Written Answers Nos. 237-257
237. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the request by Limerick City and County Council for additional funding to acquire three additional staff for its housing department; when a response to this request will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20762/23]
View answerUnder Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he/she is responsible. Staff sanction requests for additional staff are considered in light of Government priorities and other requirements when received and consideration is also given to the overall staffing levels of the local authority and its ability to meet the ongoing costs involved.
In terms specifically of housing delivery, Housing for All commits to strengthen the capacity of local authorities to initiate, design, plan, develop and manage housing projects and recognises that it requires the resourcing of housing services of local authorities. In this context, I approved funding for 250 posts for local authority housing teams to support the delivery of social housing. Funding has been approved for a five-year period from 2022 to 2026 with a potential to extend the funding to 2030, subject to the availability of the capital funding as well as the delivery of targets in each local authority area.
Furthermore, an initial tranche of 69 affordable housing staff posts were approved in October 2022 and communicated to each of the respective local authorities with an affordability constraint. This is a key requirement to underpin affordable housing delivery and ensuring the required structures are in place to enable affordable housing delivery as a matter of priority. My Department and the Housing Delivery Coordination Office in the Local Government Management Agency will be monitoring this programme further to a review of any additional supports being examined in 2023.
Out of the overall number of additional posts approved, seven posts have been approved for social housing delivery and four posts for affordable housing delivery in Limerick City and County Council.
238. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will bring the wording for a referendum on the public ownership and management of water services, a commitment having been given by him that the wording would be brought to Cabinet early in 2023. [20765/23]
View answerPublic ownership is a core principle governing the development of water services and the Government has given its full commitment to holding a referendum on water ownership. It is important to note that the establishment of Uisce Éireann in public ownership is already firmly secured under the Water Services Acts 2007 to 2022.
I have previously committed to bringing forward a referendum proposal on public ownership of water for consideration by Government in conjunction with the anticipated recommendation of a proposed referendum on housing, once the Housing Commission has reported to me on that matter. In this way, it is intended that definitive proposals, including timelines, for referenda on water and housing will be considered by Government in due course.
239. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the regeneration of an estate (details supplied); if he is aware of a move by Dublin City Council to cease its contract with a company; and the reason the contract has been terminated. [20810/23]
View answerThe regeneration of the estate referenced includes the development of 578 homes, comprising 117 social housing and 461 cost rental homes, respectively. My Department understands that Dublin City Council lodged a planning application for this important mixed-tenure project with An Bord Pleanála in October 2022 and that a decision in this regard is expected imminently. The next step for Dublin City Council will be to advance a procurement process for the construction of these much needed homes.
Procurement and contractual issues are a matter for Dublin City Council as the contracting authority.
240. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the guidelines in place for healthy eating in the new roll-out of the school meals programme; the supports in place for schools to stick to healthy eating guidelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20223/23]
View answerThe School Meals Programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to some 1,600 schools and organisations benefitting 260,000 children. The objective of the programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
Budget 2023 provided €94.4 million for the programme. The Government recently approved an additional €14.5m to allow access to the Hot School Meals scheme for all remaining DEIS schools from September 2023.
On 30th March, I published an independent evaluation of the School Meals Programme which sets out the positive impact the Programme is having in terms of children’s education and wellbeing. This evaluation is evidence-based and sets out a series of recommendations for expanding the School Meals Programme into the future. There is an overwhelming consensus among all participants in the evaluation that the school Meals Programme is effective and indicates strong support for extending the School Meals Programme.
The report also recommends an interim increase in funding rates for all meal options in the School Meals Programme. In response, I have secured government approval for the following rate increases for the various meal options provided on the School Meals Programme effective from 1st January 2023:
• Breakfast - increase from €0.60 to €0.75 (15c increase).
• Cold Lunch - increase from €1.40 to €1.70 (30c increase).
• Dinner - increase from €1.90 to €2.50 (60c increase).
• Hot School Meal - increase from €2.90 to €3.20 (30c increase).
Funding under the School Meals Programme can be provided for breakfast, snack, cold lunch, dinner, hot school meals and afterschool clubs and is based on a maximum rate per child per day, depending on the type of meal being provided. These meals must meet the nutritional standards for the school meals programme. The Nutritional Standards for School Meals were developed by a working group led by the Health and Wellbeing Programme in the Department of Health, in consultation with Safefood and the Healthy Eating and Active Living Programme in the Health Service Executive.
All schools must satisfy the nutritional standards, must submit a sample menu with their application and must provide detailed records at the end of each school year. Expenditure on unhealthy food items is deducted from the funding allocation.
I am committed to continuing to expand the School Meals Programme and building further on the significant extension of the programme that has taken place in recent years. In this regard, I intend to roll out the Hot School Meals to all remaining DEIS primary and Special schools from September 2023, benefiting more than 60,000 children. I will also bring forward proposals in the coming weeks on commencing the roll out of the Hot School Meals to non-DEIS primary schools from 2024.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
241. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason child benefit is not paid for those aged 18 years who are still in full-time education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20224/23]
View answerChild Benefit is a universal monthly payment made to families with children up to the age of 16 years. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children until their eighteenth birthday who are in full-time education, or who have a disability. Estimated expenditure on the scheme will be approximately €2.1 billion in 2023.
There are currently no plans to extend Child Benefit in respect of full-time students who are over 18 years of age and in full time education. Such an extension would have significant cost implications and would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
Families on low incomes may be able to avail of a number of social welfare schemes that support children in full-time education until the age of 22, including:
• Increase for a Qualified Child (IQCs) with primary social welfare payments;
• the Working Family Payment for low-paid employees with children; and
• the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance
These schemes provide targeted assistance that is directly linked to household income and thereby support low-income families with older children participating in full-time education.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
242. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason an adoption certificate is necessary when applying for a public services card when a person has already provided other legal documents to verify their identity; if she can look at a specific case (details supplied) in relation to this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20225/23]
View answerThe SAFE registration process, which my Department uses to authenticate a person's identity, is a face- to-face process which results in the issuing of a Public Services Card (PSC).
I can confirm that an individual’s adoption certificate is not required for the purpose of a SAFE registration appointment.
The individual referred to by the Deputy has been contacted by officials of my Department and she attended for a SAFE registration appointment on 26th April 2023.
A PSC will be issued to her shortly.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
243. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine a pension query (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20238/23]
View answerPension entitlement can only be assessed on the basis of the eligibility conditions applicable on the date an individual reaches State Pension age.
Currently, a person who has 2080 paid or credited contributions, or who has in excess of 520 contributions with a yearly average of 48 or more contributions since they entered the social insurance system, would qualify for the full rate State Pension (Contributory). A person who does not meet the requirements for a full rate pension may be paid a lower rate commensurate with their social insurance record where they exceed the minimum contribution threshold.
A person reaching pension age on or after 1st January 2024 can choose to defer access to the State Pension (Contributory) up to age 70 and receive a cost neutral actuarial increase in their State Pension payment. This system also provides for a person to continue to pay social insurance contributions after State Pension age to improve their social insurance record for State Pension (Contributory) purposes. These PRSI contributions may enable individuals without a full contribution record (and who have deferred access to the State Pension) to become entitled to the State Pension (Contributory), or increase the pension rate of payment, as a consequence of the additional paid contributions. These measures will become effective from January 2024.
As State Pension Contributory is not means-tested, a person can draw down their pension entitlement while continuing to work and this will not impact on their weekly rate or payment.
It is advisable that all contributors maintain their social insurance record as fully as possible over their working life. It is open to the person concerned to request a copy of their social insurance record from my Department. In addition to seeking the record through normal postal means from PRSI Records, Department of Social Protection, McCarter's Road, Ardaravan, Buncrana, Co. Donegal, a person can also access their social insurance record in real-time online at MyWelfare.ie if they have a verified MyGovID account. Information on getting a verified MyGovID account is available on www.mygovid.ie.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
244. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost to the Exchequer of providing a recipient of one-parent family payment with access to the living alone allowance, household benefit package and the telephone support allowance. [20244/23]
View answer245. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost to the Exchequer of providing a recipient of jobseeker’s transitional payment with access to the living alone allowance, household benefit package and the telephone support allowance. [20245/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 244 and 245 together.
The Living Alone Increase (LAI) is an extra payment for recipients of certain social welfare payments who live alone. It is an increase of €22 per week available to persons aged 66 or older who live alone and are in receipt of the State Pension, Widow(er) or Surviving Civil Partner's Pension, Incapacity Supplement or Deserted Wife's Benefit. It is also available to those aged under 66 who live alone and are in receipt of Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Incapacity Supplement, or Blind Pension.
The estimated cost of the provision of the Living Alone Increase to all those in receipt of One Parent Family Payment (OPFP) and Jobseekers Transition payment (JST) would be as follows:
|
Scheme |
Yearly Rate of LAI |
Number of additional Recipients |
Additional Yearly Cost |
|
OPFP |
€1,144 |
41,235 |
€47.2 million |
|
JST |
€1,144 |
19,611 |
€22.4 million |
The Telephone Support Allowance (TSA) is a weekly payment of €2.50. Approximately 150,000 customers are in receipt of the TSA payment. The full year cost of the scheme is estimated at €18.6 million.
The primary objective of the TSA is to allow the most vulnerable people at risk of isolation, including the elderly and those with disabilities, access to personal alarms or phones for security. Therefore, the criteria for the allowance were framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my Department in as targeted a manner as possible.
The estimated cost of the provision of TSA to all those in receipt of OPFP and JST would be as follows:
|
Scheme |
Yearly Rate of TSA |
Number of additional Recipients |
Additional Yearly Cost |
|
OPFP |
€130 |
41,235 |
€5.4 million |
|
JST |
€130 |
19,611 |
€2.5 million |
The Household Benefits Package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. My Department will spend approximately €285 million this year on HHB for over 510,000 customers.
People over the age of 70 receive the HHB package, with one package provided per household. The package is also available to people living in the State aged 66-69 years who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments or who satisfy a means test. The package is available to some people under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments.
It is estimated that 20% of people in receipt of OPFP already have access to the HHB package as they are also in receipt of Carer's Allowance, therefore the number of OPFP claims that may benefit from the measure is reduced to 32,988. The estimated cost of the provision of HHB to all those in receipt of OPFP and JST would be as follows:
|
Scheme |
Yearly Rate of HHB |
Number of additional Recipients |
Additional Yearly Cost |
|
OPFP |
€580 |
32,988 |
€19.1 million |
|
JST |
€580 |
19,611 |
€11.4 million |
All proposals, including the proposals outlined by the Deputy could only be considered while taking account of overall Government policy and in a budgetary context.
I trust that this clarifies these matters for the Deputy.
246. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection to support a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20259/23]
View answerDisability 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 can confirm that my Department originally received an application for disability allowance (DA) from the person concerned on 8 February 2023. 8 The application was examined and, based upon the evidence submitted, it was refused on 25 March 2023. It was refused as the client failed to supply the additional information requested on 13 February 2023.
This information was subsequently received by the Department and a review of the decision 25 March 2023 was carried out. Following this review, the person concerned was awarded DA with effect from 21 December 2022. The person concerned was notified in writing of this revised decision on 31 March 2023. The first payment was made by their chosen payment method on 19 April 2023.
I can confirm that arrears of payment due from 21 December 2022 to 18 April 2023 also issued to the person concerned on 24 April 2023. A letter notifying the person of this issued on 24 April 2023.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
247. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20312/23]
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.
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has 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 25th April 2023.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
248. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is possible to claim an additional half-rate carer’s allowance in respect of another person when already in receipt of full-rate carer’s allowance for a primary care recipient, that is, the main social welfare payment is already carer’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20356/23]
View answerThe main income supports to carers provided by my department are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Spending in 2023 is expected to amount to almost €1.6 billion on these payments. The two principal conditions for receipt of Carer’s Allowance are that full time care and attention is required and provided, and that a means test is satisfied. The application of the means-test not only ensures that the recipient has an income need but also that scarce resources are targeted to those with the greatest need.
There are a number of basic principles which underpin the Irish social welfare system, one of which is the general principle of one person, one payment, which applies across the system. People qualifying for two social welfare payments receive the higher payment for which they are eligible.
There are a limited number of exceptions in the social welfare system to the general principle of one person, one payment. In 2007 a Half-rate Carer’s Allowance was introduced for certain people with another social welfare entitlement. Under these arrangements, people in receipt of certain social welfare payments, other than Carer’s Allowance or Benefit, who are providing full-time care and attention can retain their main payment and receive another payment, depending on their means, the maximum of which is equivalent to a half-rate Carer’s Allowance. Therefore, a person who has an entitlement to another social welfare payment, can retain that payment and continue to receive up to a Half-rate Carer’s Allowance. These arrangements apply to almost all weekly social welfare payments and to people in receipt of qualified adult allowances. Recipients of Jobseeker’s Allowance or Benefit are not eligible given the job seeking nature of these payments.
In the situation outlined by the Deputy, where a person is caring full-time for 2 people and is in receipt of Carer’s Allowance, a Half-rate Carer’s Allowance payment is not payable. In that situation, a higher rate of Carer’s Allowance is payable. The current maximum weekly rate of Carer’s Allowance for someone aged under 66 and caring for 1 person is €236. Where that person is caring for 2 or more people, the rate is increased to €354. For a carer aged 66 or over, the respective rates are €274 and €411. It should be noted, that in both of these instances, the additional amount is equivalent to the Half-rate Carer's Allowance payment.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
249. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps being made to address the issue of foster carers having no access to PRSI contributions being paid while fostering a child (details supplied). [20426/23]
View answerMatters related to foster caring are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and 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, they can still qualify for Homemaker’s Scheme or 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 (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.
250. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware of instances in which local Intreo offices have given incorrect advice, particularly around illness benefit; if she sees these instances as a pattern; the steps she is taking to minimise the instances of incorrect advice being given; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20428/23]
View answerMy Department is committed to delivering excellent customer service as pledged in the Customer Service Charter. This includes providing the highest quality of services, including information provision, to all customers and to treating customers with courtesy and respect. My officials aim to ensure that all persons are served in a fair, courteous, and timely manner, and provided with full and clear information regarding entitlements. The department strives at all times to ensure that our customers’ experiences in dealing with us, whether in person or over the telephone, are positive.
The Department has invested significant resources in delivering frontline customer services training to its staff including all new entrants. It provides a wide range of instructor-led classroom training and e-learning supports to staff engaged in frontline roles to enhance the delivery of services to customers.
This training is designed to ensure that frontline staff are aware of the various legislation, guidelines, processes and procedures applicable to the delivery of such services including Illness Benefit.
The Department carries out surveys to discover how well its programmes are working and how satisfied customers are with the services provided. Results indicate a high level of satisfaction with front-line services.
If the Deputy would like to forward the details of a particular case(s) she is referring to I will have them examined.
251. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if reconsideration of an application for exceptional needs payment will be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20446/23]
View answerThe purpose of the Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) is to assist people with essential expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their available resources.
The ENP scheme is demand led and payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case.
Applications for ENPs are made under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme administered by Designated Persons in the Community Welfare Service in my Department.
According to the records of my Department, the person concerned applied for an ENP for the purchase of household furnishings. This application was disallowed on the basis the person concerned had the means to meet the need from their own their own income and capital resources.
A decision letter dated 13/04/2023 issued to the person concerned advising the outcome of the application and affording them the option of seeking a review of the Designated Person’s decision.
Determinations made in relation to claims made under Sections 200, 201 and 202 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation Act) 2005, namely allowances-in-kind, ENPs and UNPs, can be reviewed by a SWA Reviewing Officer under Section 323 of that Act.
Following a request from the person concerned a review of the decision was undertaken and the original decision was upheld. The person concerned was advised of the outcome in writing on 28/04/2023.
The person concerned may find it useful to contact the Money Advice and Budgeting Service which provides support with managing debt and household finances. If the person concerned requires assistance with an essential expense that they are unable to meet from their weekly income in the future, they should make a new application for an Additional Needs Payment.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
252. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has proposals to aid community employment schemes in filling their quota of participants (details supplied). [20553/23]
View answerThe aim of the Community Employment (CE) programme is to enhance the employability of disadvantaged and long-term unemployed people by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their local communities on a temporary fixed term basis.
In addition to providing valuable occupational experience and training as a stepping-stone to employment for people who are unemployed, schemes such as CE and Tús also provide important and, in many cases essential, services to their local communities
As a result of the continued strong labour market performance the number of unemployed people dependent on social welfare payments continues to fall. While this is very welcome it also means that the number of candidates available for participation on CE also falls. This creates an obvious challenge in terms of recruitment.
Minister Humphreys and I have announced a number of reforms and enhancements to CE since December 2021 to address this challenge, including a provision to allow CE participants who reach 60 years of age to remain until they reach state pension age, updating the baseline year for CE which opens the scheme to a cohort of people who had previously exceeded their time on CE, introducing flexibilities to the CE candidate referral process to allow direct recruitment to fill 30% of places subject to conditions to ensure that places do not go unfilled when there are candidates available from the Live Register. CE sponsors have also been granted flexibility to extend individual placements and to retain existing participants in cases where no replacement is immediately available
More recently, the CE general eligibility of 12 months on the live register has been reduced to 9 months for those fleeing the war in Ukraine and a new pilot scheme to extend CE eligibility to people who are Qualified Adults on a jobseeker claim has commenced: these customers are generally unemployed partners of people in receipt of a weekly jobseeker payment.
The organisation concerned has 32 active participants and 2 supervisors currently, my officials locally are actively working to try and source candidates for their current vacancies and as the implementation of the most recent changes take effect it will enable these officials to identify a wider range of eligible candidates for CE in their locality to address their current vacancies.
Eligibility criteria for CE, continues to be kept under active review by my Department officials to ensure the best outcomes for individual participants, to support the vital community services delivered by schemes and to take account of changes to the labour market.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
253. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration is being given by her Department to the rationalisation of the various employment activation schemes currently in operation as unemployment has fallen so substantially and community employment schemes are having grave difficulty filling places due to the range of other activation measures extant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20554/23]
View answerThe labour market in Ireland has experienced a welcome recovery following the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated public health restrictions. The most recent figures from the Central Statistics Office (the Labour Force Survey for Q4, 2022) reports that there are 2.57 million people in employment in Ireland, which is the highest recorded level for the State since the series began. The seasonally-adjusted monthly unemployment rate for March 2023 was 4.3 percent. This unemployment rate has remained stable and below 4.5 percent since the last of the COVID-19 emergency support measures ceased.
Pathways to Work 2021 - 2025 is the national employment services strategy which was published in July 2021. It has the twin aims of supporting people made unemployed during the pandemic in returning to work, and also people who faced barriers in the labour market even prior to the pandemic, in accessing and sustaining employment. External oversight of the strategy is carried out by the Labour Market Advisory Council, an independent advisory body of labour market experts, employers and trade union representatives. Their first annual report on progress in the implementation of commitments was published in December 2022 on www.gov.ie.
Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged people with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities. CE schemes across the country play a vital role in providing essential services to local communities.
Since December 2021, my Department has introduced a number of reforms and enhancements to CE, to minimise the impact of the recovery on schemes and the services they provide. One of the changes introduced granted CE sponsors some flexibility to extend individual placements and to retain existing participants in cases where no replacement is immediately available.
In order to address existing and upcoming vacancies on CE, the candidate referral process for CE has been reviewed and changed. Schemes have been given new flexibility to allow them to directly recruit eligible candidates to fill 30% of places but are also mandated to accept and place at least 60% of people referred by Intreo.
The most recent changes include the extension of the criteria of those who can participate on CE to the adult dependants of those in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance and, in support of Ukrainian nationals living here, a reduction in the Live Register qualifying period from 12 to 9 months.
These changes will support schemes by widening the pool of people eligible for CE with the intention of increasing participation and ensuring the continuity of the essential services they provide.
While there are no current plans to rationalise employment schemes, a Mid-Term Review of Pathways to Work is currently underway, with the support of the Labour Market Advisory Council. This review aims to ensure that the strategy continues to be relevant for the current labour market context.
254. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person can apply for carer’s allowance while they are receiving jobseeker’s allowance; what happens to their jobseeker's payment while a decision is being made on the carer's allowance application; if it will be suspended as it will be deemed that they are not available for full-time work; and if their jobseeker’s payment is suspended, could they receive supplementary welfare allowance while waiting on carer’s allowance. [20622/23]
View answerA person in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance can make an application for Carer’s Allowance. However, they will then not satisfy the available for full-time work condition for a jobseeker payment as they are declaring on their Carer’s Allowance application that they are caring for another person in a full-time capacity.
Once the application for Carer’s Allowance is made, a revised decision is carried out on their Jobseeker’s Allowance claim and the person is advised to apply for a Supplementary Welfare Allowance payment from their local Community Welfare Officer while awaiting a decision on their Carer’s Allowance claim.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
255. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if the partner of a person is receiving half-rate carer’s allowance for their child, how the payments work if their partner is approved for carer's allowance for their parent, if they each have a child dependent on their claim. [20623/23]
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.
The Carer's allowance (CA) payment is made up of a personal rate for the person claiming and extra amounts for any child dependents.
A full-rate increase for a child dependent is paid with Carer's Allowance if a person is parenting alone. A half-rate increase for a child is paid with Carer's Allowance, if a person is living with their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant.
In this example, if the second applicant (the partner) is successful in their claim for CA, then they can also claim the personal rate and, as they are co-habiting, they will be entitled to half rate increase for a child dependent.
If there is a specific case that you wish to have examined further, please forward the individual's details and my officials would be glad to help.
256. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person who is granted carer’s allowance is still eligible to complete their final year of a bachelor's degree via Springboard while also caring for the needs of their parent as the course is part-time in the evening. [20624/23]
View answerMy Department provides a comprehensive package of carers’ income supports including Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Combined spending on all these payments in 2022 is estimated to be almost €1.6 billion.
The Carer’s Allowance is the main scheme by which the Department provides income support to carers in the community. Carer’s Allowance is a means tested social assistance payment awarded to those carers who are caring for certain people who require full-time care and attention. The objective of the payment is to provide an income support to carers whose earning capacity is substantially reduced as a consequence of their caring responsibilities and in so doing to support the ongoing care of the person in respect of whom care is being provided.
A primary qualifying condition for the Carer’s Allowance is that the applicant provides full-time care and attention to a person in need of such care. The minimum hours condition for which a carer can be regarded as providing full-time care and attention is set out in legislation. A carer will be regarded as providing full-time care and attention to a relevant person, where the number of hours providing such care is not less than 35 hours in a period of 7 consecutive days, and this care is provided on any 5 days, whether consecutive or not, within a period of 7 consecutive days.
However, in order to support a carer’s continued attachment to the workforce and to support broader social inclusion, carers may engage in employment, education or training for up to 18.5 hours per week while still being regarded as being in a position to provide full-time care and continue to receive their full payment. During this time of employment, training or education, adequate provision must be made for the care of the relevant person.
It should be noted that both the full-time care and attention requirement and the 18.5-hour limitation are contained in the respective legislative provisions of the Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and Carer’s Support Grant schemes.
In summary, a person in receipt of Carer's Allowance can still meet the full-time caring condition and participate in any employment, training or educational activity if they meet the criteria outlined above.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
257. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will advise in relation to a person (details supplied) who has been refused invalidity pension and supplementary welfare allowance, given they have been without any payment since December 2022; and how her Department can provide them with the support needed. [20664/23]
View answerInvalidity 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 Department received an application for IP for the person concerned on 25 January 2023. This application was refused on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. Notification issued on 13 March 2023 informing them of this decision, the reasons for it and of their right to request a review or appeal.
The person concerned submitted further medical evidence in support of their application. My Department has carried out three separate reviews and the decision has remained unchanged. The outcomes of these reviews issued to the person concerned on 13 April 2023, on 25 April 2023 and on 28 April 2023.
On 28 March 2023, the person concerned appealed this decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). The SWAO will be in contact in due course on the matter of this appeal.
The Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme acts as a safety net within the overall social welfare system to provide assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. The main purpose of the scheme is to provide immediate and flexible assistance for those in need who do not qualify for payment under other State schemes or who are awaiting a decision on a social welfare application. Basic SWA is a statutory means tested scheme whereby the assessment of the means of the claimant and of their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant, may include the value of any income, savings, investments, capital and property (other than the family home).
An application for SWA was received from the person concerned on 23 January 2023, their Illness Benefit payment having expired on 10 December 2022. However, the application was refused on the grounds that their means exceed the rate of Basic SWA Payment payable based on the family circumstances. Notification issued on 7 February 2023 informing them of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right to request a review or appeal. There is no record of an appeal of this decision with the SWAO.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
