Written Answers Nos. 72-100
72. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the impact in 2015 of previously announced social protection measures which have not yet come fully into effect, including those relating to the one parent family payment and eligibility for the State pension contributory; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33322/14]
View answerThe one-parent family payment (OFP) scheme is in the process of being reformed. These reforms were introduced in the Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2012, and contain provisions to reduce, on a phased basis, the maximum age limit of the youngest child at which an OFP recipient’s payment ceases to 7 years for recipients from 2 July, 2015. This reform aims to bring Ireland’s support for lone parents in line with other European Union countries. It also aims to provide the necessary supports to lone parents to help them to escape poverty by providing them with improved access to education, training, and employment programmes.
The last phase of the OFP scheme age reductions, when the maximum age limit of the youngest child at which an OFP recipient’s payment ceases will be reduced to 7 years, will take effect from 2 July, 2015. It is expected that approximately 36,000 lone parents will be transitioning from their OFP payment on that date – with the vast majority of them moving to another social welfare income support payment.
It is expected that most affected lone parents will transition to the jobseeker’s allowance (JA) payment or to the JA transitional arrangement. Other lone parents will transition to either the family income supplement (FIS) or a full-rate carer’s allowance.
The income disregard of the OFP scheme is also being reduced on a phased basis for new and existing recipients of the payment. The income disregard will be reduced to €75 per week in January, 2015, and to €60 per week in January, 2016.
With regard to the Deputy’s query about the state pension (contributory), the gradual increase in the state pension age to 68 years was legislated for in the Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2011. In January, 2014, the state pension age was standardised at 66 years with the cessation of the state pension (transition). The state pension age will increase to 67 years in 2021 and to 68 years in 2028.
Currently, a person’s date of entry into insurance is taken as the date used for averaging purposes. To qualify for a state pension, a person must:
- have entered insurance before the age of 66 years;
- have at least 520 paid PRSI contributions; and
- satisfy a yearly average (i.e. a yearly average of 48 PRSI contributions paid and/or credited is required for a full-rate pension).
The main social welfare payment that is available to those who leave employment before pension age is jobseeker’s benefit (JB). People who qualify for the JB payment who are aged between 65 and 66 years are generally entitled to receive payment up to the date on which they reach pensionable age (i.e. 66 years). In addition, with effect from 1 January, 2014, fully unemployed jobseekers aged 62 years or over have been placed on yearly signing and given the option of transferring to EFT payments. They are not subject to mandatory activation measures, but may avail of employment supports, which will continue to be available to them, and they will not be subject to mandatory activation-related sanctions.
The Deputy may wish to note that the majority of people who went into receipt of the state pension (transition) did not come from work as most of them were already on other social welfare schemes. In December, 2012, there were approximately 14,400 state pension (transition) claims in payment and, of those; just 12.5% came from work. Over 50% came from other social welfare schemes such as illness benefit, jobseeker’s benefit and assistance, and invalidity and carers, indicating that significant numbers of people are leaving the workforce, for a variety of reasons, well in advance of state pension age.
Finally, social welfare supports will continue to be available to those who need them the most and, where a person fails to meet the qualifying conditions of a social insurance-based scheme, a means-tested assistance payment may be available to them, provided that they satisfy the necessary qualifying conditions. All short-term social welfare schemes are payable to the age of 66 years.
73. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 460 of 27 May 2014 the reason FÁS is not paying the enhanced redundancy in accordance with the agreement signed up to by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Trade Unions SIPTU and IMPACT in 2002 and amended in 2005. [33324/14]
View answerThe Department (and previously, FÁS) have consistently maintained that the only circumstances in which it will fund enhanced redundancy packages to Community Employment (CE) Supervisors is where the Supervisor redundancy arises because of the actions of the Department due to restructuring of the CE programme, e.g. mainstreaming schools-based CE schemes to the Department of Education in 2001 or the reduction in the overall numbers on CE such as happened in the late 1990s/early 2000s due to greatly reduced numbers of long-term unemployed on the Live Register. Enhanced redundancy packages under the above circumstances were only funded by FÁS/DSP where the Sponsor/employer did not have the ability to fund the enhanced package.
Where a Sponsor’s actions cause the Supervisor redundancy situation to arise, the Department does not fund any enhanced redundancy package. Statutory redundancy only would apply in this instance.
74. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to increase the rent supplement levels for families to reflect the real cost of rent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33327/14]
View answer149. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if it is intended to revise the rent caps for the receipt of rent supplement in view of the increase in rents, particularly in urban areas, since the last review and the difficulty that many persons, in need of accommodation, are having renting properties below the current thresholds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34506/14]
View answer158. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if, in view of the substantial increase in rental rates particularly in urban areas, and considering that the housing assistance payment has not been implemented nationwide, her Department will review the limits pertaining to the rent supplement scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34703/14]
View answer166. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding rent supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34862/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 74, 149, 158 and 166 together.
The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term income support to assist with reasonable accommodation costs of eligible people living in private rented accommodation who are unable to provide for their accommodation costs from their own resources. The overall aim is to provide short term assistance, and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes operated by the Exchequer. There are currently approximately 73,800 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014.
Maximum rent limits are generally reviewed every 18 months. The most recent review was completed in June 2013 with revised rent limits introduced on 17 June 2013. Despite pressures on the social protection budget, the last review saw rent limits increase in line with market rents in some areas, including Dublin and Galway, with Dublin limits increasing by a weighted average of 9%.
A new rent limit review has commenced within the Department and will feed into the budgetary process. This review involves a comprehensive analysis of information from a range of sources including rental tenancies registered with the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB), the Central Statistics Office rental indices, websites advertising rental properties, relevant Departments and Agencies and non-Government organisations such as Threshold, Focus Ireland and the Society of St Vincent de Paul.
The current difficulties in the rental market and the difficulties faced by prospective tenants, including those seeking access to rent supplement, is a shortage of supply of suitable properties in areas of high demand. I would be concerned that raising rent limits is not the solution to the problem as it is likely to add to further rental inflation and impact, not alone on rent supplement recipients, but also on many lower income workers and students. The Government has recently launched its Construction Strategy with the aim of increasing housing supply generally.
I can assure the Deputies that officers administering rent supplement throughout the country have considerable experience in dealing with customers and make every effort to ensure that their accommodation needs are met. Discretionary powers are available to staff to award a supplement for rental purposes in exceptional cases where it appears that the circumstances of the case so warrant. A notice reminding staff of their statutory discretionary power to award a supplement for rental purposes in exceptional cases, for example, when dealing with applicants who are at risk of losing their tenancy, has recently been circulated.
In view of the current supply difficulties, the Department has agreed a protocol with the Dublin local authorities and voluntary organisations so that families on rent supplement who are at risk of losing their accommodation can have more timely and appropriate interventions made on their behalf. Since the launch of this initiative in mid-June 2014, approximately 115 families have had their rent supplement claims revised by the Department.
The Department’s strategic policy direction is to transfer responsibility for recipients of rent supplement with a long-term housing need to local authorities under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). Officials are working closely with those in the lead Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, in introducing HAP on a phased basis, initially in Cork County, Limerick City and County and Waterford City and County from 15th September 2014.
75. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she has examined the idea of the development of guidelines by her Department for release to general practitioners and other medical professionals in relation to the preparation of medical reports for inclusion in applications submitted by persons seeking certain social protection payments. [33333/14]
View answerIt is the policy of my Department to review application forms for the individual illness related schemes on a regular basis, including those parts of forms that relate to the provision of medical evidence. The design of the medical evidence part of application forms is undertaken in consultation with the Chief Medical Advisor and the Medical Research team. Medical reports which GPs are required to complete are designed to gather relevant quality information to assist the Department’s medical assessors and decision makers. With regard to certification for illness benefit, evidence-based ‘Closed Certification’ guidelines have been developed by the Department’s medical team to assist GPs in certifying for appropriate durations for patients with common health problems. These guidelines are based on extensive international research. A recent 6 month research study was conducted involving 128 randomly selected GPs. Responding to a questionnaire survey over 80% of participating GP respondents considered these guidelines; to be helpful in their interactions with patients, resulted in better health outcomes for their patients and that these guidelines should be rolled out nationally. A more detailed statistical evaluation of claim duration is being conducted by the Department which will decide on future plans for roll-out and refinement of ‘Closed Certification’ based on this research.
76. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will examine the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin whose disability allowance and other associated payments have been stopped; and if these allowances might be reinstated. [33340/14]
View answerAn application for disability allowance was received from the person concerned on 5 July 2013. The application was refused on 20 November 2013 as the person’s means were in excess of the statutory limit for a person in his circumstances.
The person subsequently appealed this decision to the Chief Appeals Officer. On 28 May 2014 an appeal’s officer disallowed the appeal and the person concerned was notified in writing of this decision by the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
An appeals officer’s decision is final and conclusive in the absence of any fresh facts or evidence.
77. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm that all community employment supervisors are now receiving their pension entitlements following the Labour Court recommendations. [33385/14]
View answer145. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she has met with unions with regard to correspondence received (details supplied) regarding pension entitlements; the outcome of these meetings; whether she will change her position on the payment of severance to CE supervisors with regard to Labour Court recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34435/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 145 together.
The Labour Court recommended in July 2008 that an agreed pension scheme should be introduced for community employment (CE) scheme supervisors and assistant supervisors, and that such a scheme should be adequately funded by FÁS. This matter has been the subject of discussions between this Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the unions representing CE supervisors. Implementation of the claim is not considered sustainable in light of the current and on-going fiscal environment and the requirement to contain and reduce public expenditure. The Deputy should note that the Department of Social Protection, formerly FÁS, is not the employer of CE supervisors and such employees are not public servants. Neither was FÁS a party to the Labour Court dispute on this matter at the time it was determined. The responsibilities of the sponsoring organisations and the individuals concerned must be recognised when considering pension provision arrangements. I have no proposals to engage with the Unions on this matter at this time.
78. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an assurance that carers will not be subject to further cuts in the upcoming budget; that income supports will be protected for those in receipt of carer's allowance, carer's benefit and half rate carer's allowance in budget 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33443/14]
View answerThe Department, in line with its income support commitments under the National Carers’ Strategy published in 2012, provides a range of income supports to assist with the financial burden of caring. These include carer's allowance, carer's benefit, domiciliary care allowance and the respite care grant.
Total expenditure by the Department on carers has increased from just under €752 million in 2010 to almost €806 million in 2014. This is an increase of €53.9 million or 7.2%. The overall number of caring recipients has increased from just over 76,000 in 2010 to almost 84,000 recipients in 2014. This is an increase of 7,815 recipients or 10.3%. These increases demonstrate very clearly that, despite the need to stabilise Government finances, the welfare system continues to play a very positive role in protecting, in this instance, family carers in our society.
Other supports from the Department for carers include free travel for recipients of carer’s allowance and, if they are living with the person they are caring for, the household benefits package. The associated costs are additional to those already quoted.
The Government, in its Statement of Priorities for 2014 – 2016 published in July, committed to increasing the household benefits package by €100 in Budget 2015 partly to compensate vulnerable groups for the introduction of water charges. These groups will include those recipients of carer’s allowance who also benefit from the household benefits package.
The Government further committed to the full retention of the free travel scheme. This commitment recognises the importance of the free travel pass to people with disabilities and recipients of carer’s allowance. Since its introduction in the 1960s, the free travel scheme has been highly valued as it allows beneficiaries to participate and remain active in the community.
The appropriate rates of other welfare supports in the year ahead, including payments made to carers, will be considered by Government as part of its deliberations on the next Budget.
79. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the conditions or criteria required for a person to qualify for credited contributions while in receipt of carer's allowance or carer's benefit; to outline the Government's actions to date to protect long term and older carers in relation to their pension entitlements to ensure that carers are not disadvantaged due to extended periods of caring; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33444/14]
View answerCredited contributions (credits) are social insurance contributions designed to protect the social insurance entitlement record of insured workers who are not in a position to make PRSI contributions.
Credits are awarded in circumstances such as unemployment or illness, and their purpose is to help protect the social insurance entitlements of insured persons during periods when they may not be in a position to pay contributions.
In order to qualify for credits, a person must first have entered insurable employment - he or she must have paid at least one PRSI at Class A, B, C, D, E, H or P.
Credits may enable insured workers to qualify for various social insurance benefits. While the contribution conditions applying to the various insurance benefit schemes can vary, a claimant must, in general, have
a. Paid a minimum number of weekly contributions and
b. Have a certain number of contributions or credits over a specified period; in the case of short-term benefits this is the relevant tax year, while in the case of long-term benefits (e.g. pensions) this is on the basis of the yearly average number of contributions and/or credits over the person's working life.
Credits cannot be used to satisfy condition (a). Thus, credits are only of value to a person who satisfies this "paid contribution" test.
Credits are awarded to recipients of Carer's Allowance in the following circumstances:
- if the claimant was employed and paid PRSI contributions prior to receiving Carer's Allowance s/he may be entitled to credits. If, however, there is a gap of two years in the claimant's insurance record, credits are not valid until at least 26 PRSI contributions have been paid
- if the claimant was in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance (provided s/he has at least one paid Class A PRSI contribution) Jobseeker's Benefit or Illness Benefit immediately prior to claiming Carer's Allowance.
In addition under the Homemakers Scheme, which was introduced on 6th April 1994, a person who gives up work to take care of a child under age 12 or an incapacitated person over age 12 can be classified as a homemaker. Complete years spent out of the workforce looking after a child or an incapacitated person, are disregarded when working out entitlement to a State Pension (Contributory). However, a person may get credits for the tax year he or she becomes a homemaker and the tax year he or she stops being a homemaker if the period spent as a homemaker is not a complete year. These credits are reckoned only for the purposes of State Pension (contributory).
The homemaker’s scheme was introduced in 1994 to make qualification for State pension (contributory) easier for those who take time out of the workforce for caring duties. This is achieved by disregarding years spent outside the workforce on such duties when calculating the average contributions per year on the pensioner’s record.
The scheme allows up to 20 years spent caring for children under 12 years of age, and/or an incapacitated person, to be disregarded when a person’s social insurance record is being averaged for pension purposes.
However, it is important to note that the scheme will not, of itself, qualify a person for a pension. The standard qualifying conditions, which require a person to enter insurance ten years before pension age, pay a minimum of 520 contributions at the correct rate and achieve a yearly average of at least 10 contributions on their record from the time they enter insurance until they reach pension age, must also be satisfied.
For those who do not satisfy these conditions, and have an income need, a means-tested State pension may be available.
It is planned that a total contributions approach to pension qualification will replace the current average contributions test for State pension (contributory). The proposed date for the introduction of this change is 2020, but this may be subject to change.
The total contributions approach (whereby the pension payment will be based on the number of contributions paid and credited) will remove the current anomaly whereby people can achieve a higher average contribution rate, and thus a higher level of pension, even where they have a lower total number of contributions paid. This move will bring transparency and fairness to the eligibility for pension.
80. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to review the habitual residency condition for the carer's allowance given that it acts as a barrier to persons returning to Ireland to care for a loved one. [33445/14]
View answerThe habitual residence condition helps protect Ireland's social welfare system, while at the same time ensuring that those whose claim our schemes have access to supports when they need them.
Provided the applicant for a carer’s allowance is legally resident in the State, a decision on whether the applicant satisfies the conditions in respect of habitual residence is made based on consideration of five factors :
1. length and continuity of residence in the State or in any other particular country;
2. length and purpose of any absence from the State;
3 nature and pattern of person’s employment;
4 the person’s main centre of interest and
5. the future intentions of the person concerned.
While I have no plans to change the legislation applying to habitual residence and carer’s allowance at this time, the Department has, following consultation with carers’ representative groups, clarified the application of the guidelines with the relevant deciding officers and ensured that deciding officers have access to the most up to date guidelines and receive appropriate training in assessing the habitual residence condition.
In this regard, I would point out that less than 120 carer’s allowance cases were refused on habitual residence grounds in 2013 - down almost 50% on the 2011 figure of 223. This year there have been 62 cases refused to the end of August.
81. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the action her Department has taken to reduce and streamline processing times for social protection payments with a view to minimising hardship on those awaiting the outcome of applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33446/14]
View answerThe Department is committed to ensuring that claims are processed as expeditiously as possible. Each scheme area is continuously monitored and reviewed to ensure customers are responded to as quickly as possible. In this regard, the Department has had major success in clearing backlogs especially in the disability related schemes. The Table below provides details of processing times for each of the Department’s schemes in July 2014.
Processing times vary across schemes, depending on the differing qualification criteria. Schemes that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case of illness-related schemes, can take longer to process. Similarly, means-tested payments can also require more detailed investigation and interaction with the applicant, thereby lengthening the decision making process.
As part of the Department’s programme of service delivery modernisation, a range of initiatives aimed at streamlining the processing of claims, supported by modern technology, have been implemented in recent years. Operational processes, procedures and the organisation of work are continually reviewed to ensure that processing capability is maximised.
In addition, the staffing needs of the Department are regularly reviewed, having regard to workloads and the competing demands arising, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources.
Table: Claim processing times - July 2014
|
Scheme |
Average weeks to award |
|
State Pension (contributory) |
5 |
|
State Pension (transition) |
6 |
|
Widow(er)’s Pension (contributory) |
1 |
|
One Parent Family |
15 |
|
Household Benefits |
1 |
|
Bereavement Grant |
12 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
30 (Average weeks to award figure includes claims which are awarded following a review and/or appeal process following initial disallowance. Excluding the effect of these claims, the average time taken to decide a new Invalidity Pension claim in August is estimated as 7 weeks ) |
|
Family Income Supplement - New Claims |
5 (In general, renewal FIS claims are currently processed in advance of previous claim expiry and new FIS claims are processed within 3 weeks of receipt) |
|
Disability Allowance |
25 (Average weeks to award figure includes claims which are awarded following a review and/or appeal process following initial disallowance. Excluding the effect of these claims, the average time taken to decide a new Disability Allowance claim in August is estimated as 13 weeks) |
|
Carer’s Allowance |
40 (Average weeks to award figure includes claims which are awarded following a review and/or appeal process following initial disallowance. Excluding the effect of these claims, the average time taken to decide a new Carers Allowance claim in August is estimated as 13 weeks) |
|
Jobseeker’s Benefit |
1 |
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance |
2 |
|
Illness Benefit |
1 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
2 (In July 97% of Maternity Benefit claims were awarded 2 weeks prior to the commencement of maternity leave) |
|
Child Benefit |
1 |
|
- Domestic |
1 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
11 |
|
Back to Education Allowance |
Applicants for BTEA are already in receipt of another social welfare payment before a decision is made on their entitlement to the Allowance |
82. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on making the carer's allowance exempt from means assessment; the measures that are in place to assist family carers to avail of education and employment opportunities during their caring years to help and support them to re-enter the workforce when their caring role ends. [33447/14]
View answerCarers Allowance is a means-tested payment for people living in Ireland who are looking after someone who needs support because of age, physical or learning disability or illness, including mental illness. It is mainly aimed at carers on low incomes who live with and look after certain people who need full-time care and attention.
The means test for carers allowance has been significantly eased over the years, and is now one of the most generous means tests in the social welfare system, most notably with regard to spouse’s earnings. Since April 2008, the income disregard has been €332.50 per week for a single person and €665 per week for a couple. This means that a couple with two children can earn in the region of €35,400 and qualify for the maximum rate of carers allowance as well as the associated free travel and household benefits. A couple with an income in the region of €59,300 can still qualify for a minimum payment, as well as the associated free travel and household benefits package.
Removing the means test would involve changing the nature of the Carer’s Allowance scheme from a targeted income maintenance support for those most in need to a universal care support, in effect a payment for the provision of care rather than an income support payment for people on low incomes. The only eligibility criteria remaining would be that the care recipient required full-time care and that the carer was providing that care on a full time basis. Therefore, it is considered best that the Carer’s Allowance means test should remain to ensure the most effective use of resources.
Carers can engage in employment, education or training for up to 15 hours per week and still qualify for Carers Allowance. When their caring role comes to an end, advice and support in reengaging with the labour market is available through the Department’s employment support officers at local Intreo Offices.
83. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans for the future of the respite care grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33448/14]
View answer118. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will give consideration to restoring the respite care grant from €1,300 to €1,700 as part of the budgetary process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34033/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 118 together.
The Respite Care Grant (RCG) is an annual payment of €1,375 for carers who look after certain people in need of full-time care and attention. The payment is made regardless of the carer's means but is subject to certain conditions, one of which is that the period of full-time care and attention must last for at least six months (which must include the first Thursday in June when the payment is made automatically to recipients of carer’s allowance/benefit and domiciliary care allowance). I have no plans to make any changes in this regard.
The estimated cost in 2015 of increasing the respite care grant by €325, from €1,375 to €1,700, is €29.3 million in a full year. Any change in the rate of Respite Care Grant can only be considered in the context of overall Budgetary requirements.
The payment of the RCG for 2014 commenced in June, with automatic payments issuing to over 70,000 DSP clients at an estimated cost of €122 million for the full year in 2014. There is no conditionality attached to how the RCG is utilised, so carers can use the grant as they wish.
I should also mention that the RCG, with no requirement to satisfy a means test, is not available for any other social welfare group nor indeed is there an equivalent payment for carers in any other country in Europe.
Expenditure on income supports for carers generally has increased from €773m in 2012 to an estimated €806m in 2014. The number of people in receipt of carer’s allowance over the past decade has also increased from 23,000 to over 57,000
84. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will consider granting a pro-rata respite payment to carers whose role concludes before the completion of a twelve month period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33449/14]
View answerThe Respite Care Grant (RCG) is an annual payment of €1,375 for carers who look after certain people in need of full-time care and attention. The payment is made regardless of the carer's means but is subject to certain conditions, one of which is that the period of full-time care and attention must last for at least six months (which must include the first Thursday in June, when the payment is made automatically to recipients of carer’s allowance/benefit and domiciliary care allowance). I think this condition is reasonable and I have no plans to make any changes in this regard.
I would point out that in the case of bereavement the Department already recognises the financial difficulties arising at this time for carers as payment of carer's benefit/ allowance continues to be made for a period of 6 weeks after the date of death of the care recipient.
I am pleased to confirm that payment of the RCG for 2014 commenced in June, with automatic payments issuing to over 70,000 DSP clients earlier this month at an estimated cost of €122 million for the full year in 2014. Of course, there is no conditionality attached to how the RCG is utilised, so carers can use the grant as they wish.
I should also mention that the RCG, with no requirement to satisfy a means test, is not available for any other social welfare group nor indeed is there an equivalent payment for carers in any other country in Europe.
Expenditure on income supports for carers generally has increased from €773m in 2012 to an estimated €806m in 2014, €557 million on carer’s allowance, €21.5 million on carer’s benefit, €122 million on the respite care grant and €105 on domiciliary care allowance.
The number of people in receipt of carer’s allowance over the past decade has also increased from 23,000 to over 57,000
85. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the water allowance payment to all full-time carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33450/14]
View answerThe household benefits package comprises the electricity/gas allowance (€35 per month) and the free television licence scheme (€160 per annum). From 2015 it will also include a quarterly water support payment of €25. The household benefits package is paid to some 411,000 customers, with expenditure estimated at €230 million for 2014.
The package is available to all those aged 70 or over regardless of means and household composition and those in receipt of carer’s allowance who are living with the person for whom they are caring. Those between 66 and 70 must be in receipt of a qualifying payment from the Department, such as the State pension or satisfy a means test and live alone or only with certain exempted persons. The package is also available to those aged under 66 in receipt of a qualifying payment, such as disability allowance, who live alone or with exempted persons.
The household benefits package was envisaged as a way of providing some additional support for those who are elderly or on long-term, mostly means-tested welfare payments, including the carer’s allowance and disability allowance. I am not in a position to consider extending the household benefits scheme beyond the current group of qualifying payments.
86. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will consider introducing measures to assist with the transition out of long-term caring responsibilities, in particular the extension of the grace period following the death of a caree from six weeks to six months and the introduction of a similar grace period for carers whose full time caring role has come to an end following the admission of their caree to residential care. [33451/14]
View answerThe current position of retaining Carers Allowance for 6 weeks following the death of the care recipient is consistent with the approach taken by the Department in relation to payment after death across other schemes, such as the State Pension. The period gives a reasonable time for the Carer to apply to the Department for other benefits to which they might be entitled or where a person returns to employment, to rearrange their financial affairs There are no plans to increase the grace period at this time.
87. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the possibility of extending free travel to all carers in receipt of the respite care grant so as to enhance access to services and reduce social isolation, particularly for carers living in rural areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33459/14]
View answerThe free travel scheme is available to people over 66 years, and to people in receipt of certain disability or carer type payments. There are currently almost 800,000 customers in receipt of free travel. Since 2007 free travel customers have increased by more than 25%. The scheme permits travel for free on most CIE public transport services, Luas and up to 90 private operators.
The annual provision for the scheme is €77 million.
Funding for the free travel scheme was capped by the previous Government as outlined in the National Recovery Plan 2011-2014. To implement this funding cap during a time in which passenger numbers have been increasing each year the Department has had to impose a freeze on the amounts paid to companies and a complete restriction on the admittance of new companies or routes to the scheme. This has included new companies taking over previously extant routes. Free travel was envisaged as a way of providing some additional support for those who are elderly or on long-term means-tested disability or carers payments. As the respite care grant is not a long-term scheme, free travel is not available. I am not in a position to consider extending the free travel scheme beyond the current group of qualifying payments.
Given the increasing number of recipients and the funding pressures, an inter Departmental Committee commenced a review of the scheme last year. This Committee is made up of representatives of this Department, the Departments of Transport, Tourism and Sport and Public Expenditure and Reform and the National Transport Authority. It is expected to conclude its work shortly.
88. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33466/14]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person concerned on the 18th December 2013. The application was disallowed as the child was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for the allowance. A letter issued on the 21st January 2014 advising of the decision.
A review of this decision was requested and additional information supplied on the child’s condition/care needs. The case was further considered by another medical assessor, who considered based on the all evidence provided that the child met the medical eligibility for the allowance. A revised decision allowing the application was made by the deciding officer and the person concerned was notified of this decision on the 8th September 2014.
89. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [33476/14]
View answerI confirm that the Department received an application for disability allowance from the person concerned on 1 August 2014. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person will be notified directly of the outcome.
90. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the guidelines for conducting Tús interviews; if persons carrying out these interviews receive training; if the interviewee can expect a degree of privacy during the interview bearing in mind that financial matters are discussed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33511/14]
View answerTús is a community work placement initiative which has the aims of providing short-term work opportunities for those who have been unemployed for more than 12 months, and of supporting community organisations to develop and deliver beneficial services in their areas of operation.
The initiative is being delivered through the network of local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta in Gaeltacht areas – referred to as Implementing Bodies. Implementing Bodies are engaged to deliver Tús given their experience and knowledge of managing similar initiatives and their expertise in supporting and developing community infrastructure and services.
The Department of Social expects that all persons who are dealing with third party organisations engaged by it for the delivery of services will have their privacy respected and that they will be treated in a professional and supportive manner. Such third party organisations are provided with resources to provide for staff training should that be required. Queries and complaints in respect of individual matters should be addressed to bodies concerned.
91. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding one parent family allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33512/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 26th August 2014. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 8th September 2014 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
94. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33617/14]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 13th August 2014. This application has been forwarded to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors for their medical opinion. Upon receipt of this opinion, a decision will be made and notified to the person concerned. It can currently take over 10 weeks to process an application for DCA.
96. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a rent support application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33685/14]
View answerThe client made an incomplete application for Rent Supplement on 25th June 2014. While further information was received on the 18th July, more remains outstanding. A further request issued from the Department on the 22nd July. No response from the client has been received to date.
97. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when an oral hearing will be rescheduled in order that an appeal can be determined in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; the reason the date initially scheduled for an oral hearing was cancelled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33723/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal from the estate of the person concerned relating to an overpayment of widow’s non-contributory pension was referred to an Appeals Officer who decided to hold an oral hearing in this case. The oral hearing was scheduled for the 27th August 2014. At the request of the Department this oral hearing was postponed as the Deciding Officer was unable to attend. It is likely that the hearing will now take place on the 17th October 2014. The person concerned will be notified of the arrangements as soon as these are finalised.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
98. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the correct level of rent support payable in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33724/14]
View answerThe client is in receipt of their full entitlement to Rent Supplement based on their personal circumstances and location.
99. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will revise the back to education allowance scheme regulations so that the requirement of 234 days receiving welfare payments for the third level option and 78 days for the second level option does not act as a barrier to gaining access to training and education. [33746/14]
View answerThe Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) scheme is a second chance education opportunity scheme designed to remove barriers to participate in second and third level education by enabling those who fulfil the eligibility criteria to continue to receive a payment while pursuing an approved full-time education course.
A person wishing to pursue a course of study under the BTEA scheme will have to satisfy a number of conditions such as age, in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for a specific period and pursuing a full time course of study leading to a recognised qualification in a recognised college and progressing in the level of education with reference to the National Framework of Qualifications among others.
A person in receipt of a jobseeker's payment must be in receipt of this payment for a period of at least 234 days (9 months if signing full-time) for the third level option prior to the date of commencement of the course. The person detailed has a total of 187 days, as this falls short of the 234 required days, the application was refused.
A waiting period is considered essential for the Back to Education Allowance. This scheme confers entitlement to income support for a period of education and therefore it is necessary to target scarce resources. Recipients of Jobseeker's Assistance are required to engage in job seeking while exploring other options available to them.
There are no plans at present to modify the existing BTEA qualifying criteria for persons who are not in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for the required duration.
100. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33755/14]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
