David Cullinane
Ceist:541. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is regular practice for a pension scheme not to issue a current investment programme for two years. [41046/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraDefined Benefit Pension Schemes
Ceisteanna (541)
Freagraí scríofa
I recognise the importance of pension scheme trustees keeping their investment strategies under review.
Section 59(1B) of the Pensions Act requires trustees of a scheme, other than a small scheme, to:
(a) prepare and maintain a written statement of the investment policy principles applied to the resources of the scheme ,
(b) review the statement at least every 3 years, and
(c) revise the statement at any time following any change in investment policy which is inconsistent with the statement.
Following on from this, the Occupational Pension Schemes (Investment) Regulations require that the trustees of all schemes with more than 100 active and deferred members must prepare a Statement of Investment Policy Principles (SIPP). The SIPP must contain information on, (a) Investment objectives, (b) Investment risk measurement method, (c) Risk management processes, and (d) Strategic asset allocation.
In guidance the Pensions Authority recommends that trustees review investment strategy at a minimum every three years, and sooner in the event of any major change to the circumstances of the scheme.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Question No. 542 answered with Question No. 533.
Disability Allowance Payments
Ceisteanna (543)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:543. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons (details supplied) are owed arrears of a payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41072/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I confirm that arrears of disability allowance due to this man issued by cheque on 12 January 2017.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Appeals
Ceisteanna (544)
Tom Neville
Ceist:544. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Social Protection when a payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41073/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I confirm that my Department was notified by the Social Welfare Appeals Office on the 19 December 2016 that the appeal for this lady was upheld and was deemed to be medically suitable for the scheme.
Her file has been passed to a deciding officer to implement the appeals officer's decision and the person concerned will be notified in writing once full entitlement has been established.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Disability Allowance Applications
Ceisteanna (545)
Tony McLoughlin
Ceist:545. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the fact that on three separate occasions since 2007, a person (details supplied) has tried unsuccessfully to obtain access to a disability payment in view of being unable to work due to severe leg pain; if an investigation can now be undertaken by his Department in order to ascertain the way this person now qualifies for the payment in 2016, given that the person did not qualify in 2007 with the very same illness; if he will provide the name of the departmental doctors that reported that the person was fit to work on previous applications; if grounds for back payments to the date of their first application can be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41105/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The person concerned applied for disability allowance (DA) on 4 December 2007. He was at that time in receipt of illness benefit (IB). Based on the evidence provided, the application for DA was refused on medical grounds and he remained on IB until 24 December 2011. His IB payment ceased because he no longer submitted medical certification after that date.
An application for invalidity pension was received on 30 November 2010. Based on the evidence provided, that application was refused on medical grounds.
Most recently, an application for DA was received on 4 March 2016. This application, based upon the evidence submitted, was awarded with effect from 9 March 2016 and his first payment commenced on 11 May 2016.
When applications are received for each scheme, they are examined having regard to the conditions of the particular scheme. These schemes are not interchangeable and there is no automatic right of transfer from one scheme to another.
It is a deciding officer who decides upon any and all questions in relation to a person’s eligibility for a social welfare payment, including DA. In arriving at their decision, a deciding officer will review all evidence available to them, including medical reports and other evidence furnished by the applicant and the applicant’s treating physician. Deciding officers will also review the opinion of the Department’s medical assessors; fully qualified medical practitioners who have experience and specialist training and qualifications in occupational medicine as well as in the evaluation of a person's disability.
Under social welfare legislation, people are required to make an application within a specific period from the date their entitlement arises. In the case of DA, the application should be made within 7 days of the date on which they satisfy the conditions for the scheme.
However, if the applicant has not made their application on time, provision is made in the legislation to allow back payment, to a maximum of six months, in certain limited circumstances.
In order for consideration to be given to backdate the payment of DA in this case, the applicant should forward full details of the reasons he wishes to have his claim backdated, along with any supporting documentation, to the DA area of my Department.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Jobseeker's Benefit Appeals
Ceisteanna (546)
John Brady
Ceist:546. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a reduction in a jobseeker's transitional payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41186/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 10th November 2016. 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 4th January 2017 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Labour Activation Measures
Ceisteanna (547)
Ruth Coppinger
Ceist:547. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures in place to ensure that private companies that participate in job activation schemes such as JobPath comply with data protection laws and do not seek personal information that might not be of direct relevance to their services. [41219/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Ireland’s Public Employment Service (PES) is managed by my Department and delivered directly by its own Intreo service as well as by contracted private providers i.e. companies delivering the JobPath, Local Employment Service (LES) and Job Club services.
These providers act as agents of the Department for the purpose of delivering these services and we are subject to strict obligations imposed by the Department in terms of data protection in the same way as other providers including LES and JobClubs. The providers are contractually required to register with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner and are subject to the same provisions of data protection legislation as departmental staff. Data protection legislation requires that personal data shall be kept only for one or more specified and lawful purposes and that personal data shall be used and disclosed only in ways compatible with these purposes. The legislation also requires that the data should be adequate, relevant and not excessive. Any suspected breach of the data protection legislation will be investigated by the Department and may also be a matter for the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Jobs Initiative
Ceisteanna (548)
Ruth Coppinger
Ceist:548. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on whether it is within the remit of Seetec's services to his Department to seek information on a jobseeker's family house mortgage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41220/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
JobPath is an employment activation service that supports people who are long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. Participants on JobPath receive intensive individual support from their personal adviser to help them tackle barriers to employment and to assist them in finding full-time sustainable jobs.
One element of the individual support provided to jobseekers is an assessment of their financial situation and the financial benefit to the person of full-time employment. This assessment is also beneficial to the jobseeker in determining the level of income which is required to maintain their household.
The provision of any financial details by a jobseeker to the JobPath provider is not compulsory and if the person would prefer not to discuss their finances with their personal adviser but do require some advice or assistance, they may be referred by the JobPath provider to the Citizen’s Information Service.
Jobs Initiative
Ceisteanna (549, 569)
Ruth Coppinger
Ceist:549. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures in place to ensure jobseekers who are parents of young children and who are asked to attend appointments with Seetec are reimbursed for child-minding costs relevant to said appointments. [41221/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraJohn Brady
Ceist:569. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has considered the added cost of childcare and travel for those participating on jobpath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41586/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 549 and 569 together.
JobPath is an approach to the provision of employment services to jobseekers that are long-term unemployed. While engaging with the JobPath service participants are provided with a range of supports based on an assessment of individual needs which may include reasonable costs for travel and childcare. The JobPath providers will also schedule appointments to take account of travel and childcare arrangements if requested.
Both JobPath providers, Seetec and Turas Nua provide an immediate reimbursement for travel expenses upon production of a ticket/evidence of travel. This includes bus routes and mileage costs for the cheapest and most direct travel method available.
The JobPath providers may also provide funding on a case by case basis to jobseekers who incur out of pocket childcare costs when pursuing employment opportunities, including attending JobPath appointments
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Labour Activation Measures
Ceisteanna (550)
Dessie Ellis
Ceist:550. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Social Protection the current and future status of the Tús initiative which is managed by local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta; and if he has committed to additional funding for the initiative going forward. [41223/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A provisional budget of almost €125 million has been allocated for the scheme for 2017. My Department remains committed to ensuring that the social inclusion and community benefits that accrue from this scheme continue to be recognised and supported.
With the ongoing welcome reduction in the Live Register, issues such the appropriate level of expenditure, the number of places and the criteria for participation on employment schemes, including Tús are all being considered. I hope to be in position to bring a memo to Government on these matters in the coming weeks. If there are any changes to be made to the employment schemes, consultations with stakeholders will be facilitated.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Invalidity Pension Applications
Ceisteanna (551)
Tom Neville
Ceist:551. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an invalidity pension claim by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41274/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The lady referred to has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from the 22 September 2016. The first payment issued to her nominated bank account on the 5 January 2017 and arrears due from 22 September 2016 to 4 January 2017 issued on 12 January 2017. The lady in question was notified of this decision on 20 December 2016.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
State Pensions
Ceisteanna (552)
Noel Grealish
Ceist:552. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection the maximum number of social insurance contributions payable in any one year and in the context of a person working in two separate employments; if the extra contributions will be taken into consideration when calculating pension benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41317/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Access to social insurance benefits is based on the payment of contributions in respect of contribution weeks. A contribution week is defined in social welfare legislation as “one of the successive periods of 7 consecutive days in a contribution year beginning on the first day of that contribution year, or on any 7th day after that day, the last day of a contribution year (or the last 2 days of a contribution year ending in a leap year) being taken as included in the last contribution week of that contribution year”. Accordingly, there are 52 contribution weeks in any given contribution year.
Entitlement to benefits and pensions is based on the payment of qualifying contributions (the number varies across schemes) for a specified number of contribution weeks in a particular contribution year. A qualifying contribution is the appropriate employment contribution which was paid in respect of any insured person in relation to any contribution week.
Where an employee earns €38 or more in a week, employment contributions are paid by the employer and, for weekly earnings in excess of €352, by the employee. In instances where an individual works in two or more separate employments in the same contribution week and employment contributions are paid as appropriate, employment contributions are recorded for all employments in respect of the same contribution week. In other words, the employee has qualifying contributions in one contribution week.
These arrangements are very long-standing. It should be noted that, in the case of employees who have one employment only in any given contribution week, no account is taken of the amount of PRSI paid by each individual employee/employer on foot of the level of earnings of the individual employee in that week. All such contributors are employed in one contribution week and the qualifying contribution paid in that week will count towards satisfying the contribution conditions for any given benefit or pension in due course.
There are no plans to change the current arrangements in relation to the counting of contribution weeks based on multiple employments.
Defined Benefit Pension Schemes
Ceisteanna (553)
Clare Daly
Ceist:553. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will bring forward legislation requiring that the services to wind up a pension scheme would be put out to tender rather than awarded to the company that had been advising the scheme in the first place. [41354/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Pensions Act requires that trustees of pension schemes carry out the duties imposed on them by all law, including the Pensions Act.
The management and day to day operation of a pension scheme is the sole responsibility of the trustees of that scheme. Similarly the manner of winding up a pension scheme is a matter for the trustees and all issues relating to the administration of the wind-up such as the engagement of service providers are ultimately a matter for them.
I have no plans to bring forward legislation to affect the process of administration of the wind-up of a scheme by trustees in the manner proposed by the Deputy.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
State Pension (Contributory)
Ceisteanna (554)
Brendan Ryan
Ceist:554. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection the terms and conditions of the agreement reached which facilitated a group (details supplied) to receive the State pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41385/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The State pension (contributory) is one of the State pension schemes, and its rate of payment is related to contributions made over years into the Social Insurance Fund.
There are a number of criteria which must be satisfied in order to qualify for a State pension (contributory). These include that the person must be aged 66 or over, and that they have at least 520 paid contributions, i.e., a minimum of 10 years of paid contributions. Since 1961, when contributory pensions were first introduced, the ‘yearly average’ contributions test has been used in calculating the level of pension entitlement, where the total contributions paid or credited are divided by the number of years of the working life (from their entry into insurable employment up to the year prior to their reaching State pension age).
In 1986, the Commission on Social Welfare published a range of proposals aimed at developing and enhancing the structure and operation of the social insurance system.
The exclusion of clergy and other religious denominations from social insurance coverage was examined and in this context, it was not considered appropriate to continue to exclude from the system those who are employed in what might be termed secular employment as employees under a contract of service. The categories involved were religious who are mainly employed in schools, hospitals and other institutions. They came within the social protection system as employees, insurable at the ordinary or modified rate, as appropriate to their particular circumstances from 1988. The effect of this is that clergy and people of other religious denominations who are employed in public or private sector employment – i.e. in schools, hospitals and other public/social institutions – are afforded the same level of coverage as other employees in those sectors and generally insurable at PRSI Class A or D, as appropriate. Those involved in pastoral care only are generally insured as self-employed workers provided they meet the minimum income threshold.
Social insurance contributions (Class S PRSI) were introduced for self-employed people on 6th April 1988. These contributions provide cover for self-employed people for long-term benefits such as State pension (contributory) and widows/widowers pension (contributory). In addition to the qualifying conditions above, a person must have paid self-employment contributions in respect of at least one contribution year prior to reaching age 66, and all self-employment contributions payable must have been paid in full.
The Deputy should also note that religious missionaries outside Ireland do not pay PRSI into the Irish social insurance system but can pay voluntary contributions. If they fulfil the eligibility criteria they may qualify for a State pension contributory.
Where a person is unable to meet the qualifying conditions for a State pension (contributory), or is only eligible for a reduced rate of contributory pension, they may alternatively apply for State pension (non-contributory) amounting up to 95% of the maximum contributory pension rate which is subject to a means-test. A person must also satisfy the habitual residence condition, live in the State while getting this pension, be aged 66 or over, have a valid personal public service number, and satisfy a means test.
In relation to the habitual residency clause, missionaries who have chosen to resettle in Ireland will be considered to have their main centre of interest in Ireland thereby satisfying the habitual residency clause.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Mortgage Arrears Information and Advice Service
Ceisteanna (555)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:555. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applicants to date to the Abhaile scheme; the number of persons who have been accepted into the scheme; the number of participants who availed of the services of each of an accountant, a mortgage adviser, a personal insolvency practitioner, a solicitor or a court mentor on the basis of a voucher issued by the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41387/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), under the aegis of the Citizens Information Board, assists people who are over-indebted and need help and advice in coping with debt problems, in particular those on low incomes or living on social welfare payments. As part of its free services, MABS provides help and advice to those in mortgage arrears.
The role of MABS was expanded in 2015 with the establishment of a Dedicated Mortgage Arrears MABS service (DMA MABS) across the MABS network, to help people specifically with home mortgage arrears. There are now 32 specialist DMA advisers working across 27 locations countrywide, assisting borrowers to assess the options available to them and, where required, negotiating with lenders on their behalf. To date over 2,800 people have availed of the DMA MABS service. People seeking to access help under the DMA MABS service do not require a voucher to do so.
Additionally, MABS has established a national network of court mentors. The mentors attend each listed repossession Court hearing nationwide and provide support to distressed borrowers who are facing the loss of their home and signposting them to the appropriate services. To date, over 1,300 borrowers have been referred to MABS services through the court mentor service. Borrowers do not require a voucher to access this service.
In 2016, an additional initiative was announced by Government. The scheme, known as Abhaile, further extends the free services already available to borrowers through the DMA MABS service and the court mentor service. The new voucher based scheme, for which MABS is the gateway, provides access for people, who are insolvent and in home mortgage arrears, to defined levels of independent expert financial and/or legal advice and assistance, free of charge. Qualification for help under the scheme is based on the borrower meeting the following four conditions: they must be (a) in mortgage arrears on their home; (b) insolvent; (c) at risk of losing their home because of their mortgage arrears; and (d) reasonably accommodated.
The new services are provided by professionals drawn from one or more panels of solicitors, personal insolvency practitioners or accountants. Professional panels consisting of qualified and regulated solicitors and personal insolvency practitioners are already in place, and my Department is working in consultation with the professional accountancy bodies to finalise the terms and conditions for a panel of accountants.
The scheme has been in operation since 22 July 2016 and was formally launched on 3 October 2016. To date, 3,732 vouchers for services have been issued in respect of 2,468 principle private residences. Of the vouchers issued to date, 3,013 relate to the provision of personal insolvency practitioner services, 600 for legal advice services on issues related to mortgage arrears, and 119 for legal aid services relating to Section 115A Appeals, as defined under the Personal Insolvency (Amendment) Act 2015. No vouchers have issued for accountancy services, as the panel is not yet in place.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals
Ceisteanna (556, 614)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:556. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a domiciliary care allowance appeal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41390/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMichael Healy-Rae
Ceist:614. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a domiciliary care allowance for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41735/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 556 and 614 together.
This lady applied for domiciliary care allowance in respect of two children on 27th January 2016. The applications were not allowed as it was considered that the children did not meet the eligibility criteria for the allowance. Decision letters issued to her on 6th May 2016.
An appeal of both decisions was registered on 25th August 2016. The appellant advised that additional medical reports would be forthcoming. Upon receipt of the new medical reports, both applications, together with the new information provided, will be forwarded to a Medical Assessor for their professional opinion. When the Medical Assessor’s opinions are available both cases will be further examined by a deciding officer, who will revise the original decisions if warranted or, alternatively, forward the files for consideration by the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Insolvency Payments Scheme Eligibility
Ceisteanna (557)
Mick Barry
Ceist:557. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Social Protection if payment from the insolvency fund run by his Department can issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41413/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The purpose of the insolvency payments scheme is to protect certain outstanding pay-related entitlements due to employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer. The scheme operates under the Protection of Employees (Employers’ Insolvency) Act 1984, which, in turn, derives from EU Council Directive 987/80.
The Act provides that where a person’s former employer is a limited company, the company must be in liquidation or receivership in order for the person to be eligible to claim under the insolvency payments scheme. In such circumstances, the liquidator or receiver becomes the relevant officer for submitting claims, as he or she has access to the company records and can certify that the amounts claimed are in order.
The scheme covers entitlements such as wages, holiday pay, sick pay, payment in lieu of minimum notice, and various statutory awards made by the Employment Appeals Tribunal or Workplace Relations Commission.
As the limited company referred to above never went into liquidation or receivership, and hence no liquidator or receiver was appointed, outstanding awards made to employees of this company cannot be paid under the scheme.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Insolvency Payments Scheme Payments
Ceisteanna (558)
Thomas P. Broughan
Ceist:558. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of moneys allocated to the clothing grant in each year since 2012 to date in 2017; the number of recipients of the grant each year since 2012 to date in 2017; the number of applications refused each year since 2012 to date in 2017; the number of applications pending for 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41418/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off and unforeseen expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. The Government has provided €31.5 million for the scheme in 2017. This is a demand led scheme and there is no specific allocation in respect of payments towards clothing costs.
The Department has provided guidance to officers that it is expected that weekly social welfare payments should cover normal clothing needs. Payment of an ENP in respect of clothing should only be made in unforeseen and exceptional circumstances. ENPs are payable at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
Statistics are maintained relating to payments under the ENP scheme, however they are not maintained on the number of applications or the outcome of those applications. The following table provides details of ENP payments for clothing for the years 2012 to 2016.
These ENPs are in addition to payments made under the back to school clothing and footwear allowance where a payment of €100 is made in respect of qualified children age 4 to 12 years and €200 to children aged over 12 years and in secondary school. In 2016, 154,000 families benefited under this scheme at a cost of €39.8 million.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Tabular Statement: Summary of ENP payments in respect of Clothing, 2012-2016
|
Year |
Expenditure on ENPs in respect of Clothing €m |
Number of Payments in respect of Clothing |
|
2012 |
€6.5 |
43,400 |
|
2013 |
€3.1 |
29,000 |
|
2014 |
€2.4 |
23,200 |
|
2015 |
€2.3 |
20,800 |
|
2016 |
€2.1 * |
18,700 |
*Provisional outturn
Community Employment Schemes Funding
Ceisteanna (559, 560)
Darragh O'Brien
Ceist:559. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the substantial increases in insurance premiums for community employment schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41423/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraDarragh O'Brien
Ceist:560. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to increase the material grant provided to community employment schemes to affray the massive increase in insurance costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41424/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 559 and 560 together.
The Department is aware there has been an increase in insurance premiums for community employment (CE) schemes in recent times. The main reasons cited for this by the insurance companies concerned is an increase in claims frequency over recent years by such schemes. In the first instance, the Department recommends that schemes seek alternative quotes to ensure they get value for money. In this context, schemes are also asked to be especially mindful of their obligations under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.
Insurance premium costs are reimbursed from the CE materials budget for the scheme. If there is a scheme experiencing particular difficulties, the sponsor should contact their local DSP office and the matter will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
The Department is aware that, more recently, the insurance premiums have started falling again somewhat as the claims frequency has levelled off and there has been a greater focus on risk awareness and health and safety considerations in general.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.