Thursday, 7 Dec 2023

Written Answers Nos. 230-244

Housing Schemes

Questions (231)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

231. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which he might authorise the reintroduction of the rural housing programme, with particular reference to those on the local authority housing lists coming from a rural area being facilitated by way of a programme to ensure that they might be housed in their own area rather than adding to the waiting lists in urban areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54436/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Local authorities are responsible for the identification of the social housing need in their area and for the development of appropriate responses to the need identified. The provision of a single rural dwelling on local authority owned land or sites provided by an individual can be part of a local authority's social housing construction pipeline, where identified and prioritised by the authority.

Under Housing for All, each local authority was required to prepare a Housing Delivery Action Plan for the period 2022-2026. These Plans set out details of social and affordable housing delivery for the period 2022-2026, in line with targets issued by my Department. The Plans also include details of the locations where social and affordable housing will be delivered in addition to information on housing typology.

Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area is provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The most recently published summary for all counties, conducted in November 2022, is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/62486-summary-of-social-housing-assessments/

The SSHA exercise for 2023 is currently underway and the summary is due to be published in 2024.

Question No. 232 answered with Question No. 226.

Homeless Accommodation

Questions (233)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

233. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which the number of families deemed homeless in County Kildare are likely to achieve accommodation in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54438/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual local authorities.

Critical to supporting households to exit homelessness is increasing the supply of housing. Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes an average of 10,000 new build social homes each year in the period to 2030. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the Land Development Agency and €5bn funding through the Housing Finance Agency. Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes; 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing and 28,500 new affordable homes in the period 2022-2026.

Budget 2023 allocated funding of over €215 million for the delivery of homelessness services. On 29 November an additional €102m was approved by Cabinet by way of a Supplementary Estimate for the provision of homeless services in 2023. Local authorities and their service delivery partners work with all households in emergency accommodation to support them to exit from homelessness to a tenancy. This could include a tenancy in a local authority or AHB property or a HAP-supported tenancy in the private rented sector. The provision of these supports is a matter for the relevant local authority and my Department does not hold the specific details requested.

Question No. 234 answered with Question No. 226.

Industrial Disputes

Questions (235, 237, 243, 245)

John Lahart

Question:

235. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection to address the ongoing issue of the 15% pay gap between Tús supervisors and community employment supervisors within South Dublin County partnership at County Hall, despite performing similar duties; if her Department has any plans to resolve this pay disparity issue between Tús supervisors and community employment supervisors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54271/23]

Marian Harkin

Question:

237. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection for a timeframe to finalise the pay parity claim of RSS and Tús supervisors. [54378/23]

Jackie Cahill

Question:

243. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on her efforts to close the 15% pay gap between Tús and CE supervisors (details supplied); the reason the Principal Officer in her Department working on this did not recently meet with officials in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform as planned; if Tús supervisors will receive the update promised to them on 8 December 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54294/23]

Holly Cairns

Question:

245. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on work ongoing to address the pay gap between Tús scheme supervisors and CE scheme supervisors; whether her Department will commit to meeting Tús committees and union representatives without further delay; the reason for the delayed response to their pay claim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54311/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 235, 237, 243 and 245 together.

My Department operates a number of employment support schemes; including Tús, Rural Social Scheme (RSS) and Community Employment (CE), for long term unemployed persons and low income farmers/fishers. I would like to acknowledge the important role that Tús and RSS supervisors play in providing valuable opportunities to participants in supporting the delivery of key services to local communities across the country.

It should be noted that Tús and RSS supervisors are employees of the individual Implementing Bodies (Local Development Companies), which are funded by the Department.

Earlier this year, union representatives and employers agreed, with the assistance of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and the support of Department officials, a wage increase of 5% for supervisors employed on Tús, RSS and CE schemes.

Officials in my Department continue to hold regular meetings with the supervisor's representative associations to discuss issues in relation to the delivery of all employment programmes. In recent meetings the representatives raised the issue of pay parity for Tús and RSS with CE supervisors.

It is important to note that there are differences in the work undertaken by CE compared to that undertaken by Tús and RSS, relating, for example, to the preparation of individual learning plans. As a consequence, we would expect the service fees paid to the service providers to reflect this difference in scope.

My Department, as funder of these schemes, and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform are considering the complexities involved in addressing this issue. It is also important to note that any changes to the fees paid or the funding model will require the approval of the Department of Public Expenditure , NDP Delivery and Reform.

Pending the outcome of these discussions, officials in my Department will continue to work with the Implementation Bodies and staff representatives in an effort to resolve the issue.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (236)

Richard O'Donoghue

Question:

236. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that people who are suffering from long Covid and can no longer work are not been financially supported by the Government; if this issue can be addressed with the Minister for Health to introduce a payment for those suffering from long Covid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54329/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

My department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability. These include contributory payments, based on PRSI contributions, such as Illness Benefit and Invalidity Pension, and non-contributory payments, based on a means test, such as Disability Allowance.

Entitlement to these supports is contingent on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work. It is not dependent on the nature of the illness or disability. Every application for the Department's schemes is individually assessed, in line with the provisions specified in the relevant social welfare legislation. Assessment is based on the medical information provided by healthcare providers and the claimant and taking into account the opinion of the Department’s Medical Assessor.

Illness Benefit is a short-term social insurance scheme. It is available for up to two years for people who have the required social insurance contributions. Their doctor must submit a Certificate of Incapacity to Work to the department.

Disability Allowance is a means-tested social assistance scheme. In order to qualify, the person must satisfy a habitual residency condition, a means test and meet the medical requirement. The medical requirement for Disability Allowance is that the person's disability must be expected to last for at least one year, and the disability must substantially restrict a person’s ability to work. Over 161,000 people were in receipt of Disability Allowance in September 2023.

Invalidity Pension is a social insurance scheme paid from the Social Insurance Fund. Eligibility is based on PRSI contributions and medical condition. In order to qualify, the person must have been incapable of work for at least 12 months and be likely to be incapable of work for at least another 12 months; or must be permanently incapable of work. Over 56,000 people were in receipt of Invalidity Pension in September 2023.

A Temporary Scheme of Paid Leave was developed by the Department of Health for certain public health sector employees who were unfit to work after a COVID-19 infection. This scheme has been extended until 31 March 2024.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Question No. 237 answered with Question No. 235.

Employment Support Services

Questions (238)

Denis Naughten

Question:

238. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps which she is taking to increase part-time employment participation levels among those in receipt of jobseeker’s payments from her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54273/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Public Employment Service (PES) offers a range of supports to help Jobseekers secure and sustain employment. The service is delivered, through Employment Personal Advisers (EPA) and Job Coaches (JC) who offer an individualised employment service delivered mainly via one-on-one engagements. In these engagements the EPA/JC will work with the Jobseeker to identify their skills/competencies, work experience and work preference with a view to matching them to job opportunities. Skills needs/gaps and any specific potential barriers to employment are also addressed as part of an agreed Personal Progression Plan (PPP). The PPP documents the steps that the jobseeker will take to progress to suitable and sustainable full-time employment. The Intreo Public Employment Service provides a wide range of supports which may include referrals to further education and training, placement on employment support schemes and job matching services where appropriate.

Where full time employment is not secured, part-time employment is supported through a number of schemes, including casual and systematic short-time work arrangements for people on jobseeker payments. The main social welfare schemes for people who are unable to find full-time employment are the social insurance contribution-based Jobseeker's Benefit and the means-tested Jobseeker's Allowance. These schemes allow a person to work up to three days per week, where they are fully unemployed for at least four in any seven consecutive days. Among the qualifying conditions for both schemes are that a person must be available for and genuinely seeking full-time work.

The Part-Time Job Incentive Scheme (PTJI) is available to people who are long-term unemployed to take up part-time employment for less than 24 hours per week and receive a weekly income supplement. The scheme is generally awarded for one year but may be extended for up to 12 weeks in exceptional circumstances. Participants are expected to continue to make efforts to find full-time work.

The PES promotes part time employment for Jobseekers by providing schemes and such as Community Employment (CE) or Tús. These schemes are aimed at those customers who long term unemployed. Participants of these schemes can also avail of other part time employment. These customers are also continually supported to seek full-time employment.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy,

Social Insurance

Questions (239)

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

239. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the timeline for the proposed future changes to the level of PRSI stamp that pensioners who are still in paid employment will have to pay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51423/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

From 1 January 2024, the State Pension (Contributory) (SPC) will become more flexible. Legislation is currently progressing through the Oireachtas which will, from 1 January 2024, allow a person to draw down their SPC at any age between 66 and 70.

In this context, the upper age limit for employed and self-employed persons to be exempt from PRSI is being changed from 66 years to 70 years with effect from 1 January 2024. This will allow persons to continue to pay PRSI past age 66 which may improve their contribution record when they decide to draw down their SPC.

This change is applicable to all persons who are employees or self-employed with the exception of those who have already reached 66 years of age by 1 January 2024, that is, they were born before 1 January 1958, and also those who have been awarded their SPC. Such persons will not be liable to pay PRSI on their income after the age of 66 in the same way as a person who is currently 66 years of age or over is not liable. In the case of employees, Class J applies (nil contribution by employee and 0.50% contribution by employer). Class M (nil contribution) applies to self-employed persons who had paid Class S up to age 66.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Residency Permits

Questions (240)

Alan Dillon

Question:

240. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will get a decision on an application for habitual residency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54277/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Child Benefit is a monthly payment to the parents or guardians of children under 16 years of age. Child Benefit can also be claimed for children aged 16 and 17, if they are in full-time education or full-time training or have a disability and cannot support themselves.

A decision letter was issued by Child Benefit Scheme to the person concerned on Friday, 1st December.

If the person concerned considers this decision to be incorrect, she has the right to request a review of the decision by a Deciding Officer by contacting Child Benefit directly. She also has the right to appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office within 21 days of the date of the decision. Details are in the correspondence that issued to her.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.

State Pensions

Questions (241)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

241. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) is on a reduced rate of pension (non-contributory); the reason this was reduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54282/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The person concerned is in receipt of an Increase for a Qualified Adult (IQA) on their spouse's State Pension (contributory).

This is a means-tested payment, payable to a claimant whose spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is being wholly or mainly maintained by them, and where that qualified adult’s personal means from any source does not exceed a means test income limit.

Where a qualified adult has weekly means of less than €100, the maximum rate of IQA is payable. Where their weekly means are over €100 and not more than €310, a tapering reduced rate of IQA is payable. If the qualified adult has means of more than €310 per week, this exceeds the means limit and there is no entitlement to an IQA payment.

Following a review of the IQA on 19 January 2023, it was decided that the allowance would reduce from €106.20 to €78.00 per week. This decision was appealed to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). The decision was upheld by the Appeals office. The person concerned was notified of the Appeal decision on 19 October 2023. The SWAO decision is final in this matter and can only be reviewed in light of new evidence or facts not previously considered.

A letter received in my Department from a representative of the person concerned requesting a review of the Appeals Officer's decision was forwarded to the Appeals Office on 30 November 2023 for their attention.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Departmental Policies

Questions (242)

Alan Dillon

Question:

242. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Social Protection the main policy achievements of her Department in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54293/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

My Department has delivered significant achievements during 2023. The Social Protection Budget for 2024 is the largest in the history of the State. Budget 2024 will provide almost €2.3 billion in measures to assist households with the cost of living. This includes across-the-board increases of €12 per week in all core payments and will be combined with a series of lump sum payments for carers, people with disabilities, working families as well as those living alone on low incomes.

There will be a Christmas Bonus paid in December to 1.3 million welfare recipients and for the first time this will be followed by a January Cost of Living Bonus, which will also support pensioners, carers, people with disabilities, jobseekers, and families.

Some of the key budget increases also include a €300 cost of living lump sum to all households getting the Fuel Allowance, a double payment of Child Benefit to support all families with children under 18, a €400 lump sum for people getting the Carers Support Grant, the same amount for people getting Disability Allowance, Blind Pension or Invalidity Pension and a €100 cost of living bonus for people getting an Increase for a Qualified Child (to be paid per qualified child).

Recently I announced changes to the State Pension (Contributory) that are being introduced in January 2024. These changes include improved access to state pensions provision for long-term carers. These changes will see carers receive the equivalent of paid contributions for caring periods of over 20 years to cover gaps in their contribution record needed to obtain the State Pension (Contributory). This acknowledges the important role family carers play in Irish society. As per the Government decision in response to the Pension Commissions recommendation, the Government has decided that the State Pension age is remaining at 66 years of age but to facilitate those that which to defer their State Pension Contributory, they will be able to do so on foot of the legislative changes I am currently bringing through the Oireachtas in the Social Welfare Bill 2023.

My Department continues to provide support and advice to those Ukrainians fleeing the crisis in their own country. The priority for the Department is the allocation of PPSNs and the provision of income supports. By end November 2023, PPSNs issued to some 101,176 people, while income supports were paid to 42,376 adults.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Question No. 243 answered with Question No. 235.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (244)

Peter Fitzpatrick

Question:

244. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Social Protection the details on the total amounts of monies awarded to County Louth via the Humanitarian Fund for flooded homes; the total number of applications received for funding under this scheme; the amount paid out to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49610/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is the lead Department for severe weather emergencies. My department provides assistance to eligible households in the immediate aftermath of emergency weather events under the humanitarian assistance scheme.

The humanitarian assistance scheme, administered by my department through the local Community Welfare Service, was activated to assist householders affected by a number of recent weather events across the country. This scheme remains open to those affected by these weather events to apply for assistance.

The purpose of the humanitarian assistance scheme is to provide income- tested financial support to people whose homes are damaged and who are not able to meet costs for essential needs, household items and, in some instances, structural repair.

The income test for humanitarian assistance is more generous than that which applies in the case of social welfare schemes generally. The basic principle of the income test is that individuals and families with average levels of income will qualify for assistance (including non-Social Welfare recipients).

Statistics are maintained on the number of payments made on the scheme. As of the 25 November 2023, 70 payments were issued to 29 householders in Co. Louth under the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme at a total amount of almost €58,500.

If any household affected by the flooding in Co. Louth needs to access these supports, they can contact the Community Welfare Service by phoning 0818 60 70 80.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.