Written Answers Nos. 385-394
385. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider an increase in the qualified adult allowance payment in line with any increase in social welfare payments, particularly in the instance of those qualified adults over 80 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4177/24]
View answerRecipients of certain social welfare payments can claim an increase in their payment in respect of a Qualified Adult, subject to a means assessment. A Qualified Adult is the spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of the recipient who is being wholly or mainly maintained by that claimant.
As part of the Budget 2024 package, I increased personal weekly payment rates by €12 across the board, and those with a Qualified Adult saw an additional proportionate increase.
For working-age payments where the maximum personal rate is €232 per week, such as Disability Allowance and jobseeker payments, the Increase for a Qualified Adult (IQA) is now €154 per week – an increase of €8.
For those on the maximum personal rate of the State Pension (Contributory) of €277.30, with a Qualified Adult aged over 66, the IQA rate is now €248.60 - an increase of €10.80.
It should be noted that a higher rate of pension is payable to a pensioner aged 80 or over. The over 80 allowance is an increase of €10 per week on the basic pension rate, which is automatically awarded to qualified pensioners on attaining 80 years of age. Only one such allowance is payable in respect of each pension. The maximum personal rate of State Pension (Contributory) for those over 80 is now €287.30.
The current rate of payment in respect of Qualified Adults reflects the economies of scale faced by a two-adult household compared to those of a one-adult household. Minimum Essential Standard of Living (MESL) research has found that the minimum needs of the adults in a couple headed household cost 1.5 times (rather than twice) that of an equivalent one adult headed household with children. This finding was backed up by similar research in other countries which have carried out research into minimum budget standards.
For pensioners, the MESL research found that in 2023 the costs for a two adult pensioner household were 1.25 that of the one adult pensioner household. In addition, the 2022 SILC data published by the CSO found that single pensioner households are over twice as likely to be at risk of poverty than a couple household where with at least one is aged over 65 years.
Any changes to the proportionate rates of payments for qualified adults would need to be considered in an overall budgetary and policy context.
386. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of PPS numbers issued in Ireland from 1 January to 31 December 2023; the breakdown by nationality that each of the PPS number was issued to, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4192/24]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that the preliminary figures indicate that the number of PPS numbers issued in 2023 was 271,322. This compares to 249,000 PPS Numbers issued in 2022.
A breakdown by nationality is set out in the table below. Some nationalities have been grouped together under the category "other" for presentation purposes.
|
Nationality |
PPS Numbers Issued |
|
Ireland |
64,955 |
|
Ukraine |
33,364 |
|
India |
25,479 |
|
Brazil |
14,131 |
|
United Kingdom |
13,061 |
|
Romania |
12,848 |
|
Spain |
9,735 |
|
Italy |
6,778 |
|
Portugal |
4,877 |
|
Poland |
4,701 |
|
China |
4,562 |
|
United States |
4,467 |
|
Nigeria |
4,146 |
|
France |
4,129 |
|
Pakistan |
3,679 |
|
Philippines |
3,588 |
|
South Africa |
2,793 |
|
Germany |
2,407 |
|
Mexico |
2,166 |
|
Bulgaria |
1,980 |
|
Zimbabwe |
1,959 |
|
Turkey |
1,894 |
|
Algeria |
1,885 |
|
Afghanistan |
1,750 |
|
Georgia |
1,431 |
|
Chile |
1,418 |
|
Somalia |
1,388 |
|
Bolivia |
1,294 |
|
Australia |
1,239 |
|
Croatia |
1,212 |
|
Lithuania |
1,203 |
|
Hungary |
1,181 |
|
Sweden |
1,165 |
|
Bangladesh |
1,159 |
|
Canada |
1,115 |
|
Russian Federation |
1,006 |
|
Malaysia |
1,005 |
|
Egypt |
909 |
|
Czech Republic |
869 |
|
Netherlands |
866 |
|
Argentina |
836 |
|
Greece |
762 |
|
Latvia |
737 |
|
Slovakia |
729 |
|
Sri Lanka |
688 |
|
Botswana |
647 |
|
Japan |
605 |
|
Republic of Korea |
569 |
|
Ghana |
545 |
|
Israel |
440 |
|
Thailand |
395 |
|
Moldova |
389 |
|
Belgium |
387 |
|
Kenya |
378 |
|
Morocco |
371 |
|
Syria |
368 |
|
New Zealand |
345 |
|
Iran |
339 |
|
Nepal |
333 |
|
Albania |
312 |
|
Norway |
308 |
|
Austria |
305 |
|
Colombia |
292 |
|
Vietnam |
262 |
|
Finland |
255 |
|
Switzerland |
247 |
|
Denmark |
233 |
|
Malta |
213 |
|
Saudi Arabia |
202 |
|
Iraq |
199 |
|
Jordan |
184 |
|
Mauritius |
179 |
|
Uganda |
179 |
|
Cyprus |
153 |
|
Estonia |
140 |
|
Belarus |
135 |
|
Indonesia |
133 |
|
Kuwait |
118 |
|
Slovenia |
80 |
|
Serbia |
75 |
|
Oman |
73 |
|
Lebanon |
72 |
|
Luxembourg |
66 |
|
Singapore |
66 |
|
Other |
6,799 |
|
Unknown or not stated |
385 |
387. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a schedule of the number of civilian drivers and Garda drivers attached to him and to Ministers of State of his Department; to provide the official work pattern for each driver and the total annual hours worked by each driver; and to indicate the number of drivers assigned to each Minister and Minister of State. [4227/24]
View answerI have dual responsibility for the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD).
I currently have Garda Drivers who come under the auspices of the Department of Justice and my Departments do not hold the information requested on Garda Drivers.
The Minister of State in DRCD and the Department of Social Protection has two Civilian Drivers and the Department of Social Protection covers the cost of one of these. Hours of attendance amount to on average not less than 41 hours and 15 minutes gross per week. The working pattern is seven days on and seven days off on a week-on week-off basis.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
388. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delayed decision on a disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied).; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4237/24]
View answerDisability Allowance (DA) 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.
My Department received correspondence from the person concerned on 21 June 2023 notifying a change of circumstances and requesting a review of their entitlement to DA. This person's previous means review had been carried out a few weeks earlier, on 24 May 2023. At that time, they were assessed with weekly means of €181.62, resulting in a DA payment rate of €45.00.
Further information was requested on 19 September 2023 and, following a review of the information supplied, a further information request was issued by the DA section in December 2023.
Her DA remained in payment throughout this period and the person concerned was also in receipt of a top up from Supplementary Welfare Allowance from 21 June 2023.
Following a review, based on the information available to the Department, it was found that the person's means had decreased with effect from 14 June 2023.
A letter notifying the person of this decision issued on 25 January 2024. The person concerned was notified of their right to request a review of this decision or to appeal it to the SWAO.
Arrears of payment, if due, will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments from other Social Welfare schemes, if applicable.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
389. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for a domiciliary care allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4272/24]
View answerDomiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly allowance payable to a parent/guardian 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.
According to my Department's records, an application for DCA has not been received from the person concerned to date.
My Department has issued a DCA Application form (Dom Care 1) by post to the person concerned. On receipt of the completed application, it will be processed as quickly as possible.
DCA application forms are also available to download online at gov.ie - Domiciliary Care Allowance Application Form (Dom Care 1) (www.gov.ie) or can be requested at any Intreo Centre, Social Welfare Branch Office or Citizen's Information Centre.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
390. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in a case (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4330/24]
View answerThe Department received an application for Disability Allowance (DA) from the person concerned on 4 January 2024.
On 22 January 2024, the person was requested to supply supporting documentation required by the deciding officer in order to make a decision on their eligibility.
On receipt of this information, a decision will be made on their DA application and the person will be notified of the outcome.
In the meantime, the person concerned may apply to the Community Welfare Service for the means tested Supplementary Welfare Allowance if they are in need of financial assistance while awaiting the outcome of their application.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
391. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice when Tusla will confirm funding allocation for 2024 for an organisation (details supplied) in Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4112/24]
View answer421. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice if a funding allocation for the role of client support for an organisation (details supplied) in Donegal will be made again in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4113/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 391 and 421 together.
As the Deputy is aware, earlier this year the Government established Cuan, a new statutory agency with a dedicated focus on Domestic Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.
The agency has a specific mandate to drive the implementation of the Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to tackle this complex social issue. As part of it's remit, the agency has responsibility for the provision of DSGBV services, including the provision and funding of refuge spaces and rape crisis centres.
As such, I have referred the questions posed by the Deputy to Cuan for direct reply.
392. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice to list the current top ten earners who are contracted as a case processing panellist in the International Protection Office. [3721/24]
View answer393. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice how many case processing panellists are currently contracted to the International Protection Office. [3722/24]
View answer394. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice how much money a case processing panellist is paid per case in the International Protection Office. [3723/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 392, 393 and 394 together.
I will write to the Deputy in relation to this matter when an answer is available.
