Written Answers Nos. 1197-1219
1197. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 1830 of 16 January 2018, the reason funding from the schools meals programme has not been provided to a school (details supplied); and if she will ensure that this commences from September 2018. [24465/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,580 schools and organisations benefitting 250,000 children at a total cost of €54 million in 2018 representing an increase of €6.5 million over the previous year. The objective of the scheme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
The scheme provides funding for a breakfast for all children and lunch for up to 90% of children in DEIS schools for the entire school year from September to June. For the first time in many years, breakfasts are also now available to some schools outside DEIS. Schools are notified in writing of their allocation at the beginning of the academic year.
The school referred to by the Deputy, which is a DEIS school, is currently being funded for a breakfast for all children and a lunch for up to 90% of children based on the enrolment figure provided by the Department of Education and Skills.
Schools and organisations must reapply for funding in advance of each school year and are required to submit detailed records. These records include one complete month’s receipts for the previous funding year. The school should submit an application for September 2018 as soon as possible.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1198. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps that a tenant can take if a landlord refuses to sign supplementary rent forms, SWA RS1; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24722/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraRent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting approximately 30,000 recipients for which the Government has provided €180 million for in 2018.
Under the legislative provisions governing rent supplement the Department’s sole relationship is with the tenant; the tenant makes the application to the Department and the payment is made directly to the tenant for their accommodation needs. There is no contractual relationship between the landlord and the Department. The tenant’s engagement with the Department usually takes place after they have reached an agreement with their landlord regarding their tenancy arrangement. If a landlord refuses to complete the required section of the SWA RS1, which provides the basis for proving the existence of a tenancy, rent supplement cannot be awarded.
If a landlord is considered to be acting discriminatorily by a tenant/ prospective tenant, e.g. refusing to sign a SWA RS1 where a tenancy had been nominally agreed / or already in place, s/he does have recourse to remedy under the Equal Status Acts 2000–2015. Under this Act, a person cannot be discriminated against by a landlord on the basis that they are in receipt of rent supplement; the housing assistance payment scheme; or any other social welfare payment. For further information, including access to support services for tenants who feel they have been discriminated against due to their dependence on rent supplement for their housing needs, the Deputy is directed to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission - www.ihrec.ie.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1199. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if funding under the school meals local projects scheme for a school (details supplied) will be increased proportionally in view of its projected increase in enrolment for the next school term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24887/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,580 schools and organisations benefitting 250,000 children at a total cost of €54 million in 2018 representing an increase of €6.5 million over the previous year. The objective of the scheme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
Funding is based on a rate of payment per meal, per child, per day. Schools are notified on the application form that funding is limited to the previous year’s enrolment figure. However, if the school indicates they will be taking in additional pupils for the upcoming year, consideration can be given to increase funding above the 2017/2018 enrolment figure, subject to supporting documentation from the Department of Education and Skills (DES) confirming the projected enrolment for 2018/2019.
The school should submit an application for the coming academic year as soon as possible together with supporting documentation from DES confirming the projected enrolment for 2018/2019.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1200. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the supports provided by her Department for those in employment that have intellectual disabilities and may need additional supports to remain in the workplace; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24979/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1245. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the employability services used by those seeking employment can also be utilised by a person that is already in employment but due to their intellectual disabilities requires some additional supports to remain in that employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24978/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is proposed to take Questions Nos. 1200 and 1245 together.
My Department provides a range of work related supports for people with disabilities and their employers. Participation in such schemes are of course voluntary in nature.
These supports include both the DEASP’s Intreo service and also the EmployAbility service, which is a nationwide service that provides employment support for people with a health condition, injury, illness or disability and a recruitment advice service for the business community to support such jobseekers. The overall objective of the service is to increase the numbers of people with disabilities participating in employment in the open labour market by helping the client of the service obtain and maintain employment (by supporting them in the workplace for up to 18 months).
The services are primarily designed for people with disabilities who are currently not in employment but who would like to participate in the open labour market rather than persons who are already in employment.
My Department also provides a range of grants under the reasonable accommodation fund, which comprises employment supports to assist people with disabilities to access and retain employment. These include the employee retention grant scheme; and the workplace equipment adaptation grant. The Employee Retention Grant Scheme is open to all companies in the private sector. Funding is available to support the retention of any existing employee, at any level and occupation within the company, who acquires an illness, condition or impairment which impacts on his/her current ability to do his/her job. Further information and details of how to apply for workplace support grants are available on the Department’s website at
https://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Workplace-Supports-Contact-List.aspx.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1201. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if it is possible for a birth certificate to record two persons of the same sex or gender as the parents of a child produced using donor assisted human reproduction techniques in circumstances in which the gamete donation is from a third party; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25187/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current legislation governing registration of births provides only for the registration of a mother’s details and a father’s details. It is not possible, at present, to register the details of a birth using the term “parent”. This is provided for in section 99 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015, which is yet to be commenced.
In the meantime, births should continue to be registered under the current procedures and then re-registered (to have the second parent registered as “parent”) once the amending legislation has come into effect. The relevant provisions for re-registration are contained in section 95 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015, which amends civil registration legislation relating to registration of births, and which also is yet to be commenced.
A number of amendments to civil registration legislation, including those referred to above, remain to be commenced pending the roll-out of training to staff of the Civil Registration Service who are employees of the HSE. The General Register Office is in a position to begin provision of training as soon as the HSE notifies it of the dates and venues.
1202. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to increase direct provision payments for adults and children in line with the supplementary welfare allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25266/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1203. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full year cost of doubling the payments made to those that are resident in direct provision. [25706/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1202 and 1203 together.
Protection seekers are offered accommodation under the system of direct provision operated by the Reception & Integration Agency (RIA) of the Department of Justice and Equality. Those who accept direct provision are provided with accommodation, food and health services together with other facilities and services designed to ensure their needs are met while seeking the protection of the State. All costs for this are borne by the State.
The direct provision allowance (DPA) is a non-statutory payment paid by my Department on behalf of the Department of Justice and Equality to protection applicants living in the direct provision system. The weekly rate of DPA for children and adults is €21.60. The Government has provided over €5.6 million for the allowance in 2018.
There are approximately 3,700 adults and 1,600 children residing in the system of direct provision in respect of whom the direct provision allowance is being paid. The additional full-year cost, based on the current numbers, of doubling the weekly rate to €43.20 per week would cost some €5.95 million.
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 and who do not qualify for payment under other State schemes. It is payable at the rate of €196 per week, with increases for qualified adults and children paid at the rates of €131.40 and €31.80 respectively. As protection seekers are provided with accommodation, food and other services, which recipients of SWA do not receive, it would not be appropriate to increase the rate of DPA in line with SWA. The rate of DPA for adults was increased from €19.10 to €21.60 in August 2017 while the rate for children increased from €9.60 to €15.60 in January 2016 and to €21.60 in August 2017.
Any further increases to the rate of direct provision allowance would have to be approved by Government and considered in a budgetary context.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.
1204. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons that have used class S PRSI contributions to qualify for paternity benefit, invalidity benefit and treatment benefit since they were introduced. [24266/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is not possible to provide the information requested in respect of all of these schemes as this level of detail is not required to qualify for the benefits. Qualification is based on having the required number of contributions paid or credited and there is generally no requirement to record the specific PRSI class giving rise to qualification.
However, detail on the number of people that have used Class S PRSI contributions to qualify for paternity benefit, since it was introduced in September 2016 can be provided and is shown here
|
YEAR |
RECIPIENTS |
|
2018 (To 03/06/2018) |
779 |
|
2017 |
2,014 |
|
2016 |
404 |
The invalidity pension scheme was extended to the self-employed from 1 December 2017, with legislation enacted to include self-employed PRSI contributions in the reckonable category for this pension. As a result, invalidity pension claims can be awarded based on employed, self-employed or a combination of both contribution types and it is not necessary to keep a record of the contribution type used to qualify. Accordingly, the requested information is not available.
Similarly, it is not possible to identify treatment benefit claims from the self-employed without significant analysis and development work, as the Department does not record information in respect of claims paid under separate PRSI classes. However, the increase in claim numbers is a good indicator of the interest in these benefits from self-employed and employed contributors. Overall, 649,500 claims have been processed and paid in the eight months from November 2017 to May 2018, an increase of 388,900 claims on the same period a year ago.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1205. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will issue to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24279/18]
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 6 March 2018.
The application was awarded to the person concerned on 6 June 2018 and the first payment will issue to her nominated post office on 14 June 2018.
Arrears of allowance due from 7 June 2018 to 13 June 2018 will also issue.
The person concerned was notified on 6 June 2018 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1206. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a disability allowance payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24290/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that my department received an application for disability allowance (DA) from the above named person on 18 April 2018. No decision has been made on the entitlement of the person concerned to date.
If this lady wishes to have her DA application backdated she may do so in writing, clearly stating the grounds for not having made the application at the earlier date and the matter will be considered by a deciding officer.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1207. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if those aged over 62 years of age are required to engage in job activation schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24292/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs of 1 January 2014, jobseekers aged up to 61 must comply with mandatory activation measures when requested to do so. At age 62, jobseekers are not subject to mandatory activation measures, but may avail of employment supports voluntarily.
Jobseekers who are already engaged in activation prior to age 62 are expected to complete the process if they turn 62 while in activation.
1208. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the €10 million allocated to the free travel scheme as outlined in budget 2018; the amount of the €10 million allocation that has been spent; the way in which the funds have been spent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24316/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe free travel scheme permits free travel on most CIE public transport services, Luas and a range of services offered by some 80 private operators in various parts of the country for those eligible under the scheme. The free travel scheme is available to all people aged over 66 living permanently in the State. Applicants who are under age 66 must be in receipt of a qualifying payment in order to qualify for the scheme and permanently living in the State.
There are currently 914,073 customers in receipt of Free Travel.
In making the extra provision for free travel in Budget 2018, the Government was anxious to broaden the free travel scheme and make it more accessible to those in rural Ireland in particular. We wanted to see more private commercial operators joining the scheme for the first time, existing participants adding more routes and operators returning to the scheme where they had previously withdrawn.
Additionally, private operators are compensated directly by the Department, to a level which equates to approximately 70% of the estimated average fare charged by these operators to full fare paying passengers. In order to ensure that private commercial bus operators are being fairly compensated the Department requests relevant companies to conduct passenger surveys. Based on survey results the Department makes adjustments to payments to private operators to ensure adequate compensation is provided, and the additional Budgetary allocation facilitates that.
Finally, the additional Budgetary provision also allowed for the arrangements for Bus Éireann - Expressway to be brought into line with those of other commercial operators participating in the scheme. The discount applied on free travel payments to Bus Éireann- Expressway was reduced from 40% to 30%, putting Bus Éireann - Expressway on an equal footing with other commercial operators participating in the free travel scheme.
A total of €35 million was spent on the free travel scheme up to the end of May 2018.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1209. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the €1.7 million allocated to school meals for newly designated DEIS schools as outlined in budget 2018; the amount of the €1.7 million allocation that has been spent; the way in which the funds have been spent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24317/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,580 schools and organisations benefitting 250,000 children at a total cost of €54 million in 2018 representing an increase of €6.5 million over the previous year. €1.7 million will be allocated to provide supports under the school meals programme to additional schools from September 2018.
The Department was a member of the Inter-Departmental Advisory Group for the Review of the DEIS Programme undertaken by the Department of Education and Skills (DES), following which DEIS Plan 2017 was published in February 2017. The Plan sets out targets and actions aimed at improving the educational outcome for pupils at greatest risk of not reaching their full potential by virtue of their socio-economic circumstances.
Some 240 additional schools, including DEIS and non-DEIS schools, were identified to receive support under the school meals scheme from September 2017 in consultation with DES, which has developed a more robust and responsive framework for assessing individual schools levels of concentrated disadvantage as part of this process. Some 200 schools joined the scheme during the 2017/2018 academic year. This ensured that the scheme continued to target those children most in need of this support.
The Department is currently liaising with DES with a view to including additional schools in the school meals scheme from September 2018 and when details are available individual schools will be contacted and invited to participate in the scheme.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1210. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the €1 million allocated to youth employment support schemes as outlined in budget 2018; the amount of the €1 million allocation that has been spent; the way in which the funds have been spent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24318/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe new Youth Employment Support Scheme (YESS) was announced as part of Budget 2018.
The scheme will be targeted at young people aged 18 to 24 who are long-term unemployed or who face barriers to employment. It aims to provide them with the opportunity to learn basic work and social skills in a supportive environment while on a work placement. The scheme will provide a supportive structure, including case worker support for both Placement Hosts and jobseekers.
The scheme will complement and sit alongside other opportunities developed by the Department of Education and Skills, such as the new Career Traineeships and Apprenticeships, and will broaden the choice available to young people.
A budget of €1 million has been allocated to the YESS for the remainder of 2018.
I trust that this clarifies that matter for the Deputy.
1211. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the €1.2 million allocated to the rural social scheme as outlined in budget 2018; the amount of the €1.2 million allocation that has been spent; the number of new places on that have been opened up; the way in which the funds have been spent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24319/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraDeputies on all sides of the House are fully aware of the positive benefits derived from schemes like the Rural Social Scheme (RSS). In recognition of the crucial work undertaken in rural communities under the scheme, and as part of the social welfare budget package for 2018, I announced an increase in the weekly rate of payment for participants from March together with an additional 250 places. Taking into account the 500 additional places already allocated as part of the social welfare Budget 2017, this brings the total number of RSS places to 3,350, nearly 30% of an increase in the last two years.
In March 2018, the 250 additional places were allocated to the Implementing Bodies (IBs), who deliver the scheme on behalf of the Department taking a number of factors into consideration including the number of places already allocated, the demand for places in particular areas, work opportunities available within communities and the numbers of farmers and fishermen in receipt of income support. As of 8th June 2018, there were 2,981 places filled and my Department continue to work closely with the IBs to ensure all places are filled.
The 2018 budget provision for RSS is €51.04m which is an increase of €6.6m on the 2017 outturn on the scheme. Up to the end of May 2018, the total expenditure on the scheme has been €21.9m. Recent budgets have been forward looking, allocating limited resources in a prudent way, to make sure that everyone benefits from the recovery.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1212. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Cork is entitled to receive a domiciliary care allowance backdated to the date of their child's diagnosis. [24364/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from this person on the 19th September 2014. The application was not allowed as the child was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for the allowance. A letter issued on 11th February 2015 advising of the decision and the right of appeal, no appeal was received.
A further application for DCA was received on the 27th October 2016 and this application was approved and awarded from 1st November 2016. DCA is payable from the month following receipt of the application unless good cause is shown for the delay in applying. Where good cause is shown, it can be backdated by a maximum of six months. When assessing the application the deciding officer was not satisfied that the person concerned had indicated good reason for the delay in applying, as a result, the allowance was put into payment from November 2016, the month after the application was received in the Department.
If the person concerned wishes to make an application for backdating, she should do so in writing, stating clearly the reason why the latest application was not submitted earlier.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1213. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons that have availed of paternity benefit in each of the years since its introduction in tabular form; and the overall cost for each of these years. [24416/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested in respect of the number of people that have availed of paternity benefit since it was introduced on 1 September 2016 along with the overall cost for each of these years is set out in the following table:
|
PATERNITY BENEFIT |
Recipients |
Cost |
|
2018 (to week ended 27/05/18) |
9,468 |
€4,353,900.53 |
|
2017 |
26,559 |
€12,048,759.93 |
|
2016 |
5,013 |
€2,017,671.02 |
1214. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding an application for a carer’s payment by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; when a decision will be issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24440/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.
I confirm that my department received an application for CA from the person concerned on 30 April 2018.
The application is currently being examined by a deciding officer and once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1215. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to review the means assessment rules for capital sums held by applicants applying for the State pension (non-contributory) in view of the fact that applicants cannot derive a rate of return from capital sums equal to that of the deemed notional return for assessing capital under the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24535/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSocial welfare legislation provides that all income and capital belonging to the claimant and his or her spouse/partner (if applicable) is assessable for means-tested social assistance schemes, with the exception of certain disregards and exclusions provided for in the legislation. The purpose of the means test is to ensure that the State’s resources are directed to those with the most financial need.
The State Pension (non-contributory) means test includes a value attributed to any capital a person may have. Capital refers to savings, investments, shares, cash-on-hands and property (excluding their own home). The value of all of these items is added together and a formula applied to their total value to calculate a person’s weekly means.
Capital is assessed for most social assistance schemes, including the State Pension (non-contributory), using the following formula to establish weekly means:
- Disregard first €20,000 of capital value of property/savings
- Assess next €10,000 @ €1 per €1,000
- Assess next €10,000 @ €2 per €1,000
- Assess remaining capital over €40,000 @ €4 per €1,000.
It should be noted that where capital or property is assessed on this basis, any income received from its use (e.g. interest on savings, dividends from shares, rent from property) is not assessed as cash income.
This capital assessment formula is not intended to determine a potential rate of interest or income from the capital, but rather to ensure that claimants of means-tested social assistance payments, who have more than modest amounts of capital or savings, use at least some of these resources to provide for their financial needs.
Any changes to the current assessment arrangements would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
1216. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the annual cost of increasing jobseeker's allowance to €196 for all those under 26 years of age in receipt of the €107.70 and €152.80 rates. [24549/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1217. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated annual cost of increasing the jobseeker’s allowance to €152.80 per week for all those under 26 years of age in receipt of the €107.70 rate. [24550/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1218. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated annual cost of increasing the jobseeker’s allowance to €196 per week for all those under 26 years of age in receipt of the €152.80 rate. [24551/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1219. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the jobseeker's allowance rate for those under 26 years of age to the full payment rate of €196 will be restored; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24552/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1216 to 1219, inclusive, together.
The full year cost of increasing the weekly rate for jobseekers under the age of 26 from €107.70 and €152.80 to the maximum weekly rate of €198 would be €81.21 million in 2019. This includes the cost of increasing the qualified adult rate for those on the €107.70 rate to €131.40 per week.
The full year cost of increasing the jobseeker’s allowance payment for 25 year olds on the €152.80 weekly rate to the maximum weekly rate of €198 per week would be €6.34 million in 2019.
The full year cost of increasing the jobseeker’s allowance payment for 18-24 year olds on the €107.70 weekly rate to €152.80 per week would be €37.39 million in 2019. This includes the cost of increasing the qualified adult rate for those on the €107.70 rate to €131.40 per week.
It should be noted that these estimated costs are subject to change over the coming months in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2019.
Lower weekly rates for younger jobseeker’s allowance recipients were introduced to protect young people from welfare dependency by providing them with a strong financial incentive to engage in education or training or to take up employment. Where a young jobseeker participates on an education or training programme they will receive the higher weekly rate of €198 which is the maximum personal rate for jobseeker’s allowance.
The reduced rates of jobseeker’s allowance do not apply to 18 -25 year olds with a qualified child, those making a claim for jobseeker’s allowance where that claim is linked to a jobseeker’s allowance claim made within the previous 12 months to which the maximum personal rate applied, those transferring directly to jobseeker’s allowance from disability allowance, or young jobseekers on certain training programmes. The reduced rates also do not apply to 18-24 year olds who were in the care of the Child and Family Agency (TUSLA) during the period of 12 months before they reached the age of 18.
The appropriate rate of all weekly social welfare payments, including the rate for young jobseekers, will be considered by the Government in the context of budgetary deliberations.
