Written Answers Nos. 159-178
159. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of research being conducted on the short and long-term impacts of the pandemic unemployment payment vis-à-vis traditional social welfare payment schemes and labour market actuation challenges. [29084/20]
View answerAt the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government quickly mobilised and implemented a range of income and employment support measures, including the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), to cushion the income shock experienced by workers and their employers. These income supports have proven to be effective in maintaining incomes and insulating people against a sudden and severe income shock. In all research and policy analyses undertaken by my Department, the impact of Covid-19 on the labour market, and the associated activation challenges, are a central consideration.
My Department, in collaboration with the Central Bank of Ireland, published a Working Paper in May entitled “The Initial Impacts of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Ireland’s Labour Market” which found that in the initial weeks of the pandemic, the most severely impacted sectors were tourism, hospitality and food, retail and construction. Moreover, those who had lost their jobs or were displaced by the pandemic, were more likely to be young, low-skilled and previously in part-time employment than the population average; reflecting the higher share of these workers in the sectors most affected.
The Labour Market Advisory Council, an expert group of academics and representatives from industry and business, was convened by my predecessor earlier this year to provide advice to Government on key employment and labour market challenges. The first task assigned to the Advisory Council was to develop, as a matter of urgency, proposals for actions to tackle the labour market challenges arising as a result of the pandemic. A Policy Paper entitled “Preparing for Economic Recovery” was published by the Council in June in response to this mandate and outlines a series of recommendations for Government on the public policy and labour market responses needed to tackle current labour market challenges.
The Advisory Council recognises that there are a range of challenges facing Ireland’s labour market, including the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on particular cohorts of the labour market. It is proposed to deal with these topics in future Policy Papers.
My Department has worked with colleagues at the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) to consider the impacts of the pandemic unemployment payment. Research by the ESRI, as part of their Budget Perspectives 2021 series, examined the potential cost and distributional effect of Covid-19 unemployment. It found that the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme significantly softened the financial impact of Covid-19 on families and household income.
The ESRI undertook a further social assessment of the impact of the introduction of the proposed new rates from September 2020 on behalf of my Department. The analysis considers the effects of the new PUP rates with reference to changes in household disposable income and the impact upon poverty rates. The results indicated that the changes resulted in a very small reduction in disposable income.
With regard to long term research plans, my Department has recently awarded a new poverty and social inclusion research programme to the ESRI. It is expected the resulting research will include analysis of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the most vulnerable in Irish society, amongst other topics. In addition, my Department monitors independent research on areas of interest and commissions research where required.
160. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the opening of a new Citizens Information office in Shannon town, County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29101/20]
View answerThe Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the statutory body responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice (including money and budgeting advice) and advocacy services on a wide range of public and social services. A national network of Citizens Information Centres, overseen by regional Citizens Information Service companies provides information, advice and advocacy services to the public.
As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and in line with public health guidance, the Citizens Information Centre which operates from the Shannon Business Centre, was required to close to the public. This was because the Shannon premises did not meet required HSE Covid-19 health advice and the Return to Work Safely Protocol and could not offer citizens information services safely in-person.
North Munster CIS which has responsibility for the CIC at Shannon is progressing plans to retrofit the existing premises to the requisite safety standards to facilitate limited face-to face appointment service for members of the public. It is understood that from next week the Shannon Centre will be in a position to facilitate some emergency in-person appointments where required.
It is very important to understand that while in person appointment or drop-in services were required to close at the Shannon Business Centre – citizens information services remain open, active and available to the public in the Shannon region. The service can be contacted by phone (at 0761 07 5370) and by email (at shannon.cic@citinfo.ie). Service hours are Monday to Friday 9.00am to 1.00 pm, and 2.00pm to 5.00 pm. In addition, clients who require a face to face appointment, can and have been, facilitated in the Citizen Information Centres in Ennis or Limerick.
Furthermore, North Munster CIS is also engaged in a review of its service delivery points, both core offices and outreach locations, and is examining all options in the Shannon area. It is expected that this review will be completed, and a decision made on the future location of services for the Shannon area, before the end of 2020
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
161. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on the way in which the pandemic unemployment payment is to be treated for the purposes of means tests for social welfare payments such as the disability allowance. [29102/20]
View answerThe current position in relation to the pandemic unemployment payment is that it can be paid concurrently with certain social assistance payments, including disability allowance. The pandemic unemployment payment is not assessed as means.
162. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection when backdated pandemic unemployment payment arrears will be paid to a person (details supplied). [29146/20]
View answerThe person concerned initially applied for Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) on 6/4/2020 indicating that he last worked on 13/3/2020. He was awarded the PUP from 3/4/2020. My Department’s records reflect that the person concerned closed his PUP application as he was returning to work on 3/7/2020.
Since the introduction of the PUP scheme in March, approximately 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. 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. Given the complexity attached to the project, it will take some time to complete the necessary work to review all cases and to determine to what extent arrears are due to individuals. The intention is that all arrears will be paid in the coming months.
If arrears arise in the case of the person concerned, they will be processed and issued to him.
My Department’s records show that the person concerned submitted an application for Jobseeker’s Allowance on 23/09/2020. Further documentation has been requested in order to progress this application and on receipt of this his application will be progressed.
If the person concerned is experiencing financial difficulty, it is open to him to contact his local Community Welfare Service and seek assistance under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme while his application is being processed. This service can be contacted by phone at (01) 8581100 and by Email at cwsfinglas@welfare.ie
I trust this clarifies the matter.
163. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on a case (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29159/20]
View answerThe Programme for Government “Our Shared Future” 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. This will require amendment to primary legislation and the Government will bring the necessary legislation before the Oireachtas later this year.
As the Deputy is aware, the public policy and social issues in relation to funding a sustainable and adequate State pension system are complex. As a consequence, the Programme for Government commits to establishing a Commission on Pensions to examine a range of issues including sustainability, eligibility, contributions and calculation methods.
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.
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.
164. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the terms under which self-employed persons can claim a payment to assist with restarting their business which has been affected by Covid-19. [29162/20]
View answerAs announced in the July Stimulus package, the enterprise support grant was extended to assist eligible self-employed, including sole traders, who exit the Pandemic Unemployment Payment or jobseekers schemes after 18th May 2020 to re-start their business which was closed due to the impact of the pandemic.
The grant, of up to €1,000, is payable to self-employed individuals who 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. Funding of €12 million has been provided for this grant. To date, over 3,100 small businesses have benefitted from this grant.
A self-employed person who closes their Pandemic Unemployment Payment should be encouraged to send their grant application to their local Intreo Centre to be processed. Further information is available at www.gov.ie.
There are a range of supports available for businesses from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, to persons who may not qualify for the enterprise support grant.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
165. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that many student nurses who were supporting themselves through part-time health assistant work have been told that combining such work with their standard placements would pose a Covid-19 risk and as a consequence her Department has deemed such persons not available for work and, therefore, ineligible for the pandemic unemployment payment; and if relief can be provided in such cases. [29163/20]
View answerThe Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Act 2020 put the pandemic unemployment payment on a statutory basis since 5th August and the scheme has been extended until the end of March 2021. I have also secured agreement to keep the pandemic unemployment payment open for new applications until the end of 2020.
Applicants must satisfy the qualifying conditions of the scheme to be eligible for the payment. The Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) grant payable by the Department of Education and Skills represents the primary support for persons pursuing education.
I trust this clarifies the position.
166. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the dates for extension of paid parental leave and of unpaid parental leave over the next fifteen months. [29173/20]
View answerParent's leave and benefit is currently payable for two weeks to both parents, including those who adopt a child, who are employees or self-employed and who take parent’s leave from their employment to care for their child. This is in addition to existing maternity, paternity and adoptive leave and benefit entitlements. In line with a Government decision in July 2020, officials of my Department is currently examining the possible extension of parent's benefit from two weeks to five and the possible extension of the period in which the leave can be taken for parents.
Parents are entitled to take unpaid parental leave from work to spend time looking after their children. Up to 26 weeks’ parental leave is available for each eligible child before their 12th birthday. Prior to 1st September 2020, parental leave was 22 weeks for each eligible child.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
167. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to bring forward an auto-enrolment pension during the course of 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29178/20]
View answerThe new Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce a pension auto-enrolment system. The objective of this commitment is to address the low proportion of employees in Ireland with supplementary pension cover, which includes both occupational and personal pensions.
The rate of supplementary pension coverage in Ireland is just over 50% of the working population (CSO, Pension Coverage Survey 2019) and this reduces to less than 35% when the private sector is considered in isolation. Many of these people will become reliant on the State pension for all or most of their income in retirement and accordingly, may face a significant unwanted drop in income.
Although the Roadmap for Pensions Reform 2018 to 2023 provided for the development and implementation of an Automatic Enrolment (AE) retirement savings system by 2022, this Government recognises the exceptional strain that both employers and employees are now under as a result of the Covid-19 emergency. Therefore, the Government will now seek to gradually deliver an AE system, based on the following principles:
- There will be a phased roll-out, over a decade, of the contribution made by workers.
- Matching contributions will be made by both workers and employers and the State will top up contributions.
- There will be an opt-out provision for those who choose to opt out.
- Workers will have a range of retirement savings products to choose from.
- There will be a charges cap imposed on pension providers.
A phased introduction of the system is believed to be achievable in the current situation. As part of this phased introduction, the Automatic Enrolment Programme Management Office (AEPMO), based in my Department, is currently working on developing options for Government to consider in 2021. There are five main areas where work is ongoing so as to produce design options. These areas relate to:
- the scope and role of a central processing authority for the system;
- the nature and functions of registered providers of savings products;
- the investment framework and funds to be offered by registered providers, including the design of the default fund and the pay-out phase;
- the design of the State financial incentive; and
- the phasing of implementation.
In progressing this work, the Department is receiving technical support from the European Commission’s DG Reform which assists EU member states implementing administrative and institutional reforms and this support will continue to be provided next year.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
168. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if the short-term illness benefit can be claimed by the self-employed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29179/20]
View answerThe Government is committed to enhancing the position of the self-employed through improving the level of PRSI based benefits available to self-employed people and through a supportive tax regime.
Self-employed persons are liable for PRSI at the Class S rate of 4% which covers them for access to long-term benefits such as State pension (contributory), widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's pension (contributory), invalidity pension, as well as some treatment benefits, maternity and paternity benefit, adoptive benefit and guardians payment (contributory). Class S contributions do not provide access to short-term social insurance benefits such as illness benefit. However, the means tested supplementary welfare allowance scheme may be available to those who are experiencing financial difficulty.
Self-employed contributors have been covered for invalidity pension since December 2017. This gives the self-employed access to a safety-net of income supports if they become permanently incapable of work as a result of a long-term illness or disability without a means test.
Payment of the enhanced illness benefit in respect of COVID-19 is made to both employed and self-employed people in two very limited circumstances for a person who:
(i) is diagnosed with COVID-19, or
(ii) is a probable source of infection of COVID-19 and is self-isolating – such persons will have either been certified by their doctor or will have been contacted by the HSE (i.e. they are contact-traced or otherwise personally identified and advised by the HSE as being a probable source of infection).
This assistance has been provided for under emergency legislation Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 and subsequent regulations. It is provided in the interest of public health and to limit the spread of the virus.
It is the Government’s intention to keep under review the further extension of benefits to self-employed people. In doing this, it will take account of results of the 2017 survey of self-employed workers, which indicated that self-employed people are open to paying a higher rate of social insurance in return for additional benefits, and the actuarial review of the social insurance fund which was undertaken by KPMG. This review found that the combined cost of introducing the invalidity, illness, jobseeker’s and carer’s benefits for class S contributions was estimated to be €223 million for 2020. Any plans to extend illness benefit to self-employed persons in other illness situations would have to be considered in the overall budgetary context.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
169. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if the higher rate of child dependent allowance for children of 12 years of age and over will be reflected in the rates for the working family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29180/20]
View answerThe Working Family Payment is an in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. It is designed to prevent in-work poverty for low paid workers with child dependents and to offer a financial incentive to take-up employment.
To qualify for Working Family Payment, the average total weekly family income must be below the relevant income threshold as related to the family size. The payment is calculated as 60% of the difference between the total family income and the income threshold which applies to the family.
Increases for a Qualified Child (IQCs) are paid as child-related supplements to most weekly social welfare payments in recognition of the need for greater incomes among benefit-dependent households with dependent children. The current full rate of payment is €40 per week in respect of each child over 12 years, and €36 per week in respect of each child under 12 years. These payments do not of themselves constitute a specific social welfare scheme and entitlement to the appropriate primary adult payment must be established in the first instance.
While increases for qualified children are an additional payment to primary social welfare payments , working family payment is an in-work support aimed at reducing in-work poverty, and increasing the benefit of work for low income households. It is based on household size rather than the individual ages of the children in the household.
170. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if the back to education allowance can be claimed without a waiting time for all traditional welfare payments and for the pandemic unemployment payment; and if the exact relaxation in rules which have been permitted relating to duration on welfare payments will be clarified. [29181/20]
View answer174. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the changes in the criteria for the back to education allowance under the July stimulus; and the duration for which the revised criteria will apply. [29197/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 174 together.
The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) provides income support for jobseekers and certain others in receipt of social welfare payments who pursue full-time courses of education at second or third level. The main focus of the allowance is to assist qualifying applicants to improve their educational qualifications and their prospects of gaining employment.
The BTEA has been extended as part of the July Stimulus in response to Covid-19. Ordinarily a person must be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for a minimum period before being eligible to apply for the BTEA when pursuing training or education. The qualifying period has been waived for people on who are in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment. This provides that those who have lost their employment during the pandemic may have immediate access to a range of educational options where they transition to education. This measure will be kept under review and is now available for those taking up full-time education in the current academic year.
In order to avail of continued financial support while pursuing a full-time course of education, a person in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment should apply for a jobseeker payment. The BTEA will be payable at the jobseekers rate.
Any person seeking to return to education should engage with their local Intreo Centre to assess their options.
I trust this clarifies the issues.
171. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of new claimants of rent supplement which have come into payment since the Covid-19 pandemic commenced; and her plans to relax the stringent rules for withdrawal of the payment for persons considering returning to work by comparison with those that have been put on a housing assistance payment. [29182/20]
View answerRent supplement continues to play a key role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation, with the scheme currently supporting 19,984 active recipients.
Since the introduction of the Government’s Covid-19 emergency response in March, 10,125 applications for rent supplement have been approved. Of this number, 5,823 remain in payment.
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 or income, can continue to meet their rental commitments.
The overarching Covid-19 response in the case of rent supplement is to provide a flexible case-by-case solution for customers, providing temporary income support during the emergency for their housing costs. The Department’s current flexible rent supplement response has been extended to end-March 2021 and remains under review within the context of the overall Government response to the Covid-19 emergency.
Since the introduction of HAP, Rent Supplement continues to revert to its original role of providing short-term support to those who have become temporarily unemployed and require income support to meet their tenancy cost whilst they seek alternative employment. Rent supplement’s role, supporting those returning to work by way of income provision is not comparable to HAP, which provides long term housing to those who have verifiable long term housing needs.
I have no plans to alter rent supplement’s central goal of providing short term income support for those who have been made temporarily unemployed, with HAP being available from local authorities to those who have long term housing needs.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
172. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to funding tablets for jobseeker's supported by the EmployAbility service through the increased training suppler grant in order to assist familiarise them with online programmes to increase their confidence and chances of gaining employment. [29195/20]
View answerThe EmployAbility service both offers, and is associated with, a wide range of grants and provisions to support people with disabilities to secure and maintain paid employment in the open labour market.
Integration is the essential feature of the EmployAbility service: People with disabilities should have the same opportunities to participate in all activities and to work with and alongside other employees who do not have disabilities.
Together with the funding of the EmployAbility services, my Department also provides employment supports aimed at helping participants gain and retain employment as follows:
- Workplace Equipment Adaptation Grant which provides funding for a person with a disability who is starting or already in employment to make their workplace more accessible or equipment easier to use.
- Job Interview – Interpreter Grant which is a grant for an interpreter to accompany a person with a speech or hearing impairment to a job interview
- Personal Reader Grant which provides funding to employ a personal reader to assist someone who is blind or visually impaired in their work
- Employee Retention Grant Scheme (ERGS) which aims to help employers retain employees who become disabled through sickness or injury
- Wage Subsidy Scheme – financial assistance for private sector employers to encourage them to employ people with disabilities
- Disability Awareness Training for Employers – grants to employers to assist with the cost of disability awareness training
- EmployAbility Work Experience Programme – EmployAbility clients availing of the service can receive €20 per week towards costs.
The Department keeps the provision of these related supports under continual review. At present the specific supply of telecommunication devices to all customers is not under consideration. Any such proposal would have to be considered in terms of the necessity of such provision and an overall demonstration of a cost benefit.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
173. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the terms and conditions which will apply to the Work Experience Programme which was announced as part of the July Stimulus; the revised terms of the JobsPlus scheme outlined under the July Stimulus; and if a time limit has been set for the scheme. [29196/20]
View answerThe July Jobs Stimulus included commitments to €200m investment in training, education, skill development, work placement schemes, recruitment subsidies and jobs search and assistance measures aimed to help those who have lost their jobs find a new one, retrain or develop new skills, in particular for emerging growth sectors. Included in this is provision for a funded Work Placement Scheme to provide work experience for jobseekers who have been unemployed for more than six months regardless of age. A particular objective is to provide a mechanism for those with recent work experience or with sector specific skills to pivot into new employment/jobs through additional learning with new and relevant work experience.
Work is ongoing within my Department on finalising the detailed provisions of the programme. It is intended that this the new programme will be open to all jobseekers who have unemployed for six months or more, on the live register. Time spent in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will be counted for the purposes of this eligibility. The measure agreed under the stimulus package allows for 10,000 placements to be provided for six months duration. The employment will be for 30 hours per week with a commitment by the employer to provide job mentoring and training.
In the July Jobs Stimulus, the ceiling on JobsPlus places was increased with effect from 1st August 2020. It will now benefit 8,000 jobseekers who are returning to work. The JobsPlus Scheme guidelines have been revised to cater for the changes announced, specifically:
- The qualifying criteria for those Under 30 can now avail of the support after 6 months (156 days) on the Live Register in the previous 12 months.
- Time spent in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment can now be counted for the purposes of this eligibility
The revised JobsPlus Operational Guidelines have been updated and are available on https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/8529b5-operational-guidelines-jobsplus/
175. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is entitled to social welfare payment due to a loss of employment as a result of the current Covid-19 pandemic. [29221/20]
View answerThe Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment PUP for the person concerned was reviewed as part of a Review Project. As there was no information recorded by the Revenue Commissioners relating to earnings for the person concerned, she was asked to provide evidence of her employment in line with the review. The evidence provided by the person concerned from her employer, confirmed that she did not commence employment following an induction day, due to Covid-19 restrictions. In line with the evidence provided, she was not employed on or after 6/03/2020 and she therefore does not have an entitlement to the PUP.
It remains open for any person in the State to make a claim for any social welfare payment that he or she considers he or she may have an entitlement to, regardless of the residency stamp/permit awarded by the Department of Justice and Equality. It remains a matter for that person to satisfy the eligibility conditions prescribed in law for any particular entitlement to a payment, including but not limited to the Habitual Residence condition.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
176. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the ending of the JobPath and Turas Nua schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29240/20]
View answerTuras Nua and Seetec are currently contracted by the Department to provide employment services to Jobseekers who are long term unemployed.
As with all contracted Public Employment Services, these contracts are actively managed by the Department to ensure the contractors continue to provide jobseekers with access to high quality employment supports and services. The payment-by-results model used for both Turas Nua and Seetec ensures those contractors receive the majority of their fees when their clients secure sustained employment. Such a model means that while the contractors are contractually required to provide employment service supports to jobseekers their ability to recoup their costs is dependent on their clients securing sustained employment.
Any provision for contracted Public Employment Services in 2021 will be in the context of managing and responding to the labour market impacts of Covid-19. My Department will work to ensure there is sufficient capacity within the Public Employment Service to provide a high-quality service to help individuals back into employment.
In July, the Government announced that we would be investing an additional €43 million into the Public Employment Service to enhance this capacity. My Department is considering how to ensure that we have sufficient capacity in the Public Employment Service to ensure that we are in a position to provide the necessary supports and services to individuals who have lost employment arising from the labour market impacts of the pandemic.
177. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration if additional funding will be provided to youth work services in 2021 in order to provide more supports and activities for young persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28989/20]
View answerThe allocations under Budget 2021 are being considered by Government in the context of the annual Estimates process for 2021. As this process is ongoing, the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment at this stage.
While I recognise and acknowledge that youth sector funding saw deep cuts during the preceding decade, in recent years, funding for the provision of youth services has increased on an annual basis. Between 2016 and 2020 the annual current youth funding available to my Department has increased from €51.9m to €61.79m.
It is now more critical than ever that our young people are supported as they experience the social, economic, physical and mental health impacts of the pandemic. In recognition of the vital role played by youth work in providing such support to young people, funding levels have been maintained throughout the current challenging period. This has enabled the youth sector to continue to provide supports to young people, particularly to marginalised, disadvantaged and vulnerable young people.
I am committed to supporting this important sector, which has enormous value both to the many young people involved and from a broader social and economic viewpoint.
178. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration his plans to increase funding to the public bodies that distribute funds to youth services (details supplied). [29021/20]
View answerThe allocations under Budget 2021 are being considered by Government in the context of the annual Estimates process for 2021. As this process is ongoing, the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment at this stage.
While I recognise and acknowledge that youth sector funding saw deep cuts during the preceding decade, in recent years, funding for the provision of youth services has increased on an annual basis. Between 2016 and 2020 the annual current youth funding available to my Department has increased from €51.9m to €61.79m. NYCI saw its Youth Service Grant Scheme allocation increase from €608,888 in 2019 to €633,244 in 2020.
It is now more critical than ever that our growing population of young people are supported as they experience the social, economic, physical and mental health impacts of the pandemic. In recognition of the vital role played by youth work in providing such support to young people, funding levels have been maintained throughout the current challenging period. This has enabled the youth sector to continue to provide supports to young people, particularly to marginalised, disadvantaged and vulnerable young people.
I am committed to supporting this important sector, which has enormous value both to the many young people involved and from a broader social and economic viewpoint.
