Written Answers Nos. 163-187
163. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education if she has considered ensuring that leaving certificate students who experience a medical emergency such as a seizure immediately prior to or during their State examination should be given the opportunity to resit that exam within the same exam cycle to not adversely impact their CAO offer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28502/21]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
164. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to differences in funding support for doctoral training for educational psychologists and counselling psychologists compared to clinical psychologists; the way she plans to address the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28562/21]
View answerMatters relating to arrangements for doctoral training for educational psychologists and counselling psychologists is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Health.
165. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education if she will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28639/21]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school. Under the terms of my Department’s School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2kms at primary and 4.8kms at post-primary and are attending their nearest School/Education Centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
All children who are eligible for school transport and who completed the application and payment process on time have been accommodated on school transport services for the 2020/21 school year where such services are in operation. Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only. Concessionary transport is subject to a number of terms and conditions including the availability of spare seats on an existing service. The availability of concessionary transport may vary from year to year and cannot be guaranteed for the duration of a child’s education cycle. Routes will not be extended or altered, additional vehicles will not be introduced, nor will larger vehicles or extra trips using existing vehicles be provided to cater for children travelling on a concessionary basis.
Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes. Routes are planned and updated on the basis of the locations of children who are eligible for school transport.
Bus Éireann has confirmed that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is not eligible for school transport as the pupil is not attending their closest school. Bus Éireann has also advised that this pupil is availing of transport on a service that was established as an addtional service in order to provide for social distancing, on which this pupil received a concessionary ticket . Furthermore Bus Éireann has advised there is no other service closer to the pupil to avail of as it is full to capacity.
166. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education the status of the review of school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28640/21]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
In October 2019, my predecessor announced a review of the school transport scheme with a view to taking a fresh look at the service and its broader effectiveness and sustainability. Given the evolving situation with Covid-19 the work of the Steering Group had been delayed. However, an initial meeting of the Steering Group was recently held in order to recommence the process which will continue over the coming period. The review is being conducted to ensure that the school transport is fit for purpose and that it serves students and their families adequately.
This review will build on the proposals in the Programme for Government as they relate to school transport, including examining the options to reduce car journeys and assessing how the School Transport Scheme can work in liaison with the Safe Routes to Schools Programme; examining the options for providing a better value and a better service for students, including and examining issues such as the nearest or next-nearest school.
It is planned that the Steering Group will report to me on an interim basis as the review progresses, with a view to presenting a final report later this year with recommendations on the future operation of the Department’s School Transport Scheme.
The Steering Group will report to me initially on preliminary findings regarding eligibility, before moving to consider and report on broader issues such as the objectives of the scheme and the alignment of the scheme with other initiatives and wider Government policy. The Steering Group is due to report to me shortly with this preliminary interim report.
167. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education her plans to upgrade the IT system in her Department and bodies under her aegis with a view to maximising the protection against hackers. [28682/21]
View answerFor operational and security reasons, it is not appropriate to disclose details, including any budgetary matters, of my Department’s Cyber Security arrangements, or those of State Agencies under my remit. Any disclosure of information in relation to cyber security matters could assist malicious actors in identifying potential vulnerabilities and potentially compromise my Department’s information security posture.
168. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if additional security measures will be taken to impede and prevent the intrusion of hackers in her Department’s IT system and to ensure an early warning system is in place which will trigger an ultimate defence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28700/21]
View answerFor operational and security reasons, it is not appropriate to disclose details of my Department’s Cyber Security arrangements. Any disclosure of information in relation to cyber security matters could assist malicious actors in identifying potential vulnerabilities and potentially compromise my Department’s information security posture.
169. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if a list of all developing schools broken down by primary and post-primary will be supplied in tabular form. [28783/21]
View answerA new model for allocating Special Education Teachers to mainstream schools was introduced from September 2017, based on the profiled needs of schools.
The allocations were updated for schools with effect from September 2019, with limited readjustments being applied for at that time.
The allocations have remained in place for the 2019/20 and 2020/21 school years, with some adjustments made over the course of the model for schools which achieved developing status, or successfully appealed on the grounds of exceptional circumstances arising in their schools. Allocations are also provided for new schools which open each year.
DES Circulars 007 and 008 2019, stated that the allocations being made for 2019 would initially remain in place for a minimum of two years, following which, revised profiled allocations would be considered for schools from September 2021.
The NCSE Policy advice ‘A Proposed new Model for Allocating Teaching Resources for Students with Special Educational Needs (2014)’ on which the SET allocation model is based, recommended that ‘the additional teaching supports be left in place initially for a two-year period. As the new model becomes embedded in the system, this may be extended to three years.’
In order to minimise disruption for schools, in the current circumstances, and to provide for continuity of allocations, the Minister for Education and the Minister for Special Education and Inclusion have agreed to maintain the existing Special Education Teacher Allocations for schools for the 2021/22 school year, with re profiled allocations now due to be made from September 2022.
Additional allocations will continue to be made for new schools, schools which achieve developing status, or for exceptional circumstances arising in schools, in the interim.
The criteria for qualification for mainstream school developing school posts for the 2021/22 school year are set out in the DES Circular Primary and Post Primary School Staffing Schedules for 2021/22.
Schools who qualify for additional mainstream developing school posts in accordance with these criteria will also qualify for additional Special Education Teaching Allocations to take account of this developing status, as follows:
(i) an additional 3 hours of SEN teaching supportwill beprovided for schools which have one developing post , or for a schools first developing post where they have more than one developing post
(ii) and 5 hours per each post thereafter, for each school which has two or more developing posts
The allocation of the additional hours will be made, effective from 1st September, once the enrolments have been confirmed from 30th September, 2021.
Whereas some provisional indication of the additional allocation that schools may expect to receive, may be provided to schools, based on projected enrolments, the allocations for additional Specal Education Teacher allocations are not confirmed for schools until the school enrolments are also confirmed after September 2021.
The list of primary and post primay schools who acheive developing school status for 2021 can be provided, however, it will not be available until later in the year, after the September enrolments have been confirmed.
170. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 339 of 13 May 2021, if the arrangements for the third and final instalment for the PPE grant 2020-2021 school year has been finalised; the date the grant will be issued to schools; if the third instalment of the grant was delayed; and if so, the cause for such a delay. [28784/21]
View answerThe position remains the same as previously advised on 13th May 2021. My Department is currently finalising the arrangements to pay the third and final instalment for the 2020-2021 school year with a view to issuing same to schools shortly.
The Deputy can be assured that my Department will notify schools as soon as these arrangements are finalised.
171. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on a case in which an employee who is in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment and has not been told when they will be returning to work back by their employer despite the business having reopened; her views on whether it is appropriate for an employee who has been left in limbo by their employer is now facing a cut to their pandemic unemployment payment despite being ready and willing to return to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28397/21]
View answerThe Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is a statutory income support payment provided for employees and the self employed who have lost work as a direct consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Government has confirmed that the PUP will be kept at its current rates and the scheme will remain open to new entrants until 30th June 2021. The Government will set out plans for the future of the PUP payment after June over the coming weeks. This will involve taking account of the trajectory of the virus, progress on the vaccine roll out, progress in terms of people returning to work and the continued impact of the pandemic on the economy over the period ahead.
In the situation the Deputy has outlined, the person can continue to receive PUP where they continue to satisfy the scheme’s qualifying conditions to maintain entitlement, including that they do not refuse an offer to return to their employment.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy at this time.
172. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider persons with epilepsy who lose their driver licence due to a diagnosis of epilepsy or breakthrough seizures should be automatically given access to a free travel pass; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28406/21]
View answerThe Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators. There are currently approx. 996,000 customers with direct eligibility. The estimated expenditure on free travel in 2021 is €95 million.
In general, access to a free travel pass for those aged under 66 is linked to a person being in receipt of certain primary Social Protection payments such as Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Carer’s Allowance, Blind Pension and Partial Capacity Benefit.
Extending the free travel scheme to people with epilepsy during the period in which they are disallowed from driving cannot be considered in isolation. There are a range of disabilities and medical conditions that can prevent a person from holding a driving licence and to award a free travel pass to any one of these conditions in isolation would immediately result in calls for all people who are not allowed to hold a driving licence because of their medical condition to receive the free travel pass and could result in challenges under the Equal Status Act.
If the Free Travel scheme were to be extended to all people who are not allowed to drive due to their disability, regardless of whether they receive a qualifying payment, a medical assessment process would be required for all such applications, significantly changing the nature of the scheme and requiring additional administrative processes to be put in place in order to adjudicate eligibility. Significant extra funding would also be required and accordingly, it could only be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department may award a travel supplement, where the circumstances of the particular case so warrant. The supplement is intended to assist with ongoing or recurring travel costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary. Every decision is based on consideration of the circumstances of the individual case, taking account of the nature and extent of the need and of the resources of the person concerned.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
173. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a State pension (contributory) backdating appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28482/21]
View answerThe person concerned reached pension age on 18 February 2019. Their application for State Pension (contributory) was received by my Department on 9 September 2020.
In line with social welfare legislation, the person was awarded State pension (contributory) at 94.2% of the maximum weekly rate, backdated to 10 March 2020, six months from date of receipt of their pension application. They were notified in writing of this decision on 28 September 2020 and arrears due were paid.
Backdating of a late claim beyond six months may be considered in circumstances where the delay in making a claim arose either due to incorrect information provided by an officer of my Department or due to the person being so incapacitated that they were unable to make a claim, or appoint a person to act on their behalf.
The person concerned submitted documentary evidence of ill health, which was referred to the Medical Review and Assessment Section for consideration. It was concluded on 17 December 2020 that further backdating was not applicable based on the medical evidence provided. The person concerned was notified in writing of the outcome on 26 January 2021.
An appeal on behalf of the person concerned was received on 4 February 2021. My Department’s submission on the case was forwarded to the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 10 March 2021. On completion of the appeal process, the person will be notified of the outcome in writing.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
174. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a social welfare application by a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28489/21]
View answerAll disability allowance (DA) claims are subject to periodic reviews. The entitlement of the person concerned was reviewed by a social welfare inspector (SWI) and it was established that she had means not previously disclosed to the Department. On 21 January 2020 the person concerned was notified that her DA payment would be stopped due to having means in excess of the statutory limit with effect from 29 January 2020. She was also advised of her right to request a review of the decision or to appeal it to the independent social welfare appeals office (SWAO).
Following an appeal to the SWAO the decision was upheld with effect from 1 April 2020; however, the appeal was partially allowed from 29 January 2020 to 31 March 2020 as the person concerned was entitled to a reduced DA payment for that period. A letter issued informing her of this decision on 15 January 2021 and the arrears due for that period issued to the person concerned.
The SWAO stated that further evidence was required in order to determine the means of the person concerned from 17 July 2020. Further information has been received and is currently being reviewed by a deciding officer (DO). The person concerned will be notified in writing when a decision is made on her DA review.
Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. The department only received one INVP claim for this lady on 7 February 2001. The claim was refused on the 6th March of that year on the grounds that the person concerned was not medically suitable.
According to my officials, there is no record of an application for a Supplementary Welfare Allowance registered in the case of the person concerned. For convenience, an application pack has issued by post for completion and return to the Community Welfare Service at Balbriggan Intreo Centre.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
175. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine the case of person (details supplied); when they will receive a transition payment including arrears owed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28496/21]
View answerThe person concerned submitted an application for the Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds (BP65) with effect from 25/01/2021. The application was assessed and disallowed on the basis that the person concerned is not eligible to receive a BP65 as the only Class S Pay Related Social Insurance contributions on my Department’s records are those from his Approved Retirement Fund and as this income is continuing, he is deemed to be still engaged in self-employment. A decision dated 19/5/2021 issued to the person concerned informing him of the outcome of his application and advising him of his options, depending on his circumstances.
As outlined in the decision letter, it is open to the person concerned to seek a review of the deciding officer’s decision and/or appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office, D’Olier House, D’Olier Street, Dublin 2. If the person concerned wishes to appeal the decision he should do so within 21 days of the date of the decision letter and include all relevant facts or evidence in support of his case. He will be informed of the outcome on completion of the Appeals Officer’s examination of his case.
It is open to the person concerned to submit an application for a Jobseeker’s payment if he fulfils the criteria for receipt of this payment. Information about my Department’s schemes, including qualifying conditions is available at www.gov.ie/dsp.
If the person concerned is experiencing financial hardship he can contact his local Community Welfare Service in the Swords Intreo Centre where his circumstances will be assessed. This service can be contacted by phone at 01 4164190 or by email at swaswords@welfare.ie.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
176. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will exclude arts grants and funding for artists from means testing for the blind pension and disability allowance to bring certainty to artists with disabilities and enable them to avail of funding without fearing loss of basic supports; and her views on whether the current means testing system causes unnecessary anxiety, stress and discouragement for artists with disabilities from reaching their full potential. [28518/21]
View answerSocial welfare legislation provides that, for social assistance schemes such as Disability Allowance, income and capital (such as savings, investments and property other than the family home) belonging to the claimant and his or her partner, where applicable, is assessable for means assessment purposes. The purpose of this is to maintain the policy of ensuring that social welfare expenditure is targeted to those who need it most.
The assessment of means can vary from scheme to scheme depending on the nature and purpose of the scheme. Sometimes, a certain amount of income, or income from particular sources, is not taken into account for a particular scheme. This is known as an income disregard.
There is an earnings disregard in place for recipients of Disability Allowance which allows people to earn up to €120 per week (increasing to €140 per week in June) and retain their full payment. Only half of earnings between €120 and €350 are assessed in the means test. This aims to achieve a balance between ensuring resources are targeted towards those with the greatest need while supporting people to take up employment opportunities.
In addition, Disability Allowance is unique in the social welfare system as the first €50,000 of capital (e.g. savings, shares, property) is disregarded in the capital means test. This compares to €20,000 for most other social assistance schemes.
Legislation does not provide for a disregard for funding from grants for artists and as such, any awards made through these types of schemes are assessed as income in the means test.
Any extension of means disregards would need to be examined in an overall budgetary context.
177. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will end the practice of including the income of partners or spouses in the means testing of recipients or applicants for the blind pension and disability allowance and to address the impact of the current practice on diminishing the independence of persons with disabilities. [28519/21]
View answerSocial welfare legislation provides that, for social assistance schemes, all income and capital (such as savings, investments and property other than the family home) belonging to the claimant and his or her spouse/partner, where applicable, are assessable for means assessment purposes.
The means test plays a critical role in determining whether an income need arises as a consequence of a particular contingency – such as disability, unemployment or caring. This ensures that the recipient has a verifiable income need and that resources are targeted to those who need them most.
If a claimant is married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting, the Department will assess the couple's means when carrying out a means test for a social assistance payment. This is the case even if only one of the couple is actually claiming a payment. This is not exclusive to Disability Allowance or the Blind Pension and applies to all of the Department's social assistance schemes.
Any changes to the means test for Disability Allowance or the Blind Pension would need to be considered in an overall budgetary and policy context.
178. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for the blind pension that were rejected in 2020 as a result of Arts Council grants or funding putting the applicant above the means test eligibility threshold. [28520/21]
View answerBlind pension is a residency based means tested payment paid to blind and visually impaired people between the age of 18 and 66 who are habitually resident in the State.
There are currently 1,069 customers in receipt of blind pension.
The Department does not, in ordinary course, collate data on the specific grounds of disallowances in relation to the range of social assistance schemes it delivers.
I am advised, however, that based on the Department's records, no claims for blind pension were disallowed in 2020 because of Arts Council grants or funding resulting in a claimant's means exceeding the statutory weekly limit.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
179. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for the disability allowance that were rejected in 2020 as a result of Arts Council grants or funding putting the applicant above the means test eligibility threshold. [28521/21]
View answerSocial welfare legislation provides that, for social assistance schemes, all income and capital (such as savings, investments and property (other than the family home) belonging to the claimant and his or her spouse/partner, where applicable, are assessable for means assessment purposes. The purpose of this means assessment is to maintain the overarching policy of ensuring that social welfare expenditure is targeted to those who need it most.
Eligibility for disability allowance (DA) is conditional on satisfying the medical criteria, a means test and being habitual residence in the state. A person applying for DA may be disallowed on one or more of these conditions.
The department does not collate the requested data on the number of applications for disability allowance (DA) that were rejected as a result of Arts Council grants or funding putting the applicant above the means test eligibility threshold and therefore it is not available. The total number of DA applications disallowed in 2020 was 13,559.
Changes to the means test would have to be considered in the wider budgetary and policy context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
180. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for the blind pension that were rejected in 2020 as a result of the income of a partner or spouse putting the applicant above the means test eligibility threshold. [28522/21]
View answerBlind pension is a residency based means tested payment paid to blind and visually impaired people between the age of 18 and 66 who are habitually resident in the State.
The Department does not, in ordinary course, collate data on the specific grounds of disallowances in relation to the range of social assistance schemes it delivers.
However, I am advised that, in 2020, fewer than ten blind pension applications were disallowed because the income of the claimant’s spouse or partner exceeded the statutory weekly limit.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
181. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for the disability allowance that were rejected in 2020 as a result of the income of a partner or spouse putting the applicant above the means test eligibility threshold. [28523/21]
View answerSocial welfare legislation provides that, for social assistance schemes, all income and capital (such as savings, investments and property (other than the family home) belonging to the claimant and his or her spouse/partner, where applicable, are assessable for means assessment purposes. The purpose of this means assessment is to maintain the overarching policy of ensuring that social welfare expenditure is targeted to those who need it most.
Eligibility for disability allowance (DA) is conditional on satisfying the medical criteria, a means test and being habitual residence in the state. A person applying for DA may be disallowed on one or more of these conditions.
The department does not collate the requested data on the number of applications for disability allowance (DA) that were rejected as a result of the income of a partner or spouse putting the applicant above the means test eligibility threshold and therefore it is not available. The total number of DA applications disallowed in 2020 was 13,559.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy
182. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the annual administrative cost incurred to conduct means testing of blind pension and disability allowance applicants each year from 2010 to 2021. [28524/21]
View answerThe department does not collate the requested data on the annual administrative cost incurred to conduct means testing of blind persons pension (BPP) and disability allowance (DA) applicants and therefore the figures are not available.
Eligibility for BPP and DA is conditional on satisfying the medical criteria, a means test and being habitual residence in the state. A deciding officer must decide on each element of the qualifying criteria of the scheme and it is not possible to get a breakdown of the administrative cost involved in this decision making process.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
183. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the annual spending on both the blind pension and the disability allowance each year from 2010 to 2021, in tabular form. [28525/21]
View answerBlind persons pension (BPP) is a means tested payment paid to blind and visually impaired people between the age of 18 and 66 who are habitually resident in the State.
Disability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance for people with a disability aged between 16 and 66 with a disability expected to last for at least one year and who satisfy the medical condition, means test and are habitually resident in Ireland.
The annual spending on the BPP and DA schemes for the years form 2010 to 2020 and including to the end of April 2021, is outlined below:
|
Year |
Expenditure (€000) Blind Persons Pension |
Expenditure (€000) Disability Allowance |
|
2010 |
16,032 |
1,109,505 |
|
2011 |
15,624 |
1,089,178 |
|
2012 |
15,747 |
1,087,513 |
|
2013 |
14,825 |
1,140,916 |
|
2014 |
14,384 |
1,238,300 |
|
2015 |
14,379 |
1,281,589 |
|
2016 |
13,660 |
1,357,989 |
|
2017 |
13,386 |
1,469,440 |
|
2018 |
13,308 |
1,586,257 |
|
2019 |
12,971 |
1,705,777 |
|
2020 |
12,641 (provisional figure) |
1,811,854 (provisional figure) |
|
To end of April 2021 |
4,143 (provisional figure) |
586,324 (provisional figure) |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
184. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the blind pension in each of the years 2010 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and the number of applications rejected due to means testing for the same time period in tabular form. [28526/21]
View answerBlind pension is a residency-based means tested payment paid to blind and visually impaired people between the age of 18 and 66 who are habitually resident in the State. There are currently 1,069 customers in receipt of blind pension.
The Department does not, in ordinary course, collate data on the specific grounds of disallowances in relation to the range of social assistance schemes it delivers.
I am advised, however, that based on the records available to my Department, the number of blind pension recipients at each year end from 2010 and at end April 2021, together with the estimated number of claims disallowed in the same periods due to household means exceeding the permissible limit, is as set out in the table below.
|
Year |
Number of Blind Pension recipients end of year |
Number of claims disallowed where means exceed the statutory limit |
|
2010 |
1,485 |
16 |
|
2011 |
1,496 |
31 |
|
2012 |
1,456 |
14 |
|
2013 |
1,385 |
9 |
|
2014 |
1,369 |
10 |
|
2015 |
1,341 |
10 |
|
2016 |
1,282 |
14 |
|
2017 |
1,246 |
13 |
|
2018 |
1,176 |
11 |
|
2019 |
1,136 |
7 |
|
2020 |
1,085 |
13 |
|
To end 04/2021 |
1,069 |
1 |
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
185. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the disability allowance in each of the years 2010 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and the number of applications rejected due to means testing for the same time period in tabular form. [28527/21]
View answerDisability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance for people with a disability aged between 16 and 66 with a disability expected to last for at least one year and who satisfy the medical condition, means test and are habitually resident in Ireland.
The Department does not collate data on the number of DA applications which are refused due to their means being in excess of the statutory limit for their circumstances. While figures for the total number of applications which were refused are available and are outlined beneath, it is important to note that these applications may have been refused for not meeting any of the range of qualifying conditions for receipt of DA.
The number of persons in receipt of DA and the total number of DA applications which were disallowed at the end of the years 2010 to 2020 and to the end of April 2021 are outlined in the table below:
|
Year |
Number of DA recipients |
Number of DA applications disallowed |
|
2010 |
101,111 |
10,316 |
|
2011 |
102,866 |
14,116 |
|
2012 |
101,784 |
14,519 |
|
2013 |
106,279 |
12,497 |
|
2014 |
112,097 |
12,621 |
|
2015 |
119,042 |
14,800 |
|
2016 |
126,203 |
12,027 |
|
2017 |
133,929 |
12,022 |
|
2018 |
140,835 |
12,682 |
|
2019 |
146,755 |
13,981 |
|
2020 |
152,580 |
13,559 |
|
2021 to end of April |
153,805 |
5,057 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
186. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on a lone parent application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28604/21]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that the Department has made extensive attempts to engage with the customer since the initial application was made in October 2020. Officials from the Department’s office in Ballybofey are arranging an interview with the customer, to discuss the claim and obtain further documentation.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
187. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to upgrade the IT system in her Department and bodies under her aegis with a view to maximising the protection against hackers. [28693/21]
View answerFor reasons of operational and national security it would not be appropriate to disclose details of my Department’s Cyber Security arrangements, or those of State Agencies under my remit. Any information in relation to cyber security tools and services could assist criminals in identifying potential vulnerabilities in cybersecurity arrangements. Therefore it is not considered appropriate to disclose any such information or make comment which could in any way compromise my Department’s Cyber Security.
My Department has developed an Information Security Management System (ISMS) aligned with the industry security standard ISO27001. This ISMS provides an overall governance framework for information security and ensures continual upgrade and improvement of its IT systems.
