Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 April 2018
565. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the supports, monetary or otherwise, made available by her Department to orphans or those who are caring for orphans; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17539/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra566. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she or her predecessor met with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and-or the Minister for Health to discuss the way in which orphans and those caring for orphans could be better supported; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17540/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra567. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department has conducted a review since March 2011 of the way in which it could better support orphans and those caring for orphans; if not, her plans for such a review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17541/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 565 to 567, inclusive, together.
One of the many roles of my Department is to provide income support to families with children in the State. Where a child is being cared for by someone other than their parents, the person looking after the child may apply for a guardian’s payment. The purpose of the guardian’s payment scheme is to provide income support in respect of those children whose parents are unable to provide for them, through death or other circumstance.
Currently, there are around 1,600 people receiving guardian’s payments in respect of approximately 2,300 children. Expenditure on guardian’s payments schemes (contributory and non-contributory) was €19.7 million in 2017. A budget increase of €5 per week per orphan, implemented from March 2018, brings the weekly rate to €181 per orphan; the highest rate of weekly child income support paid by my Department.
My Department has a number of payments available to assist families with children, including –
- Child Benefit, a universal payment made in respect of children aged under 18, payable monthly at the rate of €140 per child;
- Family Income Supplement, a means-tested payment income support for families where one or more adult is working. (Importantly, when establishing family means for the purpose of family income supplement, any payments received in respect of guardian’s payment or child benefit are disregarded);
- Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, an annual payment to eligible families to assist with the extra costs when children start school each autumn. The allowance is paid at the rate of €125 for children aged 4 to 11 and €250 for children aged 12 or over attending secondary school. Any payments received in respect of guardian’s payment or child benefit are disregarded in determining household income for eligibility purposes; and
- Supplementary Welfare Allowance which includes payments to help meet essential, once-off, exceptional expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income.
While the aim of Guardian’s Payments is to meet income support needs, it is acknowledged that the supports required by some orphans and guardians may extend beyond that of income support and additional family support services may be required. Under the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People, “National Policy Framework for Children and Young People, 2014-2020 – Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures”, responsibility for supporting and promoting the development, welfare and protection of children and the provision of family support services lies with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.
The Guardian’s Payments scheme was last reviewed in 2011 and there are no plans to conduct a further review at this time. Although neither my predecessor nor I have formally met with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs or the Minister for Health on the matter to date, the feasibility of extending further (non-financial) supports to those in receipt of Guardian’s payment is under consideration by officials of my Department and the Department of Children & Youth Affairs.
I hope this clarifies these matters for the Deputy.
