Written Answers Nos. 936-953
936. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 221 of 14 October 2020, if a decision has been made on an application for a training support grant by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33755/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraUpon receipt of the completed application form, Listowel Intreo Employment Support Service has confirmed with the person concerned that the application form has been sent to the course provider. Once the course provider has completed their portion of the application form and returned it to the Intreo Office, contact will be made with the person concerned to progress their application.
937. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) was refused the BTWEA after being told by a case worker that they were eligible; the reason this scheme is not open to start-up taxi and hackney drivers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33779/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraA Case Officer conducted an assessment interview with the person concerned in November 2018 and confirmed that they met the basic eligibility criteria for the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA). A business viability analysis is not conducted at this initial stage of the process. The person was referred to an Enterprise Officer in the Local Development Company for support to develop a business plan.
The person concerned did not submit a formal application for BTWEA until 2020. The application was not approved. This is because, given the nature of the taxi industry and concerns about displacement of existing operators, the BTWEA scheme does not generally extend support to those seeking to commence self-employment in that sector.
Under the circumstances, I have asked my officials to undertake an urgent review of this case and to revert to the person concerned as soon as possible
938. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for a disability pension in 2019; the number of refusals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33820/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is reported annually in my Department's Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services report which is published on https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/02f594-annual-sws-statistical-information-report/.
In 2019, my Department received a total of 10,336 applications in respect of Invalidity Pension, of which 4,732 were rejected.
939. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of data protection breaches identified within her Department in 2019. [33852/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2019, my Department identified 374 data breaches.
My Department takes data protection obligations very seriously. In order to protect the personal data of its customers, the Department has in place a set of data protection policies, procedures and guidelines.
While every data breach is a matter of great concern to my Department, the number of confirmed breaches should be viewed in the context of the scale of the Department’s business, administering over 70 separate schemes and services and processing almost 2 million applications every year.
940. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be allocated a personal public services number in order to be able to access social welfare benefits. [33875/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department has allocated a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) to the individual referred to by the Deputy. A letter issued to the person concerned on 30th October 2020 with details of the PPSN.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
941. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the right of self-employed persons to the pandemic unemployment payment, illness and disability benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33876/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraA self-employed person is eligible for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment if they have suffered a reduction in their trading income as a consequence of COVID-19 to the extent that they are available for other full time work and satisfy the other qualifying conditions of the scheme.
Budget 2021 provides that recipients engaging in self-employment can earn up to €480 over a rolling four week period and continue to maintain entitlement to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. The €480 limit is based on gross income, before tax and PRSI, minus expenses. Where they exceed this threshold and work up to 24 hours per week a self employed person may be eligible for support under the Part Time Job Incentive scheme which, as part of Budget 2021, has been extended to the self-employed who transition from the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. The weekly rate of payment for a person transferring from the Pandemic Unemployment payment is €128.60.
Self-employed contributors do not have access to illness benefit. The means tested supplementary welfare allowance scheme may be available to those who are experiencing financial difficulty. However, payment of the enhanced illness benefit in respect of COVID-19 is made to both employed and self-employed people where a person.
(i) is diagnosed with COVID-19, or
(ii) is a probable source of infection of COVID-19 and is self-isolating – such persons will have either been certified by their doctor or will have been contacted by the HSE (i.e. they are contact-traced or otherwise personally identified and advised by the HSE as being a probable source of infection).
This assistance has been provided for under emergency legislation - the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 and subsequent regulations. It is provided in the interest of public health and to limit the spread of the virus.
Self-employed contributors have been covered for invalidity pension since December 2017. This gives the self-employed access to a safety-net of income supports if they become permanently incapable of work as a result of a long-term illness or disability without a means test.
I hope that this clarifies the position.
942. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the situation regarding entitlement to illness benefit for the self-employed; and if a person (details supplied) in County Cork meets the requirement for illness benefit as a self-employed person. [33879/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraClass S contributions paid by the self employed are not a reckonable contribution for Illness Benefit.
The Department received an application for Illness Benefit from the person concerned on the 14th May 2020. She did not did not satisfy the PRSI contribution conditions necessary for payment as she was paying Class S contributions in the relevant tax years. However, she is currently receiving PRSI credited contributions on her claim.
A letter issued to the person concerned on the 14th May 2020 giving her the full details of this decision.
If a person is ill and incapable of work for at least 12 months and will be unfit for work for at least another 12 months, he or she can apply for the long term Invalidity Pension scheme, for which Class S contributions are a qualifying contribution class. Invalidity Pension has a number of conditions attached to qualification.
Should the person concerned be in need of urgent financial assistance, it is open to her to contact the Community Welfare Service at her local Intreo Centre.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
944. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is an accepted practice for social welfare inspectors to carry out unannounced visits to the homes of persons receiving social welfare payments; and if so, the guidelines and protocols the inspectors operate under; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33937/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSocial Welfare Inspectors operate under a code of practice which sets out the manner in which they are required to deal with customers. The code requires that customers must at all times be treated equally, fairly, with respect and dignity, as outlined in the Customer Charter. They are required to carry out a range of inspections and reviews including desk-based assessments of customer claims, face-to-face interviews with customers, home visits, and audits of employers’ PRSI records.
In undertaking their function of inspection and reviews, an inspector may need to make notified or un-notified home visits.
It is important to point out that, unlike a workplace, there is no statutory power of entry and Social Welfare Inspectors only enter a private home if invited. If an inspector is refused entry to a private home they may request that the person make themselves available for interview at an alternative agreed location.
My Department also has a Customer Charter in place which sets out what a customer should expect when they contact, or are contacted by, the Department. Customer complaints in relation to Social Welfare Inspectors, or any other staff, are dealt with by local management and disciplinary action if deemed to be warranted may be activated by my Department's Human Resources Division.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
946. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if consideration has been given to widening the timeframe in which new parents can take their additional three weeks of parental leave considering childcare issues with Covid-19 are still ongoing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32293/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government intends to extend Parent's Leave from two weeks to five weeks for each parent of all children born or adopted on or after 1 Nov 2019. The Government also intends to extend the period in which Parent's Leave can be taken up until that child turns two or, in the case of an adoption, two years after the adoption placement date of the child. This extension will apply to parents who may have already availed of their existing entitlements.
Heads of a Bill to effect these changes are currently being drafted in my Department and I hope to bring these to Government shortly.
The extension of parent's benefit is a matter for the Minister of Social Protection and I understand that it will take time for the relevant IT system changes to be made and that it will likely be April 2021 before the necessary updates can take place. However, it may be possible for parent's leave to be taken in advance of these changes and the benefit claimed retrospectively, once the legislation has been enacted, and I will ensure that parents are fully informed on their entitlements in this regard.
Parent's leave is designed for babies and young children as its benefits are greatest for them. As a consequence, there are no plans to extend the timeframe in which parents can take this leave.
The extension to parent's leave and benefit follows a number of advancements in family leaves in recent years, including the introduction of parents leave and benefit in 2019 and the extension of unpaid parental leave to 26 weeks in September this year for a child under 12 years.
947. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32634/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 6(3) of the Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2015, allows for the imposition of a compulsory retirement age but it must be objectively and reasonably justified by a legitimate aim and the means of achieving that aim must be appropriate and necessary. This aim may be specific to the nature of the work involved and could include health and safety concerns.
If an individual has concerns that they have been discriminated against on grounds of age then they can make a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission.
948. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures being taken to increase job opportunities for Travellers and ensure they are not discriminated against in accessing employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32672/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to improving the quality of life of members of the Traveller and Roma communities. The Government's main tool to progress this goal is the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021.
This Strategy represents a whole-of-Government approach to bring about meaningful change and progress for the Traveller and Roma communities in Ireland. It is a living document that will be reviewed and adjusted as required. Traveller and Roma organisations were involved in its development and are members of the Committee monitoring its implementation which is chaired by me.
One of the thematic pillars contained in the Strategy covers the area of employment. The actions contained in this theme cover a cross-Departmental approach aiming to increase employment opportunities for members of the Traveller and Roma communities. The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) has developed a number of targeted initiatives to increase Traveller and Roma engagement with employment and training services. DEASP also continues to provide tailored supports for the long-term unemployed within the Traveller community and for young people to build their confidence and prepare them for the workplace.
In addition to the strategic framework, the Government provides significant amounts of funding to Traveller projects. In 2020, €3.8 million in funding was provided to support Traveller and Roma inclusion. An additional €1 million has also been granted for 2021, bringing the total to almost €5 million. This funding will be used to continue existing supports, as well as support new activities designed to counteract the impact of COVID-19 on Traveller and Roma communities.
949. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason for the additional three weeks' parental leave will not be available until April 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32813/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Parent’s Leave and Benefit Bill 2019 provides for two weeks of parent’s leave and benefit for all new parents in employment or self-employment in respect of children born or placed for adoption on or after 1 November 2019. This is to facilitate parents to spend more time with their children in their critical first year of life.
The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform announced in Budget 2021 that he would extend Parent’s Benefit by a further three weeks for all children born or placed for adoption on or after 1 November 2019, and to extend the period in which this leave can be taken to two years. This means that each parent will be able to avail of five weeks of aid Parent’s Leave for a child born on or after 1 November 2019.
Legislation will be required to progress this commitment and work is now underway in my Department in this regard. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has indicated that Parent's Benefit will be payable from 1 April 2021. This time is needed to put the necessary payment systems in place. Parents will be able to take Parent's Leave once the legislation is in place and to apply for the Parent's Benefit retrospectively.
950. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 1016 of 30 July 2020, the reason 13 places have not yet been allocated under Phase 1 of the IRPP; and the actions which will be taken to meet 2020 targets under Phase 2 in view of the delays resulting from the global impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. [32868/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) was established by Government Decision of September 2015 (S.I. 80/20/10/0122H) as a key part of Ireland’s response to the global humanitarian migration crisis. The Government decision committed Ireland to accept 4,000 persons under various strands of the programme, including the EU Relocation Mechanism and UNHCR-led Refugee Resettlement Programme. To date 3,367 people have arrived through various strands of the IRPP and are at various stages of integration support in all 26 counties. Ireland responds to emergency situations in collaboration with other EU authorities. Future arrivals including 13 unallocated pledges will be filled under this category.
A new phase of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) was announced in December 2019 whereby the Government committed to accepting 650 persons in 2020, 700 in 2021, 750 in 2022 and 800 in 2023, through both Resettlement and Community Sponsorship mechanisms. The arrivals for the first two years will largely comprise Syrian refugees resident in Jordan and Lebanon, along with a pilot group of 150 Eritrean refugees resident in Ethiopia.
A mission to Beirut took place in March 2020 and plans are in train to arrange the arrival of 220 refugees interviewed by Irish officials at that time. The IRPP team in my Department remains in contact with international partners to monitor the evolving Covid-19 situation and arrange further arrivals of pledged refugees.
The IRPP maintains an ongoing engagement with public health officials in Ireland concerning future resettlements in order to ensure the safety of refugees and in the interests of public health in Ireland. All those arriving are tested for the Covid-19 virus and subject to quarantine on arrival.
951. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide funding to support Down's syndrome language development for young children aged three to six years of age in preschool. [32964/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) was established in 2016 to support children with disabilities to access and fully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) preschool programme, thereby reaping the benefits of quality early years care and education and realising the opportunity to reach their full potential, including their social, emotional, cognitive and language development. The budget allocated for AIM in 2020 is €43 million.
The focus of AIM is on the needs of the child in the context of the preschool setting, and therefore access to AIM supports does not require a formal diagnosis. AIM has seven levels of progressive support, moving from universal (levels 1 to 3) to targeted (levels 4 to 7). Details of the seven levels of support are presented below.
As AIM is an integral part of the ECCE programme, the criteria for eligibility regarding age of the child is the same as for the ECCE programme, i.e. between 2 year 8 months and 5 years 6 months. AIM supports are available for the two years of the ECCE programme.
AIM is a highly collaborative, cross-Government initiative, with implementation shared across a number of different bodies. Since its introduction in 2016, AIM has provided over 14,100 children with disabilities with over 33,000 targeted supports across over 3,500 preschools. Thousands more preschool children are benefitting from the universal supports provided under AIM. A full evaluation of the Access and Inclusion Model is due to commence before the end of the year.
Level 1: An Inclusive Culture: This level is the critical foundation for the model. It sets out that a strong culture of inclusion must be fostered and embedded to support all children’s maximum participation in the ECCE Programme. Supports include the national inclusion policy and guidelines for ECCE, the funding of a Level 6 NFQ programme on leadership for inclusion (LINC), the establishment of Inclusion Co-ordinators (INCO) in ECCE settings, and a small increase in capitation for services with qualified INCOs.
Level 2: Information for Parents and Providers: This level recognises the requirement of parents and preschool providers to have clear, consistent and up to date information accessible to them regarding ECCE services and supports and this is supported through the AIM.gov.ie website and also information provided by County/City Childcare Committees.
Level 3: A Qualified and Confident Workforce: This level recognises the requirement to continue to develop a qualified workforce that can confidently meet the needs of all children wishing to participate in the ECCE Programme. Supports include funding of Continuing Professional Development courses such as Hanen, Lámh and Sensory Processing E-Learning (SPEL) courses.
Level 4: Expert Educational Advice and Support – This level addresses the needs of early years practitioners across the country to have timely access to advice and support from experts in early years education (and disability in particular) to assist them meet each child’s needs.
Level 5: Equipment, Appliances and Minor Alterations Capital Grant: This level recognises that some children require specialised equipment, appliances, assistive technology and/or that some early years settings may require minor structural alterations to ensure children with a disability can participate in the ECCE Programme. Supports include grants for equipment and some capital building works for a service.
Level 6: Therapeutic Intervention : This level provides for access to therapeutic services where they are critical to enable the child be enrolled, and fully participate, in the ECCE Programme.
Level 7: Additional Assistance in the Preschool Room: This level recognises that a some children will require more support than is available through Levels 1-6. With this Level, additional capitation is available to service providers where an application process has demonstrated that supports at Level 1-6 have not, or will not, by themselves, meet the child’s needs. The application is made by both provider and parent. It can be used by the provider to buy in additional support, or to reduce the staff / child ratio, supporting the preschool service to ensure the child’s optimal participation.
952. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider making changes to new parental leave arrangements announced in budget 2021 in order that the three-week extension would be rolled out immediately and that the three-week extension could be availed of at any stage up to the child’s second birthday and the leave would be transferable between parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33037/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Parent’s Leave and Benefit Bill 2019 provides for two weeks of parent’s leave and benefit for all new parents in employment or self-employment in respect of children born or placed for adoption on or after 1 November 2019. This is to facilitate both parents to spend more time with their children in their critical first year of life.
The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform announced in Budget 2021 that he would extend Parent’s Benefit by a further three weeks for all children born or placed for adoption on or after 1 November 2019, and to extend the period in which this leave can be taken to two years. This means that each parent will be able to avail of 5 weeks paid Parent’s Leave for a child born on or after 1 November 2019.
It is not intended that this leave be transferable between parents as the intention behind this leave is to encourage and facilitate both parents to spend time with their child in the earliest years, a crucial time for the child’s development.
Legislation will be required to progress this commitment and work is now underway in my Department in this regard. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has indicated that parent's benefit will be payable from 1 April 2021. Parents may be able to take parent's leave once the legislation is in place and to apply for the parent's benefit retrospectively.
953. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has considered allowing for a provision that would account for Covid-19-related school absences (details supplied). [33216/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, Tusla Education Support Services (TESS) is responsible for addressing issues in relation to participation, retention and attendance in schools.
Under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, schools are obliged to maintain records of students’ attendance and are required to refer cases to TESS when a student misses more than 20 days at school.
The next return schools have to submit to TESS will be for the period September to December 2020. When submitting returns the principal indicates if the student absences were explained or unexplained.
Explained absences include all instances where the student’s parents/guardians provide an explanation for the absences to the school and the school accepts the explanations provided. Where a student is absent due to Covid-19 and this is explained to the school then this is noted as an explained absence. Unexplained absences include all cases where the school has not received an explanation from parent/guardians regarding a student’s absences or where the explanations given are of concern to the school.
Educational Welfare Officers (EWO) intervene when a school indicates a concern regarding a student’s absences. Where the school indicates that absences are explained this generally does not lead to an intervention by an EWO.
Schools will be recording all absences as normal, with the only exception being in the cases of students who are medically certified at being at very high risk of Covid-19 and hence cannot attend school.
As per the guidance issued by the Department of Education, students deemed very high risk will be supported by their school to continue their education at home and if the student is engaging with learning at home they will be marked present.
TESS is very aware that some students will be absent for legitimate Covid-19-related health reasons. In the context of Covid-19 and the situations which may arise, TESS will work with schools, students and their parents to support them as required .
More broadly, and as the Deputy will be aware, I would also mention that An Taoiseach announced, as part of his speech on the formation of Government on Saturday 27 June, that “Educational welfare functions will be returned to the Department [of Education].” and discussions are currently underway between the two Departments in that regard.
