Written Answers Nos. 53- 75
53. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the changes to the fuel allowance scheme as announced in Budget 2023; the additional number of people that will be able to avail of the allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50599/22]
View answer55. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide the details of the implementation of the expansion to fuel allowance eligibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49599/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 55 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 overall welfare Budget 2023 package of €2.2 Billion, a number of considerable reforms were made to the Fuel Allowance scheme.
- From January 2023, a new means threshold will be introduced for people aged 70 years and over. The new means threshold will be €500 for a single person and €1,000 for a couple. It is estimated that up to 64,000 households could benefit from this measure at a cost of €53.5 million per year.
- From January 2023, the weekly means threshold for those aged under 70 will be increased by €80 to €200 above the appropriate rate of State Pension (Contributory). It is estimated that up to additional 10,600 additional households could benefit from this measure at a cost of €9.8 million.
- From January 2023, the Disablement Benefit payment will be disregarded when assessing means for Fuel Allowance purposes and a household will also no longer be debarred from receiving Fuel Allowance because a person in the household is in receipt of Disablement Benefit. It is estimated that an additional 1,200 households may benefit from this measure.
- From January 2023, the Half-Rate Carers Allowance payment will be disregarded when assessing means for Fuel Allowance purposes. It is estimated that over 5,400 additional households may benefit from this measure.
It is estimated these measures combined will bring an additional 81,000 households into the Fuel Allowance Scheme from January. My Department is already working on developing the IT systems and operational requirements to give effect to these changes.
I can confirm that there will be an application process involved. This most likely will involve the completion of a Fuel Allowance application form. Further details in relation to the application process will be advertised once the operational requirements for the new measure have been implemented.
In addition to these measures, as part of the Government's Budget 2023 cost of living measures, a €400 additional Lump Sum payment will be made to all households in receipt of the Fuel Allowance Payment in November 2022. This will be paid automatically to qualifying households.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.
54. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has had any discussions with the Department of Rural and Community Development with a view to addressing the anomaly whereby some persons on rural social schemes cannot access the fuel allowance due to the fact that they were not in receipt of the allowance when they started on the scheme, especially in light of rising fuel and energy costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44765/22]
View answerThe Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from early 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 criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct limited resources in as targeted a manner as possible. This ensures that the Fuel Allowance payment goes to those who are more vulnerable to fuel poverty, including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own.
Participants on Rural Social schemes (RSS) can access the Fuel Allowance payment in the same circumstances as other Employment Support Scheme participants, such as those on Community Employment Schemes and Tús schemes.
If a participant on a RSS was in receipt of Fuel Allowance prior to going on the scheme, they can continue to receive the Fuel Allowance payment while participating on the scheme once they continue to satisfy the qualifying conditions.
If the RSS participant was not in receipt of the Fuel Allowance payment prior to going on the RSS scheme, they may still apply for and qualify for Fuel Allowance in the following circumstances.
- If the RSS scheme participant was in receipt of a long-term qualifying payment prior to going on the RSS scheme, this will allow them to satisfy the qualifying payment element. However, all other qualifying conditions of Fuel Allowance must also be satisfied i.e. the participant's household must satisfy the means test when assessed and meet the household composition criteria.
- Where the RSS participant has an established underlying entitlement to Fuel Allowance but is not in receipt of the allowance because another member of the household was receiving the payment, it is open to the RSS scheme participant to apply for Fuel Allowance if these circumstances change, e.g., where the Fuel Allowance recipient leaves the address.
Any decision to extend the eligibility criteria for Fuel Allowance for other people participating on a RSS would have to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.
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.
56. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will reconsider the failure to increase social welfare rates, in particular for single parents, above the rate of inflation in Budget 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50719/22]
View answerI announced on Budget Day that the Government will spend more than €2.1 billion on Social Protection measures, including over €880 million in order to provide for a €12 increase to the weekly rate of social welfare payments from January 2023. This supports both pensioners and those of working age and includes a proportionate increase for qualified adults.
This is the largest social welfare package in the history of the State.
The rate increase is accompanied by a wide range additional measures and lump sum payments this year to social welfare customers. Taken together, for many household types, the combination effectively matches, or exceeds, inflation.
For example, a lone parent with two children will see a €16 increase in their weekly rate from January. The improvements to the Working Family Payment thresholds also targets low-income families with children, resulting in a weekly increase of up to €24.
Families will also be assisted before January. They will receive a cost-of-living double payment later this month, and again in December via the Christmas bonus. In November, an additional Child Benefit payment will be made. Households in receipt of the Fuel Allowance will receive a €400 lump sum, and people in receipt of the Working Family Payment will receive a lump sum of €500. All households will also benefit from €600 of Energy Credits in the coming months.
The ESRI post-Budget analysis shows that Budget 2023, combined with one-off measures to reduce the cost of living, will be effective in protecting most households from rising prices this winter.
The analysis further shows that the income of lone parent households will remain essentially stable (less than 0.2 per cent reduction) as a consequence of Budget 2023 measures which indicates that the Government measures are, in the main, effective at protecting lone parent households from the impact of current levels of inflation.
I am satisfied that the total social welfare budget package for 2023 has been designed to protect the most vulnerable in society. As we have done to date, the Government will continue to monitor the situation closely and stands ready to respond again, if and when necessary.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
57. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures that are being taken to deal with the long processing times for carer's allowance; carer's benefit, invalidity pension, disability allowance and additional needs payments applications; the measures that are being taken to deal with the long processing times for reviews on the previously listed applications; the measures that are being taken to ensure no delays in files transferring to the appeals department on all social welfare appeal requests; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50594/22]
View answerMy Department is committed to providing a quality service to all customers, ensuring that claims are processed as quickly as possible and that backlogs are kept to a minimum.
Processing times for new applications vary across schemes, depending on the differing qualification criteria. Schemes that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case of illness-related schemes, can take longer to process. Similarly, means-tested payments can also require more detailed investigations and interaction with the applicant, thereby lengthening the decision-making process. Delays can also arise if information is required from social security organisations in other jurisdictions and where additional information has been requested from the applicant but remains outstanding.
As part of my Department’s programme of service delivery modernisation, a range of initiatives aimed at streamlining the processing of claims, supported by modern technology, have been implemented in recent years. Operational processes, procedures and the organisation of work are continually reviewed to ensure that processing capability is maximised. In this regard, my Department has had major success in clearing backlogs, notably in the disability and caring schemes.
The staffing needs of my department are also regularly reviewed, having regard to workloads and the competing demands arising, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources.
My Department is committed to ensuring that reviews of adverse decisions are carried out without delay. Due to the increased number of applications received and decided over the last 12 months, there has been a corresponding increase in the volume of requests for reviews. This has led to increased waiting times for reviews. Additional resources have recently been allocated to the review areas to deal with increased volumes and to minimise delays.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) functions independently of my Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. All appeals are referred to the Department in the first instance so that the original decision can be reviewed. It is often the case that new evidence is provided with the appeal request and, as a result, the original decision may be revised by the Deciding officer. It is important to highlight the value of providing all relevant information at the initial application stage as this will increase the likelihood of achieving a positive result earlier in the process. If a review has not produced a favourable outcome, then a submission is prepared within the scheme area and forwarded to the SWAO without delay.
There are currently no processing delays with applications for Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Invalidity Pension or Disability Allowance. The number of applications for Additional Needs Payments increased significantly following two major advertising and communications campaigns by my Department to promote the scheme this year. To the end of September this year, 66,000 Additional Needs Payments have been processed and paid.
In the region of 63% of applications for Additional Needs Payments are finalised within 4 weeks. 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 my officials are aware of a customer with an urgent or an immediate need, every effort is made to ensure that customer in question receives a prompt service, usually on the same day.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
59. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps that her Department is taking to tackle the issue of food poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50429/22]
View answerThe Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025 is a whole of Government strategy that aims to reduce consistent poverty to 2 per cent or less by 2025 and make Ireland one of the most socially inclusive countries in the EU. The Roadmap was published in January 2020 and contains seven high level goals, delivered by 66 unique commitments.
Commitment 61 has a specific focus on food poverty: develop a comprehensive programme of work to further explore the drivers of food poverty and to identify mitigating actions . In order to deliver on this commitment, I established a Food Poverty Working Group in April 2021. The group comprises officials from a range of government departments along with representatives from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Crosscare and the Children’s Rights Alliance. The membership of the group reflects the complex nature of food poverty and food insecurity.
The first key piece of work that the Working Group undertook was a mapping exercise to identify the various programmes across Government that address food poverty and provide supports in this area. A report on the results of this exercise was published in July of this year, Food poverty: Government programmes, schemes and supports , and is available on my Department's website. It found that a number of departments are engaged in programmes, schemes and supports that are connected, either directly or indirectly, to the issue of food poverty. Expenditure in 2021 on schemes that directly addressed food poverty was €89 million.
The second piece of work that the Working Group has undertaken is the development of a research proposal examining the prevalence and drivers of food poverty. The research will identify the drivers of food poverty and examine the extent of activities addressing food poverty at a local level in two case study areas, identifying gaps and overlaps in service provision. Research has commenced, and the final report is expected in December 2022. It is my intention that the findings from this research will further inform the work of the Group and contribute to the production of recommendations that will assist individuals and families experiencing food poverty in Ireland.
In this context, I am pleased to have secured funding to the amount of €400,000 as part of Budget 2023 to develop and implement a pilot scheme to support people experiencing food poverty. A procurement process will be run in relation to the pilot programme next year.
In addition, within the Department, we have the School Meals programme, which includes the Hot School Meals programme introduced in 2019. Overall funding for this has increased from €38.8 million in 2015 to €68.1million in 2022, reflecting the importance of the programme in providing regular, nutritious food to children enabling them to take full advantage of the education provided to them.
The Department also administers the FEAD programme (now European Social Fund Plus) in partnership with FoodCloud and the 156 community groups that distribute food packs and meals in local communities. This programme is co-funded by the EU, supporting EU countries in the provision of material/food assistance to those who are most deprived. During the period 2016-2020, over 774,000 individuals in Ireland were assisted by the programme, with over 990,000 food packs and more than 4.9 million meals distributed.
61. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline eligibility for the working family payment; and the impact the changes will make to this payment in respect to Budget 2023. [50709/22]
View answerI am pleased that Budget 2023 includes a social welfare package of almost €2.2 billion. This extensive package includes measures in relation to the Working Family Payment which is an in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings.
The Working Family Payment is designed to prevent in-work poverty for low paid workers with child dependents, and to offer a financial incentive to take-up employment. There are approximately 47,000 families with 103,000 children who are currently in receipt of the payment. The estimated expenditure on the scheme in 2022 is €349 million.
To qualify for the Working Family Payment a person must be engaged as an employee in full time paid employment which is expected to last for at least 3 months and be working for a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight or 19 hours per week. A couple may combine their hours of employment to meet the qualification criteria. The applicant must also have at least one qualified child who normally resides with them or is part of a family supported by them. These criteria have not been changed in Budget 2023.
The Budget package includes a range of measures that will assist people with the cost of living in one-off payments this Autumn. This includes a once-off payment of €500 to recipients of the Working Family Payment. This payment will be made in November at an estimated cost of €23 million.
In addition, I have also provided for a €40 per week increase in the Working Family Payment thresholds for all family sizes. This is the highest ever increase in the Working Family Payment thresholds. This will ensure that families on low incomes will receive more weekly income from the scheme - up to €24 euro per week. It will also ensure that the increase of 80 cent per hour in the National Minimum Wage does not negatively impact on people's income from the Working Family Payment. It also means that more people will qualify for the payment. This measure will take effect from January at a cost of approximately €16.8 million in 2023.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
62. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection her response to the Commission on Taxation and Welfare's recommendation that the individualisation of payments made to qualified adults should be progressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50608/22]
View answerThe Commission on Taxation and Welfare Report states that further social welfare individualisation is necessary, specifically in relation to qualified adults whose partners are in receipt of means-tested social assistance benefits. In preparing this recommendation, the Commission had regard to the recent work by NESC and the report of the Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality.
The Commission recommendation builds on the commitment in the Roadmap for Social Inclusion to examine the feasibility of individualising welfare payments, through the provision of a direct payment to the second ‘dependent’ adult in a household, with a view to reducing co-dependency and improving employment and earnings outcomes.
My Department is currently preparing proposals for consultation on pay-related jobseeker's benefit and working age payment reform. The work of the Commission will feed into these proposals.
63. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the latest Central Statistics Office figures which state that one in ten households cannot afford to pay for school trips, while 12% of one-parent families cannot afford to pay for them; and the steps that her Department is taking, if any, to counter this. [50748/22]
View answerAs Minister with responsibility for social inclusion, I have a strong interest in addressing all forms of poverty and addressing child poverty. I welcome the recent publication of the CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) module on child specific deprivation. It is critical to have accurate and detailed data if we are to better understand and address such issues.
The 2021 SILC data has shown a reduction in the overall rate of child poverty in Ireland from 7.2% in 2020 to 5.2% in 2021. This is very welcome. However, the recent CSO analysis shows that child-specific deprivation rates are higher for lone parent households highlighting the need for targeted measures that will assist the most vulnerable.
I therefore welcome the recent ESRI post-budget analysis, which shows that Budget 2023 combined with one off measures to reduce the cost of living, will be effective in protecting most households from rising prices this winter. The ESRI analysis further shows that the income of lone parents' households will remain essentially stable as a consequence of Budget 2023 measures indicating that the Government measures are, in the main, effective at protecting lone parents' households from the impact of inflation. The Budget 2023 Expenditure Report, published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, further notes that lone parent households stand to benefit from a €1,872 annual increase in support.
Families with children, including lone parents, will benefit from a range of measures under Budget 2023, including:
- Autumn cost of living double payment;
- €500 cost of living lump sum payment to all lone parents getting Working Family Payment;
- €400 cost of living lump sum payment to one parent families in receipt of Fuel Allowance;
- double payment of Child Benefit (€280 per child);
- Christmas Bonus double payment;
- From January 2023 there will be an increase of €12 in maximum personal weekly rates of payment, with proportionate increase for qualified adults;
- qualified child payments will increase by €2 per week in January 2023 bringing them to €50 for over 12s and €42 for under 12s
This is in addition to a range of measures introduced over recent Social Protection budgets that have had a direct and positive impact on low-income families including:
- Increases in the Working Family Payment thresholds aimed at supporting working families and ensuring that work pays;
- Improvements to means-testing of payments for lone parents;
- Increases in the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance;
- Increases in the weekly rates of payment for all schemes;
- Introduction and expansion of hot school meals, in line with the Programme for Government commitment to ensure no child goes hungry.
Through the implementation of the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020 - 2025, as committed in the Programme for Government, Government will continue to provide targeted supports to children and families across the country.
64. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans for the implementation of the expansion of the fuel allowance scheme for persons over 70 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50616/22]
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 allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. Only one allowance is paid per household.
In Budget 2023, I was pleased to announce the largest ever expansion of the Fuel Allowance Scheme. As part of this, from January 2023, a new means test will be introduced for Over 70s. Under the new means test, a single person over 70 can have income of €500 per week and a couple can have income of €1,000 per week and still qualify for Fuel Allowance. This was a priority for me as part of Budget 2023 and is in recognition of the fact that older people are more vulnerable to the cold.
Also, from January 2023, the standard means test for persons under 70 will be increased by €80 from €120 to €200 over the maximum State Pension Contributory. In addition, the half-rate Carer's Allowance payment and Disablement Benefit will be disregarded when assessing means for Fuel Allowance purposes.
It is estimated these measures combined will bring an additional 81,000 households into the Fuel Allowance Scheme from January. My Department is already working on developing the IT systems and operational requirements to give effect to these changes.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
65. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of any analysis carried out by her Department into providing support with redundancy payments arising from the closure of local employment services and jobs clubs around the country as a result of the roll-out of the new local area employment services; if her Department has carried out any analysis on redundancies arising from the change to the new local area employment services, and in particular, the number of persons who have been made redundant and their length of service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50746/22]
View answerFollowing a recent competitive tendering process run by my Department in accordance with EU procurement rules, 17 community and voluntary sector organisations were successful and were awarded contracts to provide the new Intreo Partners Local Area Employment Service (IPLAES). This replaces Local Employment Service and Job Club contracts. All 17 of these contracts are now in place and the new service is being mobilised with the support of my Department.
The new IPLAES service represents a significant increase in state investment in these services, from €23 million per annum to €39 million per annum, exclusive of VAT.
The services focus on those furthest from the labour market and is state-wide for the first time. This represents a substantial expansion of employment services previously available to the long-term unemployed cohort.
Despite this increased investment in services, I understand that some former providers of LES and Job Club services, including in some cases those who successfully bid for the new contracts, have issued redundancy notices to some of their staff. Though regrettable, my Department cannot direct or determine the employment and staffing of third-party contractors and has not undertaken an analysis of any redundancies in this context.
As my Department is not the employer of contracted staff, the responsibility for any redundancy payments rests solely with the employer. Where an employer is unable to pay statutory redundancy, they can make an application to my Department’s Redundancy and Insolvency service.
I trust that this information is of assistance to the Deputy.
66. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which it continues to be possible to address particularly sensitive issues in respect of family income and the cost of living impact; if she is satisfied regarding the adequacy of her Department's resources to address such circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50592/22]
View answerIn response to the on-going cost-of-living pressures, as part of Budget 2023, I secured a social welfare package of more than €2.1 billion, the largest Social Protection package in the history of the state, 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.
The ESRI's assessment of the Budget is that the measures introduced are large enough to leave the lowest-income households better-off on average than they would have been had welfare rates risen in line with inflation both this year and next.
In that context I am satisfied that my Department has the necessary resources to assist those most in need due to the impact of cost-of-living increases.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
68. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the right of community employment supervisors to secure pension entitlements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50728/22]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, Community Employment (CE) supervisors and CE assistant supervisors sought for several years through their union representatives, SIPTU and Forsa, the allocation of Exchequer funding to implement a 2008 Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme for CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors who are employed by CE scheme sponsoring organisations.
Following an agreement between the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Minister for Social Protection, a final settlement was reached with unions representing CE supervisors and assistant supervisors at the end of 2021 in settlement of this specific Labour Court recommendation. This settlement resolves this long-standing issue through the payment of a once off ex-gratia payment to eligible CE supervisors and assistant supervisors. At the end of last year, both unions involved confirmed acceptance of this settlement which will benefit approximately 2,500 people employed by CE schemes going back to 2008. It is estimated to have a total cost of over €24 million.
Generally, under the terms of this settlement, on reaching retirement age, eligible CE supervisors and assistant supervisors will receive a once off ex-gratia payment in respect of time employed by CE schemes since 2008.
In relation to the wider issue as regards access to pensions for CE supervisors and assistant supervisors individual schemes, not the state are employers of CE supervisors. Of course, CE supervisors have access to the standard State Contributory Pension. The pension auto enrolment process will also apply to CE workers, once operational.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
69. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the social protection supports currently being considered to improve the overall departmental response to domestic abuse situations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49597/22]
View answerMy Officials worked closely with Officials in the Department of Children, Equality and Youth on the development of the Domestic Violence Leave Report. I welcome the report’s key recommendation that a form of domestic violence leave be introduced.
Once the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill is enacted, those who are suffering or at risk of domestic violence will be entitled to five days of paid leave per year. It is recommended that the payment should be made by the employer, on a similar basis to force majeure leave which will protect the incomes of those using the leave. This will ensure that Domestic Violence leave is available at short notice and without an excessive administrative burden on the person.
In addition, the Government will put in place support for employers to help them develop domestic violence workplace policies and to support employees experiencing domestic violence.
A protocol between my Department and Tusla is already in place to assist victims of domestic violence. Under this protocol, a victim of domestic violence can apply for Rent Supplement on referral by Tusla or by Tusla-funded service providers. Rent Supplement will be provided for an initial three months and will not require a means test.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
70. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding her Department’s modelling of the impacts of the increase in the thresholds of the working family payment; the number of additional families likely to be able to avail of the payment; the distributional impact of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50398/22]
View answerI'm pleased that Budget 2023 includes a social welfare package of more than €2.1 billion. This extensive package includes measures in relation to the Working Family Payment. Approximately half of the recipients of Working Family Payment are single adult households so these measures are also of benefit to lone parents.
The Working Family Payment is an in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings. The Working Family Payment is designed to prevent in-work poverty for low paid workers with child dependents, and to offer a financial incentive to take-up employment.
The Budget package includes a range of measures that will assist people with the cost of living in one-off payments this Autumn. This includes a once-off payment of €500 to recipients of the Working Family Payment. A payment of €500 will be made to families in receipt of Working Family Payment on the payment date regardless of the level of their Working Family Payment. This payment will be made in November at an estimated cost of €23 million. Approximately, 44,000 families with approximately 97,000 children will receive this payment.
In addition, I have also provided for a €40 per week increase in the Working Family Payment thresholds for all family sizes. This is the highest ever increase in the Working Family Payment thresholds. This will ensure that families on low incomes will receive more weekly income from the scheme - up to €24 per week. It will also ensure that the increase of 80 cent per hour in the National Minimum Wage does not negatively impact on people's income from the Working Family Payment.
This change also means that more people will qualify for the payment. While it is difficult to model with true precision how many new families will enter the scheme, I expect this to be in the region of 1,600 families. It should be noted that this estimate is subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients. This measure will take effect from January at a cost of approximately €16.8 million in 2023.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
71. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on her plans regarding recognising the additional cost of disability; the way that she intends to ensure that this additional cost is reflected within the social protection system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50415/22]
View answerThe 2021 Indecon Cost of Disability report identified that additional costs of disability run 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.
It is very clear that the findings in the research have implications for many areas of public policy and responses should be based on a multifaceted approach to include increased cash payments, enhanced access to services and specific targeted grant programmes.
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.
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 considers and monitors recommended actions 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 will assist in alleviating the cost of disability:
- A Cost of Living Double Payment will be paid to Social Protection recipients including all Pensioners, Carers and people on Disability Payments in October.
The following payments will be made in November:
- €500 Cost of Living Disability Support Grant will be paid to all people receiving a long-term Disability Payment;
- €500 Cost of Living Payment for people receiving the Carer’s Support Grant;
- €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;
- Double Payment of Child Benefit to support all families with children.
In addition:
- A Christmas Bonus Double Payment will be paid to 1.3 million Social Protection recipients including Pensioners, Carers and People with Disabilities in December.
In January 2023, the following measures will be implemented:
- a €12 increase in weekly payments with proportionate increases for qualified adults and for people who receive a reduced rate;
- The earnings disregard for both the Disability Allowance and Blind Pension will be increased by €25 per week, from €140 to €165;
- The Means assessment threshold for Fuel Allowance will increase from €120 to €200;
- Disablement Benefit will be disregarded in the means assessment for Fuel Allowance;
- Domiciliary Care Allowance will increase by €20.50 to €330 per month;
- 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;
- Half-rate Carer’s Allowance will be disregarded in the means assessment for Fuel Allowance.
The Indecon report particularly identified the importance of supporting the employment of disabled people. To assist with this, in addition to the increases to the earning disregards, Budget 2023 included two other important measures:
- €1m funding for enhancements to the Reasonable Accommodation Fund grants. These grants 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 Jobs plus incentive scheme, to encourage private sector employers in employ disabled people. Employers who employ people in receipt of the disability allowance or Blind pension can now benefit from 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.
73. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider reviewing the means test for disability allowance in order that as well as assessing income the application process also takes into account the additional cost of disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50600/22]
View answerThe Indecon Cost of Disability report identified that additional costs of disability run 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. Therefore, it is very clear that the findings in the research have implications for many areas of public policy.
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.
Given the findings of the research, Indecon have recommended that responses should be based on a multifaceted approach, to include, increased cash payments, enhanced access to services and specific targeted grant programmes.
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. It is within the group remit to consider and monitor actions required by the various departments and agencies on foot of the report.
A number of the measures I introduced as part of Budget 2023 in support of people with disabilities will assist in alleviating the cost of disability:
- A Cost of Living Double Payment will be paid to Social Protection recipients including all Pensioners, Carers and people on Disability Payments in October.
The following payments will be made in November:
- €500 Cost of Living Disability Support Grant will be paid to all people receiving a long-term Disability Payment.
- €500 Cost of Living Payment for people receiving the Carer’s Support Grant.
- €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.
- Double Payment of Child Benefit to support all families with children.
In addition:
- A Christmas Bonus Double Payment will be paid to 1.3 million Social Protection recipients including Pensioners, Carers and People with Disabilities in December.
In January 2023, the following measures will be implemented:
- a €12 increase in weekly payments with proportionate increases for qualified adults and for people who receive a reduced rate.
- The earnings disregard for both the Disability Allowance and Blind Pension will be increased by €25 per week, from €140 to €165.
- The Means assessment threshold for Fuel Allowance will increase from €120 to €200.
- Disablement Benefit will be disregarded in the means assessment for Fuel Allowance.
- Domiciliary Care Allowance will increase by €20.50 to €330 per month.
- 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.
- Half-rate Carer’s Allowance will be disregarded in the means assessment for Fuel Allowance.
The Indecon report particularly identified the importance of supporting the employment of disabled people. To assist with this, in addition to the increases to the earning disregards, Budget 2023 included two other important measures:
- €1m funding for enhancements to the Reasonable Accommodation Fund grants. These grants 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 Jobs plus incentive scheme, to encourage private sector employers in employ disabled people. Employers who employ people in receipt of the disability allowance or Blind pension can now benefit from 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.
75. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if the current tendering out of a service (details supplied) will be subject to any review or oversight by her Department in terms of its effects on the unemployed and their access to services, or the effects in terms of those employed in providing these services; if the process has resulted in any deterioration in terms of pay and conditions of staff affected, as well as the quality of services provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50628/22]
View answerFollowing a recent competitive tendering process run by my Department in accordance with EU procurement rules, 17 community and voluntary sector organisations were successful and were awarded contracts to provide the new Intreo Partners Local Area Employment Service (IPLAES). This new service replaces both the Local Employment Service and Job Club contracts. All 17 of these contracts are now in place and the new service is being mobilised with the support of my Department. This new service provides comprehensive services for the long-term unemployed and other clients throughout the State for the first time. Clients are now being referred to the new service.
The new IPLAES includes, for the first time, a mechanism enabling my Department to monitor outcomes for clients, measuring how successful the new service is in assisting clients of the IPLAES to secure employment.
My Department is not the employer of contracted staff and therefore the responsibility for the employment conditions of those staff rests solely with their employer. All employers are obliged to respect the framework of employment rights including, where appropriate, the preservation of existing terms and conditions.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
