Tuesday, 20 Oct 2020

Written Answers Nos. 419-438

Invalidity Pension

Questions (420)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

420. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection the numbers of persons receiving invalidity payments by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31538/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the following tabular statement.

Tabular statement attached.

Recipient of invalidity pension by county at the 30th of September 2020

County	Invalidity Pension
Carlow	1,085
Cavan	870
Clare	1,285
Cork	7,791
Donegal	1,629
Dublin	13,499
Galway	2,277
Kerry	1,750
Kildare	2,638
Kilkenny	1,089
Laois	986
Leitrim	496
Limerick	3,505
Longford	644
Louth	1,818
Mayo	1,457
Meath	1,993
Monaghan	625
Offaly	1,164
Roscommon	870
Sligo	900
Tipperary	2,457
Waterford	1,733
Westmeath	1,346
Wexford	2,159
Wicklow	1,568
Others	1,299
Total	58,933

Employment Support Services

Questions (421)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

421. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection the details on the training, upskilling and reskilling available for those on invalidity payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31539/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Invalidity Pension is a pension paid to people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness. Illness Benefit is a payment made to insured people who are unable to work due to illness. To qualify for an award of either payment, a claimant must satisfy both PRSI contribution and medical conditions.

Given the requirement to be permanently incapable of work or to be unable to work due to illness, there are no training, upskilling or reskilling supports available to people on these payments.

Where a person in receipt of Invalidity Pension or in receipt of Illness Benefit for more than six months wishes to return to work, they may apply for Partial Capacity Benefit. The payment of Partial Capacity Benefit recognises that some people with disabilities have the capacity to engage in employment while still needing some income support from the State. The objective of the scheme is to support such people to return to the workplace without fear of loss of their disability-related social welfare benefits.

If awarded, Partial Capacity Benefit will allow them to continue to receive, in addition to their earnings from employment, a payment set at a rate equal to a percentage of their illness benefit or invalidity pension payment, depending on the severity of the disability. If a person's disability is rated as moderate, severe or profound their payment continues at 50%, 75% or 100% per cent of their previous payment, respectively.

It is important to note in relation to Partial Capacity Benefit that:

- There is no requirement that a person must undertake work that is of a ‘rehabilitative or therapeutic’ nature.

- It is voluntary.

- There is no restriction on the number of hours worked.

- There is no restriction on earnings.

- A person receiving Partial Capacity Benefit may return to Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension if, for example, the employment ceases or if the person cannot continue to work.

- A person with an underlying entitlement to Invalidity Pension will retain their Free Travel Pass for a period of five years while in employment.

I trust that this clarifies the matter.

Social Welfare Appeals

Questions (422)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

422. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a review will be undertaken into an application for an increase for qualified adult and children in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31552/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence, disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision on 24 July 2020.

The Chief Appeals Officer has power under section 318 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 to revise any decision where it appears to her that the Appeals Officer’s decision was erroneous by reason of some mistake having been made in relation to the law or the facts.

I understand a request for such a review was made to the Chief Appeals Officer on 27 August 2020. The outcome of the review was that the Chief Appeals Officer upheld the decision of the Appeals Officer and the person concerned was notified accordingly on 2 September 2020. In further correspondence to the person concerned on 14 September 2020 he was advised that the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (Section 327) also provides that any person who is dissatisfied with either the decision of the Appeals Officer or of a revised decision made by the Chief Appeals Officer may appeal that decision or revised decision, as the case may be, to the High Court on any question of law. He was also advised that he could refer the matter to the Office of the Ombudsman if he so wished.

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 on social welfare entitlements.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Employment Support Services

Questions (423)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

423. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for refusal of EURES relocation allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31575/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The European Targeted Mobility Scheme (TMS) is a European Union job mobility scheme which offers financial assistance to EU citizens aged 18+ in relocating for work or travelling to an interview in another EU country, Norway or Iceland. It also assists employers interested in recruiting for hard to fill vacancies from another EU country, Norway or Iceland. The aim of the scheme is to facilitate mobility for jobseekers and employers by offering candidates mobility services including financial support for relocation in order to reduce barriers to internal movement of workers. Ireland is currently partnered with Sweden for this European Targeted Mobility Scheme (TMS) on behalf of the EU Commission.

In order for a migrating worker to be eligible for financial support under this scheme, there is a very strict condition that an application for the allowance must be made prior to leaving their home country and prior to commencing employment. This condition is printed and highlighted on the first page of the application form. This condition is in place to ensure that applicants do not travel without the economic security of a job and income on arrival in a new country.

While I do not wish to comment on individual cases or applications, I understand that not all conditions were satisfied in the case referred to by the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (424, 425, 426, 431, 434)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

424. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are plans to bring forward the increase in parental benefit from April 2021 to 2020, in view of the difficulty in obtaining suitable childcare options due to Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31578/20]

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

425. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to extend the timeframe beyond the first year of a child’s birth or adoption during which parent’s benefit is paid in order to take into account the parents whose child was born during the pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31605/20]

Steven Matthews

Question:

426. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Social Protection if clarity will be provided regarding the parental leave extension announced in budget 2021; if there are provisions that would allow parents to take the extra leave in advance of the proposed timeframe of April 2021; and if the rationale for the timeline can be outlined. [31623/20]

Réada Cronin

Question:

431. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Social Protection if the increase in the parent's benefit from two weeks to five weeks as announced in budget 2021 and planned for 2021 could take effect in 2020 due to the extreme difficulty and uncertainty facing families with Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31718/20]

Richard Bruton

Question:

434. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider bringing in the extended parental leave from November 2020 instead of postponing it until April 2021 when babies born during Covid-19 will not become beneficiaries. [31725/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 424 to 426, inclusive, 431 and 434 together.

Parent’s Leave and Benefit will be extended from 2 weeks for each parent to 5 weeks as announced in Budget 2021. This extension will be made available retrospectively to parents in respect of children born or adopted on or after 1st November 2019. The period during which this leave can be taken will be extended from 12 to 24 months so it can be taken up to a child's second birthday or within two years following adoption. Parents will therefore not lose out on their entitlement to these extra weeks.

There is a necessary lead-in time following the announcement of this extension to facilitate its implementation. Firstly, legislative change is required by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth which has responsibility for parents leave policy. This legislation needs to be carefully prepared and drafted before being brought through the Oireachtas, given that it extends a statutory leave entitlement that, in addition to benefitting workers, has implications for employers.

It will also be necessary for parallel amendments to the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended) to be drafted and brought through the Oireachtas to provide the legislative basis for the extended payment of benefit.

In addition, significant changes are required to the Department's systems to administer this extension, including the provision of retrospective entitlement. This work needs to be undertaken in such as way that is does not compromise existing supports in an environment where there are unprecedented levels of demand on the Department’s services due to Covid-19.

The extra weeks of leave will be made available as soon as the necessary legislation which is being drafted by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is enacted.

Once the new application and payment system goes live in April, my Department will then process and issue benefit payments - to include backdated payment of benefit as appropriate - in respect of Parents Leave taken from the date of enactment.

While I appreciate that the timing of the implementation of this measure is a concern for some parents. I can assure the Deputies that everything is being done to make this extension available as soon as possible.

Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme

Questions (427)

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

427. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) can apply for back payment of the back to school clothing and footwear allowance. [31633/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The back to school clothing and footwear allowance is a means-tested once-off payment aimed at helping families with the extra costs when children start school each autumn.

To qualify for the back to school clothing and footwear allowance payment in 2020, the following conditions must apply:

- The applicant must be in receipt of a qualifying payment between 1 June 2020 and 30 September 2020 and getting an increase in that payment for each child for whom the allowance is being claimed,

- each child being claimed for must be aged between 4 and 17 on or before 30 September 2020 or

- aged between 18 and 22 on or before 30 September 2020, and returning to second-level education in the autumn of 2020,

- the assessable income for the household must be within a set income limit, and

- both the applicant and each child must be resident in the state.

The department has not received a 2020 back to school clothing and footwear allowance application on behalf of the person in question. The closing date for 2020 back to school clothing and footwear allowance application was 30th September 2020. As this date has now passed, it is not possible to award back to school clothing and footwear allowance for the person concerned.

I trust this clarifies the matter for you.

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Questions (428)

Joan Collins

Question:

428. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the criteria used in deciding to pay the Christmas bonus to those on pandemic unemployment payment with the proviso that the recipient must be on the payment for four months. [31641/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I was pleased to announce as part of Budget 2021 that the Christmas Bonus will be paid this year at a rate of 100% to an estimated 1.5 million recipients, at a cost of €349.3 million.

Usually, the Bonus is only paid to recipients of long-term social welfare payments, who are dependent upon their social welfare payment for most or all of their income for what is normally a prolonged period. In that regard, the only jobseekers that usually qualify for a Bonus are those on Jobseeker’s Allowance who have been in receipt of a payment for 15 months or more.

In recognition of the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on employment levels and the sudden financial impact on individuals, the Bonus will be paid this year to people have been in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment for a period of four months or more and are in payment on the date the Bonus is paid. It will also be paid to people on jobseeker payments who have been in receipt of these payments for four months or more. This four month period does not necessarily need to be continuous.

The decision to reduce the time from 15 months to four to become eligible for the Bonus was made to ensure that it is paid to those who have been made unemployed for a significant period since the first shutdown of businesses, and also to reflect the exceptional situation brought about by the pandemic.

Working Family Payment

Questions (429)

Denis Naughten

Question:

429. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the working family payment threshold by €10 for all family sizes; the reason she did not increase the threshold for larger families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31645/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The 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 and remain in employment.

Increasing the Working Family Payment income threshold for families with one, two or three children in recent budgets is a targeted measure benefiting low income families. Increasing income thresholds is a measure that is directly linked to household income and therefore directly supports low-income working families. As of June 2020 families with one, two or three children represented 86% of all Working Family Payment recipient households.

The full year cost of increasing the income threshold for families with one, two or three children, by €10 per week as announced in Budget 2021, is estimated at €21.4 million. If this measure were to be extended to all family sizes the additional estimated expenditure would be €2.6 million.

The Budget measure is, in particular, intended to target the most vulnerable families such as lone parent families - who are typically households with one or two children. Lone parents accounted for 49% of all Working Family Payment recipients in 2019. For the majority of these families the Working Family Payment is their primary source of income support from the Department.

Community Employment Schemes

Questions (430)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

430. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of places available on community employment schemes nationwide; the number of participants on the schemes at present; the number of vacancies on the schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31653/20]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development (Deputy Joe O'Brien)

Community Employment (CE) is a positive initiative that enables the long-term unemployed to make a contribution to their communities whilst up-skilling themselves for employment opportunities that will become available.  The CE programme can play an important role in breaking the cycle of long-term unemployment for some people and improve their chances of employment.

The 2020 CE Budget is €364 million which provides for approximately 22,750 CE placements.  At the end of September 2020 there were 19,315 CE participants on CE.

Recruitment to employment on CE is recognised as a priority objective for the Department. Where vacancies have arisen on CE schemes, eligible candidates will continue to be identified by Department case officers who will then refer them to the relevant CE scheme where it is considered to be a suitable activation measure for the jobseeker.  

CE sponsoring authorities are also encouraged by Department officials to promote awareness of the benefits of CE in their local communities, ensuring that vacancies are well publicised.  CE sponsoring bodies can also advertise their vacancies free of charge on the Department's JobsIreland website www.jobsireland.ie

The Deputy will be aware that as part of the July Stimulus Package, the Government announced 3,000 additional places on State Employment Schemes, including the CE programme.  This will provide opportunities for an increase in existing CE participant numbers and services provided to local communities. 

A number of factors will inform the decision on the allocation of the additional places.  These factors will include training and development opportunities on schemes, participant development requirements, existing employment support schemes and regional Live Register data.

I am fully committed to the future of this programme and will continue to support and improve the programme for the benefit of the CE participants and the valuable contribution being made to local communities.

Question No. 431 answered with Question No. 424.

State Pensions

Questions (432)

John Paul Phelan

Question:

432. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to introduce legislation to change the age eligibility criteria for the State pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31723/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The 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. The Government confirmed as part of its Budget 2021 measures that the required amendment to primary legislation (the Social Welfare Consolidation Act, 2005) will be brought before the Oireachtas later this year for enactment in advance of the 1st January 2021. The Government has set aside a provision of €221 million in 2021 to support costs associated with this measure.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

State Pensions

Questions (433)

John Paul Phelan

Question:

433. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is considering proposals to reintroduce the transition payment for those eligible for the State pension from the period they turn 65 years of age until they start to draw down the State pension, rather than the current position in which such persons must go on jobseeker’s allowance for the transition period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31724/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Programme for Government “Our Shared Future” 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.  

Officials in my Department are currently considering how the Government commitment could be implemented and are assessing the ICT system requirements, legal provisions and administrative processes required to do that.   

In the meantime, the Deputy should note that a person aged 65 or over who is retired and qualifies for a jobseeker's benefit payment may retain that payment in full (assuming they don't return to work) until they reach the state pension age of 66, i.e., the payment does not exhaust after 6 or 9 months as it normally does.  Additionally, people of 65 or over on a jobseeker's payment are not required to engage with the Department's activation process, are not required to be actively seeking work, and are only required to sign on once or twice.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. 

Question No. 434 answered with Question No. 424.

Departmental Offices

Questions (435)

Holly Cairns

Question:

435. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of dedicated spaces for breastfeeding and expressing breast milk in workplaces assigned to her Department in percentage and absolute terms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31744/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

My Department operates 13 main offices and 75 Intreo Centres across this jurisdiction.  All of these buildings have at least one restroom for staff which can be used by a breastfeeding mother.  The rooms have a bed, a chair and a lockable door.  All our offices have fridge facilities for use by staff and arrangements are made locally by mothers who wish to store expressed milk.  The Department also operates in a number of other buildings as a minor tenant, including HSE centres, which would provide similar facilities.

A circular issued to all staff in 2019 outlining the arrangements for mothers who wish to avail of breastfeeding breaks.  A staff member who wishes to exercise this entitlement in either the form of breastfeeding breaks or reduced hours notifies her manager before her return to work from maternity leave.  This provides an opportunity for any necessary arrangements to be made, including bringing in any additional equipment the mother may require. 

State Pensions

Questions (436)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

436. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for a State pension in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31758/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The person concerned will reach pension age on 9 November 2020.  Their application for State pension (contributory) was received on 9 September 2020. 

According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has a social insurance record of 1,335 full-rate paid contributions, 27 credited contributions and 681 HomeCaring Periods. This gives them an entitlement to a standard State pension (contributory) at 98.22% of the maximum rate. The weekly rate of payment will be €243.90.  They were notified in writing of this decision on 16 October 2020.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy. 

Fuel Allowance

Questions (437)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

437. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will indicate eligibility for fuel allowance in the case a person (details supplied) who is in receipt of a State pension (non-contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31766/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

My Department has no record of receiving an application for Fuel Allowance from the person concerned.   

If the person wishes to make a claim, they should submit a completed application for Fuel Allowance (Form NFS1), which is available for download on www.gov.ie or from their local post office, to State Pension Non Contributory, Social Welfare Services, College Road , Sligo.   

Their application will be decided based on the eligibility conditions for the scheme and they will be notified in writing of the outcome.  

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. 

Direct Provision System

Questions (438)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

438. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the number of refugees currently housed in emergency reception and orientation centres here; the number of such centres here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31015/20]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration

Persons arriving in Ireland under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) are initially accommodated in Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres (EROCs).

Two dedicated EROCs are currently in operation:

- The Abbeyfield Hotel, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon

- The Clonea Strand Hotel, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford

In addition, there are currently 200 dedicated EROC places within the Mosney Accommodation Centre, due to its particular suitability for families. The table below sets out the number of refugees currently residing in each centre on week ending 11 October 2020.

EROCs	No.
Abbeyfield Hotel	115
Clonea Strand Hotel	17
Mosney	117
Total	249

The Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) was established in 2015 in response to the migration crisis in central and southern Europe. Under this programme, the Government committed to accepting up to 4,000 people into the State, primarily through a combination of the EU Relocation Programme and the UNHCR's Refugee Resettlement Programme.  

To date, more than 3,350 people have arrived in the State under this first phase of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP).  Most of the remaining people will arrive under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme Humanitarian Admissions Programme (IHAP). 

Last December, a second phase of the IRPP was announced giving a commitment to welcome a further 2,900 refugees between this year and 2023, through a combination of resettlement and community sponsorship.

We are awaiting the arrival of a further 230 people from Lebanon. This cohort who have been security cleared following a selection process carried out in March of this year by officials implementing the IRPP. 

In addition, we  will shortly welcome up to 50 people in family groups from Greece following the recent fire that almost completely destroyed the Moria camp on the island of Lesbos.  My officials are liaising with the European Commission on the detail of this additional commitment under the IRPP, and together with members of An Garda Síochána will travel to Greece in the coming weeks to make the arrangements for their safe passage to Ireland.