Written Answers Nos. 382-401
382. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a recent application for carer’s allowance by a person (details supplied) in respect of their father can be reviewed given that he is in need of full-time care and attention, which they provide seven days a week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52208/23]
View answerCarer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.
An increased payment can be made where full-time care is being provided to two people.
The person concerned is in receipt of CA for one care recipient since 13 April 2023.
An application for CA for a second care recipient was received on 18 July 2023.
It is a condition for receipt of a CA 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.
The evidence submitted in support of the application was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied.
The person concerned was notified on 24 August 2023 of this decision, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal.
The person concerned requested a review of this decision and submitted additional evidence in support of their application.
Following this review, the decision has remained unchanged.
The person concerned was notified on 11 September 2023 of this decision, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal. According to Department records, the person concerned has not exercised either right.
However, on foot of this parliamentary question, a further review has been initiated. If the person concerned has further evidence to support their request for a review, they should submit this evidence to the Department.
Once a decision is made, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
383. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection why a person (details supplied) is receiving a reduced rate of social welfare of €129.70; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52213/23]
View answerJobseeker’s Allowance (JA) is a means-tested payment made to people who are unemployed and who do not qualify for Jobseeker’s Benefit (JB) or who choose to apply for JA instead of JB. Jobseeker’s aged 18 to 24 are eligible for the full personal rate of €220 of JA if they meet any of the following conditions:
• they have a qualified child.
• they are transferring directly to JA from Disability Allowance.
• they are participating in an approved training or education course - Back to Education Allowance (BTEA).
• if they were in the care of the HSE, Child and Family Agency (TUSLA) during the 12 months before they reached the age of 18.
• if they are living independently and they receive Rent Supplement, Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS), Local Authority Housing or housing provided by certain Approved Housing Bodies.
Jobseeker’s aged 18 to 24 who do not meet any of the above conditions are entitled to a weekly rate of payment of €129.70.
According to the records of my Department, the person concerned applied for JA and was awarded a weekly payment of €129.70 with effect from 02/10/2023. This weekly rate of payment was applied to the person's claim as they are aged between 18 and 24. If the person concerned meets any of the conditions above, it is open to them to submit documentary evidence of this to their local Intreo Centre in Dun Laoghaire and their claim will be reassessed accordingly.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
384. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a disability allowance appeal by a person in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52222/23]
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 in that office on 2 November 2023. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers have been received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 14 November 2023 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
385. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if the cost-of-living bonus will be paid to a person in County Kerry (details supplied) who transferred from the working family payment to illness benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52232/23]
View answerWorking Family Payment (WFP) is a weekly in-work support which provides an income top-up 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.
The Cost-of-living payment under the Working Family Payment Scheme is payable to customers who have an entitlement to Working Family Payment on 23rd November 2023. The person concerned was not in receipt of Working Family Payment on 23rd November 2023 as their claim closed on 16th August 2023 and therefore does not have an entitlement to receive the Cost-of-Living payment under the Working Family Payment Scheme.
The person concerned will be entitled to the double child benefit payment on December 5th in respect of her child.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
386. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection when an illness benefit claim by a person (details supplied) will be issued; the reason for the delay in switching from QAA; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52310/23]
View answerMy Department received an application for Illness Benefit from the person concerned on 16th November 2023. The first 3 days of Illness Benefit are waiting days and as such are unpaid. Sunday is not counted as a payable day for Illness Benefit. This means the person concerned is entitled to payment of Illness Benefit from 20th November 2023.
There was a delay in processing their Illness Benefit claim as they are currently a qualified adult on their partner's social welfare claim. This means that their partner is currently in receipt of a payment for them. A person cannot receive a payment in their own right while at the same time being a dependent on another person's claim. Their partner has received a payment for them up to 28th November 2023.
The monetary difference between their payment as a qualified adult and their illness benefit entitlement has been calculated and they are currently not due any arrears of Illness Benefit as they have already been paid as a qualified adult. As soon as they are due further payment of Illness Benefit, it will issue directly to the person concerned.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
387. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection the total annual expenditure on the daily expenses allowance paid to international protection applicants each year since 2020; the expenditure for 2023 to date; the estimated expenditure by year end 2023 and for 2024; and to identify the relevant programme sub-head in the Revised Estimates. [52373/23]
View answerThe provision of material reception conditions, including food and health services, for applicants for International Protection who are awaiting a decision on their application, is the responsibility of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS).
My Department administers the daily expenses allowance (DEA) which is paid to protection applicants who reside in accommodation provided by IPAS in order to meet incidental, personal expenses. The allowance is currently paid at a weekly rate of €38.80 per adult and €29.80 per child.
Table 1 shows the annual expenditure for Daily Expenses Allowance from 2020 to the end October 2023. The estimated expenditure for full year 2023 and 2024 is €34.25m and €39.34m respectively. The Daily Expenses Allowance is provided for under the A11.1 sub head in the REV.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Table 1 – Annual Expenditure for Daily Expenses Allowance from 2020 to 2023 (end of Oct)
|
Year |
Daily Expenses Allowance - Expenditure |
|
2020 |
€13.05m |
|
2021 |
€11.13m |
|
2022 |
€19.32m |
|
2023 (end of October) |
€27.24m |
388. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of external consultant reports commissioned by her Department in 2022 and to-date in 2023; the companies involved; and the title and publication date by report, in tabular form. [52403/23]
View answerMy Department has commissioned eight reports conducted by external consultants during the period in question. Details of these are set out in tabular format below:
|
TITLE OF REPORT |
NAME OF CONSULTANT |
PUBLICATION DATE |
|
Procedural Review of the Department of Social Protection’s Supplier Payments |
KOSI Corporation |
Ongoing |
|
Lone Parents Digital Activation |
Amárach Research |
Ongoing |
|
Evaluation of the School Meals Programme |
RSM Ireland |
Published on 30th March 2023 |
|
Mid-term review of the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025: Report on stakeholder consultation |
Ipsos |
Published on 1st June 2023 |
|
Research into food poverty in Ireland |
Amárach Research |
Ongoing |
|
Evaluation of the Back to Work Family Dividend |
Indecon Economic Consultants |
Ongoing |
|
Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund as at 31st December 2020 |
KPMG |
Published on 28th March 2023 |
|
Strategic Review of the Abhaile Service |
Indecon Economic Consultants |
Published on 26th July 2023 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
389. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will offer advice to a person who has reached the limit of their eligibility for carer’s benefit and does not qualify for carer’s allowance, but cannot return to work as they are still needed to act as a carer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52446/23]
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.
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.
Carer's Benefit is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce to care for someone in need of full-time care and attention. Carer’s Benefit is payable for a maximum period of 104 weeks for each person being cared for. It can be taken in one block or in separate periods as long as the combined total does not exceed 104 weeks.
The payment is complemented by the Carer's Leave Act 2001, which allows employees to leave their employment temporarily to provide full-time care for someone in need of full-time care and attention. A person is entitled to take carer’s leave of at least 13 weeks up to a maximum of 104 weeks.
For someone who has exhausted their Carer's leave and benefit, Carer's Allowance may be available to them. 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.
At the end of October here were 95,192 people in receipt of Carer's Allowance. The projected expenditure on on this payment in 2023 is over €1 billion.
Since my appointment as Minister, I have made a number of improvements within the social welfare system to enhance the supports available for our carers. In this Budget, and the previous one, there have been significant improvements to the means test for Carer's Allowance:
• Last June the income disregards were increased from €332.50 to €350 for a single person, and from €665 to €750 for carers with a spouse/partner.
• As part of Budget 2024, the weekly income disregard will be increased from €350 to €450 for a single person, and from €750 to €900 for carers with a spouse/partner.
Since June 2022, this amounts to cumulative increases to the disregards of €117.50 for a single carer and €235.00 for a carer who is part of couple. These are the highest income disregards in the social welfare system. It is also worth noting that the capital and savings disregard for the Carer’s Allowance means assessment was increased last year from €20,000 to €50,000.
I am satisfied that raising the general weekly income disregard will mean that more carers with modest incomes will be brought into the system. However, the reality is no matter where I draw the line in terms of the means test, there will always be some people who fall on the other side and don’t qualify.
In addition to Carer's Allowance and Carer’s Benefit, my department also provides a number of non means tested payments, these include:-
• Domiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly payment for a child aged under 16 with a severe disability, who requires ongoing care and attention, substantially over and above the care and attention usually required by a child of the same age. The Domiciliary Care Allowance rate is €330 per month. There is no restriction on the number of children for whom a carer may claim Domiciliary Care Allowance. As part of Budget 2024, the payment will increase to €340. This payment has increased by €30.50 per month under this Government.
• 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. As part of Budget 2024, all Carer's Support Grant recipients will receive a Cost-of-Living lump sum payment of €400.
I am satisfied that there is a comprehensive range of supports available to family carers. Any further reforms to the current payments would have cost implications and could only be considered in an overall budgetary and policy context.
I trust this clarifies this matter for the Deputy.
390. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection the circumstances by which a family can avail of means-tested welfare payments and, on subsequently being discovered to have huge cash assets, the measures taken to recoup the obvious overpayments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52450/23]
View answer391. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of cases within her Department where overpayments are being repaid by the client, broken down into groups of over €100,000, €50,000 to €99,000 and €20,000 to €49,000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52453/23]
View answer392. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of claims for overpayments being made by her Department against the estates of deceased clients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52454/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 390 to 392, inclusive, together.
Overpayments of social welfare entitlements can occur where a person provides false or misleading information in their application or through error on the part of either the claimant or the Department. Persons who have been overpaid social welfare have a liability to refund the overpayment as they have been in receipt of a payment to which they were not entitled.
My Department carries out a range of control measures across all its schemes to prevent, detect and deter fraud. These includes checks both at the award stage and subsequent reviews. Control reviews across all schemes include data matching with Departmental and other records; seeking confirmation of ongoing eligibility from claimants; and home visits by Social Welfare Inspectors where this is considered necessary. To the end of October 2023, provisional figures indicate that just over 535,000 reviews of social welfare claims have been undertaken this year, resulting in savings of just over €463 million.
Means tested payments have qualifying conditions and income levels must be below a certain level, depending on the scheme. Where a customer is found to have exceeded those limits, a Deciding Officer will make a revised decision based on the means discovered and will raise an overpayment for the period that the customer should not have been in receipt of the payment.
Where an overpayment occurs, the Department seeks to recover the full value by deducting up to 15% of the personal rate from on-going Social Welfare payments or requires direct payments to be made where a social welfare payment is no longer in place. Where a customer is in employment and does not engage in agreeing a repayment plan, the Department will consider making an attachment of earnings order. The Department will work with the customer and consider personal circumstances in determining a repayment plan.
Where my Department encounters serious fraud cases, it is policy to ensure that such cases come before the courts. While the Department can take such prosecutions under social welfare legislation, the more serious cases of suspected fraud are generally referred to the Gardaí for prosecution under criminal justice legislation.
Currently there are 3,627 customers repaying overpayments in excess of €100,000, with 984 customers repaying overpayments of between €50,000 and €99,999 and a further 3,627 customer repaying overpayments of between €20,000 and €49,999.
Social welfare legislation provides that the personal representative of a deceased person who, at any time, received a means-tested social assistance payment from the Department is obliged to 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. Where there is an outstanding overpayment or a new overpayment is raised based on the failure of the deceased to report an increase in their means, my Department will pursue the overpayment from the estate of the customer.
The number of claims for overpayments being currently pursued by my Department from the estates of deceased customers is 1,629 with an outstanding value of €10.4m.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
393. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection whether there are circumstances in which domiciliary care allowance or carer's benefit would be paid to the parent of an infant who is a long-term inpatient in a hospital when the hospital requires that the parent be part of their care and present in the hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52488/23]
View answerMy 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 these payments to carers in 2023 is estimated at almost €1.6 billion.
Carer's Benefit is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce to care for someone in need of full-time care and attention. Carer’s Benefit is payable for a maximum period of 104 weeks for each person being cared for. It can be taken in one block or in separate periods as long as the combined total does not exceed 104 weeks.
Carer’s Benefit can continue to be paid on a short-term basis and the carer continues to be regarded as providing full-time care and attention, if they or the person being cared for, is having medical or other treatment in a hospital or other institution for a period not longer than 13 weeks. This provision is to ensure that the carer can continue to be paid when they themselves require medical treatment that requires them to spend some time in hospital, or when the person they are caring for requires medical care or respite on a short-term basis.
Domiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly payment to a parent or guardian in respect of a child aged under 16 who has a severe disability and require care and attention substantially over and above that usually needed by a child of the same age. The payment is not means-tested. There is no restriction on the number of children for whom a person may claim the payment. In other words, where a person is caring for more than 1 child who qualifies for Domiciliary Care Allowance, they may claim the monthly allowance for each.
At the end of October, some 53,180 customers were in receipt of Domiciliary Care Allowance in respect of 59,586 children. Expenditure in 2023 is estimated at almost €247 million.
To qualify for Domiciliary Care Allowance, the child must live at home with the person claiming the allowance for five or more days per week. If the child is in residential care but is at home for two days or more per week, a half rate allowance is payable. These criteria are set out in the legislative provisions for the scheme.
Parents or guardians in receipt of Domiciliary Care Allowance are eligible for an annual Carers Support Grant (€1,850) and, subject to satisfying a means test or having sufficient PRSI contributions, may also be eligible for Carer’s Allowance or Carer's Benefit.
To address the particular issue raised by the Deputy, in acknowledging the financial burden families of sick children face, the Government has made significant changes to the Domiciliary Care Allowance payment over the last two years.
• As part of Budget 2022, the period during which Domiciliary Care Allowance can be paid for children in hospital was extended from 3 months to 6 months.
• As part of Budget 2023 and with effect from January, Domiciliary Care Allowance is available for babies who remain in an acute hospital after birth for a period of 6 months.
During both these extended periods of eligibility and where other conditions are met, a carer may also receive Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit and the Carer's Support Grant.
It is also worth noting that from January 2023, the rate of Domiciliary Care Allowance increased from €309.50 to €330 per month and will be further increased to €340 from January 2024.
These combined measures aim to go some way to ensure that parents are supported at what is a very difficult time when a child is in hospital for a prolonged period of time.
I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
394. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if free travel is available for a person with a condition (details supplied) who is not on a social welfare payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52494/23]
View answerThe Free Travel Scheme allows those eligible to travel, free of charge, on all public transport owned by the State. This includes bus, rail, Local Link and the Luas, with some exceptions. Free travel is also available on some services operated by private bus and ferry transport operators.
To qualify for Free Travel, a person aged under 66 must satisfy the relevant qualifying criteria. From the details supplied, it would appear that the person concerned would not qualify for Free Travel. However, it is open to the person concerned to make an application for Free Travel so that his entitlement can be formally examined. Full details in relation to Free Travel eligibility are available on www.gov.ie/freetravel.
It was announced in Budget 2024 that the Free Travel scheme will be extended to people who are medically certified unfit to drive from July 2024. The policy guidelines in relation to this scheme extension are currently being drafted.
When the policy guidelines are finalised, further details of this scheme extension will be made available well in advance of the implementation date of July 2024.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
395. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on a carer's allowance appeal by a person (details supplied). [52543/23]
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 in that office on 10 October 2023. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 31 October 2023.
The case was referred to an Appeals Officer on 15 November 2023, who will in due course make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
396. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite a decision on an application for carer's allowance by a person (details supplied). [52544/23]
View answerCarer's allowance (CA) 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.
Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly payment for a child aged under 16 with a severe disability, who requires on-going care and attention, substantially over and above the care and attention usually required by a child of the same age.
An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 25 September 2023.
Under social welfare legislation, CA for the care of a care recipient who is aged less than 16 years can only be awarded where DCA is in payment.
I can confirm that an application for DCA is with a deciding officer and an information request has issued to the person concerned.
Once notification is received that a decision has been made on the DCA application, the CA application will be processed without delay and the person concerned notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
397. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of an application for a PPSN for a person (details supplied); when can they expect the number to issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52584/23]
View answerAn application for a Personal Public Service Number from the person concerned is currently being processed by my Department. The individual was contacted on 11th October 2023 requesting further information. A response to that request is awaited.
Upon receipt of the requested information, the application will be reviewed and the person will be notified directly of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
398. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Justice if there are personnel in her Department who could be classified as having a significant or exclusive focus of their role dedicated to dealing with integration; if so, to detail the title of the post, the grade level of the post, the core functions of that role and details of the exact nature of their responsibilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51829/23]
View answerThe responsibility for Integration transferred from my Department to the Department of Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth on 14 October 2020. My Department retained responsibility in the fields of migration and international protection policy, in which integration dimensions are an important ongoing consideration, but not such that it is feasible to set clearly delineated integration specific responsibilities to particular staff members.
More broadly, the Department has at its mission the strategic purpose of working towards a safe, fair and inclusive Ireland, and our strategic goals are informed by this mission and by our obligations under the Human Rights Public Sector Duty.
In this context my Department is committed to creating a positive, welcoming and inclusive organisation for all people, including its staff and members of the public who engage with our services.
My Department launched its first Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategy in March 2022, aligned to our vision of a Safe, Fair and Inclusive Ireland. The Strategy aims to strengthen the Department’s capabilities to promote equality, embrace diversity and foster inclusion, not only in our daily interactions and activities as colleagues, but also in the design & delivery of the services that we provide to the public. The EDI Strategy is accompanied by an action plan which prioritises three areas of focus for strategic impact:
• achieve better policy outcomes and improve the accessibility and quality of our services;
• support the development of a skilled and diverse workforce which is reflective of the diversity within our population / country ;
• build and embed a workplace culture which facilitates, supports and encourages contributions from all.
Each of these strategic outcomes is underpinned by a number of actions and the Department’s EDI and Public Sector Duty Committee, monitors the implementation of the actions contained in the Strategy.
399. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice whether there are any arrangements whereby small businesses can be compensated if an important member of staff is called for jury duty, which can be highly disruptive and costly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51832/23]
View answerJury service exists to protect an individual's rights and to involve the public in the administration of justice. Jury service is one of the most important civic duties that a person can be asked to perform. While there are no expenses paid to jurors who are called for jury duty, lunch and refreshments are provided for those who ultimately serve on a jury.
Information for potential jurors on jury duty is posted with jury summonses and can also be found on the Courts Service website. This information includes an outline of the position regarding expenses and explains that employers must continue to pay an employee while engaged on jury duty. Self-employed persons can seek to be excused by the County Registrar.
A review is underway to examine reform measures for juries and any necessary legislative or administrative changes will be introduced following completion of this review. That being said, the Deputy will be aware that the introduction of any means of compensation to businesses in this context such as the introduction of tax credits or other forms of compensation would be a matter for wider Government consideration.
400. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Justice given the impact high legal fees are having in driving up insurance premiums, when she plans to publish the findings of a report (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51851/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the Government is committed to facilitating easier, speedier access to justice for businesses and individuals, and part of this involves addressing the issue of costs associated with accessing the legal system.
The Report of the Review of the Administration of Civil Justice (known as the Kelly Report) made over 90 recommendations. Arising from the Review report, I published the Civil Justice Efficiencies and Reform Measures plan in May 2022. The plan sets out how we will achieve these ambitious reforms, with the goal of facilitating easier, cheaper and quicker access to civil justice. The plan identifies a number of measures which have the aim of reducing legal costs, recognising that no one singular action will have the effect of sufficiently addressing the issue on its own.
One area on which the Kelly Review Group was not able to reach consensus was on the measures to regulate legal costs in Ireland. Two options were put forward: the first a set of non-binding guidelines; the second a table of maximum costs, to be set by an independent committee. One action in the above Plan is to undertake research on these two primary options as put forward by the Review Group. To this end, my Department commissioned economic consultants to evaluate these two options, as well as identifying other potential options which may serve the same policy objective. The Report has been received and is being reviewed by my Department. I expect to publish it in the coming weeks.
401. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice to report on the number of Garda officers, by rank, attached to Nobber Garda station in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form; the number of Garda officers who retired from Nobber Garda station in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51874/23]
View answerI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Unfortunately, the information was not received in time. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.
|
Year |
Garda |
Sergeant |
Total |
|
2020 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|
2021 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|
2022 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|
2023* |
2 |
0 |
2 |
