Written Answers Nos. 452-468
452. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of a €1 increase in each of the social insurance schemes, social assistance schemes, other weekly schemes and other schemes' payments, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33940/23]
View answerThe estimated cost of a €1 increase in the personal rate of each of the social insurance schemes, social assistance schemes, other weekly schemes and other schemes' payments is shown in the tables below. Costings are provided including proportionate increases in qualified adult allowances.
|
Payment |
|
Personal |
Qualified Adult |
Total |
|
|
|
€m |
€m |
€m |
|
Social Insurance Schemes |
|
|
|
|
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
|
24.1 |
2.4 |
26.5 |
|
Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Con) Pension |
Under 66 |
1.5 |
|
1.5 |
|
|
66+ |
4.8 |
|
4.8 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
Under 66 |
0.1 |
|
0.1 |
|
|
66+ |
0.1 |
|
0.1 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
|
2.9 |
0.2 |
3.1 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
|
0.1 |
- |
0.1 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Contributory) |
|
0.1 |
|
0.1 |
|
Death Benefit Pension |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
Disablement Pension |
|
0.3 |
|
0.3 |
|
Illness Benefit |
|
2.7 |
0.1 |
2.8 |
|
Injury Benefit |
|
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
|
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
|
1.9 |
0.1 |
1.9 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit (Self Employed) |
|
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
|
0.2 |
- |
0.2 |
|
Health and Safety Benefit |
|
0.0 |
- |
0.0 |
|
Maternity & Adoptive Benefit |
|
1.0 |
- |
1.0 |
|
Paternity & Parent's Benefit |
|
0.4 |
- |
0.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Social Assistance Schemes |
|
|
|
|
|
State Pension (Non-Con) |
|
4.9 |
0.1 |
5.0 |
|
Blind Person's Pension |
|
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
|
Widow/ers or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Con) Pension |
|
0.1 |
|
0.1 |
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
|
2.1 |
|
2.1 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
Under 66 |
2.5 |
- |
2.5 |
|
|
66+ |
0.1 |
- |
0.1 |
|
Half Rate Carer's Allowance |
Under 66 |
0.7 |
|
0.7 |
|
|
66+ |
0.4 |
|
0.4 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory) |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance Max Rate |
|
6.1 |
0.7 |
6.9 |
|
JA age 18 to 24 |
|
0.7 |
0.0 |
0.7 |
|
Disability Allowance |
|
8.2 |
0.6 |
8.8 |
|
Farm Assist |
|
0.2 |
0.1 |
0.3 |
|
Employment Support Schemes (BTWA & BTEA) |
|
0.3 |
0.1 |
0.4 |
|
Employment/Internship Schemes (CE, Tús, RSS etc.) |
|
1.6 |
0.2 |
1.8 |
|
Work Placement Experience Programme |
|
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
|
0.6 |
0.1 |
0.6 |
|
TOTAL* |
|
68.7 |
4.6 |
73.3 |
*Rounding may effect totals
|
Changes to other Schemes/Payments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total €m |
|
€1 change in the monthly rate of Child Benefit |
|
|
|
14.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
€1 change in the rate of Fuel Allowance |
|
|
|
12.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change to the duration of the Fuel Allowance - cost of an additional week |
|
|
|
14.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
€1 change in the rate of Qualified Child Increase - age under 12 |
|
|
|
11.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
€1 change in the rate of Qualified Child Increase - age 12 and over |
|
|
|
4.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
€1 change in the rate of Living Alone Allowance |
|
|
|
12.5 |
Please note: These costings are subject to change over the coming months in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients.
453. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection whether it is possible to claim retrospection on the fuel allowance where it can be established that an applicant met the means guidelines but had not applied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33983/23]
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.
Fuel Allowance claims are awarded from date of receipt of the application. Backdating of a claim can be considered where the applicant has demonstrated good cause for the delay in making a claim or where there are extenuating circumstances.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
454. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the funding provided to MABS in each of the years 2019 to 2023, respectively. [34076/23]
View answerThe Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), funded by the Citizens Information Board (CIB), a statutory body under the aegis of my Department, is the State’s money advice service. MABS provides free advice and support to people on debt and money management issues, in particular those on low income or dependent on social welfare supports. MABS also provides support to people in mortgage arrears and is the gateway to Abhaile - the National State Funded Mortgage Arrears Resolution Service.
MABS comprises of eight regional companies, as well as the companies MABS Support and National Traveller MABS. Each company has the flexibility to allocate resources appropriately in response to emerging customer needs. In addition, customers in a region have access to all MABS services of the region and can contact any MABS Money Advisor in that region about their case by phone, email, online chat or video conferencing.
The funding provided by CIB to these MABS companies in the period 2019 to 2023 is outlined in the table below. These figures include annual funding of €2.5m to the eight regional MABS companies in the period 2019 - 2023 for operation of the Dedicated Mortgage Arrears service, as part of the Abhaile service.
|
Year |
Funding Provided |
|
2019 |
€19,617,138 |
|
2020 |
€20,273,899 |
|
2021 |
€16,485,398 |
|
2022 |
€19,980,120 |
|
2023 (Funding Allocated) |
€20,650,842 |
455. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the average wait time for an additional needs payment in Cork. [34082/23]
View answer456. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the average wait time for a supplementary welfare allowance in Cork. [34083/23]
View answer458. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of community welfare officers employed in Cork in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [34085/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 455, 456 and 458 together.
The Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system which helps eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. There is a range of supports provided by the Community Welfare Service under the SWA scheme. These supports can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as single Additional Needs Payments (ANPs).
The current average time to award a basic SWA is one week. Work on hand for ANPs is within the scheme's normal processing levels and fully completed applications, where the required documentation is supplied, are processed within two weeks. Where it is clear that a person has an urgent or immediate need, every effort is made to ensure they receive a payment on the same day. Approximately 19% of clients who present to Community Welfare Officers (CWOs) in person each week receive a same-day cheque payment.
There are currently 41 CWOs based in Cork, this equates to a whole time equivalent of 38.9.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
457. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for an additional needs payment in Cork, by reason, in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 to date, respectively, in tabular form. [34084/23]
View answerThe supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents.
Under the SWA scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments (ANPs) to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income or from other personal and household resources. This is an overarching term used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements.
All of the relevant circumstances of the case are taken into consideration by an officer of the community welfare service when deciding the level of support required. The decision process involves consideration of the nature of the need presented and the ability of the person and their household to meet that need. This entails an assessment of an applicant’s weekly household income, their savings and investments, their outgoings and the type of assistance needed.
The reporting of this scheme was revised in 2022 to extract more complete information in relation to registrations and to include reoccurring supplements in the overarching term of an Additional Needs Payment. Statistics are not available on applications received for 2020 and 2021.
Statistics are now prepared and published on a quarterly basis for ANPs and the figures for Q2 of 2023 are not as yet available.
Table 1 shows the number of Additional Needs Payment applications registered in County Cork for 2022 and 2023 (to end of March).
Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to Supplementary Welfare Allowance is encouraged 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.
Tabular Statement
TABLE 1 - Number of Additional Needs Payments registered by category in Co Cork in 2022 and to end of March 2023
|
Category |
2022 |
2023 (end of March) |
|
Bills |
461 |
151 |
|
Child Related |
170 |
46 |
|
Clothing |
4,696 |
925 |
|
Funeral |
387 |
143 |
|
General |
3,191 |
868 |
|
Housing |
2,659 |
711 |
|
Illness |
32 |
4 |
|
Urgent Needs Payment |
35 |
20 |
|
Other (Supplement) |
102 |
8 |
|
Total |
11,733 |
2,876 |
459. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide clarity in relation to the operational guidelines for jobseeker's allowance and disability allowance as outlined on the gov.ie website, specifically the section titled entitlement pending disability allowance decision (details supplied); which of these scenarios applies if a person, while receiving jobseeker's allowance, has their disability allowance application refused and then decides to appeal the decision; if their jobseeker's allowance is stopped during the appeal process, necessitating an application for supplementary welfare allowance. [34120/23]
View answerThe Jobseeker's Allowance Operational Guidelines on www.gov.ie set out a person's entitlement to receive Jobseeker's Allowance in 2 scenarios:
A) Where a person applies for DA while in receipt of JA and B) Where a person applies for JA following a DA Disallowance
With regard to scenario A) where a person in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance makes an application for Disability Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance should continue to be paid until a decision, including an Appeal where applicable, is made on the Disability Allowance claim.
If the application for Disability Allowance is unsuccessful for failing to satisfy the medical eligibility criteria for receipt of Disability Allowance, payment of Jobseeker’s Allowance may continue, subject to all qualifying conditions being satisfied.
With regard to scenario B) where a person in receipt Disability Allowance is disallowed as they are deemed to no longer satisfy the qualifying conditions including the medical criteria and they choose to appeal that decision, they are not entitled to receive Jobseeker's Allowance as they are deemed not to satisfy the qualifying conditions which include being capable of and available for full-time work. Supplementary Welfare Allowance is the appropriate payment in this regard.
Where a person in receipt of Disability Allowance is disallowed as they are deemed to no longer satisfy the qualifying conditions and choose not to appeal that decision, they may be entitled to receive Jobseeker's Allowance providing that they satisfy all the qualifying conditions including being capable for and available for full-time work and genuinely seeking work.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
460. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department or any agency under the aegis of her Department operates a ‘barter account’ for the provision of goods or services; if so, if payments have been directed to be made to a barter account during the period 2011 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34155/23]
View answerMy Department or any agency under the aegis of my Department does not operate a ‘barter account’ for the provision of goods or services.
461. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection to explain how the procurement process for the supply of equipment for the school meals programme works; how companies can tender to supply equipment such as ovens, fridges, and so on, for schools which have successfully applied for this programme; if her Department operates a central tendering programme for the supply of such equipment; if so, when such tenders will be open for public tendering again; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34160/23]
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 (local projects) scheme 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.
My Department provides the funding for the School Meals Programme directly to the school and it is the responsibility of each individual school to administer the programme in their school. This includes responsibility for ensuring all public procurement rules and obligations are followed in choosing a supplier and that HACCP, Food Safety regulations and the Nutritional Standards for School Meals are followed. My department has no role in terms of the procurement a provider or equipment associated with the delivery of the scheme within the school.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
462. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for basic supplementary welfare allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) who has supplied all information as requested; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34223/23]
View answerThere is a range of supports provided by the Community Welfare Service under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme. These supports can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as single Additional Needs Payments (ANPs).
The basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) provides immediate assistance for those in need who are awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal for a primary social welfare payment or do not qualify for payment under other State schemes. ANPs can be made to help meet expenses that an eligible person cannot pay from their weekly income. This is an overarching term used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from a person’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.
According to the records of my Department, the person concerned was awarded a basic SWA on 13/08/2020 whilst an application for a primary scheme payment was pending. Since then, several applications for Illness Benefit and Disability Allowance which are primary scheme payments have been made by the person, these were subsequently disallowed.
In certain cases, a basic SWA may continue to be paid whilst a person awaits the outcome of an appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). During a review of the person’s basic SWA claim, it was established that there was no pending claim for a primary scheme nor an appeal for same pending. For a basic SWA to continue the customer must satisfy the Designated Person that they are unfit for work. A letter issued to the person on 16/06/2023 in which they were asked to complete a medical review application form and to provide details of any pending appeal they may have made to the SWAO or of any pending primary scheme application. The person was advised that their payment could cease if they did not reply within the afforded timeline of 14 days. As this information was not provided, the person’s basic SWA claim was suspended on 05/07/2023. It remains open to the person to provide the information sought within the next 7 days and a review of the claim will be re-opened.
In the meantime if the person is experiencing financial difficulty they can apply for an ANP by completing a SWA1 application form. This form is available in all Intreo Centres and Branch Offices and can also be requested by calling the National CWS freephone line at 0818 60 70 80 or at www.eforms.gov.ie/en/forms/5. Alternatively, if the person has a verified account they can apply for an ANP at www.MyWelfare.ie. The completed application form together with any supporting documentation should be returned to my Department where the claim will be processed promptly.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
463. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an appeal for disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); when a decision is likely to issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34224/23]
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 received on the 15th March 2023. 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 were received on 1st June 2023 and the case was assigned to an Appeals Officer on 14th June 2023, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
464. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost in 2024 if the fuel allowance increased to €40 per week, based on the 2022-2023 figures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34228/23]
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.
By the end of the 2022/23 fuel season, there were circa 404,250 households in receipt of Fuel Allowance.
Based on this estimate of 404,250 recipients of the Fuel Allowance payment, the estimated cost of increasing the fuel allowance payment to €40 a week for the duration of the 2023/24 period is as follows: -
|
Weekly Increase to the Rate of Fuel Allowance |
Number of weeks payable |
Estimated Number of Recipients |
Estimated Additional Yearly Cost |
|
€7 |
28 |
404,250 |
€79.233 M |
Accordingly, in this context, the total cost of paying the Fuel Allowance at a rate of €40 per week would be approximately €452.76 million. The actual cost would obviously vary depending on the actual number of recipients per week and over the duration of the fuel season.
Any decision to extend the eligibility criteria for Fuel Allowance or to increase the weekly rate payable would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
465. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the long-awaited report regarding the proposals by an organisation (details supplied) to improve access to the free travel scheme for people with epilepsy; the reason for the delay in finalising this report given it has been expected since Q4 of 2022; if she intends to meet with the organisation when the report is available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34260/23]
View answer466. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has held any budgetary talks with the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform regarding proposals by an organisation (details supplied) to improve access to the free travel scheme for people with epilepsy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34261/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 465 and 466 together.
The 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 those most in 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 the Deputy is aware, 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.
467. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for the carer’s support grant by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34280/23]
View answerMy department received an application for Carer’s Support Grant (CSG) from the person concerned on 13 June 2023.
I can confirm that the person concerned has been awarded a CSG for the year 2023. Payment of €1,850 for the year 2023 will be paid to the person's nominated bank account shortly. Notification of this decision has issued to the person concerned on 6 July 2023.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
468. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of additional needs payment applications made in each of the past five years, and to date in 2023; the corresponding number of requests associated with heating/energy bills; the number granted in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34308/23]
View answerThe supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents.
Under the SWA scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments (ANPs) to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income or from other personal and household resources. This is an overarching term used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements.
All of the relevant circumstances of the case are taken into consideration by an officer of the community welfare service when deciding the level of support required. The decision process involves consideration of the nature of the need presented and the ability of the person and their household to meet that need. This entails an assessment of an applicant’s weekly household income, their savings and investments, their outgoings and the type of assistance needed.
The reporting of this scheme was revised in 2022 to extract more complete information in relation to registrations and to include reoccurring supplements in the overarching term of an Additional Needs Payment. Statistics are not available on applications received for 2020 and 2021.
Statistics are now prepared and published on a quarterly basis for ANPs and the figures for Q2 of 2023 are not as yet available.
Table 1 shows the number of ANPs registered and awarded in relation to household bills and heating costs for 2022 and to the end of March 2023. The figures do not reflect the number of claims that have been withdrawn, cancelled or are awaiting further information.
A Heating Supplement can be paid where a person has need for additional heating due to ill health or infirmity. Heating supplement is not restricted to the fuel season and can be paid throughout the year.
Table 2 shows the number of Heating Supplement recipients at the end of 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to end of March 2023.
In addition, the Fuel Allowance scheme is a means tested payment to assist pensioners and other long-term social welfare dependent householders with their winter heating costs. Significant changes were made to the scheme in the Budget which have already resulted in more than 35,000 additional households in receipt of this payment when the scheme ended.
Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to Supplementary Welfare Allowance is encouraged 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.
Tabular Statement
Table 1 - Number of Additional Needs Payments registered and awarded in relation to household bills and heating costs for 2022 and to end of March 2023
|
Year |
Registered |
Awarded |
|
2022 |
11,196 |
6,472 |
|
2023 (end of March) |
2,968 |
1,479 |
|
Total |
14,164 |
7,951 |
Table 2 - Number of Heating Supplement recipients at the end of 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to end of March 2023.
|
Year |
Total Number of Recipients |
|
2018 |
1,398 |
|
2019 |
1,253 |
|
2020 |
1,101 |
|
2021 |
977 |
|
2022 |
994 |
|
2023 (end of March) |
990 |
