Written Answers No. 76-103
77. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection her response to the Commission on Taxation and Welfare's recommendation that working-age payments should be reformed to move towards an income-related working-age assistance payment available to all households; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50609/22]
View answerThe Report of the Commission on Taxation and Welfare, which was published last month, is a significant body of work which put forward 116 recommendations. One of these is that working-age payments should be reformed to move towards a working age assistance payment available to all households. It further states that such a payment should be designed so as to avoid subsidising a low-paid economy.
The Government Strategy, Pathways to Work 2021-2025 includes a commitment to “Prepare a paper on options to modify the longer term jobseeker assistance payment by utilising the Revenue real time earnings data to adjust payment levels in line with a person’s weekly earnings, to guarantee a basic income floor and ensure that in all cases a person’s income increases when they work.” It includes a further commitment to “Ensure that the particular circumstances of lone parents are considered in the assessment of a Working Age Payment/Basic Income Guarantee”.
Work in relation to these commitments is currently underway in my Department.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
78. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to review the eligibility criteria for carers and provide further financial supports to those who provide full-time care. [50710/22]
View answerThe Government acknowledges the crucial role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for Government and the National Carers’ Strategy.
My department provides a comprehensive package of carers’ income supports including Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Combined spending on these payments to carers in 2022 is estimated to exceed €1.5 billion.The Carer’s Allowance is the main scheme by which the Department provides income support to carers in the community. Carer’s Allowance is a means tested social assistance payment awarded to those carers who are caring for certain people who require full-time care and attention. At the end of August, there were 91,658 people in receipt of Carer's Allowance. The projected expenditure on Carer’s Allowance in 2022 is approximately €990 million.
The primary objective of the payment is to provide an income support to carers whose earning capacity is substantially reduced as a consequence of their caring responsibilities and in so doing to support the ongoing care of the person in respect of whom care is being provided.
While the caring requirements of the caree(s) will be different, this does not affect the rates of the allowance, which is intended to provide an income support for the carer and does not depend on individual care requirements. Where carers are providing care to more than one person, an increase of 50% is applicable.
Carers may also (subject to certain conditions) qualify for the:
- Household Benefits Package
- Free Travel Scheme
In addition to Carer's Allowance, my department provides non-means tested payment to carers, as follows:
- The Carers Benefit payment is an entitlement based on social insurance contributions. Carer’s Benefit is a payment made to insured people who may be required to leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a person(s) in need of full-time care. It is payable for a period of 2 years (104 weeks) for each care recipient and may be claimed over separate periods up to a total of 2 years (104 weeks). At the end of August there were 3,298 recipients of Carer’s Benefit. Projected expenditure on Carer’s Benefit in 2022 is estimated at €48.6 million.
- The Carer's Support Grant is automatically paid to people in receipt of Carer's Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and Domiciliary Care allowance in June of each year. Other carers not in receipt of a carer’s payment may also be eligible for the Grant. The objective of the Carer’s Support Grant is to support carers in their caring role and carers may use the grant in a manner that is appropriate to their needs. The grant is paid in respect of each person being cared for to take account of the additional cost of providing care and to recognise the particular challenges faced by these carers. As part of Budget Measures 2021, the rate of the grant was increased by €150. The new rate of €1,850 came into effect from June 2021. This is the highest rate of the grant since its introduction. On Thursday 2 June the grant was paid to some 121,000 carers and their families. The overall cost of the grant in 2022 is expected to be over €262 million.
- Domiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly payment for a child aged under 16 with a severe disability, who requires ongoing care and attention, substantially over and above the care and attention usually required by a child of the same age. It is not means tested. The Domiciliary Care Allowance rate is €309.50 per month. There is no restriction on the number of children for whom you may claim Domiciliary Care Allowance. At the end of August some 48,8101 families benefited from the payment in respect of 54,558 children. The projected expenditure on Domiciliary Care Allowance in 2022 is approximately €203 million.
In Budget 2023, in acknowledgement of the crucial role that family carers play in our society and the particular challenges they face in light of the current cost of living crisis, I announced a number of further financial supports for carers. These measures benefitting family carers directly include:
- €500 Cost of Living lump sum payment to be paid in November.
- Cost of Living Double Payment to Carers to be paid in October.
- Carers will also receive the Christmas Bonus Double Payment in early December.
- €12 increase in the maximum rate of Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit with effect from January 2023 with proportionate increases for people receiving a reduced rate.
- The Half-rate Carer’s Allowance will be disregarded in the means assessment for Fuel Allowance with effect from January 2023.
- Domiciliary Care Allowance will increase by €20.50 to €330 per month with effect from January 2023.
I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to keep the range of income supports provided to family carers by this Department under review and will ensure that consultations with carer’s representative groups continue so that the overall objectives of the carer income support schemes provided are met. However, any changes to the eligibility conditions to current supports or further financial supports provided by this Department would have implications for overall spending and could only be addressed in an overall budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
79. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on additional needs payment applications; if community welfare officers are dealing with an increase in applications at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50272/22]
View answerUnder the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department can make additional needs payments to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. 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.
The schemes are demand led and payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
In the period January to end of September 2022, payments totaling €39.8 million have been made in relation to some 65,921 additional needs payments (excluding reoccurring supplements). The main items eligible for assistance include help with fuel, utility bills, repairs to or replacement of household appliances, clothing, child related items such as cots and prams, assistance with funerals or burial costs and travel. Support is also available to assist persons under this scheme towards rent deposits. Some 3,400 customers are currently in receipt of an additional supplement to help with ongoing needs. Assistance provided under these supplements includes heat, travel and other ongoing costs. Payments totaling €2.4 million have been made to date under these supplements.
The Government has provided funding of €45.75 million for the provision of exceptional and urgent needs that are provided for as Additional Needs Payment in 2022. A further provision of €4.3 million has been provided for SWA Supplements in 2022 (excluding rent supplement).
The number of applications for Additional Needs Payments increased significantly in response to two major advertising and communications campaigns by my Department to promote the scheme this year. Table 1 shows the number of additional needs payments (excluding reoccurring supplements) paid from January – September 2022 and during the same period in 2021.
The Community Welfare Service is committed to providing a quality service to all citizens, ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible. My Department continues to work to improve the service to citizens and every effort is being made to minimise processing times.
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.
Table 1- Number of additional needs payments (excluding reoccurring supplements) paid from January – September 2022 and during the same period in 2021.
|
Month/Year |
Payments |
Month/Year |
Payments |
|
Jan-21 |
3,974 |
Jan-22 |
3,596 |
|
Feb-21 |
4,606 |
Feb-22 |
4,251 |
|
Mar-21 |
5,467 |
Mar-22 |
5,328 |
|
Apr-21 |
4,712 |
Apr-22 |
5,752 |
|
May-21 |
4,703 |
May-22 |
8,921 |
|
Jun-21 |
4,536 |
Jun-22 |
9,142 |
|
Jul-21 |
4,451 |
Jul-22 |
8,444 |
|
Aug-21 |
4,277 |
Aug-22 |
11,086 |
|
Sep-21 |
4,534 |
Sep-22 |
9,401 |
|
Total |
41,260 |
Total |
65,921 |
80. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will reintroduce the Covid enhanced illness benefit given that statutory sick pay will not start until at least January 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50724/22]
View answerMy Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability. It is important to note that entitlement to these supports is generally not contingent on the nature of the illness or disability but on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work.
In March 2020, under the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 (No. 1) and subsequent regulations, the Government provided for entitlement to Illness Benefit for persons who have been diagnosed with Covid-19 or are a probable source of infection with Covid-19.
Regulations made under the emergency legislation providing for the Enhanced Illness Benefit in respect of Covid-19 contained a sunset clause, that is, that the scheme would no longer be in effect after a specified date. An extension to these special arrangements required consultation with the Ministers for Health and Public Expenditure and Reform. This date was extended a number of times; the latest extension expired on 30 September 2022.
Much has changed since the provisions were introduced in March 2020, in particular the development of a range of vaccines; the subsequent successful roll-out of the vaccination programme and later the booster programme; and the phased ending of restrictions from 22 January 2022. The Department of Health was consulted and advised that, in line with the transition out of the emergency phase of the pandemic, the proposal to provide Illness Benefit for Covid-19 in a manner similar to that of any other infectious disease was now an appropriate one. On that basis I have no plans to reintroduce the payment.
Apart from these income supports, my Department provides means tested supports under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who are ill but who do not qualify for Illness Benefit. The Department may also make an exceptional needs payment to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
81. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will support a matter relating to the working family payment and the closure of a person’s (details supplied) application for renewal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49481/22]
View answerWorking Family Payment (WFP) is an in-work payment which provides additional income support to employees on low earnings with children. In order to qualify for WFP, an applicant must have a qualified child and be engaged in full-time paid employment as an employee for not less than 38 hours per fortnight.
Once WFP is granted, it is payable for 52 weeks at the same rate, as long as the customer continues to be engaged in full-time paid employment as an employee for at least 38 hours every fortnight.
The person concerned received an online invite to renew their WFP. A renewal application was received from the person concerned on 11/07/2022. At the time the application was due for renewal, there was a query on the current employment status of the person concerned.
The person concerned notified the Department that their current employment was going to end, and new employment would be pursued. The person concerned was contacted and intends to make a new application for WFP once they have the required information from their new employment available to support this application.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
83. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans, if any, to increase staffing resources in INTREO centres to meet demand for public services card appointments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50109/22]
View answerMy Department, like all Government departments and agencies, is required to operate within a staff ceiling figure and a commensurate administrative staffing budget. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, as part of the discussions on Budget 2023, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform sanctioned additional resources for my Department for 2023 in response to the increased demand for our services, including demand for public service card appointments.
The staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continuously reviewed, taking account of workloads, management priorities and the ongoing need to respond the new demands across a wide range of services. This is to ensure that the best use is made of available resources with a view to providing an efficient service to those who rely on the schemes operated by the Department.
84. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she intends to amend the income disregard, the eligibility criteria and the schemes which attract the disregard in the means test, for the farm assist scheme. [50587/22]
View answerFarm Assist is a statutory income support specifically for farmers on low-incomes. There are approximately 4,500 claims in payment at present. Government has provided €53.9 million for the scheme for 2022.
Further to commitments in the Programme for Government and the Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, my Department reviewed the means assessment disregards for Farm Assist. The report is available on the Government's website. One of the key recommendations of the report was to expand the list of agri-environmental schemes that attract a disregard for Farm Assist. I introduced this measure effective from June 2022.
In the Farm Assist means test, income from these schemes currently attracts a disregard of €2,540, with 50% of the balance assessed as means. I was pleased to announce in Budget 2023 that, from January, the amount of income from agri-environmental schemes that is disregarded will increase to €5,000.
The Review of the Farm Assist disregards also recommended that my Department would work with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to identify schemes in Ireland's upcoming Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan 2023-2027 which may be considered for inclusion in the list of schemes which attract this disregard. I am committed to this and will consider any additional schemes in that context.
The other recommendations in the report, which include increases in the capital disregard and income disregarded from off-farm earnings, would have to be considered as part of the budgetary process.
I have also agreed to carry out a review of how income from land leased out by farmers is treated in the means assessments for the State Non-Contributory Pension and Farm Assist. This is being progressed within my Department.
I trust this clarifies the position.
87. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports for pensioners announced in Budget 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50531/22]
View answerThe Social Protection measures announced in Budget 2023 amounted to over €2.1 billion. This is the largest Social Protection Budget Day Package in the history of the State.
In order to ease the pressure and stress that many households are facing, I am bringing forward a series of exceptional lump sum payments to support people. These include:A Cost of Living Double Payment in October to all social protection recipients including Pensioners, Carers & People with Disabilities.
- A €400 lump sum payment to all households in receipt of Fuel Allowance, many of whom are pensioners, to be paid in November.
- An additional €200 Lump Sum Payment to all persons, many of whom are pensioners, in receipt of the Living Alone Allowance which will also be paid in November.
- In December, the Christmas Bonus Double Payment will be paid to all Pensioners, Carers, Persons with Disabilities, One Parent Family Payment and other Social Protection recipients.
As we turn to 2023, I announced a €12 euro increase in weekly rates of payment for pensioners and people of working age to take effect from January 2023. This measure alone will cost almost €900 million euro. It is the largest budget increase in weekly payments since the mid-2000s.
I was very aware, when addressing my Budget priorities for 2023, that many families and older people fall just outside the qualifying criteria for Fuel Allowance and that this payment does not reach everybody. So, in Budget 2023, we focused on expanding the scheme to reach more households.
One of the reforms to the Fuel Allowance Scheme is that, 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. This is a significant expansion of the means threshold for those aged 70 or over.
As part of this measure, those aged over 70 no longer have to be in receipt of a qualifying Social Welfare payment to access the Fuel Allowance payment. However, to qualify for the Fuel Allowance, they will still have to satisfy all other relevant qualifying criteria.
This reform seeks to ensure that older people not currently in receipt of Fuel Allowance, but who are marginally outside the thresholds, will now be covered by the scheme. This reform is being made as older people can often be more vulnerable to the effects of energy poverty.
It is expected that up to 64,000 new households may qualify for Fuel Allowance as a result of this measure alone.
Other measures announced by Government in Budget 2023 - such as three energy credits worth €600 in total - will also assist pensioners.I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
88. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has a policy to take excess payments made in respect of the fair deal scheme into account as a result of over-payment of the State pension (non-contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50363/22]
View answerState pension non-contributory is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, habitually residing in the State, who do not qualify for a state pension contributory, or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record. Recipients of state pension non-contributory are obliged, throughout the lifetime of their claim, to notify the Department of any changes in their circumstances that may affect their pension entitlement. A list of the reportable changes of circumstance is included in the initial notification of pension award and in all subsequent review communications issued.
Social welfare legislation provides that the personal representative of a deceased person who, at any time received a means-tested payment, is obliged to give notice to the Department of their intention to distribute the deceased's estate and to provide a schedule of the assets of the estate. The personal representative is requested not to distribute the estate until they receive formal clearance from the Department. If, on examination of the schedule of assets, it is found that not all of the deceased’s means had been disclosed, or if the values of previously assessed means had changed, the Department will seek to recover any monies overpaid, from the deceased's estate.
In its review of state pension non-contributory entitlement, the Department does not have a policy of taking into account excess personal contribution payments, made in respect of the deceased's Nursing Home Support Scheme grant arrangement. The method by which a person subsides their residential care costs is not a matter for the Department.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
90. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the time allowed on community employment for those aged over 50 years. [50730/22]
View answerThe aim of the Community Employment (CE) programme is to enhance the employability of disadvantaged and long-term unemployed people by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their local communities. The programme aims to improve a person’s opportunities to return to the labour market.
Generally CE placements, for those up to aged 60, are intended to be temporary and subject to time limits. This is to ensure the continued availability of places on CE schemes for more recent long-term unemployed candidates. Those who are unemployed and in receipt of an eligible payment for 12 months or more may be eligible to participate on CE.
In general, all CE placements for new entrants aged between 21 and 55 years are for one year. However, CE participants, working towards a major educational award, can seek to extend participation by up to a further two years to enable them to reach the required qualification standards.
Those over 55 years of age can remain on CE for up to three years, while CE participants who are aged over 55 and who commenced on CE prior to the introduction of the changes in 2017 continue to be eligible to stay on CE for six consecutive years. CE participants over the age of 60 can participate on a continuous basis up to the State Pension age.
During the COVID pandemic Minister Humphreys and I extended CE participants' contracts on a number of occasions in order to support schemes, given the impact of public health restrictions on schemes, the services they provide and on participants.
Given the post COVID difficulties many schemes face in recruiting new candidates to replace the increased numbers of participants leaving CE, participants including those with extended contracts, may not be required to leave CE, where a suitable replacement has not been referred to the scheme. This is to ensure services provided to communities by schemes continue to be supported. Any extension under this provision must be approved by officials from the Department and consideration will be given to the any remaining impact of COVID on the turnover and recruitment of participants, services provided by schemes, along with recruitment and referral efforts. Approximately 900 participants have had their contracts extended on this basis since the start of April.
It remains important that CE places are available for persons who are long term unemployed to assist them return to employment in the labour market. Therefore, extensions are only approved in specific circumstances where an extension will not prevent a more recent long term unemployed person the opportunity to take up a CE opportunity to avail of work experience and training. For similar reasons, it is not proposed to change the rules applying to participants over age 50.
I am fully committed to the future of this programme and will continue to support and improve the programme for the benefit of the CE participants in particular, given the valuable contribution being made to local communities through the provision of services.
91. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she considers that the ongoing cost of disability can be adequately addressed through one-off payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50723/22]
View answerThe Indecon Cost of Disability report (2021) 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 and carers, reflect some of the findings of the report and will go towards alleviating some of the costs experienced. These measures include:
- A Cost of Living Double Payment will be paid to Social Protection recipients including all Pensioners, Carers and people on Disability Payments in October.
In November the following payments will be made:
- €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.
- €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.
In addition:
- A Christmas Bonus Double Payment will be paid to 1.3 million Social Protection
recipients including Pensioners, Carer’s and People with Disabilities in December.
In January 2023, the following measures will be implemented:
- 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.
- 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 noted in particular 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.
92. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if an access-to-work scheme will be introduced for deaf and hard-of-hearing persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50639/22]
View answerMy Department provides a wide range of income and employment supports to assist jobseekers and employees with disabilities, and employers seeking to hire a person or support an existing employee with a disability.
One of these employment supports is the Reasonable Accommodation Fund. This fund aims to support the employment of disabled people in the open labour market by providing financial support for jobseekers and employees with disabilities and also for employers and the self-employed to help them make workplaces more accessible.
The Reasonable Accommodation Fund is comprised of four grants. The four grants are: the Workplace Equipment Adaptation Grant, the Personal Reader Grant, the Employee Retention Grant and the Job Interview Interpreter Grant. The Job Interview Interpreter grant provides funding to a person with hearing loss or speech impairment to hire an interpreter to accompany them to a job interview as well as induction training.
My Department is currently finalising a review of the Reasonable Accommodation Fund which will be published before the end of the year. The review is to see how to improve the effectiveness of the grants and to identify gaps in provision. It also aims to improve the application and payment processes. The review will be informed by the public consultation took place from 31st March to 13th May and a literature review which looks at similar schemes in other countries, including the UK’s Access to Work scheme.
In Budget 2023 I announced an additional €1 million in funding to expand the provisions made under the Reasonable Accommodation Fund grant and to support the recommendations from the forthcoming review.
93. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection if he proposes to establish a new metric for gathering data on childhood poverty in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50384/22]
View answerAs Minister with responsibility for social inclusion, I have a strong interest in addressing all forms of poverty and addressing child poverty is a Government priority.
The Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025 is the whole of Government strategy with the ambitious aim to reduce consistent poverty for the overall population to 2 per cent or less by 2025, and to make Ireland one of the most socially inclusive countries in the EU. The Roadmap commits to setting a new national child poverty target. As Chair of the Steering Group for the Roadmap for Social Inclusion, I have responsibility overseeing the strategy's implementation.
The current national child poverty target, identified in Better Outcomes Brighter Futures, requires a 66% reduction in the number of children in consistent poverty by the end of 2020 (from its 2011 level of 107,000). This commitment is reiterated in the Roadmap for Social Inclusion, which includes a chapter on supporting children and families with the goal of reducing child poverty in Ireland and ensuring that all families have the opportunity to participate fully in society. Against the 2011 baseline, the number of children in consistent poverty has fallen by 45,000 (from 107,000 in 2011to 62,000 in 2021) and the consistent poverty rate has fallen by 4.1 percentage points (from 9.3 per cent in 2011 to 5.2 per cent in 2021).
The development of a new national target is complex and is to be achieved within the wider policy environment, in particular the development of the successor to Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, and the National Action Plan for the EU Child Guarantee, both led by the Department of Children. In this regard, I met with my colleague Roderic O'Gorman, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth earlier this year to discuss the development of a new target, with further engagement taking place between officials in our respective Departments to progress the matter in recent months.
In addition, at a European level, the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan contains a headline target for poverty reduction for the EU as a whole based on a different metric: to reduce the number of people At Risk of Poverty or Social Exclusion by at least 15 million (compared to 2019) of which at least 5 million (33 per cent) should be children. All Member States were asked to set ambitious national targets to provide an adequate contribution to the achievement of the EU level target, including a specific child poverty component. Ireland’s agreed contribution to the EU headline poverty target is to reduce the number of people At Risk of Poverty and Social Exclusion (AROPE) by 90,000, at least 50 per cent of whom are to be children (45,000). This is more ambitious than what was proposed by the European Commission and reflects the more ambitious targets set in the Roadmap for Social Inclusion.
When considering metrics for the measurement of poverty and in setting targets, it is important to retain consistency in order to be able to compare performance over time, and also with other countries in the EU. However, other metrics can be usefully considered to supplement our understanding. In this regard, I welcome the recent publication of the 2021 SILC module on child specific deprivation.
Questions Nos. 94 to 100, inclusive, answered orally.
101. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps that he is taking to address the staffing crisis in the childcare sector to ensure the continued provision of adequate childcare across the State. [50733/22]
View answerI acknowledge that many early learning and childcare services report staffing difficulties in relation to recruitment and retention.
In general, staffing pressures in the sector are caused not by insufficient supply of qualified personnel, but by high levels of staff turnover. Recruitment and retention difficulties are undoubtedly linked to pay and conditions.
As the State does not employ early years educators or school-age childcare practitioners, I cannot set wage levels or determine working conditions for staff in the sector. However, there has recently been an important and historic development with the setting of new minimum hourly rates for various roles in the sector.
On 15 September, the first ever Employment Regulation Orders for Early Years Services came into effect, setting new minimum hourly rates of pay.
It is estimated that 73% of those working in the sector will see their wages rise as a result.
The Orders are being supported by Core Funding– which has an allocation of €259 million in its first year – to support improvements in staff wages, alongside a commitment to freeze parental fees and sustainability of services.
As announced in Budget 2023, the Core Funding allocation will increase by €28 million for year 2 and already I have signalled that €4 million of that allocation will support the removal of 3-year experience rule for graduate premiums – with the allocation of the remaining €24 million to be informed by the emerging data from Year 1 of operation.
I am also committed to addressing other challenges which may impact on the recruitment and retention of staff in the sector.
In December 2021, I published "Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, 2022-2028". Nurturing Skills aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation for those working in the sector. One of the five "pillars" of Nurturing Skills comprises commitments aimed at supporting recruitment, retention and diversity in the workforce, and it includes actions to raise the profile of careers in the sector.
