Written Answers Nos. 902-926
902. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated additional cost of extending the disregard which applies to disability allowance recipients who have been granted bursaries, stipends or scholarships towards completing a PhD to students in receipt of the blind pension who have been granted bursaries, stipends or scholarships towards completing a PhD; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31533/21]
View answerI recently signed Regulations which introduced a new disregard which applies to Disability Allowance recipients who have been granted bursaries, stipends or scholarships towards completing a PhD. It is subject to an annual limit of €20,000 per annum (i.e. if a recipient gets more than one bursary, the combination cannot exceed €20,000) and is available for a maximum of four years.
My Department encourages other social welfare recipients to avail of education and training through the Back to Education scheme, as well as by referrals to Education and Training Board courses through the Department's Intreo service. In addition, income received from the SUSI grant is disregarded in the means test for most social welfare schemes.
Also, there are a number of scholarships, such as those awarded by certain charitable organisations, which are not assessed as part of the means test for social welfare payments. These include payments under the 1916 Bursary Fund and under Higher Educational Scholarships for Adult Learners from Uversity to a maximum of €7,000 per annum. Uversity is a registered charity that has been awarding Higher Education Scholarships to adult learners since 2018.
The cost of extending the disregard to the Blind Pension would be dependent on the number of people in receipt of the payment who wish to pursue a PhD and who will receive a bursary for same. It is not possible for the Department to provide this estimate at this time.
Any extension of means disregards would need to be examined in an overall budgetary context.
903. 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. [31545/21]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 8 April 2021. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 29 April 2021 and the case has been referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing. Hearings are currently being conducted online or by telephone. Due to the current level of Covid-19 restrictions in-person oral appeal hearings have been suspended.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
904. 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. [31546/21]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 8 April 2021. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 29 April 2021 and the case has been referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing. Hearings are currently being conducted online or by telephone. Due to the current level of Covid-19 restrictions in-person oral appeal hearings have been suspended.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
905. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will make the form for the benefit payment for 65-year olds available to download and print rather than on request only. [31554/21]
View answerThe new Benefit Payment for 65 year olds was introduced in fulfilment of a commitment in the Programme for Government to address the position of people who retire from employment at age 65. The scheme is designed primarily as an online service and the quickest way to apply for the Benefit Payment for 65 year olds is through the MyWelfare online service. While my Department fully accepts that there are people aged 65 who cannot or do not wish to use the online service, it is the Department’s experience that the vast majority of customers are able to access and avail of the enhanced customer service available through MyWelfare. For those who cannot or do not wish to use the online service, a postal service is available as an alternative and information regarding making an application by post is available on www.gov.ie. Alternatively customers can ring the Department’s Income Support Helpline at 1890 800 024 and request that a form be posted to them or they have the option of calling into their local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office to make enquiries.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
906. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason her Department recognises cohabiting couples as a family unit and therefore pay them full amount for the main would be earner with an allowance for an adult dependant, and if applicable, their children, not as two individual single persons both receiving the full rate for a single adult given that for taxation purposes cohabiting couples are viewed as two individual single persons even those who have children together. [31578/21]
View answerClaimants with cohabiting partners are recognised within the social welfare system as having additional needs in cases where their cohabiting partner is financially dependent upon them. The payment of an Increase for a Qualified Adult (IQA) in addition to the personal rate of payment reflects these additional household needs.
The IQA is payable in respect of a person who is wholly or mainly maintained by the customer regardless of whether the couple are married or not. Where one member of a cohabiting couple claims a means-tested social assistance payment, their partner's income is taken into account in the means test.
The social welfare and tax systems have evolved over time and in response to a variety of factors, including Constitutional imperatives as interpreted by the Courts, changing social trends and EU Directives. The EEC Equality Directive 79/9 and the subsequent Supreme Court case (Hyland v Minister for Social Welfare, 1989) led to the current treatment of non-married cohabiting couples in the social welfare code. The Court ruled that it was unconstitutional for the total income a married couple received in social welfare benefits to be less than the couple would have received if they were unmarried and cohabiting. This means that for social assistance means tested schemes such as jobseeker’s allowance, married couples, civil partners and cohabiting couples are treated in the same manner.
Income tax arrangements for married couples, civil partners and cohabiting couples are a matter for the Minister for Finance.
907. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide the full details of the plans of her Department which propose to introduce a new service in January 2022 to replace the existing EmployAbility service model; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31591/21]
View answerMy Department recognises the additional difficulties people with disabilities experience in securing and maintaining paid employment. To this end, my Department has contracts for the provision of the Employability services to help address these difficulties. These services are currently delivered under contract by 24 different organisations located around the country. The total value of the contracts for 2021 is approximately €10m.
The Employability services provide support and advice to people with disabilities to facilitate their integration into paid employment. Integration is an essential feature of the Employability services.
It is not envisaged that the open competitive tendering processes for employment services, which my Department is undertaking this year, will include the supports currently delivered by the Employability service. My Department will be developing a new model of contracting for these Employability services over the next year, with a view to having these important services procured in a manner that is consistent with the State's obligations under national and EU procurement rules. It is envisaged this process will see these services procured in an open and competitive manner during 2022 with new contracts being in place for 2023.
908. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of artists that have qualified to date for State supports under the various Covid-19 pandemic support schemes; the full breakdown of those qualifying by heading; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31602/21]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy in respect of pandemic-related supports operated by my Department is set out in the tables below. The numbers refer to the number of individual persons who last worked in Arts, Entertainment and Recreation sector, who received at least one payment since these supports were introduced up to the week ending 13th June 2021.
|
(R) Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation |
|
|
Pandemic Unemployment Payment |
19,681 |
|
Enhanced Illness Benefit |
1,272 |
|
Enterprise Support Grant |
95 |
909. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for a carer’s allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); if all documentation has now been received; when the application will be concluded with a view to the granting of the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31632/21]
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.
I confirm that my Department received an application for CA from the person concerned on 27 June 2019.
The person concerned did not provide such certificates, documents, information or evidence as was requested. A decision was made to disallow as means could not be determined.
The person concerned was notified on 6 February 2020 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
The person concerned requested a review of this decision. Following this and subsequent reviews the decision remained unchanged.
The person concerned requested a further review on 14 May 2021 and submitted more detailed information regarding the business accounts belonging to her spouse.
Following a review of this information, CA was awarded to the person concerned on 9 June 2021 with effect from 27 June 2019. The first payment will issue to her nominated post office on 17 June 2021.
Arrears for the period 27 June 2019 to 16 June 2021 will issue shortly.
The person concerned was notified on 9 June 2021 of the revised decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
910. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) qualifies for the back to work enterprise allowance or any other scheme or payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31643/21]
View answerThe person concerned was engaging with the Local Employment Services (LES) and was referred to County Kildare Leader Partnership for support in setting up his own business. Departmental records indicate the person concerned was participating in their Business Development Programme in February 2020 with a view to finalising his Business Plan in March 2020. Subsequently the LES was unable to contact the person concerned and the period for obtaining supports through their service came to an end.
The person concerned was then referred to the JobPath programme with Turas Nua, but I am advised that staff there were unable to make contact with him. Further attempts made by my officials to contact the person concerned by phone have been unsuccessful.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance which has been temporarily suspended due to the fact that he has been unreachable. If the person concerned verifies his contact details with the Newbridge Intreo Centre his payment can be reinstated.
If the person concerned wishes to proceed with setting up his own business he should engage with the County Kildare Leader Partnership. Whilst the person concerned meets the eligibility criteria for Back to Work Enterprise Allowance, his business idea would have to be approved by both a Case Officer and the County Kildare Leader Partnership before a recommendation can be made to a deciding officer.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
911. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of referrals to each job club by location in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [31644/21]
View answerJob Clubs provide a service to assist jobseekers to enter / re-enter employment through the provision of CV preparation and formal workshops. Please note that due to public health restrictions, referrals to all contracted public employment services including Job Clubs were suspended on three separate occasions during 2020 (March, October and December). Referrals for 2021 commenced in early March. The number of customers referred by my Department to the Job Club services as well as the attendance figures for these for the years 2019, 2020, up to and including April 2021 are as follows:
|
Job Club Provider Location |
Referrals 2019 |
Referrals 2020 |
Referrals 2021 |
|
Dublin North West (Finglas/Cabra) |
362 |
205 |
100 |
|
Dublin Coolock (Glin Job Club)) |
608 |
111 |
16 |
|
Dublin Kilbarrack |
289 |
82 |
8 |
|
Dublin Ballymun Job Club |
369 |
96 |
12 |
|
Dublin Swords Job Club |
677 |
173 |
14 |
|
Dublin Blanchardstown Job Club |
658 |
318 |
150 |
|
Dublin South City (Canals) Job Club |
226 |
54 |
14 |
|
Dublin Jobcare (Pearse Street) |
778 |
235 |
16 |
|
Dublin Larkin Centre Job Club |
154 |
n/a |
n/a |
|
Dublin Ballyfermot Chapelizod Job Club |
260 |
260 |
6 |
|
Dublin Brookfield Job Club |
767 |
74 |
43 |
|
Dublin Tallaght Main Street |
434 |
87 |
14 |
|
Dublin Lucan |
240 |
70 |
46 |
|
Dublin Southside Job Club |
547 |
275 |
84 |
|
Arklow Job Club |
214 |
72 |
3 |
|
Athlone Job Club |
355 |
146 |
44 |
|
Portlaoise Job Club |
448 |
478 |
95 |
|
Portarlington Job Club |
267 |
216 |
64 |
|
Tullamore Job Club |
525 |
381 |
117 |
|
West Offaly Job Club |
527 |
359 |
130 |
|
Ardee Job Club |
138 |
84 |
21 |
|
Drogheda Job Club |
405 |
317 |
75 |
|
Dundalk Job Club |
247 |
251 |
58 |
|
Monaghan Job Club |
227 |
137 |
73 |
|
Meath Job Club |
461 |
276 |
99 |
|
Letterkenny Job Club |
259 |
108 |
28 |
|
Inishowen Development Partnership Job Club |
616 |
472 |
316 |
|
Leitrim Job Club |
314 |
169 |
37 |
|
Ballinasloe Job Club |
487 |
185 |
13 |
|
Mayo North East/Ballina |
261 |
103 |
1 |
|
Roscommon Job Club |
206 |
77 |
11 |
|
Ballyhoura (Limerick) Job Club |
275 |
186 |
55 |
|
West Limerick Job Club |
448 |
183 |
47 |
|
Ennis Job Club |
418 |
225 |
57 |
|
Limerick City Job Club |
402 |
168 |
34 |
|
Nenagh NTLP Job Club |
331 |
291 |
53 |
|
South Kerry Job Club |
547 |
299 |
49 |
|
Tralee Job Clubs |
521 |
231 |
22 |
|
Listowel Job Club |
381 |
124 |
27 |
|
Cork Job Club |
556 |
251 |
24 |
|
Carlow Job Club |
391 |
171 |
45 |
|
Kilkenny Jobs Club |
507 |
n/a |
n/a |
|
TOTAL |
17,103 |
8,000 |
2,121 |
912. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost to extend maternity leave by 52 weeks. [31655/21]
View answerMaternity benefit is a payment made for 26 weeks to employees and those in self-employment who are on maternity leave and who satisfy certain pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
A decision to extend the period of maternity leave for employees would have to be implemented by my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, who has policy and legal responsibility for this area. An extension of this leave would require careful consideration and consultation with relevant stakeholders.
In 2021 it is estimated that my Department will spend in excess of €260 million on maternity benefit in respect of an average of 20,100 recipients per week. The estimated cost to extend maternity benefit by 52 weeks is approximately €514m.
This estimate is based on a full year basis and on the estimated number of recipients in 2021. It should be noted that this costing is subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated number of recipients.
This estimate does not reflect any additional costs which may be incurred by employers who provide substitution or salary top-ups which would be a matter for my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
913. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons accessing employment services through INTREO in each of the years 2019, 2020 and to date 2021, in tabular form. [31661/21]
View answerActivation is the selection and referral of a person on a jobseeker payment to a compulsory engagement and case management process to support them back into employment. An individual activation meeting is arranged with a Case Officer to agree and complete a Personal Progression Plan (PPP). The PPP sets out a series of jointly agreed undertakings and actions to advance and/or enhance the employment prospects of the client. These may include referrals to Further Education, employment support schemes, internships and other supports. Activation Review Meetings take place to review progress against agreed PPP actions.
Any person of working age can avail of employment support services on a voluntary basis through their local Intreo Centre and these services have remained available throughout the pandemic. One-to-one meetings with a Case Officer/Job Coach will be arranged as required.
As the Deputy will be aware, activation appointments were largely suspended from March 2020 as part of the Department’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic and public health restrictions. Limited services were provided during 2020 and early 2021, subject to the public health restrictions in place at any time. Employment services staff were redeployed initially to assist with Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) applications and to income support helplines. Since February this year, employment services staff have returned to their roles in activation, leading to an increase in the numbers of systematic engagements with jobseekers; these engagements are carried out by phone.
The numbers of appointments and individual customers for the periods requested are set out by year in the table below. The variation in the figures reflects the reduced employment services during 2020 as outlined above. The data provided includes those customers who may have attended more than one appointment.
Numbers of Intreo Appointments by year and numbers of customers up to 9 June 2021.
|
Job Club Provider Location |
Referrals 2019 |
Referrals 2020 |
Referrals 2021 |
|
Dublin North West (Finglas/Cabra) |
362 |
205 |
100 |
|
Dublin Coolock (Glin Job Club)) |
608 |
111 |
16 |
|
Dublin Kilbarrack |
289 |
82 |
8 |
|
Dublin Ballymun Job Club |
369 |
96 |
12 |
|
Dublin Swords Job Club |
677 |
173 |
14 |
|
Dublin Blanchardstown Job Club |
658 |
318 |
150 |
|
Dublin South City (Canals) Job Club |
226 |
54 |
14 |
|
Dublin Jobcare (Pearse Street) |
778 |
235 |
16 |
|
Dublin Larkin Centre Job Club |
154 |
n/a |
n/a |
|
Dublin Ballyfermot Chapelizod Job Club |
260 |
260 |
6 |
|
Dublin Brookfield Job Club |
767 |
74 |
43 |
|
Dublin Tallaght Main Street |
434 |
87 |
14 |
|
Dublin Lucan |
240 |
70 |
46 |
|
Dublin Southside Job Club |
547 |
275 |
84 |
|
Arklow Job Club |
214 |
72 |
3 |
|
Athlone Job Club |
355 |
146 |
44 |
|
Portlaoise Job Club |
448 |
478 |
95 |
|
Portarlington Job Club |
267 |
216 |
64 |
|
Tullamore Job Club |
525 |
381 |
117 |
|
West Offaly Job Club |
527 |
359 |
130 |
|
Ardee Job Club |
138 |
84 |
21 |
|
Drogheda Job Club |
405 |
317 |
75 |
|
Dundalk Job Club |
247 |
251 |
58 |
|
Monaghan Job Club |
227 |
137 |
73 |
|
Meath Job Club |
461 |
276 |
99 |
|
Letterkenny Job Club |
259 |
108 |
28 |
|
Inishowen Development Partnership Job Club |
616 |
472 |
316 |
|
Leitrim Job Club |
314 |
169 |
37 |
|
Ballinasloe Job Club |
487 |
185 |
13 |
|
Mayo North East/Ballina |
261 |
103 |
1 |
|
Roscommon Job Club |
206 |
77 |
11 |
|
Ballyhoura (Limerick) Job Club |
275 |
186 |
55 |
|
West Limerick Job Club |
448 |
183 |
47 |
|
Ennis Job Club |
418 |
225 |
57 |
|
Limerick City Job Club |
402 |
168 |
34 |
|
Nenagh NTLP Job Club |
331 |
291 |
53 |
|
South Kerry Job Club |
547 |
299 |
49 |
|
Tralee Job Clubs |
521 |
231 |
22 |
|
Listowel Job Club |
381 |
124 |
27 |
|
Cork Job Club |
556 |
251 |
24 |
|
Carlow Job Club |
391 |
171 |
45 |
|
Kilkenny Jobs Club |
507 |
n/a |
n/a |
|
TOTAL |
17,103 |
8,000 |
2,121 |
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
914. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection when the pathways to work strategy 2021-2024 will be launched; if further information on the announced work placement experience programme will be included in the strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31662/21]
View answerAs outlined under the Government’s Economic Recovery Plan, which was launched on June 1st 2021, a central focus of the recovery process will be on helping people get back to work, through the provision of employment support, additional training and work placement opportunities.
Central to achieving this objective will be the Government’s forthcoming national employment services strategy, ‘Pathways to Work 2021-2025’, which is currently being finalised by my Department By increasing labour market supports, and through the provision of employment support, activation and skills opportunities, the Pathways to Work strategy will act as a key delivery mechanism of the Economic Recovery Plan’s second pillar ‘Helping People Back into Work’.
In supporting people back into employment, the Pathways to Work 2021–2025 strategy will seek to minimise any long-term scarring effects of the pandemic on the labour force for those whose jobs are permanently lost while providing support to those unemployed pre-pandemic. The Strategy will also set out how an expanded Public Employment Service will utilise its existing and expanded capacity to deliver effective services in a post-Covid labour market with an overall target of increasing the caseload capacity by 100,000 per annum.
Another key element of the national Economic Recovery Plan is the establishment of a new Work Placement Experience Programme for those out of work for at least six months, regardless of age. This programme, which has a target of 10,000 participants by end-2022, will seek to encourage businesses to provide jobseekers with the necessary workplace skills to compete in the labour market and to help break the vicious circle of “no job without experience, no experience without a job”. I expect to launch this new work placement programme alongside the Pathways to Work Strategy, in the coming weeks.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
915. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of introducing six weeks of parental benefit which would be the same rate as maternity benefit but which could be taken by either parent or shared between the two at the end of the period of maternity leave. [31664/21]
View answerThe Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 introduced two weeks of paid parents leave for each parent to be taken in the first year after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. Following the commencement of the Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2021, an additional three weeks of paid parents leave is available to each parent, and the period in which the leave can be taken is extended to the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child.
Parent’s Benefit is paid at €245 per week - the same rate as Maternity, Paternity and Adoptive benefits. Parent's Benefit is available to provide care for the child and can be taken in individual periods of a week over a period of 24 months. This allows working parents to spend more time with their children during these important and formative years.
There is a provision of €43.1m for Parent's Benefit in 2021. The estimated annual cost of increasing Parent’s Benefit to six weeks based on the estimated number of recipients in 2021 is €7.3m.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
916. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing maternity, paternity and adoptive benefit by €10 per week. [31666/21]
View answerThe estimated full year cost of increasing maternity, paternity benefit and adoptive benefit by €10 per week is as follows:
|
Maternity Benefit |
Paternity Benefit |
Adoptive Benefit |
|
€10.4m |
€0.6m |
€0.005m |
The costs shown above are on a full year basis and are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2021. It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
917. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if there will be an extension for those on community employment schemes beyond 2 July 2021 after receiving little or no training due to the Covid-19 pandemic. [31838/21]
View answerCommunity Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis.
As the Deputy is aware, my Department supported CE schemes since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020. CE participants, whose contracts were due to end during the periods of restrictions, have had their contracts extended for the duration of those restrictions.
With the successful continuing roll-out of the vaccine programme and in accordance with the phased re-opening of the economy by Government, my priority and the priority of the Department is to get all CE and Tus schemes back up and running so that they can fully re-commence activities, providing work experience and training opportunities to long term unemployment participants and delivering vital services to local communities. I met with a number of CE and Tús schemes last Friday and we had a very constructive exchange of views on the very real challenges facing these employment support schemes, as the economy and society begins to recover from the pandemic over the coming months.
At the end of last week, the Minister for Social Protection, Minister Humphreys and I announced that the current CE and Tús participants' contract extension date will be further extended until 29 October 2021. This will bring to over 11,000 CE and Tús participants, benefitting from various contract extensions going back to October, 2020. There will be further transitional arrangements for the cohort of CE and Tús participants whose contracts are due to come to an end from the start of November 2021 to February 2022. These final contract extensions will provide all participants with additional time to complete their training and benefit from work experience on CE.
The conclusion of CE and Tús participant contracts after the 29 October 2021 will be undertaken on a coordinated and phased basis over a number of months up to February. This approach will support the recruitment of new participants while also ensuring the ongoing delivery of important community services.
In order to ensure that all employment and activation programmes have the best outcomes for participants, CE will continue to be made available to support those who are long term unemployed and furthest removed from the labour market, including those whose employment has been impacted by COVID-19.
I am fully committed to the future of CE and will continue to support and improve the programmes for the benefit of the participants and the valuable contribution being made to local communities through the provision of services.
918. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which persons contracted to airline companies that are rostered to pilot but are only paid when flying may access the pandemic unemployment payment or other financial supports while grounded for prolonged periods of time due to public health guidelines. [31846/21]
View answerThe Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is a statutory income support for qualifying employees and the self employed who have lost employment due to Covid-19. Under the National Economic Recovery Plan to support the reopening of the country, PUP has been extended beyond the end of June 2021 in recognition that some sectors, including the airline industry, will continue to be impacted.
A person in receipt of PUP who is engaging in self-employment can earn up to €960 over a rolling eight week period and continue to maintain entitlement to PUP. Where a self-employed person exceeds this threshold and works up to 24 hours per week they may be eligible for the Part Time Job Incentive scheme which has been extended to the self-employed who transition from the PUP. This enables a person to take up limited self-employment and retain a weekly personal payment of €128.60. This scheme will be available to the self- employed until the end of the year.
Where a person does not meet the qualifying conditions for receipt of PUP they may be eligible for support under the jobseekers schemes which allow a person to be engaged in insurable employment for a maximum of 3 in 7 consecutive days.
I hope that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
919. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of job coaches employed in regard to the use of job coaches for disabled jobseekers as a way of improving access to the labour market; the cost for the relevant Department or State agency to recruit a job coach; and the amount allocated for her Department to spend on job coaches. [31867/21]
View answerMy Department provides a range of employment-related supports for jobseekers, including jobseekers with disabilities. Employers can avail of supports if employing a jobseeker with a disability or to retain an existing employee who has or who acquires a disability.
Customers in receipt of disability or illness related payments are not subject to the compulsory activation engagement process. However, they can avail of the Department's employment services on a voluntary basis through their local Intreo Centre.
Jobseekers with disabilities, who seek support from their local Intreo Centre, may be offered one-to-one engagements with a Case Officer/Job Coach. If required, a Personal Progression Plan will be developed and agreed, which may include referral to further education or training, employment support schemes and other supports.
Case Officers or Job Coaches may also refer jobseekers with a disability to the Employability service, delivered under contract on behalf of my Department. The goal of the EmployAbility Service is to provide support to people with disabilities, including those recovering from illness or serious injury, to secure and maintain paid employment in the open labour market leading to independence and career progression.
As you may be aware the capacity of Intreo Centres has been enhanced with the allocation of an additional 100 Job Coaches, provided for under the July Jobs Stimulus Package 2020. The Job Coaches support the provision of employment services to people of working age, including jobseekers with a disability. The cost of this measure is estimated at €4,761,800, based on an individual average salary of €47,618 which includes the employer’s PRSI contribution.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
920. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of employees in her Department and the bodies under the aegis of her Department who have been in receipt of a higher duty acting allowance for over two years. [31881/21]
View answerThere are 11 people in my Department in receipt of a higher duty allowance for over 2 years and 2 in the Citizens Information Board. There is nobody in the Pensions Authority in receipt of a higher duty allowance in respect of the period in question.
921. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the arrangements her Department has made to facilitate and enable parents of newborn children access children’s allowance payments given that the recent cyber attack has meant parents cannot register child births; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31892/21]
View answerChild benefit is the principal way the State assists families with the costs of raising children. It is paid in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years, or to the age of 18 in respect of children who are in full-time education or who have a disability. It was paid to 639,347 families in respect of 1.2 million children this month.
The Department invites child benefit applications by contacting the parents of new born children, following receipt of a notification of a birth registration from the General Registrars Office (GRO) or auto processes the payment for the new baby where child benefit is already in payment to the family.
Following the recent cyber-attack on the HSE, civil registration services have been severely impacted. The HSE have confirmed than they have commenced the restoration of the birth registration function over recent days and they will begin dealing with the backlog of cases as their registration system comes fully back online over the coming weeks.
Regular updates on the birth registration issue are provided to all customer service teams, while the processing of the delayed birth registrations will be prioritised by the Department as soon as they are received. Any arrears of payments due on claims will be included with the first payment of Child Benefit.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
922. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a basic social welfare payment will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31898/21]
View answerThe person concerned submitted an application for a Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) payment with effect from 11/02/2021. He received a SWA payment for the period 11/2/2021 to 26/05/2021 pending the submission of a letter from Kildare County Council confirming his address, as he stated he was residing in a property owned by the Council. The person concerned was given notice in writing that he would be paid for 12 weeks pending receipt of the letter from the Council.
The person concerned failed to produce the requested documentation. He subsequently informed officials he was living at 2 different addresses and his car but that it was his intention to move to Rathfarnham to reside with his spouse. He was advised to contact Kildare County Council regarding his homeless status.
If the person concerned is experiencing financial difficulties he can contact his local Community Welfare Service in Maynooth where his circumstances will be assessed. The Community Welfare Service can be contacted by phone at (01) 6106143 or by email at cwsmaynoothleixlip@welfare.ie.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
923. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) has been refused the over 65 years benefit payment (details supplied); and if previous contributions from other years will be taken into account. [31962/21]
View answerThe person concerned has had his application for Benefit payment for the over 65's reviewed by a deciding offer and a decision to award a payment of €203.00 per week from the 25th January 2021 has been made. An award letter is being issued to the person concerned confirming these details.
I trust that this clarifies the position.
924. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons currently in receipt of a carer’s allowance payment in County Wexford; and the breakdown of the number in each of the past five years in tabular form. [32000/21]
View answerThe number of people in receipt of Carer's Allowance in County Wexford on 31 May 2021, along with the number receiving the allowance for each of the past five years are set out in the table below.
|
Co. Wexford |
No. in receipt of Carer’s Allowance |
|
31 May 2021 |
3,887 |
|
2020 |
3,853 |
|
2019 |
3,569 |
|
2018 |
3,404 |
|
2017 |
3,186 |
|
2016 |
2,997 |
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
925. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for a carer’s allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32036/21]
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.
I confirm that my department received an application for (CA) from the person concerned on 18 December 2020.
Additional information in relation to the full completion of the person’s application form and financial information was requested by a Deciding Officer (DO) on 21 December 2020. A response to this information request was received on 31 December 2020.
Further additional information regarding farming income was requested by the DO on 8 January 2021 and a response to this information request was received on 15 February 2021.
The application was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 20 February 2021 to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of CA are satisfied.
Once the SWI has reported, a decision will be made, and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. A reminder has issued to the SWI requesting an update on the investigation.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
926. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to introduce an amendment to the Equal Status Act 2000 and the Equality Act to prohibit discrimination on grounds of socioeconomic disadvantage as provided for in the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017 introduced by Fianna Fáil. [30518/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government includes a commitment to examine the introduction of a new ground of discrimination, based on socioeconomic disadvantaged status to the Employment Equality and Equal Status Acts. In addition, a broader review of the Equality Acts is also planned shortly.I hope to undertake a public consultation on potentially amending the Equality Acts to include a socioeconomic ground for discrimination in 2021 as part of ongoing work to examine this commitment.
