme was introduced for children born on or after 1st September 2016 and also applies to children placed with their adoptive parents on or after that date. During the first four months of the scheme, 4,932 applicants received the payment. In 2017 which was the first full year for the scheme in excess of 26,000 paternity claims were awarded. An awareness campaign was launched by the Minister in August 2017 to encourage new or expectant fathers to apply for Paternity Benefit. 27

28 Pictured Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar T.D. and Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton T.D. with students from St Joseph s Secondary School in Stanhope Street. School Meals Programme Funding towards school meals was provided in 1,540 schools and organisations, supporting over 230,000 children, with a budget provision of some 47.5 million during The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement. Funding for the School Meals programme has increased by 6.5 million to 54 million in In March, Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar T.D. and Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton T.D. jointly announced a 3.2 million expansion of the School Meals Programme, effective from the beginning of the September 2017 school term. The school meals programme, with its focus on the provision of breakfast clubs, creates positive outcomes for vulnerable children in terms of their energy levels, punctuality and school attendance. The Ministers made the announcement at St. Joseph s Secondary School in Stanhope Street, Dublin which received funding under the school meals programme for this academic year to provide breakfast and lunch to 216 pupils. 28

29 At year-end 2017, a total of 1,530 schools were participating in the school meals scheme benefiting some 241,000 children. This included 129 new non- DEIS schools. From September 2017 funding was provided to some 60 new DEIS schools and additional funding was also provided to existing DEIS schools to provide breakfast and lunch for the majority of children. Funding was also provided for the first time in many years to some 120 new non DEIS schools for the provision of breakfast clubs. These measures benefited up to 50,000 children. The Department has implemented an inspection programme of all schools and organisations in the scheme and approximately 960 organisations have been inspected since August This supports the schools in ensuring that the scheme is delivered in line with the Department s policy to provide maximum benefit to the children. A Service Level Agreement (SLA) was also put in place with all schools in 2017, which clearly sets out both the Department's and the school s obligations in implementing the scheme. In September 2017, Nutrition Standards for School Meals was published under the auspices of Healthy Ireland, the national Framework which aims to improve the health and wellbeing of the population of Ireland. These guidelines complement and support existing healthy eating policies and will be fully implemented in all schools in the Meals Scheme during From September 2017 funding was provided to some 60 new DEIS schools and additional funding was also provided to existing DEIS schools to provide breakfast and lunch for the majority of children. 29

30 People of Working Age Pathways to Work The latest Pathways to Work strategy for the period was published in January The strategy considers how activation approaches, developed during a time of recession, should be adapted for a time of recovery and used as a tool of social/active inclusion during a period of prosperity. Accordingly, it continues to focus on people who are registered as unemployed and especially those who are long-term unemployed and youth unemployed. However, it also seeks to encourage other non-active cohorts to participate in the labour market. The Pathways to Work strategy takes a two-pronged approach: Consolidation: Consolidating the recent reforms to the Public Employment and Welfare Services and optimising provision to maximise outcomes for its clients. Development: Gradually expanding access to activation services, as resources allow, to other non-employed people of working age. The strategy contains 86 actions across 11 Departments and agencies. There are 10 metrics against which progress is measured. By the end of Q4 2017, 77% of the actions in Pathways to Work have been completed. These include: Developing a pro-active engagement approach to support qualified adult dependants of job-seekers secure employment; promoting the availability of employment and activation services to walkin clients; expanding the use of Intreo centres as a gateway to engage with people with disabilities and increasing the number of Intreo staff trained in the provision of employment supports to people with disabilities. Under the Pathways to Work evaluations programme, the Department carried out reviews of Intreo Process Reforms, Local Employment Services and the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance. In 2017, the Department undertook customer satisfaction surveys with jobseekers, Jobpath and JobsPlus customers, These surveys show continued high levels of satisfaction with these services

31 JobsWeek 2017 In September, the Department s Intreo service hosted JobsWeek 2017, with more than 100 events taking place across the country, aimed at both employers and jobseekers. Over 16,000 unemployed jobseekers attended events which offered one-to-one CV clinics, interview preparation workshops, seminars, career coaching and recruitment fairs targeted at specific sectors. This dedicated week of intense activity provided jobseekers and employers the opportunity to network, recruit, and also provided the Department with an opportunity to promote Intreo services and supports to both jobseekers and employers. A number of events around the country were dedicated to increasing workplace diversity and offered information and supports to employ people with disabilities. Pictured Aidan Mullally, Assistant Principal at the Department addressing the Dublin Castle Jobsweek event as part of JobsWeek 2017 with a selection of images from JobsWeek

32 Working Age Income Supports Department of Education and Skills report There was a commitment in the Programme for Government to prepare a report on the barriers to lone parents accessing higher education. Following a procurement process, Dr. Delma Byrne of NUI Maynooth was engaged by the Department of Education and Skills (DES) to conduct the review in July The title of this research was An independent review to identify the supports and barriers for lone parents in accessing higher education and to examine measures to increase participation. The review was overseen by a Steering Committee that was chaired by the Department of Education and Skills, and which also included the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA). A draft version of the report (published in September 2016) helped to inform Budget 2017 discussions and resulted in the Cost of Education Allowance (worth 500) being reintroduced for Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) recipients with children. The report was completed in April As a result of this report, a new Bursary Fund was announced by Minister Richard Bruton in September 2017 to provide 5,000 per annum for 600 college students from low income backgrounds (including lone parents). The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection will not assess the income from the new bursaries as means for the purposes of social welfare schemes. Back to Work Family Dividend (BTWFD) Scheme This scheme assists in moving welfare recipients from dependency on primary social welfare payments into work. It also reduces the risk of child poverty, in line with the Programme for Government commitments. Amounts paid in respect of children for BTWFD will increase in March 2018 (additional 2 per week at full rate). 32

33 Working Age Employment Supports Employment Supports A new Youth Employment Support Scheme was also developed during This scheme is targeted at young jobseekers who are long-term unemployed or who face barriers to employment. The new work experience programme aims to provide these young people with the opportunity to learn basic work and social skills in a supportive environment while on a work placement. The number of places on the Rural Social Scheme was also increased in This will enable an additional 250 underemployed farmers and fishermen/women to be supported to carry out community-based work, delivering on the Programme for a Partnership Government commitment. Employer Engagement Activity During 2017, the Department enhanced the provision of services to employers including supporting recruitment campaigns, and the development of upskilling programmes for jobseekers aligned to job growth areas. The Department also worked with companies to leverage their Corporate Social Responsibility to enhance the job search skills and employability of jobseekers. Recruitment campaigns ranged from assisting start-up companies, to identifying suitable candidates, to supporting well-established firms to fill vacancies. Dedicated Account Managers provided an intensive service to large employers and co-ordinated national recruitment campaigns, while divisional Employer Engagement staff supported smaller employers locally. Over 100 new companies signed the Employment and Youth Activation Charter in 2017, bringing the total to over companies participated in Feeding Ireland s Future (FIF) 2017 to help young jobseekers enhance their job searching skills and advise them on careers in the fast moving consumer goods sector. Feedback from participants is very positive. 98 per cent of participants have said they felt more confident applying for a job after taking part in FIF and that the opportunity provided very useful advice on skills such as improving their CV. 33

34 One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) During the debate on the Social Welfare Budget Act 2016, the Minister agreed to commission an independent report on the amendments to the One-Parent Family Payment, made since January The review s aim was to deliver quantitative, qualitative and cost-benefit analyses of the OFP amendments taking into account the following outcome areas (which are required as per the legislative commitment in Section 178F of the Social Welfare Act 2016): 1. Social Effects; Indecon International Economic Consultants was subsequently awarded a contract to conduct the necessary research and analysis. The analysis was based on survey responses one of the largest surveys of one-parent families in Ireland (33,000), and on independent Indecon research using Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Revenue and EU SILC data. This report was completed by Indecon and laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 9th October Financial and Poverty; and 3. Welfare Dependency & Employment. 34

35 Pathways to Work, Action Plan for Jobless Households The Action Plan for Jobless Households published on 25th September 2017 fulfils a commitment in the Programme for Government and in the overall Pathways to Work strategy. It also responds to concerns about the level of household joblessness raised at European level. The Plan therefore sets out to extend activation services to people who are not working but are not defined as unemployed by traditional measures. It focuses in particular on improving employment rates of households with children both the traditional nuclear family and the lone parent family. A number of key policy initiatives to achieve that goal are currently underway: Extending active engagement with the Intreo employment service to additional groups of economically inactive working age adults who could, with appropriate supports, take up employment. In this regard, the process of increasing Intreo engagement with lone parents and with people with disabilities has been continuing since the publication of the Plan. Progressing plans to pilot a new family focused case management approach in five geographical areas (Limerick, Waterford, Cork, Dundalk and Tallaght) to improve employment rates and reduce joblessness in households across Ireland. These pilots are being prepared and will commence in the first half of Improving the earnings of people with families when they transition from welfare to employment. A number of measures taken in Budget 2018 are designed to deliver on this commitment. These include increases to income limits for Working Family Payment and extending the Back to Work Family Dividend scheme. Progress against each of the reform actions and milestones will be monitored and reported on quarterly to the Cabinet Committee on the Economy and Jobs and published annually. Implementation of these policy measures should see the level of joblessness fall more rapidly than is already anticipated over the next few years. These targets are in addition to the existing Pathways to Work targets 2020 bringing unemployment down to between 5 per cent and 6 per cent, bringing long-term unemployment below 2.5 per cent, and bringing youth unemployment below 12 per cent. JobBridge The JobBridge Scheme 7 was brought to an orderly close in 2017 when the last placements in the scheme finished on 19th August. In total, more than 49,000 jobseekers participated on the programme since its inception in 2011, with more than 19,000 employers providing these work placement opportunities. First Steps The First Steps programme for very disadvantaged young people continued during 2017, with more than 200 jobseekers availing of placement opportunities in a variety of different sectors. The First Steps programme was closed to new applications on Thursday 30th November, to allow for the introduction of a new Youth Employment Support Scheme (YESS) in Quarter 2, 2018 which was announced as part of budget This decision allows for the current programme to be brought to an orderly close at the end of March

36 Young Jobseekers - Youth Employment Support Scheme (YESS) Following the closure of the JobBridge Scheme in 2017, the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection announced that she will introduce a new work experience programme targeted specifically at young jobseekers who are long-term unemployed or who face significant barriers to gaining employment people who even during the Celtic Tiger years would have found it difficult to get a foothold on the career ladder. The new Youth Employment Support Scheme (YESS) will provide them with the opportunity to learn basic work and social skills in a supportive environment while on a work placement. Placement Hosts will be encouraged to hire participants who have performed well and will qualify for a financial subsidy under JobsPlus Youth. YESS will complement other initiatives such as the expanded range of Apprenticeships and Career Traineeships and is expected to be introduced in Mid Placement Hosts will be encouraged to hire participants who have performed well and will qualify for a financial subsidy under JobsPlus Youth. 36

37 Jobseeker s Allowance - Pilot Scheme to Assist Self-Employed Artists and Writers In June 2017 a pilot scheme to make it easier for artists and writers to access social welfare supports was announced by the Ministers for Social Protection and Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. The initiative, which is a key commitment under the Creative Ireland Programme, assists self-employed artists on jobseekers allowance. It applies initially to visual artists and writers and will be reviewed in JobsPlus A Focused Policy Assessment of the scheme was carried out during 2017 and published in August. Some of the key findings of the FPA were: JobsPlus has proven effective at getting people who were long-term unemployed off the Live Register: 87 per cent of employees who participated on JobsPlus remain off the Live Register between 30 and 36 months after their commencement date on the scheme. For employees who complete 24 months on the scheme, this percentage rises to 94.8 per cent. The tiered nature of the JobsPlus incentive has been effective in targeting the longer term unemployed. Approximately 70 per cent of grants are paid at the higher 10,000 level in respect of employees who have been unemployed for more than two years. Following on from the results of the Focused Policy Assessment, changes to JobsPlus employee eligibility criteria were announced as part of Budget 2018: Employers who recruit a worker over the age of 50 will be eligible for JobsPlus at the higher ( 10,000) rate if the employee has been on the Live Register for at least one year (This is down from two years). Employers who recruit a worker under the age of 50 will be eligible for JobsPlus at the higher ( 10,000) rate if the employee has been on the Live Register for at least three years (This is up from two years) These changes were effective from the 1st of January Workers over the age of 50 are under-represented on JobsPlus. Fewer than 10 per cent of JobsPlus employees are in this age bracket. By contrast, around 40 per cent of those who are long-term unemployed are over 50. By the end of 2017 over 9,000 employers had been paid by JobsPlus since the scheme began in 2013 and over 15,000 people who were longterm unemployed had commenced work with the support of JobsPlus. 6,180 employers received JobsPlus in respect of 8,960 employees in

38 EURES EURES is a Pan-EU employment service designed to support employers and workers recruit and find jobs throughout the EU. As part of the mainstreaming of EURES in the Department and the integration with Intreo Services, EURES ran a nationwide campaign including distribution of information packs for case officers and employer liaison officers to all Divisions to assist them in providing information on EURES services to all relevant clients. During Jobs Week 2017 a number of EURES events took place around the country including Dublin, Cork, Mallow and Navan. The jobs fair in Navan attracted over 1,300 jobseekers and accommodated 41 exhibitors. EURES Advisers from France, Sweden, Norway, Belgium and the Netherlands attended 2 meetings with employers from the Hospitality sector and Business Support/Customer Service sector organised by EURES Cork, to discuss possible co-operation in an area of recruitment for skills shortages emerging in both sectors. Meetings took place with EURES Germany, EURES Sweden and EURES France to discuss projects and further cooperation outlined in the Service Level Agreements signed with these countries. EURES Ireland delivered a number of recruitment projects for Irish-based companies sourcing suitably skilled candidates from Europe particularly in the areas of ICT, language and nursing skills. As part of the new redesigned service, candidate profiles are automatically matched to job specifications posted by employers, with both candidate and employer notified via and/or SMS when a suitable match is found. Candidates can also use the site to apply for the jobs advertised. The system will integrate with the Department s Intreo service, and will include other new features such as allowing jobseekers to post CVs and video profiles if they wish. The service was implemented on a phased basis after going live in July The service was improved during 2017 through the provision of added functionality. Further development was undertaken during 2017 to ensure that the JobsIreland website was fully GDPR compliant by the deadline in May Promotion of the service to Job Seekers is continually taking place through the various client engagement supports provided by Intreo and the Department s contracted employment services to raise awareness and to maximise job seeking opportunities for clients. Simultaneously at national and divisional level, employers have also been encouraged to register on the site and advertise their job vacancies. The service is a no cost service for both employers and job seekers and forms an integral part of the developing cohesive employment services being provided by the Department as part of the Pathways to Work strategy. In addition, assistance was provided to European employers seeking to identify Irish candidates for available positions in Europe including placements under the Co-sponsored Placement Programme. Approximately 250 interview and relocation grants were awarded under Your First EURES Job and Reactivate mobility schemes to support jobseekers relocating for work to another EU/EEA country. Jobs Ireland National Contact Centre In 2016, the Department commissioned the redevelopment of the Jobsireland.ie service, a free online jobs site for employers and employees, to enable both employers and jobseekers to search for each other using competencies and skillsets, as well as the traditional job-type classifications. JobPath The JobPath service continued to deliver activation services for the long term unemployed people through the Department s contracted partners Seetec and Turas Nua. The JobPath service provides one-to one, intensive and regular engagement with a personal adviser to assist long term unemployed persons in identifying and overcoming barriers to returning to the work force. The service also provides in-work support to persons who have gained employment to assist them in sustaining that employment. The service continued to expand in 2017 with over 88,000 persons referred to one of the 91 locations across the State where the service is delivered. Independent research indicates a high level of customer satisfaction with the services. 38

39 Community Services Programme (CSP) in 2017 Responsibility for Community Services Programme moves to the Department of Rural and Community Development from the 1st of January An extra 1 million funding for CSP was secured as part of the measures included in Budget This additional funding was allocated to a targeted call for proposals from social enterprises that recruit at least 70% of workers from specific disadvantaged groups, which include: Long-term unemployed; People in receipt of Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension or Blind Person s Pension; Travellers in receipt of Jobseeker s payments or One-Parent Family payment (OFP); Stabilised and recovering drug misusers; People with convictions who are in contact with probationary services; People who are homeless; Migrants receiving Jobseeker s payments or one-parent family payment (OFP). The evaluation and business planning process has now been completed for this targeted call and the successful social enterprises will be announced by DRCD in early The budget for CSP in 2017 was 46.1 million. At the end of 2017 CSP funding was supporting the employment of 290 managers and over 1,600 full-time equivalent positions (FTEs) in 385 social enterprises. Back to Work Enterprise Allowance BTWEA in 2017 In 2017, a review of the BTWEA scheme was published by Minister Varadkar. Overall, the review found that the scheme offers effective support for people who are long-term unemployed and who are interested in self-employment as a route to entering the labour market. The scheme plays a useful role in supporting the development of new enterprises. Research demonstrated that the numbers returning from self-employment to the Live Register, after participating on the scheme, are low. Based on the comparison of the BTWEA participants to a control group of similar jobseekers who did not choose the scheme as an option, the BTWEA participant was over twice as likely to remain off the Live Register six months after the payments on the scheme had ceased. This trend continues when examined following an 18 month period after the payments ceasing. Participants who take up self-employment are now able to access the BTWEA after 9 months, down from 12 months. This enables access to the supports of the BTWEA to those wishing to commence self-employment at an earlier stage of their unemployment. Back to Education Allowance BTEA The cost of education grant ( 500 per annum) was introduced to assist students with child dependants with the costs of returning to education. This grant was payable from September

40 Illness, Disability, Carers Comprehensive Employment Strategy The Department continued to contribute towards progress under the Comprehensive Employment Strategy (CES) launched by the Government in October Key actions for the Department include developing employment supports and making work pay for people with disabilities and developments in 2017 and included the following: In 2017, the Midlands Division commenced a consultative engagement with local and national disability stakeholders with a view to informing the engagement with people with disabilities so that they were aware of the employment services offered to persons with a disability through the Department s Intreo service. People with disabilities may on a voluntary basis seek an appointment with a case officer to discuss their employment ambitions and develop an appropriate personal plan. Four named case officers have been designated as contacts for people with disabilities in Longford, Mullingar, Athlone and Portlaoise and people with disabilities can make an appointment through the local Intreo service or by contacting the named officers directly by phone or . Employment services are already available for persons with a disability across the network of 62 Intreo centres nationwide and it is intended that the learning from this initiative will improve the degree of access. The CES provided for the setting up of an interdepartmental group, Make Work Pay, under an independent chair, Professor Frances Ruane. The group s purpose was to identify any significant disincentives for people with disabilities in taking up or returning to work, and to make recommendations on making work pay for people with disabilities. In April 2017, the group published its report 8. This report found a policy of strong evidence to support early engagement with persons with disabilities in order to help them meet their employment ambitions. Based on this report the Department has implemented a number of changes to how it supports people with disabilities access employment. For example: people with a longterm disability payment who get a job will retain their Free Travel Pass for a period of five years; a fast track reinstatement of Disability Allowance, or Invalidity Pension has been introduced for people where employment does not work out; and development is underway on a new ready reckoner, to calculate the net benefits and financial implications of working. In addition, following a commitment at the launch of the report, the Department is currently engaged in a wider consultation process with disability sectoral groups, people with disabilities and parents of people with disabilities on the issue of early engagement

41 Pictured at the launch of the Make Work Pay Report are Ms Joan O Donnell, Disability Federation of Ireland, Minster for Social Protection Leo Varadkar T.D, and Prof. Francis Ruane, chairperson of the Interdepartmental Group. Make Work Pay for People with Disabilities report launched & changes introduced In April, Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar T.D., Minister for Health Simon Harris T.D, and Minister for Disabilities Finian McGrath T.D. together published the Make Work Pay report. The report is designed to help people with disabilities to achieve their ambitions and find work, and to remove the many barriers which prevent them from doing so. The report was produced by an Interdepartmental Group independently chaired by Professor Frances Ruane. The report concludes that work makes financial sense for the majority of people with disabilities who wish to engage in work and have the capacity to do so. However people with disabilities face significant financial and other obstacles in finding suitable employment. In order to maximise the accessibility of the report for people with disabilities, the Department produced a total of twelve formats of the Make Work Pay report including an Executive Summary, a Plain English summary, an Easy to Read version aimed at people with intellectual disabilities, a number of Irish Sign Language videos -subtitled versions in English and Irish, and a number of audio versions and braille versions. A number of significant changes described in the previous pages were introduced following the report launch. 41

42 Engagement with and Education of General Practitioners (GPs) In August 2017 the Medical Review and Assessment Service (MRAS) completed an engagement and innovation project, the main aim of which was to increase GP awareness of the various Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection schemes. Working in partnership with a number of the Department's scheme areas relating to illness, disability and supports for families and carers, the MRAS team and Communications Unit compiled a new GP reference book which explained Department schemes and supports relating to illness, disability and caring. A poster was also produced for GP offices. The GP booklet and poster were distributed to over 4,000 general practitioners across the country in To promote the reference guide, and further engagement with the GP community, the Department s MRAS also delivered a two hour presentation at the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) Summer Medical Conference which was held in Athlone in June. 42

43 Pictured are Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty T.D. with Jerry Murphy, Deputy CEO of Pobal and Minister of State with special responsibility for Disabilities, Finian McGrath, T.D.. Launch of Programme for Young Persons with a Disability ( Ability ) In September 2017, the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty, T.D., together with the Minister of State with special responsibility for Disabilities, Finian McGrath, T.D., announced the launch of a new pre-activation programme for young people with disabilities called Ability. Attending the launch was Jerry Murphy, Deputy CEO of Pobal, who will be managing the programme on behalf of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. 10 million in funding has been allocated to the Ability programme over a three year period and it is co-funded by the Irish Exchequer and the European Social Fund Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning operational programme, The programme will promote employment prospects and meaningful social roles for young people with disabilities. The programme is being delivered by national, regional and local organisations that have experience in working with young people with a disability. The central focus of the programme will be on projects aimed at supporting young people with disabilities (aged 15 29) in their transition from school to further education and employment, via a range of person-centred supports. 43

44 Supports for Carers During 2017, the Department continued to provide and to build on supports for carers. Developments during the year included: Budget 2017 provided that from January 2017, carer s allowance will continue to be paid for 12 weeks where the care recipient is permanently admitted to a hospital/nursing home. Provision of support through the Dormant Accounts Action Plan 2016, which sponsors a measure, supporting training and transitional supports for family carers at the end of their full-time caring role. Three projects applied and were awarded funding under the measure; Family Carers Ireland, the Irish Foster Care Association and the Galway Hospice Foundation. The projects commenced in December 2017 and will continue through The measure administered and managed by Pobal on behalf of the Department, will assist carers to deal with the loss of their caring role, living with loss and supporting them to proactively define and plan their new life at home, at work and socially. Projects are aligned to and address actions within the National Carers Strategy and in the current Programme for Government. The Intreo service is available to provide assistance for working age carers who wish to return to work and this will be reflected in communications to individual carers. The Department hosted the Annual Carers Forum which took place in April 2017 as in previous years. The forum provides an opportunity for carer representative groups to discuss issues with relevant departments and State Agencies. One of the positive outcomes arising from the dialogue is that a review of the carer s allowance application process has been completed following consultation with the Policy, Operational and Medical Assessment areas of the Department and with a focus group arranged by Family Carers Ireland. A redesigned application process and form for carers payments was undertaken in 2017 and associated processing changes will be implemented in

45 Minister for Social Protection, Leo Varadkar T.D., Pictured with staff from Docklands Dental Social Insurance Benefits extended to the Self Employed In Budget 2017, Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar T.D. announced that the Treatment Benefit scheme was to be extended to some 450,000 self-employed people and their dependent spouses, for the first time. This includes small business owners, farmers, tradespeople, freelancers, contractors and professionals. This change meant that people who work for themselves and pay PRSI at class S can now get the same regular dental and optical examinations, free of charge, that previously were only available to employees. The extension of Invalidity Pension to the selfemployed from December 2017 was also announced. This gave the self-employed access to the safetynet of state income supports, on a similar basis to employees, if they become permanently incapable of work as a result of an illness or disability, without having to go through a means test. Extension of Treatment Benefit services Treatment benefit entitlements were further extended from October 2017 so as to provide further dental and optical benefits to both employees and the self-employed. The Optical scheme now covers the provision of glasses, either free or subsidised if an upgraded design is chosen, or provide a contribution towards contact lenses. Repairs to glasses and contributions towards the cost of hearing aids are also covered under the scheme. The Dental scheme now includes a contribution to cleanings, either an annual scale and polish or more extensive periodontal treatment if clinically required. 45

46 Extension of Invalidity Pension to the self-employed In December, Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection Regina Doherty T.D. announced that self-employed workers who cannot work due to long term illness or disability were eligible to claim Invalidity Pension. Invalidity Pension is a pension payment for people who cannot work because of a long-term illness or disability. This change means that this payment is available to small business owners, farmers, tradespeople, freelancers, contractors and professionals who work for themselves. For the first time, the self-employed will have access to the safety-net of State income supports if they have a serious illness or injury that prevents them from working without having to go through a means test. The Department promoted this change through a targeted public information campaign. Here s some good news for the self-employed that we hope you ll never need. Invalidity Pension is now available for the self-employed. From December 1st, self-employed people will be able to apply for Invalidity Pension if they become permanently incapable of work. For more information visit A Government of Ireland measure brought to you by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection 46

47 Fuel Allowance Lump -Sum Option Announced Fuel Allowance is a means assessed payment to assist householders receiving long-term social welfare payments who are unable to provide for their own heating needs. It is paid weekly between October and April. In July, Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection Regina Doherty, T.D. announced that Department customers who receive Fuel Allowance would now have the option to receive their payment in two lump sum payments - with one at the beginning of the fuel season in October and the second in January. The Minister made the announcement at the Department s Pre-Budget Forum in Dublin Castle, following a study by the Department showing the potential for significant customer savings when purchasing fuel in bulk. The announcement was broadly welcomed by stakeholder organisations. The Department undertook a communications campaign to promote public awareness of the new lump sum option. In 2017, 53,732 customers chose to avail of the new lump sum option, with 316,899 customers continuing to be paid weekly. A total of 370,631 customers received fuel allowance in Warmth. Now available in bulk. Fuel AllowAnce If you re on Fuel Allowance this winter, it s not too late to get this year s second Fuel Allowance lump sum payment. Apply by December 1st. Visit or pick up a form at your local Social Protection Office or Post Office. If you ve already applied or if you want to stay on weekly payments you don t have to do anything. A Government of Ireland measure brought to you by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection 47

48 Rent supplement In 2017, the rent supplement scheme supported approximately 40,600 tenancies per month at a cost of over 230 million. In recognition of the difficulties in the rental market, the Department continues to implement a targeted, case-by-case approach that allows for flexibility and supports tenants to remain in their homes. A protocol arrangement with Threshold operates in the areas where housing supply issues are particularly acute covering Dublin, Cork, Meath, Kildare, Wicklow and Galway City. This service provides advice and advocacy support to tenants who are renting and at risk of losing their homes. During 2017, approximately 1,700 families and individuals, or 32 per week, were supported through increased rent supplement payments. Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme, responsibility for the provision of rental assistance to tenants with a long-term housing need is transferring from the rent supplement scheme to Local Authorities. HAP has been available on a nationwide basis since 1st March A priority for the HAP scheme in 2018 is to facilitate some 7,000 transfers from long term rent supplement to HAP as part of an overall target of 17,000 HAP tenancies for 2018 in line with targets set out in Rebuilding Ireland An Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. Rebuilding Ireland also sets a target date for the completion of all applicable rent supplement transfers to HAP by From January 2017, the Department introduced a change to the minimum contribution for young people under age 26 in receipt of rent supplement and reduced rates of weekly social welfare. This measure provides a young person with additional disposable income of between 10 and 20 per week. The Department also provides supports to tenants towards rent deposits and rent in arrears under the Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) scheme. In 2017, some 3,000 payments were made at a cost of almost 2.1 million. Back to School Clothing & Footwear Allowance The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) helps eligible families with the extra costs of clothing and footwear when children start school each autumn. The rates of the payment for the 2017 scheme were increased from 100 to 125 for children aged 4 to 11 and from 200 to 250 for children aged 12 years and over. Pictured Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection Regina Doherty T.D. and students from Culmullen National School, Meath at the launch of the 2017 Back To School Clothing and Footwear Scheme Information campaign 48

49 In 2017, as in previous years, the majority of BSCFA payments were fully automated with no application form required from customers. This process, undertaken in the Department s office in Letterkenny, identified almost 114,000 families that, on the basis of the information available, qualified under the scheme and these payments were made in July Some 55,400 applications were also processed in 2017 by the Department s office in Sligo. A total of almost 151,000 families with some 275,000 children benefitted from the scheme at a cost of 49 million in In May, Minister for Social Protection, Minister Leo Varadkar T.D. increased the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance from 100 to 125 for children aged 4-11, and from 200 to 250 for children aged 12 years and over. The Department undertook a national advertising campaign to increase public awareness of the scheme and awareness of the increase in its value. The International Protection Act Applicants for International Protection are people who have applied for refugee status or subsidiary protection and whose cases have not been decided by the International Protection Office. These applicants were previously prohibited from accessing the labour market in Ireland by a specific provision of the International Protection Act Following on from a Supreme Court Decision in 2017, that provision was struck down from 9 February As a result, International Protection Applicants have the right to access the labour market (subject to certain restrictions) from that date. The Government has decided to opt-in to the EU (recast) Reception Conditions Directive which will provide the framework for the rules around labour market access and other issues. The opt-in process will take a number of months and interim arrangements are in place to cover the period from 9th February until the opt-in process is complete (later in 2018). The Department has been fully engaged with this process throughout, and participated in the Inter- Departmental Taskforce established following the Supreme Court judgement in It will continue to participate in 2018 in the process to opt-in to the Directive through the Implementation Group and the Subgroups established to specifically look at labour market access (which includes access to the Department s Public Employment Services) and material reception conditions (which covers the services and payments to protection seekers). Humanitarian Assistance Scheme The Department of Housing, Planning 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, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection has an important role to play in assisting householders in the immediate aftermath of emergency weather events through its Humanitarian Assistance Scheme. This means tested scheme is administered by the Department s local Community Welfare Service and is made available to assist people whose homes are damaged by severe weather and who are not in a position to meet costs for essential needs, household items and in some instances structural repair. In 2017, the Department activated the scheme to provide support to householders affected following the flooding in County Donegal in August and in County Laois in November. The scheme played an important role in helping to alleviate the impact of the severe weather on households at a very distressing time. Department staff provided reassurance to the householders affected and were proactive in assessing and meeting the demand for assistance, including providing emergency clinics and visiting the homes of people affected as necessary. There was ongoing engagement with the local authorities and other emergency personnel during this time to ensure a co-ordinated response. In 2017, payments were made under the Scheme to some 220 households with expenditure of over 610,

50 Annual Report 2017 Department of Employment Affairs and and Social Protection Fund for European Aid to the most Deprived- FEAD In 2017, through a network of charitable partner organisations, the Department distributed almost 1,000 tonnes of food to over 80,000 people in communities throughout the country. Approximately 3m was spent on 23 food products consisting of foods that are non-perishable, and which are easy to transport and store. These foods were centrally procured and made available for charities to assist people in their communities. Notably, the food products available allow recipients to prepare a complete meal for one person or family and/or to prepare food despite only having basic cooking utensils. Additionally, in 2017, the Department ran a pilot project in the greater Limerick/South Clare area. Under this pilot scheme, 4,000 school starter kits were packaged and distributed to various age groups of children. The Department also works with The Irish Red Cross under FEAD to distribute welcome kits consisting of hygiene goods and clothing, to new migrants. 50

51 Exceptional and Urgent Needs Payments Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, onceoff expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. An urgent needs payment (UNP) is a once-off payment made to people who may not normally qualify for SWA but who have an urgent need which they cannot meet from their own resources or an alternative is not available at that time. In 2017, over 103,000 payments were issued under the scheme at a provisional cost of 38 million. 51

52 Social Inclusion Forum 2017 The Department convened the 13th Social Inclusion Forum (SIF) of stakeholders to address issues relating to poverty and social inclusion in May The Forum gives people who are directly affected by poverty and social exclusion and those who work with them a voice in the development and implementation of the policies that directly affect them. The event also provides a forum for wider public consultation and discussion on social inclusion issues between officials from Government Departments, Community and Voluntary Organisations and people experiencing poverty in relation to the updated National Action Plan for Social Inclusion The theme of the 2017 Forum was National Action Plan for Social Inclusion : reflecting on the past and informing the future. Current issues related to this theme were discussed over four separate workshops. The agenda also featured Pictured is Leo Varadkar T.D. (Minister of Social Protection) at the Social Inclusion Forum 2017 presentations on the proposed development of the next National Action Plan for Social Inclusion and on how the EU perspective could influence its development. The event highlighted and identified many common themes, including a number of overarching recommendations for the attention of policy makers. 52

53 Research on Poverty and Social Exclusion In 2017, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and ESRI published a technical paper entitled Poverty Transitions in Ireland: An Analysis of the longitudinal Central Statistics Office (CSO) Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC), Using Irish SILC longitudinal data from , the paper examined poverty transitions among social risk groups and entry and exit rates into deprivation and poverty, as well as the incidence of consistent poverty and deprivation. The Department also provides funding for the annual programme undertaken in conjunction with the Irish Research Council. In December 2017, the most recent research funded under this programme was published by Professor Jane Gray and Dr Cliona Rooney, entitled Supporting Low Income Families: Enabling Resilience. 11 The study investigated the experiences and resilience practices of low-income families receiving Family Income Supplement (now renamed Working Family Payment). The technical paper, which focuses on the measurement of poverty is an output of the Department s research programme with the ESRI on the Measurement and Analysis of Household Income and Living Conditions. The Department also provides funding for the Department of Social Protection Research Innovation Awards (DSPRIA), an annual programme undertaken in conjunction with the Irish Research Council

54 Pictured are members of BeLonG To with Moninne Griffin and Minister Regina Doherty T.D. Review of the Gender Recognition Act 2015 In November 2017, Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection Regina Doherty T.D. announced Moninne Griffith as Chair of the Review Group of the Gender Recognition Act Ms. Griffith is Executive Director of BeLonG To, a national organisation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) young people, aged between 14 and 23. The Minister also announced three other members of the group: Sara Phillips, Seamus Byrne and Dr Tanya Ní Mhuirthile. The review of the 2015 Act will cover issues such as gender recognition for children younger than 16 years of age; arrangements for 16 and 17 year olds; and the position of non-binary and intersex people. The review of the 2015 Act will cover issues such as gender recognition for children younger than 16 years of age; arrangements for 16 and 17 year olds; and the position of non-binary and intersex persons. 54

55 EU/International Unit Revisions to EU Regulations on the Coordination of Social Security Systems As part of its Labour Mobility Package and in order to continue the process of modernisation of the EU law on social security coordination, the European Commission launched a set of proposals for the revision of the EU Regulations on the Coordination of social security systems (Regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009) in December These proposals focus on a number of areas of co-ordination where the Commission considers that improvements are required, i.e.: access to social benefits for economically inactive EU citizens; coordination of Long-Term Care Benefits; Unemployment Benefits for cross-border workers; Family Benefits which replace income during child-raising periods, and; applicable legislation in the case of posted workers. The proposals also provide for a number of technical amendments to the procedures of the recovery for social security benefits and contributions, crossborder data sharing and the calculation of benefits and costs to be reimbursed between Member States. Discussions at Council level commenced in January 2017 and will continue during 2018, with the intention of seeking agreement between the European Parliament and the Council by the end of Ireland broadly welcomes these proposals to modernise the EU rules on the coordination of social security systems, which will be in the interests of mobile EU citizens and businesses, and also of Member States and their institutions. EU UK Relations Following the decision of the UK to withdraw from the EU, Phase 1 of the Article 50 negotiations on the UK withdrawal was completed at European Council on 15th December 2017 with an agreed Progress report on the three Phase 1 issues: citizens rights, Ireland issues and financial settlement. Phase 2 of these negotiations will continue in The key social protection area that will be impacted is the coordination of social security payments between the UK and Ireland. This issue is integrally linked with the principle of free movement of people, goods and services. The future operation of the coordination arrangements for social security payments between the UK and Ireland is a priority issue as part of negotiations between the UK and the remaining EU Member States, and bilaterally between the UK and Ireland. The Department is continuing an assessment of the implications of Brexit on a scheme-by-scheme and client basis. Ireland and the UK: social welfare pensions, rights and entitlements Stakeholder Engagement Event In February, the Department hosted an important stakeholder engagement event on the subject of Brexit, with the theme of Ireland and UK: social welfare pensions, rights and entitlements. This citizen-centred and client-focussed forum was attended by trade unions, civil society representatives, business representatives, academia, TDs and Senators. The event covered a range of issues relating to social welfare including family benefits, unemployment, sickness and maternity benefits and old age and survivor benefits. The opening address was given by then Minister for Social Protection, Leo Varadkar T.D., who assured stakeholders of the Department s longterm objective to ensure the continued reciprocity of civic rights, specifically social welfare rights and entitlements. The Department ensured that the stakeholder contributions were shared for consideration as part of the Second Plenary All Island Civic Dialogue on Brexit, undertaken by the Government later in February. 55

56 Communications & Customer Service The Communications and Customer Service Unit (CCSU) is responsible for promoting the work and services of the Department through consistent internal and external communications, thereby improving services for both staff and customers alike. The CCSU is responsible for: Developing and implementing communications, customer service and internal communications strategy for the Department. Media communications, design and branding, public information campaigns and advertising including through social media. managing the Department s Comments and Complaints system, and coordinating the Customer Charter and Action Plan and the Department s Annual Report. Management of the Department s website Through the Press Office, communicating the messages of the Minister and the Department to the media and responding in a timely manner to media queries. The Department adheres to a principle of a structured approach with external stakeholders in relation to the development, delivery and review of services and policies. Supporting customer service delivery throughout the Department including: the provision of a general information support function to customers, delivering general information sessions to members of the public, representing the Department at various events, 56

57 Communications / Public Information 2017 at a Glance In 2017 the CCSU oversaw: CAMPAIGNS EVENTS PRESS ACCESSIBILITY WEB DESIGN SOCIAL MEDIA 57

58 Communication & Customer Service Events 2017 Every year the Communication and Customer Services Unit in the Department arranges an official stand presence at events that we believe provide key opportunities for face-to-face engagement with customers and the general public. The aim of such events is to provide information to customers and to increase awareness of the wide range of services and supports provided by the Department. In 2017, the Department provided an official information stand presence at: The Ploughing Championships in Tullamore; The Pregnancy and Baby Fair in the RDS and; Over 50 s Show also held in the RDS. Events like these are effective, as knowledgeable staff were present to provide customers with information, either general or a one to one if requested. Over the years there has been positive feedback as customers need to know where and how to obtain information on the various schemes that are provided by the Department. Translation and Interpretive Services The Customer Charter and Action Plan sets out the Department s commitments to providing a professional, efficient and courteous service to all its customers. Specific commitments are included relating to the provision of interpretive and translation services and the provision of information in alternative formats such as Braille or Audio. In 2017, the Department arranged for the translation of over 650 documents into and from Irish. In addition, there were over 3,700 translations into some 50 other languages. Almost 1,800 clients were provided with assistance from language interpretation services; 38 clients availed of the services of a Sign Language Interpreter and 33 received information in alternative formats. During 2017, the Department continued the rollout of the Irish Remote Interpreting Service (IRIS) across the network of Intreo offices and by the end of the year the service was available in almost 50 locations in total. IRIS offers a video link to a live Irish Sign Language Interpreter. Official Languages Act The Department continued to provide a service through Irish in 2017 in line with the requirements of the Official Languages Act, The Department s Customer Charter and Action Plan states that the Department will provide quality services through Irish and/or bilingually, and inform customers of their right to choose to be dealt with through one or other of the official languages. The Department s Language Scheme 2015 to 2018 sets out the Department s commitments to customer service in Irish and advises of the availability of services through Irish. 58

59 Freedom of Information (FOI) Over the last few years the Department has seen a significant increase in the number of FOI requests received; 2,641 requests were received in 2017 (compared to 2,089 received in 2016). Of these, 2,280 (86%) requests received in 2017 were from members of the public requesting copies of their personal details, the remaining 361 FOI requests were of a non-personal / mixed nature. European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) increases the obligations and responsibilities for the Department in how we collect, use and protect personal data. At the centre of the new law is the requirement to be fully transparent about how we are using and safeguarding personal data, and to be able to demonstrate accountability for all of our data processing activities. The Migrant Consultative Forum (MCF) The Migrant Consultative Forum (MCF) was set up in 2012 to address issues raised in the Person or Number? report, which had been prepared in February 2012 by 3 NGOs who represent migrant groups. The Forum consists of representatives of FLAC, Crosscare, New Communities, One Family, Dublin City Centre CIC and a number of areas of the Department. During 2017 the work of the Migrant Consultative Forum continued. The forum focused on advancing the 4 key areas identified in the work plan, namely: Training issues; Customer Action Plan & Customer Comments/Complaints; Arrears Payments; and Supplementary Welfare Allowance and Exceptional Needs Payments administration. Examples of some of the more significant items discussed during 2017 were: Family Income Supplement, Absence from the State, Housing Assistance Payments, access to Exceptional Needs Payments in Direct Provision, and the Habitual Residence Condition. Disability Consultative Forum (DCF) The Disability Consultative Forum (DCF) consists of representatives of disability organisations. It usually meets quarterly to discuss a range of issues related to the Department s services and its commitments under various national strategies such as the National Disability Inclusion Strategy and the Comprehensive Employment Strategy. Customer Service Forum (CSF) The Customer Service Forum has firmly established itself as a quarterly opportunity for the Department to reach out to some of its main customers. The Forum aims to share information about the Department s schemes and services and to learn and receive feedback from our customers and their representative groups. During 2017 the Customer Service Forums focused on changes which were occurring in the Department, featuring talks on changes to Illness Benefit, the MyGov.ie website and Brexit. 59

60 Annual Department Report of 2017 Employment Department Affairs of and Employment Social Protection Affairs and Annual Social Report Protection 2017 A range of representative groups were invited to attend including: Family Carers Ireland National Youth Council of Ireland St Vincent de Paul Retirement Planning Council of Ireland This forum was attended by groups including NALA (National Adult Literacy Agency) and the NCBI (National Council for the Blind of Ireland). The Forum is organised by the Communications and Customer Service Unit. The final talk in 2017 was given by ireach Insights. They were conducting research on behalf of Clickworks for the re-design of the Departments Website. During 2017 the Customer Service Forums focused on changes which were occurring in the Department... 60

61 Feedback From Customers I have huge respect for you and everyone who works in the Department as I know that it must be a challenging job. Thank you for all of your heroic work! Georgia, Dublin Mid-Leinster ( ) Their caring attitude and efficient processing of the documentation took a great deal of stress away and I am very grateful. Jennifer, Illness Benefit ( ) I have been in the office twice in the past week, looking like a drowned rat, and trailing two screaming children. I could not have encountered nicer staff. From the guy at reception, who handed me tissues to dry my glasses, down to the lady who offered help with the baby. I was so pleasantly surprised, especially considering I was dreading going in! I just wanted to say thank you! Ellen, Dublin South/Mid-Leinster (Newbridge) ( ) I was bowled over by your kindness to me. You went above and beyond to make sure I had the payment in time. I m not used to being spoiled like that. Thank you sincerely. Frank, Mid-West ( ) Life has been too hard of late so the help of the department in general has been welcome. I don t think I could survive without it. Making a holiday application from Jobseeker s Benefit. I had to do this on 2 occasions. I find the staff at the centre always very helpful and courteous. The speed at which I have been seen is very quick and the ticketing system works very well. Anonymous, Dublin South/Mid-Leinster ( ) From being on the dole and starting off in my kitchen, then being placed on the Start Your Own Business Scheme in the middle of a recession I can show people there is hope once you have ambition. I always had an interest in hair and fashion. I was cutting hair casually from about the age of 17. At the time it was more of a past time than a career opportunity but it was something I really was passionate about. It was very hard. After a fashion company I worked for closed down, I decided to do something for myself where I didn t have to rely on others to make ends meet. I did my initial training in Knights School of Barbering and travelled to Dublin every day to gain my introduction into the barbering world, and I started cutting hair from my kitchen. I spent months gathering information and doing market research into what I wanted the business to be. During my research, I also found out there was such thing as a Start Your Own Business Scheme. This is where I met two people who were influential in guiding me along, they were Bernie Judge and Seamus Quigley from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. Barry, Dundalk Patricia, Cork Central ( ) 61

62 Feedback From Staff I arrived into this department over forty years ago, as a young clerical officer. There was a rather strict Staff Officer there. I was sitting at my desk and I was authorising claims. He came over to me. Stood over me and said, Eh...what have you got there? So I counted the claims and I can still remember the number. 22. And I said to him I ve 22 claims Mr. Daly. And he said, no, not really. I d prefer if you looked at it like this. You ve a queue of 22 people, queuing at your desk, for service. And the faster you get through those claims, the happier they will be. Remember that, you ll be more efficient and you ll give better customer service. I ve never forgotten that. Tom, Dublin They reckon that it was 100 years since anything like that was seen before (the Donegal floods). And the people were left standing in the street with just the clothes they were standing in. The main thing was to let people see that there was help there for them and get them something sorted right away. They got immediate aid in the form of a cash cheque at least to give them comfort of starting off again. Eileen, Donegal I do find the work very satisfying and very fulfilling. And [I m] never bored with it. It is good job satisfaction when you realise the customer, you know, that did have a loss, that you ve helped them out. And that you ve organised and made sure that they ve got their payment and they get it in a prompt fashion. Geraldine, Longford 62

63 Annual Department Report of 2017 Employment Department Affairs of and Employment Social Protection Affairs and Annual Social Report Protection 2017 OBJECTIVE Drive cost, efficiency and effectiveness Drive Cost, Efficiency and Effectiveness Public Sector Duty A Public Sector Duty group was set up in 2017 as part of the Department s Strategy It will help to eliminate discrimination while promoting equality and human rights. It will help to ensure that the Department s services and information are accessible to all service users and that the Department is compliant with its Public Sector Duty in all its activities. Identity Management and Secure Access to Services The Department s Client Identity Services (CIS) is responsible for providing a range of identity management functions to the Department and to other public bodies. It issues and manages the Personal Public Service (PPS) Number and the Public Services Card (PSC) and provides related identity data services to other public bodies specified in legislation. The Department liaises closely with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and other public service agencies in the development and implementation of identity management policy through a senior-level interdepartmental group. Personal Public Service (PPS) Number The Department provides identity management services to public service agencies, facilitating the use of the PPS Number in the delivery of public services, developing online services and enhancing systems for control of fraud and abuse. A total of 188,956 PPS Numbers were allocated in SAFE/Public Services Card Project SAFE2 registration has been established to verify a person s identity to a substantial level of assurance and thereby enable individuals gain access to public services more efficiently and with a minimum of duplication of effort, while at the same time preserving their privacy to the maximum extent possible. 63

64 SAFE2 registration results in a Public Services Card (PSC) being issued to a person. During 2017, over 680,000 PSCs were issued bringing to over 3.03 million the number of PSC s issued by end This includes over 990,000 PSCs providing entitlement to Free Travel. Arising from SAFE2 identity verification processes, a total of 171 cases of suspected identity fraud have been detected and referred for investigation; these cases are at various different stages of the investigation and prosecution process. During 2017, the Department published a Comprehensive Guide to SAFE Registration and the Public Services Card which is available at Comprehensive_Guide_to_SAFE_Registration_and_ the_psc.pdf. This Guide provides detailed information on SAFE registration/identity verification, the PSC, identity data and how it is secured, managed, governed and shared, and MyGovID. In addition, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform published the Governmentapproved e-government Strategy (see which sets out plans for extended use of SAFE2 identity verification in the provision of public services. WelfarePartners A number of important changes were introduced to the treatment benefit scheme during 2017, arising from Government decisions taken at Budget time. First, the existing scheme was extended to cover self-employed contributors from 27th March Second, an extended range of benefits was made available under the scheme from 28th October The benefits are available to employed and selfemployed contributors and their dependant spouses/ partners. Some 2.5 million qualified contributors are entitled to benefit from the scheme. The Department has developed a new system to support the delivery of the treatment benefit scheme. This includes a portal (WelfarePartners) for use by contractors (dentists, opticians and audiologists) to check patient eligibility and to submit claims and receive payments. Over the course of 2017 the Department worked on this development; releasing functionality on a staged basis for use by contractors. Initially they were able to check eligibility, with functionality extended to cover the full claim and payment process available from mid-november. By year end, some 227,000 claims had been submitted and paid amounting to almost 15 million in monetary terms. Over 60% of dentists, opticians and audiologists have signed up to use the new online facility and by year end over 70% of claim activity is being transacted online. 64

65 Compliance and Anti-Fraud Strategy The Compliance and Anti-Fraud Strategy set out the Department s overall strategic approach to tackling fraud and abuse of the social welfare system. Under the Strategy, the Department has outlined a range of measures to detect and prevent fraud from entering the welfare system, allied to more effective debt management and recovery and the putting in place of deterrence measures. As part of these measures, the Department is continuing to utilise a range of approaches to enhance and improve how it undertakes its work to deliver on these objectives. The Department s First Digital Services Strategy was agreed In line with customer expectation and changing and evolving demands the Department needs to provide services that are easy to access, quickly and securely, across different channels. In 2014/2015, the Department started work on the objective of delivering secure, personalised, services online. The new government-wide platform MyGovID was built, which is a single, secure, online identity and access portal that provides access to a range of government services. To enable the Department s customers to access personalised and online welfare services, the Department also built a secure, online customer facing portal called MyWelfare. In 2017, the Department finalised its first Digital Services Strategy which sets out the rationale for the introduction of this new online channel, the principles underpinning its introduction and the expected benefits this channel will bring to our customers and the Department. The principles as set out in this strategy underpin the work that the Department does to modernise our services by taking advantage of technological developments while also keeping our customers needs at the heart of the online services that we deliver. We recognise that online is just one additional channel through which we can engage with our customers. TABLE 5: MyWelfare.ie 2017 Data Online Appointment Create Irish Language PPSN/PSC Appointment 01/01/17-31/12/ Cancel a PPSN/PSC Appointment 21,813 Amend a PPSN/PSC Appointment 14,890 Create Sign Language PPSN/PSC Appointment 1,530 Create a PPSN/PSC Appointment 180,562 Scheme Maintenance Create Close Claim Request 2,465 Create Holiday Request 1,195 MAT PAT Payment Method Change Scheme Application 72 Child Benefit Application 1,158 Jobseeker Application 1,248 Maternity Benefit Application 1,058 Paternity Benefit Application 5,078 My Details Change of Address 1,636 Change Language Request 91 Statement Contribution History Statement - Level 0 Contribution History Statement - Level 2 8,759 8,252 Payment Statement Request 5,072 Activation My Work And Skills 126 Apply For PRSI Refund

66 MyWelfare.ie Summary Digital Services Channel Strategy Why introduce online? Principles Benefits to Customers MyWelfare.ie 1 Improve customer service Current and growing demand for secure, fast and efficient online services for our customers Serve increasing 2 number of customers Demographics and other changes creating increased and longterm demands in Department s services 3 Improve efficiencies Online delivery provides an opportunity to improve our processes, and to improve and better manage workflows in line with available resources Channel and 1 Service choice Digital is one channel among suite of channels Digital by 2 Desire Design Services around the customer for digital receipt and processing Self Service options 3 Self service options introduced across office network to support digital Minimum or zero 4 touch processes Design processes to maximise efficiencies from digital Process adaption 5 Design process around customer and technology High quality 6 customer support Support the customer on the online journey using latest technologies Safe and Secure 7 Deliver a service that is safe and secure for customers and Department Better and faster service - 24/7 More choice - additional channel Safe and secure Easier for Customers Benefits to Department Improved Customer Service Operational efficiencies Potential to improve internal processes Helps deal with increasing customer numbers 66

67 MyGOVID MyGovID is a secure online account for accessing public services digitally. MyGovID accounts have been developed so that they can also be used by other Government departments and State agencies to authenticate customers online. MyGovID is currently used to provide authenticated access to this Department s MyWelfare.ie service, to the Revenue Commissioners myaccount online service and to the JobsIreland website. Work is underway with other Government Departments and State agencies to help them to use this facility to provide their services online. Over the course of 2017, there has been increased take-up of this service by customers with over 407,000 accounts established and over 83,000 of these verified to allow access to high-value and personalised online public services. Financial Management Project governance and procurement policy The Project Governance Committee (PGC), a committee of the Management Board, approves and monitors the Departments project portfolio. Project proposals are evaluated and prioritised, and budgets and resources assigned in line with the Department s Statement of Strategy and business plans. Particular focus is given to aligning priorities with the Programme for Government and the public service reform agenda. The PGC exercises an oversight role to ensure best practice is applied in the management of programmes and projects and in all procurement matters. The Department aims to achieve value for money in the procurement of goods and services and is committed to participating fully in the public procurement reform initiatives of the Office of Government Procurement. Information about the Department s procurement policy is available at Procurement-Policy.aspx. In accordance with Section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 which requires FOI bodies to publish as much information as possible in an open and accessible manner, the Department publishes details of all public contracts awarded for ICT contracts over 10K, and 25K for all other contracts, on its website at Contracts-Awarded.aspx. Project management leaders/advisory services Action 17 of The Civil Service Renewal Plan committed to improving project management capacity in the public service. A Project Management Leaders/Advisory Service (PMLAS) was established comprising of representatives from a number of Departments and Offices and was chaired by John Mc Keon, then Assistant Secretary, Department of Social Protection. The PMLAS group developed and published a Project Manager s Handbook/ Guidance Document for use within the Civil Service; established a Project Managers Network (PMN) and also established a web portal as a source of information and reference documentation 67

68 The PMLAS group organised four major Project Managers Network events in the Printworks in Dublin Castle during 2017 with the themes of: Governance; Benefits Realisation; Change Management; Building Project Management Capability: Insights and Trends. Speakers included leaders from the public and private sector and the events were attended by some 411 people engaged in project management from across the civil and public service. Personal Micro Credit Scheme- It Makes Sense In 2017, the Department continued to advance the Personal Micro Credit (PMC) Scheme which provides for small scale loans by Credit Unions to borrowers who would otherwise have difficulty accessing low cost credit. The aim of the scheme is to move people from the use of high cost moneylenders to legitimate low cost, locally available, alternative credit. At the end of 2017, over 6,000 customers were making PMC loan repayments by way of deductions through the Household Budgeting facility, while others are making repayments through direct debit or standing order arrangements. The list of participating Credit Unions is updated regularly on the website for the It Makes Sense loan scheme at The Programme for a Partnership Government provides for the rollout and extension of the Personal Micro Credit Scheme. Incremental progress is being made towards extending the geographical coverage of the Personal Micro Credit Scheme through efforts to recruit Credit Unions to participate in the scheme. At December 2017, 112 Credit Unions have signed up to participate in the scheme, resulting in the availability of the It Makes Sense loan in over 240 local Credit Union offices across the country. In 2017, the Department continued to advance the Personal Micro Credit (PMC) Scheme which provides for small scale loans by Credit Unions to borrowers who would otherwise have difficulty accessing low cost credit. 68

69 Annual Department Report of 2017 Employment Department Affairs of and Employment Social Protection Affairs and Annual Social Report Protection 2017 OBJECTIVE Develop staff, structures and processes Develop Staff, Structures and Processes Learning and Development The Department s Staff Development Unit (SDU) has responsibility for the planning and provision of learning and development programmes to staff and management in the organisation. The unit develops, delivers, and oversees high quality training and education provision in the Department in order to ensure that staff are fully equipped to perform their functions effectively. These learning and development needs are addressed through a mixture of internally and externally delivered training and education. In 2017, Staff Development Unit was awarded the Excellence Through People (ETP) Award by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) under the National Human Resource Management Scheme. One DEASP Curriculum and Accreditation As part of the overall One DEASP, the Department embarked on a key initiative to review and redesign learning and development programmes for staff in frontline roles. The One DEASP curriculum comprises 70 classroom and e-learning modules reflecting the roles and functions across frontline services provided by the Department. Since its launch in 2015, there have been over 11,000 attendees at One DEASP classroom modules and almost 10,000 e-learning completions. In 2016, the Department entered into partnership with the National College of Ireland (NCI) to develop and deliver accredited programmes for the Department s staff, building upon the One DEASP curriculum. A key strategic objective, delivering accredited programmes, which are on the National Framework of Qualifications, aims to equip staff with the knowledge and skills to further enhance the delivery of a professional service to the Department s customers. Work is progressing on obtaining approval from Quality Qualifications Ireland (QQI) for the proposed accredited programmes. Once secured this will enable the delivery of accredited programmes across six frontline roles in the Department. 69

70 Pictured above are the NCI Department Graduates and the Senior Management Board A Certificate in Social Protection Studies, initially for new entrants but ultimately for all staff, will also be available, which will provide staff with a comprehensive introduction to the Department, including the role it plays in Irish society in terms of assisting our customers. Approximately 100 case officers have registered for a Level 8 Special Purpose Award in Employability Services. The first group of students graduated in the NCI in 2017, along with trainers in the Department who received qualifications from the Institute of Training and Development. Above is a photograph of the Department s first ever graduation ceremony from November Other learning and development initiatives SDU is working with the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform to implement Action 9 under the Civil Service Renewal Plan shared learning and development. It continues to engage in the process of development of One Learning through the Steering Group and coordination of engagement by SDU and wider Departmental staff participating in and evaluating various pilot courses. SDU is currently working to develop a process for the drawdown of training from the One Learning curriculum pending the introduction of a portal to manage training across the whole of the Civil Service. Engagement & Innovation In 2017, The Engagement & Innovation (E&I) programme continued to develop and grow across the Department. The Engagement and Innovation programme is a key process which engages staff and enables them to contribute to organisation development and customer service projects. The programme aims to engage and empower staff and to facilitate organisation-wide innovation. It encourages and supports staff to become involved and to contribute to the changes that affect their everyday work. E&I leadership teams (Strategic Leadership Team, 2 Regional Leadership Teams and 3 Headquarter Leadership Teams) met quarterly during Work continued throughout the year on a wide range of projects. The Strategic Leadership Team decided on topics for two special projects to be undertaken at national level (a project on the Role of the HEO in the Intreo Centre and a project on Data Protection). From the commencement of the programme in 2013 to the end of 2017: 123 E&I projects have been established. 102 E&I projects have been completed to date with over 800 members of staff involved. Highlighting issues as diverse as Wellness at Work, Improving Integration Locally and Training Needs Analysis for staff. 70

71 Culture and Values The process of embedding the core values continued during 2017, making all staff aware of the core values and their central position in all of the Department s activities. The One Department Values Recognition Awards event was held on 30th November and attended by nominees from all over the country. Representing a wide variety of functions, projects, individual achievements and locations, all of whom were nominated for making exceptional contributions in line with the Department s values of Public Service, Customer Focus, Total Professionalism, Engaged Staff and Innovation. Over 70 nominations were received and there were a total of 30 award winners across the Department s five core values. In November the Department commenced a series of Staff Engagement roadshows. The purpose of these roadshows was to outline to staff the future strategic direction of the Department and how staff in the Department would be supported through new learning and development initiatives. Protected Disclosures Act 2014 The Department is committed to fostering an appropriate environment for addressing concerns relating to potential wrongdoing in the workplace and to providing the necessary support for staff that raise genuine concerns. The Act requires public bodies to establish and maintain procedures for dealing with protected disclosures and to provide written information relating to these procedures to workers. The Department has such procedures in place. Ten submissions were made to the Department under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 resulting in the following: 4: No action necessary following initial assessment 1: Passed to another Dept. following assessment 1: Investigated 2: Awaiting further information 2: In progress at end of year. 71

72 Annual Social Welfare Summer School The Annual Social Welfare Summer School is a joint initiative of the Department for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland. It was held in Dublin City University in August students from both departments attended. The theme of the 2017 Summer School was Making Welfare Work; from Exclusion to Inclusion. The School provides a unique learning and significant development opportunity for staff at EO, HEO and AO level, particularly those who wouldn t normally have an involvement in policy development in the course of their day-to-day work. The Summer School provides an opportunity for staff to analyse and debate topical social policy issues facing both jurisdictions within a university environment and to gain valuable knowledge and understanding of the policy development process. It also facilitates an exchange of views and insights between staff of this Department and their Northern Ireland counterparts. Refund of Fees Scheme The Refund of Fees scheme assisted and supported staff who wished to pursue third-level part-time education in their own time by offering full and partial support of fees. Students were supported in a broad range of learning related to Departmental business needs with courses ranging across the various levels from Level 5 to Level 10. In the academic year 2016/17, 104 people were approved for funding under the Refund of Fees (RoF) Scheme, as detailed in the chart and table to the right. Leadership Programme The Department s Leadership 2020 course approved for accreditation by the Institute of Leadership & Management / City & Guilds was rolled out to staff. CHART 2: Course study categories Total 104 Level 5 Certificate Level 6 Advanced/Higher Certificate Level 7 Ordinary Bachelor Degree Level 8 Honours Bachelor Degree/Higher Diploma Level 9 Masters Degree/Post-Grad Diploma Level 10 Doctoral Degree/Higher Doctorate TABLE 6: Subject Categories Public Policy/ Admin/ Mgmt/ Analysis Human Resource Management Business Studies/ Admin/ Mgmt Information Technology Adult Guidance Social Policy/ Sociology Financial Management Law Accountancy Leaving Certificate Systems Analysis/ Statistics Education and Training (adult) Economics Gaeilge Other 72

73 Assistant Principal Forum 2017 The annual Assistant Principal (AP) Forum was held in Dublin Castle in January In excess of 220 staff attended. The AP Forum is an important event for the Department which brings APs together from throughout the Department for two days to discuss the priorities of the Department for the coming year and key strategic issues. APs are key staff in the Department as they are essential in developing policy and driving the implementation of the Department s strategies on the ground throughout the country. Over the course of the gathering APs had the opportunity to hear contributions from speakers from inside and outside the Department, including an external perspective from NUI Maynooth and the office of the Ombudsman. Presentations were delivered on Brexit, The Digital Agenda, Divisional and Scheme area developments, HR, Project Management, staff supports and Health and Safety. The event also provides an important networking event for APs throughout the organisation. 73

74 One DEASP Values Recognition Awards 2017 The One DEASP Values Recognition Awards event was held in November and attended by nominees from all over the country. There were sixteen individual and sixteen team award winners. All of whom were nominated for making exceptional contributions in line with the Department s values of Public Service, Customer Focus, Total Professionalism, Engaged Staff and Innovation. Pictured John McKeon, Secretary-General at Department Values Recognition awards 2017 The One Department Values Recognition Awards event was held in November and attended by nominees from all over the country. 74

75 Annual Report 2017 Department of Employment Affairs and Department Social Protection of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Annual Report 2017 Pictured are Tony Kieran, Principal Officer, Department (6th from left) receiving a Civil Service Excellence and Innovation Award, Secretary General of Department of Finance Robert Watt, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe T.D. and fellow award recipients. Department awarded a Civil Service Excellence and Innovation Award In November, the Department was honoured to receive an award in the category of Excellence in Customer Service at the Civil Service Excellence and Innovation Awards. The award recognised the Department's work in creating and expanding its online service channel to include Social Insurance statements. Prior to the introduction of the MyWelfare.ie online service option, production of social insurance statements was a complex and timeconsuming manual clerical task. The online service provides a much quicker and more convenient service for many of the Department s customers. Social insurance statements provide a detailed social insurance history and are very important documents, particularly for people approaching retirement age or making decisions relating to pensions or retirement planning. The number of requests for statements has grown significantly over recent years, with over 80,000 requests in 2016 and a projected demand for 100,000 statements for This is expected to continue to increase further in line with an ageing population in Ireland. Secure online availability of a social insurance statement via MyWelfare.ie transformed and modernised the process by which customers could request and receive their statements. Real-time statements access are available to customers with verified online accounts. Other customers can request a copy of their statement to be sent to their postal address. The project went live in January 2017, and over 17,000 statements were requested that year. 75

76 Pictured are Mr. Hans Horst Konkolewsky, General Secretary of the International Social Security Association, Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection Regina Doherty T.D., and Ms. Irene Mandl, Head of the research unit Employment at Eurofound Department's 70th Anniversary Conference The year 2017 was the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Department. In November, to mark this, the Department hosted a half-day Open Policy Conference on Thursday, 9th November on The Digital Economy, New Forms of Work and Challenges for Social Security Systems; Financing and Coverage. The Conference, which was hosted with Maynooth University, examined the disruptive potential of emerging forms of employment and the digital economy and the potential effects on social security coverage and financing. Key note speakers included Mr. Hans Horst Konkolewsky, General Secretary of the International Social Security Association, Ms. Irene Mandl, Head of the research unit Employment at Eurofound and Mr. Sean Ó Riain, Professor of Sociology at Maynooth University. Papers from the conference were collated in a special edition of the Journal 'Administration' published by the Institute for Public Administration. 76