Tuesday, 20 Feb 2024

Written Answers Nos. 363-378

Social Welfare Eligibility

Questions (363)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

363. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on an application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7411/24]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Carer's Benefit is a payment made to insured people who may be required to leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a person(s) in need of full time care.

To qualify, the carer must satisfy PRSI conditions, employment conditions, show that they are providing full-time care and attention and must show that the care recipient requires full-time care and attention.

It is payable for a period of 2 years (104 weeks) for each care recipient and may be claimed over separate periods up to a total of 2 years (104 weeks)

The person concerned made an application for Carer's Benefit which was received on 9 February 2024.

The average time it takes to process a new Carer’s Benefit claim is 5 weeks. Claims are processed in chronological date of receipt in order to ensure fairness to all customers.

If any further information is needed by the Deciding Officer in order to make a decision on the application, this will be requested from the person concerned in writing. If no further information is required, the Deciding Officer will make a formal decision and the person concerned will be notified in writing.

If the person concerned is in financial need, they may contact the Community Welfare Officer in their area regarding payment of Supplementary Welfare Allowance.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Departmental Schemes

Questions (364, 379, 384, 391, 392)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

364. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection to respond to urgent concerns raised from the local deaf community (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7425/24]

Holly Cairns

Question:

379. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection whether her attention has been drawn to the non-payment of sign language interpreting services under the voucher scheme for interpreters, and the resulting cancellation of all interpreter bookings from 20 February 2024; whether she will ensure that this funding is released urgently in order to allow the deaf community to avail of ISL interpreters under the voucher scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7737/24]

Pauline Tully

Question:

384. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has concerns regarding the suspension of the social inclusion fund for the deaf community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7925/24]

Patrick Costello

Question:

391. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department is aware of suspension of the deaf community from the social inclusion fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8033/24]

Duncan Smith

Question:

392. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection why funding for the 'voucher system' for deaf people has been withheld by the Citizen's Information Board for all events after 20 February 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8036/24]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 364, 379, 384, 391 and 392 together.

Section 9 of the Irish Sign Language (ISL) Act, 2017 assigns responsibility to the Minister for Social Protection to provide funds to facilitate users of ISL to access social, educational and cultural events and services (including medical) and other activities.

I have assigned the implementation of this important responsibility to the Citizens Information Board (CIB), the statutory body under the aegis of my Department, which in turn assigned delivery to its relevant Service Delivery Company, the Sign Language Interpreting Service (SLIS).

Following a four-month pilot of an "ISL Voucher Scheme" in 2021 by SLIS, supported by my Department and CIB, I was delighted to see the commencement of the Scheme on a permanent basis from 2 October 2023. A funding allocation has been secured by my Department for the Scheme for 2024.

On 9 February last, my Department became aware that the ISL Voucher Scheme was due to cease temporarily with effect from 20 February.

Following an urgent meeting requested and chaired by my Department on 13 February, with CIB and SLIS, all parties re-affirmed their respective commitments to the Scheme and recognised its vital role in supporting members of the Deaf community to fully participate in society. At that meeting, CIB and SLIS agreed a pathway forward to allow the Scheme to continue.A full joint statement from all three organisations issued on 15 February, accompanied by an ISL video version. As I am sure you will understand, I believe it is imperative that this statement and the message therein was communicated to the Deaf community first and foremost, and in a format that ensures its accessibility.As previously stated, I am fully committed to the ISL Voucher Scheme now and into the future, and I am happy that a pathway forward has been agreed to ensure the continued delivery of the ISL Voucher scheme past the 20 February.

Tax Collection

Questions (365)

John Paul Phelan

Question:

365. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated additional revenue which will be generated in 2024 from the increases to PRSI announced as part of the Budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7432/24]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

A PRSI rate increase of 0.1% across all rates of PRSI (employer, employee and self-employed) from 1 October 2024 was announced in Budget 2024. In November 2023 the Government agreed to further increases as follows:

2025: 0.1 percentage points

2026: 0.15 percentage points

2027: 0.15 percentage points

2028: 0.2 percentage points

All of these PRSI increases will be effective from 1 October of each year.

The Government also agreed to increase the annual minimum contribution payment for Class S and the voluntary contribution for former self-employed contributors by €150 to €650 from 1 October 2024.

It is estimated that these increases will yield €62 million in 2024.

Social Welfare Eligibility

Questions (366)

Martin Browne

Question:

366. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Social Protection if provision will be made to assess a family (details supplied) for carers allowance before their twin children return from hospital where their parents have been accompanying them since the birth of their children at great financial cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7553/24]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Carer'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.

DCA must be in payment in order for a care provider to be eligible for CA in respect of a care recipient under 16.

An application for CA has not been received from the persons concerned to date. In this regard, applications forms were issued to the persons concerned on 16th February 2024. The application forms should be completed and returned in the envelope provided. Once the completed forms have been returned, they will be processed and an Officer of the Department will be in direct contact with the applicants.

The persons concerned have also been provided with information regarding the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme administered by the Community Welfare Service. This scheme provides a number of supports and services to help support people facing financial hardship owing to ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from a persons own resources.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

School Meals Programme

Questions (367, 370)

John Lahart

Question:

367. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a progress report on the school meals programme and its successful expansion. [7554/24]

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

370. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will report on the timeline for the full installation of the hot school meals programme; if there is a commitment by her Department to cover all schools by the next Budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7614/24]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 367 and 370 together.

The objective of the School Meals Programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. Following the expansion of the programme in recent years, some 2,600 schools and organisations, covering 443,000 children are now eligible for funding.

I am committed to continuing to expand the Hot School Meals Programme and building further on the significant extension of the programme that has taken place in recent years.

The roll out of the Hot School Meals to all remaining DEIS primary and Special schools began in September 2023. However, I am committed to further expanding the Hot School Meals Programme. All remaining primary schools were contacted last year and requested to submit an expression of interest form if their school is interested in commencing the provision of hot school meals.

Expressions of interests were received from over 900 primary schools in respect of 150,000 children. Late last year, these schools were invited to participate in the Hot School Meals Programme from April 2024. If all of these schools go on to participate, this would result in total participation in the Hot School Meals scheme of some 1,600 schools and 267,000 children. This would be a very positive outcome considering that the scheme involved just 30 schools at pilot stage when I started expanding it.

There will also be an opportunity for all other primary schools who have subsequently expressed an interest, to do so formally later this year.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.

Question No. 368 answered with Question No. 84.

Social Welfare Eligibility

Questions (369)

Colm Burke

Question:

369. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to clarify the current position where a person is in receipt of carer’s allowance, and they are also working part-time, but due to hospitalisation are not able to work for a period of time; if there are proposals to amend the current system that does not allow them to qualify for illness benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7573/24]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Government acknowledges the important role that 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.

My Department provides a comprehensive package of income supports for carers 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 to exceed €1.73 billion, which includes an estimated €106.8 million in once off bonuses.

Carer’s allowance is a means-tested social assistance payment awarded to those carers who are caring for certain people whose needs are such that they require full-time care and attention. The projected expenditure on carer’s allowance in 2023 is approximately €1,082 million which includes an estimated €38.2 million in once off bonuses.

Illness benefit is the main income support provided by my Department to those who cannot work due to illness of any kind and who are covered by social insurance. Eligibility for illness benefit is based on medical and contribution conditions and it is paid from the Social Insurance Fund. Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) paid under Classes A, E, H and P provide entitlement to illness benefit. Applicants must have a minimum of 104 social insurance contributions and must meet other conditions in relation to when these were paid and whether they are paid or credited contributions.There is a general principle of one person, one payment, which applies across the social welfare system. Given the contingency-based nature of this system, it can happen that a person may experience more than one contingency at the same time, but generally they can receive only one payment. This principle is common to social security systems across the world. As a general rule, people in receipt of full-rate carer’s allowance cannot be in receipt of an overlapping second payment, for example illness benefit, at the same time.

Social welfare legislation provides for the continuation of payment of carer’s allowance for up to thirteen weeks in the event that the person being cared for or the carer themselves is hospitalised or admitted to a nursing home.

However, in the scenario outlined by the Deputy, if the 13 weeks hospitalisation period is exceeded, resulting in the discontinuation of the carer's allowance payment, the customer may be entitled to illness benefit if they meet the eligibility criteria. If the person leaves hospital subsequently and resumes full time care of the caree, they may also be entitled to half rate carer’s allowance, in addition to the illness benefit payment, if they meet the eligibility criteria.

In circumstances where people are ill but do not qualify for illness benefit, my Department provides means tested supports under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. An additional needs payment may also be available to people who have expenses that they cannot pay from their weekly income.

If there is a particular case of concern for the Deputy, I would ask that it is brought to the attention of my Department for advice.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Question No. 370 answered with Question No. 367.

Social Welfare Schemes

Questions (371)

Alan Kelly

Question:

371. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection how many people benefit from the wage subsidy scheme, by county and by month for 2022, 2023 and for January 2024. [7616/24]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS) is an employment support to private sector employers, the objective of which is to encourage employers to employ people with disabilities and thereby increase the numbers of people with disabilities participating in the open labour market.

The number of people benefitting from the Wage Subsidy Scheme who commenced in each month in years 2022, 2023 and January 2024 by county is provided in tabular form.

Wage Subsidy Scheme Tables

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Schemes

Questions (372, 373)

Alan Kelly

Question:

372. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection how many people under the wage subsidy scheme have lost that payment following the acquiring of hotels and other accommodation settings for Ukrainian refugees and international protection applicants, by month and by county for 2022, 2023 and for January 2024. [7617/24]

Alan Kelly

Question:

373. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection how many people under the wage subsidy scheme have lost that payment following the acquiring of hotels and other accommodation settings for Ukrainian refugees and international protection applicants, by month and by county for 2022, 2023 and for January 2024. [7618/24]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 372 and 373 together.

The Wage Subsidy Scheme is an employment support to private sector employers, the objective of which is to encourage employment of people with disabilities in the open labour market.

The subsidy is paid to the employer and not the employee. To claim a subsidy under the scheme, the private sector employer must offer employment to a person with a disability for at least 21 hours per week and up to 39 hours per week.

There are currently 1,504 employers availing of the subsidy in respect of some 2,437 participant employees. Estimated expenditure on the Wage Subsidy Scheme in 2024 is €25 million.

It is not possible to disaggregate the data in the way posed by the Deputy’s question.

For the purposes of the administration of the scheme employer data is not required to be recorded in this manner. Employers are recorded under one of nine Workplace Industry Types. Hotels and other accommodation settings are included under Workplace Industry Type - Accommodation and Food Service Activities. However it should be noted that this category also includes food service activities, such as restaurants and cafes. At the of January 2024 there were a total of 203 Employers under Accommodation and Food Service Activities, as compared to 205 Employers in 2023 and 206 in 2022.

I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.

Question No. 373 answered with Question No. 372.

State Pensions

Questions (374)

Seán Canney

Question:

374. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person who is in long-term nursing care rents out their principal private residence, which is vacant, will there be any negative implications on their State pension (non-contributory) or any other tax issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7653/24]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The State Pension (Non-Contributory) is a payment made to people aged over 66 whose entitlement is based on a means test. All means tests in my Department are kept under regular review and a number of significant changes have been made in recent years.

In 2022, I announced a series of measures designed to remove barriers facing social welfare customers who choose to accommodate people in their homes, including the introduction of a disregard of up to €269.23 per week in respect of income from renting a room in their own home. This disregard means that a social welfare customer can rent out a room in their home for up to €14,000 per annum and this income will not see their means-tested social welfare payment impacted.

Government has approved the extension of this disregard for a further two years until March 2025.

Following discussions between officials in my Department, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Department of Health, I am happy to say that I recently signed regulations, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, which extends the circumstances whereby a person can rent out a room in their home while availing of this rent a room disregard.

These regulations extend the applicability of the rent a room disregard to encompass people who have left their home under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Fair Deal), and also to Local Authority tenants who rent out a room to a student under the “Room for a Student – Local Authority Scheme”.

Any queries relating to tax issues which may arise are a matter for the Minister for Finance and the Revenue Commissioners.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (375)

David Stanton

Question:

375. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection the plans she has to backdate the recently announced child benefit payment to families with children who are 18 years of age and over, and who are still attending second level school, to the birth dates of any such children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7677/24]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Child Benefit is a monthly payment made to families with children up to the age of 16 years. Currently, the payment continues to be paid in respect of children until their 18th birthday where they are in full-time education, or have a disability.

In Budget 2024, the Government decided to extend the payment of Child Benefit to 18-year-olds who are in full-time education or have a disability. This was one of my key priorities in the Budget.

With many children now starting primary school at age 5, together with the increase in pupils doing transition year, there has been an increase in the number of 18-year-olds still in secondary education. I believe the extension of Child Benefit to 18-year-olds in full-time education is a long-term change for the better and will support families across Ireland into the future.

This is a significant change to the Child Benefit scheme. It requires technical and operational changes before implementation.

We had originally provided that the change would take effect from September this year. However, I am very pleased that we are now able to bring this important change in from an earlier date and I have secured Government approval to do that. As a result, the measure will be brought in from the first of May.

In the case of a child who has already turned 18 and who is still in full-time education, Child Benefit will be payable again from May 2024 up to their 19th birthday, or until they leave full-time education, which ever is sooner.

As the measure comes into effect in May, there will be no payment for any intervening period up to May 2024.

In the region of 60,000 children are expected to benefit from this measure annually. The additional estimated cost of bringing the commencement date forward to May is €21.6 million.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (376)

David Stanton

Question:

376. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection with respect to the recently announced child benefit payment to families with children aged 18 and over and who are attending second level school, if she will allow the payment to continue beyond the child’s 19th birthday while they are still attending second level education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7682/24]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Child Benefit is a monthly payment made to families with children up to the age of 16 years. Currently, the payment continues to be paid in respect of children until their 18th birthday where they are in full-time education, or have a disability.

In Budget 2024, the Government decided to extend the payment of Child Benefit to 18-year-olds who are in full-time education or have a disability. This was one of my key priorities in the Budget.

This is a significant change to the Child Benefit scheme. It requires technical and operational changes before implementation. We had originally provided that the change would take effect from September this year. However, I am very pleased that we are now able to bring this important change in from an earlier date and I have secured Government approval to do that.

It is expected that in the region of 60,000 children will benefit from this measure annually. The additional estimated cost of bringing the commencement date forward to May is €21.6 million.

Any proposal to further extend Child Benefit in respect of full-time students who are over 19 years of age would need to be considered in a Budgetary context.

Families on low incomes may be able to avail of a number of social welfare schemes that support children in full-time education until the age of 22, including:

• Increase for a Qualified Child with primary social welfare payments;

• the Working Family Payment for low-paid employees with children; and

• the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (if aged 18 or over and attending secondary school).

These schemes provide targeted assistance that is directly linked to household income and thereby support low-income families with older children participating in full-time education.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Eligibility

Questions (377)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

377. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a redundancy application in respect of a person in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7689/24]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Redundancy Payments Act 1967, as amended, provides for the making of payments by employers to employees in respect of redundancy. The purpose of the Redundancy Payments Scheme is to compensate employees for the loss of their job by reason of redundancy in cases where the employer can prove to the satisfaction of my Department that they are unable to make the payment.

It is the employer’s responsibility to pay statutory redundancy payments to all eligible employees. In the event that an employer is unable to pay due to financial difficulties, an application from the employer on behalf of an employee may be submitted to the Department for payment from the Social Insurance Fund.

To date, no claim for redundancy has been received in my Department in respect of the person specified. Applications for the redundancy payment scheme are made through the Department's online platform www.welfarepartners.ie by an employer.

Further information on Redundancy and Insolvency entitlements and how to access the online redundancy calculator can also be found at www.gov.ie/r&i.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Social Welfare Eligibility

Questions (378)

Seán Canney

Question:

378. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons (details supplied) are eligible for optical benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7694/24]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Treatment Benefit Scheme provides dental, optical and aural services to insured workers, the self-employed, retired people and their dependant spouse/partner who have the required number of social insurance (PRSI) contributions.

In order to qualify, a person needs to have at least 260 PRSI contributions paid at either Class A, E, H, P or S, since first starting work, and also have 39 contributions paid or credited in the relevant contribution year on which the claim is based.

Persons under the age of 16 years do not qualify for treatment benefit.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.