Written Answers Nos. 1624-1645
1624. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the full-year cost of increasing the income thresholds for family income supplement by amounts (details supplied), in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1230/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the context of Budget 2018 it was decided to re-designate the Family Income Supplement (FIS) scheme as the Working Family Payment (WFP). The Working Family Payment is an in-work support, which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children and offers a financial incentive to take-up employment. There are currently over 57,000 families with nearly 129,939 children in receipt of the WFP. The estimated spend on WFP this year is approximately €431 million.
The estimated full year cost in 2018 of increasing the income thresholds of the Working Family payment by €5, €10, €15, €20 and €25 is as follows:
|
Increase |
Estimated Full Year Additional Cost |
|
€5 |
€11.7 |
|
€10 |
€21.9 |
|
€15 |
€31.5 |
|
€20 |
€43.2 |
|
€25 |
€53.6 |
It is worth noting that Budget 2018 increased the income thresholds by €10 for families with up to three children. This change will take effect from 29 March 2018; it is likely that as a result of this increase additional families who are not currently in receipt of the WFP will become eligible for the scheme. The figures above include an estimate of this additional inflow. Any further changes to the WFP income thresholds would have significant cost implications and would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
1626. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the full-year cost of reinstating the State transition pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1233/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 provided that State pension age will be increased gradually to 68 years. This began in January 2014 with the abolition of the State pension (transition) which was available to people aged 65 who satisfied the qualifying conditions. This measure standardised the State pension age for all at 66 years. This will increase to 67 in 2021 and to 68 in 2028.
We are all aware that people are living for much longer. Life expectancy at birth has increased significantly over the years – and is now at 78.4 years for men and 82.8 years for women. This is very positive. As a result of this demographic change, the number of State pension recipients is increasing year on year. This has significant implications for the future costs of State pension provision which are currently increasing by approx. €1 billion every 5 years. The purpose of changes to the State pension age is to make the pension system more sustainable in the context of increasing life expectancy. This sustainability is vital, if the current workers, who fund State pension payments through their PRSI, are to receive a pension themselves when they reach retirement age.
In 2013, the cost of the State pension (transition) was €137 million. Its abolition was not expected to save that amount of expenditure in full, as some people who were affected would alternatively claim working age payments such as Jobseeker's Benefit (although at a lower rate than the rate of the State pension), or claim an Increase for a Qualified Adult in respect of their spouse’s pension. However, it is anticipated that well over half of that cost has been saved each year as a result of this measure, and this would be expected to increase as (a) the number of 65 year olds increases, (b) the change results in a higher percentage of people working while aged 65, and (c) there have been a number of Budget increases in the rate of the State pension since then. It is estimated that the net saving in 2017 was likely to be in the region of over €80 million, and this is expected to increase over time.
The Deputy should note that there is no legally mandated retirement age in the State, and the age at which employees retire is a matter for the contract of employment between them and their employers. While such a contract may have been entered into with a retirement date of 65, in the context of the previous State pension arrangements, there is no legal impediment to the employer and employee agreeing to increase the duration of employment for one or more years, if both parties wish to do so.
Where this is not possible, there are specific measures which apply to someone claiming Jobseeker’s Benefit from a date after their 65th birthday. Where qualified, these recipients may continue to be eligible for that payment until reaching pension age.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1627. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the full-year cost of reinstating the bereavement grant at a rate of €850; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1234/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraDuring the economic downturn, my Department protected primary social welfare rates and in recent years, as the economy recovered, the Government has concentrated resources in improving the core rates of payments, particularly for pensioners. Abolishing the bereavement grant provided a significant annual saving and allowed my Department to protect other core social welfare payments such as the State pension.
The number of bereavement grant claims in 2013 was 23,716, and this represented an increase of approximately 4% on 2012. Based on a similar yearly increase each year since 2013, it is estimated that the number of bereavement grant claims that might arise in 2018, were the scheme to be re-introduced, would be in the region of 28,854, and the number would be expected to increase in future years. Accordingly, if there were 28,854 such grants made in 2018, at a rate of €850 each, the cost would be approx. €24.53 million.
Any decision to reinstate the Bereavement Grant would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
It is worth noting that there are a range of supports available for people following bereavement which provide more significant support than the grant. These include weekly paid widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner’s (contributory and non-contributory) pensions, which are based on contributions or a means test, and a once-off widowed or surviving civil partner grant of €6,000 where there is a dependent child. A number of social welfare payments, including State pension, continue in payment for six weeks following a death. In Budget 2016, the Government increased the payment after death period to 12 weeks for carer’s allowance. Guardian payments are available where someone cares for an orphaned child. A special funeral grant of €850 is paid where a person dies because of an accident at work or occupational disease.
Additionally, the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. Under the SWA scheme, the Department of Social Protection 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 from their weekly income, which may include help with funeral and burial expenses.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1629. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the full-year cost of increasing child benefit by amounts (details supplied), in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1236/18]
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 627,432 families in respect of some 1.2 million children, with an estimated expenditure of over €2 billion in 2018.
The estimated full year cost of increasing Child Benefit from its current rate of €140 per month by €5, €10, €15, €20 and €25 in 2018 as follows:
|
Increase |
Estimated Additional Full Year Cost |
|
€5 |
€71.8m |
|
€10 |
€143.7m |
|
€15 |
€215.6m |
|
€20 |
€287.5m |
|
€25 |
€359.4m |
Given that Child Benefit is a universal payment this would not be a targeted approach. As can be seen from the figures provided such increases would have very significant cost implications and would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
1630. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the full-year cost of increasing maternity benefit by one, two, three, four, five and six weeks, respectively, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1237/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMaternity Benefit is paid by my Department and is based on payment of PRSI contributions while working. The current entitlement to paid maternity leave is 26 weeks. The following table estimates the cost of increasing the duration for which maternity benefit is paid by one to six weeks.
These estimates are based on the cost for a full year and assume that any increase in duration is implemented from the beginning of the year. The estimated additional cost of extending the duration of maternity benefit is approximately €10.3 million for each extra week, at the current rate of €235 per week. It should be noted that Budget 2018 provides for the rate of maternity benefit to be increased by €5 per week from 26 March 2018.
Estimated annual cost of increasing the duration of maternity benefit based on current rate of €235 (2017 rates)
|
No. of additional weeks |
Estimated cost (€m) |
|
1 |
10.3 |
|
2 |
20.6 |
|
3 |
30.9 |
|
4 |
41.2 |
|
5 |
50.5 |
|
6 |
60.8 |
It should be noted that this costing is subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2017. It should also be noted that there are additional costs to the Exchequer as these estimates do not include the costs of salary top-ups for public/civil servants.
1631. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the full-year cost of increasing paternity benefit by one, two, three, four, five and six weeks, respectively, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1238/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016 which was enacted in July 2016 introduced a new scheme of paternity leave and an associated social welfare payment of paternity benefit from the 1st September 2016. Since the commencement of the scheme on 1 September 2016, 32,784 paternity benefit claims have been awarded to 31 December 2017.
The estimated additional cost of extending the duration of paternity benefit is approximately €5.5 million for each extra week. The following table estimates the additional cost of increasing the duration of paternity benefit above its current 2 week duration at the current weekly rate of €235. It should be noted that Budget 2018 provides for the weekly rate of payment to be increased by €5 per week from 26 March 2018.
Estimated annual cost of increasing the duration of Paternity Benefit based on 2017 rates
|
No. of additional weeks |
Estimated cost (€m) |
|
1 |
5.5 |
|
2 |
11.0 |
|
3 |
16.5 |
|
4 |
22.0 |
|
5 |
27.5 |
|
6 |
33.0 |
These estimates are based on the cost for a full year and assume that any increase in duration is implemented from the beginning of the year. The cost in the first year would depend on the implementation date that the increase in duration would take effect. This cost would be proportional to the full year cost.
It should be noted that this costing is subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2017. It should also be noted that there are also costs to the Exchequer as these estimates do not include the costs of salary top-ups for public/civil servants.
1633. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the full-year cost of operating the free travel scheme; the cost of increasing expenditure by 10%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1240/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators. There are currently approx. 900,000 customers with direct eligibility. The scheme is available to all people aged over 66 living permanently in the State. To qualify for the scheme, applicants who are under age 66 must be in receipt of a qualifying payment. These are invalidity pension, blind pension, disability allowance, carer’s allowance or an equivalent social security payment from a country covered by EC Regulations or one with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement.
In order to maintain service at existing levels, and to facilitate new entrants/services to the scheme, funding to the free travel scheme was increased by €10 million in Budget 2018, an increase of 12.5%.
The estimated expenditure on free travel in 2018 is €90 million. To increase the cost by 10% would require an additional €9 million bringing the total expenditure for the scheme up to €99 million.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1635. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if all Intreo staff have received disability awareness training; the cost of training staff who have not undergone such training to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1243/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection fully recognises the need to support staff and promote disability awareness and has been very proactive in the provision of training and supports in this area in recent years, with a very positive response from staff.
The Department supports its staff by offering a suite of disability awareness training including Mental Health and Deaf Awareness, Dealing with Blind Customers and general Disability Awareness. The Department also offers courses in SafeTALK suicide awareness, ASIST suicide prevention and Stress Awareness. These are available to all staff in the Department, including staff in Intreo Centres. Since 2013, over 2,900 staff have attended training courses in these areas. In addition, e-learning courses developed for front line public servants by the National Disability Authority (NDA) and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) are freely available online to all staff via the Department’s Staff Development intranet site. Bespoke, ad hoc training can also be procured where required utilising an External Training Budget.
In conjunction with Mental Health Ireland (MHI) and the Civil Service Employee Assistance Service (CSEAS), Mental Health Awareness workshops have been held in a variety of locations since 2013. The workshops provided tools and strategies to enhance mental health and well-being, increase awareness and understanding, and promote the range of formal and informal supports and resources available.
My Department has a dedicated Disability Liaison Officer (DLO) to support our staff with disabilities and their managers. The DLO offers support and promotes awareness of disability issues and services amongst staff, while also facilitating the Department’s active participation in the Irish Association for Supported Employment’s Job Shadow Initiative and AHEAD's Willing Able Mentoring Programme. This Officer has attended AsIAm Public Sector Training Programme on Autism-Friendly Practices, NDA Seminar on “Alternative & Inclusive Routes to Employment for People with Disabilities” and NCBI Seminar on “Bridging the Information Gap” and has disseminated information from these sources to Departmental staff. The Department also provides translation, interpretive and Irish Sign Language services as required and is committed to the provision of information in alternative formats where feasible, as outlined in our Customer Charter.
Induction and Orientation training highlights the range of Departmental supports and grant-aid available for both staff and clients with disabilities. These include employment supports for jobseekers with disabilities such as the Wage Subsidy Scheme, EmployAbility Services and the Reasonable Accommodation Fund, in addition to the Civil Service Employee Assistance Service (CSEAS).
During 2016, in the context of Departmental commitments under Pathways to Work 2016-2020 to extend and intensify proactive engagement with people with a disability, 67 dedicated Case Officers were nominated across the Intreo network. My Department’s Staff Development Unit provided a Disability Awareness Seminar in March 2016 for these Case Officers, with speakers from the National Disability Authority and Epilepsy Ireland. This was supplemented by tailored instructor-led training nationally in Employment Supports for People with Disabilities and this curriculum is now incorporated as standard into an accredited programme for Case Officers, Level 8 Certificate in Professional Practice in Employability Services, in conjunction with the National College of Ireland (NCI).
Ongoing liaison, via the Department’s Disability & Illness Policy Unit, with the National Disability Authority (NDA) and the Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) ensures that information on relevant events and seminars is communicated to Departmental staff.
The Department will continue with its extensive training and awareness in this area. It is estimated that the cost of providing disability awareness training to all staff in Intreo Centres in the Department would be approximately €90,000.
1636. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the full-year cost of extending the wage subsidy scheme for persons in receipt of partial capacity benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1244/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe partial capacity benefit (PCB) scheme is designed for people who are on illness benefit, for at least six months, or on invalidity pension and who have retained some capacity for work and wish to work. If awarded, PCB will allow them to continue to receive, in addition to their earnings from employment, a percentage of their illness benefit or invalidity pension payment while working.
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 scheme provides financial incentives to private sector employers to hire people with a disability for between 21 and 39 hours per week under a contract of employment.
Extending eligibility for the WSS to employers who employ people in receipt of PCB is estimated to cost €2.6 million in a full year. The costing here relates to new PCB participants only, as a WSS payment can only be made where an individual is entering a new job or is in that job for less than 12 months.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1638. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of staff working in the social welfare appeals office; the full-year cost of increasing the number of staff by 10%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1246/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are currently 84 staff (80.15 full-time equivalent) working in the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
The full year cost of increasing the staff complement by 10% would amount to approximately €458,000.
1639. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans for an auto-enrolment pension system; if a report has been or is being prepared on same; the expected publication date of same; the date this new system is expected to come into operation; the full-year cost of implementing such a system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1247/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraPensions reform is a Government priority and I can confirm an intention to publish and commence the implementation of a pensions reform plan in the near future. Perhaps the most fundamental reform measure which will be contained within this plan will relate to the development of a new auto enrolment supplementary retirement savings system for employees without pensions coverage.
Auto enrolment would see a transition from the current and purely voluntary supplementary pension system to one which will, subject to certain parameters, automatically enrol employees into a quality assured retirement savings system. This reform, where the saver will maintain the freedom of choice to opt-out, will encourage long term saving and asset accumulation amongst those who may otherwise suffer a reduction in living standards at retirement. It will increase the wellbeing, financial security and independence of future retirees.
Subject to any Government decision regarding the manner in which this project should be progressed, it is my objective that first members would be enrolled in the new system in 2021. This project timeframe reflects the scale of such a programme and its importance as being the most fundamental reform of the Irish supplementary pension system in generations.
Following publication of the reform plan, I intend that the detailed evidence building and consultation required to deliver an automatic enrolment system will be undertaken over an initial project planning phase. This will include an investigation of the potential organisational models for delivery and identify the likely costs involved. This information will be used to inform Government in selecting any preferred automatic enrolment operational structure and organisational governance. Decisions around main design parameters such as target membership, minimum contribution rates, financial incentives etc. will also impact on expenditure requirements. Correctly positioning/designing each of these parameters will be fundamental to the success of any system.
Until this work is complete and a preferred model chosen, it would not be possible to accurately detail the costs of designing and implementing the automatic enrolment system.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1640. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when carer's allowance will be restored in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1252/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.
CA was in payment to the person concerned from 2 January 2014. Once claims are in payment, the Department periodically reviews them to ensure that there is continued entitlement. Depending on the circumstances in each case and to make best use of resources, a review may only concentrate on a specific condition of entitlement.
A review commenced in this case in 2017. As part of this review the matter was referred to a social welfare inspector (SWI).
During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that the person concerned had not fully disclosed their means to the Department.
The person concerned was notified on 27 October 2017 that because of this her payment was being suspended from 2 November 2017.
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.
1641. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to extend entitlement to the free travel pass to persons who suffer from epilepsy and are medically unfit to drive as a consequence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1272/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by almost 80 private transport operators. There are approximately 900,000 customers in receipt of free travel.
Persons resident in Ireland who are over 66 and persons in receipt of certain social welfare payments are eligible for the scheme. The social welfare payments that allow persons aged under 66 to a free travel pass include disability allowance, invalidity pension, carer’s allowance and partial capacity benefit. Disability allowance and invalidity pension are both long term illness payments, and so people in receipt of those payments will already have eligibility.
There are no plans to change the eligibility criteria of the free travel scheme to include persons who are not paid a benefit by my department.
If the free travel scheme was to be extended to people who are not eligible for a qualifying payment, an assessment process would be required for all such applications, changing the nature of the scheme. Successive Governments have instead used existing underlying entitlements to confer eligibility for this scheme.
In addition, any decision to extend the free travel scheme to persons who are not in receipt of a primary qualifying payment would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) the Department of Social Protection may award a travel supplement in any case where the circumstances of the case so warrant. The supplement is intended to assist with ongoing or recurring travel costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary. Every decision is based on consideration of the circumstances of the case, taking account of the nature and extent of the need and of the resources of the person concerned.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1642. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a disability allowance for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1299/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing a successful appeal, the person concerned has been awarded disability allowance with effect from 17 May 2017. The first payment will be made by his chosen payment method on 31 January 2018.
Arrears of payment due will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments or in respect of any outstanding overpayments (if applicable).
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1643. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a full disability allowance will be awarded to a person (details supplied) following recent changes to the system affecting those who were self-employed. [1314/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm this gentleman has been in receipt of disability allowance (DA) since 17 July 2013. The most recent means assessment on his DA was carried out on 14 December 2016 and he was deemed to have means from his Spouse’s employment.
There has been no recent change to the assessment of means for the DA scheme and therefore we would not be reviewing this gentleman’s means at present.
It is open to him to request a review of his DA should he feel that he is not in receipt of the correct rate of payment or should he have any new information since his last means assessment.
I trust this clarifies the situation for the Deputy.
1644. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a disability allowance will be awarded to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1317/18]
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 disallow 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 Employment Affairs and 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.
1645. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a supplementary payment will issue to a person (details supplied); if the payment will issue in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1318/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAccording to the records of this Department the person concerned has not recently made an application for supplementary welfare allowance. An officer of the Department sent a supplementary welfare allowance application to the person concerned on 15/01/18.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
