Written Answers Nos. 391-398
391. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection If bereavement/funeral payment/death benefit grant is available to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24005/23]
View answerUnder the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, my Department may make an Additional Needs Payment (ANP) to help meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income. An ANP application can be made for assistance with funeral and burial expenses where there is an inability to pay these costs, in part or in full, by the family of the deceased person without causing hardship.
For the convenience of the person concerned, a SWA application pack was posted to them on 15/05/2023. A fully completed application should be returned to the Community Welfare Service with any supporting documentation. When all the necessary information has been received the person’s application will be processed, and they will be advised of the outcome in writing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
392. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the basis for the intended cessation of OPFA in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24009/23]
View answerOne-Parent Family Payment (OPFP) is a payment for parents under 66 years who are parenting without the support of a partner and whose youngest child is under 7 years of age. A person’s eligibility to OPFP ceases when their youngest child turns 7. However they may qualify for other income supports including the Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment (JST). This is a means tested payment for people who do not live with a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant and whose youngest child is between 7 and 14 years.
As the youngest child of the person concerned will be 7 years of age in June this year, a letter has issued to the person explaining that their OPFP is ceasing shortly and advising them of the options available to them. Following your representation, a JST application form has been sent to the person concerned.
The person can return a completed application form to their local Intreo Centre together with any supporting documentation. The application will be processed promptly, and the person will be advised of the outcome in writing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
393. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current position in respect a carer’s allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24010/23]
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.
Once claims are in payment, the Department periodically reviews them to ensure that there is continued entitlement. Depending on the circumstances in each case and to make best use of resources, a review may only concentrate on a specific condition of entitlement.
Means are any income belonging to the carer and their spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant, property, (except their own home) or an asset that could bring in money or provide them with an income, for example occupational pensions, or pensions or benefits from another country.
In this case, the means of the person concerned are being reviewed and a letter issued to the person concerned on 21 February 2023 in this regard. Certain information and documentary evidence was requested to ensure that the person concerned remains eligible for payment.
Following receipt of documents provided by the person concerned, a further information request was issued on 9 May 2023 seeking up to date bank statements as well as clarification in relation to certain aspects of the documentation provided.
Once all requested information has been received, the review will be completed and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
394. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the maximum possible rate for carer’s allowance was not approved in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24011/23]
View answerCarer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
I can advise the Deputy that separate applications for CA were received from the person concerned on 31 March 2023 and 3 April 2023 in respect of two care recipients.
It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have such a disability that they require full-time care and attention.
Full-time care is defined as requiring, from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continual supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.
It is also a condition for receipt of CA that the carer must be providing full-time care and attention. The time spent providing care each week must not be less than 35 hours per week over 5 to 7 days.
The evidence submitted in support of both applications was examined and the Deciding Officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied for either care recipient.
The person concerned was notified on 8 May 2023 of both decisions, the reasons for them and of their right of review and appeal.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
395. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason non-contributory pension is not payable or will it be restored in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24012/23]
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 27 February 2023. She has been awarded DA with effect from 1 March 2023. The first payment will be made by her chosen payment method on 24 May 2023.
Arrears of payment due will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustments are calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments (if applicable).
The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 16 May 2023.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
396. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications that were received for the Garda recruitment campaign 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23683/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including all human resource matters and recruitment. As Minister, I have no direct role in such matters.
As the Deputy will also be aware An Garda Síochána launched a new recruitment campaign on 24 March and closed on 14 April 2023.
This year’s campaign, which was shorter in duration than the 2022 campaign attracted 4,973 applicants. While there was some pent up demand last year due to the pause in Garda recruitment due to COVID, this level of interest is in line with 2019, the last pre COVID recruitment campaign, and demonstrates the demand to join An Garda Síochána is as strong as ever.
The initial stage of the application process for this year’s campaign differed to the 2022 campaign with all applicants filling out an application in the first instance, rather than just declaring an interest. This gives a clearer picture of how many people are fully committed to applying this year.
I would like to encourage anyone called as part of the 2022 or 2023 competition not to defer but to make sure they are fully fit and ready to take up the opportunity.
397. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Justice if he will provide an update on the situation whereby a number of tents have been erected in close proximity to the International Protection Office in Dublin city centre, the impact on local residents, the controversies which have already occurred there between different groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23708/23]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the Department of Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth is responsible for providing accommodation and related supports to people in the protection process, and is endeavouring to accommodate those applicants not yet provided with accommodation as soon as possible. The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of that Department records those persons it has not yet been able to accommodate and provides a range of supports to take account of these circumstances.
Along with other members of Government I am of course concerned at the incidents referred to and am assured by the Garda Commissioner that these are receiving the appropriate policing attention.
It is important to say that so many communities across Ireland have demonstrated great solidarity to those who come here seeking protection.
There have been a number of protests recently, and there is a small minority whose intentions are to create division and are engaging in intimidation rather than protest at these events.
I am assured by the Garda authorities that, as with any protest, the policing approach is predicated on keeping people safe, preventing any anti-social and criminal behaviour and traffic management, where appropriate. We have seen recently that An Garda Síochána will deploy an increased presence where they deem it necessary.
An Garda Síochána continue to provide an effective policing response to known and impromptu protests to ensure public safety, and I know that Garda management keep these matters under continual review.
398. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Justice if his Department and the Government will agree to establish a group to review the remuneration of a sector (details supplied) within a short time, noting that the remuneration of the sector has not been reviewed for more than fifteen years; if not, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23720/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Coroner Service provides an important service to next of kin and society in general in seeking to explain the causes of death in those instances which are reportable by law.
My Department is committed to bringing forward nationwide coroner review proposals to address identified issues and drive innovative change. I can assure the Deputy that work is well underway in my Department in that regard.
Departmental officials, at the request of the Coroner Society of Ireland, are currently considering the Coroners Society’s request to restore coronial fees to their pre-April 2009 levels. Restoration of the previous rate of fees requires consultation with the Departments of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government and the Local Authorities which fund Coroners outside of the Dublin district.
