Written Replies Nos. 543 to 561
543. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that children who are still in secondary school but have turned 18 years of age are no longer eligible for child benefit; and her plans to review this policy and allow child benefit to be paid to children until they leave school. [29534/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraChild Benefit is a monthly payment made to families with children in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children up to their 18th birthday who are in full-time education, or who have a disability. Child Benefit is currently paid to around 626,525 families in respect of over 1.2 million children, with an estimated expenditure of over €2 billion in 2017.
Budget 2009 reduced the age for eligibility for Child Benefit from 19 years to less than 18 years. A value for money review of child income supports, published by the Department of Social Protection in 2010, found that the participation pattern of children in education supports the current age limit for Child Benefit.
Families on low incomes can avail of a number of provisions to social welfare schemes that support children in full-time education until the age of 22, including:
- qualified child increases (IQCs) with primary social welfare payments;
- family income supplement (FIS) for low-paid employees with children;
- the back to school clothing and footwear allowance for low income families (paid at the full-time second level education rate).
These schemes provide targeted assistance that is directly linked with household income and thereby supports low-income families with older children participating in full-time education.
Given the universality of Child Benefit, making it payable in respect of children who are 18 years of age and over and still in secondary school would not be a targeted approach. The adoption of such a proposal would have significant cost implications and would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
544. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of advocates in the National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities; the estimated cost of increasing the number of advocates by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%, respectively, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29550/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities (NAS) provides an independent, confidential and free, issues-based representative advocacy service that works exclusively for the person using the service and adheres to the highest professional standards. NAS has a particular remit for people with disabilities who are isolated from their community and services, have communication differences, are inappropriately accommodated, live in residential services, attend day services or have limited informal or natural supports.
NAS operates with the following staffing complement:
NAS is fully funded and supported by the Citizens Information Board (CIB), which has a mandate under the Citizens Information Act 2007 to provide advocacy for people with disabilities.
The NAS operational grant from the Citizens Information Board for 2017 is €3.1 million. Based on 2017 costs, the following table shows the estimated cost if the number of advocates (including senior advocates) was increased by certain percentages, as requested by the Deputy.
These figures include estimated overheads (rent, light, heating) based on current costs and salaries based on an average salary points of both advocate and senior advocate roles. Additional administrative or managerial costs that may result are not included.
It is noteworthy that advocacy services are also provided by the nationwide network of Citizens Information Services (CIS), also funded and supported by CIB. CIS provides free, impartial and confidential information to the public on a range of social and public services. CIS supports clients, including those who may have a disability, to act on their own behalf wherever possible (self-advocacy). CIS also advocates directly on behalf of clients.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
545. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if a refusal of disability allowance to a person (details supplied) can be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29566/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm on receipt of your representation, that my Department is currently reviewing the entitlement of the person in question. Notification in writing will issue once a decision has been made.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
546. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29584/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that my Department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 21 March 2017.
The application was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 7 June 2017 to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied. Once the SWI has reported, a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
547. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29585/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 26 April 2017. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
548. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29586/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that my Department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 15 March 2017.
The application was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 29 May 2017 to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied. Once the SWI has reported, a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
549. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29587/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that my Department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 13 April 2017. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
550. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the staffing complement of her Department, in whole-time equivalents, at the end of 2016. [29610/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe staffing complement of the Department at the end of 2016 is detailed in the following table:
* Temporary Clerical Officers are employed to cover long term absences eg. maternity leave, carers leave, long term illness, shorter working year scheme and also to support the roll out of the Public Service Card.
551. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29643/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 24 April 2017. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
552. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29645/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that my Department received an application for Carer’s Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 9 May 2017. It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have a disability whose effect is that they require full-time care and attention.
This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continuous supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.
The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied.
The person concerned was notified on 22 June 2017 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
553. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29647/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that my Department received an application for Carer’s Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 15 February 2017. It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must require full-time care and attention.
This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continuous supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months. It is a further condition that the carer must be providing full-time care and attention.
The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied and on the grounds that she was not providing full-time care and attention as required. The person concerned was notified on 12 June 2017 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.
To date, no request for a review or appeal has been received from the person concerned.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
554. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29648/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that my Department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 28 April 2017. Additional information in relation to the person’s application was requested by a deciding officer on 22 June 2017.
Once the information is received the application will be processed without delay and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
555. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29649/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 19 June 2017, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the 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.
556. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29651/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 10 January 2017.
As the spouse of the applicant is self-employed in construction, the matter was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 20 March 2017 to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied. Enquiries by the SWI are continuing. Once the SWI has reported, a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
557. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29652/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 6 March 2017. 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 have been received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 22 May 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.
558. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29654/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer’s allowance (CA) was awarded to the person concerned on 25 May 2017 and the first payment issued to their nominated post office on 22 June 2017.
Arrears of allowance due from 2 March 2017 to 21 June 2017 will issue shortly.
The person concerned was notified of these details on 25 May 2017.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
559. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29656/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer’s allowance (CA) is in payment to the person concerned since 2 February 2017 in respect of one care recipient.
An application for carer’s allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on the 9 May 2017 in respect of a second care recipient. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
560. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29661/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that my Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 4 November 2016.
The person’s application for carer’s allowance was refused on the grounds that she was not providing full-time care and attention as required and on the grounds of a failure to disclose information requested by the Department.
The person concerned was notified on 25 May 2017 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal. To date no request for a review or appeal has been received by my Department.
561. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29662/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence including that adduced at the oral hearing, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.
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.
