Tuesday, 8 Nov 2022

Mortgage Resolution Processes

Questions (667)

Marian Harkin

Question:

667. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection when funding will be put in place to continue the abhaile scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54868/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Abhaile was established in 2016 by the then Ministers for Justice and Social Protection, with the intention of being a three-year response to the impact of the financial crisis on mortgage arrears in Ireland, with a plan to wind down the service at the end of this three-year period. However, in 2019, taking account of continuing need, the Government approved a three-year extension to Abhaile, with earmarked funding until the end of 2022. Subsequently the Programme for Government contains a commitment to continue to resource the Abhaile scheme.

In making the last extension, the Government agreed that a strategic review of the operation of Abhaile should be undertaken. The review is currently in progress by independent consultants and the findings of the review will be considered by myself and the Minister for Justice and wider Government in determining how best the service should continue beyond the end of 2022. I therefore expect that my colleague the Minister for Justice and I, will shortly be bringing a Memorandum to Government on the Abhaile service.

The Citizens Information Board (CIB) receives its overall budget allocation for all services, including Abhaile, on an annual basis. An allocation for the Abhaile service has been sought for the service for 2023 as part of the CIB's overall budget requirements for 2023. This is, of course, subject to the completion of the Department's overall estimates process and, once fully complete, this will be communicated to CIB.

Social Welfare Eligibility

Questions (668)

Kieran O'Donnell

Question:

668. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the eligibility criteria for fuel allowance from 1 January 2023 to cater for persons who meet the means but are not on a qualifying payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54890/22]

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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.

As part of the overall social welfare Budget 2023 package of €2.2 Billion, I was pleased to have secured a major expansion of 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. This is a significant expansion of the means threshold for those aged 70 or over.

As part of this measure, those aged over 70 will no longer have to be in receipt of a qualifying Social Welfare payment to access the Fuel Allowance payment.

In Budget 2023, the allowable means for those aged under 70 is also increased from €120 to €200 above the relevant rate of the State Pension (Contributory) from January 2023. However, applicants aged under 70 must be in receipt of a qualifying Social Welfare payment to receive Fuel Allowance.

Any decision to further amend the qualifying conditions for Fuel Allowance in the manner outlined by the Deputy would have to be considered in the context of future overall budgetary negotiations.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Appeals

Questions (669)

Peter Burke

Question:

669. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on an appeal by a person (details supplied). [54906/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered with that Office on 15 August 2022. The relevant departmental papers were also requested from the Carer's Allowance section in the Department of Social Protection on that date. I am advised that the person concerned subsequently submitted additional evidence to the Carer's Allowance section in relation to a review of the Deciding Officer's decision. A Deciding Officer made a revised decision in favour of the person concerned on 27 October 2022. In line with normal practice the Appeals Office was advised of this revised decision and the appeal was withdrawn on 28 October 2022.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

State Pensions

Questions (670)

Neale Richmond

Question:

670. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider expanding access to the State pension for those on a Stamp D who have worked their entire career in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54908/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Civil and public sector employees recruited prior to 6 April 1995 pay social insurance contributions at modified rates under classes B, C and D. Amongst the class B contributors are permanent and pensionable civil servants and Gardaí; the class C contributors are commissioned army officers and members of the army nursing service; and the class D contributors include permanent and pensionable employees in the public service other than those insured at classes B and C. All civil and public servants recruited from 6 April 1995 pay social insurance at the standard class A rate.

Prior to 6 April 1995, civil and public servants did not have access to the full range of social insurance benefits as their terms of employment protected them against the main contingencies of illness and old age, and the risk of unemployment was not considered a factor due to the nature of their employment.

Consequently, such contributors pay less in social insurance contributions in return for fewer social insurance benefits. For example, class D contributors currently pay a contribution at the rate of 0.9% on their weekly earnings up to €1,443 and 4% on weekly earnings over that amount and their employers pay a contribution of 2.35% on all employee earnings. Class D contributors are currently entitled to widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's (contributory) pension, guardian's payment (contributory), occupational injuries benefits, parent's benefit and carer's benefit.

In contrast, civil and public servants recruited from 6 April 1995 pay a class A social insurance contribution of 4% on their weekly earnings and their employers pay a contribution of 8.8% where employees’ weekly earnings are €410 or less and 11.05% where their employees’ weekly earnings exceed €410. Class A contributors have access to the full range of social insurance benefits.

While the modified rates of social insurance under classes B, C and D do not give entitlement to the State pension (contributory), such contributors may, subject to a means test, qualify for the State pension (non-contributory).

Social insurance contributions are made in accordance with the legislation and the employment terms and conditions in force at the time they are made and eligibility for social insurance benefits flow from that.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

School Meals Programme

Questions (671, 672)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Question:

671. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection the entitlements of schools in band 1 of the DEIS hot meals programme for schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54916/22]

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Violet-Anne Wynne

Question:

672. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a school (details supplied) in respect of the school meals programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54917/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 671 and 672 together.

The School Meals Programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to some 1,700 schools and organisations and benefitting 260,000 children. The objective of the programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.

Budget 2022 provided €68.1 million for the programme with an additional €9m provided to allow access to all new DEIS schools from September 2022. Additional funding for the programme has been provided for 2023 bringing the total to €91.6m.

Funding under the school meals programme can be provided for breakfast, snack, cold lunch, dinner, hot school meals and afterschool clubs and is based on a maximum rate per child per day, depending on the type of meal being provided.

Entry to the School Meals Scheme has been confined to DEIS schools in addition to schools identified by the Department of Education as having levels of concentrated disadvantage that would benefit from access to the School Meals Programme.

In March 2022, the Minister for Education announced an extension of the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in School to an additional 322 schools from September 2022. In July, I announced that the access to the hot school meal option would be extended to the 282 newly designated DEIS primary schools and to the cold lunch option to the 38 newly designated DEIS secondary schools from September benefitting some 60,000 children.

The school referred to by the Deputy is among the newly designated DEIS schools and was approved for hot school meals option on 19th October 2022 and the first instalment of funding has issued.

I am committed to continuing to expand the school meals programme and building further on the significant extension in recent years. In this regard, I commissioned an independent evaluation of the school meals programme to review all elements of the programme and to inform future policy direction. The final report is due to be completed by the end of the year.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Question No. 672 answered with Question No. 671.

Community Employment Schemes

Questions (673)

Robert Troy

Question:

673. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection the current process for community supervisors applying for the ex-gratia payment; if her attention has been drawn to resource issues in the administrative process whereby her Department is unable to process any further applications until further notice; and the way that she plans to address these issues. [54949/22]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

As 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. This settlement resolves this long-standing issue through the payment of a once off ex-gratia payment rather than a pension to eligible CE supervisors and assistant supervisors. On the 23rd December 2021, 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. People who retired since 2008 and who have reached retirement age are now able to apply for this payment.

Over the past number of months, an administrative and ICT system to accept applications and process payments was put in place within the Department of Social Protection. The first group of ex-gratia applications have been received - these relate to persons who retired since 2008. I can confirm that my Department is processing applications received to date. Work is ongoing on assessing the applications on hand and on processing these claims to have them ready for payment. Following Government approval last week, legislative provisions to provide for these payments are also being included in the Social Welfare Budget Bill. Therefore, work in processing payments is ongoing in a number of respects.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Payments

Questions (674)

Denis Naughten

Question:

674. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will receive their payment; the reason for the delay in same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54968/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.

Where a person in receipt of full-rate CA has a qualified child who is 18 years of age or over and is in full-time day education, an increase for that qualified child (IQC) is payable. Such an increase is payable until the child reaches 22 years of age or up to the end of the academic year in which the child reaches 22.

The person concerned has an 18-year-old qualified child who is attending full-time day education.

Accordingly, an increase was awarded to the person concerned on 1 November 2022 with effect from 7 July 2022 and the first payment will issue to their nominated post office on 10 November 2022.

Arrears for the period 7 July 2022 to 9 November 2022 will issue to the nominated post office of the person concerned on 10 November 2022.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Departmental Consultations

Questions (675)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

675. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will report on the consultation process under the review of child maintenance arrangements launched by her Department on 11 February 2021. [55003/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

In line with the Programme for Government commitment, the Government established a Child Maintenance Review Group to examine certain issues in relation to child maintenance in Ireland. The Group's Terms of Reference were to consider and make recommendations on:

(i) the current treatment of child maintenance payments in my Department,

(ii) the current provisions regarding liable relatives managed by my Department, and

(iii) the establishment of a Child Maintenance Agency in Ireland.

In order to inform the work of the Group a public consultation process was conducted. The process took place in February and March 2021. Advertisements were placed online, in national newspapers and on social media to make members of the public aware of the process and to invite feedback. A Consultation Document outlined the work and membership of the Group, along with the three Terms of Reference. In order to help focus the submissions, suggested questions were included.

Forty-four submissions were received from individual members of the public in a personal capacity. Nineteen submissions were received from Members of the Oireachtas, stakeholder groups and interested professionals. The Chair also held online meetings with representatives of a number of stakeholder groups.

The Group's report was submitted to me in April. I have given the report the careful consideration that such an important and complex issue deserves. Given that it relates to issues that are beyond the scope of the social welfare system, I am also consulting Government colleagues.

Once the report has been fully considered, my intention is to bring it to Government before the end of this year, at which time a decision regarding the publication date, and potential implementation of any recommendations, will be made.

I trust this clarifies the position.

Departmental Reviews

(ii) the current provisions regarding liable relatives managed by my Department, and

(iii) the establishment of a Child Maintenance Agency in Ireland.

As part of its work, the Group conducted a public consultation process. Submissions were received from members of the public, as well as Members of the Oireachtas, NGOs and Professional Bodies. The Group also examined the international position where there are a variety of different approaches taken to these matters.

The Group's report was submitted to me in April. I have given the report the careful consideration that such an important and complex issue deserves. Given that it relates to issues that are beyond the scope of the social welfare system, I am consulting with Government colleagues.

Once the report has been fully considered, my intention is to bring it to Government before the end of this year, at which time a decision regarding the publication date will be made.

As lone parents continue to be a group with a high risk of poverty, I was pleased to provide a number of measures in Budget 2023 which will be of benefit to them.

Recipients of One-Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker's Transitional Payment are amongst those who received a double weekly payment in October and who will receive a Christmas bonus double payment in December. Like all families with children, lone parents received a double payment of Child Benefit on 1 November. Lone parents in receipt of the Fuel Allowance will also receive a lumpsum payment of €400 this month.

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 this month 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.

I trust this clarifies the position.

Money Advice and Budgeting Service

Questions (677)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

677. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the expected waiting time for an appointment with the Money Advice and Budgeting Service per centre in tabular form. [55012/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), under the aegis of the Citizens Information Board (CIB), provides assistance to people, in particular those on low incomes or living on social welfare payments, who are over-indebted and need help and advice with debt problems. As part of its free services, MABS provides help and advice to those in mortgage arrears.

MABS operate an appointment scheduling system and this means that in some cases clients may have to wait a number of days or weeks for the next available appointment. The table below sets out the average waiting times. However, clients can be seen immediately where necessary. In Q2 2022, 286 Emergency Clients were seen without any waiting period.

The MABS Helpline is available on 0818 07 2000 (Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm) to support clients while they are awaiting their initial appointment with a MABS Money Adviser.

MABS Client Waiting Times & Numbers in Tabular Form Q2 2022

Regions	Company	Waiting Time Average Weeks
DUBLIN SOUTH MABS	Clondalkin	1.8
	Ballyfermot (Dublin 10 + 20)	1.2
	Lombard Street (Dublin South East)	1.8
	Dun Laoghaire	1.4
	Dundrum	1.6
	Tallaght	0.6
NORTH CONNACHT & ULSTER MABS	Cavan	1.0
	Donegal North	2.2
	Donegal South	1.6
	Donegal West	0.2
	Leitrim	1.2
	Monaghan	1.2
	Sligo	1.0
NORTH DUBLIN MABS	Ballymun	2.0
	Blanchardstown	2.6
	Coolock (Dublin North East)	1.2
	Dorset St (Dublin North City)	1.6
	Finglas	1.8
	*Swords (Fingal)
NORTH LEINSTER MABS	Athlone	0.4
	Drogheda	1.4
	Dundalk	1.0
	Kildare	0.6
	Longford	0.8
	Meath	1.0
	Mullingar	0.4
NORTH MUNSTER MABS	Clare	1.2
	Limerick	0.8
	Tipperary North	0.6
	Tipperary South	0.2
	Waterford + Waterford West	0.4
SOUTH CONNACHT MABS	*Galway North
	*Galway South (2 offices)
	Mayo North	1.8
	Mayo South	1.4
	Roscommon	0.6
SOUTH LEINSTER MABS	Arklow	0.0
	Bray	0.2
	Carlow	1.0
	Kilkenny	0.2
	Laois	0.6
	Offaly	0.0
	Wexford	0.0
SOUTH MUNSTER MABS	Charleville	1.8
	Cork City	0.0
	Cork North	1.8
	Cork West	1.2
	Kerry	1.2

*Waiting Times for these services were not available at time of publication.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.

Question No. 678 answered with Question No. 646.

Poverty Impact Assessment

Questions (679, 693)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

679. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on matters in correspondence (details supplied). [55017/22]

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Paul Murphy

Question:

693. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review a paper written by an organisation (details supplied) which outlines the evidence of the persistently high rates of poverty and deprivation among one-parent families; if she will implement the recommendations made as per the paper; her views on the reason that one-parent families are among the worst off in Irish society, yet there were no targeted measures to improve the circumstances of these families in Budget 2023. [55073/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 679 and 693 together.

In Budget 2023, I secured a significant Social Welfare package of almost €2.2 billion. As part of that, one of my priorities was to provide support for families and children. I am very mindful that lone parents continue to be a group with a high risk of poverty and there are a number of significant measures in the Budget which are of benefit to lone parents.

Recipients of One-Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker's Transitional Payment are amongst those who received a double weekly payment in October and who will receive a Christmas bonus double payment in December. Like all families with children, lone parents received a double payment of Child Benefit on 1 November. Lone parents in receipt of the Fuel Allowance will also receive a lump sum payment of €400 this month.

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

I have also provided for a €40 increase in the weekly income thresholds for the Working Family Payment from January 2023. 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 am aware of the report by the National One Parent Family Alliance and officials from my Department recently met with members of the Alliance to discuss the Budget package.

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.

The Government remains committed to the reduction of all forms of poverty, in particular for lone parents and children as outlined in the Programme for Government, and to the continued support of children and families across the country.

I trust this clarifies the position.

Social Welfare Payments

The ESRI post-Budget analysis shows that Budget 2023 general increases from January, when combined with one-off measures delivered in 2022 to support households with the cost of living, will be effective in protecting most households from rising prices this winter.

Any further changes to the increase for a qualified child would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Eligibility

Questions (683, 701)

Patrick Costello

Question:

683. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will extend the living-alone allowance to one-parent families in receipt of the fuel allowance. [55035/22]

View answer

Seán Canney

Question:

701. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to increase the living alone allowance to one-parent families in receipt of fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55140/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 683 and 701 together.

Primary weekly social welfare payments are intended to enable recipients to meet their basic day-to-day income needs. In addition to these primary payments, my Department also provides a range of other secondary payments.

The Living Alone Increase (LAI) is one of those secondary payments. It is not a scheme or a stand-alone payment in itself, but rather it is a supplement to a primary social protection payment of €22 per week made to people who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are living alone. For those aged 66 or over, these payments include State Pension (Contributory), State Pension (Non-contributory), Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension, Widow's/Widower's Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme, Incapacity Supplement under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme and Deserted Wife's Benefit. It is also available to people who are under 66 years of age who are living alone and are in receipt of long-term illness and disability payments.

The Government is very aware of the increased cost of living and, in Budget 2023, has provided an unprecedented response that aims to ease the financial pressure on households throughout the State.

While those in receipt of One-Parent Family payment do not receive the Living Alone Increase, recipients will benefit from a number of one-off payments and increases announced in Budget 2023.

These include:

- An Autumn Cost of Living Double Payment was paid to those in receipt of the One-Parent Family payment in October.

- People who are in receipt of Child Benefit will get a cost-of-living double payment in November.

- A Christmas Bonus Double Payment will be paid to Social Protection recipients including those in receipt of the One-Parent Family payment.

- For those in receipt of the Fuel Allowance payment, a lump sum payment of €400 will be paid in November.

From January 2023, the maximum rate of core Social Welfare rates will be increased. There will be proportionate increases for qualified adults and for people getting a reduced rate. The weekly rate for a qualified child will increase to €42 for children under 12 years of age and to €50 for children aged 12 years and over.

In addition, those in receipt of the One-Parent Family Payment will benefit from the enhanced electricity credit of €600 which will be applied to electricity bills, €200 in November and the remainder (in two tranches) early in the New Year.

Finally, the Department of Social Protection operates an Additional Needs Payment as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have additional needs, which they cannot meet from their own resources. This payment is available through our Community Welfare Officers.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.

Question No. 684 answered with Question No. 629.

Question No. 685 answered with Question No. 676.