Written Answers Nos. 191-215
191. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to increase Tusla's partial funding to a charity (details supplied); if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the caseload of the organisation has almost trebled since 2012 while Tusla funding has decreased by 16% over the same period; if she will meet with the organisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52538/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTusla, the Child and Family Agency, administers funding through its Counselling Grants Scheme to voluntary organisations offering marriage/relationship counselling, child counselling, rainbows peer support and bereavement counselling and support.
It should be noted that the allocation of funding within the Counselling Grants Scheme is an operational matter for Tusla. I have no role in the allocation of funding to individual centres.
In 2018, Tusla allocated €6.155m in funding to organisations under its Counselling Grants Scheme. Tusla has advised me that it provides annual funding of €82,389 to the organisation to which the Deputy refers. The purpose of this funding is to provide information, support and counselling to bereaved parents.
Due to overall budget cuts, all community and voluntary organisations experienced funding reductions between 2012 and 2016. However, Tusla has maintained the same level of funding to this organisation since 2016.
Tusla no longer provides funding to this organisation to maintain the National Paediatric Register. In 2017, the Register transferred to Temple Street Children’s University Hospital.
Tusla is committed to working with service providers throughout the country to ensure services are available to vulnerable children and families. As part of its commissioning approach, Tusla continuously seeks to assign resources to areas of greatest need, ensuring the best possible outcomes.
I highly value the work of Tusla and its partner organisations in the provision of child and family services nationwide.
192. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of emergency and interim care orders that have been sought and implemented by Tusla; the county in which they were enforced; the ages of the children involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52629/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have requested information from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I will forward the reply to the Deputy once I have been furnished with this information.
193. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is satisfied the targets for the reduction of consistent child poverty are ambitious enough; the reason there is no explicit strategy to eliminate consistent child poverty within a set timeframe; the specific reason targets on reducing child poverty are unlikely to be met; the cohorts of children in poverty that have been least impacted by her strategy to date; and the way in which she is seeking to progress the target in relation to same. [52630/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have a strong personal commitment to reducing child poverty. This is a key political priority for me and the Government. The Taoiseach has described tackling child poverty as a moral imperative and this is an issue that needs to be addressed urgently. Under the Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures National Policy Framework for Children and Young People (2014-2020), my Department and other relevant Departments, are taking a whole-of-government approach to tackling child poverty.
The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection has the lead role in coordinating government strategies on child poverty. It also has lead responsibility for the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion and has identified child poverty as a key cross-sectoral priority to be addressed. My officials are working closely with that Department on this important issue.
In recognition of the higher risks and life-long consequences of child poverty, the Government set a child-specific poverty target in Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures to reduce consistent child poverty by at least two-thirds on 2011 levels by 2020.
When we set ourselves this target in 2014, it was a challenging ambition. It aimed to lift 70,000 children out of poverty by 2020. The baseline target against 2011 means that today we need to lift 102,000 children out of consistent poverty by 2020.
Consistent poverty means that these children are living in households with incomes below 60% of the national average income and experience deprivation according to official Government indicators. Consistent poverty involves a diverse cohort of children and it is an issue that we are determined to resolve.
We have made some modest progress. From a peak of 152,000 children in consistent poverty in 2014, we have seen a 9% decrease in 2015 of 13,680 children in consistent poverty. This downward trend continued with an 11.1% rate of consistent poverty in 2016, a further reduction of 6,320 or 4.5%, with a total of 132,000 children deemed to be in a consistent poverty. I understand that updated child poverty data (Survey on Income and Living Conditions data) for 2017 will be released by the Central Statistics Office next Monday, 17th December.
It is clear that the target to reduce child poverty by more than 100,000 children, or two thirds of the 2011 rate, is unlikely to be met. However, there is nothing inevitable about child poverty, and there is clear evidence about what works in terms of reducing child poverty rates. Ireland’s historical approach to tackling child poverty has focused on cash transfers, and this approach has resulted in Ireland consistently ranking as one of the top performing EU countries in the poverty reduction effect of social transfers.
The paper on the Whole-of-Government Approach to Tackling Child Poverty, which was published in October 2017, outlines six key priorities including;
- Providing universal access to GP care for under 18s
- Reducing the cost of education
- Housing
- Affordable childcare
- Labour activation
- Provision of in-work benefits.
These priority actions are being advanced by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the Department of Health, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and the Department of Education and Skills, through the Better Outcomes, Brighter Future implementation structures. While the targets are increasingly challenging, we will continue our work across government on these priority actions to try to ensure that those most impacted by child poverty experience real and positive progress.
194. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which her Department continues to support a group (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52672/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. The funding schemes support national and local youth work involving approximately 1,400 youth work staff working in youth services and communities throughout the country.
The overall budget for the youth sector in 2018 is €58.9 million in current expenditure, an increase of €7 million in the youth funding provided in 2016. The additional funding is being used for programmes that target disadvantaged young people and to assist national youth organisations in their work to support local voluntary youth services.
In 2018, an amount of €539,282 was allocated for the projects and services under Kildare Youth Services, which operates under Youth Work Ireland. My Department provides funding to Kildare Youth Services under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme in respect of six local youth projects in Athy, Naas, Leixlip, Newbridge, the Curragh and Kildare town and a Youth Information Centre in Naas.
195. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the ongoing efforts by her Department to counteract Internet bullying in respect of children and young adults outside of an educational environment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52673/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am conscious of the issue referred to by the Deputy. The internet is an increasingly valuable resource for everyone, including children and young people, but it also exposes people to new risks including cyberbullying.
A range of Government Departments and agencies have a role in relation to internet safety both inside and outside of educational environments. In recognition of the whole of government approach required, in July 2018, the Taoiseach launched the Action Plan for Online Safety 2018-19. The Action Plan involves a wide range of actions, across six Government Departments - Departments of Communications, Climate Action and Environment; Education and Skills; Justice and Equality; Children and Youth Affairs; Health and Business Enterprise and Innovation, recognising that online safety is not the responsibility of any one Department and signifying the range and breadth of the issues involved. A Sponsors Group, involving the six Departments and chaired by the Department of Education & Skills, has been established to drive implementation of the Action Plan.
Children First operates on the premise that it is the responsibility of everyone in society to keep children and young people safe from harm. This responsibility includes keeping children safe from harm online. As part of the Action Plan for Online Safety my Department has committed to amending the Children First Guidance to include a specific reference to the need to consider online safety in the completion of a Child Safeguarding Statement. An addendum to the guidance, clarifying the need to consider online safety in the preparation of risk assessments and Child Safeguarding Statements, is currently being finalised and will be published on my Department’s website in the new year.
In addition, the Child and Family Agency - Tusla has revised its template for the completion of Child Safeguarding Statements to refer to the need to consider online risks to children if a service provides access to the internet.
196. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which adequate accommodation exists to the placement of children that may be at risk; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52674/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra197. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children deemed at risk in various forms of residential accommodation including fosterage or institutional care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52675/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra198. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the degree to which ongoing monitoring of children in various forms of care continue to be monitored with a view to ensuring the highest standards of protection, safety and accommodation apply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52676/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra202. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which adequate places remain available for children at risk and in need of residential care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52680/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 196 to 198, inclusive, and 202 together.
Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has a statutory duty under the Child Care Act 1991 to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection, and if necessary, to receive a child into the care of the State.
The placement of children in care is governed by Regulations and National Standards. These provide for the welfare of the child, including their health, education, assessment of need, care planning, supervision of placement, contact with family, general care practices, care records, and safety precautions.
A range of accommodation is available to meet the needs of children at risk. Children and young people, depending on their identified needs, may be placed in foster care, either with relatives or general foster carers, in residential care, high support or special care or other placement types. The majority of children are placed in long term stable placements and currently over 92% of children are placed in foster care.
A key part of the social worker role is to ensure the quality and safety of the child's placement, and to meet with the child on a one to one basis on all visits. There are safeguards surrounding each child's care placement, whether foster or residential care and all placements are supervised by a professionally qualified social worker.
All foster care services and statutory residential centres are subject to inspection by the Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA). Private and voluntary residential centres are inspected by Tusla against National Standards. Inspection reports of children's residential centres, fostering services and child protection services are also reviewed and analysed by Department officials. The overview of these reports provides the Department with a level of assurance on the overall capacity of Tusla to identify and provide services to families and children who are at risk.
Foster care is the main form of alternative care for children in need of care and protection, and is the preferred option for children who cannot live with their parents or guardians. As of the 30 September 2018, of the children in care, 92% were in foster care nationally; there were 4,005 children in general foster care, 1,595 in relative care and 374 children were in a residential care placement, with the remaining children in other care placements appropriate to their assessed needs.
There are regular area recruitment campaigns to meet foster care demands. Fostering teams are responsible for the recruitment and assessment of foster carers. When an assessment is complete, a report is presented to the Foster Care Committee who decide whether or not to approve the applicant.
The recruitment and retention of an appropriate range of foster carers is part of Tusla's business plan. Tusla are particularly interested in recruiting foster carers with the skills required to look after children with complex needs, or from a range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
For children who cannot live either at home or in an alternative family environment such as foster care, there are a number of types of residential care settings that may be appropriate, of which secure care is one type.
A very small number of children (1.6%) are in other care placements. Such placements can include supported lodgings, at home under a care order, detention centre/prison, youth homeless facilities, other residential centres e.g. therapeutic, disability, residential assessment, designated mother and baby units.
It is a fact that sometimes children are detained for their safety in order to provide the care they need. It is used only where a young person's behaviour poses a real and substantial risk of harm to their life, health, safety, development or welfare.
New regulations were put in place earlier this year. These place special care on a full statutory footing for the first time. The legislation sets a clear time limited and short term period for the use of special care.
Staff working in special care are trained in a range of behaviour management techniques and in de-escalation. As far as possible, staff use the least restrictive practices they can to keep the children safe. However, situations can arise where there is a risk of significant harm to self or to others and, in line with policy, may need the assistance of the Gardaí.
199. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which her Department remains in a position to quickly respond to complaints of children at risk with particular reference to the time taken to intervene; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52677/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTusla, the Child and Family Agency, is the statutory body with responsibility for child protection in Ireland. If I, or my officials, become aware of a situation in which a child is at risk, that risk is communicated to Tusla as a matter of urgency.
If a child appears to be at risk of harm or neglect, concerns should be reported to Tusla. Anyone can report a concern about a child to Tusla, and information on how to do so is available on the Tusla website. If a child is at immediate risk or in danger, the Gardaí should be alerted without delay.
Tusla act immediately on notification of an immediate risk to a child. Children who are in a situation of immediate risk may initially be dealt with by An Garda Síochána or by Tusla, but in the main both agencies work together in such cases. Tusla, when alerted to a child at immediate risk, for instance a young child left alone at home or abandoned, will contact AGS if the child needs to be removed from that situation.
Gardaí have specific powers under Section 12 of the Child Care Act to remove a child from a situation of danger, and under Section 13, to deliver that child into the custody of Tusla. Tusla will at that point carry out an assessment to determine the child's needs. This may in some cases include applying for an Emergency Care Order. In all cases, a plan will be put in place to ensure that the child is safe from harm.
In relation to returning a child to accommodation from which they were removed, this may occur if the person who posed the risk is no longer there, or if a protective adult is in place.
200. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which adequate protection remains available to children exiting residential care facilities in the public or private sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52678/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra201. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children who have exited care facilities of various forms in the past three years; if adequate supports have been made available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52679/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 200 and 201 together.
I can advise the Deputy that the most recent figures on the number of young people exiting care is published in the Tusla Review of Adequacy, which covers the three-year period of 2014-2016. The table below refers:
|
Care Type |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
Returned home/with family |
1,140 |
959 |
677 |
|
Remained with foster carers |
115 |
267 |
330 |
|
Independent living |
22 |
42 |
47 |
|
Supported lodgings |
7 |
50 |
13 |
|
Other |
76 |
102 |
157 |
|
Total |
1,360 |
1,420 |
1,224 |
The figures above show that between 1200 and 1400 (approximately) children left care in each of the three years 2014 to 2017. Around 500 of these children left State care by virtue of reaching their majority. As illustrated above, 330 young adults remained with their former foster carers on leaving care. Ninety two percent of the total number of children in care are placed with foster carers while the majority of those in residential care are aged between 12 and 17 years.
Where a young person under 18 is remaining in care, and is moving from residential care to another type of care placement, Tusla take steps to ensure that this transition takes place in a planned way. The young person's Care Plan is reviewed and updated as necessary, and the young person's social worker works with service providers to ensure that the transition is as minimally disruptive as possible. The views of the young person are taken into consideration, in keeping with their age and level of understanding.
Young people turning 18 and leaving care have an aftercare plan prepared which outlines supports they may need. Aftercare workers engage with young adults leaving care to support them access these supports and to help them in their transitioning to adulthood.
Children who return home from a residential placement, either by way of a Care Plan outcome or as directed by the Courts, will have an allocated social worker to supervise their care and safety. In some instances a Supervision Order may be granted by the Courts to support this process.
Tusla provides equal supports to children in residential care, irrespective of the ownership or management of the residential centre in which they are placed.
203. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the degree to which support services and accommodation remains available for undocumented and refugee children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52681/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Child Care Act, 1991 applies to all children resident in the State irrespective of their immigration status. Under the Child Care Act, 1991 and the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, Tusla has a duty to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care or protection. The Agency is obliged to provide care for these children for as long as their welfare requires it.
When a child who is undocumented and living with his or her parent or guardian is taken into care, their needs are given priority. A social worker is assigned to the child and prepares a care plan, in consultation with the child. The plan should be dynamic and formally reviewed regularly. Intrinsic to this process is ensuring that the voice and best interest of the child are central. When outlined in the care plan, Tusla will assist the child with the process of establishing residency.
Unaccompanied asylum seeking children who seek the assistance of the State are placed in the statutory care of Tusla. Their needs are assessed by an allocated a social worker from a specialist team who work exclusively with unaccompanied minors. They receive appropriate educational, social, medical and counselling support.
Children who, with their parents, live in Direct Provision, are provided with welfare supports as required. Tusla have seconded an experienced social worker to the Department of Justice and Equality to liaise directly between Direct Provision and Tusla services.
204. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which she and bodies under the aegis of her Department maintain regular and adequate contact with the various youth groups throughout the country with particular reference to identifying their needs and taking on board their anticipated requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52684/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraYouth Officers of the 16 Education and Training Boards operating country wide provide an important support role to my Department in the co-ordination and administration of youth services at local level across the country. In order to keep my Department informed of their ongoing work, officials hold quarterly meetings attended by all Youth Officers from across the country. These meetings assist my Department in identifying service needs and emerging issues, particularly for vulnerable young people.
My Department also maintains close contact with the national youth organisations and my officials and I meet formally with these organisations twice a year to share knowledge and information on developments in the youth sector.
My Department works closely and meets regularly with the national and major regional youth organisations, including the National Youth Council of Ireland, which has a representative role for the voluntary youth services.
My Department also administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities.
In 2018, €58.9 m has been allocated in current funding to support the provision of youth services.
In addition, I was pleased to approve the establishment the Capital Funding Scheme in 2018. The primary focus of this scheme is to provide small to medium capital grants to qualifying youth projects which are in receipt of funding from this Department. Some €2m has been made available nationally.
205. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which she envisages improved counselling services for children at risk and their families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52685/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency is required to support and promote the development, welfare and protection of children. Tusla provides funding to voluntary organisations offering a range of counselling, psychotherapy and support services to children and families including:
- Marriage and relationship counselling,
- Child counselling,
- Rainbows Peer Support Programme for children,
- Bereavement counselling and support on the death of a family member.
In 2018, Tusla is providing funding of approximately €6.155m to support organisations providing counselling services, the majority of which are voluntary. The funding provided by Tusla focuses on the development of support services in the community for families to enhance stability in family life and to assist children and families and their members in dealing with difficult periods in their lives.
Tusla's priority is to ensure that counselling services provide support and promote the development, welfare and protection of children and the effective functioning of families. Tusla has committed to formulating an overall plan for Tusla therapeutic services. In its examination of available services, Tusla is considering how best to deliver community-based therapeutic and counselling services.
In 2018, all counselling services funded by Tusla signed a new service level agreement which introduced comprehensive governance standards and included a provision to ensure accessibility of these services to all family types.
Mental health policy is under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Health, and Tusla works closely with other care providers including the Health Service Executive (HSE), in respect of access to child and adolescent mental health services.
Tusla will continue to work closely with service providers to support children and young people at risk and the effective functioning of families.
206. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason County Meath has the lowest level of youth funding. [52812/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware my Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities and the total youth funding provided by my Department was €58.9m in 2018.
Budget 2019 provided an additional €1.5m in current funding to my Department to support the provision of youth services. This additional funding will be used for programmes that target disadvantaged young people. My Department has commenced a process with national organisations and local services to identify service development needs for 2019 and to finalise the 2019 allocations. Every effort will be made to complete this process as soon as possible.
In 2018, an amount of €143,026 was allocated for the targeted youth projects and services in County Meath, as follows:
|
Projects - Meath |
2018 Grant |
|
Youth Work Ireland |
€95,242 |
|
Involve - Meath Youth Traveller Project (Navan) |
€47,784 |
|
Total |
€145,026 |
The Local Youth Club Grant Scheme supports youth work activities at a local level. In 2018, I provided an additional 13% in funding for this scheme, bringing the total allocation to €1.79m with an allocation of €111,464 to Louth Meath Education and Training Board.
In addition, in 2017 the Local Youth Club Equipment Scheme provided €6.35m funding nationally which included an allocation of over €431,000 to Louth Meath ETB. The primary focus of this scheme was to assist volunteer led clubs and groups that work with young people in communities throughout the country.
Youth Officers of the Education and Training Boards have an important support role to my Department, in the administration and coordination of youth services at local level. In 2017 I provided additional funding to Louth and Meath Education and Training Board to recruit a second youth officer during 2017.
Funding to these staff-led youth services has generally been targeted at areas of disadvantage and not in proportion to the youth population of each county. My Department completed an exercise with Pobal and each Education and Training Board which mapped youth service provision across the State.
Future development and investment in youth services will be informed by this mapping exercise in conjunction with area profiling and needs analysis surveys carried out by Education and Training Boards (ETB) which will develop a detailed social demographic profile in terms of both population numbers and deprivation levels. My Department is committed to working with Louth and Meath Education and Training Board to identify need and explore ways to address this need where it emerges.
207. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on concerns raised by a person (details supplied) on the prescribed process regarding the registration of a newborn; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52549/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 22 of the Civil Registration Act 2004 provides for registration of births where the parents are not married to each other. Specifically, section 22(3) sets out how a person other than a husband may be registered as father of the child.
In this particular case section 23(3)(a) applies, as there is no decree of divorce, deed of nullity, or deed of separation. Under these provisions the husband must sign a statutory declaration rebutting paternity in order for the mother to avail of this provision.
Alternatively, it is open to the individual concerned to apply for a Court Order under Section 45 of the Status of Children Act 1987 naming the person other than the husband as the father of the child. Upon receipt of this court order, the birth will be registered with the named person as the father of the child in accordance with section 22(2)(d).
The individual concerned also raised questions in relation to the appropriateness of the current legislation. In this context I can inform the Deputy of the following, although it would not have any application in this case as the provisions are not retrospective:
Section 6 of the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014 amends Section 22 to make it possible, in certain circumstances, for a person other than the mother’s husband to be registered as the father of the child without any of the decrees, deeds or court order mentioned above. These provisions, however, remain to be commenced pending agreement from HSE to the roll-out of training to staff of the Civil Registration Service, who are employees of the HSE.
The General Register Office (GRO) is in a position to provide this training as soon as the HSE notifies it of the dates and venues. Work has been ongoing to progress this matter and as a result an advance party attended a session over the summer. It is not possible, at present, to indicate a date for the full roll out of training but it is hoped that this can be commenced shortly.
Officials from my Department, the GRO, the Department of Health, and the HSE are maintaining their best efforts to ensure that commencement of this legislation can be brought about as soon as possible.
I will arrange for officials from my Department to contact the Deputy to follow up in relation to the circumstances outlined in this matter.
208. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in County Kerry in receipt of rent allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52486/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the end of October there were 25,654 recipients of Rent Supplement nationally, of whom 825 were resident in Kerry.
At the same time, there were 71 recipients of a Rent Allowance payment nationally. This is an allowance payable to tenants of certain dwellings affected by the de-control of rents on 26 July 1982. I regret that a breakdown of this figure by county is not available.
209. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the processing times for all applications under the remit of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52489/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy (where available) is detailed in the attached tabular statement.
Average time to award claims at the end of October 2018.
|
Scheme |
Average Weeks to Award |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
7 |
|
Widow(er)'s Contributory Pension |
2 |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
11 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
2 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
1 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
4 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance Basic |
1 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
6 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
6 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
17 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
16 |
|
Disability Allowance |
11 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
6 |
|
Illness Benefit |
N/avail* |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
N/avail* |
|
Child Benefit |
3 |
|
Working Family Payment |
6 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
10 |
|
Household Benefits |
1 |
|
Free Travel |
2 |
|
Treatment Benefit |
N/avail* |
* Department will revert directly to the Deputy once this information has been compiled.
210. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a decision has been made on a review of a carer's allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52512/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is a condition for receipt of Carer's Benefit (CARB) that the person being cared for must have such a disability that they require full-time care and attention.
This is defined as requiring from another person continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continual supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself.
The application for CARB was disallowed on the grounds that the evidence submitted did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied.
The person concerned requested a review of this decision and submitted additional evidence to support her claim which has now been accepted by the Department.
However, the person concerned is currently in receipt of Illness Benefit and this cannot be paid concurrently with CARB.
She was notified on 5 December 2018 that she will have to choose between the two payments. If she opts for CARB, she will have to submit a final certificate to the Illness Benefit section.
Once the person concerned notifies the Department of her choice, a decision made and she will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
211. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position on illness benefit certificates; if the majority of general practitioners are using the new forms; if general practitioners that used old forms and photocopies have received payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52514/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIllness Benefit certificates continue to be processed as normal and payments made to eligible people. Following on from consultation with GPs it is expected that any agreement between the GPs and the Department will cover all certification. The Deputy can be assured that the Department will continue to support and engage with GPs during the period of transition and operation of the new system.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
212. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) did not receive a Christmas bonus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52523/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Christmas bonus for this customer has been processed and will be included in the payment that will be in the post office on the 18 December 2018.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
213. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of correspondence (details supplied) sent to her on carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52535/18]
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 child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
An increased payment can be made where full-time care is being provided to two people.
The legislation for CA states that a person shall be regarded as requiring full time care and attention where the person has such a disability that s/he requires -
- (a) continual supervision and frequent assistance in connection with normal bodily functions, or
- (b) continual supervision in order to avoid danger to himself/herself.
and is likely to require such full-time care and attention for at least 12 consecutive months.
The exact amount of hours or days for which care must be provided is not defined in legislation.
However, one of the tests to decide if full-time care and attention is being provided is whether the care given addresses the above issues.
The Department takes the view that full-time care and attention does not necessarily mean 24 hours in each day. Full-time care and attention can be considered to apply where there is an on-going and daily commitment by the carer and which also generally results in the carer not being able to support him/herself through normal full-time employment.
The care provided must be, in nature, more personal care than housekeeping assistance and must match the level of care required by the care recipient.
The time spent giving care each week could also be regarded as being, at the very minimum, equivalent to the time that would be spent at a full-time job.
Generally, this is considered to be at least 35 hours per week.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
214. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the decision to refuse a carer's support grant in the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52561/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Carer's Support Grant is an annual payment made to carers who look after certain people in need of full-time care and attention.
This application was refused, on 5th December 2018, on the grounds that the Deciding Officer was not satisfied that the person being cared for required this level of care. The customer was advised that the decision would be reviewed on receipt of any additional medical evidence. However, no such evidence has been received to date.
The customer was also advised of her right of appeal against this decision. An appeal must be received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office within 21 days of the date of decision.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
215. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will issue on a carer's benefit application by a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52568/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's benefit (CARB) is a PRSI based payment, made to a person who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
Before a decision can be made on entitlement to CARB, evidence must be provided in respect of the care recipient’s care requirement, the level of care the carer provides, the carer’s hours of employment and their PRSI record.
An application for CARB was received from the person concerned on 19 September 2018.
Additional information in relation to the person’s application was requested by a deciding officer on 11 December 2018.
Once the information is received the application will be processed without delay and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
