Catherine Murphy
Question:340. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year yield that would be generated by raising by 0.2% rate of employers' PRSI. [50930/23]
View answerSocial Insurance
Questions (340)
Written answers
The estimated additional full-year yield that would be generated by raising both the lower and higher employer PRSI class A rates by 0.2% to 9% and 11.25% respectively is €216 million.
These estimates do not take into account any possible changes in employer behaviour arising from changing the rate of employer PRSI.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Citizens Information Services
Questions (341)
Dessie Ellis
Question:341. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of Citizen’s Advice centres in Dublin; the numbers employed in each centre and the grade of each employee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50966/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the statutory body under the aegis of my Department that funds and supports eight regional Citizens Information Service (CIS) companies, which in turn operate the national network of Citizens Information Centres.
Each CIS company is a separate company in its own right, governed by a voluntary Board of Directors.
Decisions regarding the delivery of services and the recruitment and placement of staff are entirely a matter for these Boards and are based on regional needs. Two companies have responsibility for the provision of CIS services in Dublin - North Dublin CIS and Dublin South CIS.
CIB has informed me that there are currently 10 Citizens Information Centres in North Dublin CIS and 9 Citizens Information Centres in Dublin South CIS.
As employees of companies limited by guarantee, CIS staff are not public servants and are therefore not subject to civil service grades, with grades internal to CIS. The breakdown of staff by CIS grade in each Citizens Information Centre in North Dublin CIS and Dublin South CIS is detailed in the tables below.
North Dublin CIS
|
Centre |
Development Manager |
Senior Information Officer |
Information Officer |
Advocacy Support Worker |
Admin |
Total Employed |
|
Balbriggan* |
0 |
0 |
1.5 |
1 |
0 |
2.5 |
|
Ballymun** |
||||||
|
Blanchardstown |
0.5 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0.57 |
4.07 |
|
Cabra*** |
||||||
|
Dublin City Centre |
1 |
1 |
5 |
0 |
0.5 |
7.5 |
|
Green Street (MACRO) |
0.5 |
0 |
2.07 |
0 |
0 |
2.57 |
|
Finglas |
1 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
0.5 |
5.5 |
|
Malahide |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Northside Coolock |
1 |
0 |
3.5 |
0 |
0 |
4.5 |
|
Swords |
1 |
0 |
1.5 |
0 |
0 |
2.5 |
*North Dublin Citizens Information Service has 1 Regional Manager and 1 Regional Administrator based in Balbriggan
** Ballymun CIC, the service is provided by Information Officers from Finglas CIC
*** Cabra CIC, the service is provided by Information Officers from Finglas CIC
Dublin South CIS
|
Centre |
Development Manager |
Senior Information Officer |
Information Officer |
Advocacy Support Worker |
Admin |
Total Employed |
|
Ballyfermot |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Carmelite* |
||||||
|
Clondalkin |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0.5 |
4.5 |
|
Dublin 12 and 6W |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Dun Laoghaire |
1 |
0 |
2.5 |
0 |
0.5 |
4 |
|
Dundrum |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Liberties |
1 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
0.5 |
6.5 |
|
Lucan |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Tallaght** |
1 |
1 |
3.4 |
1 |
1.2 |
7.6 |
* Carmelite CIC, the service is provided by Information Officers from Liberties CIC
**Dublin South Citizens Information Service has 1 Regional Manager and 1 Regional Administrator based in Tallaght.
State Pensions
Questions (342)
Bernard Durkan
Question:342. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is envisaged that a person would qualify for State pension based on planned changes to the pension system (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50971/23]
View answerWritten answers
The person concerned reached pension age on 19 June 2020 and applied for a State Pension Contributory on 24 January 2020.
Under current eligibility conditions, an individual must have 520 full-rate paid contributions in order to qualify for standard State pension (contributory). 520 full-rate contributions equate to 10 years of full-rate insurable employment.
According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has a total of 236 full-rate contributions. Since their contributions fall short of the requisite 520 paid full-rate contributions, they do not qualify for State pension (contributory).
As part of the series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system, I have introduced an enhanced State Pension provision from January 2024 for people who have been caring for incapacitated dependents for over 20 years (1040 weeks). The periods of care-giving do not need to be consecutive.
If the person concerned has been caring for incapacitated dependents for over 20 years, they can apply for the Long-Term Carers Contributions (LTCC). If the criteria are met, the equivalent of paid contributions may be attributed to cover gaps in their contribution record.
The quickest way to apply for Long-Term Carers Contributions is online at MyWelfare.ie if you have a verified MyGovID account.
Further information about the changes in State pension (contributory) and Long-Term Carers Contributions are available on the Government website at gov.ie/pension
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (343)
Willie O'Dea
Question:343. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in respect of a invalidity pension application (details suppled); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50991/23]
View answerWritten answers
Invalidity Pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the contribution conditions.
The person concerned has been awarded IP with effect from 28 September 2023 and will receive their first payment to their nominated bank account on 30 November 2023. Any arrears due from 28 September 2023 to 29 November 2023 will issue shortly. The person concerned was notified of this decision on 16 November 2023.I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (344)
Richard Bruton
Question:344. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if the extension of parental benefit from seven to nine weeks from August 2024, will give the extra two weeks also to children born up to two years before the commencement date. [51026/23]
View answerWritten answers
Currently, seven weeks Parent's Leave and Benefit is available to all eligible parents of children born or adopted from 1 November 2019. The leave and benefit must be availed of within the first two years of the child’s life or adoption.
In Budget 2024, the Government provided for the number of weeks of Parent's Leave and Benefit available to eligible parents to be increased from seven weeks to nine weeks for each parent from August 2024.
My colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has policy and legal responsibility for Parent's Leave. I have responsibility for Parent's Benefit and the associated changes.
The additional two weeks leave and benefit will apply to parents of children who are under age two in August 2024 or, in the case of adoption, where less than two years have passed since the child's placement.
Parents of children who turn two during the month of August 2024, or adoptive children who have been with their parents for less than two years at that point, are entitled to the additional two weeks Parent’s Benefit. Applications for the additional two weeks in these cases must be made before their child’s second birthday, or before the second anniversary of the child's adoption.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (345)
Paul Kehoe
Question:345. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of the working family payment for a person (details supplied); when a decision will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51034/23]
View answerWritten answers
Working Family Payment (WFP) is a weekly in-work income support for employees on low earnings with children. To qualify for Working Family Payment, the customer must be working a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight in ongoing insurable employment and have at least one qualified child who normally resides with them.
An application for WFP has been received by the Department from the person concerned. This application was examined by a deciding officer and further information was requested on 17th May 2023. The additional information has not yet been received by the Department. A second request for the required information issued on 3rd July 2023 which also advised that a decision could not be made on their WFP claim until their partner’s Jobseekers Allowance Claim - which is currently under appeal - had been completed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office. A third notification issued on 25th August 2023 advising the person concerned a decision on the WFP could not be made until the appeal for Jobseekers Allowance was completed.
The 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 has been received. This appeal has been referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral appeal hearing.
When a decision has been made on this Appeal, a deciding officer will review the WFP claim and the person concerned will be advised in writing of the decision.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Departmental Contracts
Questions (346, 347)
Paul Murphy
Question:346. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has any current contracts with any Israeli state agency, any Israeli-based company or any company based elsewhere in the world which is owned or part-owned by any Israeli state agency or by any Israeli-based company; and if so, the value of those contracts. [51052/23]
View answerPaul Murphy
Question:347. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department or any of its agencies are involved in any exercise, operation, training or research which includes involvement by any Israeli state agency, any Israeli-based company or any company based elsewhere in the world which is owned or part-owned by any Israeli state agency or by any Israeli-based company. [51070/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 346 and 347 together.
Following a thorough search and as far as can be ascertained, I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department does not have any current contracts with any Israeli state agency or any Israeli-based company. The Deputy will appreciate the fact that it is difficult to confirm the ultimate legal ownership of every company that my Department engages with.
To the best of my and my officials' knowledge, I can also confirm to the Deputy that neither my Department, nor any of the four agencies under my Department's remit are involved in any exercise, operation, training or research which includes involvement by any Israeli state agency or any Israeli-based company.
Question No. 347 answered with Question No. 346.
Social Welfare Code
Questions (348)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:348. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are plans to change the criteria for pensions (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51091/23]
View answerWritten answers
From September 2012, the rates of State pension (contributory) paid to those who had a yearly average of less than 40 contributions was lowered.
In recognition that these rate changes may have negatively impacted certain cohorts, in January 2018, the Government announced an Interim Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to calculate the entitlement of pensioners who reached State pension age on or after 1 September 2012 (i.e. those born on or after 1 September 1946) and who had a reduced rate pension entitlement based on those post Budget 2012 rate bands. HomeCaring Periods were introduced for the first time which allowed those who cared for children, or other dependent relatives, claim up to 20 years in lieu of contributions.Work began on examining the social insurance records of over 94,000 pensioners in September 2018. Where these reviews resulted in an increase in the pensioner’s rate of payment, the increase was backdated to 30 March 2018 or the pensioners 66th birthday, as appropriate. As at the end of October 2019, with the project completed, 94,258 reviews had been finalised; of these, 53,092 (56%) were women and 41,166 (44%) were men. Of the 53,092 women reviewed 28,528 (54%) received an increase while the rest remained on their existing rate. Of the 41,166 men reviewed, 9,956 (24%) received an increase and the remainder continued to receive their same rate of payment. No pensioner had their pension payment reduced as part of this review.People whose pensions were decided prior to 1 September 2012 were not affected by the Budget 2012 rate band changes. Consequently, people whose pensions were calculated under the 2000-2012 rate bands were subject to a significantly more generous regime than those who qualified before or afterwards, as a Yearly Average of only 20 contributions per year could attract a 98% pension.
One of the landmark reforms to the State Pension system that I announced in September of last year is a ten-year phased transition to the Total Contributions Approach and the abolition of the Yearly Average method. This was part of recommendations from the independent Pensions Commission following its in-depth analysis of the State pension system. I expect to bring the legislation required to introduce this, and other reforms, before the Oireachtas soon, with the phased transition commencing from January 2025.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Cost of Living Issues
Questions (349)
Seán Sherlock
Question:349. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) will receive benefits of the cost-of-living payments. [51099/23]
View answerWritten answers
Disability Allowance 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.
Cost of living lump sum payments to people on courses such as those raised by the Deputy are ultimately a matter for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Science. Weekly allowances for Further Education and Training courses through the Education Training Boards (ETB) or National Learning Network (NLN/SOLAS) are normally funded by through the training provider. The weekly DA payment is stopped and the training provider commences the equivalent weekly payment to the learner. Any secondary allowances and bonuses due to trainees, whilst on a training course, are payable by the training provider.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (350)
Ged Nash
Question:350. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on policy matters raised by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51109/23]
View answerWritten answers
The person concerned receives Jobseeker's Benefit of €311.10 a week. This rate consists of a personal rate of €220.00, €49.10 tapered Increase for Qualified Adult and €42.00 Increase for a Qualified Child under 12 years of age. A tapered Increase for Qualified Adult Rate was applied based on his partner's income. As part of Budget 2024, I have secured increases in these payments from January 2024.
I have also secured provision for a Pay-Related Benefit for Jobseekers to be introduced in late 2024, subject to further Government approval of the scheme. This would link the rate of benefit to a person's previous earnings. The aim of a pay-related benefit scheme is to soften the income shock that a worker may face if they suddenly lose their job.
The Department provides two main payment options for its customers: payment in cash at post offices or payment directly into customer accounts by Electronic Fund Transfer. Customers are offered a choice of payment method for most Social Welfare schemes and their wishes are facilitated where they choose to receive their social welfare payment at a post office. For some social welfare schemes, the default method is by way of cash collection at a post office. For example, jobseeker's schemes, require a customer to prove that they are in the state and are available for work. This is the case in respect of Jobseeker's Benefit where the default method is at a post office.
I trust this clarifies the position for the deputy.
Gender Recognition
Questions (351)
Carol Nolan
Question:351. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide details on the research commissioned by her Department to examine issues of concern relating to children aged under 16 years of age being able to access a gender recognition certificate and/or self-declare their gender; the person or company contracted to provide this research and the costs incurred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51119/23]
View answerWritten answers
My Department’s role in relation to gender recognition is to record a person’s preferred gender once the necessary formalities have been complied with.
The Programme for Government – Our Shared Future - contains a commitment to commence research to examine arrangements for gender recognition for children under sixteen. The research is intended to inform consideration of any proposals to change the current arrangements for gender recognition for children under sixteen. The absence of such research was acknowledged as an issue during the Oireachtas debates on the Civil Registration Act in 2015. Any change to the current arrangements will require the approval of Government and the Oireachtas.
While the research was commissioned jointly by my Department and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, that Department undertook the lead in relation to the detailed procurement and contract management arrangements for the research. Accordingly, the question is proper to my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.