Written Answers Nos. 503-522
503. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for an invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23582/20]
View answerInvalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
The department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on 25 June 2020. She was awarded IP and she was notified on 2 September 2020 of this decision.
Payment issued to her nominated bank account on 10 September 2020. Any arrears due from 25 June 2020 to 9 September 2020 (less any overlapping social welfare payment) will issue in due course.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
504. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection when the commission on pensions will be established; the terms of reference and membership of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23587/20]
View answerThe public policy and social issues in relation to funding a sustainable and adequate State pension system are complex. The Programme for Government commits that a Commission on Pensions will be established to examine a range of issues including contributions, calculation methods, sustainability, eligibility and intergenerational fairness. The Terms of Reference for the Commission on Pensions are currently being developed and options for its membership are being considered. Proposals will be brought to Government in that regard as soon as possible. Once it has concluded its deliberations, the Commission will report to Government by June of next year.
In the meantime, the Programme for Government also sets out how the planned increase in the State pension age next year will be deferred and it will remain at 66 years pending the report of the Commission on Pensions. I will introduce legislation later this year to do that.
This Government is acutely conscious of the need to consider the sustainability of the State’s finances. However, this is not the only consideration when thinking of the State pension age. The State Pension is the bedrock of the pension system in Ireland. It is extremely effective at ensuring that our pensioners do not experience poverty. The Government is committed to ensuring that this remains the case.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
505. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23602/20]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 10 August 2020. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 21 August 2020. The case was referred to an Appeals Officer on 9 September 2020, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required and if Covid-19 restrictions allow, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for 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.
507. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a social welfare appeal by a person (details supplied) is taking so long to be decided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23607/20]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that Office on 02 January 2020. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 20 January 2020. The case was referred to an Appeals Officer on 24 January 2020.
Having considered the evidence in this appeal, the Appeals Officer was of the opinion that the case could not be properly determined on a summary basis and in those circumstances decided to convene an oral hearing.
The appellant has made contact with the Social Welfare Appeals Office on a number of occasions and has been advised that it is the intention of the Appeals Officer to hold such a hearing. However due to the restrictions arising as a result of COVID 19 in person appeal hearings were suspended since mid March 2020 and it had not been possible to schedule an oral hearing in this case prior to that suspension.
The Chief Appeals Officer has advised me that in person oral hearings have resumed since late July for essential cases and the use of video technology for remote hearings is also being examined. The use of video technology will need to ensure the maintenance of fair procedures, confidentiality, compliance with data protection and other legal requirements.
It is the intention of the Appeals Officer to hold an oral hearing in this case as soon as is practicable and the appellant will be given advance notification of the hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for 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.
509. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the assistance she can provide regarding an application for back to education allowance for a person (details supplied); if the particular circumstances and urgent nature of the application will be taken into account; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23773/20]
View answerThe Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) guidelines provide for customers to be approved for courses of education as part of their education progression, up to degree level, on the basis that their employment prospects would be enhanced.
Customers with level 7 or level 8 qualifications are not entitled to apply for courses in another area. The approved course must be part of a natural progression up to level 8. The only postgraduate courses recognised for BTEA are a Higher Diploma (H.Dip) in any discipline, or the Professional Masters in Education.
According to Departmental records the person concerned has a Masters qualification. He applied for BTEA to undertake a Masters (level 9) course in Irish Writing and his application was subsequently refused in accordance with BTEA guidelines.
The person concerned has been informed that BTEA is a non-statutory scheme. Applications are examined by a Case Officer, in accordance with the guidelines and are then subject to the approval of a Deciding Officer.
It is open to the person concerned to request a review if he is not satisfied with the outcome. Any review requested would be undertaken by an independent Case Officer on the basis of additional information supplied by the person concerned as well as the BTEA guidelines.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
512. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason social welfare offices cannot deal with payment arrears that have arisen regarding the emergency Covid-19 pandemic payments until after April 2021 when the payment officially ceases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23831/20]
View answerSince the introduction of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme in March, approx. 750,000 people have applied for payment and in some cases, they have done so on a number of occasions as they moved in and out of employment. Consequently, there are over 1 million applications to be examined to determine if arrears are due.
During the month of March, my Department received and processed jobseeker claims equivalent in number to a three year claim-load. These applications were processed as quickly as possible, with almost 59,000 people paid in the first week of the scheme, 283,000 people paid in the following week, and over 507,000 people in the third week of the scheme.
My Department is keenly aware that many people are due some arrears and that every case will be different. In order to address an issue of this scale, the Department is currently developing an automated process, which will examine each case and look at their overall entitlement to payment and match this against their payment history. The work involved is complex as the Pandemic Unemployment Payment system itself evolved from a manual applications system to one where applications were submitted online and paid over two different payment platforms (one from March to July and the second from July to date).
Given the complexity attached to the project, it will take some time yet to complete the necessary development work to review all cases and to determine to what extent, if any, arrears are due to individuals. I can assure the Deputy that this is a priority for the Department and it is hoped to make payments before March 2021.
I hope that this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
514. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the pension rights of community employment supervisors; when she will be implementing the LRC recommendation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23905/20]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, Community Employment (CE) supervisors and assistant supervisors have been seeking for several years, through their union representatives, the allocation of Exchequer funding to implement a 2008 Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme.
CE sponsoring authorities are the legal employers of their CE supervisors, CE assistant supervisors and CE participants; the Department’s role continues to be that of CE funder.
The issue was examined by a Community Sector High Level Forum, chaired by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. A number of Departments including my own Department were represented on this group, as were the unions and Pobal.
A detailed scoping exercise was carried out with input from the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES) on the potential costs of providing Exchequer support for the establishment of such a pension scheme for employees across the Community and Voluntary sector in Ireland. This exercise estimated a potential cost to the State of between €188 million and €347 million per annum depending on the numbers involved. This excluded any provision for an immediate ex-gratia lump sum payment of pension as sought, which could entail a further Exchequer cost of up to €318 million.
Officials from my Department held a series of meetings with CE supervisor representatives to consider related proposals, mindful of the operating environment in which any potential solution will need to exist. Related discussions were also undertaken between Department officials and their counterparts in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER).
My Department officials are continuing to work with the parties at present to try to establish a viable solution to this issue.
515. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider making exemptions for those on Covid-19 payment schemes who wish to carry out courses with bodies such as SOLAS in Shannon or with FÁS and who have been told that, due to the fact they must be available for work, they cannot undertake these courses. [23933/20]
View answer520. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) will receive support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24031/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 515 and 520 together.
The Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) Grant, payable by the Department of Education and Skills, represents the primary support for people pursuing third level education. The matter of supports for students for the forthcoming academic year should be referred to the Department of Education and Skills.
The Back To Education Allowance is available to those commencing the first year of a new course. Details of the Back To Education Allowance Scheme are available on www.gov.ie. An eligible person will be required to transfer from the Pandemic Unemployment Payment to the relevant qualifying social welfare scheme to continue to receive income support while availing of full-time education provision. The qualification period will be deemed to have been met for a person transferring from the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
Job search and activation supports are available from my department's Intreo Public Employment Service, which maintains a close relationship with SOLAS and the Education and Training Boards on appropriate re-skilling and upskilling opportunities for young jobseekers. Any person that is unemployed and seeking to undertake a course is encouraged to engage with their local Intreo centre to assess the options available to them.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy at this time.
516. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection if an employer can refuse to sign a UP14 form for an employee applying for jobseeker’s allowance for unpaid days that is in receipt of the temporary wage subsidy scheme. [23948/20]
View answerThe form UP14 (or new form UP80) is used to obtain details of employment (work patterns, earnings and accrued holidays) to support a person's claim for a jobseeker’s payment. An employer who has employees who are working part-time or on systematic short time work is required to complete the form in order for my Department to decide on claims from their employees.
Employer engagement in the completion of the relevant forms is an essential part of the verification process required for the administration of a jobseeker's payment.
Any legal obligations that the employer may have to their employee as regards terms, conditions or entitlements of their employment, including pay, is a matter for the employer.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
517. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if changes can be made to ensure that telecommunications assistance can be enhanced in order that applicants with queries concerning rent supplement allowance can be supported as efficiently and as expeditiously as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23953/20]
View answerRent supplement continues to play a key role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation, with the scheme currently supporting 19,400 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 those who were renting, but whose circumstances have changed due to temporary loss of employment, can continue to meet their rental commitments. The rent supplement scheme is administered by local Community Welfare Officers based in Intreo Centres across the country.
Provision of a prompt service is a major objective for the Department. The Department's Intreo centres are now open to the public Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm; and customers can contact my Department by phone or by email.
The Department has, for areas with high demand, established rent hubs to process applications, providing a speedy response to customers and a direct line of contact for any queries that arise. Officers processing individual claims at these rent units can be contacted by phone or email. The use of rent hubs by the Department allows the customer to contact the officer dealing with their claim outside regular clinic times.
My Department continually reviews all areas of its business, to ensure that the best use is made of available resources with a view to providing an efficient service to those who rely on the schemes operated by the Department to meet the changing needs of customers during these unprecedented times.
If the Deputy has a concern in relation to access for an individual location, he can provide the details to my Department, which will follow up and provide appropriate feedback.
I trust that this clarifies the position.
518. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the financial supports available to islanders travelling to hospitals to access cancer treatment and associated overnight stays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23998/20]
View answerMy department provides an increase, known as the island allowance, to certain weekly payments to people who are ordinarily resident on an island off the coast of Ireland. The objective of the scheme is to compensate for the additional costs of living on these specified islands when compared to people resident on the mainland. The allowance is paid at the rate of €12.70 per week.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, my department may award a supplement to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary. In addition, my department can make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income.
Decisions on ENPs and SWA supplements are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case. As part of the decision process, consideration is given to other State supports that may be available.
Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to assistance under the SWA scheme can contact the Department's Community Welfare Service. The Department has established an Income Support Line - 1890 800 024 – which can be used by customers at this time to contact the Department. Staff can advise them of how to make an application for assistance from the Department.
The Deputy may be aware that the HSE provides funding under the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) for a transportation assistance fund, known as Travel2Care, to assist patients who have a financial difficulty in meeting some of the costs of travelling to appointments. This scheme is administered by the Irish Cancer Society.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
519. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports available to those in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance that must complete a course in advance of commencing employment (details supplied); her views on whether required pre-employment course costs are often prohibitive to those that want to work but cannot due to the fact they are unable to fund the necessary course; her plans to provide funding to ensure such costs do not remain as barriers to employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24023/20]
View answerMy department provides assistance to jobseekers through a training support grant to fund quick access to short term training. The grant can be provided where an immediate skills gap is identified that represents an obstacle to taking up a job offer or accessing other opportunities. Courses up to and including QQI level 6 can be supported, including PASS courses.
This grant provides the financial resources to respond to the identified training needs of a jobseeker. This grant assisted approximately 5,600 jobseekers with short-term training needs in 2019. As part of the July Jobs Stimulus the funding available to a jobseeker increased from €500 per year to €1,000.
If there is a particular case that the Deputy has a concern about the details should be forwarded to my Department for review.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
521. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the support available to householders whose houses were flooded to support them in the aftermath of the recent floods in Clifden, County Galway; the means assessment and conditions that apply to aid given; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24060/20]
View answer527. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the financial assistance available to persons affected by severe flooding in the Skibbereen, Bantry and Bandon areas of County Cork during August 2020; the way in which such supports can be accessed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24184/20]
View answer528. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the financial assistance available to persons affected by severe flooding in County Cork during August 2020; the way in which such supports can be accessed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24185/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 521, 527 and 528 together.
The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government is the lead Department for severe weather emergencies and the Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for capital flood relief activities. However, my Department has an important role to play in assisting households in the immediate aftermath of emergency events, such as flooding, under the humanitarian assistance scheme.
The purpose of the humanitarian assistance scheme is to provide income-tested financial support to people whose homes are damaged and who are not in a position to meet costs for essential needs, household items and, in some instances, structural repair.
In dealing with emergency events, my department adopts the following approach:
- Stage 1 is to provide emergency income support payments (including food, clothing and personal items) in the immediate aftermath of the event.
- Stage 2 involves the replacement of white goods, basic furniture items and other essential items.
- Stage 3 is to identify what, if any, longer term financial support or works are required, including plastering, painting and relaying of floors.
The income test for humanitarian assistance is significantly more generous than that which applies in the case of means-tested social welfare schemes generally. The basic principle of the income test is that individuals and families with average levels of income will qualify for assistance. For example, a family consisting of a couple and two children with a gross household income of €70,000 or less will receive 100% of the amount allowable in respect of their application. A reduced or tapered level of support can be provided in cases where such families have income more than €70,000. The income test determines the household’s ability to meet the costs of restoring its home to a habitable condition.
The scheme is available to provide support to householders following the recent flooding events, including in respect of flooding in West Cork and Clifden, Co Galway. The Community Welfare Service has been engaging with a small number of households that have sought assistance.
If any homeowner affected by the recent flooding needs to access these supports, they should make contact with their local Community Welfare Service at the Intreo Centre in Clifden, or for Cork households, the contact details are 028-21047 or corkswa2020@welfare.ie.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.
522. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider allowing persons in receipt of the disability allowance to go back to weekly payments if it is their preference (details supplied). [24121/20]
View answerMy Department introduced a series of measures to maintain social welfare payments while assisting with social distancing measures designed to combat the spread of the Coronavirus.
Fortnightly payments were introduced to minimise the need for people to attend and queue in banks or post offices to collect payments, so helping people restrict their movements to essential activities only. These were introduced on a ‘payment in advance’ basis so people did not have to wait two weeks for a payment.
It is not possible to introduce different payment cycles for different individuals or for different categories of individual. The payment frequency can only be processed on a single welfare scheme basis. All payments on each scheme, whether by collecting cash at the post office or depositing money directly into someone’s bank account, have to be processed in the same way.
Some welfare scheme payments have now reverted to a weekly payment pattern, including One-parent Family Payment, Working Family Payment, Illness Benefit, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Jobseeker’s Benefit.
The Department’s view is guided by the public health guidelines. Those payments which are remaining on a fortnightly payment pattern will continue to be reviewed by the Department in line with the best available health advice.
