Written Answers Nos. 981-1000
981. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will extend the child benefit payment to parents who have 18-year-old children and older and who are in full-time post-primary education; if she can take into consideration the number of students who are now starting school at the age of 5 years and the consequences of this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37286/23]
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 in post-primary education 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.
982. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37326/23]
View answerCarer's benefit is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention. Carer’s Benefit is payable to a carer in respect of a care recipient for up to a maximum of 104 weeks.
To qualify, the carer must satisfy PRSI conditions, employment conditions, show that they are providing full-time care and attention and show that the care recipient requires full-time care and attention.
An application for Carer’s Benefit was received from the person concerned on 16 February 2022 in respect of their daughter. The claim was disallowed as the person concerned failed to supply information requested on 8 March 2022 and a decision letter regarding this disallowance issued on 8 April 2022.
A review request with supplementary information was received on 30 May 2022. Following this review, the claim was awarded for the period 6 January 2022 to 2 March 2022 and a decision letter issued on 30 May 2022 advising of the requirement for up to date medical information if seeking an extension.
Additional medical evidence was received on 23 June 2022 to apply to extend the period of benefit. The extension application was awarded for a further six months based on the medical review date. A decision letter issued on 1 July 2022 advising of the requirement for up to date medical evidence and employer confirmation of new leave dates if seeking a further extension.
The person concerned made a further application with current medical information on 20 January 2023 to apply to extend the period of benefit. The extension application was disallowed as the care recipient was deemed not to require full time care and attention based on this current medical information. A decision letter issued to the person concerned on 17 February 2023 to this effect.
A review request was received on 23 March 2023 with employment information. Following this review, the decision remained unchanged as no further medical information was received. A decision letter issued to this effect on 28 March 2023.
A request to appeal this decision was submitted to the Appeals office and notified to this Department on 21 June 2023. All information pertaining to the claim is presently with the Appeals Office and is currently awaiting a decision.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
983. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will report on the provision for wigs for those who have lost their hair due to medical reasons that are not specifically cancer-related; the exact amount of the grant available to support such persons with the cost of non-surgical hair replacement in each county per calendar year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37361/23]
View answerThe Treatment Benefit scheme is available to insured workers, the self-employed and retired people who have the required number of PRSI contributions. It is also available to their dependent spouse or partner if applicable.
A new grant became available from 28 May 2022 towards the cost of wigs and hairpieces for people who suffer from hair loss due to disease.
The grant of up to €500 is available nationwide once every calendar year to support people towards the cost of non-surgical hair replacement, for example wigs and toupées.
Hair loss is a common issue among people that can be caused by a variety of medical conditions including autoimmune diseases such as alopecia or systemic conditions like cancer. It is not limited to people with cancer. The grant is available for hair loss in respect of a disease and not due to ageing or other natural causes.
Some 1,400 customers availed of the scheme in 2022 to the value of over €695,000. From January to June 2023, 1,600 customers have availed of the scheme to the value of over €801,000. The estimated spend in 2023 is expected to be €1.4 million.
A per county breakdown of expenditure is included below.
I trust this clarifies the position for the deputy.
M&S Hair Replacement Claims
Jun to Dec 2022 Jan to Jun 2023
Claims Expenditure € Claims Expenditure €
Carlow 14 7000 20 10000
Cavan 15 7057.15 28 13560
Clare 25 12298 19 9240
Cork 95 47500 123 62000
Donegal 29 14000 34 17000
Dublin 444 220547.9 518 258882
Galway 63 30559 85 42201
Kerry 29 14405.63 42 20980
Kildare 115 57484 101 50447.45
Kilkenny 28 14000 37 18490
Laois 22 11000 25 12495
Leitrim 16 8000 18 8585
Limerick 50 24900 57 28500
Longford 20 9980 14 6740
Louth 54 26771 61 30500
Mayo 38 18705 58 28525
Meath 69 33650.1 74 36838
Monaghan 13 6500 19 9447.5
Offaly 32 15635 24 12000
Roscommon 33 16260 31 14963
Sligo 16 7990 29 14450
Tipperary 64 31950 43 21418
Waterford 17 8375 51 25500
Westmeath 24 11895 26 12980
Wexford 31 15500 27 12850
Wicklow 46 22550 46 22980
Outside ROI 2 1000 1 96
Totals 1404 695512.78 1611 801667.95
984. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection to examine a case where an applicant (details supplied) is only slightly over the means test threshold; if this application can be re-examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37387/23]
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.
One of the qualifying conditions of the scheme is that the means of the person concerned must be less than the statutory limit.
Means are any income belonging to the carer and their spouse / civil partner / cohabitant and includes property (except their own home) or an asset that could bring in money or provide the person with an income, for example occupational pensions, or pensions or benefits from another country.
My Department received an application for Carer's Allowance from the person concerned on 3 May 2023.
Following investigation, it was determined that the means of the person concerned were assessed at €414.53 per week and were not less than the statutory limit of €307.60 per week and that they were therefore not entitled to a Carer's Allowance payment.
The person concerned was notified on 10 July 2023 of this decision, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal.
A review of this decision was requested on 27 July 2023 and, following this review, the Deciding Officer decided that the means still exceeded the statutory limit and that consequently there would be no change to the original decision.
The person concerned was notified of this decision on 2 August 2023 and of their right to appeal.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
985. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the options that her Department supports to assist persons on disability allowance to make useful contributions to the community and to engage in improvement programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37416/23]
View answerThe Department of Social Protection, through its nationwide network of Intreo centres, provides a case managed employment service for jobseekers with disabilities. The person works with an Employment Personal Advisor with a view to agreeing a suitable personal progression plan in order to access the full range of employment supports available.
The Department recognises the additional challenges that some people with disabilities may experience in securing and maintaining employment, and contracts specialist employment services, called EmployAbility, to help address this. A jobseeker with a disability who is working with their Employment Personal Advisor may be referred to these service providers if it is agreed that they would benefit from the type of services and support provided. Under EmployAbility, the person works with a job coach who provides both pre-employment and in-employment support and assistance. Providers also deliver a recruitment and job matching service for employers.
The Community Employment Programme has been in operation since 1994 and is the largest employment support programme of the Department of Social Protection. The scheme helps the long-term unemployed and people with disabilities among others to get back to work.
The aim of the scheme is to enhance the employability and mobility of disadvantaged and unemployed people by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their communities. The programme is designed to help break the cycle of unemployment and improve a person’s chances of returning to the labour market. Participation is intended to be for a temporary fixed-term period.
Currently there are some 805 people participating on CE schemes who came from a disability scheme background.
Tús is a community work placement initiative, established in 2011. It provides short-term quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year or those on Disability Allowance.
Work opportunities are provided in community placement. This has the additional benefit of contributing to the local community through working for these services. Participation on Tús improves the employability and work readiness of participants. Participants can put their work skills into practice and to learn new skills, enabling progression to work, further education or skill development opportunities. Participation will boost the participant’s motivation and confidence. It provides prospective employers with evidence that a participant has the necessary skills and abilities to do the job.
Tús is targeted at people of all ages who are out of work and on jobseekers’ payments for a year or more. Participants are generally employed by not-for-profit voluntary organisations. Eligibility for Tús was extended to persons in receipt of Disability Allowance on a self-referral basis in June 2022.
Currently there are 93 people participating on Tús who were previously on a Disability Allowance payment.
The Rural Social Scheme was launched in May 2004 and is seen as an income support initiative to provide part-time employment opportunities in the community and voluntary organisations for farmers or fishermen in receipt of certain social welfare payments and underemployed in their primary occupation.
Persons are required to be actively farming or fishing and to be in receipt of a qualifying payment including Disability Allowance.
The current number of participants on the Rural Social Scheme who were previously on Disability Allowance, is 34. This equates to 1.2% of the overall Rural Social Scheme participant numbers.
On conclusion of the former Ability Programme a total of 45 projects were funded by the Department of Social Protection through the Dormant Accounts Fund under a measure to Support the Employment of People with Disabilities. The programme was put in place as an interim measure until a new ESF+ programme focusing on the employment of people with disabilities is in place. The measure is managed by Pobal on behalf of the Department of Social Protection. The programme started on 1st September 2021 and is due to conclude at the end of December 2023.
On August 10th, I announced a call for applications for a new employment focused programme for people with disabilities, which aims to support 5,000 people with disabilities into education and employment.
“WorkAbility: Inclusive Pathways to Employment Programme”, will run from 2024 to 2028 and has an overall budget of up to €36.29million. It is co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and Government of Ireland through the Department of Social Protection and will be administered by Pobal.
The WorkAbility programme will support national, regional and local organisations that have experience of working with people with disabilities and who can provide progressive pathways into education, training and employment (including self-employment) for participants based on their needs, their abilities and their potential. The programme is aimed at supporting people with disabilities aged 16+ into the workforce.
The programme also aims to build the capacity of employers to recruit, retain and progress people with disabilities within their workforce.
The new programme will be complementary to the suite of existing employment supports targeted at people with disabilities provided by the Department of Social Protection and broader national strategies for employment of people with disabilities.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
986. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection to examine a case where a person (details supplied) is not eligible for optical benefit, despite having worked in Ireland for the past 40 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37442/23]
View answerThe Treatment Benefit Scheme provides dental, optical and aural services to insured workers, the self-employed, retired people and their dependant spouse/partner who have the required number of social insurance (PRSI) contributions.
In order to qualify a person needs to have at least 260 PRSI contributions paid at either Class A, E, H, P or S, since first starting work, and also have 39 contributions paid or credited in the relevant contribution year on which the claim is based, which is currently 2021.
Although the person concerned has the 260 required paid contributions, he does not have the 39 paid at the relevant rate, or credited contributions in 2021. As a result, he does not satisfy the conditions for optical benefit under the Department's PRSI scheme.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
987. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be approved for the carer’s grant. [37444/23]
View answerI confirm that my Department received an application for the Carer’s Support Grant (CSG) from the person concerned on 20 July 2023.
The person concerned has been awarded a CSG for the years 2022 and 2023 in the amount of €1,850 for each year. They have also been awarded the once off cost of living payment in the amount of €500. The total payment of €4,200 was paid to the person's nominated bank account on 24 August 2023. Notification of this decision issued to the person on 15 August 2023.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
988. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be approved for carer’s allowance. [37445/23]
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.
It is a condition for receipt of Carer's Allowance that the person being cared for must have such disability that they require full-time care and attention. This 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 Carer's Allowance that every claimant shall furnish such certificates, documents, information, and evidence as may be required for the purposes of deciding their claim.
An application for Carer's Allowance was received from the person concerned on 29 March 2023.
Further information was requested on 30 March 2023 and was submitted on 11 April 2023.
The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the Deciding Officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied, and the person concerned had failed to submit all the requested information.
The claim was disallowed, and the person concerned was notified on 18 April 2023 of this decision, the reason for it and of their right to request a review and / or appeal.
The person submitted information with a request for a review on 29 May 2023.
Further information was requested by a Deciding Officer on 12 July 2023.
Some, but not all, of the requested information was returned on 21 July 2023 and no further medical evidence in respect of the care recipient has been submitted to date.
A Deciding Officer has decided that the decision of 18 April 2023 remains unchanged. The person concerned was notified of this on 31 July 2023 and of their right to request an appeal within 21 days.
Further correspondence has been received from the person concerned and another review was initiated on 1 September 2023. All evidence in support of this review should be submitted to Carer's Allowance section as soon as possible. The review will be processed and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
989. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for expenditure running €319 million ahead of profile, as outlined in the Mid-Year Expenditure Report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37478/23]
View answerThe Mid Year Expenditure Report 2023 was published by the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in July. The report outlines the expenditure trends for the first half of 2023 across all Government Departments.
The Department of Social Protection's expenditure to the end of June was €12.3 billion, which was €319 million ahead of profile. Expenditure above profile was driven by the Spring cost of living bonus payments, which was partially offset by lower than expected expenditure on Jobseeker's Allowance, due to lower recipient numbers than profiled.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
990. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection whether the travel pass for carers of children with special needs can be altered to enable it to be shared by parents who share the responsibility of travelling with their child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37498/23]
View answer992. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has any plans to alter the provisions governing the free travel scheme as it applies to the provision of free travel passes to parents who are acting as joint carers for children with special needs; if she has any specific plans to introduce a shared travel pass scheme which would allow parents acting as joint carers to share the use of that travel pass in light of the day-to-day exigencies of their shared care responsibilities and the significant financial hardship that carers are already grappling with; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37568/23]
View answer993. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will implement a shared travel pass for carers of children with special needs (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37570/23]
View answer996. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will introduce a shared free travel pass for carers of children with special needs (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37680/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 990, 992, 993 and 996 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 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. Therefore, the free travel pass is a secondary benefit directly linked to the person being in receipt of Carers Allowance.
A person’s entitlement to a free travel pass is displayed on an individual’s Public Service Card which also contains the holders name, photograph and signature and therefore allowing the card to be used by another person would result in security and administrative issues especially for transport providers participating in the free travel scheme.
Furthermore, uncoupling the link between receipt of particular social welfare payments and eligibility would have significant costs and administrative implications for the free travel scheme and could only be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
Finally, I would like to highlight that the Department does provide 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 and may be paid to assist with ongoing or recurring travel costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary. Every decision is based on consideration of the circumstances of the individual case, taking account of the nature and extent of the need and of the resources of the person concerned.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.
991. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection to respond to proposals raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) in respect of expanding the children's allowance to children aged 18 years in full-time education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37566/23]
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.
Extending Child Benefit in respect of full-time students who are over 18 years of age and in full time education 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
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.
994. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection to explore the possibility of extending the free travel scheme to people who are not in receipt of an eligible payment but who require a travel pass to attend multiple medical appointment due to ongoing medical issues (details supplied). [37653/23]
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 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.
Therefore, while a diagnosis of a particular medical condition will be required to establish if a person may be eligible for certain social welfare schemes, evidence of the impact of the diagnosis, as well as a means test or social insurance condition, are also required before entitlement to the scheme is established. The sole exception to this general approach is in respect of people who are blind.
While consideration is always given to any requests to improve or extend eligibility to the Free Travel scheme, uncoupling the link between receipt of particular social welfare payments and eligibility for the Free Travel scheme would so fundamentally alter the scheme that it would move it away from being a social welfare measure to being a general transport initiative.
Any such change would also require additional funding for the Free Travel scheme and would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary resources.
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 and include help towards recurring travel costs that cannot be met from the person's own resources and are deemed to be necessary.
A travel supplement may also be paid where a person has a recurring travel expense (for example, where a person has ongoing travel costs for hospital visits).
Every decision is based on consideration of the circumstances of the case, taking account of the nature and extent of the need and of the resources of the person concerned.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
995. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has considered adjusting the free travel pass scheme for carers to accommodate joint caring arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37654/23]
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 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. Therefore, the free travel pass is a secondary benefit directly linked to the person being in receipt of Carer's Allowance.
A person’s entitlement to a free travel pass is displayed on an individual’s Public Service Card which also contains the holder's name, photograph and signature and therefore allowing the card to be used by another person would result in security and administrative issues especially for transport providers participating in the free travel scheme.
Furthermore, uncoupling the link between receipt of particular social welfare payments and eligibility would have significant costs and administrative implications for the free travel scheme and could only be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
Finally, I would like to highlight that the Department does provide 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 and may be paid to assist with ongoing or recurring travel costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary. Every decision is based on consideration of the circumstances of the individual case, taking account of the nature and extent of the need and of the resources of the person concerned.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
997. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the non-contributory pension investigation for a person (details supplied); when a decision will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37702/23]
View answerState pension non-contributory is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, habitually residing in the state, who do not qualify for a state pension contributory, or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record. Recipients of state pension non-contributory are obliged to notify the Department of any changes in their circumstances that may affect their pension entitlement. A list of reportable changes of circumstance is included in the initial notification of pension award and in all subsequent review communications issued.
Social welfare legislation provides that the personal representative of a deceased person who, at any time, received a means-tested payment must give notice to the Department of their intention to distribute the deceased's estate and to provide a schedule of the assets of the estate. The personal representative is requested not to distribute the estate until they receive formal clearance from the Department. If, on examination of the schedule of assets, it is found that not all of the deceased’s means had been disclosed, or if the values of previously assessed means had changed, the Department will seek to recover any monies overpaid from the estate.
In the case the Deputy is querying, the deceased person had been in receipt of a means-tested state pension non-contributory. A schedule of the assets of the deceased’s estate was received in the Department on 9th November 2022. The case was subsequently forwarded to a Social Welfare Inspector for investigation. The Officer wrote to the personal representative of the deceased requesting information on 8th May 2023. The personal representative replied to the request on 12th June 2023. However, the information sought was not sufficiently addressed. The Inspector contacted the personal representative by email on 14th June 2023 and again on 11th August 2023. No response has been received to date from the personal representative to either of the above requests.
When the information requested has been provided, the Inspector will complete their report and return it to a Deciding Officer in my Department’s Sligo Office. The deceased’s state pension non-contributory entitlement will be reviewed and the personal representative will be notified of the outcome.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
998. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection if there could be consideration for a fuel allowance to be paid to polio survivors (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37752/23]
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. This ensures that the Fuel Allowance payment is targeted at 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 within their household.
Any decision to adjust the rules of Fuel Allowance to allow the cohort of people outlined by the Deputy to qualify for Fuel Allowance irrespective of their receipt of a qualifying Social Protection payment or their means would change the targeted nature of the scheme. Any such decision would also have budgetary consequences and would have to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.
Finally, my Department 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.
999. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason an application for the fuel allowance was not granted in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37852/23]
View answerFuel Allowance (FA), under the National Fuel Scheme, may be payable to certain households in receipt of long term Social Welfare payments who are unable to provide for their heating needs. The allowance is subject to a means test and is paid only to those who live alone or with certain exempted people. Only one Fuel Allowance is payable per household.
The person concerned does not qualify for FA under the National Fuel Scheme as she is renting rooms in her house and the tenants living there are not exempt people for the purposes of the scheme.
The rent-a-room means disregard applies to FA applicants who rent out a room in their own home. This allows for up to a limit of €269.23 per week in respect of income from renting a room in their own home to be disregarded. However, the FA household composition criteria have not changed and existing rules still apply to all household members including those renting a room within the property.
The person in question can still claim Living Alone Increase and the Household Benefits Package while keeping tenants under the rent-a-room relief scheme. It is open to the person concerned to apply again for FA at any time if her circumstances change.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
1000. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider amending the treatment benefit scheme for hearing aids in order that people would be eligible for payments every two years (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37854/23]
View answerIn general, medical or health related benefits fall within the remit of the Department of Health and the HSE. However, my Department administers the Treatment Benefit scheme which provides dental, optical, and medical appliances benefits to insured workers, the self-employed and retired people who have the required number of PRSI contributions. These treatments are also available to their dependent spouse or partner, if applicable.
As part of Budget 2021, I made a flat rate grant of up to €500 available towards a hearing aid, with a grant of up to €1,000 for a pair. I also introduced a grant of up to €100 towards the cost of hearing aid repairs. Prior to that change, the support was limited to half the cost of a hearing aid up to a maximum grant of €500 per aid. The customer also had to pay at least half the cost of the aid.
Following these enhancements to the hearing aid grant, the number of claims and expenditure on the scheme have increased by over 90%. In 2022, 25,775 people benefited from the grant at a cost of some €23.7 million.
My Department will continue to monitor the impact of these recent changes. Any further changes to the current system would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
