Written Answers Nos. 590-610
590. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied) will be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3001/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 1 September 2017.
The application was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 11 December 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.
591. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an exceptional needs payment will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3011/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for an Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) was received from the person concerned and has been processed by the Designated Person. A letter, outlining the decision of the Designated Person to refuse the application for an ENP and the basis for that decision, has issued to the person concerned. They have also been advised of their right to an independent review of the decision made by the Designated Person.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
592. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will issue in relation to a carer's benefit application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3016/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce to care for a person(s) in need of full-time care and attention.
An application for CARB was received from the person concerned on 27 October 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.
593. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) has not received a fuel allowance payment; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3017/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned was awarded the state pension (contributory), together with the increase for living alone, with effect from 16 December 2017, their 66th birthday. They were notified in writing of this decision on 30 November 2017.
The person concerned was in receipt of Disability Allowance with fuel allowance and increase for living alone prior to reaching pension age. They received a fuel allowance lump sum payment on 4 October 2017 while in receipt of this means-tested Disability Allowance payment.
Since the person is now in receipt of state pension (contributory), a scheme with different eligibility conditions for fuel allowance, entitlement to fuel allowance must be re-examined to ascertain eligibility for fuel allowance with this pension.
A request for information issued to the person on 9 October 2017 requesting details of means and confirmation of preferred frequency of payment of the fuel allowance. A reply has not been received to date. A reminder has issued on 19 January 2018. When the requested information is received, the person’s fuel allowance claim will be finalised without delay.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
594. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of recipients of welfare payments by scheme type; the number of related qualified child increases by scheme type, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3036/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested (where available) by the Deputy is detailed in the tabular statement.
Recipients of principal social welfare payments and the number of qualified child increases in payment at the end of December 2017.
|
- |
Qualified Children Increases |
|||
|
Type of Payment |
Recipients |
Full Rate |
Half Rate(1) |
Other Children |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
95,140 |
3,212 |
473 |
|
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
394,378 |
66,256 |
1,257 |
|
|
Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension |
121,091 |
10,908 |
||
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
184,310 |
78,161 |
22,645 |
|
|
One Parent Family Payment |
39,310 |
71,739 |
||
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
17,933 |
8,520 |
||
|
Farm Assist |
7,234 |
4,308 |
1,333 |
|
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance |
171 |
|||
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
35,463 |
4,332 |
3,275 |
|
|
Maternity Benefit |
21,548 |
758 |
155 |
|
|
Adoptive Benefit |
10 |
|||
|
Health and Safety Benefit |
45 |
9 |
3 |
|
|
Rural Social Scheme |
2,850 |
1,504 |
523 |
|
|
TUS - Community Work Placement |
6,256 |
2,190 |
2,073 |
|
|
Back To Work Enterprise Allowance |
9,655 |
6,489 |
1,921 |
|
|
JobBridge National Internship Scheme |
29 |
4 |
||
|
Back To Education Allowance |
10,916 |
4,327 |
1,100 |
|
|
Part-Time Job Incentive Scheme |
418 |
|||
|
Gateway |
50 |
16 |
6 |
|
|
Wage Subsidy Scheme |
2,669 |
|||
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
2,324 |
396 |
394 |
|
|
Disability Allowance |
133,929 |
29,028 |
10,945 |
|
|
Carer's Allowance |
75,264 |
3,910 |
40,942 |
|
|
Illness Benefit |
52,809 |
7,910 |
6,603 |
|
|
Interim Illness Benefit |
511 |
105 |
50 |
|
|
Injury Benefit |
1,085 |
176 |
120 |
|
|
Invalidity Pension |
57,504 |
5,630 |
7,944 |
|
|
Carer's Benefit |
2,762 |
|||
|
Family Income Supplement( |
57,745 |
129,274 |
||
|
Child Benefit |
624,670 |
1,197,866 |
||
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
35,584 |
38,846 |
(1) A Qualified Child increase is payable at half rate where a spouse living with a recipient is not a Qualified Adult. Each spouse may receive half the Qualified Child increase where both spouses are in receipt of a Social Welfare Payment.
595. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an appropriate rent support payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3120/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFurther to receipt of an application for Rent Supplement by the person concerned on 4/1/18, the Department requested further documentation which still remains outstanding. On receipt of outstanding documentation, entitlement to Rent Supplement can be assessed for the period of the tenancy.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
596. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the future of the social welfare officer based in a town (details supplied) is secure. [3122/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department continually keeps all of its services under review to ensure that they are delivered to the customer in the most effective and efficient manner. There are currently no plans to change the level of services in Dunboyne, Co Meath.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
597. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the contracts her Department or agencies under her remit has with a company (details supplied); the status of these contracts; the contingency plans that may now be required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3145/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe statutory bodies operating under the aegis of my Department are the Citizens Information Board, the Low Pay Commission, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council and the Social Welfare Tribunal.
Neither my Department nor any of the statutory bodies under the aegis of my Department have contracts with the company in question.
598. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an application for a carer's allowance will be processed for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3171/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 21 September 2017.
The application was awarded to the person concerned on 12 January 2018 with effect from 3 November 2016. The first payment will issue to their nominated bank account on 18 January 2018.
Arrears of allowance due from 3 November 2016 to 17 January 2018 will issue shortly.
The person concerned was notified on 12 January 2018 of this decision, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
599. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department has changed the method or the calculation for persons who are receiving a social welfare payment and have their local property tax deducted at source; if so, the implications of this for such persons; if it has a resulted in an increase in the amount of local property tax being paid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3183/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal Property Tax is now deducted over 50 calendar weeks, rather than 52. This change was necessary as a safeguard to afford customers the full benefit of the Christmas bonus and the double week payments and ensures that these additional payments are not absorbed by an automatic Local Property Tax deduction. It was also necessary to ensure that customer’s deductions would not reduce their weekly personal rate payment below the level of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance personal rate as a result of these additional payments.
This change has not increased the overall annual amount of tax liability for such customers.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
600. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing all social insurance payments by €5, €10, €15, €20 and €25, respectively, by payment type and amount taking into account increases announced in budget 2018, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3185/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra601. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing all social assistance payments by €5, €10, €15, €20 and €25, respectively, by payment type and amount taking into account increases announced in budget 2018, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3186/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 600 and 601 together.
The costings sought by Deputy O’Dea are detailed in the following tables.
Table 1: Full year cost of varying amounts in all weekly social insurance payments
|
Scheme |
€5 increase |
€10 increase |
€15 increase |
€20 increase |
€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 2: Full year cost of varying amounts in all weekly social assistance payments
|
- |
€5 increase |
€10 increase |
€15 increase |
€20 increase |
€25 increase |
|
Scheme |
€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 |
0.01 |
0.01 |
0.02 |
0.02 |
|
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 |
The costings in the tables above include proportionate increases for qualified adults and for those on reduced rates of payment, where relevant.
It should be noted that this costing is based on the estimated number of recipients in 2018 and accordingly is subject to change over the coming months in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers for 2019.
602. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing maternity benefit by one to six weeks, respectively, taking into account increases announced in budget 2018, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3187/18]
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 €9.6 million for each extra week, at the rate of €240 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 budget 2018 rate of €240
|
No. of additional weeks |
Estimated cost (€m) |
|
1 |
9.6 |
|
2 |
19.2 |
|
3 |
28.8 |
|
4 |
38.4 |
|
5 |
48.0 |
|
6 |
57.6 |
This costing is subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2018. It should be noted that the birth rate has continued to fall year on year. 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.
603. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing paternity benefit by one to six weeks, respectively, taking into account increases announced in Budget 2018, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3188/18]
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 €5.2 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 a weekly rate of €240. It should be noted that Budget 2018 provides for the weekly rate of payment to be increased by €5 per week to €240 from 26 March 2018.
|
- |
Estimated annual cost of increasing the duration of Paternity Benefit based on 2018 rates |
|
No. of additional weeks |
Estimated cost (€m) |
|
1 |
5.2 |
|
2 |
10.4 |
|
3 |
15.6 |
|
4 |
20.8 |
|
5 |
26.0 |
|
6 |
31.2 |
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.
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 2018. 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.
604. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the spouse of a person can use the income thresholds for Family Income Supplement as the means test figures to grant the spouse carer's allowance in circumstances in which the conditions are being met and if the spouse is in receipt of Family Income Supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3200/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a range of income supports for carers including carer’s benefit, carer’s allowance, domiciliary care allowance and the carer’s support grant.
The financial supports available to carers in Ireland are among the highest rates of income support in Europe. Carer’s allowance (CA) is a primary income support and its means test is one of the least onerous in the suite of social protection supports provided by my Department. The means test for Carer's Allowance involves assessing income and if a person is single, €332.50 of their gross weekly income is not taken into account. If they are married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting the first €665 of their combined gross weekly income is disregarded. PRSI, union dues, superannuation (pension contributions) and travel expenses are also deducted. For a couple, the combined gross weekly balance is then halved to give the carer's weekly means. Any payment made by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) is not taken into account in the means test for Carer's Allowance.
The level of payment for Family Income Supplement (FIS) is determined on a completely different basis as a percentage of the difference between the household income and annual family income limits which are increased in line with the size of the family. It would not therefore be appropriate to apply alternative thresholds to a specific action. More generally, any improvements or additions to the income limits for carers allowance could only be considered in a budgetary context and in the light of available financial resources.
Considerable improvements have been introduced for carers in recent years. In Budget 2016, the Carer’s Support Grant, which is payable without a means test, was increased to €1,700 in addition to other measures benefiting carers including extending the period when the allowance can be paid following the death of a care recipient from 6 to 12 weeks. In addition to the Christmas Bonus and the €5 increase in the weekly rate, Budget 2017 introduced a measure that extends payment of CA for 12 weeks where the care recipient enters permanent residential care.
I can assure the Deputy that I am very aware of the key role carers play in society and I will continue to keep the range of supports available to carers under review. If the Deputy has a particular case that he wants to be considered in the context of his question, I would invite him to send details to me for examination.
605. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for supplementary welfare allowance by a person (details supplied); and when they can expect a decision on their case. [3217/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned has made an application for Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA); however, it appears that they are still in receipt of payments from another jurisdiction. The Designated Person has requested that they contact the relevant authorities to close these claims and therefore allow their SWA claim to be processed.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
606. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she has repaid the €15,000 overpayment she received during her term as Government Whip; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3225/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that once I was made aware of the overpayment of €17,551.25 referred to an arrangement was put in place to repay it at the rate of €1,000 per month, commencing on 5th October 2017.
607. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to extend access to additional social welfare payments for the self-employed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3227/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSelf-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), 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 was extended to the self-employed from 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 8.6% on weekly earnings up to and including €376 or at the rate of 10.85% where weekly earnings exceed €376. Accordingly the combined rate of PRSI rate paid in respect of class A employees is 12.6% or 14.85%, 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 18 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 over the next two years 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 were to be eligible to apply for invalidity pension from December 2017, the cost of this introduction has been factored into the actuarial review’s findings.
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.
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 SIF 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.
608. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined in which the person was refused disability allowance based on means but had the contributions to apply for an invalidity pension; if it will be taken into consideration that they have subsequently been awarded invalidity pension following the advice from this Deputy's office to apply for same; if arrears will issue in respect of invalidity pension in view of the fact that they had the contributions for same and satisfied the medical eligibility criteria for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3249/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraBackdating of the Invalidity Pension claim of the lady concerned has been considered and the claim has now been awarded from 06 July 2017, i.e. from the first Thursday following receipt of her Disability Allowance application. Arrears for the period 06 July 2017 to the 17 January 2018 (less any overlapping social welfare payment) will issue to her nominated bank account on 25 January 2018. She was notified of this decision on the 22 January 2018.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
609. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on the decision by the Citizens Information Board to cease funding the MABS national management forum with immediate effect; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3256/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra618. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason the MABS national management forum which was established in 2001 at the request of her Department is now being dismissed with the decision to withdraw its funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3488/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 609 and 618 together.
As the Deputies are aware, the Citizens Information Board (CIB) is a statutory body established by the Oireachtas. In addition to its own statutory responsibilities in relation to information and advocacy service provision, it has statutory responsibility for the countrywide networks of Citizens Information Services (CIS) and the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS).
In February 2017, the Board of CIB decided to change its governance arrangements from ninety three individual service delivery companies to an eight region model. The new model will comprise sixteen regional companies, with one CIS and one MABS company in each region.
MABS National Management Forum, (NMF), was established as a representative body for the 51 local MABS management companies. A small annual funding allocation was made by CIB to the NMF to cover expenses, such as travel and subsistence etc., incurred in its day to day activities. As the local management boards will no longer be in place following the establishment of 8 new regional boards, the NMF will have no function in the revised structure. CIB issued a letter to NMF on January 18th informing them of its decision to cease direct funding.
However, any expenses, such as travel and subsistence etc, incurred by the local MABS companies’ representatives on the NMF, pending the establishment to the new regional management structure, can be claimed from the relevant local company.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
610. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to compile, analyse and implement a cross-departmental action plan to address the evidence of the reports produced in relation to lone parent families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3275/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe recently published Indecon report found that the changes to the one-parent family payment scheme (OFP) made over the last number of years increased employment and reduced welfare dependency. It also found that the changes increased the probability of employment and higher employment income for lone parents. The report also concluded that assisting lone parents to enhance skills also needs to be seen as a key objective as low paid employment will not, on its own, ensure a reduction in the risk of poverty.
The report of the Joint Committee on Social Protection described the main challenges facing lone parents including child poverty, activation and education, childcare costs, maintenance payments and the changes to the OFP scheme.
Both of these reports have made, and will continue to make, a valuable contribution to the policy approach for supports for lone parents by my Department.
My Department continues to work closely with other Departments on this issue. This includes working with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs on childcare, with the Department of Education and Skills to follow up on the recommendations of the report on barriers to Third Level education for lone parents and plans to consult with the Department of Justice and Equality as part of the review currently underway in the area of maintenance.
Budgets 2015, 2016 and 2017 included a range of measures that benefited lone parents. I ensured improvements for lone parents in particular in Budget 2018 by introducing the following measures:
- Income disregard for lone parents on OFP and the jobseeker’s transitional payment (JST) to be increased from €110 a week to €130 a week with effect from 29th March 2018;
- The increase for a qualified child (IQC) rate to be increased from €29.80 a week to €31.80 a week with effect from 29th March 2018.
A number of other budgetary measures will also benefit lone parents, including the €5 primary rate increase, the additional week to the fuel allowance and the Christmas bonus of 85%, which was paid in early December.
These changes will see a lone parent on OFP or JST working 15 hours a week on the National Minimum Wage gain by almost €1000 per year in their overall income.
My Department’s social impact assessments of the last four Budgets show a cumulative increase of €36.75 in the average weekly household income of employed lone parents and €33.60 for unemployed lone parents. This compares favourably with a weekly increase of €34.45 for the average household.
I intend to continue to prioritise supports for lone parents, particularly those which incentivise work over welfare. I stated at the publication of the Indecon Report that I intend to provide for the further review of the OFP scheme. As there is a time lag before the benefits of labour market reforms appear, I anticipate that this review will include data to the end of 2018.
