John Lahart
Question:377. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection the main policy achievements of her Department since 27 June 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56117/23]
View answerThursday, 14 December 2023
Questions (377)
Written answers
My Department has delivered significant policy achievements since June 2020. At that time, the country was in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic and this Department introduced the Pandemic Unemployment Payment in response to the unprecedented disruption to the labour market caused by Covid-19. Some 29.7 million PUP payments issued at a cost of over €9.2 billion while 880,000 people received payment under the scheme. PUP recipients transitioned to standard jobseeker terms and the scheme was closed on 31st May 2022.
In February 2021, in line with the Programme for Government commitment, a Benefit Payment for 65-year-olds was introduced. This provides a benefit payment, based on an individual’s PRSI record, for employed or self-employed people who are aged between 65 and 66 and who were required to or chose to retire at 65 years.
At the beginning of the Ukrainian crisis in 2022, my Department was at the forefront in providing support to those Ukrainians fleeing from the conflict. This support is ongoing since, with the priority for the Department being the allocation of PPSNs and the provision of income supports.
Legislation is to be published shortly that provides that child maintenance payments will be disregarded in the means test for social welfare payments; the "efforts to seek maintenance" requirement will also be removed from One-Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker's Transitional Payment; and the liable relative provisions will be discontinued. These are significant policy changes which will be of great benefit to lone parents. I hope to bring this legislation through the Oireachtas early in Spring session.
I also launched a public consultation process for a proposed new Pay-Related Benefit for Jobseekers, which represents a major reform of Ireland’s Welfare System for jobseekers. Pay-Related Benefit would link a person’s jobseeker’s payment to their previous earnings and work history and is the norm in European countries. I hope to bring the General Scheme of a Bill to Government shortly.
Successive Social Protection Budgets in 2022 and 2023 have been significantly larger than previous years and introduced increases and additional supports across all core social welfare payments.
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.
Last week there was 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 Carer's 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.
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. Committee and final stages of this legislation occurred on Tuesday last (12th December).