Written Answers Nos. 561-581
562. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have been made permanently redundant in recent months in circumstances unrelated to Covid-19 and in cases in which the business has not yet paid its former staff redundancy payments (details supplied). [25572/20]
View answerThe Redundancy Payments Acts provide for the making of payments by employers to employees in respect of redundancy. It is the employer’s responsibility to pay statutory redundancy payments to all eligible employees. In the event that an employer fails to pay, an application for payment from the Social Insurance Fund may be submitted to the Department. When such a redundancy payment is made from the Social Insurance Fund, a debt is immediately raised against the employer.
As employers are not required to notify this Department when employees are made redundant there is no central record of total redundancies. The Protection of Employment Act, 1977, outlines circumstances where employers are required to consult with employees in advance of any redundancies and notify the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection of proposed collective redundancies. From March to end of August there were 10,534 proposed collective redundancies notified to the Minister. It is not possible to ascertain if these were COVID-19 related or how many of the proposed redundancies took place following the consultation.
From January to August, 2,161 applications were received under the Redundancy Payments Scheme, an increase of 558 applications on the same period last year.
The emergency measure that was brought into effect from 13th March due to Covid-19 relates to the temporary suspension of an employee’s entitlement to claim redundancy from their employer following periods of temporary lay-off and short–time work. This measure has been extended until 30th November.
The decision to extend this provision has been a difficult one and I acknowledge that it will come as a disappointment for many employees who want certainty in relation to their redundancy entitlements. However, a further extension was considered necessary in order to help keep businesses viable, which in turn ensures permanent job losses are avoided as much as possible. The Government has always been clear that this is a temporary measure and, when the emergency measure ceases to have effect, eligible employees will be able to avail of their legislative entitlement to claim redundancy from their employer.
All other redundancy provisions remain unchanged and in force. If an employer is going to make an employee redundant the employer must comply with their obligations such as notice periods for redundancy and the payment of a redundancy lump-sum to the affected employee.
564. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated amount that would be raised by increasing the employers rate of PRSI by 2%. [25581/20]
View answerThe estimated additional revenue that would be raised by increasing the two employers’ rates of PRSI by 2%, that is from 8.80% to 10.80% and 11.05% to 13.05%, would be €1.6 billion.
This estimate does not take into account any possible changes in employer behaviour arising from increasing the rate. Nor does it take into consideration any of the impacts arising from the measures being taken to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
565. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated additional revenue which could be generated by establishing a new band of employers' PRSI of 19.75% on incomes over €90,000 per year and to increase the existing 10.955% by 2% to 12.995%. [25588/20]
View answerThe estimated additional revenue that would be raised by establishing a new employer PRSI rate of 19.75% for incomes over €90,000 per year and increasing the PRSI rate for incomes not exceeding €90,000 per year from 11.05% to 13.05% while maintaining the lower PRSI rate of 8.80% for incomes not exceeding €395 per week, would be c.€2.6 billion.
This estimate does not take into account any possible changes in employer behaviour arising from increasing the PRSI rates. Nor does it take into consideration any of the impacts arising from the measures being taken to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
566. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) has not received a payment for nine weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25590/20]
View answerThe payment stopped for this customer as he failed to confirm his continued eligibility as required.
To date no further application has been received from him.
When a new claim is received it will be examined in accordance with the guidelines. Should he have any difficulties with the application process he should contact his nearest Intreo Centre for assistance.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
567. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons receiving pandemic unemployment payments of €203, €250 and €300 per week by the sector in which they previously worked; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25592/20]
View answerThe Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is now paid at three rates. Age and sex breakdowns at the payable PUP rates are published each week at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/f4c60c-covid-19-statistics/ . The breakdown by sector is provided in the table below. The Deputy should note that the sector breakdowns are based on the sector of the last known employer and may not reflect the current sector of self-employed PUP recipients.
Table 1: PUP recipients by rate payable week ending 26th September 2020
|
Sector |
€203 |
€250 |
€300 |
|
A Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing |
732 |
452 |
1,496 |
|
B Mining and Quarrying |
27 |
15 |
138 |
|
C Manufacturing |
1,793 |
1,409 |
8,473 |
|
D Electricity, Gas, Steam and Air Conditioning Supply |
40 |
28 |
140 |
|
E Water Supply; Sewerage, Waste Management and Remediation activities |
86 |
62 |
514 |
|
F Construction |
2,621 |
2,003 |
11,512 |
|
G Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles |
6,964 |
6,178 |
17,333 |
|
H Transport and Storage |
1,253 |
1,200 |
5,425 |
|
I Accommodation and Food service activities |
10,705 |
9,512 |
24,683 |
|
J Information and Communication activities |
1,207 |
771 |
3,961 |
|
K Financial and Insurance activities |
1,360 |
827 |
3,158 |
|
L Real Estate activities |
732 |
590 |
1,864 |
|
M Professional, Scientific and Technical activities |
1,989 |
1,427 |
7,610 |
|
N Administrative and Support service activities |
4,386 |
3,502 |
14,910 |
|
O Public Administration and Defense; Compulsory Social Security |
1,344 |
730 |
2,277 |
|
P Education |
2,654 |
1,789 |
5,227 |
|
Q Human Health and Social Work activities |
2,106 |
1,618 |
4,201 |
|
R Arts, Entertainment and Recreation |
1,885 |
1,130 |
2,807 |
|
S Other service activities |
2,204 |
1,602 |
3,733 |
|
T Activities of Households as Employers |
559 |
322 |
899 |
|
U Activities of Extra-territorial Organizations and Bodies |
2 |
0 |
3 |
|
Unclassified or Unknown |
3,804 |
840 |
1,517 |
|
Total |
48,453 |
36,007 |
121,881 |
568. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to reduce youth unemployment and support young persons impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic in returning to the workforce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25618/20]
View answerSince the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March of this year, Ireland has witnessed unprecedented rise in levels of unemployment. Research published by my Department found that young people in particular have been hardest hit by the pandemic, and are over-represented in the sectors most affected by public health restrictions (hospitality, retail and accommodation).
Even though the situation is improving, almost 38% of our young people remain unemployed and rely on some form of State income support to make ends meet; traditional jobseeker support payments, the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Support (PUP) and the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS).
I am focused on giving our young people the best chance to find their footing in the labour market, including new entrants to the workforce and our disadvantaged youths who were unemployed prior to the pandemic and face barriers to accessing employment opportunities. Building on existing supports, the Government's July Jobs Stimulus contains a number of significant new initiatives, to deliver a €200 million investment in training and education, skills development, work placement schemes, recruitment subsidies, and job search and assistance measure. These measures are designed to help those who have lost their jobs find new ones, retrain, or develop new skills, in particular for emerging growth sectors.
My Department, along with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science will deliver on a number of key actions to address the youth unemployment challenge, including:
- Extending and expanding funded job placement and work experience programmes to give young people the necessary workplace skills to compete in the labour market. This will be particularly beneficial to young people who face barriers to accessing employment opportunities;
- Equipping young jobseekers with the skills to compete in the labour market by ramping up transversal skills development, digital capabilities, increasing the use of fast turnaround specific skills training and providing education and training that targets growth sectors and occupations.
- Providing employers with incentives to recruit apprentices. This will ensure an apprentice pipeline as the labour market recovers, providing skilled, sustainable career opportunities for young people.
- Working with and encouraging employers to hire young jobseekers from the Live Register – in particular through the use of targeted recruitment subsidies.
- Extending access to Back to Education Schemes so that young people on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, who are not already in education, can avail of education opportunities at the start of the 2020/21 academic year.
- Increasing the capacity of our State Employment Schemes to take on and provide occupational activity to young people who are long-term unemployed.
Targeted funding programmes for higher education will also be available for young people to develop skills for the future world of work, including Springboard Plus and Human Capital Initiatives.
My Department continues to develop the next iteration of Pathways to Work for the period 2020-2025. Complementing the measures in the Stimulus Package, the strategy will commit to ensuring that positive labour market outcomes are achievable for all groups in society, including young people.
These measures are just a start. The July Jobs Stimulus is a precursor to the National Economic and Recovery Plan which will be delivered following Budget 2021, charting Ireland’s long-term, jobs-led recovery from the impact of Covid-19 on the economy.
569. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps she will take to ensure that persons who are required to retire at 65 years of age do not have to sign on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25619/20]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to introducing a Retirement Payment for 65 year olds paid at the same rate as Jobseeker's Benefit without a requirement to sign on, partake in any activation measures or be available for and genuinely seeking work.
I wish to assure the Deputy that I have made the introduction of the new Retirement Payment an immediate priority for my Department. Officials in my Department are currently considering the design of the scheme and assessing the necessary legislation, ICT system requirements and administrative processes required to support the introduction of this payment.
I will bring proposals for this new payment to Government shortly and the necessary legislation will be introduced later this year.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
571. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Social Protection when she will bring forward the necessary legislation to keep the State pension age at 66 years of age as committed to in the Programme for Government; if persons turning 66 in early 2020 should apply for their pension now; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25621/20]
View answerThe Programme for Government “Our Shared Future” states that the planned increase in the State Pension Age next year will be deferred. The State Pension Age will remain at 66 years. This will require amendment to primary legislation and the Government will bring the necessary legislation before the Oireachtas later this year. I hope that there will be cross party support for this legislation.
It is recommended that a person applies for the State Pension (Contributory) three months before they turn 66 years of age.
The public policy and social issues in relation to funding a sustainable and adequate State pension system are complex. Therefore, the Programme for Government also commits to establishing a Commission on Pensions to examine a range of issues including contributions, calculation methods, sustainability, eligibility and intergenerational fairness. The Terms of Reference for the Commission are currently being developed and options for its membership are being considered. I will bring proposals to Government in that regard as soon as possible.
The 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. This Government is committed to ensuring that this remains the case.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
572. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in counties Longford and Westmeath aged between 18 and 21, 22 and 25, 25 and 30, 30 and 35, and 35 and 40 years, respectively, in receipt of carer’s allowance, in tabular form. [25638/20]
View answer573. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in counties Longford and Westmeath aged between 18 and 21, 22 and 25, 25 and 30, 30 and 35, and 35 and 40 years, respectively, in receipt of disability allowance, in tabular form. [25639/20]
View answer574. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in counties Longford and Westmeath aged between 18 and 21, 22 and 25, 25 and 30, 30 and 35, and 35 and 40 years, respectively, in receipt of jobseeker’s benefit, in tabular form. [25640/20]
View answer575. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in counties Longford and Westmeath aged between 18 and 21, 22 and 25, 25 and 30, 30 and 35, and 35 and 40 years, respectively, in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance, in tabular form. [25641/20]
View answer576. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in counties Longford and Westmeath aged between 18 and 21, 22 and 25, 25 and 30, 30 and 35, and 35 and 40 years, respectively, in receipt of carer’s allowance, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25642/20]
View answer577. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in counties Longford and Westmeath aged between 18 and 21, 22 and 25, 25 and 30, 30 and 35, and 35 and 40 years, respectively, in receipt of jobseeker’s transitional payment, in tabular form. [25643/20]
View answer578. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in counties Longford and Westmeath aged between 18 and 21, 22 and 25, 25 and 30, 30 and 35, and 35 and 40 years, respectively in receipt of the one parent family payment in tabular form. [25644/20]
View answer579. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in counties Longford and Westmeath aged between 18 and 21, 22 and 25, 25 and 30, 30 and 35, and 35 and 40 years, respectively, in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment, in tabular form.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25645/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 572 to 579, inclusive, together.
The information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the tables below. The Pandemic Unemployment numbers refer to the week ending 26th September 2020.
Table 1: Recipients of specified payments in County Longford by requested age profiles at the end of August 2020
|
Longford |
18 – 21 Years |
22 – 25 Years |
26 - 30 Years |
31 – 35 Years |
36 – 40 Years |
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance(Including Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment) |
219 |
183 |
306 |
292 |
250 |
|
Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment |
0 |
0 |
18 |
26 |
44 |
|
Jobseeker’s Benefit |
1 |
29 |
40 |
44 |
51 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
16 |
67 |
40 |
44 |
82 |
|
Pandemic Unemployment Payment |
99 |
197 |
98 |
151 |
143 |
|
Carer’s Allowance |
6 |
15 |
44 |
73 |
143 |
|
Disability Allowance |
85 |
103 |
129 |
121 |
198 |
Table 2: Recipients of specified payments in County Westmeath by requested age profiles at the end of August 2020
|
Westmeath |
18 – 21 Years |
22 – 25 Years |
26 - 30 Years |
31 – 35 Years |
36 – 40 Years |
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance(Including Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment) |
270 |
335 |
453 |
497 |
427 |
|
Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment |
0 |
4 |
35 |
61 |
67 |
|
Jobseeker’s Benefit |
7 |
72 |
91 |
118 |
95 |
|
Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment |
0 |
4 |
35 |
61 |
67 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
40 |
119 |
199 |
203 |
120 |
|
Pandemic Unemployment Payment |
304 |
543 |
319 |
353 |
294 |
|
Carer’s Allowance |
7 |
24 |
316 |
194 |
221 |
|
Disability Allowance |
252 |
220 |
253 |
235 |
288 |
580. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the number of personnel employed as childminding advisory officers; and the locations in which they are based. [24743/20]
View answerThere are 6 personnel employed as Childminding Development Officers to support work with childminders at a regional and local level. The positions are hosted in the Cavan, Cork, Fingal, Galway, Kilkenny and Westmeath County Childcare Committees. However, the posts are regional in scope, and each of the 6 Childminding Development Officers provides support to a number of City and County Childcare Committees in a region. Together, therefore, they offer full national coverage of support for the work that each City and County Childcare Committee does to support childminders in its county / city area. The Childminding Development Officer posts were first introduced in 2019 to help the City and County Childcare Committees to support childminders to meet regulatory requirements and register with Tusla, and to support implementation of the forthcoming Childminding Action Plan.
581. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration if the position of National Childminding Coordinator is currently filled. [24744/20]
View answerMy Department appointed a National Childminding Coordinator in 2019 to oversee supports for childminders - including supports delivered through the City and County Childcare Committees - and to assist in the development and initial implementation of the forthcoming Childminding Action Plan. The National Childminding Coordinator position remains filled.
