Written Answers Nos. 712-726
712. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 142 of 21 June 2023, if she has considered her Department's response to the European Commission's recommendation to recognise Covid-19 as an occupational illness and the responses received from other Departments and Ministers; the date at which she expects to make a decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36474/23]
View answerChapter 13 of Part 2 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 legislates for the Occupational Injuries Benefit scheme for persons injured by an accident at work or caused by a prescribed disease due to the nature of their employment.
Covid-19 is not currently a prescribed disease or illness for the purposes of the Occupation Injuries Benefit scheme. Section 87 (2) of the Act states that a disease or injury shall be prescribed for the purposes of this section in relation to any insured persons, where the Minister is satisfied that—
(a) it ought to be treated, having regard to its causes and any other relevant considerations, as a risk of their occupations and not as a risk common to all persons, and
(b) it is such that, in the absence of special circumstances, the attribution of particular cases to the nature of the employment can be established or presumed with reasonable certainty.
My Department is aware of the recommendation of the European Commission regarding Covid-19. The decision on whether or not to recognise an illness as an occupational illness is a Member State competence. I have consulted with other relevant departments and Ministers on the matter of recognition of COVID-19, and the responses received are currently under consideration. I intend having further discussions with my colleagues before a decision will be made.
It should be noted that the European Commission has not made a recommendation about recognising long-COVID as an occupational disease and most member states have not recognised long-COVID. The UK Department of Work and Pensions presented a report to the UK parliament in November 2022 which concluded that long-COVID should not be considered an occupational disease due to the lack of evidence and the evolving nature of the illness.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
713. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) can expect a decision on their carer’s allowance review. [36507/23]
View answerCarer's allowance 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 confirm that the person's application for Carer's Allowance was received on 6 April 2023 and was awarded on 1 June 2023. In this case, the rate of payment was less than the full rate. The person concerned was notified of this decision and of their right to review and / or appeal.
The person concerned provided further information and requested a review on 21 June 2023.
In the interest of fairness, my Department processes review requests as quickly as possible and in date order of receipt. Once the review in this case has been completed, the person concerned will receive written confirmation of the outcome and, if an increase in the rate is awarded, arrears will issue as quickly as possible.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
714. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection when she will bring forward social welfare reforms to ensure that when people lose their jobs their welfare rate will reflect their previous salary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36549/23]
View answer778. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the plans to introduce enhanced jobseeker’s benefit based on previous income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37155/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 714 and 778 together.
The Programme for Government and the Economic Recovery Plan include commitments to consider a pay-related jobseeker's benefit scheme. Pathways to Work commits to using the experience from the Pandemic Unemployment Payment to inform the design of such a scheme that may be developed.
I launched a public consultation on proposals to introduce a new Pay-Related Benefit for Jobseekers in December 2022. The aim of a pay-related benefit is to soften the income shock that a worker may face if they suddenly lose their job. The introduction of a pay-related benefit system would bring Ireland in line with its European neighbours and would represent a significant change to the Irish social welfare system. Its development will reflect upon the experiences of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment which demonstrated that a pay-related system can work.
The Department has undertaken an extensive consultation process and engagement with stakeholders on a potential design as to how a pay-related benefit system could work. This has enabled the sharing of ideas and views which will be essential to the development of a proposal for Government. The contributions of stakeholders are currently being reviewed and will inform the design of a proposal, which I intend to bring to Government.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
715. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who are currently on the x and o scheme. [36550/23]
View answerThe X and O scheme is a term used to refer to those in receipt of a Jobseeker's payment with part-time or casual employment.
One of the primary conditions for receiving a Jobseeker’s payment is that you must be unemployed and seeking full-time employment. However, you do not have to be totally unemployed. You must be unemployed for at least 4 days out of 7 consecutive days. Those with part-time or casual employment can still qualify for a Jobseeker's payment, provided they are available for and actively seeking full-time work.
For the week ending 16th July 2023, there were 23,203 recipients of a Jobseeker's payment with part-time or casual employment.
716. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who engaged in welfare fraud across all categories of social welfare payments for the years 2021 and 2022, in tabular form. [36551/23]
View answerThe majority of people in receipt of a payment from my Department receive what they are entitled to. Nevertheless, my Department recognises that abuse of the welfare system is an on-going reality and must be tackled proactively. The Department’s anti-fraud and control measures are designed to prevent and detect fraud, ensure effective oversight of schemes, pursue the prosecution of offenders where appropriate and recover any overpaid entitlements identified.
Overpayments of social welfare assistance and benefit payments arise as a consequence of decisions made under the relevant sections of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 2005 (as amended). Customers who have been overpaid social welfare have a liability to refund the overpayment as they have been in receipt of a payment to which they were not entitled.
The table below sets out the number of overpayments raised and the associated value of those cases where an element of fraudulent activity was suspected for the years 2021 and 2022.
|
Year |
No. of Cases |
Value |
|
2021 |
6,290 |
€19,014,828 |
|
2022 |
5,597 |
€19,635,546 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
717. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost to the Exchequer annually of increasing all social welfare payments by €20 per week, €25 per week, €30 per week, in tabular form. [36579/23]
View answerThe estimated full year cost of increasing all weekly Social Protection payments by €20, €25 and €30 respectively are shown in below table.
|
Scheme |
€20 Increase |
€25 Increase |
€30 Increase |
|
€m |
€m |
€m |
|
|
Social Insurance Schemes |
|||
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
538.4 |
673.1 |
807.7 |
|
Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Con) Pension (Under 66) |
29.3 |
36.6 |
43.9 |
|
Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Con) Pension (Over 66) |
95.3 |
119.1 |
142.9 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit (Under 66) |
1.6 |
2.0 |
2.4 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit (Over 66) |
2.9 |
3.7 |
4.4 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
62.6 |
78.2 |
93.9 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
2.5 |
3.2 |
3.8 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Contributory) |
1.2 |
1.5 |
1.8 |
|
Death Benefit Pension |
0.5 |
0.6 |
0.8 |
|
Disablement Pension |
5.0 |
6.3 |
7.5 |
|
Illness Benefit |
55.4 |
69.2 |
83.1 |
|
Injury Benefit |
0.6 |
0.8 |
0.9 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
0.9 |
1.1 |
1.3 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
38.6 |
48.2 |
57.8 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit (Self-Employed) |
1.0 |
1.3 |
1.5 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
3.5 |
4.4 |
5.3 |
|
Health and Safety Benefit |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
|
Maternity & Adoptive Benefit |
20.2 |
25.3 |
30.3 |
|
Paternity & Parent's Benefit |
7.3 |
9.1 |
10.9 |
|
Social Assistance Schemes |
|||
|
State Pension (Non Con) |
99.6 |
124.5 |
149.5 |
|
Blind Person's Pension |
1.1 |
1.4 |
1.7 |
|
Widow/ers or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Con) Pension |
1.1 |
1.4 |
1.7 |
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
42.1 |
52.6 |
63.1 |
|
Carer's Allowance (Under 66) |
50.1 |
62.6 |
75.2 |
|
Carer's Allowance (Over 66) |
2.0 |
2.5 |
3.0 |
|
Half Rate Carer's Allowance (Under 66) |
13.8 |
17.3 |
20.7 |
|
Half Rate Carer's Allowance (Over 66) |
8.5 |
10.6 |
12.7 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory) |
0.6 |
0.8 |
0.9 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance Max Rate |
136.8 |
171.0 |
205.2 |
|
JA age 18 to 24 |
13.7 |
17.1 |
20.6 |
|
Disability Allowance |
174.9 |
218.6 |
262.3 |
|
Farm Assist |
5.3 |
6.7 |
8.0 |
|
Employment Support Schemes (BTWA & BTEA) |
7.8 |
9.8 |
11.7 |
|
Employment/Internship Schemes (CE, Tús, RSS etc.) |
35.8 |
44.8 |
53.7 |
|
Work Placement Experience Programme |
0.4 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
12.3 |
15.4 |
18.5 |
|
TOTAL* |
1472.9 |
1841.0 |
2209.3 |
* Rounding may affect totals
It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients.
It should also be noted that these costings include proportionate increases for qualified adults and for those on reduced rates of payment, where relevant.
718. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has any plans to increase child benefit to those aged 18 years or over who may still be in secondary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36600/23]
View answerChild Benefit is a universal monthly payment made to families with children up to the age of 16 years. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children until their eighteenth birthday who are in full-time education, or who have a disability. Estimated expenditure on the scheme will be approximately €2.1 billion in 2023.
Any plans to extend Child Benefit in respect of children aged 18 years and over who may still be secondary school students would have significant cost implications and would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
Families on low incomes may be able to avail of a number of social welfare schemes that support children in full-time education until the age of 22, including:
• Increase for a Qualified Child (IQCs) with primary social welfare payments;
• the Working Family Payment for low-paid employees with children; and
• the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, where the child is in second level education.
These schemes provide targeted assistance that is directly linked to household income and thereby support low-income families with older children participating in full-time education.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
719. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider amending the criteria for fuel allowance so that those who are living with another family member, earning a low income and not in receipt of one of the qualifying payments for fuel allowance would not be disqualified from the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36611/23]
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 criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my Department in as targeted a manner as possible. To qualify for the Fuel Allowance payment, a person must satisfy all the qualifying criteria including the household composition criteria. This ensures that the Fuel Allowance payment goes to those who are more vulnerable to fuel poverty, including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own.
An unqualified family member, who is living with a fuel allowance applicant, may result in a reduction of additional allowances such as the Fuel Allowance payment to the householder. However, the economies of scale from living together should mean that a contribution towards household costs by the family member would compensate for any such reduction in payments from my Department.
A change in the qualifying criteria such as that proposed by the Deputy, would have to be considered in the context of budgetary negotiations. However, disregarding the income of another family member, would change the targeted nature of the scheme.
There will always be exceptional cases and it is for this reason that the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme was introduced. Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme are available to 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.
720. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider amending the criteria for fuel allowance so that those who are living with children of working age who are earning a low income and not in receipt of one of the qualifying payments for fuel allowance would not be disqualified from the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36612/23]
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 criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my Department in as targeted a manner as possible. To qualify for the Fuel Allowance payment, a person must satisfy all the qualifying criteria including the household composition criteria. This ensures that the Fuel Allowance payment goes to those who are more vulnerable to fuel poverty, including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own.
The Fuel Allowance guidelines allow a fuel applicant to live with a qualified spouse / civil partner / cohabitant or qualified child(ren). For the purposes of Fuel Allowance, a qualified child is one for whom an Increase for a Qualified Child is payable, or in the case of an applicant with no primary social welfare scheme, the child must be in full-time education if aged between 18 and 22. The fact that the qualified child may be in employment is not taken into consideration when deciding the fuel allowance claim and any earnings the qualified child may have, are also not taken into consideration when assessing household means.
An unqualified family member, who is living with a fuel allowance applicant, may result in a reduction of additional allowances such as the Fuel Allowance payment to the householder. However, the economies of scale from living together should mean that a contribution towards household costs by the family member would compensate for any such reduction in payments from my Department.
A change in the qualifying criteria such as that proposed by the Deputy, would have to be considered in the context of budgetary negotiations. However, disregarding the income of another family member, would change the targeted nature of the scheme.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
721. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost to the Exchequer of an increase of €27.50 in social protection payments. [36613/23]
View answerThe estimated full-year cost of increasing each weekly social welfare scheme by €27.50 per week is €2,025.4 million.
It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients.
It should also be noted that these costings include proportionate increases for qualified adults where relevant.
722. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost to the Exchequer of introducing a cost-of-disability payment of an additional €40 per week on top of social protection payments. [36614/23]
View answer752. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of introducing a €40-per-week cost-of-disability payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36768/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 722 and 752 together.
The estimated full year cost of introducing a €40 per week cost of disability payment is €477m.
This is estimated based on the payment being provided for recipients of Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension and Blind Pension.
It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients.
It should also be noted that these costings include proportionate increases for qualified adults and for those on reduced rates of payment, where relevant.
723. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost to the Exchequer of hiring an additional 100 community welfare officers in their localities. [36615/23]
View answer753. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of an additional ten community welfare officers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36769/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 723 and 753 together.
A Community Welfare Officer is at Higher Executive Officer (HEO) civil service grade level.
The average cost of a HEO is €87,476 per annum. This cost is inclusive of salary cost, employer contribution for PRSI, an imputed employer pension contribution and employee overheads e.g. accommodation. The cost of 10 HEOs is €874,760 per annum.
The cost of 100 HEOs is €8,747,600 per annum.
724. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost to the Exchequer of increasing the fuel allowance by €680.48. [36616/23]
View answer751. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing fuel allowance by either €5 or €10 a week, or a flat €100 increase overall; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36767/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 724 and 751 together.
The 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 by €5 or €10 a week over the course of a 28-week Fuel Season is as follows: -
|
Weekly increase to the Fuel Allowance Payment |
Number of Weeks Payable |
Estimated Number of Recipients |
Estimated Additional Yearly Cost |
|
€5 |
28 |
404,250 |
€56.6m |
|
€10 |
28 |
404,250 |
€113.2m |
Similarly, based on an estimate of 404,250 recipients of the Fuel Allowance payment, the estimated cost of increasing the fuel allowance payment by a flat rate of €100 over the course of the fuel season would be €40.4m.
Increasing the amount of fuel allowance received by €680.48 over the course of the fuel season would cost in the region of €275.1m. The actual cost would vary depending on the actual number of recipients per week.
Any decision to extend the eligibility criteria for Fuel Allowance or to increase the weekly or yearly rate payable would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
725. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost to the Exchequer of extending the fuel allowance to recipients of the working family payment. [36617/23]
View answer750. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of expanding eligibility for fuel allowance to all those on the working family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36766/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 725 and 750 together.
The 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 estimated cost of extending the Fuel Allowance payment to all those in receipt of the Working Family Payment (WFP), irrespective of household composition and means is €38.6 Million. This estimate is based on 41,761 additional recipients and a weekly Fuel Allowance rate of €33 and a payment period of 28 weeks.
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.
People on long term payments are unlikely to have additional resources of their own and are more vulnerable to poverty, including energy poverty. It is for this reason that my Department allocates additional payments, supports and resources such as Fuel Allowance to this cohort of claimants.
The Working Family Payment gives extra financial support to families with children with rates depending on their incomes and family size. It is not considered a long-term Social Protection payment and recipients are in full time employment and are more likely to have additional resources.
While Working Family Payment is not a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance, people may receive Fuel Allowance while on Working Family Payment if they are in receipt of One Parent Family Payment.
In response to an amendment tabled at Committee Stage of the Social Welfare Bill 2023, I have asked my Department officials to prepare a report on the potential extension of eligibility for the Fuel Allowance to those in receipt of the Working Family Payment. The work is ongoing and when finished, I will carefully consider its contents and any recommendations that it may contain.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
726. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost to the Exchequer of extending the fuel allowance to those in receipt of fixed incomes and medical conditions. [36618/23]
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.
It is not possible for my Department to provide an accurate projection of the cost of the measure suggested by the Deputy. Qualification for fuel allowance is based on a number of complex qualifying criteria such as household composition and a means test.
Furthermore, my Department does not hold data on all households in receipt of a fixed income or in which a person with a medical condition resides.
Any decision to adjust the rules of Fuel Allowance to allow the cohort of people outlined by the Deputy to qualify for Fuel Allowance would have budgetary consequences and would have to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, Exceptional Needs Payments may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which customers are unable to meet out of their own resources, and this may include exceptional heating costs. Decisions on such payments are made on a case-by-case basis.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
