Written Answers Nos. 849-873
850. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of inspections that have been carried out in airports and ports here to enforce a ban on holiday travel abroad during the Covid-19 crisis; and the number of persons that have had their social welfare payments cut as a result up to 27 July 2020. [20093/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince June 2012, the Department's social welfare inspectors have been undertaking control checks at airports and ports. Section 250 (16) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended, provides the legal basis for these checks.
While the number of checks has increased significantly in recent months, since the introduction of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), this reflects the very different control environment that my Department has been operating in, with large numbers of people leaving the country from mid-March due to lock-down measures imposed from the Covid pandemic.
As I announced in the Dáil yesterday, I have directed my Department to review all cases to date where people went on holidays and had their payment stopped. Last evening, my officials completed the review of the 2,500 PUP cases where the payment was stopped for travelling abroad. This review has identified some 85 cases that have the potential to be entitled to PUP for a holiday period. My Department will be contacting the 85 individuals in the coming days to verify these cases.
I hope that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
851. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the arrangements involving the transfer of passenger data between airports and ports and her Department; the legislative basis of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20128/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not have data sharing arrangements with any airports or ports. It does not have access to travel data and nor does it have access to travel locator forms.
853. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the arrangements in place to confirm persons in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment and temporary wage subsidy scheme continue to reside in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20216/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has a number of measures in place to ensure that recipients of payments continue to reside in the State. These include compliance checks conducted by social welfare inspectors at ports and airports, as well as communications with customers, either written, electronic or face-to-face, to confirm that the customer remains resident in the State and continues to meet all other eligibility criteria for their payment.
As I announced in the Dáil yesterday, I have directed my Department to review all PUP cases to date where people went on holidays and had their payment stopped. Last evening, my officials completed the review of the 2,500 PUP cases where the payment was stopped for travelling abroad. This review has identified some 85 cases that have the potential to be entitled to PUP for a holiday period. My Department will be contacting these individuals over the coming days to verify their cases.
As the operation of the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme is not under my remit, I would direct the Deputy to my colleague, the Minister for Finance, in the relation to that scheme.
I hope that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
854. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on whether the decision to exclude workers that live in the Northern Ireland and work here where they pay their taxes was not an EU regulation as previously stated by her predecessor; her further views on whether the pandemic unemployment payment can be extended to such workers; if the payment will be extended; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20223/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe COVID 19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is an income support payment for employees and self-employed resident in the State and who are unemployed due to a downturn in economic activity related to COVID 19. Where a person is resident in Northern Ireland and working in Ireland and becomes fully unemployed due to the effects of the pandemic they are not entitled to the COVID19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment. They need to apply for income supports that may be available to them in Northern Ireland.
This is consistent with the rules for Jobseekers Benefit regarding the competent State whereby the Member State of residence is competent for the payment of Unemployment Benefits in the case of wholly unemployed frontier workers. Under the current EU rules, as set out in Article 65 of Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the coordination of social security systems, the Member State of residence is competent for the payment of Unemployment Benefits in the case of wholly unemployed frontier workers.
This issue was also raised with me during the Seanad debate on the Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020 on foot of which I have asked my department to consider the points raised in that debate.
I trust that this clarifies the position for you.
855. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons that have participated on the youth employment support scheme since it was established; the number of host organisations that signed up to provide the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20224/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra856. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount drawn down under the Irish Youth Guarantee as part of the youth employment support scheme. [20225/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 855 and 856 together.
The Youth Employment Support Scheme (YESS) was introduced on 1st October 2018 and has been open to applications since that date.
YESS is targeted at young jobseekers aged between 18 and 24 who are long-term unemployed or who face barriers to employment. The scheme aims to provide jobseekers 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 for participants, including case worker support for both placement hosts and jobseekers.
Since the scheme's inception, a total of 820 people have commenced a placement, while there are currently 120 participants on the YESS. To date, a total of 705 employers have provided YESS placements.
The type of work experience undertaken by participants involves roles across a number of different sectors including - community and voluntary, hospitality and food, ICT and telecoms, manufacturing, retail, sales and marketing, science and healthcare and construction.
The total expenditure on the YESS from 2018 to date is €3,095,371
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
857. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons aged 18 to 24 years of age in receipt of the reduced rate of jobseeker’s payment; the number of persons aged 18 to 24 years of age that live independently and therefore receive the maximum rate; the number of persons in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment; and the number of 65 year olds that receive jobseeker’s allowance and jobseeker’s benefit. [20226/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraA reduced rate generally applies for younger jobseeker’s allowance recipients aged 18-24 for the purpose of providing a strong financial incentive to participate in education or training to improve their chances of obtaining sustainable full time employment. Currently the weekly personal rate for jobseeker’s allowance recipients aged 18-24 years is €112.70.
Reduced rates do not apply to all young people under 25, such as those with a qualified child and those who were in the care of the Child and Family Agency, or TUSLA, during the 12 months before they reached 18. Reduced rates do not apply to young jobseekers who are living independently and are in receipt of State housing supports. Further, if a young jobseeker participates in education or training they will receive the maximum personal rate which is €203 per week.
For this reason I am advised that it is not possible to identify current recipients receiving the personal rate of €203 per week solely due to living independently and receipt of a housing support. Breakdowns of the number of young jobseekers at the end of June 2020 are provided in Table 1.
Table 2 provides details on total recipient numbers and on those aged over 65 in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance and Jobseeker's Benefit at the end of June 2020.
Tabular statements attached
Table 1: Recipients of Jobseeker’s Allowance and Jobseeker’s Benefit aged 18 to 24 years at the end of June 2020
|
No. |
|
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance Full Rate recipients aged 18 to 24 |
2,247 |
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance Reduced Rate recipients aged 18 to 24 |
15,429 |
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance total recipients aged 18 to 24 |
17,676 |
|
Jobseeker’s Benefit Full Rate recipients aged 18 to 24 |
2,058 |
|
Jobseeker’s Benefit Reduced Rate recipients aged 18 to 24 |
1,909 |
|
Jobseeker’s Benefit total recipients aged 18 to 24 |
3,967 |
Table 2: Total number of Jobseeker’s in receipt of a payment and those aged over 65.
|
No. |
|
|
Total number of Jobseeker’s Allowance recipients |
139,317 |
|
Total number of Jobseeker’s Benefit recipients |
38,356 |
|
Total |
177,673 |
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance recipients aged over 65 |
2,209 |
|
Jobseeker’s Benefit recipients aged over 65 |
2,290 |
|
Total |
4,499 |
858. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a company (details supplied) which is using the temporary wage subsidy scheme has placed employees on a J9 category of PRSI which is not a reckonable contribution to the State pension (contributory) in view of the fact the Revenue Commissioners state that it is intended that employees whose employer is on the temporary wage subsidy scheme will be allocated social insurance contributions appropriate to their normal employment status for the duration of the scheme which is the purpose of the Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020; the steps she will take to ensure that employees do not unknowingly lose out on PRSI contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20227/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government introduced a number of measures to assist employers whose businesses were significantly disrupted by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. One of the main measures was the temporary wage subsidy scheme operated by the Revenue Commissioners.
The legislation underpinning the temporary wage subsidy scheme requires employers, for the purposes of their PAYE obligations, to record a J9 PRSI class for each employee in respect of whom a subsidy is being claimed. The subsidy paid in respect of specified employees to qualifying employers under the temporary wage subsidy scheme is not subject to any contribution charge. Employers are required to pay a nominal contribution charge on any wages paid to their employees in addition to the wage subsidy. This contribution covers employees for occupational injuries benefits only and not to a range of other social insurance benefits.
In the exceptional circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is the intention of the Government to ensure that former employees entitled to receive the pandemic unemployment payment or employees in respect of whom a temporary wage subsidy is claimed by their employers, do not have their social insurance contribution records interrupted or otherwise adversely affected.
To this end, I am bringing legislation to the Houses of the Oireachtas this week by means of the Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020. This Bill contains provisions for the attribution of contributions for a specified number of weeks to people whose salaries were supported by the temporary wage subsidy scheme as well as people entitled to the pandemic unemployment payment. These attributed contributions will have the same value, as far as accessing the range of social insurance benefits is concerned, as the contribution last paid by the people concerned before becoming a participant on the subsidy scheme or being laid off work due to the pandemic.
These legislative provisions are important to protect the future benefit entitlements of the insured persons concerned, to both long-term benefits such as contributory State pensions and short term benefits such as maternity benefit.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
859. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the length of time a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment in order to apply for the back to work enterprise allowance as a way to assist persons setting up a new business post-Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20228/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe back to work enterprise allowance (BTWEA) is designed to provide a monetary incentive for people in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment to develop a business while allowing them to retain a reducing proportion of their payment over two years; 100% in year 1 and 75% in year 2.
Since January 2017, jobseekers taking up self-employment are able to access the BTWEA after 9 months, down from 12 months previously. The short term enterprise allowance is immediately available to someone in receipt of a jobseekers benefit payment and remains in payment for the remaining duration of their jobseekers benefit entitlement. The July Stimulus package provided additional provision to support jobseekers establish self-employment opportunities under this scheme and the details are currently being worked through by my officials.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy at this time.
860. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider relaxing the length of time a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment in order to apply for the back to education allowance as a means of assisting persons that want to return to education post-Covid-19 return to employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20229/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe back to education allowance (BTEA) provides income support for jobseekers and others in receipt of certain social welfare payments that pursue courses of education at second or third level. The main focus of the BTEA is to assist qualifying applicants to improve their educational qualifications and improve their prospects of gaining employment.
During the course of the roadmap to recovery, we are seeing many people in receipt of the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment returning to employment. This is expected to continue up to the commencement of the 2020/21 academic year.
As part of the July stimulus package, the Government announced an extension of the BTEA supports to recipients of pandemic unemployment payment to take up education. The details are currently being worked through by officials in my Department.
I trust this clarifies the matter at this time.
862. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost of carer’s allowance and carer’s benefit in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020 respectively, in tabular form; the additional funding needed to increase the rate for both carer’s allowance and carer’s benefit from €219 to €255; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20316/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe cost of Carer's Allowance and Carer's Benefit in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020 is as follows;
Carer’s Allowance:
|
2018 Outturn |
2019 Provisional Outturn |
2020 REV |
2020 to end June |
|
€795.4 million |
€862.4 million |
€919.0 million |
€447.1 million |
Carer’s Benefit:
|
2018 Outturn |
2019 Provisional Outturn |
2020 REV |
2020 to end June |
|
€38.6 million |
€43.3 million |
€43.2 million |
€23.4 million |
The full year cost of increasing the rate of Carer's Allowance from €219 to €255 is €124.1 million. The full year cost of increasing the rate of Carer's Benefit from €220 to €255 is €5.2 million.
The costs shown above are on a full year basis and are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2020. It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends.
It should also be noted that these costings include proportionate increases for qualified adults and include Social Welfare Allowance payments, where relevant.
863. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost to her Department of removing the means test from carer’s benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20317/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government acknowledges the important role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for Government and the National Carers’ Strategy.
The main income supports to carers provided by my Department are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. The projected expenditure on Carer’s Allowance in 2020 is approximately €919 million. Combined spending on all these payments to carers in 2020 is expected to exceed €1.3 billion.
Carer’s Benefit is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce to care for someone in need of full-time care and attention. Carer’s Benefit is an entitlement based on social insurance contributions and is not means tested.
Carer's Allowance is a means-tested payment for carers who look after certain people in need of full-time care and attention on a full-time basis. The means test for Carer's Allowance is one of the most generous in the social welfare system, most notably with regard to spouse’s earnings. The amount of weekly earnings disregarded is €332.50 per week for a single person and €665 per week for a couple. A couple with two children can earn in the region of €37,500 and qualify for the maximum rate of Carer's Allowance and given the tapered withdrawal approach, retain a payment of just under half-rate while earning €49,750. A half-rate carer's allowance is also payable with other welfare payments e.g. pensions and disability payments.
The conditions attached to payments of Carer’s Allowance are consistent with the overall conditions that apply to social assistance payments generally. This system of social assistance supports provides payments based on an income need with the means test playing the critical role in determining whether or not an income need arises as a consequence of a particular contingency – be that illness, disability, unemployment or caring.
The continued application of the means test not only ensures that the recipient has a verifiable income need but that resources are targeted to those with greatest need. Abolition of the means test for Carer’s Allowance would give rise to a very significant annual cost. Based on the number of carers identified in Census 2016, it is estimated that a universal carer’s payment could cost in the order of an additional €1.2 billion per annum.
I will continue to keep the range of supports provided by this Department under review and consultations with carer’s representative groups will continue to ensure that the overall objectives of the carer income support schemes provided are met. However, any changes to the current carer income supports provided by this Department would have implications for overall spending and would need to be addressed in an overall budgetary context.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
864. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will remove the rule which restricts persons receiving either carer’s allowance or carers benefit from working or studying outside the home for more than fifteen hours per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20318/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government acknowledges the crucial role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for Government and in the National Carers’ Strategy.
The main income supports to carers provided by my Department are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. The projected expenditure on Carer’s Allowance in 2020 is approximately €919 million. Combined spending on all these payments to carers in 2020 is expected to exceed €1.3 billion.
A primary qualifying condition for the Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit payments is that the applicant provides full-time care and attention to a person in need of such care. However, in order to support a carer’s continued attachment to the workforce and broader social inclusion, carers may engage in some limited employment, education or training, while still being regarded as being in a position to provide full-time care. During this time of employment, education or training, adequate provision must be made for the care of the relevant person.
As part of Budget 2020, the number of hours per week that carers could engage in employment, education or training outside the home was increased from 15 to 18.5 hours per week. This measure was prioritised in response to carers and carer representative groups who found the previous number of 15 hours to be too restrictive, not only for work but for education and training purposes.
I consider the limit of 18.5 hours to represent a reasonable balance between meeting the care recipient's requirement for full-time care and the carer's need to maintain contact with the workforce. Any proposals for further changes to this condition would need to maintain this balance and would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
865. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons that received carer’s support grant automatically in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020 respectively; the number of persons that were refused and or withdrew their application of carer’s support grant in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020 respectively; the additional funding that would be required to increase this grant from €1,700 to €2,000 in the next budget; if she will increase the carer’s support grant from €1,700 to €2,000 in the next budget; if not, the reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20319/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe main income supports to carers provided by my Department are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Combined spending on all these payments to family carers in 2020 is expected to exceed €1.3 billion.
The Carer’s Support Grant is an annual payment of €1,700 a year for each care recipient paid in a single lump sum with no requirement to satisfy a means test. The Carer’s Support Grant is payable on the first Thursday in June each year. This is not available for any other group nor is there an equivalent payment for carers in any other country in Europe. The Grant is paid automatically to people in receipt of Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit or Domiciliary Care Allowance. Other people who are not in receipt of a social welfare payment but who are providing full time care and attention are also eligible and can apply for a ‘standalone’ grant.
The statistics available on the number of grants issued include both those who are paid automatically as well as those who apply for the standalone grant. Statistical data is not available on those who do not qualify for the grant or the reason why they do not qualify.
In 2019 my Department made payments of over 129,000 Carer’s Support Grants totalling €219.54 million. In 2018 almost 120,000 grants were paid to family carers totalling €203.96 million.
At the end of June 2020, almost 127,000 grants were paid to carers receiving the Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit or Domiciliary Care Allowance and to other full-time carers who are not receiving any of these payments. The estimated expenditure on the Carer’s Support Grant this year is €237.32 million.
It should be noted that the data for 2020 only covers the grants paid up to the end of June 2020. It is expected that further applications will be received before the closing date. Applications for the 2020 grant can be submitted up until 31 December, 2021.
The estimated additional cost of increasing the Carer’s Support Grant from €1,700 to €2,000 would be of the order of €42m per year.
I will continue to keep the range of supports provided by this Department under review and consultations with carer’s representative groups will continue to ensure that the overall objectives of the carer income support schemes provided are met. However, any changes to the current carer income supports provided by this Department would have implications for overall spending and would need to be addressed in an overall budgetary context.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
866. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an application for the reduced pandemic unemployment payment by a person (details supplied) can be reviewed in view of the fact their details were incorrectly reviewed initially; and if their payment can be allocated according to their correct income details. [20323/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFrom the 29th June the rate of Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) which a person receives will depend on their gross weekly employment earnings as follows;
- For those whose prior gross earnings were €200 per week or higher (about 75% of recipients), the PUP payment rate remains at €350 per week;
- For those whose prior gross earnings were up to €199.99 per week (about 25% of recipients), the PUP payment rate is €203 per week.
- A person who was in receipt of JA/JB as a part-time or casual worker immediately prior to receipt of PUP will remain on the rate of €350 irrespective of their previous earnings.
The rate of PUP is based on prior earnings notified to Revenue. It is important to note that my Department will only accept earnings which have been notified to Revenue and subject to PRSI.
For employees – the reference periods are 2019 (full year) and 2020 (January/February).
Where an employee record was found in 2019 or 2020, assessment was based on the information available. A person received the benefit of which ever rate was the more favourable.
Where no employee record was available, my Department looked in 2018 for self-employment contributions. The assessment of average weekly earnings is based on the Class S record only.
For self-employed persons– the last year for which complete data is available is 2018. This is the year which was used. While there are a limited number of Class S returns on record for 2019, these relate to returns under the PAYE system; in a significant number of cases, these returns require further examination, or the data could distort the examination of individual employee returns for that year.
The income figure used by my Department, having first been confirmed by the Revenue Commissioners is the self-employed income, after the application of capital allowances. In the case of the person concerned this figure is deemed to be €10,200. My Department uniformly applies this rule across all the PUP applications and is consistent in its approach. Regrettably, following of a review of the PUP rate, in the case of the person concerned, the rate remains at €203.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
868. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of removing the means test from the carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20446/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government acknowledges the important role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for Government and the National Carers’ Strategy.
The main income supports to carers provided by my Department are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. The projected expenditure on Carer’s Allowance in 2020 is approximately €919 million. Combined spending on all these payments to carers in 2020 is expected to exceed €1.3 billion.
Carer's Allowance is a means-tested payment for carers who look after certain people in need of full-time care and attention on a full-time basis. The means test for Carer's Allowance is one of the most generous in the social welfare system, most notably with regard to spouse’s earnings. The amount of weekly earnings disregarded is €332.50 per week for a single person and €665 per week for a couple.
A couple earning a joint annual income of up to €37,500 can qualify for maximum payment and, given the tapered withdrawal approach, retain a payment of just under half-rate while earning €49,750.
A single person may retain a full-rate payment while having an annual income of just under €19,000, and retain a payment of just under half-rate while having an annual income of €25,400.
A half-rate carer's allowance is also payable with other welfare payments e.g. pensions and disability payments.
The system of social assistance supports provides payments based on an income need. The means test plays a critical role in determining whether or not an income need arises as a consequence of a particular contingency – such as disability, unemployment or caring.
The continued application of the means test not only ensures that the recipient has a verifiable income need but that resources are targeted to those with greatest need. Abolition of the means test for Carer’s Allowance would give rise to a very significant annual cost. Based on the number of carers identified in Census 2016, it is estimated that a universal carer’s payment could cost in the order of an additional €1.2 billion per annum.
I recognise the valuable role that family carers play in Irish society and will continue to seek to improve the supports for carers. However, any changes must be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
869. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of unemployment payments by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20459/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe county breakdowns of persons who have received an unemployment payment, namely Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobseeker's Benefit and the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, for the week of July 28th 2020 are included in the tabular statement attached.
The number of recipients of a Pandemic Unemployment Payment, Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit at the 28th of July 2020.
|
County Name |
Pandemic Unemployment Payment |
Jobseekers Allowance |
Jobseekers Benefit |
|
Carlow |
3,365 |
2,642 |
724 |
|
Cavan |
4,005 |
2,909 |
802 |
|
Clare |
6,345 |
4,391 |
2,126 |
|
Cork |
27,844 |
12,041 |
5,594 |
|
Donegal |
8,989 |
9,411 |
2,231 |
|
Dublin |
97,826 |
33,117 |
13,759 |
|
Galway |
15,427 |
8,387 |
3,174 |
|
Kerry |
9,284 |
5,630 |
2,525 |
|
Kildare |
12,801 |
5,536 |
2,718 |
|
Kilkenny |
4,442 |
3,116 |
1,042 |
|
Laois |
3,886 |
2,724 |
849 |
|
Leitrim |
1,752 |
1,640 |
447 |
|
Limerick |
11,119 |
6,080 |
2,147 |
|
Longford |
2,059 |
2,069 |
491 |
|
Louth |
8,650 |
5,847 |
1,637 |
|
Mayo |
6,824 |
5,860 |
1,629 |
|
Meath |
11,492 |
4,888 |
2,380 |
|
Monaghan |
3,623 |
2,156 |
697 |
|
Offaly |
3,793 |
2,797 |
957 |
|
Roscommon |
3,051 |
2,089 |
674 |
|
Sligo |
3,361 |
2,959 |
780 |
|
Tipperary |
8,392 |
6,138 |
1,702 |
|
Waterford |
6,135 |
5,781 |
1,478 |
|
Westmeath |
5,225 |
3,394 |
1,144 |
|
Wexford |
7,896 |
7,007 |
2,098 |
|
Wicklow |
8,791 |
4,231 |
1,842 |
|
County not stated |
473 |
3 |
249 |
|
Total |
286,850 |
152,843 |
55,896 |
870. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the locations in which social welfare officers have carried out random inspections from 7 July 2020 to the most recent data available in tabular form. [20523/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFor the purpose of this reply, I am responding to the Deputy on the basis that he is referring to checks carried out at ports and airports by social welfare inspectors from my Department.
Since 2012, social welfare inspectors have had legal powers to carry out these checks as part of the ongoing control and compliance work they are engaged in.
Since 7th July 2020, checks have been carried out in Dublin Airport, Dublin Port, Rosslare Port and Ringaskiddy Port.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
871. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration will be given to extending paid parental leave for one parent families which would result in them having the same level of support as two parent families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20524/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Justice and Equality has policy and legal responsibility for parents leave and my Department has responsibility for the payment of the associated parent's benefit. Any proposal to extend the duration of parent's leave for one parent families would be a matter flor consideration by my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
873. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if all social welfare payments will remain in payment while essential travel for three weeks for health reasons takes place in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20532/20]
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.
As is the case with most other means-tested social welfare payments, CA is not payable on an extended basis to or in respect of persons outside the State, although legislation provides for the payment of carer’s allowance when a person leaves the State on a temporary basis for the specific purpose of accompanying a care recipient while that person is receiving treatment.
If the person concerned is leaving the State for three weeks due to her care recipient receiving treatment she will be entitled to continued payment of CA while she is out of the state.
The person concerned will be required to furnish travel documents such as boarding passes for the outbound and inbound journey before she leaves the state.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
