Written Answers Nos. 361-370
361. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if she will meet with a delegation from a school (details supplied) with a view to finalising the future location of the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33558/22]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, it is intended that the permanent accommodation needs of the school to which she refers will be met in a former school building which is in the ownership of the school patron. In order to ensure that optimal use is made of this property, and in support of the achievement of Value for Money, the patron of the school appointed a consultant to undertake an Options Study of the property concerned.
The patron furnished a copy of this Options Study to my Department and this is currently being considered. My Department will engage with the patron further when this process has been completed.
In the interim, my Department has approved funding to the school's patron to undertake refurbishment works in a property to facilitate access to additional specialist accommodation by the school. This accommodation includes science, woodwork and home economics rooms.
The delivery of the refurbishment project has been devolved to the patron for delivery and the patron has advised my Department that the works are near completion. My Department will continue to engage with the patron regarding the school's accommodation needs.
362. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the ongoing issues regarding former RTE staff and access to pensions; if she has met the group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33359/22]
View answer363. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update into the ongoing issues with RTE pensions and the lack of increases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33360/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 362 and 363 together.
The Minister for Social Protection has no function in these matters. Policy issues related to public service pensions are matters for my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Policy matters related to public sector broadcasting are for my colleague, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
364. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that her Department does not automatically issue public services cards when the card expires to those who are currently in receipt of a social welfare payment, especially those with an ongoing entitlement to a free travel pass; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33368/22]
View answerThe Public Services Card (PSC) is accepted as proof of identity when a person accesses public services, and is also used by my Department’s free travel customers to avail of their entitlement to free travel.
My Department does not automatically issue PSCs to those whose card is expiring for a number of reasons. Firstly, to ensure the efficacy and reliability of the PSC as proof of identity, the photograph on the PSC must be updated every 10 years, as is the case with other photo IDs such as passports and driving licences. This 10-year standard is in line with internationally agreed guidelines on photo IDs.
Secondly, the automatic issuing of large volumes of PSCs, containing a person’s name, photograph, signature and PPSN would create a significant risk of personal data breach, were the cards to become lost or delivered to a former address of a customer, where that customer has not informed the Department they have moved.
When a person’s PSC expires, there are a number of ways in which they can get a new card.
Intreo Centres and Branch Offices reopened countrywide following the lifting of public health restrictions earlier this year, and almost 147,000 PSC appointments have taken place so far this year; this includes over 23,000 PSC renewal appointments. Any person who wishes to make an appointment to renew their PSC can contact their local Intreo Centre or Branch Office.
My Department also introduced an online PSC renewal service in March 2021. This service is available on MyWelfare.ie and 15,000 people have renewed their PSC online so far this year.
In addition, as part of my Department’s response during the pandemic, a facility was introduced whereby a person can have the validity period of their PSC extended by three years, by calling to an office of the Department or by calling 1890 927 999. These extended cards, issued on request, use the existing photograph, and do not necessitate attendance at an in-person appointment.
It is important to note that holders of expired free travel PSCs have at all times retained their entitlement to free travel. For this reason, there is an interim arrangement in place with the National Transport Authority, whereby expired free travel cards are accepted for travel on public transport services. Expired PSCs can also continue to be used to collect social welfare payments in Post Offices nationwide, and to verify MyGovID accounts.
The Department is currently reviewing the issuing of PSC expiry notifications with the aim of making the notification process more efficient. Any decision as to the resumption of the issuing of expiry notifications will be taken within the context of the Department’s available resources and the ongoing requirements to comply with the prevailing HSE and WHO public health and social distancing guidelines.
365. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of directly employed job coaches who have been put in place by her Department; the number of appointments that is envisaged for the years 2022 and 2023; if all appointments will be publicly-advertised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33370/22]
View answerMy Department has placed 100 Job Coaches to date. It is planned that, in 2022 and 2023, an additional 50 Job Coaches will be assigned by reassignment of staff roles within the Department.
366. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to support persons currently availing of Jobs Clubs nationwide; the future of Jobs Clubs in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33371/22]
View answerJob Clubs currently provide a short-term employment service to job-ready clients under contract to my Department.
The Department is currently procuring a significant expansion of employment services that will see the delivery of an enhanced nation-wide service designed to support those most distant from the labour market. This revised model will see the implementation of the main recommendations from the 2018 Indecon Review of Job Clubs. These include the consolidate of the provision of existing employment services, enhanced governance and the procurement of services via open competitive procurement in accordance with the State’s legal obligations. The new Intreo Partners Local Area Employment Service is designed to provide broader supports for up to eighteen months to the long-term unemployed and others seeking to return to the labour market.
The new Intreo Partners Local Area Employment Services will cover a greater geographical area than the existing Job Clubs, with nationwide coverage for the first time. The enhanced selection of jobseeker supports will be a significant improvement on the Job Club model.
Most of the current Job Club contracts have now been extended until the end of August, enabling those currently engaging with the Job Clubs to complete their engagement.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
367. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Social Protection if parents on low incomes who borrowed significant amounts of money to get their children privately diagnosed or assessed due to the lengthy assessment of needs waiting lists are eligible for the additional needs payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33373/22]
View answerUnder the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department can make additional needs payments to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. 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. Additional needs payments include exceptional and urgent needs payments and supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.
In general, additional needs payments are not intended to cover circumstances where responsibility rests with another Government Department or Agency. In the case of medical assessments, this responsibility rests with the Health Service Executive. However, an additional needs payment can be made to help meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. This assessment will consider all outgoings including loan repayments.
Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an additional needs payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
368. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who were refused the domiciliary carers allowance annually in each county since 2017, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33420/22]
View answerDomiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly payment for a child , aged under 16 with a severe disability, who requires continual or continuous care and attention substantially over and above the care and attention usually required by a child of the same age. The child must be likely to require this level of care for at least 12 months.
The following table shows the number of applicants who were refused DCA annually since 2017. The Department does not collate the requested data broken down by county.
|
Year |
DCA Claims disallowed during year |
|
2017 |
2,187 |
|
2018 |
2,225 |
|
2019 |
2,875 |
|
2020 |
2,639 |
|
2021 |
2,468 |
|
2022 to date |
1,835 |
It is important to note that any decision of a Deciding Officer can be revised if new or additional information if provided. This can result in several reviews being carried out on a single application and several disallowances being counted against a decision which is then ultimately allowed.
I would encourage all people who apply for Domiciliary Care Allowance, or other Social Welfare payments, to provide as much information as possible with their application so that their claim can be decided at the earliest date possible.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
369. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection the number who were awarded the domiciliary carers allowance on appeal annually in each county since 2017 to date in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33421/22]
View answerDomiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly payment for a child, aged under 16 with a severe disability who requires continual or continuous care and attention substantially over and above the care and attention usually required by a child of the same age. The child must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 months.
The following table shows the number of applicants who were awarded DCA on appeal annually since 2017 to date. The Department does not collate the requested data broken down by county.
|
Year |
Appeal Allowed |
Appeal Partially Allowed |
|
2017 |
297 |
10 |
|
2018 |
686 |
13 |
|
2019 |
811 |
10 |
|
2020 |
912 |
51 |
|
2121 |
533 |
25 |
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
370. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for a carers support grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33465/22]
View answerI confirm that my department received an application for Carer’s Support Grant (CSG) from the person concerned on the 9th June 2022.
I can confirm that the person concerned has been awarded a CSG for the year 2022. Payment of €1,850 for the year 2022 will be paid to the person's nominated bank account shortly. Notification of this decision has issued to the person concerned on 22 June, 2022.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
