Written Answers Nos. 121-136
121. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection the nature and extent of the engagement that her Department has had with other Government agencies and Departments in relation to the problems faced by workers who live in the North and who work for Southern-based companies, who wish to work from home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24625/23]
View answerWhere queries arise in relation to specific cases concerning cross border workers who work remotely from home my Department liaises with the relevant bodies pertaining to that case. If the Deputy wishes to provide details of a particular case where difficulties are arising, I will have the matter looked into by my Department and followed-up with other relevant Departments.
My Department does cooperate with the Department of Communities Northern Ireland on the Cross Border Partnership for Employment Services (CBPES). CBPES provides information to workers and jobseekers on employment related issues on both sides of the border.
The other organisations represented on the Partnership are the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), Dundalk Chamber of Commerce, Irish Business and Employer’s Confederation (IBEC), Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), Londonderry Chamber of Commerce and the union, Unite. CBPES provides information to workers and jobseekers on employment related issues on both sides of the border.
The most recent CBPES Steering Committee meeting took place on the 20th April 2023.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
122. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports that are or will be available for older people facing higher energy bills, in particular, high gas bills; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24650/23]
View answerWhile the State Pension is the main support provided by my Department to older people, my Department also provides further support to those who qualify through the following secondary benefits: -
• The Fuel Allowance which is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €412 million in 2023.
• The Household Benefits Package (HHB) which comprises of the electricity or gas allowance of €35 per month and the free television licence. My Department will spend approximately €285 million this year on HHB for over 511,000 customers.
Furthermore, Additional Needs Payments may also be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which an applicant is unable to meet out of his / her own resources. There is no automatic entitlement to this payment. Each application is determined by a community welfare officer based on the particular circumstances of the case. Eligible people would normally be in receipt of a social welfare or Health Service Executive payment.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, a special heating supplement may be paid to assist people in certain circumstances that have special heating needs (e.g. in the case of ill health, infirmity or a medical condition). In order to qualify for a heating supplement, the claimant must live alone or only with a qualified adult or child and satisfy the standard means test for receipt of supplementary welfare allowance.
The Government is very aware of the increased cost of living and, in Budget 2023, has provided an unprecedented response that aims to ease the financial pressure on households throughout the State.
As part of the Government's cost of living measures in Budget 2023, an Autumn Cost of Living Double Payment was paid to Social Protection recipients, including pensioners, in October.
In November, a €200 Lump Sum Payment was paid to pensioners and people with a disability receiving the Living Alone Allowance, a €500 Cost of Living Payment was paid to people receiving Carer’s Support Grant and a €500 Cost of Living lump sum was paid to people in receipt of Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension and Blind Pension. A €400 additional Lump Sum payment was also paid to all households in receipt of the Fuel Allowance Payment. A double month of Child Benefit was paid and a €500 lump sum payment was made to people in receipt of Working Family Payment.
In December, a Christmas Bonus Double Payment was paid to 1.3 million Social Protection recipients including pensioners, carers and people with disabilities.
From January 2023, the maximum rate of core Social Welfare rates was increased. There were proportionate increases for qualified adults and for people getting a reduced rate.
Also, from January 2023, a new Fuel Allowance means threshold was introduced for people aged 70 years and over. The new means threshold is €500 for a single person and €1,000 for a couple. Under the formula used to assess means for the Fuel Allowance for over 70s, the threshold for capital that is disregarded in the assessment was increased from €20,000 to €50,000. The weekly means threshold for those aged under 70 was increased by €80 to €200 above the appropriate rate of State Pension (Contributory). Similarly, the allowable means for HHB purposes for those aged between 66-69 not in receipt of a qualifying payment was also increased by €80 to €200 above the appropriate rate of State Pension (Contributory).
The enhanced electricity credit of €600 is another important Government measure announced in the Budget. This benefitted all households.
Furthermore, I recently announced a further range of measures to support people through this difficult period. This package includes a €200 lump sum payment which was paid to over 1.3 million recipients in receipt of long-term social welfare payments, including pensioners.
Any decision to provide any further measures to help older people facing higher energy bills will be considered in the context of overall scheme policy and budgetary considerations.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
123. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who availed of the activation and family support programme in 2022 to fund the cost of training supports and education courses for people on social welfare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24677/23]
View answerThe Department's Activation and Family Support Programme provides funding to assist local organisations and agencies implement training and education initiatives to address the needs of recipients of welfare payments and their families who are distant from the labour market.
The Activation and Family Support Programme provided funding to 10 organisations in 2022 which provided training to some 170 participants. Provisional outturn expenditure on the scheme in 2022 was €222,000.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
124. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the use of a designated Leap card for the free travel pass, with a view to cross-departmental collaboration towards better public transport services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24634/23]
View answerThe Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by, for example, Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, Luas, Local Link and services provided by over 80 private transport operators.
At the end of April 2023, there are nearly 1.07 million Free Travel primary recipients. When spouse and companion passes are taken into account, a total of 1.75 million people benefit from the Free Travel scheme.
Customers eligible for Free Travel are provided with a Public Services Card which includes a Free Travel token. The card displays the customer's photograph, used to verify the cardholder presenting for Free Travel, and is readable by the Integrated Ticketing System used by public transport operators. Therefore, existing Free Travel cards are already integrated with the ticketing machines used across transport operators.
While my Department has responsibility for determining eligibility for Free Travel entitlement for individuals, the provision, and improvement, of public transport services is solely a matter for my colleague Minister Ryan.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
125. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of social welfare recipients that were subject to means testing as a part of the assessment of their entitlement to a social welfare payment; the progress made with the review of means testing for all schemes that entail an element of means testing in them; when this review will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24673/23]
View answerThe number of recipients on Social Assistance schemes based on the preliminary DSP April 2023 statistical report is 546,000. These figures are subject to change based on the finalisation of the monthly report. These schemes are generally subject to means testing. Extended DSP Statistics are published quarterly on the Government web site.
Finally, I have committed to a carrying out broad review of means testing this year which will include consideration of means test provisions - this review is ongoing and I hope to complete it in Quarter 4.
I trust that clarifies matters for the Deputy.
127. 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 reason that 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. [24440/23]
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. Other supports will include a €100 Child Benefit lump sum in June and a once-off €100 increase Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance.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 payments, 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.
128. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will advise on her Department's review of means testing for carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24667/23]
View answerThe Government recognises the important role that family carers play in Irish society and is fully committed to supporting them through a range of payments and services. Means tests in my Department are kept under regular review and a number of significant changes have been made in recent years. In particular, I have introduced a number of changes to means testing which provide for higher income disregards. These disregards ensure that, where people are in receipt of a social assistance payment and are working, a certain level of income from that work is not assessed in the means test.Carer’s Allowance is a payment to people on low incomes who are caring full-time for a person who needs support because of age, disability or illness, including mental illness. The two principal conditions for receipt of Carer’s Allowance are that full-time care and attention is required and being provided, and that the means test is satisfied.The conditions attached to payment of Carer’s Allowance are consistent with the overall conditions that apply to social assistance payments generally. This system of social assistance supports provides payments based on an income need with the means test playing the critical role in determining whether or not an income need arises as a consequence of a particular contingency, be that illness, disability, unemployment or caring.In responding to the representations from representative organisations and the voices of family carers, significant changes were made to the Carer’s Allowance means test as part of Budget 2022.
• The capital and savings disregard for the Carer’s Allowance means assessment was increased from €20,000 to €50,000, aligning it with that which applies for Disability Allowance.
• The weekly income disregard was increased from €332.50 to €350 for a single person, and from €665 to €750 for carers with a spouse/partner.
The changes came into effect on 2 June 2022. As a result, Carer's Allowance disregards are the highest income disregards in the entire social welfare system.The Carer’s Support Grant is an annual payment for carers who look after people in need of full-time care and attention. The grant is paid in a single annual lump sum, which is not means-tested and is not taxable. It is paid in respect of each care recipient. The Grant is currently paid at a rate of €1,850 per year, which is the highest rate at which it has been paid since it was first introduced in 1999.As part of Budget 2023, I announced a range of measures directly benefiting family carers, particularly in light of the current cost of living crisis, including payment of a €500 lump sum to Carers in November. Finally, I have committed to a carrying out broad review of means testing this year which will include consideration of Carer's Allowance means test provisions - this review is ongoing.
129. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will give consideration to removing the means test for carer's allowance or to increasing the carer's allowance income threshold given the significant increase in the cost of living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24157/23]
View answerThe Government acknowledges the important role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for Government and the National Carers’ Strategy.The key role of my department is to provide income supports where an income need may arise due to unemployment, illness/disability and caring responsibilities. The payments provided are an income support to people who cannot earn, or can only earn a limited income, and who have no other means or resources to rely upon.The 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.Removal of the means assessment for Carer’s Allowance, as the Deputy proposes, would change the scheme from a targeted income maintenance support for those most in need to a new universal social protection scheme. This would give rise to a very significant annual cost and could only be considered within a wider budgetary context.
As part of Budget 2022, I introduced significant improvements to the means test for Carer's Allowance. These were the first changes to the means test in 14 years:
• For carers who work, the weekly income disregard was increased from €332.50 to €350 for a single person, and from €665 to €750 for carers with a spouse/partner.
• The capital and savings disregard for the Carer’s Allowance means assessment was increased from €20,000 to €50,000, aligning it with the capital means test for Disability Allowance.
The Carer's Allowance disregards are the highest income disregards in the social welfare system.More recently, as part of Budget 2023, I announced a range of measures directly benefitting family carers, particularly in light of the current cost of living crisis. These include:
• A cost of living double payment to carers paid in October.
• A €500 cost of living payment for people receiving Carer’s Support Grant paid in November.
• Carers received the Christmas Bonus Double Payment in December.
• A €200 lump sum payment for those in receipt of long-term payments, including carers, in April 2023.
• A €12 increase in the maximum rate of Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit took effect from January 2023 with proportionate increases for people receiving a reduced rate.
• A €2 increase for each Qualified Child bringing rates to €50 for Over 12s and €42 for Under 12s from January 2023.
• The Half-rate Carer’s Allowance is now disregarded in the means assessment for Fuel Allowance since January 2023.
• Domiciliary Care Allowance increased by €20.50 to €330 per month with effect from January 2023.
• Domiciliary Care Allowance is now available in respect of children with severe illness or disability who remain in hospital for up to six months after birth.
In addition to Carer's Allowance, my department also provides a non-means tested payment to those carers who have to leave the workforce or reduce their hours in the form of Carer’s Benefit. For those providing ongoing care and attention for a child aged under 16 with a severe disability, Domiciliary Care Allowance is available and is also not means-tested. Furthermore, the Carer's Support Grant - which I increased to its highest-ever rate of €1,850 - is available to carers who are not on a social welfare payment. I would like to point out to the Deputy that next Thursday some 141,000 Carer's Support Grants will be paid to approximately 126,000 family carers.
Notwithstanding the increased level of support already in place for carers, I have asked my department to keep these measures under review as part of the annual budgetary process. Finally, I have committed to a carrying out a broad review of means testing this year which will include Carer's Allowance means test provisions. Changes to any of the schemes on foot of this review will only be done in the context of ensuring the most effective and targeted use of public funds that are required to provide income support on a broad societal level.I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
130. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the report being compiled by her Department on expanding the free travel scheme for people who have been excluded from driving with epilepsy is available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24641/23]
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.
131. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of trips that were taken by senior citizens on the free travel scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24681/23]
View answerThe Free Travel Scheme was introduced in 1967 to promote social inclusion and prevent the isolation of elderly and disabled people by taking advantage of free space on public transport services.
The Free Travel Scheme is available to all persons aged over 66 and those under age 66 on certain qualified payments, who are living legally and permanently in the State. The scheme permits those who are eligible to travel for free on most CIE public transport services, Local Link, LUAS and a range of transport services offered by some 80 private operators countrywide.
At the end of April 2023, there are nearly 1.07 million Free Travel recipients and, of these, some 760,000 are over age 66. When spouse and companions are taken into account, 1.75 million people benefit from the Free Travel scheme.
Details on the Free Travel journeys taken by individuals over age 66, or any age, is not held by my Department.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
133. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider raising the age limit for domiciliary care allowance to 18 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24638/23]
View answerDomiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly allowance payable to a parent/guardian in respect of a child aged under 16, who has a severe disability and requires continual or continuous care and attention in the home, substantially in excess of the level of care and attention normally required by a child of the same age.
DCA ceases to be payable when a child turns 16. A child may transition to Disability Allowance (DA) from age 16, even if still attending fulltime education, subject to satisfying all qualifying conditions for that scheme including certain medical criteria and a means test.
The Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025 includes a commitment to develop and consult on a "Strawman" proposal for the restructuring of long-term disability payments to streamline the system and take account of the concerns expressed in the "Make Work Pay for People with Disabilities (MWP) report. Many of the MWP recommendations focused on the need to support young adults through education, training and social inclusion according to their capacity, and to change the qualifying age for Disability Allowance from 16 to 18 years of age while extending the age limit for receipt of Domiciliary Care Allowance to 18 years of age.
Work on the "Strawman" is at an advanced stage. It is intended to carry out a wider consultation process with all stakeholders and advocacy groups following publication.
It is imperative when deciding on any changes to social protection schemes, including changes to the age limits for the relevant scheme(s), that such changes have a positive impact on those in receipt of the payments and that any unintended consequences are avoided.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
134. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will adjust upwards the income from work that is not taken into account to qualify for disability allowance. [24298/23]
View answerDisability Allowance is structured to support recipients to avail of work opportunities, be that self-employment or insurable employment.
Changes made across a range of payments in the last three budgets have targeted employment. Budget 2023 was the third successive budget that the Government has progressively increased earnings disregards, which will see people with disabilities retaining more of their payments while in employment.
The earnings disregard for recipients of Disability Allowance increased by almost 38% over the last three budgets. It is currently set at €165 per week where a person can retain the full amount of their payment. Then, between €165 and €375 a 50% taper on earnings applies. The maximum a person can earn and still keep a portion of their Disability Allowance payment is €495.10 per week .
Any further changes to the earnings disregards would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
135. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will adjust the rate of fuel allowance in a way which will be determined by a strong evidence base on the minimum energy needs of households; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24644/23]
View answerThe Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €412 million in 2023. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. Only one allowance is paid per household.The Fuel Allowance is paid to social welfare recipients such as pensioners, people with disabilities, lone parents and the long-term unemployed in recognition of their long-term financial dependence on their social welfare payment for all or most of their income. The allowance represents a contribution towards a person's normal heating expenses. It is not intended to meet those costs in full.There has never been any link between the rate of Fuel Allowance paid and the minimum energy needs of households. The energy needs of households and the cost of the same can vary enormously depending on a number of factors including the type of fuel used to heat a home, the size of the home, geographical factors, age and health of members of the household and the age and energy efficiency of the dwelling itself.It would therefore be inpractical to link the rate of Fuel Allowance paid to the minimum energy needs of households. Any decision to do so would have significant cost implications for the scheme and could only be considered while taking account of the overall budgetary context and the availability of financial resources.As the Deputy is aware, the Government has provided a range of supports to assist people with rising energy costs to date, through a series of targeted lump sum payments and increases in core payment rates for those in receipt of social welfare payments, and through the energy credit scheme which was available to all households.The Government will continue to monitor the imapct of engery costs and will, as it has to date, take appropriate responses as necessary.Finally, the Department of Social Protection provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have an urgent need, which they cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers.I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
136. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will ensure that households that have accumulated significant debts, including arrears on bills and on pre-payment meters, have access to sufficient support to avoid a long-term legacy of indebtedness and reduced financial resilience; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24666/23]
View answerThe Department of Social Protection has an important role in supporting those who are most vulnerable in society.
It is important to note that the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities is running a public campaign informing people of their rights if they are struggling with utility payments. It also notifies people that providers are willing and obliged to work with them on a payment plan.
From a Department of Social Protection perspective, the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, provides, where necessary, Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income such as arrears that have accumulated on energy bills and on prepay meters.
Government has provided €66.0 million for the Additional Needs Payment schemes and €3.27 million for reoccurring supplements in 2023. This is a demand-led scheme with no budget cap.
Payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme who will consider all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance. This assistance is available to anyone who needs it, even to those who are working but on a low income.
In response to the on-going cost-of-living pressures, Budget 2023, saw the largest Social Protection package in the history of the state at a total of €2.2 billion. Some €1.3 billion of this package was targeted to provide a wide range of lump-sum payments to alleviate the cost of living pressures. These measures included a €400 Lump Sum Fuel Allowance Payment that was made to all households receiving the Fuel Allowance, a €200 Spring Bonus was paid to all long-term social welfare recipients at the end of April 2023 and a significant expansion of the Fuel Allowance Scheme that focused on supporting older people over 70 was implemented.
Government has provided an enhanced electricity credit of €600 which has benefited Bill and Prepay meter users alike.
Persistent difficulty with indebtedness can be helped through budgetary advice from the Money Advice and Budgeting Service. While this engagement is not a pre-condition for receipt of assistance, the service provides impartial advice and expertise to help people manage money and take control of debt.
I would encourage any person on a low income who needs assistance with bills to engage with their provider to agree a suitable repayment plan, and, where necessary, 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.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
