Written Answers Nos. 1909-1928
1909. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated additional revenue that would be generated if the higher rate of PRSI of 10.75% was increased to 12.75% for persons earning over €110,000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38651/17]
View answerThe estimated additional revenue that would be generated if the higher rate of PRSI of 10.75% was increased to 12.75% for persons earning over €110,000 is €119m.
This estimate is based on the latest available data and reflects macro-economic indicators for 2018 only. It should be noted that the estimates do not take possible changes in behaviour arising from increasing the rates of contribution into account.
1910. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding an application for carer’s allowance by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38674/17]
View answerAn application for carer's allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 6 June 2017 in respect of two care recipients.
It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have such disability that they require full-time care and attention.
This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continuous supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.
The evidence submitted in support of these applications was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied for either care recipient.
The person concerned was notified on 8 September 2017 of these decisions, the reasons for them and of her right of review and appeal.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1911. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding an application for carer’s allowance by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38675/17]
View answerI confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on the 4 August 2017. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1912. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an appeal of a decision to refuse an invalidity pension by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38683/17]
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 allow 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.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1913. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the development of sectorial response plans to Brexit, the publication date of these plans; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38693/17]
View answer1914. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the issues identified for consideration in the context of Brexit, including opportunities and their prioritisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38709/17]
View answer1915. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the details of issues identified for consideration in the context of Brexit, including threats and their prioritisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38725/17]
View answer1916. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the scenario planning that has been conducted by her Department for Brexit. [38741/17]
View answer1917. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the methodology employed in the prioritisation of responses to Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38757/17]
View answer1918. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the funds that have been requested in response to threats resulting from Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38773/17]
View answer1919. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the funds have been allocated in response to threats resulting from Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38805/17]
View answer1921. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her Department’s priorities for risk mitigation in response to Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38837/17]
View answer1923. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the Brexit-related research currently being undertaken by her Department; the topics under consideration; the date this research commenced; the expected date for completion and publication in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38885/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1913 to 1919, inclusive, 1921 and 1923 together.
The comprehensive document “Ireland and the negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union: The Government’ Approach ” published on 2 May outlined in detail the structures put in place by the Government to ensure a strategic and whole-of Government response to Brexit that ensures a coordinated approach to the identification of key priority issues for the EU-UK negotiations and the wider domestic response.
Since the publication of the comprehensive document, the Government has sought to further increase its strategic oversight of Brexit through the addition of a dedicated responsibility for Brexit matters to the role of the Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade. The Cabinet Committee structures have also been reformed and a new Cabinet Committee has been established to deal with EU Affairs including Brexit.
The Government’s National Risk Assessment 2017, which provides a systematic overview of strategic risks facing the country, was published on 29 August following a public consultation process. The National Risk Assessment acknowledges the significance of risk arising from Brexit, and that Brexit represents an overarching theme that could have far-reaching impacts on nearly all aspects of national life. It identifies areas where Brexit poses a specific risk, particularly in relation to the economy.
As set out in comprehensive document of 2 May, the Government’s continuing work to ensure that Ireland’s interests are reflected in the EU’s approach to the ongoing EU-UK negotiations is a central dimension of Ireland’s strategic response to Brexit.
Work is also continuing across Government on Ireland’s wider response to the challenges and opportunities posed by Brexit, building on ongoing cross-Government research, analysis and consultations with stakeholders and encompassing the following themes:
- sustainable fiscal policies to ensure capacity to absorb and respond to economic shocks, not least from Brexit;
- policies to make Irish enterprise more diverse and resilient, to diversify trade and investment patterns, and to strengthen competitiveness;
- prioritising policy measures and dedicating resources to protect jobs and businesses in the sectors and regions most affected by Brexit;
- realising economic opportunities arising from Brexit, and helping businesses adjust to any new logistical or trade barriers arising;
- making a strong case at EU level that Ireland will require support that recognises where Brexit represents a serious disturbance to the Irish economy.
Policy decisions in support of these objectives also arise across a wide range of areas, including the annual budgetary process; the forthcoming National Planning Framework 2040; the new 10-year National Capital Plan; the Review of Enterprise 2025 Policy, and sectoral policies and investment decisions in areas such as agriculture, enterprise, transport, communications and energy.
The Government's objective is to ensure that the reciprocity of civic rights and social welfare rights and entitlements, which currently exist for Irish and UK citizens moving within Ireland and between Ireland and Britain under the Common Travel Area (CTA), are safeguarded and maintained.
In that regard and in relation to the areas under my remit, the key area of concern is the impact of Brexit on the current reciprocal arrangements for social insurance (which includes pensions) and social assistance (means tested schemes linked to residency rights) and child benefit between Ireland and the UK, including Northern Ireland.
As with all EU Member States, Ireland and the UK are part of a system of social security coordination that sets down common rules to protect the social security rights of people moving within Europe. These rules are provided for in very detailed Regulations [883/2004 and 987/2009]. They do not replace national systems with a single European one but, rather, provide a bridge between national systems to ensure social security protection for people when moving within Europe – that is, the current EU28, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. This coordination prevents, for example, a person being left without protection or having double-coverage in a cross-border situation.
The following table details the national legislation to which the EU rules on social security coordination apply and the Irish benefits classified under each heading:
|
Schemes |
Classification of Irish social welfare schemes-benefits |
|
Family Benefits |
Child Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance, Family Income Supplement, Back to Work Family Dividend, One-Parent Family Payment and Guardian’s Payment [non-contributory] |
|
Unemployment Benefits |
Jobseeker’s Benefit |
|
Old Age and Survivors Benefits |
State Pension [Contributory], Widow/er’s and Surviving Civil Partner’s [Contributory] Pension, Guardian’s Payment [Contributory] |
|
Invalidity Benefits |
Invalidity Pension, Partial Capacity Benefit |
|
Sickness and Maternity Benefits |
Illness Benefit, Maternity Benefit, Health and Safety Benefit, Adoptive Benefit, Carer’s Benefit, Treatment Benefit |
|
Benefits in respect of accidents at work and occupational diseases |
Incapacity Supplement, Constant Care Allowance |
|
Applicable Social Security Legislation – posted workers |
For example, liability for social security contributions where a person - Has been posted from Ireland to the UK or vice versa; - Is concurrently employed or self-employed in Ireland and the UK |
The Department is continuing an assessment of the implications of Brexit on these areas on a scheme-by-scheme, client and service provision basis. This is part of ongoing Brexit analysis and scenario planning for input into larger Government deliberative processes and it is considered that all of these areas merit equal prioritisation as they fundamentally relate to the rights, entitlements and wellbeing of our citizens.
1922. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the membership and role of all Brexit-related stakeholder engagement groups working with her Department on Brexit issues; the number of times each stakeholder group has met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38853/17]
View answerThe Department held an All-Island Sectoral Dialogue on 16 February last, hosted by my predecessor. The theme of this stakeholder engagement event was ‘Brexit: implications for social welfare pensions, social insurance and social welfare rights-entitlements’. The event was attended by some 40 people from civil society and the Department’s citizen representative groups, business, trade unions and academia. A list of the organisations represented at the dialogue is below in a tabular statement. A further such stakeholder event will held in due course.
The Department also holds regular focus group meetings with its client representative groups. Most recently, on 11th July, the Department’s Brexit Unit met with this group to update our stakeholders on developments and listen to concerns or any issues arising. Brexit will be a standing item on the agenda of future meetings of this group.
|
Organisations attending All Island Sectoral Dialogue: 16 February 2017 |
|
Age Action Ireland |
|
Alone |
|
British-Irish Chamber of Commerce |
|
Centre for Cross-Border Studies |
|
Citizens Information Board [CIB] |
|
Crosscare Migrant Project |
|
Department of the Taoiseach |
|
Deaf Hear |
|
European Anti Poverty Network - EAPN Ireland |
|
EURES Cross Border Partnership |
|
FLAC |
|
IBEC |
|
Irish Congress of Trade Unions [ICTU] |
|
Irish Local Development Network |
|
Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed [INOU] |
|
Irish Rural Link |
|
Irish Senior Citizens Parliament |
|
ISME |
|
Maynooth NUIM |
|
National Economic and Social Council [NESC] |
|
National Youth Council of Ireland |
|
New Communities Partnership |
|
North/South Ministerial Council |
|
Oireachtas Joint Committee on Social Protection |
|
One Family |
|
Pavee Point |
|
The Pensions Authority |
|
Office of the Pensions Ombudsman |
|
The Pensions Council |
|
Retired Workers' Committee - ICTU |
|
Safe Home Ireland |
|
Simon Community |
|
SIPTU (incl SIPTU retired members) |
|
Social Democratic Labour Party [SDLP] |
|
Social Justice Ireland |
|
Treoir |
|
Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice |
1924. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the expenditure savings that are earmarked for her Department for 2018 that are not accounted for in the mid-year expenditure report or are not included in the fiscal space calculations for 2018. [38901/17]
View answerThe Mid-Year Expenditure Report, published in July, sets out the Pre-Budget Ceiling for the Department of Social Protection for 2018. The amount included in this ceiling reflects certain demographic pressures primarily relating to the state pension and anticipated savings from reductions in expenditure on the Live Register. As part of the Budget Estimates process, the forecast of changes in Live Register-related expenditure and changes in other Social Protection scheme expenditure is subject to reassessment. This assessment is ongoing and will be considered in the context of the preparation of the Estimates for 2018. Where any savings are identified, such savings could be used to meet any emerging spending pressures without impacting on fiscal space.
1925. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding a domiciliary care grant for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [38916/17]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance was received from this lady on the 23rd December 2016. This application was not allowed as the child was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for the allowance. A letter issued on the 7th April 2017 outlining the decision of the deciding officer to refuse the allowance.
An appeal of this decision was requested on 4th May 2017. The application will be re-examined by a deciding officer and a revised decision will be made if warranted, or alternatively, the case will be referred for consideration by the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
The person concerned will be notified of the outcome of the deciding officer’s review as soon as it is completed.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1926. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason participants on community employment schemes are not allowed to draw down the fuel allowance in two lump-sum payments; the rationale for this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38920/17]
View answerFuel Allowance is a means tested payment to assist householders on long-term social welfare payments who are unable to provide for their own heating needs. Fuel allowance is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only one allowance is paid per household. Up until now fuel allowance was payable as a weekly payment only.
I recently announced that the Department’s fuel allowance customers would be given a choice to be paid in two lump sums, if they wished to have this option, rather than a weekly payment. This is being done initially on a trial basis for the upcoming fuel season. Recipients of the lump sum payment are in effect getting up front advances of payment on what would have been weekly payments for the duration of the fuel season. As it is a trial and as participants on Community Employment Schemes and the Rural Social Schemes (Tús and Gateway) are not paid directly by my Department, these customers are not being given the option of the lump sum payment this time round. The lump sum approach to payment of the fuel allowance will be fully reviewed at the end of this fuel season and the feasibility of extending the choice of payment frequency to these other cohorts of customers will be examined further at that stage.
1927. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will issue a certificate of earnings for 2015 and 2016 from the invalidity section to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38941/17]
View answerInvalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
A statement of his IP payments for 2015 and 2016 issued to the gentleman concerned on the 7 September 2017 as requested.
1928. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding the payment of family income supplement to persons who are on community employment project schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38950/17]
View answerThe Family Income Supplement (FIS) is an in-work support, which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. FIS is designed to prevent in-work poverty for low paid workers with child dependants and to offer a financial incentive to take-up employment. There are currently nearly 57,000 families with more than 126,000 children in receipt of FIS. The estimated spend on FIS this year is approximately €422 million.
To qualify for FIS, a person must be engaged in full-time insurable employment which is expected to last for at least 3 months and be working for a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight or 19 hours per week. A couple may combine their hours of employment to meet the qualification criteria. The applicant must also have at least one qualified child who normally resides with them or is supported by them. Furthermore, the average family income must be below a specified amount, which varies according to the number of qualified children in the family.
My Department provides a range of activation supports catering for long-term unemployed jobseekers. These supports include employment schemes such as Community Employment (CE), Tús, and Gateway. One cannot get FIS if on one of these schemes. These schemes provide part-time temporary work in local communities, as a stepping stone back to employment. The objective of these schemes is to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work readiness, thereby improving a person’s opportunities to return to the labour market. It is possible for a household to receive a FIS payment where the spouse or partner of the FIS applicant is engaged on one of these schemes. However, to pay FIS directly to someone who is participating in one of these schemes would reduce the incentive for that person to move off a supported employment programme and into full time remunerative employment.
Research from the ESRI shows that people are better off in work, the results, based on an analysis of current incomes, benefits and taxes, suggest that more than eight out of ten of these unemployed jobseekers would see their income increase by at least 40 per cent upon taking up employment. FIS helps recipients to gain a firm foothold in work and build a better future for their families.
