Tuesday, 3 Nov 2020

Written Answers Nos. 918-935

Social Welfare Offices

Questions (918, 919, 945)

Gino Kenny

Question:

918. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection when her Department plans to centralise and gather information from INTREO offices to obtain a national picture regarding complaints made by persons applying for a social welfare payment or persons in receipt of a social welfare payment in order that her Department gathers all complaints to her Department relating to the process of applications, reviews, appeals, inspections or other complaints to INTREO offices. [33314/20]

Gino Kenny

Question:

919. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason her Department does not, to date, centrally gather information from INTREO offices relating to complaints made by persons applying for a social welfare payment or persons in receipt of a social welfare payment to her Department in order that her Department can monitor application processes, review processes, appeal processes or inspections carried out in order that her Department can monitor complaints nationally or to determine if there are local problems with a particular INTREO office. [33315/20]

Holly Cairns

Question:

945. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which recipients of social welfare payments can make complaints against employees of her Department or those contracted to work for her Department, including details on the independence of this process and the way in which anonymity is preserved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33938/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 918, 919 and 945 together.

The Department of Social Protection (DSP) always aims to provide the best possible customer service, ensuring all customers are served in a fair, courteous and timely manner, are informed of their rights, provided with full and clear information regarding entitlements and have their privacy respected.

Not every Intreo customer who presents with an issue to be resolved is making a formal complaint. Intreo staff work every day with customers to resolve issues and explain decisions to the satisfaction of the customer. Where a customer might be concerned, confused or at times dissatisfied, Intreo staff take their time to resolve issues to the satisfaction of the customer. These issues are not recorded as formal complaints.

Where a customer is subsequently unhappy about any aspect of their dealings with the Department, they can make a formal complaint at any time through the Department's website Gov.ie using the Customer feedback form. These formal complaints are recorded and managed centrally by the Department's dedicated Customer Service Unit.

Alternatively, any customer can make contact by phone, letter, or email a member of staff who will record the complaint on their behalf. Once a complaint is received, an acknowledgement is issued within three working days including a reference number. Complaints are then forwarded to the Customer Service Officer within the relevant business area to be investigated and responded to within 15 working days. If it is not possible to issue a response within that timeframe, an interim response will issue and provide an expected completion date. All complaints are dealt with promptly, fairly, impartially, and in confidence. The outcome of the investigation will be reflected in the final response.

If the response is not satisfactory, a review of the complaint can be requested, with an explanation as to why the customer is unhappy with the original response. A review is then conducted by another Customer Service Officer, in many cases the line manager of the original responder.

If the review does not resolve the issue, the complainant is advised that they can contact the Office of the Ombudsman to seek to have the matter examined by that office.

I hope this clarifies these matters for the Deputies.

Food Poverty

Questions (920)

Holly Cairns

Question:

920. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that an organisation (details supplied) has stated that its services currently show an anticipated 57% increase in need from families seeking help with food support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33324/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) supports the actions of EU member states to provide material/food assistance to the most deprived. Funding of €3.8 billion is available via the fund between 2014 and 2020 across the EU. Each member state has to match this with a minimum of 15% national funding. The total value of the fund in Ireland for the period 2014 to 2020 is €26.7m, €4m of which will come from the Irish exchequer.

As the Managing Authority (MA) for the Operational Programme, my Department has responsibility for the implementation of the programme in Ireland. 75% of available resources will be applied to the provision of food and 25% to the provision of basic material assistance. In 2019, over 195,000 people received food assistance through the fund, including almost 70,000 children. To date the expenditure on the provision of food aid is almost €16m, with €4.5m of this expenditure in 2020 which is an increase of 16% on 2019.

FoodCloud is the department's primary partner organisation and they deliver the food element of the FEAD programme. FoodCloud manages the procurement and storage of the 23 stapled dried FEAD food products and coordinates the collection of the products by the other partner organisations which are the local charities. There are over 150 charities approved as partner organisations across the country and over 4,000 tonnes of food has been distributed to communities through these charities since the programme commenced in late 2016. Barnardos is an approved partner organisation.

The FEAD Managing Authority and Foodcloud are monitoring the demand for food aid since the outbreak of Covid–19. Following requests for additional food from 50 charities, including 8 of the 19 Barnardos services, additional allocations were made available to these charities.

Any charity requiring an additional food allocation to meet increased demand can contact the FEAD team within my department.

I trust this clarifies the position for you.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (921, 943)

Bríd Smith

Question:

921. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports available to a person over 66 years of age who is impacted by the Covid-19 crisis and self-employed but cannot currently avail of the PUP payment due to current age limits. [33344/20]

Holly Cairns

Question:

943. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if the pandemic unemployment payment will be made available to persons aged 16 or 17 years of age who meet all criteria for the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33936/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 921 and 943 together.

The Pandemic Unemployment Payment is payable to people between the ages of 18 and 66 which is consistent with other social protection schemes payable to people of working age who have lost their employment.

People aged 66 years and over are provided for through the contributory State pension or the non-contributory State means tested pension. A person in receipt of the State contributory pension can retain their State pension and employment income. If a person does not have the required number of contributions to receive the maximum rate of State pension contributory they may qualify for an increased rate of State non-contributory pension, depending on their circumstances. People receiving the non-contributory State pension who also have employment income may have their pension payment increased if they lose their employment income due to the pandemic or if it is reduced.

People aged 66 and over may also be entitled to ancillary supports which include free travel, fuel allowance, household benefits package for gas or electricity costs and living alone allowance. The fuel allowance and living alone allowance were both increased in Budget 2021 to €19.00 and €28.00 per week respectively.

A person under 18 years of age who has lost their employment and is living in the family home is treated as a dependent in relation to any social welfare payment payable to a parent.

A person of any age who is experiencing financial hardship may access assistance under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme including Exceptional and Urgent Needs Payments. Information on the supports available under this scheme is available at www.gov.ie.

I hope that this clarifies the position for the Deputies.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (922)

Bríd Smith

Question:

922. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person over 66 years of age who runs a business as a self-employed person and currently does not qualify for a PUP payment can avail of the employment support scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33345/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

As announced in the July Stimulus package, the enterprise support grant was extended to assist eligible self-employed individuals 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 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, similar to existing jobseekers supports, is payable to people of working age up to age 66 years.

Small business owners who may not qualify for this grant as they were not eligible for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, including those over age 66 years, may be eligible for alternativesupports from the Department of Business, under the Micro-Enterprise Assistance.

I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Community Employment Schemes

Questions (923)

Seán Canney

Question:

923. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the time on the scheme for all community employment scheme participants for a period during the current Covid-19 crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33355/20]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development

The Community Employment (CE) Scheme is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis.

In general, the period of participation on CE is for one year. However, CE participants who are working towards a major award or industry qualification can seek to extend participation by up to a further two years. A significant number of CE participants each year avail of an extension in order to continue training and obtain qualifications or major awards.

During the original Covid-19 emergency earlier this year, when the most restrictive measures were in place, the Department continued to provide the necessary funding for CE schemes. Other contingency measures were also introduced, including the extension of those CE participant contracts that were due to come to an end during the lockdown period.

Following the recent move to Level-5 restrictions under the Government's Resilience and Recovery Plan , the Department has reintroduced these contingency arrangements for CE schemes and CE participants. The Department will continue to provide funding for CE schemes. Department officials have been liaising with schemes to arrange for those CE participants who were due to finish over the 6 week, Level-5 period to have their contracts extended while these restrictions are in place; unless a participant is taking up employment or reaches the State Pension age.

Citizens Information Services

Questions (924)

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

924. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if the Citizens Information centre in Ros Muc, County Galway is still functioning; the status of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33361/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The 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 in Ros Muc closed to the public. While in person appointment or drop-in services closed – citizens information services remain open, active and available to the public. Currently all services to citizens in the Galway area are available by phone (at 0761 107 7600) and by email [e-mail]). Service hours are Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5.00 pm. In addition, following email or phone consultation, clients who require urgent face to face appointments, have been, facilitated in the Citizens Information Centre in Galway city.

During the Covid-19 restrictions, the eight Citizens Information Services and the Citizens Information Phone Service are working together to deliver a single, national call back service whereby, in response to a request submitted through www.citizensinformation.ie, an Information Officer will contact the requester , by phone, to offer an information , advice or advocacy service.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Citizens Information Services

Questions (925)

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

925. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the Citizens Information centres in County Galway which are currently providing an advocacy service; if this has changed in the past two years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33362/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The 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 provide information, advice and advocacy services to the public.

South Connacht Citizens Information Service (SCCIS) operates four Citizens Information Centres in its Galway service-area; Clifden, Ros Muc, Tuam and Galway city. There have been no changes to the advocacy service provided by Citizens Information Services in Galway during the past two years.

As a result of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and in line with public health guidance, the Citizens Information Centres in the Galway area closed to the public. While in person appointment or drop-in services closed – all citizens information services, including advocacy services, remain open, active and available to the public. Currently all services to citizens in the Galway area are available by phone (at 0761 107 7600) and by email [e-mail]). Service hours are Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5.00 pm. In addition, following email or phone consultation, clients who require urgent face to face appointments, can and have been, facilitated in the Citizen Information Centre in Galway city.

During the Covid-19 restrictions, the eight Citizens Information Services and the Citizens Information Phone Service are working together to deliver a single, national call back service whereby, in response to a request submitted through www.citizensinformation.ie, an Information Officer will contact the requester , by phone, to offer an information , advice or advocacy service.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Personal Public Service Numbers

Questions (926)

Michael Ring

Question:

926. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection when a PPS number will issue to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33367/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I can confirm that my Department has allocated a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) to the individual referred to by the Deputy. A letter issued to the person concerned on 30th October 2020 with details of the PPSN.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Questions (927)

Pa Daly

Question:

927. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a change was made to the Covid-19 PUP in respect of PRSI contributions; if she will report on the new operational guidelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33390/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was put in place from 5 August 2020 as a social welfare benefit to help mitigate the adverse economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is available to employees who lost their employment on or after 13 March 2020 as a direct consequence of Covid-19. It is also available to self-employed people whose income from self-employment ceased or reduced as a direct consequence of the pandemic to the extent that they would be available to take up full-time employment.

The Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is payable where a person was an employed contributor in the week immediately before he or she ceased to earn an income from the employment concerned. Similarly, a self-employed person must have been in insurable self-employment in the week immediately before the date on which their self-employment income ceased or reduced. It is a long-standing feature of social welfare legislation that individuals who are engaged in employment or self-employment are liable to pay PRSI on those activities. In those circumstances, persons claiming the Pandemic Unemployment Payment should have no difficulty satisfying these conditions.

The Department uses earnings data supplied by the Revenue Commissioners for 2019 and 2020 in the case of employees, and 2018 and 2019 in the case of self-employed people. Data is updated as often as practicable, and in the case of employees on a daily basis. In cases where no evidence of PRSI contributions can be located, individuals are asked to submit proof of employment to the Department. When this is received and verified, claims are put into payment as soon as possible.

I hope that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Disability Allowance

Questions (928)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

928. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection when a disability claim which has been upheld on appeal by the social welfare appeals office (details supplied) will go into payment; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33441/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Based on the evidence supplied in support of their application for disability allowance (DA), this person’s application was disallowed on the grounds that the medical qualifying condition was not satisfied. They were notified in writing of this decision on 22 June 2020.

The person concerned requested an appeal of the decision and submitted additional medical evidence for consideration. The Social Welfare Appeals Office decided, based on this additional evidence, that the medical qualifying condition was satisfied.

This lady has been awarded DA with effect from 11 March 2020. The first payment will be made by her chosen payment method on 4 November 2020.

Arrears of payment due will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments (if applicable).

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Question No. 929 answered with Question No. 888.

Social Welfare Rates

Questions (930)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

930. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the rate of payment a person (details supplied) will receive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33627/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Where a person’s weekly earnings were between €200 and €299.99, the rate of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is €250 per week. According to my Department’s records the person concerned earned an average of €252.35 per week in 2019 and the PUP rate of €250 is therefore correct for her circumstances.

If these earnings are inaccurate, the person concerned should supply documentation to support this. However, it is important to note that my Department will only accept earnings which have been notified to Revenue and have been subject to PRSI.

Requests for a review of earnings should be emailed to [e-mail] and all supporting documentation included. Alternatively, the person concerned can write to PUP Rerate Requests, DSP, Intreo Centre, Cork Road, Waterford including all supporting documentation.

The case will then be reviewed and any necessary follow up action taken.

If the person concerned is experiencing financial difficulties she can contact her local Community Welfare Service in the Navan Road Intreo Centre where her circumstances will be assessed. Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, 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. There is no automatic entitlement to these payments which are payable 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, in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance. The Community Welfare Service can be contacted by phone at [phone].

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Question No. 931 answered with Question No. 838.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (932)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

932. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a Covid-19 or related payment will be made available in the case of a person (details supplied); if the case will be urgently investigated with a view to payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33645/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The person concerned was in receipt of a Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) up to 29/09/2020. The PUP ceased from 30/09/2020 as, according to Departmental records, the person concerned failed to confirm her eligibility for this emergency support payment.

The person concerned subsequently contacted my Department and provided the required information regarding her eligibility. The PUP has now been reinstated and the person concerned will receive her next payment on 03/11/2020.

In the interim an Exceptional Needs Payment was awarded to the person concerned and was paid into her nominated bank account on 02/11/2020.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Jobseeker's Benefit

Questions (933)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

933. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an appointment to facilitate an application for jobseeker's benefit can be facilitated for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33667/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

An officer from the Newbridge Intreo Centre phoned the person concerned on 29/10/2020 to discuss her application for a Jobseeker’s Benefit payment.

A Jobseeker’s Benefit pack was posted to the person concerned on 29/10/2020 as she is self-isolating and cannot attend the Intreo Centre in person. When the necessary documentation is returned to the Newbridge Intreo Centre it will be assessed by a deciding officer and the person concerned will be advised of the outcome on her claim.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme

Questions (934)

Martin Browne

Question:

934. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance to €180 for children aged between four and 11 years and to €325 for children aged over 12 years. [33703/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn. The scheme operates from June to September each year. The allowance is payable for eligible children between the ages of 4 and 17 in respect of whom a qualified child increase is being paid. It is also payable to those between the ages of 18 and 22 who are in full-time second level education and in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid.

The allowance paid for each eligible child aged from 4 to 11 years on or before 30 September 2020 is €150 while an allowance of €275 is paid for each eligible child aged over 12 on or before 30 September 2020.

In 2019, 143,150 families benefited from the scheme, in respect of 263,400 children, at a cost of €53.5 million. The estimated cost of increasing the 4-11 year rate from €150 to €180 and the over 12 year rate from €275 to €325 is €10 million.

Any increases to the rates of payment for the back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme would have to be considered in a budgetary context.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Fuel Allowance

Questions (935)

Duncan Smith

Question:

935. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if having a member of one's family on a social welfare payment and living with that person would disqualify that person from receiving a fuel allowance payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33722/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The fuel allowance is a payment of €24.50 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €686 each year) from October to April, to an average of 352,000 low income households, at an estimated cost of €261.35 million in 2020. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only one allowance is paid per household.

The criteria for fuel allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my Department in as targeted a manner as possible. To qualify for the fuel allowance payment a person must satisfy all the qualifying criteria including the household composition criteria. To satisfy the household composition criteria an applicant may live alone or only with:

- a qualified spouse / civil partner / cohabitant or qualified child(ren); (if the qualified spouse is in receipt of half rate carers, in addition to the IQA payment , they may qualify for fuel allowance, subject to a means test) or

- a person in receipt of a qualifying payment who would be entitled to the allowance in their own right or

- a person who is in receipt of carer’s allowance or carer’s benefit in respect of providing full-time care and attention to the fuel allowance applicant or their qualified spouse / civil partner / cohabitant or qualified child(ren) or

- a person receiving pandemic unemployment payment (PUP), a person receiving short-term jobseeker's allowance (JA) or basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) - i.e., less than 391 days for JA and less than 15 months/456 days for SWA).

Fuel allowance is not payable if an applicant lives with any person, including a family member, that is not covered by the criteria outlined.

Any decision to change the qualifying conditions for fuel allowance would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.

Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, exceptional needs payments may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which customers are unable to meet out of their own resources, and this may include exceptional heating costs. Decisions on such payments are made on a case-by-case basis.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.