Written Answers Nos. 607-631
607. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will intervene with the board of a group (details supplied) to ensure the previously agreed severance package is honoured. [13055/21]
View answerMy Department provides a subsidy to this employer through the Wage Subsidy Scheme. The Wage Subsidy Scheme gives financial incentives to private sector employers to employ people with a disability.
I received notification from this employer on 17 February 2021 of proposed collective redundancies at a place of business. I noted and welcomed the employer's commitment to engage in a consultation process with affected employees from the week beginning 21 February in order to identify solutions and reach agreement in relation to the proposed redundancies. I also noted the employer's commitment that, where a decision was taken to proceed with the proposed redundancies following the period of consultation, the employer would honour the employees' contractual and statutory rights with respect to a redundancy package as part of this process.
It is the employer's responsibility to pay all eligible employees their redundancy entitlements. The law sets out various entitlements for employees following redundancy. Matters relating to redundancy legislation are a matter for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
At a local level, dedicated staff in my Department have been assigned to work directly with the employees affected by this redundancy to ensure they receive their proper entitlements and appropriate supports. Arrangements have also been made to ensure that any social welfare claims arising from the company closure will be expedited.
I hope this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
608. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in issuing payment including arrears to a person (details supplied) who has been approved for disability allowance; and if the claim will be backdated to the date of their original application. [13061/21]
View answerBased on the evidence supplied in support of their application for disability allowance (DA), this person’s application was disallowed on the grounds that the medical qualifying condition was not satisfied and for having means in excess of the statutory limit for their circumstances. They were notified in writing of this decision on 22 October 2019.
A review of this decision was carried out on 20 February 2020 and the decision was upheld regarding the medical condition. It was decided that the means condition was satisfied with effect from 20 November 2019.
The person concerned requested an appeal of the decision and submitted additional medical evidence for consideration. The Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) decided, based on this additional evidence, that the medical qualifying condition was satisfied.
DA is a means-tested payment. On 24 February 2021 the person concerned was asked to supply documentation in relation to their means. This information is required by the deciding officer in order to implement the SWAO decision. Once the deciding officer receives this information, the Department will be able to proceed with this decision.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
609. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection when pandemic unemployment payment arrears will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13063/21]
View answerThe customer concerned will receive arrears of €700 for the period 08/01/21 to 21/01/21 with his PUP payment on the 16/03/21.
611. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applicants awarded the supplementary welfare allowance to date in 2021; the number of applications submitted by county; and the purposes for which funding was allocated. [13149/21]
View answerThe supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. Supports provided under the SWA scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as single exceptional needs payments (ENPs) and urgent needs payments (UNPs).
The basic supplementary welfare allowance provides immediate assistance for those in need who are awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal for a primary social welfare payment or do not qualify for payment under other State schemes.
Rent supplement provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The scheme ensures that, for those who were renting, but whose circumstances have changed due to temporary loss of employment, can continue to meet their rental commitments.
Under the SWA scheme, a supplement can be awarded to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary. In addition, officers 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. Decisions on ENPs and SWA supplements are made 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.
Statistics are maintained on the number of applications awarded under the SWA scheme. They are not maintained on the number of applications received or the outcome of those applications.
Table 1 shows the number of Basic SWA and supplement recipients by county, at end of February 2021.
Table 2 shows the number of ENPs and UNPs paid by county to end of February 2021.
Table 3 shows the number of ENPs and UNPs paid by category to end of February 2021.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Tabular Statement
Table 1 Basic SWA and supplement recipients by county at February 2021
|
County |
Basic SWA |
Rent Supplement |
Other Supplements |
|
Carlow |
184 |
200 |
51 |
|
Cavan |
67 |
213 |
24 |
|
Clare |
92 |
145 |
387 |
|
Cork |
957 |
2,388 |
87 |
|
Donegal |
234 |
164 |
1,479 |
|
Dublin |
4,615 |
10,158 |
100 |
|
Galway |
288 |
851 |
59 |
|
Kerry |
255 |
792 |
147 |
|
Kildare |
408 |
911 |
78 |
|
Kilkenny |
288 |
162 |
99 |
|
Laois |
120 |
147 |
11 |
|
Leitrim |
45 |
64 |
551 |
|
Limerick |
389 |
505 |
57 |
|
Longford |
69 |
72 |
58 |
|
Louth |
435 |
174 |
95 |
|
Mayo |
183 |
311 |
50 |
|
Meath |
359 |
325 |
148 |
|
Monaghan |
133 |
135 |
40 |
|
Offaly |
191 |
74 |
7 |
|
Roscommon |
187 |
132 |
245 |
|
Sligo |
116 |
144 |
45 |
|
Tipperary |
446 |
192 |
118 |
|
Waterford |
315 |
153 |
79 |
|
Westmeath |
156 |
403 |
122 |
|
Wexford |
291 |
441 |
51 |
|
Wicklow |
567 |
721 |
44 |
|
Total |
11,390 |
19,977 |
4,232 |
Table 2 - Number of ENPs and UNPs paid by county for 2021 (end of February)
|
County |
Number of Payments |
|
Carlow |
98 |
|
Cavan |
127 |
|
Clare |
206 |
|
Cork |
711 |
|
Donegal |
203 |
|
Dublin |
2,871 |
|
Galway |
188 |
|
Kerry |
205 |
|
Kildare |
433 |
|
Kilkenny |
145 |
|
Laois |
268 |
|
Leitrim |
112 |
|
Limerick |
325 |
|
Longford |
169 |
|
Louth |
254 |
|
Mayo |
159 |
|
Meath |
389 |
|
Monaghan |
35 |
|
Offaly |
114 |
|
Roscommon |
110 |
|
Sligo |
171 |
|
Tipperary |
397 |
|
Waterford |
228 |
|
Westmeath |
200 |
|
Wexford |
112 |
|
Wicklow |
347 |
|
Total |
8,577 |
Table 3 - Number of ENPs and UNPs paid by category for 2021 (end of February)
|
Category |
Number of Payments |
|
Bills |
263 |
|
Child Related |
326 |
|
Clothing |
1,400 |
|
Funeral |
440 |
|
General |
2,139 |
|
Housing |
3,733 |
|
Illness |
215 |
|
Urgent Needs Payment |
61 |
|
Total |
8,577 |
613. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a family (details supplied) can qualify for a once-off exceptional needs payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13260/21]
View answerAccording to the records of my Department, the 2nd person concerned made an application for an Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) on 15/02/2021. This claim was disallowed as it was determined on the basis of the application and supporting documentation provided that the need was not exceptional and it was considered reasonable that the person concerned had sufficient means to cover the costs from household income
A decision letter dated 23/02/2021 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.
If the circumstances of the person concerned have changed since her last ENP application it is open to her to submit a new application by contacting her local Community Welfare Officer at (087) 9638588 or by email at KildareCWS@welfare.ie.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
614. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a domiciliary care allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13325/21]
View answerThe person concerned was notified on the 4th March 2021 that her Domiciliary Care Allowance has been awarded on appeal from the 1st February 2020. Arrears due for this period will issue with her March 2021 payment on the 16th March 2021.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
615. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the availability of the option under the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005 to direct that subsection 1 shall not be applied in the case of a person who having been a self-employed contributor makes a claim for the old age State pension (contributory) under section 110(2) of the Act with particular reference to the case of a person (details supplied); if she will request a review into the case with a view to putting the old age State pension (contributory) in payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13330/21]
View answerMy Department is guided by the governing legislation and there is no discretion to direct that Section 110 (1) of the Act shall not be applied. Section 110 (2) was superseded by section 9 of Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Act 2009, which came into operation on 1 January 2010.
Therefore, under current social welfare legislation, a self-employed contributor will not be regarded as satisfying the contribution conditions for State pension (contributory) unless the person has paid self-employment contributions in respect of at least one contribution year prior to reaching age 66 and all self-employment contributions payable have been paid.
While the person concerned has paid self-employment (Class S) contributions for the tax years 2006 to 2014, all self-employment contributions were paid after the person reached age 66. Therefore, under the governing legislation, the eligibility conditions for State pension (contributory) have not been satisfied.
The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 19 November 2019. Following a requested review, this decision remained unchanged, and the person was advised accordingly on 11 March 2020. The person then appealed their pension decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office. Their appeal was disallowed on 27 July 2020 as the self-employment contributions are not eligible in the calculation of pension entitlement.
It remains open to the person concerned to apply for State pension (non-contributory). An application form has issued to them. On receipt of a completed application form, their eligibility for this pension can be determined and they will be notified in writing of the decision.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
616. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13337/21]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered with that office on 2 October 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. These papers were received on 29 October 2020.
The appeal was referred to an Appeals Officer on 3 November 2020. The Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.
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.
617. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13389/21]
View answerCarer'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.
CA reviews take place in a number of circumstances as follows:-
- If the decision on a new claim is negative the customer has the option of a review.
- Once claims are in payment, my Department undertakes periodic reviews as part of its control strategy to ensure that there is continued entitlement.
- A customer can at any stage request a review of their entitlement.
As outlined above, a wide range of reviews are carried out arising from customer requests, together with reviews undertaken by the Department. At present, although some control reviews are being carried out, the Department is prioritising reviews where a customer has notified us of a change in circumstances and may have an entitlement to an increase in rate, or where the revised decision will provide for award of payment.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
618. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of the support payments to her Department for those seeking international protection as provided for in the White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a New International Protection Support Service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13426/21]
View answerI welcome that Minister O’Gorman has brought the White Paper to end Direct Provision and to establish a new International Protection Support Service to Government, which will meet the Government commitment to end direct provision. This White Paper outlines a model for developing a new International Protection Accommodation and Support System that will be implemented between now and the end of 2024.
My Department is committed to supporting this process of change and my officials will continue to work with colleagues in Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth as we move to implement this new model.
The new model proposes a two-phase approach to accommodating applicants for international protection. In Phase 1, my Department will continue to provide Daily Expenses Allowance, as the income support payment to protection applicants while they stay in the Reception and Integration centre. The estimated cost for daily expenses allowance in the first 4 months in the Reception and Integration centre to my Department is €3.7m. These costings have been developed based on the assumption that the new model needs to have capacity to meet the needs of 3,500 applicants per year, of whom one-third will be children.
In Phase 2, applicants will move out of the Reception and Integration Centres to accommodation in the community. While it is envisaged that my Department will provide a payment channel for the new International Protection Payments on behalf of Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, it is that department which will retain the policy and budget for the payments.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
619. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment by each of the four payment rates by age, gender and occupation in County Wexford from 16 October 2020 to date in tabular form. [13441/21]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the attached tables.
620. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has read the recent NESC report on the self-employed. [12564/21]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that I am aware of the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) paper on ‘The Position of the Self-Employed’ that was published last November. I note that the paper considers a number of issues concerning self-employed workers, and groups these into the four policy areas of: the social insurance contributions made by self-employed workers; the social protection supports provided to them; the differentiation between employed and self-employed workers; and representation for self-employed workers.
With respect to the level of contribution to the social insurance fund by self-employed workers, they are now covered for most of the benefits available under the social insurance scheme which represents approximately 93% of the value of all benefits paid by the social insurance fund - in return for a contribution of 11 percentage points lower than that made in respect of employed contributors. As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government includes a commitment that consideration will be given to increasing all classes of PRSI over time to replenish the Social Insurance Fund to help pay for measures and changes to be agreed and the NESC paper will inform my Department's consideration in that regard.
The second issue relates to the levels of welfare support provided to self-employed workers. My Department offers a range of income supports to self-employed people, including -
- jobseeker's benefit (self-employed),
- the option of applying for a means tested jobseeker’s allowance instead depending on their personal circumstances,
- the pandemic unemployment payment,
- facilitating self-employed workers who are in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment and who are seeking to maintain their business, to earn up to €960 over an eight week period while maintaining their full payment entitlement,
- the enhanced illness benefit payment of €350 per week where they have been medically diagnosed with COVID or have been medically advised to self-isolate or restrict their movements,
- the back to work enterprise allowance scheme which offers support to people who are long-term unemployed and who are interested in self-employment as a route to entering the labour market - this allowance is payable to self-employed workers for up to a 24-month period from the commencement of their new business,
- the once-off enterprise support grant of up to €1,000 to assist with the costs associated with reopening a business following the imposition of Covid-related restrictions, and
- my Department's employment support services on a voluntary basis through their local Intreo Centre.
With respect to the categorisation of self-employed workers matter, my Department’s social welfare inspectorate carry out, as part of their duties, employer investigations to ensure compliance with social insurance law and employment status investigations form part of this work. The approach to addressing potential false self-employment includes the setting up of a new team of inspectors in late 2019 to focus entirely on detecting and investigating such practices. In recognising the need to increase awareness in this area, my Department is leading an interdepartmental group on updating and revising the important ‘Code of Practice for Determining Employment or Self-Employment’. In consultation with other departments and the social partners, I expect this revised Code to be published in the coming months.
Finally, in the area of representation, industrial relations in Ireland rests on a voluntary model. The State’s role is largely restricted to the development of an institutional framework supportive of a voluntary system that is premised upon freedom of contract and freedom of association. Progressing matters of representation come within the remit of my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
621. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether the living alone allowance should be accessed as income when calculating the income threshold for pensioners. [13484/21]
View answer622. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to gradually increase the income threshold for pensioners for entitlements in forthcoming budgets. [13485/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 622 and 621 together.
The Department provides income supports through contributory payments (which are based on a person's social insurance record) and means-tested social assistance payments. Social welfare legislation provides that the means test takes account of the income and assets of the person (and spouse or partner, if applicable) applying for the relevant scheme.
The State Pension Contributory (SPC) is a contributory payment and, as such, is not means tested. A recipient of the SPC can claim an increase to their pension in respect of a qualified adult (IQA). A qualified adult is the spouse / partner of the pensioner who is being wholly or mainly maintained by the pensioner.
An increase for a qualified adult may be payable at the maximum rate of payment where the means of the spouse/partner are €100 a week or less, while reduced rates are payable where the means are over €100 and less than €310 per week. No increase is payable where the means of the spouse/partner are in excess of €310 per week.
The State Pension Non-Contributory (SPNC) is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 or over who do not qualify for the SPC based on their social insurance record.
As such, all recipients of the SPNC are subject to a means test. Social welfare legislation provides that all income and capital belonging to an applicant (and his or her spouse/partner, where applicable) is assessable for means testing purposes for social assistance schemes, such as the State Pension Non-Contributory (SPNC). This includes all income and property (other than the family home) belonging to the claimant.
To calculate the rate payable, the means of the claimant is deducted from the maximum rate of SPNC. In cases where the means of the claimant exceed the maximum rate, the claimant is not entitled to any payment.
SPNC recipients can earn up to €200 per week from employment without their rate of payment being affected. In addition, the first €30 of means from any source is also disregarded.
The living alone allowance is not taken into account in the means test for the SPNC or the means test for a SPC recipient's qualified adult.
Increasing either the income disregards for the SPNC or the income thresholds for an IQA on the SPC may have significant cost implications and would need to be considered in an overall budgetary and policy context.
623. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will receive their PPSN; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13509/21]
View answerI can confirm that my Department has allocated a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) to the individual referred to by the Deputy. A letter issued on 8th March 2021 with details of her PPSN.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
624. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the hot school meals initiative; when a review of the pilot scheme can be expected; and if the scheme will be extended in the future. [13543/21]
View answerThe 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.
Funding is based on a rate of payment per meal, per child, per day. Until 2019, a hot meal was only provided through a dinner club which was primarily offered in schools with onsite cooking facilities.
In 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 and was aimed primarily at schools with no onsite cooking facilities. 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 my department 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.
In Budget 2021, I have provided an additional €5.5m for this extension from January 2021 to 35,000 primary school children currently receiving the cold lunch option.
Officials from my Department issued invitations for expressions of interest to some 700 primary schools in November 2020. A total of 282 expressions of interest were received. Due to the latest school closures, as a result of the Level 5 restrictions, the selection process has been deferred until schools re-open later this month.
The Evaluation of the Hot Meals Pilot which was completed in July 2020 found that all stakeholders indicated that the pilot project had a positive impact on children’s diet, behaviour, attentiveness and psychological wellbeing. I intend to publish the evaluation report shortly.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
625. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount spent across her Department on advertising in relation to Covid-19 by month and by media outlet (details supplied) from 1 March 2020 to 1 March 2021. [13566/21]
View answerThe Department delivered 20 public information campaigns related to COVID-19 from March 2020 to March 2021. The aim of these campaigns was to increase public awareness of the available income supports and Department services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The full cost of COVID-19 related public information campaigns was €1,826,918 excluding VAT, agency fees and creative/design fees. These costs include all advertising in national and regional print publications as well as national and regional radio costs detailed below. There were no costs incurred TV campaigns.
Two of these public information campaigns ran in January 2021 and have not yet been fully invoiced. Costs provided for these campaigns are therefore as per the campaign budget, are not final and may vary slightly.
The detailed spend per media channel requested is outlined in the table below.
626. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he plans to establish the new international protection support service to deal with applicants for international protection; the staff complement that will be seconded to this new organisation; the structure and budget of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13398/21]
View answer627. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has requested an association (details supplied) to develop the national settlement pattern as per the contents of the White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a New International Protection Support Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13403/21]
View answer653. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will identify the resettlement workers referred to in the White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a New International Protection Support Service who will oversee and link applicants for international protection with supports and services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13396/21]
View answer656. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the relevant Departments, agencies and NGOs that will constitute the programme board to oversee the governance and implementation of the new regime to replace the direct provision model for applicants for international protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13425/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 626, 627, 653 and 656 together.
As the Deputy will be aware I have now published the White Paper on ending the 'Direct Provision' system of accommodation and support services. The White Paper sets out a new Government policy to establish a new International Protection Support Service.
The transition to the new system will be led by my Department and progress will be monitored by a Programme Board whose membership will include Government Departments, Agencies, Local Authorities, NGOs and former International Protection applicants. I will shortly begin the process of establishing the Programme Board and will announce the Board once the members have been appointed.
I am also establishing the expert Transition Team who will be tasked with developing a detailed Implementation Plan which will set out the process and timelines for establishing the new model.
628. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the cost to the State of the direct provision system in each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13405/21]
View answerMy Department currently has contracts in place for 49 accommodation centres, including management contracts for 7 State owned centres. The 49 centres comprise 45 accommodation centres for International Protection applicants, the National Reception Centre for International Protection applicants in Balseskin, Co. Dublin and 3 Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres (EROC) for refugees brought to Ireland under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP).
Due to continuing increases in the numbers applying for international protection in recent years, these centres reached full operational capacity in September 2018 and a number of premises, hotels and guesthouses, were contracted to provide accommodation on a short-term basis until additional accommodation centres could be provided under a regional tendering competition. There are currently 25 such accommodation premises currently being used to accommodate international protection applicants on a temporary basis.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, my Department also provided 4 dedicated self-isolation facilities for residents in 2020. One of these is still under contract as well as 2 quarantine centres, one for residents who had left their allocated accommodation to live temporarily with famly or friends and a second for newly arrived International Protection applicants seeking accommodation.
My Department contracts for an all-inclusive service, which includes catering services, as well as cleaning, maintenance and laundry services.
The below table provides the total costs in each of the last ten years.
|
Year |
Expenditure in millions |
|
2010 |
€79.1 |
|
2011 |
€69.5 |
|
2012 |
€62.3 |
|
2013 |
€55.2 |
|
2014 |
€53.2 |
|
2015 |
€57.025 |
|
2016 |
€64.137 |
|
2017 |
€67.359 |
|
2018 |
€77.993 |
|
2019 |
€129.408 |
|
2020 |
€183.037 |
629. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a person (details supplied) is entitled to an extension of maternity leave due to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13436/21]
View answerThe Maternity Protection Acts provide for up to 26 weeks paid maternity leave, and a further 16 weeks unpaid leave. Where a child is born prematurely, additional weeks may be available.
There are currently no plans to extend this form of leave.
There have been a number of developments in terms of leave for working parents in recent years, notably, in 2019, the extension of parental leave up to 26 weeks for a child under 12 years and the introduction of two weeks paid Parent's Leave and Benefit for each parent in the first year of a child's life.
In order to support parents of children born during the strict lockdown measures, the Government intends to extend Parents’ Leave from two weeks to five weeks for each parent of all children born or adopted on or after 1 November 2019. The Family Leave Bill 2021 was approved by the Government on 9 March 2021. The aim is that this legislation will be enacted by the beginning of April 2021.
630. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason the terms of reference for the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation omitted to cover illegal birth registrations.. [13756/21]
View answer639. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason persons whose births were illegally registered, incorrectly registered or who were illegally adopted were excluded from the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes.. [12633/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 630 and 639 together.
The experiences of persons whose births were illegally registered, incorrectly registered or who were illegally adopted, were not excluded from the Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters).
The Terms of Reference for the Commission were developed in accordance with the legislative requirements of the Commissions of Investigations Act 2004, and agreed by Government. The draft Government Order to establish the Commission was also approved by both Houses of the Oireachtas. The overarching objective in developing the terms of reference was to establish a Commission capable of providing a full account of what happened in these institutions over the period 1922-1998.
The Terms of Reference were focused on a combination of four distinct factors:
- Clarifying that the intended focus is on single women and children being accommodated for the purpose of receiving extended and supervised maternity and infant care services in Mother and Baby Homes;
- Defining the specific issues of public concern as discrete matters to be investigated;
- Specifying a list of Mother and Baby Homes and, in addition, providing for examination of equivalent experiences within the network of County Homes;
- Defining the relevant period as being from 1922 to 1998, while allowing the Commission to reduce the “relevant period” in respect of any component part or institution if it considers it appropriate to do so.
Therefore, the approach taken provided for the intended clear and deliberate emphasis on the experiences of women and children who spent time in Mother and Baby Homes.
In examining the exit pathways of children, the Commission was required to investigate the nature of the relationship between Mother and Baby Homes and other key institutions – these included children’s homes; orphanages; and adoption societies. This involved the identification of patterns of referral and the practices and arrangements for the placement of children. It also included where an intermediary organisation was involved in arranging a subsequent placement.
The examination was also to identify the extent to which children’s welfare and best interests were considered in making arrangements for their placement both here in Ireland and abroad. The Commission was further asked to identify the extent of mothers’ participation in such decisions, including procedures around mothers’ consent, and the extent to which these procedures were sufficient to ensure that consent was full, free and informed. The Commission was therefore provided with sufficient scope to examine the placing of children for adoption at home and abroad, as well as to examine situations in which the child’s parentage was concealed, either by omission or sometimes, by illegal means.
The Commission’s final Report addresses important questions in relation to the practices in place during the period under investigation. The Commission was able to cross-reference information from the institutional records, State records, testimony from witnesses and evidence from other sources.
It is accepted by all parties that, in the past, the arrangements for the placement of children often involved secretive practices, carried out without due regard to the rights of those involved. Such practices reflected wider societal prejudices of the time. Today, the safeguards in the adoption acts ensure that the best interests of the child are the paramount consideration in all adoption cases, and in every step of the process.
Separate to the work of the Commission, I have just published an independent review report into incorrect birth registrations. This independent report was commissioned following Tulsa's discovery in early 2018 of evidence of illegal birth registrations in the files of the St. Patrick’s Guild adoption society.
While this review was unable to identify a unique marker suggestive of illegal birth registration in the sampled files I know significant concerns remain about the practice of illegal birth registrations. For that reason, I have asked the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection to consider the very significant complexities and challenges, including the deep ethical issues, which arise in relation to the issue of illegal birth registrations, and to propose an appropriate course of action.
631. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the situation in respect of insurance cover for foster children, particularly in regard to farm accidents, given foster children are not deemed by insurance policies to be family or a visitor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12485/21]
View answerThe National Treasury Management Agency (Delegation of Claims Management Functions) Order (S.I No. 571 of 2019) was made in November 2019. This order was made under section 9 of the National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act 2000.
This order means that there is state indemnity for all foster carers in respect of any claims for personal injury and/or third party property damage that arises when carrying out approved activities as a Foster Carer. In addition, state indemnity extends to cover a claim for personal injury to a foster child (or former foster child) due to the alleged negligence of the Foster Carer.
An information leaflet is being developed by the state claims agency and Tusla which will provide details for foster carers on how to report an incident that may result in a claim.
