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Wednesday, 23 Feb 2022

Written Answers Nos. 151-170

Schools Building Projects

Questions (151)

Michael McNamara

Question:

151. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education the position regarding an application for a new extension to a school (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10365/22]

View answer

Written answers

I can confirm to the Deputy that the school referred to has been approved for a project under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme 2020. This project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority and will provide for the following accommodation at the school: One Mainstream Classroom and one SET Room.

I can advise the Deputy that a Stage 1/2a Report was recently submitted to my Department. The stage report was reviewed by my officials and, due to the inclusion of unapproved works in the proposal, a request for a revised report has been issued to the school.

It is now a matter for the Board of Management to advance the project in that regard.

Teaching Qualifications

Questions (152)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

152. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if she will immediately establish an expert review group to examine and issue recommendations regarding the minimum essential qualification for SNAs; and if, a clear commitment will be given to implement any recommendations of the review group. [10374/22]

View answer

Written answers

Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) play a huge role in helping to ensure the inclusion of pupils with significant care needs in education and in school life. This was acknowledged in the Comprehensive Review of the Special Needs Assistant Scheme (SNAs) published by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) in 2018.

The Review made a number of recommendations regarding SNAs including the training needs of SNAs. In this regard, the NCSE recommended that a new national training programme at Level 5 of the National Qualification Framework be developed for existing SNAs who do not have the requisite level of training and for new SNAs on appointment. The NCSE also recommended that training tailored to the complex needs of some students would also be provided.

The policy advice has been considered by my Department. It was decided that priority would be given to the development of a training programme for SNAs who may not have had a recent opportunity to access a training programme tailored to their role.

The first national training programme for SNAs is now in place and it aims to enhance the knowledge, skills and expertise of SNAs whose work is central to the inclusion of students with additional care and complex needs in school life. The programme is fully funded by my Department and delivered at no cost to the SNA.

As this is the first programme, it is appropriate to take the time to review outcomes and this will inform the future approach to ongoing training and professional development of SNAs. Part of that consideration will include accreditation.

Raising the minimum qualification for appointment as a special needs assistant has been raised by the FORSA union and has been referred to the Workplace Relations Commission. My Department is engaging in that process.

The recruitment and appointment of Special Needs Assistants is a matter for each individual school authority. In addition, the actual requirements for a post will vary depending on the specific needs of the children and the school to which the SNA is to be appointed. My Department does not believe that the existing minimum qualifications has impacted on the calibre of person appointed and it is also the case that people with experience and/or higher qualifications than the minimum are often the successful candidate in competitions held by schools.

However, having considered the claim and, in particular, the period of time since they were set, my Department is open to reviewing the position. My Department has also agreed to a review of the SNA contract which was agreed as part of the Building Momentum national pay agreement. My Department is of the view that the forthcoming review of the SNA contract should be carried out and implemented first.

I am satisfied that the approach outlined fully recognises the important place of SNAs in our schools. The forthcoming review of the SNA contract along with the new training programme for SNAs that is now in place will help to enhance the experience of children with special needs in our schools.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (153)

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

153. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education the value of the employment wage subsidy scheme to the early learning and care and school age childcare sector; the estimated cost to these providers of implementing Covid-19 measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10376/22]

View answer

Written answers

Policy responsibility for early learning and care and the school age childcare sector is a matter for the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, therefore this question is more appropriate for answer by my colleague, Minister O'Gorman.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (154)

Seán Fleming

Question:

154. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education if she will provide information regarding facilities for special needs and ASD classes at a location (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10402/22]

View answer

Written answers

Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government.

This year, my Department will spend in excess of €2 Billion, or over 25% of the Department’s budget on providing a wide range of schemes and supports for children with special educational needs.

This includes additional teaching and care supports.

As a result, the number of special education teachers, special needs assistants and special class and school places are at unprecedented levels.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide.

Throughout 2020 and 2021, my Department and the NCSE have worked closely on a more streamlined and joined up planning process which has ensured a targeted approach to meet demand for special needs placements ahead of each new school-year.

I am satisfied that this more joined up approach is delivering. Through this intensive intervention, we have seen an additional 300 special classes, providing 1,800 new places, opened nationwide for the 2021/22 school-year.

I also acknowledge that notwithstanding the extent of this investment, there are some parts of the country where increases in population and other issues have led to concerns regarding a shortage of school places.

The NCSE has well established structures in place for engaging with schools and parents and seeks to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special class placements.

In terms of Laois, I can confirm that the NCSE is aware of an identified need for additional special classes for students with autism in primary and post-primary schools. Work has been underway with stakeholders for a number of years to meet the demand for places.

We are always grateful to those schools that have responded, and continue to respond positively to meet the educational needs of children in their communities.

Currently, a network of 35 primary special classes, including 4 Early Intervention classes, and 8 post primary special classes provide specialist placements for students with autism in Laois. 6 of these classes were newly established for the current school year.

The NCSE is continuing to engage with primary and post-primary schools throughout County Laois regarding the establishment of additional special classes for 2022/23 and beyond. There are specific plans in place to open additional special classes and every support will be made available to progress their opening in the shortest possible timeframe with a particular focus on September next.

It is of course open to any school to engage with the NCSE to establish a special class.

I want to reassure the Deputy that my Department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.

Information on the list of schools with special classes, the type and location of these classes is published on the NCSE website and is available at ncse.ie/special-classes

Education Policy

Questions (155)

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

155. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education her plans to increase the provision of primary and secondary education in Whitehall and Santry, Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10421/22]

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Written answers

In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.

I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is aware of increasing local pressures and demand for primary and post-primary school places in a number of school planning areas including school planning areas in Santry and Whitehall, Dublin 9.

Where data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:

- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,

- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,

- Provision of a new school or schools.

My Department is working to establish the true extent of any capacity issues through ongoing discussions with the relevant school authorities. In that context, similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, my Department is engaging with patron bodies, including those of schools in Santry and Whitehall, to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming year(s) which may necessitate further action to that already in train, including the provision of modular accommodation where necessary.

Under Project Ireland 2040, my Department continues to make progress to increase the infrastructural capacity in the schools sector, in order to meet demographic and other demands. It is expected that the enrolment pressures in this, and other areas will reduce in the short-term as such planned additional capacity comes on stream and as demographic demand moves past its peak.

The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. The current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040, including projects in the school planning areas in question, may be viewed on my Department's website at, www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.

A number of capital projects have been recently completed or are currently planned or underway in the Dublin 9 area, including expansions at St. Aidan’s CBS, St. Kevin's College and Clonturk College. The additional capacity being provided by all of these projects is being considered in the context of the projected future requirements in the area.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (156)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

156. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated annual cost of extending the domiciliary carer's allowance to 16 and 17 year olds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10329/22]

View answer

Written answers

Domiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly payment for parents caring for a child with a severe disability in their own home.  Domiciliary Care allowance (DCA) can be paid in respect of qualified children up to age 16 years. 

A total of 3,402 children ceased being eligible for Domiciliary Care Allowance during 2021, as they reached 16 years of age.  If those children continued to be qualified after their 16th birthday, the additional cost in DCA payments would be of the order of €12.6 million per annum. 

More widely, the Deputy will be aware that 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 focused 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.  

Consideration of the most appropriate measures to be taken is continuing.  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.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy. 

Social Welfare Eligibility

Questions (157)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

157. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if citizens living in the State will be able to avail of the European targeted mobility scheme should they relocate to the North of Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10168/22]

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Written answers

The EURES ‘Targeted Mobility Scheme’ (TMS) aims to foster movement for workers within the European Union by the creation of innovative job mobility projects with the support of the European Commission. The initiative is financed under the Employment and Social Innovation ("EaSI") strand of the ESF+ which is a European-level financing instrument managed directly by the European Commission.

The scheme covers a broad range of placements regulated by law, providing direct financial support to jobseekers. These include a contribution to candidates towards costs relating to attending job interviews, relocation trip costs, language trainings, and recognition of qualifications and diplomas. Financial support is available to employers to assist newly recruited employees to integrate e.g. language training, where they are offering a written work contract of at least six months (for jobs or apprenticeships) or three months (for traineeships).

The target groups who can benefit from the EURES TMS scheme support are people over 18 and employers. Unemployed people and vulnerable groups are given priority. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) or equivalent organisations can also receive financial support.

To be eligible for participation on the scheme a person must be relocating to find a job, traineeship or apprenticeship in an EU Member State, or an EEA country, other than their country of residence.

The person must be:

- a national of any of the EU Member States or EEA countries in accordance with the EEA agreement on participation in the EaSI Strand of the ESF+ programme

or

- legally resident in an EU Member State, or EEA countries in accordance with the EEA agreement on participation in the EaSI Strand of the ESF+ programme.

The EURES TMS scheme does not support the return mobility of workers returning to their country of origin.

A national of any of the EU Member States or EEA countries currently living in Northern Ireland and relocating to another EU Member State or EEA country to find a job, traineeship or apprenticeship is eligible for TMS provided they meet all the qualifying criteria for the scheme. A person relocating to Northern Ireland to find a job, traineeship or apprenticeship is not eligible for TMS as Northern Ireland not an EU Member State or an EEA country.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (158)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

158. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of domiciliary care allowance applications that have been refused in the past 12 months; the number of applications received; the percentage of applications refused per year for the previous five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10208/22]

View answer

Written answers

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the Table below. The Deputy should note that the percentage refused is based on refused claims as a percentage of claims with a decision recorded; that is as a proportion of claims awarded or refused or withdrawn.

Domiciliary Care Allowance

Registered

Awarded

Refused

Withdrawn

% refused

2018

8,609

6,317

2,225

27

26%

2019

8,719

5,886

2,875

23

33%

2020

7,289

5,060

2,639

36

34%

2021

9,098

5,257

2,483

25

32%

to end January 2022

585

438

277

0

39%

Social Welfare Eligibility

Questions (159)

Alan Kelly

Question:

159. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are plans to review the situation in which a person living alone who is in receipt of the old age pension and a payment under the disablement pension of not more than €120.00 per week and who has been refused the fuel allowance payment. [10226/22]

View answer

Written answers

The 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 €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.

The criteria for fuel allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to the Department in as targeted a manner as possible. This ensures that the Fuel Allowance payment goes to those who are more vulnerable to fuel poverty including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own.

Disablement Benefit is a benefit under the Occupational Injuries Scheme. It can be paid to a recipient who suffers a loss of physical or mental faculty because of an accident at work, an accident travelling directly to or from work, or a prescribed disease contracted at work. The contribution requirements for the scheme are minimal when compared to other Departmental benefit schemes.

People in receipt of Disablement Benefit (without another payment) can work full or part time and continue to receive the Benefit Payment – in other words they are not prevented from generating additional income.

In the alternative, it can be and is paid at the same time as most social welfare payments including Jobseeker’s Benefit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, State Pension and One-Parent Family Payment. It is not considered as means for most social welfare means-assessed schemes except for Fuel Allowance, Supplementary Welfare Allowance or Working Family Payment.

Incapacity Supplement is an increase payable in addition to Disablement Benefit where a person is considered to be permanently incapable of work as a result of an occupational accident or disease and does not qualify for another Social Welfare benefit such as Illness Benefit. This Incapacity Supplement is a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance.

Therefore, while Disablement Benefit on its own is a disqualifying payment for Fuel Allowance because a person may continue to or take up work, or may receive another social welfare payment in parallel, qualification for Incapacity Supplement in addition to Disablement Benefit qualifies that recipient for Fuel Allowance (subject to satisfying all other qualifying criteria).

I have asked officials in my Department to review the treatment of disablement benefit under the fuel allowance scheme and this review is currently ongoing.

Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department also provides Exceptional Needs Payments which 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 (160)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

160. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current position in regard to the recovery of alleged overpayments in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10227/22]

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.

The person concerned was assessed with a Jobseekers Allowance (JA) overpayment of €153,702.20. This decision was appealed and the Appeals Officer partially allowed that appeal on 25 September 2019, providing that CA be awarded to the person concerned for the period 17 June 2004 to 6 January 2010.

Following a request by the Department for a review of this decision, the Appeals Officers decision was revised and the appeal was disallowed. This decision meant the person concerned was not entitled to CA during the period referred to, resulting in the original JA overpayment still remaining. A letter issued to the person concerned on 14 January 2020 informing her of this decision.

This decision does not affect current entitlement to CA which will remain in payment.

The Debt Recovery Unit (DRU) in Longford wrote to the person concerned on 12 January 2021 and advised that the current repayments of €20.00 per week would remain in place and they were given 21 days to respond to this proposal. This letter advised, in error, that arrears of €25,134.10 were due, and proposed that these arrears would be withheld against the debt of the person concerned. As per the revised decision of the Appeals Officer the original debt amount remains.

The person concerned is currently making repayments of €20.00 per week and on 17 February 2022 has an overpayment to the value of €152,139.10 with the department.

DRU will engage with the person concerned on foot of any response received and will take into consideration any financial burden they are experiencing as a result.

Any new repayment plan applied will need to be reasonable to the person concerned and the Department. As with all debts owed to the Department, the Minister must make every effort to recover debts in full and debts will remain until fully recovered

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (161)

Michael Creed

Question:

161. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will reconsider a claim for a carer’s allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Cork in view of the clear evidence that the number of hours worked is beneath the 18.5 hour threshold; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10242/22]

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 1 November 2021.  A person can be considered to be providing full-time care and attention where they are engaged in employment, self-employment or on training courses for a maximum of 18.5 hours per week, provided that they can show to the satisfaction of a deciding officer that adequate care has been provided for the care recipient in their absence. 

Additional information was requested on 4 November 2021 by a Deciding Officer (DO) regarding financial information and a reply was received on 10 November 2021.   

A further information request regarding his rate of pay and hours of employment issued to the person concerned on 11 November 2021 and responses were received on 16 November 2021 and 26 November 2021.   

The application was also referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 11 November 2021 to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of CA were satisfied.  

Upon receipt of the requested information, the SWI report received on 27 January 2022 and the information available to the DO, the application for CA was disallowed on the grounds that person concerned was working for more than 18.5 hour per week. 

The person concerned was notified on 16 February 2022 of this decision, the reason for it and of his right of review and appeal.    

A review was requested on 7 February 2022.  Following this review CA was awarded to the person concerned from 20 January 2022.    

The first payment issued to his nominated bank account on 17 February 2022.  Arrears due from 21 January 2022 to 16 February 2022 issued on 16 February 2022. 

The person concerned was notified on 16 February 2022 of this outcome and of his right of review and appeal.  

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Eligibility

Questions (162)

Michael Creed

Question:

162. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) is no longer in receipt of illness benefit. [10247/22]

View answer

Written answers

In order to support an application for Illness Benefit, medical certification is needed.  To date, the Department has not received any medical evidence for the person concerned. 

Medical certification for Illness Benefit is accepted in the following formats: 

- An e-Cert – sent electronically by the person's doctor to the Department. 

- A paper version of a Certificate of Incapacity for Work – available from the person's doctor.

- If the person tested positive for COVID-19 or was self-isolating as a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19 and has not received any vaccinations, she can provide a photo or screenshot of the HSE text message with her name on it and send to this inbox TDREPSIllnessBens@welfare.ie– the name and isolation dates should be clearly visible.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy .

Social Welfare Eligibility

Questions (163)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

163. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a full review will be undertaken in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10250/22]

View answer

Written answers

Child Benefit is a monthly payment to the parents or guardians of children under 16 years of age.  Child Benefit can also be claimed for children aged 16 and 17, if they are in full-time education or full-time training or have a disability and cannot support themselves.

In accordance with Social Welfare legislation the person with whom a qualified child normally resides is qualified to receive child benefit in respect of that child.

The person concerned received child benefit for her daughter for a period when the child no longer resided with her.  As a result, she was not entitled to payment for the period in question and a revised decision was made disallowing child benefit in respect of the period concerned (August to October 2006).  This resulted in an overpayment of €450.00. She was notified of the decision and the overpayment amount in November 2006.

The Department has already reviewed this matter as a result of an earlier PQ (reference 52235/2017) and is satisfied that the payments issued to the same Post Office as other earlier child benefit payments made to the same person.  Social Welfare payments made at Post Offices must be collected in person by the customer, who must be able to identify themselves to the satisfaction of the Post Office agent.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Code

Questions (164, 165)

Pauline Tully

Question:

164. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated additional cost to the State if the stipend for artists and culture workers recently introduced under the basic income programme for artists and culture workers was disregarded from the means test for disability allowance and carer’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10262/22]

View answer

Pauline Tully

Question:

165. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider disregarding the stipend for artists and culture workers recently introduced under the basic income programme for artists and culture workers from the means test for disability allowance and carer’s allowance given the additional cost of disability highlighted in a report (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10264/22]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 165 together.

The Arts and Culture Taskforce recommended the introduction of a pilot basic income scheme for artists. This was reflected in the National Economic Recovery Plan. Budget 2022 included an announcement of €25 million to pilot a new Basic Income Guarantee scheme for artists.

My colleague the Minister for Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media has lead responsibility for this initiative and the matter is being progressed by Minister Martin and her Department.

It is not possible for my Department to provide costings, pending development of detailed proposals. Any issues regarding the interaction between the new pilot payment and existing payments from my Department will fall to be addressed in due course as work on the proposed pilot is progressed.

The cost of disability is significantly broader than income supports and it is clear that it will not be addressed through income support alone. With regard to the research to which the Deputy refers, its findings have implications for many areas of public policy including the delivery of care services, health, housing, education, transport and income supports so this is why a whole-of-Government perspective is needed. With regards to implementing an all-Department response, the Government has referred the report on the Cost of Disability to the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Group which is chaired by the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte, T.D. 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 implementing and any proposed new actions that they will be undertaking in the context of the findings of the Report.

Social Welfare Eligibility

Questions (166)

Pauline Tully

Question:

166. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will take into consideration the information supplied by a person (details supplied) and review the decision to remove their disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10303/22]

View answer

Written answers

Disability allowance (DA) is subject to periodic reviews.  A control review was carried out on this persons entitlement and it was determined that based on the medical evidence provided, they no longer satisfied the medical conditions for receipt of DA.

The person concerned was notified of this decision on 19 November 2021 and of their right to have this decision reviewed or appealed.  On 13 December they requested that a further review be carried out and that they wished to appeal the decision to the independent social welfare appeals office (SWAO).

Following a review of the additional supporting evidence provided it was found that the person concerned did continue to satisfy the medical conditions for receipt of DA and their payment has been reinstated.  They were notified directly in writing of this decision on 21 February 2022.

Arrears of payment due will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments (if applicable).

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. 

Social Welfare Code

Questions (167)

Richard Bruton

Question:

167. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if the adult dependent allowance is disallowed in cases in which a welfare claimant has put savings in joint names for the purpose of ease of transfer in the event of succession and in which the dependent spouse cannot unilaterally withdraw those savings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10339/22]

View answer

Written answers

Recipients of certain social welfare payments can claim an increase in their payment in respect of a Qualified Adult, subject to a means assessment. A Qualified Adult is the spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of the recipient who is being wholly or mainly maintained by that claimant.

The means test in respect of the increase for a Qualified Adult applies to both contribution based social insurance payments (where only the means of the Qualified Adult is assessed), and contingency based social assistance payments (where the means of both the main claimant and the qualified adult are assessed),

The means assessed include income from employment or self-employment, non-social welfare pensions, and the capital value of savings, investments and property other than the family home. It should be noted that the value of the family home, regardless of who is the legal owner, is never taken into account in this assessment.

For social assistance schemes, the total household income is always assessed as part of the means test, and as such, the issue of whether savings are held solely by one member of a couple or jointly between them does not arise.

For social insurance schemes, where savings, property or other assets are held jointly, the spouse or partner's means is taken to be half of the total amount.

It is a matter for each couple to decide how their finances are arranged and the Department has no role in this. The current means testing arrangements are based on the actual means of the spouse or partner at any given time.Any proposals to change the means assessment formula for an Increase for a Qualified Adult would have to be considered in an overall budgetary and policy context.

Social Welfare Eligibility

Questions (168)

Marian Harkin

Question:

168. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection if the case of a person (details supplied) who is seeking the carer’s allowance will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10342/22]

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 from the person concerned was received on 18 April 2016.  The person’s application was disallowed on 26 July 2016 on the grounds that the person failed to supply documentation that was requested from her.  The person concerned was notified on 26 July 2016 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.  

A further application for CA from the person concerned was received on 20 July 2017. 

It is a condition for CA that the applicant be considered habitually resident in this State.  A Deciding Officer (DO), based on the evidence submitted, decided the person concerned is not habitually resident in the State and therefore does not have an entitlement to CA. 

The person concerned was notified on 24 November 2017 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.  The person concerned subsequently appealed this decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) and her appeal was disallowed on 16 May 2018. 

A third application for CA was received from the person concerned on 13 August 2020 and was disallowed on grounds that the person failed to supply documentation that was requested from her.  The person concerned was notified on 9 December 2020 of this decision and of her right of review and appeal.  Following a review there was no change to the decision of 9 December 2020. 

The person concerned appealed this decision to the (SWAO).  The outcome of the appeal is that the original decision was upheld, and the appeal was disallowed.  The SWAO decision is final in this matter and can only be reviewed in light of new evidence or facts not previously considered. 

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Payments

Questions (169)

Pauline Tully

Question:

169. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the methods of payment open to persons receiving a disability payment through her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10353/22]

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Written answers

My Department provides two payment options for customers: payment in cash at post offices or payment directly into customer accounts by Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT). There are a number of social welfare schemes to support people who are ill, people with disabilities. and carers. Provisional 2021 transaction volumes, broken down by payment method, for this group of social welfare schemes are set out in tabular form below.

2021 Schemes by Payment Method

Scheme

CHEQUES

EFT payments

Post Office payments

Total

Blind Persons Pension

3

36,336

17,166

53,505

Carers Benefit

2

172,702

10,070

182,774

Carers Allowance

727

2,928,915

1,644,751

4,574,393

Disability Allowance

2,768

4,669,646

3,161,815

7,834,229

Illness Benefit

151,729

2,518,741

53,061

2,723,531

Invalidity Pension

770

2,440,690

507,849

2,949,309

Disablement Benefit

26,576

226,865

8,997

262,438

Occupational Injury Benefit

2,776

27,391

444

30,611

Total: Payments

185,351

13,021,286

5,404,153

18,610,790

Percentages

1.00%

69.97%

29.04%

100.00%

Customers on disability related schemes are offered a choice of payment method. My Department’s consistent position has been that it will respect customer choice as appropriate and make payments in line with customer preference where choice is available.

Social Welfare Eligibility

Questions (170, 171, 172)

Alan Kelly

Question:

170. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the criteria for the living alone allowance increase discriminates against single persons who paid class D PRSI but who cannot qualify under the current criteria for the scheme given that they have not been married or in a civil partnership; the number of applications that have been refused on those criteria in each of the past ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10379/22]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

171. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to address discrimination on the grounds of civil status in the qualifying criteria for the living alone increase to ensure that those who paid class D PRSI and were not married or in a civil partnership can qualify; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10380/22]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

172. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will change the eligible benefits to include the living alone increase for those who paid class D PRSI; the number of additional persons would qualify if this was implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10381/22]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 170, 171 and 172 together.

Primary weekly social welfare payments are intended to enable recipients to meet their basic day-to-day income needs. In addition to these primary payments, 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 in itself, but rather it is a supplement to a primary social protection payment of €22 per week made to people aged 66 years or over, who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are living alone. For those aged 66 or over, these payments include State Pension (Contributory), State Pension (Non-contributory), Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension, Widow's/Widower's Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme, Incapacity Supplement under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme and Deserted Wife's Benefit.

Accordingly, there are no circumstances where the Living Alone Increase can be paid to people who are not in receipt of a primary qualifying payment from my Department. Any decision to allow those who are not in receipt of a qualifying payment to receive the Living Alone Increase - and thereby establish it as a scheme - would have budgetary and administrative consequences and would have to be considered in the context of Budget negotiations.

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.

My Department would not have records on the amount of people currently aged 66 or over who are not in receipt of a primary social welfare payment, regardless of the class at which they paid PRSI previously. As the Living Alone Increase (LAI) is not a stand alone scheme, data is not available to furnish an answer to the query.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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