Thursday, 13 Oct 2022

Written Answers Nos. 31-52

Pension Provisions

Questions (31, 85)

Matt Carthy

Question:

31. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the intended timeframe to introduce legislation underpinning the provision of pensions to carers. [50586/22]

Claire Kerrane

Question:

85. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on a State pension solution for long-term family carers given her commitment to providing a solution but no inclusion of such a measure in Budget 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50412/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 85 together.

This Government acknowledges the important role that carers play in society and is fully committed to supporting them in that role. Accordingly, the current State Pension (Contributory) system includes a range of measures including PRSI credits, Homemaking Disregards and HomeCaring Periods to recognise caring periods of up to 20 years outside of paid employment in the calculation of a State Pension payment.

I announced a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system on 20th September 2022. The measures, which were approved by Government, are in response to the recommendations from the Commission on Pensions. The set of measures represent the biggest ever structural reform of the Irish State Pension system. One of the agreed reforms is enhanced State Pension provision for long-term carers (those caring for over 20 years), as recommended by the Pensions Commission, and to be introduced from January 2024. This will be implemented through:

- A scheme to ensure that long-term carers can be attributed with contributions for gaps in their contribution record arising from their time spent caring; and

- The establishment of a ‘Family Carer Register'.

My officials are working to implement the reforms, including the development of administrative and IT systems. As part of the work to implement the new scheme, relevant Government Departments, and other stakeholders, will examine options for the creation of a statutory ‘Family Carer Register’ to help identify long-term carers.

I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputies.

Community Employment Schemes

Questions (32)

Mark Ward

Question:

32. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the responsibility that her Department has in making changes to the Community Employment Procedures Manual; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50729/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

As the Deputy is aware Community 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 sponsor organisations who are the legal employers of their CE supervisors, CE assistant supervisors and CE participants. CE sponsor organisations receive state funding to cover the cost of remuneration, training and material costs from the department.

The CE Procedures Manual is produced by the Department of Social Protection to assist Departmental officials and CE sponsor organisations to manage CE, to ensure consistent and proper governance of considerable state investment in CE. My department is responsible for changing and updating the Procedures Manual on a rolling basis. It is worth noting that changes are often not made to the Procedures Manual immediately as they occur. Given the ever-changing landscape of CE, it is not feasible to amend the Procedures Manual for every change, hence it is done periodically. The most recent version of the manual was published in April 2022.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Departmental Policies

Questions (33)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Question:

33. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection her response to the Commission on Taxation and Welfare’s recommendation that Government undertakes a regular benchmarking exercise in respect of all working-age income supports including supports for persons who are unemployed, people with disabilities and persons parenting alone, following which multi-annual targets should be set for social welfare rates which provide for regular incremental progress; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50397/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I note the recent publication of the Report of the Commission on Taxation and Welfare, "Foundations for the Future," which independently considers how best the taxation and welfare systems can support economic activity and promote increased employment and prosperity in Ireland.

I also note that there are a broad range of recommendations for Government to consider, including the recommendation the Deputy refers to on a benchmarking exercise for working age schemes.

As part of the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025, Government has committed to finalising an approach for the benchmarking and indexation of pension payments.

A smoothed earnings method to calculating a benchmarked/indexed rate of State Pension payments was also recommended by the Commission on Pensions.

In September, I announced a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system. The measures, which were approved by Government, are in response to the recommendations from the Commission on Pensions. The set of measures represent the biggest ever structural reform of the Irish State Pension system.

As part of this, a smoothed earnings method to calculating a benchmarked/indexed rate of State Pension payments will be introduced as an input to the annual budget process and will be submitted to Government in September each year (from 2023).

My Department has also committed to considering and preparing a report for Government on the potential application of the benchmarking approach to other welfare payment areas. Now that Government has approved an approach in relation to pension payments, and the report of the Commission on Taxation and Welfare has been published, my Department will examine potential benchmarking approaches to other social welfare payments.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Budget 2023

Questions (34)

Joan Collins

Question:

34. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has read a post-Budget 2023 analysis (details supplied) that highlights that after the Q4 2022 cost-of-living measures are implemented, a one-parent family with two children, one in primary and one in secondary will face a shortfall of €9.40 and for those with an older child, this rises to €82.73; and if she will address same. [50640/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I was pleased that Budget 2023 included a social welfare package worth almost €2.2 billion. I am very mindful that lone parents continue to be a group with a high risk of poverty and for that reason I was particularly pleased to provide a number of measures in Budget 2023 which will be of benefit to lone parents.

Recipients of One-Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker's Transitional Payment will be amongst those who receive a double weekly payment in October and a Christmas bonus double payment in December. Like all families with children, lone parents will receive a double payment of Child Benefit in November. Lone parents in receipt of the Fuel Allowance will also receive a lumpsum payment of €400 in November.

Approximately half of the payments of the €500 cost of living lump sum payment which will be made to recipients of the Working Family Payment in November will be made lone parents.

I have also provided for a €40 increase in the weekly income thresholds for the Working Family Payment from January. The personal rate of working age payments such as One-Parent Family Payment will increase by €12, from €208 to €220 per week, also from January. In addition, the rate of Increase for a Qualified Child will increase by €2 to €42 per week in respect of a qualified child under age 12 and by €2 to €50 per week in respect of a qualified child aged 12 or over. As a result, these rates will have increased by €6 for under 12s and by €10 for over 12s over the last three Budgets.

While income supports are important, access to affordable and available services such as housing, health, childcare, and education, plays an equally strong and potentially more sustainable role in addressing poverty.

I understand that the Deputy is referring to the Budget 2023 Minimum Essential Standard of Living Impact Briefing prepared by the Vincentian Research Centre. However, it is important to note that this is just one analysis of the impact of the Budget package on households.

The ESRI analysis of Budget 2023 shows that the income of lone parent households will remain essentially stable as a consequence of Budget 2023 measures, with less than 0.2 per cent reduction, indicating that the Government measures are, in the main, effective at protecting lone parent households from the impact of the significant levels of inflation. The Budget 2023 Expenditure Report notes that lone parent households stand to benefit from a €1,872 annual increase in support.

The Department of Finance, in its analysis of the distributional impact of the tax and social welfare package of Budget 2023, found that single retirement age households and lone parents gain proportionally the most from both the Cost of Living Measures package and the 2023 package, with social welfare measures contributing the most to these gains.

I can assure the Deputy that the Government remains committed to the reduction of all forms of poverty, in particular for children as outlined in the Programme for Government, and to the continued support of children and families across the country.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (35, 37, 58, 67, 86)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

35. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the significant backlog in her Department for the exceptional needs payment that many applicants have been waiting upwards of eight weeks; if she is concerned with this given that it is supposed to be an urgent payment for those in exceptional need; her plans to tackle the backlog; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50215/22]

Maurice Quinlivan

Question:

37. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps that are being taken to address the backlog in assessments for applicants of the additional needs’ payment and supplementary welfare allowance within the community welfare service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50273/22]

Thomas Gould

Question:

58. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is increasing resources to reduce processing times of additional needs payment claims. [49678/22]

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

67. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on reports of substantial waiting times for supplementary welfare allowance and additional needs payment applications to be processed and paid out; the current estimated processing times for an application to be processed and paid out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50717/22]

Joan Collins

Question:

86. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will re-organise community welfare officers back into the community for at least two to three days per week, but preferably permanently (details supplied). [50624/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 35, 37, 58, 67 and 86 together.

In 2022 to the end of September, almost 66,000 applications for ANPs were processed and awarded, an increase of just under 60% on 2021. This rise in the number of applications reflects, at least in part, the efforts the Department has implemented, including two major advertising campaigns, to increase awareness of the payments.

In the region of 63% of all applications are being finalised within 4 weeks. This reflects the need to verify household income and expenditure and assess whether or not the expenditure in respect of which the ANP is requested is essential. Where an application is not finalised within this timeframe, this is generally due to additional information or documentation being requested from the person to support their application. Where an application is complete and accompanied by the required documentation, it is generally processed in a matter of days.

In addition, where my officials are aware of a client with an urgent or immediate need, every effort is made to ensure that the person customer in question receives a prompt service, usually on the same day.

The Department has taken a number of steps to increase service capacity, including:

- the introduction of a national CWS freefone line, meaning clients don't have to attend an office in person to make a claim,

- the rostering of staff to ensure there is a full-time CWO presence in over 50 offices nationwide,

- the establishment of a back-office support team, to take-on the more routine administrative tasks associated with claim processing - freeing up front-line CWOs to deal directly with customers and their claims.

In addition, the Department is well advanced in the development of an online claim option.

These changes mean that the CWS is in stronger position than it would otherwise have been to respond to the increase in service demand.

In addition, the Department is taking steps to allocate additional staff to the CWS function having received an increased staffing allocation during the estimates process. I expect recruitment for these posts to begin shortly.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Departmental Properties

Questions (36)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

36. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans, if any, to upgrade the INTREO centre in Ennis, County Clare, or to recruit additional staff for this valued facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50382/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Office of Public Works approached the Department of Social Protection regarding a full retrofit of Block 1, Intreo Centre, Government Buildings, Kilrush Road, Ennis, Co. Clare and a re-modelling of Block 2, Government Buildings, Kilrush Rd., Ennis

In phase 1, redevelopment works will need to be undertaken in Block 2 to accommodate DSP staff from Block 1. It is anticipated that these works will commence within the next 4 weeks with a 4-week completion timeframe.

Phase 2 will consist of the full retrofit and renovation of Block 1. The addition of photo-voltaic panels to Block 1 will result in the building generating power to the extent that it will contribute to the National Grid from the day it becomes operational. The Office of Public Works are yet to confirm a commencement date for phase 2 of the works and it is anticipated that these works will take approximately 12 months to complete.

There will be no disruption to DSP services which will continue to be delivered from Block 2 while works in Block 1 are ongoing.

Staffing levels are regularly reviewed to ensure that the best service is delivered to customers and will continue to be monitored going forward.

Question No. 37 taken with Question No. 35.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (38)

Joan Collins

Question:

38. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that the fuel allowance has not been extended to working family payment recipients. [50629/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The 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 allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. Only one allowance is paid per household.

The Fuel Allowance is paid to social welfare recipients such as pensioners, people with disabilities, lone parents and long-term unemployed people in recognition of their long-term financial dependence on their social welfare payment for all or most of their income.

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 such as Fuel Allowance to this cohort of claimants.

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 and recipients are in full time employment and are more likely to have additional resources. A person in receipt of the WFP can continue to receive the payment for 52 weeks even if their income increases.

While no provision was made in Budget 2023 to allow persons in receipt of the WFP to access the Fuel Allowance payment as part of the overall social welfare Budget 2023 package of €2.2 Billion, I was pleased to announce a number of measures in relation to the WFP. In November 2022, people receiving the WFP will get a once-off payment of €500 and in January 2023, the WFP income limits will increase by €40 across all family sizes.

For people parenting alone and who are on a social welfare scheme such as the One-Parent Family Payment, they may also receive the double-week payment in October and the Christmas Bonus in December.

Many of those on the WFP will also benefit from the non-social welfare cost of living measures announced in the Budget such as the enhanced electricity credit of €600 which will be applied to electricity bills.

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.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (39)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

39. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale behind the method for means testing capital for means-tested social welfare payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50320/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The system of social assistance supports provides payments based on an income need. The means test plays a critical role in determining whether or not an income need arises as a consequence of a particular contingency – such as disability, unemployment or caring. This ensures that the recipient has a verifiable income need and that resources are targeted to those who need them most.

Means tests are kept under regular review and a number of significant changes have been made in recent years. In particular, I have introduced a number of changes to means testing which provide for higher income disregards. These disregards ensure that, where people are in receipt of a social assistance payment and are working, a certain level of income from that work is not assessed in the means test.

A maximum rate is payable where a person has limited or no means, and tapering applies to the rate payable to those with modest or more substantial means. This is because there is an expectation that those with resources can at least partly contribute towards supporting themselves.

Social welfare legislation provides that, for social assistance schemes, income and capital (such as savings, investments and property other than the family home) belonging to the claimant and his or her partner, where applicable, is assessable for means assessment purposes.

How capital is assessed can vary depending on the nature and purpose of the payment, and various disregards apply across the schemes, reducing the amount of means assessed.

For most social assistance schemes, the first €20,000 of capital is fully disregarded, the next €10,000 assessed at €1 per thousand, the next €10,000 assessed at €2 per thousand, with the remainder assessed at €4 per thousand.

For Disability Allowance and Carer’s Allowance, the first €50,000 of capital is fully disregarded. The Disability Allowance capital disregard was increased to €50,000 in 2007 in recognition of the fact that a person who is in receipt of Disability Allowance may not have had the opportunity to accumulate savings and that, in some circumstances, families may wish to make future financial provision for a child or sibling but are concerned that such provision would adversely affect their entitlement to Disability Allowance.

I increased the Carer’s Allowance disregard in Budget 2022 for similar reasons; family carers may decide to provide for the future care of children or adults with disabilities. Increasing the disregard in line with Disability Allowance allows for the planning of future care needs.

Recently, as part of Budget 2023 I introduced significant changes in the means test for Fuel Allowance, including an increase in the overall threshold to €200 over the relevant State Pension (Contributory) rate - an increase of €80 in the allowable means.

Further to this, I made additional targeted changes, in relation to disregarding income from Disablement Benefit and Half Rate Carers allowance, in the means test for Fuel Allowance.

It is estimated that these changes, combined, will help more than 17,000 additional households to qualify for Fuel Allowance next year.

Any changes to the capital disregards would have cost implications and would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context.

Disability Services

Questions (40, 72)

Holly Cairns

Question:

40. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on a key conclusion in a report (details supplied) that “measures to address the additional costs of disability should be based on a multi-faceted approach involving increased cash payments, enhanced access to service provision and specific targeted grant programmes”. [50328/22]

Holly Cairns

Question:

72. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the key conclusion in a report (details supplied) 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”. [50327/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 72 together.

As stated in the 2021 Indecon Cost of Disability report, measures to address the additional costs of disability should be based on a multi-faceted approach involving increased cash payments, enhanced access to service provision and specific targeted grant programmes. The report also made clear that the cost of disability has implications for many areas of public policy, with additional costs of disability arising across a number of areas of expenditure including housing, equipment, aids and appliances, care and assistance services, mobility, transport, communications, medicines, and additional living expenses.

Furthermore, Indecon found that there is not a single typical cost of disability; rather, there is a spectrum from low to high additional costs of disability, depending on individual circumstances.

This is why the Government 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 is tasked with considering and monitoring recommended actions that are required by the various Government Departments on foot of the report.

A number of the measures I introduced as part of Budget 2023 in support of people with disabilities and carers, reflect some of the findings of the report and will go towards alleviating some of the costs experienced. These Budget measures are:

In October:

- A Cost of Living Double Payment will be paid to Social Protection recipients including all Pensioners, Carers and people on Disability Payments.

In November, there will be a:

- €400 Lump Sum Fuel Allowance Payment to all households receiving the Fuel Allowance.

- €200 Lump Sum Payment for pensioners and people with a disability receiving the Living Alone Allowance.

- €500 Cost of Living Lump Sum Payment to all families in receipt of the Working Family Payment.

- Double Payment of Child Benefit to support all families with children.

- €500 Cost of Living Payment for people receiving the Carer’s Support Grant.

- €500 Cost of Living Disability Support Grant will be paid to all people receiving a long-term Disability Payment.

In December:

- A Christmas Bonus Double Payment will be paid to 1.3 million Social Protection recipients including Pensioners, Carer’s and People with Disabilities.

In addition, in January 2023, the budgetary measures that will apply are:

- The Domiciliary Care Allowance will increase by €20.50 to €330 per month.

- A €12 increase in core payments with proportionate increases for qualified adults and for people who receive a reduced payment.

- Disablement Benefit will be disregarded in the means assessment for Fuel Allowance.

- Half-rate Carer’s Allowance will be disregarded in the means assessment for Fuel Allowance.

- The earnings disregard for both the Disability Allowance and Blind Pension will be increased by €25 per week, from €140 to €165.

- The general Means assessment threshold for Fuel Allowance will increase from €120 to €200, while entitlement to the allowance will be extended to people aged over 70, subject to a means threshold of €500 for a single person and €1,000 for a couple.

- Domiciliary Care Allowance will be available in respect of children with severe illness or disability who remain in hospital for up to six months after birth.

In particular the Indecon report identified the importance of supporting the employment of disabled people. To assist with this, in addition to the increases to the earnings disregards, Budget 2023 included a further two important measures:

- €1m in funding for enhancements to the Reasonable Accommodation Fund grants – which support the employment of disabled people in the private sector. Following a public consultation, conducted earlier this year, the department will bring forward reform proposals before the end of the year.

- Changes to the Jobsplus incentive scheme, to encourage private sector employers to employ disabled people. Employers who employ people in receipt of the disability allowance or Blind pension can now avail of the grants under the scheme.

A planned review of the departments Wage Subsidy Scheme, which provides financial incentives to encourage private sector employers to employ Jobseekers with disabilities, will also commence in the coming weeks through a public consultation process.

In the Roadmap for Social Inclusion and Pathways to Work strategies, my Department has committed to developing and consulting on a strawman proposal for the restructuring of long-term disability payments. The main objectives are to simplify the system, remove anomalies, recognise the continuum of disabilities and to support employment. The Cost of Disability research report will feed into the preparation of these reform proposals. Work is underway by officials on the ‘strawman’ with a public consultation to commence in due course.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (41)

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

41. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has given consideration to allowing increased mortgage costs as part of the means test for carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49482/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The system of social assistance supports provides payments based on an income need. The means test plays a critical role in determining whether or not an income need arises as a consequence of a particular contingency – such as disability, unemployment or caring. This ensures that the recipient has a verifiable income need and that resources are targeted to those who need them most.

By its nature, the means test takes account of the income a person or couple has in terms of cash, property - other than the family home - and capital. It does not take account of a person’s expenditure.

In Budget 2022, I announced significant improvements to the means test for Carer's Allowance, in recognition of the vital role that carers play in society.

This year, the general weekly income disregard for Carer's Allowance increased from €332.50 to €350 for a single person, and from €665 to €750 for a couple. This will enable more carers with modest incomes to become eligible for the scheme, and those currently in receipt of a reduced payment may now receive a higher payment.

The capital disregard was also increased in June from €20,000 to €50,000 for Carer’s Allowance. This will allow carers who have accumulated savings, often to provide care for a loved one, to retain an entitlement to Carer's Allowance.

Recently, as part of Budget 2023, I announced a €12 increase in weekly payments from next January. This includes Carer's Allowance. I am also increasing the Qualified Child rate by €2 per week, and the Domiciliary Care Allowance will increase to €330 per month.

Carers on a weekly payment will receive a double payment in October, a once-off payment of €500 in November, and a Christmas Bonus in December, which will help families to meet household costs.

Introducing a rent or mortgage disregard for Carer's Allowance would have significant budgetary implications and would give rise to inconsistencies in how means tests are applied across schemes. It would also significantly increase the complexity of the means assessment. Any changes in this regard would have to be considered in the overall policy context.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Community Employment Schemes

Questions (42)

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

42. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to reform the CE and Tús schemes, in order to make them more appealing to potential candidates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50614/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

The Department of Social Protection operates a number of employment support schemes for long term unemployed persons which also assist communities across the country in the provision of vital services. Currently, there are some 24,000 participants on the two schemes supporting long term unemployed persons back to work: Community Employment and Tús.

We are all very conscious of the important role that CE and Tús play and we all wish to support them as best we can. In addition to providing valuable occupational experience and training as a stepping-stone to employment for people who are unemployed, schemes such as CE and Tús also provide important and, in many cases essential, services to their local communities.

Thankfully, given the strong labour market performance the number of unemployed people dependent on social welfare payments continues to fall. While this is very welcome it also means that the number of candidates available for CE and Tús also falls. This creates an obvious challenge.

Having said that, it is not an insurmountable challenge, and working together with CE sponsors and Tús implementing bodies we can, and have, devised changes that will help the schemes to continue to support their local communities.

For example, following engagement with CE sponsors and Tús implementing bodies Minister Humphreys and I have announced a number of reforms and enhancements to CE and Tús since last December.

These changes included a provision to allow CE participants who reach 60 years of age to remain on CE until they reach state pension age. We also updated the baseline year for CE which opens the scheme to a cohort of people who had previously participated in the scheme. Extensions have also been granted to participants where the Department has not been in a position to provide new referrals to fill vacancies. Eligibility for Tús has been extended to persons in receipt of Disability Payments on a self-referral basis.

More recently as part of Budget 2023 we announced an increase of €5 per week or just over 22% in the weekly CE and Tús allowance. This increase is in addition to the increase in the core social welfare payments of €12 per week, meaning the minimum payment on CE and Tús will amount to €247.50 per week. This is the lowest rate of payment and people with children or other dependents receive additional payments, which are also increasing as part of our budget measures. For example, a person with an adult partner and one child aged over 12 will receive €443.50 per week, equivalent to about €23 per hour. These are attractive rates of payment and will help to encourage participation on the schemes.

We also changed the candidate referral process for CE. Schemes have been given new flexibility to allow them to directly recruit eligible candidates to fill 30% of places but are also a mandated to accept and place at least 60% of people referred by Intreo. This is to ensure that places do not go unfilled when there are candidates available from the Live Register. CE sponsors and Tús implementing bodies have also been granted some flexibility to extend individual placements and to retain existing participants in cases where no replacement is immediately available. Plans are also at an advanced stage for a new pilot scheme to extend CE eligibility to people who are Qualified Adults on a jobseeker claim; these are generally unemployed partners of people in receipt of a payment in their own right. This will open the scheme up to approximately 30,000 additional people. I expect this pilot to start early in 2023.

As I've already said, both Minister Humphreys and I are very conscious of the need to support CE and Tús and we continue to meet regularly with representatives of these programmes. The changes and improvements I've just described are a direct result of these engagements and I expect that they will play a significant role in supporting the schemes in the months ahead.I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Budget 2023

Questions (43, 45)

Bríd Smith

Question:

43. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if applicants for the fuel allowance under the new threshold guidelines announced in Budget 2023, who will now qualify for the payment from 1 January 2023, will receive the additional grant support of €400 announced for fuel allowance recipients; if not, the additional supports which she intends to provide for such vulnerable persons in the coming months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50627/22]

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

45. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that the €400 one-off payment to those in receipt of fuel allowance is extended to those who will become eligible for fuel allowance with the new means test in January 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50098/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 45 together.

The 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 allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. Only one allowance is paid per household.

As part of the Government's cost of living measures in Budget 2023, I announced that, in November 2022, a further lump sum payment of €400 will be paid to Fuel Allowance recipients to alleviate the burden of rising energy prices and inflation.

This further lump sum payment will be available to households that have an entitlement to the fuel allowance payment on the week that the lump sum is paid.

While the lump sum payment will not be available to households that qualify for the fuel allowance payment in January, by qualifying for the Fuel Allowance payment they will be receiving an extra €924 in a full fuel season to help with the cost of heating their home.

Some households to whom access is extended from January may also benefit from other cost-of-living measures announced in the Budget such as the double week in social welfare payments in October and December and the living alone payment of €200.

The enhanced electricity credit of €600 is another important Government measure announced in the Budget. This will also benefit households to whom access to Fuel Allowance is extended from January. The first €200 will be applied to electricity bills before Christmas.

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 Deputies.

Disability Services

Questions (44)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

44. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on work underway in her Department examining long-term disability income supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50413/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020 – 2025 includes a commitment to develop and consult on a ‘strawman’ proposal for the restructuring of long-term disability payments to simplify the system and take account of the concerns expressed in the Make Work Pay report.

The Cost of Disability research report was published by my Department in December 2021, which is feeding into the preparation of the strawman reform proposals. Work on these proposals is being led by the Illness, Disability and Carers Policy Unit within my Department. This work is advancing and I intend to carry out a wider consultation process with all stakeholders and advocacy groups in due course.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Question No. 45 taken with Question No. 43.

Question No. 46 answered orally.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (47)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

47. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider removing the means test for the carer's allowance or raising the thresholds to allow more persons to avail of the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50280/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The main income supports to carers provided by my department include Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer's Support Grant. Spending on these payments in 2022 is expected to exceed €1.5 billion.

The means test for Carer’s Allowance not only ensures that the recipient has a verifiable income need but that resources are targeted to those with the greatest need.

- As part of Budget 2022, I announced significant improvements to the means test for Carer’s Allowance. The weekly income disregard was increased from €332.50 to €350 a week for single carers and from €665 to €750 for carers with a spouse/partner. These are the most generous income disregards in the social welfare system and this increase enables more carers with modest incomes to become eligible for the scheme.

- The capital disregard was also increased from €20,000 to €50,000. This allows carers who have accumulated relatively modest savings to retain an entitlement to Carer's Allowance.

These changes, which came into effect in June this year, were the first changes that had been made to the Carer’s Allowance means test in 14 years.

Based on the number of carers identified as part of Census 2016, it is estimated that a universal (non-means tested) carer’s payment could cost up to an additional €1.2 billion per annum.

Any additional changes to the Carer's Allowance means test would have to be considered in an overall policy context.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Energy Prices

Questions (48)

Mick Barry

Question:

48. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Social Protection the budget that has been allocated to community welfare officers in relation to those seeking assistance due to an inability to keep their prepaid gas or electricity meters topped up; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50715/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Government is acutely aware of the impact that the recent increases in global energy prices is having on households. This is why the Government introduced a €2.4 billion package of supports in 2022 and a package of one-off measures worth €2.5 billion in the Budget 2023 cost of living package. This includes a new Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme through which energy credits totaling €600 will credited to each domestic electricity account, including Pay as You Go accounts, in November 2022, January 2023 and March 2023.

In response to the on-going cost-of-living pressures, as part of Budget 2023, I secured almost €2.2billion, the largest Social Protection package in the history of the state. Some €1.1billion of this package has been targeted to provide a wide range of lump-sum payments in order to help people in the coming months, in addition to a wide range of increases which will come into effect from January 2023 including:

- The Autumn Cost-of-Living Double Week Payment to most Social protection schemes which will be paid during the week commencing 17th of October 2022;

- The Double Payment of Child Benefit to support families with children will be paid alongside the regular Child Benefit Payment in November 2022;

- A €400 Lump Sum Fuel Allowance Payment to all households receiving the Fuel Allowance;

- A €200 Lump Sum Payment for pensioners and people with a disability receiving the Living Alone Allowance;

- A €500 Lump Sum Payment to families in receipt of the Working Family Payment, Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension and the Carer's Support Grant;

In addition, a 100% Christmas Bonus will be paid to all long-term social welfare recipients in December 2022.

Under 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. This is an overarching term used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.

Government has provided €45.75 million for the Additional Needs Payment schemes in 2022. A further provision of €4.3 million has been provided for SWA Supplements in 2022 (excluding rent supplement). This is a demand-led scheme and there is no budget cap. 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.

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.

Question No. 49 taken with Question No. 13.

Question No. 50 answered orally.

Citizens Information Services

Questions (51)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

51. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that the Citizens Information Board remains a fully functional service despite the recent changes to the organisation; if she has engaged with the CIB in relation to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50216/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

It is important to recognise and protect the statutory independence of the Citizens Information Board and the separation between it and the eight independent regional Citizen Information Service (CIS) companies, which it funds, and which operate the national network of Citizens Information Centres on its behalf.

Section 7(1) of the Comhairle Act charges CIB with the provision of independent information, advice and advocacy services. This is to ensure that individuals receive impartial advice and access to accurate and comprehensive information relating to social services. This statutory independence is also to ensure that Government cannot unduly influence the information or advice offered by CIB, nor dictate how it should provide services.

Similarly, each CIS company is a separate company in its own right, governed by a voluntary board of directors. Subject to meeting service standards set by CIB these eight CIS companies are responsible for decisions on the delivery of services in their own regions.

Any operational changes or decisions are therefore a matter for CIB and the independent boards. As Minister, I cannot direct them regarding operational decisions.

I absolutely recognise and value the good work carried out by volunteers, and I have been very clear to the Citizens Information Board (CIB) that it is important that the voluntary ethos of the Citizens Information Service (CIS) should be protected and the skills of its volunteers should be utilised to the maximum extent possible.

CIB has also publicly acknowledged the centrality of volunteers in delivering and supporting CIB-funded services and considers their continued contribution to be vital in ensuring that Citizens Information remains an independent, trusted source of information, advice, and advocacy.

In light of concerns raised recently in relation to volunteers, I met with the Chairperson and CEO of CIB seeking further information.

Following our meeting, CIB has initiated an independent review of its volunteer strategy. This independent review will consult with current and past volunteers and other important stakeholders. It is expected that it will be concluded in the coming months and its recommendations will directly inform CIB's new three-year strategy 2023-2025.

The priority for CIB is that the service provided to the public is of the highest quality and volunteers will continue to play an important role in the delivery of citizen information services.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (52)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

52. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that those on so-called short-term social welfare payments will also receive the Christmas bonus and the one-off cost-of-living support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50099/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

In response to the ongoing cost of living pressures, my Department will spend approximately €1.2 billion in one-off measures during the coming months to help individuals and families through this difficult period.

One of these measures is the Autumn Cost of Living Double Payment. This will be paid to those schemes which are eligible to receive the Christmas Bonus, with one modification - the removal of the 12-month duration requirement for certain schemes - allowing short-term jobseekers and Supplementary Welfare Allowance customers to qualify for the October support.

The Christmas Bonus is paid to long-term social welfare recipients, such as pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents and the long-term unemployed in recognition of their long-term financial dependence on their social welfare payment for all, or most, of their income.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.