Tuesday, 19 Oct 2021

Written Answers Nos. 604-623

Special Educational Needs

Questions (604)

Gary Gannon

Question:

604. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education when she will establish the estimated costs of fully implementing the remaining sections and sub-sections of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004; if she plans to review the Act in view of changing needs and priorities, as stated by her colleague Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion in February 2021 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51303/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education

The Education for Persons with Special Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004 sets out the vision for the education of children with disabilities in this country. 

The Act requires that a child with special educational needs should be educated in an inclusive environment alongside their peers unless the nature and extent of those needs would not be in the best interest of the child concerned or the other children with whom the child is to be educated. 

For this purpose, my Department funds a continuum of education provision which covers the full spectrum of need ranging from placement in a mainstream class with supports or a placement in a more specialist setting, a special class or special school.   My Department currently spends in excess of €2b in supporting this continuum annually.

I wish to advise the Deputy that a number of sections of the Education for Persons with Special Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004 have been commenced.

The commenced provisions include those establishing the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and those providing for an inclusive approach to the education of children with special educational needs.

The following sections of the EPSEN Act were commenced in 2005.

Section 1 – Interpretation

Section 2 - providing for the inclusive education of children with Special Educational Needs

Section 14 – placing certain duties on schools

Sections 19 to 37 - placing the Council on a statutory footing.

Section 39 - placing certain duties on Health Boards

Sections 40 to 53 - amending the Education Act

Schedule 1 – providing for meetings and membership of the Council

Schedule 2 providing for the Chief Executive Officer of the Council.

The remaining sections of the Act have yet to be commenced.  The Sections of the EPSEN Act which have not been implemented are those which would have conferred a statutory entitlement to –

- an educational assessment for all children with special educational needs.

- consequent development of a statutory individual educational plan (IEP).

- the delivery of detailed educational services on foot of this plan.

- an independent appeals process.

The Government has committed to consulting with stakeholders on how best to progress the EPSEN Act.  

It should be noted, however, that since EPSEN was enacted, the Department’s policy on supporting children with special educational needs has changed and evolved on foot of evidence based policy advice from the NCSE which takes account of international perspectives.

Significantly, the focus of special needs education provision has changed from a model that is diagnosis led to one which is driven by the needs of the child.  This is a substantially different view to the one underlying the EPSEN Act.  The levels of investment by Government in special education has increased to facilitate the underlying reforms required to implement and embed the needs based approach. 

I have also indicated that one of my priorities as Minister for Special Education and Inclusion is to carry out a review of the EPSEN Act. 

This review will take into account the range of reforms and increased investment in supports which have taken place in recent years including the development of new allocation models which are not based primarily on the outcome of an assessment.  The requirement for a diagnosis can create a risk of children being diagnosed as having a special educational need for resource allocation purposes, rather than for health reasons. Also, that as there is a spectrum of ability and disability within every special education disability category so account must be taken of need, as well as diagnosis.

Policy advice has been requested from the NCSE on the specialist education placements is also expected in the coming months.

School Staff

Questions (605)

Gary Gannon

Question:

605. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education her views on her Department’s strict adherence to the school-teacher ratio which has led to the suppressing of the developing school post of a school (details supplied) and in turn has led to the loss of a teacher and the forced amalgamation of senior and junior infants from two classrooms under two teachers, to one classroom with 31 students in the same room in view of the continuing risk of transmission of Covid-19 amongst young children and the Government's continued support for the policy of social distancing. [51304/21]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30th September.

The staffing arrangements also include a provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts on developing grounds, using projected enrolment.

The school referred to by the Deputy was allocated a temporary teaching post on this basis. The school's enrolment did not reach the enrolment required to maintain the post for the remainder of the year.  The school submitted an appeal to the October meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board which has been refused.  The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

School Staff

Questions (606)

Gary Gannon

Question:

606. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education her views on whether there is a substitute crisis in primary and secondary schools; the number of days in the academic year 2021-2022 that have gone uncovered by a qualified substitute teacher in both primary and secondary; and the number of days that have been left without cover or covered by a special education teacher in both primary and secondary since the release of circular 50/21 in tabular form. [51309/21]

Written answers

Minister for Education

My Department is aware of difficulties being experienced by some schools in recruiting substitute teachers, particularly at primary level. At post primary level the challenges appear to refer more to the recruitment of teachers of certain subjects, although the recruitment of substitute teachers is also an issue.

A range of measures have been put in place to provide enhanced substitute cover in the context of Covid-19. These include a major expansion of the Primary Schools Substitute Teacher Supply Panels, which now employ almost 380 teachers and provide substitute cover to over 2,500 primary schools across the country. Further work is underway to ascertain if there are ways the operation of the panels can be enhanced to help with substitute teacher supply.

The Supply Panels work alongside the existing methods of sourcing substitute teachers, such as Sub Seeker the national substitution portal service for primary and post primary schools, operated by the Irish Primary Principals Network and developed in accordance with my Department's Teacher Supply Action Plan. Schools can also make local arrangements to have their own regular substitutes to call on if needed. 

Measures are also underway to raise awareness of the availability of substitute work in primary schools. The Teaching Council has emailed over 111,000 teachers on its register, asking any who may be available for substitute work to register with Sub Seeker.

My Department has also adjusted its payroll operational arrangements so that the restriction on the number of days that teachers on career break may be employed as substitutes has been suspended and teachers who are job sharing are allowed to work additional hours.

As in 2020/21, flexible school placement arrangements are being implemented to enhance the availability of post-primary Professional Master of Education (PME) student teachers to fill short term substitute vacancies. My Department and the Teaching Council are also planning to meet with the providers of primary initial teacher education (ITE) in the coming days to explore how flexibility in primary ITE programme delivery could facilitate additional substitute supply.

My Department is engaging on an ongoing basis with stakeholders to analyse the demand for substitution and to identify means to improve the availability of substitutes at this time.

The data sought by the Deputy is not readily available and will be forwarded to him directly.

School Staff

Questions (607)

Gary Gannon

Question:

607. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the breakdown of all of the leave taken in the primary sector for each of the school years 2018-2019, 2019-2020 and 2020-2021; and the days that were covered by a qualified substitute. [51310/21]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available and once available, it will be forwarded directly to him.

Gender Proofing of Policies

Questions (608)

Ivana Bacik

Question:

608. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will develop a new gender and equality proof labour market activation plan to support women into decent work, particularly women who are most distant from the labour market. [50370/21]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

My Department is committed to providing employment supports to all who need them. This includes providing targeted measures to those most distant from the labour market, including women.

In July of this year, I launched Pathways to Work 2021-2025; Government’s national employment services strategy and the overall framework for activation and employment support policy. The development of this strategy included an extensive consultation process. This included a series of regional events and a public consultation component, made up of an open call for submissions and an online survey open to all individuals and organisations who wished to contribute. Furthermore, my Department engaged bilaterally with other Government Departments and community and voluntary organisations. The Labour Market Advisory Council (LMAC) was also consulted during this process. 

The aim of Pathways to Work 2021-2025 is to assist people back to work as the economy and labour market recovers from COVID-19.  Men and women have equal access to any of my Department's active labour market programmes, Pathways is designed to support those unemployed before the pandemic, those looking to return to work or join the workforce and those facing additional barriers to work, in order to promote better employment outcomes for all.  

In this regard, the strategy’s fourth strand, ‘Working for All - Leaving No One Behind’ contains a number of specific commitments to increase labour market participation of lone parents, and others most distant from the labour market. In addition, the strategy recognises that there are those who, while not traditionally considered unemployed, are not in employment but would like support in getting a job. This includes workforce returners and those with caring responsibilities, many of whom are women. Pathways to Work also commits to developing and operating ‘returner’ programmes to encourage and support people who left the workforce and have been outside of the workforce for some time to take up employment.

Given the range of supports provided for under Pathways to Work, I do not plan to develop a new activation plan at present. I am satisfied that the Pathways to Work strategy supports the labour market participation of all groups in society including women. However, it should be noted that due to the dynamic context in which Pathways to Work was drafted and launched, the strategy will undergo a mid-term review in 2023. This will provide an opportunity for us to take stock, assess progress and set new targets and commitments for the remainder of the strategy’s lifetime.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.

Community Employment Schemes

Questions (609)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

609. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to ensure that consideration is given to the incredibly valuable work of community employment supervisors as part of ongoing negotiations regarding pensions; if she will request that a forum for engagement be established between her Department and the supervisors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50417/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

As the Deputy 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.

At this point, I wish to acknowledge the valuable and dedicated service that CE supervisors provide in running CE schemes delivering local based community services while providing a valuable training and development opportunity to the long-term unemployed and to those often furthest removed from the labour market. 

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 this year, 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 currently being examined by my officials in conjunction with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and other relevant Government Departments. 

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.

As the Deputy may be aware, earlier this year, Minister Humphreys and I established the Operational Forum comprising of Departmental officials and employment support scheme sponsors and their representatives.  The Operational Forum meets on a periodic basis to consider and discuss operational matters and provide information on future developments relating to the employment support schemes

The Deputy may also be aware that a separate tripartite forum is already in place to facilitate unions and employer representatives in raising local scheme operational issues, raised by their members, with Department officials for further consideration.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy. 

Departmental Staff

Questions (610)

Denis Naughten

Question:

610. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of medical assessors employed by her Department; if they are assigned to individual payment sections; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50428/21]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Currently, there are 32.5 Medical Assessors working in the Department's Medical Review and Assessment Service. This figure includes the Chief Medical Adviser and the Deputy Chief Medical Adviser.

The Medical Assessors can be assigned to any of the medical-related schemes administered by my Department and are not assigned to individual payment sections.

Social Welfare Payments

Questions (611)

Neale Richmond

Question:

611. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider making the Christmas bonus and fuel allowance available for those who receive the working family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50443/21]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Christmas Bonus is paid to social welfare recipients such as pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents and the long-term unemployed in recognition of their long-term financial dependence on their social welfare payment for all or most of their income.  

The Working Family Payment (WFP) is an in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees, on low earnings, with children.  It is designed to prevent in-work poverty for low paid workers with child dependants and to offer a financial incentive to take up employment.  To qualify for WFP, a person must be engaged in full-time insurable employment which is expected to last for at least 3 months and be working for a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight or 19 hours per week. 

As WFP is a supplementary payment rather than a main source of income, recipients are not eligible for the Christmas Bonus or Fuel Allowance.

However, a person on another social welfare payment, while concurrently in receipt of WFP, will receive the Christmas Bonus or Fuel Allowance on their social welfare payment if they satisfy the criteria for receipt of the Bonus or Fuel Allowance on that scheme. 

Any change to the current eligibility criteria for the Christmas Bonus or Fuel Allowance payment would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context.

Community Employment Schemes

Questions (612)

Chris Andrews

Question:

612. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine the case of a centre (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50458/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

Community 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.

CE sponsoring authorities receive annual contracts and funding from my Department to provide for  employment of both CE participants and supervisors, as well as funding towards training and material costs.  Grant aid is provided by the Department to cover these costs on a per capita basis.

CE has an annual budget of approximately €350million.  Financial monitoring of CE schemes by my Department is undertaken to ensure proper financial management by schemes and accountability for the significant investment of state funding on this important employment support programme.

To enable monitoring and to ensure proper financial management procedures are in place for public monies,  CE schemes are required to  maintain a dedicated bank account solely for the lodgement and payment of CE public monies.  including the payment of wages directly to participants. It is a matter for individual schemes and individual participants if they wish to make separate voluntary arrangements , as referred to in the supplementary material provided by the Deputy.  Such transactions need to be managed separate from the bank account maintained solely for CE public monies, as they involve monies due to or paid to participants. It is the responsibility of the CE scheme, as a company limited by guarantee,  to ensure all transactions, including all voluntary arrangements entered into by participants,  are fully accounted for and are in compliance with relevant statutory provisions.  

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Personal Public Service Numbers

Questions (613)

Michael McNamara

Question:

613. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection when PPS numbers will issue to persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50502/21]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I can confirm that my Department has allocated Personal Public Service Numbers (PPSNs) to the children referred to by the Deputy. 

Letters issued to their parents on 4th October 2021, providing them with their childrens' PPSNs.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Payments

Questions (614)

Willie O'Dea

Question:

614. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) who applied for the working family payment received an email confirming that they were entitled to €114 per week and the following day received an email stating that they did not qualify for the payment; the legislation which defines the term dependent child for the purposes of the working family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50578/21]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Working Family Payment (WFP) is a weekly in-work support, which provides an income support for employees, on low earnings, with children. To qualify for Working Family Payment the customer must have at least one qualified child who normally resides with them. Under Social Welfare Legislation, a qualified child is defined as a child under 18 years of age or aged between 18 and up to age 22 and in full-time education. 

Working Family Payment for the person concerned was due for renewal from 30 September 2021.

As the child of the person concerned was 22 years old at the time of renewal, she does not meet the definition of a qualified child for the purposes of Working Family Payment. This claim was regrettably  initially awarded in error and once this was identified a revised decision was made. A disallowance letter issued to the person concerned advising them that they did not satisfy the conditions of the scheme and advising her of her right of review and appeal.

 I trust this clarifies the matter.

Social Insurance

Questions (615)

Mary Butler

Question:

615. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50648/21]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I assume the Deputy’s Question is referring to the Pensions Commission’s recommendations in relation to increasing Social Insurance Fund (SIF) income.   

The Pensions Commission was established in November 2020 to examine the sustainability of the State Pension system and the Social Insurance Fund, in fulfilment of a Programme for Government commitment.  The Commission was an independent body comprised of knowledgeable and experienced academics, pension experts, members of civil society and representatives of workers and employers. 

The Commission has completed it work and its report was published on the 7th October 2021.  The Commission’s Report has unambiguously established that the current State Pension system is not sustainable into the future and that change is needed.  It is a very comprehensive and detailed report that takes account of responses to a very extensive consultation process.  The report sets out a wide range of recommendations, including measures to increase Social Insurance Fund (SIF) income.    

In the interests both of older people and of future generations of older people, the Government intends to consider the comprehensive and far reaching recommendations in the Commission’s Report very carefully.    The report has been referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection and the Commission for Taxation and Welfare for their views.   I will also work with my officials over the coming months to examine each of the recommendations carefully and will consult with colleagues in Government through the Cabinet Committee system.  I intend to bring a recommended response and implementation plan to Government by the end of March 2022.  I think it is really important that we complete that work before reaching conclusions.

The State Pension is the bedrock of the pension system in Ireland.  It is extremely effective at ensuring that our pensioners do not experience poverty.   This Government is committed to ensuring that this remains the case for current pensioners, those nearing State Pension age and today’s young workers including those who are only starting their careers. 

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Questions (616)

Carol Nolan

Question:

616. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address concerns (details supplied) and consider extending the pandemic unemployment payment for self-employed persons in severely impacted cottage industries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50653/21]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) was introduced as an emergency measure in the exceptional circumstances of Covid-19 to support employees and the self -employed who were impacted as a direct result of public health measures mandated by the Government. To date expenditure on the scheme is over €8.8 billion.

Last week the number of PUP payments fell below 100,000 for the first time since the start of the pandemic, to just over 97,100.  This milestone reached represents a drop of almost 85% in the number of customers who are currently receiving the payment compared to over 602,000 in May 2020, during the height of the pandemic. It is therefore important that standard social welfare terms are re-introduced in a controlled and considered manner.

In line with the Government’s Economic Recovery Plan, the PUP is changing using a tapered approach from September 2021 until February 2022 to align it with standard jobseeker’s payments.  Further rate changes will take place from 16th November 2021 and 8th February 2022. As PUP customers move on to the €203 rate, they will be transitioned to standard jobseeker terms.

I have deferred the commencement of this transition process in line with the publication of the Government's Roadmap "Reframing the Challenge, Continuing Our Recovery and Reconnecting". All affected customers, including those self- employed, will continue to receive their PUP payment until 26th October after which the process of their transition to a jobseeker’s payment will begin.

There are a range of supports available to the self-employed who are working in a reduced or limited capacity. A self-employed person exiting the PUP scheme and who is working in their business for up to 24 hours per week may apply for the Part Time Job Incentive for Self -employed. Recipients receive a payment of €128.60 per week and there is no income limit applied. The extension of the Part Time Job Incentive to self-employed people will continue to be available until the end of the year.

Alternatively, a self- employed person who is trading at a reduced level may be eligible for support under the means tested Jobseekers Allowance Scheme subject to satisfying the statutory scheme conditions.

I should also advise the Deputy that 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 their 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 an earlier reopening of their business in 2020. To date almost 10,000 applications have been awarded since the scheme was launched last year with a total of over €9 million paid to grant recipients towards the costs of reopening their businesses.

My colleague, the Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment has primary responsibility for policy relating to supports for businesses.

I trust that this clarifies the position at this time.

Social Welfare Payments

Questions (617)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

617. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has plans to allow for the option of domiciliary care allowance to be extended to children under 18 years of age in line with the rules for child benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50659/21]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) ceases to be payable when a child reaches age 16 years. Disability Allowance (DA) can then be paid from age 16 if the qualifying conditions for that scheme are met. 

Following a commitment made in the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for people with disabilities 2015 -2024, the “Make Work Pay for People with Disabilities” (MWP) report was published in April 2017.  The report undertook to better identify how people with disabilities could be supported to achieve their employment ambitions.  A number of MWP report recommendations focussed on the need to support young adults through education, training and social inclusion according to their capacity, and to change the qualifying age for disability allowance from 16 to 18 years of age while leaving Domiciliary Care allowance in payment where applicable to 18 years of age. 

An extensive national consultation process was organised to engage people with disabilities, parents of children with disabilities, and sectoral representatives to seek their views on the specific recommendations in the report and this has now concluded.

It is imperative when deciding on any changes to the age limits for the relevant schemes that such changes have a positive effect on those in receipt of the payments and that we avoid any unintended negative consequences.  Consideration of the most appropriate measures to be taken are continuing.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Insurance

Questions (618)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

618. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the record of a person (details supplied) in order for their contributions to corrected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50697/21]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

To begin with, PRSI class K can be paid by individuals other than public representatives.

In this case the PRSI class K currently on record is the class of PRSI that was returned by the individual’s employer or their representatives.

Where an individual is in fact an employee of their spouse, then that employment is excepted employment under the provisions of paragraph 1 of Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended) and is not insurable.  The correct class of contribution in such a case was PRSI class K or M up to 31 December 2010 and class M thereafter.

Therefore, if the individual referred to by the Deputy is in fact an employee of their spouse, the person should contact Scope Section in my Department to further look into the matter and issue an insurability decision.  If the person has been incorrectly classified then their contribution record will be corrected and they may be entitled to a PRSI Refund.  However, it should be noted that such refunds are subject to a four-year time limit.

Scope Section can be contacted directly by email at [e-mail] or at the following address - 

Scope

Floor 5

Áras Mhic Dhiarmada

Store Street

Dublin 1

D01 WY03

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Insurance

Questions (619)

Marian Harkin

Question:

619. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the recommendation in view of the recent report by the Pensions Commission that the exemption to pay PRSI on occupational, personal and public sector pensions will be removed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50731/21]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Pensions Commission was established, inter alia, to develop options for Government to consider in addressing the sustainability of the State pension system and the social insurance fund.  The Commission has completed it work and its report was published on the 7th October 2021.  The Commission’s Report has unambiguously established that the current State Pension system is not sustainable into the future and that change is needed.  It is a very comprehensive and detailed report that takes account of responses to a very extensive consultation process.  The report sets out a wide range of recommendations, including measures to increase  Social Insurance Fund (SIF) income.    

In the interests both of older people and of future generations of older people, the Government intends to consider the comprehensive and far reaching recommendations in the Commission’s Report very carefully.    The report has been referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection and the Commission for Taxation and Welfare for their views.   I will also work with my officials over the coming months to examine each of the recommendations carefully and will consult with colleagues in Government through the Cabinet Committee system.  I intend to bring a recommended response and implementation plan to Government by the end of March 2022.  I think it is really important that we complete that work before reaching conclusions.

The State Pension is the bedrock of the pension system in Ireland.  It is extremely effective at ensuring that our pensioners do not experience poverty.   This Government is committed to ensuring that this remains the case for current pensioners, those nearing State Pension age and today’s young workers including those who are only starting their careers. 

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. 

Social Welfare Payments

Questions (620)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

620. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports in place for those with special needs who have the domiciliary care allowance cut when they turn 16 and are refused disability allowance; the supports available to assist with the costs associated with additional needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50736/21]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a payment in respect of children, up to the age of 16, who require care and attention substantially in excess of that required by other children their age.  

Disability Allowance (DA) is a payment for people with a specified disability who are aged between 16 and 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a number of conditions including, a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residence requirement.

If a person feels their DA application was rejected  based, for example, on information about their circumstances which is incorrect or out of date, the person may submit the up to date information to Disability Allowance Section for a revised decision. Contact and other details relating to Disability Allowance are available at www.gov.ie/DA.

The person also has a right to appeal the decision directly to the Chief of Appeals Officer. Contact and other details relating to the appeals process are available at www.gov.ie/socialwelfareappealsoffice.

The Department also provides the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme for those whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants.  This scheme includes, Exceptional Needs Payments, Urgent Needs Payments and SWA Supplements (heat, travel and dietary supplements). These means tested payments may be made to help meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income.  Details and eligibility criteria of the scheme are available at www.gov.ie/SWA.  

The Department continues to keep its range of supports available under review, while any proposed change(s) need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.

Social Welfare Payments

Questions (621)

Carol Nolan

Question:

621. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person in receipt of a social welfare claim based on PRSI contributions is entitled to the fuel allowance payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50917/21]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33.00 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 over a full fuel season) from October to April, to 365,000 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.

Qualifying payments for fuel allowance are those payments that are considered long-term payments and an applicant must also satisfy a means test.  Social Welfare schemes based on PRSI contributions which are considered short-term schemes are not qualifying payments for fuel allowance.  People on long-term payments are unlikely to have additional resources of their own and are more vulnerable to poverty, including energy poverty.  It is for this reason that the Department allocates additional payments, supports and resources to help this cohort of claimants.

A person in receipt of a Social Welfare scheme based on PRSI contributions which is considered long-term may qualify for the fuel allowance payment if they satisfy all the relevant qualifying conditions. This would include the following long-term schemes:-

- Deserted Wife's Benefit

- Invalidity Pension

- State Pension Contributory

- Guardian's Payment Contributory

- Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension Contributory

- Incapacity Supplement under the Disablement Pension Scheme

- Death Benefit Pension (previously known as Type 15) under Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme

- A Social Security Payment from a country covered by EU Regulations or a country with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement (of which there is an Irish equivalent payment).

Any decision to include all Social Welfare schemes based on PRSI contributions as qualifying payments for fuel allowance would require significant extra funding for the scheme and would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context. It would also represent a fundamental change in the nature of the scheme.

Exceptional Needs Payments may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which customers are unable to meet out of their own resources, and this may include exceptional heating costs.  Decisions on such payments are made on a case-by-case basis.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Payments

Questions (622)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

622. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an exceptional needs payment has now issued to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50920/21]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

My officials have advised a Supplementary Welfare Allowance form issued to the person concerned by post on 06/10/2021.  As the completed forms had not been received by the Community Welfare Service on 13/10/2021 a designated officer contacted the person concerned by phone and arranged for new forms to be posted to her.  I understand that the designated officer was to contact the person concerned on 15/10/2021 to arrange for the completed forms and supporting documentation to be collected in person by my officials.  On receipt of the completed forms the application will be assessed and a decision issued to the person concerned.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Social Welfare Payments

Questions (623)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

623. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if assistance can be given towards travel to receive medical treatment in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50921/21]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

According to the records of my Department, an application for financial assistance towards the cost of travel expenses has not been received from the person concerned. 

To facilitate the person concerned, my officials issued an application form by post on 14/10/2021.  Upon receipt of the completed application form and supporting documentation, the claim will be assessed and a decision will issue to the person concerned

I trust this clarifies the matter.