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Tuesday, 22 Feb 2022

Written Answers Nos. 511-530

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (511)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

511. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients across all social assistance and social insurance payments, by payment type, as of February 2021, in tabular form. [9146/22]

View answer

Written answers

The information requested is set out in the following table. The table outlines the breakdown of recipients by payment type for the main Department of Social Protection schemes, which were available, as of the end of February 2021.

Recipients by Payment Type (February 2021)

Scheme

Cheque

Bank Transfer (EFT)

Post Office (EIT)

Total

Adoptive Benefit

0

7

0

7

Back To Education Allowance

2

5,531

464

5,997

Back To Work Enterprise Allowance

1

2,577

7

2,585

Carer's Allowance

15

56,520

32,739

89,274

Carer's Benefit

0

3,314

368

3,682

Child Benefit

0

530,350

105,660

636,010

Community Employment Programme

0

19,328

0

19,328

Disability Allowance

2

90,665

62,617

153,284

Disablement Benefit

1,413

13,376

664

15,453

Farm Assist

15

3,487

1,901

5,403

Health and Safety Benefit

0

26

0

26

Illness Benefit

2,948

45,013

1,178

49,139

Injury Benefit

75

780

8

863

Invalidity Pension

20

48,995

10,323

59,338

Job Initiative

0

546

0

546

Jobseeker's Allowance

1,435

58,235

80,698

140,368

Jobseeker's Benefit

765

32,603

2,531

35,899

Maternity Benefit

38

19,595

0

19,633

One Parent Family Payment

3

22,217

16,970

39,190

Partial Capacity Benefit

16

3,169

19

3,204

Part-Time Job Incentive Scheme

2

147

31

180

Paternity Benefit

13

588

0

601

Rural Social Scheme

0

3,045

0

3,045

State Pension (Contributory)

253

337,976

113,130

451,359

State Pension (Non-Contributory)

13

44,810

50,210

95,033

Supplementary Welfare Allowance

326

3,274

7,140

10,740

Tús - Community Work Placement Scheme

0

3,967

0

3,967

Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension

32

77,432

45,499

122,963

Working Family Payment

0

46,517

171

46,688

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (512)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

512. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients across jobseeker’s benefit and related schemes as of February 2021; and the number of days that recipients been receiving payment, per scheme, in tabular form. [9147/22]

View answer

Written answers

The information requested is set out in the following table, which outlines the recipient numbers for Jobseeker's Benefit related schemes, as of the end of February 2021, broken down by the average duration on each of these schemes.

Scheme

Recipients

Average Duration (Days)

Jobseeker's Benefit

17,986

125

Jobseeker's Benefit - Casual

12,281

198

Systematic Short Time Workers

3,320

148

Over 65's

2,312

201

TOTAL

35,899

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (513)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

513. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for a benefit payment by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9185/22]

View answer

Written answers

Benefit Payment for 65 Year Old's is a payment for people aged between 65 and 66 years who have ceased employment or self-employment. '

In order to be eligible for Benefit Payment for 65 Year Old's a person must satisfy all the conditions for the payment:

- Be aged between 65 and 66 years

- Have ceased employment or self-employment

- Be resident in the Republic of Ireland

- Satisfy the contribution conditions

In terms of the contribution conditions a person must have 39 contributions paid or credited in the year governing their claim; in this case the Governing Year is 2020.

If this condition is not satisfied a person must have 26 paid contributions in both the Governing Year (2020) and the year before (2019).

The person concerned has no recorded contributions in 2019 and 28 A contributions in 2020

Therefore, the person concerned does not satisfy the contribution conditions and thus does not qualify for this payment. A decision letter to this effect has been issued to her on the 16/02/2022.

State Pensions

Questions (514)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

514. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for the State pension (contributory) by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9211/22]

View answer

Written answers

According to the records of my Department, the person concerned will reach pension age on 26 February 2022. Their application for State pension (contributory) was received on 16 February 2022. The person’s State pension (contributory) entitlemen will be examined by a Deciding Officer and they will be notified of the outcome.

Under current eligibility conditions, an individual must have 520 full-rate paid contributions in order to qualify for standard State pension (contributory). 520 full-rate contributions equate to 10 years of full-rate insurable employment. Factors such as an individual’s social insurance record, their attachment to the workforce, and their countries of employment affect the rate of pension entitlement.

According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has had periods of self-employment. I have arranged for a copy of the person’s social insurance record to issue to them. A qualifying condition for State pension (contributory) for self-employed contributors is that all self-employment liabilities must be paid in full. Failure to discharge any outstanding liabilities for any years of self-employment contributions may result in a delay in the date of eligibility for State pension contributory. The person concerned is therefore advised to ensure that self-employment liabilities have been paid.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Eligibility

Questions (515)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

515. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry is eligible for the treatment benefit scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9216/22]

View answer

Written answers

The 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 Department has undertaken a review of the social insurance record of the person concerned and can confirm that they are now eligible for the Treatment Benefit Scheme. An approval notification for optical benefit will issue to them shortly.

I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Code

Questions (516)

Richard Bruton

Question:

516. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider changing the law in order that young persons attending school at senior cycle can retain the entitlement to child benefit until the end of the school year instead of withdrawing it on reaching the age of 18 years of age at a time when they cannot qualify for other support and costs are not reduced in any way for the family. [9235/22]

View answer

Written answers

Child Benefit is a monthly payment made to families with children in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children until their 18th birthday who are in full-time education, or who have a disability. Child Benefit is currently paid to over 631,000 families in respect of almost 1.2 million children with an estimated expenditure of more than €2.1 billion in 2022.

There are currently no plans to extend Child Benefit in respect of full-time students in second level education who are over 18 years of age. Such an extension would have significant cost implications and would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.

Families on low incomes may be able to avail of a number of social welfare schemes that support children in full-time education until the age of 22, including:

- Increase for a Qualified Child (IQCs) with primary social welfare payments;

- the Working Family Payment for low-paid employees with children; and

- the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance.

These schemes provide targeted assistance that is directly linked to household income and thereby support low-income families with older children participating in full-time education.

As part of Budget 2022, I increased the rates for a qualified child aged under 12 by €2 to €40 per week, and for a qualified child aged 12 or older by €3 to €48 per week, from January. I increased the level of the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance by €10 to €160 for each child aged 4 to 11 years and to €285 for each child aged 12 and over. I also equalised the income limits for one and two parent households, thereby making it easier for lone parents to qualify for that payment. Budget 2022 also provided for a €10 weekly increase in the income limits for Working Family Payment, and I am pleased that this will now come into effect from April, 2022.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Eligibility

Questions (517)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

517. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if an illness benefit payment will be reinstated for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9266/22]

View answer

Written answers

Illness Benefit is paid for a maximum of one year if a person has between 104 and 259 total reckonable PRSI contributions paid. It is paid for a maximum of 2 years if a person has over 260 total reckonable PRSI contributions.

The person concerned has been paid for a full year of Illness Benefit. Their entitlement to payment has exhausted as, according to the Department's records, he has 150 total reckonable PRSI contributions paid.

The person concerned has indicated that he worked in the UK for a number of years. My Department has requested the UK PRSI record of the person concerned to ascertain if he has further contributions which can be used to bring his total contributions up to 260 and qualify him for another year of Illness Benefit. Once his UK PRSI record has been received from the UK his claim will be reviewed.

If the person concerned is experiencing difficulties meeting his financial commitments he should contact the Department's representative, formerly known as a Community Welfare Officer, at his local Intreo Centre so that an assessment of his circumstances can be carried out to determine whether he might qualify for assistance under the terms of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Eligibility

Questions (518)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

518. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that a person (details supplied) is unable to receive the fuel allowance given that they are living alone and are in receipt of the invalidity payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9306/22]

View answer

Written answers

The person concerned is in receipt of invalidity pension and disablement benefit.

The person concerned does not qualify for fuel allowance under the National Fuel Scheme as she is in receipt of a disablement benefit payment and disablement benefit is a non qualifying payment for receipt of fuel allowance.

Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, a Heating Supplement may be paid to assist people in certain circumstances that have special heating needs. If a recipient of a social protection or HSE payment has exceptional heating costs due to ill health, infirmity or a medical condition which s/he is unable to meet out of household income, that person may apply for a Heating Supplement.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

State Pensions

Questions (519)

Michael Ring

Question:

519. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider providing assistance to a specific group of pensioners (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9433/22]

View answer

Written answers

Ireland has a unified system of social security whereby all contributions paid by workers (and their employers, where applicable) are paid into a single fund, the Social Insurance Fund (SIF), from which various benefits are paid to those withe established entitlement.

The Irish social welfare system recognises different categories or “Classes” of workers. The rate of contribution paid by these categories differs. They can therefore access different levels of social insurance benefits. For example, Class A employees, generally private sector employees and post 6 April 1995 public servants, pay a combined employer and employee PRSI rate and qualify for all social insurance benefits. In contrast, Class B public sector employees pay a much lower combined PRSI rate. Consequently, they qualify for a restricted range of social insurance benefits. They do not qualify for the State pension (contributory), relying instead on their occupational pensions.

The State Pension (Contributory) is a social insurance payment for people aged 66 or over, who satisfy certain social insurance contribution conditions. The purpose of the State Pension (Non-Contributory) which is a means tested payment, is to ensure those individuals with limited or no income or assets receive the most support from the State.

Primary weekly social welfare payments are intended to enable recipients to meet their basic day-to-day income needs. In addition, my Department also provides a range of other payments, both cash and non-cash, on a weekly, monthly, or less frequent basis. These payments are considered secondary in nature.

The Living Alone Increase (LAI) is one of those secondary payments. It is not a scheme or a stand-alone payment, but rather it is a supplement to a social welfare payment to people aged 66 years or over, who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are living alone.

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 recipients of long-term social protection payments where an applicant satisfies a means test. People in receipt of such long-term supports are unlikely to have additional resources of their own and are more vulnerable to poverty, including energy poverty.

The Government is acutely aware of the increase in consumer prices in recent months, especially the increase in fuel and other energy prices. To help mitigate the effects of these rising costs, the Government has announced additional expenditure measures to a total of €505 million which will make a positive impact on the incomes of all households in our country.

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 from their own resources. Decisions on such payments are made on a case-by-case basis.

Any decision to allow those in receipt of occupational pensions who are not in receipt of a qualifying payment to receive the fuel allowance or the living alone increase would have budgetary consequences and would have to be considered in the context of budget negotiations.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Code

Questions (520)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

520. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures that are in place for those reaching 65 years of age who should qualify for the over-65s benefit payment but do not satisfy the PRSI contribution criteria as a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic and the loss of income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9498/22]

View answer

Written answers

The Benefit Payment for 65 year olds was introduced in line with the Programme for Government commitment, to provide a benefit payment for people aged 65, who are required to retire, or who chose to retire, without a requirement to sign on, engage in activation measures or be available for and genuinely seeking work.

The payment is made under the Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Benefit (Self-Employed) social insurance schemes in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 12 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 as amended in the case of Jobseekers Benefit (JB) and Chapter 12A of the same Act in the case of Jobseekers Benefit Self-Employed (JBSE).

The rate of payment for both Jobseekers Benefit and Jobseekers Benefit self employed is paid at a graduated rate which is determined by a person’s average earnings in the general contribution year (GCY), which is the second last complete tax year (form claims made in 2022 this is 2020). However, Benefit Payment for 65 year olds is paid at the maximum weekly personal rate which is €208 irrespective of the previous earnings or income.

To be eligible for the payment a person must satisfy all the qualifying conditions of the scheme including the requirement to have the specified number of social insurance contributions paid.

The Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Act 2020, provides, amongst other measures, for the attribution of social insurance contributions, for a prescribed period, to insured persons who were beneficiaries of certain Covid-19 income support payments. These payments include the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) and Jobseekers Payment in lieu of PUP.

The attribution of contributions ensured that persons entitled to and in receipt of the PUP had social insurance contributions attributed to them at the same value as they were paying while employed immediately before going on the payment.

If a self-employed customer was entitled to and in receipt of PUP, or a jobseeker’s payment in lieu of PUP, and was not liable to make a self-employment contribution in respect of the 2020 contribution year, they will, in accordance with the provisions of Statutory Instrument 730 of 2021, Social Welfare (Consolidated Contributions of Insurability)(Amendment)(No.2)(Attribution of Self-Employment Contributions) Regulations 2021, be attributed 52 self-employment contributions in respect of that year. This attribution process is expected to happen in early March.

These measures mean that people who lost their employment arising from the Covid-19 pandemic will not be disadvantaged in accessing social insurance benefits in the future, including the Benefit Payment for 65 year olds.

Where a person does not satisfy the conditionality for receipt of the Benefit Payment for 65 year olds they may apply for means tested Jobseeker's Allowance.

Finally, If the Deputy is referring to a specific case I would advise that they should forward the details to my Department for review,

I trust that this clarifies the position.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (521)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

521. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for a jobseeker’s allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9506/22]

View answer

Written answers

The person concerned has had their claim for Jobseeker’s Benefit (Self-Employed) (JBSE) awarded at a weekly rate of €208.00.

This rate is payable from 19/02/2022, and a decision letter to this effect has issued to the customer.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (522)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

522. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for an invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9507/22]

View answer

Written answers

Invalidity Pension is payable to an insured person who satisfies certain Social Insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions and who is permanently incapable of work due to an illness or incapacity and for no other reason.

Claimants must have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions class (A, E, H or S) since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last or second last complete contribution year before the relevant date of their Invalidity Pension claim.

The relevant date is:

(a) any date after the completion of one year of continuous incapacity for work, or

(b) any lesser period that may be prescribed, subject to the conditions and in the circumstances that may be prescribed where the insured person has entered into a continuous period of incapacity for work and he or she is subsequently proved to be permanently incapable of work.

The person concerned submitted a new application for Invalidity Pension on 26 January 2022. It was decided that the relevant year in this case is 2021. According to the Department’s records there are 0 weeks qualifying contributions paid or credited for her in the contribution year prior to the relevant date (2020) and 0 weeks qualifying contributions paid or credited for her in the second last year prior to the relevant date (2019). This application has been disallowed and the person concerned was notified of the decision on 16 February 2022, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (523)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

523. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for an invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9508/22]

View answer

Written answers

Following a review of her application for an invalidity pension (IP), the person referred to has been awarded IP with effect from 28 October 2021 and received her first payment to her nominated bank account on 17 February 2022. Any arrears due from 28 October 2021 to 16 February 2022 (less any overlapping social welfare payment) will issue shortly. The person in question was notified of this decision on 10 February 2022.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (524)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

524. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for a supplementary welfare allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9509/22]

View answer

Written answers

Supplementary Welfare Allowance is a weekly allowance paid to people who have insufficient income to meet their needs and those of their families.

The person concerned applied for a basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance with effect from 03/02/2022 and provided supporting documentation on 13/02/2022. In the assessment of her claim the Designated Officer asked the person concerned to provide further information in a letter dated 16/02/2022.

On receipt of the requested information, the person’s application will be assessed, and she will be advised of the outcome in writing.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Social Welfare Appeals

Questions (525)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

525. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an appeal for carer’s allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9510/22]

View answer

Written answers

Carer's allowance (CA) 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.

An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 20 September 2021.

The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer decided that although a certain level of care was being provided the level involved did not amount to full-time care.

The person concerned was notified on 6 October 2021 of this decision, the reason for it and of his right of review and appeal.

A request for review of this decision was received on 18 October 2021. Following this review the decision remained unchanged. The person concerned was notified on 13 November 2021 of the outcome of this review, the reason for it and of his right of appeal.

According to Department records the person concerned has not requested an appeal of this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO).

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Appeals

Questions (526)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

526. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an appeal for an exceptional needs payment in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9511/22]

View answer

Written answers

The purpose of the Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) is to assist people with essential, once-off, exceptional expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income.

The ENP scheme is demand led and payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.

Applications for ENPs are made under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme administered by Designated Persons in the Community Welfare Service in my Department.

According to the records of my Department, the person concerned applied for an ENP for a house kit-out. The claim was disallowed on the basis the person’s means were in excess of the prescribed limit for a person of her circumstances and she had sufficient means to meet her need. The person’s net income, derived from her Maternity Benefit payment and wages from her employer, was €311.53 over the Supplementary Welfare Allowance weekly rate for her family composition.

A decision letter dated 29/10/2021 issued to the person concerned advising her of the outcome of her application and affording her the option of seeking a review of the Designated Person’s decision.

Determinations made in relation to claims made under Sections 200, 201 and 202 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation Act) 2005, namely allowances-in-kind, ENPs and UNPs, can be reviewed by a SWA Reviewing Officer under Section 323 of that Act.

Following a request from the person concerned a review of the decision was undertaken and the original decision was upheld. The person concerned was advised of the outcome in writing on 16/12/2021.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (527)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

527. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for the fuel allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9512/22]

View answer

Written answers

The Fuel allowance (FA) is a means tested payment, payable to people who either live alone or only with certain other qualified people. The person concerned was awarded FA with effect from 17 November 2021 and he was also awarded living alone allowance (LAA) and telephone support allowance (TSA) from this date. On 19 November 2021 a letter issued informing them of this.

Their first payment was made by their chosen payment method on 24 November 2021 and any arrears of allowance due have issued to the person concerned. FA is paid during the winter months only.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (528)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

528. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for the fuel allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9513/22]

View answer

Written answers

According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has not yet applied for fuel allowance. I have arranged for an application form to be issued to them. On receipt of a completed application, the person’s eligibility for fuel allowance will be determined by a Deciding Officer and they will be notified of the outcome.

Fuel allowance is a means-tested payment to assist householders on long-term social welfare payments towards the cost of their heating needs. The main eligibility conditions that apply to the fuel allowance scheme are that a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment, must satisfy a means test and must either be living alone or with other qualifying persons. The fuel allowance means test is linked to the maximum rate of State pension (contributory). An individual applicant can have a combined weekly household income of €120.00 above the maximum rate of State pension (contributory) and still be eligible for fuel allowance.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (529)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

529. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for an invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied); when a decision will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9514/22]

View answer

Written answers

The person referred to is in receipt of invalidity pension, awarded to her on 03 December 2021 with effect from 07 October 2021. She received her first payment to her nominated bank account on 16 December 2021 and received arrears due from 07 October 2021 to 15 December 2021 (less any overlapping social welfare payment) on 13 January 2022. The person in question was notified of the decision on 03 December 2021.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (530)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

530. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for an invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied); when a decision will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9515/22]

View answer

Written answers

The person referred to was awarded invalidity pension with effect from 28 October 2021 and received her first payment to her nominated bank account on 06 January 2022. She received all arrears due for the period 28 October 2021 to 05 January 2022 on 13 January 2022. The person in question was notified of this decision on 22 December 2021.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

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