Written Answers Nos. 81-100
81. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the inaccessibility of paper-based applications for social welfare supports; and if she will consider making applications available online at MyWelfare.ie enhancing the independence of persons who are blind or vision impaired to populate and submit their applications independently. [5488/22]
View answerLaunched in 2015, the MyWelfare.ie platform continues to develop and grow. The rationale for developing a customer facing online platform, as set out in the Department's Digital Services Channel Strategy, was to meet growing customer demand and expectations. This rationale remains and my Department is now working towards the Civil Service Renewal target of getting 90% of services online by 2030.
The Department is committed to inclusive design, enabling online portals which can be used by all users including those who may have cognitive or physical impairments, such as blindness. This means that our sites, including MyWelfare.ie, can be used with assistive technologies such as screen readers or by using a keyboard for navigation, but also that the design of our sites supports cognitive and visual impairments such as dyslexia, colour blindness or those short of sight, to ensure for all users that there is a smooth journey and experience through our online portals.
Following a recent assessment on website accessibility conducted by Ireland’s monitoring authority, the National Disability Authority, my Department has been made aware of a number of areas in which accessibility improvements can be made to MyWelfare.ie. These will be made as part of our ongoing platform improvements and in tandem with the build and release of new services and applications.
My Department is also engaged with the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) as part of the implementation process for the EU Directive and our content on gov.ie.
82. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the analysis her Department has carried out into phase 1 of the roll-out of the new local area employment service; her plans to publish this analysis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5470/22]
View answerMy Department is procuring a new Local Area Employment Service over two distinct phases.
Phase one of the process for procuring new employment services involved seven counties in the Midlands and North West currently without a Local Employment Service, contracts were signed last month and services are in the process of being mobilised.
Phase two of the process has now commenced, with the publication in December of a request for tender for seventeen lots covering 19 counties. Services for this phase will begin in July 2022.
Prior to phase 2 commencing, my Department's officials engaged extensively with stakeholders with the purpose of seeking and receiving feedback in relation to the phase 1 RFT.
As part of this process my Department met with trade unions, providers and representative bodies. It also held a specific stakeholder online Information Session on 9 November, where over one hundred and fifty interested parties listened to an overview of the planned Phase 2 procurement by my officials before engaging in a ninety-minute questions and answers session. Participants were invited to submit written comments and suggestions in advance of the finalisation of the phase 2 RFT. Where possible and appropriate, amendments to the design of the RFT were included in the phase 2 RFT, which was published on the 21 December last.
This RFT contains a number of changes including increasing the marks awarded for quality to 80% and reducing cost to 20%. As well as this, significant increases in minimum annual referral numbers were provided and the requirement for reference contracts and minimum turnover were reduced.
84. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to amend the eligibility criteria for the free fuel allowance scheme in cases in which the income of a person slightly exceeds the allowed threshold and the person has no savings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5360/22]
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 375,000 low-income households, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. 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.
In Budget 2022 and with immediate effect the Government increased the weekly means threshold for the fuel allowance scheme 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.
Further changes to the fuel allowance scheme in Budget 2022 included increasing the weekly rate of fuel allowance by €5 to €33 per week with immediate effect, and with effect from September 2022 the reduction of the qualifying period for Jobseeker’s and Supplementary Welfare Allowance recipients from 15 to 12 months.
The Government has, therefore, implemented significant improvements through Budget 2022. Any proposal to further increase the allowable means for Fuel Allowance purposes or any further changes to the eligibility criteria 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.
85. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress made on the Programme for Government commitment to conduct a review of the means test disregards for farm assist with a view to better rewarding farmers who avail of the scheme for their enterprise. [4897/22]
View answerFarm Assist is an important income support for farmers on low incomes, enabling them to continue to farm while also receiving a State income support. Under the scheme farmers can receive the equivalent of a jobseeker payment and also have access to secondary benefits and employment services. The 2022 Revised Estimate provides for expenditure of €53.9 million on the scheme which is currently supporting just over 4,900 farmers.
The means test for the Farm Assist scheme is more generous than that for the Jobseeker Allowance scheme. Payments received under the Rural Environmental Protection Scheme (REPS), the Agri-Environmental Options Scheme (AEOS), the National Parks and Wildlife Service Farm Plan Scheme (NPWS) and the Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) attract a disregard of €2,540, with 50% of the balance assessed as means.
However, I am very conscious of the importance of sustaining farming activity and supporting farming households in rural communities. Accordingly, the Government made a commitment in the Programme for Government and in the Rural Development Policy 2021-2025 to review the means assessment disregards for the Farm Assist. As part of this review process it was recommended to provide for an extensive expansion to the list of Agri-Environmental schemes which will qualify towards the disregard of €2,540. I am delighted that the Social Welfare Act 2022, which enacts Budget 2022 measures, has extended the list of schemes to which this measure applies. Furthermore, this extension was originally due to take effect from October 2022 but will now be implemented from June. It will support the Government’s climate change agenda and act as an incentive to farmers to participate in the schemes.
I am considering the review in full and will arrange to finalise it in due course.
86. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress made regarding the introduction of the parental bereavement benefit and leave given the availability of this scheme in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5327/22]
View answerThe death of a child is a tragedy and the difficulties that parents and families experience as a result cannot be over-stated. As I have previously advised the Deputy, I will be working with Minister O’Gorman to see how best we can do this.
Within the social welfare system, there are a number of supports for people who suffer a bereavement. In particular, there is an arrangement known as the six-weeks payment after death which allows for certain payments to continue to be made after a person dies.
If a person is in receipt of a primary social welfare payment which includes an increase for a qualified child and, tragically, that child dies, the qualified child payment will continue for six weeks after the child's death. In cases where an individual has been in receipt of One-Parent Family Payment and an increase for a qualified child, both payments will continue for six weeks after the death of that child.
In the case of Carer’s Allowance, payment continues to be made for twelve weeks after the death of the person who was being cared for, including where this was a child. Carer’s Benefit continues for six weeks. Domiciliary Care Allowance continues to be paid for three months after the death of the child being cared for.
Working Family Payment and the Back to Work Family Dividend also remain in payment for up to six weeks after the death of a qualifying child. Eligibility may continue beyond those six weeks if there are other children associated with the claim.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, the Department may make an exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income. An application can be made under the ENP scheme for assistance with funeral and burial expenses where there is an inability to pay these costs, in part or in full, by the family of the deceased person without causing hardship. In 2021, approximately 2,400 exceptional needs payments totalling €5.1 million were made in relation to funeral and burial costs.
In Budget 2020, €60,000 was allocated to the Irish Hospice Foundation, to carry out a research project into funeral poverty in Ireland, together with the wider economic impact of bereavement. This project is expected to be completed this Spring.
87. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider addressing the issue of recipients of widow and widower’s pension not being eligible to receive payments such as the Covid-19 illness benefit payment (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5329/22]
View answerThere are a number of basic principles which underpin the Irish social insurance system.
Firstly, there is the contributory principle. Under this principle there is a direct link between the PRSI contributions that a person has paid and entitlement to a varying range of benefits and pensions. Where a person has sufficient PRSI contributions, then benefits and pensions may be paid without a means test where a particular contingency arises.
Secondly, there is the solidarity principle. Under this principle the benefits and pensions that are paid are not directly related to the amount of PRSI contributions paid by insured persons. PRSI contribution income is instead redistributed to support contributors who are more vulnerable.
There is also a general principle of 'one person, one payment', which applies across the social welfare system. Given the contingency-based nature of this system, it can happen that a person may experience more than one contingency at the same time, but generally, as these payments are to help them meet their income needs, he or she can receive only one of those payments. This principle is common to social security systems across the world.
Overlapping payment arrangements were introduced in the early 1950s when the social insurance system was first established, at a time when there were only ten individual social welfare payments and when rates were significantly lower in real terms than they are now. However, the social welfare system has been significantly developed over the intervening period, with the result that the number of possible combinations of concurrent contingencies has increased greatly.
The concurrent payment of half-rate Illness Benefit and Jobseeker’s Benefit in addition to One-Parent Family Payment, and Widows and Widowers Pensions was discontinued from January 2012, in the context of the Government’s commitments to maintain existing core rates of primary payments for social welfare recipients.
The combined rates of payment if a person was to be paid both a full rate Widow's Contributory Pension and Illness Benefit (plus allowances), neither of which are subject to a means test, would be significantly higher than those paid to other people supported by my Department.
The rules governing eligibility for the enhanced Illness Benefit payment for people diagnosed with Covid-19 are the same as for the standard Illness Benefit.
To change the underlying principle of entitlement, and allow people to claim multiple payments would involve significant additional expenditure, which could prove unsustainable in the long-term, and would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary contexts.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
88. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress of the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020 – 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5308/22]
View answerThe Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020 - 2025 is a whole of Government strategy that aims to reduce consistent poverty and improve social inclusion in Ireland. The Roadmap contains seven high level goals with 22 specific targets, which will be delivered by 66 unique commitments.
I am pleased that the first Progress Report of the Roadmap was published on 20 January 2022 and sets out progress towards the Roadmap goals for the period January 2020 to September 2021. It is accompanied by a Report Card detailing progress on each of the Roadmap commitments. The Progress Report and Report Card are available on the Department of Social Protection pages on gov.ie.
Implementation of Roadmap commitments is underway with a number of commitments fully achieved or close to completion and with work ongoing in relation to a number of other commitments. This was achieved against a challenging backdrop with many Departments having to redirect resources during 2020 and 2021 to address the range of social, health, community and economic consequences of COVID-19.
By the end of September 2021:
- 21 of the 69 Roadmap commitments were fully achieved or achieved with ongoing delivery;
- A further 4 commitments were in progress on schedule with ongoing delivery;
- 37 commitments were in progress, with delivery on some delayed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic;
- Work on 5 commitments had yet to commence; and
- 2 were deferred due to the pandemic.
Commitments that have been delivered over the first 21 months of the Roadmap include:
- The implementation and roll out of the National Childcare Scheme.
- The introduction of an additional three weeks of Parent’s Leave and Parent’s Benefit are available to each parent of a child born or adopted on or after 1 November 2019 (bringing the total to five weeks). Budget 2022 includes the introduction of an additional 2 weeks, which will bring the total to 7 weeks in 2022.
- The extension of the Hot School Meals programme in 2021, with 189 schools, including 171 DEIS schools, receiving funding under the programme.
- The allocation of €5m to the Department of Social Protection under the Dormant Accounts Action Plan 2020 to Support and Improve Employment Opportunities for Carers and Persons with a Disability, with funding in excess of €2.3 million awarded to 17 projects in December 2020.
- The establishment of the Labour Market Advisory Council, which plays a key role in advising the Minister and the Government on public policy responses to support the labour market recovery.
- The inclusion in Budgets 2021 and 2022 of specific welfare measures to support working families on low incomes such as improvements in the core weekly rates of payment and the Working Family Payment, and targeted increases in payments for children.
The publication of national strategies which will support the delivery of Roadmap commitments including:
- The Further Education and Training (FET) Strategy 2020-2024 "Transforming Learning" in July 2020;
- National Volunteering Strategy 2021-2025 in December 2020;
- Our Rural Future - the Rural Development policy 2021-2025 in March 2021;
- Pathways to Work Strategy 2021-2025 in July 2021;
- Adult Literacy for Life: 10–year Adult Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy in September 2021; and
- ‘Housing for All - a New Housing Plan for Ireland’ in September 2021.
I thank the Deputy for his question and hope this clarifies the matter.
89. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the provisions her Department is taking in recognising long Covid as a debilitating illness; if consideration has been given to a long-term enhanced Covid illness or Covid disability payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5456/22]
View answerMy Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability. Entitlement to these supports is generally not contingent on the nature of the illness or disability but on the extent to which an illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work. My Department spent a total of €4.7 billion on illness, disability and caring payments in 2020.
In March 2020, under the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 (No. 1) and subsequent regulations, the Government provided for entitlement to Illness Benefit for persons who have been diagnosed with Covid-19 or are a probable source of infection with Covid-19. The rate of the enhanced Illness Benefit payment in respect of Covid-19 is higher than the normal maximum personal rate of illness benefit, for a limited period. The enhanced rate is €350, with additional payments in respect of dependent adults and children.From March 2020 this enhanced benefit was payable for up to 2 weeks where a person was isolating as a probable source of infection of Covid-19 and up to 10 weeks where a person had been diagnosed with Covid-19. Expenditure on this payment was almost €106 million in 2021.The duration of payment for those considered a probable risk was reduced to 7 days from 14 January 2022, in line with government guidelines. From that date, asymptomatic people who are close contacts and who have had their immunity boosted are not required to restrict their movements, therefore Enhanced Illness Benefit will not be paid to these individuals. If, however, they start showing symptoms they should immediately self-isolate and, in this circumstance, may apply for the enhanced Illness Benefit payment. In a case where a person continues to be ill beyond 10 weeks, standard Illness Benefit may be paid for an extended period, based on the person’s continued eligibility. Illness Benefit is the primary income support payment for people who are unable to attend work due to illness of any type and who are covered by Pay Related Social Insurance contributions. Illness Benefit is payable for up to two years, depending on satisfying the eligibility conditions. In addition to these income supports, my Department also provides means tested supports under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who are ill but who do not qualify for Illness Benefit. The Department may also make an exceptional needs payment to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income. My Department keeps the range of income supports under review in order to make sure they meet their objectives. Any changes to the current system would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
90. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will urgently review the financial assessment element of the carer’s allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5359/22]
View answerCarer's allowance is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
Means for the purpose of this payment comprises any income belonging to the carer and their spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant, property, (except their own home) or an asset that could provide them with monies or an income, for example occupational pensions, or pensions or benefits from another country.
The person concerned is in receipt of Carers Allowance in respect of her care recipient since 12 January 2017. No means were assessed against the person concerned at the time of the application. Claims in payment are subject to periodic review to ensure that there is a continued entitlement to payment.
The means test for Carer's Allowance is one of the most generous in the social protection system. Currently, €332.50 of gross weekly income is disregarded in the calculation of means for a single person; the equivalent for a person who is married, in a civil partnership, or cohabiting is €665 of combined gross weekly income.
In this particular case, a means review was initiated in September 2021. The outcome of this means review, based on the information available to the deciding officer, determined that the person concerned had assessable means from employment of €215.58 once the current disregard of €665 was applied. This resulted in a new rate of €58.00 effective 20 January 2022.
The person concerned was notified on 17 January 2022 of this outcome, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal. To date, the Department has not received a request for a review or an appeal. My officials will arrange for a review of the decision based on the information provided by the Deputy. They will notify the person concerned directly of the outcome of the review once it is completed. It is also open to the person concerned to submit an appeal of the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.
As part of Budget 2022, I was pleased to be able to announce additional measures which will allow carers to have a higher weekly household income and a higher level of savings, and still qualify for a Carer's Allowance payment. These measures, which will take effect from June 2022, include an increase in the income disregard from €332.50 to €350 for a single person and from €665 to €750 for a couple. In addition, the amount of capital disregarded in the means test will be increased from €20,000 to €50,000. These significant changes will mean more carers will now qualify for the payment while those in receipt of a reduced payment will also see increases.
In advance of June 2022, my officials will be reviewing entitlement for those currently on a reduced rate of Carer's Allowance, including the person concerned, to take account of the new budget measures. Any change will be automatically applied to the Carer's Allowance payment of the person concerned from June 2022.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
91. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to address the findings outlined in the Cost of Disability report; the way social protection payments will be reformed to support persons with a disability; the timeline for this process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5328/22]
View answerThe cost of disability is significantly broader than income supports and it is clear that it will not be addressed through income support alone.
The findings of the research have implications for many areas of public policy including the delivery of care services, health, housing, education, transport and income supports so a whole-of-Government perspective is needed. As such the Government has referred the report on the Cost of Disability to the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Group, chaired by the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability.
This Group has oversight of monitoring the key frameworks for policy and action to address the needs of persons with disabilities. It will consider and monitor actions required by the various Government Departments on a bi-annual basis.
All Departments have been asked to consider actions that are currently being implemented and any proposed new actions that they will be undertaking in the context of the findings of the Report.
From the perspective of my Department, it is worth noting that a number of measures were introduced as part of Budget 2022 in relation to people with disabilities and their carers, which will go some way towards alleviating the financial costs experienced. These include a combination of core weekly payment rate increases, increases in earnings disregards as well as supports to employers.
Under the Roadmap for Social Inclusion my Department has a commitment to develop and consult on a ‘strawman’ proposal for the restructuring of long-term disability payments. I have asked my officials to revisit the ‘strawman’ proposal to take on board the findings in the research. The associated timelines will be reviewed in the context of National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Group reporting mechanism.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
93. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider reviewing the application process for the domiciliary care allowance with a view to lessening the burden on struggling carers particularly the cumbersome and onerous eight page form for each specialist consultant the child attends which currently must be submitted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5473/22]
View answerDomiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly payment for parents caring for a child with a severe disability.
Applicants for Domiciliary Care Allowance are required to complete a DomCare 1 application form, which details their child's disability and resultant medical and additional care needs. In addition to this form an applicant can, if they wish, supply further evidence, medical or otherwise, and this can include reports from specialists or other professionals who know the child and their individual needs.
There is no compulsion to provide additional evidence or information but such information can assist the Department's medical assessors and deciding officers to make the appropriate decision on the application at the earliest date possible and reduce the need for further reviews and appeals.
The Department regularly reviews scheme application forms to ensure that they are as user friendly as possible.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
94. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of her strategy for the procurement of public employment services; the reason she is proceeding to a new model of local employment service delivery; the cost basis on which the new model will be delivered; the relevant technical and previous experience necessary for a potential tender applicant; the proposed timeline for the process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5380/22]
View answerMy Department is procuring a new Local Area Employment Service over two distinct phases. Phase one of the process for procuring new employment services involved seven counties in the Midlands and North West currently without a Local Employment Service, contracts were signed last December and services are in the process of being mobilised.
Phase two of the process has now commenced, with the publication of the request for tender in December for seventeen lots covering 19 counties. The closing date for tenders is the 21st March providing additional time for organisations to work collaboratively together. Services for this phase will begin in July 2022.
The existing Local Employment Service contract model with annual contracts being awarded in a non competitive closed procurement manner conflicted with clear legal advice my Department received from the Chief State Solicitors Office and the Attorney General.
The costs model of the Local Area Employment Service is focused on client progression and prioritises payments early in the client's engagement, with an average of ninety per cent of fees payable once an agreed Personal Progression Plan has been finalised, usually early in the process. Additional fees are payable to the service provider when the client achieves employment sustained for 17 weeks. My Department has worked hard to ensure a system of advance payments is in place to aid with any cash-flow issues, particularly for the community and voluntary sector.The specific select and award criteria of the request for tenders are comprehensive and detailed and published on e-Tenders in the usual manner. The key feature is the emphasis on tenderers demonstrating their ability to provide a quality service, with strong community linkages and social value with eighty per cent of marks now available for these areas.
95. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on and response to the key conclusion in the Cost of Disability in Ireland research report that the levels of disability payments and allowances should be changed to reflect the very different costs of disability by severity and type of disability. [5144/22]
View answerThe Cost of Disability research findings are significantly broader than income supports and it is clear that this issue will not be addressed through income support alone. The research has implications for many areas of public policy including the delivery of care services, health, housing, education, transport and income supports.
In order to implement an all-Department response, the Government has referred the report to the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Group, chaired by the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte.
This Group has oversight of monitoring the key frameworks for policy and action to address the needs of persons with disabilities in Ireland and it is in this regard that the Government saw it fitting that this group would be the appropriate monitoring vehicle. It will consider and monitor actions required by the various Government Departments on foot of this report on a bi-annual basis.
All Departments have been asked to consider actions that are currently being implemented and any proposed new actions that they will be undertaking in the context of the findings of the Report.
From the perspective of my Department, it is worth noting that a number of measures were introduced as part of Budget 2022 in relation to people with disabilities and their carers, which will go towards alleviating the financial costs experienced. These include a combination of core weekly payment rate increases, increases in earnings disregards as well as supports to employers.
Furthermore, under the Roadmap for Social Inclusion my Department has a commitment to develop and consult on a ‘strawman’ proposal for the restructuring of long-term disability payments. I have asked my officials to revisit the ‘strawman’ proposal to take on board the findings in the Cost of Disability research.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
98. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons that benefited from the optical benefits component of the treatment benefits scheme operated by her Department in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5307/22]
View answerThe Treatment Benefit Scheme provides dental, optical and aural services to insured workers, the self-employed, retired people and their dependant spouse/partner who have the required number of social insurance (PRSI) contributions.
In order to qualify a person needs to have at least 260 PRSI contributions paid at either Class A, E, H, P or S, since first starting work, and also have 39 contributions paid or credited in the relevant contribution year on which the claim is based.
The number of claims for optical benefit in the period requested are detailed below:
|
Year |
Number of claims |
|
2021 |
523,832 |
|
2020 |
406,648 |
|
2019 |
452,311 |
|
2018 |
451,249 |
|
2017 |
229,240 |
99. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) while born abroad and is now an Irish citizen with a full employment record, was asked to provide documentation submitted to the Garda National Immigration Bureau while applying for paternity benefit given that their contribution record would be on file with her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59978/21]
View answerPaternity Benefit is a payment for employed and self-employed people who are on paternity leave from work who satisfy certain PRSI contribution conditions. It is paid for two weeks and is available in respect of any child born or adopted on or after 1 September 2016. Paternity Benefit is paid at €250 per week - the same rate as Maternity Benefit, Adoptive Benefit and Parent’s Benefit.
In order that the Department can ensure that a customer meets the PRSI conditions, non-EEA customers are always requested to furnish a copy of their present Certificate of Registration (GNIB Card).
This is required as part of the check in regard to the person's right to work in Ireland.
In addition to having a valid GNIB at commencement of claim, it is necessary to ensure that the customer had a valid work permit / GNIB registration for the relevant tax year. This ensures that all earnings and contributions in the relevant tax year are valid and that an accurate decision is reached for the claim.
In this case, the person concerned had their nationality recorded on departmental systems as American at the time of making the claim and no documentation was submitted at the time of the claim to indicate otherwise.
Documentation was requested by the Department in order to ensure the validity of the customer’s PRSI record, at which time the customer provided an Irish passport. The customer’s nationality was then updated for future reference, and their claim awarded. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
100. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the introduction of a cost of disability following the publication of a report (details supplied). [5490/22]
View answerThe Cost of Disability research findings are significantly broader than income supports and it is clear that this issue will not be addressed through income support alone. The research has implications for many areas of public policy including the delivery of care services, health, housing, education, transport and income supports.
In order to implement an all-Department response, the Government has referred the report to the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Group, chaired by the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte.
This Group has oversight of monitoring the key frameworks for policy and action to address the needs of persons with disabilities in Ireland and it is in this regard that the Government saw it fitting that this group would be the appropriate monitoring vehicle. It will consider and monitor actions required by the various Government Departments on foot of this report on a bi-annual basis.
All Departments have been asked to consider actions that are currently being implemented and any proposed new actions that they will be undertaking in the context of the findings of the Report.
From the perspective of my Department, it is worth noting that a number of measures were introduced as part of Budget 2022 in relation to people with disabilities and their carers, which will go towards alleviating the financial costs experienced. These include a combination of core weekly payment rate increases, increases in earnings disregards as well as supports to employers.
Furthermore, under the Roadmap for Social Inclusion my Department has a commitment to develop and consult on a ‘strawman’ proposal for the restructuring of long-term disability payments. I have asked my officials to revisit the ‘strawman’ proposal to take on board the findings in the Cost of Disability research.
Solutions will require a multi-faceted approach involving measures to support additional income, targeted grants, and better services or supports.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
