Written Answers Nos. 76-100
76. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on engagement that she has had with community employment supervisors regarding their employment-related concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59208/22]
View answerI value the role CE supervisors and assistant supervisors play on over 800 CE schemes in local communities across the country. They support CE participants to get work experience and develop future work opportunities for those who are long term unemployed, while providing essential services to local communities. As the Deputy is aware, CE supervisors and assistant supervisors are not employees of the Department and are not public servants. They are employees of individual schemes. This means that any discussions on employment related matters are complex. In the role as funder of CE, Department of Social Welfare officials have ongoing engagement with community employment supervisors and their union representatives to discuss operational issues and other matters of common concern.
The Department, as the funder of CE schemes, received correspondence earlier this year from Fórsa and SIPTU seeking a pay increase for CE supervisors and assistant supervisors. The department has been advised in recent days that Fórsa and SIPTU have referred a pay claim to the conciliation service of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). The WRC has issued an invite to the Department to take part in a conciliation process. Any increase in pay rates that would potentially increase the overall cost to the state of funding schemes, or state funded activities in the wider community and voluntary sector, must take into consideration the potential cost to the exchequer. Given these budgetary implications, and the referral of other similar claims to the WRC, the Department is following-up with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, prior to responding to the invite from the WRC. The Deputy will be aware of the agreement reached at the end of 2021 in settlement of a 2008 Labour Court recommendation on pensions for CE supervisors. The settlement resolves the long-standing issue through the payment of a once off ex-gratia payment to eligible CE supervisors and assistant supervisors. 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. Following Government approval earlier this month, legislative provisions to provide for these payments are being included in the Social Welfare Budget Bill, which will, once enacted, facilitate the payment of processed ex-gratia applications. It is my intention that these payments will issue before the Christmas break.
77. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the various supports for carers in Budget 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58868/22]
View answerAs part of Budget 2023, I announced a number of measures in relation to supports provided by my department for carers. These measures acknowledge the important role that family carers play in our society and the particular challenges they face in light of the current cost of living crisis.The measures benefiting family carers directly include:
- €500 Cost of Living lump sum payment which was paid to over 114,576 carers last week or as part of a disability payment the previous week to some additional 7,512 carers.
- Cost of Living Double Payment to carers paid in October.
- Carers will also receive the Christmas Bonus Double Payment in week commencing 5 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. These measures build on the significant improvements to the means test for Carer's Allowance which I announced in Budget 2022, in recognition of the vital role that carers play in society. These were the first changes to the means test in 14 years:
- The capital and savings disregard for the Carer’s Allowance means assessment was increased from €20,000 to €50,000, aligning it with that which applies for Disability Allowance.
- For carers who work, the weekly income disregard was increased from €332.50 to €350 for a single person, and from €665 to €750 for carers with a spouse/partner.
These changes came into effect on 2 June this year and many carers who up to now did not qualify for a payment due to means will now be brought into the Carer's Allowance system for the first time.
78. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on a State pension solution for long-term family carers, including progress on a family carers’ register and a scheme to ensure that carers can be attributed with contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59205/22]
View answerThis Government acknowledges the important role that carers play and is fully committed to supporting them in that role. Accordingly, the current State Pension (Contributory) system gives significant recognition to those whose work history includes an extended period of time outside the paid workplace, often to raise families or to provide another full-time caring role.However, I recognise that long-term carers can still face barriers in accessing the State Pension (Contributory). As this House will be aware, I announced a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system last September. The measures are in response to the Pensions Commission’s recommendations and represent the biggest ever structural reform of the Irish State Pension system.
One of the most important reforms agreed by Government is enhanced State Pension provision for people who have been caring for incapacitated dependents for over 20 years - as recommended by the Pensions Commission. This measure reflects the vital role that carers play throughout their lifetime and will be implemented from January 2024 through:
- The introduction of a scheme to ensure that long-term carers can be attributed with contributions for gaps in their contribution record arising from their time spent caring; and
- The establishment of a ‘Family Carer Register'.
My officials are currently working to implement the reforms, including the drafting of legislation and development of administrative and IT systems as necessary. As part of the work to implement the new scheme, relevant Government Departments, and other stakeholders, will examine options for the creation of a statutory ‘Family Carer Register’ to help identify long-term carers.
79. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the current wait time for a supplementary welfare allowance to be decided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59201/22]
View answerThe Community Welfare Service (CWS) 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. The Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme (BASI) is a weekly allowance paid to people who do not have enough income to meet their needs and those of their families.
Where an application for Supplementary Welfare Allowance is complete and accompanied by the required documentation, it is processed very quickly. The current average time to award a basic supplementary welfare allowance is one week.
Where an application cannot be finalised promptly, the delay is normally due to additional information or documentation being requested from the person to support their application and the length of time that it takes for the information to be provided.
This can result in longer processing times for these applications as greater flexibility is given to clients with extended time to respond. Upon receipt of this information, the application is then processed as quickly as possible.
My Department has taken a number of steps to simplify and streamline the application process:
- There is a full-time CWO presence in 50 Intreo Offices nationwide, 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday in line with my continuing commitment to a service which has local engagement with local clients as its cornerstone.
- A client does not have to attend an office in person to make a claim. If it is more convenient for them, a client can speak directly with a CWO when they call the CWS freephone line. People who have never been to a CWO before find this very useful.
- Of course, in addition, CWOs attend clinics in other locations, deal with people over the phone and where needed, arrange to visit a person’s house by appointment.
As part of the Budget, I secured agreement for some 74 additional staff to be assigned to the Community Welfare Service. Recruitment has commenced and it is anticipated that they will be in place by Q1 2023. In the interim, until the staff have been recruited, 30 Social Welfare Inspectors have been temporarily reassigned to the Community Welfare Service since the start of November to assist with claims processing.I trust this clarifies the matter.
80. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if social protection incomes will be raised by €20 instead of €12 given the high cost of living and in view of buoyant tax revenue (details supplied). [59200/22]
View answerI announced on Budget Day that the Government will spend €2.2 billion on new 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 increase supports recipients across all Social Welfare weekly schemes including pensioners and those of working age. It also includes a proportionate increase for adult dependants which means that the basic increase for a two-adult household will be between €20 and €22.80 per week.This is the largest social welfare package in the history of the State.
Exceptionally, this year, this significant rate increase is accompanied by a wide range of additional measures and lump sum payments paid in the current year to social welfare customers. Taken together, for many household types, the combination effectively matches, or exceeds, inflation. For example, a pensioner living alone and in receipt of fuel allowance will receive over €1,600 in additional payments and energy credits in the 12 months after the Budget, when compared to the previous 12 months – that’s equivalent to an increase of about €31 per week.Taking another example, a person with a disability living alone and in receipt of fuel allowance will benefit by about €1,850 - an increase of about 14% which is worth €36 per week.Combining one-off measures with underlying rate increases is a prudent, targeted approach which gets money to those who need it most. In addition, it ensures people get the value of the increases early - during the winter period when they are needed most.In its post-Budget analysis, the ESRI stated that welfare increases in 2022 and 2023, together with one-off measures, are large enough to leave the lowest-income households better-off on average than they would have been had welfare payment rates risen in line with inflation both this year and next.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 will respond again, if necessary.
81. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she remains satisfied that all critical issues anticipated in Budget 2023 have been adequately dealt with notwithstanding the ongoing economic and cost-of-living issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59133/22]
View answerThis Government recognises the challenges people are facing with the Cost of Living. That is why we announced the largest social protection Budget package in the history of the State. The Social Protection measures announced in the Budget amounted to almost €2.2 billion.
Those measures will make a real difference in terms of protecting our most vulnerable – our pensioners, carers, people with disabilities, low-income families and lone parents.
Last week, the Social Welfare Bill began its passage through the Dáil. This will give effect to the Social Protection measures announced as part of Budget 2023. These include a €12 increase to weekly personal rates of payment and a €40 increase in weekly income thresholds for Working Family Payment. These changes will take effect from 1st January 2023.To ease the pressure that many households are facing, my Department announced a range of exceptional lump sum payments and other supports, many of which have already been paid and are already supporting people in meeting the cost of living. These measures include an Autumn Double Payment, which was paid in mid-October to over 1.4 million people, including pensioners, carers, people with disabilities, lone parents, and jobseekers. My Department paid a total of €316 million in additional payments during this week.
This was followed by a double payment of Child Benefit on 1st November, which was paid in respect of 1.2 million children across the State. 638,000 families benefited from this double payment, at a cost of €170 million. Child Benefit is an extremely important support that reaches hundreds of thousands of hardworking families.Two weeks ago, my Department paid a range of cost of living supports, which included:
- A €400 lump sum payment to over 370,000 households in receipt of Fuel Allowance;
- A €500 lump sum payment to 44,000 families receiving the Working Family Payment;
- A €500 Disability Support Grant to 216,000 recipients of Disability Allowance, Blind Pension and Invalidity Pension; and
- A €200 lump sum payment to the 234,000 recipients of the Living Alone Allowance.
In total, my Department paid an additional €325 million last week in cost of living supports to over 865,000 people.
Last week, my Department paid a lump sum of €500 to over 114,500 carers, at a cost of €57.3 million.
In December, the Christmas Bonus double payment will be paid to pensioners, carers, people with disabilities, one-parent families, and other social protection recipients. This Bonus will be paid to approximately 1.2 million people, at a cost of roughly €295 million.
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.
Their analysis further shows that the approach taken by the Government, of targeted welfare measures combined with universal energy credits, will be more effective at protecting most lower income households this winter than had welfare rate payments risen in line with inflation this year and next.
I am satisfied that my Department and my colleagues in Government are supporting people through this difficult period. As was shown during the pandemic, earlier this year and in Budget 2023, my Department and this Government will remain resilient and ready to act decisively when necessary.
82. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on making the back-to-education allowance available to persons more than once, for instance, for women returning to the workplace after carrying out caring responsibilities. [59275/22]
View answerThe Back to Education Allowance provides income support for jobseekers and others in receipt of certain social welfare payments who pursue courses of education at second or third level. A person may avail of this payment more than once where they meet the criteria for the scheme. People, including women returning to the workplace, wishing to pursue a course of study under the Back to Education Allowance scheme must satisfy the conditions of the scheme, including being in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for a specified time, pursuing a full-time course of study leading to a recognised qualification in a recognised college and progressing in the level of education.
The qualifying period for the second-level option is three months while the qualifying period for third-level courses is nine months prior to the date of commencement of the course. Time spent as a carer in receipt of Carer’s Allowance can be counted towards meeting the qualifying period so long as the caree is transferred to another recipient. A person must establish an entitlement to a Jobseekers or other qualifying payment before Back to Education Allowance is awarded.
The Student Grant Scheme administered by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) is the primary support for people pursuing third level education.
A person in receipt of a social welfare payment who is planning to undertake an education course should engage with their local Intreo Centre to assess the options available to them.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
83. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the actions that she has taken to implement the recommendations within the Indecon cost of disability report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59267/22]
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. The findings of the research have implications for many areas of public policy. Based on this, one of Indecon's conclusions is that a multifaceted, whole of government approach is required to address the cost of disability. It is for this reason the Government decided that the report, and actions on foot of the report should be considered and monitored by the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Group, under the remit of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability Integration and Youth. This group is chaired by my colleague the Minister of State for Disability, Anne Rabbitte TD, and is comprised of relevant departments, agencies, and the Disability Stakeholder Group. The stakeholder group is comprised of persons who have expertise and lived experience of disability, who are appointed by the Minister of State for Disability - who serve three-year periods as members of the group. In relation to my department, a number of the measures introduced, as part of Budget 2023, in support of people with disabilities reflect the findings of the report, these included a:
(Paid in October)
- Cost-of-Living Double Payment, paid to Social Protection recipients including all Pensioners, Carers and people on Disability Payments.
(Paid in November)
- €500 Cost of Living Disability Support Grant, 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.
(To be paid in December)
- Christmas Bonus Double Payment will be paid to 1.3 million Social Protection recipients including: Pensioners, Carers and People with Disabilities.
In addition, from 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, to include for example the Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, and invalidity Pension.
- The Means assessment threshold for Fuel Allowance will increase from €120 to €200.
- Disablement Benefit will be disregarded in the means assessment for the 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, Budget 2023 included other important measures:The earnings disregard for both the Disability Allowance and Blind Pension will be increased by €25 per week, from €140 to €165 from January.
- €1m funding for enhancements to the Reasonable Accommodation Fund grants has been put in place. 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 for this fund before the end of the year.
- Changes to the JobsPlus incentive scheme, to encourage private sector employers to employ disabled people. Employers who employ people in receipt of the Disability Allowance or Blind Pension can avail of two grants under this scheme; the value of the grants are €7,500 and €10,000.
84. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will re-allocate community welfare officers back into the community in which they were originally placed, if not full-time but at least for two to three days a week (details supplied). [59203/22]
View answerCommunity Welfare Officers (CWO) are available to facilitate urgent and in-person meetings in over 50 Intreo Centres nationwide, 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday. In addition to meeting citizens in Intreo Centres, Branch Offices and DSP offices, CWOs can facilitate an appointment within a short time of a person requiring such a meeting, at a mutually agreed location, including at the person's home.
Any person who needs to access the Community Welfare Service (CWS) can call the national CWS freephone line at 0818 60 70 80, to make an appointment. This appointment can be arranged within a short time of a person requiring such a meeting, at a mutually agreed location, including at the person's home. A client does not however have to attend an office in person to make a claim, or to make an enquiry about a claim. If it is more convenient for them, a client can speak directly with a CWO when they call the CWS freephone line.
Their case can also be escalated if urgent local action is required, such as an immediate cheque payment. Where it is clear a person has an immediate need, every effort is made to ensure they receive a payment on the same day.
A person can make an application for Supplementary Welfare Allowance by completing a SWA1 form, which is widely available. It can be downloaded at www.gov.ie. It is available in all Intreo Centres and Branch Offices. It can also now be requested by emailing cwsforms@welfare.ie or by calling 0818 60 70 80. Clients can also request a SWA1 form by using the Request Application Form page available on www.gov.ie. The completed application form should be returned to the Department where it will be processed very quickly.
There are 412 people across all grades in the Community Welfare Service. In light of the increased level of applications, as part of the Budget I secured agreement for some 74 additional staff to be assigned to the Community Welfare Service. Recruitment has commenced for these additional staff and it is anticipated that the additional staff will be in place by Q1 2023.
In the interim, until the staff have been recruited, 30 Social Welfare Inspectors have been temporarily reassigned to the Community Welfare Service since the start of November to assist with claims processing.The delivery of a locally based Community Welfare Service remains and will continue to remain a cornerstone of the service.I trust this clarifies the matter.
85. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is concerned about the impact of the rising cost of living on child poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59276/22]
View answer87. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures that are being taken to reduce child poverty; the impact of these measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58935/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 87 together.
As Minister of State 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 notes that no child in Ireland should live in poverty and that, where it happens due to adverse circumstances, available supports should ensure that the child and their family exit poverty as soon as is possible. Tackling child poverty requires both income supports and a cross Government focus to ensure access to affordable services, particularly to basic essential services such as housing, health and education, in addressing poverty and social exclusion.
The current national child poverty target requires a 66 per cent reduction in the number of children in consistent poverty by the end of 2020 (from its 2011 level of 107,000). Against the 2011 baseline, the number of children in consistent poverty has fallen by 45,000 (from 107,000 in 2011 to 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 Government is well aware that many families are struggling to make ends meet due to the increase in the cost of living. This is why under Budget 2023 we introduced the largest Social Protection Budget Day Package in the history of the State.In order to ease the pressure and stress that many families are facing, we have brought forward a series of exceptional lump sum payments to support people with the rising costs they are facing over winter, including a double child benefit payment this month and a €500 payment for those in receipt of Working Family Payment. Recent post-budget analysis from the ESRI found that these one-off cost of living measures would substantially cushion real incomes against the rising cost of living.
This is in addition to Social Protection Budgets over the past number of years that have prioritised the introduction of measures identified in research commissioned by my Department which have had and will continue to have a direct and positive impact on poverty, and in particular on child poverty:
- Increases in weekly child-related payments (qualified child increases);
- 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;
- Increases in the earnings disregard for lone parents in receipt of One Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker Transition payments.
The Government remains committed to the reduction of poverty, in particular for children, as set out in the Programme for Government.
86. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection when she intends to announce the agricultural schemes which will be disregarded with regard to farm assist scheme under the new CAP; and the basis upon which the decision to include or exclude schemes will be determined. [59130/22]
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 in the Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, my Department reviewed the means assessment disregards for the Farm Assist. The report is available on the Government's website. One of the key recommendations of the review was to expand the list of agri-environmental schemes that attract a disregard in the Farm Assist means test by including additional schemes put forward by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I recently introduced this measure effective from June 2022. As announced in Budget 2023, from January 2023 the amount of income from agri-environmental schemes that is disregard will increase from €2,540 to €5,000, with 50% of the balance assessed as means. The Review of the Farm Assist disregards also recommended that the two Departments would work together to identify schemes in Ireland's upcoming CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 which may be considered for inclusion in the list of schemes which attract the disregard in the means test for the Farm Assist Scheme. I am committed to this and will consider any additional schemes in that context. My Department will liaise with colleagues in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Any amendments to the list of schemes shall be introduced by way of Ministerial Regulations in due course.
I trust this clarifies the position.
88. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she intends to increase the income disregard for the carer’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59214/22]
View answerThe main income supports to carers provided by my Department include Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance, and the Carer's Support Grant. Spending on these payments in 2022 is expected to exceed €1.5 billion. A more generous means assessment for Carer’s Allowance has been called for over successive Budgets by organisations representing carers. In recognition of the vital role that carers play in society, as part of Budget 2022 I announced significant improvements to the means test for Carer’s Allowance. These were the first changes to the means test in 14 years:
- For carers who work, the weekly income disregard was increased from €332.50 to €350 for a single person, and from €665 to €750 for carers with a spouse/partner.
- The capital and savings disregard for the Carer’s Allowance means assessment was increased from €20,000 to €50,000, aligning it with that which applies for Disability Allowance.
The changes outlined came into effect on 2 June this year and many carers who up to now did not qualify for a payment due to means, will now be brought into the Carer's Allowance system for the first time. The current income disregard and means test for Carer’s Allowance is the most generous within the social welfare system.
There are no plans to further increase the income disregard for Carer’s Allowance at this time. As the Deputy is aware, any additional changes to the means test would have to be considered as part of the annual budgetary process.
89. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the way that her Department uses data modelling to assess the impact of social welfare payment rates; the way that data is disaggregated by demographics; the way that this is assessed with regard to poverty-proofing and addressing the cost of disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59206/22]
View answerPoverty proofing, or a poverty impact assessment, is the process by which policies and programmes are assessed at design, implementation and review stages, with a view to poverty reduction. The Government decided in 2012 to incorporate poverty impact assessments into an integrated social impact assessment in order to support the implementation of the national social target for poverty reduction and to ensure greater policy coordination in the social sphere. Social impact assessment is an evidence-based methodology which estimates the likely distributive effects of policies on household incomes, families, poverty and access to employment. In this regard, my Department uses the ESRI’s tax and benefit microsimulation model, SWITCH (Simulating Welfare Income, Tax, Childcare and Health), for assessing the distributive impacts of potential welfare measures based on data drawn from the CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC).
Analysis using the SWITCH model is included in the Department's Tax Strategy Papers which are published in advance of the Budget, and in the Social Impact Assessment published after the Budget. It is also included in Budget Day documentation. The SWITCH model is also used for other specific projects or analysis, for instance, to support the work of the Pensions Commission in relation to changes to PRSI rates of payment.The SWITCH model allows us to model the potential impact of welfare measures on a range of demographics, including by income decile, quintile and by household type, namely single working-age without children, lone parent, working-age couples with children, working-age couples without children, single retirement age (66 or over) and retirement age couples (66 or over). SWITCH is a key component in the social impact assessments carried out by my Department as it allows us to model distributional impacts and consider the impact of policy initiatives on poverty rates. While the ESRI's SWITCH model cannot currently distinguish between households affected by disability and households unaffected by disability, it may be possible to incorporate this capability in time.In order to get a better understanding of the cost of disability the Government commissioned Indecon International Economic Consultants to carry out independent research into this area last year which led to the publication of the Cost of Disability Report in December 2021. The Government has referred the report to the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Group, chaired by Minister of State, Anne Rabbitte TD, and that Group is currently considering the actions required by various Government Departments on foot of the recommendations contained in the Indecon report.
90. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of self-employed contributors who do not have sufficient contributions to warrant the payment of a pension; if she might undertake a review of the situation with the possibility of making a pro-rata payment in line with their particular contributions or alternative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59134/22]
View answerThe State Pension (Contributory) (SPC) is a PRSI-based pension, financed by contributions made by current workers and their employers, and paid to pensioners, at a rate based upon their PRSI record.Social insurance records include people who have paid contributions at various classes (e.g. Class S and Class A). They also include people who have not contributed for many years or who may now be living abroad. As such, it is not possible to accurately provide the data requested by the Deputy.A person is required to have a minimum of 520 paid reckonable PRSI contributions in order to qualify for the SPC. As the actuarial value of the State Pension is currently estimated at approximately €380,000, it is reasonable to require people claiming a contributory pension to have made at least 10 years of paid contributions over the term of their working life, before qualifying for a payment. PRSI for self-employed people was introduced in 1988.
I do not, therefore, propose to undertake a review regarding the possibility of a pro-rata payment for people with less than the minimum requirement for the SPC i.e. 10 years' paid contributions.It should be noted that, if a person does not satisfy the conditionality to qualify for a contributory State Pension, he or she may qualify for the means-tested State Pension (Non-Contributory), the maximum rate of which is over 95% of the rate of the SPC.
Alternatively, an Increase for a Qualified Adult (IQA) is paid, generally, where a pensioner has an adult dependent who does not have enough contributions to claim a maximum rate SPC in his or her own right. The payment rate for the IQA is up to 90% of a full contributory pension. The most advantageous payment for a pensioner will depend upon their individual circumstances.In September, I announced a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system in response to the recommendations from the Pensions Commission. The set of measures represent the biggest ever structural reform of the Irish State Pension system. One of the key measures is the introduction of a flexible pension system in Ireland. Under this new system, from January 2024, people will still be able to retire at 66 and draw-down their pension in exactly the same way as they can today. In addition, there will be new flexibility so that people can choose to defer their pension, work longer and receive a higher pension payment.
The flexible State Pension system is about providing people with choice. People will decide for themselves what best suits their needs and circumstances. For example, in the case of a person who reaches age 66 and does not have sufficient contributions to qualify for a full pension, they will now have the option to work for longer to build up additional entitlements. If a person has less than 10 years PRSI reckonable paid contributions, they can use this period to establish entitlement. A person will also have the option to continue working between age 66 and 70 and receive an actuarially based increase in their weekly payment rate.I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
91. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if recommendations have been made by the inter-departmental committee set-up to look at the Indecon cost of disability report; if not, the timeframe for these recommendations to be made; if so, the recommendations relevant to her Department; the actions that she has undertaken to implement these recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59266/22]
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. The findings of the research have implications for many areas of public policy. Based on this, one of Indecon's conclusions is that a multifaceted, whole of government approach is required to address the cost of disability.
It is for this reason the Government decided that the report, and actions on foot of the report, should be considered and monitored by the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Group, under the remit of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability Integration and Youth.
This group is chaired by my colleague the Minister of State for Disability, Anne Rabbitte TD, and is comprised of relevant departments, agencies, and a Disability Stakeholder Group.
The stakeholder group is comprised of persons who have expertise and lived experience of disability, are appointed by the Minister of State for Disability, and members serve a three-year period on the group. In relation to my Department, a number of the measures introduced, as part of Budget 2023, in support of people with disabilities reflect the findings of the report, these included:
(Paid in October)
- Cost-of-Living Double Payment, paid to Social Protection recipients including all Pensioners, Carers and people on Disability Payments.
(Paid in November)
- €500 Cost of Living Disability Support Grant, 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.
(To be paid in December)
- Christmas Bonus Double Payment will be paid to 1.3 million Social Protection recipients including: Pensioners, Carers and People with Disabilities.
In addition, from 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, to include for example the Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, and invalidity Pension.
- The Means assessment threshold for Fuel Allowance will increase from €120 to €200.
- Disablement Benefit will be disregarded in the means assessment for the 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, Budget 2023 included other important measures:
- The earnings disregard for both the Disability Allowance and Blind Pension will be increased by €25 per week, from €140 to €165 from January.
- €1m funding for enhancements to the Reasonable Accommodation Fund grants has been put in place. 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 for this fund before the end of the year.
- Changes to the JobsPlus incentive scheme, to encourage private sector employers to employ disabled people. Employers who employ people in receipt of the Disability Allowance or Blind Pension can avail of two grants under this scheme; the value of the grants are €7,500 and €10,000.
92. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider providing free travel passes to all persons with epilepsy who are not in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59269/22]
View answerThe free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators. There are approximately 1,050,000 customers with direct eligibility. The estimated expenditure on free travel in 2022 is €95 million.In general, access to a free travel pass for those aged under 66 is linked to a person being in receipt of certain primary Social Protection payments such as Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Carer’s Allowance, Blind Pension and Partial Capacity Benefit. While I am aware of the campaign by Epilepsy Ireland, extending the free travel scheme to people with epilepsy during the period in which they are disallowed from driving cannot be considered in isolation.
There are a range of disabilities and medical conditions that can prevent a person from holding a driving licence and to award a free travel pass to a person with any one of these conditions in isolation would immediately result in calls for all people who are not allowed to hold a driving licence because of their medical condition to receive the free travel pass and could result in challenges under the Equal Status Act.If the Free Travel scheme were to be extended to all people who are not allowed to drive due to their disability, regardless of whether they receive a qualifying payment, a medical assessment process would be required for all such applications, significantly changing the nature of the scheme and requiring additional administrative processes to be put in place in order to adjudicate eligibility. Significant extra funding would also be required and, accordingly, it could only be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.Department officials are currently examining the issues raised by Epilepsy Ireland, along with relevant submissions. This work is still ongoing. I am expecting a report from my officials in the next few weeks.I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
93. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection when she intends to carry out a consultation process as part of her Department’s work on addressing the cost of disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59207/22]
View answerThe Indecon Cost of Disability report was prepared following an extensive consultation with disabled people and disability stakeholders. This included one of the largest disability surveys ever undertaken in the State.The 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. 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.It is very clear that the findings in the research have implications for many areas of public policy. Based on this, one of Indecons conclusions is that a multifaceted, whole of Government approach is required to address the cost of disability.It is for this reason the Government decided that the report, and actions to be taken on foot of the report, should be considered and monitored by the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Group, under the remit of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
This group is chaired by my colleague, the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte TD, and is comprised of relevant departments, agencies, and a Disability Stakeholder Group.
The Disability Stakeholder group is comprised of persons who have expertise and lived experience of disability, who are appointed by the Minister of State for Disability - members serve a three-year period on the group.
In relation to my department, we engage extensively with the sector through, for example:
- Four meetings of the Departments Disability Consultative Forum a year. This forum was established in 1996.
- Four meetings a year of the departments Disability Consultative Committee, established under the National Disability Inclusion Strategy.
- The department's annual pre and post budget forums.
- The department's annual Carers Forum.
- Two meetings each year of the department's Community and Voluntary pillar group.
- Representation on groups such as the Comprehensive Employment Strategy Implementation Group with representatives from the sector.
- Through the new Disability Participation and Consultation Network. This network was established and is being funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability Integration and Youth as part of the States response to the UNCRPD.
My department will continue to engage with the sector on matters relating to the departments services and schemes for persons with disabilities.
94. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection the way that she is supporting refugees and those who are seeking international protection to gain employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59209/22]
View answerThe Department's public employment services, delivered through Intreo, are available to International Protection applicants with permission to work and to those who been granted refugee status. Employment Services staff engage systematically with refugees who are in receipt of a jobseeker payment and a walk-in service is available to all on a voluntary basis.
Public Employment Services staff will engage with these customers to identify and address any specific potential barriers to employment, such as literacy and numeracy, health, and English language proficiency. Where appropriate, customers may be referred to suitable education, training or development opportunities. The Public Employment Service works closely with education and training boards to facilitate access to relevant training supports, including English language training.
In accordance with the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) implemented in March, people fleeing the war in Ukraine can avail of income supports and employment services, provided by this Department. They can work in Ireland and access the full range of social welfare and employment supports. The Public Employment Services arranged employment support events specifically for jobseekers residing in Ireland under the TPD and staff in Intreo Centres provide employment support services on a one-to-one basis. I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
95. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale of determining qualified child increases of €2 for children aged under and over 12 years given the additional cost associated with older children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59204/22]
View answerI was pleased that Budget 2023 included a Social Welfare package of almost €2.2 billion. Many of the measures we have taken have been to assist families with children.
In recognition of the higher costs associated with older children, a higher rate of Increase for a Qualified Child was introduced in respect of children aged 12 and over in 2019. That has been maintained in each Budget since, including the recent Budget where I provided for the weekly rates to increase by €2 to €42 per week in the case of children under age 12 and by €2 to €50 per week in the case of children aged 12 or over.
These increases will take effect from January at an estimated cost of €30.4 million in 2023. As a result, these rates will have increased by €6 for under 12s and by €10 for over 12s over the last three Budgets. The new rate of €50 for children aged 12 or over is 19% higher than that for children aged under 12.
Earlier this month, all families with children received a double payment of Child Benefit in respect of each child. This benefited approximately 638,000 recipients in respect of over 1.2 million children at a cost of €170 million.
In addition, Budget 2023 provides for a €40 weekly increase in the Working Family Payment income limits for families of all sizes from January at a cost of approximately €16.8 million in 2023. I also provided for a €500 lump sum payment to all families in receipt of the payment this month at an estimated cost of €23 million. Furthermore, families in receipt of the Fuel Allowance also received a €400 payment this month.I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
96. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the various supports for pensioners in County Kerry in Budget 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59184/22]
View answerThis Government recognises the challenges people are facing with increases in the cost of living. That is why we announced the largest social protection Budget package in the history of the State. The Social Protection measures announced in the Budget amounted to almost €2.2 billion. Those measures will make a real difference in terms of protecting our most vulnerable – our pensioners, carers, people with disabilities, low-income families and lone parents.Last week, the Social Welfare Bill began its passage through the Dáil. This will give effect to the Social Protection measures announced as part of Budget 2023. These include a €12 increase to weekly personal rates of payment. This increase supports recipients across all Social Welfare weekly schemes including pensioners. There will also be a proportionate increase for adult dependants which means that the basic increase for a recipient of the State Pension (Contributory) with an adult dependant will be €22.80 per week.
I also announced significant changes to qualifying criteria for the Fuel Allowance. From 1st January 2023, people aged 70 and over can qualify for Fuel Allowance with weekly income of up to €500 per week for a single person and €1,000 per week for a couple. The Fuel Allowance income threshold will increase from €120 to €200 above the applicable State Pension (Contributory) rate for people aged under 70. Income from Half-rate Carer's Allowance and Disablement Benefit will also be disregarded in the Fuel allowance means test.To ease the pressure that many households are facing, my Department announced a range of exceptional lump sum payments and other supports, many of which have already been paid and are already supporting people in meeting the cost of living.
These measures include an Autumn Double Payment, which was paid in mid-October to over 1.4 million people, including pensioners, carers, people with disabilities, lone parents, and jobseekers. The Department of Social Protection paid a total of €316 million in additional payments during this week.
On November 1st, the first of three €200 Electricity Credits was applied to household’s electricity accounts. Two further Electricity Credit payments of €200 each will be paid to all households next year, at a total cost of €1.3 billion. This will help protect households from the risk of energy poverty through the winter months and during ongoing uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. During the week commencing 14th November, my Department paid a range of cost of living supports to pensioners across Ireland, which included:
- A €400 lump sum payment to over 370,000 households in receipt of Fuel Allowance;
- A €500 Disability Support Grant to 216,000 recipients of Disability Allowance, Blind Pension and Invalidity Pension; and
- A €200 lump sum payment to the 234,000 recipients of the Living Alone Allowance.
In total, the Department paid an additional €325 million during this week in cost of living supports to over 865,000 people. Last week, commencing 21st November, the Department paid a lump sum of €500 to over 114,000 carers, at a cost of €57.3 million. This lump sum was paid to many elderly carers, or to those caring for elderly individuals.In December, the Christmas Bonus double payment will be paid to pensioners, carers, people with disabilities, and other social protection recipients.As you can see, these payments will benefit households across Ireland, including those in Kerry.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
97. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on reforming the stillbirth registration process [59051/22]
View answerRegistration of stillbirths in Ireland is voluntary. Access to the register is restricted to the parents of the child or authorised staff of the General Register Office (GRO) to reflect the sensitivity of parents. As a matter of practice, the GRO facilitate access to the register where the parents are unable to do so or are deceased.
The General Register Office has recently examined the arrangements for registration and have concluded that changes in the Civil Registration Act 2004 will be required to provide for a number of changes, including updating the criteria for a stillbirth to reflect current clinical practice and wider access to the register. The views of advocacy groups have been considered in the development of the proposals.I have asked for proposals to be made to me in order that the Government can consider what legislative provisions might be made. If the proposals are approved, I would hope to publish a Bill early in 2023 to give effect to the agreed proposals.
I trust this information addresses the Deputy's enquiry.
98. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if she intends reforming incrementally the means testing that applies to many social welfare schemes to make it more equitable and to provide a greater incentive to save and work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59131/22]
View answerMeans tests and income thresholds are kept under regular review and a number of significant changes have been made in recent years. In particular, I have introduced a number of changes to means testing which provide for higher income disregards. These disregards ensure that, where people are in receipt of a social assistance payment and are working, a certain level of income from that work is not assessed in the means test.On foot of the commitment in the Programme for Government and in 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 provide for an extensive expansion to the list of agri-environmental schemes that qualify for a disregard - a policy which I introduced with effect from June 2022.
As part of Budget 2023, I increased the disregard from these agri-environmental schemes from €2,540 to €5,000. I have also introduced several measures which aim to encourage and support people with disabilities to pursue their employment goals. This included a higher earnings disregard for Disability Allowance and Blind Pension.Other important relevant measures which I announced as part of Budget 2023 are in respect of the means test for Fuel Allowance - broadening eligibility of this key scheme to an additional 80,000 households.
These include:
- A new allowable means threshold will be introduced for people aged 70 years and over. The new threshold will be €500 per week for a single person and €1,000 per week for a couple;
- The weekly means threshold for those aged under 70 will be increased by €80 per week, from €120 to €200 above the appropriate weekly rate of State Pension (Contributory);
- The Disablement Benefit payment will be disregarded when assessing means for Fuel Allowance purposes; and
- Half-Rate Carer’s Allowance payment will be disregarded when assessing means for Fuel Allowance purposes.
In addition, from January 2023, the income thresholds on Working Family Payment will be increased by €40 per week.Any changes to means testing would have cost implications and would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context. As the Deputy is aware, I have committed to initiate a review of means testing in the Department next year.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
99. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the various cost-of-living lump sum payments which are being administered by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58839/22]
View answerIn response to the ongoing cost of living pressures, I announced on Budget Day that my Department will spend approximately €1.2 billion on social welfare measures to help individuals and families through this difficult period.
These measures include an Autumn Double Payment, which was paid in mid-October to over 1.4 million people, including pensioners, carers, people with disabilities, lone parents, and jobseekers. The Department of Social Protection paid a total of €316 million in additional payments during this week.
This was followed by a double payment of Child Benefit on 1st November, which was paid in respect of 1.2 million children across the State. 638,000 families benefited from this double payment, at a cost of €170 million. Child Benefit is an extremely important support that reaches hundreds of thousands of hardworking families.
On the same date, the first of three €200 Electricity Credits was applied to household’s electricity accounts. Two further Electricity Credit payments of €200 each will be paid to all households next year, at a total cost of €1.3 billion. This will help protect households from the risk of energy poverty through the winter months and during ongoing uncertainty due to Russia’s war in Ukraine. During the week commencing 14th November, the Department paid a range of cost of living supports, which included:
- A €400 lump sum payment to over 370,000 households in receipt of Fuel Allowance;
- A €500 lump sum payment to 44,000 families receiving the Working Family Payment;
- A €500 Disability Support Grant to 216,000 recipients of Disability Allowance, Blind Pension and Invalidity Pension; and
- A €200 lump sum payment to the 234,000 recipients of the Living Alone Allowance.
In total, the Department paid an additional €325 million during this week in cost of living supports to over 865,000 people.
Last week, commencing 21st November, the Department paid a lump sum of €500 to over 114,000 carers, at a cost of €57.3 million.
In December, the Christmas Bonus double payment will be paid to pensioners, carers, people with disabilities, one-parent families, and other social protection recipients at a cost of €294 million.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
100. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons who applied for the carer's allowance in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022. [58970/22]
View answerMy Department provides a range of supports to carers, one of which is Carer's Allowance. These payments support individuals who provide care to people in need of full-time care and attention. Carer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested payment, made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that they require that level of care.There are 91,954 people currently in receipt of CA. The number of people in receipt of CA has increased by 78% in the past decade, from 51,550 in 2012.
The number of CA claims registered in 2021 increased by 27% since 2012, from 15,493 in 2012 to 19,648 in 2021. In the 10 months to 31st October 2022, 19,313 new CA applications have been received.
The number of CA claims received in each of the last ten years are provided in a table beneath.
Table: Number of CA claims registered, by year
|
Year |
Claims received |
|
2012 |
15,493 |
|
2013 |
12,060 |
|
2014 |
17,759 |
|
2015 |
18,929 |
|
2016 |
22,722 |
|
2017 |
23,800 |
|
2018 |
20,208 |
|
2019 |
19,402 |
|
2020 |
18,774 |
|
2021 |
19,648 |
