Thomas Gould
Question:120. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education the number of special needs secondary school places available in Cork city for September 2021. [13793/21]
View answerSpecial Educational Needs
Questions (120, 121)
Thomas Gould
Question:121. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education the number of children in primary special schools in need of a secondary place in September 2021. [13794/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 121 together.
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government. The Department of Education will spend approximately €2 Billion or over 20% of its total educational budget in 2021 on making additional provision for children with special educational needs this year.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide. It has well established structures in place for engaging with schools and parents. NCSE seeks to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special education placements.
The NCSE does not hold records relating to applications received by schools from parents of children in primary special schools transitioning to post primary. Enrolments to individual schools are a matter for each board of management. It should also be noted that the majority of special schools cater for students up to the age of 18.
However, the NCSE, through its local network of SENOs (Special Educational Needs Organiser), offers advice and support to parents of students that are due to transition to post primary school on the possible placement options available to their child, including mainstream placement with appropriate support, special class placement and special school placement.
All post primary placements are supported with additional resources where required for those students with special educational needs.
NCSE is planning a further expansion of special class and special school places nationally, to meet identified need. This process is ongoing. A network of 29 special classes operate in Cork City currently to provide students with places where complex needs are identified in professional reports and are accompanied by a recommendation for a special class placement.
It is open to any school to make an application to the NCSE for the establishment of a specialised provision and where sanctioned, a range of supports, including capital funding, is made available to the school. The NCSE provides a programme of teacher professional learning and in-school support to support schools in establishing special classes.
Notwithstanding the extent of this investment, there are some parts of the country where increases in population and other issues have led to concerns regarding a shortage of school places. For September 2021, the NCSE is aware of a specific identified need for special school placements in Cork City and County and is working with my Department and the education partners towards meeting that need.
Through better planning at both national and local level, it is my objective that specialist education places should come on stream to meet emerging demand on a timely basis. However, the active collaboration of school communities is essential in this regard.
NCSE is aware of those parents whose children will be seeking placement for the 2021/22 academic year, including mainstream placement with appropriate support, special class placement, Early Intervention and special school placement. The NCSE continues to work to identify any and all relevant suitable placements.
The NCSE's local Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) are available to assist and advise both schools and the parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available at: https://ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list.
Information on the list of schools with special classes is available at www.ncse.ie.
Home Tuition Scheme
Questions (122)
Thomas Gould
Question:122. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education the number of children availing of home tuition due to the fact that no secondary school place is available in Cork city in each of the years 2015 to 2020 and to date in 2021. [13795/21]
View answerWritten answers
The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school.
Home tuition is not an alternative to a school placement and is provided in very limited and specific circumstances. By its nature, it is intended to be a short term intervention.
Funding towards home tuition is available where the NCSE confirm that no suitable Post Primary special class placement is available for an individual child.
In such circumstances the NCSE SENO will actively engage at local level with schools, Patron Bodies and the families to ensure that a suitable placement is provided as soon as possible.
If, following completion of that work, the NCSE has not been able to establish the required school placements it can activate the provisions contained in section 37A of the Education Act 1998.
The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below.
No. of Post Primary children that accessed Home Tuition in Cork 2015-2021
|
Year |
Numbers |
|
2020/21 |
1 |
|
2019/2020 |
3 |
|
2018/2019 |
1 |
|
2017/2018 |
3 |
|
2016/2017 |
1 |
|
2015/2016 |
0 |
School Staff
Questions (123)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:123. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education if her Department will be issuing updated guidance for pregnant teachers; the supports or solutions that are under consideration to protect pregnant teachers; and if she is engaging with teachers and their unions in relation to the matter. [13798/21]
View answerWritten answers
The general principles to apply to the management of COVID-19 includes the safety and welfare of teachers and other school staff and the minimisation of the impact of COVID-19 on teaching and learning. The current COVID-19 arrangements in place for teachers are outlined in my Department’s Circular Letter 0049/2020.
The HSE has recently published guidance for the education sector in respect of pregnant employees and my Department is currently seeking clarifications from the HSE on this guidance. In the meantime, a pregnant teacher should temporarily continue to work remotely i.e. working from home.
The temporary arrangements for teachers during the partial re-opening period are outlined in my Department’s Information Note TC 0005/2021 for primary teachers and Information Note TC 0007/2021 for post primary teachers. On the full re-opening of primary schools due to take place on 15th March, Information Note TC 0010/2021 for primary teachers SNAs will apply.
My Department has an enhanced Occupational Health Service (OHS) in place, to provide employers with occupational health advice in relation to teacher’s fitness for work. The current OHS provider has a process in place for school staff with health concerns about their risk of serious illness from contracting COVID-19, through workplace attendance.
A detailed on-line questionnaire is submitted by the teacher to the OHS, along with detailed medical evidence to provide clarity with respect to the medical complaint(s) in question. All of this information is reviewed by the OHS specialist occupational health physician, including the combined and cumulative risk that can arise when a teacher suffers from more than one health condition. The risk categorisation is comprehensive and follows the same process that is being applied across other sectors. A teacher is categorised into one of three COVID-19 risk categories. These are ‘Normal Risk’, High Risk’, and ‘Very High Risk’. The outcome of the risk categorisation is governed by the latest HSE guidance. My Department is following the same guidance that is in use across the public sector. The latest HSE guidance on the ‘very high risk’ group is at: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/people-at-higher-risk.html.
Where a teacher considers the OHS "Covid-19 Health Risk Categorisation report" places him/her in an incorrect risk category, he/she may request review. The teacher may provide additional medical evidence as part of the review process.
Based on HSE advice, a teacher categorised by the OHS as ‘Very High Risk’ must not attend the workplace. However he/she remains available for work and the employer should prioritise alternative working arrangements to the maximum extent possible e.g. working from home.
The employer has a responsibility to assess the school environment using the COVID-19 Response Plan for the school, to ensure that all the appropriate HSE recommendations for safe school operations during Covid-19 are being implemented in full.
During the current period of partial re-opening of primary and post primary schools, an employer should temporarily facilitate more flexible working arrangements where a teacher has been categorised by the OHS as ‘High Risk’. A teacher who is over 60 years of age should also be temporarily facilitated by these arrangements. This may include re-assignment of a teacher to other duties within the school or facilitated to work remotely i.e. working from home. When schools fully re-open, these flexible working arrangements will no longer be available and therefore a teacher in the ‘High Risk’ group who is medically fit for work must return to the workplace.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (124)
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin
Question:124. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if there are plans to increase resources, teachers and numbers special reading schools for children with severe dyslexia; and her plans to increase resources to established mainstream schools that will allow for the establishment of reading units such as the one in a school (details supplied) which will help children with severe dyslexia. [13823/21]
View answerWritten answers
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs in special schools, in accordance with the policies of my Department.
Special school staffing allocations are reviewed and updated each year by the NCSE and special schools are staffed on the basis of each year’s current school enrolments.
Staffing arrangements for special schools are in line with policy advice provided by the NCSE in 2013, which did not recommend alteration to staffing ratios established under the Special Education Review Committee (SERC) Report in 1993.
Enhanced pupil teacher and SNA ratios are provided to special schools to support them in dealing with pupils' educational and care needs. These schools are staffed on the basis of individual pupil profile and the disability categorisations of those pupils, as opposed to being based primarily on school designation, in accordance with my Department's Circular 0032/2019 - Appointment of Administrative Deputy Principal and Staffing in Special Schools.
My Department also provides an extensive range of supports for pupils with Specific Speech and Language Disorder (SSLD). This includes provision for the establishment of special classes for pupils with SSLD in primary schools. A total of 63 SSLD special classes in mainstream primary schools have been provided for the 2020/2021 school year.
NCSE, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports, including applications to establish special classes for SSLD. Applications meeting the criteria for establishment are approved by the NCSE.
The opening and retention of SSLD special classes is, however, contingent on the Health Service Executive (HSE) being in a position to provide speech and language therapy to the students in the class. The availability and provision of speech and language therapy is the responsibility of the HSE.
The enrolment of pupils in SSLD special classes is managed locally by an Admissions & Discharges Committee, comprising the Speech and Language Therapy Manager, Speech and Language Therapist, Class Teacher and Principal.
As outlined in Circular 0038/2007, eligible pupils may spend up to two years in SSLD classes.
Students who are not enrolled in a special class for SSLD and who meet the SSLD criteria, as outlined in Circular 0038/2007, may qualify for additional Special Education Teaching (SET) support; as may students with mild speech and language difficulties. The school referred to by the Deputy has an allocation of 136 SET hours per week. It is a matter for individual schools to use their professional judgement to identify pupils who will receive this support and to use the resources available to the school to intervene at the appropriate level with such students. My Department is not directly involved in these decisions.
The NCSE is currently developing Policy Advice on Special Classes and Special Schools. My Department, in conjunction with the NCSE is also considering the existing definition of Specific Speech and Language Disorder (SSLD).
There will be no change to the criteria for enrolment in special classes for pupils with speech and language difficulties, pending the outcome of these considerations and the finalisation of the Policy Advice.
Special Educational Needs Staff
Questions (125)
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin
Question:125. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if the procedure for sick pay for special needs assistants has changed; if her Department no longer pay SNAs directly; if SNAs are required to apply for illness benefit from social welfare; if so, if same precludes recipients of the widow’s pension from receiving sick pay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13826/21]
View answerWritten answers
New arrangements regarding Illness Benefit payments came into effect from the 01/09/2019. An information note issued to all school employees in September 2019, advising them of these changes.
Under these arrangements, the Department now recoups what is due from salary based on the dates of absence as keyed by the school through OLCS. As outlined in the Sick Leave Scheme the SNA is required to submit the documentation (IB1/MED1) in relation to their Illness Benefit Claim, which can be obtained from DEASP or their GP, and forward it directly to DEASP with their payment details once completed. The SNA retains the benefit from DEASP to compensate for this deduction.
If the SNA does not qualify for the payment from DEASP due to insufficient PRSI contributions or because they are in receipt of a Pension (Widows Pension/Disability Pension/State Pension) that prohibits DEASP from issuing the Illness Benefit to them, then the SNA must obtain a letter from DEASP outlining the reason(s) they did not qualify for the benefit, or provide evidence that they are in receipt of a Pension, and forward a copy of that correspondence to the Illness Benefit Unit and we will update our records accordingly.
Any deductions made to the SNA’s salary for periods of absence that they did not qualify for the payment as outlined previously, will be refunded to them through the payroll. For audit purpose we require this clarification from DEASP in writing prior to processing any refund of Illness Benefit.
Teacher Training
Questions (126)
Alan Dillon
Question:126. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education if fees will be refunded to a person (details supplied) under the teacher fee refund scheme 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13830/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Teacher Fee Refund Scheme is still opened for applications for courses/part of courses completed in the period 01 September 2019 to 31 August 2020. Courses must be completed within the relevant time period. For the purposes of administering the scheme, the course completion date is considered to be the date of the final course day or final exam of the programme. Details on the application process and application form can be found on both the Department of Education and Marino Institute of Education websites.
The Marino Institute of Education (MIE) administers the scheme on behalf of the Department of Education. Teachers must apply with the approval of their Principal and Board of Management and/or Education and Training Board on the standard application form.
Applications will only be accepted for courses/part of courses completed in the period 01 September 2019 to 31 August 2020.
The closing date for receipt of applications is 31st March 2021. All applications received will be acknowledged.
Links for both Department of Education and Marino Institute of Education websites regarding the 2020 refund scheme and application form are as follows:
https://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0010_2021.pdf
https://www.mie.ie/en/study_with_us/refund_of_fees_scheme/.
Education Policy
Questions (127)
Sorca Clarke
Question:127. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the audits or reviews that have been carried out to assess the adequacy of school placements in areas with strategic housing developments. [13853/21]
View answerWritten answers
In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand in that area. In that regard, as part of the demographic exercises, my Department engages with each of the local authorities to obtain the up-to-date information on significant new residential development including strategic housing developments in each area. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:
- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
- Provision of a new school or schools.
The requirement for additional school places is kept under on-going review and work on an updated exercise to assess needs for the coming years is at an advanced stage.
Education Policy
Questions (128)
Sorca Clarke
Question:128. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the areas identified as being in need of additional schools based on reviews, in tabular form. [13854/21]
View answerWritten answers
In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand in that area. In that regard, as part of the demographic exercises, my Department engages with each local authority to obtain the up-to-date data on significant new residential development in each area. My Department then makes an assessment of the existing capacity within the particular area and its ability to meet increased demand.
Where data indicates that additional provision is required at primary or post primary level, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:
- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
- Provision of a new school or schools.
Since 2018 47 new schools have been announced to be established to meet demographic needs. The majority of these schools have already been established and a further nine primary schools and eight post primary schools are scheduled to be established in the coming years. The relevant school planning areas which these schools are intended to serve are listed below:
|
Remaining New Primary Schools: School Planning Areas |
|
Donaghmede_Howth_D13 |
|
Dublin2_Dublin4 |
|
Sallynoggin_Killiney_DLR/North |
|
Bray/Woodbrook Shanganagh |
|
Clondalkin_D22 |
|
Gurranbraher_CorkCity |
|
Kilkenny/City, Western Environs |
|
Naas |
|
Sallynoggin_Killiney_dDLR/Cherrywood |
|
Remaining New Post Primary Schools: School Planning Areas |
|
Ballincollig |
|
Booterstown_Blackrock & Dunlaoghaire (Regional Solution) |
|
Dunshaughlin |
|
Gorey |
|
Donaghmede_Howth_D13/Baldoyle/ Stapolin |
|
Dublin2_Dublin4 |
|
Sallynoggin_Killiney_DLR/Cherrywood |
|
Drumcondra_Marino_Dublin1 |
The requirement for additional school places is kept under on-going review and work on an updated exercise to assess needs for the coming years is at an advanced stage.
Schools Site Acquisitions
Questions (129)
Bernard Durkan
Question:129. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if she is satisfied that her Department and Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training and Board have liaised sufficiently with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications and Kildare County Council with a view to ensuring that provisions likely to be made in respect of funding under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund will sufficiently accommodate the site, location and traffic requirements in respect of the proposed new three school campus in Celbridge, County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13866/21]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy is aware and has been recently advised, work is progressing and is ongoing in respect of technical matters crucial to the delivery of the acquisition. This includes matters relating to traffic. My Department is continuing to actively engage regularly with Kildare Co. Co. and the Landowner, who is currently presenting a masterplan of the site as a whole. It remains a priority for my Department to make progress on this acquisition.
As advised previously, due to the commercially sensitive nature of site acquisitions in general and this one in particular - I am unable to elaborate further but please rest assured that this project is still being given our full attention.
Carer's Allowance
Questions (130, 131)
Claire Kerrane
Question:130. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the means test threshold for entitlement to carer’s allowance for single and couple cohabiting applicants separately in €50 intervals up to €450 for single applicants and €950 for couple cohabiting applicants per week in tabular form. [13599/21]
View answerClaire Kerrane
Question:131. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated increase in the number of persons entitled to the carer’s allowance if the means test threshold for entitlement to carer’s allowance for single and couple cohabiting applicants separately in €50 intervals up to €450 for single applicants and €950 for couple cohabiting applicants per week in tabular form. [13600/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 131 together.
The Government acknowledges the crucial role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for Government and the National Carers’ Strategy.
The main income supports to carers provided by my Department are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Combined spending on these payments to carers in 2021 is expected to exceed €1.4 billion.
At the end of January, there were 89,092 recipients of Carer's Allowance. The estimated expenditure for the payment in 2021 is in the region of €953 million.
The means test for Carer’s Allowance is one of the most generous in the social protection system. Currently, €332.50 of gross weekly income is disregarded in the calculation of means for a single person; the equivalent for someone who is married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting is €665 of combined gross weekly income.
By comparison, the income disregard applied to Disability Allowance is €120 per week (which will increase to €140 per week from June 2021). For Jobseeker's Allowance, it is €20 per day up to a maximum of €60, and the balance is assessed at 60%. For Jobseeker's Transitional Payment, the weekly income disregard is €165 with 50% of the balance assessed as means.
The ESRI SWITCH microsimulation model has been used for the purposes of the estimate requested. The additional cost of increasing the means test threshold for entitlement to Carer’s Allowance for single and couple cohabiting applicants separately in €50 intervals, up to €450 for single applicants and €950 for couple cohabiting applicants per week are set out in tabular form below. The final interval in each case is less than €50 in order to arrive at the upper limits of €450 and €950 requested by the Deputy. It should be noted that the additional estimated costs provided are based on existing recipient data contained in the model.
It is not possible to give the estimated increase in the number of persons entitled to the Carer’s Allowance if the means test thresholds were increased. This is primarily because it is not known how many people there are caring and working that are currently over the income limit but who could apply for/become eligible for Carer's Allowance if the income limits were higher. Furthermore, SWITCH cannot model behavioural responses in such cases.
Based on the Department's own analysis of the Carer's Allowance, it should be noted that some 92% of the current recipients of Carer’s Allowance have no means or means of less than €7.60 per week and would not benefit by an increase in the disregard. Carers who would benefit from an increased disregard would be in higher income households.
Any changes to the means test must be considered in an overall budgetary context.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Table 1: Carer's Allowance Single Person Disregard Increase from €332.50 to €450.00 in increments of €50.00
|
Single Person Disregard |
Increase |
Cumulative Increase from Existing Disregard |
Estimated Additional Cost (€M) from the current disregard |
|
€382.50 |
€50.00 |
€50.00 |
€2.33 |
|
€432.50 |
€50.00 |
€100.00 |
€3.26 |
|
€450.00 |
€17.50 |
€117.50 |
€3.26 |
Table 2: Carer's Allowance Couples Disregard Increase from €665.00 to €950.00 in increments of €50.00
|
Couples Disregard |
Increase |
Cumulative Increase from Existing Disregard |
Estimated Additional Cost (€M) from the current disregard |
|
€715.00 |
€50.00 |
€50.00 |
€1.50 |
|
€765.00 |
€50.00 |
€100.00 |
€2.33 |
|
€815.00 |
€50.00 |
€150.00 |
€2.94 |
|
€865.00 |
€50.00 |
€200.00 |
€3.26 |
|
€915.00 |
€50.00 |
€250.00 |
€3.26 |
|
€950.00 |
€35.00 |
€285.00 |
€3.81 |
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Questions (132)
Brendan Griffin
Question:132. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the provisions for seasonal workers (details supplied) who are ineligible for jobseeker’s benefit or allowance who worked in the tourism industry for a number of years and had not commenced their seasonal employment when Covid-19 lockdowns commenced. [13680/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is a statutory scheme to support employees who have lost their employment due to COVID-19. The scheme does not provide support for potential or prospective but unrealised employment.
Where a person is not eligible for PUP, they may apply for a Jobseeker payment. Jobseeker's Benefit is paid for 9 months (234 days) for people with 260 or more PRSI paid contributions. It is paid for 6 months (156 days) for people with less than 260 PRSI paid contributions. Where the individual’s entitlement to Jobseekers Benefit exhausts, they can apply for Jobseekers Allowance which is means tested.
Where a person is experiencing financial hardship, they can apply for assistance through the means tested Supplementary Welfare Allowance. Information on the supports available under this scheme is available at www.gov.ie.
The Department's Public Employment Service is available to everyone of working age, including those who are not in receipt of a Social Welfare payment. It is open to a person to contact their local Intreo Centre to request an appointment with a case officer to discuss their options.
I trust that this clarifies the position for you.
Fuel Allowance
Questions (133)
Peter Burke
Question:133. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider the addition of the fuel allowance to those in receipt of the carer’s allowance to alleviate the cost of heating homes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13690/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €28.00 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €784 each year) from October to April, to an average of 372,000 low income households, at an estimated cost of €300 million in 2021. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only one allowance is paid per household.
My Department also pays an electricity or gas allowance under the Household Benefits scheme at an estimated cost of €195 million in 2021. This is paid at a rate of €35 per month, 12 months of the year.
The Government values the role of carers very much and it is for this reason that they receive significant income supports from the Department. In addition to Carer’s Benefit and/or Allowance, carers receive further support in the form of free travel and household benefits (for those who live with the person for whom they care) and the annual Carer's Support Grant in respect of each person for whom they care. In Budget 2021 I was delighted to announce an increase to the Carers Support Grant by €150 to €1,850. This will benefit over 130,000 carers. Carers in receipt of an increase for a qualified child on their claim will also benefit from the Budget 2021 announced increase to the qualified child rate, by €5 in the case of a child aged 12 or over and by €2 for a child aged up to 12.
Fuel Allowance is a household-based payment, and a Carer will very often live with and be caring for a person in receipt of a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance. Income from full rate Carer's Allowance is disregarded from the fuel means test if the carer is providing full time care and attention to the Fuel Allowance applicant, his/her qualified spouse / civil partner or cohabitant or qualified child(ren).
If a person is getting certain qualifying social welfare payments and also providing full time care and attention to another person, s/he can keep his/her main social protection payment in addition to receiving the half-rate Carer's Allowance. S/he can also receive an extra half-rate Carer’s Allowance if s/he cares for more than one person. It should also be noted that the payment of half-rate Carer’s Allowance does not preclude a person from qualifying for Fuel Allowance. If a person is in receipt of a non-contributory social welfare payment and a half-rate Carer’s Allowance, then s/he is deemed to have satisfied the means test and Fuel Allowance is payable, subject to all remaining criteria being satisfied. If a person is in receipt of a contributory social welfare payment and a half-rate Carer’s Allowance then s/he will have to satisfy a means test in order to qualify for Fuel Allowance.
The maximum rates of Carer's Allowance for those aged under 66, at €219 (€257 for carers aged 66 or over) where one person is being cared for, and €328.50 (€385.50 for carers aged 66 or over) where there are two or more carees, is significantly higher than that for most schemes administered by my Department.
The means test for Carer's allowance has been significantly eased over the years, and is now one of the most generous means tests in the social welfare system, most notably with regard to spouse’s earnings. At present the means test for Carer’s Allowance allows for an income disregard of €332.50 per week for a single person and €665 for a couple. In the case of a single carer, that person may retain a full-rate payment of €219.00 while having an annual income of just under €19,000, or retain a payment of €109.00 per week (just under half rate) while having an annual income of €25,400, or retain the minimum payment of €4 per week while having an annual income of €31,100.
Carers can also engage in employment, self-employment, training or education courses outside the home for not more than 18.5 hours a week.
Any decision to amend the criteria for receiving Fuel Allowance, to include Carer’s Allowance as a qualifying payment, would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
Questions (134)
Colm Burke
Question:134. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons from Cork city and county who have availed of the pandemic unemployment payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13714/21]
View answerWritten answers
In answer to the Deputy's question, since the start of the scheme there have been 88,336 people from Cork who have availed of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP). As of March 9th 2020 a total of 47,011 people in Cork are currently in receipt of the PUP.
Carer's Allowance
Questions (135)
Brendan Griffin
Question:135. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a carer’s allowance appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13723/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 3 March 2021. 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 appeal 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.
Carer's Benefit
Questions (136)
Brendan Griffin
Question:136. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a carer’s benefit application by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13729/21]
View answerWritten answers
Carer's Benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention. An increased payment can be made where full-time care is being provided to two people.
To qualify, the carer must satisfy certain PRSI conditions, employment conditions, show that they are providing full-time care and attention and establish that the care recipient requires full-time care and attention.
I can confirm that an application for Carer's Benefit was received from the person concerned on the 1st March 2021.
The application has been awarded to the person concerned from 4 March 2021 and the first payment will issue to her nominated bank account on 11 March 2021. The person concerned was notified on 8 March 2021 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right to review and appeal. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
Questions (137)
Brendan Griffin
Question:137. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if pandemic payment arrears paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be re-examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13732/21]
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The customer concerned has received his arrears, including rerate arrears, in 3 separate payments, €1191, €585 and €300.
The payment of €1191 was authorised on 17/12/2020 and corresponds to rerate arrears for the period 06/11/2020 to 10/12/2020 and arrears at €203 per week for the period 16/102020 to 05/11/2020.
The payment of €585 was paid on 23/02/2021 and corresponds to rerate arrears for weeks prior to 06/11/2020, specifically the periods 16/10/2020 to 05/11/2020 and 26/06/2020 to 09/07/2020.
The customer concerned is also due arrears of €300 for the period 09/10/2020 to 15/10/2020 which was paid on 09/03/2021.
Further to this payment the customer will not be due any further arrears.
I trust the clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
Disability Allowance
Questions (138)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:138. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a social welfare payment for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13734/21]
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The person concerned submitted an application for disability allowance (DA) on 25 November 2020. The application, based upon all the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds as it was not found that this lady was substantially restricted in taking up employment. It was also refused on having means in excess of the statutory limit. Notification of this decision and the reason(s) for it issued to the person concerned on 20 January 2021. A review of this decision was completed and it confirmed the original decision. Notification of this review along with a detailed breakdown of her means issued on 9 March 2021.
The person in question has lodged an appeal with the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). All the relevant papers requested by that Office are being prepared and will be submitted by the Department shortly. The SWAO will be in touch with the person in due course in relation to the progress of the appeal.
I regret that the person concerned had a negative experience during the Rent Supplement application process. In spite of the huge demand for our services, my officials still strive to meet and exceed customer expectations and it is unfortunate that my Department did not achieve that aim on this occasion. According to my officials a full review of the Rent Supplement application process was conducted by the Area Manager and written clarification was sent to the person concerned in December 2020.
A basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance is a weekly means assessed payment for people who do not have enough income to meet their needs and those of their families.
If the weekly income of the person concerned is below the basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance rate for her family size, a payment may be made to bring her income up to the appropriate basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance rate. The current weekly personal rate is €201 and an increase for a qualified child under 12 is €38.
If the person concerned feels she meets the eligibility criteria for a basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance payment, she can make an application by contacting her local Community Welfare Service.
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 who is in financial difficulty 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.
An application for a basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance and/or an Exceptional Needs Payment can be made by contacting the Community Welfare Service in the Swords Intreo Centre by phone 01 4164190 or by email swaswords@welfare.ie. Application forms can also be accessed online at www.gov.ie/dsp.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Fuel Allowance
Questions (139)
Joe Flaherty
Question:139. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of pensioners in receipt of the fuel allowance that are also paying the local property tax; and the value of local property tax collected in cases in which the payee is also in receipt of the fuel allowance. [13785/21]
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Fuel Allowance is a means tested payment to assist pensioners and other long-term social welfare dependent householders with their winter heating costs. The payment is a contribution towards heating costs. It is not intended to meet these costs in full. The payment is made at the weekly rate of €28.00; or if preferred, by way of two lump sum payments; and is paid over the winter season (28 weeks in the 2020/2021 fuel allowance season). Only one Fuel Allowance is payable per household.
The Revenue Commissioners have agreed an arrangement with my Department whereby deductions in respect of Local Property Tax (LPT) may be made from nine long term, stable social welfare scheme payments. This is a voluntary arrangement directly between the customer and the Revenue Commissioners, with the deductions facilitated by my Department at the request of the customer.
My Department has an obligation to safeguard customer payments and to ensure that deductions in respect of LPT do not cause undue financial hardship to the customer. Accordingly, deductions are not taken from a customer’s payment where this would reduce their weekly personal rate below the Supplementary Welfare Allowance personal rate, which is currently set at €201.00 per week.
As at the end of February 2021, there are 131,433 state pension (contributory and non-contributory) recipients in receipt of Fuel Allowance. Of these, 7,453 have chosen to pay their Local Property Tax by way of deduction from their state pension (contributory/non-contributory) payment.
It is only possible to estimate the average rate of weekly voluntary LPT deduction from state (contributory and non-contributory) pension payments of those who also receive Fuel Allowance. The best estimate is that the deducted amount is on average under €6.00 per week.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.