Written Answers Nos. 748-772
749. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which school transport issues throughout northern areas of County Kildare have been resolved or are likely to be resolved in the near future with particular reference to those in respect of which difficulties arose in the last school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21044/20]
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 2019/2020 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.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application and payment process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who complete the application and payment process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
All school transport services are reviewed over the summer months. Arising from this, routes may be altered, extended or withdrawn depending on the number and location of eligible children who will be availing of school transport for the following school year.
Last autumn my Department announced a review of the School Transport Scheme with a view to ensuring funds are being spent in the most effective way to meet the objectives of the scheme. The review will build on the proposals in the Programme for Government as they relate to school transport.
750. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she expects to meet the necessary school building adaptation requirements as arising from Covid-19 in all schools throughout the country in time for reopening in September 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21045/20]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, last Monday I announced The Roadmap for The Full Return to School, along with funding of over €370 million to support primary and post primary schools as they prepare for reopening.
It is recognised that a school in preparing for full reopening, may require some reconfiguration works to ensure that all available space in the school is availed of, including class space, to safely maximising physical distancing.
The type of adaption works may include, but are not limited to, reconfiguration of classroom space, re-purposing rooms to provide additional space, adapting storage facilities, purchasing furniture, altering desk layouts, adapting toilet areas. As each school setting is different, a ‘one size fits all approach’ is not appropriate, individual schools are best placed to decide on the appropriate re-configuration works for their school.
By providing funding to schools through a Minor Works Grant, schools will have necessary flexibility to implement these kind of reconfiguration measures in their school quickly.
751. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she expects class sizes and pupil teacher ratios to be affected by Covid-19 provisions in both primary and post-primary schools throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21046/20]
View answerI was pleased to publish the report to Government “Reopening Our Schools, The Roadmap for the Full Return to School” and announce a funding package of more than €370 million for primary and post primary schools to supports its implementation.
As part of the package of supports, additional teachers are being provided to support the reopening of primary schools in order to provide enhanced substitution and eliminate the need to mix classes when a teacher is absent. Supply panels are being established nationwide. These will be monitored in terms of the number of teachers and the location of each panel.
Primary schools are currently provided with class teachers on the basis of one teacher for every 26 pupils which is at its historically lowest level. My Department will work with schools on the options available to implement the public health advice in respect of physical distancing in schools. In terms of operating in this school year, schools will be required to look at maximising all available physical space particularly to accommodate larger classes. Examples of class layouts have been provided to support schools. The minor works grant has been provided to assist schools if they need to reconfigure classroom or undertake other work. Schools will also be required to look at how classes are organised in terms of size and this may require some reorganisation of class groupings. Where a school cannot implement social distancing, the use of additional resourcing including additional staff will be considered.
1000 additional teachers will be allocated to post-primary schools to help reduce class sizes. A teacher allocation equivalent to a pupil teacher ratio reduction of 0.6 will be allocated to schools in the free scheme. This allocation will support the important work of teaching and learning and provide additional teachers needed to support teacher substitution, management of physical distancing requirements by reallocating class timetables in schools to smaller groups class sizes where necessary. These posts will also provide for management supports.
In addition an allocation, equivalent to a pupil teacher ratio reduction of 0.1 will be provided in respect of Guidance provision to support student wellbeing. It is recognised that, notwithstanding these measures to post primary schools, challenges may remain to allow some post primary schools to fully and safely reopen. A teacher allocation, through an appeal process, will be available to support these schools.
752. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which an adequate supply of special needs teachers and special needs assistants remain available to all primary and post-primary schools nationwide without exception; her plans to take special action to ensure that best practices and targets are maintained in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21047/20]
View answer754. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which special needs primary and second-level school classes throughout the northern areas of County Kildare remain available to students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21049/20]
View answer756. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to ensure that children with autism whose supports were interrupted by Covid-19 or lack of available teachers are likely to have such supports restored in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21051/20]
View answerVery significant levels of financial provision are made to ensure that all children with special educational needs can be provided with an education appropriate to their needs.
My Department currently spends approximately €1.9 Billion or almost 20% of its total current educational and training budget annually on making additional provision for children with special educational needs.
This represents an increase of over 50% in total expenditure since 2011, at which point €1.247 Billion per annum was provided.
The main supports this funding provides for are:
- Over 13,400 special education teacher posts currently allocated to mainstream primary and post primary schools who support the mainstream class teacher by providing additional teaching support for pupils with special educational needs.
- The total number of Special Educational Teachers has increased by 37% since 2011, from 9,740 in 2011, to over 13,400 at present.
- Budget 2020 provides an additional 120 special education teacher posts which means that 13,620 Special Education Teaching posts will be available for allocation to mainstream primary and post primary schools by the end of 2020.
- Provision has been made for up to 17,014 Special Needs Assistant (SNA) posts to be allocated to primary, post primary and special schools in 2020, with Budget 2020 providing an additional 1,064 SNAs for schools.
- The SNA scheme provides mainstream primary, post primary and special schools with additional adult support staff to assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant care needs from a disability.
- Provision for 17,014 SNAs represents an increase of 60% since 2011. The number of SNAs in the school system has increased by almost 50%, from 10,575 in 2011 to over 15,800 at present.
- The additional SNAs provided for, will support the roll out of the new School Inclusion Model, including a new allocation methodology for mainstream schools in the 2020/21 school year, which will ensure students with additional needs get the right supports at the right time, as well as supporting new special class and special school places.
- A pilot of the new School Inclusion Model approved by Government on 8 February last, is being implemented in HSE CHO7 for this school year, which is designed to test a new integrated education and health service model for supporting students with additional needs.
- The demonstration project to provide in-school and pre-school therapy services which was introduced for the 2018/19 school year will continue to provide in-school and pre-school therapy services as part of the School Inclusion Model in order to ensure a wraparound service. The purpose of the demonstration project is to test a model of tailored therapeutic supports that allows for early intervention in terms of providing speech and language and occupational therapy within ‘educational settings’. This innovative pilot complements existing HSE funded provision of essential therapy services.
- Since 2011, the number of special classes in mainstream schools has increased by almost 200% from 548 to 1,621 for the 2019/2020 school year. Of these, 1,355 special classes will cater for students diagnosed with ASD.
- 167 new special classes have been established nationally for the 2019/20 school year of which approximately 156 will be new ASD special classes, comprising 6 Early Intervention, 100 primary and 50 post-primary ASD classes. Budget 2020 provides for an additional 265 special class teachers in 2020, which will allow for the opening of additional classes to cater for over 1,300 additional places, where required.
- 124 special schools providing specialist education for approximately 7,500 pupils annually with over 1,400 teachers. Budget 2020 provides for an additional 23 teaching posts for special schools, designed to meet expected increases in enrolments in 2020, providing over 8,000 pupil places in special schools. It also provides for the continued provision of administrative deputy principal posts in special schools with 15+ teaching posts, introduced in special schools for the first time this September.
- The NCSE is currently undertaking Policy Advice on Education Provision in Special Classes and Special Schools to examine whether placement in specialist settings brings about improved educational outcomes and experiences, relative to their ability, for students with special educational needs.
- Other supports provide for assistive technology supports and equipment, special school transport arrangements including additional transport assistance such as bus escorts; teacher training and continuing professional development in the area of special education; enhanced capitation levels for special schools and special classes and modification of school buildings to assist with access and new build provisions to ensure inclusive settings in newly built schools.
- The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) includes a new Regional Support Service within the NCSE to support the inclusion of children with special educational needs in schools.
- A Home Tuition scheme provides for the education of children with special educational needs who are awaiting school placement and the July provision scheme provides for an extended school year scheme.
- Special Arrangements for State Examinations – reasonable accommodations and supports are made available to support children with special educational needs to participate in state exams.
This increased investment in teachers, SNAs, therapeutic and other supports reflects the priority which this Government has put on helping children with special educational needs to fulfil their potential. It also reflects the growing participation of children with special educational needs in the Education System and the capacity of the Education System to better support their full participation and progression.
Notwithstanding the extent of unprecedented level of investment, I am aware that issues remain.
There are some parts of the country where increases in population and other issues have led to shortages in capacity in the school system.
In these areas, some parents are experiencing difficulty in securing a suitable place for their children. This will continue to be a major concern for me and my Department.
Section 37A of the Education Act 1998 has been invoked already. However, my stated preference is for schools to engage with this challenge on a voluntary basis because it is the right thing for the children in their community.
My Department will continue to support the NCSE to continue to work with schools, patron bodies and teachers so that they can establish special classes where required with confidence. In that way, parents can be happy that the education needs of their children will be provided for in their local school in so far as is possible.
Ensuring every child has access to a suitable school placement is a priority for me and my Department and we will continue to ensure that this can be provided for.
My Department has now published its roadmap to the full reopening of schools ‘COVID-19 Response Plan for the safe and sustainable reopening of Primary and Special Schools.’
This roadmap sets outs how schools will reopen for all students, including students with special educational needs, from the end of August.
It provides details of a range of additional supports which will be made available to schools to implement their Covid-19 Response Plan and to operate in a sustainable way.
The roadmap notes that the Department is also making additional provision for special schools and special classes, in recognition of the particular challenges that these schools and classes will face dealing with children with complex medical and care needs.
Full details of the supports for the reopening of schools is available at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/b264b-roadmap-for-the-full-return-to-school/.
753. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which it is expected to avail of extra buildings to facilitate primary and second-level schools arising from Covid-19 nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21048/20]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, last Monday I announced The Roadmap for The Full Return to School, along with funding of over €370 million to support primary and post primary schools as they prepare for reopening.
Schools must maximise the space within the classroom to facilitate the pupils in the classroom and maximise the space within the existing school building in the first instance. It is recognised that a school in preparing for full reopening, may require some reconfiguration works to ensure that all available space in the school is availed of, including class space, to safely maximising physical distancing.
The type of adaption works may include, but are not limited to, reconfiguration of classroom space, re-purposing rooms to provide additional space, adapting storage facilities, purchasing furniture, altering desk layouts, adapting toilet areas. As each school setting is different, a ‘one size fits all approach’ is not appropriate, individual schools are best placed to decide on the appropriate re-configuration works for their school.
By providing funding to schools through a Minor Works Grant, schools will have necessary flexibility to implement these kind of reconfiguration measures in their school quickly.
755. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which the optimum number of teachers remain available to all schools nationwide in primary and post-primary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21050/20]
View answerMy Department is working with the education partners on measures to address anticipated teacher supply pressures arising from additional posts in the system and to meet the demand for teachers to fill short term substitutable vacancies.
The Covid-19 environment is impacting on the willingness of teachers to travel and work abroad and we are hearing from post-primary schools that there are some improvements in supply this year as a result.
The range of options planned include offering additional hours to teachers employed in schools on part-time contracts and teachers who are job sharing and available to do additional hours.
My Department is also working with the Teaching Council on a campaign to raise awareness of teacher supply in post-primary schools, focusing on teachers who are currently registered but not actively working in schools.
The higher education institutions are working on more flexible arrangements for student teacher placement in post primary schools. This will facilitate student teachers to be available to their school for substitution and supervision while on placement.
The main teacher supply challenges at primary level are in recruiting substitute teachers for short term vacancies. Accordingly, I am expanding the Substitute Teacher Supply Panel Scheme nationwide for the 2020/21 school year. 200 additional fixed term posts will be allocated to provide substitute cover through these panels.
757. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress towards the provision of an Gaelcholáiste in north County Kildare with the purpose of providing second-level education to meet the needs to the numerous Gaelscoileanna throughout the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21065/20]
View answerI am pleased to inform the Deputy that a new Gaelcholáiste will be opening in Maynooth for the start of the new school year. The patron is Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board.
758. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications received for the enterprise support grant from businesses in north County Kildare; the number of these that have been successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19783/20]
View answer760. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications that have been received for the enterprise support grant from businesses in Dublin 7 and 15; the number of these that have been successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19846/20]
View answer761. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications that have been received for the enterprise support grant from businesses in County Wicklow; the number of these that have been successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19896/20]
View answer762. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when he will announce the release date of the enterprise support grant for businesses impacted by Covid-19. [19907/20]
View answer764. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications received for the enterprise support grant from businesses in counties Cavan and Monaghan; the number that have been successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20192/20]
View answer765. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications received for the enterprise support grant from businesses in counties Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon and Donegal; the number that have been successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20278/20]
View answer768. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications that have been received for the enterprise support grant from businesses in County Tipperary; the number of these have been successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20413/20]
View answer769. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications that have been received for the enterprise support grant from businesses in County Donegal; the number of these have been successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20442/20]
View answer771. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications received for the enterprise support grant from businesses in counties Meath and Westmeath by local authority; the number that have been successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20713/20]
View answer772. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications received for the enterprise support grant from businesses in counties Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon and Donegal; the number that have been successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20800/20]
View answer773. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications received for the enterprise support grant from businesses in County Kerry; the number that have been successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20846/20]
View answer774. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications received for the enterprise support grant from businesses in County Clare; the number of these that have been successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20903/20]
View answer776. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications that have been received for the enterprise support grant from businesses in County Kildare; the number of these that have been successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21018/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 758, 760, 761, 762, 764, 765, 768, 769, 771, 772, 773, 774 and 776 together.
The Enterprise Support Grant is a support available to participants of the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance to assist with start-up costs experienced by new enterprises. In 2019, approximately 4,800 applications were awarded at a cost of almost €3 million. This information is not maintained on a county basis.
This grant support is now being extended to self-employed individuals to re-open their business upon the closure of their Pandemic Unemployment Payment. The extended grant will assist eligible self-employed individuals who are exiting the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment or jobseekers schemes after 25th June 2020, to re-start their business which was closed due to the impact of the pandemic. The extended 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 currently developing the systems to put this support into effect and will communicate how to access the grant in the coming week or so.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
759. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if provision has been made as part of the July stimulus package for temporary clerical officers that are on short contracts and will not be eligible for the pandemic unemployment payment in October 2020. [19812/20]
View answerAs part of the Government's July stimulus package, announced last week, the pandemic unemployment payment has been extended to 1st April 2021. Further changes have been introduced to the structure of the payment which means that it continues to be a strong support but is also fair and targeted. Applications for the scheme will continue to be taken until 17 September 2020.
A person who does not qualify for the pandemic unemployment payment may be eligible for support under the jobseeker schemes. Jobseeker'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 an individual is not eligible for jobseeker's benefit or has exhausted their entitlement they may apply for the means-tested jobseeker's allowance.
I trust that this clarifies the position.
763. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the criteria used by registrars under the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014 to assess the way in which a proposed marriage is deemed to be a marriage of convenience. [20143/20]
View answerThe criteria used by registrars to assess the way in which a proposed marriage is deemed to be a marriage of convenience are contained in section 58(4C) of the Civil Registration Act 2004, which states as follows:
(4C) In forming an opinion under subsection (4A) and deciding to refer the matter to the Superintendent Registrar, the registrar shall consider the following:
(a) if the parties to the intended marriage speak a common language;
(b) the period prior to the relevant notification of the intended marriage under this Part during which the parties to the intended marriage are known to each other;
(c) the number and frequency of meetings of the parties to the intended marriage prior to the notification of the intended marriage under this Part;
(d) if the parties to the intended marriage have lived together in the past or if they currently live together;
(e) the extent to which each party to the intended marriage is familiar with the personal details of the other party;
(f) the extent to which each party to the intended marriage intends to continue an existing commitment to mutual emotional and financial support of the other party to the intended marriage;
(g) the immigration status of one or each of the parties to the intended marriage who is a foreign national;
(h) other than in a case where money is paid as a dowry as appropriate to the culture of one or each party to the intended marriage, if money was paid as an inducement for the marriage;
(i) if the one or each of the parties to the intended marriage has previously been the subject of an objection under subsection (1), an opinion formed under subsection (4A) or an objection under section 59F(1) or an opinion formed under section 59F(4A);
(j) any other information regarding the intended marriage which gives reasonable grounds for considering the marriage to be a marriage of convenience.”
These provisions were inserted by section 18 of the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014.
766. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if clarity can be provided to self-employed persons particularly in the arts sector with regard to the pandemic unemployment payment (details supplied); and if it will be necessary for persons to turn down those one off offers of temporary work in order to continue to receive the pandemic unemployment payment. [20327/20]
View answer790. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person’s 2018 tax returns will only be accepted when applying for the pandemic unemployment payment even when a person has submitted their 2019 returns. [19913/20]
View answer791. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person that applied for the pandemic unemployment payment and submitted their 2019 tax returns was rejected on their 2018 tax returns; her views on the validity of this decision; the reason the most recent returns are not taken into account; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19914/20]
View answer792. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there is a specific policy in place that explains the way in which one set of workers can earn €50 a week and qualify based on an additional support and yet another set is disqualified in the exact same circumstances (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19915/20]
View answer793. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the Revenue Commissioners know the date that a sole trader was incorporated and began earning, if those earnings be prorated to the period of incorporation for the purpose of establishing welfare benefits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19948/20]
View answer852. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the arrangements in place for self-employed persons that wish to access the pandemic unemployment payment with regard to taxi drivers that have suffered a significant reduction in their income as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20215/20]
View answer867. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if clarity can be provided to self-employed persons particularly in the arts sector with regard to the pandemic unemployment payment (details supplied); and if it will be necessary for persons to turn down those one off offers of temporary work in order to continue to receive the pandemic unemployment payment. [20326/20]
View answer875. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider changing the qualifying requirements for the pandemic unemployment payment for persons that are both self-employed and part-time workers in order that they can have their total income assessed rather than just the PAYE part; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20545/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 766, 790, 791, 792, 793, 852, 867 and 875 together.
I have announced today that any self-employed person in receipt of the lower rate of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) who has submitted their 2019 returns to the Revenue Commissioners and feels that it may make a difference to their rate, can request a review of their PUP payment from my Department.
The PUP has two rates of payment based on an individual’s previous earnings from employment. The higher rate of €350 per week is paid to people whose earnings from employment were €200 or more per week while the lower rate of €203 per week is for who earned less than €200 per week. When calculating an individual’s entitlement my Department assesses their income based on returns to the Revenue Commissioners. Where a person is an employee their gross average weekly income for either 2019 or the months of January and February 2020 is used, whichever is the more favourable. Where a person is self-employed their gross average weekly income for 2018 is used to calculate the rate of the pandemic unemployment payment which is the last tax year for which complete verifiable data on self-employed income is available.
If an individual has submitted their 2019 returns to Revenue and they consider that these are more beneficial, they can request a review of their PUP rate of payment from my Department. My Department will examine each case using the updated 2019 Revenue tax information and if the person has average earnings of €200 or more will increase their PUP payment to the higher rate of €350 per week.
Reviews can be submitted to PUPRerate@welfare.ie and should be accompanied by supporting documentation. My Department will process applications for review as quickly as possible.
767. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps being taken to assist the seasonal workers that were not working in March 2020 and therefore unable to claim the pandemic unemployment payment and that are still not working in view of the fact many seasonal businesses did not reopen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20328/20]
View answer777. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if seasonal hospitality workers that have no work due to the Covid-19 pandemic will be entitled to the pandemic employment payment under the Jobs July Stimulus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19552/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 767 and 777 together.
The 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 are 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 jobseeker's 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. Where a person does not qualify or has used up their entitlement to jobseeker's benefit they can apply for the means tested jobseeker’s allowance.
Under the July Stimulus Package, supports for employers for new staff were announced and further information is available at www.revenue.ie.
I trust this clarifies the position.
770. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the other measures being considered to create disincentives to act in a manner which contravenes public health advice further to SI 242 of 2020; if consideration has been given to the potential of these statutory instruments targeting specific groups rather than society at large; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20530/20]
View answer872. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason for her policy position in relation to SI 242 of 2020; her plans to implement the SI including detail on data sharing arrangements and the action of social welfare inspectors in airports; the documentation her Department is providing as proof to those affected by the statutory instrument; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20529/20]
View answer880. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if persons will be signed off jobseeker’s allowance if they go on holiday; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20717/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 770, 872 and 880 together.
I have reviewed the holiday arrangements in line with the most recent updated travel advice and have announced that people on a jobseeker’s payment who wish to travel to any of the countries on the Green List for up to two weeks can do so and continue to receive their payment.
Separately, I am taking primary legislation through the Oireachtas, the Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020, that places the pandemic unemployment payment on a statutory basis within the framework of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005. This legislation will enable me to introduce new regulations to allow people on the pandemic unemployment payment to travel to green list countries for up to two weeks and continue to receive their payment.
For countries that are not on the green list, people can travel for essential reasons only, such as a bereavement or health reasons. Any person in this situation is advised to contact their Intreo Centre in advance and their payment will not be impacted.
My Department does not have data sharing arrangements with any airports or ports. It does not have access to travel data and nor does it have access to travel locator forms. Since 2012 the Department’s social welfare inspectors undertake control checks at airports and ports. These checks have a firm legal basis in Section 250 (16) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005.
I trust that this clarifies the matter at this time.
