Written Answers Nos. 126-145
126. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average waiting time for persons awaiting a decision in respect of an appeal for domiciliary care allowance. [16353/20]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the average processing time in 2019 for domiciliary care allowance appeals dealt with by way of summary decision was 27.3 weeks and it was 30.3 weeks for those requiring an oral hearing. The figures for 2020 to the end of June were 24.1 weeks for appeals dealt with by way of summary decision and 31.8 weeks for those requiring an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and 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.
127. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons awaiting an oral hearing in respect of a domiciliary care allowance application. [16354/20]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that there are currently 624 domiciliary care allowance appeals at various stages of the appeals process. Under Article 13 of the Social Welfare (Appeals) Regulations, 1998 (S.I. 108/1998), if an Appeals Officer is of the opinion that the case is of such a nature that it can be properly determined without a hearing, the appeal may be determined summarily.
I am advised by the Chief Appeals Officer that, due to the current Covid-19 restrictions, in person oral appeal hearings have been suspended since 13 March 2020. The resumption of oral hearings will be kept under review in light of government advice on easing restrictions. However, appeals work continues and appeals are currently being determined on the basis of written submissions. In some cases it has also been possible for Appeals Officers to progress appeals by way of telephone calls and email on issues relating to an appeal (which might otherwise have been ascertained in the course of an oral hearing) and bring the matter to a conclusion.
The Chief Appeals Officer has also advised that the Office is exploring the use of video technology for appeal hearings. Among the issues being considered are what is the most appropriate technological solution and the types of appeal cases that would be potentially suitable for this approach. Any future use of video technology would need to ensure the maintenance of fair procedures, confidentiality and data protection.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
128. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the returns of a person (details supplied) will be reassessed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16364/20]
View answerFrom the 29/06/2020 the rate of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) which a person receives depends on their gross weekly employment earnings. As a consequence of its flat rate structure a number of people, mainly low-hours workers, receive a higher State income support than they received in employment income. It is important that the integrity of the social welfare system is maintained and that income support paid is considered to be fair and equitable. In this regard it would not be tenable that some people, albeit a minority of people, receive a much higher payment on PUP than they did from part-time employment and that they would receive the same amount as another person who worked full-time on a higher income. The changes introduced recently seek to address this issue in a balanced way.
No person on the lower rate of payment will receive less on PUP than they were previously paid by their employer as a result of the changes.
For self-employed persons – the last year for which complete data is available is 2018. This is the year which was used for the purposes of reviewing the PUP rate. Where no earnings data was available, in respect of either an employee or a self-employed person, the rate of PUP was reduced to €203 per week.
Where a customer contends that these earnings are inaccurate, they should supply documentation to support this. However, it is important to note that this Department will only accept earnings which have been notified to Revenue and subject to PRSI. Customers should clearly understand that any information which is supplied to declare additional earnings will be matched against Revenue records and that all cases of undisclosed or unreported income will be examined for follow up control action.
According to the records of this Department the returns for the person concerned for 2018 reflect 52 S class contributions and a recorded income of €9,718. This equates to average weekly income of €186.88. Therefore a revised weekly PUP rate of €203 is applicable with effect from 26/06/2020. If this is incorrect or if the person concerned wishes to pursue a review of his revised weekly PUP payment, it is open to him to contact the Department as outlined below.
Requests for a review of earnings should be emailed to PUPRerate@welfare.ie. The person concerned should attach all supporting employment documentation in support of his review request to this email.
Alternatively, the person concerned can write to PUP Rerate Requests, DEASP, Intreo Centre, Cork Road, Waterford, again making sure to include all supporting documentation.
His case can then be examined and any necessary follow up action taken.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
129. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an exceptional needs payment can be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16396/20]
View answerFurther to the Deputy’s representations on behalf of the person concerned, I am advised that an official of my Department has contacted the person concerned and is currently working with him to ascertain what supports are available to him and to his family, appropriate to their current circumstances.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
130. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason for a basic supplementary welfare allowance overpayment to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16397/20]
View answerThe person concerned was in receipt of a Basic Supplementary Allowance Payment of €85.90 per week from 6th August 2019 to 19th February 2020 pending a decision on his Disability Allowance application. His Disability Allowance application was refused on the basis of his having means of €270.26 per week, which is higher than the statutory limit of €203.00.
This decision was appealed and Disability Allowance was awarded on the 18th of March. Based on the initial means assessment made by DA Section which included a second property that had not been declared to the Community Welfare Officer, a revised decision was made on the Basic Supplementary Allowance claim and an overpayment was assessed. In light of the more recent award of Disability Allowance, this overpayment will now be re-examined.
I trust that this clarifies the position.
131. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the early retirement allowance or pension will come into effect; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16401/20]
View answerThe Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2011 provides for increases to the State pension age to make the State pension system more sustainable as life expectancy increases. This began in January 2014 with the abolition of the State Pension (Transition). This measure standardised the State pension age for all at 66 years. The legislation provides for increases to the State pension age - to 67 in 2021 and further to 68 in 2028.
The new Programme for Government “Our Shared Future” states that the planned increase in the State pension age next year will be deferred. This will require amendment to primary legislation and the Government will bring in the necessary legislation later this year.
Furthermore, a Commission on Pensions will be established to examine sustainability and eligibility issues in relation to State pensions and the Social Insurance Fund. The Commission is to report to Government by June 2021 on options including the qualifying age, contribution rates, total contributions and eligibility requirements. The Government will take action, having regard to the recommendations of the Commission, within six months. Pending the Commission’s report and any subsequent Government decisions on its recommendations, it is intended that the State pension age will remain at 66 years as at present.
The Programme also proposes an “Early Retirement Allowance or Pension” for 65 year olds paid at the same rate as Jobseekers Benefit without a requirement to sign on, partake in any activation measures or be available for and genuinely seeking work. The new allowance will be introduced as early as possible for those who are retired from employment. Officials in my Department are currently assessing the necessary legislation, ICT system requirements and administrative processes required for the introduction of this payment.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
132. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which the self-employed can apply for the enterprise support grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16418/20]
View answerThe Enterprise Support Grant is being extended to assist eligible self-employed recipients who are exiting the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme after 25th June 2020 to re-start their business. A once-off grant will be awarded for 80% of eligible costs up to a maximum of €1,000 covering vouched costs associated with re-opening a business which was closed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The grant will be available to self-employed individuals who satisfy the scheme conditions including, employing fewer than 10 people, having an annual turnover of less than €1 million and not being liable for commercial rates. This grant is available for micro enterprises that are not eligible for other similar COVID business re-start grants from other Government Departments.
Funding of €12 million has been provided for this grant and my Department is developing the systems to put this grant into effect and will communicate how to apply for the grant over the coming weeks.
I trust that this clarifies the position at this time.
133. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact self-employed persons have had their pandemic unemployment payments reduced to €203 on the basis of 2018 tax returns; if she will allow 2019 tax returns to be examined and the higher rate of the two be paid in view the unique difficulties faced by the self-employed at this time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16419/20]
View answer134. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason the self-employed are having their 2018 tax returns examined in order to determine their rates under the pandemic unemployment payment rather than 2019 tax returns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16420/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 134 together.
Where a person is self-employed their average weekly income for 2018 was used to determine their rate of payment for the pandemic unemployment payment. This is the last tax year for which complete data on self-employed income is available. The submission deadline for self-employment returns for 2019 is October or November 2020.
Any person who feels that the assessment of their earnings, based on returns already submitted to Revenue, is inaccurate can ask for a review of their case with further details available on www.gov.ie.
I trust that this clarifies the position.
135. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the poverty impact assessment of reduced jobseeker rates for 18 to 24 year olds as committed to in the Social Welfare (No. 2) Act 2019; and when the assessment will be published. [16422/20]
View answerThe poverty impact assessment of maintaining reduced rates of jobseeker payments for young jobseekers aged 18-24 years is being finalised by my department for my consideration. In due course I will arrange for it to be published and presented to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection. It will also be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas.
136. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the report on the cost of hearing aids and the adequacy of financial supports as committed to in the Social Welfare (No. 2) Act 2019; and when the report will be published. [16423/20]
View answerSection 23 of the Social Welfare (No. 2) Act 2019 provides that the Minister “shall prepare and lay a report before the Houses of the Oireachtas on the cost of hearing aids and the adequacy of financial supports available, taking into account the low level of hearing aid uptake in Ireland and that the report shall be presented to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection within 6 months of the enactment of this Act.”
A report on the cost of hearing aids and the adequacy of financial supports has been prepared to satisfy the statutory requirement set out in Section 23 of the Social Welfare (No. 2) Act 2019 and has been submitted to me. I expect that it will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas shortly and presented to the appropriate Oireachtas Joint Committee when the committees have been established.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
137. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the review of the criteria to qualify for the treatment benefit scheme as committed to in the Social Welfare (No. 2) Act 2019; and when the review will be published. [16424/20]
View answerSection 24 of the Act provides that the Minister “shall conduct a review and lay a report before the Houses of the Oireachtas on the current criteria in place in order to qualify for treatment benefit and specifically to examine the number of contributions required for 25-65 year olds and that the report shall be presented to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection within 6 months of the enactment of this Act.”
A report has been prepared to satisfy the statutory requirement set out in Section 24 of the Social Welfare (No. 2) Act 2019. I expect that it will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas shortly and presented to the appropriate Oireachtas Joint Committee when the committees have been established.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
138. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of self-employed that have had their pandemic unemployment payments reduced to €203. [16425/20]
View answerI am advised that, based on the Pandemic Unemployment Payments issued on July 14th, a total of 95,834 recipients received a payment of €203. Of this number, 15,817 have certified themselves as being self-employed.
139. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to extend the rent supplement scheme for those who have been financially affected by Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16435/20]
View answer140. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing rent supplement limits by 10%. [16441/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 140 together.
Rent supplement continues its vital role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation, with the scheme currently supporting some 21,000 recipients.
The scheme provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The scheme ensures that for those who were renting, and due to temporary loss of employment, can continue to meet their rental commitments.
Since the introduction of the Government’s Covid emergency response approximately 7,000 customers have been provided with rent supplement support and remain in payment. In addition, there are currently some 1,000 pending customers awaiting a decision or in the process of providing the necessary documentation to the officer dealing with their claim.
The Department’s current flexible rent supplement response has been extended to end-August 2020 and remains under review within context of the overall Government response to the Covid-19 emergency.
Based on the current customer volumes and the spread of recipients across all counties, the forecast full year cost of increasing rent limits by 10% would be approximately €15.6 million. Any proposal to alter rent limits would have to be considered in a budgetary context and take account of the wider Exchequer impact for both the RAS and HAP schemes, both of which use Rent Supplement limits for setting their award criteria.
In recognition of the on-going 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 15,900 cases have been provided additional flexible payment arrangements, i.e. have received support in excess of the prevailing rent limits.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
141. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of Covid-19 income support for seasonal workers, such as multilingual tour guides, whose season from April to October 2020 has been completely disrupted; if she will consider extending the support to seasonal workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16455/20]
View answerWhere a person was due to take up employment but was not in employment immediately prior to 13th March, he or she is not eligible to receive the pandemic unemployment payment. It would be impossible to construct a scheme based on claims of potential or prospective but unrealised employment, particularly where the economy was operating at full-employment with many unfilled vacancies prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
People who do not qualify for the pandemic unemployment payment may be eligible to apply for a jobseeker payment. Jobseeker's benefit is a weekly payment to people who have lost their employment and who satisfy the scheme's statutory conditions including the requirement to have sufficient social insurance contributions paid. A person who does not qualify for, or who has exhausted his or her entitlement to jobseeker’s benefit, can apply for the means tested jobseeker’s allowance.
The Government has set employment recovery as its top priority and the jobs stimulus package to be announced later this month should help to get people back into work. Further decisions on the future of the pandemic unemployment payment will take into account progress in the re-opening of society and the developing health situation.
I trust this clarifies the position at this time.
142. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the supports available for the reopening of not-for-profit community groups following closure due to Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16421/20]
View answerThe Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and is committed to working closely with the sector in managing through these, recognising that it will require a whole of Government approach. In that context my Department is providing funding supports to organisations through a number of different schemes.
The Community and Voluntary Sector Covid-19 Stability Fund is intended to be a targeted once-off cash injection for organisations and groups currently delivering critical front-line services to the most at need in our society and in danger of imminent closure due to lost fund-raised or traded income as a direct result of restrictions to counter the spread of COVID-19.
This fund will provide €35million of funding through the Dormant Accounts Fund (DAF) and the criteria align with DAF objectives to support:
1 The personal and social development of persons who are economically or socially disadvantaged; or
2 The educational development of persons who are educationally disadvantaged; or
3 Persons with a disability.
Over one thousand applications were received during the application period. Due to the considerable interest in the Stability Scheme and in order to ensure that funding is released as quickly as possible, applicants were considered in smaller groupings.
The first tranche of funding was announced on Friday 26 June last, with 179 organisations being awarded €10.5 million in funding, the full list can be found at the following link:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/3957e-covid-19-stability-fund-successful-applicants/ .
Decisions on further tranches are being now being considered.
The Innovate Together Fund was opened on 13 May 2020. The focus of the Fund is on supporting innovative responses to the Covid-19 crisis and is supported by a commitment of €5 million from my Department via the Dormant Accounts Fund. Social Innovation Fund Ireland pledges to raise additional philanthropic funds for this initiative and is responsible for the administration of the Fund with oversight from my Department. Applications are open to established charities, social enterprises and to local, regional and national voluntary groups and organisations who are based in Ireland and who are delivering services to the most vulnerable communities immediately impacted by COVID-19. The first round of funding under this fund is now closed and applications are being assessed. The second call under the Fund will be opened on 22 July.
The Community Enhancement Programme provides small capital grants to community groups to improve facilities in their area, and the 2020 Programme was launched recently with funding of €2m. The Department gives flexibility to Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) to tailor the programme in each Local Authority area, so that it meets local priorities. It is recommended that applicants contact the LCDC in their area for further details.
The Community Services Programme (CSP), currently supports over 400 community organisations and my Department is fully committed to continuing to support those organisations. My Department has put in place an additional Support Fund for 2020 which will provide additional funding for a number of weeks to many of these organisations, ensuring that they can pay their full-time CSP supported employees a maximum of €350 net per week, with a proportionate amount for part-time CSP supported employees.
In addition to the measures which have been introduced by my Department for community and voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises, the Government has put in place a range of supports and guidance for businesses impacted by COVID-19.
A downloadable guide to these supports and their eligibility criteria is available at the link:
https://dbei.gov.ie/en/Publications/Publication-files/Supports-for-businesses-impacted-by-COVID-19.pdf.
Details of enhanced government supports for businesses announced on 2 May 2020 are available at the link:
https://dbei.gov.ie/en/News-And-Events/Department-News/2020/May/02052020.html. Inquiries can be directed to the relevant contact points listed in the material.
Further guidance has been developed by my Department in conjunction with Pobal for the community and voluntary sector to help them with reopening, and this is available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/fd1c9-guidance-for-reopening-community-sector/
My Department is continuing to liaise with representatives of the community and voluntary, charity and social enterprise sectors and with other Departments with relevant policy responsibility in relation to the challenges faced at this time. Assurances have been provided in relation to the continuation of exchequer funding supports for organisations in the sector. It is also worth mentioning that the Government Wage Subsidy Scheme will support employers in the sector to retain staff who are employed under non-exchequer funding sources.
143. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the second round of successful applicants in the Covid-19 stability fund for community and voluntary, charity and social enterprises will be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16375/20]
View answerThe Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and is committed to working closely with the sector in managing through these, recognising that it will require a whole of Government approach.
The Community and Voluntary Sector Covid-19 Stability Fund is intended to be a targeted once-off cash injection for organisations and groups currently delivering critical front-line services to the most at need in our society and in danger of imminent closure due to lost fund-raised or traded income as a direct result of restrictions to counter the spread of COVID-19.
This fund will provide up to €35million of funding through the Dormant Accounts Fund (DAF) and the criteria align with DAF objectives to support:
1 The personal and social development of persons who are economically or socially disadvantaged; or
2 The educational development of persons who are educationally disadvantaged; or
3 Persons with a disability.
Over one thousand applications were received during the application period. Due to the considerable interest in the Stability Scheme and in order to ensure that funding is released as quickly as possible, applicants are being considered in smaller groupings.
Tranche One of funding was announced on Friday 26th June. Over 170 organisations were allocated €10.5 million in funding, the full list can be found at the following link https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/3957e-covid-19-stability-fund-successful-applicants/.
The remaining applications are currently undergoing a comprehensive assessment process which includes liaising with a number of other Government Departments and successful applicants will be announced shortly.
144. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the TAMS II scheme is to be extended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16323/20]
View answerTAMS II is currently scheduled to close to new applications on 31 December 2020.
As there has been a delay in agreeing the EU budget and the new CAP reform regulations, transitional arrangements will be made to provide legal and financial certainty for RDP schemes for 2021. The European Commission has therefore introduced draft transitional Regulations to cover the period between the current RDP which expires this year and the commencement of the next. These transitional regulations which will govern the position of schemes in 2021 have not yet been finalised.
Therefore, it is not possible, at present, to make decisions in relation to schemes implemented under the Rural Development Programme, including TAMS, until confirmation is available on the available budget and the timeframe for both the transitional period and the time needed to introduce transitional measures.
145. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an area of natural constraints payment for 2018 and 2019 for persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16334/20]
View answerThe person named submitted an application for the 2019 Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme on 10/5/2019. All requirements for the 2019 scheme year were met by the person named and payment in full issued on April 7 2020.
The person named made an application for the 2018 ANC scheme on 14 May 2018. The Terms and Conditions of the 2018 ANC scheme require that a number of requirements are met in order to qualify for payment, including requirements regarding minimum stocking density and stocking retention periods.
The 2018 Terms and Conditions state that ”The retention period for the 2018 scheme is 7 consecutive months within the calendar year i.e. 1st January to 31st December 2018 where the stocking density on the holding has to be equal to or greater than 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare'.
As the person named did not take ownership of the donkeys and the passports submitted by them until July 2018, this requirement was not met and their application was subsequently deemed ineligible for payment under the 2018 Scheme year.
An official from my Department will contact the person named to discuss the matter further and advise of any options that may be available to them in relation to the 2018 scheme year.
