Dara Calleary
Question:562. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection if advice can be provided for a PAYE employee who incorrectly applied for the temporary wage subsidy scheme (details supplied). [44829/20]
View answerCovid-19 Pandemic Supports
Questions (562)
Written answers
As the Deputy will be aware, responsibility for the operation of the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme and for the eligibility criteria associated with the scheme lies with the Revenue Commissioners and with the Department of Finance.
In so far as the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) scheme is concerned, the statutory conditions governing the scheme provide that an employee must have fully lost their employment due to the effects of Covid-19 and not be in receipt of any remuneration from their employer in order to qualify for payment.
Claims for PUP should be made on the first day that a person becomes unemployed as a delay in claiming may result in a loss of payment. A late claim may be allowed where the employee concerned can show good cause for any delay in making their claim and that they satisfied the qualifying criteria for the payment throughout the period in question.
I hope that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
State Pension (Contributory)
Questions (563)
Seán Crowe
Question:563. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal for a contributory State pension by a person (details supplied). [44914/20]
View answerWritten answers
The person concerned reached pension age on 19 April 2020. They were awarded State pension (contributory) at 65% of the maximum rate with effect from their 66th birthday, based on a yearly average calculation of 19.
The person was notified of this decision in writing on 30 March 2020, and afforded the right to request a review of the decision and/or appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office outlining the grounds for their appeal and including any facts or evidence in support of their case.
Upon receipt of further information from the person concerned, the matter was referred to my Department's Central Records Section for review of the person’s contribution record. Additional contributions were awarded for the 1974 contribution year.
The person’s State pension (contributory) entitlement has now been revised and increased to 85% of the maximum rate, based on a yearly average of 20. They were notified of this decision in writing on 23 December 2020, together with details of arrears due from their 66th birthday.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Schemes
Questions (564)
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:564. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the short-time work support scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44935/20]
View answerWritten answers
Short-Time Work Support is a form of Jobseekers Benefit and is an income support payment for people who have been temporarily placed on a shorter working week by their employer. The payment is made in respect of the days of work that have been lost.
Short-Term Work must be systematic and demonstrate a clear repetitive pattern of employment. Employees must also work at least one day each week that they would normally have worked. For example. if a person's working week has been reduced from a 5-day work pattern to a 3-day work pattern, the person may receive a Jobseeker Benefit payment for the other two days. This payment would represent two-fifths of the weekly rate of Jobseekers benefit and is not taxable.
To qualify for this payment, the person must, inter alia, be temporarily working a standard reduced weekly work pattern and be systematically working three days or less per week having previously worked full-time. There must be a clear repetitive pattern of work each week, i.e. 1, 2 or 3 days per week or 2 days in the first week and 3 days in the second week, with this pattern repeated every two weeks.
People who work casually but who do not work a standard reduced weekly work pattern do not qualify for Short-Term Work Support, but may qualify for a Jobseekers Benefit (Casual) payment which is taxable.
The person concerned does not qualify for Short-Term Work Support as the days worked are not systematic. A decision letter issued on 30th September 2020 informing the person of their entitlements and the right of appeal.
Details of all 'Taxable Social Welfare Payments/Schemes' are available via www.gov.ie. The published guidelines clearly state that my Department makes Jobseeker payments without deducting tax, but does notify Revenue of the taxable amount of the payment to be taken into account for income tax purposes.
If new information comes to light or if the person's circumstances change, they can reapply for the Short-Term Work Support.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
School Meals Programme
Questions (565)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Question:565. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will undertake a review of the school meals programme; if consideration will be given to rolling it out to all schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44974/20]
View answerWritten answers
The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,557 schools and organisations benefitting 227,000 children. The objective of the programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
In recent years entry to the school meals programme has been confined to DEIS schools in addition to schools identified by Department of Education and Skills as having levels of concentrated disadvantage that would benefit from access to the programme.
Prior to the introduction of DEIS in 2005, all schools and organisations that were part of one of a number of Department of Education and Skills’ initiatives for disadvantaged schools were eligible to participate in the programme, which included Breaking the Cycle, Giving Children an Even Break, the Disadvantaged Area Scheme, Home School Community Liaison and the School Completion Programme. These schools and organisations have continued to remain in the programme.
Participation in the scheme is entirely voluntary with the onus being on the individual eligible schools to make an application. Schools and organisations must reapply for funding in advance of each school year and are required to submit detailed records at the end of the school year. Funding is based on a rate of payment per meal, per child, per day.
As part of Budget 2019, funding was provided for a pilot scheme from September 2019, providing hot school meals in primary schools at a cost of €1m for 2019 and €2.5m in 2020. The pilot involved 37 schools benefitting 6,744 students for the 2019/2020 academic year. Hot meals are paid at the rate of €2.90 per child per day.
Budget 2020 provided an additional €4 million in funding to extend the hot meals for children currently receiving the cold lunch option, which would allow DEASP to extend the hot meals to an additional 35,000 children. A decision was made to delay the extension of the hot meals to January 2021 because of the closure of schools due to the Covid-19 Pandemic from 13 March 2020. Budget 2021 has provided an additional €5.5m for this extension from January 2021 to 35,000 primary school children currently receiving the cold lunch option.
According to information contained on the Department of Educations and Skills website there are 3,240 primary schools and 723 secondary schools with a combined enrolment of 939,166 students (567,716 in primary schools and 371,450 in secondary schools).
There are 2,289 primary schools with a total enrolment of 406,654 students and 446 post primary schools with a total enrolment of 251,516 students that do not benefit from the scheme. If a breakfast/snack at 60c per child, per day, and a lunch at €1.40 per child, per day, were to be made available to all students in these schools, it would cost approximately €229m (€146m for primary schools and €83m for secondary schools) for a full school year.
Any extension of the scheme would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
I trust that this clarifies the position.
Community Employment Schemes
Questions (566)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:566. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if the duration of community employment schemes will be extended (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45028/20]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Throughout the onset of the Covid-19 emergency in March 2020, the subsequent level-5 restrictions introduced in October, 2020 and more recently, the return to level 5 restrictions announced by Government in December, 2020, my Department has continued to provide the necessary funding for CE schemes while introducing other contingency measures, to support CE schemes and participants, including the extension of CE participant contracts.
Department officials have continued to liaise with CE sponsoring authorities throughout the three waves of the Covid-19 emergency to arrange for CE participants who were due to finish on their respective CE schemes, to have their contracts extended while the level-5 restrictions are in place, unless a CE participant is taking up employment or reaches the State Pension age.
It should be noted that where possible and in compliance with public health guidelines, a significant number of CE schemes continued to operate throughout the various levels of COVID public health restrictions. In particular, those engaged in the provision of essential services within their communities including meals on wheels and home caring services continued to provide these services.
Contingency measures introduced to support CE sponsoring authorities and CE participants will continue to be monitored.
The priority for my Department is to ensure that all employment and activation programmes have the best outcomes for participants. Places on these employment support schemes will continue to be made available to support those who are long term unemployed and furthest removed from the labour market, while maintaining the role of CE as an active labour market programme.
My Department is committed to supporting the CE sponsoring authorities in the valuable services that they deliver across the communities through these particularly challenging times.
Carer's Allowance
Questions (567)
Brendan Griffin
Question:567. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for a carer’s allowance will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45075/20]
View answerWritten answers
Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 30 October 2020.
It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have such disability that they require full-time care and attention.
This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continual supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.
The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the Deciding Officer (DO) decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied in respect of the care recipient.
The person concerned was notified on 17 November 2020 of this decision, the reason for it and of his right of review and appeal.
The person concerned requested a review of this decision on 16 December 2020 and provided further supporting medical evidence to support his review. The additional medical evidence has been examined by a DO and CA has been awarded to the person concerned from 5 November 2020.
The first payment will issue to his nominated bank account on 14 January 2021. Arrears due from 5 November 2020 to 13 January 2021 will also issue on the same date.
The person concerned was notified on 6 January 2021 of this outcome and of his right of review and appeal.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Community Employment Schemes
Questions (568)
Brian Stanley
Question:568. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of community employment participants who are over 55 years of age; the maximum number of years they can be on the scheme; and the variation that may apply to those who entered the community employment scheme under the part-time jobs opportunity. [45085/20]
View answerWritten answers
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.
CE participants aged 55 years or older can remain on CE for three consecutive years (four years for those on a disability payment) without the obligation to work towards a Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) major award. Once a participant is 55 years of age there is no requirement for them to participate in any training in order to be considered for a further 52 week participation on the programme. The exception to this is any training relating to the relevant Health and Safety required by the CE sponsor as their employer. However, a person aged 55 years and over has continued access to training and development while they remain on CE should they wish to avail of it.
A jobseeker may re-qualify for CE after a twelve month break once they satisfy the necessary qualifying conditions. An overall lifetime limit of six years applies to all CE participants (seven years for those on a disability payment) irrespective of age.
CE participants over the age of 62 can participate on CE on a continuous basis until they reach the State Pension age via the CE Service Support Stream (SSS). Participation on SSS is subject to the availability of places, satisfactory performance on the CE scheme and, annual approval by the Department. The number of places available for SSS participants within each CE scheme is subject to limitation criteria.
A number of new conditions were introduced to the CE Scheme in July 2017 to further support progression to employment, broaden CE access to a wider range of people and to standardise the conditions relating to the length of time a CE participant can remain on a CE scheme.
In relation to the Deputy’s question on any variation that might apply to those who entered CE under the part-time jobs opportunity compared to current CE participants, the only variation is that now all CE participants have the potential to remain on CE for up to three consecutive years. That option did not exist for those CE participants who originally entered CE under the Part-time Integration (PTI) option prior to the 2017 scheme amendments. PTI had a limit of 2 years participation but now all CE participants can avail of the 3 year limit, subject to qualification criteria.
CE participation was never intended to be long-term or permanent. . The priority for my Department is to ensure that all employment and activation programmes have the best outcomes for participants.
I am fully committed to the future of CE and will continue to support and improve CE for the benefit of all CE participants and the valuable services being provided to local communities.
Exceptional Needs Payment
Questions (569)
Bernard Durkan
Question:569. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for an exceptional needs payment to cover funeral expenses will be reconsidered in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45100/20]
View answerWritten answers
My officials have advised that the person concerned submitted an application for an Exceptional Needs Payment to assist with funeral expenses on 08/12/2020.
The application was assessed and refused on the basis that a need had not been established due to the disclosure of significant Credit Union savings.
A decision letter dated 10/12/2020 issued to the person concerned advising her of the outcome of her application and affording her the option of seeking a review of the designated officer’s decision.
My officials have advised that a request for a review has not been received from the person concerned.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
Departmental Data
Questions (570)
Brendan Griffin
Question:570. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff currently employed in the legal and legislation unit of her Department; the breakdown of officers’ grades, minimum legal qualifications and training required for deployment to this unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45120/20]
View answerWritten answers
My Department, like all Government departments and agencies, is required to operate within a staff ceiling figure and a commensurate administrative staffing budget.
The staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continuously reviewed, taking account of workloads, management priorities and the ongoing need to respond to new demands across a wide range of services. This is to ensure that the best use is made of available resources with a view to providing an efficient service to those who rely on the schemes operated by the Department.
The Legislation and Legal Unit is staffed by a mix of general service staff with a range of experience, qualifications and training and professional lawyers with appropriate legal qualifications. The table below provides a breakdown by grade of staff in the Unit as at the end of December 2020. The figure for full time equivalents (FTE) takes account of staff that avail of work-share options.
|
Grade |
FTE |
Staff Count |
|
PO |
1.00 |
1 |
|
PO (Solicitor) |
.80 |
1 |
|
AP |
1.00 |
1 |
|
AP (Legal Advisor) |
2.50 |
3 |
|
HEO |
2.00 |
2 |
|
EO |
2.00 |
2 |
|
Grand Total |
9.30 |
10 |
Parental Leave
Questions (571)
Cathal Crowe
Question:571. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection if contingency plans are in place for new mothers and fathers due to go back to work between January and April 2021 before the five-week parents’ leave allowance commences from April 2021. [45128/20]
View answerWritten answers
Responsibility for Parents Leave rests with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and it will lead on drafting and progressing the legislative change necessary to give parents the right to apply to their employer to take the additional parents leave, as provided for in Budget 2021. Once this legislation has been enacted, parents will be entitled to avail of their additional leave entitlements.
My Department expects to be in a position to process applications for the additional periods of parents benefit from April 2021, as IT systems and operational processes need to be adapted. However, the extra weeks of leave will be made available as soon as the necessary legislation to introduce the new weeks of Parents Leave is enacted. Once the new application and payment system goes live in April, my Department will then process and issue payments, to include backdated payment of benefit as appropriate, in respect of Parents Leave taken from the date of enactment. Retrospective applications for the additional three weeks Parent’s Benefit will be accepted, provided the applicant has agreed their leave dates with their employer.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Social Insurance
Questions (572)
John Brady
Question:572. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection if class S PRSI is considered to be compulsory insurance under Articles 8 and 12 of the Convention on Social Security between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland signed on 1 February 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1027/21]
View answerWritten answers
Chapter 3 of Part 2 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended) requires all self-employed workers aged between 16 years and pensionable age (currently 66 years) with income of €5,000 or more per annum to pay social insurance contributions.
The social insurance contributions paid by self-employed workers are categorised as class S.
For the purposes of Articles 8 and 12 of the Convention on Social Security between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland dated 1 February 2019, class S social insurance is compulsory insurance.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Schemes
Questions (573)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:573. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the approach that will now be taken to address ongoing issues in respect of the accessing of staff of a company to jobseeker’s and short-time work support entitlements during the TWSS period further to media reports (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1052/21]
View answerWritten answers
A review team has been set up in the Department and this team will continue to systematically review claims from employees of the company concerned for the period between March and end-August when the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme was in payment. The Department is writing to individual employees of the company requesting that they contact their employer for the information that is required to complete the review. The employer is required to complete a UP38 form in respect of the employee, providing details for each day in the review period on whether the employee was employed/remunerated.
Entitlement to a casual jobseeker's or short-time work support payment for any day during the review period depends, among other things, on whether or not a person received remuneration from their employer, including TWSS, for that day. Each case needs to be examined individually to determine if the remuneration paid by the company concerned was in respect of a complete period or only specific days within a period. This will determine if a person may be entitled to a casual jobseeker's payment in respect of the days on which a person did not work and were not remunerated.
My Department has continued to engage with the company and has also made an arrangement with the company that, if my Department asks its employees for particular information, the company is aware of what is required and will immediately supply it to the employee via email.
Unfortunately, because of the volume and complexity of claims involved and the need to go back to individuals, the process will take some time.
My staff are committed to keep processing these claims until a decision is reached on each one and it is intended to get through the claims in the coming weeks. A response will issue to each individual applicant advising them of the decision on their claim. The letter will also provide details of the Appeals process if a person is dissatisfied with the decision and wants to seek a review by the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
It should be noted that all of the cases under review are currently in payment and, as only the March to August period when TWSS was in operation is under review, current payments should not be affected.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Free Travel Scheme
Questions (574)
Neale Richmond
Question:574. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration has been given to allow those over 66 years of age who do not hold a public services card due to Covid-19 delays in receiving such to access free travel with other forms of identification; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1061/21]
View answerWritten answers
The SAFE registration process, which is a face to face process, is used by the Department of Social Protection to authenticate a person's identity and results in the issue of a Public Services Card (PSC). A Free Travel variant PSC is issued to those with free travel entitlement who have completed the SAFE registration process.
At the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department temporarily postponed the SAFE registration process, to comply with public health guidelines in respect of social distancing. SAFE registration services subsequently resumed in Intreo Centres and Branch Offices countrywide, in accordance with relevant guidelines to ensure the health and safety of customers and staff.
Under the recently introduced Level 5 restrictions, the Department’s offices are open to the public for three half-days per week. SAFE registration appointments remain available to free travel customers, on request.
A non-face to face renewal process is in place to assist those who want to renew an expired free travel PSC by contacting the PSC Support Team of my Department (Tel. 1890 800 124). In addition, for those undertaking essential travel during Level 5 restrictions, expired free travel PSCs are accepted by transport providers for free travel purposes under an arrangement with the National Transport Authority due to the pandemic.
The use of alternative forms of identity to access free travel is not under consideration at this time .
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy
School Meals Programme
Questions (575)
Seán Sherlock
Question:575. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if school meals will be provided even when schools are closed due to public health restrictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1120/21]
View answerWritten answers
The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,557 schools and organisations benefitting 227,000 children. The objective of the programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
My Department confirmed that funding for the School Meals Programme will remain in place during the current period of school closures.
This mirrors the arrangements that were in place during the school closures in 2020, when the majority of schools in the School Meals Programme continued to provide food to children, largely through the home delivery of food parcels by suppliers.
The arrangements will not change from when schools closed previously: namely that the schools may continue to avail of the funding and they may continue to provide food consistent with normal funding terms and conditions. Schools must ensure that they continue to satisfy all public health guidelines.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Fuel Allowance
Questions (576)
Michael Creed
Question:576. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection when a fuel allowance payment will issue to a person (details supplied) who made an application in October 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1134/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Fuel Allowance has been awarded to the person concerned, payable from 2 October 2020. All arrears due have issued.
The Living Alone Allowance has also been awarded from 22 March 2020 and the Telephone Support Allowance from 25 September 2020.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Supplementary Welfare Allowance
Questions (577)
Seán Sherlock
Question:577. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount paid out by social protection office by county in supplementary welfare payments from 1 December 2020 to 5 January 2021, in tabular form; and the general category reasoned for payment. [1136/21]
View answerWritten answers
The following tables relate to all Supplementary Welfare Allowance payment categories. As the data is provided on a weekly basis the 5 week period is taken from 28/11/2010-02/01/2021 rather than the specific period requested.
The breakdown by county is based on the county of the recipients - dis-aggregation of office locations by distinct counties is not possible - and is set out in the following table.
|
COUNTY |
Amount paid between 1 December 2020 and 5 January 2021 |
|
CARLOW |
€374,151 |
|
CAVAN |
€236,300 |
|
CLARE |
€278,805 |
|
CORK |
€3,149,944 |
|
DONEGAL |
€376,354 |
|
DUBLIN |
€37,180,031 |
|
GALWAY |
€1,020,571 |
|
KERRY |
€802,753 |
|
KILDARE |
€3,254,317 |
|
KILKENNY |
€518,709 |
|
LAOIS |
€386,915 |
|
LEITRIM |
€111,513 |
|
LIMERICK |
€935,519 |
|
LONGFORD |
€147,977 |
|
LOUTH |
€750,555 |
|
MAYO |
€419,058 |
|
MEATH |
€1,255,343 |
|
MONAGHAN |
€280,245 |
|
OFFALY |
€366,670 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
€314,825 |
|
SLIGO |
€305,286 |
|
TIPPERARY |
€777,570 |
|
WATERFORD |
€574,479 |
|
WESTMEATH |
€561,522 |
|
WEXFORD |
€665,637 |
|
WICKLOW |
€3,396,495 |
|
OUTSIDE STATE |
€531 |
|
NOT RECORDED |
€18,188 |
|
TOTAL |
€58,460,262 |
The breakdown by general category is given by the following table.
|
Description |
Payments between 1 December 2020 and 5 January 2021 |
Percent |
|
Asylum Seeker |
21,852 |
9.1% |
|
Basic SWA - all others |
2,356 |
1.0% |
|
Carer's Allowance |
1,396 |
0.6% |
|
Diet Supplement |
10,506 |
4.4% |
|
Disability Payment |
24,888 |
10.4% |
|
Exceptional Needs |
154 |
0.1% |
|
Ex-Institution Payment |
1,827 |
0.8% |
|
Family Income Supplement |
123 |
0.1% |
|
Fuel Supplement |
540 |
0.2% |
|
Graduated Disability Benefit |
4,784 |
2.0% |
|
Heat Supplement |
6,624 |
2.8% |
|
Illness Payment |
25,454 |
10.6% |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
263 |
0.1% |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
4,347 |
1.8% |
|
Mortgage Supplement |
3,228 |
1.3% |
|
No Fixed Abode |
4,186 |
1.7% |
|
One Parent Family |
1,507 |
0.6% |
|
Other Payments |
6,011 |
2.5% |
|
Payment to Carer |
269 |
0.1% |
|
Pension Payment |
999 |
0.4% |
|
Rent Supplement |
116,466 |
48.6% |
|
Travel Supplement |
1,493 |
0.6% |
|
Unemployment Appeal |
276 |
0.1% |
|
TOTAL |
239,549 |
100.0% |
Social Insurance
Questions (578)
Catherine Murphy
Question:578. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated additional revenue that would be generated if the higher rate of 10.75% PRSI was increased to 13.25% on the portion where persons are earning in excess of €100,000. [1189/21]
View answerWritten answers
The higher rate of employer social insurance contribution is currently 11.05% of employee earnings and includes a National Training Fund levy of 1%.
I understand that the Deputy’s office clarified that the additional revenue of a 2.5% increase in the higher rate of the employer social insurance contribution on earnings in excess of €100,000 is what is being sought.
Based on the data available in respect of 2019, the estimated additional revenue that could be raised by increasing the higher rate of the employer social insurance contribution by 2.5%, from 11.05% to 13.55%, on earnings in excess of €100,000 would be approximately €183.7 million.
However, this estimate does not take into account any possible changes in employer behaviour arising from increasing the social insurance rate in this manner. Nor does it take into consideration any of the impacts arising from the measures being taken to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
National Advocacy Service
Questions (579)
Catherine Murphy
Question:579. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the budget allocation to the National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities in each of the years 2018, 2019 and 2020, in tabular form; and the budget allocation for same in 2021. [1190/21]
View answerWritten answers
The National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities (NAS) is funded and supported by the Citizens Information Board (CIB), which has a mandate under the Citizens Information Act 2007 to provide advocacy for people with disabilities.
The NAS provides an independent, confidential and free, issues-based representative advocacy service that works exclusively for the person using the service and adheres to professional standards. NAS has a particular remit for people with disabilities who are isolated from their community and services, have communication differences, are inappropriately accommodated, live in residential services, attend day services or have limited informal or natural supports.
The table below sets out the budget allocation for NAS, for each year since 2018.
|
Year |
Budget Allocation |
|
2018 |
€3,273,339 |
|
2019 |
€3,250,952 |
|
2020 |
€3,295,304 |
|
2021 |
€3,295,304 |
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Community Employment Schemes
Questions (580)
Pa Daly
Question:580. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will extend the duration of the community employment scheme for workers in a project (details supplied) due to the loss of essential services in the vicinity if scheme participants are forced to finish on the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1294/21]
View answerWritten answers
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. Participation limits on these schemes are necessary to allow for the maximum utilisation of places amongst qualifying persons. It is important to note that participation is intended to be for a temporary fixed term and the positions offered are not full-time sustainable jobs. Instead, the placements are designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work readiness, thereby improving a person’s opportunities of returning to the open labour market.
Participation on CE is for a maximum of three consecutive years though a person may re-qualify after a 12 month break once they satisfy the qualifying conditions. An overall lifetime limit of six years applies to all CE participants (seven years for those on a disability payment).
My Department is committed to continuing to enhance the effectiveness of the CE Programme and is conscious of the valuable contribution it is making in the provision of services to individuals and communities across Ireland. In light of the current Level 5 restrictions it has been decided that CE participants who are due to leave their schemes in January, February and March can remain on CE until the 26th March, 2021.
If any scheme is experiencing particular difficulties filling CE vacancies, they should contact their local DSP Intreo office who will facilitate the referral process.
Disability Allowance
Questions (581)
Chris Andrews
Question:581. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) in respect of their application for disability allowance; and when they can expect a decision. [1455/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 23 December 2020. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. Hearings are currently being conducted online or by telephone. Due to the current level of Covid-19 restrictions, in-person oral appeal hearings have been suspended.
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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
Questions (582)
James Lawless
Question:582. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine the circumstances of a person (details supplied) in respect of the payment of the pandemic unemployment payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1469/21]
View answerWritten answers
The person concerned submitted an application for a Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) on 24/3/2020 confirming his last day worked was 06/03/2020. A PUP was awarded at the weekly rate of €350 in line with the scheme guidelines at that time.
From 29/06/2020 the PUP rate was revised and where a person had no earnings in 2018 or 2019 (for self-employed) and in 2019 or January to September 2020 (for employees), a rate of €203 per week is applied.
In the case of the person concerned, the review of his PUP rate based on data from the Revenue Commissioners found he had no record of relevant PRSI contributions paid at Classes A, E, H, P or S in 2018, 2019 and 2020. The rate of €203 is therefore correct.
If the person concerned is currently experiencing financial difficulties it is open to him to contact the Community Welfare Service at Newbridge Intreo Centre to seek assistance under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (Supplements) Scheme where his circumstances will be assessed. Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department can make a single Exceptional Needs Payment 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 (087) 7806165 or by email at KildareCWS@welfare.ie.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
Questions (583)
Brendan Griffin
Question:583. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will extend the average earnings reference period for the pandemic unemployment payment beyond the end of September 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1515/21]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy is aware, the rate of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is linked to a person's previous average weekly earnings.
Last November, I secured Government approval to extend the 2020 earnings reference period for employees to September 2020. This change, which is effective from 2 October, meant that people who only commenced employment after February 2020 but were laid-off in October due to increased restrictions can have their payment rate fixed by reference to their earnings in the period March to September 2020.
As a result of extending the reference period to the end of September 2020, some 37,430 receiving PUP on 17 November received an increase in their rate of payment.
There are no plans to extend the average earnings reference period beyond September 2020 at this time.
The Deputy will also be aware that that the Government has approved my proposal to keep the Pandemic Unemployment Payment at its current rates of payment until March 31st 2021, over a year after its introduction. When the Pandemic Unemployment Payment was introduced last March, it was intended to be in place for just a 12 week period.
Over €5 Billion has been paid out on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment to date. While this is a huge sum of money it was absolutely the right thing to do in order to ensure that the incomes of hundreds of thousands of people have been protected during a period of unprecedented difficulty for our country.
I hope that this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
Working Family Payment
Questions (584)
Claire Kerrane
Question:584. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the working family payment who had their payment revoked since Covid-19 hit in March 2020. [1552/21]
View answerWritten answers
Working Family Payment (WFP) is an in-work supplementary, family benefit which provides additional income support to employees with children and on low earnings. Once awarded, WFP is payable for 52 weeks from the date of award at a fixed weekly rate. At the end of the 52 week award period, a person must submit a new application for reassessment. In order to satisfy the qualifying and continued entitlement condition for receipt of WFP, a claimant must be engaged in fulltime remunerative employment as an employee for not less than 38 hours per fortnight.
In cases where existing WFP claimants lose their employment on a temporary basis or their hours of employment temporarily reduce below the required limit for receipt of WFP due to the impact of the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, their existing WFP payment has continued in payment. Where a claimant qualifies for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, payment of WFP is not affected once the person meets the eligibility conditions of both payments.
My officials have analysed the instances of disallowances both pre and post Covid-19 and there has been no increase in the number of WFP applications being disallowed since the onset of the pandemic. As would be expected, the downturn in economic activity caused by the Covid pandemic has resulted in a significant reduction in new WFP applications received since March 2020.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Jobseeker's Benefit
Questions (585)
Brendan Griffin
Question:585. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a jobseeker’s benefit review in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1611/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 26 November 2020. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 10 December 2020. The case was referred on 11 December 2020 to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required hold an oral hearing. Hearings are currently being conducted online or by telephone. Due to the current level of Covid-19 restrictions, in-person oral appeal hearings have been suspended.
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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Payments Waiting Times
Questions (586)
Bernard Durkan
Question:586. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a basic social welfare payment will be awarded in the case of a person (details supplied); if immediate steps can be taken to ensure the restoration of emergency payment given that they have two dependent children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1626/21]
View answerWritten answers
Payment of Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) in the case of the person concerned ceased on 23/12/2020 and is currently suspended pending the provision of a current GNIB card. This card is required to verify continued entitlement to JA. Following 3 requests made to the person concerned on 13/10/2020, 25/11/2020 and 08/12/2020 for a current GNIB card, the person concerned informed officials of my Department that her GNIB card was in a storage facility and she has not advised my officials of any difficulty in submitting the GNIB card for examination. If the person concerned is unable to produce her GNIB card she should contact the Department of Justice to request a letter confirming her permission to reside in the State in order that her social welfare entitlement may be reviewed.
An Exceptional Needs Payment issued to the person concerned on 08/01/2021. An application form for a Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) was also given to the person concerned on the same date for completion. Her entitlement to a SWA payment will be assessed on return of the completed application and supporting documentation. A current GNIB card or a suitable letter from the Department of Justice will also be required to confirm her residency status as part of the application process and in line with current guidelines.
I trust this clarifies the matter.