Written Answers Nos. 382-401
382. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection if a disability allowance payment will be reinstated for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21060/23]
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 the DA payment of person concerned was reviewed following their payment not being collected by the agent from the Post Office. My Department wrote to the person concerned via their agent on the 16 February 2023 to request up to date copies of bank statements, in order for a review to be undertaken and to update their payment method.
Further correspondence issued to the person concerned via their agent on the 16 March 2023 and 17 April 2023. As is the case when no response to a correspondence is received, the payment was terminated with effect from the 17 May 2023.
This individual's entitlement was then referred to a Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) on 17 April 2023 for a report on their means and circumstances. The SWI has been liaising with the agent of the person concerned and their social worker. A new agent form was completed on the 5 May 2023 and the new agent of this individual has committed to supplying the outstanding information next week. My Department hope to have this issue resolved promptly, upon receipt of this information.
Priority will be given to this case once the information is received and the agent of the person concerned will be notified in writing when this has been completed.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
383. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if hardship funds are available for victims of domestic violence who are left in financial trouble after leaving their abusive partner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21076/23]
View answerThe primary responsibility for the development and provision of services to support victims of domestic violence rests with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
While there is no specific hardship fund to support victims of domestic violence my Department provides a range of income supports for those in financial difficulty. Easier access to rent supplement can be provided on referral by Tusla or Tusla-funded service providers. This referral protocol provides fast track approval for immediate access to rent supplement so that victims are not prevented from leaving their home because of financial concerns. The standard rent supplement means test does not apply to these applicants for an initial three month period. After three months, a further three month extension may be provided, subject to the usual rent supplement means assessment. After six months, if the tenant has a long-term housing need, they can apply to their local housing authority for social housing supports.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. Access to the community welfare service, including Additional Needs Payments, is available to victims of domestic violence whether referred through the protocol or not. The scheme is demand-led and there is no budget cap. Payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation, and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
The Community Welfare Officer will also consider whether a weekly income support is appropriate and may refer the applicant to the scheme that best meets their needs.
I encourage any person who considers they may have an entitlement to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office. In addition, applications can be made online via www.mywelfare.ie.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
384. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection how An Post will rectify deductions made in errors to the extra cost-of-living Department of Social Protection payment of €200 for some recipients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21083/23]
View answerThe Government is acutely aware of the effect that high energy prices and the cost of living are having on families, businesses and the most vulnerable.
In addition to the substantial package of supports provided in Budget 2023, earlier this year the Government announced a €470 million package of measures to help social protection recipients including families, pensioners, carers and people with disabilities.
The Spring Cost of Living Bonus is one of the range of measures put in place. It is one lump sum payment of €200 for each eligible person in receipt of a primary payment in their own right. The €200 lump sum payment was paid week commencing 24/4/2023 to over 1.2 million people in receipt of long-term social welfare payments at a cost of approximately €250 million.
In a small number of cases An Post Household Budgeting deductions were applied to the bonus payment, in addition to being applied to a person’s normal weekly payment as requested by the individual.
My Department is working with An Post, the local authorities and accommodation providers to resolve the issue and to refund the additional rent deduction to people affected by the end of May.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
385. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Social Protection if officials from her Department are using an application (details supplied) to conduct business; if her Department has had official meetings regarding the use of the application by officials; if her Department has assessed the risk of using the application by Department officials and the input of Government-related data into the application; if her Department is using or is considering using other forms of artificial intelligence; if her Department is considering banning the use of the application by Department officials; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21097/23]
View answerMy Department has denied access to the application in question pending a risk assessment of its use and therefore does not use the application to conduct any business. The Department continues to work closely with experts in the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to ensure that we follow best practice and advice on all aspects of cyber security. Limited Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used within some areas of the Department and I am satisfied any risks associated with its use is being proactively monitored.
386. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection the reasons qualified adults on partner’s State pensions did not receive the €200 lump-sum cost-of-living payment in April; if she will consider including this cohort in future rounds of payments given that many of those impacted have little or no access to any other income in their own right; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21117/23]
View answer417. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if the cost-of-living measures for families announced on 21 February 2023 include a payment to individuals receiving pensions as qualified adults; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21684/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 386 and 417 together.
The €200 lump sum payment, was paid to 1.3 million recipients in receipt of long-term social welfare payments. This lump sum was paid in late April and cost approximately €261 million.
This support was 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.
The payment was made to primary recipients of a qualifying payment only.
The Increase for a Qualified Adult can be awarded to a person whose spouse/civil partner/co-habitant is being wholly or mainly maintained by them, and where that qualified adult’s personal means do not exceed a means test income limit, based on the means held solely or jointly by the qualified adult.
If a person does not qualify for the maximum payment rate for the State Pension (Contributory), he/she may qualify for the means-tested State Pension (Non-Contributory), the maximum rate of which is over 95% of the rate of the State Pension (Contributory).
387. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will amend the operational guidelines of jobseeker's allowance relating to the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended, to remove the payment differential for those aged between 18 and 24 years and those above the age of 24 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21121/23]
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. Work is ongoing to promote Community Employment to young people and to ensure places are filled by them. Additional places have also been provided on the JobsPlus recruitment incentive scheme, 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 April 2023 is already well below this target at 7.9%. Further work in this area will continue to support these young people.
Therefore, I do not propose to remove age-related rates at this time.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
388. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to a community employment scheme sponsored by an organisation (details supplied) that is currently being delayed in its finalisation; if her Department will engage with the relevant parties in order for the scheme to be finalised and audited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21124/23]
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.
All Community Employment companies are required to adhere to relevant corporate governance, financial and legislative responsibility requirements.
The Community Employment scheme concerned has amalgamated with another Community Employment scheme and is in the process of being wound up. Where a Community Employment company ceases trading they are required to comply with their statutory obligations and will be responsible for any associated costs. Final reconciliation will be carried out in respect of any outstanding debts/ obligations to creditors and /or the Department of Social Protection. The Community Employment company must have a record of all financial transactions of the project which must be supported by the submission of an independent, professionally certified, Auditors Income & Expenditure Statement. The Auditors Income & Expenditure Statement should be returned by the Community Employment company to the Department of Social Protection within six weeks of the project finish date. The payment for the final 4 weeks of the project will be withheld pending receipt of the Auditors Statement and the other required documentation.
I can confirm that my officials are actively engaging with the organisation concerned and that they will provide appropriate financial assistance to help them submit their Auditor’s statement. This will enable the organisation to proceed with an orderly windup of the company.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
389. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is entitled to the fuel allowance, given they were informed by her Department on 12 November 2022 that their application would be reviewed on 1 January 2023. [21159/23]
View answerThe Fuel Allowance is a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. The payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) is paid from late September to April.
One of the conditions for receipt of fuel allowance is that a person must satisfy a means test. From January 2023, the threshold for the fuel allowance means test for those aged between 66 and 70 increased to €465.30 for a single person.
Following a means assessment, it was determined that the means for the person concerned exceeded the weekly means for fuel allowance qualification purposes. The application was disallowed and the person concerned was notified in writing on 5 December 2022 and 2 May 2023. Where applicants exceed the income limit, marginally or otherwise, there is no scope for discretion.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, Additional Needs Payments may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which customers are unable to meet out of their own resources, and this may include exceptional heating costs. Decisions on such payments are made on a case-by-case basis.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
390. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a disability payment will be approved for a person (details supplied). [21160/23]
View answerDisablement Benefit is one of the benefits payable under the occupational injuries benefit scheme. It is payable to an insured employee who suffers a loss of physical or mental faculty as a result of an occupational accident or a prescribed occupational disease that was sustained on or after 1 May 1967. A person must have been in insurable (occupational injuries) employment, paying PRSI Class A, B, D, J or M at the time of the accident or when the disease was contracted.
The person concerned applied for Disablement Benefit on 27 June 2022. According to the information available to my Department, when they suffered a personal injury, they were not insurably employed. According to the records, at this time the claimant was returning S class PRSI contributions (self employed).
Therefore, the Deciding officer deemed that this was not an occupational injury or disease, and consequently they decided that the person concerned is not entitled to Disablement Benefit.
This claim for Disablement Benefit was disallowed on the 4 July 2022 and the person concerned was offered the right to request a review and/or appeal of this decision. No request was received.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
391. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will list all reviews of Acts carried out by her Department in line with the provisions of the Act in question from 2000 to date; if a summary will be provided of any substantive amendments of the Act in question that occurred on foot of each review and the amending legislation, if any, in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21191/23]
View answerSection 7 of the Gender Recognition Act 2015 specifically provides for a review of the operation of that Act. In November 2019 the then Minister for [Employment Affairs and] Social Protection published her report under section 7 of the Act. The report contains recommendations to amend the Act as well as recommendations proposing administrative actions that do not require legislation. A copy of the Minister's report can be accessed online here:
www.gov.ie/en/press-release/43aef0-minister-doherty-publishes-her-report-on-the-review-of-the-gender-re/
Officials in my Department are currently working on preparation of legislation to give effect to some of the recommendations set out in the report.
No other legislation within my policy remit provides for statutory reviews.
392. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of male applicants for a gender recognition certificate to change their gender to female who had previously been convicted of sexual offences or had previously been on the sex offenders register; the number of such applications accepted or rejected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21210/23]
View answerUnder the Gender Recognition Act 2015, a person who satisfies the conditions set out in that Act may apply to my Department for a Gender Recognition Certificate. The information requested by the Deputy is not available to my Department.
393. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 184 of 22 March 2023, if she agrees that, during an acute labour shortage in all sectors, it is extraordinary that over 11,000 people aged under 40 years and over 7,700 people in Dublin have been in receipt of jobseeker's for over three years; if there is any point at which payments to these individuals will be permanently suspended; the actions her Department is taking to reduce these numbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21211/23]
View answer“Pathways to Work” is the Government’s national employment strategy, which aims to encourage job creation and reduce long-term unemployment. This strategy sets out the Governments priority to provide employment supports and access to employment opportunities to assist with tackling long-term unemployment. This strategy is working - with the unemployment rate now at 3.9%, which is the lowest level seen in 22 years.
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 to the Intreo Partner Employment Services. Those who are unemployed after 24 months are referred to an Intreo Partner service, which has been specifically 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 Public Employment Service offers a range of supports to help people prepare for and secure sustainable employment. The service is delivered, mainly through one-on-one engagements, where a range of options are explored and a personal progression plan is agreed. These plans can include referrals to suitable employment opportunities, training, work placement, education, or support with self-employment.
The Department provides a number of supports to long-term jobseekers to return to employment. The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance is available to those who would like to become self-employed, state employment schemes such as Community Employment and Tús provide direct employment opportunities for the long-term unemployed. The Work Placement Experience Programme helps to break the cycle of ‘no work, no experience’ and ‘no experience, no work’ that often puts people at risk of long-term unemployment. Recruitment subsidies such as JobsPlus, offer a financial incentive of up to €10,000 to employers who hire somebody who is long-term unemployed.
People in receipt of a Jobseeker's payment are required to engage with the Department's mandatory Public Employment Service to assist them to secure and sustain full-time paid employment or self-employment. Failure to engage can result in the reduction or suspension of their payment. One of the statutory conditions for entitlement to a Jobseeker's payment is the requirement for a person to be genuinely seeking full-time work. To satisfy this condition, it is necessary for the person to demonstrate that they are making genuine efforts to secure employment. Control and review measures are undertaken by the Department to ensure compliance with these regulations. Due to Covid-19 reductions in jobseeker's rates were not applied during 2021 and early 2022. The practice resumed in the summer of 2022 and for the second half of 2022 a total of 1,134 reductions were applied.
Finally, my Department's Public Employment Service will continue to work closely with employers to focus on improving employment outcomes for groups that face barriers in accessing the labour market.
394. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the case of a person (details supplied) who received the April bonus payment of €200 but did not receive a second payment of €200 for their spouse, who is a qualified adult on his pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21219/23]
View answerThe person concerned is in receipt of a State Pension (contributory) payment from my Department which includes an Increase for their Qualified Adult.
The Government is acutely aware of the effect that high energy prices and the cost of living are having on families, businesses and the most vulnerable.
In addition to the substantial package of supports provided in Budget 2023, earlier this year the Government announced a €470 million package of measures to help social protection recipients including families, pensioners, carers and people with disabilities.
The Spring Cost of Living Bonus is one of the range of measures put in place. It is one lump sum payment of €200 for each eligible person in receipt of a primary payment in their own right. The €200 lump sum payment was paid week commencing 24/4/2023 to over 1.2 million people in receipt of long-term social welfare payments at a cost of approximately €250 million.
If a person receives more than one qualifying social welfare payment, they will receive only one €200 lump sum payment. Each eligible primary recipient of a social welfare payment receives €200, regardless of the number of dependents (qualified adult or children) if any, or other social welfare payments.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
395. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the arrangements in place to ensure meals of a poor nutritional rating are avoided in school meals, and that participating children consume a balanced mix of meat and vegetables over the course of each week; if the composition of meals is tracked to ensure high standards of nutrition; and if the project has adopted targets in respect of the management of waste and packaging. [21223/23]
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.
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. There is no targets set in relation to waste and packaging; however, any necessary additional measures in respect of waste and packaging will be considered having regard to the findings of the evaluation.
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.
396. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether it is appropriate for a person (details supplied) to be left waiting six months for a decision from the social welfare appeals office. [21226/23]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.
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.
This is a processing time of 17 weeks from the date the appeal was registered in the Appeals Office. The current average processing time for a disability allowance appeal where there is a summary decision is 17.2 weeks. Therefore, the appeal in question took around the average time to process.
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. However, it fully recognised that improvements in appeals processing times are necessary and this is a priority for the Chief Appeals Officer.
397. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the case of a person (details supplied) who received the April bonus payment of €200 but did not receive a second payment of €200 for their spouse, who is a qualified adult on his pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21260/23]
View answerThe person concerned is in receipt of a State Pension (contributory) payment from my Department which includes an Increase for their Qualified Adult.
The Government is acutely aware of the effect that high energy prices and the cost of living are having on families, businesses and the most vulnerable.
In addition to the substantial package of supports provided in Budget 2023, earlier this year the Government announced a €470 million package of measures to help social protection recipients including families, pensioners, carers and people with disabilities.
The Spring Cost of Living Bonus is one of the range of measures put in place. It is one lump sum payment of €200 for each eligible person in receipt of a primary payment in their own right. The €200 lump sum payment was paid week commencing 24/4/2023 to over 1.2 million people in receipt of long-term social welfare payments at a cost of approximately €250 million.
If a person receives more than one qualifying social welfare payment, they will receive only one €200 lump sum payment. Each eligible primary recipient of a social welfare payment receives €200, regardless of the number of dependents (qualified adult or children) if any, or other social welfare payments.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
398. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for a disability allowance in the name of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed immediately; and if the extensive medical evidence provided will be considered again with a view to granting the disability allowance. [21261/23]
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 confirm that my Department received an application for DA from the person concerned on 21 December 2022. Based on the evidence supplied in support of this person’s application, their application for DA was disallowed on the grounds that the medical qualifying condition was not satisfied. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 1 April 2023 and they were given the right to a review or an appeal.
Further medical evidence was received on 24 April 2023 and a review of this decision was carried out. Following this review, the person concerned has been awarded DA with effect from 4 January 2023. The first payment will be made by their chosen payment method on 24 May 2023. Arrears of payment due will issue as soon as possible, once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments (if applicable).
The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 2 May 2023
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
399. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is any further update on making free travel passes available to persons diagnosed with epilepsy who are temporarily unable to drive due to their illness, further to the ongoing discussions with an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21267/23]
View answerThe Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. There are over one million customers with direct eligibility. The estimated expenditure on free travel in 2023 is €95 million.
It is important to note that, in general, access to a free travel pass for those aged under 66 is a secondary benefit linked to a person being in receipt of certain primary Social Protection payments such as Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Carer’s Allowance, Blind Pension and Partial Capacity Benefit. As many illnesses or physical conditions have an impact ranging from mild to severe, entitlement to these social welfare schemes is not provided on the basis of a diagnosis but on the basis of the impact of that diagnosis on the individual concerned and in the case of Disability and Carer's Allowance to an assessment of their means. In this way, resources can be targeted to people in most need.
I am aware of an ongoing campaign by Epilepsy Ireland. I fully recognise the issues and difficulties that can arise due to a person being diagnosed with epilepsy and who is unable to drive as a result of their condition.
I have met with representatives of Epilepsy Ireland to discuss its proposal in detail and following the meeting I asked my Department officials to examine the issues raised in relation to access to the Free Travel scheme.
As previously advised to the Deputy, I am awaiting a report from my officials on the issues raised by Epilepsy Ireland. I expect to receive the report shortly and will carefully consider its contents and any recommendations that it may contain.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
400. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review an application by a person (details supplied) for carer’s benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21304/23]
View answerCarer's benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention. Carer’s Benefit is payable to a carer for up to a maximum of 104 weeks in respect of a care recipient.
To qualify, the carer must satisfy PRSI conditions, employment conditions, show that they are providing full-time care and attention, and must show that the care recipient requires full-time care and attention.
An application for Carer’s Benefit was received from the person concerned on the 16 February 2022 in respect of their daughter. The claim was awarded for 33 weeks for the periods 06/01/2022 to 02/03/2022 and 09/06/2022 to 30/11/2022 following a review and subsequent extension request.
The person concerned made a further application with current medical information on 20 January 2023 to extend the period of benefit. The extension application was disallowed as the care recipient was deemed not to require full time care and attention based on this current medical information. A decision letter issued to the person concerned on 17 February 2023 to this effect.
A review request was received on 23 March 2023 with supplementary information. Following this review, the decision remained unchanged as the care recipient was deemed not to require full time care and attention. A decision letter issued to this effect on 28 March 2023.
An Appeal request has been submitted to the Department and is currently with the Appeals Office.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
401. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection when a working family payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21324/23]
View answerWorking Family Payment (WFP) is a weekly in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. To qualify for Working Family Payment, the customer must be working a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight in ongoing insurable employment and have at least one qualified child who normally resides with them.
An application for WFP was received by the department on 6th April 2023 and this was examined by a deciding officer. The person concerned was in receipt of another scheme incompatible with WFP until 11th April 2023. The WFP claim was therefore awarded for the 52-week period from 13th April 2023. The person concerned has been advised in writing of their award and arrears have issued to their nominated bank account.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
