Written Answers Nos. 147-161
147. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Gary Gannon den Aire Oideachais ag eascairt as ceist 146, an 4ú Márta 2021, cathain a bheidh scoil (sonraí tugtha) i gContae Bhaile Átha Cliath in ann bogadh isteach san fhoirgneamh nua sealadach; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [27115/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraCuireadh moill ar aistriú na cóiríochta sealadaí nua maidir leis an scoil dá dtagraíonn an Teachta. Is é an chúis atá leis an moill ná go bhfuil mo Roinn ag fanacht le rannpháirtíocht ó ESB Networks ar an láithreán.
Leanfaidh oifigigh mo Roinne orthu ag coinneáil comhlacht pátrúnachta na scoile ar an eolas go hiomlán maidir leis an tionscadal seo.
148. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if the rules relating to requalify for jobseeker’s benefit and short-time payments will be suspended for workers, such as those at a company (details supplied), can have access to this support. [26733/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra149. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration has been given to extending short-time work support jobseeker’s benefit for those that are currently in receipt of this payment and are due to be taken off the scheme given the fact that many that are in receipt of this payment work in industries which cannot return to full-time work due to ongoing public health guidelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26741/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra150. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports in place for persons that work in industries in which they have been placed on significantly reduced wages and working hours as a result of Covid-19 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26742/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 148 to 150, inclusive, together.
The Jobseeker's Benefit and Jobseeker's Allowance schemes provides income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find full time employment. These statutory schemes allow individuals to work up to 3 days a week and still retain access to a reduced Jobseeker’s payment.
Jobseeker's Benefit is paid for up to 9 months (or 234 days) for people with 260 or more PRSI contributions paid. It is paid for up to 6 months (or 156 days) for people with fewer than 260 PRSI contributions paid.
It is a fundamental feature of a range of the Department's benefit payments, including Jobseekers Benefit, that the payment is time limited. Time limits apply across a range of PRSI related schemes such as maternity benefit and illness benefit.
Where a person exhausts their entitlement to Jobseekers Benefit, they may be eligible for support under the means tested Jobseeker's Allowance scheme. The Department will contact the Jobseekers recipient in advance of the expiry date of their claim to advise them that their entitlement is due to expire and that they should make an application for Jobseekers Allowance. They will also be provided with an application form for Jobseekers Allowance.
Jobseekers Allowance has no duration limit as long as a person meets the qualifying scheme conditions including the means test.
It should be noted also that employers may avail of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme operated by Revenue for employers to support job retention. The scheme provides a subsidy to qualifying employers who keep staff on the payroll. Employees who are on the scheme who are temporarily on reduced hours may be entitled to Jobseekers Benefit or Short time Work Support for days they are not remunerated.
The wide ranging nature of the assistance available to those impacted by Covid -19 constitutes a comprehensive suite of supports. On that basis I believe there are sufficient supports available at this time.
151. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons that moved from the pandemic unemployment payment to short-time work support jobseeker’s benefit since March 2020 to date; and the number of persons on short-time work support jobseeker’s benefit since March 2020 to date, by month in tabular form. [26743/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra152. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons that have been taken off short-time work support jobseeker’s benefit since March 2020 to date; and the number of persons accessing or being moved different social protection payments following after they have stopped receiving the benefit by type of payment in tabular form. [26744/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 151 and 152 together.
The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is available to those who have lost their jobs due to the restrictions necessitated by the public health emergency. The Short-Time Work Support scheme is a social insurance contribution payment provided under Jobseekers Benefit, for employees temporarily placed on a shorter working week by their employer and who are not being paid for days of unemployment.
Short-time work support jobseeker’s benefit is paid for up to 9 months (or 234 days) for people with 260 or more PRSI contributions paid. It is paid for up to 6 months (or 156 days) for people with fewer than 260 PRSI contributions paid. A person may requalify for Jobseekers Benefit if they have paid 13 PRSI employment contributions at the appropriate class after date of expiry of 156 days of Jobseeker’s Benefit and they have suffered a substantial loss of employment and earnings having lost at least 1 day of employment since the start of their current claim and satisfy all other statutory conditions.
Where a person exhausts their entitlement to Jobseekers Benefit/Short Time Work Support, they may be eligible for support under the Jobseeker's Allowance scheme. The Department will contact the recipient 10 weeks and 4 weeks in advance of the expiry date of their claim to advise them that their entitlement is due to expire and that they should make an application for Jobseekers Allowance. They will also be provided with an application form for Jobseekers Allowance.
Jobseekers Allowance has no duration limit as long as a person meets the qualifying scheme conditions including the means test. The maximum weekly rate of payment for Jobseekers Allowance is the maximum weekly rate as for Jobseekers Benefit, which is €203 and increases may be paid for qualifying adults and child dependents.
Over the time period requested by the Deputy (01 March 2020 to 16 May 2021), a total of 3,563 people who received a Pandemic Unemployment Payment were later supported by the Short-Time Work Support (STWS) scheme. This is set out in Table 1.
Over the same period, 10,142 people exited the STWS scheme, across 10,505 exits. Table 2 sets out the total number of exits by month, of which 3,329 people were in receipt of another social welfare payment in April 2021, and Table 3 details the payments these people received.
Table 1
|
Month |
People moving from PUP to STWS |
STWS total claims |
|
March 2020 |
18 |
970 |
|
April 2020 |
226 |
2894 |
|
May 2020 |
246 |
3852 |
|
June 2020 |
214 |
2980 |
|
July 2020 |
284 |
2747 |
|
August 2020 |
203 |
2533 |
|
September 2020 |
342 |
2577 |
|
October 2020 |
470 |
3308 |
|
November 2020 |
416 |
3850 |
|
December 2020 |
136 |
3529 |
|
January 2021 |
209 |
4034 |
|
February 2021 |
320 |
3912 |
|
March 2021 |
259 |
4265 |
|
April 2021 |
140 |
4180 |
|
to 16th May 2021 |
80 |
3753 |
|
Total |
3,563 |
49,384 |
Table 2
|
STWS Exits |
Of which are people in receipt of a payment in April 2021 |
|
|
March 2020 |
109 |
40 |
|
April 2020 |
778 |
226 |
|
May 2020 |
1522 |
406 |
|
June 2020 |
700 |
173 |
|
July 2020 |
976 |
221 |
|
August 2020 |
955 |
258 |
|
September 2020 |
756 |
249 |
|
October 2020 |
828 |
271 |
|
November 2020 |
756 |
272 |
|
December 2020 |
671 |
339 |
|
January 2021 |
561 |
169 |
|
February 2021 |
535 |
161 |
|
March 2021 |
440 |
107 |
|
April 2021 |
606 |
247 |
|
to 16th May 2021 |
312 |
190 |
|
Total |
10,505 |
3,329 |
Table 3
|
Payment |
People |
|
Back to Work /Back to Work Family Dividend |
6 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
6 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
10 |
|
Child Benefit |
2 |
|
Domiciliary Care |
28 |
|
Exceptional Needs Payment/Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
5 |
|
Illness Benefit |
250 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
60 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit* |
1,620 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
112 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
9 |
|
Pandemic Unemployment Payment |
1,100 |
|
Parent's Benefit |
9 |
|
Part-time job incentive for the self-employed |
1 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
16 |
|
Rent Supplement |
26 |
|
State Pension Contributory |
59 |
|
Widow(er)'s Contributory Pension |
16 |
|
Total |
3,329 |
* this includes Jobseeker's Benefit, Short Time Work Support, and Jobseeker's Benefit for the Self-employed
153. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has considered implementing a pathway for those on the pandemic unemployment payment to go onto the back to work enterprise allowance to support those on the pandemic unemployment payment that have started their own business during the past year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26745/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra154. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Social Protection the options for those on the pandemic unemployment payment that want to apply for the back to work enterprise allowance; if they can apply for the allowance with the security of having their pandemic unemployment payment continue if their application is not successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26746/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 154 together.
The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) scheme offers support for people who are long-term unemployed and who are interested in self-employment as a route to entering the labour market. The scheme plays a vital role in supporting the development of new enterprises for the long term unemployed and is payable for a 24 month period from the commencement of their new business. The scheme is not designed to support existing business ventures.
The BTWEA was extended in response to Covid-19 where the qualifying period was waived for people applying from the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) to start a new business. The BTWEA is payable at the weekly rate of Jobseekers Allowance appropriate to the individual. The BTWEA applicant can retain their PUP until entitlement to the BTWEA is approved.
Aside from BTWEA, those in self-employment may have other income support options available from the Department depending on their circumstances.
Those in self-employment can earn up to €960 over a rolling eight week period and retain their PUP. Where a self-employed person exceeds this threshold they may apply for the Part Time Job Incentive for the self-employed. This enables a self-employed person, who has been in receipt of the PUP, to engage in self-employment for up to 24 hours per week and receive a personal weekly rate of payment of €128.60. There is no income threshold applied under this support.
The Covid-Enterprise Support Grant is also available to eligible self-employed recipients who close their PUP and re-open their business. A once-off grant of up to €1,000, to assist with the costs associated with reopening, is available under this measure. In excess of 9,000 applications have been approved since the introduction of this grant, with funding nearing €8.5m paid to small businesses. The Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment has primary responsibility for other supports for businesses impacted by Covid-19.
If there is a particular case that the Deputy has a concern about, my officials would be happy to examine it and advise of the options available.
I trust this clarifies the position.
155. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection the funding available for the school meals scheme in the 2021-2022 academic year; the number of schools that applied to the scheme for the coming 2021-2022 academic year; the number of those schools that applied in the lunch and dinner funding categories; and the number of those schools that were awarded funding in each category. [26753/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,506 schools and organisations benefitting 230,000 children. The objective of the programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
A budget of €65.1 million has been provided for the scheme in 2021.
The Programme provides funding towards food services for disadvantaged school children through two schemes: The urban school meals scheme and the school meals (local projects) scheme. The Urban School Meals Scheme for primary schools is operated and administered by local authorities and is part-financed by my department. 44,095 students in 301 primary schools benefit from the Urban School Meals Scheme. 188 of these schools also benefit from the local projects scheme.
The school meals (local projects) scheme provides funding towards the provision of food to schools and organisations. 214,574 students in 1,393 schools and organisations benefit from the school meals (local projects) scheme. Funding under the school meals (local projects) scheme can be provided for breakfast, snack, lunch, dinner, hot meals and afterschool clubs and is based on a maximum rate per child per day, depending on the type of meal being provided e.g. €1.40 per child per day where a cold lunch club is being provided, €1.90 per child per day where a dinner club is being provided and €2.90 per child per day where a Hot Meal club is being provided. Dinner clubs provide a hot meal, but are different from the Hot Meals clubs, in that they tend to be provided by schools with onsite cooking facilities whereas food for Hot Meals clubs is cooked offsite and either delivered hot or reheated in the school.
In recent years entry to the School Meals Scheme has been confined to DEIS schools in addition to schools identified as having levels of concentrated disadvantage that would benefit from access to the School Meals Programme.
Prior to the introduction of DEIS in 2005, all schools and organisations that were part of one of a number of Department of Education and Skills’ initiatives for disadvantaged schools were eligible to participate in the programme, which included Breaking the Cycle, Giving Children an Even Break, the Disadvantaged Area Scheme, Home School Community Liaison and the School Completion Programme. These schools and organisations have continued to remain in the scheme since the introduction of DEIS in 2005 but their level of funding has been capped at the same rate year on year to allow for the concentration of the scheme on DEIS schools.
As part of Budget 2019, funding was provided for a pilot scheme from September 2019, providing hot school meals in primary schools at a cost of €1m for 2019 and €2.5m in 2020. The pilot involved 37 schools benefitting 6,744 students for the 2019/2020 academic year and was aimed primarily at schools with no onsite cooking facilities.
In Budget 2021, I announced that an additional €5.5m would be provided to extend the provision of hot school meals to an additional 35,000 primary school children, currently receiving the cold lunch option. My Department issued invitations for expressions of interest to 705 primary schools in November 2020. A total of 281 expressions of interest were received in respect of 52,148 children.
The 35,000 places were allocated to each local authority area based on the number of children applied by local authority as a percentage of the total number. A minimum of one school for each Local Authority area was selected.
As a result of this process, 189 of the 281 schools that submitted an expression of interest were selected.
Participation in the scheme is entirely voluntary. Schools and organisations must reapply for funding in advance of each school year and are required to submit detailed records at the end of the school year. Applications are accepted from individual schools and organisations as well as organisations such as School Completion Programmes who apply for multiple schools. The application process for 2021/2022 will open at the end of the current school year.
There were 1,350 applications for funding for the 2020/2021 academic year, in respect of 1,398 schools and organisations. Of the 1,350 applications; 1,336 are awarded, 4 are pending further information from schools and 10 have been disallowed because they were from an organisation or school other than a DEIS school.
In general schools apply for more than one food club. 281 dinner clubs and 947 lunch clubs were applied for in the 2020/2021 academic year.
276 Dinner clubs have been awarded, 1 is pending further information from the schools and 4 have been disallowed.
933 lunch clubs have been awarded, 3 are pending further information from schools and 11 have been disallowed.
Clubs are disallowed where funding for that club in addition to other clubs being applied for would bring the level of funding over the maximum amount available.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
156. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether the lottery system that has been implemented in the school meals scheme is a blunt instrument that does not adequately recognise the individual needs of schools and the areas that they serve; if her attention has been drawn to two schools (details supplied) that both applied for funding to provide hot meals to students only for the senior school to be awarded such funding while the junior school was not; her views on whether this is acceptable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26754/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,506 schools and organisations benefitting 230,000 children. The objective of the programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
As part of Budget 2019, funding was provided for a pilot scheme from September 2019, providing hot school meals in primary schools at a cost of €1m for 2019 and €2.5m in 2020. The pilot involved 37 schools benefitting 6,744 students for the 2019/2020 academic year and was aimed primarily at schools with no onsite cooking facilities.
In Budget 2021, I announced that an additional €5.5m would be provided to extend the provision of hot school meals to an additional 35,000 primary school children, currently receiving the cold lunch option. Officials from the Department issued invitations for expressions of interest to 705 (612 DEIS and 95 non-DEIS) primary schools in November 2020. A total of 281 (256 DEIS and 25 non-DEIS) expressions of interest were received in respect of 52,148 children.
The 35,000 places were allocated to each local authority area based on the number of children applied by local authority as a percentage of the total number. A minimum of one school for each Local Authority area was selected. Thereafter, a process of random selection was used for each area.
As a result of this process, 189 of the 281 schools that submitted an expression of interest were selected. Of the 189 schools selected, 171 (90.5%) are DEIS and 18 (9.5%) are non-DEIS.
Knockmore Junior School submitted an Expression of Interest for the Hot Meals Scheme as part of the five-school Killinarden School Completion Programme which also included Cnoc Mhuire Senior School. Unfortunately Knock More Junior School was not selected.
Due to the fact that the funding available was limited to 35,000 children, it was not possible to include all schools that submitted and expression of interest to avail of hot school meals. I appreciate that this is disappointing for the school.
I am currently exploring options for the possible inclusion of unsuccessful schools in the Hot School Meals programme.
Any further extension of the provision of hot meals will need to be considered in a budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
157. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) will be facilitated with a care support grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26756/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
The Carer’s Support Grant (CSG) is an annual payment for carers who look after a person in need of full-time care and attention. CA recipients automatically qualify for the CSG, on the first Thursday in June each year where they have an entitlement to CA on that date.
Where a care recipient dies, there is a continued payment of CA for 12 weeks after the death.
CA was awarded to the person concerned on 3 November 2020 with effect from 22 October 2020. The person’s care recipient died on 8 March 2021, and therefore he is in receipt of CA in respect of his care recipient up until Wednesday, 2 June 2021. This date includes the 12 weeks after death payment.
As the person’s CA is not in payment on the first Thursday in June this year there is no entitlement to the 2021 CSG grant.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
158. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection if a review of the case of a person (details supplied) can be carried out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26794/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for the Carer’s Support Grant (CSG) was received from the person concerned on 29 July 2020.
A person may apply for CSG in any given year 8 weeks before the date on which the grant is payable and up to 31 December the following year. To qualify for CSG, a carer must be providing full-time care to the care recipient for a continuous period of at least six months and this period must include the first Thursday in June.
As the conditions were satisfied for the 2019 grant, it was awarded and payment of €1,700 issued to the person concerned. The application for the 2020 grant was disallowed on the grounds that the person concerned was not providing care on the first Thursday in June, 2020 as the person she was caring for passed away on 23 May 2020. The person concerned was notified of both decisions on 10 November 2020 and informed of her right of review and appeal.
The person concerned requested a review and an appeal of the decision.
She was notified by the Department, on the 03 December 2020, that on review the original decision was upheld. On 12 April 2021 the Social Welfare Appeals Office notified the person concerned that her appeal was disallowed.
Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of an Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed in the light of relevant additional evidence or new facts.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
159. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps she is taking to ensure that the forthcoming report and conclusions of the Pensions Commission will be appropriately gender proofed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26827/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Pensions Commission was established to examine sustainability and eligibility issues with the State Pension system and the Social Insurance Fund, in fulfilment of our Programme for Government commitment.
I was keen to ensure that the Commission had strong female representation in its membership, and I am pleased that the majority of members – 7 out of 11 – including its chairperson, are women.
I am satisfied that the Commission, with its gender-balanced membership and extensive experience of social and public policy, is well equipped to grasp the potential impacts of any pensions reform options on affected groups, such as women, low-income workers, and young people.
As part of its Terms of Reference the Commission has been asked to consider how the State Pension system can further accommodate long-term carers. In this regard, as available on the Pensions Commission's website, pensionscommission.gov.ie, the National Women's Council of Ireland and Family Carers Ireland made presentations to the Commission. The National Women's Council of Ireland was also a panellist at the Commission’s virtual Stakeholder Forum.
In accordance with its Terms of Reference, the Commission is due to submit a report on its work to me by 30 June 2021. The Government intends to take action having regard to the recommendations of the Commission within 6 months of receipt of the report. My Department has committed in the National Strategy for Women and Girls to gender-proof pensions policy reforms.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
160. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the contract of each participant on affected schemes such as community employment, Tús, the rural social scheme and so on as a consequence of Covid-19 restrictions in view of the disruption to the activities of employment activation schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26828/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Social Protection delivers a range of employment and income support schemes including Community Employment (CE), Tús and the Rural Social Scheme (RSS).
As the Deputy is aware, my Department has supported CE, Tús and RSS schemes since the onset of the Covid-19 emergency in March 2020. Furthermore, a number of CE, Tús and RSS schemes, which provide essential community services, have been able to continue to deliver these services, while complying with the public health restrictions in place during differing levels of restrictions over the last fourteen months..
RSS participants who commenced on the scheme prior to 1st February 2017 will remain on the scheme as long as they continue to satisfy the eligibility conditions of the scheme. A six-year time limit for new RSS participants was introduced from the 1st February 2017 but the earliest that any RSS participant will be affected by the six-year maximum duration limit will be 2023.
CE and Tús participants, whose contracts were due to end during the periods of Level-5 restrictions have had their contracts extended for the duration of those restrictions with the most recent extension date being the 2nd July 2021. Over 7,000 CE and Tús participants are benefitting from this existing contract extension, that applies to all CE and Tús participants whose contracts were due to finish since end-October 2020. This contract extension date is under active review. My priority and the priority of my Department is to ensure all CE schemes are in a position to get services fully back up and running over the next few months, in accordance with the phased opening up of the economy, while continuing to comply with public health restrictions.
It is important to note that when CE and Tús participants are eventually due to finish on their respective schemes, this will be undertaken on a coordinated, phased basis over a number of months and as number of new referrals to schemes increase. This will assist with service continuity and provide further time for CE participants to finish placements and training.
The priority for my Department is to ensure that all employment and activation programmes have the best outcomes for participants, including those whose participation has been affected by the pandemic.
I am fully committed to the future of these programmes and will continue to support and improve the programmes for the benefit of the CE, Tús and RSS participants and the valuable contribution being made to local communities throughout the country.
161. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection if a pregnant and at high risk childcare worker can continue to be paid their supplemented employment wage subsidy scheme wage in cases in which they present a medical certificate to their employer but remain at home. [26861/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability. It is important to note that entitlement to these supports is not contingent on the nature of the illness/disability but on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work.
Illness Benefit is the primary income support payment for people who are unable to attend work due to illness of any type. Additional payments may also be made in respect of a qualified adult and qualifying children.
The qualifying criteria for Illness Benefit are laid down in legislation. To qualify for illness benefit a person must:
- Be unable to work due to illness
- Be under pensionable age (currently 66)
- Satisfy the contribution conditions
For those who are unable to meet the criteria for Illness Benefit, 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.
The operation of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme is a matter for the Minister for Finance.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
