Written Answers Nos. 1134-1153
1135. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will allow the pandemic unemployment payment to remain at its current rate of €350 per week for persons involved in the events sector support scheme. [40203/21]
View answer1136. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the pandemic unemployment payment criteria for recipients who were employed in the music and entertainment businesses to assess their eligibility given their work is periodic and they should be allowed to sign back on to the payment after 8 July 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40208/21]
View answer1137. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will allow the pandemic unemployment payment to remain at its current rate of €350 per week for persons involved in the events sector support scheme. [40264/21]
View answer1148. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to a potential conflict between two Government supports, the live performance support scheme and the pandemic unemployment payment, by which if a person in the live entertainment sector gets short-term employment through the live performance support scheme it may force them permanently off the pandemic unemployment payment by going above the €960 allowable income threshold; her views on whether this will act as a disincentive to take up short-term employment opportunities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40599/21]
View answer1154. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if workers in the music and entertainment sector fortunate enough to receive a few days' work through the live performance support scheme will be expected or required to give up their only guaranteed support of the pandemic unemployment payment if the funds they receive through the scheme results in them earning more than the allowed €960 over an eight week period. [40717/21]
View answer1155. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the basis on which her Department requires workers who receive funding under the live performance support scheme to come off the pandemic unemployment payment if the scheme brings them above the threshold of €960 over an eight week period, despite other Government supports such as the small business assistance scheme for Covid-19, music and entertainment business assistance scheme and Covid recovery support scheme not affecting a person’s eligibility for the pandemic unemployment payment; if it is not the longstanding Government practice to view business expenses over an annual period rather than in eight week period instalments; and her views on whether self-employed workers in the music and entertainment sector in particular are unfairly disadvantaged and discouraged from accepting live performance support scheme funding due to this eight week rule. [40719/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1135 to 1137, inclusive, 1148, 1154 and 1155 together.
The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) was introduced as an emergency measure in the exceptional circumstances of Covid-19 to help cushion the financial impact on people temporarily laid-off work as a direct result of public health measures mandated by the Government. To date expenditure on the scheme is approximately €8.3 billion.
As public health restrictions are lifted and employments gradually reopen, the need for emergency measures is diminished. The PUP is closed for new applications from 7th July as the Government is not anticipating any further job losses directly attributable to Covid-19. A person is advised to close their PUP on the day that they return to work to ensure that their claim is processed correctly.
The Government acknowledges that some sectors including the live entertainment sector will be impacted for a longer period. To allow as much time as possible for the economy to recover and employments to reopen, there will be no change to the PUP rate until September when it will be gradually reduced on a tapered basis over a 6 month period back to Jobseekers terms.
From 7th September the PUP will begin to be gradually reduced on a phased basis in increments of €50 per week which will take effect in payments on 14th September. Two further phases of rate changes are scheduled to take place from 16th November 2021 and 8th of February 2022. As PUP recipients go on to the €203 rate in each phase, they will be transitioned to standard jobseeker terms.
The Deputies will understand that it would not be fair or practical to make an exception to these changes on a sectoral basis.
Arrangements will continue for self-employed PUP recipients to earn up to €960 over an eight week period and maintain their full PUP; this figure is net of expenses. Where a person is self employed for up to 24 hours per week and their self employment income exceeds this earnings threshold, they may apply for the Part Time Job Incentive for Self employed. Qualifying recipients of the scheme receive a payment of €128.60 per week and there is no income limit applied in these cases. The extension of the Part Time Job Incentive to self-employed people will continue until the end of the current year.
Furthermore, the €1,000 Covid-19 Enterprise Support Grant to assist self-employed people to restart their business will continue to be available to self-employed people closing PUP claims until the end of 2021. A self-employed person closing their PUP claim to reopen their business will be able to avail of this grant even if they have previously claimed it as part of a reopening in 2020.
The Live Performance Support Scheme is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin T.D.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputies.
1138. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the position in relation to child benefit payments to EU citizens whose children reside elsewhere in the EU in the context of the UK post-Brexit; if such payments have been discontinued in respect of UK citizens resident in Ireland whose children are residing in the UK; if the estimated full year cost in respect of this cohort of recipients will be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40430/21]
View answerSocial security co-ordination across the EU and the EEA is governed by Regulation (EC) No. 883/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the coordination of social security systems.
The Department of Social Protection agreed a reciprocal agreement in the field of social security with the UK under the Common Travel Area arrangements. This agreement, known as the Convention on Social Security, mirrors the social security provisions of Regulation (EC) No. 883/2004 so as to maintain the status quo post-Brexit. This means that under the terms of the Convention, Irish and British citizens living in either country will maintain the right to benefit from social insurance contributions made when working in either country and to access social insurance payments, including Child Benefit, on the same basis as prior to Brexit. Accordingly, there are no changes to the receipt of Child Benefit payments as a result of Brexit.
The measures designed to maintain access to social insurance payments do not give rise to any Exchequer costs over and above those that would have arisen had the UK remained in the EU. In 2020, the cost of child benefit payments where Ireland has primary competence and the child resides in the UK was approximately €3.9 million.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1139. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the provision of pensions or other beneficial payments for current and former community employment supervisors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40431/21]
View answer1143. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress on the provision of pensions for community employment scheme supervisors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40492/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1139 and 1143 together.
As the Deputies will be aware, CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors have been seeking for several years, through their union representatives, the allocation of Exchequer funding to implement a 2008 Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme for CE supervisors and assistant supervisors who are employed by CE scheme sponsors. This claim creates some difficulties because the State is not the employer of the supervisors.
Within this context, officials from my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform held discussions on proposals to progress and resolve this complex issue, while having regard to the wider budgetary framework. Department officials also held discussions with unions representing CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors.
At the start of April, agreement was reached with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on proposals to resolve the long-standing issue. These proposals include a financial package.
I am confident these proposals are a solid basis for progressing and resolving this complex issue. Discussions on these proposals are ongoing between my Department and the unions representing CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors. The unions have made a number of observations, and these are now being examined by my officials in conjunction with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
My officials are continuing to progress this matter as a priority, and I would hope that these discussions can reach a conclusion in the near future.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputies.
1140. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will increase the old age pension in Budget 2022 in view of rising costs of living for pensioners and the pressures that these costs are putting pensioners under; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40436/21]
View answerI will be considering options for Budget 2022 over the coming months in the context of available resources.
In addition, as provided for in the Programme for Government, a Commission on Pensions was established. As part of its work, the Commission was asked to develop a range of options for the Government to consider in order to address the sustainability of the state pension and the Social Insurance Fund in terms of pension age, eligibility criteria, contribution rates, pension calculation methods and pension payment rates.
The Commission is due to report to me in the near future and the Government has committed to taking action on its recommendations within six months.
1141. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons awaiting determination of their application for the jobseeker’s allowance in County Clare; the current wait time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40473/21]
View answerIn the week ending 25th July 2021, 11,624 Jobseeker claims were awaiting decision; 95 of these claims are associated with social welfare offices in County Clare. I am advised that it is only possible to provide processing times data on a national basis. The average time to award a Jobseeker's Allowance claim in June 2021 was one week, and the average time to award a Jobseeker's Benefit claim in June 2021 was also one week.
1142. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if an appointment will be made for a person (details supplied) to receive their PPSN; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40482/21]
View answerThe person concerned made an application for a Personal Public Service (PPS) Number in January 2021. Additional information was sought by my officials in order to progress the application. However, it appears the information was not provided and so the application expired after 21 days.
The person concerned recently submitted a new application online but had not uploaded proof of address or a valid reason for the PPS Number. If the person concerned is applying for a PPS Number to take up employment, he must have a signed offer of employment from his employer confirming when his job is due to start or when it started. This letter should be on company headed paper with the employer’s contact details and employer/company registered number.
An official from my department has contacted the person concerned regarding the outstanding documentation.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
1144. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to change the system in which there is a euro per euro deduction in relation to payments of jobseeker’s allowance for those in self-employment outside of farming and fishing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40493/21]
View answerJobseeker's Allowance is a social assistance statutory payment provided for people, including those who are self-employed, who are unable to find full time employment. Social assistance payments are based on an income need. The means test determines whether or not 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. Social welfare legislation provides that the means test takes account of the income and assets of the person, and spouse/partner if applicable, applying for the relevant scheme. This reflects the expectation that people with reasonable amounts of income or property are in a position to use that income, or to realise the value of the property, to support themselves without having to rely solely on a means-tested welfare payment.In general, earnings from employment are assessed as income across all of my Department's schemes. However a certain amount of income from employment or other sources is not assessed. This is known as an income disregard which may differ depending on the particular scheme. In the case of Jobseeker's Allowance, there is an extensive list of expenses that can be offset against income from self-employment. Any changes to the means test is kept under review in a budgetary context.There are no plans to change the means test at this time along the lines suggested by the Deputy.I trust that this clarifies the position.
1145. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the Total Contributions Approach 2012 review for those effected by the 2012 rate band changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40521/21]
View answerA policy to introduce the Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to pensions calculation was adopted by Government in the National Pensions Framework in 2010.
In advance of this, in January 2018, the Government agreed to a proposal that allows pensioners affected by the 2012 changes in rate bands to have their pension entitlement calculated using an interim “Total Contributions Approach” (TCA) which includes up to 20 years of the newly introduced HomeCaring periods.The provision for the HomeCaring Periods Scheme fundamentally changed the entitlement of many who spent time out of the workforce caring for others. It, for the first time, acknowledged home caring periods prior to 1994. Interim TCA provides for up to 20 years of home caring periods to be considered. Those who have a 40 year record of paid and credited social insurance contributions, subject to a maximum of 20 years of credits/homecaring periods, qualify for a maximum contributory pension where they satisfy the other qualifying conditions for the scheme.
Since April 2019 all new State (Contributory) Pension applications are assessed under all possible rate calculation methods, including the Yearly Average and Interim TCA methods, with the most beneficial rate paid to the pensioner.
With respect to those impacted by the 2012 rate band changes, work began on examining the social insurance records of over 94,000 pensioners in September 2018. Where these reviews resulted in an increase in the pensioner’s rate of payment, the increase was backdated to 30 March 2018 or the pensioners 66th birthday, as appropriate. As at the end of October 2019, with the project completed, 94,258 reviews had been finalised; of these, 53,092 (56%) were women and 41,166 (44%) were men. Of the 53,092 women reviewed, 28,528 (54%) received an increase while the rest remained on their existing rate. Of the 41,166 men reviewed, 9,956 (24%) received an increase and the remainder continued to receive their same rate of payment. No pensioner had their pension payment reduced as part of this review.
As part of the Programme for Government, a Commission on Pensions was set up to look at sustainability and eligibility issues with the State Pension and the Social Insurance Fund. More broadly, it is also considering the issue of retirement ages in employment contracts and how the pension system can further accommodate carers, who are predominantly women. The Commission will outline options for the Government to address issues such as qualifying age, contribution rates, total contributions and eligibility requirements. The Commission is due to report on its findings in the near future which the Government will then consider.I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1146. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of measures to address anomalies in the homemaker’s scheme for those who provided the majority of their caring prior to 1994; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40522/21]
View answerSince its inception, the State Pension (Contributory) has been calculated using the Yearly Averaging approach (i.e., a person's contributions are divided by the number of years from the year they first paid social insurance to the year before their 66th birthday) and the pension they receive is determined by this average amount. A policy to introduce a new Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to pensions calculation was adopted by Government in the National Pensions Framework in 2010 - with a possible implementation date of 2020.
In January 2018, the Government introduced an interim Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to the calculation of State Pension that allows pensioners who reached pension age from September 2012 (i.e., those born on or after 1 September 1946), to have their pension entitlement calculated by reference to the totality of their social insurance contributions - as opposed to the timing of them or the averaging of them over the years spent in the social insurance system. This interim TCA includes up to 20 years of new HomeCaring Periods which can be claimed for any year in which they occurred - they are not limited to years since 1994. As a consequence, this interim TCA has significantly benefited many people, particularly women, whose work history includes an extended period of time outside the paid workplace, while raising families or in a caring role.
Separately, under the Yearly Averaging approach to pension calculation, the Homemaker's Scheme makes qualification for a higher rate of State pension contributory easier for those who take time out of the workforce for caring duties. This scheme, which was introduced in and took effect for periods from 1994, allows up to 20 years spent caring for children under 12 years of age, or caring for incapacitated people over that age, to be disregarded when a person’s social insurance record is being averaged for pension purposes. This has the effect of increasing the yearly average of the pensioner, which is used to set the rate of his or her pension. A detailed exercise conducted in 2017 to estimate the cost of backdating it in respect of periods before its introduction in 1994 concluded that it would cost c.€290m in 2017 and would grow considerably every year from its introduction. At that time, that cost represented circa 4% of annual pension spend – which would suggest that for 2021 it would cost in the region of €353m based on the Revised Estimates Allocation for Pensions spend in 2021 of €8.8257 billion.
People whose pensions were decided under the 2000-2012 rate bands (i.e., those born before 1 September 1946) were subject to a significantly more generous payment regime than those who qualified after 1 September 2012, as a Yearly Average of only 20 contributions per year (out of a maximum of 52) could attract a 98% pension. Therefore, if pre-2012 pensioners were also allowed avail of HomeCaring Periods, their arrangements, as a group, would continue to be significantly more generous than those of post-2012 pensioners. There would also be a very significant cost which would be expected to be of the order of several hundred millions of euros each year - similar to an expansion of the Homemaker's Scheme. This in turn could significantly impact funds for future pension increases with consequential implications for pensioner poverty.
For those with insufficient contributions to meet the requirements for a State pension (contributory), they may qualify for a means tested State pension (non-contributory), the maximum personal rate for which is €237 (over 95% of the maximum rate of the contributory pension). This rate of payment does not include rent allowance, household benefits or fuel allowance. Alternatively, if their spouse is a State pensioner and they have significant household means, their most beneficial payment may be an Increase for a Qualified Adult, based on their personal means, and amounting up to 90% of a full contributory pension.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1147. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Social Protection when legislation will be introduced to enable 16 and 17 year olds obtain a gender recognition certificate with parental approval; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40573/21]
View answerThe report of the Review Group for the Gender Recognition Act was published on 18th July 2018. The Minister reported to the Oireachtas on the 26th November 2019 on the recommendations of the Review Group and published the report in the same month. The main recommendations of the Review Group contained proposals to remove the age barrier for a gender recognition certificate, subject to parental consent, and third party support, but removing any requirement for medical reports or Court processes.
While work was commenced in relation to these and other matters at the start of 2020, the need to devote resources within my Department to the public health crisis and associated matters has meant that it has not yet been possible to further progress this work. However, the matter will be kept under review and the measures remain part of the Programme for Government.
1149. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Social Protection the last occasion on which a Department-wide review of all funding within her Department took place; the frequency of such reviews; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40643/21]
View answerThe Department administers schemes funded from the Exchequer through Vote 37 and schemes funded through the Social Insurance Fund (SIF). The Department reviews the funding required on an ongoing basis, including:
1. Each month, the Department reviews and estimates the actual expenditure for all schemes and subheads, for the Exchequer Statement published by the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform;
2. A detailed review of expenditure for each subhead to inform the Pre-Budget estimate of the Department's expenditure for the following year is carried out in Quarter 3 each year;
3. The funding of the SIF is reviewed on an ongoing basis, having regard to trends in PRSI receipts and expenditure on SIF schemes. During periods when the SIF is in deficit, as is the case currently, the Department reviews the amount of Subvention required from the Exchequer, based on ongoing expenditure on SIF schemes;
4. As the year progresses, the Department reviews estimated outturn on all schemes against the original estimates voted by the Dáil. If overall expenditure is likely to exceed the funding provided by the Dáil, a Supplementary Estimate is sought.
1150. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the latest live register figures for County Kerry; the percentage change in the county since the Covid-19 peak; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40675/21]
View answerIn June 2021, 175,281 people were on the Live Register, with 5,833 in county Kerry. Between March 2020 and June 2021, the Live Register peaked at 244,562 in July 2020; with 8,301 people in county Kerry. The June 2021 figure represents an overall decrease in the Live Register of 28.3%, and a decrease of 29.7% in county Kerry.
1151. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether it is fair to cut from September 2021 onwards the only financial support for workers in the music and entertainment sector who remain without a roadmap, date or plan for getting back to work and whose work is prohibited because of Government restrictions; and if she will reconsider reducing their only source of income the pandemic unemployment payment by €100 per person in the lead up to Christmas. [40713/21]
View answer1153. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if an exemption will be made to the planned pandemic unemployment payment cuts for sectors such as the music and entertainment sector that remain under restrictions to the point that their workers cannot work. [40715/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1151 and 1153 together.
The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) was introduced as an emergency measure for qualifying employees and self -employed people who lost their employment, as a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic. To date expenditure on PUP is approximately €8.3 billion.
The number of people availing of PUP has reached its lowest level since its introduction with just over 202,00 receiving a payment last week representing a drop of over 280,000 since the numbers in receipt of PUP peaked this year at around 482,000 in February.
It is clear that the requirement for emergency measures is diminishing as restrictions are gradually lifted and employments are reopening. The Government, under its National Economic Recovery Plan, has announced changes to PUP including a transitional approach to its withdrawal on a tapered basis over 6 months to allow as much time as possible for the reopening of the economy.
There will be no change to the current PUP rates until 7th September 2021 at which point, they will begin to be gradually reduced on a phased basis in increments of €50 per week. Two further phases of rate changes are scheduled to take place from 16th November 2021 and 8th of February 2022. As PUP recipients go on to the €203 rate in each phase, they will be transitioned to standard jobseeker terms.
The Deputy will appreciate that it would not be fair or practical to make exceptions on a sectoral basis.
Arrangements will continue for self-employed PUP recipients, including those who work in the live events industry, to take up some limited self-employment. A person can earn up to €960 over an eight week period and maintain their full PUP; this figure is net of expenses. Where a person is self employed for up to 24 hours per week and their self employment income exceeds the threshold they may apply for the Part Time Job Incentive for Self employed. Qualifying recipients of the scheme receive a payment of €128.60 per week and there is no income limit applied in these cases. The extension of the Part Time Job Incentive to self- employed people will continue until the end of the current year.
Furthermore, the €1,000 Covid-19 Enterprise Support Grant to assist self -employed people to restart their business will continue to be available to self-employed people closing PUP claims until the end of 2021. A self-employed person closing their PUP claim to reopen their business will be able to avail of this grant even if they have previously claimed it as part of a reopening in 2020.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
