Written Answers Nos. 97-111
97. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the fact that standard disregards for maintenance that apply in the means testing of other payments do not apply in the means testing of the guardians payment non-contributory. [7914/24]
View answerThe Guardians Payments scheme, first introduced in 1936, was originally called orphan’s payment. It was renamed guardian’s payment in July 2006, in recognition of the fact that the original remit of the scheme had been extended to include certain children who had not lost both parents through bereavement.
The payment is made to a person caring for a child who satisfies the definition of an “orphan” under social welfare legislation. A child is considered an orphan if they are under 18 (or 22 if in full time education) and both parents are deceased; or one parent is either dead or unknown or has abandoned and failed to provide for the child and the other parent is unknown or has abandoned and failed to provide for the child.
There are two Guardians Payment schemes: Guardian’s payment (contributory), based on the PRSI contributions of the orphan's parents or step-parent. The Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory) is a non-contributory payment for a child who is not entitled to the contributory payment, which is a means tested payment, based on the child’s means. The means of the guardian, including any maintenance payments paid to them in respect of the child, are not assessed when establishing entitlement to the Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory). The purpose of the means test is to ensure that resources are directed to those with the greatest need for income supports by the State.
The Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023 is currently before the Oireachtas and is expected to be enacted in the coming weeks. One of the main purposes of the Bill is to give legislative effect to changes to the social welfare system, which provide that child maintenance payments will no longer be assessed as means for social welfare purposes. This covers a range of schemes including Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory Pension). The amendment follows from a recommendation of the Child Maintenance Review Group which was accepted by Government.
Currently guardians payment (contributory) is paid in respect of 1,575 children with guardians payment (non-contributory) paid in respect of 814 children.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
98. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection what measures will be taken to respond adequately to the report carried out by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, and presented to the United Nations, which found that the State was failing to address the root causes of poverty through its ''short-term, emergency and temporary measures". [7890/24]
View answerLast week I led the Irish delegation at the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (UN CESCR) review which this report related to. At this review I was able to highlight some areas where we have made significant progress since 2014. This included how the Government is working to make Ireland one of the most socially inclusive countries in the EU.
The Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020–2025 is the national strategy for poverty reduction and social inclusion. The headline target is to reduce the percentage of the population in consistent poverty to 2% or less by 2025. The Roadmap also includes other indicators to support on delivery of this ambition. The continued implementation of Roadmap commitments is key to ensuring a reduction in poverty for all segments in society.
In terms of temporary measures, in recognition of the significant cost of living pressures experienced by many households, Budget 2024 provided a combination of a wide range of lump sum payments and a €12 across the board increase in weekly rates. This approach eases the pressure that many households face over the winter months, and provides for the weekly rate increase which came into effect in January. In this regard, Budget 2024 was the largest Social Protection package in the history of the State. A similar approach was taken in Budget 2023. It should be noted that over the last three Budgets there has been a cumulative €29 increase to core weekly social welfare payments (€5 in 2022, €12 in 2023 and €12 in 2024).
Each year, the ESRI produces an independent post-Budget analysis of the main tax and welfare changes in the Budget. Analysis shows that measures announced under Budget 2024, will insulate most households from rising prices over 2024. The package of tax cuts, welfare increases, once-off payments and indirect taxes introduced under the Budget is progressive with higher gains for low-income compared to high income households. Even without one-off policies, households will be slightly better off in 2024 compared to 2023 policies.
The combination of permanent and temporary measures ensures that there are improvements / increases in disposable income for all household types, with lone parents and pensioners living alone recording the greatest proportional increases. The package of temporary measures ensures that people with disabilities see greater improvements / increases, compared to the overall population, in disposable income. Accordingly, the evidence suggests that the approach taken by Government is effective at addressing cost of living pressures, which are a significant driver of poverty.
99. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she might review cases where a contributory State pension was refused on the grounds of insufficient contributions, with particular reference to allowing partial payment in line with the level of contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7788/24]
View answerThere are a number of payments and pensions paid by my Department to people over State Pension age. One of these is the State Pension (Contributory) (SPC), qualification for which is based on a number of criteria, including a minimum of 520 qualifying social insurance contributions having been paid. For those who have paid the required contributions, these will be used in the calculation of their entitlements.
As the actuarial value of the State Pension is currently estimated at approximately €380,000, I believe it is reasonable to require people claiming a contributory pension to have made at least 10 years of paid contributions over the term of their working life, before qualifying for a payment.
Where a person reaches State Pension age and does not satisfy the conditions to qualify for SPC or qualifies for less than the maximum rate, they may instead qualify for one of the following:
• The means-tested State Pension (Non-Contributory) (SPNC) which is a means-tested payment (based on their share of household means) with a maximum payment of 95% of the SPC; or
• An increase for a qualified adult (based on their own means), amounting up to 90% of a full rate SPC pension where their spouse has a contributory pension; or
• Where their spouse/civil partner is deceased, a widow's/widower's/civil partner's contributory pension, which they may claim either based on their spouse's or their own social insurance record. The qualifying conditions for this require fewer contributions paid (260) than the SPC and the current maximum personal rate for those aged 66 or over is €277.30, i.e., the same as the maximum rate of the SPC, with allowances (notably the Living Alone Allowance) payable where applicable.
Where contributors enter insurable employment, either as employees or self-employed, after they have attained the age of 56 and have no entitlement to the SPC or SPNC at State Pension age, then the pension element of the contributions paid by both employed and self-employed contributors may be refunded.
Last year, legislation was enacted to introduce a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system in response to the recommendations from the Pensions Commission. This set of measures represents the biggest ever structural reform of the Irish State Pension system.
One of the key measures is the introduction of a flexible pension system in Ireland. Under this new system, from January 2024, people will still be able to retire at 66 and draw-down their pension as they always have. In addition, there will be new flexibility for those reaching State Pension age, so that people may choose to defer their pension, work longer, and receive a higher pension payment, if they wish.
The flexible State Pension system is about providing people with choice. People will decide for themselves what best suits their needs and circumstances. For example, in the case of a person who reaches age 66 and does not have sufficient contributions to qualify for a full pension, they will now have the option to work for longer to build up additional entitlements.
If a person has less than 10 years PRSI reckonable paid contributions, they may be able to use this period of deferral to establish entitlement. A person will also have the option to continue working between age 66 and 70 and receive an actuarially based increase in their weekly payment rate, should they choose to defer their State Pension.
The legislation to give effect to these measures was enacted in December and the scheme came into operation on 1st January 2024.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
100. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the Government’s ‘Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025’; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4001/24]
View answerThe Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025 is a whole of Government strategy with the ambitious aim to reduce consistent poverty to 2 per cent or less and to make Ireland one of the most socially inclusive member states in the EU. The Roadmap was published in January 2020 and contains seven high level goals, delivered by 81 unique commitments (originally 69 commitments).
Implementation of Roadmap commitments is well underway with many commitments either fully achieved or close to completion and work ongoing in relation to the remainder. At the end of 2023, 45 Roadmap commitments were either fully achieved or achieved with ongoing delivery, with delivery on the remaining 36 commitments in progress.
The first and second Progress Reports on the implementation of Roadmap commitments are available on gov.ie, covering the progress made over the period January 2020 to June 2022. These are accompanied by Report Cards detailing progress on each Roadmap commitment. The third Progress Report and Report Card, covering the period of July 2022 to June 2023, will be published later this month.
The Roadmap committed to undertaking an independent mid-term review in 2022. This focused on:
• a review of progress in the implementation of commitments;
• an assessment of the existing Roadmap ambition, goals and commitments; and
• a review of the existing Roadmap indicators.
This resulted in updates to the targets and commitments, set in 2020, due to the changing environment and priorities since publication. These include the addition of 12 new commitments and the revision of 17 existing commitments. The Mid-term Review Report of the Roadmap was published at the Social Inclusion Forum in June 2023.
The Social Inclusion Roadmap Steering Group, which I chair, oversees progress on implementation of Roadmap commitments. It comprises senior representatives of responsible Departments and three external members from the Community and Voluntary Sector. The Government is fully committed to the implementation of the Roadmap. I will continue to drive delivery of the remaining commitments to ensure that no-one is left behind in the ongoing implementation of this vital national strategy.
101. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection to report on the latest meeting of the Smart Energy Steering Group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7856/24]
View answerI believe the Deputy is referring to Energy Poverty Steering Group. This group is under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
102. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide details on the steps her Department is taking in addressing the 'cliff-edges' in welfare systems; as she is aware these 'cliff-edges' in the welfare systems are where benefit entitlements and other supports are withdrawn sharply; these 'cliff-edges' disincentivise individuals from increasing their work hours or accepting pay rises as they might end up financially worse off due to the sudden loss of benefits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7456/24]
View answerSocial assistance payments are means tested. The means assessment reflects the fact that there is an expectation that people with reasonable amounts of income or capital are in a position to use these resources to support themselves so that social welfare expenditure can be directed towards those who need it.
However, in recognition of the benefits that work can bring – both financially and socially – most schemes have an earnings disregard. This means that a recipient of a social assistance payment can have a certain amount of earnings and still retain a proportion of their social welfare payment. The amount of earnings disregarded, and how this income is assessed, depends on the scheme. As a person’s earnings increase above a certain point, their social welfare payment will decrease, meaning that in the vast majority of social welfare means tested schemes cliff-edges are avoided.
There have been a number of significant changes made in this area in recent years, including:
• Increasing Working Family Payment income thresholds for all families by a combined €94 per week across Budgets 2023 and 2024. This ensures that families will not lose this in-work payment as the National Minimum Wage increases, and allows more families to qualify for this tax-free payment;
• Providing for higher earnings disregards for Disability Allowance, Blind Pension and One-Parent Family;
• Removal of the weekly earnings limit of €425 for One-Parent Family Payment, ensuring that recipients of the scheme do not face a cliff-edge when their earnings reach €425 per week;
• Expanding the list of agri-environmental schemes that qualify for a disregard, which was increased in recent Budgets;
• In 2022, I significantly increased the income and capital disregards for Carer's Allowance. This enables more carers with modest incomes to become eligible for the scheme and allows carers and their families to earn more from employment while retaining their payment. As part of Budget 2024 I further increased the disregard to €450 for a single person, and €900 for couples from June of this year.
In addition to the Working Family Payment, there is also a range of supports available to people who move into employment/self-employment:
• Back to Work Family Dividend is a weekly payment to help people with qualified children who stop claiming jobseeker’s or one-parent payments to move into employment or self-employment. In the first year, the weekly payment is the equivalent of any Increase for Qualified Children that was being paid on their previous payment (up to a maximum of 4 children). Half that amount will be paid weekly for the second year.
• The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme which encourages people getting certain social welfare payments to become self-employed. Where a person takes part in the scheme, they can keep a percentage of their social welfare payment for up to two years.
• The Part-Time Job Incentive Scheme which allows certain people receiving Jobseeker’s Allowance to take up part-time work and get a special weekly allowance instead of their jobseeker’s payment. It is intended to be a stepping stone to full-time work.
• The Short-Term Enterprise Allowance gives support to people who have lost their job and want to start their own business. To qualify, a person must be getting Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Benefit Self-Employed. It can be paid for a maximum of 9 months.
Other related areas which the Department are currently working on include the introduction of a Pay-Related Benefit, which will more closely align earnings and unemployment benefits and mitigate the impact of any income shocks. In line with the commitment in Pathways to Work, the national employment strategy, work is continuing in relation to the development of the possible features of a Working Age Payment, which will include examining the structure of the jobseeker's allowance scheme.
104. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the measures being taken to support low-income families, such as increases in weekly social welfare payments, an increase in the domiciliary care allowance, and increases in the income thresholds for the working family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7457/24]
View answerThe package of social protection measures in Budget 2024 are worth €2.3 Billion. For the second year in a row, it is the largest social protection package in the history of the State.
Budget 2024 provided an extensive package of cost-of-living payments along with targeted measures to assist low-income families. These measures included: a €12 weekly rate increase in primary payments, a €10 monthly increase to the Domiciliary Care Allowance and a €54 per week increase to the income thresholds for those in receipt of the Working Family Payment.
The package, also included a range of payments as follows:
In November 2023:
• A cost-of-living payment of €400 was paid to 46,000 recipients of the Working Family Payment.
• A payment of €300 was paid to over 400,000 people who receive the Fuel Allowance.
• A €400 payment was paid to those in receipt of either the Carer’s Support Grant or the Domiciliary Care Allowance.
• €100 was paid for each child where a person in receipt of a payment was receiving an Increase for a Qualified Child.
In December 2023:
• Families with children received a double payment of Child Benefit (benefitting about 1.2 million children).
• A 100% Christmas Bonus was paid to 1.3 million people on long-term schemes.
In January 2024:
• A double payment was also paid on the same basis as the Christmas Bonus.
• The maximum personal rate of payments on working age schemes increased by €12 per week.
• The level of Increase for a Qualified Child was increased by €4 bringing the weekly rates to €54 for those aged 12 or over and €54 for those aged under 12.
In addition to the above, I’ve been pleased to announce some key reforms which will benefit families such as, the extension of Parent’s Benefit to 9 weeks from August, extending the hot school meals scheme - which will benefit some 150,000 children and the extension of Child Benefit to 18-year-olds in full time education, among other measures. I am particularly pleased that we can bring the implementation date for the extension of Child Benefit forward from September to May.
The government has also provided, for example, every household with three energy credits of €150, which will be paid by April 2024.
A preliminary Social Impact Analysis undertaken in relation to the Budget 2024 Social Protection package highlighted its progressive impact, with the lowest income deciles benefitting the most.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
105. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated amount her Department spent on the farm assist payment in Cork east in 2023; the total number of recipients in Cork east for the same year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7857/24]
View answerThe overall expenditure for Farm Assist in 2023 was €53.937 million. This figure is provisional until the 2023 Accounts have been audited by the C&AG.
At the end of December 2023, there were 270 individuals in Cork in receipt of Farm Assist. The number of recipients of Farm Assist in Cork east is not readily available in my Department.
106. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider including adult dependant recipients who are 80 years and over for increase of payment which presently is only available to State pension recipients over 80 years and over; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7935/24]
View answerThe over 80 allowance is an increase of €10 per week on the basic pension rate, which is automatically awarded to qualified pensioners on attaining 80 years of age. Only one such allowance is payable in respect of each pension.
An Increase for a Qualified Adult (IQA) is paid, generally, where a pensioner has an adult dependent (e.g., a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant who is financially dependent upon him/her), who does not have enough contributions to claim a maximum rate State Pension (Contributory) in his/her own right.
The maximum rate of an IQA for someone over 66 is €248.60, and so in most cases where it is claimed, such couples have additional income or means above their State Pension payments, as otherwise they would obtain a higher payment through the Qualified Adult claiming a State Pension (Non-Contributory) (SPNC).
The SPNC is subject to a household means-test, and has a maximum personal rate of €266 weekly (plus additional allowances, such as the over-80 allowance, where applicable). Where household means result in this payment being reduced (because, for example, the spouse in receipt of the State Pension also has a significant occupational pension), the other spouse may instead claim the IQA, the means test of which is based on his/her own means instead. In such cases, the Qualified Adult can choose the payment which is most beneficial to him/her.
If a person over 80 is in receipt of an IQA and has only limited household means, s/he may claim the State Pension (Non-Contributory), and if that payment is more beneficial, s/he will be paid under that scheme.
Any changes to the proportionate rates of payments for qualified adults would need to be considered in an overall budgetary and policy context.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
109. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications received by her Department under the humanitarian assistance scheme in respect of Galway city and county since the flooding in Galway in November 2023; the amount paid out to-date under the scheme to the residents of Galway city and county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7854/24]
View answerThe Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is the lead Department for severe weather emergencies. My Department provides assistance to eligible households in the immediate aftermath of emergency weather events under the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme.
The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme, administered by my Department through the local Community Welfare Service, was activated to assist householders affected by a number of recent weather events across the country. This scheme remains open to those affected by these weather events to apply for assistance.
The purpose of the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme is to provide income- tested financial support to people whose homes are damaged and who are not able to meet costs for essential needs, household items and, in some instances, structural repair. The objective of the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme is to support those affected by these events to return their homes to a habitable condition.
The income test for the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme is more generous than that which applies in the case of social welfare schemes generally. The basic principle of the income test is that individuals and families with average levels of income will qualify for assistance (including non-Social Welfare recipients).
Statistics are maintained by County on the number of payments made on the scheme. Since Storm Debi which occurred on 13th November 2023, some 60 payments have been made to members of the public in County Galway up to the week ending 10th February 2024, totalling just over €56,000.
If any household affected by Storm Debi in Co. Galway needs to access these supports, they can contact the Community Welfare Service by phoning 0818 60 70 80.
110. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 115 of 7 December 2023, for a status update on his Department's engagement with representatives of community employment supervisors and Tús supervisors with a view to resolving the pay gap; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7853/24]
View answerMy Department operates a number of employment support schemes; including Tús, and Community Employment (CE), for long term unemployed. I would like to acknowledge the important role that CE and Tús supervisors play in providing valuable opportunities to participants in supporting the delivery of key services to local communities across the country.
It should be noted that Tús supervisors are employees of the individual Implementing Bodies (Local Development Companies); which are funded by the Department. Similarly, CE supervisors are employed by their sponsoring companies; which are also funded by the Department. The service fee paid to all employing bodies was increased last year to enable them pay supervisors on all schemes the 5% wage increase that was agreed early in the year.
It is important to note that there are differences in the work undertaken by CE supervisors compared to that undertaken by Tús supervisors relating, for example, to the preparation of individual learning plans. As a consequence, we would expect the service fees paid to the service providers to reflect this difference in scope.
Officials in my Department have held a number of meetings with the supervisor's representative associations to discuss issues in relation to the delivery of all employment programmes, including the issue of pay parity for Tús and CE supervisors.
My Department, as funder of these schemes, is considering the complexities involved in addressing this issue. In this context, it is important to note that any changes to the fees paid or the funding model requires the approval of the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. Department officials are continuing to engage with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in an effort to resolve the matter. Pending the outcome of these deliberations, officials in my Department will continue to work with the Implementation Bodies and staff representatives.
Again, I would like to assure the deputy that the work undertaken by supervisors on all employment schemes is valued and makes an important contribution to participants and communities across the State.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputies.
111. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the supports provided to family carers. [7887/24]
View answerThe Government acknowledges the valuable role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for Government and the National Carers’ Strategy. This cross-departmental strategy is led by the Department of Health.
The main income supports to carers provided by my department are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Spending on these payments is expected to amount to over €1.7 billion this year.
I have taken a range of actions to improve supports for carers over recent years through increasing payment rates and income disregards and once-off and extra double payments.
I have taken this approach again as part of Budget 2024 and announced the following measures that carers will benefit from:
• In November a €400 a lump sum was paid to people receiving the Carer's Support Grant.
• A Christmas Bonus Double Payment was paid to people in receipt of Carer's Allowance and Carer’s Benefit.
• There was a proportionate payment, to the value of one week, paid to those in receipt of the monthly Domiciliary Care payment.
• January also saw an increase of €10 per month to the Domiciliary Care Allowance payment bringing it to €340 per month.
• In addition, there was a €12 increase to weekly Carers Allowance and Carers Benefit payments.
• From the week commencing 29 January, I made another once-off double Cost of Living Support Payment which was paid to qualifying Social Protection recipients including all pensioners, carers and people on long-term disability payments.
• From June, there will be an increase the earnings disregard for Carer's Allowance from €350 to €450 for a single person and from €750 to €900 for a couple.
I trust the above provides a comprehensive update on the various supports to carers. I will continue to keep the range of supports available to carers under review, in consultation with family carers and their representative organisations.
