Written Answers Nos. 356-376
356. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of introducing a second band, paid at half the current rate of fuel allowance for those on fixed incomes where their weekly means threshold is between €120 and €200; the number that would be eligible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38390/22]
View answerFuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. It is a targeted payment to people dependent on specified long-term social welfare payments. The purpose of this payment is to assist those households most in need with their energy costs.
Considering the fact that the Fuel Allowance is a household-based payment and that qualification is not just based on the means test but on a number of other complex qualifying criteria such as household composition, it is not possible for my Department to provide an accurate projection of the potential cost of the measures outlined by the Deputy.
In addition, my Department does not maintain records of households that are on fixed incomes.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
358. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of expanding eligibility for the fuel allowance to all those on the working family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38392/22]
View answerThe Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each fuel season) from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. The purpose of this payment is to assist qualifying households with their energy costs.
Fuel Allowance is a household payment and the circumstances and income of any other member of the household is taken into account when deciding a Fuel Allowance application. Accordingly, it is very difficult to provide an accurate estimate for the proposed measure. However, using certain assumptions, it is expected that it could cost an estimated €22.4 million in a full year.
The Working Family Payment (WFP) is a weekly, tax-free payment available to employees with children. It gives extra financial support to families with children with rates depending on their incomes and family size. It is not considered a long-term Social Protection payment, is not subject to a capital means test, and recipients are in full time employment. A person in receipt of the WFP can continue to receive the payment for 52 weeks even if their income increases.
Any proposals to consider expanding the eligibility criteria for the fuel allowance would have to be considered in the overall budgetary context.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
359. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of introducing a €20 per week cost of disability payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38393/22]
View answerThe Indecon Cost of Disability report identified that additional costs of disability is a wider issue than income supports and runs across a number of areas of expenditure. These include housing, equipment, aids and appliances, care and assistance services, mobility, transport, communications, medicines, and additional living expenses.
Indecon also identified that there is not a single typical cost of disability; rather, there is a spectrum from low to high additional costs, depending on individual circumstances.
As the findings of the research have implications for many areas of public policy, a whole-of-Government perspective is needed.
This is why the Government has referred the report to the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Group, which Is chaired by the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability. This group comprises of relevant departments, agencies, a Disability Stakeholder Group and people with disabilities. The group will consider and monitor recommended actions required by the various Government Departments bi-annually.
From the perspective of the Department, it is worth noting that a number of measures were introduced as part of Budget 2022 in relation to people with disabilities and their carers, which reflect some of the findings of the report. These included a combination of core weekly payment rate increases, increases in earnings disregards as well as supports to employers.
The estimated additional annual cost to the Exchequer of a weekly cost of disability payment of €20 is as follows:
|
285,958* |
x€20 |
x 52wks |
€297m |
* Note: the estimate is based only on persons in receipt of the following payments (at the end of May 2022): Domiciliary Care Allowance, Partial Capacity Benefit, Invalidity Pension, Disability Allowance, Blind Pension and Disablement Benefit. The cost of such an approach would increase, as other payment groups may need to be included, given demographic trends and other factors.It is important to note that the above approach is not in line with the cost of disability report conclusions. The report notes that the concentration of any additional supports should be targeted on those most in need and who face the greatest additional costs of disability - that this approach would be more effective in meeting policy objectives and in enhancing value for money than in introducing additional small scale supports for those who face minor additional costs of disability. The report also indicated that the levels of disability payments and allowances should be changed to reflect the very different costs of disability by severity and type of disability.Under the Roadmap for Social Inclusion and Pathways to Work strategies, the Department has committed to developing and consulting on a ‘strawman’ proposal for the restructuring of long-term disability payments to ‘simplify the system, remove inconsistencies/anomalies, recognise the continuum of disability and to support employment’. Work on a ‘Strawman’ proposal is underway by officials, and the proposal will take on board the recommendations of the Indecon report, with a public consultation process to commence in due course.
360. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that some deciding officers are not aware of the changes in the fuel allowance legislation in September 2022 and that this can result in a refusal for families who need support which could lead to fuel poverty; if she will ensure that all Department of Social Protection staff, including deciding officers are made aware of any changes to legislation and entitlements. [38398/22]
View answerThe Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs.
The qualifying criteria for the Fuel Allowance scheme are outlined in detailed guidelines that are available to all staff in my Department. These detailed guidelines are reviewed and updated in line with any announced changes to the scheme. Prior to any changes to the Fuel Allowance qualifying criteria, a circular is also issued to all Department staff outlining the changes and highlighting their implementation date.
I note the Deputy is referring to changes to the Fuel Allowance scheme that are only due to come into effect in September 2022; a Deciding Officer cannot award a Fuel Allowance claim prior to new qualifying criteria coming into force.
Every effort will be made to ensure that the staff of my Department are aware of the changes to the Fuel Allowance qualifying criteria prior to the start of the 2022/23 fuel season. However, if the Deputy is aware of any claims incorrectly disallowed following the introduction of the new measures, I would ask that he urges those affected to contact my Department so that the matter can be investigated.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
361. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that persons must wait for 12 months from when they receive the jobseeker’s payment to qualify for fuel allowance given that these persons are at risk of fuel poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38399/22]
View answerThe Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, which is supporting over 370,000 households in 2022, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs.
Qualifying payments for Fuel Allowance are those payments that are considered long term payments and an applicant must also satisfy a means test. People on long term payments are unlikely to have additional resources of their own and are more vulnerable to poverty, including energy poverty. It is for this reason that the Department allocates additional payments, supports and resources to help this cohort of claimants.
Any decision to extend the eligibility criteria for Fuel Allowance to include people in receipt of short-term benefit schemes or people in receipt of short-term jobseeker's allowance would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
This year, funds raised through the carbon tax will again support targeted social welfare and other initiatives to alleviate fuel poverty and ensure a just transition. In this regard, in the forthcoming budget, the Government will consider how it can support people on low incomes and those on social welfare payments.
Finally, the Department of Social Protection provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have an urgent need which they cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
362. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the actions that her Department and bodies under the aegis of her Department are taking to increase recruitment of members of the LGBTQIA+ communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38416/22]
View answerThe Public Appointments Service is the centralised and principal provider of recruitment, assessment and selection services across the Civil and Public Service. It provides an open and transparent recruitment process to identify candidates for civil sector roles, with merit-based selection. My Department also has a recruitment license, used mainly for specialist competitions and the recruitment processes are consistent with the Commission for Public Service Appointment's codes of practice and ensures equity, fairness, diversity and inclusion for all candidates.
The Pensions Authority and Citizens Information Board, both operating under the aegis of my Department, are also equal-opportunities employers and open to applications from all groups in society.
363. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that social welfare recipients who are moving their bank account are required to provide a PPS number in order to receive their children’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38437/22]
View answerChild 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.
The PPSN is a unique identifier used by all Child Benefit customers. The quickest and most efficient way to change payment method is online via the MyWelfare platform. This secure service requires a PPSN to identify the customer payments.
Alternative ways of changing a payment method are available and any customer can contact their local Intreo Office for further information.
I trust this helps clarify the position for the Deputy.
364. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a jobseeker’s benefit payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be reinstated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38448/22]
View answerThe person concerned applied for Jobseeker's Benefit on Thursday, 7th of July 2022.
The application was reviewed and Jobseeker's Benefit was awarded on Monday the 11th of July 2022.
A decision letter was issued to the person concerned on the 11th July 2022. The person concerned will receive payment on the 13th of July 2022.
365. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a review of a decision on a carer’s allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38465/22]
View answerCarer'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 carer's allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 11 May 2022.
It is a condition for receipt of CA that where the applicant and the care recipient reside apart from each other, the care recipient cannot be receiving full time care and attention within his or her own residence from a person other than the applicant.
As the care recipient was in hospital, this condition was not satisfied and CA was disallowed.
The person concerned was notified on 25 June 2022 of this decision, the reasons for it and of their right of review and appeal.
A request for a review was received on 5 July 2022.
This review has been processed and the claim awarded from 30 June 2022. The person concerned was notified of this decision on 12 July 2022.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
366. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a review of a decision on a carer’s allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38466/22]
View answerCarer'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 carer's allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 21 March 2022.
It is a condition for receipt of CA that where the applicant and the care recipient reside apart from each other, the care recipient cannot be receiving full time care and attention within his or her own residence from a person other than the applicant.
As the care recipient was in hospital, this condition was not satisfied and CA was disallowed.
The person concerned was notified on 21 May 2022 of this decision, the reasons for it and of their right of review and appeal.
A request for a review was received on 6 July 2022.
The review is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
367. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans, if any, to review the rates of pay for community employment supervisors who have not seen a pay increase in over 13 years (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38482/22]
View answerCommunity Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis.
The programme is delivered through independent CE sponsoring authorities who are the legal employers of their CE supervisors, CE assistant supervisors and CE participants. CE sponsoring authorities receive state funding to cover the cost of remuneration, training and material costs from the department. CE scheme supervisors are employees of private companies in the community and voluntary sector that receive public funding.
Therefore, pay and conditions are matters for the employer and not my Department - as the employees concerned are not public servants, but employees of individual schemes. Any claim that would potentially increase the overall costs of running schemes or state funded activities in the wider community and voluntary sector would need to be considered in the wider budgetary context.
My department acknowledges the valuable and dedicated service that CE supervisors provide in running CE schemes in delivering local based community services while providing a valuable training and development opportunity to the long-term unemployed and to those often furthest removed from the labour market.
My department is fully committed to the future of CE and will continue to support and improve CE for the benefit of the supervisors and participants, given the valuable contribution being made to local communities through the provision of services.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
368. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures that are in place for someone applying for a public service card who cannot attend a centre in person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38585/22]
View answerThe SAFE registration process, which my Department uses to authenticate a person's identity and issue them with a Public Services Card (PSC), is usually carried out in one of my Department's public offices.
Where a person or a group of people require SAFE registration but they are not in a position to attend an office, my Department has the facility to carry out SAFE registrations in other locations by way of a mobile SAFE registration service.
Decisions in respect of the provision of this mobile service are made by local management, having regard to available resources and to the particular circumstances of the request. Any person who finds themselves in this situation should contact their local Intreo Centre.
369. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection the anticipated cost to the Exchequer in 2023 of a waiver of waiting days on social welfare payments by category of payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38631/22]
View answerBased on the total number of claims awarded in 2021, the estimated annual cost to the Exchequer of a waiver of the three waiting days for Jobseeker's Allowance is approximately €7.1 million and for Jobseeker's Benefit is approximately €8.9 million. This is based on average payment rates.
Both Illness Benefit and Occupational Injury Benefit apply a period of three waiting days. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is working on the introduction of Statutory Sick Pay which would cover the first three days of illness in the first year of operation, extending to ten days over time. Entitlement will be subject to the employee having worked for their employer for a minimum of 13 weeks and providing a medical certificate. This will cover the vast majority of employees. Many of the people not covered for Statutory Sick Pay due to short duration of service are unlikely to meet the criteria for Illness Benefit of a minimum of 104 contributions and the criteria as to when those contributions were made. It is not possible to estimate the number of people who would be eligible for Illness Benefit and Occupational Injury Benefit but not eligible for Statutory Sick Pay.
I trust that this clarifies the position.
370. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of first-time applications for carers benefit that were granted 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, by county in tabular form. [38705/22]
View answer371. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of first-time applications for carers benefit that were refused in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, by county in tabular form [38706/22]
View answer372. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of first-time applications for carers allowance that were granted 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38707/22]
View answer373. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of first-time applications for carers allowance that were refused 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, by county in tabular form. [38708/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 370 to 373, inclusive, together.
The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the tabular statements below.
Table 1 Carer's Allowance granted
|
County name |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
Clare |
262 |
191 |
192 |
78 |
|
Cork |
980 |
870 |
957 |
370 |
|
Cavan |
176 |
142 |
144 |
60 |
|
Carlow |
129 |
132 |
134 |
41 |
|
Donegal |
421 |
358 |
371 |
148 |
|
Dublin |
2080 |
1884 |
1949 |
740 |
|
Galway |
438 |
456 |
374 |
142 |
|
Kildare |
366 |
310 |
288 |
126 |
|
Kilkenny |
182 |
151 |
159 |
47 |
|
Kerry |
305 |
320 |
262 |
94 |
|
Longford |
103 |
94 |
88 |
33 |
|
Louth |
296 |
259 |
276 |
106 |
|
Limerick |
466 |
406 |
460 |
152 |
|
Leitrim |
79 |
81 |
86 |
23 |
|
Laois |
206 |
177 |
163 |
73 |
|
Meath |
298 |
265 |
303 |
117 |
|
Monaghan |
100 |
127 |
114 |
49 |
|
Mayo |
300 |
259 |
250 |
82 |
|
Offaly |
218 |
171 |
202 |
63 |
|
Roscommon |
178 |
149 |
126 |
61 |
|
Sligo |
132 |
125 |
123 |
38 |
|
Tipperary |
414 |
383 |
359 |
109 |
|
Waterford |
268 |
231 |
255 |
80 |
|
Westmeath |
220 |
209 |
210 |
72 |
|
Wicklow |
256 |
232 |
224 |
90 |
|
Wexford |
370 |
411 |
359 |
139 |
|
Unknown |
5 |
4 |
6 |
2 |
|
Total |
9248 |
8397 |
8434 |
3135 |
Table 2 Carer's Allowance refused
|
County name |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
Clare |
55 |
83 |
92 |
40 |
|
Cork |
254 |
272 |
344 |
163 |
|
Cavan |
40 |
38 |
60 |
26 |
|
Carlow |
39 |
38 |
63 |
20 |
|
Donegal |
89 |
123 |
124 |
61 |
|
Dublin |
526 |
582 |
822 |
374 |
|
Galway |
135 |
164 |
166 |
68 |
|
Kildare |
86 |
99 |
138 |
64 |
|
Kilkenny |
50 |
58 |
73 |
31 |
|
Kerry |
87 |
90 |
87 |
70 |
|
Longford |
39 |
44 |
39 |
22 |
|
Louth |
72 |
105 |
113 |
56 |
|
Limerick |
138 |
143 |
168 |
100 |
|
Leitrim |
16 |
17 |
28 |
14 |
|
Laois |
57 |
64 |
55 |
34 |
|
Meath |
66 |
87 |
125 |
69 |
|
Monaghan |
28 |
35 |
29 |
10 |
|
Mayo |
76 |
62 |
91 |
45 |
|
Offaly |
55 |
65 |
80 |
39 |
|
Roscommon |
43 |
49 |
54 |
26 |
|
Sligo |
34 |
32 |
61 |
36 |
|
Tipperary |
114 |
125 |
123 |
60 |
|
Waterford |
62 |
74 |
107 |
46 |
|
Westmeath |
52 |
69 |
75 |
36 |
|
Wicklow |
52 |
66 |
72 |
49 |
|
Wexford |
87 |
111 |
118 |
76 |
|
Unknown |
7 |
5 |
5 |
1 |
|
Total |
2359 |
2700 |
3312 |
1636 |
Table 3 Carer's Benefit granted
|
County name |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
Clare |
10 |
25 |
36 |
16 |
|
Cork |
42 |
118 |
222 |
78 |
|
Cavan |
8 |
23 |
33 |
13 |
|
Carlow |
1 |
11 |
19 |
5 |
|
Donegal |
9 |
44 |
56 |
21 |
|
Dublin |
60 |
160 |
323 |
123 |
|
Galway |
18 |
72 |
93 |
47 |
|
Kildare |
14 |
47 |
58 |
25 |
|
Kilkenny |
9 |
20 |
30 |
13 |
|
Kerry |
30 |
31 |
82 |
30 |
|
Longford |
2 |
4 |
12 |
6 |
|
Louth |
7 |
27 |
57 |
17 |
|
Limerick |
13 |
55 |
57 |
29 |
|
Leitrim |
6 |
14 |
11 |
10 |
|
Laois |
11 |
12 |
37 |
9 |
|
Meath |
12 |
49 |
69 |
27 |
|
Monaghan |
3 |
14 |
18 |
13 |
|
Mayo |
9 |
33 |
57 |
37 |
|
Offaly |
2 |
21 |
29 |
11 |
|
Roscommon |
8 |
23 |
34 |
9 |
|
Sligo |
8 |
16 |
34 |
17 |
|
Tipperary |
15 |
42 |
72 |
27 |
|
Waterford |
7 |
27 |
38 |
16 |
|
Westmeath |
8 |
31 |
40 |
10 |
|
Wicklow |
8 |
25 |
31 |
18 |
|
Wexford |
10 |
32 |
51 |
19 |
|
Unknown |
10 |
40 |
44 |
12 |
|
Total |
340 |
1016 |
1643 |
658 |
Table 4 Carer's Benefit refused
|
County name |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
Clare |
13 |
23 |
22 |
10 |
|
Cork |
56 |
72 |
87 |
25 |
|
Cavan |
13 |
10 |
19 |
2 |
|
Carlow |
15 |
11 |
9 |
2 |
|
Donegal |
28 |
25 |
22 |
9 |
|
Dublin |
170 |
171 |
162 |
68 |
|
Galway |
35 |
49 |
32 |
14 |
|
Kildare |
34 |
27 |
23 |
18 |
|
Kilkenny |
17 |
16 |
18 |
13 |
|
Kerry |
29 |
38 |
18 |
15 |
|
Longford |
3 |
6 |
6 |
5 |
|
Louth |
20 |
16 |
22 |
16 |
|
Limerick |
25 |
25 |
33 |
10 |
|
Leitrim |
3 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
|
Laois |
11 |
12 |
20 |
5 |
|
Meath |
20 |
24 |
27 |
8 |
|
Monaghan |
4 |
8 |
8 |
5 |
|
Mayo |
15 |
19 |
19 |
12 |
|
Offaly |
28 |
14 |
16 |
8 |
|
Roscommon |
11 |
17 |
7 |
2 |
|
Sligo |
19 |
16 |
14 |
5 |
|
Tipperary |
28 |
28 |
30 |
10 |
|
Waterford |
18 |
18 |
19 |
8 |
|
Westmeath |
20 |
13 |
14 |
6 |
|
Wicklow |
15 |
19 |
12 |
7 |
|
Wexford |
27 |
24 |
21 |
8 |
|
Unknown |
14 |
5 |
10 |
4 |
|
Total |
691 |
709 |
695 |
298 |
374. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of appeals following refusal of an application for carer's benefit received in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022. [38709/22]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
The table below sets out the number of appeals following refusal of an application for carers benefit received in 2019, 2020, 2021 and from January to the end of June 2022.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
|
- |
Carer’s Benefit |
|
2019 |
244 |
|
2020 |
331 |
|
2021 |
281 |
|
2022 (to end of June) |
118 |
375. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of appeals following refusal of an application for carer's allowance received in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022. [38710/22]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
The table below sets out the number of appeals following refusal of an application for carers allowance received in 2019, 2020, 2021 and from January to the end of June 2022.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
|
- |
Carer’s Allowance |
|
2019 |
3,006 |
|
2020 |
3,630 |
|
2021 |
3,361 |
|
2022 (to end of June) |
1,697 |
376. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on providing fully accessible changing places and toilet facilities open to the public in all buildings which her Department owns and public bodies and agencies under her remit to offer people with disabilities and carers a network of equipped spaces to take care of personal hygiene, in safety and comfort. [38726/22]
View answerMy Department and associated agencies own one building, Áras Mhic Dhiarmada on Store Street, Dublin, which is the Department's Headquarters buildlng. This building has a small reception area but otherwise is not open to the public for the provision of services.
The other buildings used by the Department and agencies are owned or leased by the Office of Public Works (OPW).
I understand that the OPW has been engaging with a Working Group, which was established by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to examine the provision of changing facilities.
