Written Answers Nos. 887-903
887. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Social Protection if extra staffing and resources will be put in place to deal with the backlog of birth, death and marriage restrictions in County Wicklow in view of other counties receiving extra staffing and resources; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63423/21]
View answerUnder the Civil Registration Act 2004, the Health Service Executive is responsible for resourcing the civil registration service. Questions with respect to the staffing of any particular office should accordingly be addressed to the HSE.
888. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has considered expanding the qualifying criteria for the fuel allowance payment to include those who must continue to work into old age but cannot afford fuel and heating costs due to high mortgage repayments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63449/21]
View answerThe Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33.00 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from October to April, to 371,000 low-income households, at an estimated cost of €323 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 to direct the limited resources available to the Department in as targeted a manner as possible, and so it is focused on long term social welfare payments where an applicant satisfies a means test. People on such long term payments are unlikely to have additional resources of their own and are more vulnerable to poverty, including energy poverty.
In Budget 2022, along with a number of other changes to the scheme, most notably the €5 increase in the weekly rate of the allowance with effect from the start of the 2021/2022 season, the weekly means threshold for fuel allowance was increased by €20 to €120. This represents a 20% increase which enables more people to qualify for this support. The €120 allowable means limit is significantly more than the €33 weekly rate of fuel allowance.
The Government has therefore implemented significant improvements to the scheme through Budget 2022. Any proposal to further increase the allowable means for fuel allowance purposes would have to be considered in this context and in the context of the overall policy and budgetary situation.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance 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.
889. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a PPS number will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63459/21]
View answerThe person concerned applied for a Personal Public Service (PPS) Number on 23/09/2021. This application expired as information requested on 18/10/2021 to progress the application was not provided.
The person concerned submitted a further PPS number application on 18/11/2021, again stating it was required for employment purposes. The application was referred back to the person concerned on 04/12/2021 requesting proof of employment. This application also expired as the information requested was not provided.
If the person concerned requires a PPS number for educational purposes, she should submit a fresh application. The documents required in support of this application are:
- proof of enrolment in the course, or
- a letter from the course provider stating that a PPS number is required to register for the course
On receipt of the application and all of the relevant supporting documentation, the application for a PPS number will be progressed.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
890. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are provisions planned for making contributory State pensions more eligible to persons who have worked for many years but do not have enough contributions and who are not eligible for a non-contributory State pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63466/21]
View answerThe 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 its work and its report was published on 7th October 2021. The Commission's Report, its Technical Sub-Committee's working papers, and submissions made to the Commission are available on the Commission’s website, pensionscommission.gov.ie.
The Commission’s Report is a comprehensive report that takes account of an assessment of various analyses of population, labour force and expenditure projections; an examination of international approaches; and responses to an extensive consultation process. It has unambiguously established that the current State Pension system is not sustainable into the future and that changes are needed, and it has set out a wide range of recommendations in this regard - including the full transition to a Total Contributions Approach (TCA) model, phasing out of the Yearly Average approach, allowing a person to continue paying PRSI contributions past State Pension Age to improve their social insurance record for State Pension (Contributory) purposes and measures to enhance pension provision for long-term carers (in excess of 20 years).
The report has been referred to the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands and to the Commission for Taxation and Welfare for their views. I understand that both the Chair of the Commission, Ms. Josephine Feehily and the Chair of its Technical Sub-Committee, Ms. Roma Burke met with the Joint Committee on 17th November 2021. Officials from my Department also attended this meeting.
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 and holistically. My officials will work over the coming months to examine each of the recommendations. They will consult across Government through the Cabinet Committee system.
I think it is really important that we complete that work before reaching conclusions. I intend to bring a recommended response and implementation plan to Government by the end of March 2022.
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 hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy at this time.
891. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider raising the income threshold for the fuel allowance in order that persons living alone who are in receipt of a contributory pension and half-rate carer’s allowance can access the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63529/21]
View answerThe 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 371,000 low-income households, at an estimated cost of €323 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.
As several Deputies have raised the issue of the treatment of half-rate Carer's Allowance when assessing means for fuel allowance purposes, I committed in the course of the debates on the Social Welfare Act 2021 to prepare a report on the inclusion of half-rate carer’s allowance recipients in the fuel allowance scheme. When complete, the report will be brought before the House.
In Budget 2022 the Government announced a €5 increase in the maximum weekly rate of all State Pensions and Carer's Allowance with proportionate increases for people receiving a reduced rate. The Living Alone Allowance was also increased by €3 from €19 to €22 per week. Furthermore, the weekly means threshold for the fuel allowance scheme was increased by €20 to €120 above the appropriate rate of contributory State pension representing a 20% increase and enabling more people to qualify for this support. The €120 allowable means limit is significantly more than the €33 weekly rate of fuel allowance.
The Government has therefore implemented significant improvements through Budget 2022. Any proposal to further increase the allowable means for fuel allowance purposes would have to be considered in this context and in the context of the overall policy and budgetary situation.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance 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.
892. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of days in each month that a community welfare officer was in the office in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan to meet members of the public in each of the years 2017 to 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63532/21]
View answer893. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of days in each month that a community welfare officer was in the office in Castleblayney, County Monaghan to meet members of the public in each of the years 2017 to 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63533/21]
View answer894. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of days in each month that a community welfare officer was in the office in Clones, County Monaghan to meet members of the public in each of the years 2017 to 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63534/21]
View answer895. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of days in each month that a community welfare officer was in the office in Monaghan town, County Monaghan to meet members of the public in each of the years 2017 to 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63535/21]
View answer896. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of days in each month that a community welfare officer was in the office in Ballybay, County Monaghan to meet members of the public in each of the years 2017 to 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63536/21]
View answer897. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the days in which a community welfare officer will be in the office in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan to meet members of the public in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63537/21]
View answer898. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the days in which a community welfare officer will be in the office in Castleblayney, County Monaghan to meet members of the public in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63538/21]
View answer899. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the days in which a community welfare officer will be in the office in Clones, County Monaghan to meet members of the public in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63539/21]
View answer900. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the days in which a community welfare officer will be in the office in Monaghan town, County Monaghan to meet members of the public in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63540/21]
View answer901. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the days in which a community welfare officer will be in the office in Ballybay, County Monaghan to meet members of the public in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63541/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 892 to 901, inclusive, together.
The information requested is currently being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
902. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection the timetable for the child maintenance review group to report in relation to child maintenance; if a draft report will be issued; her plans in relation to the establishment of a child maintenance agency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63558/21]
View answerThe Government established a Child Maintenance Review Group to examine certain issues in relation to child maintenance in Ireland. The Group is chaired by former Circuit Court Judge Catherine Murphy and includes legal, policy and academic professionals as well as officials from my Department and the Department of Justice.
The Group's Terms of Reference are to consider and make recommendations on: (i) the current treatment of child maintenance payments in my Department; (ii) the current provisions regarding liable relatives managed by my Department; and (iii) the establishment of a Child Maintenance Agency in Ireland.
The work of the Group is well underway. To date, the Group has held thirteen meetings with further meetings planned. A consultation process to facilitate feedback from stakeholder groups and members of the public in order to inform the Group's work has been undertaken. I have been advised that the Group's report will by submitted to me by Easter 2022.
903. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the amendments that have been made to the calculation of assessable income for self-employed persons or the spouses of self-employed persons in terms of application for the disability allowance given the ongoing financial impact Covid-19 is having on all service industries particularly in relation to the use of 2019 financial statements to project future earnings. [63593/21]
View answer904. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection if 2021 financial statements can be the sole basis of calculating the assessable income of self-employed persons or the spouses of self-employed persons for disability applications made in 2022 or applications currently under appeal given the ongoing financial impact Covid-19. [63594/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 903 and 904 together.
The system of social assistance supports provides payments based on an income need. The means test plays a critical role in determining 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.
In assessing means from self-employment for social assistance schemes such as Disability Allowance, the income is taken to be the gross profit less allowable work related expenses.
All expenses directly related to the self-employment can be offset against income. However, there is no exhaustive list of all expenses allowed since expenses vary with the nature and extent of the self-employment. Examples may include materials, motor running costs, advertising, labour costs, etc.
In assessing the means of a self-employed person, a deciding officer of my Department may refer the case to a social welfare inspector, in order to ascertain a fair and reasonable assessment of the average annual income that the claimant would expect to achieve over the next number of years.
It is important to emphasise that if there is a reduction in earnings at any point in time (for example as a result of Covid-19 related restrictions), the customer may contact my Department to review their entitlement and account will be taken of their current circumstances.
In Budget 2022, I announced significant improvements to the means test for Disability Allowance, which will benefit all recipients with means, including self-employed people.
From June 2022, the first €7.60 of weekly means from any source will be disregarded. This will equate to a €5 increase for recipients with means.
In addition, the limit at which earnings from employment or self-employment become fully assessible will be increased from €350 to €375.
Recipients of Disability Allowance will also benefit from the €5 increase in their weekly rate of payment, and may also benefit from other measures depending on their personal circumstances, such as increases to the rates of payment in respect of qualified children, and the increase to the Living Alone Allowance.
