Tuesday, 21 Mar 2023

Written Answers Nos. 793-817

Departmental Funding

Questions (793)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

793. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of times funding was moved across budget lines within his Department in a process known as virement; the name and purpose of the fund the money was taken from; the name and purpose of the fund the money was transferred to; the dates upon which he approved of such transfers, since he took office; if the Department of Public Expenditure was consulted prior to the transfer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12276/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Under Government Accounting rules, a Department incurring overspends on subheads must seek sanction for virement from the Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDPDR).

My Department provides very detailed financial data by subhead and division of subheads to DPENDPDR for the Exchequer returns and at end of each month. The Department also provides a timely response to requests for variance explanations when requested.

A Supplementary Estimate considered by the Select Committee and voted by the Dáil involves virement whereby savings on subheads with emerging underspends are used to part fund emerging overspends on other subheads. In this case, the parliamentary process does the virement.At end of each year, there may be overspends on some subheads when compared to the Supplementary Estimate voted on by the Dáil or to the final estimate approved by the Dáil – the Revised Estimate Volume or Further Revised Estimate. These overspends can by funded from underspends elsewhere on the Vote.In respect of 2020, approval was sought on the 18th February 2021 and approved by DPER on 10 subheads across Vote 37.In respect of 2021, approval was sought on 14th April 2022 and approved by DPER on 16 subheads across Vote 37.In respect of 2022, approval in principle was sought and approved by DPER on 12th January 2023 in respect of 15 subheads across Vote 37.Tables below show the schemes and the amount of virement sanctioned for 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Schemes DSP Sought and Received Sanction from DPER for Virement in 2020

Subhead Number	Scheme Name	Overspend (€000)
A4	Jobseeker's Allowance	20,252
A24	Disability Allowance	7,582
A5	One Parent Family	6,659
A9	Farm Assist	4,234
A39	Household Benefits Package	1,868
A36	Other Child Related Payments	626
A6	Widows' Widowers' / Surviving Civil Partners Pension (Non-Contributory)	435
A38	Telephone Support Allowance	87
A7	Deserted Wife's Allowance	19
A2(ix)	eGovernment Related Projects	607

Schemes DSP Sought and Received Sanction from DPER for Virement in 2021

Subhead Number	Scheme Name	Overspend (€000)
A5	One Parent Family Payment	813
A8	Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance Payments	485
A9	Farm Assist	90
A10	Exceptional and Urgent Needs Payment	819
A11	Other Working Age Income Support	31
A12	Community Employment	1,923
A15	Jobs Initiative	446
A19	Jobs Plus	67
A22	Other Employment Support	461
A27	Carer's Support Grant	243
A30	Child Benefit	5,695
A31	Working Family Payment	307
A37	Telephone Support Allowance	67
A38	Household Benefits Package	1,959
A41	Grant to the Citizens Information Board	6,847
A43	Exchequer Subvention to the Social Insurance Fund	19,294

Schemes DSP Sought and Received Sanction in Principle from DPER for Virement in 2022

Subhead Number	Scheme Name	Overspend (€000)
A5	One Parent Family Payment	1.400
A6	Widows' Widowers' / Surviving Civil Partners Pension (Non-Contributory)	119
A9	Farm Assist	104
A13	Rural Social Scheme	1,500
A14	TUS	1,500
Azz	Covid 19 Employers Wage Subsidy Scheme	15,900
A26	Blind Pension	120
A36	School Meals	4,000
A37	Child Related Payments	209
A38	Rent Supplement	486
A39	Telephone Support Allowance	137
A40	Household Benefits Package	950
A42	Fuel Allowance	5,100
A 2.4	Postal and Telecommunications	1,000
A 2.7	Consultancy	400

Social Welfare Eligibility

Questions (794)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

794. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a maintenance payment paid to an ex-spouse is not taken into account when calculating means to qualify for the fuel allowance payment. [12318/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €412 million in 2023. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. Only one allowance is paid per household.

The criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my Department in as targeted a manner as possible. To qualify for the Fuel Allowance payment, a person must satisfy all the qualifying criteria including a means test and the household composition criteria. The means test ensures that the recipient has a verifiable income need and that resources are targeted to those who need them most.

The means test does not take account of a person’s expenditure commitments or income tax circumstances. Allowing deductions in means assessed for outgoings would significantly increase the complexity of the means assessment and would give rise to inconsistencies in how means tests are applied across schemes.

If maintenance payments were taken into account, any reduction in these means as a consequence of maintenance payments to another person would, in effect, result in the welfare system subsidising or possibly fully meeting these payments.

Where a person has maintenance obligations on foot of a Court order and they find that they can no longer afford to meet those obligations, for example because their circumstances have changed, it is open to that person to seek to have the Court review the order in light of their changed income position.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

State Pensions

Questions (795)

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

795. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the averaging system used for the calculation of State pensions is to be retained; if not, the proposals the Government has for its replacement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12337/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Currently all applicants for the State Pension (Contributory) (SPC) have their entitlement assessed under two separate criteria, the Yearly Average (YA) method and the interim Total Contributions Approach, receiving a payment based on which method is most beneficial to the person.

The YA method has been in place since the introduction of the contributory pension in 1961. The YA method sees all paid and credited contributions divided by time spent in the social insurance system to give an average of Social Insurance contributions per year with payments made on a banded basis. Under the YA method, applicants can apply under the Homemaker's Scheme for those years since 1994 spent caring for children under 12 or other dependent relatives to be disregarded in the calculation. Up to 20 years disregard can be applied. This means the pension average does not disadvantage an applicant for the time spent caring.

The interim Total Contributions Approach was introduced in January 2018. It removes the time spent in the Social Insurance system as a factor and simply adds paid and credited contributions together. 2080 contributions (equivalent to 40 years) are required for a full rate payment with pro-rata payments for those who have the minimum required 520 paid contributions, but less than 2080. Homecaring periods can be claimed for providing full time care to children under 12 or people aged over 12 who require an increased level of full-time care. Up to 20 years of Homecaring Periods can be claimed.

Last September, I announced a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system. 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 reforms agreed by Government is a phased transition to the Total Contributions Approach and the abolition of the Yearly Average approach to commence from January 2024.

During this transition period, individual pension rates will be based on best of the Total Contributions Approach, or a rate based on a mix of the Yearly Average and Total Contributions Approaches, with the proportion accounted for by Yearly Average reducing from 90% to zero over 10 years and the proportion accounted for by the Total Contributions Approach increasing commensurately.

Where a person reaches State Pension age and does not satisfy the conditions to qualify for a SPC or qualifies for less than the maximum rate, they may instead qualify for one of the following:

- The means-tested State Pension (Non-Contributory) (SPNC) which is a means-tested payment with a maximum payment of 95% of the SPC; or

- An increase for a qualified adult, amounting up to 90% of a full rate SPC pension where their spouse has a contributory pension; or

- Where their spouse/civil partner is deceased, a widow's/widower's/civil partner's contributory pension, which they may claim either based on their spouse's or their own social insurance record. The qualifying conditions for this require fewer contributions paid (260) than the SPC and the current maximum personal rate for those aged 66 or over is €265.30, i.e., the same as the maximum rate of the SPC, with allowances (e.g., the Living Alone Increase) payable where applicable.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

State Pensions

Questions (796)

Marian Harkin

Question:

796. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of D class pensioners in the State over 70 years of age. [12348/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

State Pension (Contributory) is a payment which you may qualify for at 66 years of age if you have enough Irish social insurance contributions. This pension is based on your social insurance (PRSI) contributions. Modified contributions can be combined with full-rate contributions and credits to give an entitlement to a mixed insurance pro rata State pension (contributory). In order to be eligible for this pension an applicant must have 260 full-rate paid contributions.

It should be noted, the Department would have no records of those who are in receipt of an occupational pension based on their service in the civil or public service and who do not qualify for the State Pension (contributory).

At the end of February 2023, there were 22,617 recipients of the State Pension (Contributory) over 70 years of age with a record of Class D PRSI contributions. It is important to note that these are all individuals with a record of at least one class D PRSI contribution. They may have qualified for a full-rate pension rather than on the basis of Modified rate contributions.

Social Welfare Code

Questions (797)

Mark Ward

Question:

797. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person can apply to become a carer for two persons, for example, a husband and wife; the process, the criteria and the number of hours per week for two persons combined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12357/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

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

In order to qualify, applicants must show that they are habitually resident in the State, that their means are less than the statutory limit, that they are providing full-time care and attention and that the person being cared for requires that level of care.

It is a condition for receipt of Carer's Allowance that the carer must be providing full-time care and attention and the time spent providing care each week must not be less than 35 hours per week over 5 to 7 days.

If a person wishes to apply for Carer’s Allowance for more than one person in their care, they should fully complete the application form for the first care recipient and they only need to complete Parts 1, 2 and 10 of the application form for the second care recipient. Both applications should be returned to: Carer's Allowance Section, SWSO, Ballinalee Road, Longford, N39 E4E0.

If the applicant meets the qualifying conditions for receipt of Carer's Allowance, they would be eligible for full rate in respect of the first care recipient and half rate for the second care recipient.

Carer's Allowance application forms can be found on www.gov.ie or through any Intreo Centre, Social Welfare Branch Office or Citizens Information Centre.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (798)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

798. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for the carer’s allowance will be processed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12398/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

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

I confirm that my Department received an application for Carer's Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 22 February 2023.

Means are any income belonging to the Carer and their spouse / civil partner / cohabitant; property, (except their own home); or an asset that could bring in money or provide them with an income, for example occupational pensions, or pensions or benefits from another country.

As the applicant has various sources of self employed income, the matter was referred to a local Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) on 3 March 2023 to assess all means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of Carer's Allowance (CA) are satisfied.

Once the Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) has completed their report, a decision will be made, and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (799)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

799. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for the disability allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12399/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Disability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions

I confirm that my department received an application for DA from the person concerned on 22 February 2023.

The processing time for individual DA claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim.

On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of this application, a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (800)

Michael McNamara

Question:

800. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12447/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

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

An application for Carer's Allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 23 September 2022.

Carer's Allowance (CA) was awarded on 7 March 2023, with effect from 29 September 2022 and the first payment will issue to the person's nominated bank account on 16 March 2023.

Arrears for the period 29 September 2022 to 8 March 2023 issued on 7 March 2023.

The person concerned was notified on 7 March 2023 of this decision.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (801)

Gary Gannon

Question:

801. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection if Covid-19 is to be recognised as an occupational disease for frontline health care workers in Ireland as per EU ACSH Agreement in November 2022. [12450/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Occupational Injuries Benefit is an income support provided by my Department to those injured at work or travelling to and from work, or who contracted a prescribed disease at work.

Covid-19 does not constitute a prescribed disease or illness as set out in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 as it does not meet the criteria laid down in the Act. Section 87 (2) of the Act states that a disease or injury shall be prescribed for the purposes of this section in relation to any insured persons, where the Minister is satisfied that—

(a) it ought to be treated, having regard to its causes and any other relevant considerations, as a risk of their occupations and not as a risk common to all persons, and

(b) it is such that, in the absence of special circumstances, the attribution of particular cases to the nature of the employment can be established or presumed with reasonable certainty.

The decision on whether to recognise an illness as an occupational illness is a Member State competence. My Department is aware of the recommendation of the European Commission and is consulting with other relevant departments on the matter.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Code

Questions (802)

James Lawless

Question:

802. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12451/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Invalidity Pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.

The person concerned can apply for Partial Capacity Benefit (PCB) if they wish to undertake some work. PCB extends the Illness Benefit (IB) and IP schemes to recognise and respond to the reality that some people in receipt of these payments have a capacity to engage in some level of employment while continuing to need a level of income support from the State.

People in receipt of IP who wish to return to work are eligible for PCB if their capacity for work is reduced as a result of their medical condition. Following a medical assessment, if a person's disability is rated as moderate, severe or profound, their payment continues at 50%, 75% or 100% of their existing rate, respectively. If assessed as mild, they will not qualify for PCB.

PCB can be paid for up to three years where the claimant has IP as their underlying scheme. There is no limit on the weekly hours that can be worked or on the amount of weekly earnings. The claimant can return to their original payment (IP in this case) if they find they are not able for the work or they cannot continue to work due to their medical condition after a period of time.

If the person in question wishes to return to employment but does not wish to claim PCB she must notify my Department of the start date of her employment so that the IP can be stopped from the appropriate date. If she finds she is unable to continue with the work within one year of her start date, she can return to IP without having to make a full application again.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Disability Services

Questions (803)

Holly Cairns

Question:

803. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will engage with a group (details supplied) concerning a shortfall in funding the provision of disability support services. [12477/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The EmployAbility Service provides support to people with disabilities to secure and maintain paid employment in the open labour market.

Contracts for EmployAbility service providers are agreed on an annual basis to ensure that adequate funding is available for the level of service required by the Department. Any approved expenditure incurred by the service provider is then claimed from the Department on a monthly basis.

My Department has very recently engaged with West Cork EmployAbility and is satisfied that adequate funding is in place to ensure that this important service jobseekers with a disability is provided in 2023.

State Pensions

Questions (804)

Holly Cairns

Question:

804. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a response to an organisation’s (details supplied) call for an €11 increase in the State pension. [12478/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

On Budget Day last September, I announced the largest Social Protection package in the history of the state. A package that has seen the Government spend more than €2.1 billion on Social Protection measures, including over €880 million in order to provide for a €12 increase to the weekly rate of social welfare payments that came into effect from January 2023. This supports both pensioners and those of working age and includes a proportionate increase for qualified adults.

The rate increase is accompanied by a wide range of additional measures including a range of 8 lump sum payments paid through Quarter 4 2022 to benefit a range of customers including pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, those living alone, and families with children. An Autumn and Christmas bonus were paid.

Taken together, for many household types, the combination effectively matches, or exceeds, inflation.

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

The Department provides a range of schemes to those over State Pension Age - this includes State Pension (Contributory), State Pension (Non-Contributory) and Widows (Contributory) Pension along with a number of smaller schemes. It is estimated that the full year cost to increase these scheme payments by €11 would be €410 million. This includes increases to personal rate and also includes a proportionate increase for the qualified adults.

This costing is based on the estimated number of recipients in 2023 and is subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients. Any such increase would be a matter for budgetary consideration.

The Government is aware that the cost of living continues to present challenges for people throughout the state who are feeling the effects of persistently high prices.

That is why Government has recently announced additional support for people over the coming months, including :

- A €200 lump sum payment to be provided to people on long-term Social Protection payments, including pensioners, on the same basis as the Christmas bonus, and including Working Family Payment recipients.

- For people receiving Child Benefit, a €100 lump sum payment for each child to be paid in June.

- An additional payment of €100 to be paid for each child for whom Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is paid.

Together, these supports will provide over €410 million in additional supports to households and families in need.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (805)

Holly Cairns

Question:

805. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide funding for individuals to avail of medical microblading on similar terms to the provision of wigs and hair pieces for people who suffer from hair loss due to disease. [12479/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

In general, medical or health related benefits fall within the remit of the Department of Health and the HSE. However, my Department administers the Treatment Benefit scheme which provides dental, optical, and medical appliances benefits to insured workers, the self-employed and retired people who have the required number of PRSI contributions. These treatments are also available to their dependent spouse or partner if applicable. As part of Budget 2022, I announced an expansion to the range of services available under the medical appliances strand of the scheme. A new grant was provided from 28 May 2022 towards the cost of wigs and hairpieces for people who suffer from hair loss due to disease.

The new grant is subject to medical eligibility requirements in addition to the general eligibility requirements for Treatment Benefit. The qualifying medical conditions and treatments are outlined in Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) (Amendment) (No.7) (Treatment Benefit) Regulations 2022 - S.I. No. 259 of 2022.

The treatments covered under this grant include non-surgical hair replacement relating to hair loss on the scalp area e.g. wigs or hair pieces. The grant does not cover micro-blading.

While I have no plans to expand the scheme further at this time, my Department keeps schemes under regular review to make sure they meet their objectives. Any changes to the current system would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (806)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

806. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is any discretion in the assessment of the fuel allowance for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12489/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Fuel allowance is a means-tested payment to assist householders on long-term social welfare payments and persons aged over 70 towards the cost of their winter heating needs. From January 2023, for applicants aged 70 and over, there is a new means test limit of €500 for a single person and €1,000 for a couple; the capital disregard threshold has been increased from €20,000 to €50,000; and those over age 70 no longer need to be in receipt of a qualifying payment to apply for Fuel Allowance. Existing household composition rules continue to apply.

The criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed to direct the limited resources available to my Department in a targeted manner. To qualify for the Fuel Allowance payment, a person must satisfy all the qualifying criteria including a means test and the household composition criteria. This ensures that the Fuel Allowance payment is targeted at those who are more vulnerable to fuel poverty including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own. Fuel Allowance can only be awarded where all the qualifying conditions are met and cannot be awarded on a discretionary basis to those who are marginally above the applicable means limit.

The person concerned has income from private pensions which, in addition to the state pensions received by the couple, exceeds the weekly means threshold of €1,000. The person was notified in writing that they do not qualify for Fuel Allowance and a breakdown of the means assessment has issued to them.

My Department provides Additional Needs Payments, as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, for people who have essential expenses which they cannot meet from their own resources. Enquiries and applications in relation to these payments can be made by contacting the Community Welfare Service at their local Intreo Centre.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (807)

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

807. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware that the recent one-off payment increases to the living alone allowance has made some people ineligible for receipt of the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12508/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €412 million in 2023. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. Only one allowance is paid per household.

In the case of applicants in receipt of the Living Alone Increase (LAI), the Fuel Allowance guidelines indicate that the rate of LAI received is disregarded when assessing means for Fuel Allowance purposes. The disregard also covers the recent one-off payment increases to the LAI. This ensures that the LAI does not affect a person's entitlement to Fuel Allowance.

If the Deputy is aware of any applicant that was refused the Fuel Allowance payment solely because they are in receipt of the LAI, I would ask him to pass on the details to my Department so that the application can be reviewed.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Public Services Card

Questions (808)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

808. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider automatically extending public services cards for people over 80 years of age who have physical and medical difficulties and find the renewal process of having to physically present at their local office to renew their card onerous; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12528/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The photograph on Public Services Cards (PSC) must be renewed every 10 years to ensure the efficacy and reliability of the PSC as proof of identity, as is the case with other photo IDs such as passports and driving licences. This 10-year standard is in line with internationally agreed guidelines on photo IDs.

Anyone who has a PSC can extend or renew their expired card in one of three ways.

Firstly, customers can arrange an appointment to have their PSC renewed at one of the Department’s Intreo Offices. In accordance with section 26(2) of the Disability Act 2005, my Department has appointed Access Officers who are responsible for providing or arranging for, and coordinating, assistance and guidance to persons with disabilities accessing services provided by the offices and generally to act as a point of contact for people with disabilities wishing to access such services.

Any person who has concerns about attending an office of my Department on the grounds of disability should contact their local Intreo Centre and ask to speak to the Access Officer. Alternatively, the Deputy can contact the Client Identity Services area of my Department, who will liaise with the relevant Access Officer to make the necessary arrangements.

Secondly, my Department has introduced an online service which allows customers with verified MyGovID accounts to renew their PSCs online at MyWelfare.ie. Customers are requested to submit a passport quality photograph which must be verified to ensure it meets certain minimum standards before the application can be accepted.

Finally, an expired PSC can be extended for three years from date of expiry by calling my Department at 0818 837000.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Birth Certificates

Questions (809)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

809. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a digitalised version of a birth certificate will be accepted for marriage (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12551/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The requirements for civil marriage in Ireland are set out in Part 6 of the Civil Registration Act 2004, as amended. Included in this is a requirement that the parties to the marriage must provide evidence of their name, age, nationality and civil status.

It is the role of a registrar to be satisfied as to the identity of the parties to the marriage. Acceptance of a digital birth certificate is a matter for the registrar concerned. I have been informed that the registrar has accepted the digital birth certificate in question.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Eligibility

Questions (810)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

810. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to extending eligibility to the living alone allowance to people in receipt of the one-parent family payment or jobseeker's transitional payment, who are the sole source of income to their household; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12598/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

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

The Living Alone Increase (LAI) is one of those secondary payments. It is not a scheme or a stand-alone payment, but rather it is a supplement to a primary social protection payment, at a rate of €22 per week, paid to people who are living alone and in receipt of certain social welfare payments:

- people aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of State Pension (Contributory), State Pension (Non-Contributory), Widow's, Widower’s, or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension, Widow's, Widower’s, or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pension, Widow's/Widower's Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme, Incapacity Supplement under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme, Deserted Wife's Benefit, and who are living alone.

- people who are less than 66 years of age, living alone who have a long-term illness or disability and in receipt of Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Incapacity Supplement or Blind Pension.

The One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) is a payment for lone parents under 66 who are not cohabiting, and whose youngest child is under 7. The Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment (JST) is a special arrangement under the Jobseeker’s Allowance scheme that aims to support lone parents into the workforce while they have young children. It is a payment for lone parents whose youngest child is aged between 7 and 13. Both payments are means tested. Recipients can engage in employment and continue to receive a payment if they continue to satisfy the means tests and conditionality.

While recipients of One-Parent Family and Jobseeker’s Transitional Payments do not qualify for the LAI, both OFP and JST payments are comprised of both a personal weekly rate and increases for each qualified child (IQC). Over the past three budgets, IQC rates have increased by €6 (to €42 per week) for under 12s and by €10 (to €50 per week) for over 12s.

Any decision to extend the LAI would have to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Capital Expenditure Programme

Questions (811)

Johnny Guirke

Question:

811. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Social Protection if any projects under her remit are on hold due to Capital Funding pressures; if she will indicate the projects, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12633/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The capital allocation for my Department is primarily used to deliver IT modernisation and carry out refurbishments on the Department’s buildings.

There are no projects currently on hold due to capital funding pressures.

Departmental Policies

Questions (812)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

812. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 255 of 2 March 2023, the reason a person seeking to change their name in circumstances other than in cases where they wish to revert to their pre-marriage name, must show two years' usage of their new name; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12658/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Deputy’s original question referenced the example of a person reverting to their original birth name. In the majority of cases this relates to a situation where a person wishes to revert to their pre-marriage name.

Under the Irish legal system, a person’s name is the name by which they are known, or commonly use. That name does not necessarily need to be supported by any documentary evidence though such evidence is often required for a wide range of administrative and legal matters. For most people this evidence is most commonly provided and accepted in the form of a birth certificate, which may be supported by a marriage certificate in the case of a change of name on marriage.There is no formality prescribed by law for the change of a person’s name or the assumption of another name. The name by which a person is known by is acquired through "use and repute". Where a person seeks to change their name through use and repute my Department requires that they provide evidence that they have been using that new name for a period of at least two years. This reflects standard administrative practice across other public and private sector bodies.

A person who wishes to revert to their pre-marriage name does not need to provide current evidence of use and repute when reverting to their pre-marriage name. A person who has been issued with a Gender Recognition Certificate may also apply to have their name on their Public Services Card changed without two years evidence of use and repute.

As an alternative to changing their name by use and repute a person may change their name through executing a deed poll. The deed poll may be subsequently enrolled in the High Court. Enrolling the deed poll in the High Court ensures that a record of the change of name is preserved for future identification and a certified copy of the original enrolled deed poll can be obtained, if required. There is however no requirement to enrol a deed poll in the Central Office of the High Court. Should a person not wish to enrol the deed poll, my Department will require evidence of use and repute over two years.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. If there is a particular case or scenario which the Deputy wishes to raise, my officials would be happy to assist.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (813)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

813. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline whether her Department can cover any social protection service in respect of providing persons with access to versatis patches who do not have the means to bridge the cost of same. [12687/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

In general, medical or health related benefits fall within the remit of the Department of Health and the HSE. While my Department administers the Treatment Benefit scheme which provides some dental, optical, and medical appliance benefits to insured workers, the self-employed and retired people who have the required number of PRSI contributions, versatis pain relief patches do not come under the remit of the scheme.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

State Pensions

Questions (814)

Johnny Guirke

Question:

814. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has given any consideration to the long-running issue of the inclusion of Tusla-approved foster carers in State pension (contributory) contributions for the entire period of being on the approved panel; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12689/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Matters related to foster caring are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and for Tusla.

More widely, 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. Foster carers are entitled to the benefits of the Homemaker’s Scheme or HomeCaring Periods, on the same basis as other carers, and will qualify if the carer is in receipt of Child Benefit. If the foster carer is not in receipt of Child Benefit, he/she can still qualify for HomeMaker's Disregards and HomeCaring Periods provided the caring periods are confirmed by Tusla.

Despite these measures, some long-term carers of incapacitated dependents may still face barriers in accessing the State Pension. They may, for example, have difficulty establishing the minimum number of 10 years paid contributions.

I announced a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system on 20th September 2022. The measures, which were approved by Government, are in response to the Pensions Commission's recommendations. They represent the biggest ever structural reform of the Irish State Pension system. One of them 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 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.

Social Welfare Code

Questions (815)

Joe Flaherty

Question:

815. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Social Protection if the living-alone allowance is counted or discounted for the purpose of calculating the means for the fuel allowance. [12693/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €412 million in 2023. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. Only one allowance is paid per household.

In the case of applicants in receipt of the Living Alone Increase (LAI), the Fuel Allowance guidelines indicate that the rate of LAI received is disregarded when assessing means for Fuel Allowance purposes. The disregard also covers the recent one-off payment increases to the LAI. This ensures that the LAI does not affect a person's entitlement to Fuel Allowance.

If the Deputy is aware of any applicant that was refused the Fuel Allowance payment solely because they are in receipt of the LAI, I would ask him to pass on the details to my Department so that the application can be reviewed .

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Departmental Policies

Questions (816)

Seán Fleming

Question:

816. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the proposals in relation to ending the campaign to pursue former partners for unpaid child maintenance and where a former partner continues to pay support to their former partner/family; if this will be deducted from the payment to the person in receipt of social welfare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12740/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Report of the Child Maintenance Review Group was published last November. The Government accepted the Group's recommendations in relation to the social welfare system. I am pleased to say that, pending the introduction of the necessary legislation, my Department has already implemented some of the recommended changes on an administrative basis.As a result, my Department is no longer applying the "efforts to seek maintenance" requirement to One-Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker's Transitional Payment. This requirement often involved lone parents having to go to Court to seek a maintenance order, so this change will remove a potential additional stress for them, as well as helping to reduce the burden on our courts system.

In addition, the liable relative provisions are not being applied to new claims for One-Parent Family Payment. This means that my Department will no longer seek to recoup a portion of claim costs from the non-resident parent in these cases. I want to be very clear that removing these provisions does not replace or supersede the primary responsibility of parents to maintain their children.

The remaining reform is that child maintenance payments will be disregarded in the means test for social welfare payments. This measure will mean that many lone parents currently on reduced rates of payment will see their payment increase. It will also mean that some additional lone parents will qualify for a payment. It is estimated that this measure will be of direct benefit to approximately 16,000 lone parents at a cost of approximately €10 million per year.

These are very significant reforms of the social welfare system which will be of great benefit to lone parents. These changes require amendments to both primary and secondary legislation as well as changes to some of my Department’s systems, application forms and processes. My officials are working on advancing the legislative provisions and associated issues at present to ensure full implementation as early as possible. In the meantime, as I have outlined, a number of the recommendations are being implemented on an administrative basis.

Departmental Advertising

Questions (817)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

817. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount spent to date on the advertisement of the additional needs' payment, in social media and traditional media, by platform, in tabular form. [12751/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Public information/advertising campaigns are an important part of the Department's work and span national and regional print media and radio, digital and social media.

All campaigns are developed and targeted carefully in collaboration with our media buyer, using the best mix of media formats to ensure that the Department's messages reach members of the public effectively, while ensuring value for money.

For this response, I am interpreting “advertisement” as media buying costs incurred by the Department in the promotion of the Additional Needs Payment. The total spend to date is outlined in the table below, including a breakdown of costs by channel:

Platform used:	All totals below are ex. VAT/ASAI/Admin
National Radio	€63,615.53
Regional/Local Radio	€81,906.12
Social Media	€7,004.68
Total	€152,526.33