Tuesday, 29 Nov 2022

Written Answers Nos. 101-120

Social Welfare Offices

Questions (101)

Cormac Devlin

Question:

101. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has any plans to review the operation of Intreo offices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59126/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Ongoing regular reviews of internal structure and processes are normal in any operational environment. These routine operational reviews do not involve any change to customer benefits or entitlement but represent normal business process change and refinement.

As part of this ongoing process in 2021 my Department reviewed management reporting lines as well as how it organised the processing of Intreo centre claims so as ensure staff workloads could be balanced. The review did not involve any changes to Intreo centre locations or services available to the public at Intreo centres.

As is the case with any large customer service organisation my Department will continue to review and refine its operational procedures and management structures.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (102)

Colm Burke

Question:

102. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons on long-term illness benefit for 12 months or longer will receive the Christmas bonus payment; when the bonus will be paid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59135/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I was pleased to announce on Budget Day that a 100% Christmas Bonus will be paid this year benefitting 1.3 million people in receipt of long-term social welfare payments. The Bonus will be paid during the week beginning the 5th of December and will cost approximately €294 million.

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

Illness Benefit is not, and has never been, a qualifying payment for the Christmas Bonus. It is a scheme which, by its nature, is a short-term social welfare scheme. It has a high degree of churn with people coming onto the scheme and moving off every week, often with very short duration claims. For example, between July and September 2022, almost 115,000 Illness Benefit claims were awarded and, of these, only 21,000 remain in payment. This indicates a churn of 82% over just a three-month period. The average duration of a claim for Illness Benefit is only 6 days.

I do appreciate however that individual circumstances can vary from case to case. I have asked my officials to examine this issue in respect of people who are in receipt of Illness Benefit for longer periods of time.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (103)

Matt Carthy

Question:

103. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has examined the potential for introducing paid maternity and pension benefits for women working on farms. [59129/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Currently, self-employed social insurance contributors, including men and women farmers, can qualify for a wide range of benefits, including the State Pension (Contributory) and Maternity/Paternity Benefit.

Since 2014, and the transposition of EU Directive 2010/41/EU on the application of equal treatment between men and women engaged in self-employment activity, the spouse or civil partner of a self-employed person can benefit from social protection in accordance with the qualifying criteria set in national law.

This means that liability for social insurance contributions has been extended to the spouses and civil partners of self-employed contributors who are not formal business partners or employees, where they perform the same, or ancillary tasks. The liability of spouses and civil partners to make self-employment contributions is subject to the established provisions that apply to all self-employed contributors, including the requirement to declare reckonable annual income of at least €5,000.

While these provisions act to facilitate the spouse or civil partner of a self-employed contributor to become a self-employed contributor, I can also advise the Deputy that children within farming families that are aged over 16 years, can also become self-employed contributors within a family business partnership model. This arrangement applies where at least two family members operate a business in partnership, including farming, and where they share profits of the business or farm. In that circumstance, each business partner is insurable as a self-employed contributor in their own right, provided that each partner reaches the annual reckonable income threshold of €5,000. It is important that all farm partnerships are registered on the Register of Farm Partnerships that is maintained by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine.

While my Department keeps all matters under review, I am satisfied that the current legislative provisions concerning family employment and social insurance coverage achieves the necessary balance between establishing a formal and uniform system while acknowledging the informal and varied practicalities inherent in family operated enterprises, including farming.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

State Pensions

Questions (104)

Holly Cairns

Question:

104. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps that she is taking to increase the pension entitlements of full-time family carers. [59052/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

This 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 provides for a range of measures including PRSI credits, Homemaking Disregards and HomeCaring Periods to recognise caring periods of up to 20 years outside of paid employment in the calculation of a payment rate.

It should be noted that, if a person does not qualify for a State Pension (Contributory), 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 State Pension (Contributory). 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 State Pension (Contributory) 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.

Despite the existing measures within the State Pension system that recognise periods spent caring, long-term carers of incapacitated dependents may still face barriers in accessing the State Pension.

I announced a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system in September. The measuresare in response to the recommendations from the Pensions Commission and represent the biggest ever structural reform of the Irish State Pension system.

One of the reforms agreed by Government is enhanced State Pension provision for long-term carers of incapacitated dependents (who have been caring in excess of 20 years), as recommended by the Pensions Commission, and to be introduced from January 2024. This will be implemented through:

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

- The establishment of a ‘Family Carer Register'.

My officials are 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.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Domestic Violence

Questions (105)

Paul Murphy

Question:

105. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider introducing a dedicated exceptional needs’ payment for costs related to persons fleeing domestic violence in a similar manner as has been done with rent supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59273/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Primary responsibility for the development and provision of services to support victims of domestic violence rests with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

The accommodation needs of victims of domestic violence are met through a joined-up service delivery model provided by Tusla with the close involvement of housing authorities nationwide and the support of the Department of Social Protection through the provision of rent supplement. Access to the wider service provision of the community welfare service, including Additional Needs Payments, is also available to victims of domestic violence whether referred through the protocol or not. Customers do not have to meet in person with an Officer to make a claim.

Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. This is an overarching term used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the customer’s own resources, and which are deemed to be necessary.

The scheme is demand-led and there is no budget cap. Payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation, and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.

I remain committed to supporting victims of domestic violence and providing support through the joined-up service delivery model provided by Tusla.

Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an additional needs payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Irish Sign Language

Questions (106)

Bríd Smith

Question:

106. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection when the voucher scheme for users of Irish sign language to access free ISL and English interpreting for social, educational and cultural events and services including medical and other activities and the remote interpreting on demand service, will be permanently established; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56934/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Sign Language Interpreting Service (SLIS) is the national Sign Language Interpreting Service. Established in 2007, SLIS is supported and funded through the Citizens Information Board (CIB). SLIS supports high-quality Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation services to ensure Deaf people can access public and social services and take part in Irish society as full and equal citizens.

SLIS currently provides the following services:

- The IRIS Remote Interpreting Service (IRIS), through a video link interpreters help support Deaf people to access information, entitlements, and rights. IRIS is available Monday to Friday 9 am to 7 pm, Saturday 10 am to 4 pm, and Sunday from 12 pm to 2pm.

- A 24/7 emergency service to arrange for sign language interpreters in crisis situations.

- A service to enable access to GP and HSE Primary Care Service.

- A support and access service to help service providers reduce barriers and become more accessible and

- A social Interpreting Fund to cover interpreting costs for funerals and hardship cases.

As Minister, I supported the Citizens Information Board and SLIS in launching a pilot voucher scheme for users of Irish Sign Language to access free ISL interpreters for Social/Cultural/Service/needs. The pilot ran for a four-month period to the end of October 2021. An evaluation of the pilot was completed in July 2022, which reported that 160 deaf people accessed 272 vouchers. 26% of interpreter assignments were for private medical purposes, 24% for social events, 20% for education and training and 18% for public events and services.

The recommendations from the evaluation report will form part of any future voucher scheme to ensure it meets the needs of the Deaf community in Ireland and meets the obligations under the ISL Act (2017). The recommendations are to guarantee equal access to all Deaf users within the society as equal citizens in Ireland. CIB is currently exploring with SLIS the options as to how the Voucher Scheme can be rolled out, using lessons from the pilot.

In the meantime, my Department continues to provide funding to SLIS through its yearly operational grant; an estimated allocation of €458,594 has been provided in 2023.

Budget 2023

Questions (107)

Aindrias Moynihan

Question:

107. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures that she is taking to identify persons who were on disability allowance to change due to training/education advancement to ensure that they can avail of the disability one-off payment announcement in Budget 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59268/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

People on training courses, having previously been in receipt of a Disability Allowance payment, will receive the €500 Disability Support Grant.

My Department has acted very quickly to deliver the Disability Support Grant and other budget measures within an exceptionally short timeframe. Wherever possible, budget measures that are usually implemented in the January to March period of the year following a budget announcement, have been brought forward and implemented within a period of weeks. While this early issue of payments was very challenging it was possible to achieve for people paid directly off the Department’s own payment systems.

However, when undertaking training courses, recipients of Disability Allowance move off the Department’s payment systems and transfer to a Department of Further, Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science funded Training Allowance. As a consequence, it was not possible to process early payment of the Disability Support Grant to these recipients in the same manner as was implemented in respect of people paid directly through the Department’s own systems.

My officials are examining this issue in conjunction with their colleagues in the Department of Further, Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to ensure the payment is made to those who are on such training courses as soon as possible.

Departmental Strategies

Questions (108)

Thomas Gould

Question:

108. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the work that her Department has carried out to increase work capacity among vulnerable cohorts including those in addiction recovery. [53846/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Pathways to Work 2021-2025 is the Government’s national employment strategy. The goal of Pathways to Work is to help ensure that as many jobs as possible go to people who are unemployed.

One of the strategy’s five key strands is ‘Working for All – Leaving No One Behind’, which has the objective of promoting better labour market outcomes for all, including those facing additional barriers to work, such as the long-term unemployed, people with disabilities, the Traveller and Roma communities, lone parents, people with a history of addiction and people with a criminal record.

For people with a recent criminal record or a history of addiction, Pathways to Work committed to considering making the higher level of the JobsPlus subsidy available to all employers who recruit an unemployed person from these groups. This was announced as a measure in Budget 2023, whereby from January 2023, the higher rate of JobsPlus employer subsidy of €10,000 over two years, will be payable to an employer who recruits a person who has a recent criminal record or a history of addiction (within 5 years). My Department is also continuing the Prison ‘in-reach’ programmes and supporting, through its Intreo service, the progression and work placement of ex-offenders on the Work to Change programme.To further reinforce existing services, a multi-agency protocol with the Irish Prison Service, IAZIO and Probationary Service was established with the Department in 2019. This is currently under review. Dedicated Officers have been assigned to support this initiative in all locations nationally. The protocol offers enhanced employment and upskilling supports for those exiting the Prison Service.

The Traveller and Roma community face particular disadvantage in the labour market. Pathways to Work commits to engaging with community representative bodies to produce Traveller (and/or Roma) specific employment service engagement tools and developing a Traveller and Roma training, enterprise and employment plan. The Department is currently engaging on a cross-Departmental basis and with Traveller representative groups to progress these commitments. In addition, as part of Budget 2023, from January 2023, the higher rate of JobsPlus employer subsidy will be made available to employers who recruit a jobseeker who is a member of the Traveller and Roma communities.

Jobseeker activation, the engagement approach with jobseekers is defined under Pathways to Work and the Youth Guarantee programme. All unemployed jobseekers, including Traveller & Roma, Youth, People with prior convictions, refugees and those at risk of long-term unemployment engage in compulsory activation with an officer of the Department. Every jobseeker is required to agree a Personal Progression Plan that reflects a tailored support process, client-specific milestones and goals.

My Department also delivers its services and supports on a mainstream basis for disabled people and jobseekers with disabilities. Intreo provides a full range of employment services for such customers, including specific grants to support the provision of reasonable accommodations in the work place and financial incentives to encourage private sector employers to employ disabled persons.

In addition, my Department has commenced a nationwide roll out of an Early Engagement process. When fully rolled out, the Early Engagement approach will see disabled customers who, for example, turn 18 or who acquire a disability during their working life, and need support to enter or return to employment, being proactively contacted by Intreo to offer its employment services and supports at the earliest possible opportunity.

The Department also provides specialist employment services, through its contracted provision, for jobseekers with disabilities who require additional pre-employment and in-employment support. A Jobseeker who requires this type of support is referred to these specialist providers by Intreo.

Budget 2023 also saw the introduction of a number of employment related measures, to further support this group:

- A €25 per week increase to the earnings disregards for both the Disability Allowance and Blind Pension, increasing it from €140 to €165 per week. This means, from January, a person can earn €165 per week without having any impact on their payment.

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

- Changes to the Jobsplus incentive scheme, to encourage private sector employers to employ disabled people. Employers who employ people in receipt of the Disability Allowance or Blind Pension from January 2023 can avail of the grants under the scheme.

It is important to note, the Department provides access to Public Employment Services on a non-discriminatory basis to all those seeking access to employment opportunities, assistance with securing employment and/or access to education or upskilling opportunities.

Finally, any individual, including members of disadvantaged or vulnerable communities, looking for support from the Public Employment Service, including the services of an Employment Personal Advisor or Job Coach, can request this, on a voluntary, walk–in basis through any of the Departments Intreo centres.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (109, 112, 133)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

109. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the processing of additional needs’ payment applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59211/22]

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Question:

112. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to ongoing delays with regard to exceptional needs’ payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59215/22]

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

133. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the increases in workload on community welfare offices and officers and the additional resources that have been allocated to cope with the additional workload; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59127/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 109, 112 and 133 together.

As of October 2022, over 75,000 applications for Additional Need Payments (ANPs) were processed and awarded; this represents a 63% increase in awarded applications compared to the same period in 2021. My Department has already paid an estimated €46 million in ANPs so far this year. Some of this increase can be attributed to the response to support families arriving from Ukraine. The claims currently being received for ANPs are varied and often quite complex, reflecting the individual circumstances being experienced. Where an application is complete and accompanied by the required documentation, it is generally processed very quickly.

Where it is clear that a person has an immediate need, every effort is made to ensure they receive a payment on the same day.Any delays are typically due to additional information or documentation being requested from the person and the length of time that it takes for the information to be provided. Some claims by their nature are not as time urgent and in these cases the CWO gives greater flexibility to the customers with extended time to respond. Upon receipt of this information, the application will then be processed quickly.

My Department has taken a number of steps to simplify and streamline the process for persons applying for Additional Needs Payments.

- There has been a major public information campaign to raise awareness of the payment.

- 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.

- There is a full-time CWO presence in 50 Intreo Offices nationwide, 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday.

- 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.

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 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.

Engagement with clients who need support is the cornerstone of the Community Welfare Service. This aspect of the Service remains in place and will not change.

Social Welfare Eligibility

Questions (110)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

110. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the difference between the health qualifications to qualify for the invalidity pension and the disability allowance both which provide assistance to persons who can no longer work due to disability or illness; if she intends to align these to make them the same in this respect; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59132/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

My Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to illness or disability. Entitlement to these supports is generally not contingent on the nature of the illness or disability but on the extent to which it impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work. The two main long-term payments are Disability Allowance and Invalidity Pension.

Disability Allowance is a means-tested social assistance scheme. In order to qualify, the person must satisfy a habitual residency condition, a means test and meet the medical requirement. The medical requirement for Disability Allowance is that the person's disability must be expected to last for at least one year, and the disability must substantially restrict a person’s ability to work.

Over 157,000 people were in receipt of Disability Allowance in September 2022.

Invalidity Pension is a social insurance scheme paid from the Social Insurance Fund. Eligibility is based on PRSI contributions and medical condition. In order to qualify, the person must have been incapable of work for at least 12 months and be likely to be incapable of work for at least another 12 months; or must be permanently incapable of work.

Over 56,000 people were in receipt of Invalidity Pension in September 2022.

Officials in my Department are working on a Strawman Proposal on Disability Reform in accordance with a commitment under the Roadmap for Social Inclusion (2020 – 2025). The strawman will provide a proposal on the restructuring of long-term disability payments. Work on this proposal is at an advanced stage.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (111)

Seán Canney

Question:

111. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will extend the €500 once-off payment to people with a disability to include disabled persons who have transferred to other State pension due to them reaching the pension age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53773/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

In response to the ongoing cost of living pressures, my Department will spend some €1.3 billion this year on cost-of-living supports to help individuals and families through this difficult period.

The €500 lump sum payment to those on Disability Allowance, Blind Pension and Invalidity Pension was paid to those receiving these payments earlier this month.

However, recipients of State Pensions, who receive a higher weekly rate of payment, were eligible for the Autumn Cost of Living Double Payment paid last month, and also the Christmas Bonus in December.

Other targeted payments which those receiving a State Pension may be eligible for are a €200 payment to people in receipt of Living Alone Allowance and a €400 payment to those in receipt of the Fuel Allowance.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Question No. 112 answered with Question No. 109.

Social Welfare Code

Questions (113)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

113. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the regulations around the back-to-school allowance to ensure that the allowance is available to a parent even when their dependent is in receipt of their own disability payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59284/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn. The scheme operates from June to September.

The allowance is payable for eligible children between the ages of 4 and 17 in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid. It is also payable to those between the ages of 18 and 22 who are in full-time second level education and in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid.

To qualify for the allowance a person must meet a number of conditions, including being in receipt of an increase in their weekly social protection payment for the qualified child.

Parents whose children are in receipt of social protection payments in their own right, will not receive an increase in their weekly social protection payment for those children and so do not qualify for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance payment.

There are no current plans to amend the eligibility criteria for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme. Any changes to the scheme would have to be considered in a budgetary context and within the scope of the overall resources available for welfare improvements.

Applications which fall outside the normal rules of the scheme may be considered for an Additional Needs Payment under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme by the Community Welfare Service.

Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an Additional Needs Payment is encouraged to contact their local Community Welfare Service. There is a National Community Welfare Service Contact Centre in place – 0818-607080 – which will direct callers to the appropriate office.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

School Meals Programme

Questions (114)

Seán Canney

Question:

114. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she intends to increase the funding for the school meals programme to take into account the increase in the costs of providing the meals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53775/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The School Meals Programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to some 1,600 schools and organisations 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. This represents a 49% funding increase in the period since 2020.

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.

I am committed to continuing to expand the school meals programme and building further on the significant extension of the programme in recent years. In this regard, I commissioned the evaluation of the school meals programme to review all elements of the programme including the funding rates currently being provided for the various meal options. The final report is due to be completed by the end of the year and will help to inform future decisions around this important programme.

I am committed to growing the school meals programme further and issues regarding the funding rates will be considered in the context of this evaluation.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Social Welfare Payments

Questions (115)

Neale Richmond

Question:

115. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Social Protection when the Christmas bonus 2022 will be paid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59110/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I was pleased to announce on Budget Day that a 100% Christmas Bonus will be paid this year benefitting 1.3 million people in receipt of long-term social welfare payments. The Bonus will be paid during the week beginning the 5th of December and will cost approximately €294 million.

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

As we know, this payment is an additional help to people as we enter the Christmas period and much of this is spent locally, supporting local economies throughout the country. Given the ongoing cost of living pressures, this will be a particularly important support for low-income households this year. The Bonus is one of a range of lump sums, which I announced at Budget time, that my Department have been paying since October this year, totaling almost €1.2 billon, to help individuals and families through this difficult period.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Code

Questions (116)

Brian Stanley

Question:

116. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection when the threshold increase for the working family payment will come into effect. [59079/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Working Family Payment (WFP) is a weekly tax-free payment for employees with children which supports people in low paid employment. The WFP is designed to prevent in-work poverty for low paid workers with child dependents, and to offer a financial incentive to take up employment.

It is a targeted measure that is directly linked to household income and therefore directly supports low-income working families. There are approximately 45,000 families with 99,000 children who are currently in receipt of WFP.

Budget 2023 included the provision of a once off €500 cost of living lump sum payment to all WFP recipients and this was paid on 17th November 2022.

An increase in the income thresholds for Working Family Payment was also announced in Budget 2023. The legislative basis for this measure is contained in the Social Welfare Bill 2022 which is currently before the Oireachtas.

This increase will take effect from 5th January 2023 and will see the income limit for all family sizes increase by €40. This will see an increase in payment across all awarded claims of up to €24 per week while also increasing the income qualification thresholds for claimants.

The easiest and fastest way for customers to make an application for Working Family Payment is online via mywelfare.ie

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (117)

Gary Gannon

Question:

117. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that those in receipt of illness benefit were not awarded a double payment in line with other welfare schemes; and the rationale for the omission. [59278/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

In response to the ongoing cost of living pressures, my Department will spend approximately €1.2 billion in social welfare measures this year to help individuals and families through this difficult period.

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

Illness Benefit is not, and has never been, a qualifying payment for the Christmas Bonus. It is a scheme which, by its nature, is a short-term social welfare scheme. It has a high degree of churn with people coming onto the scheme and moving off every week, often with very short duration claims. For example, between July and September 2022, almost 115,000 Illness Benefit claims were awarded and, of these, only 21,000 remain in payment. This indicates a churn of 82% over just a three-month period. The average duration of a claim for Illness Benefit is only 6 days.

In addition, many Illness Benefit payments are paid directly to the employer. Therefore, a double payment such as the cost of living support would, in many cases, be an employer subsidy as opposed to an additional support to the customer. This is not the intent behind the October cost of living support, and nor would it be a targeted use of resources.

I do appreciate however that individual circumstances can vary from case to case. I have asked my officials to examine this issue in respect of the Christmas Bonus and people who are in receipt of Illness Benefit for longer periods of time.

If an individual or family are struggling with additional costs, Additional Needs Payments can provide help and support to people facing financial hardship. Under the scheme, the Department may make an Additional Needs Payment to people on a low income, whether they are working or receiving an income support, to meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.

Fuel Poverty

Questions (118)

Paul Murphy

Question:

118. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is concerned at the level of fuel poverty this winter in spite of the additional one-off payments made available by the Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59274/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

While policy on energy poverty is primarily a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, I made a number of significant changes in Budget 2023 which will assist low-income households with rising energy costs.

A number of considerable reforms were made to the Fuel Allowance scheme with up an estimated 81,000 new households to benefit from the major expansion of the scheme. These reforms will come into effect from January 2023 and include:

- 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.

- The weekly means threshold for those aged under 70 will be increased by €80 from €120 to €200 above the appropriate rate of State Pension (Contributory).

- The Disablement Benefit payment will be disregarded when assessing means for Fuel Allowance purposes.

- The Half-Rate Carer’s Allowance payment will be disregarded when assessing means for Fuel Allowance purposes.

In addition to these measures, as part of the Government’s Budget 2023 cost of living supports, a €400 additional Lump Sum payment was made to all households in receipt of the Fuel Allowance Payment in November 2022.

In addition, there were other cost-of-living measures announced in the Budget such as the double week in social welfare payments in October and December (Christmas Bonus) and the living alone lump sum payment of €200.

The enhanced electricity credit of €600 is another important Government measure announced in the Budget. The first €200 will be applied to electricity bills before Christmas and the remainder will be paid in two tranches in January/February and March/April.

Core welfare rates, including pension payments and Working Age Payments, will increase by €12 from January 2023.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Community Employment Schemes

Questions (119)

Seán Canney

Question:

119. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if participants on CE schemes with a disability will be included in the €500 top-up for people with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53772/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

In response to the ongoing cost of living pressures, my Department will spend €1.3 billion this year on cost-of-living supports to help individuals and families through this difficult period.

The €500 lump sum payment to those on Disability Allowance, Blind Pension and Invalidity Pension was paid to those receiving these payments in the relevant week in November. Community Employment participants are not eligible for the €500 disability lump sum.

However, the participants of the Community Employment scheme were eligible for the Autumn Cost of Living Double Payment paid last month, and the Christmas Bonus in December. Those participants with children were also eligible for the Double Payment of Child Benefit earlier this month.

As part of Budget 2023, I was pleased to announce a €12 increase in weekly payments from next January. This will apply to Disability Allowance recipients and Community Employment, Rural Social Scheme and Tús scheme participants. I am also increasing the Qualified Child rate by €2 per week.

In addition, I am increasing the top-up rate on these employment schemes by €5 per week. This means that, combined with the rate increase, participants on these schemes will see a rise of €17 per week next year, and more for participants with adult or child dependents.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Budget 2023

Questions (120)

Alan Dillon

Question:

120. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the supports for families in Budget 2023; the impact that the changes she is making will have in respect of the treatment of child maintenance payments and working family payment thresholds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59228/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I announced on Budget Day that the Government will spend €2.2 billion on Social Protection measures, including over €880 million in order to provide for a €12 increase to the weekly rate of social welfare payments from January 2023.

Cost of living family supports include: an October cost-of-living double payment, and again in December via the payment of the Christmas Bonus. In November, a double Child Benefit payment was made. Households in receipt of the Fuel Allowance have received a €400 lump sum, and people in receipt of the Working Family Payment received a lump sum of €500. All households will also benefit from €600 of Energy Credits in the coming months.

In Budget 2023, the Qualified Child rates will increase by €2 – to €42 per child for those aged under 12, and to €50 per week for those aged 12 and over. Over the last three Budgets, these rates have increased by €6 and €10 per week respectively. For those in employment with children, the income threshold for the Working Family Payment is also increasing by €40 per week from January.

In 2020, the Government established a Child Maintenance Review Group to examine a number of issues regarding child maintenance in Ireland.

The Group submitted their Report to me for my consideration and, on Wednesday 16 November 2022, the Government published the Report and approved its response to the recommendations contained in it.

The Group recommended that:

- child maintenance should no longer be assessed as means or income for the purposes of any Department of Social Protection Social Assistance scheme. It should be disregarded in its entirety from all of the Department’s means assessments and income tests;

- the requirement to make efforts to seek maintenance as a condition for eligibility for One-Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment should be removed and should no longer apply to either scheme; and

- the provisions relating to the Liable Relative should be discontinued and should no longer apply.

On foot of the report, I am pleased to say that the Government has approved changes to implement the Group’s recommendations in respect of Child Maintenance within the Social Welfare system.

The decision to disregard Child Maintenance Payments from the Social Welfare means test will support lone parents and will mean that some parents currently on reduced rates of payment will see their payment increase.

I trust this clarifies the matter for deputy.