Bernard Durkan
Question:484. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons currently in receipt of disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15448/23]
View answerSocial Welfare Benefits
Questions (484)
Written answers
Disability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance for people with a disability aged between 16 and 66 with a disability expected to last for at least one year and who satisfy the medical condition, means test and are habitually resident in Ireland.
The number of persons in receipt of DA at the end of February 2023 was just over 158,000.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Departmental Data
Questions (485)
Bernard Durkan
Question:485. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in the country currently registered as being aged over 100 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15449/23]
View answerWritten answers
A total of 829 individuals aged 100 years or over were a beneficiary of a social protection scheme at the end of December 2022.
The CSO also publishes an annual estimate of the resident population, in its Population and Migration Estimates publication. This contains estimates of the usually resident population broken down by age. The latest figures are for April 2022 and estimated 4,048 persons aged 99 years and over. This is the oldest age cohort published by the CSO and the figure for those aged 100 and over is not published. Note that this figure is an estimate and is subject to revision once the detailed Census of Population results are published.
Detailed Census of Population results will be published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) in Quarter 2 of 2023.
Social Welfare Code
Questions (486)
Bernard Durkan
Question:486. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the extent, if any, to which she intends to expand or extend various social welfare payments given the increased cost of living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15450/23]
View answerWritten answers
I fully recognise the challenges the increased the cost of living has brought to many people and families. That is why, in September, I announced the largest social protection Budget package in the history of the State - comprising measures worth almost €2.2 billion. This included eight separate cost of living lump sum payments paid in Quarter 4 last year to ease the pressure that many households are facing. From the start of January, we have seen a wide range of increases come into effect. This includes a €12 across the board increase to weekly rates – the largest increase to weekly rates since the mid-2000s. I also announced the largest ever expansion in the Fuel Allowance scheme, and over 30,000 additional households have joined this scheme since the Budget announcement in September. The ESRI post-Budget analysis shows that Budget 2023, combined with once-off measures to reduce the cost of living, has been effective in protecting most households from rising prices through the winter and in fact that lower income households are better off than if they had just received an inflation indexed increase in basic rates. Government has continued to monitor the situation and that is why, last month we 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, 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 a further €410 million in additional supports to households and families in need.
I can assure the Deputy that the Government will continue to monitor the situation.
Social Welfare Code
Questions (487)
Bernard Durkan
Question:487. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider easing the requirements for qualification for exceptional needs payments, with particular reference to ongoing, unforeseen challenges affecting individuals and families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15451/23]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments (ANPs) to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. This is an overarching term used to refer to Exceptional and Urgent Needs Payments, and certain Supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources, and which are deemed to be necessary.
In 2022, the Community Welfare Service awarded 97,224 ANPs at a total value of over €58 million, which shows just how responsive the service is to our clients.
The scheme is demand led and payments are made at the discretion of the Designated Persons (DP) administering the scheme considering the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case. The customer must provide personal, financial, household and other information in support of their claim to determine eligibility and to establish a ‘need’ arising. The ANP does not however cover non-essential household or personal expenses, or costs that are the responsibility of another government department or agency.
This important support is not restricted to those already on a social welfare payment and may also be available to those working on a low income.
Each application is considered on its own merit and payments are awarded at the discretion of the DP having considered the nature and extent of the need. The DP also considers the ability of the client to meet the need from their own resources and/or those living within the household. The DP takes into account the income/means of the client, their weekly household income, savings and investments as well as outgoings.
Any person who is experiencing financial difficulty can apply for an ANP by completing a SWA1 form, which is available in all Intreo Centres and Branch Offices. It can also be requested by calling the National Community Welfare Service freephone line at 0818 60 70 80 or via the Request an Application Form page on www.gov.ie.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
Social Welfare Code
Questions (488)
Bernard Durkan
Question:488. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider easing the qualification requirements in respect of domiciliary care allowance, given the number of cases referred to appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15452/23]
View answerWritten answers
Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is payable to a parent/guardian in respect of a child aged under 16, who has a severe disability and requires continual or continuous care and attention in the home, that is substantially over and above the level of care and attention normally required by a child of the same age and the child must be likely to require to require this level of care for at least 12 months.
Eligibility for DCA is determined primarily and essentially by reference to the degree of ongoing care and attention required by the child rather than the child's disability. To qualify for DCA , it must be established that the level of care and attention required by the relevant child is substantially in excess of that normally required by children of the same age and likely to be required for at least 12 months, as provided for in the qualifying conditions for the scheme, in accordance with the governing legislation.
Due to the nature and purpose of the scheme, all applicants are encouraged to provide any additional information and / or documentary evidence that is relevant, such as medical professional report(s) or otherwise with the initial application, (including in cases where a review(s) is subsequently requested), which may assist the department's deciding officers and medical assessors to make an appropriate decision on entitlement and at the earliest possible date.
Any scheme changes, including changes to the qualifying conditions for DCA, would need to be considered in an overall policy, legislative and budgetary context.
In the last Budget, I announced that I would be amending the scheme to allow for payment of Domiciliary Care Allowance in respect of children who remain in hospital after birth due to illness or disability. I am introducing Regulations to that effect.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Payments
Questions (489)
Claire Kerrane
Question:489. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the dates in April that the announced spring bonus payments are due to be paid to eligible social welfare recipients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15463/23]
View answerWritten answers
I recently announced a further range of measures to support individuals and families with the cost of living. This package includes a €200 lump sum payment, which will be paid to over 1.3 million recipients of long-term social welfare payments by the end of April.
This support will be paid on a similar basis to the Christmas Bonus, including to those on jobseeker's payments or Illness Benefit for over 12 months; with the addition of recipients of the Working Family Payment.
I also announced that people receiving Child Benefit will receive an additional lump sum of €100 per child in June 2023; and that an additional €100 payment for each child for whom the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is to be paid in 2023.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Departmental Budgets
Questions (490)
Niall Collins
Question:490. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can advise what the budget was for disability residential care for the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15321/23]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to thank the Deputy for raising this question,
I wish to inform the Deputy that there is no specific budget for disability residential services. Residential services make up the largest part of the Disability funding disbursed by the HSE.
Further to this, I am referring the query to the HSE for direct response to the Deputy, for clarification on the HSE allocation, relative to disability residential care, for the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023.
Disability Services
Questions (491)
Verona Murphy
Question:491. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children awaiting services with the children's disability network team in New Ross, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15384/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Departmental Schemes
Questions (492)
Holly Cairns
Question:492. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a new scheme will be introduced to replace the motorised transport grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14641/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Government decided to close the Motorised Transport Grant and Mobility Allowance administrative Schemes in 2013, on foot of the Ombudsman reports in 2011 and 2012 regarding the legal status of both Schemes in the context of the Equal Status Acts. Both schemes remain closed.
Under the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2022, the Action 104 Transport Working Group was established in 2020 to make progress on an important cross-Government action to review transport and mobility supports for people with disabilities and to advance proposals for the enhancement of these supports going forward. As Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, I chaired meetings of the Transport Working Group from January 2022 up to its conclusion in December 2022.
The Group's work has now concluded and the final report was published in February 2023. The Report is available on the website of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and sets out the contributions made by members for the enhancement of transport and mobility supports for people with disabilities.
Disabilities Assessments
Questions (493)
Holly Cairns
Question:493. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of an assessment of needs appointment for a person (details supplied) who is on the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14642/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Departmental Funding
Questions (494)
Carol Nolan
Question:494. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if funding will be allocated to the local authorities play and recreation grant fund for the refurbishment and development of playgrounds and play areas in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14669/23]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm that I secured funding in the amount of €450,000 for the Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreation 2023.
Local Authorities were invited to make applications from February 2nd , 2023, with the application window closing on March 10th 2023. Local Authorities were invited to nominate a project for funding up to €18,000. The funding can be used to refurbish an existing play and recreation facility, or to install a new facility.
The response has been very strong this year and applications received from the Local Authorities are now being evaluated. An announcement of the awarded funding will follow in the coming weeks.
Disabilities Assessments
Questions (495)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:495. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the pathways in place for adults to access an assessment for autism spectrum disorder through the HSE; his plans to increase capacity for adults seeking an ASD assessment through the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14673/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
International Protection
Questions (496)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:496. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are any plans to move refugees or asylum seekers into a setting (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14712/23]
View answerWritten answers
Ireland has responded to the largest displacement of people on the European continent since the Second World War. Since February 2022, my Department has worked to accommodate an unprecedented volume of persons seeking refuge following the invasion of Ukraine, with over 78,000 people arriving in Ireland, including 58,000 who have sought accommodation from this Department.
Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe for all those who require it remains immensely challenging. Due to the urgent need to source accommodation, my Department has contracted in excess of 47,000 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 750 settings including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings. In addition, more than 7,000 beneficiaries have also been accommodated in pledged accommodation properties.
The priority is to place people fleeing the war in safe and secure accommodation.
I am advised that my Department has not examined nor considered the property referred to at this time.
Public Procurement Contracts
Questions (497)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:497. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details of all procurement competitions, if any, in which companies (details supplied) won contracts from his Department since 2016. [14718/23]
View answerWritten answers
The International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) is not aware of any of the companies listed who won contracts from procurement competitions run by this Department since 2016.