Written Answers Nos. 149-168
149. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of applications for PPS numbers at a company (details supplied); his plans to reduce the waiting times on these applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35474/20]
View answerI can confirm that the company referred to by the Deputy has been contacted by officials of my Department regarding their employees' Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) applications so that we may proceed to progress their applications.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
150. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection when a PPSN will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35538/20]
View answerI can confirm that the individual referred to by the Deputy has been contacted regarding his application for a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) by officials of my Department so that we may proceed to progress his application.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
151. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount paid in carer’s allowance in each year since 2015; the number of carer’s allowance applications received in each year since 2015; and the number of successful applicants as a percentage of applications made in each year since 2015. [35546/20]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is reported annually in my Department's Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services report which is published on https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/02f594-annual-sws-statistical-information-report/.
I have for the Deputy's convenience detailed the expenditure from 2015 to 2019, number of claims that were received, the number awarded expressed as a percentage of the claims received in respect of Carer's Allowance from 2015 to October 2020.
Tabular statement below.
Expenditure from 2015 to 2019, number of claims that were received, the number awarded expressed as a percentage of the claims received in respect of Carer's Allowance from 2015 to October 2020.
|
Expenditure (€million) |
Claims Registered |
Claims awarded |
Claims awarded as a percentage of claims registered |
|
|
2015 |
611.14 |
18,929 |
14,378 |
76.0% |
|
2016 |
653.67 |
22,722 |
19,308 |
85.0% |
|
2017 |
729.45 |
23,800 |
17,290 |
72.6% |
|
2018 |
795.36 |
20,208 |
17,242 |
85.3% |
|
2019 |
862.56 |
19,402 |
16,910 |
87.2% |
|
October 2020 |
15,764 |
15,000 |
95.2% |
152. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when the fuel allowance will be awarded to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35550/20]
View answerFuel allowance is a means-tested payment to assist householders on long-term social welfare payments towards the cost of their heating needs.
The main eligibility conditions that apply to the fuel allowance scheme are that a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment, must satisfy a means test and must either be living alone or with other qualifying persons. The fuel allowance means test is linked to the maximum rate of the state pension (contributory). The applicant and their spouse can have a combined weekly household income of €100.00 above the maximum rates for State pension (contributory) and Increase for qualified adult and still be eligible for a fuel allowance.
The person concerned applied for this allowance on 16 October 2020. Since it is a means-tested payment, information regarding their household means was requested on 29 October 2020. Once this information is received, the person’s eligibility for fuel allowance can be determined and they will be notified of a decision as soon as possible.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
153. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection if the means test will be removed for the fuel allowance for those in receipt of a State pension who have a disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35568/20]
View answerThe 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.
My Department also pays an electricity or gas allowance under the Household Benefits scheme at an estimated cost of €194 million in 2020. This is paid at a rate of €35 per month, 12 months of the year.
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. Therefore, to receive the fuel allowance a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment from my Department and also have satisfied a means test.
Any decision to remove the means test qualifying criteria for fuel allowance for those who are in receipt of the State pension and have a disability would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, a heating supplement may be paid to assist people in certain circumstances that have special heating needs. If a recipient of a social protection or HSE payment has exceptional heating costs due to ill health, infirmity or a medical condition which he/she is unable to meet out of household income, that person may apply for a heating supplement. There is no automatic entitlement to a payment. Heating supplements 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.
Exceptional needs payments are also available under the SWA 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.
154. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of appeals to carer’s allowance refusals received in each year since 2015; the number of those appeals that were successful in each year; and the number of appeals in which the original decision was upheld in each year. [35576/20]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
The statistics required by the Deputy in relation to carer's allowance appeals are set out in the table below.
Appeals which had a favourable outcome for the person concerned consist of appeals which were either allowed in full or in part by an Appeals Officer or which were resolved by way of a revised decision in favour of the person concerned by a Deciding Officer or Designated Person.
There are a number of reasons why a decision which was refused at first instance might be successful on appeal and it is not necessarily the case that the first decision was incorrect. It is often the case that new evidence is provided with an appeal and that, as a result, the original decision may be revised by the Deciding Officer or Designated Person.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Carers Allowance Appeals
Appeal Receipts and Outcomes 2015-2020
|
Appeal Receipts |
Appeals allowed by Appeals Officers |
Appeals partly allowed by Appeals Officers |
Revised decisions by Deciding Officers |
Appeals disallowed by Appeals Officers |
Withdrawn |
|
|
2015 |
3,188 |
1,352 |
155 |
579 |
1,355 |
50 |
|
2016 |
3,887 |
1,375 |
145 |
815 |
1,237 |
52 |
|
2017 |
3,200 |
1,204 |
161 |
780 |
1,199 |
72 |
|
2018 |
2,902 |
1,047 |
144 |
440 |
989 |
90 |
|
2019 |
3,006 |
1,230 |
158 |
603 |
1,468 |
80 |
|
2020 (to end of October) |
2,997 |
947 |
98 |
516 |
1,752 |
39 |
155. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of renting office space, including for public bodies, from a company (details supplied) in 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form. [35618/20]
View answer159. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department or bodies under the aegis of her Department rent office space from a company (details supplied) or an Irish subsidiary; the number of employees who work out of such office space; the length of time they have been working from the offices; the cost to date of renting such offices; the tender process by which it was decided to make use of the services of the company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35721/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 159 together.
Neither my Department nor any bodies under the aegis of my Department rent office space from the company referred to by the Deputies, nor any Irish subsidiary of that company.
156. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied). [35626/20]
View answerA claim for maternity benefit from was received form the person concerned outside of the prescribed time limits and as a result it was not awarded. Further information was requested in relation to the claim and the reason for the late submission to the department. Following a review she was again notified that her claim was refused.
The Department is currently undertaking a further review of her claim and is awaiting additional documentation to aid the completion of this review. Once this review is completed a further communication will issue.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
157. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a domiciliary care allowance application by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35673/20]
View answerAn application for Domiciliary Care Allowance was received from the person concerned on the 8th May 2020. The application was not allowed as the child was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for the allowance. A letter issued on the 1st July 2020 setting out the decision of the deciding officer to refuse the allowance.
An appeal was registered by the Social Welfare Appeals Office on the 21st July 2020. As part of the appeals process, the application was re-examined by a deciding officer and the person concerned was notified on the 7th September 2020 that the review was unsuccessful. An appeal submission was prepared and forwarded to the Social Welfare Appeals Office on the 16th September 2020. A decision issued from the Social Welfare Appeals Office on the 20th October 2020 informing that the appeal had been disallowed.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
158. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage of appeals that are won on payments such as pension payments, carer’s allowance and disability and invalidity pensions; the average time for these appeals to be decided upon; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35694/20]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
The statistics required by the Deputy in relation to the percentage of appeals which had a favourable outcome for the appellant and the average processing times for appeals are set out in the attached tables which cover the period January - October 2020. Appeals which had a favourable outcome for the appellant were either allowed in full or in part by an Appeals Officer or resolved by way of a revised decision by a Deciding Officer or Designated Person in favour of the appellant. For completeness, information relating to all schemes which are subject to appeal is included in the tables in the link below.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
160. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an appeal submitted by a person (details supplied) for partial capacity benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35740/20]
View answerPartial Capacity Benefit (PCB) allows a person who has been in receipt of Illness Benefit for six months and who may not have full capacity for work, to return to employment and continue to receive a partial or full payment from the Department.
The personal rate of payment is based on the assessment of the persons restriction on capacity for work i.e. Moderate, Severe or Profound, where they retain 50%, 75%, or 100% of their payment respectively.
A claim for PCB from the person concerned was disallowed on the 21st April 2020 as they were medically assessed as having a mild incapacity for work and as such did not qualify for payment of PCB.
The person concerned submitted an appeal of this decision. She submitted further medical evidence to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) who then sent this to the PCB section. This medical evidence was then used by the department's medical assessors to review her entitlement to PCB.
Following this review, the person concerned qualified for PCB at a moderate incapacity for work and a letter issued to her on the 6th November 2020 giving her the full details of this decision.
Once the department has received a return to work date from the person concerned their PCB payment will commence.
The PCB section will be in further contact with the customer to discuss if she is satisfied with the result of her review or if she wishes to continue to the next stage of her appeal with the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
161. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the timeline for the provision of a response to the recommendations of the report by a person (details supplied) on direct provision; the status of the development of a White Paper on options for a replacement to the direct provision system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35494/20]
View answerResponsibility for the provision of accommodation for applicants for International Protection transferred to my Department from the Department of Justice on 14 October, 2020.
I published the report by the Advisory Group on the Provision of Support, including Accommodation, to Persons in the International Protection Process on 21 October. Minister McEntee and I submitted the report to Government the previous day and the Government accepted the Advisory Group’s conclusion that the current system of Direct Provision is not fit for purpose and must be replaced.
The Programme for Government contains a committment to ending the Direct Provision system and replacing it with a new International Protection accommodation policy, centred on a not-for-profit approach. The Government has also committed to the development of a White Paper which will set out how this new system will be structured and the steps to achieving it.
My Department is currently developing the White Paper which I expect to publish by the end of the year. The recommendations of the Advisory Group will inform the White Paper. We will also consider a number of other relevant reports including the Inter-Departmental Working Group Report on Direct Provision (November 2019) and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice & Equality, Report on Direct Provision (December 2019).
Consultations are currently underway and include the relevant Government Departments and agencies, the Offices of the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, relevant NGOs and housing bodies and representatives of residents of Direct Provision centres.
162. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions he has undertaken to monitor the conditions in direct provision centres in County Monaghan; if he is satisfied that conditions are acceptable for residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35495/20]
View answer163. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to concerns about living conditions for residents in direct provision centres (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35561/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 163 together.
I am aware of a number of complaints emanating from social media regarding the living conditions in the accommodation centres referred to by the Deputy.
Accommodation centres are subject to regular unannounced inspections by both my officials in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) and an independent inspectorate company (QTS Limited). These inspections are generally undertaken, twice yearly by my officials in IPAS and once yearly by QTS Limited. Inspections cover a wide range of issues including the quality of the food, fire safety and other health and safety issues.
Inspections were suspended temporarily during the first phase of COVID-19 restrictions but they recommenced on 14 September 2020 with all necessary safeguards in place. During the months of September and October 33 centres were inspected. The target is for all 45 designated accommodation centres to be inspected before the end of the year. Emergency accommodation centres were also visited during the year. However, such accommodation centres do not undergo the same level of inspection as the designated centres which are inspected as part of their contractual obligations. Under the current Level 5 restrictions only necessary inspections and can currently be undertaken.
Officials from IPAS inspected the dedicated centre referred to by the Deputy on 24 September 2020 and visted the temporary centre on 27 August 2020. There were no significant issues noted in respect of the visit to the temporary centre and the official has noted that the standard of facilities there had improved since the previous visit in December 2019. The report of the inspection to the dedicated centre has only recently been completed and sent to the centre's management for comment prior to finalisation. I intend to review the report of the dedicated centre and engage with IPAS about its findings and any recommendations. The report will be published shortly as are all such inspection reports.
With respect to complaints, IPAS has a complaints procedure which is set out in the House Rules & Procedures Booklet for International Protection applicants. Complaints are made initially to the centre manager with a view to informal resolution. If the person concerned is not satisfied with the outcome of their complaint, he or she may make a complaint to IPAS who will investigate the matter and take action as appropriate. In the event that a resident is not satisfied with how his or her complaint is dealt with, he or she has full access to the services of the Ombudsman and Ombudsman for Children.
A confidential Freephone telephone support service, funded by, but independent of, my Department, was also established in May 2020 to provide further support to residents in both permanent and temporary accommodation centres. This Freephone confidential support helpline is operated by the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS).
The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government contains a commitment to ending the Direct Provision system and replacing it with a new International Protection accommodation policy, centred on a not-for-profit approach. We have also committed to the development of a White Paper which will set out how this new system will be structured and the steps to achieving it. My Department is currently developing the White Paper which I expect to publish by the end of the year.
I am committed to improving standards in International Protection accommodation as the Government works to end Direct Provision. As such my Department has also engaged with HIQA with regard to monitoring the implementation of national standards for IPAS Accommodation Centres that were published in 2019. It is expected that this process will begin early in the new year.
164. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has been contacted by any NGO, agency, organisation or charity expressing a concern about an increase or the potential for an increase in domestic violence, child suicide rates or alcoholism among youths during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown; and the details of such communication and correspondence. [35456/20]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that my Department has received contact from Alcohol Action Ireland in relation to their “Alcohol Action Ireland Operation Encompass” and a meeting has been arranged in the coming week to discuss this proposal and how it relates to supporting children who witness domestic violence during the Covid-19 Pandemic.
In addition, my Department was contacted by Barnardos in relation to a ‘snapshot’ review conducted to assess their intensive family support and early years services. The review identified high numbers of referrals to their services for issues related to domestic violence, mental health or addiction.
In relation to the issue of domestic violence in particular, the below table sets out the relevant correspondence received from NGOs during my tenure.
|
Name of organisation |
Date of correspondence |
Topic |
|
Rape Crisis Network Ireland |
28/07/2020 |
Impact Report on COVID-19 on rape crisis services |
|
Barnardos |
25/08/2020 |
Pre-Budget submission |
|
Rape Crisis Network Ireland |
22/09/2020 |
Pre-Budget submission |
|
The Family Resource Centre, Inchicore (Domestic Violence Outreach) |
24/09/2020 |
Service newsletter, including update about the Domestic Violence Outreach service during COVID-19 |
|
Safe Ireland |
07/10/2020 |
Infrastructure for domestic violence services |
|
Barnardos |
09/10/2020 |
Domestic violence, mental health and addiction issues in family support services |
|
Parentline |
19/10/2020 |
Child to parent domestic violence |
I would like to assure the Deputy that, as a critical service provider of essential frontline services for children and families, Tusla has been focused on ensuring continuity of supports and services during the current crisis. This requires a balance between the needs and best interests of the child with public health advice to keep children, families and frontline staff as safe as possible during the pandemic. As the current public health crisis evolves, Tusla continues to provide a vital social work and child welfare and protection services. My officials, and Tusla, will continue to work in collaboration with stakeholder organisations, service providers and relevant charities to identify, understand and mitigate the impact of the current public health crisis on vulnerable people.
I am also acutely conscious of the impact that the pandemic has had on young people and on the need to support them through the challenges they are currently facing. My Department has worked closely with youth sector representatives on the development of Covid-related guidance for the sector and will continue this engagement. It also continues to fund universal and targeted youth services to foster the wellbeing and resilience of young people and I have secured an additional €5 million for youth services for 2021.
In recent months, my Department has commissioned a consultation with young people undertaken by Spunout.ie to hear the experiences of young people on the impact of the pandemic and public health restrictions. My Department will also shortly partner with the ESRI to conduct COVID-specific surveys of participants in the Growing Up in Ireland longitudinal study to specifically capture the recent and unprecedented experiences of children and young people as a result of the pandemic. The findings of these consultations will be valuable as we look at ways to minimise the negative impact of the restrictions and provide the best supports to young people.
165. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the number of persons to report a concern about a child to Tusla through its website or other forums has increased in 2020 when compared with previous years; and the number of reports of concerns about a child received by Tusla in each of the past five years. [35463/20]
View answerThe Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that Tula respond directly to the Deputy.
It may be of interest to the Deputy that Tusla provide details of performance and activity data using a Data Hub available through their website at the following address:
https://data.tusla.ie/
166. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the cost of renting office space, including for public bodies, from a company (details supplied) in 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form. [35605/20]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that my Department, and the public bodies under its remit, did not rent office space from the named company during 2019 or to date in 2020.
167. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the breakdown of the funding allocation for his Department for 2021, by project. [35642/20]
View answerIn Budget 2021, the gross allocation provided for my Department for 2021 is €1.95 billion. However, the Deputy will be the aware that the final allocation for my Department for 2021 will be set out in the 2021 Revised Estimates Volume (REV) due to be published later this year. Detailed allocations by subhead will be set out in the REV.
The 2021 allocation provided will be targeted at improving outcomes for children, young people and their families as well as the promotion of equality and human rights. The funding will also provide for the inclusion and integration of persons seeking international protection.
It is intended that the resources provided will be allocated to the following main areas on Vote 40:
- €878m for Tusla in 2021
- €225m for Direct Provision
- €638m for Childcare Schemes and Programmes
- €70m to Youth Services.
The 2021 allocation will also provide for €5m for Traveller and Roma Initiatives and €6m for the Decision Support Service (DSS).
168. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the breakdown of the various units within his Department; and the number of staff working in each unit in tabular form. [35643/20]
View answerPlease find the current staffing details for my Department outlined in the table below:
|
Division |
Total |
|
Minister's Office, MB, PMO & IA |
22.00 |
|
Child Policy & Tusla Governance |
46.00 |
|
Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare Division |
77.00 |
|
Youth Justice, Adoption, Youth & Participation |
52.00 |
|
Corporate & Business Support |
98.00 |
|
Justice, International Protection and Equality |
83.00 |
|
Total Department |
378.00 |
