Wednesday, 29 Nov 2017

Invalidity Pension Applications

Ceisteanna (483)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

483. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an application for an invalidity pension by a person (details supplied) will be expedited. [50757/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

The gentleman referred to has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from 02 November 2017. Payment will issue to his nominated bank account on 14 December 2017. Any arrears due from 02 November 2017 to 13 December 2017 (less any overlapping social welfare payment and/or outstanding overpayment) will issue in due course. The gentleman in question was notified of this decision on the 27 November 2017.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

JobPath Data

Ceisteanna (484, 485, 486, 490)

Brian Stanley

Ceist:

484. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount paid in 2016 in registration fees to companies (details supplied) for the JobPath scheme. [50762/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Brian Stanley

Ceist:

485. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons who were referred to the JobPath scheme in 2016. [50763/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Brian Stanley

Ceist:

486. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of participants in the JobPath scheme in 2016 who have been placed in permanent employment by each of the operators of the scheme (details supplied). [50765/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Brian Stanley

Ceist:

490. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount of job sustainment fees paid in 2016 to companies (details supplied) for the JobPath scheme. [50785/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 484 to 486, inclusive, and 490 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, JobPath is a service that supports people who are long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. The service commenced operations in mid-2015, and reached full State-wide delivery of the service in July 2016.

Some 65,000 Clients commenced their engagement with the service between January 1st & Dec 31st 2016.

In relation to the number of participants to find full time employment, it is important to note that jobseekers may be supported through the service for up to 30 months: under the service jobseekers have access to a personal adviser (PA) who works with them over two phases. During the first phase, of 12 months duration, the PA provides practical assistance in searching, preparing for, securing and sustaining employment. The second phase starts if the jobseeker is successful in finding work. During this phase the PA continues to work with the jobseeker for a further period of at least three months, and up to 12 months. In addition to the two phases jobseekers may also undertake training while with the service and this may extend the period the jobseeker is supported through the service for up to a further 6 months.

It will therefore take time to accumulate a sufficient number of clients (who have completed their engagement period with the service) for complete and robust outcome data to be available. The Department has, however, commenced publishing initial cohort reports on the performance of the service. The last report can be accessed on the Department’s website. I can confirm that the next report will be published within the next two weeks.

The most recent cohort report published on the Department’s website indicates that 19% of Jobseekers who engaged with JobPath between July 2015 and March 2016 entered full time employment (this was 36% above the weighted reference performance rate of 14%), 4% of participants entered part time employment and a further 3% entered Self-employment. Overall 26% of JobPath participants within this period had an employment outcome. In addition, this report also shows that compared to people who did not take part in the service, people who availed of the service were up to 34% more likely to find a job than those who did not. It is important to note that the outcomes for each cohort are updated every time these reports are published, to take account of outcomes that have been validated since the last publication date.

While the indications are positive, these initial reports are subject to review and are based on a small sample size and should be treated with caution.

An in-depth evaluation of the JobPath strand of the Department’s activation service has commenced data gathering. Completion of the evaluation is provisionally scheduled for the end of Quarter 3, 2018.

JobPath is a payment by results model and all set-up and day-to-day operational costs are borne by the companies. The companies are paid on the basis of performance and with the exception of the initial registration fee; payments are made only when a client has achieved sustained employment. The registration fee may be claimed once a jobseeker has developed a Personal Progression Plan (PPP). Job Sustainment Fees (JSF) are payable for each 13 week period of sustained employment, up to a maximum of 52 weeks (i.e. 4 payments).

The overall cost of JobPath will be determined by the number of people who participate in the programme and the number who get sustainable jobs.

It is not intended to publish the details of payments to the JobPath companies as these are commercially sensitive. The commercial sensitivity is specifically in relation to the release of information which has the potential to influence the pricing of future contracts providing a similar service, and thereby conferring commercial advantage on one bidder over another.

The total amount paid in fees to the two companies in 2016 was €25.2m.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Departmental Communications

Ceisteanna (487)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

487. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if data transmitted between her Department's central server and local branch offices is transmitted via HTTPS or HTTP. [50770/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

My Department is a major user of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and invests on an ongoing basis in securing the ICT technical infrastructure and the services and data used in support of our business. This includes traditional, defence-in-depth deployments of preventative controls like firewalls and endpoint protection and advanced threat detection tools. My Department also employs security technology that, together with a dedicated ICT security team and well defined processes, continually monitors the Department’s network and services.

The Department’s offices are connected to the Department’s central data centres located in secured locations in Dublin through a secure Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) running on dedicated dark fibre and through a Wide Area Network (WAN) using dedicated private network links. Data is maintained centrally in the secure data centres at the centre of the network. Data transmissions are between the offices and the data centres. Our offices are connected to the data centres using privately addressed circuits only. These circuits do not use or access or interconnect with the public internet at any point. Data transmitted across the Department’s network uses a variety of transmission and security protocols including HTTPS. There are multiple certificates involved – all with varying start dates and refresh dates.

My Department has well defined policies in relation to the use of the Department’s ICT systems and network resources including all electronic communication systems and equipment and will continue to invest in securing all ICT systems and data.

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Ceisteanna (488)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

488. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and 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. [50777/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to convene an oral hearing in this case.

Every effort will be made to hear the case as quickly as possible and the person concerned will be informed when arrangements for the oral hearing have been made.

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.

State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility

Ceisteanna (489)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

489. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the level of pension a person (details supplied) now qualifies for based on their number of contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50782/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Entitlement to state pension (contributory) is assessed on the basis of an applicant’s full social insurance record and the eligibility conditions applicable on the date the applicant reaches pension age. It is therefore not possible to predict an individual’s state pension (contributory) entitlement. Eligibility is examined by a Deciding Officer following receipt of a completed application. According to the records of the Department, the person concerned will not reach pension age until 19 December 2018. The person should submit an application for pension at least 3 months in advance of that date.

A person who ceases insurable employment before reaching state pension age should, where possible, maintain their insurance record. Where an individual wishes to consider payment of voluntary contributions, in order to maintain their paid contributions insurance record, they should contact the Department’s Voluntary Contributions Section, Cork Road, Waterford.

It is also open to any individual approaching pension age to apply for state pension (non-contributory). This is a means tested payment and not reliant on a social insurance contribution record. On receipt of a completed state pension (non-contributory) application, the person’s entitlement will be assessed and they will be notified of the outcome. Where an individual qualifies for both pensions, the more financially beneficial rate will be paid.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Question No. 490 answered with Question No. 484.

Questions Nos. 491 and 492 withdrawn.

Exceptional Needs Payment Data

Ceisteanna (493)

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

493. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the funding allocated to exceptional needs payments in each of the years 2012 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50807/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

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.

There is no automatic entitlement to a payment. The ENP scheme is demand led and payments are made 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.

Details of the Revised Estimate allocation and expenditure under the ENP and urgent needs payment (UNP) schemes for 2012 to 2017 are set out in the following tabular statement.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.

Revised Estimate Provision and Expenditure for ENP & UNP schemes 2012 to 2017.

Year	Revised Estimate Provision(million)	Outturn (million)
2012	€51.6	€52.7
2013	€47.5	€35.7
2014	€31.3	€31.3
2015	€30.4	€31.1
2016	€30.3	€32.2
2017	€31.5	€30.3 (End Oct)

Community Employment Schemes Operation

Ceisteanna (494)

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

494. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will ensure that the focus on social inclusion is retained and copperfastened in community employment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50808/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

As the Deputy is aware, Community Employment (CE) schemes offer opportunities for the long-term unemployed to gain valuable work experience and participate in training while they are paid an equivalent to their social welfare entitlement in addition to a top up payment. Participants on CE work for 19½ hours per week. Work opportunities are within communities and, in the main, support the provision of valuable community services in areas of disadvantage.

Following the publication earlier in the year of my Department’s Report – An Analysis of the Community Employment Programme – the Government approved a number of changes to the terms and conditions around participation on CE. In this context, a number of changes to the CE programme were introduced from 3 July 2017. The main purpose of these changes is to broaden the availability of CE to a greater number of people on the live register and to standardise other conditions around the length of time a person can participate on the programme.

In addition the report recommends that all CE places should be categorised into one of two strands, either activation or social inclusion. The purpose of this categorisation is to acknowledge that not all CE places are the same with some places providing an opportunity for those who are very distant from the labour market to work and deliver services in their local communities.

Other places are more directly related to employment opportunities with participants getting more labour market relevant work experience. In general, each CE scheme will have a mix of both activation and social inclusion places. The target progression rate for activation places is set at 50%, given their closer links to job opportunities, while the target progression rate for social inclusion places is set at 20%. In terms of measuring the performance of CE schemes in terms of the progression of participants, regard will be had for local labour market conditions and the training and education opportunities available.

Overall, my Department is conscious of the valuable contribution the schemes are making in the provision of services to individuals and communities across Ireland.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Maternity Leave

Ceisteanna (495)

Noel Grealish

Ceist:

495. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the policy regarding maternity leave and adoptive leave for women who become mothers through surrogacy in cases in which the mother has their name listed on the birth certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50812/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

The Department of Justice and Equality have responsibility for maternity and adoptive leave which are provided for in the 1994 and 2004 Maternity Acts and the 1995 and 2005 Adoptive Leave Acts. Maternity leave is only available to the mother and adoptive leave is only available to an adopting mother or sole male adopter. My Department has responsibility for the associated social welfare payments of maternity benefit and adoptive.

With regard to registering a birth in Ireland, in the case of surrogacy, it is the birth mother who is listed as the mother on the child’s birth certificate. This position was upheld by a Supreme Court decision of 2014.

As the Deputy will be aware, surrogacy is not currently regulated in Ireland. However, the Department of Health is currently developing legislative provisions on assisted human reproduction and associated issues, which will include provisions relating to surrogacy.

Any decision to change the current leave arrangements in relation to maternity and adoptive leave would be the responsibility of the Minister for Justice and Equality.

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Ceisteanna (496)

John McGuinness

Ceist:

496. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the maximum social welfare benefit is being paid to a person (details supplied); if there are further benefits they are entitled to; if their record of self employment has been considered in this case; if their spouse’s pension entitlement will also be examined to determine if an increase is applicable. [50892/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

The person concerned is currently in receipt of a maximum rate of state pension (non - contributory) with effect from 7 July 2017, the Friday following their 66th birthday. Prior to their 66th birthday, they were a social welfare beneficiary, as a qualified adult on their spouse’s state pension (contributory) and received the maximum rate payable.

The person concerned has not applied for state pension (contributory). An application form for state pension (contributory) has been sent to the person. On receipt of a completed application, which seeks details of any periods of self employment, their eligibility for state pension (contributory) will be assessed and they will be notified of the decision on their application without delay.

The spouse of the person concerned is in receipt of a reduced rate state pension (contributory) based on an assessed yearly average of 30 contributions. According to the records of my Department, the person has a social insurance record of 1484 reckonable paid and credited contributions for the period from February 1964 to December 2013. The correct rate of contributory pension is in payment based on this record. A copy of the record relied upon by the deciding officer was provided when the decision was made and the person notified to inform the department if their record appeared incorrect or incomplete. It is noted there are no recorded contributions for tax years 1972 to 1990/91 inclusive. In 2014, the person sought a review of self employment for 2000/01. My Department confirmed that there are no self employment contributions due for 2000/01, in line with information provided by Revenue.

If the spouse of the person concerned considers that additional contributions or credits remain missing from their record, it is open to them to forward documentary evidence of the missing periods of employment to my Department and their pension entitlement will be reviewed.

As the spouse of the person concerned is over 66 years of age, it is also open to them to apply for the means tested state pension (non-contributory). An application form was issued to the person in July 2017. No application has been received. On receipt of a completed state pension (non-contributory) application form, the person’s entitlement will be assessed and they will be notified of the outcome. Where a person qualifies for both pensions, the more financially beneficial payment will be made.

Additionally, the spouse of the person concerned is in receipt of fuel allowance (payable during winter months) and the Household Benefits Package for the household.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Question No. 497 withdrawn.

Disability Support Services Funding

Ceisteanna (498)

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

498. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the expenditure on the reasonable accommodation fund in each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50909/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

The reasonable accommodation fund for the employment of people with disabilities assists employers in the private sector to take appropriate measures to enable a person with a disability to have access to employment by providing a range of grants.

These grants and supports include:

- the workplace equipment and adaptation grant,

- the personal reader grant,

- the job interview interpreter grant, and

- the employee retention grant.

The reasonable accommodation fund is a demand led scheme in that expenditure is incurred in response to applications received. The actual expenditure on this fund is set out in the table below.

Year	2014	2015	2016	2017*
Workplace equipment and adaptation grant	€61,776	€58,108	€54,041	€47,402
Personal reader grant	€14,499	€11,866	€16,537	€29,474
Job interview interpreter grant	€1,589	€3,950	€7,244	€5,349
Employee retention grant	€0	€0	€0	€0
Total	€77,864	€73,925	€77,822	€82,225

* Expenditure to 24 November 2017

I hope this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.

Services for People with Disabilities

Ceisteanna (499)

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

499. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the job activation programmes for persons with a disability; the expenditure on same; the estimated cost of increasing expenditure by 10% on each programme, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50911/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

This Government is committed to helping more people with disabilities take up work where there is a capacity and willingness to do so.

To this end, the Department provides a range of work related supports. These supports include a wage subsidy scheme, targeted at employers, to encourage employment of people with disabilities. They also include funding for the EmployAbility service that works in tandem with the Department’s Intreo service to support people with disabilities, who wish to work, through the provision of a dedicated job coach. The Department also provides the partial capacity benefit payment for those with a reduced capacity to work. Other employment support grants for people with disabilities are also provided including a range of supports under the “reasonable accommodation fund”.

The expenditure for each of these schemes and supports in 2016 are set out in tabular form. The table also includes a column that estimates total costs if these were increased by a further 10 per cent.

-	2016 provisional cost	2016 cost plus 10%
Wage Subsidy Scheme	€19.43 million	€21.37 million
EmployAbility Service	€8.56 million	€9.42 million
Partial Capacity Benefit	€13.08 million	€14.39 million
Other employment support grants for people with disabilities	€0.45 million	€0.50 million

The table does not include details of the new “Ability” programme, which was launched in September 2017. This programme has the aim of bringing young people with disabilities who are not work-ready closer to the labour market. The funding for this programme will begin in 2018 and is expected to amount to some €10 million over a three-year period.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Ceisteanna (500, 522)

Niall Collins

Ceist:

500. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost to the Exchequer of the following spending proposals (details supplied). [50934/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

522. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of extending jobseeker payments to the self-employed, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51222/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 500 and 522 together.

Self-employed workers who earn €5,000 or more in a contribution year, are liable for PRSI at the Class S rate of 4%, subject to a minimum annual payment of €500. This provides them with access to the following benefits: State pension (contributory) and widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner’s pension (contributory), guardian’s payment (contributory), maternity benefit, adoptive benefit, paternity benefit, treatment benefit (from March 2017). Entitlement to invalidity pension is being extended to the self-employed from 1st December 2017.

This compares favourably with employees who, in general, are liable to the Class A rate of 4%. In addition their employers are liable to PRSI at the rate of 8.5% on weekly earnings up to and including €376 or at the rate of 10.75% where weekly earnings exceed €376. Accordingly the combined rate of PRSI rate paid in respect of Class A employees is 12.5% or 14.75%, depending on the level of weekly earnings. These Class A employees are entitled to the full range of social insurance benefits.

The issue of extending additional social insurance benefits to the self-employed paying Class S PRSI was considered in the Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance fund (SIF) as at 31 December, 2015, which I published on the 18th October 2017. The Review, required by legislation, was carried out by independent consultants, KPMG. It examines the projected income and expenditure of the SIF over the course of the 55 year period from 2016 to 2071.

The Review found that the fund currently has a modest surplus of income over expenditure. In 2016 there was a surplus of €0.4 billion on expenditure of €8.8 billion and receipts of €9.2 billion. However, this will reduce and will return to a small shortfall in 2020. The annual shortfalls are projected to increase from 2021 onwards as the ageing of the population impacts. Projections indicate that, in the absence of further action to tackle the shortfall, the excess of expenditure over income of the fund will increase significantly over the medium to long term. The shortfall in expenditure over income is projected to increase from €0.2 billion in 2020 to €3.3 billion by 2030 and to €22.2 billion by 2071. It should be noted that as self-employed workers will be eligible to apply for invalidity pension from December 2017, the cost of this introduction has been factored into the Actuarial Review.

As part of the Review the independent consultants were required to project the additional PRSI expenditure if invalidity pension and illness, jobseeker’s and carer’s benefits were extended to Class S self-employed workers and the PRSI contribution rates required to provide these benefits on a revenue neutral basis.

The Review found that the combined cost of introducing the invalidity, illness, jobseeker’s and carer’s benefits for class S contributions is estimated to be €118 million in 2018, rising steadily to €223 million in 2020. By 2025 the projected cost is €413 million and, over the period of the review the cost would rise to €1.3 billion in 2071.

It should be noted that the projected expenditure on jobseeker’s benefit assumes the same incidence rate as prevail in the employed (PRSI Class A) population. The following table gives a breakdown of the costs of the individual benefits.

Projected costs of extending Invalidity, Jobseeker's Benefit, Carer’s Benefits

Year	Invalidity	Illness	Jobseeker’s	Carer’s	Total
2015 (act)	0	0	0	0	0
2016	0	0	0	0	0
2017	3	0	0	0	3
2018	30	40	45	2	118
2019	59	54	58	3	173
2020	87	72	60	4	223
2021	125	88	63	5	281
2022	152	94	67	5	317
2023	176	99	71	5	351
2024	198	104	75	6	382
2025	218	108	81	6	413

The Review indicates that, where these benefits are extended to the self-employed, the Class S rate of PRSI contribution would need to increase substantially in order to ensure that the benefits are delivered in a revenue neutral manner. It estimates that when expenditure on the additional benefits is considered over the entire projection period, PRSI rates would need to increase by 94% under a scenario of no subvention from the Exchequer. This is equivalent to an increase of the Class S contribution rate from the current 4% rate to 7.8%.

This increased contribution is attributable to the costs of extending these additional benefits to PRSI Class S contributors. It does not take account of the value to PRSI Class S contributors of access to the range of existing benefits, and in particular State pension (contributory).

The consultants estimated that the typical cost of State pension (contributory) on its own is of the order of 10% to 15%, depending on other factors including rate of average earnings and date of commencing paying PRSI. Adding in the other benefits referenced the total Class S rate of contribution to ensure revenue neutrality would be of the order of 20% per annum.

The findings of the Review will play an important role in informing the overall debate on policy developments in relation to the Social Insurance Fund in the years ahead including the financial sustainability of the Fund given the expected demographic challenges and consideration of extending the scope of benefits for workers generally, including the self-employed.

Social Welfare Benefits Data

Ceisteanna (501, 515, 516, 518, 519, 523, 524, 527, 528)

Table 1: Cost of increasing the Child Benefit by varying amounts

Monthly Increase	Cost €m	Monthly Increase	Cost €m
€1.00	14.60	€11.00	160.65
€2.00	29.21	€12.00	175.25
€3.00	43.81	€13.00	189.85
€4.00	58.42	€14.00	204.46
€5.00	73.02	€15.00	219.06
€6.00	87.62	€20.00	292.08
€7.00	102.23	€25.00	365.10
€8.00	116.83
€9.00	131.44
€10.00	146.04

Table 2: Cost of varying amounts in all weekly social insurance payments

Scheme	Full year cost of a €5 increase	Full year cost of a €10 increase	Full year cost of a €15 increase	Full year cost of a €20 increase	Full year cost of a €25 increase
	€m	€m	€m	€m	€m
Social Insurance Schemes
Pension Payments
State Pension (Contributory)	102.29	204.58	306.87	409.16	511.45
Widow/er's Contributory Pension (Aged 66 and over)	21.04	42.08	63.12	84.16	105.2
Deserted Wife's Benefit (Aged 66 and over)	0.58	1.16	1.74	2.32	2.9
Death Benefit Pension (Aged 66 and over)	0.18	0.36	0.54	0.72	0.9
Working Age Payments
Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Con) Pension	7.57	15.14	22.71	30.28	37.85
Deserted Wife's Benefit	1.08	2.16	3.24	4.32	5.4
Invalidity Pension	17.15	34.3	51.45	68.6	85.75
Guardian's Payment (Contributory)	0.27	0.54	0.81	1.08	1.35
Disablement Pension	1.25	2.5	3.75	5	6.25
Illness Benefit	14.43	28.86	43.29	57.72	72.15
Injury Benefit	0.42	0.84	1.26	1.68	2.1
Incapacity Supplement	0.28	0.56	0.84	1.12	1.4
Jobseeker's Benefit	8.55	17.1	25.65	34.2	42.75
Carer's Benefit	0.74	1.48	2.22	2.96	3.7
Health and Safety Benefit	0.01	0.02	0.03	0.04	0.05
Maternity & Adoptive Benefit	5.16	10.32	15.48	20.64	25.8
Paternity Benefit	0.26	0.52	0.78	1.04	1.3
Total Social Insurance Schemes	181.26	362.52	543.78	725.04	906.3

Table 3: Cost of varying amounts in all weekly social assistance payments

Scheme	Full year cost of a €5 increase	Full year cost of a €10 increase	Full year cost of a €15 increase	Full year cost of a €20 increase	Full year cost of a €25 increase
	€m	€m	€m	€m	€m
Social Assistance Schemes
Pension Payments
State Pension (Non Con)	25.15	50.3	75.45	100.6	125.75
Carer's Allowance (Aged 66 and over)	0.63	1.26	1.89	2.52	3.15
Half Rate Carer's Allowance (Aged 66 and over)	1.51	3.02	4.53	6.04	7.55
Working Age Payments
Blind Pension	0.34	0.68	1.02	1.36	1.7
Widow/ers or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Con) Pension	0.36	0.72	1.08	1.44	1.8
Deserted Wife's Allowance	0.03	0.06	0.09	0.12	0.15
One-Parent Family Payment	10.1	20.2	30.3	40.4	50.5
Carer's Allowance	10.88	21.76	32.64	43.52	54.4
Half Rate Carer's Allowance	2.98	5.96	8.94	11.92	14.9
Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory)	0.13	0.26	0.39	0.52	0.65
Jobseeker's Allowance	44.88	89.76	134.64	179.52	224.4
Jobseeker's Allowance - for those aged 18 to 24 years of age	2.63	5.26	7.89	10.52	13.15
Jobseeker's Allowance - for those aged 25 years of age	0.65	1.3	1.95	2.6	3.25
Pre-Retirement Allowance	0.04	0.08	0.12	0.16	0.2
Disability Allowance	37.54	75.08	112.62	150.16	187.7
Farm Assist	2.34	4.68	7.02	9.36	11.7
Back to Education Allowance	2.48	4.96	7.44	9.92	12.4
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance	2.78	5.56	8.34	11.12	13.9
Community Employment Programme	6.07	12.14	18.21	24.28	30.35
TÚS - Community Work Placement Initiative	1.89	3.78	5.67	7.56	9.45
Rural Social Scheme	0.99	1.98	2.97	3.96	4.95
Gateway	0	0	0	0	0
Supplementary Welfare Allowance	4.7	9.4	14.1	18.8	23.5
Total Social Assistance Schemes	159.1	318.2	477.3	636.4	795.5

Table 4: Cost of increasing the Living Alone Allowance by varying amounts

Weekly Increase	Cost €m
€2.00	20.87
€3.00	31.31
€4.00	41.74
€5.00	52.18
€6.00	62.61
€7.00	73.05
€8.00	83.48
€9.00	93.92
€10.00	104.35

Table 5: Cost of increasing the duration of the Fuel Allowance by varying numbers of weeks

Number of weeks	Cost in 2018 €m
1 week	8.58
2 weeks	17.16
3 weeks	25.74
4 weeks	34.32
5 weeks	42.90
6 weeks	51.47

Table 6: Cost of increasing Family Income Supplement (FIS) by varying amounts

Increase in weekly threshold	Cost in 2018 €m
€5.00	20.70
€10.00	42.30
€15.00	66.00
€20.00	87.60
€25.00	110.70

Table 7: Cost of increasing the Carer’s Support Grant by varying amounts

Annual Increase	Cost in 2018 €m
€50.00	5.63
€100.00	11.26
€150.00	16.89
€200.00	22.53
€250.00	28.16

Table 8: Cost of Increasing the monthly electricity allowance and the natural gas allowance by varying amounts

			Monthly Natural Gas Allowance
Monthly Increase	Cost €m	Monthly Increase	Cost €m
€5.00	23.30	€5.00	2.84
€10.00	46.61	€10.00	5.70

The costs shown above are on a full year basis and assume that, where relevant, each increase is implemented from the beginning of January. It should also be noted that these costings include proportionate increases for qualified adults and for those on reduced rates of payment, where relevant. These costings are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2018.

Farm Assist Scheme Data

Ceisteanna (502)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

502. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost of a proposal (details supplied). [51111/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

The farm assist scheme supplements mostly small farms on bad agricultural land, mainly in the west of Ireland. Recipients retain the advantages of the jobseeker’s allowance scheme such as the retention of secondary benefits and access to activation programmes. The 2017 Revised Estimates for my Department provide for expenditure of almost €83 million on the farm assist scheme.

Budget 2017 fully reversed the previous cuts to the Farm Assist means test. The changes included that 70% of farm income is now being assessed as means, down from 100% being assessed as means (which is equivalent to a 30% income disregard) and an additional annual means disregard of €254 for each of the first two children and €381 for the third and subsequent children.

The farm assist means test is flexible so as to allow for significant income fluctuations from one year to the next. It may also be noted that farm assist customers continue to receive more beneficial treatment than other self-employed persons as payments received under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS), Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) or Special Area of Conservation (SAC) schemes are assessed separately from other farm income. With regard to this income the first €2,540 is disregarded, and then 50% of the balance and related expenses are disregarded - with the balance being assessed as means.

It is estimated that the cost of changing the farm assist means testing rules in order that irrespective of the source of income the first €3,000 would be disregarded and the balance would be means tested at 50% is approximately €15 million for a full year. This estimate is based on the existing number of recipients and current rates.

However, it is envisaged that there would be an inflow of new farm assist claims if these measures were introduced. The Department cannot quantify the numbers involved and as such cannot calculate the associated additional costs. Therefore, the estimated cost of €15 million should be regarded as a minimum estimate.

Budget 2018 provided for a €5 per week increase in rate of payment for farm assist which will see the maximum rate increased from €193 to €198 per week from 26 March 2018.

Any changes to means assessment would have to be considered in a budgetary context.