Written Answers Nos. 65-96
65. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when the increases to the qualified child payments as announced in budget 2021 will take effect; the number of families that will benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40014/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI was pleased to announce increases to the rates of payment in respect of qualified children as part of Budget 2021. This measure will provide for higher payments in respect of an estimated 419,000 children in 2021. All families with qualified children will gain €2 per week per qualified child under the age of 12 and €5 per child aged 12 years and over, at an estimated cost of €59.2 million in 2021. The increase will take effect from 4th January 2021. This increase is in recognition of the need for greater income support for welfare-dependent households with children. It includes a higher level of increase for children aged 12 and over in recognition of the higher costs faced by families with older children. Minimum Essential Standard of Living (MESL) research has consistently identified older children as having additional and different needs distinct from children in younger age groups. The respective weekly rates will be €45 for children aged 12 and over and €38 for children under 12 years of age.
66. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the review of working family payments and one parent family payments ahead of setting targets for 2021 following on from the Comptroller and Auditor General report. [40159/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI welcome the Comptroller and Auditor General's chapter on control over welfare payments, which is a key element of my Department’s efforts to address potential fraud and error. The Department has spent approximately €20 billion per annum across various social welfare schemes in recent years, with substantial additional expenditure this year, arising from the income support payments put in place to help workers unable to work because of public health restrictions. In order to ensure that these monies are properly spent my Department carries out a programme of reviews of entitlements across all schemes annually. This is an appropriate control function to ensure that my Department can properly account for the monies it spends each year. As Deputies will be aware entitlement to payments from social welfare schemes can be subject to various conditions, depending on the particular scheme, and entitlement can also be subject to a means assessment. These conditions form the basis for customers of the Department being required to notify the Department if there are any changes in circumstances which may affect their entitlement. My Department has examined the targets for control reviews in 2021 for the Working Family Payment (WFP) and One Parent Family Payment (OPFP) and consider that the current level of review is appropriate for the reasons outlined below:
- Working Family Payment (WFP) - WFP entitlement, once awarded, is payable for a period of 52 weeks. At end of each year a renewal application is sent to all recipients who must re-apply if they feel they still have an entitlement. The renewal application includes a review of employment status and earnings to ensure continuing eligibility to the scheme. In 2019, circa 56,000 renewal applications were issued and circa 47,000 re-applied for the scheme for another year.
One Parent Family Payment (OPFP) - OPFP claims are generally reviewed annually through a self-declaration process in order to:
- Ensure customers remain aware of the conditions of the scheme;
- Provide an opportunity for customers to notify the Department of any changes in their circumstances or employment that may affect their payment, and ensure that no overpayments arise, or to minimise any overpayment that might occur; and
- Provide an opportunity to ensure that customers are aware of any training, education, or employment opportunities that may be of interest. In this respect it should be noted that many recipients of the One Parent Family payment are in employment and it is appropriate that my Department should provide regular employment supports and advice to such customers.
The vast majority of reviews on both OPFP and WFP are self-declaration reviews, and are desk-assessed by an officer. However, it may sometimes be necessary to phone or interview customers for some clarification or further information on aspects of their self-declaration. In addition, a small number of cases may also be referred to Social Welfare Inspectors for further investigation if further information is required. I trust that this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
67. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will amend the PRSI contribution conditions for carer’s benefit to include class S self-employed contributions in order that self-employed persons can avail of the support without having to be means tested when they have to take time out of work to care for someone. [30678/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSelf-employed workers who earn €5,000 or more in a contribution year, are liable to pay social insurance contributions at the class S rate of 4%, subject to a minimum annual payment of €500. Such contributors are currently covered for a wide range of social insurance benefits including State pension (contributory), widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's pension (contributory), guardian’s payment (contributory), maternity, adoptive and paternity benefits, treatment benefits, invalidity pension, partial capacity benefit if in receipt of invalidity pension, jobseeker’s benefit (self-employed) and parent’s benefit. The issue of extending additional social insurance benefits to self-employed persons paying class S social insurance contributions was considered in the Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund, conducted by independent consultants, which was published in October 2017. The Review indicates that if access to certain additional benefits, including carer's benefit, was extended to self-employed contributors, the class S rate of social insurance contribution would have to increase by 94% in order to ensure that the additional benefits are delivered in a revenue neutral manner. This rate of increase would bring the current class S contribution rate of 4% to 7.8% to cover the additional benefits only and does not take account of the value of the existing benefits to such contributors. Any proposal to extend social insurance entitlements of self-employed contributors would have to be considered in the context of the Programme for Government commitment to consider increasing all classes of PRSI over time to replenish the Social Insurance Fund to help pay for measures and changes as well as taking account of the current budgetary and economic circumstances. I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
68. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to increase supports to family carers including amending eligibility criteria, increasing payment rates and providing pension entitlements. [39985/20]
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 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 the primary income support provided by my Department to carers. It is a means tested payment made to people whose income falls below certain limits, and who are looking after certain people in need of full-time care and attention. This allowance is part of the system of social assistance supports that provide 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. This ensures that the recipient has a verifiable income need and that resources are targeted to those who need them most. Current disregards for Carer’s Allowance are €332.50 per week for a single person and €665 per week for a couple, making the means test for carers the least onerous within the social protection system. Carers may also (subject to certain conditions) qualify for the:
- Household Benefits Package
- Free Travel Scheme
Notwithstanding the substantial extra financial demands due to the COVID-19 crisis, I announced, on 4 June, that the Carer’s Support Grant would continue to be paid to carers this year at an estimated cost of over €237 million. The annual grant of €1,700 is made to carers providing full-time care to an older person or a person with a disability regardless of their means or social insurance contributions and is not taxable. The objective of the Carer’s Support Grant is to support carers in their caring role and carers may use the grant in a manner that is appropriate to their needs. The grant is paid in respect of each person being cared for to take account of the additional cost of providing care and to recognise the particular challenges faced by these carers. At the end of October 115,845 carers had received the grant in respect of 128,610 care recipients. As part of Budget 2021 I have increased the rate of the grant by €150 to €1,850. The new rate will be €1,850 – the highest ever rate at which it will have been paid since its introduction. The Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme provides a "safety net" within the overall social welfare system and provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. SWA provides immediate and flexible assistance for those in need who do not qualify for payment under other schemes. As you are aware, the Government has approved the establishment of a Commission on Pensions. The Commission’s Terms of Reference includes consideration of how people who have provided long-term care for incapacitated dependents can be accommodated within the State pension system. The Commission will report to the Minister for Social Protection on its work, findings, options and recommendations by 30th June 2021. The Government intends to take action having regard to the recommendations of the Commission within six months of its report. In relation to the current position, the State pension system gives significant recognition to those whose work history includes an extended period of time outside the paid workplace, often to raise families or in a full-time caring role, through the award of credits and either the Homemaker’s Scheme (as part of the Yearly Average rate calculation method) or HomeCaring Periods (as part of the Interim TCA rate calculation method).
- Credits – PRSI Credits are awarded to recipients of Carer’s Allowance (and Carer’s Benefit) where they have an underlying entitlement to credits. Credits are also awarded to workers who take unpaid Carer’s Leave from work.
- Homemaker’s Scheme - The scheme, which was introduced with effect from 1994, is designed to help homemakers and carers qualify for the State Pension (Contributory). The Scheme, which allows periods caring for children or people with a caring need to be disregarded (from 1994), can have the effect of increasing the Yearly Average.
- HomeCaring Periods – This Scheme makes it easier for a home carer to qualify for a higher rate of State Pension (Contributory). HomeCaring Periods may be awarded for each week not already covered by a paid or credited social insurance contribution. HomeCaring Periods can only be used under the Interim TCA of pension calculation.
The Homemaker's Scheme and HomeCaring Periods cannot be used together to calculate State Pension (Contribution) entitlement. Furthermore those with few or no PRSI contributions paid over the years may alternatively qualify for the State Pension (Non-Contributory), which is a means-tested pension, financed by the Exchequer, and paid at up to 95% of the maximum rate of the State Pension (Contributory). The most advantageous payment for a pensioner will depend upon their individual circumstances. I can assure the Deputy that I am very aware of the commitment of family carers and the key role they play in society and I am very conscious of the particular challenges facing our family carers at this time. I will continue to keep the range of supports provided by my Department under review to ensure that the overall objectives of the carer income supports provided are met. While I will seek to improve the supports available for carers, any changes to the eligibility criteria to would have significant cost implications and must be considered in an overall budgetary context. I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Questions Nos. 70 and 71 answered with Question No. 55.
72. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which she will address inequalities relating to poverty during 2021; the specific improvements she will make in 2021 for persons with disabilities experiencing poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39850/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn January 2020, the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025: Ambition, Goals, Commitments was approved by Government and published. The Roadmap is a whole-of-government strategy with a five year timeframe and a mid-term review in 2022 facilitate an evaluation of the impact of the Roadmap commitments. The Roadmap will build on the work of its predecessors with the aim of reducing the number of people in consistent poverty in Ireland and increasing social inclusion for those who are most disadvantaged. This is reflected in its clearly stated ambition to “Reduce consistent poverty to 2% or less and to make Ireland one of the most socially inclusive countries in the EU”. The Roadmap translates this ambition into seven Goals underpinned by 66 unique Commitments (actions) that will be taken to help deliver these goals. The challenges facing people with disabilities is acknowledged in the Roadmap, which includes the specific goal of improving social inclusion of people with disabilities by reducing poverty, improving employment outcomes and delivering better services. In addition specific employment and poverty targets have been set including the reduction of at risk of poverty and social exclusion rate for people with disabilities from the 2018 rate of 36.9% to 28.7% in 2025 (and a further reduction to 22.7% by 2030). The Roadmap complements the National Disability Inclusion Strategy and the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities with a specific commitment supporting their implementation. In addition, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is represented on the Social Inclusion Roadmap Steering Group, which monitors the implementation and progress of the Roadmap commitments. Budget 2021 saw the introduction of a number of measures aimed at increasing supports for people with disabilities and their families. These include an increase in the earnings disregard for both the Disability Allowance and Blind Pension to €140 per week; an increase weekly Living Alone Allowance to €19 for people with disabilities who are living alone; increases in the qualified child rates (for children under and over 12 years of age); changes in the hearing aid grant (move to a flat rate grant) and an increase to the annual Carer’s Support Grant of €1,850 per year. Work is progressing on the cost of disability research with the report due to be finalised in the coming months. The Department also has an allocation of €5 million under the Dormant Accounts Action Plan 2020 to support and improve employment opportunities for carers and persons with a disability. This includes a specific measure for access to employment and self-employment for people with a disability. Applications for the fund are being assessed by Pobal with funding to be provided to successful applications from 1 January 2021 to 30 June 2022. The new Programme for Government commits to the full implementation of the Roadmap, ensuring that social inclusion and poverty reduction will remain at the heart of government. I will continue to work with my Government colleagues to support the most vulnerable members of our society on an ongoing basis. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
73. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection when the Christmas bonus will be paid; the number of persons in County Wexford who will benefit from the bonus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40001/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Christmas Bonus will be paid in the week beginning 7th December to social welfare recipients, such as pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and lone parents in recognition of their long-term financial dependence on social welfare payments for all, or most, of their income. In recognition of the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on employment levels and the sudden financial impact on individuals, the Bonus will be paid this year, on an exceptional basis, to those in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment for a period of 17 weeks or more and who are in payment on the date the Bonus is paid. It will also be paid to people on jobseeker payments who have been in receipt of these payments for four months or more. The Bonus will benefit over 1.6 million people. It is estimated that there are approximately 57,000 social welfare recipients in Wexford who will benefit.
74. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that all workers from the performing arts and live entertainments industries including those who by the nature of their work are self-employed and who might have gaps or periods of unemployment between contracts and based upon such workers being certified by a reference from a relevant previous employer or cultural organisation here, are made eligible for full payment of the pandemic unemployment payment for the duration of the shutdown of live entertainments and artistic events due to Covid-19. [39983/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment has agreed that the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) will continue in payment until end March 2021. This extension provides certainty to people, including those in the arts and entertainment sectors, that access to PUP remains available. The rate of PUP is aligned with prior earnings. Since mid-October the €350 rate of PUP has been re-introduced for individuals with prior average weekly earnings of €400. Approximately 158,150, or 45% of the total in receipt of the support, are receiving the €350 rate. In addition, the 2020 earnings reference period to determine the rate of PUP was extended from February to the end of September 2020. This measure benefitted over 37,400 recipients with increased payments since 17th November. Budget 2021 provided measures for self-employed recipients of PUP including the introduction of an earnings threshold of €480 per month whereby a recipient can take up limited employment and retain PUP. Where a person exceeds this threshold and is engaging in regular limited self-employment of up to 24 hours per week, access to the Part-Time Job Incentive has been extended to those who transition from the PUP. Support may also be available under the COVID-19 Enterprise Support Grant which provides support of up to €1,000 with business re-start cost. Further information on these supports is available at www.gov.ie
Any further changes to PUP will be considered in the context of the trajectory of the pandemic and the public health concerns.
75. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to support persons back to education and back to work in response to Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39995/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe onset of the Covid-19 Pandemic, and resulting public health measures, has greatly impacted economic activity in the State and the labour market. The latest CSO data records a Covid-19 adjusted overall unemployment rate of 20.2 percent, with an equivalent measure for youth at just over 45 percent. With the second wave of Covid-19 and the subsequent introduction of Level 5 restrictions in October, there has been a rolling impact on the labour market bringing additional employment challenges. There are currently over 350,000 persons in receipt of PUP from a peak number of over 600,000 in May 2020, to a low of 205,000 in October 2020. Most of those currently on PUP will return to employment as restrictions ease and the economy re-opens. However, it is inevitable that some jobs will be permanently lost, and additional numbers of persons will require State support to find new jobs. I am acutely aware that when people lose their jobs and remain unemployed for some time they can become disconnected from the labour market. These individuals risk losing the vital social and work connections that are needed to identify and pursue work opportunities and for many it may be the case that their existing work experience and skills cannot easily translate into new sectors of employment. My Department, and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, are developing a range of educational, training and support measures to assist the unemployed on their journey back to work. Measures announced under the July Jobs Stimulus included:
- Expanding the capacity of Intreo to provide enhanced employment services by assigning 100 Job Coaches by Q1 2021. Job coaches will supplement the work of case officers by providing jobseekers with a personalised career development and guidance service, with the ultimate goal of securing employment.
- Increasing the capacity of contracted services by extending existing contracts for Local Employment Services, Jobpath and Employability into 2021 to ensure business continuity and services are in place to deal with increased demand.
- Expanding the benefit of the JobsPlus recruitment subsidy to employers who hire people from the Live Register. Promotion of this measure will resume when public health restrictions are eased.
- Providing access to additional fulltime and part-time education, including targeted short-term courses with over 35,000 new education and training places for those currently unemployed.
- Providing incentives to employers to take on more apprentices, with the provision of a grant of €3,000 for each new apprentice recruited. By end September, over 3,000 new apprenticeships with over 600 employers were registered.
- Facilitating access to the Back to Education Allowance and Back to Work Enterprise Allowance to those displaced by the pandemic. This has been done by waiving the usual qualification period of 3 – 9 months. By end October, approx. 6,000 students had received support through the BTEA, and in excess of 3,000 self-employed individuals had received support through the BTWEA.
As part of the July Jobs Stimulus, my Department is also developing a work experience placement programme available for all those out of work for at least six months, including periods of time spent in receipt of PUP. This programme, which will incorporate a training and development plan, will provide jobseekers with the necessary workplace skills to compete in the labour market. I expect to launch the Programme in early 2021, subject to public health restrictions. In the New Year, my Department plans to commence engaging with PUP customers to initially provide them with information on the range of education, skills development, work placement schemes, recruitment subsidies and job search and assistance measures, that will help those who have lost their jobs find a new one, retrain, or develop new skills, in particular for emerging growth sectors. It is anticipated that communication will commence on a phased basis, initially focusing on those in receipt of PUP for the longest periods of time. Work is at an advanced stage in my Department to develop Pathways to Work 2021-2025; the national employment services and activation strategy for the coming period. The strategy will seek to build on the measures outlined under the July Jobs Stimulus to assist the unemployed with their journey back to work. Publication is expected to follow the launch of the Government’s National Economic Plan, in early 2021. This will be a central element of the Government's response to the impact of COVID on the labour market and employment.
76. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures she will introduce to ensure that the free travel scheme will be available on all bus routes that are publicly licensed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40000/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Free Travel Scheme is currently available to all people living in the State aged 66 years or over, to carers and to customers under 66 who are in receipt of certain disability type payments. There are currently approximately 980,595 customers in receipt of Free Travel. However, over 1.6 million people currently benefit from the scheme when companion and spousal passes are taken into account. The scheme allows those eligible to travel for free on most CIE public transport services, LUAS, and a range of services offered by up to 80 private operators. Prior to the Covid 19 outbreak, requests by transport operators to join the scheme were received periodically, with payment rates negotiated based on surveys of free travel passengers. Due to the continuing impact of Covid-19 measures and restrictions on transport service provision, the uncertainty around numbers opting to travel and the consequential lack of reliable survey data, it remains a difficult time for operators to enter the scheme. Survey outcomes in the current operating environment are unlikely to reflect true free travel passenger numbers in more normal times. The situation is kept under review and it is expected that as services return to more normal levels, new operators will seek and join the scheme. Any decision to extend the Free Travel scheme to include all publicly licensed bus routes would have cost implications for the Exchequer and would have to be considered in the context of overall budget availability. The funding provision for the Free Travel scheme for 2021 is €95 million. I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
77. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the time that a person aged 55 years and over can remain on a community employment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39996/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Community Employment (CE) Scheme is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis. A number of new conditions were introduced to the CE Scheme in July 2017 to further support progression to employment, broaden CE access to a wider range of people and to standardise the conditions relating to the length of time a CE participant can remain on a CE scheme. In general CE placements for new entrants aged between 21 and 55 years are for one year. CE participants who are working towards a Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) major award can seek to extend their participation on CE by up to two years to enable them to reach the required standard of qualification. CE participants aged 55 years or older can remain on CE for three years and do not have to work towards a QQI major award. In either scenario, a maximum of three consecutive year's participation on CE is permissible. A person may re-qualify for CE after a twelve month break once they satisfy the qualifying conditions. An overall lifetime limit of six years applies to all CE participants (seven years for those on a disability payment). The Department has no current plans to extend participation limits on CE schemes for those aged over 55. However, CE participants over the age of 62 can participate on CE on a continuous basis until they reach the State Pension age via the CE Service Support Stream (SSS). Participation is subject to the availability of SSS places, satisfactory performance on the CE scheme and, annual approval by the Department. The places allocated for these participants within each individual CE scheme are subject to limitation criteria. The priority for my Department is to ensure that all employment and activation programmes have the best outcomes for participants. Places on these work programmes will continue to be made available to support those who are long term unemployed and furthest removed from the labour market, while maintaining the role of CE as an active labour market programme. I am fully committed to the future of CE and will continue to support and improve CE for the benefit of the CE participants and the valuable contribution being made to local communities.
79. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures being examined to reduce the current delays experienced in processing PPS numbers; if a fast track system is available for essential workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40057/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe SAFE registration process, which involves the authentication of a person's identity in a face-to-face interview, is the normal method of processing an application for a Personal Public Service Number (PPS Number). At the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, my Department temporarily suspended the SAFE registration process. This decision was taken in order to comply with HSE and World Health Organisation guidelines in respect of social distancing. My Department did not, however, suspend allocating PPS Numbers to persons seeking one. To help ensure that those who required a PPS Number could get one, my Department introduced an email and postal service through which applications could be made. By its nature this temporary service is not as efficient as the face-to-face process it has replaced. For example, any issues which arise regarding supporting documentation take longer to resolve than would be the case in a face-to-face environment. Unfortunately, some applicants have experienced delays in getting their PPS Number as staff in my Department were re-assigned to deal with a huge increase claim processing work arising as a consequence of the pandemic. Where my Department is made aware that a PPSN application has been made by an essential frontline worker, all necessary steps are taken to deal that case as quickly as possible. Since the introduction of this temporary service, my Department has allocated almost 34,000 PPS Numbers and is currently dealing with just over 22,000 applications most of which are being processed. In recent weeks my Department has re-assigned resources to deal with these applications. This will result in improved processing times and will substantially reduce the number of applications on hand over the next few weeks. In addition, my Department will resume SAFE registration appointments for PPSN applicants when the current COVID Level 5 restrictions no longer apply.I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
80. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the report on the impact assessment of the current and projected future increases in carbon tax on low income families by her Department; the stage the report is at; when it will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39993/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe report on the impact assessment of the current and projected future increases in carbon tax on low-income families by my Department was required by Section 25 of Social Welfare no. 2 Act 2019 (Number 48 of 2019). The development and operation of emergency social welfare measures and the diversion of staffing resources required to deal with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic have, of necessity, impacted on the timely delivery of this Report. The report was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 10 November 2020. The report is based on data and prevailing Government policies up to 31 May 2020. It considers matters from an income support perspective only, in keeping with the Department’s remit and responsibilities. There are five sections. Section 1 provides an introduction and outline of the legislative background to the report. Section 2 details the current situation with carbon tax and sets out one possible schedule for future changes in carbon tax from 2020 to 2030, to meet Government commitments in this area. Section 3 deals with the impact of social transfers and sets out specific welfare supports provided in this area. Section 4 focuses on the impact of the proposed changes in carbon tax on low income families, estimated using the Economic and Social Research Institute’s (ESRI) SWITCH micro-simulation model and other reports carried out by the ESRI and work done by the Department of Finance. Finally, Section 5 sets out conclusions in relation to the report. The published report is available at https://opac.oireachtas.ie/AWData/Library3/Documents%20Laid/pdf/EASPdoclaid10112020A_101120_110551.pdf. I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
81. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if the free travel scheme will be applicable to more bus routes that are publicly licensed in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40079/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Free Travel Scheme is currently available to all people living in the State aged 66 years or over, to carers and to customers under 66 who are in receipt of certain disability type payments. There are currently approximately 980,595 customers in receipt of Free Travel. However, over 1.6 million people currently benefit from the scheme when companion and spousal passes are taken into account. The scheme allows those eligible to travel for free on most CIE public transport services, LUAS, and a range of services offered by up to 80 private operators. Prior to the Covid 19 outbreak, requests by transport operators to join the scheme were received periodically, with payment rates negotiated based on surveys of free travel passengers. Due to the continuing impact of Covid-19 measures and restrictions on transport service provision, the uncertainty around numbers opting to travel and the consequential lack of reliable survey data, it remains a difficult time for operators to enter the scheme. Survey outcomes in the current operating environment are unlikely to reflect true free travel passenger numbers in more normal times. The situation is kept under review and it is expected that as services return to more normal levels, new operators will seek and join the scheme. Any decision to extend the Free Travel scheme to include more publicly licensed bus routes would have cost implications for the Exchequer and would have to be considered in the context of overall budget availability. The funding provision for the Free Travel scheme for 2021 is €95 million. I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
82. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Social Protection when the increase to the fuel allowance payment will take effect; the number of persons in County Mayo who will benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39721/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe fuel allowance is a payment of €24.50 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €686 each year) from October to April, to an average of 352,000 low income households, at an estimated cost of €261.35 million in 2020. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only one allowance is paid per household. My Department also pays an electricity or gas allowance under the Household benefits scheme at an estimated cost of €194 million in 2020. This is paid at a rate of €35 per month, 12 months of the year. As part of Budget 2021, I was delighted to announce a €3.50 increase to the weekly rate of fuel allowance at an overall estimated cost of €36.8m in 2021. This will increase the weekly rate payable to €28 and will take effect from January 2021. Fuel allowance is a household payment and approximately 13,900 households in Mayo will benefit from the increase in the fuel allowance payment. My Department does not retain figures on the number of persons present in each of these households. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
83. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection if a reduction in the minimum threshold for which a person must be in receipt of social welfare in order to gain access to a community employment scheme in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic (details supplied) will be investigated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29629/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommunity Employment (CE) is a positive initiative that enables the long-term unemployed to make a contribution to their communities whilst up-skilling themselves for employment opportunities. The scheme can play an important role in breaking the cycle of long-term unemployment for some people and improve their chances of employment.
In order to qualify for CE, a number of conditions, including being in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for a specific period, must be met.
The focus of CE is on the cohort of long-term unemployed people and the programme is monitored on an on-going basis to ensure that the schemes are meeting the training and development needs of the CE participants and also delivering the intended services in the local communities.
The priority for my Department is to ensure that all employment and activation programmes have the best outcomes for participants. A number of new conditions were introduced on CE in July 2017 to further support progression and broaden access to CE to a wider range of people. CE continues to support those who are furthest removed from the labour market and it is not the Department's intention to amend the CE guidelines or qualifying criteria at this particular time.
As part of the July Jobs Stimulus, the Government announced an additional 3,000 places on State Employment Schemes, including CE and Tús.
My Department officials will work with CE sponsoring authorities to make the additional CE placements available to suitable initiatives, subject to the agreed scheme qualification criteria.
I am fully committed to the future of this programme and will continue to support and improve the programme for the benefit of the CE participants and the valuable contribution being made to local communities.
