Martin Ferris
Question:995 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will further increase disability benefit above the ?6 proposed in the budget, in view of the better than expected surplus in Government revenue. [1559/03]
Vol. 560 No. 1
995 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will further increase disability benefit above the ?6 proposed in the budget, in view of the better than expected surplus in Government revenue. [1559/03]
A broader objective of the 2003 social welfare package is to protect the position of the less well off in our society. Budget 2003 made provision for an increase of €6, or 5.1%, in the weekly personal rate of disability benefit, with an additional increase of €4, also 5.1%, in the weekly rate of qualified adult allowance, where payable. The Social Welfare Act 2002 brought these increases into effect from the first week in January.
Overall, an additional €833 million in social welfare spending is provided for during this year, and this will bring the projected level of annual spending to over €10 billion for the first time. At a time of great economic uncertainty, this emphasises the Government's commitment to protecting those at highest risk. My colleagues and I are committed to safeguarding the position of all social welfare recipients and I look forward to making further progress in the years ahead on the achievement of our social inclusion commitments.
996 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she has received correspondence from a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; if, in that context, she will consider exemptions to the criteria which she has recently changed, in relation to the back to work allowance scheme in view of the points made in the correspondence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1565/03]
The range of employment support services administered by my Department was reviewed last year in the light of the major economic and labour market changes that have occurred since the scheme was introduced. When the back to work allowance was introduced the overall unemployment level was 15.7% and long-term unemployment stood at 8.9%. By 2001 overall unemployment had fallen to 3.7% and long-term unemployment was down to 1.2%.
The review also took cognisance of an independent evaluation of the scheme carried out by consultants which was published in December 2000. The report recommended, in the light of the current tight labour market situation, that the scheme be refocused on the longer-term unemployed, that the non-financial supports be enhanced and that the overall numbers on the scheme be reduced.
997 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of farmers who have qualified under the farm assist scheme in each constituency in 2001 and 2002; the number of farmers whose applications were refused under the scheme in each constituency in 2001 and 2002; the amounts paid to each farmer up to the maximum of ?14,500; the number of farmers receiving the maximum payment per person per constituency; if her attention has been drawn to the crisis in farming due to the current climate, and to the widespread dissatisfaction with the farm assist scheme amongst farmers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1603/03]
It is not possible to provide a breakdown of the farm assist scheme claimload by Dáil constituency. A breakdown of such claims by local office is provided in Tables 1 and 2.
Table 1 shows the total number of claims in payment and the number of claims in payment where the application was made in 2001 and 2002.
During 2002, a total of 311 farmers had their farm assist application disallowed either because of failure to disclose means or because their means exceeded the prescribed limit. The corresponding figure for 2001 was 448. Further details of disallowances on a local basis will be made available to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Table 2 shows the number of farm assist cases where no means have been assessed against the farmer and the farmer is therefore in receipt of the maximum payment appropriate to his-her circumstances.
All costs that are associated with farming e.g. feed, fertiliser, contractor charges, interest on loans, fees, fencing, repairs, rent of conacre, labour hire, maintenance etc. are taken into account in accessing eligibility for the scheme. In addition, 30% of the assessing income is disregarded. There are child disregards of €253.95 per year for each of the first two children and €380.92 per year for each subsequent child. Capital is favourably assessed with the first €12,697.38 held by the farmer being disregarded.
Weekly Payment |
No. of Customers |
€ |
|
under 50.00 |
391 |
50.00 - 99.00 |
2,030 |
100.00 - 149.00 |
2,961 |
150.00 - 199.00 |
1.345 |
200.00 - 249.00 |
1,215 |
over 250.00 |
554 |
Total |
8,496 |
County |
2001 |
2002 |
|||
Total |
New |
Total |
New |
||
Carlow |
68 |
10 |
70 |
9 |
|
Cavan |
299 |
48 |
286 |
34 |
|
Clare |
440 |
52 |
444 |
51 |
|
Cork |
544 |
137 |
569 |
73 |
|
Donegal |
1,175 |
137 |
1,222 |
135 |
|
Dublin |
17 |
0 |
21 |
6 |
|
Galway |
784 |
111 |
820 |
118 |
|
Kerry |
729 |
69 |
717 |
90 |
|
Kildare |
32 |
3 |
32 |
20 |
|
Kilkenny |
75 |
22 |
76 |
24 |
|
Laois |
95 |
16 |
104 |
12 |
|
Leitrim |
252 |
30 |
253 |
46 |
|
Limerick |
218 |
50 |
210 |
34 |
|
Longford |
164 |
16 |
158 |
26 |
|
Louth |
67 |
20 |
61 |
21 |
County |
2001 |
2002 |
|||
Total |
New |
Total |
New |
||
Mayo |
1,671 |
173 |
1,714 |
147 |
|
Meath |
35 |
8 |
33 |
9 |
|
Monaghan |
407 |
39 |
414 |
39 |
|
Offaly |
91 |
14 |
94 |
16 |
|
Roscommon |
357 |
47 |
351 |
39 |
|
Sligo |
169 |
47 |
186 |
66 |
|
Tipperary |
206 |
32 |
233 |
50 |
|
Waterford |
70 |
11 |
70 |
6 |
|
Westmeath |
106 |
17 |
112 |
15 |
|
Wexford |
134 |
16 |
149 |
25 |
|
Wicklow |
38 |
5 |
43 |
13 |
|
Total |
8,243 |
1,130 |
8,442 |
1,124 |
County |
Number of Cases |
Carlow |
3 |
Cavan |
16 |
Clare |
23 |
Cork |
36 |
Donegal |
82 |
Dublin |
2 |
Galway |
54 |
Kerry |
22 |
Kildare |
2 |
Kilkenny |
7 |
Laois |
8 |
Leitrim |
9 |
Limerick |
9 |
Longford |
1 |
Louth |
16 |
Mayo |
169 |
Meath |
2 |
Monaghan |
24 |
Offaly |
1 |
Roscommon |
5 |
Sligo |
17 |
County |
Number of Cases |
Tipperary |
13 |
Waterford |
5 |
Westmeath |
– |
Wexford |
6 |
Wicklow |
3 |
Total |
535 |
999 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when an old age contributory pension application will be approved and granted to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [1746/03]
Based on a combination of his British and Irish insurance records, the person concerned qualifies for a pro-rata old age contributory pension from 5 May 2000. The rate of pension payable from 3 January 2003 is €10.50 per week. Notification of the decision issued to the person concerned. Arrears of pension due will also issue to him shortly.
Under social welfare legislation, decisions in relation to claims are made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.
1000 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she proposes to introduce a pension scheme for stay at home wives; if discussions have taken place between her Department and women's groups, such as the ICA, IFA or other groups on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1779/03]
In recent years a number of measures have been introduced to protect the pension rights of those who take time out of the paid workforce to care for children or sick relatives and to make qualification for a pension easier for those with broken or interrupted insurance records.
1001 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans to amend the regulations for old age pensioners in relation to calculating the yearly average and allow contributions up to retirement date to be included as currently persons are being denied the opportunity to have all their contributions assessed by the rule which allows contributions to be included up to the end of the previous financial year only; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1848/03]
The records of my Department show that the person concerned has a total of 520 full rate contributions recorded for the period 1974 to 2001, 28 years. The balance of his record com prises modified rate insurance which is not reckonable for old age contributory pension purposes. This is equal to a yearly average of 19 contributions, which entitles him to a reduced rate personal pension payable at the rate of €110.50 per week. He is also in receipt of a qualified adult allowance in respect of his spouse of €73.60 per week.
Under current legislation only contributions made up to the end of the last complete tax year before a person reaches pension age may be counted when eligibility for a pension is being considered. The person concerned was 66 in October 2002 and consequently only contributions made up to December 2001 are reckonable.
In 2000 the Department published a review of the qualifying conditions for the old age contributory and retirement pension, phase 1. This report proposed, amongst other things, that consideration be given to changing the basis of assessment for old age contributory and retirement pensions from the current system of average contributions to one based on total contributions paid or credited. The phase 2 report, which is examining these issues further, is at an advanced stage of preparation and it is hoped to publish it as a discussion document in the coming months. Further changes in qualifying conditions for pensions will be considered in the light of the response to that report.