Written Answers Nos. 500-518
500. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his Department has undertaken procurement processes in respect of consultancy agencies, media or otherwise, to assist it with formulating or contributing to policy messaging on social media or videos relating to his departmental strategies or policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15395/19]
View answerIn terms of social media channels, my Department maintains a single Twitter account and generally manages this on an ongoing basis without input or assistance from consultancies or other agencies.
My Department has two initiatives currently ongoing which have availed of professional assistance in terms of social media and video production.
The planned National Community Weekend in May will support communities to host events in their local area in order to strengthen community ties and help tackle the problem of social isolation. This national event is being promoted and supported through social media platforms with the assistance of an agency contracted for this purpose. This agency was appointed by my Department following a competitive process run under public procurement rules.
My Department is also currently running a series of Rural Opportunity briefings, which are being delivered through regional events and social media messages. The briefings seek to highlight the opportunities available to those in rural communities through the funding programmes provided across Government and to showcase some of the best examples of how funding has been used in order to inspire individuals and communities to take their own ideas or projects forward. A video has been produced which features relevant case studies of communities and projects in rural areas which have been successfully delivered with the aid of funding supports. The video case studies are being disseminated on social media with promotional impetus provided by an agency contracted for this purpose. The companies involved in the video production and the social media promotion were both contracted on foot of a procurement process conducted under Office of Government Procurement guidelines.
501. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the way in which his departmental officials have been contributing to and taken part in Government of Ireland social media messages; the way in which they are co-ordinated in each of the policy areas of his Department; the Department that is the lead Department in respect of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15412/19]
View answerMy Department delivers its own public interest content through social media and on occasion helps to promote relevant messages and campaigns led by other Government Departments, for example, Brexit preparedness information and Project Ireland 2040 progress updates of interest.
My Department also shares relevant items featured on the MerrionStreet.ie website and Government or stakeholder social media accounts.
My Department is currently undertaking a series of Rural Opportunity briefings for communities, which are being delivered through regional events and sharing of information through social media. The briefings seek to highlight the opportunities available to those in rural communities through the funding programmes provided across Government and to showcase some of the best examples of how funding has been used in order to inspire individuals and communities to take their own ideas or projects forward.
This initiative is being coordinated and led by my Department with input from other Government Departments and state agencies.
502. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount approved by each local action group, LAG, to date for projects under the LEADER programme; the amount spent to date on projects by each LAG; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15432/19]
View answerLEADER is a multi-annual programme with a total budget of €250 million over the period 2014-2020. €220 million of this funding has been allocated to the Local Action Groups (LAGs) throughout the country who deliver the LEADER programme. This funding is allocated to the LAGs for the full period of the programme.
The remaining €30 million is available for thematic schemes to be delivered at a national level and is allocated as projects are approved.
Table 1 provides a breakdown of the projects approved by each Local Action Group together with details of the project payments made to date.
Total expenditure on the LEADER programme since it commenced, effectively in 2016, has amounted to almost €44.2 million. The level of project activity under the LEADER programme has increased significantly over the last year, and 1,800 projects have now been approved for funding of over €62.2 million. A further 377 project applications, requesting in excess of €23.4 million, are at various stages in the approval process.
The figures do not include expenditure or approvals under national-level thematic schemes which operate on a competitive bid basis.
Table 1: Total LEADER Approvals and Project Payments by LAG as of 31 st March 2019
|
Local Action Group |
No. of Approved Projects |
Value of Approved Projects |
Project Payments to date |
|
Carlow |
27 |
€1,721,744 |
€871,066 |
|
Cavan |
47 |
€2,900,475 |
€630,488 |
|
Clare |
117 |
€2,288,547 |
€613,914 |
|
Cork North |
46 |
€1,819,931 |
€514,484 |
|
Cork South |
18 |
€618,621 |
€213,124 |
|
Cork West |
24 |
€1,026,199 |
€196,938 |
|
Donegal |
104 |
€4,647,432 |
€2,122,541 |
|
Dublin Rural |
46 |
€1,396,393 |
€401,712 |
|
Galway East |
41 |
€1,597,745 |
€38,024 |
|
Galway West |
27 |
€630,594 |
€143,852 |
|
Kerry |
190 |
€3,800,300 |
€1,127,766 |
|
Kildare |
21 |
€912,242 |
€110,037 |
|
Kilkenny |
57 |
€1,589,335 |
€674,184 |
|
Laois |
57 |
€1,302,208 |
€699,089 |
|
Leitrim |
54 |
€2,022,167 |
€433,716 |
|
Limerick |
72 |
€3,848,519 |
€796,036 |
|
Longford |
45 |
€1,029,608 |
€111,398 |
|
Louth |
57 |
€1,578,984 |
€389,346 |
|
Mayo |
104 |
€4,320,369 |
€692,008 |
|
Meath |
34 |
€1,424,771 |
€113,876 |
|
Monaghan |
38 |
€2,257,255 |
€516,742 |
|
Offaly |
111 |
€2,436,368 |
€1,050,077 |
|
Roscommon |
39 |
€2,410,886 |
€325,312 |
|
Sligo |
84 |
€2,658,703 |
€791,919 |
|
Tipperary |
112 |
€3,557,629 |
€649,777 |
|
Waterford |
45 |
€3,060,662 |
€1,598,618 |
|
Westmeath |
49 |
€871,485 |
€348,887 |
|
Wexford |
95 |
€3,465,816 |
€576,777 |
|
Wicklow |
39 |
€1,053,314 |
€211,000 |
|
Grand Total |
1,800 |
€62,248,303 |
€16,962,709 |
503. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress made on the implementation of the Action Plan for Rural Development to date; and when the next progress report will issue. [15482/19]
View answerProgress Reports on the implementation of the Action Plan for Rural Development are published twice a year on my Department's website, www.drcd.gov.ie. The most recent, Third Progress Report, was published in November 2018 and outlines the progress which took place in relation to all actions due for delivery between January and June 2018, or which are being implemented on an ongoing basis over the course of the three-year Action Plan.
Of the 275 actions reported on in the Third Progress Report, 266 had been completed or were substantially advanced. A number of case studies also feature in the report, which illustrate the positive impact the actions being delivered are having on rural communities.
The co-ordinated, whole-of Government approach of the Action Plan is achieving benefits in terms of increased employment in the regions and increased investment in projects and communities across the country. Since 2015, there has been an increase of 146,400 in numbers employed in regions outside of Dublin, surpassing the Government’s target of 135,000 by 2020. There has also been significant investment in towns, villages and communities right across the country, with thousands of projects, large and small, benefiting from support from my Department and from other Government Departments.
My Department is currently finalising the Fourth Progress Report on the Action Plan for Rural Development, which will report on the delivery of measures in the second half of 2018. This report will be published in the current calendar quarter, following its consideration by the Monitoring Committee for the Action Plan.
The Action Plan for Rural Development runs to the end of 2019 and consideration is now being given by my Department to the next phase of rural development policy to follow on from the Action Plan. My Department has commenced engagement with stakeholders in relation to some aspects of this policy and further consultation will take place over the coming months through a series of stakeholder workshops throughout the country.
504. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his Department has an operating language scheme in accordance with the Official Languages Act 2003; and the date on which such a scheme was introduced. [15497/19]
View answerMy Department was established on 19 July 2017 and has recently completed work on its first Irish Language Scheme, which will be in effect for the period of 2019-2021 in accordance with the Guidelines outlined under Section 12 of the Official Languages Act 2003.
I am pleased to confirm that the draft scheme has now been approved by the Minister of State, Seán Kyne, at the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. The scheme shall remain in operation for a period of three years from 8 April 2019 or until a new scheme has been approved.
The Scheme has been formulated with the intention of ensuring that all relevant obligations under the Official Languages Act 2003 relating to my Department are being fully addressed on an incremental basis, through this and future schemes.
505. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the allowance for adults in direct provision from €38.80 per week to €40, €42, €43, €44 and €45, respectively, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14725/19]
View answer506. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the allowance for children in direct provision from €29.80 to €31, €32, €33, €34 and €35, respectively, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14726/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 505 and 506 together.
The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection administers the daily expenses allowance which is paid to applicants for international protection who live in the direct provision system where they are provided with full board, accommodation and other services by the Reception and Integration Agency of the Department of Justice and Equality.
The Government has provided €9.38 million for the allowance in 2019. The weekly rates of payment were increased in Budget 2019 from €21.60 per adult and per child to €38.80 per adult and to €29.80 per child.
There are approximately 3,700 adults and 1,600 children residing in the system of direct provision in respect of whom daily expenses allowance is being paid. The full-year costs, based on the current numbers, of increasing the adult rate from €38.80 to €40.00, €42.00, €43.00, €44.00 and €45.00, and of increasing the weekly child rate from €29.80 to €31.00, €32.00, €33.00, €34.00 and €35.00 are provided in the tabular statements.
Any increases to the rate of daily expenses allowance would have to be approved by Government and considered in a budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Tabular Statement 1: Cost of increasing Adult Rate of Daily Expenses Allowances.
|
Proposed Rate |
Additional full-year cost to increase adult rate from €38.80 to amount shown (based on 3,700 adult recipients) |
|
Increase to €40 |
€230,880 |
|
Increase to €42 |
€615,680 |
|
Increase to €43 |
€808,080 |
|
Increase to €44 |
€1,000,480 |
|
Increase to €45 |
€1,192,880 |
Tabular Statement 2: Cost of increasing Child Rate of Daily Expenses Allowance
|
Proposed Rate |
Additional full-year cost to increase child rate from €29.80 to amount shown (based on 1,600 child recipients) |
|
Increase to €31 |
€99,840 |
|
Increase to €32 |
€183,040 |
|
Increase to €33 |
€266,240 |
|
Increase to €34 |
€349,440 |
|
Increase to €35 |
€432,640 |
507. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing payments (details supplied) by €5 and €10, respectively, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14727/19]
View answerThe costings sought by the Deputy are detailed in the following tables.
|
Scheme |
€5 increase |
€10 increase |
|
Carer’s Allowance |
€16.32m |
€32.64m |
|
Carer’s Benefit |
€0.72m |
€1.44m |
|
Disability Allowance |
€39.57m |
€79.13m |
|
Illness Benefit |
€13.72m |
€27.48m |
|
Blind Pension |
€0.33m |
€0.67m |
|
Invalidity Pension |
€16.28m |
€32.52m |
The costs shown above are on a full-year basis and are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2019. It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2020.
It should also be noted that these costings include proportionate increases for qualified adults and for those on reduced rates of payment, where relevant.
508. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the fuel allowance by one, two, three and four weeks, respectively, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14728/19]
View answerThe estimated cost of increasing the fuel allowance for the periods sought by the Deputy are detailed in the table below:
|
|
1 week increase |
2 week increase |
3 week increase |
4 week increase |
|
Fuel Allowance |
€8.41m |
€16.82m |
€25.23m |
€33.64m |
The costs shown above are on a full-year basis and are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2019. It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2020.
509. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year expenditure on the household benefits package; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14729/19]
View answerThe Household Benefits Package is made up of a choice of either Electricity or Gas Allowance, and Free Television Licence. These allowances provide a contribution towards electricity or gas, as well as the cost of the annual Television Licence. Only one household package is paid per household, subject to household composition. Household Benefits Package may be funded from either the Vote or the Fund, depending on the origin of the primary scheme entitlement of the recipient [e.g. State Pension (Non-Contributory from the Vote) or State Pension (Contributory from the Fund)].
The estimated cost for the Household Benefits package in 2019 is €248m of which the Vote element is €89.9m and the Fund element €158.1m.
The 2019 full-year cost as per the published 2019 Revised Estimates are detailed in the following table:
|
|
2019 |
2019 |
2019 |
|
|
Vote 37 |
Social Insurance Fund |
Total |
|
|
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
|
Electricity Allowance |
61,650 |
105,130 |
166,690 |
|
Gas Allowance |
5,475 |
15,690 |
21,165 |
|
Free Television License |
22,838 |
37,327 |
60,165 |
|
Total |
89,873 |
158,147 |
248,020 |
510. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing rent supplement limits by on average of 10%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14730/19]
View answer550. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of rent supplement by county; the number who have had their payment increased over the prescribed limits in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14994/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 510 and 550 together.
Rent supplement continues its important role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting approximately 22,600 recipients for which the Government has provided €132.4 million for 2019. Based on the current customer volumes and the intercounty mix of recipients, the forecast full-year cost of increasing rent limits by 10% would be in the region of €17.4 million.
However, it must be emphasised that rent supplement is only one part of the Government’s intervention within the private rental sector. The other two main schemes - rental accommodation scheme (approx. 18,900 claimants) and the housing assistance payment scheme (approx. 45,000 claimants) - also use rent supplement’s rent limits. Any costing exercise for rent limits needs to consider the cost impact for both of these two schemes, along with other ancillary schemes using rent limits as part of their pricing strategies operated by local authorities.
Any increases made to rent limits may add further inflationary pressure on pricing expectations of landlords; this will be of most concern to lower-percentile property values within the rental market, i.e., low-income working families renting in urban areas would be the group most likely affected.
In recognition of the ongoing rental market difficulties, the Department continues to implement a targeted case-by-case flexible payment policy approach that allows for flexibility where landlords seek rents in excess of the rent limits. To date, approximately 13,500 cases have been provided additional flexible payment arrangements, i.e. have received support in excess of the prevailing rent limits. Rent supplement recipients by county along with the payments made under the case-by-case flexible payment National Framework since its inception in 2015 are provided in the below tabular statement.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Tabular Statement: Total Increased Rental Payments by County and Rent Supplement Recipients.
|
County |
Recipients End of February 2019 |
Cumulative Cases 2015 - 19 March 2019 |
|
CARLOW |
209 |
91 |
|
CAVAN |
187 |
83 |
|
CLARE |
108 |
64 |
|
CORK |
2,630 |
766 |
|
DONEGAL |
87 |
0 |
|
DUBLIN |
11,659 |
7,922 |
|
GALWAY |
1,050 |
228 |
|
KERRY |
742 |
364 |
|
KILDARE |
992 |
712 |
|
KILKENNY |
116 |
140 |
|
LAOIS |
213 |
187 |
|
LEITRIM |
83 |
108 |
|
LIMERICK |
465 |
19 |
|
LONGFORD |
120 |
368 |
|
LOUTH |
185 |
208 |
|
MAYO |
334 |
42 |
|
MEATH |
271 |
510 |
|
MONAGHAN |
106 |
1 |
|
OFFALY |
80 |
74 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
209 |
111 |
|
SLIGO |
73 |
1 |
|
TIPPERARY |
235 |
375 |
|
WATERFORD |
118 |
74 |
|
WESTMEATH |
594 |
487 |
|
WEXFORD |
712 |
26 |
|
WICKLOW |
1,012 |
541 |
|
TOTAL |
22,590 |
13,502 |
511. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the qualified child increase by €2, €3, €4 and €5, respectively, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14732/19]
View answerThe costings sought by the Deputy are detailed in the following tables.
|
Qualified Child Increase |
€2 increase |
€3 increase |
€4 increase |
€5 increase |
|
Cost of Increase |
€32.71m |
€49.07m |
€65.43m |
€81.79m |
The costs shown above are on a full-year basis and are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2019. It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2020.
512. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing expenditure on the school meals programme by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%, respectively, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14733/19]
View answerThe School Meals Programme operated by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection provides funding towards provision of food services for disadvantaged school children.
The cost of increasing the programme by the amounts sought by the Deputy are presented in the following table:
|
Increase |
Cost (€m) |
|
5% |
2.8 |
|
10% |
5.7 |
|
15% |
8.6 |
|
20% |
11.3 |
Costs are based on 2019 expenditure estimates.
513. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the annual expenditure on the Low Pay Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14734/19]
View answerThe Low Pay Commission was established on 26 February 2015 through the National Minimum Wage (Low Pay Commission) Act 2015. Its principal function is, once each year, to examine the national minimum hourly rate of pay and to make a recommendation to the Minister respecting the rate, and ensuring that all decisions are evidence-based, fair and sustainable, and do not create significant adverse consequences for employment or competitiveness.
I published the first three-year report of the Commission on 26 March. It provides a breakdown of the Commission's expenditure since its establishment, which is set out in the table.
The three-year report from the Low Pay Commission demonstrates the work that has been done by the Commission since it was established in 2015. Alongside its core task of making recommendations each year to Government on the appropriate rate for the National Minimum Wage, the Commission has examined and reported on matters as diverse as the sub-minimum rates of the National Minimum Wage, the preponderance of women on the National Minimum Wage, and the allowances provided for Board and Lodgings under the National Minimum Wage.
|
Expenditure Item |
2015** |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
|
Salaries* |
€94,000 |
€150,000 |
€112,000 |
€149,200 |
|
Fees |
€61,400 |
€81,000 |
€60,000 |
€75,300 |
|
Research |
€75,000 |
€55,000 |
€84,000 |
€55,000 |
|
Administration** |
€20,300 |
€21,000 |
€15,000 |
€27,600 |
|
Total |
€250,700 |
€307,000 |
€271,000 |
€307,100 |
|
of which: |
|
|
|
|
|
Pay |
€155,400 |
€231,000 |
€172,000 |
€224,500 |
|
Non-Pay |
€95,300 |
€76,000 |
€99,000 |
€82,600 |
* Salaries refer to the Secretariat of the LPC
** This includes payments during the Commission’s interim period of operations from February 2015. The first full year of operation was 2016.
514. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing maternity benefit from 26 weeks to 30 and 34 weeks, respectively, for those who have had multiple births; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14735/19]
View answerThe Department of Justice and Equality has policy responsibility for maternity leave which is provided for in the 1994 and 2004 Maternity Acts. Any decision to extend the duration of maternity leave, including that for families with multiple births, would be the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality. My Department has responsibility for the payment of maternity benefit which is provided for in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended).
There is a provision of €256m for maternity benefit for 2019. The most recent CSO data from 2016 indicates that there were 1,215 instances of multiple births in Ireland, representing 1.9% of all births. Based on an apportionment of 1.9% of maternity benefit recipients, the cost of extending the period of this benefit from 26 weeks to 30 or 34 weeks could cost some €724,000 and €1,447,000 respectively. There would also be additional costs for employers including substitution and public sector pay costs which would be a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Decisions around the extension of this benefit would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
As the Deputy will be aware, I have recently announced the introduction of a new paid parental benefit for parents which will support parents to spend additional time with their babies and provide more flexibility in managing a work-life balance. This new benefit will be available to parents from late 2019 and will provide for 2 weeks' paid leave to each parent of a child aged under 1 year on parental leave from work. These 2 weeks are additional to that already available under maternity benefit and paternity benefit.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
515. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of paying a double child benefit payment to parents on the birth of a child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14736/19]
View answerChild benefit is paid to 630,000 qualifying adults in respect of over 1.2 million children with an annual cost in 2018 of €2.1 billion.
The estimated full-year cost of issuing a double child benefit payment to parents on the birth of a child is approximately €8.72 million.
This estimate is based on the number of child benefit claims (61,856) received in respect of first and additional children in 2018. It assumes the payment of €140, representing an additional month’s payment in respect of these children. Multiple births are paid a higher rate and this additional cost has been factored in to the estimate.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
516. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of equalising jobseeker payments for those under 26 years of age to the standard rate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14737/19]
View answerThe estimated full-year cost of equalising jobseeker payments for those under 26 years of age to the standard rate of €203 per week is €57.75 million.
The cost is on a full-year basis and is based on the estimated number of recipients in 2019. It should be noted that this cost is subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2020.
It should also be noted the cost includes proportionate increases for qualified adults and Supplementary Welfare Allowance payments, where relevant.
517. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of advocates in the National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities; the estimated full-year cost of increasing the number of advocates by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%, respectively, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14738/19]
View answerThe National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities (NAS) provides an independent, confidential and free issues-based representative advocacy service that works exclusively for the person using the service and adheres to the highest professional standards. NAS has a particular remit for people with disabilities who are isolated from their community and services, have communication differences, are inappropriately accommodated, live in residential services, attend day services or have limited informal or natural supports.
NAS currently operates with a staffing of 52.5 whole-time equivalents, broken down as follows:
|
National Manager |
Corporate Services Manager |
HR Executive |
Policy & Comms Officer |
Regional Manager |
Senior Advocate |
Advocate |
Administrator |
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
8 |
31.5 |
5 |
NAS is funded and supported by the Citizens Information Board (CIB), which has a mandate under the Citizens Information Act 2007 to provide advocacy for people with disabilities. The NAS operational grant from the Citizens Information Board for 2019 amounts to €3,250,952.
Based on 2019 costs, the following table shows the estimated cost if the number of advocates (including senior advocates) were increased by certain percentages, as requested by the Deputy.
|
Increase in number of advocates (including senior advocates) |
5% |
10% |
15% |
20% |
|
Estimated Full-Year NAS Cost |
€3,383,570 |
€3,516,187 |
€3,648,805 |
€3,781, 423 |
The estimates detailed above include employer PRSI and pension contributions and estimated overheads. The figures do not include any additional administrative or managerial costs that may result were the number of advocate posts to be increased.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
518. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of introducing two weeks' paid bereavement leave at a rate of €203 per week per parent who has been bereaved of a child under 18 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14739/19]
View answerThe question as to whether an employee is entitled to take time off in such circumstances depends on whether any provision exists in the employee’s contract of employment providing for such leave. For the vast majority of workers, conditions of employment, including bereavement leave provisions, are matters for negotiation between employers and employees. In the absence of any such provisions in an employment contract, bereavement leave is normally granted at the discretion of the employer.
My colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, has policy responsibility for maternity leave, parental leave, carer's leave, and force majeure leave. So the issue of bereavement leave would fall within this category of compassionate or family leave. I understand that officials at the Department of Justice and Equality are currently working on a Family Leave Bill, which will consolidate into one piece of legislation the current provisions regarding maternity, adoptive, parental and carer’s leave. However, I understand that there are no proposals to include Bereavement Leave in this Bill.
It is not readily possible to provide an estimated full-year cost of introducing two weeks' paid bereavement leave per parent who has been bereaved of a child under 18 as it would depend on a range of variables - including the likely number of such bereavements, the likely number of parents covered by social insurance contributions, the eligibility requirements that would be determined for such a scheme, etc.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
