Written Answers Nos. 546-573
546. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of current recipients of rent supplement; and the number of recipients of rent supplement in 2018, 2019 and 2020, in tabular form. [11520/21]
View answerRent supplement continues to play a key role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation, with the scheme currently supporting 19,900 active recipients.
Rent Supplement is a means-tested payment and is available as a short-term income support to those in the private rented sector. In view of the difficulties created for many in the private rented sector that have lost significant employment income at this time, including persons in casual or self-employment, the Department of Social Protection will use the full flexibility of the scheme to provide the necessary support.
Since the introduction of HAP, rent supplement continues to revert to its original role of providing short-term support to those who have become temporarily unemployed and require income support to meet their tenancy cost whilst they seek alternative employment.
Rent supplement recipients at year end for 2018, 2019 and 2020 is provided in the attached tabular statement.
Tabular Statement
|
Year |
Recipients |
|
2020 |
19,304 |
|
2019 |
16,781 |
|
2018 |
24,303 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
547. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the current definition of the minimum essential standard of living in Ireland. [11534/21]
View answerThe Minimum Essential Standard of Living (MESL) is an assessment, developed through research by the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice (VPSJ), of the minimum income needed to live and partake in the social and economic norms of everyday life for various household types.
According to the VPSJ, it is a standard of living which meets an individual's / household's physical, psychological and social needs, calculated by identifying the goods and services required by different household types in order to meet these minimum needs. The costs incorporate factors such as food, clothing, personal care, health, household goods, household services, communications, social inclusion, education, fuel, transport, personal costs, insurance, savings and contingencies.
More detail on the Minimum Essential Standard of Living can be found on budgeting.ie.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
548. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of the working family payment; the number of recipients of the working family payment, by month, since January 2020; and the number of applications for the working family payment since January 2020, in tabular form. [11535/21]
View answerThe number of Working Family Payment recipients and registered applications made since January 2020, along with the current recipients of the scheme as of February 2021 is detailed in the tabular statement below.
549. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if the JobsPlus scheme applies to solicitor apprentices; if not, if it can be extended to them to allow solicitors to take them on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11601/21]
View answerJobsPlus is an active labour market scheme designed to encourage employers and businesses to provide eligible long term unemployed and other disadvantaged persons including young people seeking work with an opportunity to engage in employment. It provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers over two years, with two levels of grant payable - €7,500 or €10,000 provided that the employment is maintained.
A qualifying condition of the scheme is that employers, including solicitors, must be filling new positions or vacancies that arise as a consequence of natural turnover such as retirements. The JobsPlus incentive is not open to persons on apprenticeships, in work training or work experience.
The case referred to by the Deputy was refused as the applicant had indicated on the application form that the position is an apprenticeship.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
550. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if the record will be corrected regarding the statement by the chief appeals officer of the Social Welfare Appeals Office to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection that the office does not use test cases in view of the fact this contradicts a letter of 9 January 2019 taking into account that the answer of the former Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection of 18 December 2019 did not constitute a correction of the record, given that the Minister stated that the chief appeals officer does not consider that a contradiction has occurred but is happy to clarify the position as outlined (details supplied). [11642/21]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, it has been claimed that the Chief Appeals Officer used the outcome of a 'test case' in a particular occupational sector to likewise determine the employment status of all workers in that sector. i.e. that all workers in that sector are automatically deemed to have the same employment status of the worker in the so called 'test case'. I am advised that that is not the case and is, in fact, a misunderstanding of the approach taken by the Chief Appeals Officer.
The Chief Appeals Officer has advised me that the discussion in relation to the use of ‘test cases’ before the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection on 5th December 2019 specifically related to a number of cases considered in the 1990s. These cases, involving workers in a particular sector, were selected as so called 'test cases' not to determine the employment status of all workers in that sector but rather to identify criteria that could be used by Deciding Officers and Appeals Officers for the purpose of assessing each case on an individual basis and to improve the quality and consistency of decision making in relation to the determination of whether an individual was employed or self-employed. The Chief Appeals Officer has advised me that the test cases were not used to determine a particular outcome on a 'group basis' that would be applied to all cases from that employment sector, as seems to have been inferred by some observers, but instead that the cases informed the identification of criteria that could be applied to each individual case in that sector. Decision makers (both Deciding Officer and Appeals Officers) would then apply these criteria to all cases that came before them and depending on the circumstances of each case, as assessed by reference to these criteria, an individual decision would be made in each case. This approach was a precursor to the subsequent development on a tripartite basis of the Code of Practice for Determining Employment or Self-Employment Status of Individuals under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, a code which was subsequently updated in 2007 under the Towards 2016 Social Partnership Agreement.
The Chief Appeals Officer has also advised me that every individual making an appeal to her office always has the opportunity of having any evidence in their own case presented to and considered by an Appeals Officer. On rare occasions, usually where a number of workers engaged by the same employer are concerned, she may be asked either by the workers or the employer to make decisions on a ‘sample’ number of cases. The Chief Appeals Officer has agreed to this approach in very limited circumstances and only with the agreement of both the employer and the workers concerned. This approach has not been adopted during the period of her tenure in any case of an appeal where the classification of a worker as an employee or self-employed is the issue under appeal.
This approach can be an efficient way of dealing with issues that are common in appeal cases and where there are a number of workers attached to an appeal. However, the approach cannot compromise the integrity of the appeal process or deny any individual interested party due process. Each individual always has the opportunity of having any evidence in their own case presented to and considered by an Appeals Officer. Importantly, an individual decision issues in each case, and can be individually submitted for review to the Chief Appeals Officer or indeed, appealed to the Courts.
I am advised that, in the circumstances and in light of this clarification, the Chief Appeals Officer does not consider that a contradiction has occurred.
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 position for the Deputy.
551. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is entitled to an invalidity pension. [11644/21]
View answerInvalidity Pension (IP) is payable to an insured person who satisfies certain Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions and who is permanently incapable of work due to an illness or incapacity and for no other reason.
Claimants must have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions (class A, E, H or S) since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last or second last complete contribution year before the relevant date of their Invalidity Pension claim.
The relevant date is:
(a) any date after the completion of one year of continuous incapacity for work, or
(b) any lesser period that may be prescribed, subject to the conditions and in the circumstances that may be prescribed
where the insured person has entered into a continuous period of incapacity for work and he or she is subsequently proved to be permanently incapable of work.
A qualifying condition for IP is that a person must be regarded as being permanently incapable of work. A person is regarded as being permanently incapable of work if;
For the period of 1 year immediately before the date of application the person had been continuously incapable of work and a Deciding Officer or an Appeals Officer is satisfied that the person is likely to continue to be incapable of work for at least another year,
OR
A Deciding Officer or an Appeals Officer is satisfied that the likelihood is that the person will be incapable of work for life.
Eligibility for IP can only be established on receipt of a completed application form. The person in question should submit an IP application form and their entitlement can then be determined.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
552. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding social welfare entitlements for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11699/21]
View answerSince the start of the Pandemic, many employers have put in place flexible arrangements for staff to allow them to continue to work while caring for their children. This should continue wherever possible as it maintains that vital link between employees and their employers. As was the case when childcare facilities and schools were closed previously, an employee who cannot attend work due to child minding responsibilities and as a consequence is not in receipt of employment income is eligible to apply for a PUP. This arrangement continues during the latest level 5 restrictions. Applications are processed on the basis of self-declaration and are checked against employment and earnings records from Revenue.
According to the records of my Department, the person concerned applied for and was paid a PUP for the period 08/01/2021 to 21/01/2021. The PUP stopped when the person concerned confirmed that she was re-engaging with her employer for training as a person is not entitled to receive a PUP in any week that they are in receipt of employment income.
If the person concerned was engaged in training during one week only and is not in a position to attend work at present due to child minding responsibilities, it is open to her to submit a new application for a PUP at www.mywelfare.ie and her application will be processed promptly. If however the person concerned is engaged in ongoing training on a weekly basis and/or is in receipt of employment income every week she is not eligible to receive a PUP.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of a One Parent Family Payment of €206 per week and is being assessed with weekly means of €35. If she continues to attend work on reduced hours every week she can apply to the Coolock Intreo Centre at coolock@welfare.ie and request a review of the means being deducted from her payment. The person concerned is also in receipt of a Working Family Payment of €42 per week.
If the person concerned is experiencing financial difficulties she can contact her local Community Welfare Service in the Coolock Intreo Centre where her 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 01 6125400 or by email at coolock@welfare.ie. Further information on Exceptional Needs Payments and an application form can be found at www.gov.ie/dsp.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
553. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if time lost by participants on community employment schemes and Tús due to Covid-19 will be given back to them with additional time on schemes; if she will consider same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11710/21]
View answerOn clarification with the Deputy, the question refers to additional time on Community Employment (CE) and Tús for participants to complete work experience and training opportunities that were lost during the Covid-19 restrictions.
Community Employment (CE) 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.
Tús is a community employment support initiative that provides short-term work opportunities for those who have been unemployed for more than a year, in community work placements.
As the Deputy is aware, my Department has continued to provide funding and support for CE and Tús schemes since the onset of the Covid-19 emergency in March, 2020. During each period of Level-5 restrictions, CE and Tús participants, whose contracts were due to end during the period of these restrictions, have had their contracts extended for the duration of these restrictions. Earlier this week, Minister Humphreys and I announced a further CE and Tús contract extension for participants, up to the 2nd July, 2021. This will continue to be monitored having regard to Government guidelines and restrictions. Over 7,000 CE and Tús participants will benefit from this latest contract extension and applies to all participants whose contracts were due to finish since last October.
It is important to note that when the CE and Tús participants are eventually due to finish on their respective schemes, their exit will be undertaken on a coordinated, phased basis over a number of months. This will support the ongoing delivery of services by schemes and also assist with the recruitment of future candidates to the schemes.
The current further extension will provide many participants additional time to complete their training and work experience on CE and Tus. Where a CE participant finishes up on their CE scheme without completing the training outlined in their Individual Learning Plan (ILP) and if unfortunately they remain unemployed, they may be able to continue their training through other training supports provided by my Department such as the Training Support Grant (TSG) and the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA).
The priority for my Department is to ensure that all employment and activation programmes have the best outcomes for participants. CE & Tús 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.
I am fully committed to the future of these programmes and will continue to support and improve the programmes for the benefit of the CE & Tús participants and the valuable contribution being made to local communities through the provision of services.
554. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has put in place measures to ensure that a person whose entitlement to illness benefit and similar has expired due to the lapsing of a time limit as a result of the pandemic-related suspension of health services continues to be entitled to receive the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11711/21]
View answerThe Department administers the Illness Benefit scheme to those customers who cannot work because they are sick or ill. Customers must be covered by the appropriate class of social insurance (PRSI), satisfy the PRSI conditions and provide a Certificate of Incapacity for Work from a medical practitioner.
Illness benefit is payable for one year (312 days excluding Sundays) in respect of people with a minimum of 104 contributions and for two years (624 days excluding Sundays) for people with a minimum of 260 contributions, subject to meeting the other medical and contribution eligibility criteria for the scheme, as set out in legislation.
Entitlement to Illness Benefit is not contingent on the nature of the illness/disability or on the availability of health services, but on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work.
A person whose Illness Benefit expires and who is unable to work may be eligible for other payments:
- Invalidity Pension is a weekly payment to people who cannot work because of a long-term illness or disability, who are likely to be permanently incapable of work and who satisfy the PRSI conditions.
- Disability Allowance is a means tested payment for people who have a disability that is expected to last for a year or more.
- Supplementary Welfare Allowance is available to people who are ill, who do not qualify for other payments and who have insufficient means to meet their needs.
A person may requalify for Illness Benefit if they return to work, and pay a minimum of 13 reckonable PRSI contributions. (All other qualifying conditions must also be satisfied.)
555. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she considered waiving the qualifying period for those on jobseeker’s when applying for the back to education allowance as has been done with the pandemic unemployment payment to allow for flexibility in supporting jobseekers, especially young jobseekers in circumstances in which they may not have the qualifying period in supporting their route to education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11743/21]
View answerThe Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) provides income support for jobseekers and certain others in receipt of social welfare payments who pursue full-time courses of education at second or third level. The main focus of the allowance is to assist qualifying applicants to improve their educational qualifications and their prospects of gaining employment.
A person wishing to pursue a course of study under the BTEA scheme has to satisfy a number of conditions including being in receipt of a qualified social welfare payment for a specified time period. The conditions under which the scheme operates are designed to ensure that they address the objective of supporting longer term social welfare customers into employment. To qualify for BTEA, a person must be in receipt of a social welfare payment for a minimum period of 3 months if pursuing a 2nd level course, or 9 months prior to the date of commencement of their 3rd level course. Options for part-time study are available to all without a qualification period.
As an exceptional measure, the BTEA was extended in response to Covid-19 where the qualifying period was waived for people coming from the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. There are no plans to further extend this provision.
The objective of the BTEA is to raise the educational and skill levels to enable jobseekers better access to the emerging needs of the labour market in line with Government activation strategy. The BTEA is not intended to be an alternative form of funding for people entering or re-entering the third level education system. The Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) grant represents the primary support for persons pursuing education.
Any person seeking to return to education should engage with their local Intreo Centre to assess their options.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
556. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if the Covid-19 rent supplement will be extended beyond 31 March 2021. [11762/21]
View answer560. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if the Covid-19 rent supplement will be extended beyond 31 March 2021, given the ongoing impact of the pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11820/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 556 and 560 together.
Rent supplement continues to play a key role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation, with the scheme currently supporting 19,900 active recipients.
Since the introduction of the Government’s Covid-19 emergency response in March, 8,300 applicants have been approved and remain in payment.
Rent Supplement is a means-tested payment and is available as a short-term income support to those in the private rented sector. In view of the difficulties created for many in the private rented sector that have lost significant employment income at this time, including persons in casual or self-employment, the Department of Social Protection will use the full flexibility of the scheme to provide the necessary support.
Since the introduction of HAP, rent supplement continues to revert to its original role of providing short-term support to those who have become temporarily unemployed and require income support to meet their tenancy cost whilst they seek alternative employment.
The overarching Covid-19 response in the case of rent supplement is to provide a flexible case-by-case solution for customers, providing temporary income support during the emergency for their housing costs.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Department’s current flexible rent supplement response has been extended until end-June 2021 and will remain under review within the context of the overall Government response to the Covid-19 emergency.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
557. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the outcome of the domiciliary care allowance and disability survey carried out by her Department in March 2018; the number of participants who engaged; and if she will publish the summary findings. [11781/21]
View answerThe Make Work Pay report was published in April 2017 following a commitment in the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for people with disabilities 2015 -2024, and was undertaken in order to better identify how people with disabilities could be supported to achieve their employment ambitions.
The report made two recommendations (numbers 9 and 10) that addressed significant issues around the design of the main income supports schemes and the provision of employment services. These related to a proposed reconfiguration of Disability Allowance, from the current starting age of 16 to 18 years, and the introduction of an early engagement approach for young people with disabilities - to provide the necessary employment supports at the earliest opportunity, to assist young jobseekers to enter or return to employment.
To fulfil a commitment made at the time of the report, a wide-ranging national consultation exercise was conducted with persons with disabilities, their families and representative groups in relation to these recommendations.
Outcomes from stakeholder submissions, four regional consultation events (held in Dublin, Cork, Sligo and Limerick), and responses to two online questionnaires were compiled: there were some 3,300 responses to the survey on the recommendation relating to DA and a further 2,150 responses relating to the early engagement proposal.
These outcomes were then further considered by a key stakeholder focus group: this group comprises of persons with experience of disability issues, who also helped the Department with the design of the national consultation process.
A report on the outcome of the consultation exercise is being finalised and will be published simultaneously in the following formats:
- a Plain English format, with appendices detailing the full consultation processes undertaken.
- a stand-alone plain English version of the executive summary.
- a stand-alone easy to read version of the executive summary.
- ISL videos.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
558. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports available from her Department for persons who have had to leave their homes due to flooding; the way such assistance can be obtained; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11795/21]
View answer559. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will open the humanitarian flood support scheme for weather events in February 2021 (details supplied). [11803/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 558 and 559 together.
The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government is the lead Department for severe weather emergencies and the Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for capital flood relief activities. However, my Department has an important role to play in assisting households in the immediate aftermath of emergency events, such as flooding, under the humanitarian assistance scheme.
The purpose of the humanitarian assistance scheme is to provide income-tested financial support to people whose homes are damaged and who are not in a position to meet costs for essential needs, household items and in some instances structural repair.
Emergency financial support payments to cover essential items such as food, clothing and personal items are issued quickly in the immediate aftermath of the weather event. Supports towards the replacement of white goods, basic furniture items and other essential household items may take longer as it is not until the flood water abates and houses dry out that the full extent of the damage to homes becomes known. The longer term supports can cover remedial works such as plastering, relaying of floors, electrical re-wiring and painting and it can take several months before this stage of the response is completed.
My Department has activated the humanitarian assistance scheme, administered by the local Community Welfare Service (CWS), to assist any householders affected by flooding in the area surrounding Lough Funshinagh in Co. Roscommon.
Any person whose home becomes affected by flooding in the area surrounding Lough Funshinagh in Co. Roscommon can contact the local Community Welfare Service at intreoroscommon@welfare.ie or at 090-6632900 to discuss their situation.
With regard to the flooding incident in Fermoy, Tracie Williams, the Department’s Area Manager in the area, has been in contact with Cork County Council who have advised that the flooding has impacted mainly businesses rather than residential properties in Fermoy.
Any person whose home was affected by the flooding in Fermoy can contact the local Community Welfare Service at cwsmallow@welfare.ie or at 076-6285200 to discuss their situation.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputies.
561. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason application forms for the benefit payment for 65-year-olds are not available online in order that persons can easily access a form to be sent by post for 65-year-olds who cannot apply online; the reason this process is complicated by having to send an email to request a form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11876/21]
View answerAs part of my Department’s service delivery modernisation programme, a range of initiatives aimed at streamlining applications for a payment and processing of claims, supported by modern technology, have been implemented in recent years. My Department is continuing to increase the number of services available to customers though its online channel at www.MyWelfare.ie and to encourage customers to access services in this manner.
Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds was introduced primarily as an online service available on the MyWelfare platform. The online service is the most efficient in terms of customer accessibility and of speed and efficiency in processing applications. However, if a person cannot access or does not wish to use the online service, they can request an application form by emailing a request to forms@welfare.ie and a form will be immediately posted to them. This is not a complicated or lengthy process and avoids customers having to call to Intreo Centres to obtain a form or having to download, print, complete and post a form at a time of Covid-related restrictions.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
562. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons engaged in youth employment schemes in an area (details supplied). [11911/21]
View answerOn further clarification with the Deputy's office, the question refers to the number of people under the age of 25 who are engaged on the YESS (youth employment support scheme), Tús and CE (Community Employment) schemes in an area. The requested information is available and provided as per the divisional structure of the Department, for the Dublin & Mid Leinster division.
YESS is targeted at young jobseekers aged between 18 and 24 who are long-term unemployed or who face barriers to employment. The scheme aims to provide jobseekers with the opportunity to learn basic work and social skills in a supportive environment while on a work placement. The scheme will provide a supportive structure for participants, including case worker support for both placement hosts and jobseekers. Since the scheme's inception, a total of 961 people have commenced a placement, while there are currently 61 participants on YESS. As of end-February 2021, there were 11 people engaged with YESS in the Dublin Mid-Leinster division who were under the age of 25 at the date of their commencement on YESS.
Tús is a community work placement initiative which aims to provide short-term work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year, in order to break the cycle of unemployment and to improve a person’s chances of returning to the labour market. As of end-February 2021, there were 93 people engaged with Tús in the Dublin Mid-Leinster division who were under the age of 25 at the date of their commencement on Tús.
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. As of end-February 2021, there were 534 people engaged with CE in the Dublin Mid-Leinster division who were under the age of 25.
Number of persons under age 25* engaged in named schemes in the Dublin Mid-Leinster division as of end February 2021
|
Scheme |
Number of |
|
YESS |
11* |
|
Tús |
93* |
|
CE |
534 |
*Aged under 25 on date of commencement for YESS & Tús
563. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection if the threshold for receipt of the blind pension paid by her Department will be reassessed for artists and musicians given that their work is precarious and can exceed the limit some weeks but be far below for consecutive weeks at a time. [11955/21]
View answerBlind Pension (BP) is one of a range of means-tested social assistance payments and is paid to blind people and certain people with low vision, aged between 18 and 66, who are habitually resident in the State.
Social welfare legislation provides that the means test takes account of the income and assets of the person (and spouse/partner, if applicable) applying for the relevant scheme. All cash income to the person (and, where relevant, to the person's spouse, civil partner or cohabitant) is assessed, except for income which is disregarded under legislation. For the Blind Pension, the first €120 of weekly income from employment is disregarded, while half of earnings between €120 and €350 are assessed. From June 2021, the first €140 will be disregarded.
Income is assessed on an annual basis, and then divided by 52 to ascertain a person’s weekly means. The means assessment is intended to reflect the income the person may reasonably be expected to receive during the coming 12 months. Where this is not ascertainable otherwise, the income for the last 12 months can be taken as a guide, allowing for any factors which it is known will vary. Assessing a person’s income in this manner takes account of the fact that some people’s income is irregular, and they will earn more during some periods than others.
Any changes to means assessments for schemes, including the Blind Pension, can only be considered within an overall budgetary context.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
564. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) was refused an application under the new benefit payment for 65-year-olds; the options available to them at this time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12020/21]
View answerIt was a key commitment in the Programme for Government that 65 year olds who are required to or choose to retire early can receive an early retirement payment at the same rate as jobseekers benefit without a requirement to sign on, partake in any activation measures or be available for and genuinely seeking work.
The Benefit Payment for 65 year Olds which was recently introduced fulfils this commitment.
The new payment is not designed to be a full State Pension; it is designed specifically to bridge the gap for people who retire at 65 but who don’t qualify for the State Pension until age 66.
Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds may be paid from the date of a person's 65th birthday until the date of their 66th birthday as long as they continue to satisfy the conditions for the payment.
The person concerned has signed for Jobseekers Credits since 19/04/2017 to date . The person concerned made an application for Benefit Payment for 65 year olds on 09/02/2021. This application was disallowed on 22/02/2021 on the grounds that the person concerned had insufficient paid contributions. One of the qualifying conditions for the payment is that a person must have 13 paid contributions in 2021, 2020 , 2019, 2018 or 2017. The person concerned last paid a PRSI contribution in 2016 so therefore does not satisfy one of the conditions for receipt of this payment. The person concerned can continue with their Jobseekers Credits claim or if they wish they can make an application for Jobseekers Allowance which is a means tested payment.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
565. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration has been given to extending child benefit past the age of 18 years for children who remain in education in recognition of families who may struggle to cover the cost of school clothing for children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12025/21]
View answerChild benefit is a monthly payment made to families with children in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children who are in full-time education, or who have a disability, until their 18th birthday. Child benefit is currently paid, as of end-January 2021, to over 634,000 families in respect of over 1.2 million children with an estimated expenditure of more than €2 billion in 2020.
Families on low incomes may be able to avail of a number of social welfare schemes that support children in full-time education until the age of 22, including:
- Increase for a Qualified Child (IQCs) with primary social welfare payments;
- the Working Family Payment for low-paid employees with children;
- the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance
These schemes provide targeted assistance that is directly linked to household income and thereby support low-income families with older children participating in full-time education.
As part of Budget 2021, I increased the rates for a qualified child aged under 12 by €2 to €38 per week, and for a qualified child aged 12 or older by €5 to €45 per week. These increases came into effect in January.
Extending Child Benefit in respect of full time students in second level education who are over 18 years of age would have significant cost implications and would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
566. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the pandemic unemployment payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12036/21]
View answerThe Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Act 2020, provides, amongst other measures, for paid social insurance contributions in respect of people who are beneficiaries of certain Covid-19 income support payments. These payments include the pandemic unemployment payment (PUP).
The attribution of contributions will ensure that employed contributors who are in receipt of PUP will have social insurance contributions attributed to them, of the same amount as the contribution made by them in the week immediately before commencing PUP.
This important piece of legislation protects a person’s entitlement to future social protection payments: both long-term payments such as pensions and shorter term payments such as Illness, Maternity and Paternity Benefits.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
567. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal can expect to receive their PPSN; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12090/21]
View answerI can confirm that officials of my Department have contacted the individual referred to by the Deputy so that we may proceed to progress his Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) application.
Upon receipt of outstanding information, this application will be processed without delay.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
568. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has engaged with National Broadband Ireland on any aspect of broadband provision in the past six months; and the outcome of any engagement. [12127/21]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) will bring reliable high-speed broadband to approximately 540,000 premises across the State, primarily in rural and isolated areas. These premises include homes, farms, community and health facilities, schools, and businesses.
National Broadband Ireland (NBI) has been contracted by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to deliver the NBP in areas where connectivity is not commercial viable and, as such, responsibility for the NBP contract is a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications.
Notwithstanding this, the impact of the NBP rollout will be transformational for rural Ireland in terms of supporting both local economies and sustainable communities.
I met with National Broadband Ireland in late February 2021 for an update on the progress of the NBP project.
NBI outlined recent positive developments, with the first high-speed broadband connections in the State intervention area taking place at homes in counties Cork and Cavan. NBI also outlined their plans to improve information to the public on when their individual areas are likely to be connected.
NBI also explained the work they are undertaking to carry out a comprehensive survey of the requirements of each area, including pole and ducting infrastructure, to prepare for the installation of broadband. The potential to accelerate the rollout of the NBP project was also discussed.
The National Broadband Plan will have a profound impact on the future of our country and will provide new opportunities for rural areas in particular. These include improved career opportunities for those living in rural areas, facilitating smart farming, allowing employers to access the pool of talent that resides outside our large towns and cities, and the provision of services such as eHealth and eLearning.
569. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider reversing the community employment criteria for over-55s and returning it to five consecutive years from three; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12131/21]
View answerCommunity Employment (CE) 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.
The Deputy may be aware that Minister Humphreys and I held an online meeting on Wednesday, 27th January with representatives from the CE sponsoring authorities. The representatives outlined a range of issues that are causing concern within their schemes. My Department officials are currently examining a number of issues raised during the conference call.
One of the issues raised by CE sponsors was the implication of a 2017 rule change that affected CE participants aged 55 years and older who were on CE in July 2017. Following an examination by Departmental officials, I wish to confirm that those CE participants who were affected by the rule change in July 2017, who were on CE at that time, now have the option of remaining on CE for a maximum of six consecutive years, in accordance with the terms of the saver clause included in the 2017 rule changes.
Department staff will work with CE sponsoring authorities to identify those eligible CE participants.
The Deputy should also note that since the start of the pandemic, my Department has introduced a number of contingency measures, including the extension of CE participant contracts that were due to finish during the Level-5 periods of restriction. The contract extension date has recently been extended until 2nd July, 2021. Extensions introduced since last October will be of benefit to approximately 7,000 existing employment support scheme participants.
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 through the provision of services.
570. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the most recent timeline regarding the introduction of the additional three weeks of parental leave; when parents can expect to avail of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11666/21]
View answerThe Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 introduced two weeks of paid Parents' Leave for each parent to be taken in the first year after the birth or adoptive placement of a child.
Under proposals approved by Government in December 2020, each parent will be given an additional three weeks of paid Parents' Leave, and the period in which it can be taken will be extended to the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child.
The drafting of the legislation needed to make this change is well advanced and it will be introduced at the earliest opportunity. The aim is that this legislation will be enacted by the beginning of April 2021.
Payment of Parents’ Benefit is a matter for the Minister for Social Protection.
571. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the national average number of children taken into care per thousand children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10995/21]
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 a direct response be provided to the Deputy
572. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children in Dublin 9 and 11 who have been taken into care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10996/21]
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 a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
573. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of play therapists and child art psychotherapists directly employed by Tusla by local health office, LHO. [11002/21]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond to you directly on this matter.
