Written Answers Nos. 452-467
452. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of a disability allowance application in the case of a person (details supplied) who applied for same in April; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22601/23]
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 17 April 2023. The processing time for individual DA claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim.
As their initial application did not contain all the information required for a decision, a letter was sent to the person concerned on 5 May 2023 requesting this supporting documentation. The information request allows the person concerned 21 days to provide the required information in order to determine the eligibility for DA.
On receipt of this information, a decision will be made and the person will be notified of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
453. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of a supplementary welfare allowance application in the case of a person (details supplied) who applied for same and a disability allowance in April; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22603/23]
View answerDepartmental records reflect the person concerned has not made a recent application for a Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA). It is open to the person to apply by completing a SWA1 form and providing all relevant documents in support of their application.
For convenience, a SWA application pack was posted to the person concerned on 09/05/2023. On receipt of a completed application form and supporting documentation, the claim will be assessed, and the person will be advised of the outcome in writing.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
454. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm the number of public servants who were transferred from a class A to Class D stamp (public servants recruited before 6 April 1995); the entitlements these individuals have; if there are any plans to expand eligibility for the State pension for persons who paid class D PRSI; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22606/23]
View answer455. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm the number of public servants who were transferred from class A to class D stamp pre-1995; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22607/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 454 and 455 together.
Civil and public sector employees recruited prior to 6 April 1995 paid social insurance contributions at modified rates under classes B, C and D and continue to do so after this date. There were no such employees transferred from class A to class D. However, all civil and public servants recruited from 6 April 1995 pay social insurance at the standard class A rate.
Prior to 6 April 1995, civil and public servants did not have access to the full range of social insurance benefits as their terms of employment protected them against the main contingencies of illness and old age, and the risk of unemployment was not considered a factor due to the nature of their employment.
Consequently, such contributors pay less in social insurance contributions in return for fewer social insurance benefits. For example, class D contributors currently pay a contribution at the rate of 0.9% on their weekly earnings up to €1,443 and 4% on weekly earnings over that amount and their employers pay a contribution of 2.35% on all employee earnings.
In contrast, class A contributors pay a contribution of 4% on their weekly earnings and their employers pay a contribution of 8.8% where employees’ weekly earnings are €441 or less and 11.05% where their employees’ weekly earnings exceed €441. Class A contributors have access to the full range of social insurance benefits.
While the modified rates of social insurance under classes B, C and D do not give entitlement to the State pension (contributory), such contributors may, subject to a means test, qualify for the State pension (non-contributory).
Social insurance contributions are made in accordance with the legislation and the employment terms and conditions in force at the time they are made and eligibility for social insurance benefits flow from that. I have no plans to extend further social insurance benefits to modified contributors.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
456. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider bringing forward supports, including tax relief, for the non-custodial parents/guardians of children, as part of Budget 2024, as a way of supporting their care of children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22614/23]
View answerIssues relating to tax relief are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Finance.
The One-Parent Family Payment is a payment for lone parents under 66, who are not cohabiting, and whose youngest child is under seven. The Jobseekers Transitional Payment is a special arrangement under the Jobseeker’s Allowance scheme for lone parents under 66 who are not cohabiting and whose child/children are between seven and fourteen years old.
In addition to other requirements, to be eligible for either of these supports the applicant must be the main carer for at least one child. This means, for example, that the child must live with that person. The One Parent Family Payment and the Jobseekers Transitional Payment are not paid where there is joint equal custody of a child or children or in cases of non-custodial parents or guardians. There are no plans to make changes in this regard.
Where a person who has an income need, does not qualify for either of the above payments, they may qualify for another of the Department's income supports, such as Jobseeker's Allowance.
Where a person is in receipt of a payment from my Department, an Increase for a Qualified Child may be payable in respect of each qualified child who normally resides with them. Where the parents of a child are living apart, the child is considered normally resident with the parent s/he lives with. The child shall be considered normally resident with the parent who has legal custody, provided this person is substantially maintaining the child.
However, Where the parent with whom the child is residing is not in receipt of a social welfare payment and the other parent is contributing substantially towards the maintenance of the child, then the child may be deemed to be normally resident with the other parent who may therefore qualify for an Increase for a Qualified Child on their payment.
My Department continuously reviews its services and schemes to ensure they are meeting policy objectives. Any proposed changes will need to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the position.
457. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will advise on a payment for a person (details supplied). [22679/23]
View answerThe person concerned reached pension age on 26 March 2021. An application form for State Pension (contributory) was received on 28 January 2021.
The person concerned was awarded State Pension (contributory) at the maximum weekly rate, currently €265.30, from 26 March 2021. The Increase for a qualified adult was awarded at the maximum rate of €237.80, from 18 January 2023.
The person concerned advised on their State Pension (contributory) application received on 28 January 2021 that they did not wish to apply for an increase for their spouse. An application for the increase was subsequently received on 3 February 2022.
An increase for qualified adult is a means-tested payment, payable to a claimant whose spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is being wholly or mainly maintained by them, and where that qualified adult’s personal means from any source does not exceed a means test income limit.
Where a qualified adult has weekly means of less than €100, the maximum rate of IQA is payable. Where their weekly means are over €100 and not more than €310, a tapering reduced rate of IQA is payable. If the qualified adult has means of more than €310 per week, this exceeds the means limit and there is no entitlement to an IQA payment. Where property or assets are held jointly, the qualified adult's means are assessed as half of the total amount. The family home is not included in the means assessment.
The case was referred to a social welfare inspector to establish entitlement. The claim was withdrawn by the person concerned.
Following your representation, my officials have referred the case to the social welfare inspector to establish entitlement to the increase for a qualified adult from 3 February 2022. On completion of this review, a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome without delay.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
458. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the case of a school (details supplied); if she is aware that this school now has a funding shortfall because the breakfast club is funding capped at 150 pupils; the additional funding that will be provided to this school to supplement this financial shortfall; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22708/23]
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.
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.
Entry to the School Meals Scheme has been confined to DEIS schools in addition to schools identified by the Department of Education as having levels of concentrated disadvantage that would benefit from access to the School Meals Programme. The school referred to by the Deputy was identified by the Department of Education as having a level of disadvantage that could benefit from school meals and were approved for funding for breakfast since 2017. As they were a non DEIS school at this time their funding was capped.
In March 2022, the Minister for Education announced an extension of the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in School to an additional 320 schools from September 2022. In July 2022, I announced that the access to the hot school meal option would be extended to the 282 newly designated DEIS primary schools and to the cold lunch option to the 38 newly designated DEIS secondary schools from September, benefitting some 60,000 children. This allowed all pupils in the new DEIS schools to avail of one substantial meal for the additional budget provided.
The school referred to by the Deputy is among the newly designated DEIS schools in 2022 and was approved for the hot school meals option for its full enrollment of 188 pupils. In addition, they were able to retain the funding for breakfast at the capped amount. Schools are advised at the start of each academic year to take note of their allocation for each club and manage their expenditure accordingly.
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.
Any additional measures to expand the coverage of other meal options would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
459. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person applies for the additional needs payment to purchase a household appliance such as a cooker, fridge or washing machine, if the store refuses to supply an invoice if the community welfare officer will accept an online quote from a store; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22766/23]
View answerUnder the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income.
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.
In general, where ANP applications are made for assistance with the purchase of kitchen appliances, a quotation with regard to the cost of the item is required and this can be an on-line quotation.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
460. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the progress made to date in respect of implementing the recommendations specific to her Department outlined in the Report on the Operation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 to improve the functioning of the ISL Act; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22773/23]
View answerThe Irish Sign Language (ISL) Act 2017 assigns specific responsibilities to the Minister for Social Protection in relation to the funding of a scheme of accreditation for ISL interpreters (Section 7) and the provision of funds to facilitate ISL users with access to specific events, services and other activities, as specified in guidelines (Section 9).
I have assigned the implementation of these responsibilities to the Citizens Information Board (CIB), a statutory body under the aegis of my Department.
In relation to Section 7 of the ISL Act, in 2020, CIB’s funded company, the Sign Language Interpreting Service (SLIS), with the support of CIB, established the Register of Irish Sign Language Interpreters (RISLI). The first of its kind in Ireland, RISLI strengthens and guarantees the quality of ISL provision, by ensuring that interpreters reach specified standards and partake in Continuous Professional Development to maintain their registration status.
In relation to Section 9 of the ISL Act, in 2021, SLIS, with the support of CIB, conducted a four-month pilot scheme, which provided access to free ISL interpretation for eligible activities, in accordance with developed guidelines. An evaluation was completed in 2022 and its recommendations will form part of a future scheme, to ensure it meets the needs of the Deaf community and obligations under the ISL Act. SLIS is currently developing a proposal on the operation of a future scheme, taking into account the pilot evaluation and other relevant considerations, such as the limited supply of ISL interpreters in Ireland and current ISL services provided by SLIS and other public bodies and Government Departments.
In relation to your reference to the Report on the Operation of the ISL Act, published by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in January 2023, the Minister for Social Protection is cited in two recommendations as follows:
- "Review and develop an action plan to increase the supply of interpreters as a priority: Ministers for Children Equality Disability Integration and Youth (CEDIY), Social Protection, and Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (FHERIS;); National Skills Council.
- "Consider addressing guidance and standards for reasonable accommodations for ISL interpretation in future work on ‘reasonable accommodation’ under the Employment Equality Acts, including consideration of a scheme to provide ISL interpretation for employees: Ministers for Social Protection, CEDIY and Enterprise, Trade and Employment (ETE); IHREC."
With regard to the first recommendation on increasing the supply of interpreters, which is a key issue identified in the Report, as this recommendation relates to education and training, it is important to note that neither CIB or SLIS have an education or training remit, with SLIS’s key role being the provision of high quality ISL interpretation services.
With regard to the second recommendation on guidance and standards for reasonable accommodation, my Department has provided input to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, which is developing a Code of Practice on Reasonable Accommodation.
Furthermore, the Reasonable Accommodation Fund in my Department aims to support the employment of disabled people by providing financial support to help make workplaces more accessible. The Job Interview Interpreter grant is available under this Fund, which provides funding to a person with hearing loss or speech impairment to hire an interpreter to accompany them to a job interview as well as induction training.
My Department has reviewed the Reasonable Accommodation Fund, and the review, which was informed by a public consultation held in 2022, will be published shortly. The review is to see how to improve the effectiveness of the grants and to identify gaps in provision.
In addition, in Budget 2023, I announced an additional €1 million in funding to expand the provisions made under the Reasonable Accommodation Fund grant, including interpreting services, and to support the recommendations from the forthcoming review.
I trust the above clarifies the Deputy’s query.
461. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection what assessable property was used by a deciding officer in County Donegal to carry out a means assessment for a jobseeker's allowance claim by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22833/23]
View answerThe person concerned has been in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance from September 2021 to date. The means assessment completed by a Social Welfare Inspector in the Buncrana Office is based on independent auctioneer property valuations submitted by the customer in March 2023.
The customer has requested an appeal which is being prepared by a Deciding Officer in the Buncrana Intreo Office . An appeal submission will shortly be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The appeals office will issue a decision in writing to the customer when they have completed their deliberations.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
462. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will review the PRSI contributions system in order that adult dependents who have worked in the home may be entitled to full future social welfare benefits such as the recent €200 cost-of-living support payment; if she will provide a full explanation for the rationale for why adult dependents and others with insufficient PRSI contributions who have worked in the home were not entitled to the recent €200 cost-of-living support payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22970/23]
View answerThe €200 Spring 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.
It is part of a range of additional Cost of Living supports valued at over €400 million announced in February, following on from the largest Social Protection Budget in the history of the state last September, which will provide support to people and families - other supports will include a €100 Child Benefit lump sum in June and a €100 Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance lump sum.
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 a social insurance payment based on their PRSI contributions, they may qualify for a means-tested social assistance payment.
Any proposal to extend full social welfare benefits, to include such cost of living support payment, to adult dependents, would have to be considered in a budgetary context with a view to the sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
463. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a jobseekers application for a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22976/23]
View answerThe Person Concerned benefit exhausted on Jobseekers Benefit and a claim for Jobseekers Allowance was registered on 22/02/2023. They voluntarily withdrew their application in an email to the Social Welfare Inspector on the 13th of April 2023 and stated that they felt under pressure to obtain all the requested documents. Subsequently the Deciding Officer closed the application.
They attended the Kilbarrack IntreoCentre in person on the 21/04/2023 and stated that they wished to try and put all the requested paperwork for the application together. Upon receipt of a Representation from the Deputy an application was registered for Jobseekers Allowance on the 26th of April 2023.
As the previous application was withdrawn prior to the application being processed it will be necessary once the required documentation has been received from the client to re-examine the application and all documentation prior to making a decision.
In the interim if the Person Concerned is experiencing financial difficulty pending a decision on their Job Seekers application they may apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance which is a mean tested payment on household income.
464. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a payment for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22999/23]
View answerThe person concerned is in receipt of an Increase for a qualified adult on their State Pension (contributory). An increase for a qualified adult is a means-tested payment, payable to a claimant whose spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is being wholly or mainly maintained by them, and where that qualified adult’s personal means from any source does not exceed a means test income limit.
Following a recent review, the person concerned remains in receipt of the maximum rate increase for a qualified adult, €237.80 per week. The person concerned was notified of this decision on 8 May 2023.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
465. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage of social media posts made on each of her Departmental social media accounts or the social media accounts of public bodies and agencies that operate under her remit that were exclusively in Irish between 1 May 2022 and 30 April 2023, inclusive; the percentage of same that feature bilingual translations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23037/23]
View answerThe information requested is not readily available. My Department is in the process of working with agencies to collect and collate the data in question and will revert with a reply directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
466. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection how her Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under hers remit meet their obligations for reasonable accommodation under the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015. [23055/23]
View answerThe Department of Social Protection (DSP) and its Public Bodies and Agencies are committed to meeting its obligations for reasonable accommodation under the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015. In its most recent survey the percentage of employees in the Department who declared a disability was 6.37% of the workforce (i.e. 437 employees of the 6,860 staffing), exceeding with civil and public service aim of a minimum of 3%.
The Department has well established supports in place for people with disabilities including a dedicated Disability Liaison Officer (DLO) who provides support to staff and managers through advice, information, and reasonable accommodations and an Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Unit (ED&I) with whom the DLO collaborates allowing for further promotion of disability awareness and supports. This unit also organises department wide ED&I events, including International Day for Persons with Disabilities each December and several Disability Awareness initiatives throughout the calendar year.
The Department has participated in the Willing, Able, Mentoring (WAM) Programme aimed at people with disabilities who are graduates seeking work experience, recruiting four candidates in 2022 as temporary Executive Officers for a six-month period. For the first time, DSP has now permanently employed three of these candidates. Also in 2022, DSP employed one candidate from the Oireachtas Work Learning (OWL) programme and this staff member has progressed to a permanent contract. The Department has committed to participating in both these programmes again in 2023.
The two bodies under the remit of the Department's i.e. Pensions Authority and Citizens Information Board will respond separately to the Deputy, shortly.
467. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection when an applicant (details supplied) can expect a decision on their invalidity pension appeal. [23059/23]
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 on 30 March 2023. The claim had been registered by the Department on 29 November 2022 and disallowed by the Deciding Officer on 23 February 2023. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 11 May 2023 and the case was referred on 12 May 2023 to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
