Seán Sherlock
Question:320. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that a person (details supplied) in County Cork is not entitled to the fuel allowance. [13611/22]
View answerSocial Welfare Eligibility
Questions (320)
Written answers
The person concerned was disallowed fuel allowance on the grounds that he didn't meet the eligibility criteria. He is living with other adults who are not his dependants and who are not entitled to the allowance in their own right.
A letter issued to the customer on 2nd March 2022 advising him of this decision.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Personal Public Service Numbers
Questions (321)
Chris Andrews
Question:321. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in processing a PPS number application by a person (details supplied); the actions she will take to address this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13612/22]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm that my Department has allocated a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) to the individual referred to by the Deputy.
A letter with details of the PPSN issued to the person on 28th February 2022.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (322)
Brendan Griffin
Question:322. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a child benefit application by a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13620/22]
View answerWritten 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.
No application for Child Benefit has been received from the person concerned.
Child Benefit Section have attempted to contact the person concerned by phone and have been unable to do so. A CB1 application form has issued to their home address for completion. Once received a decision on entitlement will be made.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (323)
Emer Higgins
Question:323. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection the payments that prevent a person under the means test threshold from receiving the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13626/22]
View answerWritten 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. It is estimated that up to 400,000 households will benefit from the Fuel allowance in 2022 at an estimated cost of €366 million. 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 my Department in as targeted a manner as possible. To qualify for the fuel allowance payment a person must satisfy all the qualifying criteria including being in receipt of a qualifying payment, satisfy a means test and satisfy the household composition criteria. 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.
The fuel allowance guidelines which are available on the Government website at gov.ie/en/publication/e7fcaa-operational-guidelines-fuel-allowance-scheme/ set out in detail the qualifying and disregarded payment schemes for fuel allowance purposes. All other payments are non-qualifying payments and will prevent a household from receiving fuel allowance, irrespective of means.
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.
Ukrainian War
Questions (324)
Carol Nolan
Question:324. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the response of her Department to the Ukrainian war crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13730/22]
View answerWritten answers
Firstly, I want to say that my thoughts and prayers go out to those people who have been impacted by this terrible and unjust war.
On 4 March 2022, the European Council adopted unanimously the implementing decision regarding the Temporary Protection Directive, due to the mass influx of persons fleeing Ukraine as a consequence of the war. This will allow Ukrainian citizens and others fleeing Ukraine to avail of supports throughout the EU. I wish to emphasise that people arriving from Ukraine have been granted the status to avail of income supports from my Department under the EU Temporary Protection Directive.
My Department has an excellent record in reacting quickly and appropriately to emergency situations, as was clear from the way it put in place pandemic income supports in response to the COVID 19 crisis.
My Department's immediate priorities will be the allocation of PPSNs and the provision of immediate financial supports. A fast-track procedure for these services has been put in place.
People will be eligible for financial support initially under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme. Ukrainian citizens and others fleeing the war will satisfy the Habitual Residence Condition and the relevant means test.
My Department’s aim will be to ensure that the customer’s application for Supplementary Welfare Allowance is processed quickly and efficiently to provide immediate financial assistance to these people. We have also arranged for payments such as child benefit to be made within a very short period.
Officials from my Department and the Department of Justice are now in Dublin Airport to meet with people arriving from Ukraine and they will ensure that PPSNs are allocated and temporary residence certificates and the appropriate financial supports are provided.
As not all people will come through Dublin Airport, my Department's network of Intreo offices around the country will also allocate PPSNs and provide immediate financial supports to people from Ukraine who arrive in the country.
The provision of PPSNs to people from Ukraine ensures that all Ukrainians that arrive here have access to other public services and receive the appropriate financial supports.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Questions (325)
Róisín Shortall
Question:325. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position for some older persons living on their own who have a spare room and who would be happy to consider taking a refugee from Ukraine into their homes but who are fearful that they would lose their social welfare and medical entitlements, for example, the fuel allowance and medical card; if an urgent public reassurance can be issued for such persons who want to assist Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13742/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Government's thoughts are with the innocent people of Ukraine in their most difficult hour, and we stand with them. Ireland and the European Union have the responsibility to do all we can to help Ukraine and its people, and this Government will not be found wanting in offering them the humanitarian support they will need.
The European Union has put in place a temporary protection Directive to allow Ukrainian citizens and others fleeing Ukraine to move through the EU akin to EU citizens. This Department will provide support and services to assist people covered by this Directive who are fleeing Ukraine and who arrive in Ireland.
In relation to Fuel Allowance specifically, which is a Household based payment and subject to household composition rules, it is expected that in the majority of cases people fleeing Ukraine who arrive in Ireland will qualify initially for assistance type income supports such as Supplementary Welfare Allowance. Such qualification would not affect an already qualified household's entitlement to fuel allowance and so people, as described by the Deputy, can be assured that their situation in respect of fuel allowance would not change in these circumstances.
Obviously, further subsequent changes in the household composition or the position of such refugees in relation to employment and/or receipt of other social protection supports may affect entitlement and would need to be kept under review on a case by case basis.
While the fuel allowance scheme is non-statutory scheme and not governed by legislation, in most cases, the qualifying conditions for Departmental schemes are outlined in legislation and decisions on these schemes must be guided by the relevant legislation. Any decision to amend the qualifying conditions will have to be supported by changes to the relevant legislation.
The situation with regards to people fleeing Ukraine and arriving in Ireland is evolving and the Government will, of course, keep all aspects of the Department's various schemes under review to ensure that this cohort of people receive the supports and services they require.
Matters in relation to the Medical Card are the responsibility of the Minister for Health.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Pension Provisions
Questions (326)
Bernard Durkan
Question:326. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for a State pension in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13793/22]
View answerWritten answers
The person concerned will reach pension age on 02 April 2022. An application for State pension (contributory) was received on 07 February 2022. Determination of pension eligibility depends on the individual nature of an applicant’s social insurance record.
Under social welfare legislation, a self-employed contributor is regarded as satisfying the contribution conditions for State pension (contributory) where the person has paid self-employment contributions in respect of at least one contribution year prior to reaching pension age (currently 66 years), and all self-employment contributions payable are paid.
Where outstanding self-employment contributions are paid subsequent to an applicant reaching pension age, State pension (contributory) will be awarded from the date on which self-employment liabilities are deemed as discharged.
The person’s application was disallowed on 08 March 2022 as they have self-employment liabilities outstanding for the 2019 and 2020 tax years. They were informed of this decision in writing and advised to contact my Department when the liabilities are paid.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (327)
Bernard Durkan
Question:327. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a request for supplementary welfare for medical appointments can be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13794/22]
View answerWritten 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 has not applied for an ENP. In order that the person’s circumstances may be assessed, my officials have issued an ENP application pack to the address provided by the Deputy’s office. On receipt of a completed application and any supporting documentation the claim will be assessed and the person concerned will be advised of the outcome in writing.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
Early Childhood Care and Education
Questions (328)
Sorca Clarke
Question:328. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of places available in Montessori or ECCE pre-school with AIMS support by provider in counties Westmeath and Longford, in tabular form. [13599/22]
View answerWritten answers
Eligibility for AIM supports is linked to participation in the universal ECCE pre-school programme. AIM is available to all mainstream pre-school settings which are funded through the ECCE Programme. As it is available to any ECCE service, there is no specific count of places with AIMS support.
The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) seeks to create a more inclusive environment in pre-schools, so all children, regardless of ability, can benefit from quality early learning and care through the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme.
AIM is a child-centred model, involving seven levels of progressive support, moving from the universal to the targeted, based on the needs of the child and the preschool service. It offers tailored, practical supports based on need and does not require a formal diagnosis of disability.
Whilst any ECCE service can avail of AIM, for your information the table below presents the number of Early Years services in Westmeath and Longford in receipt of AIM Level 1 universal support and AIM Level 4, 5 &7 targeted supports in programme year 2021/22.
|
Services |
Level 1 |
Levels 4, 5 & 7 |
|
Westmeath |
46 |
38 |
|
Longford |
24 |
19 |
Ukrainian War
Questions (329)
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Question:329. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps that are being taken to provide accommodation and housing for those fleeing conflict in Ukraine to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13633/22]
View answerWritten answers
Firstly, I would like to assure you that I am deeply concerned by the ongoing crisis in the Ukraine. I am monitoring the situation closely and my Department is supporting Ukrainian nationals who come to Ireland seeking international protection.
My Department is ready to assist with any coordinated approach developed by the EU to supporting refugees from Ukraine. I am liaising with the Cabinet and my EU colleagues to ensure an effective humanitarian response. My Department is working closely with key stakeholders and with the European Commission, other EU Agencies, and Member States, in order to be prepared for a sudden increase in individuals seeking international protection in the EU.
As the Deputy will be aware, it is not possible to estimate the number of Ukrainians likely to come to Ireland as the situation remains so volatile. However, I can confirm that accommodation is being made available by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of my Department and IPAS is planning to scale up its operations as the number of arrivals increase.
My officials are actively working to procure accommodation and supports for Ukrainian arrivals to Ireland through hotel accommodation in the first instance and various other accommodation solutions.
We appreciate that many people may wish to make offers of accommodation to support those persons seeking temporary protection in Ireland. The Government has worked with the Red Cross to put in place a national pledge. The website has been launched and is available online through registerofpledges.redcross.ie.