Written Answers Nos. 160-180
160. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the actions being taken to deal with the accommodation needs of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17578/20]
View answerThe school to which the Deputy refers was established in 2018 and is currently in interim accommodation on the Firhouse Education Campus.
Due to additional accommodation requirements in the Gaelscoil in which they are currently located my Department has been informed that it is not possible for the secondary school to continue to operate in that building.
My Department has informed the secondary school that interim accommodation for the school will be provided on the Citywest Education Campus for the 2020/2021 academic year.
My Department is in on-going communication with the Patron Bodies concerned regarding all options.
161. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delay in leaving certificate results being pushed out to September 2020; the provisions in place for third-level applications here and for students seeking to apply and begin courses abroad; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17582/20]
View answerAs a result of the Covid-19 pandemic a system of Calculated Grades was put in place by my predecessor due to the inability to run the normal Leaving Certificate examinations this year. The purpose of this process is to allow as many students as possible to progress to employment, further education and training, or higher education in a way that is fair and equitable to all Leaving Certificate students.
On 16 July, I announced that students will receive their Calculated Grades on 7 September. This is the earliest possible release date given the rigorous and robust quality assurance checks required to ensure the process has executed with equity and fairness to all students and to ensure that the 2020 results enjoy the same status as those of previous years.
CAO Round 1 offers will issue on 11 September, and prospective students will have until 16 September to reply to this offer. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are currently working through their arrangements for first year students in light of the announced results date, and will publish these details as soon as they are available.
As in other years, the results will have been provided to the CAO and to UCAS a short time in advance, so confirmation of first round college places from colleges in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK will issue to students on 7 September.
I have also written to my European counterparts to inform them of the release date of the Calculated Grades and to seek flexibility for Irish students who have applied to European institutions of higher education.
162. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding paying for school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17610/20]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €219m in 2019.
The option to make payment for transport for the 2020/2021 school yearyear is now available with a closing date for payment on the 31st July 2020. Families wishing to avail of transport for the 2020/2021 year are advised to make payment by this date.
Given that the school transport services have not been available to children from 13th March, it was decided that at the end of the 2019/2020 school year a refund for that period of closure would be issued to parents. The refunds process has commenced, with refunds in the region of €4.5 million being refunded directly to all entitled family account holders.
163. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will request schools to be lenient on parents who are not in a position to make voluntary contributions due to financial difficulties they are experiencing as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17621/20]
View answerVoluntary contributions by parents of pupils enrolled in recognised schools are permissible provided it is made absolutely clear to parents that there is no question of compulsion to pay and that, in making a contribution, they are doing so of their own volition. The manner in which such voluntary contributions are sought and collected is a matter for school management, however their collection should be such as not to create a situation where either parents or pupils could reasonably infer that the contributions take on a compulsory character.
My Department recognises that additional funding will be required for schools including supporting enhanced cleaning to prevent COVID-19 infections. Parents will not incur costs for these safety measures. My Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the requirement to provide funding to schools for this purpose.
164. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills the arrangements being made with education authorities in the Netherlands to enable leaving certificate students to enrol and take up places on courses due to commence in early September 2020; if she received confirmation that students will not be disadvantaged due to the delay by her Department in issuing results; if she will guarantee students places on similar courses here if the delay in issuing results prevents them from enrolling and commencing further studies in the Netherlands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17666/20]
View answerI am very conscious of the impact arising from the issue of the 2020 Leaving Certificate results on 7th September on all students, in particular for those students who chose to pursue their undergraduate studies in other EU Member States, including the Netherlands.
In that regard, and further to previous correspondence from my predecessor on this matter, I have written to Minster Van Engelshoven seeking her support for special consideration by higher education institutions in the Netherlands for Irish students this year, and I hope to hear from her soon.
165. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will respond to a call by performers and crew in the live entertainment industry to retain the pandemic unemployment payment and to provide other supports and grants for those in that sector that are uncertain as to when they will return to work in view of social distancing rules; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17545/20]
View answerThe COVID 19 pandemic unemployment payment was introduced as a time-limited emergency measure in response to the pandemic and approval was given to the extension of this payment until 10th August. The Government is aware that there are certain sectors which will be affected by business closures longer than others and the confirmation that this payment will be available until early August provides financial certainty to people affected at this time. The Government has set employment recovery as its top priority and the July jobs stimulus package will assist people back into work. Any further changes to the pandemic unemployment payment will be considered in that context.
Changes were also announced to the structure of the pandemic unemployment payment which means that it continues to be a strong support but is also fair and targeted. Payment is now linked to prior earnings. If a recipient’s gross weekly earnings were €200 or higher then there is no change to their rate of payment. If a person’s gross weekly earnings were under €200 then the rate of the pandemic unemployment payment will be adjusted to €203 which is in line with the standard personal rate of Jobseeker's Benefit. Where a person is self-employed their gross average weekly income for 2018 is used to calculate the rate of the pandemic unemployment payment, the last tax year for which verifiable data on self-employed income is available.
A self-employed person who is continuing to operate their business at a reduced level may be eligible for support under the jobseeker's allowance payment.
The Enterprise Support Grant has recently been extended and will be made available to small business owners who transition from the pandemic unemployment payment to re-open their business. The grant, of up to €1,000, will be payable to self-employed micro enterprises which employ fewer than 10 people, have an annual turnover of less than €1 million and are not eligible for support from the COVID 19 Business Restart Grant or other similar business reopening grants. The Department is developing the systems to put it into effect and will communicate how to access the grant in the coming weeks.
Any person who is experiencing financial hardship may be eligible for other financial supports under the means-tested supplementary welfare allowance scheme including an Exceptional or Urgent Needs payment where the need is demonstrated. Information on the supports available under this scheme is available at www.gov.ie.
I trust that this clarifies the position for you.
166. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to provide support to seasonal workers who were denied the pandemic unemployment payment in view of the fact they were not yet back to work on the week of 6 to 13 March 2020 and in further view of the fact many of their stamps have now run out and they are unable to get any other payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17604/20]
View answerThe COVID 19 pandemic unemployment payment was introduced as an emergency measure to meet the surge in unemployment which resulted from the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.
One of the conditions for receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment is that a person must have been in employment immediately before 13th March and lost their income from employment. Where a person was due to take up seasonal employment but they were not in employment immediately prior to 13th March they are 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 are eligible to apply for a jobseekers 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. This benefit is paid for 9 months (234 days) for people with 260 or more PRSI contributions paid and for 6 months (156 days) for people who have less than 260 paid. Where a person does not re-qualify or has used up their entitlement to jobseeker’s benefit they can apply for the means tested jobseeker’s allowance.
Any person who is experiencing financial hardship may be eligible for other financial supports under the means-tested supplementary welfare allowance scheme including an Exceptional or Urgent Needs payment. Information on the supports available under this scheme is available at www.gov.ie .
I trust this clarifies the position at this time.
167. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to provide supports to the workers aged 66 years of age and over that were not entitled to the pandemic unemployment payment (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17607/20]
View answerThe COVID 19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is available to people aged between 18 and 66 years, and the age range is consistent with other jobseeker and social protection income supports paid to people of working age. People aged 66 years and over are provided for within the Social Protection income support framework through the State Pension, either the contributory State pension based on PRSI contributions or the non-contributory means tested pension. The maximum weekly rate of payment for a person in receipt of the State Contributory pension in a two person household with an adult dependent who is over 66 years is €470.80. The maximum rate of payment for the non-contributory pension for a two person household is €393.60.
A person in receipt of the State contributory pension can retain all of their State pension as well as their employment income and retain that pension payment if they lose employment income, thus guaranteeing an income support. If a person is not in receipt of the maximum rate of State Pension Contributory, they may be eligible for an increased weekly rate of payment on the State non-contributory means tested pension, depending on their circumstances.
People in receipt of the non-contributory or means-tested pension who are also in receipt of an employment income may have their pension payment increased if they lose that employment income or it is reduced. Similarly, if a person aged 66 or over who did not previously qualify for or make an application for a means-tested pension may qualify for a pension payment if their circumstances change – including if they lose any employment income or if that employment income is reduced.
People aged 66 and over may also be entitled to a range of ancillary supports that are aligned to the particular circumstances of older people and are significantly more valuable than those generally available to people of working age. These include free travel, fuel allowance, household benefits package (gas/electricity) and living alone allowance.
It should be noted also that employers may claim the temporary wage subsidy for all of their workers who pay Irish PAYE income tax from the Revenue Commissioners. In this way workers who are aged over 66 can continue, with the co-operation of their employers, to receive income from employment.
Any person who is experiencing financial hardship may be eligible for other financial supports under the means-tested supplementary welfare allowance scheme including an Exceptional or Urgent Needs payment where the need is demonstrated. Information on the supports available under this scheme is available at www.gov.ie .
168. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an oral hearing will be facilitated as soon as possible for a person (details supplied) to determine their eligibility for the State pension in view of the fact they are without a source of regular income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17484/20]
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 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.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has also advised me that, if the person concerned is experiencing financial hardship, it is open to them to contact their local Community Welfare Officer and discuss their circumstances with them, with a view to claiming Supplementary Welfare Allowance while this appeal is ongoing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
169. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an application for a widower's pension by a person (details supplied) will be approved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17486/20]
View answerSection 124 (3) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 states a person shall be disqualified from receiving a Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension for as long as he/she cohabiting with another person as a couple. The person concerned was refused a Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension on the 4th March 2020 on the grounds that he was cohabiting.
The person concerned appealed the decision of the Deciding Officer to the Independent Chief Appeals Officer. The Appeals Officer upheld the decision of the Deciding Officer on the 7th July 2020.
The person concerned informed the Appeals Officer that he had now changed address and requested his widowers pension be reviewed. The Deciding Officer wrote to the person concerned and requested that he furnish the Department with proof of his current address. However, he has not responded to date. When the requested information is available to the Deciding Officer, further consideration can then be given to his claim, and he will be notified of outcome without delay.
If the person concerned is in financial need, he may qualify for supplementary welfare allowance. Full details of this allowance is available from the designated person (formerly known as a Community Welfare Officer), based at their local Social Welfare/Intreo Office.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
170. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department with liaise with the relevant authorities in the UK with regard to pension contributions in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17494/20]
View answerAccording to the records of my Department, the person concerned reached pension age in 2009 and has not applied for a State pension (contributory) to date. Without a formal application the person’s pension entitlement cannot be determined. I have arranged for an application form to issue to them. Their pension entitlement will be investigated upon receipt of the completed application form and they will be notified in writing of the outcome.
A person reaching age 66 between 6 April 2002 and 5 April 2012 must have 260 Irish full-rate paid employment contributions in order to qualify for standard State pension (contributory). According to the records of my Department, the person entered insurable employment in Ireland on 13 February 1961. During their period of employment covering the 1960/61 tax year to 1965/66 tax year inclusive, it appears that they do not satisfy the 260-contribution condition based on their Irish contributions alone.
Under European Union regulations, the insurance records of other Member States can be combined to satisfy this 260-contribution condition and give entitlement to a proportional or pro rata pension. Since the person concerned has a UK social insurance record, details of their UK contribution history will be requested from the UK pension authority as part of my Department’s investigation of their pension entitlement. The person’s entitlement to an pro rata pension State pension (contributory) will be determined when this record is made available. The person will then be notified in writing of the outcome.
The person concerned should therefore include all details of their Irish and UK employment(s) when submitting their pension application. In the course of our investigations, my Department may query a contribution record from another country with the relevant pension authority if it appears that a record does not correspond with the information available to us. However, if it is confirmed that all employment details held have been provided, and a claimant considers that contributions are missing from that record, it would be a matter for the claimant to pursue this enquiry with the relevant pension authority.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
171. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17514/20]
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. CA is payable up to two care recipients at a time. The Carers Support Grant (CSG) is payable for each person being cared for.
I can confirm that my department received three applications for CA from the person concerned on 30 January 2020.
In the case of the first care recipient, the application was awarded to the person concerned on 19 March 2020 with effect from 30 January 2020. The first payment issued to his nominated post office on 26 March 2020. Arrears due from 30 January 2020 to 25 March 2020 issued also.
The evidence submitted in support of the second application was examined and the deciding officer decided that although a certain level of care was being provided the level involved did not amount to full-time care as the care recipient was in hospital. The care recipient has since passed away.
CA cannot be awarded where the person being cared for is already in hospital or in another institution.
The evidence submitted in support of the third application was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied.
The person concerned was notified on 19 March 2020 of these decisions, the reasons for them and of his right of review and appeal.
The person concerned contacted the department on 15 July 2020 requesting a review of the decision relating to the third care recipient and submitted additional medical evidence in support of his application.
This review is currently being processed and, once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
172. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration will be given to paying child benefit to fathers (details supplied) as it is automatically paid to mothers; if the policy on this will be changed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17541/20]
View answerUnder Section 220 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act, 2005, Child Benefit is payable to the person with whom a qualified child normally resides. Regulations governing normal residence for Child Benefit purposes are contained in S.I. 142/2007 (Article 159) and they provide inter alia for the following:
1. In the event that a qualified child is resident with both mother and father, he or she will be regarded as normally residing with the mother (or step-mother);
2. If mother and father are resident in separate households, the qualified child shall be regarded as normally residing with the person with whom he or she resides for the majority of the time.
Where the persons are resident in separate households the qualified children shall be regarded as normally residing with the person with whom they reside the majority of the time. Where children are resident an equal amount of time with both parent, the children’s mother is deemed to be the qualified person for the purposed of receiving Child Benefit.
The policy to pay to the child’s mother was originally introduced in 1974 in the context of the Children’s Allowance scheme and continued when Children's Allowance was replaced by Child Benefit in 1986. In 1974, approximately 85% of Children's Allowance payments were already in payment to mothers, having been transferred on a voluntary basis by the then qualified person, i.e. the father.
Having advocated this change, the policy to pay Children's Allowance/Child Benefit to the mother was subsequently endorsed by the Commission on the Status of Women (1972 and 1974) as well as by the Child Benefit Review Committee (1995). It was given further support in a commissioned report published in 1994 by Combat Poverty Agency and completed by the Economic and Social Research Institute.
Despite the increased participation of women in the workforce in recent years, Information available from the Central Statistics Office indicates that over 29,000 married women with children under 15 years of age currently classify themselves as ‘home duties’ (Quarterly National Household Survey Quarter 2, 2017). This figure rises to over 36,000 when all cohabiting women with children under age 15 are included.
The above data confirms that there is still a considerable cohort of married/cohabiting women who may not have an independent income other than Child Benefit. It is therefore the Department’s view that the policy to pay Child Benefit directly to the mother, or in this case the step-mother as provided for by the legislation, of the qualified child continues to be both valid and appropriate in the vast majority of cases.
Notwithstanding this, I wish to acknowledge that the specific case cited by the Deputy identifies a number of points. I want to assure the Deputy that my Department keeps this approach under review in the light of societal change including evolving family formation. The Department regularly reviews all of its schemes, including Child Benefit, in order to ensure that they are still delivering on their policy aims and objectives.
173. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an appeal for a reduced pandemic unemployment payment in the case of a person (details supplied). [17560/20]
View answerMy Department is currently managing a large number of review requests for the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) re-rate at this time. For this reason we are not in a position to respond to enquiries as promptly as we would like.
Following a review of the person’s record, I am pleased to inform you that his PUP has been re-rated to €350 per week. Any arrears due will issue this week.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
174. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an appeal for a reduced pandemic unemployment payment in the case of a person (details supplied) [17557/20]
View answerFrom 29th June, the higher rate of PUP is only payable to those who had average weekly reckonable income of €200 or greater from self-employment prior to applying for the PUP.
As my Department has identified the person concerned as self-employed, it is basing its decision on his return of income in the 2018 tax year.
Based on the income advised by the Revenue Commissioners the lower weekly PUP rate of €203 now applies.
If the person concerned is not satisfied with the above information, he should raise this matter with the Revenue Commissioners.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
175. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the timeline to which the Low Pay Commission is working to examine the feasibility of a universal basic income and establishing a pilot scheme for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17602/20]
View answerThe Programme for Government states that the Low Pay Commission is to examine Universal Basic Income, informed by a review of previous international pilots, and resulting in a universal basic income pilot in the lifetime of the Government. The practical arrangements for giving effect to this commitment are still being considered, but it is my intention is that this matter will be progressed in accordance with the timeline set out in the Programme for Government.
176. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the options available to a person who works three days a week and would like to sign on for benefits for the remaining two days; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17665/20]
View answerThe Department's main unemployment supports are jobseekers benefit and jobseekers allowance. The qualifying conditions for both schemes require a person to be unemployed, available for and genuinely seeking full-time work and to be fully unemployed for at least four in any seven consecutive days. For jobseekers benefit they must have the necessary social insurance contributions and have sustained a substantial loss of employment.
Short Time Work Support is also available to employees who are put on short time working week on a temporary basis due to a reduction in business. To qualify for this support a person must meet all of the qualifying conditions for jobseekers benefit, including the contribution condition.
If a person does not qualify for jobseekers benefit or Short-time Work Support they may apply for means tested jobseekers allowance.
Further information on these supports are available on www.gov.ie
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
178. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to tackle animal cruelty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17469/20]
View answerThe Programme for Government places a positive emphasis on animal welfare and specifically commits to the continued robust enforcement of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.
This Act provides a modern framework for regulating and applying standards in the area of animal health and welfare and replaced a number of enactments dating back over a century. The Act was passed, after a lengthy and constructive debate in both Houses of the Oireachtas and came into operation on 6 March 2014.
I and my Ministerial team are committed to the continued application of the Act.
Neglect of or causing unnecessary suffering to animals is not acceptable in our society. My Department continues to enforce the law in this important area along with An Garda Síochána, the Customs service, the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
My Department also provides support to animal welfare organisations to assist in rescuing and supporting the welfare of animals and to Local Authorities in supporting horse projects in urban areas. My Department works closely with these bodies and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all involved for their work in the field of animal welfare.
It remains my policy that animal welfare standards are vigorously applied in a fair and even-handed manner. Those responsible for causing unnecessary suffering to animals or being negligent regarding animal welfare will continue to held to account and sanctions applied up to and including prosecution through the Courts as and when necessary.
179. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a forestry application by a person (details supplied) [17472/20]
View answerApplications for forestry licences are processed under a formal consent system and every application must be carefully assessed for its potential impact on the surrounding countryside and environment. The application for afforestation by the person named is near to some designated sites and potential impacts on those sites must be considered. In this respect, the applicant submitted a Natura Impact Statement on 16 July, 2020.
In line with my Department's policy for those who submit an NIS, the file is now being given priority and has been returned to the Ecology Unit, where the NIS will be considered as part of the entire application under Appropriate Assessment (AA) procedures. When the AA is complete, it will be returned to the Forestry District Inspector who will complete his assessment of the application.
180. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a forestry application by a person (details supplied) in County Mayo [17478/20]
View answerApplications for forestry licences are processed under a formal consent system and every application must be carefully assessed for its potential impact on the surrounding countryside and environment. The application for afforestation by the person named is near to some designated sites and potential impacts on those sites must be considered. In this respect the applicant submitted a Natura Impact Statement on 16 July, 2020.
In line with my Department's policy for those who submit an NIS, the file is now being given priority and has been returned to the Ecology Unit, where the NIS will be considered as part of the entire application under Appropriate Assessment (AA) procedures. When the AA is complete, it will be returned to the Forestry District Inspector who will complete his assessment of the application.
