Written Answers Nos. 1004-1028
1005. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number and amount of respite care grants paid in the recent weeks; if the amount has increased in comparison to the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11126/20]
View answerThe Carer's Support Grant is an annual payment made to carers by my Department. The annual grant of €1,700 is available to all carers providing full-time care to an older person or a person with a disability, regardless of their means or social insurance contributions. It is not means tested and is assessed on the level of care being provided by the carer.
On 4 June 2020, 125,000 grants were paid carers receiving the Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit or Domiciliary Care Allowance and to other full-time carers who are not receiving any of these payments. The estimated expenditure on the Carer’s Support Grant this year is €237.32 million.
In 2019 my Department made payments of over 129,000 Carer’s Support Grants totaling €219.54 million, in 2018 payments almost 120,000 grants were paid to carer's totaling €203.96 million and in 2017 over 113,000 grants were paid to carers totaling €192.92 million.
Although the number of grants paid for 2020 is less than 2019, it only includes grants paid up to and including 4th June 2020. It is expected further applications will be received before the closing date. Applications for the 2020 grant can be submitted up until 31 December, 2021.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1006. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a disability allowance appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11131/20]
View answerFollowing the submission of further medical evidence by the person concerned, their disability allowance (DA) application was reviewed and they were awarded a reduced payment of DA with effect from 16 October 2019. The first payment was made on 6 May 2020.
New information was received and a review was carried out on the means of the person concerned on 8 April 2020 and on 10 June 2020. Following a review of the entitlement of this lady, it was found that she had a decrease in her means from her previous assessments. Based on the information provided to my department, a maximum rate of disability allowance (DA) was awarded with effect from 18 March 2020.
A letter issued to this lady informing her of this decision on 10 June 2020. Arrears of payment due have issued to the person concerned.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1007. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a disability allowance was reduced for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11132/20]
View answerA review of this lady’s disability allowance (DA) was carried out and it was established that the person concerned had means not previously disclosed to this department. DA is a means-tested payment. Means were assessed from the employment of the person concerned and the employment of her spouse, and a reduced amount of DA was awarded.
On 7 November 2019, the person concerned was informed of this decision and she was also notified of her right to seek a review of this decision or to appeal it directly to the social welfare appeals office (SWAO). This lady has lodged an appeal with the SWAO and it is on-going.
A letter giving further clarification on how her weekly payment was calculated and a breakdown of how her means were assessed issued to the person concerned on 21 November 2019.
Following a change in her circumstances this lady's DA was reviewed and it was found that she had an decrease in her means from her previous assessment. An increased rate of DA has been awarded from 18 March 2020. She was notified of this decision on 19 March 2020.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1008. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of farmers who have been granted the pandemic unemployment payment since it was introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11149/20]
View answerTo receive the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), a person must have been in employment or self-employment in March, and must have lost their employment as a result of the public health emergency.
I am advised that it is not possible to provide the information sought by the Deputy. However some 10,047 people who previously worked in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing sectors have received at least one Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) since the payment was introduced on March 16th 2020. This sector data is based on industry of the recipient's last known employer, and does not reflect the current sector for PUP recipients who are self-employed.
1009. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the embargo on community employment schemes is to be lifted; the time frame for this; and her plans to ensure that placements on Tús or community employment schemes are extended if and when they resume again due to the fact three months' experience were lost to participants when the schemes were suspended. [11195/20]
View answerIt is important to note that the Department did not introduce an embargo on any of the employment support schemes during the Covid-19 emergency. In light of the national health and safety guidelines and social distancing measures introduced, and in conjunction with sponsoring authorities and implementing bodies, recruitment was suspended for the period of the emergency and existing participants had their employment contracts extended until further notice.
Now that the country has begun the process of returning to normal operations and in keeping with the Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, the recruitment of new Community Employment (CE) and Tús participants has recommenced. New participants will commence on the employment schemes beginning in July.
During the Covid-19 emergency, my Department has continued to provide the necessary funding for CE and Tús schemes while also introducing a number of contingency measures, including the extension of existing CE and Tús participant contracts for the duration of the emergency. Those participants who had their contracts extended during the emergency period will finish-up on their schemes on a phased basis over the coming period.
Department officials will continue to work with those participants who are finishing up on CE and Tús.
1010. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person caring for two persons can claim a higher level of carer’s allowance than a person caring for one person; and if not, the reason. [11196/20]
View answerCarer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
An increased payment can be made where full-time care is being provided to two people.
A person who is caring for two care recipients can claim full rate CA of €219.00 per week for the first care recipient and an additional €109.50 half rate of CA for the second care recipient.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1012. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to extend the redundancy scheme moratorium for as long as the restrictions including social distance restrictions exist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11246/20]
View answerThe Government has extended the suspension of redundancy provisions relating to temporary lay-off and short-time work which arose as a result of Covid-19 until 10th August 2020.
A temporary suspension of these provisions was introduced on 13th March under new emergency measures as the existing provisions were not considered adequate to deal with the Covid-19 crisis. The suspension was considered vital to ensure the future viability of businesses and to help prevent further permanent job losses. In light of the on-going emergency situation the end date of the emergency measure has been extended from 31st May 2020 to 10th August 2020.
The Government has announced a roadmap for reopening society and businesses under which it is envisaged that most businesses should reopen by 10th August. At that stage it is likely that employers will have a clear understanding of their labour resource needs into the future. It is important to note that the employee’s right to claim redundancy has not been removed, but deferred for the emergency period in circumstances of temporary lay-off or short-time employment caused by the Covid-19 crisis. These arrangements have no effect on temporary lay-off and short-time work arising for reasons other than as a consequence Covid-19 where the rights of the employees remain unchanged.
1013. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if childcare providers who cannot reopen their childcare facilities as a result of severely reduced numbers due to the fact that parents of children are still working from home will continue to be eligible for the Covid-19 payment in these circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11285/20]
View answerThe COVID 19 pandemic unemployment payment was introduced as a time limited emergency measure in response to the pandemic and Government has agreed its extension until 10 August 2020. Changes were also announced to the structure of this payment which means that it continues to be a strong support which is also fair and targeted.
The Government is aware that there are certain professions and businesses which will be affected by business closures longer than other sectors. The confirmation that this payment will be available until early August provides financial certainty to people in these sectors. In addition, my colleague, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, has announced a major funding package to facilitate the reopening of childcare facilities from 29 June 2020. The details are available on www.gov.ie.
I trust this clarifies the position at this time.
1014. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if payment will be made for the nine months under the present eligibility criteria in cases in which a person transfers from the pandemic unemployment payment to jobseeker’s benefit; her plans to extend the payment beyond nine months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11317/20]
View answerJobseeker's benefit is a weekly payment to people who have lost their employment and who satisfy the scheme conditions including the requirement to have sufficient social insurance contributions paid. This benefit is paid for 9 months (234 days) for people with 260 or more PRSI contributions paid. It is paid for 6 months (156 days) for people who have less than 260 PRSI contributions paid.
Where a person transfers from the Covid-19 pandemic payment to jobseeker’s benefit, payment may be made for up to 9 months dependent on their PRSI contributions paid. Where a person has exhausted their claim for jobseeker’s benefit they may apply for means tested jobseeker’s allowance.
I trust that this clarifies the matter.
1016. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the supports that will be provided for family members who have lost a loved one from Covid-19. [11400/20]
View answerThere are a range of supports available from my Department for people following a bereavement.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, the Department may make an exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income. An application can be made under the ENP scheme for assistance with funeral and burial expenses where there is an inability to pay these costs, in part or in full, by the family of the deceased person without causing hardship.
Other supports available include the widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner’s (contributory and non-contributory) pension which is a weekly payment, based on contributions or a means test. The widowed or surviving civil partner grant is a once-off payment of €6,000 where there is a dependent child. A number of social welfare payments, including State pension, continue in payment for six weeks following a death. Guardian payments are available where someone cares for an orphaned child.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1017. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated amount it would cost in a full year to provide two extra weeks of fuel allowance to persons in receipt of the allowance for those over 80 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11432/20]
View answerThe Fuel Allowance is a means-tested payment to assist households in receipt of long-term social welfare payments, including pensioners and the long-term unemployed, who cannot provide for their own heating needs.
Customers are either paid €24.50 per week or in two lump sums of €343. The payment is made by means of an allowance paid alongside the customer’s primary payment.
Fuel Allowance is normally paid from October to April. As part of our response to the Covid pandemic, I secured agreement from Government to extend the 2019 / 2020 Fuel Season for all existing eligible customers on a once-off basis by 4 weeks to 8th May 2020, at an estimated cost of €34 million.
The Over-80 Allowance is an additional payment of €10 per week paid to people who are in receipt of a social welfare payment, including State pensions, and who are over 80 years of age.
The full year cost of increasing the duration of the Fuel Allowance season by two weeks for those who are in receipt of the allowance and also in receipt of the Over 80s Allowance is estimated to be €2.7 million.
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. Any decision to extend the fuel season would need to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
1020. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of staff by location and function in each office of her Department nationally. [11468/20]
View answerMy Department, like all Government departments and agencies is required to operate within a staff ceiling figure and a commensurate administrative staffing budget.
The staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continuously reviewed, taking account of workloads, management priorities and the on-going need to respond to new demands across a wide range of services. This is to ensure that the best use is made of available resources with a view to providing an efficient service to those who rely on the schemes operated by the Department.
The following table provides a breakdown of permanent staff in my Department by county location and function as at the end of May 2020. The figures provided are fulltime equivalents; this takes account of staff that avail of work-share options. In addition to these permanent staff, my Department has 390 Temporary Clerical Officers (TCOs) assigned to cover long term absences , carers leave, long term illness, the shorter working year scheme and to support the roll out of the Public Service Card and other projects. A number of these TCOs (87 in total) have been assigned to assist with my Department's response to the Covid pandemic.
|
|
ACTIVATION, PLANNING & EMPLOYMENT POLICY |
APPEALS OFFICE |
CENTRALISED SCHEMES * |
CONTROL |
GENERAL REGISTRARS OFFICE |
INTREO CENTRES |
ISD DIVISION |
SUPPORT AREAS ** |
|
Carlow |
|
|
|
2.00 |
|
41.88 |
|
|
|
Cavan |
|
|
|
1.00 |
|
44.13 |
|
|
|
Clare |
|
|
|
2.00 |
|
69.70 |
|
|
|
Cork |
|
5.00 |
|
10.30 |
|
277.51 |
1.00 |
43.53 |
|
Donegal |
53.20 |
3.00 |
280.98 |
9.00 |
|
156.24 |
1.00 |
|
|
Dublin |
210.70 |
56.15 |
210.61 |
50.50 |
5.80 |
807.87 |
219.83 |
310.59 |
|
Galway |
|
2.75 |
|
9.00 |
|
147.34 |
|
3.00 |
|
Kerry |
|
1.00 |
|
2.00 |
|
115.28 |
|
|
|
Kildare |
|
|
|
2.00 |
|
88.50 |
|
0.80 |
|
Kilkenny |
|
|
|
3.00 |
|
45.60 |
|
|
|
Laois |
|
|
|
2.00 |
|
33.38 |
|
|
|
Leitrim |
44.57 |
|
|
121.16 |
|
34.90 |
|
8.50 |
|
Limerick |
|
6.00 |
|
7.50 |
|
169.52 |
|
|
|
Longford |
|
5.60 |
393.88 |
5.00 |
|
38.45 |
|
|
|
Louth |
1.00 |
|
|
4.00 |
|
138.46 |
2.70 |
73.87 |
|
Mayo |
|
3.00 |
1.00 |
5.00 |
|
104.23 |
|
|
|
Meath |
|
|
|
1.00 |
|
42.90 |
|
|
|
Monaghan |
|
|
|
22.48 |
|
17.40 |
|
0.80 |
|
Offaly |
14.50 |
|
|
3.00 |
|
54.91 |
|
|
|
Roscommon |
|
|
|
8.00 |
37.06 |
33.88 |
|
|
|
Sligo |
26.50 |
|
450.06 |
3.00 |
|
67.60 |
22.00 |
24.40 |
|
Tipperary |
|
1.00 |
|
5.00 |
|
97.65 |
|
1.00 |
|
Waterford |
28.46 |
1.00 |
|
4.00 |
|
118.10 |
|
|
|
Westmeath |
|
|
|
6.00 |
|
85.87 |
|
1.00 |
|
Wexford |
|
|
|
2.00 |
|
85.69 |
|
|
|
Wicklow |
|
|
|
3.60 |
|
64.05 |
|
0.60 |
|
Grand Total |
378.93 |
84.50 |
1336.53 |
293.54 |
42.86 |
2981.02 |
246.52 |
468.09 |
* The following schemes are included in Centralised Schemes: Illness Benefits, Disability Allowance/Invalidity Pension, Carer's Allowance/Working Family Payment, Child Benefit, Maternity & Paternity Benefit, & Domicilary Care Allowance, Carers' Allowance, Pensions – Contributory and Non Contributory.
** Support Area includes: Minister's Office, HR, Facilities Management, Accounts, Data Protection/Business Information Security, Business Intelligence, Investment Analysis, Decision Advisory Office, FOI, Activation Case Management, Regional Process Improvement, Back Office Ops/Regional Support Unit, Internal Audit, Digital Services, Customer Communications & Services, Service Quality, Press Office and Business Architects Office.
1022. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when social welfare payments will return to weekly payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11490/20]
View answerMy Department introduced a series of measures to maintain social welfare payments while assisting with social distancing measures designed to combat the spread of the Coronavirus.
Fortnightly payments were introduced to minimise the need for people to attend and queue in banks or post offices to collect payments, so helping people restrict their movements to essential activities only. These were introduced on a ‘payment in advance’ basis so people did not have to wait two weeks for a payment.
Some payments, such as Maternity Benefit, Paternity Benefit and Parental Benefit, which are paid exclusively into a customer’s bank account by Electronic Fund Transfer, have reverted to a weekly payment pattern. The situation in relation to the reversion of other schemes - which are paid in post offices as well as by EFT - back to weekly payments will be kept under review given the need to maintain social distancing.
1024. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years of age on the back to education allowance scheme; the funding allocated to support young persons under 25 years of age on the scheme in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11517/20]
View answerThe back to education allowance (BTEA) provides income support for jobseekers and certain others in receipt of social welfare payments who pursue courses of education at second or third level. The main focus of the BTEA is to assist qualifying applicants to improve their educational qualifications and improve their prospects of gaining employment.
At the end of April 2020 there were approximately 6,300 students in receipt of the BTEA. The number of these students who are aged under 25 years is approximately 1,300.
Government has provided almost €57 million for BTEA in 2020. This represents a considerable investment in supporting participants aged 18 to 66 to acquire the necessary education and skills to re-enter the labour market.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
1025. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on extending the pandemic unemployment payment to those who were in full-time employment prior to the crisis and are now full-time carers as a direct result of the pandemic. [11528/20]
View answerThe COVID 19 pandemic unemployment payment was introduced as a time limited emergency measure in response to the pandemic and Government has approved the extension of this payment until 10 August 2020.
The conditions for receipt of this payment are that a person must be of working age between 18 and up to 66 years old, have been in employment immediately before 13 March 2020 and have lost their employment due to the pandemic and are not being paid by their employer. A person in receipt of this payment must be available to return to employment.
A person who becomes a carer should apply for carers benefit or the means-test carers allowance. Further information on these supports is available at www.gov.ie.
I trust that this clarifies the matter.
1026. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide additional exceptional payments for carers to access equipment to enable them to safely and effectively work, for example, PPE and additional work clothing. [11530/20]
View answerThe Government acknowledges the crucial role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for Government and the National Carers’ Strategy.
The main income supports to carers provided by my Department are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and the Carer’s Support Grant. Combined spending on all DEASP payments to carers in 2020 is expected to exceed €1.3 billion.
Apart from these income supports specifically in place for family carers, my Department also provides a support under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme. The Department may make an exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income. Exceptional Needs Payments are administered by the Community Welfare Service (CWS) of the Department.
Exceptional Needs Payments are payable at the discretion of the CWS officer taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case.
The provision of medical supplies such as PPE is a matter for the HSE and the Department of Health.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1027. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of disability allowance who have availed of the temporary wage subsidy scheme. [11532/20]
View answerDisability allowance (DA) is a payment for persons between the ages of 16 and 66 with a specified disability which is expected to last at least 1 year, and who by reason of that disability, are substantially restricted in undertaking work suitable to their age, qualifications and experience. Applicants must also satisfy a means test and be habitually resident in the State.
The DA scheme is structured to encourage recipients to avail of opportunities to engage in work where this is appropriate, either in self-employment or in insurable employment.
The number of DA recipients who have received at least one Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) payment as at the end of May was 2,739.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1028. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 666 of 9 June 2020 and her contribution to the Dáil debate of 28 May 2020, if she will clarify the position regarding the future clawback of the pandemic unemployment payment (details supplied). [11533/20]
View answerThe Pandemic Unemployment Payment was the most effective and remarkable emergency response in the history of our nation’s social welfare system. In the space of days, we provided assistance to over 600,000 people who lost their income suddenly and without warning. At a time of great stress and worry about the health effects of Covid-19, the introduction of the payment helped reduce the extent to which this stress was compounded by worries related to financial concerns. In doing that it played a vital role in contributing to public support for the necessary public health measures including social distancing.
This public support is now paying dividends and we can begin to roll back the restrictions and re-open our society – even at a faster pace than we thought was possible a number of weeks ago. However we cannot be complacent. Many people are still dependent on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and will be for some time. We need to continue to support them.
On 5 June, I announced that the Government has approved the extension of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment until 10 August 2020. I also announced the introduction, from Phase 3 of the Roadmap (29th June), of a two level payment structure to link the Pandemic Unemployment Payment level to prior earnings.
This latter change addresses the fact that a minority of recipients who previously only worked a small number of hours received significantly more in the Pandemic Unemployment Payment than while in employment.
In order to address this issue the PUP will now be paid at two levels:
- For those whose prior employment earnings were €200 per week or higher (about 75% of recipients), the PUP rate will remain at €350 per week;
- For those whose prior employment earnings were up to €199.99 per week (about 25% of recipients), the PUP rate will be €203 per week - the primary rate of payment of the Jobseeker’s Benefit scheme.
No person on the lower rate of payment will receive less on PUP than they were previously paid by their employer.
Finally, with regard to the issues regarding arrears or overpayments, I have asked my officials to review the position and revert to me with appropriate options reflective of the position outlined in my response to the Deputy during the Dáil debate of 28 May 2020.
