Written Answers Nos. 263-277
263. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the household income for a retired married couple with regard to eligibility for the fuel allowance; and the way bank savings are calculated in this regard. [48889/21]
View answerThe Fuel Allowance is a payment of €28.00 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €784 each year) from October to April, to 370,000 low income households, at an estimated cost of €300 million in 2021. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only one allowance is paid per household.
The criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my Department in as targeted a manner as possible. All recipients of non-contributory payments are accepted as satisfying the means-test for fuel. People who are in receipt of a qualifying contributory payment must also satisfy a means test.
An applicant and members of his/her household may have a combined assessable income of up to €100.00 a week above the appropriate maximum State Pension (Contributory) rate. The following assessable income limits therefore apply for a married couple
- €513.70 for a couple, where the qualified spouse / civil partner /cohabitant is under 66 years (€100 plus €248.30 plus €165.40).
- €570.80 for a couple, where the qualified spouse / civil partner / cohabitant is 66 years or over (€100 plus €248.30 plus €222.50).
Extra allowances are available in the case of applicants in receipt of the Over 80 Allowance, an Increase Qualified Child (IQC) rate and where they are in receipt of the Increase for Living on a Specified Island.
The standard capital means assessment rules for State Pension (Contributory) purposes apply to Fuel Allowance applicants who have capital. Income from capital, for example, property, savings and investments, is included in the mean test. An applicant may have capital/savings of up to €57,999 (i.e., equivalent to €100.00 a week under capital means assessment rules) in addition to income of up to the maximum State Pension rate, and still be eligible to receive a Fuel Allowance.
The Formula for calculating Means is as follows:-
- First €20,000- no means
- Next €10,000- €1 per €1000
- Next €10,000- €2 per €1000
- Excess of €40,000- €4 per €1000
Any extension of the fuel allowance qualifying criteria, such as increasing the allowable means for fuel allowance purposes can only be considered while taking account of the overall budgetary context and the availability of financial resources.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
264. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is any flexibility in cases in which a person (details supplied) has the required number of PRSI contributions but not at the necessary class for the invalidity pension given that through no fault of the person's own, the person had paid a WOPS stamp during their early years at work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48941/21]
View answerInvalidity 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.
To qualify for IP a claimant must, inter-alia, have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last or second last complete contribution year before the relevant date of their claim. Only PRSI classes A, E ,H & S contributions are reckonable for IP purposes.
The qualifying PRSI contribution is laid down in social welfare legislation and must be satisfied in order to be considered eligible for IP.
A claim for IP was received from the person concerned on 23 July 2021. She was refused IP on the grounds that the contribution conditions for the scheme are not satisfied. Specifically, she does not have the required 260 contributions paid since entering social insurance. The WOPS credits on her record are not reckonable for Invalidity Pension purposes. She was notified on 27 July 2021 of the decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal. Following enquires made to the Department's record PRSI section and a review of her application, the original decision to refuse her claim remained unchanged. The person concerned has appealed the decision of the 27 July 2021 and her file was forwarded to the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 03 September 2021 for determination by an Appeals Officer.
A person who has an insufficient PRSI contribution record to qualify for a social insurance benefit/pension may apply for the appropriate means-tested social assistance scheme. Disability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged over 16 and under 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency test.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
265. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the current average waiting time for registering a birth and registering a death; and the number of applications awaiting processing for both. [48945/21]
View answerThe HSE is responsible for the operation of civil registration offices.
I have been informed by the General Register Office that the national average time to register a birth is currently 7 weeks. The time taken to register a death is 7 weeks where the death has not been referred to a Coroner. The time taken to register a birth or death includes the time taken by the parent(s) of the child or relative of the deceased to submit the relevant paperwork to a registrar.
The number of applications currently on hand varies across each of the 61 HSE civil registration offices. The General Register Office has asked the HSE for information on the number of applications on hand and awaiting registration. That Office will revert to the Deputy once this information has been provided.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
266. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the current waiting time for the processing of child benefit; and the number of applications currently waiting to be processed. [48946/21]
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.
There are currently 1,874 undecided Child Benefit claims on hand, 1,771 of those claims have been received in the last three weeks. The average processing time for a Child Benefit claim is 2 to 3 weeks. Processing times have remained constant at 2 to 3 weeks throughout 2021.
The restoration of birth registration services following the recent cyber attack on the HSE has resulted in the Department dealing with a higher number of claims than normal in recent months. The processing of the delayed birth registrations is prioritised by the Department as soon as they are received. Any arrears of payments due on claims is included with the first payment of Child Benefit.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
267. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the current waiting time for the processing of PPS numbers; and the number of applications currently waiting to be processed. [48947/21]
View answerPrior to the COVID-19 pandemic, a person who required a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) attended an office of my Department for SAFE registration.
The SAFE registration process involves the authentication of a person's identity in a face-to-face interview, and the subsequent issuing of a Public Services Card (PSC).
Face-to-face services were disrupted during 2020 due to the pandemic, and my Department introduced an online application service for PPSN applications. This service was introduced to ensure that those who need a PPSN can have their application dealt with, even in the event of office closures as a result of COVID-19 public health measures.
In May this year SAFE registrations resumed across my Department's network of offices for PSC appointments and certain offices have resumed SAFE registration for PPSN applicants as well as PSC appointments. SAFE registrations for PPSN applicants will resume in all offices following the lifting of public health restrictions.
Prior to the pandemic, my Department processed between 120,000 and 130,000 PPSN applications per year. There are currently in the region of 13,000 PPSN applications which are pending a decision some of which are awaiting further detail and information from the applicant.
However, I can confirm that additional staff have been assigned to deal with PPSN applications, and that this increased capacity is addressing the number of applications currently pending.
As processing is carried out in offices across the country, through both face-to-face SAFE registrations and back office processing of online applications, it is not possible to provide an overall waiting time figure to the Deputy.
I trust this clarifies the matter at this time.
268. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the offices under her Department that remain closed to the public due to Covid-19. [48948/21]
View answerThe Department’s in-person services are provided through our network of Intreo Centres. All of our Intreo Centres have continued to operate a service for the public throughout the pandemic with the full range of services being provided.
All of these centres are open 5 days per week, as are our branch offices.
Offices are open for walk-in service each morning and appointment all day to 5pm. The standard hours for in-person appointments are 9.15am to 5pm Monday to Wednesday, 10.30am to 5pm on Thursdays and 9.15 to 4.30pm on Fridays.
Contact details for all our offices are available on www.gov.ie/en/directory/category/e1f4b5-intreo-offices/
269. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that the civil registration office in Dublin remains closed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48949/21]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that the HSE is responsible for the operation of civil registration offices.
The HSE has informed the General Register Office that civil registration offices have reopened to the public. The office located in Dublin is operating an appointment-based service at present.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
270. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures undertaken to prevent and alleviate poverty during childhood; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48705/21]
View answerThe Government's Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025 goal is to reduce child poverty in Ireland and to ensure that all families have the opportunity to participate fully in society. It recognises the importance of child related services working in conjunction with income supports in reducing child poverty.
The most recent data shows the consistent poverty rate for children is 8.1%. While this is a reduction on previous years, it demonstrates that Government needs to continue to focus efforts on reducing the number of children experiencing poverty.
Government through the Department of Social Protection offers a range of supports to children and families to alleviate poverty and has consistently targeted supports on reducing the number of children in poverty and deprivation. Since Budget 2019, Government has increased the qualified child payment from a flat rate of €31.80 to €38 for children up to age 12, and €45 for children aged over 12. During the same period, Government increased the income thresholds of the Working Family Payment by €20 per week for families with up to 3 children; removed the earnings limit on the One-Parent Family Payment; and increased the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance by €25. This has occurred alongside measures under the Department’s remit to support children and families, such as the extension of the Parent’s Benefit; the provision of the School Meals programme; and the development and rollout of the Hot School Meals Programme.
The above-mentioned supports are accompanied by a range of measures delivered across government, including:
- prevention and early intervention initiatives and supports for parents through the work of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, including implementation of the First 5 Strategy.
- the rollout of free GP care to children and the provision of medical cards to families on low incomes under the Department of Health.
- the continuing delivery of the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) programme by the Department of Education.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
271. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if a matter relating to the community employment scheme (details supplied) will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48958/21]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the Community Employment (CE) Scheme 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 to improve their prospect of returning to employment.
I am very aware of the challenges resulting from the COVID-19 emergency and the related public health restrictions, including the adverse impact on a number of rural and urban CE schemes in recruiting new CE participants. My Department has continued to support CE schemes throughout the period and introduced a number of emergency measures including the extension of CE participants’ contracts when necessary.
Earlier this week, the Minister for Social Protection, Minister Humphreys, and I announced a further funding for contract extensions to 4th February 2022 for existing CE and Tús participants. These final contract extensions will provide existing CE participants with additional time to complete their training and benefit from work experience, which may have been adversely affected by public health restrictions.
I can reassure the Deputy that the planned exits will be carried out in a coordinated and phased basis from February 2022. This phased exit approach will support the recruitment of new CE participants while ensuring the ongoing delivery of important local community services.
It is important to note that one of the measures included in the Pathways to Work Strategy announced by Government in July, 2021 was an increase in the capacity of the Public Employment Service in Intreo Offices and contracted services to further support jobseekers through the provision of job search advice and assistance. These additional resources will be central to meeting the increased demand for employment support services arising from the impact of the pandemic, including the referral of new candidates to fill existing CE vacancies.
CE sponsoring authorities are encouraged by the Department to continue to promote the benefits of CE in their local communities. Jobseekers interested in participating on CE can also contact a case officer in their Intreo Centre who will refer eligible candidates to local CE schemes. My Department officials are continuing to work with local CE sponsoring authorities to identify suitable CE candidates.
CE sponsoring authorities can also advertise vacancies on www.jobsireland.ie, the Department’s online job advertising and recruitment service for jobseekers and employers.
CE participants over the age of 62 can participate on a continuous basis up to the state pension age on the CE Service Support Stream. Up to 10% of CE places are allocated to the Service Support Stream and there are 1,400 CE participants currently availing of the stream; there are approximately 500 places currently available nationally.
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.
The eligibility criteria for CE, including the baseline year of 2007 and the length of time persons can participate on CE, are kept under active review by my Department officials to ensure the best outcomes for individual participants and to support the vital community services delivered by schemes.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
272. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she expects to be in a position to respond to the various demands received in pre-budget 2022 submissions to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48985/21]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that I will be considering a range of options for Budget 2022 over the coming days, taking account of available resources.
It is important to emphasise that the Government takes a range of data and research into account in formulating its budget. The last two Budgets have seen a series of evidence-based increases in some social welfare payments targeted to improve the situation of the people who are most at risk of poverty and to ensure the most vulnerable were protected.
Each year, my Department receives a large number of pre-budget submissions from a diverse range of stakeholders, including community and voluntary groups, employer representative groups and trade unions. This year, I received over 50 submissions.
The submissions raised issues and outlined priorities across a broad range of areas which affect pensioners, lone parents, people with disabilities, carers, jobseekers and others. Many of these detailed submissions are available on the organisations' websites.
I am very grateful for the time and effort taken by each organisation which made a submission this year and who attended the Pre-Budget Forum in July. These submissions will be taken into consideration by Government when forming social welfare measures to be included as part of Budget 2022, taking account of Government priorities and the need to protect the most vulnerable in society.
273. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current and expected position regarding the age at which applicants may qualify for the old age pension in the future, having particular regard to the wider debate on the subject that has taken place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48986/21]
View answerThe Pensions Commission was established in November 2020 to examine sustainability and eligibility issues with the State Pension and the Social Insurance Fund, in fulfilment of a Programme for Government commitment.
As part of its Terms of Reference, the Commission was tasked with considering options to address issues including qualifying age, contribution rates, total contributions and eligibility requirements.
The Commission has now concluded its work and has submitted its final report to me. The report itself is extremely detailed, running to several hundred pages, and covers a range of complex matters in relation to the Pensions system which will require very careful consideration. I hope to bring the report to Cabinet today and publish it shortly. The Government is committed to taking action having regard to the recommendations of the Commission within six months.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy at this time.
274. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which her Department can accommodate earlier processing of appeals in respect of all categories of payment under her Department's control; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48987/21]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
The time taken to process an appeal reflects all aspects of the appeal process including the time spent in the Department reviewing the decision in light of the appeal contentions and/or preparing the appeal submission. Some 20% of cases will be revised in favour of the appellant as a result of this review process. In some cases, further investigation may be required at this point (e.g. in relation to means or medical issues) and this can add to the time taken to process an appeal.
The appeals process is a quasi-judicial process with Appeals Officers being required to decide all appeals on a ‘de-novo’ basis. Appeal decisions are subject to review by the High Court. The nature of the appeals process impacts on the processing times which are proportionate to the complexity of many of the issues under appeal which often require a high level of judgement in addition to the need to ensure due process and natural justice.
Appeals may be determined on a summary basis or by means of an oral hearing. Where an oral hearing is necessary the logistics involved in scheduling the hearing and giving the appellant and any other witnesses adequate notice adds to the timeframe involved.
Other factors which impact on processing times include increased complexity, an increasing demand for oral hearings and the loss of Appeals Officer experience and corporate knowledge due to the high number of retirements in recent years. Ensuring that appeal processing times are as short as possible is a priority for the Chief Appeals Officer.
As a result, average appeal processing times have improved between 2018 and 2020 from 30.0 weeks for an oral hearing in 2018 to 27.1 weeks in 2020, and from 24.8 weeks for a summary decision in 2018 to 15.5 weeks in 2020.
The latest data for the period January to September 2021 shows a further improvement to 26.2 weeks for an oral hearing and 13.8 weeks for a summary decision.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
275. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she can foresee an increase in the various allowances operated by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48988/21]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that I will be considering a range of options for Budget 2022 over the coming days, taking account of available resources.
It is important to emphasise that the Government takes a range of data and research into account in formulating its budget. The last two Budgets have seen a series of evidence-based increases in some social welfare payments targeted to improve the situation of the people who are most at risk of poverty and to ensure the most vulnerable were protected.
For example, in recognition of research which indicates that those who are aged 65 years and over are more likely to be at risk of poverty, deprivation and consistent poverty if they live alone, the Living Alone Allowance was increased by €10 per week over the course of Budgets 2020 and 2021. This brought the rate from €9 to €19 per week.
To take account of increased costs arising as a result of increases to the carbon tax, the Fuel Allowance was increased by €2 per week in Budget 2020 and a further €3.50 per week in Budget 2021, raising the weekly rate of payment from €22.50 in 2019 to €28 currently.
In addition, Minimum Essential Standard of Living (MESL) research has consistently shown that households with children, and particularly older children, face higher costs than those without. Since 2019, the IQC rate in respect of children aged under 12 has been increased by €4 per week, while the rate for children aged 12 and over was increased by €8 per week, bringing the current rates to €38 and €45 respectively.
As a result of these targeted measures, some of the most vulnerable social welfare recipients have already seen increases significantly above the rate of inflation over this period. For example, during the fuel season, a pensioner or person with a disability living alone is up to €15.50 per week better off.
In considering options for the forthcoming social welfare Budget package, I will once again be guided by evidence-based research produced by organisations such as the CSO, the ERSI and the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice. Taking an evidence-based approach ensures that available resources are used to deliver maximum impact in terms of reducing poverty and disadvantage.
Any increases to the core rates of social welfare payments will be considered in an overall budgetary and policy context.
276. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons currently in receipt of the State pension, contributory; the extent to which this number is likely to fluctuate in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48989/21]
View answerAccording to the records of my Department at end-September 2021, there are 464,459 customers currently in receipt of State pension (contributory)
Population projections indicate that Ireland will undergo significant demographic changes between 2020 and 2050. It is therefore envisaged that the number of State pension recipients will continue to rise.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
277. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons currently in receipt of jobseeker's allowance; the extent to which this number has fluctuated in the past two years and is likely to so do in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48990/21]
View answerAs of 3 October 2021, there were 120,411 individuals in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA).
Details of JA recipients by month over the past two years are shown in the tabular statement. Between October 2019 and September 2021, there were an average of 132,185 individuals per month in receipt of JA. The minimum number of recipients over this period was recorded on October 3rd 2021. The maximum number of recipients occurred in September 2020, with 139,638 people receiving a JA payment.
With regards to future projections the Live Register forecasts for 2022 are being reviewed with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform at present and will take account of Unemployment forecasts from the Department of Finance. These forecasts are still in the process of being finalised.
|
Dates |
JA recipients |
|
October 3rd 2021 |
120,411 |
|
September 2021 |
123,752 |
|
August 2021 |
126,668 |
|
July 2021 |
127,362 |
|
June 2021 |
130,236 |
|
May 2021 |
133,375 |
|
April 2021 |
134,651 |
|
March 2021 |
135,187 |
|
February 2021 |
135,087 |
|
January 2021 |
136,915 |
|
December 2020 |
135,301 |
|
November 2020 |
135,138 |
|
October 2020 |
137,834 |
|
September 2020 |
139,638 |
|
August 2020 |
138,052 |
|
July 2020 |
134,650 |
|
June 2020 |
130,801 |
|
May 2020 |
126,940 |
|
April 2020 |
127,669 |
|
March 2020 |
131,550 |
|
February 2020 |
131,872 |
|
January 2020 |
136,100 |
|
December 2019 |
131,293 |
|
November 2019 |
131,083 |
|
October 2019 |
133,050 |
