Michael Moynihan
Question:222 Mr. M. Moynihan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the way in which the income from home help will be assessed against recipients of means tested social welfare payments. [10363/01]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. Ahern)
To date, income deriving from participation in the home-help service has not in general been taken into account for the purposes of determining entitlement to means-tested social welfare payments. The basis for disregarding home help income originates in the fact that the service was traditionally a community-based good neighbours scheme attracting volunteers primarily motivated by the desire to engage in community service and, as such, the service did not come within the realm of conventional employment.
Following the conclusion of Labour Court negotiations last June, agreement was reached on a revised overall pay structure for home helps in return for a restructured and enhanced home help service. The agreement provided for the alignment of hourly home help pay-rates with the pay-rates of other non-nursing health service employees, the payment of travel expenses, premia payments for Saturday-Sunday working and full annual leave entitlement as set out in the Part-time Workers Agreement in the health service.
The revised pay-rates were awarded on a phased basis of 75% from 1 January 2000, 85% from 1 July 2000 and the full rate from 1 January 2001. Accordingly, home helps now have full employee status similar to all other health service employees. In the circumstances, the current arrangements for home helps are being reviewed. The Department of Finance emphasise that during all stages of the negotiations – including the Labour Court – it was made absolutely clear that any concessions, currently enjoyed by home helps, in the area of income tax and-or social welfare, would cease should the unions succeed in their pay claim.
Question No. 223 answered with Question No. 63.
Ivor Callely
Question:224 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the payments made under the heading of supplementary welfare allowance over the past three years; the subhead where the most noticeable increase has been identified; the most likely reason for such a noticeable increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10366/01]
Expenditure under the SWA scheme over the last three years is set out in the following tabular statement. As can be seen from the table the most notable increase in expenditure over the last three years has been on basic payments and this amounted to almost 74%. The major factor in the increase in basic payment expenditure over this period has been the increasing number of asylum seekers whose needs were met through the SWA scheme prior to the introduction of the system of direct provision in April last year. A significant increase was also recorded for rent supplement expenditure due mainly to the increasing costs of private rented accommodation.
Expenditure under the SWA Scheme 1998-2000.
|
1998 (£m) |
1999 (£m) |
2000 (£m) |
% increase 1998-2000 |
|
|
Basic Payments |
39.9 |
53.5 |
69.4 |
73.9 |
|
Rent Supplements |
88.0 |
101.0 |
118.7 |
34.9 |
|
Mortgage Supplements |
9.1 |
6.5 |
4.6 |
-49.5 |
|
Other Supplements |
5.6 |
6.0 |
6.6 |
17.9 |
|
Exceptional Needs Payments |
21.4 |
22.0 |
24.1 |
12.6 |
|
Back to School |
11.7 |
9.0 |
10.9 |
-6.8 |
|
Clothing and Footwear Administration |
20.9 |
21.8 |
21.6 |
3.3 |
|
Total |
196.6 |
219.8 |
255.9 |
30.2 |