Written Answers Nos. 420-439
420. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if payments from the HSE in the form of compensation court awards from claims of abuse or negligence can affect a person's right to disability allowance or if it can be calculated as income for a means test; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42018/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSocial welfare legislation provides for the manner in which a person's means are assessed for social assistance schemes. In summary, any income or capital, with certain exceptions and disregards, belonging to the person and his / her spouse, partner or co-habitant is assessable for social welfare means testing purposes.
Social welfare legislation provides for the disregard of certain compensation awards when assessing the means of a person. These disregards include, for example, all income derived from compensation awarded by the Hepatitis C and HIV Compensation Tribunal, the Residential Institutions Redress Board and in relation to disability caused by Thalidomide. Any payment made by the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board is also disregarded for social welfare means test purposes. In addition, ex gratia payments made to women who were admitted to and worked in the Magdalen Laundries, or through the Symphysiotomy Payment Scheme, or payments made by the Minister of Health in accordance with recommendations proposed by the Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck Screening Programme are also disregarded.
All compensation or court awards which are not specifically provided for in social welfare legislation are assessed in the normal manner. However, most social assistance schemes (such as Jobseeker's Allowance and State Pension Non-Contributory) have a capital disregard of €20,000. In the case of Disability Allowance, the first €50,000 in capital is disregarded.
Any changes to the means assessment of social assistance schemes would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context.
421. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a pension application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42037/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for state pension non-contributory was received from the person concerned on 14 October 2020.
The person concerned was awarded state pension non-contributory with effect from 16 October 2020 and has been notified of the decision in writing on 26 November 2020.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
422. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to reduce youth unemployment; the targets she has set; and the expected dates for achievement of these targets. [42097/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraYouth unemployment stood at just over 10 percent in Q1 2020 based on the CSO’s Labour Force Survey data, with approximately 20,000 persons aged under 25 on the Live Register. By Q3 2020 these figures had increased to 20 percent and 25,000 respectively arising from the shock to the labour market caused the COVID pandemic.
Experience from previous downturns has shown us that the impacts of labour market shocks are often disproportionately weighted towards younger people. Much of this impact can be related to employers operating a “first in, first out” approach when enforcing cutbacks and reducing their workforce. Research by my Department has shown that young people make up a significant share of workers in the sectors greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and resulting public health restrictions; namely the hospitality and retail sectors.
By end November, if we include PUP recipients in the figures, over 47 percent of young people in the labour force were unemployed, with one-in-four current PUP recipients (approx. 90,000) under the age of 25. However, it is important to note that, due to the unprecedented economic situation, the Government extended access to PUP to students who worked part-time. As a consequence almost one in four (approx. 21,000) of current PUP recipients aged under 25 have self-certified as students. These students would not normally be eligible for a jobseeker payment, or counted as unemployed using internationally recognised standards set by the International Labour Organisation.
While many young people, in particular those in receipt of PUP, will return to work when restrictions are eased, it is inevitable that some jobs will be permanently lost. These individuals will require high levels of State support to re-find their footing in the labour market. We must also not forgot those young people who were unemployed prior to the pandemic and who face barriers to work.
That is why my Department and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science have plans in place to support and assist young people on their journey back to work. Measures being developed to combat unemployment, and youth unemployment in particular, include:
- Expanding the caseload capacity of Intreo Centres during Q1 2020 with the assignment of 100 job coaches to provide enhanced employment services and supports. Case officer support to help people with job search advice and assistance is shown to be the most effective means of helping people move into employment
- Extending the current contracts of existing contracted public employment service providers into 2021. In particular, the Local Employment Service is being extended into four new areas and the capacity of the service increased by 50%.
- Expanding the benefit of the JobsPlus recruitment subsidy to employers who hire young people. Under this scheme an employer receives the JobsPlus subsidy of €7,500 once they employ a young person (under 30 years of age) who has been unemployed for just 4 months. A higher subsidy of €10,000 is paid for recruitment of a person who was long term unemployed (over 12 months). This will help make it more attractive to recruit young people who face difficulties in securing a footing in employment. My Department will begin actively promoting this Scheme to employers early in the new year, and 8,000 places will be available for young jobseekers throughout 2021.
- Providing access to additional full-time 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 to employers for each new apprentice recruited until June 2021. 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 by waiving the usual qualifying period of 3-9 months. My Department will actively promote this scheme to suitable candidates and although it is not budget capped, additional provision has been made in Budget 2021 of €3.5million – equivalent to an extra 700 places.
My Department is well advanced in developing a new work placement experience programme for those out of work for at least six months to encourage employers to provide jobseekers with the necessary workplace skills to compete in the labour market and to help break the vicious circle of “no job without experience, no experience without a job”. It is intended that the programme will support mentoring to encourage jobseekers to expand their horizons and avail of new learning options which can help them to grow into a new career. There is a target of over 10,000 persons, regardless of age, to be placed on this six month scheme by end 2021.
Work is also advanced stage by my Department to develop Pathways to Work, the national employment services strategy for the period 2021-2025. The strategy will seek to build on the support measures outlined above as we assist young people on their journey to work. Publication is expected in early 2021, following the launch of the Government's National Economic Plan.
In developing these policies, programmes and services, my Department is working closely with, and eing advised by, he Labour Market Advisory Council which is composed of leading market experts, representatives of industry and workers and representatives of unemployed people. We will keep these programmes under review and report progress on a regular basis.
423. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection when the increase in the living alone allowance and the fuel allowance will take effect; the number of persons who will benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42100/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Living Alone Allowance is a payment for people aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments, including State pensions, and who are living alone. It is also paid to people aged under 66 who live alone and are in receipt of Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Incapacity Supplement or Blind Pension. This Living Alone Allowance is not means tested and the payment is made as an increase to the recipient’s primary social welfare payment.
Budget 2021 provides for a €5 increase to the Living Alone Allowance from €14 to €19 per week giving a total payment of €988 over the course of the year in addition to the recipient's primary social welfare payment. This represents a 36% increase in the value of the Allowance. The overall cost of the increase in 2021 is estimated at €57.5m. The implementation of the increase is scheduled with effect from the week commencing 4th January 2021. It is estimated that there will be approx. 221,700 recipients of this payment in 2021. The increase will require amendment to primary legislation. The necessary legislative provision is included in the Social Welfare Bill 2020 which is currently before the Oireachtas.
The fuel allowance is a payment of €24.50 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €686 each year) from October to April. 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.
As part of Budget 2021, it was announced that there would be a €3.50 increase to the weekly rate of fuel allowance. This will increase the weekly rate payable to €28 and will take effect from week commencing 4th January 2021. The cost of this increase is estimated at €36.8m in 2021 and affects approx. 375,600 recipient households. While the increase in the fuel allowance payment took account of the increase in carbon tax on solid fuels from May 2021, the fuel allowance rate will increase from the 4th January 2021 thus ensuring recipients will benefit from the increased payment over this winter period.
I trust this clarifies these matters for the Deputy.
424. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures underway in her Department to tackle youth unemployment and to support young persons affected by the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42101/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraExperience from previous recessions has shown us that the impacts of labour market shocks are often disproportionately weighted towards younger people. Much of this impact can be related to employers operating a “first in, first out” approach when enforcing cutbacks and reducing their workforce. Research by my Department has shown that young people make up a significant share of workers in the sectors greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and resulting public health restrictions; namely the hospitality and retail sectors.
Youth unemployment stood at just over 10 percent in Q1 2020 based on the CSO’s Labour Force Survey data, with approximately 20,000 persons aged under 25 on the Live Register. By Q3 2020 these figures had increased to 20 percent and 25,000 respectively.
By end November, if we include PUP recipients in the figures, over 47 percent of young people in the labour force were unemployed, with one-in-four current PUP recipients (approx. 90,000) under the age of 25. However, it is important to note that, due to the unprecedented economic situation, the Government extended access to PUP to students who worked part-time. As a consequence almost one in four (approx. 21,000) of current PUP recipients aged under 25 have self-certified as students. These students would not normally be eligible for a jobseeker payment, or counted as unemployed using internationally recognised standards set by the International Labour Organisation.
While many young people, in particular those in receipt of PUP, will return to work when restrictions are eased, some jobs will inevitably be permanently lost. These individuals will require high levels of State support to re-find their footing in the labour market. We must also not forgot those young people who were unemployed prior to the pandemic and who face barriers to work.
That is why my Department and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science are developing a range of support measures to assist young people on their journey back to work. Measures being developed to combat unemployment, and youth unemployment in particular, include:
- Expanding the caseload capacity of Intreo Centres during Q1 2020 with the assignment of 100 job coaches to provide enhanced employment services and supports. Case officer support to help people with job search advice and assistance is shown to be the most effective means of helping people move into employment.
- Extending the current contracts of existing contracted public employment service providers into 2021. In particular the Local Employment Service is being extended into four new areas and the capacity of the service increased by 50%.
- Expanding the benefit of the JobsPlus recruitment subsidy to employers who hire young people. Under this scheme an employer receives the JobsPlus subsidy of €7,500 once they employ a young person (under 30 years of age) who has been unemployed for just 4 months. A higher subsidy of €10,000 is paid for recruitment of a person who is long term unemployed (over 12 months). This will help make it more attractive to recruit young people who face difficulties in securing a footing in employment. During 2021, 8,000 places will be available for young jobseekers under the Scheme.
- Providing access to additional full-time 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 to employers for each new apprentice recruited until June 2021. 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 by waiving the usual qualifying period of 3-9 months.
My Department is well advanced in developing a new work placement experience programme for those out of work for at least six months to encourage employers to provide jobseekers with the necessary workplace skills to compete in the labour market and to help break the vicious circle of “no job without experience, no experience without a job”. It is intended that the programme will support mentoring to encourage jobseekers to expand their horizons and avail of new learning options which can help them to grow into a new career. There is a target of over 10,000 persons, regardless of age, to be placed on this six month scheme by end 2021.
Work is also at an advanced stage by my Department to develop Pathways to Work, the national employment services strategy for the period 2021-2025. The strategy will seek to build on the support measures outlined above as we assist young people on their journey to work. Publication is expected in early 2021, following the launch of the Government's National Economic Plan.
In developing these policies, programmes and services, my Department is working closely with and being advised by the Labour Market Advisory Council which is composed of leading market experts, representatives of industry and workers and representatives of unemployed people. We will keep these programmes under review and report progress on a regular basis.
425. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan 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. [42102/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIncreases for a Qualified Child (IQCs) are paid in addition to many weekly social welfare payments. These payments do not of themselves constitute a specific social welfare scheme and entitlement to the appropriate primary adult payment must be established in the first instance.
As of October 2020, there are an estimated 337,699 children supported by an increase for a qualified child.
As part of Budget 2021, I provided for an increase to the rate of payment for children aged over 12 of €5 bringing this weekly payment to €45 per week. For children aged under 12 the payment will increase by €2 to €38 per week.
The necessary legislative provisions to enable these increases are included in the Social Welfare Bill 2020 which is now before the Oireachtas. The increases will take effect from January 2021.
426. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan 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. [42103/20]
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 (PPSN).
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, a PPSN issued by post to a person a number of days after their SAFE registration interview.
At the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, 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.
In order to deal with PPSN applications, as an exceptional measure, my Department introduced an email and postal service through which PPSN applications could be made. Due to the temporary nature of this service, it is not possible to provide data on processing times.
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. In addition delays in issuing PPS Number arose as staff in my Department were re-assigned to deal with a huge increase in claim processing work arising as a consequence of the pandemic.
In recent weeks my Department has re-assigned resources to deal with these applications. This will result in improved processing times and will substantially further reduce the number of applications on hand over the next few weeks.
In addition, as Level 5 restrictions are lifted, my Department is now planning to resume SAFE registrations for PPSN applicants.
In the meantime, where my Department is aware of an application by an essential frontline worker, all necessary steps are taken to expedite that application. Any person who wishes to talk to someone about their application for a PPSN can call my Department on LoCall 1890 927 999.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
427. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan 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. [42104/20]
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.
429. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage or number of staff working with a disability within her Department and the agencies under her aegis in 2018, 2019 and 2020; and the actions being undertaken by her Department to actively recruit and retain persons with disabilities. [42151/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Social Protection is in the process of conducting a census to determine the percentage for 2020. The percentages for 2018 and 2019 for this Department including the agencies under its remit are contained in the table below.
|
Organisation |
2018 |
2019 |
|
Department of Social Protection |
5.22% |
6.96% |
|
Citizens Information Board |
9.57% |
8.99% |
|
Pensions Authority |
4.62% |
7.14% |
The Department of Social protection is an equal opportunities employer and recruitment is conducted both internally and through the Public Appointments Service and applicants with disabilities are supported throughout the recruitment process.
In line with commitments identified in the People Strategy of the Civil Service 2017/2020, a dedicated Diversity and Inclusion function Unit has been established in the Department's HR Division, incorporating the role of the Disability Liaison Officer.
This Department also seeks to provide a safe and supportive working environment through the work of the Well-Being Unit of the HR Division.
The Department is actively implementing its HR policies so as to ensure all our staff enjoy a positive working environment through the provision of awareness, education and support for managers and also putting in place the resources and support for staff to attain their maximum career potentials by the provision of equal opportunities in the areas of mobility, learning and development programmes, promotion and staff engagement.
The Department is constantly reviewing internal recruitment and competition processes and their interaction with external processes (in collaboration with the Public Service Appointments Service), to improve its processes and procedures and ensuring equity, fairness, equal opportunity, diversity and Inclusion.
The Department is also engaging annually with AHEAD’s Willing Able Mentoring (WAM) programme and also holding events through the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Unit, and providing accommodations to assist and support officers who require them.
The Department is also adopting a consistent approach to the design and delivery of its learning and development programmes, including accredited learning for front line roles in association with external trainers without discrimination and with a focus on diversity and inclusion.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
430. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the value of grants provided under the reasonable accommodation fund in 2019; the most recently available data in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42155/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra431. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has completed the focused policy review of the reasonable accommodation fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42156/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 430 and 431 together.
The Reasonable Accommodation Fund (RAF) aims to assist both jobseekers with disabilities and private sector employers seeking to employ or retain a person with a disability, by providing a range of grants.
The scheme in particular seeks to assist jobseekers with disabilities to gain access to the open labour market by providing grants to support private sector employers.
In summary the grants available are:
- Workplace Equipment/Adaptation Grant, which provides funding to make the workplace more accessible.
- Personal Reader Grant, which provides funding for a personal reader to assist someone who is blind or visually impaired in their work.
- Job Interview/Interpreter Grant, which is a grant for an interpreter to accompany a person with hearing loss to a job interview or to undertake induction training.
- Employee Retention Grant Scheme, which aims to help employers retain employees who acquire a disability.
The Reasonable Accommodation Fund is a demand-led scheme in that the overall value of the grants issued arises in response to the number and individual value of the applications received. The value of the grants provided in 2019 and to November 2020 are set out in the table below.
The RAF is promoted a number of ways, including through the Department's Intreo and employer engagement services and through Employability contractors who deliver a specialist service for Jobseekers with disabilities on behalf of the Department.
Table: Value of the grants provided under the Reasonable Accommodation Fund 2019 and 2020
|
Year |
2019 |
2020 (to Nov.) |
|
Workplace equipment and adaptation grant |
€81,967 |
€77,464 |
|
Personal reader grant |
€7,229 |
€18,484 |
|
Job interview interpreter grant |
€10,984 |
€3,455 |
|
Employee retention grant |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Total |
€100,181 |
€99,404 |
Implementation of the Comprehensive Employment Strategy (CES) for people with disabilities is overseen by a CES Implementation Group (CESIG) - which is independently chaired and is comprised of NGOs/ stakeholder groups and relevant government departments/agencies. The group agrees three year action plans for the implementation of the commitments within the strategy. Currently the phase two action plan, which covers the period 2019 – 2021, is being implemented by Government Departments and agencies. One of the actions for this Department within the phase two action plan is to complete a review of the RAF, building on research published by the National Disability Authority in December 2019. The review was to have been completed in 2020. While many other actions under the phase two plan were delivered (e.g. resulting in an increase in the earnings disregards for both the disability allowance and blind pension), it was not possible to complete the review of the RAF given other demands on the Department. Work has however recommenced on the review and it is now planned to have it completed in the first half of 2021.
I trust that this clarifies the matter.
432. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress being made on providing for adoptive leave and removing the lacuna in the legislation which discriminates against same sex male couples in view of the commitment given by the previous Government. [41232/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe extension of adoptive leave is an important commitment in the Programme for Government. On 22 October 2019 Government approved the general scheme of the Adoptive Leave (Amendment) Bill to amend the Adoptive Leave Act 1995. The scheme provides for married male same-sex adopting couples to be eligible for adoptive leave and benefit. It also provides for all adopting couples – same-sex and opposite-sex – to be able to choose which of the couple should take the adoptive leave. At the moment, adoptive leave is structured so that the adopting mother takes the leave. The new provisions would enable either the adopting mother or the adopting father to be eligible to take adoptive leave once the choice has been made by the couple.
Work is advancing on drafting these provisions. The Government is examining legislative options for taking these proposals forward at an early stage.
433. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans to expand the force majeure leave scheme to allow parents to care for a child isolating due to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41759/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government takes the needs of working parents very seriously, particularly the difficulties they are facing in the current pandemic. There have been a number of advances in respect of the leave available to working parents in recent years. The Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 introduced paid parent’s leave of two weeks for each parent to be taken in the first year of a child’s life or within the first year of placement with the family in the case of adoption. The Government intends to further extend parent’s leave and benefit to five weeks for each parent, to be taken until the child is two. Work is being undertaken to develop legislation to provide for these changes.
The Parental Leave (Amendment) Act 2019 further extended the availability of unpaid parental leave. As of 1 September 2020, each parent has an entitlement to 26 weeks which can be taken up to a child’s twelfth birthday.
Where a parent requires urgent leave from work, they may avail of force majeure leave which gives an employee a limited right to leave from work. Under the Parental Leave Acts 1998 and 2019, this leave is available where, for urgent family reasons, the immediate presence of the employee is required due to illness or injury of a close family member, including a child or adopted child. The maximum amount of leave available is three days in a 12-month period or five days in a 36-month period. There are no plans at present to extend force majeure leave.
434. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the target year and quarter he is working to for the commencement of Part 6 of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 which deals with the review of wards of court and the repeal of the Lunacy Regulation (Ireland) Act 1871 and the Marriage of Lunatics Act 1811. [41849/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra435. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the target month she is working to in relation to the publication of the assisted decision-making (capacity) (amendment) Bill. [41850/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra436. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the target month for the commencement of section 3 of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 on the assessment of capacity and the commencement of section 8 on guiding principles. [41851/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra437. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the target month for the commencement of the disability (miscellaneous provisions) Bill to make the necessary amendments to a number of pieces of legislation to comply with the UNCRPD; and if it will be before the date that Ireland submits its first report to the UN General Committee. [41852/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra438. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the target date for the commencement of public consultation on the draft codes of practice for the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015. [41853/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra441. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons taken into wardship since the passing of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015; the reasons given for taking each of these persons into wardship; the breakdown of the wardship decisions made following an application by the HSE, by a family member and by the solicitor of the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41131/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra442. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the work of the steering group overseeing the establishment and commissioning of the decision support service; when the service will be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41132/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra457. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to introduce legislative reform of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41765/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 434, 435, 436, 437, 438, 441, 442 and 457 together.
My Department has recently expanded following the formation of the Government in June and now includes Disability under its remit. The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill and the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill are two pieces of legislation which will be progressed in 2021 and resources have been allocated accordingly. My officials are actively working on both Bills. However, it is not possible at this time to indicate a precise date for the publication of either Bill. I am pressing for publication of both as soon as possible.
The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 was signed into law on 30 December 2015. Since that time there have been 1,596 wards of court declared under the existing wardship system as follows:
Wards Declared
|
Year |
Number |
|
2020 to mid Nov. |
269 |
|
2019 |
385 |
|
2018 |
327 |
|
2017 |
325 |
|
2016 |
290 |
The amendment Bill will, when enacted, allow for the commencement of outstanding areas of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 including the provisions in relation to wardship. In the meantime, the establishment of the Decision Support Service (DSS) is going ahead, as far as possible, with the assistance and oversight of a high-level Steering Group comprising senior officials from my Department, the Department of Health (DoH), the Mental Health Commission, the Courts Service and the HSE, together with the Director of the DSS. The Steering Group continues to meet monthly and work is ongoing in the DSS, the Courts Service, DoH, and the HSE in order to be ready for commencement. My Department has, through the Estimates process, sought and received increased funding in 2021, bringing the budget of the DSS to €5.8 million for the year. This will allow the DSS to work towards the commencement of services. The timeline for the DSS to become fully operational, with all legislative provisions in place and commenced, is mid-2022. The consultation process on the draft codes of practice will be a matter for the Decision Support Service.
439. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to put in place a 24-7 nationwide support service for male victims of domestic abuse; the extent of future funding planned for this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42163/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue. Policy is coordinated by the Department of Justice and Equality (DJE). Under the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of DSGBV.
The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments regarding DSGBV, including an audit on segmentation of DSGBV responsibilities across government departments and agencies, which will inform future investments in this area.
Tusla currently allocates funding to two organisations that provide dedicated services for male victims of domestic abuse. The Men’s Development Network and Men’s Aid Ireland both offer a range of services to support male victims. I have asked Tusla to respond to you directly on this matter, as the commissioning of DSGBV services is an operational matter for that organisation.
