Written Answers Nos. 1001-1020
1001. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for the disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37859/23]
View answerDisability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions.
I confirm that my Department received an application for DA from the person concerned on 27 July 2023. An information request letter was sent to the person concerned on 16 August 2023 to supply supporting documentation in order to determine her eligibility for DA.
Based on the evidence supplied in support of this application, their application for DA was disallowed on the grounds that the medical qualifying condition for the scheme was not satisfied.
The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 4 September 2023, and they were given the right to a review or an appeal.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1002. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider increasing the maximum hours those in receipt of carer's allowance are allowed to work each week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37865/23]
View answerThe Government acknowledges the valuable 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.
My department provides a comprehensive package of carers’ income supports including Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Combined spending on all these payments to carers in 2023 is expected to amount to almost €1.6 billion.
The Carer’s Allowance is the main scheme by which the Department provides income support to carers in the community. Carer’s Allowance is a means tested social assistance payment awarded to those carers who are caring for certain people who require full-time care and attention. The means test is used to target the support to those most in need.
The primary objective of the payment is to provide an income support to carers whose earning capacity is substantially reduced as a consequence of their caring responsibilities and in so doing to support the ongoing care of the person in respect of whom care is being provided.
A primary qualifying condition for the carer income supports provided by my department is that the applicant provides full-time care and attention to a person in need of such care. The person being cared for must be so incapacitated as to require full-time care and attention and be likely to require this full-time care and attention for at least 12 months.
The minimum hours condition for which a carer can be regarded as providing full-time care and attention is set out in legislation. A carer will be regarded as providing full-time care and attention to a relevant person, where the number of hours providing such care is not less than 35 hours in a period of 7 consecutive days, and care is provided on any 5 days, whether consecutive or not, within a period of 7 consecutive days.
However, in order to support a carer’s continued attachment to the workforce and to support broader social inclusion, carers may engage in some limited employment, education or training, while still being regarded as being in a position to provide full-time care and continue to receive their full payment. During this time of employment, education or training, adequate provision must be made for the care of the relevant person.
There have been a number of significant improvements to the Carer’s Allowance scheme regarding the relaxation of the full-time care and attention requirement to enable carers to engage in education, training or work.
From August 1999, the full-time care and attention requirements were relaxed to introduce some flexibility and allow carers to work for up to 10 hours per week. As of June 2006, this was increased from 10 to 15 hours per week. In Budget 2020, this was further increased from 15 to 18.5 hours per week. This measure was prioritised in response to carers who had stated that they found the previous number of 15 hours to be too restrictive.
Both the full-time care and attention requirement and the 18.5-hour limitation are contained in the respective legislative provisions of the Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and Carer’s Support Grant schemes.
I consider the limit of 18.5 hours to represent a reasonable balance between meeting the care recipient's requirement for full-time care and the carer's need to maintain contact with the workforce. Any proposals for further changes to this condition would need to maintain this balance and would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1003. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider increasing the maximum weekly income allowances for the means test in relation to carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37866/23]
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 or 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.
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.
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 annual Carer's Support Grant - which I increased to its highest-ever rate of €1,850 - is also available to carers who are not on a social welfare payment.
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.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1004. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the financial assistance available, if any, to a person (details supplied) to continue with their studies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37872/23]
View answerAn Employment Services Personal Advisor has contacted the person concerned and has arranged an appointment for 1st September 2023 to have a detailed discussion on the range of potential services and financial supports available to access appropriate education and training and development options.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1005. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection the policy of her Department to ensure that Irish-based businesses, SMEs in particular, are not prevented from tendering for Government and State business; the measures she has put in place to ensure that Irish businesses are supported in tendering for Government or State business; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37903/23]
View answerPublic Procurement is governed by EU legislation and National rules and guidelines to ensure compliance with the principles of transparency, non-discrimination and equal treatment which are key to demonstrating the State’s attainment of maximum value for money through competitive procedures. To create a level playing field for all businesses across the Single European Market, EU law sets out minimum harmonised procurement rules for all Member States.
My Department recognises the importance of Irish based business and SMEs and supports the delivery of policy measures already developed by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP), aimed at assisting these sectors. Such provisions are set out in Circulars 05/23 and 10/14 (Initiatives to assist SMEs in Public Procurement). A number of measures have been implemented by my Department, many of which are linked to these provisions, including the following:
- Use of the OGP Central Framework Agreements where possible.
- Subdivision of contracts into lots, based on geographic location, specialism and/or value.
- Advertising all procurements for supplies and services in excess of €50,000 on eTenders and greater use of Requests for Quotes (RFQ’s). Circular 5/23 has raised the threshold for RFQ’s from €25,000 (ex VAT) to €50,000 (ex VAT).
- My officials encourage registration by all users on eTenders portal to avail of OGP events which assist Irish based businesses and SMEs.
- Undertaking procurements under an ‘open’ process with minimal use of ‘restricted’ tendering.
- Proportionate turnover requirements and insurance levels.
- Tenderers are only asked for a declaration of capacity and supporting documentation in the event of being shortlisted or considered for the contract.
- Encouraging SMEs to consider establishing a consortium where they do have capacity in their own right or do not have capacity to scale up to deliver a contract.
My Department will continue to support Irish based businesses and SMEs in competing for future public procurement contracts, including delivering on the relevant commitments in relation to public procurement in the Programme for Government.
1006. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) can expect to receive a decision in regard to a disability allowance appeal in respect of their child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37913/23]
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 registered on the 22nd May 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 papers were received on 12th June 2023 and the case was assigned to an Appeals Officer. The Appeals Officer has been contacted and confirmed that an online oral hearing will be scheduled for this case in the coming week.
The Appeals Office will be in touch with the person concerned regarding this in due course.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1007. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) can expect to receive a decision in regard to a carer’s allowance appeal in respect of their child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37914/23]
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 registered on the 8th June 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 papers were received on 3rd July 2023 and the case was assigned to an Appeals Officer on 11th July 2023, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral appeal hearing. The Appeals Officer has been contacted to expedite the appeal in this case.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1008. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost in 2024 if the telephone support allowance were doubled. [37931/23]
View answerThe Telephone Support Allowance (TSA) is a weekly payment of €2.50 for people on certain social welfare payments who are also getting both the Living Alone Increase and the Fuel Allowance. The primary objective of the TSA is to allow the most vulnerable people at risk of isolation, including the elderly and those with disabilities, access to personal alarms or phones for security. Approximately 150,000 customers are in receipt of the TSA payment, an increase of 10,000 in comparison with 2022 figures. The full year cost of the scheme in 2023 is estimated at €18.6 million.
It is assumed that there will be a further increase in individuals receiving TSA in 2023. Based on an assumed 155,000 recipients of the TSA in 2024, the estimated additional cost of increasing the weekly rate of TSA from €2.50 to €5 would be in the region of €20.2 million
|
Current Weekly Rate of TSA |
Proposed Weekly Rate of TSA |
Estimated Number of Beneficiaries |
Estimated additional yearly Cost of Measure |
|
€2.50 |
€5.00 |
155,000 |
€20.2m |
All proposals, including any proposals to increase the Telephone Support Allowance could only be considered while taking account of overall Government policy and in a budgetary context.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1009. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost in 2024 if child benefit were increased by €10 per child per month for the first three children. [37932/23]
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.
The current Child Benefit structure maintains a consistent rate of €140 per child, with variations for cases of twins, triplets, and other multiple births. Implementing an increase for the initial three children would require significant adjustments to the Child Benefit system.
The estimated annual cost of a €10 weekly increase in Child Benefit per child for the first three children is €150 million. Any change to Child Benefit involves significant cost implications, and therefore would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
1010. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update in respect of an appeal for a carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38011/23]
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.
The person concerned is in receipt of Carer's Allowance since 4 December 2014. Their entitlement to Carer's Allowance for a second and third care recipient has been reviewed and has been awarded from 6 April 2023.
When a person is caring for more than one care recipient, a 50% increase in the weekly rate is paid. They will also receive the Carer's Support Grant for each care recipient.
Correspondence issued on 18 August 2023 confirming the person's entitlement to Carer's Allowance, the Carer's Support Grant and the arrears due. The first payment issued on 24 August 2023. Arrears in respect of the period 6 April 2023 to 23 August 2023 also issued to the person's nominated Post Office on that date.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
1011. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of a disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38012/23]
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 registered on the 19th May 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 papers were received on 1st June 2023 and the case was assigned to an Appeals Officer on 14th June 2023. The Appeals Officer has been contacted and confirmed that an oral hearing will be scheduled for this case in the near future.
The Appeals Office will be in touch with the person concerned regarding this in due course.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1012. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection what steps have been taken to ensure that the Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection recommendation that the new automatic enrolment pension scheme should be prohibited from investing in fossil fuels or the arms industry is complied with; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38016/23]
View answer1013. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection what steps have been taken to implement the Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection recommendation that a minimum percentage of the new automatic enrolment pension funds should be invested in Irish renewable energy developments in order to ensure our climate action obligations. [38017/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1012 and 1013 together.
The introduction of a pensions auto-enrolment system is a Programme for Government commitment, and a key priority for me as Minister for Social Protection.
Last year, I published 'The Design Principles for Ireland’s Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System', which set out the new system in detail. A dedicated project team in the Department of Social Protection is now focused on implementing the agreed design. Several workstreams are being progressed in parallel, including the drafting of the AE Bill with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, which I expect to publish this year, as well as tendering for administration and investment services, and communicating this landmark reform to stakeholders and the public.
Earlier this year, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection published its report on the pre-legislative scrutiny of the Heads of Bill, setting out 21 observations and recommendations, and completing an important step in the legislative process. I would note that several of the recommendations are already incorporated in the design agreed by Government, while other recommendations cannot be accommodated as they would require considerable change to the design. Consideration of the remaining recommendations is ongoing while the drafting is progressing.
It is important to note that the primary aim of investing AE participants’ funds is to provide a good financial return for them, so that they may have an adequate supplementary income that is over and above the level of the State Pension when they retire.
To manage and administer the AE system, a Central Processing Authority (CPA) will be established. It will procure, through the open financial services market, investment management services on behalf of AE participants. I want to make it clear to the Deputy that the CPA will not be administering a new State fund, but rather will be administering hundreds of thousands of individual retirement savings accounts that are, and will remain, the personal property of the AE participants. The AE project is, in that sense, a State-incentivised personal retirement savings scheme for individuals rather than a new national fund. In that context, the CPA and investment managers will have a duty to, first and foremost, get a good financial return for participants.
In designing high level investment strategies and in contracting for investment services, the Board of the CPA will be guided by both the prudent person principle as well as the need to ensure investments take account of environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles. Such principles would include taking pollution caused by fossil fuels, climate action considerations such as investment into renewable energy developments, and concerns relating to the arms industry into consideration as part of the overarching, long-term strategy.
I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
1014. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost in 2024 if the maximum rate of disability allowance and the State pension (contributory) increased by €14 per week. [38026/23]
View answerThe estimated full year cost of increasing the State Pension (Contributory) only by €14 is €376.7 million - this cost does not include any costs in respect of other pensions schemes.
The estimated full year cost of increasing Disability Allowance by €14 is €122.4 million.
The costs shown above are on a full year basis and are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2023. 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 for 2024.
It should also be noted that these costings include proportionate increases for qualified adults and for those on reduced rates of payment, where relevant.
1015. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection in relation to applications for carer's allowance, if she will consider abolishing the means test for carers or, alternatively, if the means of the carer be the sole consideration rather than the total household income when assessing eligibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38072/23]
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.
It is important to note that Carer’s Allowance is a financial support to people who cannot earn, or can only earn a limited income, due to their caring responsibilities and who have no other means or resources to rely upon.
The conditions attached to payment of Carer’s Allowance are consistent with the overall conditions that apply to social assistance payments generally. The system of social assistance supports provides payments based on an income need. The means test plays a critical role in determining whether or not an income need arises as a consequence of a particular contingency – such as disability, unemployment or caring. This ensures that the recipient has a verifiable income need and that resources are targeted to those who need them most.
Means tests 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.
A maximum rate is payable where a person has limited or no means, and tapering applies to the rate payable to those with modest or more substantial means. This is because there is an expectation that those with resources can at least partly contribute towards supporting themselves.
Social welfare legislation provides that, for social assistance schemes, income and capital (such as savings, investments and property other than the family home) belonging to the claimant and his or her partner, where applicable, is assessable for means assessment purposes.
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.
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.
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 annual Carer's Support Grant - which I increased to its highest-ever rate of €1,850 - is also available to carers who are not on a social welfare payment.
Notwithstanding the increased level of support already in place for carers, I have asked my department to keep the current carer supports under review as part of the annual budgetary process.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1016. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who were in receipt of living alone allowance and subjected to a review by her Department in 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [38091/23]
View answerThe Living Alone Increase is a supplementary payment for those who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and are living alone. It is an increase of €22 per week on the primary payment received. It is available to people aged 66 years who are living alone and in receipt State Pension (Contributory), State Pension (Non-Contributory), Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension, Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pension, Widow's/Widower's Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme, Incapacity Supplement under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme, or Deserted Wife's Benefit.
It is also paid to people aged under 66 who live alone and are in receipt of Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Incapacity Supplement or Blind Pension.
Recipients of Living Alone Increase (LAI) in 2022 and 2023 (to date):
|
Year |
Number of recipients |
|
2022 |
232,210 |
|
2023 |
236,546 |
As a supplementary scheme there are no specific targeted reviews on the Living Alone Increase. Reviews are triggered when customers inform the Department that they have changed address, or on the basis of other control reports (e.g. Fair Deal reports, notification of Intent to marry, etc). As such, the Department does not maintain statistics on the number of reviews performed on Living Alone Increase recipients.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1017. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if the issues relating to the PPSN issued to a person (details supplied) have now been resolved; if she is aware that the Revenue Commissioners have confirmed that any income showing under this PPSN does not relate to it and is an error; if the disability allowance due to the person will be paid as he is attending the ASD section of the mental health services; and if a full conclusion will be expedited. [38100/23]
View answerA means review of the Disability Allowance in payment to the person concerned commenced in May 2023.
As part of the review, employment returns made to the Office of the Revenue Commissioners under their PPS Number were examined. In this case, payments from a Pension Scheme were showing as being paid under the PPS number. The person concerned was contacted to confirm if they were receiving this income. The person concerned advised that they were not in receipt of any income and that they had contacted the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and had received confirmation that an error had occurred on their systems in that income relating to another person was showing under the PPS number of the person concerned.
My Department has accepted this outcome and advised the person concerned to follow up with the Office of the Revenue Commissioners to have their records corrected.
I wish to confirm that the Disability Allowance payment to the concerned person was not interrupted during this review and that they continue to receive their payment, in full, each week.
The person concerned was advised of the outcome of this review by letter dated 20th July 2023.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
1018. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if carers from Northern Ireland are entitled to free travel on public transport in this State; if there are reciprocal arrangements for carers across the island to travel for free on all public transport; if not, the reason that is the case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38122/23]
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 Carers Allowance. A free travel pass is not issued solely on the basis of a person being a carer.
A carer who resides in Northern Ireland will not qualify for a free travel pass from this State. Entitlement to a travel pass in Northern Ireland is dependent on the rules there.
The all-Ireland Free Travel Scheme for seniors resident in all parts of the island was introduced in April 2007. The scheme enables seniors (over 66) resident in the Republic to travel free of charge on all bus and rail services in Northern Ireland. Likewise, seniors (over 65) in the North can travel free of charge on bus, rail, air and ferry services participating in the Free Travel scheme in this State.
Any extension to the scheme would have to be agreed with the Northern Ireland authorities and would require additional funding to be put in place.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1019. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider increasing the weekly income criteria allowed for carers (details supplied). [38136/23]
View answerThe 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.
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 DisabilityAllowance.
The Carer's Allowance disregards are the highest income disregards in the social welfare system.
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 annual Carer's Support Grant - which I increased to its highest-ever rate of €1,850 - is also available to carers who are not on a social welfare payment. The grant is paid in a single lump sum annually, usually on the first Thursday in June. The grant is not means-tested and is not taxable and is paid in respect of each care recipient.
Notwithstanding the increased level of support already in place for carers, I have asked my department to keep the current carer supports under review as part of the annual budgetary process.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1020. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection the number yield in 2024 if the employer PRSI rate of 11.05% increased to 13% on the portion of wages in excess of €125,000. [38145/23]
View answerThe estimated additional revenue that would be generated if the higher rate of the employer social insurance contribution rose by 1.95% from 11.05% to 13% on the portion of wages in excess of €125,000 per year would be €140.3 million.
This estimate does not take into account any possible changes in employer behaviour arising from increasing the employer social insurance contribution rate.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
