Written Answers Nos. 110-129
110. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the number of teachers and school staff who requested an assessment review by a service (details supplied) who have completed a review and have been categorised into a higher risk category. [37375/20]
View answerMy Department has an enhanced Occupational Health Service (OHS) in place to provide employers with occupational health advice in relation to employees’ fitness for work. Medmark, the current OHS provider has a process in place for school staff with health concerns about their risk of serious illness from contracting COVID-19, through workplace attendance.
A detailed on-line questionnaire is submitted by the employee to Medmark, along with detailed medical evidence to provide clarity with respect to the medical complaint(s) in question. All of this information is reviewed by the OHS specialist occupational health physician, including the combined and cumulative risk that can arise when an employee suffers from more than one health condition. The risk categorisation is comprehensive and follows the same process that is being applied across other sectors. An employee is categorised into one of three COVID-19 risk categories. These are general population risk, higher risk, and very high risk. The outcome of the risk categorisation is governed by the HSE guidance.
Where an employee considers the OHS ‘COVID-19 Health Risk Categorisation Report’ places him/her in an incorrect risk category, a review can be requested by the employee where Medmark will re-evaluate the medical evidence provided. The employee may provide additional medical evidence as part of the review process.
As at 15 November, a total of 388 reviews have been completed by Medmark. Of these, 54 employees were re-categorised from the High Risk category to the Very High Risk category and 7 employees were re-categorised from the Very High Risk category to the High Risk category.
Due to a recent change to HSE guidelines in relation to persons who are on immunosuppressant therapy, High Risk category employees who believed their Covid-19 risk category may be affected by the guideline change were invited on 6 November to submit a new Covid-19 Health Risk Questionnaire to Medmark. As at 15 November, Medmark has completed a review of 32 newly submitted Health Risk Questionnaires and of these 7 employees were re-categorised to the Very High Risk category.
111. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education if additional funding will be granted to a school (details supplied). [37413/20]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware capital funding has been approved, for the school in question, to provide essential mainstream classroom accommodation. The project is currently devolved to the school authority.
The immediate priority of my Department is providing 20,000 new and replacement school places each year, to ensure that every child has access to a school place.
Under the National Development Plan (NDP), increased funding has been provided for the school sector capital investment programme. This funding allows for a continued focus on the provision of new permanent school places to keep pace with demographic demand and also provides for an additional focus on the refurbishment of existing school buildings, to include the building and modernisation of PE facilities in post-primary schools.
Under Project Ireland 2040, we will invest €8.4 billion in primary and post primary school buildings. The government is committed to a PE Hall build and modernisation programme, starting in the second half of the Project Ireland 2040 period. The school in question will be considered in this context.
112. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to delays in newborns being registered and subsequently receiving their PPS number which is causing problems or delays in newborns receiving general practitioner care, vaccinations and other health checks essential for babies to receive proper and timely treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37234/20]
View answer121. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the current methods of registration of births; if there have been changes to the methods for registration under Covid-19 restrictions; if there are delays in registration of births currently; if so, the average length of the delay; if this is causing delays in newborns being given a PPS number; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37233/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 121 together.
Parents are able to register births by submitting a Birth Registration Form, by email or post, to a local office of the Civil Registration Service or via the General Register Office (GRO). The process is relatively straightforward requiring the completion of the information and declarations requested on the form and the provision of photographic identification. In ordinary course, parents are required to appear in person before a registrar to register a birth. The requirement to attend in person before a registrar to register a birth was removed, for the duration of the current emergency, by amendments to the Civil Registration Act 2004 contained in the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020.
I have made enquiries with the GRO which has overall responsibility for the operation of the Civil Registration Service and which operates as part of the Department of Social Protection. They have informed me that, other than in the East Registration Area which covers Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow, that there are no delays in birth registration nationally. The delays being experienced in the East Registration Area relate to the volume of applications received and to the number of incomplete applications which require engagement with the parents. In general, it takes 10 working days to process applications in the East Registration Area.
The GRO has informed me that it is satisfied that there are no significant delays in the registration process once the necessary documentation is in order. To assist parents further, the GRO has recently updated the guidance provided to parents and added a checklist to aid in removing delays that arise due to incomplete applications being made.
A personal public service number (PPSN) is automatically allocated to a new born within 24 hours of the birth registration.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
113. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will include representatives from organisations (details supplied) on the newly established Pensions Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37123/20]
View answer114. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if representatives from organisations (details supplied) will be included on the proposed Pensions Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37152/20]
View answer115. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on allowing persons (details supplied) impacted by pension changes to be represented on the Pensions Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37161/20]
View answer117. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if representatives from organisations (details supplied) will be included on the Pensions Commission. [37169/20]
View answer122. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if organisations (details supplied) will be allowed to be represented on the Pensions Commission for which she is responsible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37289/20]
View answer125. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to calls from an organisation (details supplied) for representation of civic society organisations on the Pensions Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37380/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 113 to 115, inclusive, 117, 122 and 125 together.
I am pleased that the Government approved the establishment of the Commission on Pensions in fulfilment of the Programme for Government commitment.
As the Deputies will be aware, I announced on Budget Day that the planned increase in the State pension age from January of next year will be deferred, in line with our Programme for Government commitment. In this regard, it will remain at 66 years pending the report of the Pensions Commission and I will introduce legislation shortly to give effect to this.
The Commission's Terms of Reference includes the examination of sustainability and eligibility issues with the State Pension and the Social Insurance Fund. More broadly, it will also consider the issue of retirement ages in employment contracts and consider how the pension system can further accommodate carers, who are predominantly women.
The membership of the Commission, approved by Government, reflects the need to have subject matter experts to deal with the complex social and public policy issues arising in pensions, as well as stakeholder representation which will keep the work of the Commission grounded. This includes representation of workers, employers, civil society, academics and those with technical and policy expertise. In this regard, the membership also includes those with involvement in organisations supporting older people.
The Government was keen to ensure that the Commission had strong female membership in its membership, and five of the nine members of the Commission appointed directly by the Government are women. It will be chaired by Ms. Josephine Feehily. I am satisfied that the Commission, with its gender-balanced membership and extensive experience of social and public policy, will be keenly aware of the gender dimension of pensions policy and delivery and will bring this perspective to bear in its work.
The Commission will also engage with a range of key stakeholders to ensure that it has a genuine understanding of not only the fiscal sustainability challenges involved, but also the associated social sustainability challenges of implementing potential policy reforms. The exact mechanisms for this engagement will be shaped by the Chair and by Commission members.
It should be noted that while this Government is acutely conscious of the need to consider the sustainability of the State's finances, 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. The Government is committed to ensuring that this remains the case.
In line with the Programme for Government, the Commission will report to Government by 30 June of next year and the Government will take action having regard to the recommendations of the Commission within 6 months.
Further details of the Commission's membership and terms of reference are available on the Departmental website at: https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/b1c64-minister-humphreys-announces-the-establishment-of-the-pensions-commission/
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.
116. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to awarding the enterprise support grant to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37166/20]
View answerThe COVID-19 Enterprise Support Grant is designed to assist self-employed people who had been in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment or a Jobseeker's Payment and who closed their claim to resume their self-employment since 18 May.
This grant seeks to support micro self-employed enterprises, not currently eligible for similar grant funding through other departments. The support is available to small business owners who employ fewer than 10 people, are not liable for commercial rates and have an annual turnover of less than €1 million.
However as the person concerned was not in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment or a Jobseeker's Payment, he does not meet the qualifying criteria for the grant.
118. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether Brexit will have a positive impact on any policy area or sector under the remit of her Department; and if the details of same will be provided. [37185/20]
View answerThe Government regrets the UK’s decision to leave the EU, although we respect it.
My Department's key policy area is in respect of the impact of Brexit on the reciprocal arrangements for social insurance (which includes pensions) and social assistance (means tested schemes linked to residency rights) and child benefit between Ireland and the UK, including Northern Ireland.
Following the end of the transition period on the 31 December, Irish and British citizens will continue to enjoy the right to travel, live and work between the UK and Ireland in the same manner as before. This is because of a long-standing arrangement known as the Common Travel Area (CTA). The CTA pre-dates Irish and UK membership of the EU and is not dependent on it. Both the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United Kingdom are committed to maintaining the CTA in all circumstances and a Memorandum of Understanding to that effect was signed on the 8 May 2019.
As part of that commitment to the CTA, the Government also entered into a Convention on Social Security with the Government of the United Kingdom, signed on the 1st February 2019. Under the terms of the agreement, Irish and British citizens living in either country will maintain the right to benefit from social insurance contributions made when working in either country and to access social insurance payments, such as state pension (contributory), in either country just as before. The agreement passed through the Parliamentary ratification procedures in both jurisdictions during March 2019, and now stands ready to be given legal effect on the 31 December 2020.
From January 2021, many aspects of our relationship with our nearest neighbour will change fundamentally as we will no longer share EU membership. However, the Government remains committed to protecting and strengthening the Ireland-UK relationship following the end of the transition period. Strong and vibrant connections are vital with our closest neighbour and trading partner. Both Ireland and the UK remain co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement and are, as outlined, committed to the ongoing maintenance of the Common Travel Area and its associated rights and privileges.
While we will work with our UK colleagues on strengthening this relationship, it is also clear that Brexit, in any form, will have significant impacts in Ireland. The Department of Finance has projected over the medium-term the level of GDP would be around 2% – 3.25 % lower relative to a hypothetical status quo scenario, with most of the impact in the first year or so.
The Government has been planning for Brexit since before the UK referendum to ensure that Irish citizens and businesses are as ready as possible for all possible scenarios. On 9 September, the Government published its Brexit Readiness Action Plan, which details the actions Government will take and the actions citizens and businesses should take to prepare for the end of the transition period. This work will continue in the weeks ahead.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
119. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will receive a PPS number. [37222/20]
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 they may proceed to progress his application.
Upon receipt of outstanding information, this application will be processed without delay.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
120. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Social Protection the information her Department has been given from the Department of Justice regarding the requests for up-to-date residence permit cards from migrants in view of the ongoing renewal backlog in Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37227/20]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Department of Justice has granted a further extension for permissions to reside in the State that were due to expire between 20th September 2020 and 20th January 2021.
The details of this extension were contained in a notice published by that Department on its website on 18 September.
The notice stated that "In light of the uncertainties caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19, the following notice applies to all persons with a current valid permission due to expire from 20th September 2020 to 20th January 2021, whether pursuant to domestic law or powers of the Minister, or Directive 2004/38/EC (Free Movement Directive)",
and that "all such permissions that are due to expire from 20th September 2020 - 20th January 2021 are automatically renewed by the Minister to the 20th January 2021".
The attention of management and staff of my Department's Intreo Centres and Local Offices has been drawn to the content of this notice.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
123. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons already taking part in the community employment scheme will be allowed to continue to finish out their tenure; and if new referrals will be made for the scheme going forward. [37307/20]
View answerThe 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 avail of this extension in order to continue training and obtain qualifications or major awards.
During the initial phase of the Covid-19 emergency earlier this year, when public health restrictions were first introduced, the Department continued to support CE schemes and maintained funding to all 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 more 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 support and 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.
Placements on CE are temporary and are subject to time limits to safeguard the availability of opportunities for employment on CE schemes for other long term unemployed candidates.
Recruitment will continue onto CE schemes during the current Level 5 restrictions where it is appropriate and safe to do so. But level 5 restrictions may have implications for the number of referrals during this period. Once restrictions are reduced or lifted, referrals to CE schemes should begin to get back to more normal levels, with participants being referred by the Departments case offices to CE schemes. Therefore I can assure the Deputy that new referrals will be made to the scheme over the coming period. 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.
124. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures she will implement to reduce substantially the delays in processing and finalising applications for personal public service numbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37333/20]
View answerThe SAFE registration process, which involves the authentication of a person's identity in a face-to-face interview, is the normal method of processing an application for a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN).
At the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, my Department temporarily suspended the SAFE registration process. This decision was taken in order to comply with HSE and World Health Organisation guidelines in respect of social distancing.
To help ensure that those who required a PPSN could get one, my Department introduced an email and postal service through which applications could be made.
My Department has received, and continues to receive, significant volumes of email and post in relation to PPSN applications from people living in and outside the State.
It is inevitably the case that a temporary process such as this will not be as efficient as the face-to-face process it has temporarily replaced, neither for applicants nor for the staff dealing with those applications.
Additional resources have been reassigned to deal with email and postal PPSN applications. I expect this will result in improved processing times and a reduction in the number of applications on hand.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
126. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for a partial capacity benefit by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37394/20]
View answerPartial Capacity Benefit allows a person who has been in receipt of Illness Benefit for six months or Invalidity Pension and who may not have full capacity for work, to return to employment and continue to receive a full or partial payment from the Department.
The rate of payment is based on the assessment of the person's restriction on capacity for work; either moderate, severe or profound and the person retains 50%, 75%, or 100% of their Illness Benefit payment respectively.
The Partial Capacity Benefit claim from the person concerned has been processed. A letter will issue shortly informing him that he has been assessed as having a moderate restriction on his capacity for work.
There may be an over issue of payment to be dealt with by the Invalidity Pension section of the Department due to payment being issued on that scheme after the return to work date of 14/09/2020. The customer will be contacted directly by Invalidity Pension section regarding this matter.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
127. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if paid leave entitlements are in place for persons who become foster parents while employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37148/20]
View answerThere is, at present, no leave entitlement available for persons undergoing a social work fostering assessment, or for approved foster carers.
128. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on whether Brexit will have a positive impact on any policy area or sector under the remit of his Department; and if the details of same will be provided. [37172/20]
View answerThe direct impact of Brexit on my Department, and the agencies under its remit, is limited. My Department continues to actively engage with the cross Departmental Brexit co-ordination structures, chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs. We will continue to work closely with colleagues across Government to protect the rights of children and to address other challenges resulting from Brexit.
129. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the problems being experienced by parents on the wage subsidy scheme who continue to pay childcare costs through various schemes (details supplied); if allowances are being made for such cases; if he will review this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37228/20]
View answerThe NCS offers a flexible application process, with a variety of assessment options for parents to assess their most recent income circumstances. One of these is a Current Year Assessment. This allows parents to have their current year’s income assessed to determine their level of subsidy, rather than the default option of the previous tax year. This could more accurately reflect their current income level.
In addition, the ‘Sudden Change Assessment’ option allows for applicants to declare that they have had an ongoing change to their income. This applies to people who have lost a job or their income has reduced on an ongoing basis for reasons outside of their control. This measure will be of benefit to many parents who have had their income impacted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and may be of assistance to the parent in question. Parents will need to complete a new NCS application to avail of this measure.
A range of supports have been provided to support the ELC and SAC sector through this difficult year. A package of supports worth nearly €300m was introduced in July to assist the sector to reopen, recognising the importance of the sector for children’s positive development and in terms of supporting the economy to return to normal.
Amongst these is the COVID-19 Sustainability Support Fund 2020 is available to support the sustainability of Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services whose viability is still negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The grant provides funding to successful applicants to offset losses caused by a decrease in occupancy and/or an increase in costs due to the pandemic. Applications for the first round of funding closed on 20 October, but additional rounds are planned and the dates will be announced soon.
Childcare providers are responsible for their own sessions, fees and admissions policies. However, the funding package and supports outlined above were put in place to support the sustainability of childcare providers throughout the pandemic, and to provide them with the opportunity to be as flexible as possible in supporting the families using their services.
Further information and resources for parents are available by contacting The Parent Support Centre on 01 906 8530 or by visiting www.ncs.gov.ie. I have also asked the local County Childcare Committee to make contact with the parent to assist in their engagement with childcare provider.
