Written Answers Nos. 862-880
863. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the waiting times for the processing of applications for carer’s allowance and carer's benefit; the number of applications waiting at present, per county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16093/23]
View answerCarer’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.
My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible.
The current waiting time for the processing of applications for Carer’s Allowance is 6 weeks. The current waiting time for the processing of applications for Carer’s Benefit is 4 weeks. Please see below for breakdown of claims pending/waiting by county in tabular form at 31 March 2023.
The volume of CA claims on hands are a consequence of continued strong claim intake and any delays in processing are frequently caused by the receipt of incomplete claim forms or that supporting documentation requested on the application form is not provided.
In general terms, processing times vary across schemes, depending on the differing qualification criteria. Schemes that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case of disability and caring schemes, can take longer to process. Similarly, means-tested payments also require more detailed investigation and interaction with the applicant, thereby lengthening the decision-making process.
Carer’s Allowance claims pending per county
|
County |
Scheme Count |
|
CARLOW |
46 |
|
CAVAN |
45 |
|
CLARE |
55 |
|
CORK |
287 |
|
DONEGAL |
94 |
|
DUBLIN |
599 |
|
GALWAY |
118 |
|
KERRY |
80 |
|
KILDARE |
74 |
|
KILKENNY |
44 |
|
LAOIS |
46 |
|
LEITRIM |
18 |
|
LIMERICK |
119 |
|
LONGFORD |
34 |
|
LOUTH |
81 |
|
MAYO |
62 |
|
MEATH |
72 |
|
MONAGHAN |
28 |
|
OFFALY |
54 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
42 |
|
SLIGO |
43 |
|
TIPPERARY |
107 |
|
WATERFORD |
73 |
|
WESTMEATH |
64 |
|
WEXFORD |
112 |
|
WICKLOW |
77 |
|
TOTAL |
2,474 |
Carer’s Benefit claims pending per county
|
County |
Scheme Count |
|
CARLOW |
9 |
|
CAVAN |
5 |
|
CLARE |
8 |
|
CORK |
34 |
|
DONEGAL |
18 |
|
DUBLIN |
70 |
|
GALWAY |
19 |
|
KERRY |
21 |
|
KILDARE |
14 |
|
KILKENNY |
8 |
|
LAOIS |
11 |
|
LEITRIM |
2 |
|
LIMERICK |
14 |
|
LONGFORD |
3 |
|
LOUTH |
6 |
|
MAYO |
14 |
|
MEATH |
13 |
|
MONAGHAN |
5 |
|
OFFALY |
11 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
6 |
|
SLIGO |
4 |
|
TIPPERARY |
13 |
|
WATERFORD |
7 |
|
WESTMEATH |
10 |
|
WEXFORD |
14 |
|
WICKLOW |
11 |
|
TOTAL |
350 |
|
Outside ROI |
4 |
|
Carer’s Benefit claims pending by county overall |
354 |
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
864. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the waiting times for the processing of applications for disability allowance; the number of applications waiting at present, per county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16094/23]
View answerDisability 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.
My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers, ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible.
The processing target for the Disability Allowance (DA) scheme is to award 75% of applications within 10 weeks. The average number of weeks to award a DA claim in February 2023 was 10 weeks. My Department understands the many pressures faced by people and always seeks to ensure that claims are processed quickly and efficiently.
I can confirm that the current number of applications awaiting decisions are 5,397. The table below lists the number of applications per county.
|
County |
Total |
|
CARLOW |
109 |
|
CAVAN |
82 |
|
CLARE |
146 |
|
CORK |
564 |
|
DONEGAL |
210 |
|
DUBLIN |
1291 |
|
GALWAY |
266 |
|
KERRY |
256 |
|
KILDARE |
222 |
|
KILKENNY |
82 |
|
LAOIS |
102 |
|
LEITRIM |
42 |
|
LIMERICK |
256 |
|
LONGFORD |
73 |
|
LOUTH |
178 |
|
MAYO |
134 |
|
MEATH |
182 |
|
MONAGHAN |
43 |
|
OFFALY |
129 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
69 |
|
SLIGO |
87 |
|
TIPPERARY |
226 |
|
WATERFORD |
159 |
|
WESTMEATH |
149 |
|
WEXFORD |
199 |
|
WICKLOW |
141 |
|
Total |
5,397 |
Claim processing is kept under active review, with all possible steps taken to improve processing times. This includes the assignment of additional resources, where available, and the review of business processes, to ensure the efficient processing of applications.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
865. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) has been left waiting several months for a decision from the appeals offices regarding their application for disability allowance; and her views on whether this is an adequate level of service from her Department. [16355/23]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 21 November 2022. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were returned to the Appeals Office on 23 January 2023 and referred to an Appeals Officer on 21 February 2023. The Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision on 23 March 2023.
The current average processing time for a disability allowance appeal with the Social Welfare Appeals Office is 17.2 weeks for a summary decision. Significant efforts and resources have been devoted to improvements in the appeal process in recent years. There is active engagement between the Appeals Office and the Department to ensure that the appeals process operates efficiently and that where the Deciding Officer's decision is not revised in favour of the appellant that the appeal file papers are provided as quickly as possible to the Appeals Office for consideration by an Appeals Officer. The desire to process appeals quickly has to be balanced with the competing demand to ensure that decisions are consistent and of high quality and made in accordance with the legislative provisions and the general principles of fair procedures and natural justice. Improvements in appeals processing times are a priority for the Chief Appeals Officer.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
866. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of a carer’s allowance claim by a person (details supplied); when a decision will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16393/23]
View answerCarer'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 can confirm that an application for Carer's Allowance was received from the person concerned on 1 February 2023.
The application was referred to a local Social Welfare Inspector on 3 February 2023 to determine the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of Carer’s Allowance are satisfied. The Social Welfare Inspector has interviewed the applicant and is awaiting documents from the applicant to complete their report.
Once the Social Welfare Inspector's report is received, a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome in writing.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
867. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection if pension contributions paid by those in employment over the age of 66 years will be taken into consideration when calculating pensions, in the event of them not having a sufficient number earned prior to reaching 66 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16435/23]
View answerCurrently, employees or self-employed workers over State Pension age do not have to pay PRSI on their income. Employers pay 0.5 per cent PRSI (Class J) for employees past State Pension age which provides cover for the Occupational Injuries Benefit scheme only.
In September 2022, 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 key measures is the introduction of a flexible pension system in Ireland from January 2024. Under this new system people will still be able to retire at 66 and draw-down their pension in exactly the same way as they can today. In addition, there will be new flexibility so that people can choose to defer their pension, work longer and receive an actuarially based increase in the weekly payment rate.
The flexible State Pension system is about providing people with choice. People will decide for themselves what best suits their needs and circumstances. For example, in the case of a person who reaches age 66 and does not have sufficient contributions to qualify for a full pension, they will now have the option to work for up to 4 years longer to build up additional entitlements. If a person has less than 10 years PRSI reckonable paid contributions, they may be able to use this period to establish entitlement.
Officials in my Department are currently working on the legislation and systems to support the introduction of this change, which will be effective from January 2024.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
868. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will detail her Department's eligibility criteria for assessing a child with a neurodivergent condition whose parents have applied for domiciliary care allowance; her Department's eligibility criteria for assessing a person with a neurodivergent condition who has applied for disability allowance; her Department's eligibility criteria for the carer’s allowance if applying to be a carer for a person with a neurodivergent condition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16482/23]
View answerDomiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly allowance payable to a parent / guardian in respect of a child aged under 16 who has a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention in the home, substantially in excess of the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age without their disability and the child must be likely to require this level of care for at least 12 consecutive months.
While an assessment or diagnosis of a specific disability or condition may assist the Department's deciding officers and medical assessors to make an appropriate decision on entitlement, eligibility for DCA is not based entirely on the type of disability or diagnosis, but on the impact of the disability in terms of the child's resulting medical and additional care needs.
A child who has a neurodivergent condition or any other specified diagnosis may qualify for DCA depending on the extent of their additional care needs.
All applications for DCA are decided by a deciding officer on an individual case by case basis, in respect of the relevant child. The personal details provided on the completed application form (Dom Care 1) including the signed details from the applicant's GP / medical professional on this form, along with any additional information or documentary evidence that is provided by the applicant, such as medical professional report(s) or otherwise, forms the basis for the DCA assessment and decision process in all cases.
In addition, the deciding officer also considers the professional opinion of the department's medical assessor in the DCA decision process.
Disability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance payable to persons aged 16 or over and under the age of 66, who have a specified disability such as an injury, disease, congenital deformity or physical or mental illness or defect which had continued or may reasonably be expected to continue for the period of at least one year, and as a result of the condition, the person must be substantially restricted in undertaking work which would otherwise be suitable, having regard to the person's age, experience and qualifications. It is important to note that entitlement to DA is generally not established on the nature or the type of disability but rather on the extent to which a particular disability such as a neurodivergent condition or otherwise, impairs or restricts the person's capacity to work, in accordance with the governing legislation. The department's medical assessor's opinion is also considered in the DA decision process. DA is also subject to a means test and the habitual residency condition.
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 an adult or child who needs support because of age, physical or learning disability or illness, including mental illness. The department's medical assessor's opinion is also considered in the CA decision process.
For the purpose of CA, a person is regarded as requiring full-time care and attention where the relevant person is so incapacitated as to need continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continual supervision in order to avoid being a danger to themselves and is likely to require full-time care and attention for at least 12 months.
In order to qualify for CA for a child under 16, the carer must be in receipt of DCA in respect of the relevant child.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
869. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will detail her Department's eligibility criteria for assessing a child with a psychosocial condition whose parents have applied for domiciliary care allowance; her Department's eligibility criteria for assessing a person with a psychosocial condition who has applied for disability allowance; her Department's eligibility criteria for the carer’s allowance if applying to be a carer for a person with a psychosocial condition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16483/23]
View answerDomiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly allowance payable to a parent / guardian in respect of a child aged under 16 who has a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention in the home, substantially in excess of the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age without their disability and the child must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 months.
While an assessment or diagnosis of a specific disability or condition may assist the Department's deciding officers and medical assessors to make an appropriate decision on entitlement, eligibility for DCA is not based entirely on the type of disability or diagnosis, but on the impact of the disability in terms of the child's resulting medical and additional care needs.
A child who has a psychosocial condition or any other specified diagnosis may qualify for DCA, depending on the extent of their additional care needs.
All applications for DCA are decided by a deciding officer on an individual case by case basis, in respect of the relevant child. The personal details provided on the completed application form (Dom Care 1) including the signed details from the applicant's GP / medical professional on this form, along with any additional information or documentary evidence that is provided by the applicant, such as medical professional report(s) or otherwise, forms the basis for the DCA assessment and decision process in all cases.
In addition, the deciding officer also considers the professional opinion of the Department's Medical Assessor in the DCA decision process.
Disability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance payable to persons aged 16 or over and under the age of 66, who have a specified disability such as an injury, disease, congenital deformity or physical or mental illness or defect which had continued or may be expected to continue for at least one year, and as a result of the condition, the person would be substantially restricted in undertaking work which would otherwise be suitable, having regard to the person's age, experience and qualifications. It is important to note that entitlement to DA is generally not established on the nature or the type of disability but rather on the extent to which a particular disability such as a psychosocial condition or otherwise, impairs or restricts the person's capacity to work, in accordance with the governing legislation. The opinion of a Department Medical Assessor is also considered in the DA decision process. DA is also subject to a means test and the habitual residency condition.
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 an adult or child who needs support because of age, physical or learning disability or illness including mental illness. The Department's Medical Assessor's opinion is also considered in the CA decision process.
For the purpose of CA, a person is regarded as requiring full-time care and attention where the person is so incapacitated as to require continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continual supervision in order to avoid being a danger to themselves and is likely to require full-time care and attention for at least 12 months.
In order to qualify for CA for a child under 16, the carer must be in receipt of DCA in respect of the relevant child.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
870. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will amend the operational guidelines of Jobseeker's allowance relating to allow all those under 25 years to access the full payment rate of €220 if they are living independently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16502/23]
View answerAge-related rates for Jobseeker's Allowance recipients were introduced on a phased basis from 2009 to tackle high youth unemployment and to avoid long-term welfare dependency. Where a jobseeker aged 18-24 participates in approved full-time education or training they will receive the maximum rate of payment.
Age related Jobseeker’s Allowance rates also do not apply to those with qualifying child dependents, or those who were in care of the HSE, Child and Family Agency (Tusla) during the 12 months immediately before they turned 18.
A jobseeker aged between 18 and 24 is also entitled to an exemption from the reduced rates if they are living independently of the family home and are in receipt of state housing supports. They must be in receipt of either rent supplement, housing assistance payment (HAP), rental accommodation scheme (RAS), local authority housing or living permanently in accommodation provided by a certain approved housing body to qualify for an exemption from the reduced rates.
In Budget 2023, I announced an increase of all core social welfare payments by €12 per week including the age-related Jobseeker's Allowance rate which has also increased by €12 to €129.70 per week for jobseekers aged between 18 and 24 years.
Supporting and improving the capacity of people to take up employment, education and training opportunities can enhance their employment prospects over time, as well as their ability to earn an adequate income to support themselves and their families into the future. If they participate on the Work Placement Experience Programme, their weekly rate increases to €323.
The Pathways to Work strategy contains provision for 50,000 additional further education and training places and the allocation of at least 1,000 out of the 3,000 new Community Employment and Tús places for young people. Additional places have also been provided on the JobsPlus recruitment subsidy, with the subsidy being available on an earlier basis than normal to employers when they recruit young people.
The aim of Pathways to Work 2021-2025 was to use these measures to reduce the youth unemployment rate back to or below the 2019 average of 12.5% by 2023. According to the latest CSO data, the seasonally adjusted youth unemployment rate for March 2023 is already below this target at 10.0%. Further work in this area will continue to support these young people.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
871. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff within her Department who are based and working with the European Union in Brussels; their present roles and responsibilities; the posts and responsibilities presently vacant; the corresponding figures on 23 June 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16567/23]
View answerThere are currently 2 officers from my Department on secondment to the European Union (EU) Commission (DG Social Affairs & Inclusion) in Brussels. On 23 June 2016 there was one officer on secondment to the EU Commission (DG Employment) in Brussels. The Deputy may also be interested to know that there are two officers currently on secondment to the European Labour Authority in Bratislava.
Their roles are outlined in the table below. The posts within the Department vacated by these officers have been filled on a permanent basis and the seconded officers will be assigned to a vacancy in my Department on the completion of their secondment.
My Department is not aware of any current vacancies or ongoing competitions for seconded national experts with the EU Commission - where her staff would be eligible to apply. Any such vacancies that are notified to the Department by the EU Commission (normally through the Department of Foreign Affairs) are advertised to staff; staff are encouraged to apply and the Department supports the release of staff who are successful with their application.
|
Title |
March 2023 |
June 2016 |
|
Seconded National Experts to the EU Commission, Brussels. |
2 |
1 |
|
Seconded National Experts to the European Labour Authority, Bratislava. |
2 |
|
|
Total |
4 |
1 |
872. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress that has been made on each of the recommendations of the Report on Labour Activation by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection in the 32nd Dáil/25th Seanad, which relate to one-parent families (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16603/23]
View answerThe Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment is available to lone parents whose youngest child is aged 7 to 13 years inclusive. It is a means-tested payment for men and women who are bringing up a child – or children – without the support of a partner. It is made up of a personal rate of €220 per week with additional amounts paid in respect of each dependent child. These amounts are €42 per week where the child is aged under 12 and €50 per week where the child is aged 12 or over.
The report to which the Deputy refers recommended that the Jobseekers’ Transitional Payment should be available to lone parents until their youngest child is 18 years of age. To extend eligibility for the scheme as recommended in this report would be contrary to the policy goal of the changes to the One-Parent Family Payment scheme introduced since 2015. Those changes were designed to tackle long-term social welfare dependency and its associated poverty risks. This is done through a tapering of income supports and a more active engagement process offering enhanced educational, training and employment supports. As such, there are currently no plans to extend the eligibility of the Jobseekers’ Transitional Payment until the youngest child turns 18.
The Department of Social Protection provides several options for income support to lone parents once their entitlement to the Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment ceases. These include the Jobseeker’s Allowance payment which may be paid to lone parents where the youngest child is aged 14 or over. Additionally, the Working Family Payment is also available to lone parents who are working at least 38 hours per fortnight. Lone parents who transfer to the Working Family Payment may also apply for the Back to Work Family Dividend.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
873. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection what advancement has been made in providing a pension in relation to carers (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16604/23]
View answerThis Government acknowledges the important contribution that carers provide and is fully committed to supporting them in that role. Accordingly, the current State Pension (Contributory) system gives significant recognition to those whose work history includes an extended period of time outside the paid workplace, often to raise families or to provide another full-time caring role. PRSI Credits, Homemaking Disregards and HomeCaring Periods recognise caring periods of up to 20 years outside of paid employment in the calculation of a payment rate.
Despite these measures, some long-term carers of incapacitated dependents may still face barriers in accessing the State Pension (Contributory). 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 in September. The measures are in response to the Pensions Commission’s recommendations and represent the biggest ever structural reform of the Irish State Pension system.
One of the most important reforms agreed by Government is enhanced State Pension provision for people who have been caring for incapacitated dependents for over 20 years. It will do this by attributing the equivalent of paid contributions to long-term carers to cover gaps in their contribution record. My Department will develop a system to register those caring periods so that the relevant contributions can be attributed to a long-term carer.
My officials are currently working to implement the reforms, including the drafting of legislation and development of administrative and IT systems as necessary.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
874. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people referred to JobPath since 2015, in tabular form. [16615/23]
View answer875. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of payments made to Turas Nua and Seetec, and the corresponding amount paid to both since 2015, in tabular form. [16616/23]
View answer876. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people currently engaged with JobPath. [16617/23]
View answer877. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who have gained employment sustained for 52 weeks on JobPath, in tabular form. [16618/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 874 to 877, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy will be aware, referrals to the JobPath service have ceased and the service is now in a run-off phase, with only clients referred up to June 2022 remaining engaged with the service with some 24,000 clients currently engaged with the service, the majority of whom are in the first phase of the service and who may not have spent sufficient time with the service to have either gained employment or sustained that employment for up to 52 weeks.
Since its commencement in 2015 the service supported people who are long-term unemployed to secure and sustain full time paid employment in the open labour market, and was part of a range of employment supports for jobseekers and employers which has contributed to the current record employment levels in the State. Some 351,301 jobseekers commenced an engagement period with the JobPath service, of whom 88,038 jobseekers secured employment during their engagement period. Of those who commenced employment 31,976 jobseekers, 40%, sustained this employment for a period of 52 weeks or more.
Independent research undertaken into progress achieved in helping people into employment compared to other support mechanisms, including an econometric evaluation has shown that people who availed of Jobpath had 26% more job outcomes than people who did not use the service and also that people who secured employment via Jobpath remained in employment for longer and with higher earnings.
More recently, the OECD published a report in January 2022 concerning contracting of employment services through outcome-based payment schemes. In this report the OECD specifically states that Ireland’s JobPath programme led to strongly positive employment and earnings outcomes across a variety of hard to place client groups
JobPath is a payment by results model and all set-up and day-to-day operational costs are borne by the companies. The companies are paid on the basis of performance and with the exception of the initial registration fee; payments are made only when a client has achieved sustained employment. The companies invoice the Department on a monthly basis in respect of the agreed registration fees and job sustainment fees in a particular month and these invoices are paid in line with the Prompt Payment requirements.
The overall cost of JobPath is determined by the number of people who participate in the programme and the number who get sustainable jobs. The total of fees paid under the JobPath programme to date (end Feb 2023) is €332.7 million. It is not intended to publish the individual payments to the JobPath companies as these are commercially sensitive and to do so would place the State at a disadvantage both in terms of the contracts currently in place and in future procurement processes.
Employment is now at among the highest levels in the history of the State, with over 2.55 million people in employment. As part of a restructuring of employment services, my Department has increased its own employment service capacity delivered through Intreo and has expanded employment services in some areas of the State where there were no Local Employment Services with the introduction of the new Intreo Partners model; the Intreo Partners Local Area Employment Service and the Intreo Partners National Employment Service.
A distinctive client journey has been embedded into the employment services process, whereby jobseekers on the Live Register, after engaging with Intreo in the first twelve months are referred firstly to the Intreo Partner National Employment Service and after 24 months to the Intreo Partner Local Area Employment Service which is designed to engage with those with greater barriers to the labour market. In this way, the client is referred to the most appropriate service at each point in time on their client journey.
The details requested are provided in the tables below.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
Table 1 : JobPath Engagements and Performance to date by Referral Year 2015- 2022
(Figures as of end Feb 2023)
|
JobPath 2015-2022 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
Total |
|
Number of client engagements (PPP agreed) |
6588 |
65452 |
74860 |
60822 |
50412 |
33355 |
39031 |
20781 |
351301 |
|
Total No. Clients to Start Employment |
1659 |
14420 |
21631 |
14896 |
10232 |
7093 |
11334 |
6773 |
88038 |
|
Total No. Clients to Start Full Time (FT) Employment |
1368 |
12019 |
19545 |
13962 |
9623 |
6725 |
10696 |
6367 |
80305 |
|
Total No. Clients to Start Part Time (PT) Employment |
291 |
2401 |
2086 |
934 |
609 |
368 |
638 |
406 |
7733 |
|
No. of clients who sustained FT Job for 13 weeks |
986 |
8687 |
14611 |
10471 |
6653 |
5076 |
8412 |
4155 |
59051 |
|
No. of clients who sustained FT Job for 26 weeks |
827 |
7207 |
12219 |
8650 |
5131 |
4117 |
6784 |
2297 |
47232 |
|
No. of clients who sustained FT Job for 39 weeks |
720 |
6210 |
10363 |
7254 |
4173 |
3489 |
5453 |
905 |
38567 |
|
No. of clients who sustained FT Job for 52 weeks |
644 |
5483 |
9069 |
6224 |
3548 |
3028 |
3849 |
131 |
31976 |
Table 2 : Fees paid under the JobPath programme to date (end Feb 2023 )
|
Year |
Amount |
|
2015 |
€1.2m |
|
2016 |
€25.2m |
|
2017 |
€57.4m |
|
2018 |
€71.7m |
|
2019 |
€58.6m |
|
2020 |
€36.2m |
|
2021 |
€33.9m |
|
2022 |
€40.9m |
|
2023 |
€7.6m |
|
Total |
€332.7m |
Please note this is gross expenditure and does not take into account the savings made in welfare payments for those who secured sustained employment.
878. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are income supports for 65-year-olds who wish to continue working part-time hours, five days per week until they reach pension age of 66 years. [16619/23]
View answerThe main social welfare schemes for people who are unable to find full-time employment are the social insurance contribution-based Jobseeker's Benefit and the means-tested Jobseeker's Allowance. These schemes allow a person to work up to three days per week, where they are fully unemployed for at least four in any seven consecutive days. Among the qualifying conditions for both schemes are that a person must be available for, and genuinely seeking full-time work.
Jobseeker's Benefit is a payment for people between 18 and 66 years of age who become fully or partly unemployed and have paid enough pay-related social insurance (PRSI) contributions. A person must be unemployed for at least 4 in 7 consecutive days to be eligible for the payment.
A person in receipt of Jobseeker's Benefit (Self-Employed) can work up for 3 days as an employee in insurable employment and retain their entitlement to the support.
For those who choose to retire at age 65 before the pension age of 66, the Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds, provided under the Jobseeker's Benefit schemes, is available subject to satisfying the scheme conditionality. One of the qualifying conditions is that a person must no longer be engaged in employment or self-employment.
Jobseeker's Allowance is a social assistance payment for unemployed people who have not paid enough social insurance contributions and who are seeking full-time work. In order to qualify for this payment a person must be fully unemployed for at least 4 days in any period of 7 consecutive days. Earnings from employment are assessed as part of the means assessment.
A person can take up employment for 3 days per week and may still qualify for the support. Where a claimant or their spouse or partner has earnings from insurable employment and they are working 3 days per week, earnings are assessed as means. For each person there is a disregard of €60 per week or up to €20 for each day of unemployment and the balance is then assessed at 60%.
The Working Family Payment (WFP) is a tax free in-work support which provides an income top-up for low-earning employees with children under 18 (or between 18 and 22 if they are in full-time day education). Once awarded, Working Family Payment is generally payable for a minimum period of 52 weeks as long as the recipient continues to be engaged in paid employment as an employee for not less than 38 hours per fortnight with the same employer. There is no upper limit on the number of hours or days a person can work. The average total weekly family income must be below the relevant income threshold for the family's size. The payment is calculated at 60% of the difference between the total family income and the income for threshold that applies to the family, based on the number of children.
Finally, the means-tested Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme is also available through the Community Welfare Service at the local Intreo Centre for any person who may need financial support.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
879. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection if notice to cease a carer's allowance payment for a person (details suppled) in County Donegal can be stayed until requested information is provided by another Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16667/23]
View answerCarer'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.
It is also a condition for receipt of Carer's Allowance that every claimant shall furnish such certificates, documents, information, and evidence as may be required for the purposes of deciding their claim. Once claims are in payment, my department periodically reviews them to ensure that there is continued entitlement.
A review of the CA claim of the person concerned was initiated in October 2022. An information request letter issued on 21 October 2022. Some, but not all, of the requested information was provided. Details of the remaining outstanding information was provided to the person concerned by correspondence issued on 22 February 2023 and 13 March 2023. Payment was suspended on 30 March 2023 for failure to supply all of the requested information.
Subsequently, on 5 April 2023, the information in relation to the breakdown of the salary of the person concerned was received. However, information in relation to the salary of the spouse of the person concerned remains outstanding. In this regard, a further reminder letter was issued on 6 April 2023. Once the sought information is received, a decision on the continued eligibility of the person concerned will be made without delay and the person will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
880. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will expedite an invalidity appeal on behalf of a person (details supplied). [16670/23]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 10th February 2023. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. Those papers were received in the Appeals Office on 3rd March 2023 and the case was referred to an Appeals Officer on the 23rd March 2023 who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
