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Thursday, 5 Mar 2020

Written Answers Nos. 1120-1139

Social Welfare Eligibility

Ceisteanna (1120)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

1120. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the entitlements for persons between 66 and 67 years of age in view of the increase in the retirement age (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2614/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2011 provided for an increase in the age for qualification for the State pension from 66 years to 67 years from 2021. 

Social welfare legislation states that jobseekers payments may be made until a person reaches pensionable age and also provides that the definition of "pensionable age" will increase as State pension age increases. This means that a person over 65 years and in receipt of jobseekers benefit will generally continue to receive benefit (even if it was due to exhaust after 9 or 6 months dependant on the PRSI contributions paid) until they reach State pension age if they continue to satisfy the rules of the jobseeker’s benefit scheme. Similarly, people who retire on or after 1 January 2021 before reaching the State pension age of 67 who qualify for jobseeker’s benefit and have at least 156 PRSI contribution weeks paid may continue to receive a jobseekers payment until pension age.

There is no statutory retirement age in Ireland and the age at which employees retire is a matter for the contract of employment between them and their employer. While such a contract may have been entered into with a retirement age of 65 in the context of previous State pension arrangements, there is no legal impediment to the employer and employee agreeing to increase the duration of employment by one or more years if both parties agree.   

 Any changes to the above would require consideration in the overall policy and budgetary context, and would require Government approval.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Departmental Staff Data

Ceisteanna (1121)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

1121. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of staff employed at a location (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2637/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department is required to operate within a staff ceiling figure and a commensurate administrative staffing budget.

The staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continuously reviewed, taking account of workloads, management priorities and the ongoing need to respond to new demands across a wide range of services.  This is to ensure that the best use is made of available resources with a view to providing an efficient service to those who rely on the schemes operated by the Department.

At the end of January 2020 there were a total of 34 (32.43 FTE) staff employed in my Department’s office in Portlaoise.  The figure for full time equivalents (FTE) takes account of staff that avail of work-share options.

Carer's Allowance Applications

Ceisteanna (1122)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

1122. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2639/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Carer'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.

My department received an application for CA from the person concerned on 6 February 2019. 

It is a condition for receipt of CA that the person being cared for must have such 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 and is likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.

The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied in respect of the care recipient.

The person concerned was notified on 16 May 2019 of this decision, the reasons for it and of his right of review and appeal.

The person concerned requested a review of this decision and submitted additional evidence in support of his application.

The outcome of the review was that the decision still stood; review no change. The person concerned was notified of the outcome on 23 September 2019, the reason for it and of his right of appeal. 

My department was notified that the person concerned had appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) and a submission was prepared and forwarded to the SWAO on 24 October 2019.

As a result of an Appeals Officer’s decision, CA was awarded to the person concerned on 12 February 2020 with effect from 7 February 2019. The first payment issued to his nominated post office on 20 February 2020.

Arrears for the period 7 February 2019 to 19 February 2020 were issued by cheque on 12 February 2020.

The person concerned was notified of this on 12 February 2020.

A further review of this award took place on 27 February 2020 and full rate of CA was awarded from 23 May 2019.

The first full rate payment will issue to his nominated post office on 5 March 2020.

Arrears due from 23 May 2019 to 4 March 2020 will issue shortly.

The person concerned was notified of this on 27 February 2020.  

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Carer's Allowance Applications

Ceisteanna (1123)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

1123. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2641/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Carer'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 application for CA was received from the person concerned on 15 May 2019.

A person can be considered to be providing full-time care and attention where they are engaged in employment, self-employment or on training courses outside the home for a maximum of 15 hours per week up to 31 December 2019 and 18.5 hours from 1 January 2020, provided that they can show to the satisfaction of a deciding officer that adequate care has been provided for the care recipient in their absence.

The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer decided that this condition had not been satisfied.

The person concerned was notified on 16 September 2019 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.

The person concerned requested an appeal of this decision and provided further supporting documentation to confirm her hours of employment had reduced from week ending 29 September 2019. 

A review took place before the application was sent for appeal and the application was awarded to the person concerned on 3 December 2019 with effect from 26 September 2019. The first payment issued to her nominated bank account on 5 December 2019. 

Arrears due from 26 September 2019 to 11 December 2019 issued to the person concerned nominated bank account on 12 December 2019.   

The person concerned was notified on 3 December 2019 of this decision.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Disablement Benefit

Ceisteanna (1124)

Niall Collins

Ceist:

1124. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to ensure the cuts to the disablement pension made during the recession are reversed at the next possible opportunity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2646/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Disablement Benefit is one of the benefits payable under the Occupational Injuries scheme to an insured person who suffers a loss of physical or mental faculty as a result of an occupational accident or prescribed occupational disease.  It is medically assessed to determine the loss of faculty which can range from 1 to 100 per cent.  Injuries or diseases sustained since 1 January 2012 results in a payment where the level of disablement is at least 15%. Before then, payment could be made where the level of disablement went from 1% to 100%.  Disablement Benefit may be paid as a once off gratuity or in the form of a disablement pension.

The maximum rate of disablement pension (for 100% loss of faculty) increased over the years from its inception in 1967 to a height of €235.40 per week in 2009.  The rate was reduced to €219.00 per week for the years 2011 to 2016 inclusive.  However. it has been increased again in successive Social Welfare Acts in 2017, 2018 and 2019 and it is now €234 per week.

The Department regularly reviews its supports and payments schemes to ensure that they continue to meet their objectives.  Any change to the current arrangements for disablement pension would have to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.

Carer's Allowance Applications

Ceisteanna (1125)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

1125. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance application appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2651/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence including that adduced at the oral hearing, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned on 16 December 2019.

Under social welfare legislation the decision of an Appeals Officer is generally final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by the Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new facts.  I am advised that the person concerned subsequently submitted additional evidence and that the Appeals Officer agreed to review the appeal decision on foot of this additional evidence. Regrettably, the Appeals Officer did not find any new facts or fresh evidence which warranted a revision of their earlier decision.  The person concerned has been notified of the outcome of the Appeals Officer’s review of their decision.  

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

State Pension (Contributory) Appeals

Ceisteanna (1126)

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

1126. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the rate of pension a person (details supplied) is in receipt of; if her attention has been drawn to correspondence in relation to missing contributions from the person's record; if the inclusion of same will alter the pension rate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2664/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The person concerned applied for State pension (contributory) on 9 June 2016 and was awarded a pension at 90% of the maximum rate with effect from their 66th birthday.

Their pension entitlement was subsequently reviewed in February 2019 under a new total contributions approach to pension calculation which includes provision for homecaring periods. The person concerned indicated that they had not been a primary carer, and their pension entitlement remained unchanged.

Following correspondence received from the person concerned regarding their social insurance record from 1969 to 1972, the matter was referred to my Department's Central Records Section for a review of contributions for that period. Additional information was requested from the person concerned on 8 January 2020.  A reply to this correspondence was received in Central Records on 3 February 2020 and the matter has been referred to a Social Welfare Inspector for further investigation.

When the investigation is complete, the person's contribution record will be reviewed on foot of the Social Welfare Officer's report.  A review of their State pension (contributory) entitlement can then be carried out and the person concerned will be notified in writing of the outcome. 

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

State Pension (Non-Contributory)

Ceisteanna (1127)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

1127. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person in receipt of the disability allowance and who due to their age is transferred to the State pension (non-contributory), can have their weekly payment reduced (details supplied); the further reason persons with disabilities are financially disadvantaged on age grounds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2683/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Social welfare legislation provides that in determining the eligibility of an applicant for a social assistance scheme, all income, assets and property (apart from their main residence) that the applicant (and his or her spouse/civil-partner/cohabitant) holds, is assessable for the purposes of the applicable means test.  While some elements of the means testing arrangements are common to all schemes, there are other elements which vary from scheme to scheme.

The means tests for certain social assistance schemes, such as disability allowance and state pension non-contributory, allow for a certain amount of income and savings to be disregarded in the calculation of a person’s weekly means.  How means are assessed depends on the specific scheme conditions and applicable social welfare legislation.

Disability allowance is a scheme for people who are of working age (16 and upwards), who have a legal right to reside and are habitually residing in the State, and who have a disability that prevents them from taking up full-time employment.  The capital and income disregards in place for disability allowance are intended to encourage and incentivise those recipients who can and want to take up employment.  The income disregard aims to ensure that people with disabilities can participate in work while retaining a proportion of their social welfare payment, while the capital disregard ensures that they are not penalised for building up a reasonable amount of savings with the additional income gained from employment. 

State pension non-contributory is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, who have a legal right to reside and are habitually residing in the State, and who do not qualify for a state pension contributory, or only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension, based on their social insurance record. 

No disability criteria applies in the case of state pension non-contributory.  However, where a person in receipt of disability allowance immediately before their 66th birthday qualifies for state pension non-contributory, social welfare legislation provisions protect against any negative financial impact due to the differing means tests for the respective schemes.  In this way, a state pension non-contributory claimant can be paid at the same rate as their disability allowance payment entitlement applicable immediately before turning age 66.  

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Public Services Card

Ceisteanna (1128)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

1128. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the actions she has taken to comply with the Data Protection Commissioner regarding public services cards in view of the fact that the commissioner has lodged an enforcement notice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2701/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Department has filed an appeal against the Enforcement Notice within the timeframe provided to do so.  As the matter is now before the Courts, it would be inappropriate to make any further comment.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. 

Social Welfare Fraud Data

Ceisteanna (1129)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

1129. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 681 of 17 December 2019, if any of the 31 suspect cases that have been concluded with no issues with regard to identity have led to litigation and or legal proceedings in view of the fact no fraud was detected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2703/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Where my Department examines cases of suspected identify fraud and, following investigation, finds that there are no issues with regard to identity, no further action is taken. 

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. 

Disability Allowance Applications

Ceisteanna (1130)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

1130. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a disability payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2746/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Following the submission of further medical evidence by the person concerned, their case has been reviewed and they have been awarded disability allowance with effect from 21 August 2019.  The first payment will be made on 11 March 2020.

Arrears of payment due will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Carer's Support Grant

Ceisteanna (1131)

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

1131. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in Cork City has been denied a carer’s support grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2749/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Carer's Support Grant is an annual payment made to full-time carers.

The person concerned applied for a Grant in respect of her sister-in-law. The person concerned advised that she provided 2 hours care, on 5 days each week. I am advised that the person's claim was refused on the ground that this was not regarded as sufficient to meet the care requirement of the scheme. I am further advised that the person unsuccessfully appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. Written notification of the decision of the Appeals Officer was sent to her in May 2019.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy

Community Employment Schemes Operation

Ceisteanna (1132)

Jack Chambers

Ceist:

1132. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the career and job pathways for persons who complete community employment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2819/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The aim of the Community Employment (CE) programme is to enhance the employability of disadvantaged and unemployed people by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their communities.  The programme helps break the cycle of unemployment and improves a person’s chances of returning to the labour market.  Participation on CE is intended to be for a temporary fixed-term period. 

CE participants, as well as gaining valuable work experience can also, and are encouraged to, work towards a major educational and training awards to enhance their employability in the labour market.  If  a participant avails of such opportunities he or she can seek to extend their participation by up to two years to enable them to reach the required standard of qualification.  This can be a very worthwhile pathway to securing qualifications that will help secure full-time and sustainable employment.

Other pathways are also available to CE participants to help secure employment.  CE participants can avail of Training and Support Grants, which provides for quick access to short-term training or related interventions (for example, to obtain/renew certification/permits) for those who have identified work opportunities or where Intreo case officers have identified immediate skills gaps that could be an obstacle to taking up employment. 

CE participants who have finished employment on a CE scheme will be referred to the Department's Intreo employment support service which will provide them with career advice, assistance with CV and interview preparation and support and, advice in respect of starting a new business.   The Department can provide supports to such jobseekers, such as the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance, which provide a monetary incentive for people who are on social welfare payments to develop a business while allowing them to retain a reducing proportion of their qualifying social welfare payment over two years).

 The Department can also provide incentives to employers, such as through the JobsPlus scheme, which provide monthly payments to qualifying employers to offset wage costs where they employ jobseekers.  

Question No. 1133 answered with Question No. 1111.

Carer's Allowance Data

Ceisteanna (1134)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

1134. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the waiting times for the processing of the applications for carer's allowance and carer's benefit; the number of applications waiting by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2878/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Carer'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.

Carer's benefit (CARB) is a PRSI based payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care. 

My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers, ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible.

Processing times vary across schemes, depending on the different qualification criteria.  Schemes that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case of illness-related schemes, can take longer to process.  Similarly, means-tested payments also require more detailed investigation and interaction with the applicant, thereby lengthening the decision-making process.  Delays can also arise if information is required from social security organisations in other jurisdictions and where additional information has been requested from the applicant but remains outstanding. 

Claim processing is kept under active review. The target for the CA scheme is to process 70% of claims in 12 weeks. The average processing time for CA at the end of February was 10 weeks and 73% of claims were processed within 12 weeks. The average time taken to award a CARB claim in the same period was 9 weeks.

I have attached a breakdown of the number of applications in process by county in tabular form.

Table: Carers Allowance / Benefit claims awaiting decision 31 October 2019 vs 29 February 2020

-

Carers Allowance

Carer's Benefit

-

31 October 2019

29 February 2020

 

31 October 2019

29 February 2020

Carlow

67

41

Carlow

4

14

Cavan

100

49

Cavan

12

13

Clare

95

36

Clare

13

20

Cork

441

208

Cork

79

85

Donegal

202

102

Donegal

32

28

Dublin

986

471

Dublin

166

131

Galway

209

147

Galway

35

47

Kildare

163

86

Kildare

28

37

Kilkenny

75

35

Kilkenny

12

11

Kerry

147

86

Kerry

29

33

Laois

84

47

Laois

9

10

Leitrim

34

18

Leitrim

3

5

Limerick

219

112

Limerick

29

28

Longford

51

30

Longford

2

7

Louth

138

70

Louth

25

25

Mayo

137

65

Mayo

18

20

Meath

127

67

Meath

29

30

Monaghan

49

25

Monaghan

6

15

Offaly

111

51

Offaly

14

15

Roscommon

73

49

Roscommon

16

15

Sligo

65

28

Sligo

9

15

Tipperary

204

107

Tipperary

15

20

Unknown

91

0

Unknown

0

0

Waterford

115

73

Waterford

11

14

Westmeath

94

54

Westmeath

12

11

Wexford

154

101

Wexford

19

13

Wicklow

122

52

Wicklow

13

12

Outside the state

4

1

Outside the state

6

7

Total

4266

2211

Total

646

681

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. 

Carer's Allowance Applications

Ceisteanna (1135)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

1135. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2897/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Carer'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 application for CA was received from the person concerned on 2 October 2019.

A person can be considered to be providing full-time care and attention where they are engaged in employment, self-employment or on training courses outside the home for a maximum of 15 hours per week up to 31 December 2019 or 18.5 hours per week from 1 January 2020, provided that they can show to the satisfaction of a deciding officer that adequate care has been provided for the care recipient in their absence.

The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer decided that although a certain level of care was being provided the level involved did not amount to full-time care. 

The person concerned was notified on 8 January 2020 of this decision, the reason for it and of his right of review and appeal.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Working Family Payment Appeals

Ceisteanna (1136)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

1136. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an appeal lodged in July 2019 will be expedited for a person (details supplied); the status of the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2908/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Working Family Payment (WFP) is an income tested, in-work payment which provides additional financial support to employees on low earnings with children relative to family size.

The person concerned was awarded WFP on 15 July 2019.

They appealed the rate of WFP awarded and their appeal was submitted to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) for determination.

Following a successful appeal to the SWAO, the Department's decision of 15 July 2019 was revised accordingly. The revised Appeals Officer's decision was implemented on 08 January 2020.

The Department notified the person concerned of the revised decision on 08 January 2020. 

All arrears owing were issued to their selected financial account on 16 January 2020. 

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. 

The person concerned was notified of this decision on 08 January 2020.

Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times

Ceisteanna (1137)

Matt Carthy

Ceist:

1137. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average waiting period by county or district for oral hearings to be held and final decisions to be made in respect of appeals lodged with the Social Welfare Appeals Office, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2915/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. 

The Social Welfare Appeals Office does not maintain statistics on a county by county or district basis in relation to appeal processing and, therefore, it is not in a position to supply that specific information.

Significant efforts and resources have been devoted to reforming the appeal process in recent years.  As a result, appeal processing times in respect of all schemes improved between 2018 and 2019 from 30 weeks for an oral hearing in 2018 to 26.9 weeks in 2019.  There has been further improvement for January 2020 with an oral hearing decision taking 25.6 weeks.  The processing time is measured from the date the appeal is registered until the date the decision is issued and includes the time taken for the Department to respond to the statements made by the appellant in their appeal. 

Appeal processing times for the year 2019 and for January 2020 for all schemes are set out in the following link.

Appeal processing times for the year 2019 and for January 2020

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Pension Provisions

Ceisteanna (1138)

Darragh O'Brien

Ceist:

1138. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an independent review group will be established within her Department to assess the level and impact of cuts suffered by all categories of members in a pension scheme (details supplied) due to changes in legislation and in particular the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2014, and subsequent reductions in members' benefits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2942/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot intervene in, or comment on, the pension arrangements applying to a particular pension scheme as such arrangements are a matter for the pension scheme trustees, the companies participating in the scheme, the scheme members and the Pensions Authority.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

State Pensions

Ceisteanna (1139)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

1139. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to establish a stakeholder forum on the State pension age and reform of same in the coming months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2961/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department has committed to conducting research into pension ages across the EU and engaging with key stakeholders including the trade unions, in making recommendations and reporting on the appropriate State Pension Age to ensure adequate and sustainable pension provision, in compliance with Section 26 of the Social Welfare (No 2) Act of 2019.

The establishment of a stakeholder forum is a matter that would require consideration and approval from Government.  

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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