Written Answers Nos. 403-416
403. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with a website (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53093/23]
View answerThe information requested is being compiled by my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
|
Year |
Platform |
Amount (ex VAT) |
|
2021 |
|
€1,474.16 |
|
2022 |
|
€3,668.00 |
|
Up to 27 November 2023 |
|
€28,277.00 |
404. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of the submission made by an organisation (details supplied) regarding a loan product for households impacted by defective blocks; his Department’s assessment of the proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53112/23]
View answerMy Department has had a number of engagements with the Banking and Payments Federation (BPFI) on specific issues raised by Defective Concrete Block homeowners to see what can be done to address their concerns.
My Department received an interim funding proposal from the BPFI and discussed this with the BPFI in a number of engagements in recent weeks. However, it is a matter which falls in the first instance under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Finance. I understand that his Department are now engaging with the BPFI on this matter in order to better inform their own position on the details underpinning the proposal.
405. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to indicate the extent to which provision is in hand to address the serious traffic congestion in Maynooth, County Kildare, provision for which was made some ten years ago via LIHAF funding, and given the almost total traffic shutdown at peak times, if seriously urgent steps can be taken to address the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53122/23]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 206 of 26 October 2023 which sets out the position on this matter.
406. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on a proposal (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52923/23]
View answer408. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on discussions with RSS and TUS supervisors in relation to pay claims; when this issue will be resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52928/23]
View answer416. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on the proposal submitted by the rural social scheme and Tús supervisors to her Department for pay parity with community employment supervisors, who earn 15% more following discussions over the past two years through a tripartite forum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53115/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 406, 408 and 416 together.
Officials from my Department hold regular meetings with representative associations to discuss issues of mutual interest in relation to the delivery of all employment programmes; Community employment (CE), Job Initiative (JI), the Rural Social Scheme (RSS) and Tús. With regard to the issues raised by the Deputies, the Department has ongoing talks as a partner in a tripartite group, involving SIPTU (representing the scheme supervisors) and the ILDN (representing the Implementing Bodies). The most recent meeting was held on 19th October 2023.
A follow up meeting, scheduled for 21st November was postponed in order to allow time for further discussion on issues relating to pay and conditions within the Department and with other interested parties. Departmental officials will be in touch with the tripartite members shortly to arrange a follow up meeting date.
The Deputies will also be aware that all supervisors and assistant supervisors employed on CE, JI, Tús and RSS schemes have received a 5% pay increase in 2023, which has been made possible through the provision of additional grant funding from my Department.
I wish to assure the Deputy that the work undertaken by supervisors on all employment schemes is valued and makes an important contribution to participants and communities across the State.
I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
407. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will address the case of a person (details supplied) regarding a non-contributory pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52926/23]
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 7 September 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 3 October 2023.
The case was referred to an Appeals Officer on 17 October 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.
409. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52929/23]
View answerDomiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly allowance payable in respect of a child aged under 16 who has a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention substantially in excess of the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age and where the level of that disability is such that the child is likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 consecutive months. This level of care and attention must be required to allow the child deal with the activities of daily living.
However, eligibility for DCA is not based entirely on the disability/diagnosis but rather on the impact of the disability, in terms of the level of care and attention required by the child compared to a child of the same age without their disability/diagnosis.
An application for DCA in respect of their child was received by my Department from the person concerned on 9 August 2023. A deciding officer disallowed their claim as per decision dated 28 September 2023. Based on the information provided, their child was not considered to satisfy the conditions for DCA. This determination also considered the supporting documentary (medical) evidence that was provided by the person concerned in their application. The deciding officer had regard to the professional opinion of a departmental Medical Assessor in the decision process.
The applicant was advised of the decision in writing and of their right to request a review of the decision by a deciding officer and/or appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) functions independently of my Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare schemes and entitlements.
The SWAO has advised that there is no record of a request for an appeal of this decision received in this case to date.
The right of appeal to the SWAO is normally subject to a 21 day time limit. However, the Chief Appeals Officer has discretion to accept a late appeal in certain limited circumstances.
As advised in the decision notification of 28 September 2023, it is also open to the person concerned to request a review(s) of the deciding officer's decision and this right is not time limited. If requesting a review of the deciding officer's decision, the applicant may forward any further new or additional information or evidence that was not previously available to the deciding officer for re-consideration. An applicant also has a further right to subsequently appeal a review decision directly to the SWAO, including in cases where the original decision remains unchanged following a review(s).
According to my Department's records, the person concerned has not provided any new or additional information or evidence for re-consideration by a deciding officer to date.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
410. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the titles of the White Papers published by her Department from 2008 to date; if she will provide online links to these papers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52987/23]
View answerBased on a comprehensive review of Departmental records by my officials, I can confirm that no White Papers were published by my Department during the period in question.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
411. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of consultancy reports commissioned or funded by her Department that have been categorised or designated as not for external publication from 2011 to date; the total costs incurred on commissioning or funding these reports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53008/23]
View answerMy Department manages over 90 schemes and has an annual budget of approximately €25 billion. Therefore my Department engage consultants (individuals or organisations) to provide analysis over a wide range of areas, when necessary. This includes the delivery of reports, studies, assessments where an external view is useful.
I am advised by my officials that a total of 43 reports were not published externally during the period in question, amounting to a total cost of €1,602,441.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
412. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount her Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with a website (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53060/23]
View answer413. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount her Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with two websites (details supplied) respectively, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53080/23]
View answer414. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount her Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with a website (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53097/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 412 to 414, inclusive, together.
The Department of Social Protection is committed to ensuring that members of the public are fully aware of the welfare supports and services available to them.
Public information campaigns, including advertising on social media and digital platforms, are an important part of this work.
All campaigns are developed and targeted carefully in collaboration with our media buyer using the best mix of media formats to ensure that the department’s messages reach members of the public effectively, while ensuring value for money.
The total spend in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with Google, Meta (Facebook and Instagram) and X (formerly known as Twitter) is €567,486.96 (excluding VAT and fees).
Please see breakdown of expenditure (all figures are ex Vat and fees) on the social media platforms as requested in tabular form:
Google*
|
2021 |
€76,628.00 |
|
2022 |
€48,548.00 |
|
2023** |
€59,188.00 |
|
Total |
€184,364.00 |
*Inclusive of display media, YouTube and the display and video 360 platform (DV360).
**Figures available up to 27/11/2023.
Meta (Facebook/Instagram)*
|
2021 |
€108,305.61 |
|
2022 |
€66,364.82 |
|
2023** |
€115,617.97 |
|
Total |
€290,288.40 |
*Facebook and Instagram are combined since the rebrand to Meta in 2021
**Figures available up to 15/11/2023.
X (Twitter)
|
2021 |
€29,242.31 |
|
2022 |
€21,271.55 |
|
2023* |
€42,320.70 |
|
Total |
€92,834.56 |
*Figures available up to 15/11/2023.
415. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection if recipients of the disablement pension and the unemployability supplement are entitled to receive the winter 2023 and January 2024 cost-of-living bonus payments; if not, the reason for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53102/23]
View answerDisablement Benefit is part of the Occupational Injuries Benefit scheme. This scheme caters for people injured or incapacitated by an accident at work or while travelling to or from work. The scheme also covers people who have contracted a disease as a result of the type of work they do.
Disablement Benefit is a compensation payment and can be paid alongside other social welfare payments. People in receipt of Disablement Pension (without another payment) can work, full or part-time. Those who are unfit for work may qualify for Illness Benefit or another social welfare payment based on their social insurance contributions (PRSI). Alternatively, they may qualify for Incapacity Supplement.
Payments under the Occupational Injuries Benefit scheme, including Disablement Benefit, did not qualify for the once-off Cost of Living support payment in November 2023, because there are no limits to the amount that recipients can earn from work or they may already be in receipt of a supplement on an ongoing basis in the form of Incapacity Supplement.
They are, however, eligible for other increases in payment rates and double-payments announced under Budget 2024. Recipients of Disablement Benefit will receive the Christmas Bonus and the January Cost-of-Living Bonus, which will provide 100% increases in the weekly rate of payment for recipients in early December and late January respectively. The maximum rate of Disablement Benefit will also increase by €12 per week from January 2024, with an additional €4 weekly increase for qualified children. From January 2023, Disablement Benefit was disregarded from the means test for Fuel Allowance. In November, households getting the Fuel Allowance received a €300 cost-of-living lump sum payment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.Disablement Benefit is part of the Occupational Injuries Benefit scheme. This scheme caters for people injured or incapacitated by an accident at work or while travelling to or from work. The scheme also covers people who have contracted a disease as a result of the type of work they do.
Disablement Benefit is a compensation payment and can be paid alongside other social welfare payments. People in receipt of Disablement Pension (without another payment) can work, full or part-time. Those who are unfit for work may qualify for Illness Benefit or another social welfare payment based on their social insurance contributions (PRSI). Alternatively, they may qualify for Incapacity Supplement.
Payments under the Occupational Injuries Benefit scheme, including Disablement Benefit, did not qualify for the once-off Cost of Living support payment in November 2023, because there are no limits to the amount that recipients can earn from work or they may already be in receipt of a supplement on an ongoing basis in the form of Incapacity Supplement.
They are, however, eligible for other increases in payment rates and double-payments announced under Budget 2024. Recipients of Disablement Benefit will receive the Christmas Bonus and the January Cost-of-Living Bonus, which will provide 100% increases in the weekly rate of payment for recipients in early December and late January respectively. The maximum rate of Disablement Benefit will also increase by €12 per week from January 2024, with an additional €4 weekly increase for qualified children. From January 2023, Disablement Benefit was disregarded from the means test for Fuel Allowance. In November, households getting the Fuel Allowance received a €300 cost-of-living lump sum payment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
